Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Fan Chuan gazed deeply and nodded at Wei Lan. He said, “Actually, I thought about what you said, but I considered doing it only if I had no other choice.”

Wei Lan replied, “When that time truly came, it would be too late. While the old emperor is still alive and things are not yet too chaotic, Sister needs to prepare early. We can also help you gather provisions.” After thinking, Wei Lan continued, “Of course, Sister needs to escape trouble quickly this time in the capital and return to Zhuozhou soon to make further plans.”

Fan Chuan heard this and immediately waved his hand. He said, “No, this is dangerous. How can I let you help gather provisions? Besides, I’m afraid leaving the capital this time won’t be so easy.”

Wei Lan responded, “Sister, if you truly rebel, we will surely be branded as traitors by the court. But that doesn’t matter, as long as you succeed. Before you raise an army, Zijin and I need to settle in Zhuozhou.” Wei Lan thought and said, even though she and Fan Chuan had no apparent contact, if Fan Chuan raised an army, they would surely be detained by the court. So, they needed to prepare early.

Fan Chuan nodded as well. She recalled thinking about raising an army but never told anyone. Fan Chuan didn’t expect Wei Lan to think the same way, even more proactively. She thought about rebelling only if forced, but Wei Lan suggested preparing now. One was active, the other passive. She needed to think carefully.

Fan Chuan said, “Let me think about it carefully.” After all, this was a major matter, and Fan Chuan couldn’t decide impulsively.

Wei Lan nodded too. She thought and then spoke again, “By the way, does the old emperor have any close aides? I think, Sister, after you reach the capital, you can send someone to give gifts to the emperor’s close aides. Let them speak well of you to the emperor, so you can leave the capital sooner.”

Fan Chuan nodded. She thought the same, but having been a marshal and visited the capital multiple times for reports, she knew court affairs well. Yet, how did Wei Lan, a married-in Qianyuan, know these things?

Fan Chuan asked curiously, “Does your family have someone serving in the court? Or do you have relatives in the capital?”

Wei Lan smiled and shook her head. She said, “Naturally not. What I just said was my guess. Also, about the marriage proposal, if you can’t avoid it, just agree. Even if someone plants a spy by your side, once you return to Zhuozhou, you’ll still hold the initiative.”

Fan Chuan nodded and chatted with Wei Lan for a while. She felt the heavy stone in her heart lighten somewhat. She said, “Good, I’ll handle it as needed. But you, how did you end up marrying into the Lu Mansion?”

Fan Chuan was puzzled. Wei Lan was clear-headed and analyzed things logically, not seeming like someone who needed to marry in.

Wei Lan smiled and said, “My family fell on hard times. Madam took me in, and I was very happy. Besides carving jade, I can’t do anything else. Thanks to Madam not minding me.”

Wei Lan said this and smiled at Lu Zijin. She just wanted to live easily and enjoy a comfortable life, which she found very good now.

Lu Zijin said, “What silly words. How could I mind you?” She reached out, held Wei Lan’s hand, and pinched her fingertips.

Fan Chuan saw their actions and felt stuffed with their affection. So, her little sister found a married-in Qianyuan she truly liked. Fan Chuan had worried for nothing.

Fan Chuan’s face showed a smile. Seeing her sister seemingly found someone she liked, she was happy too. She said, “It’s getting late. I disturbed you for half a day. I should go now.”

Lu Zijin said, “Sister, you’re leaving already?”

Fan Chuan replied, “Hmm, I can’t stay at the Lu Mansion, or people will suspect.”

Lu Zijin asked, “What about the things Wei Lan just mentioned? My businesses include grain shops. If you need, we can really gather provisions for you.”

Fan Chuan said, “Good. If I decide, I’ll send someone to find you. You and Wei Lan, be careful in everything. You’re my only sister.” Having finally met a relative she could confide in, she was reluctant to leave.

