Chapter 51: Blood on the Courtyard Stones

Wei Lan had just finished her morning nap.

She struggled to get out of bed.

Thinking that Lu Zijin had already gone to work early, Wei Lan felt a bit embarrassed to sleep straight until noon.

She decided to eat breakfast and then return to Fuqu Pavilion.

Since they were going to print storybooks, one volume definitely wouldn’t be enough.

She needed to keep writing stories to annoy Chen Zhou.

 

She had already bought the jade rough stones anyway.

After finishing the storybooks, she could carve whenever she wanted.

 

Wei Lan washed up, then had someone bring the morning meal.

She ate slowly.

The maidservants at Jingchen Courtyard were very perceptive; they had fetched ice early in the morning and put it in a large basin to cool the room.

 

Wei Lan finished her breakfast comfortably and, escorted by four young maidservants, returned to Fuqu Pavilion.

 

As she entered the courtyard, she noticed several pairs of eyes secretly glancing at her.

The young maidservants on duty outside bowed to her, still sneaking looks.

 

Wei Lan didn’t know what was going on with everyone, but she didn’t pay much attention.

She pushed the door open and went into her room.

 

The room also had basins of ice prepared by the maidservants to cool it down.

Wei Lan closed the bedroom door, walked to the chair by the desk, spread out some white paper, ground some ink, and began to write.

 

Today’s story continued from where she left off.

Although Cui Niang was now in the marquis’s household, a place that devoured people without spitting out bones, all her wealth was still in her hands, so the marquis’s household couldn’t do anything to her for the time being.

But Cui Niang knew she couldn’t put it off much longer.

Otherwise, given the marquis’s nature, he would kill her to seize her property.

 

Fortunately, Cui Niang hadn’t lived her past life in vain.

She knew that the seemingly useless Ninth Princess was actually a phoenix hidden in the abyss.

Only after her useless brothers had destroyed each other would she gradually show her sharpness.

Cui Niang remembered that before she died in her past life, the Ninth Princess had already taken control of the court and the military.

Once the old emperor died, she would be the rightful female emperor.

 

Cui Niang decided to find a way to contact the Ninth Princess.

She could give half of her wealth to the Ninth Princess, on the condition that the people of the marquis’s household must die…

 

The more Wei Lan wrote, the more satisfying it felt.

She portrayed Cui Niang as indomitable.

In the marquis’s household, filled with venom and deceit, Cui Niang escaped their schemes time and time again, leaving the ungrateful marquis’s face twisted with anger.

 

With the story in her head, Wei Lan wrote very quickly.

By lunchtime, she had written seven pages of rice paper.

The size of the paper was quite large, about two A4 sheets.

 

Wei Lan was very satisfied with what she had written.

She stretched and then opened the door to call Matron Li.

“Matron Li, have someone prepare my meal.

But make a little less this time.

I ate late in the morning, so I’m not very hungry yet.”

Wei Lan said.

“Yes, this old servant will send someone to prepare it right away.”

Matron Li chuckled and instructed the maidservants to get to work.

 

The small kitchen was very fast.

Soon, dish after dish was brought out.

 

Si Yun had been asked about the storybook many times that morning.

Just before serving the dishes, some young maidservants had asked her to find out if the master had finished the next part.

 

Si Yun was a bit afraid to ask.

Although Wei Lan had a good temper, she was still their master.

 

Si Yun didn’t ask, but Wei Lan noticed her looking at her and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“This servant was rude.”

Si Yun quickly bowed to Wei Lan.

“It’s fine.

Is there something you need to tell me?”

Wei Lan asked.

 

Si Yun broke out in a cold sweat.

She secretly observed Wei Lan’s expression and, seeing that it was gentle, cautiously said, “Everyone is asking about the storybook.

Does the master have any more for me to read to them?”

 

Hearing this, Wei Lan immediately understood.

After all, entertainment in ancient times was scarce.

Having the chance to listen to a novel, the maidservants were probably eager for the next part.

 

Wei Lan smiled and nodded.

“I wrote a few pages.

Take them out and read them.

Just be careful not to damage the paper.”

“Yes.”

Si Yun quickly walked to the desk, took the manuscript, bowed, and left.

 

Wei Lan began to enjoy her lunch.

