Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Wei Lan ignored him and walked straight ahead, then she met Qianxue and others who hurriedly approached.

Cao Qiushuang saw Qianxue, and his eyes lit up. “Miss Qianxue? Why did you come? I was just about to find the young lady.”

Qianxue did not give Cao Qiushuang a glance but saluted Wei Lan. “My lord, are you alright? The young lady specially sent me to receive you.”

Wei Lan nodded to her. “I’m fine.”

“My lord, please.” Qianxue made a gesture to Wei Lan, indicating she should go first.

Cao Qiushuang reached out from behind. “Wait for us.”

Qianxue did not give him even half a glance and led the maids to follow Wei Lan. She reminded, “My lord, the young lady waits in the study.”

“Good.” Wei Lan responded once. Her mood was quite bad at this moment, and the joy of selling jade was also diminished.

Cao Qiushuang gritted his teeth and followed. He dared to disrespect Wei Lan because he thought Wei Lan was not valued by the young lady, but he did not dare disrespect the young lady’s chief maid. So, he swallowed his anger and endured.

But Cao Qiushuang imagined Wei Lan being scorned later, and thinking this, he felt extremely comfortable in his heart.

Soon, Wei Lan and the others entered Jingchen Courtyard. Wei Lan walked straight to Lu Zijin’s study.

Lu Zijin sat on a round stool waiting. Seeing her arrive, she quickly stood and asked, “What happened?”

Wei Lan, in a bad mood, carelessly wiped the sweat from her face’s side. Then she said, “I also want to know what happened. Suddenly, several mad dogs from the mansion chased and bit me.”

Lu Zijin saw sweat on Wei Lan’s face and neck and quickly ordered, “Qing Zhi, get someone to fetch water. I will help my lord wipe the sweat.”

Wei Lan always came to her clean and neat. When had she ever seen Wei Lan so disheveled? Even in bed, she couldn’t bear to bully Wei Lan too much. How dared others do this?

Thinking this, Lu Zijin’s face grew cold. Her gaze swept to Cao Qiushuang and several guards.

Cao Qiushuang saw Lu Zijin look at him and raised a smug smile. “Young lady, Wei Lan, she…”

“Get out.”

Cao Qiushuang’s words were not finished before Lu Zijin’s scolding interrupted him.

Cao Qiushuang froze for a moment, then spoke unwillingly. “Young lady, she made a mistake…”

“What? Does this Lu Mansion now belong to you? Get out and wait.” Lu Zijin coldly glanced at them.

Cao Qiushuang’s face flushed redder than a pig’s kidney. His mouth opened and closed, but finally, he gritted his teeth and went out.

He and nine other guards did not go far, standing at the study’s door. Cao Qiushuang’s chest heaved, nearly fainting from anger. But he had no choice. Though he was the guard leader, he was still just a servant of the Lu Mansion. He dared not defy Lu Zijin.

But the young lady had just scolded him like that. What face did he have left in front of his brothers?

Cao Qiushuang thought this and felt he wanted to kill Wei Lan. But imagining the young lady scolding Wei Lan harshly after learning she stole, he felt balanced in his heart.

Cao Qiushuang comforted himself for a while. Lifting his eyes, he nearly lost control from anger.

In the study, Lu Zijin had just wet a cloth. She gently wiped the sweat from Wei Lan’s face and neck, saying softly, “They’re just a few servants. Don’t argue with them. What if you get sick from anger?”

Lu Zijin’s movements were gentle. The cloth, soaked in cool water, felt icy on the face. Wei Lan truly felt less angry than before.

Lu Zijin wiped her neck with one hand and touched Wei Lan’s face with the other. “I’m here. I’m the master of this Lu Mansion. As long as I’m here, I can protect you for a day.”

Lu Zijin’s hand, just touched by cool water, felt icy on Wei Lan’s face. The anger in Wei Lan’s heart was somewhat extinguished.

Seeing the little Qianyuan seemed less angry, Lu Zijin asked, “What exactly happened?”

Wei Lan glanced at her and said, “This morning, I took my carved jade to sell. In the afternoon, when I returned, Cao Qiushuang and the guards waited at the back, saying I secretly took mansion items to pawn. They said many unbearable words and insisted on dragging me here to confront you.”

Wei Lan took a breath and continued, “I sold my carved pieces to Yuya Pavilion. If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to Yuya Pavilion to verify. I’m upright and didn’t take anything from the mansion.”

Lu Zijin gave her a faint smile. “Why say angry words? I naturally believe you. Don’t be angry. The small kitchen just made ice milk. I saved some for you. Shall I have it brought?”