Lu Zijin said with red eyes, “Hmm, Sister, be very careful in the capital.”

Fan Chuan reassured, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Take care.” After a few more words, Fan Chuan changed into a cloak, covered her face, and left the Lu Mansion.

Lu Zijin couldn’t sleep. She sat by the table, her expression somewhat heavy.

Wei Lan sat beside her and said softly, “Madam, don’t worry. Sister is such a great marshal; she knows what to do. You don’t need to worry too much.”

Lu Zijin reached out, held Wei Lan’s hand, and asked, “Besides raising an army, is there really no other way?”

Wei Lan replied, “Unless Sister meets a wise ruler who doesn’t suspect her. But royal minds are cunning. A ruler may seem wise now, but after using Sister, they’ll show another face. Emperors are often heartless. Those with great merits are more suspected and distrusted.” Wei Lan said this, having more authority than ancients.

After all, Wei Lan was a modern person. She read plenty of similar historical records.

Lu Zijin heard Wei Lan’s words and grew more worried. She asked, “Then what should we do?”

Wei Lan thought and said, “We can do limited things, but gathering provisions is no problem. Start stockpiling provisions now, but not under the Lu Mansion’s name. Create a new identity to do this.”

Lu Zijin understood Wei Lan’s meaning. The Lu Mansion needed limited grain yearly. Exceeding this amount would attract attention, which could be bad. It was better to create an identity, claiming to be a wealthy merchant from another province.

Lu Zijin nodded and said, “Good, I’ll start arranging this tomorrow.”

She said this, looked up at Wei Lan, and wondered if this person was really the little Qianyuan she kissed until breathless.

Wei Lan saw Lu Zijin staring and asked, her ear tips reddening, “What’s wrong, Madam?”

Lu Zijin said, “Nothing. I just didn’t expect my lord to have such talent, able to see through the court’s situation.” She truly didn’t expect this. Wei Lan even suggested rebellion, something most wouldn’t dare think, let alone say.

Wei Lan, stared at by Lu Zijin, felt shy and said, “Those were just my guesses based on what you two said.”

Lu Zijin leaned closer and kissed Wei Lan’s lips. She said, “Good girl, this is your reward.”

Wei Lan’s ear tips reddened more. This wasn’t rewarding her; it was Madam rewarding herself.

Wei Lan reached out, pulled Lu Zijin’s sleeve, and hugged her.

Lu Zijin smiled, looking at the little Qianyuan acting coy. It was hard to imagine the rebellion talk came from her.

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin’s lips, her ear tips slightly warm. She shyly leaned in, kissed Lu Zijin, and tried to pull back. But Lu Zijin pressed her waist, and Wei Lan was kissed dizzy.

She felt weak, collapsing into Lu Zijin’s arms, panting.

Lu Zijin reached out, pinched Wei Lan’s cheek, and said, “Good girl, after dinner, let’s rest early.”

Wei Lan obediently said, “Hmm.”

After dinner, Wei Lan bathed in the next room, while Lu Zijin bathed in the bedroom. They tidied up and got ready to sleep.

But Wei Lan was pressed under Lu Zijin. Wei Lan looked at her softly and said, “Madam, not sleeping?”

Lu Zijin replied, “Sleep.” She kissed again, slowly kissing Wei Lan’s brows, then landing on her lips.

Lu Zijin deepened the kiss until Wei Lan was almost out of strength. Then she let the little Qianyuan go.

As if remembering something, Lu Zijin’s fingers played with Wei Lan’s mark. She propped herself up and asked, “By the way, where are the bracelet and jade pendant you promised me?”

The little Qianyuan, jealous, delayed carving the bracelet and pendant. It wasn’t that Lu Zijin lacked jade jewelry—she had plenty unworn—but the meaning was different. These were Wei Lan’s first gifts to her.

Wei Lan smiled at Lu Zijin, her eyes bright. She propped herself up, kissed Lu Zijin’s lips, and explained, “Actually, I finished them long ago but haven’t given them to you.”

