Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Actually, Zhao Xinlan hoped that Wei Lan and Wei Qing would come to support her and persuade her to stay. However, she waited until she reached the door, but she still heard no movement behind her.

Zhao Xinlan finally could not hold back. She turned her head to look back and saw Wei Qing standing beside Wei Lan, secretly wiping her tears. Meanwhile, Wei Lan still sat at the round table, unmoving, as if she were a bystander, looking at her side without sadness or joy.

Zhao Xinlan, somewhat collapsing, held the doorframe to avoid falling. She did not expect her eldest daughter to be so heartless, and her youngest daughter also refused to save their father.

Zhao Xinlan felt a wave of grief, but seeing that she could not persuade Wei Lan at all, she had to leave first.

After Zhao Xinlan left, Wei Lan’s gaze turned to Wei Qing. She handed a handkerchief to Wei Qing and said, “Don’t cry anymore. I asked someone to prepare the room next door. You can stay with me for these days. No one dares to cause trouble for the Lu Mansion.”

“Sister, what about Mother and the others? Are we really going to ignore them?” Wei Qing cautiously asked.

Wei Lan raised her eyebrow and looked at her. “How do you want to handle it? Trade yourself for that gambling addict father? If you really want to do that, I won’t stop you.”

She said everything she needed to say. Good advice could not persuade a doomed ghost. She did all she could, but she would not spend a single coin for Wei Wenyuan.

“I, I don’t want to be sold,” Wei Qing said softly, sobbing.

“If you don’t want that, stay in the mansion properly and don’t go out for now,” Wei Lan said. Then she shouted to the outside, “Nanny Li.”

“Here, here, Master,” Li Fengzhu said flatteringly, bowing to Wei Lan and respectfully waiting for her orders.

“Go clean up the guest room next door and take her to settle in. Oh, and prepare a few sets of clothes for her to change into,” Wei Lan thought and said.

“Yes, Master,” Li Fengzhu said, smiling at Wei Lan and gesturing to Wei Qing. “Miss Wei Qing, come with this old servant. I’ll arrange everything right away.”

Wei Qing wiped her tears and looked at Wei Lan.

Wei Lan nodded to her. “Go. If anything happens, come find me or let them handle it. I’m usually in my bedroom or the workshop next to it.”

“Okay,” Wei Qing said, still somewhat uneasy. She worried about family matters and felt scared in this new environment. Not daring to bother her sister too much, she had to process it herself.

After Wei Qing left, Wei Lan changed into her work clothes and continued carving her jade plaque in the workshop.

She did not treat this matter as a big deal. Wei Wenyuan made his own choices, so he should take responsibility.

Meanwhile, at Dacheng Gambling House, Boss Xue flatteringly offered tea to Chen Zhou. “Young Master Chen, why did you come in person? Rest assured, the matter you entrusted went smoothly. We locked up Wei Wenyuan, and I’m waiting for his family to come redeem him.”

Chen Zhou did not pick up the teacup but waved his hand at Xue Sanbiao. A lowlife like him did not deserve to offer tea to Chen Zhou; he was just a pawn in Chen Zhou’s hands.

He frowned and said, “The point isn’t to let his family redeem him but to hook Wei Lan. One thousand taels of silver is too easy for the Lu Mansion. Lu Zijin could give one thousand taels even to a beggar. The important thing is to make Lu Zijin give up half her share. The imperial merchant business is profitable. If it really falls into our Chen Mansion’s hands, I won’t shortchange you.”

“Yes, yes, Young Master Chen is generous. This small one understands,” Xue Sanbiao said, nodding and bowing to Chen Zhou. To set up Wei Wenyuan, Chen Zhou gave him ten thousand taels of silver. Wasn’t this a living god of wealth?

Of course, this matter went so smoothly thanks to that fool Wei Wenyuan. If he hadn’t been addicted to gambling here, Chen Zhou’s people wouldn’t have targeted him, setting up the later scheme of lending him silver for business.

After all, this was just a small gambling house, cheating gamblers out of some silver. Who could have thought of such a meticulous plan? First, lend silver to Wei Wenyuan, then set a trap for him, making him owe one thousand taels, and finally have his family raise money to redeem him.

