Chapter 65: Six Volumes of Trouble

Wei Lan didn’t even rush to eat lunch.

She placed the several copies of the Analects and Mencius on the table, then took out one of them and began to flip through it.

 

These picture books were clearly not cheap; they looked like hand-painted color illustrations.

The two main characters inside were quite good-looking.

 

Wei Lan began studying carefully from the first page.

At first, there was nothing improper about the picture book.

But the further she flipped, the fewer clothes the two main characters wore.

In the end, they were hugging each other, tangled together.

 

Wei Lan was dumbfounded.

She read half a book in one go.

She had to admit, the artist who drew this picture book had some skill.

The various scenes and positions seamlessly transitioned, and there was even a bit of a storyline.

 

Wei Lan was engrossed in reading, but then her nose started to itch.

Drip, drip.

A few drops of blood landed on the back of her hand, which was pressing down on the book.

 

Wei Lan quickly thought, Oh no.

The weather had been hot lately, and she had gotten a bit too excited just now.

She had a nosebleed.

 

Wei Lan quickly closed the book, tilted her head back, and walked outside.

“Hurry and bring me a basin of cold water.

I have a nosebleed.”

“Oh, okay.”

The young maidservants outside immediately sprang into action.

Everyone had nothing to do in the afternoon and were bored stiff.

Before long, the entire courtyard of maidservants and servant boys had gathered around.

 

Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui were terrified.

They were the matrons in charge of the courtyard.

Given how much the young lady doted on the master, if she found out about this, they would probably be punished again.

The memory of being beaten with sticks was still deeply etched in their minds.

“Master, master, what happened to you?

Quick, what are you standing there for?

Hurry and go get the residence physician.”

Li Zhufeng quickly said.

“Yes.”

A servant boy, receiving the order, was about to run out.

 

Wei Lan patted her face with cold water, washing her nose as well.

By now, she was feeling much better, and her nose had stopped bleeding.

She quickly said, “Come back.

I’m fine now.

What residence physician?

Come back.”

 

The servant boy had no choice but to return, waiting for Wei Lan’s instructions.

 

But Li Zhufeng was not reassured.

She tried to persuade her, “Master, a nosebleed is no small matter.

Your health is important.

You should still let Deng Jin come and take a look.

Otherwise, when the young lady finds out, she will surely be worried.”

“Yes, master.”

Zhao Linghui also urged.

 

Wei Lan waved her hand.

“Really, it’s nothing.

I just got a bit overheated.

The weather has been too dry these past few days.

Prepare more fruits with high water content for me to eat.

I don’t want to take any tonic medicines.”

“Are you sure you don’t need a check-up, master?”

Li Zhufeng asked again.

“No, no.

I know my own body.

It’s fine.

Alright, you go get busy.

See, it’s already stopped.”

Wei Lan thought for a moment and added, “Oh, and prepare lunch.

I’m hungry too.”

“Yes.”

Seeing that Wei Lan firmly refused to have the residence physician come, Li Zhufeng and the others dared not press further.

They simply obeyed and sent someone to prepare lunch.

 

Wei Lan took a deep breath and returned to the bedroom.

It wasn’t really her fault.

The content of these storybooks was just too stimulating.

 

Although she hadn’t lacked stimulating things in her modern life, back then she hadn’t had anyone she liked.

She had had zero interest in such matters, simply focusing on carving jade every day.

That was why Wei Lan had gotten a nosebleed upon seeing these things.

Otherwise, with the accumulated exposure of a modern person, these picture books were actually nothing special.

 

In short, Wei Lan had just seen too little.

 

Wei Lan rested for a while, then placed her six picture books on the dressing table.

She felt that, given her tolerance, she probably couldn’t finish all six books in one day.

Otherwise, she might not be able to handle it.

 

So she decided to eat first.

After eating, she would have the energy to continue reading the picture books.

 

At noon, the residence had slaughtered a young lamb.

So the small kitchen had made clear-braised lamb chops.

Because it was fresh, the flavor was quite delicious.

At least Wei Lan liked it.

But Wei Lan also remembered hot pot.

This era didn’t have hot pot yet.

Wei Lan missed it.

Of course, the lamb chops were also delicious; she wasn’t picky.

But she still decided she would have to eat hot pot one of these days.

 

Besides the lamb chops, today’s soup was lamb offal soup.

The flavor of this soup was excellent.

The offal was all fresh, and the cook’s seasoning prevented any gaminess, instead highlighting the lamb’s natural savory flavor.

Of course, Wei Lan didn’t like cilantro; if some were added, the aroma would probably be even stronger.

