Chapter 18: A Bed Of Exceptions

Lu Zijin took a few shallow breaths before her breathing finally steadied.

She called out toward the door,

“Prepare another bowl of bird’s nest.”

“Yes.”

A maid outside immediately went off to make the arrangements.

Lu Zijin’s gaze darkened slightly as she looked at Wei Lan.

She reached out, pinching Wei Lan’s chin, her thumb lightly brushing over her lips as she stroked them.

“You’re actually quite good at acting spoiled.

I didn’t notice it the first few times,” she said softly.

“Is it because you’re still sick?”

“Mm… uncomfortable,” Wei Lan murmured faintly.

Lu Zijin rarely softened her voice like this.

“Be good.

Eat the bird’s nest first, then take your medicine.

You’ll feel better soon.”

“Mhm,” Wei Lan answered pitifully, obedient to the point of being helpless.

When the maids brought the bird’s nest over, Lu Zijin again reached out and gently touched Wei Lan’s cheek.

“Get up and eat something first.

Be good.”

Wei Lan had no strength in her body, her head spinning slightly.

Being touched so gently made her feel comfortable, and she unconsciously leaned closer, rubbing her cheek against Lu Zijin’s palm.

The smile at Lu Zijin’s lips deepened.

“Be good.

I’ll help you up.

No more acting spoiled.”

Her tone was gentle as she reached out to support Wei Lan.

Only then did Wei Lan dizzily sit up.

Lu Zijin lifted the bed curtain and looked toward the maid standing by the bed.

“Give it to me.”

The maid quickly handed over the bowl.

Lu Zijin took it, then looked back at Wei Lan.

Seeing that she was still a little dazed, Lu Zijin—having just finished drawing her scent—finally found her conscience.

“Can you hold it yourself, or do you want me to feed you?”

“I can,” Wei Lan replied obediently.

She took the bowl from Lu Zijin’s hands and finished the small bowl of bird’s nest in just a few bites.

Seeing she was done, Lu Zijin took the bowl back, handed it to the maid outside, then used her own handkerchief to gently wipe Wei Lan’s lips.

“Lie down for a bit longer.

The medicine should be ready soon.

I’ll wake you to take it,” Lu Zijin said, helping Wei Lan lie back down.

Lu Zijin herself lay on her side, watching Wei Lan.

By now, she had fully recovered her strength.

Lying there like this, she looked at Wei Lan thoughtfully.

She had originally assumed she would need to deal with Wei Lan after marriage.

Who would have thought that the Qianyuan she married back would be this obedient?

It really saved her a great deal of trouble.

Lu Zijin’s eyes curved slightly as she reached out to touch Wei Lan’s cheek.

She had to admit—Wei Lan’s skin was fair and delicate, surprisingly pleasant to the touch.

Wei Lan’s head was spinning.

Being touched like that, she simply accepted it obediently, even pressing her face closer and rubbing against Lu Zijin’s hand without realizing it.

The smile in Lu Zijin’s eyes deepened.

She even pinched Wei Lan’s cheek lightly.

***

Not long after, Qing Zhi brought over Wei Lan’s fever-reducing medicine.

“Miss, the Master’s medicine is ready,” Qing Zhi reminded as she stood by the bed with the tray.

Lu Zijin gently patted Wei Lan’s cheek.

“Get up and take the medicine first, then sleep.

Be good.”

“Mm… so sleepy,” Wei Lan muttered.

She barely opened her eyes and dizzily propped herself up.

Lu Zijin reached out and took the medicine bowl from Qing Zhi, holding it closer to Wei Lan.

Wei Lan wrinkled her nose.

“What is that?

I don’t want to drink it.”

She was a modern soul who had transmigrated here—she hated traditional medicine.

Just smelling it made her feel miserable.

Lu Zijin patiently brought it closer.

“I’ll feed you.

Be good.

Do you still want next month’s fifty taels of silver?”

Hearing that, even with her foggy mind, Wei Lan answered immediately,
“I do.”

“If you want it, then you have to drink the medicine,” Lu Zijin coaxed.

“Drink it properly, and you’ll still get your silver next month.

Alright?”

She blew gently on the medicine.

Even she thought it smelled bitter, so she instructed Qing Zhi,
“Go fetch some candied fruit.

This medicine is too bitter—Master probably isn’t used to it.”

Qing Zhi froze for a moment, then quickly bowed.

“Yes.”