She ate a little, then continued writing the next part of the plot.

 

***

 

In the afternoon, in Chen Zhou’s study, several managers of Chen Ji Bookstore were reporting the past month’s revenue to Chen Zhou.

Chen Zhou had a satisfied smile on his face.

“Young master, when it comes to bookstore business, all the bookstores in Panyang City combined can’t match our Chen Ji.”

“That’s right.

Thanks to those few storybook writers.”

 

Listening to the managers’ flattery, Chen Zhou nodded with great satisfaction.

“Indeed.

But you must ensure your shops maintain this momentum.

Above all, don’t let the Lu family surpass us.

Panyang City is only this big, and business is limited.

We can’t let the Lu family come out on top in everything.”

“Young master, rest assured.

When it comes to bookstore business, Chen Ji has never lost to anyone.”

 

Hearing this, Chen Zhou sat behind his desk and smiled contentedly.

“But you must also keep those storybook writers loyal.

Make sure they don’t write for other bookstores.”

“Young master, rest assured.

We understand.”

The managers exchanged glances and smiled smoothly.

“Good.”

Chen Zhou nodded with satisfaction.

He waved his hand to dismiss them and then let out a cold laugh.

 

He had painted a rosy picture for that fool Yun Xiang.

Now he just hoped she would succeed.

Of course, after she succeeded, he would have someone eliminate her.

And if she failed, Yun Xiang was just someone from Lu Zijin’s side, with no connection to his Chen residence.

He would deny everything.

 

That night, Yun Xiang snuck out of Jingchen Courtyard with two jars of wine in her arms.

The two jars contained a sleeping powder she had secretly obtained from Chen Zhou’s people.

 

Yun Xiang walked towards the warehouse.

But the closer she got, the weaker her legs became.

She hid behind a large boulder, holding the two jars of wine, taking deep breaths.

Then she looked at the gold bracelet on her wrist, constantly encouraging herself.

“You can do this.

Just do what the young master asked.

Wealth and honor will be yours.

Go, go.”

Thinking this, Yun Xiang stepped out.

 

A practiced smile fixed on her face.

Seeing the seven guards holding large swords, her heart still pounded with fear.

If one looked closely at Yun Xiang’s movements, it wasn’t hard to see that her legs were trembling.

 

The area around the warehouse gate was illuminated by lanterns and torches.

The guards soon spotted Yun Xiang.

 

The lead man shouted, “Who goes there?

What are you doing here?”

 

Yun Xiang smiled at them.

“I am Yun Xiang from the young lady’s courtyard.

Don’t you recognize me?”

 

The guards exchanged glances.

Of course, they recognized her.

After all, when Yun Xiang had been slapped a hundred times, her face had swollen like a pig’s head, leaving a very deep impression.

“What do you want?” the lead man barked.

“Oh, the young lady saw how hard you’ve been working and sent me to bring you some wine to relax.”

Yun Xiang said, feigning composure.

 

The guard’s eyes darted, and he said, “We have regulations.

We cannot drink while on duty.

How could the young lady send you with wine at this hour?

Speak, what is your real intention?”

 

Hearing this, Yun Xiang immediately panicked, sweat forming on her face.

“Brothers, you misunderstand.

The young lady sent this wine to help you relax, not to get you drunk.”

 

The guards still found it impossible.

After all, Hang Shuyao had lectured them several times about the importance of the warehouse.

Plus, one of the Lu family’s dyeing workshops had already been set on fire.

They were on high alert.

“Impossible.

The young lady is afraid of something happening here.

Why would she send wine for no reason?

I think you have ulterior motives.”

As the guard spoke, he signaled to the others.

 

Immediately, two men went over to seize the wine from Yun Xiang’s hands and then detained her.

“You, go report this to the commander immediately.”

One guard said to his companion.

“Alright.”

 

Soon, Hang Shuyao hurried over.

Seeing Yun Xiang being pinned to the ground by two guards, she asked,

“What’s going on?”

“Commander, this Yun Xiang suddenly came with wine, saying the young lady sent her.

We thought she was acting suspiciously, so we detained her.”

The guard quickly replied.

“Well done.

It’s late.

I’ll have her taken back for custody first.

