Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

“Madam, can we not discuss it again? I already gave you a gift,” Wei Lan said as she climbed onto the bed, moved close to Lu Zijin, wrapped her arms around Lu Zijin’s waist, and tried to struggle for her private savings.

Lu Zijin reached out, pressed her hand against Wei Lan’s shoulder, smiled gently at Wei Lan, and said, “No discussion.”

She reached out, lifted Wei Lan’s chin, smiled, and said, “I am keeping it for you, not stealing your money. Besides, in ordinary households, doesn’t the Qianyuan hand over the money to the wife for safekeeping? What? Is my lord dissatisfied with me?”

Wei Lan quickly shook her head. She dared not be dissatisfied. Her private savings had already been confiscated by Madam.

Wei Lan moved closer to Lu Zijin, looked at Lu Zijin pitifully, and saw Lu Zijin laugh as if amused. Lu Zijin reached out, tapped Wei Lan’s lips lightly, and said, “Be good. I will give you your monthly allowance as usual. If it’s not enough, come to me.”

“Madam, what about my little treasury?” Wei Lan asked, looking eagerly at her brocade box and whimpering.

“I will keep your little treasury for you. Be good,” Lu Zijin said, kissed the corner of Wei Lan’s lips, pushed Wei Lan gently, and urged, “Lie down. Let us rest early.”

“Alright,” Wei Lan said, lay down obediently, gazed softly at Lu Zijin, and hoped she would soften.

Lu Zijin smiled at Wei Lan, kissed the corner of Wei Lan’s lips, and said, “Sleep. Sweet dreams.”

Wei Lan pursed her lips. Lu Zijin might have sweet dreams, but her dreams would not be sweet. Thinking of her private savings made her want to cry.

However, Wei Lan had just been teased by Lu Zijin for a while at the mark, which consumed her pheromones heavily. Soon, she hugged Lu Zijin and fell asleep.

Lu Zijin, thinking of Wei Lan’s defeated look, wanted to laugh. The obedient appearance of the little Qianyuan, who dared to be angry but not speak, pleased Lu Zijin greatly.

Indeed, only an obedient Qianyuan was the most useful. She glanced slightly, looked at Wei Lan beneath her by the light of the unextinguished candle outside, kissed the corner of Wei Lan’s lips lightly, and said, “So good.”

Wei Lan was truly the most well-behaved and considerate Qianyuan she had ever seen. Her cousin was also a good Qianyuan, but completely different from Wei Lan. In comparison, she preferred her own delicate and soft Wei Lan.

Thinking of this, Lu Zijin’s lips curved slightly. She snuggled in Wei Lan’s arms and closed her eyes.

Before falling asleep, Lu Zijin thought she was quite lucky. Although her family was gone, the Qianyuan she blindly chose suited her taste so well.

Lu Zijin instinctively snuggled in Wei Lan’s arms. Such an obedient Qianyuan must not be taken by others. A Qianyuan with money could easily go astray, so it was better for her to keep Wei Lan’s private savings.

~~

On the other side, Fan Chuan stayed in the inn arranged by her subordinates. Their group dressed like wandering martial artists, so no one suspected her identity.

Back at the inn, Fan Chuan locked the door from the inside, took off her cloak and veil, and revealed a cold face.

Fan Chuan was good-looking. If not for her terrifying performance on the battlefield, she might have been classified as a pretty boy.

She poured herself a cup of water, drank it, and thought of Wei Lan’s words again. She had loyal generals and soldiers but lacked someone to discuss strategies with at any time. Now, she only had Lu Zijin as her little sister. She could see that her sister liked Wei Lan, so she could not let Wei Lan fall into danger.

Fan Chuan sighed, gave up the idea of taking Wei Lan to the capital, and realized the journey was dangerous. If anything happened to her, she could not drag Wei Lan down.

The next day, Fan Chuan left Panyang City. The two thousand people she led would not enter Panyang City but would travel through the wilderness to avoid disturbing the people. She still had to rush to meet her guards.

~~

On the other side, Lu Zijin got up refreshed and took both brocade boxes to the dressing table.

She opened the boxes, inserted the jade phoenix hairpin into her hair, put the white jade bracelet on her left hand, and wore the jade pendant around her neck.

To make the white jade pendant look better, Wei Lan had paired it with matching beads and used a hand-woven leather cord. After Lu Zijin put it on, it made her appear even fairer.

After getting ready, Lu Zijin smiled, walked to Wei Lan, and asked, “My lord, do I look good wearing these?”

Wei Lan lifted her eyes listlessly, looked at Lu Zijin, and saw that Lu Zijin was naturally beautiful with fair skin. Paired with the icy jade, she looked even more refined.