 

She wasn’t picky about food, plus her mind was still on the picture books, so she ate very quickly.

In no time at all, half the table was cleared by Wei Lan.

 

She ate her fill, had the maidservants clear the table, and then sat back down at the round table with her six picture books.

 

No one disturbed her during the day, so she could study properly.

 

Just now, she had gotten a bit worked up seeing the two main characters entangled in the study, which had led to the nosebleed.

Now, Wei Lan had calmed down.

She felt she could handle it, so she continued flipping through.

 

Of course, Wei Lan had learned her lesson.

She would read for a while, then quickly drink some tea to cool down.

So, in the afternoon, she didn’t get another nosebleed.

 

Wei Lan put away the six picture books, then opened the door and called out, “Is my wife busy today?

Is she in the residence?”

“The young lady went to a farmstead on the outskirts to inspect the grain today.

She probably hasn’t returned yet.

After all, the farmstead is quite a distance from Panyang City.”

Matron Li quickly said.

 

Wei Lan pursed her lips, looking deflated.

“Oh, alright then.”

 

She had wanted to practice with her wife to see if what the picture books depicted was correct.

But her wife had been out working hard all day, and Wei Lan couldn’t bear to tire her further.

 

However, after reading three of the picture books in the afternoon, Wei Lan was feeling extremely restless inside.

Even if she couldn’t do anything, she still really missed Lu Zijin.

“Alright then.

I’ll go have dinner at my wife’s place tonight.

You don’t need to prepare dinner for me.”

With that, Wei Lan took a few maidservants and headed towards Jingchen Courtyard.

 

When she arrived at Jingchen Courtyard, sure enough, Lu Zijin wasn’t there.

Qing Zhi saw Wei Lan arrive and quickly bowed.

“Master, the young lady hasn’t returned yet.”

“Mm, I know.

I’ll bathe first, then wait for her to come back so we can eat together.”

Wei Lan said after a moment’s thought.

Anyway, she was definitely sleeping with Lu Zijin tonight.

“Yes, this servant will arrange it immediately.”

Qing Zhi quickly sent someone to prepare hot water and a change of clothes for Wei Lan.

Everyone in the residence knew the young lady doted on the master.

So no one would dare question Wei Lan sleeping or eating wherever she wanted.

 

Wei Lan happily entered Lu Zijin’s bedroom.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt her wife’s bedroom also carried a faint hint of white sandalwood scent.

 

She walked around the bedroom a few times, then lay down on the soft couch to rest for a moment.

The maidservants quickly prepared the bathwater.

 

Wei Lan dismissed them all, then soaked comfortably in the tub.

Since she had nothing to do and Lu Zijin hadn’t returned yet, she soaked for a while longer, even having someone come in to add more hot water once.

 

So when Lu Zijin returned, she saw that someone was in her bedroom.

Qing Zhi quickly came forward and said, “Young lady, the master is here.

She’s bathing right now and said she wants to have dinner with you.”

 

Hearing that her little Qiankun was being so clingy, the corners of Lu Zijin’s mouth lifted.

“Mm.

I’ll go in and see her.

We’ll have you prepare the meal later.”

“Yes, young lady.”

Qing Zhi quickly acknowledged.

 

Lu Zijin had been out all day, but hearing that Wei Lan had come to find her made her footsteps noticeably lighter.

 

She pushed the door open and went in.

Wei Lan heard the noise, turned her head, and looked towards the screen.

Sure enough, she saw Lu Zijin walking towards her.

 

Wei Lan’s eyes lit up, and she reached out her hand, wanting Lu Zijin to hold it.

“Wife, I missed you so much.”

 

Lu Zijin reached out and took her little dog’s hand, pinching Wei Lan’s cheek with her other hand.

“We slept together just last night, and you miss me already today?

Hmm?”

“Mm.

I miss you whenever I don’t see you.”

Wei Lan pressed her cheek against Lu Zijin’s wrist, nuzzling against it and acting spoiled, like a little dog wanting its owner to pet her.

 

Lu Zijin’s gaze deepened.

Lately, Wei Lan would get her all worked up and then leave the fire unquenched.

Lu Zijin was also helpless.

Her little dog was so harmless-looking, wasn’t she just going to have to keep spoiling her?

 

Lu Zijin’s right hand gently scratched under Wei Lan’s chin.

Soon, her hand slid to the gland opening, lightly pressing and rubbing it.

 

Before long, Wei Lan’s eyes grew misty, and the scent of fresh snow pheromones gradually spread through the room.

 

But after a few presses, Wei Lan suddenly sensed something was wrong.

No, she was the Qiankun!

If the pheromones in her gland opening were all gone, she wouldn’t be fierce anymore!

