The Vicious Empress's Scum Wife (GL) - Chapter 016

As noon approached, Lin Yanran finally stopped hammering. A moment later, she breathlessly moved something into the room, carefully placing it in the corner.

Qin Mingyue squinted, noticing it was a simple, half-human-height wooden shelf. The shelf had three tiers, and the first tier held a row of books.

So, this was what she had been clanging away at earlier.

Lin Yanran said, “I made you a bookshelf and found some books to entertain you. These are all the books I could find in town for now; please bear with them.”

Qin Mingyue turned her face away, pretending not to hear.

Lin Yanran quietly exited.

••••

On the third day, Chen Xiaohua brought Black Tiger. The dog was strong and large, and exceptionally well-trained, clearly a good guard dog!

The most peculiar thing was that Grape wasn’t afraid of Black Tiger at all. As soon as she saw him, she affectionately went forward, rubbing and snuggling. Lin Yanran clicked her tongue, “How are they so familiar?”

Chen Xiaohua said, “Sister Yanran, don’t you remember? You once asked my father for Black Tiger, but he refused. Then, when Black Tiger had puppies, you took one.”

Only then did Lin Yanran realize that Grape was actually Black Tiger’s daughter. It was a shame that the original owner, that scoundrel, had abused such a fine wolfdog descendant so terribly.

She sighed, then led Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua to familiarize themselves with the house, inside and out, teaching them how to cook. Lin Cuicui showed no talent for cooking, but Chen Xiaohua impressed her.

••••

Lin Yanran’s objective achieved, she immediately entered the room. She pulled aside the door curtain and stood at the doorway, asking, “Mingyue, I’m going to participate in the spring hunt early tomorrow morning, staying away for about three days. I’ve invited two younger sisters to look after you. Would you like to meet them?”

The graceful figure, seated at the table with her back to Lin Yanran, engrossed in a medical book, remained silent for a long time.

Lin Yanran’s heart sank halfway. She released the door curtain, about to turn, when she heard a calm voice from within.

“Let them into the main hall.”

Lin Yanran breathed a sigh of relief. She stepped out and instructed Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua, telling them to go into the main hall and wait.

The two girls stood side by side in the main hall, nervous and timid like two quails. After a moment, the door curtain was lifted, and Qin Mingyue slowly walked out. Her ankle injury hadn’t fully healed, but her posture was gracefully upright. She paused at the doorway, her eyes calmly looking at the two, and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Lin Yanran didn’t go in, sitting on the porch to eavesdrop. Sure enough, she heard Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua’s gasps.

The two stood dumbfounded, staring at Qin Mingyue, who was more beautiful than any fairy descended to earth. Their minds were blank. It took a while before they remembered to answer.

Soon, the two tiptoed out.

Because they dared not make too much noise walking, their demeanor was quite comical.

They took a step, then looked back, continuing until they reached the center of the courtyard, their faces still wearing that dreamy, dazed expression.

“Xiaohua, pinch me. I’m not dreaming, am I?”

Chen Xiaohua immediately pinched her. Lin Cuicui let out a small “ouch.” Chen Xiaohua said, “Looks like we’re really not dreaming. Sister Yanran’s wife is as beautiful as a fairy.”

Lin Yanran cut them off: “Did you see my wife?”

They nodded dazedly.

Lin Yanran said, “Remember, my wife is a fairy descended from heaven. She doesn’t easily reveal herself to others. You only met her because of fate. Do not speak carelessly after you leave, understand? Otherwise, the immortal will be displeased.”

Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua quickly nodded.

••••

Early the next morning, Lin Yanran packed her dry provisions and bow and arrows, then entered the room and placed a newly made wooden box on the table.

She pointed to the items inside and said, “This white porcelain bottle contains sleeping medicine. You only need to sprinkle about a fingernail’s worth into the air to incapacitate an adult male. But before you sprinkle it, remember to cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth.”

“The green porcelain bottle is an antidote. Just smell it, and you’ll regain consciousness.”

Qin Mingyue had ignored her like air for the past few days, but hearing this, she immediately looked up at Lin Yanran.

Lin Yanran’s heart filled with joy. She took a piece of paper from the wooden box and handed it over.

“This is my promise to you. On it is the recipe for the pheromone-inhibiting pills I developed. You must know Liu Zhenzhen’s Cooling Pill. My recipe is even more effective than the Cooling Pill. Selling one for a hundred taels won’t be a problem, so you don’t have to worry about the usury debt.”

