Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 76

Chapter 76

“Hmm, this isn’t much,” Wei Lan said softly, pinching her fingers.

“Since that’s the case, it seems my lord looks down on these banknotes. I can only reluctantly keep them for my lord,” Lu Zijin said, gathering the banknotes from three brocade boxes. Some were whole, some were not. Her little Qianyuan was quite good at hiding, stashing them in three different places.

“I don’t look down on them, Madam. Can you not confiscate them?” Wei Lan looked pitifully at the banknotes in Lu Zijin’s hands, almost crying.

Lu Zijin raised an eyebrow and smiled at her. “Want them?”

“Hmm!” Wei Lan’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin winked at her. “Then it depends on your performance tonight.”

Lu Zijin, in a good mood, placed the stack of banknotes into a brocade box and stored it away. Wei Lan watched eagerly.

She felt so miserable. Last time, her wife confiscated everything, and now she found them again.

“I’ll definitely perform well tonight,” Wei Lan said, looking at the banknotes in Lu Zijin’s arms, expressing her determination.

Lu Zijin smiled faintly and nodded. “Good, I’ll wait for my lord.”

While they talked, the maids frantically packed, afraid of missing anything. Wei Lan personally told them what to take. Everyday items didn’t matter much, but the tools for crafting jade had to be transported.

That afternoon, Wei Lan and the others moved. By sunset, Jingchen Courtyard had set up Wei Lan’s workshop. Some maids and servants from Wei Lan’s courtyard came along, while others stayed to care for Wei Qing.

Zhao Linghui, Li Zhufeng, two maids, two cooks, and two servants stayed to look after Wei Qing. Wei Lan took two servants, four maids, and Xi Ye with her.

Before leaving, Wei Lan warned Zhao Linghui and Li Zhufeng. After their previous beating, they were quite obedient now, doing whatever was asked.

Wei Lan checked her workshop. All the carving tools were neatly arranged, and her raw stones sat in wooden baskets on the floor. Satisfied, she returned to the bedroom.

In the bedroom, Qing Zhi led the maids in organizing Wei Lan’s things. A new wardrobe stood beside the old one to hold Wei Lan’s clothes. The maids quickly tidied the smaller items.

In front of Lu Zijin sat a brocade box. She sipped tea leisurely with one hand, occasionally tapping the box with the other.

Seeing the box, Wei Lan’s heart ached. That was all her private savings.

Lu Zijin noticed Wei Lan’s gaze and deliberately picked up the box to examine it. “Oh, you chose well. This box’s color is quite nice, a proper purplish-red.”

Wei Lan pouted, wishing Lu Zijin would say less. She just wanted to cry.

Seeing Wei Lan’s deflated look, Lu Zijin almost laughed but held it in. Her little Qianyuan’s aggrieved expression was too cute.

Lu Zijin raised an eyebrow at Wei Lan. “What’s that expression, my lord? Are you dissatisfied with me?”

“How dare I? I listen to you so well,” Wei Lan said, playing with her fingers and muttering softly.

Lu Zijin covered her smile with a handkerchief. “You’d better be obedient.”

Noticing the maids in the room, Lu Zijin decided to spare her little Qianyuan some face and stopped talking.

The maids didn’t dare laugh, pretending they heard nothing. Their packing speed surged, almost sparking.

Finally, the maids finished and left. Lu Zijin smiled and beckoned Wei Lan.

Wei Lan walked to Lu Zijin and obediently squatted, resting her cheek on Lu Zijin’s leg, acting coy. “Madam, can you give it back to me?”

She pointed pitifully at the brocade box, whining and rubbing against Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin touched Wei Lan’s cheek. “I said, it depends on your performance tonight.”

She tapped her own nose.

Wei Lan buried her face in Lu Zijin’s lap, rubbing again. Her wife always teased her.

Lu Zijin patted Wei Lan’s head and smiled. “Let’s eat first, then rest early.”

“Fine,” Wei Lan said reluctantly, eyeing her brocade box but obeying to eat first.

After dinner, Wei Lan bathed in the next room, slumping over the tub’s edge, still thinking about her box. She wondered how much her wife would return.

Sighing, Wei Lan climbed out of the tub. As she dressed, she wondered if other Qianyuans had their savings confiscated by their wives.

After tidying up, Wei Lan returned to the bedroom to find Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin, who bathed faster, reclined on the bed, eyes closed, resting.

Wei Lan closed the door, her eyes darting. She took a cushion from a chair, placed it by the bed, knelt on it, and peered obediently at Lu Zijin.

