Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Fortunately, she was leaving tomorrow. Otherwise, since she wasn’t the original owner, Wei Lan didn’t know how to maintain relationships with her family. She didn’t like dealing with those things. In that time, she’d rather carve more jade.

Wei Lan lay on the bed to rest. At dinner, the atmosphere at the table was especially heavy. Wei Lan disliked it and returned to her room early to rest.

Near the end of the Yin hour, footsteps came from outside. It sounded like someone was approaching.

Wei Lan propped herself up, rubbed her eyes, and looked outside. The sky was still dark, probably around four in the morning.

Soon, a knock came at the door. “Lord, it’s time to get up. We’ll be leaving soon. The wedding procession is waiting outside.”

“Okay,” Wei Lan said, getting up to put on her outer dress and open the door. When she did, she saw several maids standing there, holding wooden trays with various items.

The head maid, an older woman, smiled at Wei Lan. “Lord, we’re here to help you dress and prepare.”

Wei Lan nodded to her. “Thank you.”

The maid directed the others inside. They first helped Wei Lan into a bright red dress, then began styling her hair and applying makeup. They inserted several gold hairpins into her bun, and finally, the maid covered Wei Lan’s head with a red veil.

Since she was marrying in, Wei Lan would be carried to the Lu mansion in a sedan chair.

At dawn, several maids helped Wei Lan outside. Zhao Xinlan watched her enter the sedan, crying, “Little Lan, take care of yourself at the Lu mansion.”

“I know,” Wei Lan replied flatly, her tone even.

Soon, she was helped into the sedan chair. The wedding procession began with music and fanfare, firecrackers going off at the courtyard gate, making the street lively.

Wei Lan sat quietly in the sedan, lost in thought. In her past life, she had no interest in romance, pouring all her energy into jade carving. She never expected to get married right after transmigrating.

Her hands on her knees tightened. She wasn’t ready and didn’t know how to interact with a wife, especially since this was her first time having one.

But thinking of Lu Zijin’s status, Wei Lan decided to play it smart. The farther she stayed from the female protagonist, the better. Ideally, Lu Zijin would treat her as a decoration, and they wouldn’t need to meet often. Wei Lan thought this was the best way to coexist.

Who knew, though? She was marrying in to live off Lu Zijin, so whatever Lu Zijin said would go.

While Wei Lan was lost in thought, the wedding procession reached the Lu mansion’s gate.

Lu Zijin, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, stood there with a red veil over her face. When the sedan stopped, she slowly descended the mansion steps, approached the sedan, and lifted the curtain.

Wei Lan heard the movement. Light flooded the sedan, and then a clean, fair hand reached toward her.

“Hold on, I’ll help you inside,” a cool but pleasant voice said.

Wei Lan recognized Lu Zijin’s voice. She placed her hand in Lu Zijin’s, feeling a cold touch as their hands met.

Lu Zijin led her by the hand into the mansion, with Wei Lan following obediently. Normally, a Qian Yuan would marry a Kunze, but since Wei Lan was marrying in, the ceremony was reversed.

As they walked, a gaze from the crowd fixed intensely on Wei Lan and Lu Zijin’s joined hands.

Because of the veil, Wei Lan couldn’t see the path clearly and held Lu Zijin’s hand tightly.

When they reached the main hall, only a Lu family elder sat in the main seat, as Wei Lan’s parents, due to her marrying in, weren’t allowed to sit there.

Soon, the wedding officiant’s voice called for the ceremony to begin. Wei Lan, like a robot, followed Lu Zijin’s movements.

Throughout, a venomous gaze stayed fixed on Wei Lan. Chen Zhou’s fists clenched so hard they nearly broke.

When Lu Zijin’s brother was alive, their families had planned to betroth her to Chen Zhou. But after her brother’s death, the matter was shelved. Now, to protect the Lu family’s wealth, Lu Zijin had lowered herself to marry a loser like Wei Lan.

Even knowing Lu Zijin had no feelings for Wei Lan, Chen Zhou was insanely jealous. If he had married Lu Zijin, the Lu family’s wealth would have been his. Now, this loser Wei Lan was getting all the benefits.

Meanwhile, Wei Lan and Lu Zijin completed the couple’s bow, and the ceremony ended. Lu Zijin led Wei Lan by the hand to the back hall.

They didn’t speak along the way. At the bedroom door, Lu Zijin said, “Watch the step. Rest in the room for now. I’ll come by later. I’ve left maids outside; call them if you need anything.”

“Okay,” Wei Lan nodded. Lu Zijin entered the room, let go of her hand, and looked at Wei Lan with a cool expression, directing a maid to help her to the bed.