One thousand taels was no small sum. Wei Wenyuan’s family couldn’t afford it, so naturally, this would drag Wei Lan into it.

This was exactly the effect Chen Zhou wanted. If he could get half the imperial merchant share from Wei Lan, that would be best. Even if he couldn’t, Wei Lan, that useless woman, wouldn’t have one thousand taels. She’d still have to beg Lu Zijin to save her father. With a gambling addict father, Wei Lan would surely be despised by Lu Zijin.

He couldn’t stand Wei Lan living comfortably in the Lu Mansion. As long as he could make Wei Lan unhappy, he felt satisfied.

“Hmm, I’ll leave this matter to you,” Chen Zhou said, standing up and patting Xue Sanbiao’s shoulder. After a moment, he added, “Of course, if anyone finds out I told you to do this, your Dacheng Gambling House probably won’t stay open.”

“Yes, yes, I understand, Young Master Chen. Rest assured, take care, take care,” Xue Sanbiao said flatteringly, escorting Chen Zhou out the gambling house’s back door.

After Chen Zhou’s carriage went far, Xue Sanbiao spat in its direction. “Pfft, just because you have some stinking money? What’s there to be arrogant about? You still need me to do your dirty work, hmph.”

After speaking, Boss Xue reentered the gambling house.

About an hour later, Zhao Xinlan, desperate, took the house deed from home and went back to the gambling house.

She cried and demanded to see Xue Sanbiao. Xue Sanbiao had someone bring her in.

Xue Sanbiao sized up Zhao Xinlan. He had no interest in an old, worn woman. Not seeing Wei Qing, he said displeasedly, “Why are you alone? Where are your two daughters? Where’s Wei Lan?”

Upon hearing Wei Lan’s name, Zhao Xinlan cried even harder, unable to stop. “Wei Lan, that unfilial daughter, she refused to pay to redeem her father.”

Xue Sanbiao’s face grew serious upon hearing this. “How is that possible? Did you really go to her?”

“I really went to her, Boss Xue. This is our house deed. It should cover a few hundred taels of debt. I’ll give you the house. Can you release my husband?” Zhao Xinlan pleaded tearfully.

Xue Sanbiao’s face darkened. He did not take the deed from Zhao Xinlan’s hand. “How much is your broken house worth? I’m telling you, if you can’t bring Wei Lan, I’ll have someone cut off one of Wei Wenyuan’s arms.”

“No, no, Boss Xue, please spare him. Have mercy,” Zhao Xinlan cried.

Xue Sanbiao grew impatient and kicked Zhao Xinlan, knocking her down. “Get lost. You have less than two days left. Bring Wei Lan to me, or we won’t release him.”

Zhao Xinlan knelt on the ground, filled with despair. She got up, still pleading bitterly, “Please, Boss Xue, let me see Wenyuan.”

“Hah, we’ll talk when you bring Wei Lan. Then I’ll let you see him. Get out,” Xue Sanbiao cursed. He didn’t dare defy a young master like Chen Zhou, but a commoner like Zhao Xinlan? He wasn’t afraid of her.

Wei Lan knew nothing of this. She focused on polishing her rooster plaque in the workshop. This rooster plaque was quite difficult to carve. Madam interrupted her once, then Zhao Xinlan and Wei Qing interrupted her again. Now, she finally finished polishing it.

To be honest, the zodiac plaque from Qiemo jade looked quite nice.

Wei Lan stood up, brushed off the jade dust from her body, opened the door, and returned to her bedroom to change clothes.

At the same time, Lu Zijin just finished handling a pile of matters. It was almost noon.

Qianxue stood beside Lu Zijin. Seeing Lu Zijin finished, she said, “Miss, something seems to have happened on Master’s side.”

Hearing this, Lu Zijin’s heart skipped a beat. She stood up to leave, frowning, and said, “Why didn’t you say earlier? What happened to her?”

“Miss, don’t panic too much. It’s not Master who’s in trouble; it’s her family,” Qianxue quickly explained, seeing Lu Zijin’s alarmed expression.

Hearing this, Lu Zijin sighed slightly in relief. While walking out, she asked, “What’s going on?”