“Beautiful!” Wei Lan said, even though she was still immersed in the pain of losing her private savings. Seeing Lu Zijin wear the jade she carved made her inexplicably happy.

“Thank you, my lord, for giving me these. You put thought into it,” Lu Zijin said, looked at the still-sleepy Wei Lan, and wanted to kiss her. However, with too many maids in the bedroom, she did not. Instead, she reached out, took Wei Lan’s hand, and pinched Wei Lan’s palm a few times.

Then Lu Zijin saw Wei Lan’s ears visibly redden. The little Qianyuan was so shy, blushing just from a pinch on the palm.

She had spent most of the previous day in bed with Wei Lan. Today, she had many things to handle and probably could not accompany Wei Lan.

Lu Zijin walked over and said, “I have a lot to do today and probably cannot accompany you. Stay here obediently, and I will come see you when I have time.”

“Hmm,” Wei Lan nodded and agreed. Lu Zijin should go to work. Otherwise, if she stayed here, Wei Lan would have no time to carve jade. Since her private savings were confiscated, Wei Lan planned to secretly earn more.

This time, Wei Lan learned her lesson. She knew not to put all her eggs in one basket. Next time she hid her private savings, she would split them into several places so Madam would not take them all at once.

Wei Lan was very satisfied with her new plan and gave Lu Zijin a sweet smile.

Lu Zijin’s curved lips flattened. She looked at Wei Lan, spoke slowly, and said, “What? Does my lord seem eager for me to leave?”

Wei Lan quickly shook her head and followed with a string of flattery, “No, no. I am worried about problems with the mansion’s business. Only with Madam personally overseeing things can the business outside be stable.”

Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan slowly, nodded reluctantly, but felt uncomfortable. She sensed that the little Qianyuan was excited about her leaving.

Lu Zijin waved to the maids in the bedroom, signaling them to leave first.

Qianxue, very perceptive, gestured and led all the maids out.

Seeing the maids leave, Wei Lan felt uneasy. She instinctively stepped back a few paces until she reached the table and stopped.

Wei Lan gave Lu Zijin an innocent smile and said, “Madam, shall we not have breakfast? Why did you send the maids away?”

Lu Zijin returned a kind smile, walked toward Wei Lan until she pinned Wei Lan against the round table behind, and stopped. She reached out and pinched Wei Lan’s chin.

“We will have breakfast, but I feel my lord is being naughty again,” Lu Zijin said. Her thumb gently rubbed Wei Lan’s lower lip, and her gaze fixed on Wei Lan’s lips.

“I am not obedient? I gave you all my private savings,” Wei Lan said, her eyes darting, muttering softly.

They were very close, and Lu Zijin heard Wei Lan’s voice. Her lips curved into a dangerous arc. She kissed Wei Lan directly, deliberately holding Wei Lan’s waist to prevent the little Qianyuan from escaping.

Lu Zijin’s kiss was long and lingering. After finishing, she deliberately bit Wei Lan’s lower lip a few times.

Looking at the slightly swollen lips she caused, Lu Zijin nodded with satisfaction, kissed the corner of Wei Lan’s lips gently, and said softly, “If you lack money, come to me. Do not borrow from others. Understood?”

“Understood,” Wei Lan replied obediently.

Seeing Wei Lan so compliant, Lu Zijin nodded with satisfaction. She stepped back slightly, shouted toward the door, and said, “Qianxue, serve the meal.”

“Yes, Miss,” the maids outside replied, pushed open the door, and began bringing dishes to the round table.

When Qianxue came in to serve, she glanced at Wei Lan and saw that Wei Lan’s originally light pink lips had turned rose red and slightly swollen.

Qianxue knew why, sneaked a glance at her mistress, and did not expect her to be so dominant in intimate matters. The lord’s lips were almost kissed swollen.

She dared not think too much and quickly helped arrange the dishes on the table.

After breakfast, Lu Zijin left hurriedly. The imperial merchant matter had just been settled, and several cloth shops under the Lu Mansion were busy. She had many things to handle the previous day but postponed them. Today, she could not delay further.

Seeing Lu Zijin leave, Wei Lan sighed in relief. If Madam stayed a few more days, her lips would be kissed raw. With Lu Zijin busy for a few days, she could rest.

Thinking of this, Wei Lan changed into work clothes in the bedroom, went to the studio, and continued carving her jade plaques.

Besides the banknotes confiscated by Lu Zijin, she still had a few hundred taels of pocket money, which should be enough. Once she finished carving this set of jade plaques, they would surely sell for a good price.

While Wei Lan focused on carving, the guards outside announced visitors.