“I’ll leave now,” Lu Zijin said, not sparing Wei Lan another glance before stepping out. She had been busy with many things since yesterday and had no time to linger.

Once everyone left, Wei Lan pulled off the veil. It was too stifling.

The wedding dress was heavy. Wei Lan took off the outer gown, removed the gold hairpins from her head, and lay on the bed. She fell asleep soon after.

Having woken so early, Wei Lan felt she hadn’t slept enough. She only woke at noon when hunger stirred her.

She got up, walked quickly to the door, and opened it. As expected, two maids stood outside.

Seeing Wei Lan had removed her veil, they were startled. “Lord, why did you take off the veil?”

“I’m hungry. Get some food ready,” Wei Lan said calmly. The maids hurried to arrange it.

Soon, food arrived—several stir-fried dishes, rice, and wine.

Wei Lan, hungry, sat and ate on her own. When she finished, a maid came to clear the dishes.

Bored, Wei Lan wandered the room a few times, then opened the door and asked the maids to fetch some history books of the Great Zhou.

The maids didn’t dare delay and soon brought several books from the study.

Wei Lan leaned on the bed, flipping through them. Since she was here, she needed to know about Great Zhou’s history. The books were in traditional characters, but as a jade carver in her past life, she was sensitive to scripts and found traditional characters familiar. Reading them was no trouble.

By dusk, the maids lit lamps in the room and brought dinner.

After eating, Wei Lan went back to bed and slept.

She was woken by the door opening, accompanied by a maid’s sharp voice.

“Miss, look at her. So improper. People from small families are like this, just going to sleep on her own,” Yun Xiang’s shrill voice rang out.

Wei Lan sat up, looking at Lu Zijin, still groggy. “Since you hadn’t come back, I went to sleep.”

Lu Zijin’s brow furrowed slightly. By custom, Wei Lan should have waited by the bed for her to lift the veil. But their marriage was just a convenience, so Lu Zijin didn’t care much about the veil. Still, Wei Lan’s lack of propriety annoyed her.

“Leave us. I need to speak to the lord alone,” Lu Zijin ordered the three maids.

Yun Xiang glared at Wei Lan, unconvinced. “Miss, but…”

Lu Zijin gave her a cold look, and Yun Xiang shut up. “Yes, I’ll go.”

The three maids left. Lu Zijin removed her red veil, her gaze icy as she looked at Wei Lan. “You’re now the lord of the Lu mansion. I don’t care how you were before, but from now on, think of the Lu family before you act. Don’t do anything to shame us, understand?”

Wei Lan’s eyes lingered on Lu Zijin’s face. As expected of the female protagonist, she was truly beautiful. Wei Lan replied instinctively, “Understood.”

Lu Zijin noticed her gaze and said coldly, “You’re just a decoration I brought into the mansion. A decoration should know its place. Don’t meddle in things you shouldn’t, especially the Lu family’s business.”

Wei Lan nodded. She was prepared for this and had no interest in the Lu family’s affairs.

Seeing her nod, Lu Zijin gave a slight nod and continued, “Also, our marriage is just a convenience. Don’t get any ideas you shouldn’t.”

Wei Lan nodded openly. She wasn’t interested in romance. In that time, she’d rather carve more jade and be happy.

“I understand. I’ll cooperate fully,” Wei Lan said, stretching and getting up from the bed.

Lu Zijin glanced at her and said, “This is my bedroom. I’ll have someone take you to your quarters soon. Don’t come here to bother me unless necessary.”

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin. Such a pretty face, yet her words were so cold. But as a soft-rice-eating worker, Wei Lan went along with her. “Alright, I’ll remember.”

As Lu Zijin spoke, she observed Wei Lan’s expression. From start to finish, Wei Lan’s face was calm, almost emotionless.

Wei Lan got out of bed, put on her shoes, and said to Lu Zijin, “Madam, shall I go now?”

Seeing her compliance, Lu Zijin nodded. “Go.”

Then Lu Zijin called out, “Qing Zhi, take the lord to her quarters.”

“Yes, Miss,” a respectful voice replied from outside.

Wei Lan adjusted her clothes, about to leave, when she glanced at the gold hairpins on the table. “Can I take these?”

Lu Zijin frowned at the hairpins, rubbed her temples, and waved at Wei Lan. “Take them.”

“Thank you, Madam,” Wei Lan said sweetly, grabbing the four gold hairpins.

She smiled, knowing these hairpins could be sold for a good amount of silver, enough to buy jade raw materials.

Seeing Wei Lan’s money-hungry look, Lu Zijin’s mouth twitched, left with nothing but speechlessness.