Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“Start,” Lu Zijin waved her hand, unwilling to look at Tian Da anymore.

Hearing Lu Zijin’s words, Tian Da panicked desperately. “Young miss, spare me! I only passed messages for the young master. The real culprit is the young master, and your maid, Yun Xiang. They conspired against you. Young miss, I’m telling the truth!”

“Young miss, though I disrespected the master, I’m absolutely loyal to you. I’d never follow the young master’s orders. Don’t listen to his nonsense,” Yun Xiang cried, her face swollen like a pig’s head.

“How dare you! The Chen family and my family are old friends. Yun Xiang has been with me since childhood. How could they do such a thing? To clear yourself, you’ll say anything,” Lu Zijin said impatiently, waving her hand to signal the guards to beat him.

One stick after another struck Tian Da’s body. As he was beaten, Tian Da shouted in frustration, “Young miss, see clearly! Chen Zhou really bribed Yun Xiang. They made me do this. Young miss, spare me! Ah! It hurts!”

After a few dozen strikes, Tian Da no longer had the strength to yell.

Lu Zijin looked at him coldly. Did she not know about Yun Xiang and Chen Zhou’s schemes? She kept Yun Xiang only to prepare for future matters. Tian Da couldn’t be spared. One traitor in the mansion was enough, and Yun Xiang sufficed.

After the hundredth strike, the two guards were panting from exhaustion.

One guard stepped forward respectfully and bowed. “Young miss, the hundred strikes are done.”

Lu Zijin nodded and said coldly, “Those who’ve stopped breathing, send people to dump them outside the city. As for Cao Qiushuang, find an abandoned woodshed in the mansion and lock him in. No one is to treat him or bring him food or water.”

“Yes, young miss,” the guards replied, their backs chilling, but they answered respectfully.

Lu Zijin glanced at the dozen injured people on the ground and spoke slowly. “As for the rest of these wounded…”

“Young miss, spare us! We won’t dare again,” some pleaded.

“This old servant will be utterly loyal to the master from now on, with no selfish thoughts. Young miss, spare us,” others begged.

“We won’t dare disrespect the master again. Young miss, spare us,” more cried.

Wang Yiding, Li Zhufeng, and others endured the pain of their wounds, kowtowing to Lu Zijin, fearing she’d lock them in the woodshed without treatment or food, which would surely kill them.

Lu Zijin chuckled and said, “The rest of you, return to your quarters to rest. Three months’ wages will be deducted. As for your injuries, don’t expect the mansion’s doctor to treat you for free. Send someone to tell Deng Jin that those who want treatment must pay extra. Those who don’t can wait to die in their rooms.”

“Yes, I’ll send someone to inform Doctor Deng,” Qing Zhi replied, immediately dispatching a messenger with Lu Zijin’s orders.

Lu Zijin stood and scanned the crowd. “This past year, the Lu Mansion faced hardship, and I had no time to manage affairs. But from now on, none of you will muddle through in this mansion. I won’t tolerate any deceit. Dismissed.”

“Yes, thank you, young miss,” the crowd responded.

“Thank you, young miss,” they echoed.

The kneeling maids, servants, and workers breathed a sigh of relief. Their clothes were soaked with cold sweat from fear.

The guards opened the gate, letting people leave the courtyard in an orderly manner. Servants brought carts, and the six spies beaten with a hundred strikes were dragged onto the carts to be dumped outside the city.

The injured either supported each other or crawled out of the courtyard, terrified that lingering would get them beaten to death.

As for Cao Qiushuang, guards dragged him, barely breathing, to the mansion’s woodshed and locked him inside.

Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan and said, “Let’s go. After all this tonight, are you hungry?”

Wei Lan stood up. Watching Lu Zijin punish the servants all evening had been thrilling. “I’m fine. Madam, you’re amazing.”

Lu Zijin smiled at her. “As long as you don’t think I’m cruel.”

“How could I? They did wrong first. How can you be blamed?” Wei Lan spoke truthfully. But she was indeed hungry; her stomach growled loudly.

Lu Zijin smiled, took Wei Lan’s hand, and led her into the room.

“Bring warm water,” Lu Zijin ordered.

Soon, a maid brought a copper basin and towel. Lu Zijin wet the towel and said, “I’ll wipe your face. You’ve been out all day. Are you tired?”

“Not tired,” Wei Lan replied obediently, leaning forward to let Lu Zijin wipe her face.

Sometimes Lu Zijin was quite kind, especially today, trusting and protecting her. This made Wei Lan feel warm, and she smiled at Lu Zijin.