Wei Lan meant to perform well to reclaim her savings, but seeing Lu Zijin’s face, she couldn’t look away. Her wife was too beautiful; she loved her so much.

Wei Lan’s gaze swept from Lu Zijin’s face downward, loving every part.

Feeling Wei Lan’s intense stare, Lu Zijin opened her eyes and saw Wei Lan staring fervently.

She raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why isn’t my lord in bed? What are you kneeling there for?”

“I’ll massage you. Didn’t you say to perform well?” Wei Lan smiled, reaching for Lu Zijin’s leg.

Lu Zijin, curious about her little dog’s intentions, cooperated and extended her leg.

Wei Lan held Lu Zijin’s ankle, placing her foot on her shoulder, kissing it a few times.

Her wife’s feet were beautiful, whiter than white jade. Wei Lan gently massaged Lu Zijin’s calf, asking eagerly, “Madam, is this pressure okay?”

Lu Zijin, leaning back, squinted comfortably. Her little Qianyuan was such a money-lover, working so hard for her savings. Tonight, she’d make good use of her.

“Hmm, a bit harder,” Lu Zijin instructed.

“Got it,” Wei Lan said, increasing the pressure and kissing Lu Zijin’s ankle.

Lu Zijin, amused and exasperated, noted Wei Lan taking advantage while pleasing her. She seemed to enjoy it.

She pressed her foot lightly on Wei Lan’s neck, brushing the bond mark. The scent of fresh snow spilled out, nearly making Wei Lan collapse.

Wei Lan looked up aggrievedly. “Madam, if you press there, I won’t have strength to serve you.”

“Fine, I won’t press your bond mark today,” Lu Zijin said, tapping Wei Lan’s cheek with her foot.

Wei남 Lan held her ankle, kissing it a few times. “Madam is the best. I love Madam the most.”

Wei Lan massaged diligently. Lu Zijin leaned against the pillows, enjoying the service.

After a while, Lu Zijin nearly dozed off.

“Madam, can you give me the box now?” Wei Lan asked, rubbing against Lu Zijin’s leg, looking hopeful.

Lu Zijin opened her eyes slightly, seeing her little Qianyuan’s pitiful gaze. She smiled and beckoned. “Depends on your performance.”

Wei Lan climbed onto the bed, untying Lu Zijin’s sash. “Madam, I’ll perform well!”

With that, Wei Lan, acting fierce, kissed Lu Zijin.

The bed curtains fell. Soon, sounds came from the bedroom, red candles flickering as night deepened.

An hour later, Lu Zijin dangled a thousand-tael banknote before Wei Lan. “Be good. Why stop? Don’t you want the banknote?”

Wei Lan looked pitifully at Lu Zijin, hugging her and acting coy. “I want it.”

“Then keep going,” Lu Zijin said, biting Wei Lan’s earlobe, chuckling softly.

“I’m tired, Madam. I can’t,” Wei Lan said, wanting to cry. Her wrists ached, and her wife hadn’t returned a single banknote.

Lu Zijin bit Wei Lan’s lip, tapping her nose. “Girls can’t say they can’t. Be good, two more times, and I’ll give you a banknote.”

“Really?” Wei Lan asked, eyeing the banknote.

“Of course. When have I lied to you?” Lu Zijin kissed Wei Lan’s lips, coaxing.

Wei Lan kissed Lu Zijin again, obediently hugging her. Half an hour later, Wei Lan felt her hands were dead. This was more intense than carving jade.

Sniffling, Wei Lan asked softly, “Madam, can I have the banknote now?”

Lu Zijin, comfortably nestled in Wei Lan’s arms, rubbed against her, grabbing the purplish-red box. She opened it, flipping through the banknotes.

Wei Lan licked her lips, pleading, “Madam, just give me that thousand-tael one. I won’t mind.”

Lu Zijin kissed Wei Lan but didn’t give her the thousand taels. She rummaged and handed Wei Lan a hundred-tael banknote.

Wei Lan nearly cried. Three hours of effort for just a hundred taels? Her wife was freeloading!

“Only a hundred taels?” Wei Lan muttered softly.

Lu Zijin almost laughed but held it back. Her little Qianyuan was too cute. “What? Too little? Then I won’t give it.”

Wei Lan quickly grabbed the hundred taels. “Not too little, better than nothing.”

Lu Zijin, seeing Wei Lan clutch the banknote, kissed her neck. After a while, she whispered in Wei Lan’s ear, “Do it a few more times, and I’ll give you a thousand taels.”

“Really?” Wei Lan’s eyes lit up.

“Of course, I never lie,” Lu Zijin said, kissing Wei Lan’s lip corner, coaxing softly.

