The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 39

She looked at the smiling figure before her, her mind seemingly bewitched. Thump—thump— Her heart burned, and her thoughts were in disarray.

You’ve also become pleasing to the eye.

The words lingered on the tip of her tongue, eventually transforming into a bittersweet sensation that settled in her chest.

Bai Zhi swallowed hard, gripping the teacup in her hand and gulping down several mouthfuls before she managed to calm herself.

Wei Ziwan watched her intently, the smile in her eyes dark and inscrutable. The sight of Bai Zhi, flustered yet forcing herself to remain composed, seemed to confirm a certain suspicion she had harbored.

This eunuch’s thoughts…

But at a time like this, without a single word of acknowledgment, Wei Ziwan couldn’t help but wonder if she was overthinking things. Perhaps it was just human nature. Any ordinary woman might react the same way.

“Husband, it’s getting late. Let’s rest early.” Wei Ziwan said softly.

Bai Zhi, who had just set down her cup, looked up at the sound. She swallowed, her throat dry, and replied, “Alright.”

Her voice was hoarse and low.

Even though she had just finished a cup of water, her throat felt as parched as if she hadn’t drunk anything in a long time.

Wei Ziwan was momentarily stunned, then glanced at Bai Zhi. The person across the table quickly turned her head away, pretending to pour more water.

Wei Ziwan watched as Bai Zhi, with a serious expression, poured water, her gaze lingering on the ears that had turned red at some point.

Her heartbeat suddenly quickened. Without hesitation, she turned and walked to the bed, undressed, and lay down. Almost instinctively, she turned her back to Bai Zhi, leaving her with only the back of her head.

Bai Zhi looked at the now-full cup of water and suddenly felt no longer thirsty.

—

The next morning, she woke up from the cold.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt a chill on her back, especially at the nape of her neck, which was almost frozen.

Bai Zhi slowly sat up and looked at Wei Ziwan, who was still asleep. She could imagine that last night, they had been lying back-to-back, the quilt between them lifted, allowing the cold air to seep into the gap.

No wonder she had felt so cold.

She thoughtfully tucked the quilt around Wei Ziwan and sighed silently. Even though they had doubled up the quilts, the thickness was sufficient, but the width wasn’t enough—it was too narrow.

Especially given their sleeping habits.

She had reason to suspect that this troublemaker, like herself, had intentionally maintained some distance, giving the cold air a chance to invade. It seemed they needed a wider quilt.

Otherwise, they would surely catch a cold sooner or later.

—

“Miss Bai, Miss Wei—” A soft call came from outside the door.

Bai Zhi glanced at Wei Ziwan, who was frowning in her sleep, and quickly walked over to open the door. In a low voice, she said, “Quiet.”

The servant immediately closed his mouth, not daring to speak another word.

Seeing this, Bai Zhi’s expression softened slightly. “What is it?”

“The young master has asked you and Miss Wei to come to the main hall.” the servant said, bowing his head and lowering his voice.

Bai Zhi nodded in acknowledgment, then, after a moment of thought, went to the main hall alone.

When she arrived, she noticed that, aside from Bai Li, there was also a familiar woman in a crimson dress. If she remembered correctly, this was the daughter of the late Manager Lu: Lu Qu’er.

Bai Zhi blinked, slightly puzzled, and a faint sense of foreboding crept into her heart.

Seeing that only Bai Zhi had come, Bai Li pointed to Lu Qu’er and said, “Mr. Qiu is busy with important matters. From now on, Miss Lu will assist you with all farming-related affairs.”

Bai Zhi quickly refused, “No need. We don’t require anyone’s assistance.”

It was clear that Mr. Qiu no longer wanted to guide them, and this so-called cousin had arranged for someone else to take his place—someone Bai Zhi didn’t have a good impression of.

She remembered clearly that not long ago, this Miss Lu had pointed at her as the murderer at the crime scene.

Unexplained hostility was always memorable.

“This is my father’s arrangement.” Bai Li said, rubbing his temples. He had anticipated that things wouldn’t go smoothly. Based on Mr. Qiu’s account, it seemed his cousin had developed some grievances against the manor.

He didn’t know what his father was thinking, allowing Mr. Qiu to resign and then arranging for Lu Qu’er to assist his cousin, as per Mr. Qiu’s suggestion.

Bai Zhi couldn’t help but frown, her tone heavy. “Is this really necessary?” Must they disregard their own wishes like this?

Bai Li replied sternly, “This is my father’s decision.”

His father’s orders were never wrong. His expression was resolute, and his tone brooked no argument.

Lu Qu’er, who had been silent all this time, stood to the side as if indifferent to any arrangements.

Bai Zhi clenched her fists but ultimately said nothing.

A quarter of an hour later, Wei Ziwan watched as two people approached, one after the other. She instinctively frowned but quickly regained her composure.

“Husband, you’re back. And this must be Miss Lu?”

“Yes.” Bai Zhi replied indifferently, her expression complex, as if she had a thousand things to say.

She gave a soft acknowledgment and walked straight into the room, completely ignoring Lu Qu’er behind her.

Wei Ziwan raised an eyebrow. There was an outsider present, yet Bai Zhi had rushed inside without a word of explanation.

She forced a smile and said to Lu Qu’er, “My husband has always been like this. Please wait here for a moment.”

She didn’t know what had gotten into that eunuch. Normally, Bai Zhi was warm and courteous to outsiders, reserving her cold demeanor only for Wei Ziwan. Now, it seemed there was another person who received the same treatment.