But as Lu Zijin wiped, her brow furrowed. She tugged Wei Lan’s collar, leaned in to smell, and her face turned cold.

Lu Zijin stopped wiping Wei Lan’s face, looked up coldly, and asked, “Who were you with today? Why do you have the scent of a Kunze on you?”

The scent on Wei Lan wasn’t strong. She had only discussed business and eaten lunch with Xiao Nanyan. But sharing the same space inevitably left some scent. Wei Lan hadn’t noticed, but Kunze are sensitive to each other’s pheromones. Lu Zijin, getting close, detected a faint rose fragrance, a Kunze’s pheromone.

Wei Lan thought and said, “I was at Yuya Pavilion all day. The only Kunze I met was their owner, Xiao Nanyan. They didn’t believe I could carve jade ornaments and plaques, so I used Yuya Pavilion’s tools to carve a jade plaque. It took a lot of time. Xiao Nanyan and her shop’s carvers were there the whole time. Look, I haven’t finished this plaque. I brought it back.”

Lu Zijin believed Wei Lan but disliked her carrying another Kunze’s scent. Her face remained cold as she ordered Qing Zhi, “Send someone to prepare water. Let the master bathe before eating. Also, bring some snacks.”

“Yes,” Qing Zhi replied, quickly arranging it.

Lu Zijin glared at Wei Lan and said, “In the future, bathe after coming back from outside. I don’t like you carrying others’ scents. Understand?”

“Oh,” Wei Lan nodded obediently. She hadn’t noticed any scent on herself.

Wei Lan raised her hand to her nose to smell, but Lu Zijin grabbed her chin, stopping her.

“Wait obediently for your bath. No sniffing,” Lu Zijin said. Though she had no deep feelings for Wei Lan, she was her Qianyuan and didn’t want her smelling another’s pheromones.

“Fine,” Wei Lan said, obediently lowering her hand.

Maids brought the snacks Lu Zijin requested. Lu Zijin wiped her hands with a towel and fed a snack to Wei Lan’s lips. “Eat some to tide you over. You’ll have dinner after bathing.”

Wei Lan, hungry, eagerly bit into the snack. The snacks in Lu Zijin’s courtyard were fragrant and chewy. She loved them.

“Hmm, delicious,” Wei Lan said, eating the rest.

Seeing her enjoyment, Lu Zijin’s eyes softened. She fed her another piece. “Eat slowly.”

“Hmm, Madam’s food is so good,” Wei Lan said, eating two more snacks Lu Zijin fed her. Her stomach finally stopped growling.

Lu Zijin wiped crumbs from Wei Lan’s lips with a towel and said, “Save room, or you won’t eat dinner.”

“Okay, I’ll listen,” Wei Lan said, smiling at Lu Zijin.

Soon, the maids prepared hot water. Qing Zhi knocked, entered, bowed to Lu Zijin and Wei Lan, and said, “Young miss, should the master bathe here or next door?”

Lu Zijin thought and said, “She’ll bathe here.”

“Yes,” Qing Zhi replied, glancing thoughtfully at Wei Lan as she left.

The young miss disliked others using her things, yet allowed the master to bathe in her room. Qing Zhi hadn’t expected this. The young miss treated the master specially.

Soon, servants poured hot water into a large wooden tub, adjusted the temperature, and sprinkled petals inside. Then, they all left, leaving only Lu Zijin and Wei Lan in the room.

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin and said, “Madam, I’ll bathe now.”

Lu Zijin nodded. “Hmm.”

Wei Lan went behind the screen to undress, carefully placing her six hundred taels of silver notes safely. She had worked hard to earn them.

After securing the notes, Wei Lan soaked in the tub. The petals made it so comfortable she nearly fell asleep.

Soon, she heard footsteps. Lu Zijin had approached unnoticed.

Wei Lan looked up, puzzled, and said, “Madam?”

“Hmm, I’ll help you wash,” Lu Zijin said, rolling up her sleeves. Her Qianyuan had been wronged today, so comforting her a bit was fine.

Lu Zijin took a towel from the rack, wet it with warm water, and wiped Wei Lan’s back.

Wei Lan squinted comfortably. But soon, she noticed Lu Zijin’s hand wandering to her right neck.

Puzzled, Wei Lan looked up at Lu Zijin. “Madam?”

“Hmm, this patch is wet. I’ll remove it and replace it later,” Lu Zijin said softly, peeling off the patch at Wei Lan’s bonding mark. The familiar scent of fresh snow filled the air. Lu Zijin’s lips curved slightly; it was still pleasant.