 

Immediately, Wei Lan reached out and grabbed Lu Zijin’s hand, looking at her with misty eyes.

“Wait, wife, I’m the Qiankun!

If my pheromones are gone, I won’t be fierce anymore.”

 

Lu Zijin couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Her little Qiankun, tears in her eyes, looking at her with that pitiful expression – no matter how she looked at it, the word ‘fierce’ didn’t seem to apply.

 

Wei Lan saw Lu Zijin laughing and sniffled, feeling wronged.

“Wife, what are you laughing at?”

 

Lu Zijin lifted Wei Lan’s chin, her thumb gently pressing and rubbing against Wei Lan’s lips.

Her gaze was leisurely as she looked at Wei Lan, teasing.

“When have you ever been fierce?”

“Wuwu, wife, you’re bullying me.”

Wei Lan’s words came out slow and soft as her lips were pressed, making her seem even softer.

 

Lu Zijin’s fingertips returned to playing with the gland opening as she leaned down and kissed Wei Lan.

Her kiss was urgent and full of possessiveness.

 

Wei Lan, with her gland opening played with and being kissed at the same time, soon went limp and almost slipped into the tub.

Lu Zijin, quick with her hands, reached out and supported her back, preventing her from slipping in.

 

A large amount of pheromones were depleted from her body, and she could barely breathe from Lu Zijin’s kissing.

She didn’t know what had gotten into her wife today, clinging to her like this.

 

With no other choice, Wei Lan reached out to push Lu Zijin.

But her hands had no strength from the kissing, and her pushing motion only seemed like half-hearted resistance.

Lu Zijin kissed her even harder.

 

Finally, seeing her little Qiankun almost in tears from her teasing, Lu Zijin pulled back slightly.

Her gaze, however, grew even deeper.

“Still fierce or not?”

Lu Zijin leaned in, kissed her little Qiankun’s lips, and asked affectionately.

 

Wei Lan gasped for air; she had almost been kissed unconscious by her wife just now.

But she still stubbornly said, “I am fierce.”

 

Hearing the little Qiankun’s soft, weak tone saying this, Lu Zijin was amused again.

She leaned in and bit Wei Lan’s gland opening, laughing.

“If you could just see what you look like right now, you wouldn’t say that.”

 

Wei Lan didn’t quite understand what Lu Zijin meant.

Lu Zijin sat up, her gaze towards Wei Lan growing deeper.

 

At that moment, Wei Lan’s earlobes and cheeks were completely flushed.

Her dark hair was still dripping with water droplets, the mist in her eyes not yet cleared.

Her red lips, bitten, looked like blooming roses.

She had a delicate, pitiful appearance that begged to be teased.

 

And Wei Lan, still unsatisfied, said, “That’s not right.

Aren’t all Qiankuns supposed to be fierce?”

“You’re different from other Qiankuns.”

Lu Zijin coaxed softly.

As she spoke, she bit Wei Lan’s gland opening again and sucked.

 

Wei Lan hummed and whined, acting spoiled.

“Wife, it tickles.

Stop it.”

“Be good.

Almost done.”

Lu Zijin coaxed vaguely as she took advantage of the moment to bite a few more times.

Only when Wei Lan could barely take it did Lu Zijin finally let her go.

“Are you done washing?

Rest for a moment, then we’ll have dinner.”

Lu Zijin had sucked on Wei Lan for a while, replenishing her own energy, and was now content to let her little Qiankun go.

“Okay.”

Wei Lan caught her breath, then climbed out of the tub to dry herself off.

As she dried herself, she felt something was off.

She was the Qiankun, so why had she just been pinned down and bitten by her wife?

 

Wei Lan thought about it for a while, soft and whiny, and decided that it must be because she hadn’t been prepared just now.

Otherwise, she definitely wouldn’t have let Lu Zijin get the upper hand.

Thinking this, she decided that once they got to bed, she had to be more proactive and not let her wife bully her again.

 

As she dried her hair, the maidservants brought in the meal.

Lu Zijin reached out and took the cloth from Wei Lan’s hand, drying her hair for her.

 

Her little dog’s hair was wet, making her look even cuter.

Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan, her eyes curving slightly.

 

Wei Lan, meanwhile, obediently held up her head, letting Lu Zijin dry her hair.

“Alright.

Let’s eat first.”

Lu Zijin had been tired all day and wasn’t very hungry.

She ate a little, then went to bathe.

 

Wei Lan ate quite a bit.

Having expended her pheromones just now, she drank a bowl of rock sugar bird’s nest to replenish her energy, preparing for later.

 

By the time Wei Lan finished eating, Lu Zijin had also finished bathing.