“Hmm.” Wei Lan responded once, somewhat soothed by Lu Zijin. She had thought if Lu Zijin didn’t believe her, she would quit. No matter how good soft rice tasted, she wouldn’t endure anger. But now, Lu Zijin seemed to believe her.

Lu Zijin sent someone to get the ice milk. When it arrived, Lu Zijin pulled Wei Lan to sit and eat.

“You sit and eat first. I will handle these messy matters.” Lu Zijin, fearing Wei Lan would get angry, coaxed her to eat. Then she called Cao Qiushuang and the others in.

“Let them roll in.” Lu Zijin, sitting beside Wei Lan, said.

“Yes.” Qianxue immediately went to pass the message.

Soon, the ten guards entered the study. They stood in a row.

Lu Zijin coldly scanned them. Several guards already began sweating coldly. They had signed servitude contracts. Even if the master beat them to death, the authorities wouldn’t care.

And seeing the young lady’s attitude toward Wei Lan, she clearly favored her, even pampered her. Had they known, they wouldn’t have followed Cao Qiushuang into this mess. Now, they deeply regretted it.

Among them, Wang Yiding regretted the most. He had told Cao Qiushuang this news, thinking Wei Lan was disliked. By reporting this, he could gain favor with the young lady and Cao Qiushuang. But he didn’t expect this outcome. Who spread that Wei Lan was not favored? It truly harmed him!

Among the ten, Cao Qiushuang was the most defiant. He stared at Wei Lan stubbornly. He couldn’t understand why the young lady treated a useless person so well. Just because of her good-looking face?

Lu Zijin had long wanted to replace the mansion’s guard leader. But the letter she sent to Zhuozhou would take time, and her cousin’s people would need at least a month. So, she wasn’t in a hurry to replace them but planned to discipline these servants first.

Lu Zijin didn’t rush to speak. Her silence made the guards more uneasy. This young lady was decisive with shopkeepers, and her commanding aura intimidated them. Several lowered their heads, not daring to look at Lu Zijin. Only Cao Qiushuang still stared at Wei Lan defiantly.

Lu Zijin leisurely sipped tea, then raised her eyes and asked, “Tell me, why did you disrespect my lord?”

Cao Qiushuang, scolded twice to get out, hesitated to speak first. He signaled Wang Yiding to explain.

Wang Yiding didn’t look at him, head lowered, sweat dripping to the floor.

Cao Qiushuang tugged Wang Yiding. Seeing no response, he took a deep breath and said stubbornly, “I want to report Wei Lan. This morning, she took a large bundle from the mansion. When she returned in the afternoon, the bundle was gone. We suspect she pawned mansion items.”

Lu Zijin looked at him coldly. “Is that so?”

“Yes, young lady. We are loyal to you, just afraid you’d be deceived by this pretty face…”

“Shut up. What are you? Dare to speak of her like that?” Lu Zijin sneered and questioned, “Do you have evidence? Without proof, you dared detain the mansion’s lord. Will you detain me one day to become the Lu Mansion’s master?”

“Young lady, I’m always loyal to you. As the guard leader, I can’t tolerate any deceit. Even if she’s the lord, she shouldn’t sell mansion items.” Cao Qiushuang remained arrogant, feeling justified.

“Can’t you understand words? Fool. Even without evidence, so what? Wei Lan is my Qianyuan and the mansion’s lord. She’s not like you servants. My Lu family’s items—my Qianyuan can sell them if she wants. It’s not for you servants to manage.”

Lu Zijin’s gaze swept over them coldly. “But you, I’ve been busy with external matters this year. Have you forgotten the mansion’s rules? Think I’m soft and won’t punish you?”

“Young lady, spare us!” Wang Yiding first knelt to Lu Zijin, kowtowing repeatedly.

Though they signed servitude contracts, the Lu Mansion paid better than other wealthy households in Panyang City. He didn’t want to be sold off.

Seeing Wang Yiding kneel, the other guards immediately knelt, kowtowing and admitting fault.

“Young lady, spare us. It’s our mistake, our confusion.”

“Young lady, forgive us. We won’t meddle in the lord’s affairs again.”

Lu Zijin coldly looked at Cao Qiushuang. Now, only he still stood.

Cao Qiushuang saw Lu Zijin’s disdainful look, feeling as if he were stripped and paraded. He was like a clown.

Cao Qiushuang’s chest heaved, angrily pointing at Wang Yiding. “Wang Yiding, you came to me saying Wei Lan pawned mansion items. Now it’s all my fault, huh?”

