Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Su Er brought Wei Wenyuan to a guest room. Su Er ordered a servant to prepare hot water and said to Wei Wenyuan, who had sobered up from drinking, “Hurry and take a bath. My young master wants to see you.”

“Who is your young master?” Wei Wenyuan asked cautiously. However, he truly wanted to bathe, as he had been living rough for over a month, and his body was almost encrusted with grime.

“Young Master Chen from the Chen Mansion. Stop talking nonsense and go wash quickly. Don’t make our young master wait too long,” Su Er said impatiently.

Wei Wenyuan noticed Su Er’s impatience and quickly smiled apologetically. “Yes, yes, I’ll go right now.”

“Hmm, here’s a set of clean clothes. Change into them later so you don’t stink up our young master,” Su Er continued.

“Yes, yes,” Wei Wenyuan said. He glanced at the fabric of the clothes, quickly took them, and carried them into the room.

He stripped off his dirty clothes and soaked in the hot water. He thought about the Young Master Chen mentioned earlier. In Panyang City, the richest and most powerful young master of the Chen Mansion was Chen Zhou.

Wei Wenyuan had been living on the streets recently and naturally heard about Chen Zhou being sent to prison by the lord of the Lu Mansion. So, Chen Zhou bringing him to the mansion must have a purpose.

Wei Wenyuan wiped his face. Thinking of Wei Lan, he gritted his teeth in hatred. Wei Lan was so wealthy, yet she refused to help him, her father. She caused him to sell the ancestral home, lose a finger, and see his wife and daughter leave him. Now, he was homeless and had to grovel before the Chen Mansion’s servants.

Wei Wenyuan looked at his right hand, where his index finger was missing, his eyes filled with a crazed expression. Since Wei Lan was so unfilial, he, as her father, could not be blamed.

However, Wei Wenyuan didn’t enjoy the bath for long before Su Er’s urging voice came from outside. “Are you done? Our young master wants to see you. Stop dawdling.”

“Coming, coming,” Wei Wenyuan said. He hurriedly washed his hair, got out of the tub, and after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he finally emerged from the room.

Su Er glanced at him. After bathing and changing clothes, Wei Wenyuan looked somewhat presentable.

“Let’s go. The young master has been waiting for you half the day,” Su Er urged impatiently.

“Sorry, my body was too dirty. I had to wash several times to get clean, afraid the smell would bother Young Master Chen,” Wei Wenyuan said with a sheepish smile.

Su Er saw his submissive demeanor and felt a strange satisfaction. No matter how impressive Wei Lan was, stirring up storms in Panyang City, her own father was a spineless gambler, truly despicable.

Soon, Su Er brought him to Chen Zhou’s study.

Wei Wenyuan hurriedly bowed and smiled at Chen Zhou. If he had any dignity left before, after losing a finger and his wife leaving him, that last shred of dignity had vanished.

“I pay my respects to Young Master Chen,” Wei Wenyuan said.

Chen Zhou glanced at him faintly, his brow slightly furrowed. Perhaps because he hated Wei Lan so much, he now instinctively disliked anyone related to her.

“You’re Wei Lan’s father?” Chen Zhou asked.

“That’s me. I don’t know what orders Young Master Chen has, but whatever you command, I’ll do my best to fulfill,” Wei Wenyuan said eagerly.

He had long lost all shame. Living one day at a time was enough, and if he could get some silver from Chen Zhou to live comfortably for a few days, that would be perfect.

“You’ve probably heard of the grudge between Wei Lan and me. She got me thrown in prison and made me lose face. I want to repay her in kind,” Chen Zhou said viciously.

“Yes, yes, Wei Lan, that beast, isn’t human at all. If not for her, I wouldn’t be like a stray dog, reduced to this state,” Wei Wenyuan said angrily.

“So, I’m giving you a chance to strike back at Wei Lan. Of course, I won’t let you work for nothing. Here’s fifty taels of silver. Take it for now. After the job is done, I’ll give you another hundred taels,” Chen Zhou said, pointing to five ten-tael silver ingots on the table.

“Thank you, Young Master Chen. I thank Young Master Chen for the opportunity. But I’m homeless now and really don’t have the energy to deal with Wei Lan,” Wei Wenyuan said tactfully, actually trying to get more benefits.

Chen Zhou’s face darkened. “Su Er, take him to the guest room later. He can stay in the mansion for now.”

“Thank you, Young Master Chen,” Wei Wenyuan said, quickly bowing.

“Hmm, tomorrow, go to Chen’s Bookshop and publicly expose Wei Lan’s actions. The scholars there value filial piety the most. If they know Wei Lan abandoned her parents, they’ll surely despise her,” Chen Zhou said, smiling at the thought. As long as Wei Lan suffered, he felt satisfied.

“Yes, I understand what to do,” Wei Wenyuan said eagerly.

The next morning, Wei Wenyuan ate a hearty breakfast at the Chen Mansion. Su Er then took him to Chen’s Bookshop, while Chen Zhou sat on the second floor of a tavern across the street, waiting to watch the show.

Soon, Wei Wenyuan wrote several lines on a wooden board: Wei Lan, lord of the Lu Mansion, is ungrateful, unfilial to her parents, and an outrage to both gods and men!

Sure enough, people saw the sign and instinctively gathered to watch the commotion. Among them were a few men arranged by Chen Zhou—servants of the Chen Mansion disguised as common folk to stir up the crowd.

Soon, Wei Wenyuan began an impassioned speech in front of Chen’s Bookshop.

“I won’t hide it from you all. My unfilial daughter Wei Lan, because she climbed the ranks of the Lu Mansion, refuses to acknowledge me, her poor father! Our family was poor, and I admit I failed to provide, but when I went to the Lu Mansion to beg her, she drove me out. She even said she has no father like me,” Wei Wenyuan said.