“However, one of the ingredients isn’t available in Fenghuang Town. Once I return, I’ll go to Shimen County to purchase it, and then I can make the pills.”

At this point, Lin Yanran’s tone was subtly proud. She had deciphered the Cooling Pill and, with her masterful pharmacological knowledge, made extremely subtle adjustments to each ingredient. Just small adjustments had increased the original efficacy threefold!

This was precisely what was meant by “a miss by a hair’s breadth leads to a thousand li.”

Qin Mingyue immediately recalled that three days ago, when Lin Yanran was about to kill her, she had said, “Three days, give me three days.”

So, this was her answer.

Her expression remained calm; she didn’t even reach for the paper covered in writing.

Pheromone inhibition had always been a lifelong challenge for physicians, and many renowned doctors from all over the world had failed at it.

For a coarse hunter to claim to produce pheromone-inhibiting pills was simply wishful thinking!

Lin Yanran saw her disbelief. She gently placed the paper in front of her, then lifted her left hand from beneath the table and took out the concealed dagger.

“That day, your dagger fell to the ground. I picked it up and forgot about it. Keep it for self-defense. No matter what, don’t hurt yourself.”

Qin Mingyue had noticed the dagger was missing the moment she woke up that day and immediately guessed that Lin Yanran had taken it. She didn’t believe a single word Lin Yanran said.

*This scumbag returning the dagger was just because she was going out hunting and couldn’t be harmed.*

After doing all this, Lin Yanran considered for a moment. The repayment deadline for Yuanbao Gambling House’s loan hadn’t arrived, so Wu Yuan shouldn’t bother her prematurely. Plus, she had Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua’s Black Tiger.

With her plans settled, she said no more, stood up, and walked out.

Qin Mingyue watched through the window as Lin Yanran, with a quiver on her back and a curved bow slung across her body, her hair tied high, its ends swaying behind her, exuded a vibrant and confident air.

Then the main door creaked shut, and the entire courtyard instantly became quiet.

Her perpetually tormented heart also settled with the sound of that closing door.

••••

Lin Yanran arrived at the training ground. It was already crowded with people, roughly ten or more Qianyuans and over sixty Zhongyongs.

She deliberately searched for Li Qing and Zhu Shiyu but found neither. Lin Yanran inquired and learned that both, relying on their family wealth, had bought out their shares, so they didn’t have to participate in this spring hunt.

*Indeed, money allows one to do whatever they want.* Lin Yanran gritted her teeth.

Lin Dahai was calling out names. He then noticed Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua were absent and roared in anger. A moment later, Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua came running from a distance, supporting each other, continuously vomiting as they ran.

Lin Dahai was furious: “You wretched girls, I told you repeatedly not to eat bad food, and now something happens right before we leave! I’ll whip you to death!”

He raised the leather whip in his hand. Lin Yanran stepped forward and grabbed the tail of the whip.

“Punishing your own people before a battle risks a bad start. Uncle Lin, calm down. They’re just young girls, and only Zhongyongs. It won’t affect the spring hunt.”

Lin Dahai was still fuming, refusing to let it go and insisting on punishing them.

Lin Yanran stood with her arms crossed, squinting at the crowd.

“Are there so many Qianyuans here that you can’t hunt just because two Zhongyongs are missing? Bah!”

She spat fiercely, then turned to Lin Dahai: “Are you going or not? I left my wife to come for this spring hunt, and I’m already impatient. If you keep dawdling like this, I’m not going.”

Lin Dahai stomped his foot in anger: “You dare?”

Lin Yanran met his gaze fearlessly: “What kind of hero are you, bickering with a young girl? For this hunt, I’ll give up one of my catches to count as their share!”

The original owner had a despicable character, but she was truly excellent at hunting, always catching two or three large prey during each outing.

A single roe deer, once boned and sold for meat and fur, could fetch at least two or three taels, much more than what could be squeezed from those two girls. Lin Dahai never made a losing deal. After calculating, his anger immediately turned to joy: “You said it! No regretting it later!”

Lin Yanran quickly turned to Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua: “Why aren’t you going home yet?”

Receiving the hint, the two immediately limped away.

They kept running until they were out of sight of the crowd. The two girls then stopped, looked at each other, and covered their mouths, giggling together.

“Xiaohua, Sister Yanran is really amazing!”