He looked at the kneeling guards. “And you, weren’t you all indignant earlier? Now you’re all mute? Speak!”

Cao Qiushuang’s teeth nearly shattered. His once-flattering subordinates were now silent as chickens.

Lu Zijin looked at him. “What more do you have to say?”

“I’m not convinced. Clearly, Wei Lan stole mansion items. Call the maids from her courtyard. They must know what she took.” Cao Qiushuang refused to give up. If he lost face today, who among the guards would respect him?

And if this matter wasn’t handled well, the young lady might dislike him. Thinking this, Cao Qiushuang panicked.

Lu Zijin sipped tea and said coldly, “Fool, didn’t you hear me?”

She reconsidered, thinking it good to call the two maids from Fuqu Pavilion to discipline them. She said, “Send someone to call the two maids from Fuqu Pavilion.”

Hearing this, Yun Xiang outside perked up. She had been quiet lately, but though she didn’t target Wei Lan, someone else acted first. She was thrilled.

“Yes, this servant will go.” Yun Xiang eagerly took the task, leading maids to Fuqu Pavilion, thinking she could prompt the maids to speak ill of Wei Lan.

After giving the order, Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan. She had finished a bowl of ice milk. Seeing Wei Lan liked it, she asked, “Want more?”

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin aggrievedly and nodded.

Lu Zijin smiled, wiping sweat from Wei Lan’s forehead, and ordered, “Get another bowl of ice milk.”

“Yes.” A maid outside quickly fetched it, and soon the ice milk returned.

Lu Zijin pushed the ice milk to Wei Lan, coaxing, “This is the last bowl. Too much cold food might harm you. Eat dinner here later.”

“Hmm.” Wei Lan responded dully, obediently eating the ice milk.

She had wanted to argue with Cao Qiushuang, but Lu Zijin said what she wanted to. Wei Lan felt she had no room to act, so she ate the ice milk.

The Lu Mansion, Panyang City’s wealthiest, even had an ice cellar. Eating such ice milk in summer was truly comfortable.

Compared to Wei Lan’s comfort, the guards, except Cao Qiushuang, all knelt on the floor.

Lu Zijin looked at Cao Qiushuang. “What? Think you’re special and don’t need to kneel to me?”

“I, I, don’t.” Cao Qiushuang’s teeth nearly broke. Usually, Lu Zijin didn’t make them kneel. As guard leader, he thought she relied on him, so he grew arrogant, almost believing he ran the mansion. Now, publicly shamed, he wanted to crawl into a hole.

He grew up in the Lu Mansion but was still a servant, his contract held by the master. If Lu Zijin sold him, where would he find such a good life?

Cao Qiushuang knelt but still felt he wasn’t wrong. He thought Wei Lan was a petty person succeeding. Once the maids from her courtyard came, the truth would be clear.

After a while, Wei Lan finished her second bowl of ice milk. Yun Xiang then returned with the maids from Fuqu Pavilion.

At Fuqu Pavilion, Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui greeted them.

“Isn’t this Miss Yun Xiang? Why did you come?” Li Zhufeng smiled and approached. This was the young lady’s chief maid; they had to flatter her.

Yun Xiang snorted coldly. “The young lady sent me to call you. Someone reported the lord, saying she took mansion items to sell this morning. The young lady is very angry and handling this now. She called you to ask if it’s true. You’d better answer well.”

Hearing this, Li Zhufeng quickly cleared herself. “Miss Yun Xiang, I’ve worked in this mansion for over ten years. You know my character. This was all the lord’s doing, nothing to do with me.”

“It’s not my fault either. I only saw her take a large black bundle out. We didn’t know what was inside.” Zhao Linghui hurriedly added.

Yun Xiang smiled at them. “You know the young lady’s character. Just tell the truth, and she won’t blame you.”

“Oh, that scared me. Thank you, Miss Yun Xiang, for the guidance.” Li Zhufeng nodded and bowed in thanks, as did Zhao Linghui.

“Don’t keep the young lady waiting. Let’s go.” Yun Xiang urged.

“Good.” Li Zhufeng responded quickly. She and Zhao Linghui followed Yun Xiang, jogging to Jingchen Courtyard.

Entering the courtyard, Yun Xiang said, “Young lady, I brought the people.”

She led Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui to the study.

Seeing the room full of kneeling people, Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui immediately knelt too.

Cao Qiushuang saw them and eagerly straightened up. “You two, quickly tell the young lady if Wei Lan took mansion items to sell.”