You go invite Doctor Deng to my place.”

Hang Shuyao instructed a guard, then had Yun Xiang taken away along with the two jars of wine.

“No!

I am the young lady’s person!

How dare you treat me like this?

The young lady really did send me with the wine!

Just wait until the young lady punishes you!”

Yun Xiang’s clothes were soaked with sweat.

She cried and screamed, but Hang Shuyao ignored her and had her taken away.

 

There was a woodshed in the guards’ courtyard too.

Hang Shuyao had Yun Xiang locked in the woodshed and assigned two guards to watch her.

 

Inside, Yun Xiang’s hands and feet were tied, and her mouth was gagged with a rag.

 

Hang Shuyao took the two jars of wine back to her room.

Soon, the guard brought Deng Jin over.

“Doctor Deng, sorry to disturb you so late.

Could you take a look and see if there’s anything wrong with this wine?”

Hang Shuyao said.

 

Deng Jin only needed a brief sniff to detect something amiss.

“This wine contains a sleeping powder.

What’s going on?”

“Oh, someone was plotting against the warehouse.

It’s late now.

I’ll report to the young lady in the morning.

Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Deng.”

Hang Shuyao quickly said.

“Commander Hang, you’re too kind.

If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

“Go slowly.”

Hang Shuyao escorted him to the courtyard gate before returning.

 

After thinking it over, she still felt uneasy, so she sent ten more guards to watch the warehouse.

Only then did she feel a little more at ease.

 

Meanwhile, Yun Xiang, locked in the woodshed, was crying her eyes out, nearly hyperventilating.

She had just come to deliver wine.

Would the young lady forgive her?

But if the sleeping powder was detected, she was finished.

A wave of helplessness washed over Yun Xiang.

She cried until she nearly fainted.

 

Early the next morning, Hang Shuyao had Yun Xiang escorted, along with the two jars of drugged wine, to Lu Zijin.

 

Soon, the maidservants of Jingchen Courtyard ran to Lu Zijin’s bedroom to report.

“Young lady, Commander Hang is here.

They’re escorting Yun Xiang.”

“Have them come in quickly.”

Lu Zijin had just finished breakfast and was about to go out.

But since Hang Shuyao had come, she guessed something had happened at the warehouse.

 

Soon, Hang Shuyao and her group arrived.

Yun Xiang was forced to kneel on the ground by two guards.

She wanted to say something, but her mouth was gagged.

“Young lady, last night Yun Xiang brought two jars of wine to the warehouse.

She claimed you had sent her to deliver wine to the guards.

The guards on duty found it suspicious and detained her.

Later, I had Deng Jin examine the wine.

It had been laced with a sleeping powder.”

Hang Shuyao said respectfully.

 

Lu Zijin’s expression turned cold.

She signaled for the guards to remove the rag from Yun Xiang’s mouth.

The next moment, Yun Xiang’s cries filled the air.

“Young lady, spare me!

Young lady, spare me!

I just thought the guards were working hard, so I brought them some wine to help them relax.”

“To help them relax?

Then where did the sleeping powder in the wine come from?”

Lu Zijin laughed coldly.

 

She had originally wanted to keep Yun Xiang around, but now it seemed best to get rid of her sooner.

“I don’t know!

I don’t know how the sleeping powder got there!

Young lady, trust me one more time.

I’ve been by your side for years.

Even without merit, I’ve worked hard.

I beg you, give me another chance!”

Yun Xiang wailed incessantly.

 

But Lu Zijin sat on the round stool, unmoved as a mountain.

“Who told you to do this?

You’re a maidservant.

Why would you go to the warehouse?

Who is behind you?”

“No one!

No one is behind me!

Young lady, you have to believe me!

You have to believe me!”

Yun Xiang cried.

 

Lu Zijin laughed coldly.

“It was Chen Zhou, wasn’t it?

With your monthly salary, how could you afford to buy such an expensive gold bracelet?”

“Young lady, no!

It wasn’t the young master!

I did it myself!

It has nothing to do with the young master!”

Yun Xiang continued to wail.

“Give her thirty strokes of the board first.

Let’s see how loyal you really are to Chen Zhou.”

Lu Zijin looked at Yun Xiang and said coldly.

“No!

