The Emerald Eyed Luna

June Chu had always longed for a child to secure her place in the world.

She woke up in the morning to find the bed empty, a pang of frustration setting in. She had hoped to plead with Alex Xiao this morning, to ask him to allow her to bear his child and stop the maids from bringing her the contraceptive potion. But Alex, strong and vigorous, had left her bed late into the night, and by the time she opened her eyes, she was alone.

Autumn Moon, hearing the rustle, hurried in and asked through the bed curtains, "Mistress, are you awake?"

June Chu responded, and the bed curtains were drawn aside to reveal not Autumn Moons face but the stern and cold Mrs. Liu, her temples streaked with gray.

In her hand was a bowl of dark medicine.

Another contraceptive potion...

June Chus face soured, but she dared not refuse. With a sigh, she took the bowl and drank it down in one go, then forced a smile through her grimace: "How could such a trivial matter require Mrs. Lius personal attention..."

Mrs. Liu, who had raised Alex from a young age, held considerable sway in the marquiss house and far more status than June Chu, the less favored concubine. She was not someone June Chu dared to offend.

Mrs. Liu showed no appreciation for June Chus humility, her smile cold and disdainful: "Its to prevent some from being restless. What status does our lord hold? If a lowborn were to bear his child, it would be a great joke."

June Chus smile froze, her eyes dimmed. Indeed, she came from a brothel and was often looked down upon, even mocked to her face, including by Alex, who often disdained her for it.

But her past was unchangeable, so she endured.

Autumn Moon pouted indignantly and came over to support June Chu: "Mistress, let your servant help you wash up. Perhaps Lord Xiao will come again tonight."

June Chu knew Autumn Moon said this to bolster her pride, but her heart felt even more bitter. Alex did not favor her; a visit once a month was already a rarity.

Mrs. Liu, clearly aware of this, laughed rudely, her mockery evident.

The two, stung by her laughter, dared not turn back and sat before the dressing mirror, their faces burning with embarrassment.

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside, and a husky female voice called out: "Is Miss Chu inside? Lord Xiao summons you to the main house."

June Chu was taken aback, instinctively peering outside to check the time. Was the sun rising in the west? Alex was actually willing to let her go to the main house?

Mrs. Liu was also surprised and lifted the door curtain to look outside: "Whats going on?"

June Chu then saw two burly women standing outside, their faces stern and unfriendly, hardly the sort to bring good news. This summons to the main house likely boded ill.

But she had always been obedient, never committing any wrongdoings...

Her heart raced with anxiety, wringing her handkerchief tightly.

Autumn Moon, oblivious to the tension, was delighted: "It must be that Lord Xiao thinks youve improved."

She deftly styled June Chus hair, eager to adorn her with every piece of jewelry and dressed her in a bright pink dress.

Distracted, June Chu dared not tarry and hurriedly left. Before she could lift the heavy cotton curtain, she heard the two women, their earlier arrogance replaced by subservience as they spoke in hushed tones with Mrs. Liu.

"Lord Xiao only noticed Miss Bai had been pushed into the pond after returning from court. He was furious. All the concubines have been called to kneel in the main house. Lord Xiao said, When Miss Bai wakes, thats when you may rise."

June Chus heart skipped a beat. She had heard of this Miss Bai, Vivian Bai, said to be rescued by Alex during a bandit raid. He had taken a liking to her the moment she arrived and given her a separate courtyard to live in, strictly forbidding anyone from the back house from approaching her, showing his deep affection.

Such a person, cherished in Alexs heart, was someone June Chu never dared to provoke, fearing any misstep would give Alex a pretext to expel her.

Mrs. Liu, sensing June Chu eavesdropping, turned to her with a stern look, her expression contemptuous upon seeing June Chus attire. She quickly averted her gaze and, in a measured tone, said: "Since Miss Chu is ready, lets go. Dont keep Lord Xiao waiting."

June Chu quickly agreed and was escorted by the two women, sandwiched like a criminal, towards the main house. Along the way, she couldnt help but ask: "I just heard something happened to Miss Bai? When did this occur?"

She didnt much care about Vivian Bais well-being, but she feared Alexs wrath might fall on her.

Because Mrs. Liu was present, the two women, despite their clear disdain, answered her: "It happened this morning. It snowed overnight, and Miss Bai wanted to collect some for tea, but she fell into the pond."

June Chu breathed a sigh of relief: "So it was this morning. That has nothing to do with me. I just got up... Mrs. Liu saw it."

Mrs. Lius tone was stern: "If it truly has nothing to do with you, Lord Xiao will not implicate you."

June Chus tense mood eased, and her steps became lighter. Although being summoned to the main house was not a good thing, the chance to see Alex more closely still filled her with joy.

The man was stingy with his presence; even when he visited her, it was usually at night, and she hadnt had a good look at him for a long time, missing him deeply.

Unconsciously, she quickened her pace and soon arrived at the main house. The door was open, and the courtyard was packed with people kneeling, cries of innocence, expressions of grievance, and intermingled sobs creating a chaotic scene.

Alex was not a man of lust, yet he had many concubines in his household鈥攕ome given by his birth mother, the princess, some sent by officials, and some bestowed by the crown prince and other royals. But like June Chu, who was brought back by him personally, there was only one.

Yet it made no difference; Alex still did not favor her.

Suddenly, someone pushed her from behind, and June Chu stumbled and fell to her knees. She looked back and saw it was one of the two women.

"Lord Xiao said, all concubines are to kneel here and reflect. You may rise when Miss Bai awakens."

June Chu thought this was unreasonable; she had nothing to do with this matter.

She saw Alex sitting far away in the main hall, his face dark as he spoke in hushed tones with someone, seemingly oblivious to the additional person in the courtyard.

June Chu bit her lip, feeling a pang of sourness. He indeed cared deeply for Miss Bai.

But no matter how much he liked her, June Chu was innocent. Why should she kneel and freeze in the cold winter?

She was about to cry out in, when a wail rang out. She was taken aback and instinctively covered her mouth, feeling her lips were closed, realizing it wasnt her who had cried out.

Another concubine was brought in, much more miserable than June Chu. She was dragged through the snow, her clothes wet and dirty, looking very disheveled.

"I am wronged. You dogs, how dare you treat me like this... Lord, I am wronged, wuwu..."

June Chu was about to follow suit when she caught sight of Alexs cold expression. There was no trace of pity in his eyes; witnessing his women being humiliated thus, he didnt even flinch.

A chill ran through her heart, and the word "wronged" stuck in her throat, unspoken for a long while.