Hearing this, Lu Zijin kissed again until Wei Lan could barely take it. Then she pulled back slightly.

She reached out, tapped Wei Lan’s nose tip, and said, “Naughty again. Because of jealousy, you didn’t plan to give them to me?”

Lu Zijin didn’t expect her Qianyuan to be so jealous. Her relationship with Chen Zhou was barely ordinary, yet Wei Lan got jealous.

Wei Lan’s ear tips reddened. She gently pushed Lu Zijin and said, “I’ll go get them now.”

Lu Zijin said, “Wait. If my lord is naughty, I must punish you first.” She deliberately kissed Wei Lan’s mark, and the next moment, the little Qianyuan went limp under her.

Wei Lan’s eyes misted, and she said, “It tickles, Madam. I won’t dare again.”

Lu Zijin kissed for a while, then propped herself up. Seeing the little Qianyuan almost crying, she stopped. She leaned in, kissed Wei Lan’s lip corner, and said softly, “Good girl.”

Wei Lan, exhausted from the teasing, weakly clutched Lu Zijin’s hem.

After a while, Wei Lan pushed Lu Zijin and said, “Madam, I’ll get the bracelet and pendant.”

Lu Zijin got off her and said, “Good, I’m waiting.”

Wei Lan got up, quickly walked to the wardrobe, and took out a beautiful brocade box.

Smiling, Wei Lan ran to the bed, presenting the box to Lu Zijin like a treasure. She said, “Madam, see if you like it.”

Lu Zijin said, “Good.” She opened the box, looked inside, and was stunned.

Lu Zijin thought Wei Lan carved jade for fun, but the three items in the box were exquisite, comparable to Panyang City’s top jade carvers, even more refined.

She picked up the phoenix white jade hairpin and looked. The jade was clear, the phoenix carved lifelike, as if it would fly off. Every texture was perfectly handled.

Lu Zijin’s gaze shifted from the hairpin to Wei Lan. She asked, “Did you really carve this?”

Wei Lan said, “Of course. The pendant uses hollow carving. Madam, look.” She picked up the phoenix jade pendant and showed Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin looked at the pendant. It was like a world of its own, the phoenix slightly raised, as if ready to soar.

Lu Zijin said instinctively, “It’s really beautiful.” But when did her Qianyuan have such skill? Though she didn’t understand carving, she could tell Wei Lan’s level wasn’t amateur.

Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan in surprise and said, “Your carving skill, even Liu Bingkun and Huo Feng might not match.”

Wei Lan, seeing Lu Zijin’s delight, grinned like a praised puppy. If she had a tail, it would wag excitedly. She said, “That’s right, I’m very skilled. Do you like this jade jewelry set?”

Lu Zijin smiled and said, “Naturally, I like it.”

She looked at the pendant again, finding the hollow carving familiar, as if she’d seen it before.

After thinking, Lu Zijin recalled seeing it on the jade ornament she gave to Lu Feng. She said casually, “Your technique is quite similar to Qing Lan’s.”

Wei Lan didn’t expect Lu Zijin to notice. Her cheeks flushed, and she stammered, unsure if she should tell Lu Zijin. After all, things were different now. Lu Zijin didn’t like Chen Zhou, so her comfortable life was secure.

Lu Zijin, a perceptive merchant, noticed Wei Lan’s hesitation, sensing she was hiding something.

She reached out, lifted Wei Lan’s chin, and said, “Is my lord hiding something from me? If my lord is naughty, you’ll be punished. I slept all afternoon, so I’m full of energy to punish my lord properly.”

Wei Lan thought about Lu Zijin’s afternoon nap, realizing she was full of energy. Her legs weakened. If she didn’t confess, Madam might kiss her all night, swelling her lips.