He wiped his sleeve across his face, as if wiping nonexistent tears, and continued, “If not for Young Master Chen taking me in, I’d still be sleeping on the streets. Think about it, what kind of child could be as heartless as Wei Lan? Not only does she refuse to acknowledge me, but she also took her little sister to the Lu Mansion, not letting her recognize me as her father. I have no one to turn to for justice. Since she denies me, I must let everyone know her true face.”

“Wow, is Wei Lan really that kind of person?” someone asked.

“No way. I went to her book signing. She seemed very approachable,” another said.

“Nonsense. Bad people don’t write ‘I’m bad’ on their faces. You’ve all been fooled by Wei Lan,” a third person said.

“Is what this man says true? Is he really Wei Lan’s father?” someone questioned.

“I don’t know, but if it’s true, Wei Lan is really too much,” another replied.

Seeing his words had an effect, Wei Wenyuan pressed on. “She’s an unfilial wretch who doesn’t deserve to sell books of the sages. Don’t be fooled by her,” he said.

The crowd watching Wei Wenyuan’s complaints grew larger. Lu Shihua and her friends, out shopping, saw the crowd outside Chen’s Bookshop.

“Hey, look over there. So many people—what’s going on?” Lu Shihua said.

“Let’s go join the fun,” Lu Shihua urged. Without new storybooks to read, they were bored to death. Unable to see Wei Lan, they went to the Lu Family Restaurant every few days to eat hotpot, as it was something Wei Lan liked, and they wanted to enjoy it often.

Since all five were young women, they couldn’t squeeze to the front. Lu Shihua had her guards push through, finally reaching the front. But before she could feel pleased, she heard Wei Wenyuan’s words, and her face darkened instantly.

“Everyone, Wei Lan is unjust and disloyal. She treats her own father like this, let alone others. Don’t be fooled by her, don’t be deceived by this scum,” Wei Wenyuan said, still in a sobbing tone.

Lu Shihua was furious. How dare this man speak of their sister like that? Their sister was the best person.

“What right do you have to say that about her? Are you really Wei Lan’s father? You know the Lu Family and Chen Family are sworn enemies, yet you accept the Chen Family’s support. I think you’re no good either,” Lu Shihua shouted at Wei Wenyuan.

“Exactly. Chen Zhou is the real scum. To frame the Lu Family Restaurant, he hired someone to fake an illness, trying to claim their food was unclean. Wei Lan saw through it and sent him to prison. You’re mixing with a scoundrel like that—you’re no good either,” another girl said.

“Right. What kind of parent doesn’t defend their own child? You’re helping an outsider—maybe you made a deal with Chen Zhou,” a third added.

“Don’t believe him. We’ve been to Wei Lan’s book signing. Sister Wei Lan is gentle and kind. Those who’ve read her stories know the character Cuiniang is clear-headed and rational. Wei Lan herself must be just as good,” another said.

As Lu Shihua and her friends confronted Wei Wenyuan, more of Wei Lan’s book fans began to argue back. However, some rigid scholars supported Wei Wenyuan, and the two groups started arguing fiercely.

“Filial piety comes first. No matter the reason, Wei Lan’s unfilial behavior deserves criticism,” one scholar said.

“Filial piety? You’re young and already blindly loyal. Her father is mixed up with Chen Zhou—what kind of good person is he? Foolish,” a fan retorted.

“The books of the sages say so. The Great Zhou Dynasty has always ruled by filial piety. Are you dissatisfied with His Majesty?” another scholar argued.

Lu Shihua was so angry her head nearly exploded. She wanted to fight for her sister. “You’re twisting the truth. I said he’s unworthy—how does that involve His Majesty? You’re the one disrespecting His Majesty,” she countered.

The girls who admired Wei Lan clashed with the old-fashioned scholars from the academy. The scene nearly spiraled out of control. Wei Wenyuan hadn’t expected so many people to defend Wei Lan and began to panic.

Meanwhile, in Jingchen Courtyard, Wei Lan was stringing a bracelet. She had forgotten to string the lotus-root-colored beads before. Just as she tied the knot and cut the excess thread with scissors, an urgent voice came from outside.

“Bad news, Lord! Something’s happened!” the voice shouted.

Wei Lan put the lotus-root-colored bead bracelet on her wrist. With her fair skin, the bracelet looked quite nice.

She opened the door and looked outside. A female Qianyuan, dressed as a shop assistant, ran over, sweating profusely. “What’s the matter?” Wei Lan asked.

“Lord, your father is at Chen’s Bookshop, listing your wrongs. He’s saying you’re unfilial. Many scholars are siding with him, but many are also supporting you. The two groups are about to start a fight. Our grain shop is nearby, and the manager sent me to inform you,” the assistant said, gasping for breath, clearly having run all the way.

Worried the assistant might faint, Wei Lan immediately ordered a maid beside her, “Go get her a cup of water.”

The maid quickly fetched a large bowl of water. The assistant bowed to Wei Lan. “Thank you, Lord. But what should we do?” she asked.

She asked anxiously while gulping down the water in a few sips.

Wei Lan’s lips curved slightly. “Don’t worry. I’ll go see for myself,” she said.

Then she added, “Call Xi Ye and gather twenty guards from the mansion to go with me.”

“Yes, Lord,” Qing Zhi said, quickly sending someone to arrange it.

Wei Lan had long secured her position as the lord of the Lu Mansion. The young lady’s favoritism toward her was clear to everyone. With the young lady absent, the mansion naturally followed Wei Lan’s orders.

Soon, twenty guards and Xi Ye arrived, the guards forming two neat rows, with Xi Ye at the front.

Wei Lan smiled at the group and said, “Let’s go join the fun. I want to hear how I’m supposedly unfilial.”