Wei Lan tucked her hard-earned money under the pillow, then pinned Lu Zijin down. Earning money from her wife was too hard.

Wei Lan worked for nearly another hour, exhausted, and collapsed in Lu Zijin’s arms to rest. She didn’t forget to ask for money.

“Madam, the banknote?” Wei Lan sniffled, asking aggrievedly.

Lu Zijin smirked. “Here you go.”

She counted the banknotes. Wei Lan saw a thousand-tael note on top and eagerly said, “Madam, isn’t that a thousand taels? Just give me one.”

“No way. I need to be satisfied for a thousand taels. Your performance was barely worth two hundred taels,” Lu Zijin said, handing Wei Lan a two-hundred-tael note.

Wei Lan pouted, accepting it. What happened to the promised thousand taels? Why was her wife docking her pay?

Lu Zijin, suppressing a laugh, saw her little Qianyuan staring at the two hundred taels, doubting life. She bit Wei Lan’s earlobe, saying, “What? You don’t want it? Give it back.”

“I want it, I really want it,” Wei Lan said, tucking the two hundred taels under the pillow. Joking aside, if she lost this, her night’s efforts would be for nothing.

Exhausted, Wei Lan rested in Lu Zijin’s arms. Lu Zijin pinched her earlobe, coaxing, “Want to earn more? A few more times, and I’ll give you more.”

“But I’m tired,” Wei Lan said, nuzzling Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin pinched her earlobe softly. “How can a girl be tired? Girls have endless energy. Come on, I’ll give you more banknotes later.”

So, half-coaxing, half-tricking, Lu Zijin got Wei Lan to work several more times. In the end, Wei Lan forgot to ask for banknotes and fell asleep from exhaustion.

Seeing her little Qianyuan sleep from exhaustion, Lu Zijin, satisfied, prepared to rest.

Wei Lan was so tired she didn’t notice when Lu Zijin woke. When she opened her eyes, daylight was bright. She touched her wrist, still sore.

Wei Lan rolled in the blankets, whining, not wanting to get up. Her wife was too mean, giving her only three hundred taels. Oh, and she forgot to ask for money after falling asleep!

Wei Lan pulled the pillow aside, retrieving a few banknotes. Counting them, she had five hundred taels, meaning her wife gave her another two hundred later.

Burying her face in the blankets, Wei Lan wailed. Earning money from her wife was too hard. Thousands of taels, and now only five hundred remained, earned through a night’s hard work.

She slept more, then got up, thinking since her wife gave her these banknotes, she didn’t need to hide them. Wei Lan placed them in her wardrobe.

Dressed in a skirt, Wei Lan opened the door, calling for washing items.

She washed listlessly. Qing Zhi noticed, having heard from the maid on night duty that Wei Lan and her wife were up until midnight, needing hot water to clean. The intensity was imaginable, no wonder Wei Lan rose near noon.

Qing Zhi eyed Wei Lan’s frame, deciding the kitchen should prepare bird’s nest soup with rock sugar for lunch.

At lunch, Wei Lan drank the soup. Her right hand was weak, but it didn’t stop her eating, though carving jade was impossible.

Her wife was harder to handle than jade. Her wrists and shoulders ached, needing more rest.

So, that afternoon, Wei Lan slept deeply.

When Lu Zijin returned after handling affairs, seeing Wei Lan still asleep, she felt a pang of guilt. Her little Qianyuan was so delicate; had she overdone it last night, exhausting her?

Lu Zijin kissed Wei Lan’s forehead, finding her hot, not feverish, but likely nearing her dew period.

Lu Zijin hurried out, ordering, “Call Deng Jin. My lord seems unwell.”

“Yes,” Qing Zhi said, sending a servant to fetch her.

Soon, Deng Jin arrived, checked Wei Lan’s pulse, and bowed to Lu Zijin. “Miss, my lord’s dew period came early. Use the dew period method.”

“Why early?” Lu Zijin asked.

“It might be due to intense emotions or overly vigorous intimacy, triggering it early. Both are possible,” Deng Jin said carefully.

Lu Zijin coughed, her ears reddening. “Does she need medicine?”

“No, trust incense will suffice,” Deng Jin continued.

Lu Zijin nodded, dismissing Deng Jin.

Looking at the pitifully sleeping Wei Lan, Lu Zijin began undressing. First, she’d satisfy her little Qianyuan.

Wei Lan, feeling hot, smelled familiar sandalwood and snuggled closer, crying and acting coy while inhaling the trust incense.

“Be good, a few more times, and you’ll feel better,” Lu Zijin coaxed softly.