Wei Ziwan’s heart tightened, and a faint sense of discomfort washed over her. When she entered the room, her tone was less than pleasant. “You left without a word and brought back such a beauty. The radishes haven’t even been sold yet, and you’re already in the mood for distractions?”

Bai Zhi’s mouth twitched.

What beauty?

In terms of looks, she was nowhere near as beautiful as this troublemaker!

What nonsense.

“It was my uncle’s order. He said we should discuss everything with Miss Lu from now on. It’s all so absurd and just adding to our troubles.”

Seeing Bai Zhi’s annoyed expression and hearing her tone, Wei Ziwan’s discomfort dissipated somewhat. She smiled nonchalantly and said, “What’s the trouble? We can just ignore her. It’s not like she’ll force herself on us.”

Hearing this, Bai Zhi’s mood improved slightly. “You’re right. We’ll just ignore her. It doesn’t matter who sent her.”

As long as Miss Lu didn’t actively cause trouble, they could coexist peacefully. What worried Bai Zhi was whether Miss Lu, like Mr. Qiu, would act unpredictably.

“Miss Bai, Miss Wei.” A knock came from outside, as if Lu Qu’er, having waited too long, couldn’t help but call out to them.

Bai Zhi snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at Wei Ziwan, who looked calm. She walked over and opened the door.

Lu Qu’er, seeing the door open, made no move to enter. She simply stood outside and said indifferently, “The most pressing matter now is how to deal with those unsold radishes. Business comes first. What are your plans?”

Bai Zhi couldn’t help but study the woman before her. Her expression was blank, devoid of emotion, like a soulless shell. Even her words carried no feeling.

“No need to trouble yourself, Miss Lu. We have our own plans.”

Lu Qu’er frowned. “What plans do you have?”

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow and deliberately looked up at the sky. “It’s getting late, Miss Lu. You should head back early. Our matters are no concern of yours.”

Lu Qu’er’s mouth twitched. It was clearly still morning, and the sky was bright. This person was really good at lying through her teeth.

But then again, she had never wanted to work with these two in the first place. This was just as well.

If you don’t welcome me, I’m not interested either.

With that thought, she left without another word, her face cold.

Seeing her leave, Bai Zhi swiftly closed the door and turned back. “She’s at least more sensible than that annoying Mr. Qiu.”

Wei Ziwan, however, replied with a cold expression, “She’s quite beautiful too, delicate and fragile—the kind of beauty that makes people want to protect her.”

Bai Zhi’s heart tightened, and her nerves inexplicably tensed. “Oh? Do you feel protective of her?”

What was this troublemaker getting at? In such a short time, she had already referred to Miss Lu as a beauty twice.

Could it be…?

Her heart burned. Was it possible?

Did she like women…

But she was also a woman. Why hadn’t this troublemaker shown any interest in her…?

What nonsense.

What did it matter to her whom this troublemaker liked…?

Noticing Bai Zhi’s increasingly strange expression, Wei Ziwan curved her lips into a playful smile and said in a teasing tone, “How could I dare to feel protective of anyone else? But what about you, husband? Do you feel protective of her?”

“Why would I feel protective of anyone else?” Bai Zhi instinctively denied, but her mind was still echoing Wei Ziwan’s words: How could I dare to feel protective of anyone else? If she didn’t feel protective of others, did that mean she would feel protective of her?

Distracted, Bai Zhi absentmindedly touched her chest.

What was going on?

Her heart was racing, and her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

It was all this troublemaker’s fault, stirring up her emotions again.

Wei Ziwan, seeing Bai Zhi’s increasingly peculiar expression, was about to say something when another knock came from outside. This time, it was the people from Lou Shang Lou who had arrived.

As before, Bai Li exchanged a few pleasantries with Manager Xi and his group. Upon hearing their purpose, he was shocked. His cousin was truly remarkable.

Meanwhile, Mr. Qiu’s expression froze, filled with disbelief. “You’re here to buy the radishes Bai Zhi planted? At double the price? And you want all of them?”

Was Lou Shang Lou some kind of charity? He had heard about the last time they bought twenty stones of soybeans at double the price, but this time…

This time, it was a bit too much.

The four acres of radishes had to amount to at least seven or eight hundred stones. So many radishes, at double the price—were they planning to build a house with them?

Did Lou Shang Lou have money to burn?

Manager Xi smiled brightly. “Of course. As long as the radishes were planted by Brother Bai and Miss Wei, Lou Shang Lou will take all of them.”

His words were also a reminder to everyone that they were only interested in the radishes planted by Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan. The radishes grown by others in the manor were of no concern to them.

Lou Shang Lou’s money wasn’t made by the wind. This was a business transaction, not a charity.

Bai Li understood the underlying meaning in Manager Xi’s words and couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his eye. The manor hadn’t planted many radishes to begin with. It was only Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan, with their boldness, who had gone all out and planted so many.

They had recklessly planted such a large quantity of radishes, never expecting that Lou Shang Lou would make an equally grand gesture.

Manager Xi, seeing the varied expressions and the tacit silence of the crowd, was puzzled. He looked at Bai Zhi. What was going on with these people?

Had his imposing demeanor and a few casual remarks scared them all into silence?

Bai Zhi: “…”

She, too, wanted to remain silent. Although she had already come to terms with the situation, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt when facing Manager Xi.

—

Author’s Note:

Bai Zhi: Feeling guilty, can’t bring myself to speak.

Wei Ziwan: Have some backbone. I’ll handle it.

Bai Zhi: My wife is mighty, my wife is the best!