Cai Wenji's Amelioration

【Beginning】
Cai Wenji’s nightmare lingered even after Dong Zhuo’s death. Since all the Dong’s properties were confiscated, Cai Wenji lost all her privileges and became a royal maid to work for a living.

Maid A: She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. There’s no way that she would know how to be a servant.

Maid B: Think about the amount of bribe Dong Zhuo had taken. How come she didn’t get any benefit?

Maid B: She must be a big spender and that’s why she ends up here.

In the laundry room, two maids kept throwing sarcasm at Cai Wenji, who pretended to hear nothing and focused on the laundry. The two maids then took their prank even further, pouring a bucket of dirty water on her.

Cai Wenji: AH!

Maid A: Oh sorry, slippery floor. But now you can wash yourself together with the laundry.

Maid B: Hahaha...Girl you’re naughty.

The two maids left with laughter.

Cai Wenji: “Everyone picks on me and insults me. I’ve had enough of this hellish life. I’ m not gonna let anyone trample on my ego again.”

An evil look appeared on Cai Wenji’s face when she looked at the clean laundry done by the maids…

【End】
A supervisor was inspecting the clean laundry.

Supervisor: Who the hell laundried these clothes?

Maid A: I...I did. May I ask what is the problem, ma’am?

Supervisor: How dare you ask? This is the gown of the emperor, and you scratched it! If he knows, we’ll all be punished!

Maid A: This...This is impossible! I’ve checked it! Ma’am, you gotta believe me!

Supervisor: This gown is worth more than your life and mine! You’ll take one hundred hits of caning punishment!

Maid A: That’s gonna break my pelvis...No! Please, mercy me!

Supervisor: What a piece of trash. Now I must come up with a solution…

Cai Wenji: Ma’am, may I help you with my needlework skills?

Supervisor: Mmm? If you’re overconfident about yourself, you’ll be doomed like her.

Cai Wenji: My life is worthless. The only thing matters is the emperor’s gown.

With her excellence at needlework, Cai Wenji mended the scratch like it had never been damaged before. She even washed the gown with the freshly picked flower, making the gown smell like blossom.

【Beginning】
Standing somewhere in the garden with a violin, Cai Wenji was waiting for the right timing. After a while, she started performing, filling the place with music.
A man, escorted by bodyguards, stopped walking because of the music.

Young Emperor: The music sounds so woeful...I’ve never heard a tune like this before.

【End】

Young Emperor: “She’s so beautiful. It aches my heart to see her sad.”

Young Emperor: I haven’t heard such a stunning tune for a long while. Are you a maid here?

Cai Wenji: Thank you, my lord. I’m a laundry maid. I have little knowledge in playing western music instruments.

Young Emperor: Well, violin is my favourite among all kinds of instruments.

When the young emperor approached Cai Wenji, he smelt a familiar floral scent.

Young Emperor: “She has the same aroma as my gown.”

Young Emperor: If you’re a laundry maid, I suppose you know where the aroma on my gown comes from?

Cai Wenji: Forgive me, my lord. I was hoping the scent of jasmine could be stress-relieving, so I washed your gown with it.

Young Emperor: Haha...My fair lady, your punishment will be spending the night with me.

Cai Wenji: “Luckily Dad once told me that violin was the emperor’s favourite. I finally made it.”

Cai Wenji: “No one can trample me as long as I have the emperor to back me!”

【Beginning】
It had been a few months ever since the encounter in the garden. Since then, Cai Wenji had become a concubine of the emperor. The emperor forgave her past, for he believed that he had found a soulmate. Meanwhile, Cai Wenji’s status rose as she became the favourite.

Young Emperor: Yan, this is the premium silk gifted by the foreign emissary. Do you want it to be tailored into your new clothes?

Cai Wenji: Silk is rare. I don’t want the others to think that I’m a big spender. Let’s give it to my sisters.

Young Emperor: Yan, how caring are you. Let me spend the night with you.

Cai Wenji: Thank you, my lord. I...Blargh…

Young Emperor: What’s wrong? Bring me a doctor!

Cai Wenji: That won’t be necessary, my lord. The doctor has visited already.

Young Emperor: What happened? Tell me!

Cai Wenji: The doctor said...I am pregnant, but that means I can’t serve you...

Young Emperor: Silly girl. This is the best news I’ve heard today! If this is a prince, I’ll give you everything you want!

【End】
Late at night, Cai Wenji summoned Cao Cao to a pavilion in the excuse of meeting with the emperor.

Cao Cao: Did the emperor’s favourite concubine just fake a royal command to meet me this late? Won’t you be afraid of pissing the emperor off?

Cai Wenji: Let’s cut to the chase. I want my son to become the heir to the throne. If you help me to get rid of the other princes, I’ll make you the prime minister.

Cao Cao: I thought you had something important to tell me. Are you done?

Cai Wenji: What do you mean? Are you suggesting my offer is trash?

Cao Cao: Don’t be overconfident about yourself. With your capability, living the rest of your life like this is the best offer on the table.

Cai Wenji: You! I can make you a dead man only by a scream!

Cao Cao: You have a thing in calling for help, don’t you? That reminds me of your underwear with your name on it in my mansion.

Cao Cao: You left it there when you asked me for help. Do you want me to hand it to the emperor?

Cai Wenji: You!

Cao Cao: Just behave yourself, Yan.

Cao Cao left right after warning Cai Wenji.

Cai Wenji: “I’ll never be safe as long as Cao Cao is in the picture. I must get rid of him.”

【Beginning】
Time flew. With her pregnancy, Cai Wenji earned herself a high position among all royal concubines. To secure the status of her son, she decided to do something. This day, she deliberately sat in a pavilion with a deep frown in order to catch the Emperor’s attention.

Young Emperor: Yan, you’re still in recovery after labouring. Why are you sitting out here? Does something bother you?

Cai Wenji: I’ve been having a bad feeling that someone’s trying to hurt me.

Cai Wenji: And a fortune-teller told me to beware of backstabbers a few weeks ago. What a coincidence…

Young Emperor: Who dares to hurt my Yan? I shall take care of that for you.

【End】
Cai Wenji then accused Cao Cao of owning a private army to expand his force. She made an accusation that he had been conspiring ever since her pregnancy.

Cai Wenji: I know that Cao Cao is a cold-blooded man. As long as he lives, I’ll always be haunted by his existence...

Young Emperor: This is outrageous! I shall punish this traitor!

Cai Wenji: Cao Cao is protected by a skillful bodyguard. If we want to take him down, we must catch him unprepared.

Young Emperor: Yan, do you have any idea?

Cai Wenji: I do...Cao Cao and I are from the same hometown. I can set up a meeting to discuss tomb-sweeping with him. He won’t suspect a weak woman like me.

Cai Wenji: By that time, our men can catch him unprotected and wipe him out for good.

Young Emperor: But...will that put you in danger?

Cai Wenji: Cao Cao is a very cautious man. We don’t have many choices to make him drop his guard.

Cai Wenji: If that can help solve your problem, I’ m willing to suffer a little. Besides, my lord, you’ll keep me safe, won’t you?

Young Emperor: Of course I’ll keep you safe. Alright! I’ll send the elite guards and assassins to eliminate that piece of filth.

Cai Wenji: My lord, thank you for making things right for me.

Young Emperor: Don’t be silly, Yan. I’m so lucky to have you.

Cai Wenji: “Cao Cao, your time has come.”