“Yes, the lord took a large bundle to sell this morning. But young lady, it has nothing to do with us. We didn’t help her.” Li Zhufeng quickly distanced herself, not observing the situation closely since Yun Xiang had tipped them off.

“Yes, yes, we only saw the lord take items out. Madam Li even asked, and the lord said it was jade carvings. We didn’t think much of it, never expecting her to do this.” Zhao Linghui’s voice carried a sob.

Wei Lan grew furious. Wasn’t this blatant lying?

She pointed at Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui. “You clearly saw me leave the workshop. There was nothing but my jade inside. Why slander me?”

“Oh, how dare this old servant? But this mansion follows the young lady. If you took mansion items, just apologize to her. I believe she won’t blame you.” Li Zhufeng hurriedly said.

Wei Lan’s face darkened completely. She stood, scanning the kneeling servants. “Fortunately, I have witnesses to prove I sold jade today. Otherwise, you black-hearted things would frame me.”

“Wei Lan, what more can you say? Even your courtyard maids don’t defend you. I think your time as lord is over.” Cao Qiushuang felt he proved Wei Lan’s theft, regaining his face, and the young lady would see her true character.

Lu Zijin’s expression grew colder. She held Wei Lan’s wrist and looked at her. “Don’t worry. No need to call your witnesses. It’s unnecessary.”

She smiled reassuringly at Wei Lan, then dropped her smile and looked at Qing Zhi. “Qing Zhi, call all the guards. Today, I’ll settle these accounts properly.”

“Young lady, this really has nothing to do with us.” Li Zhufeng continued.

Zhao Linghui felt something was wrong. “It was all the lord’s doing, nothing to do with us servants. At most, we were negligent in watching.”

“Negligent in watching?” Lu Zijin sneered. “She’s my lord. When did I ask you to watch her? And when the master faces trouble, you two clear yourselves. If the Lu Mansion had issues, would your first reaction be to betray me to save yourselves?”

Zhao Linghui sensed the young lady’s tone was off. Was today’s matter not aimed at the lord? They had said everything wrong.

Zhao Linghui hurriedly corrected, “No, this old servant wouldn’t dare.”

Li Zhufeng kowtowed on the floor. “This old servant was wrong. I’d never betray the young lady.”

“Dare not? My lord and I are married, one as wife and wife. Didn’t you just betray her? Not only betray, but you also slandered her. How should I settle this?” Lu Zijin’s voice was calm, but each word made Zhao Linghui and Li Zhufeng feel like they fell into an icy pit.

“This old servant wouldn’t dare. I was confused. It was Yun Xiang, Miss Yun Xiang hinted we say this.” Li Zhufeng said urgently.

Yun Xiang immediately distanced herself. “Don’t talk nonsense. I told you to tell the truth. Who knew you’d lie?”

“Young lady, if you protect her like this, how will you maintain authority in the mansion? We did this for your sake.” Cao Qiushuang still rambled.

Lu Zijin just glanced at him coldly, then looked at the courtyard, where over thirty guards now stood.

Lu Zijin said coldly, “Someone, Cao Qiushuang caused trouble and disrespected superiors. Drag him out for thirty heavy strikes.”

After she spoke, the guards outside looked at each other but didn’t move.

Lu Zijin laughed in anger. She stood, looking at the guards. “What? Forgot who the master of this mansion is? Fine, if you don’t obey, I have no use for disobedient dogs. Qing Zhi, tell the steward to sell all these people tomorrow. Replace the entire guard team.”

“Yes, young lady.” Qing Zhi took the order to go to the steward. The guards panicked, kneeling to beg for mercy.

“Young lady, forgive us. We’ll go now.” Compared to their boss, they feared the owner more. If expelled from the Lu Mansion, they’d find no better place.

Four guards rushed in, dragging Cao Qiushuang out. He struggled, shouting, “Young lady, you can’t indulge her like this, or the Lu Mansion will surely fall in your hands…”

Lu Zijin’s face grew colder. “Tie him up, give him sixty heavy strikes, and keep him alive. Bring two chairs. My lord and I will watch you do it.”

“Yes.” The maids respectfully fetched chairs. Wei Lan followed Lu Zijin, sitting on chairs outside.

Thinking, Lu Zijin added, “Those inside, roll out and kneel properly. Today, I’ll settle these accounts one by one.”

Wang Yiding and the others had knelt for nearly an hour, legs numb, but they dared not defy Lu Zijin. They stumbled out to kneel. Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui, wiping fake tears, knelt as well.