She scooped water from the tub and gently poured it over Wei Lan’s bonding mark.

The area was delicate, and Wei Lan shivered, looking at Lu Zijin aggrievedly. “Madam, it tickles.”

Lu Zijin glanced at Wei Lan, then at her bonding mark, her gaze deepening. “Be good. The patch left residue. It needs cleaning. Bear with it. I’ll wash it off.”

“Okay, thank you, Madam,” Wei Lan said, nodding obediently. The bonding mark needed daily patches, which left sticky residue. She didn’t find anything odd and thought Lu Zijin was considerate.

“No need to thank me. Just be good,” Lu Zijin said, her lips curving slightly. Her fingertips gently pressed and rubbed the bonding mark.

Wei Lan shrank her neck, shivering several times. Lu Zijin’s touch felt strange, warming her body. A surge of pheromones spilled out with Lu Zijin’s rubbing.

“Madam, it feels odd. Itchy, but kind of nice,” Wei Lan said softly, her voice tender, eyes looking at Lu Zijin with a mix of grievance and confusion.

Lu Zijin’s smile deepened. She increased her pressure but coaxed softly, “Be good. Bear it a bit longer. It’ll be done soon.”

Wei Lan’s ears and cheeks flushed red from the rubbing. She leaned her forehead against Lu Zijin’s wrist, rubbing it gently to pout. “Madam, is it not done yet? It’s so itchy.”

Seeing the little Qianyuan cling to her wrist and pout, Lu Zijin’s eyes darkened. Such a soft,娇气 Qianyuan couldn’t be taken by others.

Lu Zijin coaxed calmly, “Almost done. A bit more to clean. Bear with it.”

She pressed harder. Wei Lan’s body flushed, nearly collapsing in the tub. Lu Zijin supported her with one hand to keep her from sliding into the water.

Looking at the exhausted Qianyuan, Lu Zijin eased her touch. The irritation from Wei Lan carrying another’s scent faded away.

Lu Zijin’s mood lifted. If her Qianyuan was naive, she’d teach her slowly. After all, she married her.

Thinking this, Lu Zijin’s fingertips grazed the bonding mark again. Wei Lan, rubbing her wrist pitifully, asked, “Still not done, Madam? It’s so strange.”

So obedient and娇气, how had she not noticed teasing a little Qianyuan was so fun?

Lu Zijin withdrew her hand from the bonding mark and said seriously, “It’s done. All clean. You can get out.”

Wei Lan grabbed Lu Zijin’s hand, pressing her face against it, her misty eyes looking at Lu Zijin. “No, I’m too tired. I need to rest a bit.”

Lu Zijin pursed her lips, barely holding back a laugh. The Qianyuan’s bonding mark was red and swollen from her teasing, the room filled with fresh snow scent. Naturally, Wei Lan was drained, but she was too naive to realize.

“Alright, no rush. I’ll stay with you,” Lu Zijin said kindly, tucking Wei Lan’s hair behind her ear.

Wei Lan looked up, smiled at Lu Zijin, and said, “Madam, you’re so nice, staying with me.”

“Of course. You’re my Qianyuan. I must treat you well,” Lu Zijin said. Seeing the drained Qianyuan praise her, she nearly laughed. The little Qianyuan was so naive about these things, she’d probably help count money if sold.

But Wei Lan’s obedience meant she should stay by her side.

Lu Zijin touched Wei Lan’s cheek and asked softly, “Feeling better?”

“Hmm, I’ll get out,” Wei Lan said, looking at Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin nodded calmly. “Hmm, get out.”

Wei Lan blushed. Was Lu Zijin not going to turn away? She felt a bit shy.

“Um, turn around first,” Wei Lan said, shaking Lu Zijin’s wrist. Her pheromones were so depleted, her voice was soft, like she was pouting at Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin enjoyed this. The little Qianyuan, drained of pheromones, hadn’t noticed anything wrong and was now shy.

Lu Zijin smiled kindly, acting accommodating, and turned away.

Wei Lan, relieved, got out of the tub.

Hearing the sounds, Lu Zijin asked, “Need help?”

“No, no, I’ll do it myself,” Wei Lan said, hurriedly drying off, afraid Lu Zijin would come help.

Lu Zijin stood, her lips curving. Wei Lan was quite amusing.

Soon, Wei Lan dressed in the clothes Lu Zijin had prepared, likely Lu Zijin’s own, soft and comfortable.

Wei Lan tucked her silver notes into the dress’s inner layer, then dried her hair. “Madam, I’m dressed.”