Thinking this, Wei Lan softly rubbed Lu Zijin’s wrist and confessed, “Madam, actually, I am Qing Lan. Madam is so amazing, figuring out I’m Qing Lan with just a glance.”

Wei Lan showered Lu Zijin with flattery, her eyes bright, waiting for Madam to praise her phoenix pendant.

But the next moment, Lu Zijin pinched Wei Lan’s ear tip.

Lu Zijin’s smile widened, her eyes deepening.

Wei Lan, unsure what happened, felt her legs weaken further. She gave an awkward smile and said, “Madam? What’s wrong?”

Lu Zijin gave her a kind smile, gently rubbing Wei Lan’s ear tip. She said, “So, my lord is the famous Qing Lan of Panyang City? You hid it well. Even I, your closest, didn’t know.”

Wei Lan hurriedly explained, “Back then, our relationship wasn’t as close as now, and you were busy, so I didn’t tell you.”

Lu Zijin raised an eyebrow and asked, “So, it’s my fault?”

Wei Lan quickly said, “No, no, it’s my fault.” When arguing with a girlfriend, admitting fault first was always the right choice.

Lu Zijin said, “How could my lord be wrong? My lord is the top carver in Panyang City, whose works are hard to get. When you carved the landscape ornament for me, you charged me five thousand taels.”

Wei Lan grinned at Lu Zijin, trying to gloss over it. But seeing Lu Zijin’s expression, she knew she couldn’t. She muttered, defending herself, “Didn’t I say you could pay half? You insisted on five thousand taels, so I couldn’t refuse, right?”

Lu Zijin’s smile grew. She said, “So, it’s my fault for not accepting my lord’s kindness?”

As Lu Zijin spoke, her fingertip pressed Wei Lan’s mark. Wei Lan, sitting on the bed looking at the jade carvings, went limp in Lu Zijin’s arms from the touch.

Wei Lan said, “No, no, Madam, I was wrong.”

Lu Zijin held Wei Lan, her fingers playing with the mark. She smiled more gently and said, “How could my lord be wrong? You gave me a half-price deal. I insisted on paying, so how can I blame my lord?”

As Lu Zijin spoke, her fingers pressed harder on the mark, causing Wei Lan’s mark to release some scent. Her body weakened, her eyes misting.

Wei Lan said, “Madam, I won’t dare again.” Her eyes spring-like, she grabbed Lu Zijin’s skirt hem, shaking it, utterly limp.

Lu Zijin asked, “Really won’t dare, or just saying so?” Her fingertip poked Wei Lan’s cheek.

Wei Lan said, “Really won’t dare, truly no strength.” Pressed at her mark, she squirmed uncomfortably in Lu Zijin’s arms, whimpering for mercy. But her state only made Lu Zijin want to tease her more.

Lu Zijin leaned in, bit Wei Lan’s lower lip, and kissed her. Her fingers kept playing with the mark, now red and swollen. Wei Lan’s lips were bitten several times, still pressed in Lu Zijin’s arms, being kissed.

Only when Wei Lan could barely breathe did Lu Zijin pull back slightly, letting the little Qianyuan catch her breath.

Lu Zijin’s eyes were deep, fixed on Wei Lan. Her left thumb rubbed Wei Lan’s lips. She said, “Will you dare hide from me again? Hmm?”

Wei Lan sniffed and said, “I won’t dare.” She buried herself in Lu Zijin’s shoulder, rubbing, with no strength, only able to act coy.

Lu Zijin pressed Wei Lan’s lower back, her fingers teasing the mark again. As expected, the little Qianyuan couldn’t take it, her ear tips and neck fully red.

Lu Zijin asked, “What does my lord save so much money for? Hmm?”

Taking advantage of Wei Lan’s dazed state, Lu Zijin asked, knowing she’d answer obediently.

Wei Lan’s eyes still misty, red-rimmed, she looked pitifully at Lu Zijin and said, “In case you don’t want me later, I’d have no soft life to live, so I saved some money in advance.”