Li Zhufeng knew Wei Lan disliked interruptions while carving, but after thinking, knocked and said, “My lord, the guards say your mother and little sister are here. Do you want to see them?”

Wei Lan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, put down her jade plaque, stood up, opened the door, and said, “Have someone bring them here.”

“Yes, my lord,” the guards replied, quickly ran out of Fuqu Pavilion, and went to the gate to escort them in.

Wei Lan asked for water, washed her hands, changed into clean clothes, and waited in the bedroom.

Life in the Lu Mansion was comfortable, and she had almost forgotten the original Wei Lan had family.

Wei Lan drank tea, ate some pastries, and the guards finally brought the visitors in.

As soon as Zhao Xinlan saw Wei Lan, tears streamed down her face, and she said, “Wei Lan, your father is in trouble. I had no choice but to come beg you shamelessly.”

Wei Lan frowned slightly. She already disliked that useless father. He had no skill, insisted on doing business, and ended up losing money.

“What happened? Sit down and explain slowly,” Wei Lan said.

Wei Qing also had red eyes, helped Zhao Xinlan sit, and secretly wiped her tears.

“Your father was deceived by the owner of Dacheng Gambling House. These days, somehow, he got addicted to gambling. At first, he always won money and bought many things each time he returned. But later, he started losing, more and more, even losing all the dowry from the Lu Mansion. Then he said the gambling house owner lent him a few hundred taels for business, but he did not use it for business. He lost all the money, and with interest piling up, he owes a lot. The gambling house people came to collect the debt and took your father,” Zhao Xinlan said, sobbing uncontrollably.

Seeing Wei Lan’s expression unchanged, Zhao Xinlan quickly added, “They said if we do not repay the money, they will take your little sister to offset the debt and chop off one of your father’s hands.”

Wei Lan’s face darkened, and she sneered, “What? Selling me was not enough, and now he wants to sell Wei Qing too? I knew he could not change his ways. Especially now with a gambling addiction, Mother, if you want a stable life in the future, you should divorce him soon.”

Zhao Xinlan seemed unprepared for Wei Lan’s words. She thought mentioning this would make Wei Lan rush to gather money and go with her to the gambling house to see her father.

“Wei Lan, I know we wronged you, but he is your father, my husband. If I do not save him, what will he do?” Zhao Xinlan continued to cry.

“You treat him as your husband, but has he cared for you? For me? Before I married, I told him he was not cut out for business. Doing nothing would have kept him stable. But now he is addicted to gambling. He is beyond saving, Mother. If he can use Wei Qing to pay his debts this time, will he use you next time?” Wei Lan said calmly. She had no fondness for such a useless man who caused trouble and could not handle the consequences.

“You, how can you say that about your father? Wei Lan, I did not expect you to be such an unfilial daughter,” Zhao Xinlan said, angrily standing and slamming the table.

Wei Lan remained calm, looked straight at Zhao Xinlan, and said, “Indeed, for a father who sold me, I cannot be filial. His fate has nothing to do with me. Adults should take responsibility for their actions, not push their wives and daughters out. That is cowardice.”

“Wei Lan, your little sister and I saw your father once. He has lost so much weight. He truly knows his mistake this time and will not dare again,” Zhao Xinlan continued to cry.

“Mother, I advise you: pitying a man will ruin your life. You have lived most of your life and still have not realized this truth? I suggest you pity yourself more. If he truly cared for you, he would never have entered a gambling house,” Wei Lan said calmly, sitting upright and unmoved.

Wei Qing stood cautiously, occasionally glancing at Wei Lan. She felt her sister had changed a lot, becoming much steadier. In the past, her sister would have been as frantic as them, rushing to gather money.

Honestly, Wei Qing was scared. Her father using her to pay debts, and the gambling house being no respectable place, her fate was obvious. Thinking of this, Wei Qing’s face turned pale.

Unable to hold back, tears slid down her cheeks. She looked at Wei Lan, her voice trembling, and said, “Sister, I do not want to be used to pay the debt.”

Wei Lan looked at Wei Qing. Like most Kunze of this era, Wei Qing had to obey her parents and rely on a Qianyuan to survive.

She was not like Lu Zijin or Xiao Nanyan, who had good backgrounds and the ability to manage large families, making waves in business. Wei Qing was just an ordinary Kunze of this era.

Wei Lan sighed. After all, Wei Qing was innocent. She looked at Wei Qing and said, “Then stay here for now. I will arrange your future later.”

“What about Mother and Father?” Wei Qing asked weakly, looking at Wei Lan.