Wei Lan couldn’t wait to get into bed and wait for Lu Zijin.

 

Seeing the little dog so proactive, Lu Zijin deliberately wanted to tease her.

“Why so eager today?”

“Mm.

I missed you all day.”

Wei Lan lay on the bed, propping her chin on her hand and looking at Lu Zijin.

 

Lu Zijin’s eyes curved.

Such a sweet tongue.

“Alright.

I’m coming.”

 

Lu Zijin dried her hair a little more, then got into bed.

She casually lowered the bed curtains.

Before she could turn around, she was hugged from behind by Wei Lan.

 

Lu Zijin was stunned for a moment.

Her little Qiankun seemed a bit different today, unusually proactive.

She smiled and patted Wei Lan’s arms that were wrapped around her waist.

“What’s with you today?

So proactive?

Hmm?”

“I missed you.

Wife, I want to be on top tonight.”

Wei Lan wrapped her arms around her waist and buried her head against her, acting spoiled.

 

Lu Zijin was amused.

Wei Lan wanted to be on top?

Did she even know how?

“Alright.”

Lu Zijin agreed readily.

She was curious to see if her little Qiankun actually knew what to do.

 

Wei Lan, hearing Lu Zijin agree, her eyes lit up.

She continued nuzzling against Lu Zijin, acting spoiled.

“I knew you were the best, wife.

I like you the most.”

 

Lu Zijin was very pleased with her little Qiankun’s sweet talk.

She looked forward to seeing how Wei Lan would perform.

 

Lu Zijin lay down calmly, waiting for Wei Lan to make her move.

 

Wei Lan was still a bit uncomfortable being on top.

Moreover, what the picture books depicted was easy enough, but putting it into practice was not.

And mainly, Lu Zijin was staring at her, which made her shy.

Even her movements untying the garment sashes were a bit flustered.

The sashes on Lu Zijin’s middle garment were originally tied in a slip knot, but when Wei Lan pulled, she accidentally tightened them into a dead knot.

 

She had to frantically untie the dead knot.

By the time she had undone Lu Zijin’s middle garment, Wei Lan’s forehead was sweating.

 

Lu Zijin pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing.

Her little Qiankun was trying so hard; she should give her some face and not laugh, otherwise Wei Lan might not be willing to take the initiative in the future.

 

Wei Lan, on the other hand, sighed heavily.

Being a Qiankun was so hard.

Just untying a garment sash had taken her half the day.

There was no way she could learn the difficult positions in the picture books all at once.

She would just play with the little phoenix for a while first.

 

With that thought, Wei Lan finally made a move.

She leaned down and kissed Lu Zijin’s lips, acting spoiled as she kissed her.

 

After playing with the little phoenix for a while, Wei Lan was at a loss again.

Lu Zijin was very cooperative, but Wei Lan was still all thumbs.

In the end, she simply went limp and whiny, burying herself in Lu Zijin’s chest and acting spoiled.

“Wife, I don’t know how again.”

 

Lu Zijin smiled and shook her head.

Well, she was her little dog, after all.

If she didn’t spoil her, who would?

Oh well.

If she didn’t know, she didn’t know.

She would just teach her.

 

So, Lu Zijin patiently coaxed her little Qiankun while telling her what to do.

 

Wei Lan finally understood a little.

What was happening before her eyes gradually matched up with what was in the picture books…

 

The sky was already fully bright.

Lu Zijin had originally needed to go out early to continue working.

But she and Wei Lan had been up too late last night.

When she woke up, it was almost noon.

 

Lu Zijin glanced at Wei Lan, her eyes curving slightly.

She snuggled comfortably in Wei Lan’s arms, not wanting to get up.

 

Wei Lan, sensing the person in her arms moving, opened her eyes as well.

 

She looked around blankly.

When her eyes met Lu Zijin’s, the blankness receded, replaced by a sweet smile.

“Wife, good morning.”

 

Lu Zijin bit her earlobe and laughed, scolding her.

“Good morning?

It’s almost noon.

I had things to do, and you delayed me.

How are you going to make it up to me?”

“I’ll do whatever you say, wife.

I like you the most.”

Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin and nuzzled against her, acting spoiled.

Having tasted the sweetness last night, Wei Lan’s hands began to wander again, but Lu Zijin immediately smacked her doggy paws away.

“No.

I really have things to do today.

If we continue, we’ll probably waste the afternoon too.”

Lu Zijin bit Wei Lan’s lip, then got up to dress.

But Wei Lan had been too excited last night, and her clothes were strewn everywhere.

 

Lu Zijin glared at her.