“Yeah, even our uncle was bluffed by her. It’s such a pity she lost a piece of prey, worth several taels of silver!”

Lin Cuicui clenched her fists, her expression firm: “We got a huge advantage. We must guard Sister Yanran’s home and protect sister-in-law to repay Sister Yanran!”

••••

Lin Dahai began to divide the teams. Each Qianyuan led five Zhongyongs, dispersing into the forest.

Lin Yanran was indifferent to her teammates. This hunt was just to fulfill her duty. After the spring hunt, she wanted to ask Lin Dahai for a few acres of land to focus on researching high-yield crops, which she had been studying in her previous life. Then, she could farm, sell pills, and occasionally hunt in her leisure time, maybe even have a barbecue in the courtyard. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stood still, two Zhongyongs immediately walked towards her.

“Yanran, can we team up with you?”

They were the two male Zhongyongs who had come to work at her house with Lin Dahai that day. Before Lin Yanran could speak, her neighbor Chi Bao also walked over with his bow and arrows: “Yanran, I want to be with you. I have some strength and can help you carry the prey.”

The two Zhongyongs quickly vied to express themselves.

“Yanran, I’m fast, I can help you drive the prey!”

“Yanran, I’m good at tracking prey!”

Of course, she had to agree to such good fortune.

Lin Yanran nodded, and the three quickly stood behind her.

At this moment, Lin Feng, taking advantage of Lin Dahai’s distraction, quickly ran over with Lin Jianghe.

“Yanran, we want to be with you too.”

Lin Yanran was a bit bewildered. *When did she become so popular?*

Lin Dahai noticed his own son and nephew had both gone to Lin Yanran’s team, and his face turned dark with anger. Lin Shan even came over with a whip, sweeping it across Lin Feng and Lin Jianghe’s faces: “I’m giving you one last chance. Choose me or her?”

Lin Feng and Lin Jianghe’s faces clearly showed a hint of fear. They looked at Lin Yanran for help.

Lin Yanran said solemnly, “Who you want to choose is your own business.” To be her teammate, they had to be resolute. Before that, she wouldn’t give any guarantees.

Disappointment appeared in Lin Feng and Lin Jianghe’s eyes. Lin Shan grinned menacingly: “Come back now, and I won’t punish you. Hmph, otherwise—”

Lin Feng remembered past instances of being whipped by Lin Shan, and his face instantly turned pale. Lin Shan thought he was wavering and grinned triumphantly. But then he saw Lin Feng clench his fists, abruptly lower his head, and stand rooted to the spot as if his feet were nailed down, not moving an inch.

Lin Jianghe, who was still hesitating, seeing Lin Feng’s stance, also lowered his head.

Lin Shan, enraged, lashed out with his whip towards Lin Feng’s face, but Lin Yanran caught it with one hand. She wore a smile, but her eyes held a chilling intensity.

“Lin Shan, try to touch my people.”

Lin Shan tugged at the whip, finding it unmoving. He glared at her resentfully, then dropped a harsh warning to his younger brother and cousin: “Don’t you dare regret this!”

The Qianyuan leading the neighboring team was a cross-eyed youth, with a vulture perched on his shoulder and a hunting dog lying at his feet. He looked intimidating. At this moment, he arrogantly shouted, “Lin Shan, you’re gutless! You can’t even handle your own brother. Have your father marry Lin Cuicui to me as a concubine, and I’ll give you a share of my prey from this hunt. How about it?”

Lin Yanran narrowed her eyes: “Who is this person?”

Lin Feng whispered, “He’s Guo Wang, the son of Liu Fu’s younger brother-in-law, who owns the Sifang Inn. Guo Wang originally lived in Shimen County, but he heard about our town’s spring hunt and wanted to try it out.”

So, he was a rich man here to experience life.

“What’s this about Lin Cuicui becoming his concubine?”

Lin Feng said indignantly, “Last time Cuicui went to the county town with my father to buy supplies, he saw her and begged Liu Fu to propose marriage, wanting to take my sister as a concubine.”

“Uncle Lin agreed?”

“My father originally wanted to agree, but my mother heard that this person had already beaten two concubines to death, so she refused adamantly.”

Lin Yanran lightly plucked a bowstring, her tone cryptic: “Someone’s offering us a good deal.”

••••

Lin Cuicui, with her bow and arrows on her back, and Chen Xiaohua, leading the wolfdog Black Tiger, entered Lin Yanran’s courtyard together and then latched the main gate.