“It’s Master’s father. He owes silver to Dacheng Gambling House, and they detained him there. Master’s mother and little sister came to ask Master for help, saying they need to pay one thousand taels to redeem him. But Master didn’t seem to agree. Later, Master’s mother left. Since it wasn’t urgent, I waited until you finished your work to tell you,” Qianxue explained the situation to Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin nodded, feeling a bit relieved. This was Wei Lan’s family matter, so naturally, Wei Lan would decide how to handle it.

Since it was Wei Lan’s father who was detained, Lu Zijin felt uneasy about Wei Lan and decided to check on her.

Several servants carried a soft sedan. Even though they were strong, the journey was long. By the time Lu Zijin reached Fuqu Pavilion, it was already noon.

At that moment, Wei Lan and Wei Qing sat in the bedroom, preparing to eat.

Wei Qing still felt very uneasy. Hearing the noise outside, her eyes reddened with fear.

Her sister, after all, was the son-in-law married into the Lu Mansion. Wei Qing thought her sister probably didn’t live well here. Now, she came to cause trouble for her sister, unsure if Miss Lu would blame her sister.

Wei Lan didn’t know Wei Qing imagined so much. She felt surprised that Lu Zijin came at this time. After all, Lu Zijin delayed a day yesterday, so she should have many things to handle today.

Wei Lan stood up and walked out. Wei Qing didn’t know what to do, so she followed her sister blankly. If Miss Lu punished her sister, she would take the punishment for her.

“Madam? Why did you come now?” Wei Lan asked.

Qianxue helped Lu Zijin down from the soft sedan. Seeing Wei Lan was fine, Lu Zijin sighed in relief. “I heard something happened on your side. I worried about you, so I came to check.”

Wei Lan heard Lu Zijin’s words, and her heart felt warm. Madam was so good to her, coming to check on her when she heard something happened.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. Have you been busy all morning? Stay and eat with us,” Wei Lan said.

Lu Zijin smiled and nodded to her. “Hmm.”

Lu Zijin looked behind Wei Lan and saw a little girl standing obediently like a quail, looking timid.

“Is this your little sister?” Lu Zijin asked.

Wei Lan nodded. “Something happened at home, so she’ll stay in the mansion for a while.”

Wei Qing closed her eyes, her heart pounding fast, fearing she’d hear Lu Zijin’s displeased voice, kicking her out of the Lu Mansion and punishing her sister.

“Hmm, you arrange it as you see fit,” Lu Zijin said, holding Wei Lan’s hand and smiling.

Then she looked at Wei Qing, seeing the little girl seemed uneasy, and comforted her. “Treat this place like your home. If you need anything, just tell them. No need to be so nervous.”

“Thank you, Sister Lu,” Wei Qing said. She didn’t expect Lu Zijin to say these things to her. Though still scared, she relaxed a bit. It seemed Lu Zijin wouldn’t punish her sister.

“Let’s go inside and talk,” Wei Lan said, leading Lu Zijin to the bedroom, casually ordering, “Go get Madam’s bowl and chopsticks.”

“Yes,” Li Fengzhu and Zhao Linghui immediately went to arrange it diligently.

Wei Lan led Lu Zijin to sit down. Wei Qing still felt uneasy and stood to the side, not daring to sit.

Seeing her still standing, Wei Lan said, “Sit down. Relax. There aren’t so many rules at home.”

“Maybe, maybe I’ll eat in my room,” Wei Qing said, still afraid of causing trouble for her sister.

“It’s fine. Sit and eat with us,” Lu Zijin also urged from the side.

Seeing Lu Zijin wasn’t angry, Wei Qing sat down, trying to minimize her presence, sitting quietly without speaking.

Lu Zijin’s gaze turned to Wei Lan. She asked, “What do you plan to do?”

“I won’t do anything. He made his own mess, so he bears the responsibility. You know how I married into this family, Madam. Wei Wenyuan sold one daughter and still wants to sell a second. He’s a bottomless pit. Saving him once means countless times later. The mansion doesn’t lack silver, but we can’t use it to save someone like him,” Wei Lan said calmly, as if the matter was truly insignificant to her.

“Have you really thought it through?” Wei Wenyuan was Wei Lan’s father, after all. The Lu Mansion was Panyang City’s richest household. If Wei Lan wanted to save him, Lu Zijin had ways to get him out.

