Chapter 15: Soft Rice Isn’t Free

“What’s wrong with you two?”

“What are you laughing at?”

Wei Lan felt the pair were acting inexplicably.

Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui exchanged a glance, then smiled as Li Zhufeng spoke.

“Master, the young lady is still in her rain-and-dew period these past few days.”

“If you have nothing to do this afternoon, after you wake from your nap, you could go see her.”

“After all, the young lady is your wife.”

“That’s right, Master.”

“Kunze during the rain-and-dew period need the most care from a Qianjun.”

“If you put in a bit more effort these days, maybe the young lady won’t be able to do without you in the future.”

Zhao Linghui also chimed in from the side.

“You’re overthinking it.”

“Alright, I’ve eaten enough.”

“Have someone prepare water.”

“I want to bathe.”

Wei Lan didn’t pick up on either of their suggestions.

Lu Zijin not being able to live without her?

Wei Lan’s body shuddered subconsciously.

Please don’t.

Just yesterday, her bond mark had been bitten until it swelled up.

If Lu Zijin really couldn’t live without her, wouldn’t her neck be gnawed raw?

Just thinking about it made Wei Lan scared.

She should focus on her jade-carving career instead.

As for the male and female leads being lunatics, she’d rather stay as far away as possible.

Li Zhufeng and Zhao Linghui exchanged another look.

The way they looked at Wei Lan was like she was an Adou that couldn’t be propped up.

The two of them went out to call someone to prepare water for Wei Lan.

How could Wei Lan not know what these two old matrons were thinking?

Wasn’t it just that they wanted her to compete for favor and win Lu Zijin’s affection?

That way, she’d have status in the Lu household, and they could benefit along with her.

But Wei Lan didn’t think that way at all.

She was a simple person.

As long as she had food to eat and no one interfered with her jade carving, that was enough.

As for everything else, she didn’t want to consider it at all.

Lu Zijin should really stay farther away from her.

At the thought of Lu Zijin, Wei Lan couldn’t help but reach up and touch her bond mark.

The pain made her suck in a sharp breath.

Seriously, wasn’t Lu Zijin a dog?

She bit so hard it really hurt!

Before long, the wooden tub was filled with water.

Wei Lan took off the filthy clothes she was wearing and soaked herself into the tub.

She narrowed her eyes comfortably.

Her whole body relaxed as she soaked in the hot water.

After soaking for a while, Wei Lan prepared to change into clean clothes and take a nap.

Just as she finished drying her hair, someone arrived outside.

Soon, there was a knock at the door.

“Master, the young lady asks that you come over.”

The voice sounded like Qing Zhi from Lu Zijin’s side.

Wei Lan subconsciously reached up to touch her bond mark again.

It still hadn’t gone down, and she was going to bite her again?

Still, Wei Lan replied,

“I know.”

“I’ll tidy up and be right there.”

She sighed, resigned, and began to get dressed.

After she finished changing, Wei Lan sat briefly before the bronze mirror and simply gathered her hair into a bun, then fixed it with a jade hairpin.

Once that was done, Wei Lan pushed the door open and walked out.

Seeing that Wei Lan hadn’t even applied lip rouge and only had a single plain hairpin in her hair, Li Zhufeng hurried over and urged her,

“Master, did you forget to apply lip rouge?”

“And this hairpin is far too plain.”

“How about this old servant helps you dress up a bit?”

“Yes, Master.”

“After all, you’re going to see the young lady.”

“You should change into something more vibrant.”

Zhao Linghui also advised.

Wei Lan snorted lightly and ignored the two of them.

She said to Qing Zhi,

“Let’s go.”

“Master, are you sure you don’t want to apply some lip rouge?”

Matron Li called out from behind.

Wei Lan couldn’t be bothered to respond.

She didn’t even want to go in the first place, and they wanted her to put on makeup?

Forget it.

She’d spent the entire morning carving jade and just wanted to sleep now.

Qing Zhi respectfully led the way in front.

Her thoughts, however, drifted far off.