Grape was already familiar with them. She wagged her tail, ran over from the corner, and circled Black Tiger affectionately.

The two girls instinctively looked towards the window of the main room. Thinking of the fairy-like person inside, they became inexplicably nervous, fearing that their arrival would disturb her.

Chen Xiaohua whispered, “Cuicui, should we go say hello to sister-in-law, the fairy?”

Lin Cuicui pursed her lips, staring at the window for a while, then uncertainly said, “No, I don’t think so. Sister Yanran said we’re responsible for taking care of and protecting sister-in-law, and we shouldn’t disturb her normally.”

Chen Xiaohua immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, the door of the main hall creaked open, and Qin Mingyue appeared in the doorway, looking at them.

Chen Xiaohua and Lin Cuicui nervously glanced at her. Illuminated by her rose-like beauty, they immediately felt inferior and dared not look directly, hurriedly lowering their heads again.

“Fairy, sister-in-law fairy.”

The two greeted her nervously. Chen Xiaohua secretly pressed Black Tiger’s head down, and Black Tiger immediately lay obediently on the ground, even closing his mouth.

“Come here,” Qin Mingyue said, turning and walking to the table. Being injured, she moved slowly.

Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua only felt that her movements were like a weak willow swaying in the wind, her posture so beautiful that even the fairies in murals would pale in comparison. When they dazedly reached the entrance of the main hall, they saw Qin Mingyue slowly sit down, serene like a delicate flower reflecting in water. As her calm, profound ink-dark eyes looked over, Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua suddenly didn’t know what to do with their hands and feet.

Neither dared to speak, much less move.

Qin Mingyue naturally saw their nervousness.

She subtly furrowed her brow. Lin Yanran was from the same town as them and was a relative. Logically, her words and actions should be very similar to theirs. Yet, Lin Yanran gave her a completely different impression than Lin Cuicui and the others.

When facing her, although Lin Yanran occasionally showed guilt and panic, she was mostly composed. Even when their eyes met, she didn’t show any weakness.

She detested Lin Yanran to the core and would ruthlessly kill her given the chance, yet she had to admit that Lin Yanran possessed a calm demeanor that others lacked.

It was easy for a person to feign words and actions, but it was incredibly difficult to feign a demeanor; it required long-term cultivation and habituation to achieve.

She didn’t seem like the Lin Yanran who pretended to please her after her rebirth. Could it be that she had truly been possessed before?

This thought flashed through Qin Mingyue’s mind and was then discarded. She raised her hand and gently rubbed her temple, asking, “Have they left for the hunt?”

Lin Cuicui quickly said, “Sister-in-law, Sister Yanran and the others have already left.”

Qin Mingyue lowered her hand. Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua unconsciously followed her hand, watching as her long, fair hand rested on the wooden tabletop, beautiful like a painting. Then, her index finger lightly lifted, tapping rhythmically on the tabletop.

The sound was very soft, but each tap inexplicably made Lin Cuicui and Chen Xiaohua nervous.

After the sixth tap, Qin Mingyue looked at Lin Cuicui: “You’re good at archery?”

Lin Cuicui quickly nodded: “Yes, yes, sister-in-law.”

Qin Mingyue said, “Then can you help me shoot a few pigeons?”

Lin Cuicui paused, then nodded affirmatively: “Okay, sister-in-law. I’ll go shoot some for you right away.”

Qin Mingyue tapped her finger again: “I need live pigeons, even if they’re injured, they can still fly. Can you do that?”

Lin Cuicui was stunned again. This time, she thought for a long while, and even Chen Xiaohua looked at her nervously.

“Sister-in-law, I, I don’t know. Can I go try?”

Qin Mingyue’s voice softened: “Go ahead.”

As if given a command, the two girls’ hearts settled back into their chests. They dazedly turned, dazedly walked out, and only when they reached the courtyard did they seem to return to their own poor and crude world of Fenghuang Town.

Chen Xiaohua whispered, “Cuicui, what does sister-in-law, the fairy, want pigeons for?”

Lin Cuicui said, “I don’t know. Sister Yanran said sister-in-law is sick and bored, so maybe she wants to keep a few pigeons to relieve her boredom.”

Chen Xiaohua said, “I know where there are pigeons. On the mountain west of town, pigeons often fly by, sometimes several of them. My father used to say they were called carrier pigeons or something. Let’s go there.”