Young lady, spare me!

Young lady, spare me!”

Yun Xiang was quickly dragged away.

 

Soon, a long bench was brought into the courtyard.

The guards tied Yun Xiang to the bench.

Two guards stood on either side of her, holding long staves.

 

Lu Zijin walked to the covered walkway.

A young maidservant brought a chair, and she sat down, nodding to the guards.

The guards understood immediately and raised their staves to strike Yun Xiang.

“Young lady, no!

Young lady, spare me!

Ah, ah…”

 

The courtyard was very quiet, only the sound of Yun Xiang’s continuous screams.

 

But no one paid her any attention.

After thirty strokes, Yun Xiang’s back was already flayed open, and she had fainted.

 

Lu Zijin said calmly, “Splash her awake.”

 

Soon, a guard fetched water and threw a bucketful over Yun Xiang’s head and face.

Yun Xiang was jolted awake.

The wounds on her back throbbed with agonizing pain.

“Young lady… young lady, spare me!

I…

I won’t dare do it again!”

Only at this moment did Yun Xiang truly feel fear.

She thought of Tian Da and Cao Qiushuang, who had been beaten to death.

Their lives were in Lu Zijin’s hands.

They had signed deeds of indenture; even if Lu Zijin beat them to death, no one would investigate.

“Speak.

Was it Chen Zhou who told you to do this?”

Lu Zijin asked again, her expression calm, her voice flat.

“Yes… yes, it was the young master who told me to do it.

He said that if I burned down the Lu residence’s warehouse, he would take me as a concubine.

Young lady, I was bewitched.

Please forgive me.

I beg you, forgive me.”

Yun Xiang sobbed uncontrollably.

 

Lu Zijin’s expression was cold.

She had thought about reporting it to the authorities, but Yun Xiang was her own servant.

If Chen Zhou insisted that she and Yun Xiang were colluding to frame him, there would be nothing she could do to him.

But at least it would give Chen Zhou a good scare.

“Go invite the young master over.”

Lu Zijin said coldly.

“Yes.”

Several servant boys immediately ran off with the order.

 

In Chen Zhou’s study, he was leisurely sipping tea.

Soon, Su Er ran in.

“Young master, young master!

Miss Lu is inviting you over.”

“Lu Zijin?

Didn’t she refuse to let me through the gate before?

Could it be that the Lu residence is short on cloth and can’t meet the deadline, so she wants my help?”

Chen Zhou speculated.

“Probably.

In any case, we’ve finally gotten the upper hand.

This time, Miss Lu is inviting you.”

Su Er flattered.

 

Chen Zhou immediately put on airs.

He wondered whether to go.

If he didn’t go, given Lu Zijin’s personality, she probably wouldn’t ask him again.

 

With that thought, Chen Zhou nodded.

“I’ll go.

After all, she is my cousin.

It wouldn’t be right to refuse her.

But if she wants cloth, she’ll have to pay at least thirty percent more.”

“Yes, yes.

Young master is brilliant.

Young master is brilliant.”

Su Er flattered incessantly.

 

Chen Zhou soon left with a few servants, taking a carriage.

He arrived at the main gate of the Lu residence in no time.

 

Remembering his previous experiences of being blocked at the gate, Chen Zhou stepped down from the carriage, straightened his clothes, and walked towards the Lu residence gate with his nose in the air.

 

As he passed the Lu residence guards, he deliberately snorted a few times to show his displeasure.

 

He walked in arrogantly, thinking that Lu Zijin would soon be begging him for help.

Excitement was written all over Chen Zhou’s face.

 

When he arrived at Jingchen Courtyard, the first thing he saw was a maidservant lying on a long bench, her lower back flayed open.

 

Chen Zhou was stunned for a moment, sensing the heavy atmosphere in Jingchen Courtyard.

But he still smiled and walked towards Lu Zijin.

“Cousin, why did you want to see me?”

 

Lu Zijin’s gaze swept coldly over Chen Zhou.

“Yun Xiang, a maidservant in my residence, says you bribed her to set the warehouse on fire.

Is this true?”

 

Chen Zhou paused, not expecting Lu Zijin to bring this up.

He didn’t even look at what the beaten woman looked like, immediately trying to distance himself.