Lu Zijin didn’t expect this answer. Her eyes softened. She gently kissed Wei Lan’s lip corner and said, “What nonsense? We’re married. I won’t abandon you or let you go hungry.”

Wei Lan said, “Madam treats me so well.” She leaned in Lu Zijin’s arms, hugging her tightly.

Lu Zijin smiled, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Since so, my lord doesn’t need to save money. Go get all your saved money. I want to see it.”

Wei Lan said, “Huh?” She was utterly reluctant. Though Madam treated her well, that money was her hard-earned savings. If she handed it over, she’d be a penniless pauper again.

Wei Lan said, “Madam, isn’t that a bit much? I saved that money for a long time. Can I not give it?” She propped herself up, kissed Lu Zijin’s lips, her eyes bright, hoping Lu Zijin would spare her savings.

Lu Zijin, kissed by the little Qianyuan, her lips curved slightly, her mood improving.

Lu Zijin asked gently, “Does my lord want to keep that money?”

Wei Lan’s eyes lit up, nodding eagerly. She said, “Yes, yes, I saved it for so long, it wasn’t easy.”

Lu Zijin’s smile widened. She said, “No, go get it for me.”

Wei Lan whined, “Madam~” She tugged Lu Zijin’s sleeve, shaking it. Thinking of something, she leaned in, kissed Lu Zijin’s lips a few times, hoping to sway her.

Lu Zijin enjoyed the little Qianyuan’s initiative but didn’t relent. She said, “Be good, go get it.”

Wei Lan rubbed against Lu Zijin, whimpering, but seeing Lu Zijin unmoved, she sighed and said, “Fine.”

Leaning against Lu Zijin to recover, Wei Lan got up, went to the wardrobe, and took out a hidden brocade box.

Wei Lan glanced at the bed, thinking to open the box, take a few banknotes, and hide the rest.

Her hand touched the box’s clasp, about to open it, when Lu Zijin’s leisurely voice came.

Lu Zijin said, “My lord better bring it all obediently. If I find you hid any, you won’t sleep tonight.”

Wei Lan looked at the box with her savings, sniffed, deeply reluctant. She hadn’t even warmed these savings, and Madam found them. She wanted to cry.

Dejectedly, she carried the box to the bed. Lu Zijin, seeing her like this, was amused.

Lu Zijin raised an eyebrow and asked, “What? Is my lord dissatisfied with me?”

Wei Lan hurriedly said, “No, no.” She carried the box to the bed.

Lu Zijin reached out, looking at her Qianyuan with interest, and said, “Hand it over.”

Wei Lan looked at the box, extremely reluctant, nearly crying. This was her lifeline.

Lu Zijin, almost laughing at the little Qianyuan’s expression, reached for the box but couldn’t pull it away.

Lu Zijin looked up at Wei Lan and said, “Let go.”

Wei Lan reluctantly let go, watching her savings fall into Lu Zijin’s hands.

Lu Zijin smiled at Wei Lan, opened the box, and counted the banknotes inside.

She thought it held only the five thousand taels she gave and Wei Lan’s monthly allowance. But she counted ten thousand six hundred taels.

Now more interested, Lu Zijin raised an eyebrow and asked, “Besides my five thousand taels, where did the rest come from?”

Wei Lan sat on the bed, hugged Lu Zijin’s waist, and said, “I earned it selling jade. I have a deal with Xiao Nanyan. I sell her jade, and she resells it.”

Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan and said lightly, “I didn’t expect my lord to plan so far ahead, saving so much money.”

Wei Lan gave Lu Zijin a bright smile and said, “Madam, you’re so rich, you surely don’t care for my little money, right?”

Lu Zijin said, “Wrong. The money my lord earned is special. I’ll keep it for you, so you don’t spend it recklessly.” She closed the box and placed it by her pillow.

Wei Lan wanted to cry. Her savings were all taken by her wife!