“Don’t throw your clothes around in the future.

Look at this mess.”

 

Afraid she wouldn’t get any more meat in the future, Wei Lan very perceptively scrambled up to pick up her wife’s clothes, then obediently handed them to Lu Zijin.

“Wife, here.

I won’t throw them next time.”

 

Lu Zijin smiled and reached out to pinch Wei Lan’s ear.

“You’d better not.”

“Of course.

Wife, let me help you dress.”

Wei Lan eagerly leaned in.

 

Lu Zijin knew exactly what she was thinking.

Sure enough, a certain little dog’s hands started misbehaving again.

 

After having her gland opening bitten several times by Lu Zijin, Wei Lan finally behaved and got up to dress properly.

 

She was so grateful for the storybooks Xi Ye had given her.

They were incredibly useful.

Of course, last night’s success was largely due to Lu Zijin’s teaching; otherwise, she wouldn’t have managed so smoothly.

Thinking this, Wei Lan’s earlobes reddened.

 

It seemed like the Qiankuns in the picture books didn’t need their wives to teach them.

But that was fine; her wife spoiled her.

 

If Wei Lan had a tail, it would definitely be pointing to the sky right now.

 

Lu Zijin had someone prepare hot water for a bath.

Wei Lan snuggled up to her, wrapping her arms around Lu Zijin’s waist and acting spoiled.

“I want to bathe too.”

 

Lu Zijin pinched her chin.

“You can.

Go bathe in the next room.”

“Can’t we bathe together?”

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin with shining eyes, like a little dog waiting for its owner to feed it.

“No.

If we bathe together, this bath will probably end up back in bed.

I have a lot to do these next few days.

Be good.”

As she spoke, Lu Zijin’s fingertip lightly tapped Wei Lan’s nose.

 

Only then did Wei Lan obey.

“Alright then.

I’ll go to the next room.”

 

She reluctantly went to the next room, her mind still on the scenes in the picture books.

One of them was a scene of bathing together.

Wei Lan sighed.

Her wife was too busy; she would try that another time.

 

She leisurely went to the next room to soak.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but even though she had gone to bed very late last night, her spirits were especially high.

 

The two had lunch together, then Lu Zijin hurried away.

Wei Lan, seeing her wife leave, had nothing to do there, so she simply returned to her own quarters.

 

She planned to carve one more larger ornament before going to see Xiao Nanyan.

She should be able to earn quite a bit of silver this time.

Once she earned the silver, she would give it all to her wife.

When her wife was happy, she would reward her again.

Thinking this, Wei Lan was thrilled.

 

She happily returned to her workshop and continued carving jade.

 

Lu Zijin, meanwhile, got into a carriage heading to the farmstead on the outskirts.

She sat in the carriage, resting with her eyes closed.

She had been so busy lately that she had no extra time to spend with Wei Lan.

Having lost half a day this morning, she might have to stay overnight at the farmstead to handle matters.

Thinking of the expression her little dog would make when she couldn’t get her meat made Lu Zijin smile.

 

Last night was the same.

The meat had been right at her lips, but the little dog had still been dazed, not knowing where to start.

 

Thinking this, Lu Zijin’s earlobes flushed slightly.

She reminded herself not to daydream any longer; she had many serious matters to attend to.

 

In the afternoon, Wei Lan also stayed in her workshop, not coming out.

She was still rough-shaping a large piece of jade, creating its initial form.

But before she had been working long, a voice came from outside.

“Master, bad news!

Bad news!”

 

Wei Lan, hearing the commotion, frowned slightly.

She pushed the door open and walked out.

“What is it?”

“It’s the Lu family tavern.

There’s trouble.

Some people ate at the tavern and then started vomiting uncontrollably.

They’re saying our tavern’s food is bad.

They’re refusing to leave, and the tavern can’t serve other customers.

They’re also shouting loudly, claiming the food is unclean.”

 

The speaker was a worker from the tavern.

Originally, when someone got sick at their establishment, the manager was willing to pay compensation.

But these people were rolling around on the ground, refusing to leave, and saying the offered silver was too little.

The manager had pleaded with them again and again.

Finally, even the city constables had arrived, but the people still refused to leave.

 

The constables couldn’t arrest them, since they had gotten sick after eating at the tavern.

The manager was still there, trying to persuade them to leave.

He had sent this worker to the residence to report.

 

The worker had first gone to find Lu Zijin.

But the maidservants in her courtyard told him she had gone to the farmstead on the outskirts.

The round trip was too far, so he had come to find Wei Lan instead.

After all, it was common knowledge that the young lady doted on the master.

Surely, it would be fine for the master to handle this matter.

 

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