“Hmm,” Lu Zijin replied politely, turning back as if she hadn’t been teasing Wei Lan’s bonding mark.

“Come, I’ll dry your hair,” Lu Zijin said, taking a dry towel to dry Wei Lan’s hair, combing it and securing it with a gold hairpin.

“All done. Sit and rest. I’ll have someone clean up and bring your dinner,” Lu Zijin said, unusually attentive.

“Hmm, thank you, Madam,” Wei Lan said, thinking Lu Zijin was kind, helping her bathe and arranging dinner, especially after protecting her from slander.

Soon, maids came to clean up, and Wei Lan’s dinner was brought in.

Lu Zijin sat beside Wei Lan, planning to eat a little with her.

Wei Lan was starving, especially after Lu Zijin’s teasing drained her pheromones. She felt she could eat a whole cow.

Dinner was varied: clear ginseng chicken soup, roasted lamb chops, pan-fried rabbit, and more.

Wei Lan started eating immediately. Lu Zijin’s courtyard food was delicious, and she loved it.

Seeing her eat heartily, Lu Zijin smiled. “Eat slowly. There’s plenty. No one’s taking it. Try this crab. It’s in-season river crab, very fresh.”

“No, I’ll eat the others first. Crabs are too much work,” Wei Lan said, too hungry to bother with crabs. She needed meat to fill her stomach.

Seeing her rush, Lu Zijin, worried she’d choke, served her chicken soup and placed it by her hand.

Lu Zijin only ate a little, having already had dinner. She was just keeping Wei Lan company.

With nothing to do, she took a small bowl, picked crab meat, and placed it before Wei Lan. “Eat. I’ve picked it for you.”

“Thank you, Madam. You’re so nice,” Wei Lan said obediently, eating the crab meat in a few bites.

Wei Lan ate most of the large table of dishes, finishing with two crabs. Finally full, she didn’t want to move. It was the hour of Hai, dark outside, and she didn’t want to return to her courtyard.

Thinking, Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin. “Madam, can I stay next door tonight? I’m tired and want to go back tomorrow.”

“Of course. You’ve been busy half the day. You’re tired. Go rest early,” Lu Zijin said, not refusing.

“Okay, I’ll go,” Wei Lan said, exhausted from losing so much pheromone.

Lu Zijin nodded. “Hmm, go rest. I’m about to bathe and sleep too.”

With Lu Zijin’s approval, Wei Lan went next door, undressed, and fell asleep quickly. She was exhausted.

Lu Zijin had the dishes cleared and bathed.

Soaking in the tub, Lu Zijin thought of Wei Lan. Her gaze deepened, looking at the fingers that had teased Wei Lan’s bonding mark. The room still held the fresh snow scent. Her throat tightened. Odd—she’d just passed her heat.

Lu Zijin splashed water on her face to stop her wandering thoughts, quickly got out, changed into clean clothes, and lay in bed once her hair was nearly dry.

But that night, Lu Zijin couldn’t sleep well at first. Her mind kept returning to Wei Lan, her fingertips recalling the feel of Wei Lan’s bonding mark. A light press had overwhelmed the little Qianyuan. Thinking of it, her hands itched.

Lu Zijin felt influenced by Wei Lan’s pheromones, as the fresh snow scent lingered in the room. This eased her fixation, but her mind was still filled with Wei Lan’s flushed, teased look in the tub. She didn’t know when she fell asleep.

In contrast, Wei Lan slept carefree and soundly. After undressing, she fell asleep quickly.

The next morning, Lu Zijin rose early as usual to inspect her shops. Wei Lan was still asleep during breakfast.

Lu Zijin instructed, “Qing Zhi, when the master wakes, ensure she eats breakfast before leaving. I’m heading out.”

“Yes, young miss,” Qing Zhi replied, noting Lu Zijin’s special treatment of the master.

In Yun Xiang’s room, she paid a maid to fetch a doctor. But Deng Jin only treated the mansion’s masters. Servants were treated by Deng Jin’s apprentices.

So, Yun Xiang had Deng Jin’s apprentice come. The neutral-gendered apprentice took her silver, prescribed five days of ointment, and told her to apply it daily.

Yun Xiang didn’t dare show her face. After the doctor left, she sat before a bronze mirror, crying as she applied ointment to her swollen face.

She gritted her teeth and cursed softly, “Wei Lan, just wait. You’ll be driven out eventually. The young master is the true master of the Lu Mansion.”

Talking was painful, and she winced while applying the ointment, still fantasizing about Chen Zhou becoming the mansion’s master and her enjoying the benefits.