Sniffling, Wei Lan whined, “My hands have no strength. Boo hoo.”

She wanted to move but couldn’t. Her wrists ached, shoulders hurt, and she felt uncomfortably hot.

Seeing her little Qianyuan cry miserably, Lu Zijin kissed her cheek’s tears, coaxing, “Okay, don’t move. Use your left hand, just support it. I’ll be on top.”

Sniffling, Wei Lan sat up, following Lu Zijin’s instructions.

Kissing Wei Lan, Lu Zijin coaxed. Her little Qianyuan was cute even crying.

They continued late. Wei Lan’s heat subsided, and her stomach growled.

Hugging Lu Zijin, Wei Lan whined, “Madam, I’m hungry.”

Lu Zijin, exhausted from taking the lead, pinched Wei Lan’s earlobe. “Alright, I’ll have food brought in.”

Ignoring her sore waist, Lu Zijin dressed, went out, and ordered maids to prepare food. She opened the window to disperse the strong trust incense.

Wei Lan, unwilling to leave bed, ate from plates Lu Zijin brought to her.

After two plates, Wei Lan slept deeply.

Seeing her sleep, Lu Zijin ordered water, bathed, and rested.

As expected, Wei Lan heated up at midnight. They continued until nearly dawn.

In the morning, shop managers came to report to Lu Zijin, but Qianxue sent them away, asking them to return in the afternoon.

Lu Zijin and Wei Lan slept until noon. Wei Lan’s spirits improved, no longer crying easily, but she clung to Lu Zijin, hugging her upon waking.

Seeing her clingy little Qianyuan, Lu Zijin had Qianxue notify everyone she’d be busy for a few days, to report matters after four days.

For those days, Wei Lan stuck to Lu Zijin like glue, following her everywhere or staying in the same room.

On the second afternoon, when Lu Zijin had urgent matters, she went to the study. Wei Lan followed, resting on a soft couch.

After four days, Wei Lan’s dew period passed. Lu Zijin, exhausted, sighed in relief.

She dove into work, handling piled-up tasks.

Wei Lan, recovering, thought of her five hundred taels. She decided to carve jade to sell but vowed to hide her money better.

Meanwhile, Chen Zhou was released from prison. Despite daily meals from Chen Mansion, fifteen days in harsh conditions nearly broke him.

Seeing Zhou Yufu pick him up, Chen Zhou cried, “Mother, I’m finally out. I nearly died in there.”

“My dear son, let’s return to the mansion,” Zhou Yufu said, helping him into a carriage.

Back home, Chen Zhou bathed and saw a doctor, who prescribed tonics.

After days of recovery, Chen Zhou planned revenge. Wei Lan got him jailed for fifteen days; he’d make her pay!

He sent men to watch Lu Mansion and find Wei Wenyuan. Even if Wei Lan disowned her father, Wei Wenyuan could cause her trouble.

When Su Er sought Wei Wenyuan, he was drunk in an alley of vagrants.

Wei Wenyuan sold his ancestral home, the money taken by the gambling house for debts.

Homeless, abandoned by his wife and daughter, he earned thirty to forty coppers daily at the docks, barely surviving.

Unable to afford rent, he lived in the vagrant-filled alley.

Unwilling to face reality, Wei Wenyuan spent his earnings on wine, dreaming of his past as a noble. Awake, he was a laboring vagrant.

Su Er, after much searching, found him.

“Wei Wenyuan? Wei Wenyuan?” Su Er called, but Wei Wenyuan, drunk, slept on a tattered blanket, ignoring him.

Su Er,无奈, told his servants, “Lift him up, take him to the mansion through the back.”

“Second Brother, we really have to deal with this smelly vagrant?”

“You think I want to? The young master needs him. Hurry up,” Su Er urged, gagging at Wei Wenyuan’s stench, stepping back.

The servants, holding their noses, carried him back. At Chen Mansion, Wei Wenyuan remained unconscious. Su Er had him locked in the woodshed.

When Wei Wenyuan woke in the afternoon, he usually drank until then, worked at the docks, earned coppers, and drank again. But now, he wasn’t in the alley.

Panicking, he rushed to the door. “Let me out, let me out.”

The servants blocked him, looking disdainful. “Stay put. Our young master wants to see you.”

Wei Wenyuan, seeing their sticks, dared not resist and waited.

Soon, news of his waking reached Chen Zhou.

Chen Zhou ordered Su Er, “Take him to bathe, give him clean clothes, then bring him to me. Don’t let him stink me out.”

“Yes, Young Master,” Su Er said, hurrying to obey.