“Cousin, you can’t say things like that.

I have never met Yun Xiang.

I don’t even know her.

Your dyeing workshop warehouse was burned by some scoundrel, and you’re holding a grudge, so you want to take it out on me by having this Yun Xiang frame me, right?”

 

Hearing this, Lu Zijin immediately laughed.

She looked at Yun Xiang and said, “Yun Xiang, your young master is distancing himself from you.

He doesn’t seem to care whether you live or die.”

“Young master, save me!

Save Yun Xiang!

I did this all for you!

You promised me!

You said you would take me as a concubine!”

Yun Xiang reached out, trying to grab the hem of Chen Zhou’s clothes, but she couldn’t reach.

 

Her words made Chen Zhou furious.

“You… you are slandering me!

I don’t know you, you cheap wretch!

How dare you slander me!”

 

Then he turned to Lu Zijin.

“Cousin, I understand you’re upset about losing a warehouse full of cloth.

But having your maidservant falsely accuse me like this, I will never admit it.”

 

Lu Zijin looked at Chen Zhou, finding him utterly repulsive and nauseating.

“Is that so?

So you’re saying Yun Xiang did this on her own?”

“Yes, yes!

This cheap wretch is jealous of our relationship and wants to stir up conflict between our families.

You must not believe her!”

Chen Zhou said excitedly.

“Then we’ll deal with her accordingly.”

Lu Zijin said calmly.

 

Chen Zhou didn’t understand what Lu Zijin meant.

But the next moment, the guards began beating Yun Xiang again.

 

Yun Xiang no longer had the strength to scream.

She stared at Chen Zhou with eyes full of venom, like a scorpion.

 

Chen Zhou felt a chill run down his spine at her gaze and just wanted to leave this place of trouble.

“Well, cousin, if there’s nothing else, I won’t delay you while you handle your household affairs?”

“Why are you in such a hurry?

Feeling guilty?”

Lu Zijin said calmly.

 

Chen Zhou immediately stopped in his tracks.

“Guilty?

How could that be?

If you say that, then I’ll stay right here.”

 

With that, Chen Zhou gritted his teeth and looked at Yun Xiang.

But meeting her venomous gaze, he felt a bit scared.

“I…

I will haunt you even as a ghost, young master.

I will come back for you in the underworld.

We’ll die together.

Die together.”

Yun Xiang’s voice was hoarse, like a demon crawling out of hell.

“You… don’t talk nonsense here.

Who wants to die with you?”

Chen Zhou was unnerved by her words.

He had been responsible for deaths before, but he had always had his underlings handle them, so he had never seen a corpse.

This was his first time.

 

After saying that, Yun Xiang lost all her strength.

Soon, she closed her eyes.

 

The guards checked her breathing and shook their heads at Lu Zijin.

“Young lady, she has stopped breathing.”

 

Lu Zijin just nodded calmly.

“Dispose of the body.”

 

With that, Lu Zijin stood up and looked at Chen Zhou.

“Boss Chen, you won’t have nightmares tonight, will you?

Yun Xiang just said she would come back for you.”

 

Chen Zhou stepped back in fright, but still tried to act tough.

“Nonsense!

I don’t even know her.

You’re the one who killed her.

If anyone should be haunted, it’s you.”

“Is that so?

Every debt has its debtor.

You know that in your heart.”

Lu Zijin looked at Chen Zhou coldly, the corners of her mouth slightly lifted.

“What a nuisance.

I’m leaving.”

Chen Zhou said, no longer paying attention to Lu Zijin.

He wanted to get away as quickly as possible, still remembering the venomous look Yun Xiang had given him.

This was bad.

 

As he walked, he clenched his fist and instructed Su Er beside him.

“Quick, go find a ritual master in the city.

Have him come to my courtyard to perform a ceremony.

Make sure not to make a fuss.”

“Yes, young master, don’t worry.

I’ll send someone right away.”

Su Er quickly said.

 

As Chen Zhou left the Lu residence, he nearly tripped on the steps.

He was terrified.

“Hurry, help me!

Let’s go, let’s go!

Get back to the residence quickly!”

“Yes, yes.

Young master, be careful.”

The carriage rumbled away, and the Chen residence people were soon out of sight.

 

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