Before long, she returned with a wooden tray holding a small dish of candied fruit, standing respectfully by the bed.

Lu Zijin blew on the medicine again and scooped up a spoonful, bringing it to Wei Lan’s lips.

She spoke softly, her patience rare.

“Be good.

Open your mouth.”

Thinking of her next month’s soft-rice money, Wei Lan reluctantly opened her mouth with a pained expression, which made Lu Zijin laugh.

“I’m just asking you to drink medicine, not do anything else.

Look at that face.”

She pushed the spoon forward, pressing it gently to Wei Lan’s lips.

Wei Lan drank a mouthful, her face scrunching up immediately.

“So bitter.”

“Be good.

I’ll add silver for you,” Lu Zijin said helplessly, resorting to bribery.

“Drink one more sip, and I’ll give you ten extra taels.”

Hearing that, Wei Lan reluctantly continued drinking.

Before long, the bowl was empty.

Lu Zijin scooped the last spoonful and said gently,

“Be good.

One last sip, then you can sleep.”

Wei Lan was nearly bitter to tears, but she still gritted her teeth and drank it.

She shuddered from the taste.

“Quick, bring some water,” Lu Zijin said at once.

“Yes.”

A maid quickly poured a cup of water and brought it over.

Lu Zijin took it and brought it to Wei Lan’s lips.

Seeing Wei Lan try to dodge, she patiently reassured her,

“It’s just water.

Drink a few sips and it won’t be bitter anymore.”

Only then did Wei Lan finish the water.

Lu Zijin handed the cup back, then picked up a piece of candied fruit from the small dish Qing Zhi was holding and fed it to Wei Lan.

“Eat this.

It’s sweet,” she coaxed gently.

Wei Lan lightly licked it first.

After realizing it really was sweet, she opened her mouth and ate it.

Seeing her small action, Lu Zijin’s brows softened with a smile.

Wei Lan, having eaten the candied fruit, lay back down dizzily.

Her head was spinning badly—she had long forgotten about Lu Zijin’s rule of not letting her sleep on the bed.

Lu Zijin frowned slightly when she saw her lie down.

She opened her mouth to say something, but seeing Wei Lan’s soft, weak state, she ultimately didn’t tell her to go sleep in the adjoining room.

***

Before she could say it, Yun Xiang entered instead.

She bowed toward the bed and said,

“Miss, the room next door has been prepared.

Shall I have someone take the Master over?”

Yun Xiang confidently assumed Lu Zijin would agree.

She had grown up beside Lu Zijin and knew her temperament well—Lu Zijin disliked others touching her things even more than she disliked sharing a bed.

But the next moment, she heard Lu Zijin’s voice.

“There’s no need.

Let her sleep here,” Lu Zijin said, glancing at the harmless-looking Wei Lan.

Yun Xiang opened her mouth to say more, but clenched her teeth and held it back.

She had contradicted Miss several times recently.

Though Miss said nothing openly, Yun Xiang knew she was already displeased.

For the sake of the young master’s instructions, she couldn’t afford to anger Miss any further—she still needed to remain by her side to gather information.

“Yes.

Then this servant will take her leave,” Yun Xiang said respectfully.

“Mhm.

You all may leave as well,” Lu Zijin added casually as she lay down.

Qing Zhi’s eyes flickered slightly.

She gestured for the other maids to leave, exiting last herself and quietly closing the bedroom door behind her.

She had originally been wondering whether to report Cao Qiushuang’s earlier disrespect toward the Master.

But seeing Miss’s attitude toward Wei Lan now, Qing Zhi felt it was necessary to mention it.

Miss always appeared gentle and easygoing, but once she made up her mind, she never changed it.

Letting the Master sleep on the bed tonight was already an exception.

Perhaps in the future, there would be even more exceptions.

If Wei Lan truly managed to secure her position as Master, then speaking up for her now would help Qing Zhi’s own standing in the Lu residence later on.

***

Inside the bedchamber, Lu Zijin lay down and glanced at Wei Lan several times.

She had never slept beside anyone before and inevitably felt a little uncomfortable.

But seeing how soundly Wei Lan was sleeping, she gradually closed her eyes as well.

The bed curtains blocked out much of the light from outside.

From time to time, the faint scent of fresh snow drifted from Wei Lan’s body, making Lu Zijin feel remarkably at ease.

The tension between her brows slowly eased.

In her sleep, without realizing it, she shifted closer—nestling into Wei Lan’s arms.