“Mother, if you divorce him, I will naturally take care of you. Otherwise, I cannot help. Wei Wenyuan’s fate is his own choice, not your fault,” Wei Lan said calmly.

“No, no, I cannot abandon your father,” Zhao Xinlan cried even more desperately, as if she might collapse the next moment.

Wei Lan pursed her lips and said nothing more. Someone like Wei Wenyuan was beyond saving. If she saved him this time, it would be like saving a bottomless pit. Such a person had no limits, as shown by his selling the original Wei Lan after losing money in business.

Moreover, Wei Lan felt this was a trap set by the gambling house for Wei Wenyuan. Everyone in Panyang City knew the Lu Mansion was wealthy. The gambling house people targeted this, luring Wei Wenyuan step by step, then demanding a high ransom or other conditions from the Lu Mansion.

Unfortunately, she was not the original Wei Lan and had no attachment to these family members. Even if she were his daughter, with such a useless father, Wei Lan would not care.

Everyone was an adult. Wei Wenyuan, over forty, lost so much money and got addicted to gambling. He had to bear the consequences himself; no one could do it for him.

“Mother, are you willing to sacrifice another daughter to save Wei Wenyuan? You know what kind of place a gambling house is. If Wei Qing is used to pay the debt, she will end up in a brothel or similar place. Do you really want to trade your daughter for your husband?” Wei Lan continued.

Her words were like pouring salt on Zhao Xinlan’s wounds. Zhao Xinlan could not bear to lose her younger daughter but could not bear to lose her husband either. She said, “But, but, what about your father?”

“There is another way: sell the ancestral home to pay his debts,” Wei Lan said calmly.

“Wei Lan, how can that work? That is the property left by our ancestors. How can we sell it? If we sell it, we will have nothing,” Zhao Xinlan said, almost fainting from crying.

“Then what do you want? Do you want me to pay this money to ransom him?” Wei Lan asked directly, seeing her crying endlessly.

Zhao Xinlan nodded, sobbed, and said, “Wei Lan, you have been in the Lu Mansion for some time. Can you ask Lu Zijin to lend us a thousand taels of silver? We will definitely repay it later.”

“A thousand taels?” Wei Lan laughed in anger. A thousand taels in modern terms was like a million. For ordinary people, it was not a small sum, but for her and Lu Zijin, it was not much.

Even so, Wei Lan still did not want to deal with Wei Wenyuan’s mess. Some people never learn until they pay a price.

“Do not even think about it. I will not say more, but how will you repay it? Even selling the ancestral home would not fetch a thousand taels, let alone other means. Ordinary people earn two or three taels a month. How long would it take to save a thousand taels without eating or drinking? Moreover, once someone starts gambling or drinking, they are ruined. Do you still think Wei Wenyuan can make a comeback? He has no business ability. I advise you to give up early, divorce soon, and free yourself,” Wei Lan said without holding back.

Zhao Xinlan cried until she nearly fainted. Wei Lan knew Kunze in this era had it hard, always dependent on Qianyuan, and few had the courage to divorce. But if Zhao Xinlan refused to divorce, she would be stuck in a quagmire until she dragged herself down too.

“Wei Lan, if you will not help, why say such things? You are unfilial, an unfilial daughter. If you will not save your father, I will. I will do it,” Zhao Xinlan said, crying loudly again.

Wei Qing, standing nearby, was also scared. Her sister was right. No one forced her father to gamble; he chose it himself. Now, owing so much money, why should she pay for it? Did she deserve to be sold?

Seeing her crying had no effect on Wei Lan, who remained seated and unmoved, Zhao Xinlan found it futile. Wei Lan was not the real Wei Lan and did not fall for this.

Of course, having taken Wei Lan’s body, if Zhao Xinlan was willing to divorce, Wei Lan would not abandon her and Wei Qing. She could help Zhao Xinlan divorce, buy them a small courtyard, and give them some money monthly. But if Zhao Xinlan insisted on dealing with Wei Wenyuan’s mess, Wei Lan would not care.

Zhao Xinlan cried for a while, looked at Wei Qing, and said, “Wei Qing, are you coming with me, or do you want to be like Wei Lan, this unfilial daughter?”

Wei Qing’s eyes filled with tears, her body trembling. That morning, she went with her mother to the gambling house, a dirty and chaotic place where male Qianyuan ogled her shamelessly. It felt like she was naked under their gazes. She was terrified of that feeling. If sold to a brothel and humiliated, she would rather die.

She gritted her teeth and said, “I, I will stay with Sister.”

“Fine, you two are just fine. Pity your father and I raised two unfilial daughters. If you will not care for him, I will,” Zhao Xinlan said, stood shakily, and walked toward the door.