Chapter 17: Medicine And Scent

Before long, Qing Zhi returned with Deng Jin.

Without waiting for her to complete her greeting, Lu Zijin spoke first.

“There’s no need for formalities.

Hurry and check on her—what exactly is going on?”

“Yes,” Deng Jin replied.

She sat down by the bed and reached out to take Wei Lan’s wrist.

After a moment, she spoke.

“Over the past few days, the Master has expended a large amount of scent, so her body is rather depleted.

Coupled with insufficient rest, that’s why she has developed a fever.

I will prescribe some medicine.

If the scent consumption is excessive, she should usually focus on nourishment—or, Miss, you could also transfer some of your own scent to the Master.”

Lu Zijin’s brows knitted slightly.

“That won’t be necessary.

I’ll just have people send more nourishing food to her courtyard.”

She looked at Deng Jin and continued,

“Then can I still draw on her scent today?”

“Of course,” Deng Jin replied.

“However, the Master should first take some tonics.

Otherwise, her body may not be able to withstand it.”

“Mhm.

Have people prepare it,” Lu Zijin said.

“Also, Qing Zhi, have the adjacent room tidied up.

Later, help the Master over there to rest.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The maids immediately began bustling about.

Even though Yun Xiang was unwilling, she still had to join in.

Lu Zijin did not like sleeping with others, but Wei Lan had been married into the household to uphold appearances, and she would not treat her harshly.

Since Wei Lan was ill, she could not possibly let her walk back while sick.

Before long, the stewed rock sugar bird’s nest was brought in.

Lu Zijin propped herself up and gently patted Wei Lan’s cheek.

“Master?

Wake up and eat something.”

“Hm?”

Wei Lan felt her eyelids were unbearably heavy, but she still opened her eyes.

Then she saw Lu Zijin speaking to her.

She felt even dizzier.

“Are you done drawing?

If you’re done, I’m going back to sleep.”

Seeing that she was still thinking about the rules she had set even while half-conscious, Lu Zijin’s eyes curved slightly.

The Qianyuan she had chosen was truly obedient and well-behaved.

Her tone softened unconsciously.

“You have a fever.

Eat something first, then I can use your scent.”

“Alright, then I’ll get up and eat,” Wei Lan said drowsily.

She forced herself upright and took the bowl handed over by the maid beside the bed.

She had never eaten this kind of food before, but it was soft and sweet and tasted very good.

Wei Lan finished the entire bowl of bird’s nest in just a few bites.

Afterward, she looked at Lu Zijin with an innocent expression.

“I’m done eating.

Madam can bite now.”

As she spoke, she obediently lay back down on her own, limp and boneless.

Lu Zijin could not help but curl her lips upward.

She lifted her gaze toward the maids in the bedchamber.

“You may all leave.

Lower the bed curtains.”

“Yes.”

Several maids lowered the bed curtains and then withdrew respectfully.

Yun Xiang nearly ground her teeth to dust.

From the look on the young lady’s face just now, she did not seem to dislike Wei Lan at all.

If she was not mistaken, the young lady had even smiled at Wei Lan earlier.

That was not a good sign.

She needed to inform the young master immediately.

With that thought, Yun Xiang hurried back to her room.

She took out brush and ink and quickly wrote a few lines on paper, then left the courtyard to find a guard named Tian Da.

“Hurry and deliver this to the young master.

Make sure no one notices,” Yun Xiang said in a low, urgent voice.

“Yes, I’ll go right away,” Tian Da replied.

He immediately headed toward the Lu residence’s side gate.

The guards there were all his brothers—no one would question him leaving.

Only after doing this did Yun Xiang return to Jingchen Courtyard.

***

On the other side, Tian Da quickly delivered Yun Xiang’s note to the Chen residence, directly into Chen Zhou’s hands.

Chen Zhou glanced at Tian Da, then said to the attendant beside him,

“Su Er.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

The servant called Su Er promptly took out a ten-tael ingot of silver and handed it to Tian Da.

Tian Da’s eyes lit up.

“Thank you, Young Master, thank you, Young Master.”

Chen Zhou gave a soft snort and opened the note.

However, after reading it, the refined expression on his face seemed to crack apart.

He clenched the paper tightly in his hand.

Only after a long moment did he calm himself.

He spoke to Tian Da in an even tone.

“You’ve done very well.

I’ll take something—help me pass it to Yun Xiang.

Tell her that no matter how big or small the matters around Zijin are, she must report them all to me.

Especially anything related to that Wei Lan.

Those matters must be reported without fail.”

“Yes, Young Master, don’t worry.

I’ll definitely deliver it to Miss Yun Xiang,” Tian Da replied eagerly.

Having earned ten taels of silver, he was now Chen Zhou’s most loyal dog.

If Chen Zhou told him to go east, he would never dare go west.

“Su Er, give it to him,” Chen Zhou said, casting Su Er a glance.

Su Er immediately took a rectangular box out from his sleeve and handed it to Tian Da.

Tian Da took the item and was about to leave when Chen Zhou called out again.

“Wait.”

“Is there anything else you need, Young Master?”

Tian Da asked.

“Tell Yun Xiang that I will definitely keep my promise to her,” Chen Zhou said.

“Oh, yes, Young Master.

I’ll be sure to pass the message along,” Tian Da replied.

After offering a few more flattering words, he finally left.

Chen Zhou looked at Su Er and lowered his gaze.

“You may leave as well.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Once everyone had gone out, Chen Zhou stared at the crumpled note in his hand, his expression twisted with malice.

He cursed under his breath.

“Wei Lan, what do you think you are?

You dare climb into Zijin’s bed?

You useless trash.

Why don’t you piss and take a good look at yourself.

It won’t be long now—you won’t be able to stay in the Lu residence much longer.”

As he spoke, he swept all the pastries and tea ware off the table in one motion.

Only then did he calmly straighten his clothes and restore his gentle, refined appearance.

“Su Er, have someone come in and clean this up,” Chen Zhou said.

Su Er cautiously arranged for people to enter and tidy the room.

***

Meanwhile, after eating a bowl of bird’s nest, Wei Lan’s complexion had improved somewhat.

As before, Lu Zijin straddled Wei Lan’s waist and abdomen, then leaned down toward her neck.

She looked down at the person beneath her and said,

“I’ve already had someone prepare the medicine.

Later, drink it properly, then go rest in the room next to mine.”

“Alright.

Bite.”

With a fever, Wei Lan was especially obedient.

Her voice was soft and sticky, almost cloying.

Lu Zijin unconsciously smiled.

She reached out and pinched Wei Lan’s cheek, turning her face to the side.

As she leaned closer to Wei Lan’s neck, her gaze inevitably fell on the faint bite marks there.

The tender gland was still slightly flushed.

Lu Zijin deliberately lightened her touch this time.

She did not bite as hard as before, nor did she bother with any foreplay.

That kind of thing should only be done with someone one liked.

Her relationship with Wei Lan was merely one of mutual use.

Maintaining the status quo was enough.

When Wei Lan was bitten, she let out a soft hum.

Her voice was gentle and pliant as she complained,

“It hurts.

Be gentler… it’s itchy.”

Her voice sounded sweet and soft, as if she were acting spoiled toward Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin was already in her sensitive period.

Hearing Wei Lan’s voice only made her feel even warmer.

The strength of her sucking gradually increased.

Seeing that no one paid attention to her protests, Wei Lan could only close her eyes pitifully and endure being bitten.

Only after quite a while did Lu Zijin finally release her.