Chapter 12: The Contract’s Echo

Wei Lan walked back in a daze, utterly drained.

At first, she hadn’t thought much of it.

She assumed Lu Zijin had merely taken some of her scent, nothing serious.

But the farther she walked, the heavier her limbs became.

Even the jade piece she hadn’t finished carving was now completely out of the question.

She needed to return to her room and sleep—immediately.

By the time Wei Lan reached Fuqu Pavilion, cold sweat had already beaded along her temples.

When Li Zhufeng saw her return, she quickly shot Zhao Linghui a look.

The two of them hurried forward to greet her.

“Master, how is the young miss?”

Li Zhufeng asked anxiously.

“Why didn’t you stay the night in her quarters?”

She wasn’t truly concerned about Wei Lan—she was worried that if Wei Lan had fallen out of favor, the servants under her would suffer along with her.

Wei Lan shot her a glare and said curtly, “Have hot water prepared.

I’m bathing, then resting.”

Seeing her poor complexion, Li Zhufeng nearly panicked.

This is bad.

Could it be that the master angered the young miss and got thrown out?

She stole another glance at Wei Lan—then her eyes landed on the reddened contract mark at Wei Lan’s neck.

Several clear bite marks stood out starkly against her skin.

Wei Lan frowned.

“Nanny Li.

Have you stared long enough?”

“Yes—yes, of course.”

Li Zhufeng hurriedly lowered her head.

“I’ll have the water prepared at once.

Master, please return to your room and rest.”

She gestured to Zhao Linghui, who quickly went to brew a fresh pot of tea and brought it into the room.

“Master, please sit and rest.

Have some tea,” Zhao Linghui said attentively.

Wei Lan could guess exactly what they were thinking.

She poured herself a cup and drank it down in one go.

Seizing the chance, Zhao Linghui asked carefully, “Master… did something happen between you and the young miss?”

Wei Lan nodded calmly.

“Mm.”

Of course something happened.

She’d been bitten, threatened with money, then kicked out without even being allowed to nap.

She was absolutely unhappy.

“I was driven out,” Wei Lan added, completely unfazed, and poured herself another cup of tea.

Frankly, being sent back wasn’t so bad.

At least she could stay far away from that handsy lunatic.

Zhao Linghui’s expression shifted several times.

The way she looked at Wei Lan now was like she was staring at a hopeless lump of mud.

“Oh, Master,” she said anxiously.

“The young miss is in her rain-dew period—this is such a rare opportunity.

You should be staying by her side day and night.

That’s how you gain her favor.”

Wei Lan found it amusing.

“Her favor?

No thanks.

The farther apart we stay, the better.

This arrangement is just fine.”

“Master, forgive my bluntness,” Zhao Linghui pressed on.

“You married into the Lu household.

How well you live in the future depends entirely on the young miss.

You really should put more effort into pleasing her.”

“You’re overthinking it,” Wei Lan replied lazily.

“I’m fine as I am.

She doesn’t bother me, I don’t bother her.

Now go check if the bath is ready.

Have them bring the water in.”

She was sweating all over and had no interest in continuing the conversation.

Before long, the servants carried in the bathwater.

Wei Lan sank into the warmth, finally relaxing.

She lifted a hand and gently touched the contract mark at her neck—it still hurt.

Lu Zijin always looked so aloof and restrained, but when she bit down, she really didn’t hold back at all.

Wei Lan’s neck was aching miserably.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she felt.

But there was nothing she could do.

She still needed to live off Lu Zijin.

A few bites were just the price she had to pay.

After bathing, Wei Lan went straight to bed.

***

On the other side, after sending Wei Lan away, Lu Zijin had fallen asleep as well.

By the time she woke, it was already afternoon.

For a brief moment, she felt disoriented.

Her body felt nothing like it usually did during her rain-dew period.

Instead of discomfort, she felt light—relaxed, even.

Then she recalled what she’d done to Wei Lan earlier, and the tips of her ears warmed faintly.

She was usually domineering, yes—but not that domineering.

Did I scare her too much?

Thinking back on how she’d bullied and bitten Wei Lan, Lu Zijin’s lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.

She hadn’t expected Wei Lan’s scent to be so pleasant—clean, pure.

And Wei Lan’s behavior had satisfied her greatly: obedient, compliant, only daring to grumble quietly under her breath.

Her brows softened.

“Qing Zhi,” she called, “have water prepared.

I’m bathing.”

“Yes, Miss,” came the prompt reply.

After bathing, Lu Zijin ordered the bedding changed and sat down with a cup of tea.

“Bring me the account books from my study—the ones I didn’t finish reading.”

Qing Zhi hesitated, then gently reminded her, “Miss, you’re still in your rain-dew period.

You shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

“It’s fine.

Go,” Lu Zijin replied calmly.

So the entire afternoon passed with Lu Zijin immersed in official affairs.

After a simple dinner and handling a few more household matters, the familiar heat surged back through her body.

Lu Zijin pressed a hand to her forehead as cold sweat bloomed along her cheek.

Yun Xiang hurried forward to support her.

“Miss, what’s wrong?”

“Quick—send someone to fetch Deng Jin,” Yun Xiang shouted toward the door.

Servants rushed to comply, while several maids helped move Lu Zijin back to bed.

The heat burned through her again, and unbidden, her mind filled with the memory of Wei Lan’s clean, cool scent.

If I bit her a few more times… I’d feel much better.

“Go,” Lu Zijin said weakly, her voice drained of strength.

“Bring the Master here.”

It was already the hour of the boar.

Standing beside her, Yun Xiang grew frantic.

Again?

Did the young miss truly fancy that useless person’s scent?

And at this hour—did she intend to keep her overnight?

“Miss,” Yun Xiang blurted out, wringing her handkerchief, “the Master isn’t worthy of you.

Why call her here?”

Lu Zijin frowned sharply.

“Since when do you get to decide my affairs?”

Cold sweat instantly soaked Yun Xiang’s back.

“T-this servant overstepped,” she stammered.

“I’ll send someone right away.”

She rushed outside and ordered several maids, “Go to Fuqu Pavilion at once and bring the Master here.

Quickly—do you hear me?”

“Yes!”

As they hurried off with lanterns, Yun Xiang rolled her eyes bitterly.

As if that useless thing could ever truly catch the young miss’s eye.