“Hmm, I’ve thought it through. Before we married, I warned him. He’s not cut out for business. I told him not to do any business. Now, not only did he get addicted to gambling, he borrowed silver from the gambling house for business. Anyone with a brain knows what kind of people run gambling houses. Since he did this, let him face the consequences,” Wei Lan said, putting a piece of rib into Lu Zijin’s small bowl. “Madam, eat. Let’s not talk about this.”

“Okay,” Lu Zijin said. She didn’t expect Wei Lan to be so firm on this matter, but it was fine. It was Wei Lan’s family matter, so she should decide.

Seeing Wei Qing dazed, Wei Lan also put a piece of rib into her bowl. “Eat.”

“Thank you, Sister,” Wei Qing said, quietly eating the food in her bowl, not daring to take other dishes, fearing Wei Lan would think her ill-mannered.

Wei Lan didn’t care about this matter. She ate as usual. Wei Wenyuan brought this on himself, so what did it have to do with her?

After the three finished eating, maids immediately cleared the bowls and plates from the round table.

Lu Zijin had a pile of work in the afternoon and couldn’t stay with Wei Lan, so she prepared to leave. But before she left, a guard ran in to report.

“Master,” the guard said, seeing Lu Zijin and bowing. “Miss, Master, Master’s mother came again. She’s waiting outside the gate now.”

Wei Lan’s brow furrowed, her face showing displeasure. She had no attachment to these family members from her original self, especially since the original self was practically sold into the Lu Mansion. She had no fondness for them. Plus, she already advised Zhao Xinlan this morning. She wasn’t ignoring Zhao Xinlan; it was Zhao Xinlan who insisted on saving Wei Wenyuan.

Pitiable people must have hateful traits. Wei Lan didn’t even want to see her now.

But after thinking for a moment, Wei Lan said, “Bring her in.”

Wei Lan worried Zhao Xinlan might cry and make a scene, so she wanted Lu Zijin to go back first. After all, Lu Zijin was so busy; she didn’t have time for these trivial matters.

“Madam, you should go back to Jingchen Courtyard first, so you don’t get upset,” Wei Lan said, looking at Lu Zijin.

“It’s fine. I’ll stay with you a bit longer,” Lu Zijin said, seeing Wei Lan’s mood wasn’t good today and feeling worried.

Wei Lan held Lu Zijin’s hand and shook it. Lu Zijin smiled slightly at her.

Her little Qianyuan was so well-behaved; she really wanted to kiss her.

But she could only think about it. With so many people in the bedroom, including Wei Lan’s little sister, Lu Zijin naturally didn’t do it.

Soon, the guard brought Zhao Xinlan in. Zhao Xinlan hadn’t met Lu Zijin, but seeing her attire, she guessed her identity. She immediately knelt before Lu Zijin. “Miss Lu, you married Wei Lan, so you’re our family’s daughter-in-law. Please help me, I beg you, help me.”

Lu Zijin couldn’t let Wei Lan’s mother kneel to her and immediately moved to help her up.

But as she took a step, Wei Lan stopped her. “If you have something to say, say it. Why are you crying here?”

“Wei Lan, Boss Xue said it has to be you who goes. Only then will he release your father,” Zhao Xinlan said, kneeling and crying with snot and tears.

“Me? Looks like this Boss Xue is targeting me,” Wei Lan said, a cold smile curling on her lips.

She exchanged a glance with Lu Zijin. Both roughly guessed the situation.

“Yes, he said he must see you, Wei Lan. He’s your father, after all. You must save him, you must,” Zhao Xinlan continued to plead tearfully.

Wei Lan scoffed lightly. She definitely wouldn’t deal with Wei Wenyuan, but this Dacheng Gambling House—she wanted to visit it. She wanted to know why Boss Xue insisted on seeing her.

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin. “Madam, I’d like to borrow some of the mansion’s guards.”

Lu Zijin nodded. “What borrow? You’re the master of the mansion. You can order them to do anything.”

“Good, thank you, Madam,” Wei Lan said, smiling at Lu Zijin. She looked outside and ordered, “Go gather thirty guards from the mansion to go with me.”

“Yes,” a servant in the courtyard immediately went to fetch them.

Seeing Wei Lan agreed to go with her, Zhao Xinlan felt relieved. She wiped her tears and looked at Wei Lan. “Wei Lan, I knew you’re a filial child. I knew you’d save your father.”