She had grown up in the Lu household since childhood, and this Master of theirs truly had a non-competitive, non-grasping temperament.

If the young lady didn’t send someone to summon her, she would never go looking for the young lady herself.

No, wait—there had been one time.

That time when the Master had gone to look for the young lady on her own had been to ask for her monthly allowance.

Other than asking for money, the Master never proactively went to the young lady.

That was rather rare.

Still, as a maid, Qing Zhi knew her place.

These thoughts were only kept in her heart and naturally wouldn’t be spoken aloud.

Wei Lan followed behind several maids without saying a word.

She really was sleepy.

After what felt like ages, they finally arrived at Jingchen Courtyard.

Qing Zhi gently knocked on the door to Lu Zijin’s room.

Lu Zijin’s voice came from inside the bedroom.

“Let her in.”

“Yes.”

Qing Zhi responded respectfully, then said to Wei Lan,

“Master, the young lady invites you to go in.”

As she spoke, Qing Zhi pushed the door open and gestured for Wei Lan to enter.

Wei Lan stepped inside.

The room was still filled with the scent of white sandalwood.

The bed curtains were the same as before, still drawn down.

Wei Lan walked a few steps forward and asked,

“Is it still like yesterday?”

“Mm, come over and lie down.”

Hearing the fatigue in Wei Lan’s voice, Lu Zijin softened her tone slightly.

She had made Wei Lan run back and forth twice yesterday.

Had Wei Lan exhausted herself?

Wei Lan rubbed her eyes and began taking off her outer robe.

She reached out to lift the bed curtains, her gaze falling on Lu Zijin.

She noticed that Lu Zijin’s complexion was much better than yesterday, her face even looking quite rosy.

Seeing Wei Lan staring at her, Lu Zijin met her gaze.

“What?”

“Aren’t you coming up?”

“I’m coming.”

Because she was sleepy, Wei Lan’s voice also softened.

She took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, then obediently lay flat.

The next moment, Lu Zijin beside her indeed sat astride her waist again and leaned down.

Seeing that Wei Lan looked listless, Lu Zijin reached out and pinched Wei Lan’s chin.

“What’s wrong today?”

“You look so tired.”

“Didn’t sleep well last night?”

“No.”

“I probably got up too early.”

“I’m still a bit sleepy.”

“It’s fine.”

“Go ahead and bite.”

“Once you’re done, I’ll go back and sleep.”

Wei Lan knew Lu Zijin didn’t like her and didn’t want her sleeping in her bed, so she said this directly.

Lu Zijin lay over Wei Lan.

The hand pinching Wei Lan’s chin loosened, her fingertips brushing along Wei Lan’s cheek like she was teasing a cat.

Wei Lan was quite sensible.

The corners of Lu Zijin’s lips curved up.

She really hadn’t expected that the Qianyuan she had taken back as a live-in spouse would be this useful.

Soft-tempered, obedient, her pheromone scent pleasant, without that innate sense of superiority other Qianyuan had, and she never pushed herself into Lu Zijin’s presence for no reason.

She suited Lu Zijin’s preferences perfectly.

“Alright.”

“Turn your head to the side.”

Lu Zijin looked down at Wei Lan beneath her, her gaze deepening slightly.

Soon, she saw the bond mark on Wei Lan’s neck that still hadn’t gone down.

Wei Lan’s skin was very fair, and the red, swollen mark looked glaringly out of place against her pale neck.

Lu Zijin leaned down and gently bit into it.

Before long, she drew in the scent she liked.

Actually, with some foreplay beforehand, this process would be much more comfortable.

But Wei Lan was merely a tool she had married back to silence gossip.

She couldn’t bring herself to do such intimate acts with Wei Lan, nor did she want to.

This was the third time Wei Lan had been drained.

This time, as it happened, her heart was utterly calm.

She only hoped Lu Zijin would finish quickly so she could return and get some sleep.

She was truly numb.

Who would’ve thought that living off someone else wasn’t easy either?

She had to come whenever called and be drained at any time.