Wei Lan waved her hand at her coldly. “Don’t get too excited. I’m just going to take a look. I didn’t say I’d save anyone.”

“Wei Lan, you can’t treat your father like this, you can’t,” Zhao Xinlan continued to cry.

“If you keep crying like this, I won’t even go. Stop this act and stand up,” Wei Lan said, truly fed up with Zhao Xinlan. Was it worth it for a man addicted to gambling?

She couldn’t understand or empathize with Zhao Xinlan. Wei Lan turned to Lu Zijin and said, “Madam, you go back first. I’ll handle this myself.”

“Hmm, be very careful when you go out. Don’t get hurt,” Lu Zijin instructed. Of course, with thirty guards from the Lu Mansion, no one would dare touch Wei Lan.

“Don’t worry,” Wei Lan said, nodding. She had no attachment to these family members. Since coming to this world, Lu Zijin was the one she spent the most time with and treated her the best.

Lu Zijin got into the soft sedan to leave. Thinking it over, she still felt uneasy and told Qianxue to send two secret guards to protect Wei Lan.

Shortly after Lu Zijin left, the guards arrived. The guard leader position, which Lu Zijin and Fan Chuan requested, was still vacant. The guards competed to perform, as the leader’s monthly pay was much higher than an ordinary guard’s.

The tall guard leading them respectfully bowed to Wei Lan. “Master, everyone’s here. When do we leave?”

Wei Lan nodded. “We leave now.”

She glanced at Wei Qing beside her and said, “You don’t need to come. Stay in the mansion.”

Wei Qing nodded weakly, feeling relieved. She was terrified of the gambling house and the thugs eyeing her. Wei Lan not letting her go made her relax.

“Sister, be careful,” Wei Qing said.

Wei Lan nodded and told the guards, “Let’s go.”

A servant in the courtyard immediately prepared a carriage. Wei Lan got into the carriage, not bothering with Zhao Xinlan. The group headed grandly to Dacheng Gambling House.

Zhao Xinlan didn’t expect her daughter to ignore her, but she couldn’t care about that. She chased after the carriage, heading to the gambling house together.

Wei Lan stepped out of the carriage, her expression cold. “Let’s go meet this Boss Xue.”

“Yes,” ten guards immediately led the way.

The gambling house’s people saw so many guards in uniform storming in and hurried to block them.

“Who are you all? Do you know what this place is?” a thug with a scar on his face cursed.

“Force your way in. I’ll take responsibility for anything,” Wei Lan said coldly.

With Wei Lan’s words, the guards had no reservations. They kicked the thug, and soon the few thugs guarding the door were beaten down by the guards.

The lead guard kicked open the gambling house’s door with a bang, and over ten guards surged into the first-floor hall.

“Master, please come in. It’s smoky inside, so be careful not to choke,” one guard said, escorting Wei Lan inside, followed by over ten more guards.

Instantly, the once-noisy first floor of the gambling house fell completely silent.

Wei Lan faintly scanned the people inside and said coldly, “Get out.”

The lead guard shouted loudly, “Our Lu Mansion’s master is here to handle business. If you don’t want trouble, get out now. Don’t blame us for not warning you if you lose your life later.”

The gamblers saw Wei Lan’s luxurious clothing and nearly thirty armed guards. This was clearly a raid. The people in the gambling house scattered immediately.

The gambling house’s staff tried to stop them. “Wait, the silver, you haven’t paid!”

But no one listened. They all rushed out.

A servant, seeing the situation turn bad, ran to the second floor to find Xue Sanbiao. “Boss, bad news, bad news!”

Xue Sanbiao frowned and cursed, “Speak properly. What’s the rush?”

“It’s bad. Someone’s smashing the place downstairs. All the guests ran away,” the servant said, nearly crying.

“What?” Xue Sanbiao slammed the table and stood up. “I’m a prominent figure in Panyang City. Who dares come make trouble?”

“I don’t know. I heard the guards say it’s some master from the Lu Mansion,” the servant said in a panic.

Xue Sanbiao’s face instantly paled. Chen Zhou said Wei Lan wasn’t favored in the Lu Mansion. How could she have the authority to mobilize the Lu Mansion’s guards?