Chapter 28: One Spy Left Standing

“Begin,” Lu Zijin waved her hand, not wanting to look at Tian Da any longer.

 

Hearing Lu Zijin’s words, Tian Da, driven to desperation, shouted, “Young Lady, spare me!

I was just delivering messages for the young master.

The real culprit is the young master, and Yun Xiang by your side!

The two of them conspired together against you!

Young Lady, what I say is the truth!”

“Young Lady, although this servant has been disrespectful to the master, I am absolutely loyal to you.

I would never take orders from the young master.

Please don’t listen to his wild accusations.”

Yun Xiang, her face swollen like a pig’s head, pleaded tearfully.

“How dare you!

The Chen and Lu families have been friends for generations, and Yun Xiang has been with me since childhood.

How could they possibly do such a thing?

You’ll say anything to save your own skin.”

Lu Zijin waved her hand impatiently, signaling the guards to simply begin the beating.

 

And so, stroke after stroke of the wooden staves fell upon Tian Da’s body.

Tian Da, enduring the beating, shouted resentfully, “Young Lady, please see clearly!

Chen Zhou truly bribed Yun Xiang!

Everything I did was on the orders of Chen Zhou and Yun Xiang!

Young Lady, spare me!

Ah!

It hurts!”

 

But after just a few dozen strokes, Tian Da no longer had the strength to scream.

 

Lu Zijin watched Tian Da coldly.

Did she not know about the dealings between Yun Xiang and Chen Zhou?

Keeping Yun Xiang was only to prepare for future matters.

Tian Da could not be kept.

One internal spy in the residence, Yun Xiang, was enough.

 

They continued until the full hundred strokes were completed.

The two guards were exhausted and breathing heavily.

 

One of them respectfully stepped forward and reported, “Young Lady, the hundred strokes are finished.”

 

Lu Zijin nodded and said coldly, “Those who have stopped breathing, have them all taken outside the city and dumped.

As for Cao Qiushuang, find an abandoned woodshed in the residence, lock him inside.

No one is to tend to his injuries, and no one is to give him water or food.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

The guards felt a chill run down their spines, but they still respectfully acknowledged the order.

 

Lu Zijin swept her gaze over the dozen or so people who had just been punished on the ground and spoke slowly, “As for the rest of you injured ones…”

“Young Lady, spare us!

This servant dares not do it again!”

“This old servant will from this day on be utterly devoted to the master, and will never again harbor the slightest selfish intent!

Young Lady, spare us!”

“This one dares not disrespect the master ever again!

Young Lady, spare us!”

 

Wang Yiding, Li Zhufeng, and the others, enduring the pain from the rod welts on their backs, kowtowed incessantly to Lu Zijin, terrified that she would also lock them in a woodshed, leaving them without medical care or food.

That would truly mean death.

 

Lu Zijin let out a light laugh and said, “The rest of you, get out of here and go back to your quarters.

Your wages will be deducted for three months.

As for your injuries, don’t expect the residence physician to treat you for free.

Send word to Deng Jin: those who want treatment for their injuries must pay the consultation fee themselves.

Those who don’t want treatment can wait in their rooms and die.”

“Yes, I’ll send someone right away to inform Doctor Deng.”

Qing Zhi immediately dispatched someone to convey Lu Zijin’s orders.

 

Lu Zijin stood up and swept her gaze over the crowd one last time.

“This past year was a time of crisis for the Lu residence, and I had no time to manage affairs.

But from now on, none of you should think you can fish in troubled waters here.

I cannot tolerate a single grain of sand in my eyes.

Now, all of you, leave.”

“Yes, thank you, Young Lady.”

“Thank you, Young Lady.”

 

The maids, matrons, and servants kneeling below all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The clothes of these people were soaked through with cold sweat from sheer terror.

 

The guards opened the gate and let the people in the courtyard file out in an orderly manner.

Servant boys from the residence pulled over carts on planks.

The six informants who had received a hundred strokes were dragged onto the wooden carts.

Other servants would take them and dump them on the outskirts of the city.

 

As for the injured, some helped each other, some crawled, as they made their way out of the courtyard.

These people were afraid that if they lingered even a moment longer, they too would be beaten to death.

 

As for Cao Qiushuang, guards directly dragged him to the residence’s woodshed and locked the barely breathing Cao Qiushuang inside.

 

***

 

Lu Zijin looked at Wei Lan and said, “Come on.

It’s been a long night.

Are you hungry?”

 

Wei Lan stood up.

She had spent the entire evening watching Lu Zijin punish the servants, and it felt incredibly satisfying.

“I’m okay.

You were really amazing, wife.”

 

Lu Zijin smiled at her.

“I’m just glad you don’t think I’m too ruthless.”

“Of course not.

They were the ones who did wrong first.

How could it be your fault?”

Wei Lan spoke the truth, but her stomach was also, indeed, growling with hunger, a rumbling sound escaping it.

 

Lu Zijin smiled at her, reached out, and took Wei Lan’s hand, leading her into the room.

“Bring some warm water.”

Lu Zijin ordered.

 

Soon, a maidservant brought over a bronze basin and a cloth.

Lu Zijin wet the cloth and said, “Let me wipe your face.

You were out all day.

Are you tired?”

“Not tired.”

Wei Lan obediently responded, leaning in so Lu Zijin could wipe her face.

 

Sometimes, Lu Zijin was really quite nice, especially today when she believed in her and protected her.

This made Wei Lan feel extremely comfortable inside.

Even when she looked at Lu Zijin, there was a smile on her face.

 

But as Lu Zijin wiped, her brow furrowed.

She reached out, grabbed Wei Lan’s collar, and pulled her close, sniffing her.

Her expression turned completely cold.

 

Lu Zijin withdrew the hand wiping Wei Lan’s face, looked up, and asked coldly, “Who were you with today?

Why do you have the scent of a Kunze on you?”

 

The scent on Wei Lan wasn’t strong, after all, she had only discussed business and eaten lunch with Xiao Nanyan.

But since the two had been in the same space, it was inevitable that she would pick up some scent.

Wei Lan hadn’t even noticed it herself.

However, Kunzes were very sensitive to the pheromones of other Kunzes.

So the moment Lu Zijin got close, she detected a faint rose fragrance on Wei Lan, the pheromone scent of a Kunze.

 

Wei Lan thought for a moment and said, “I was at Yuyaxuan all day today.

As for Kunzes, I only saw their owner, Xiao Nanyan.

Because they initially didn’t believe I could carve those jade ornaments and plaques, I used Yuyaxuan’s tools to carve a jade plaque on the spot.

It took quite a while.

During that time, Xiao Nanyan and a few of her shop’s carvers were there the whole time.

See, I haven’t finished carving this plaque yet.

I brought it back.”

 

Lu Zijin believed what Wei Lan said, but she did not like Wei Lan carrying the scent of another Kunze on her.

Her expression remained cold as she instructed Qing Zhi nearby, “Send someone to prepare water.

The master will bathe before eating.

Also, bring some pastries.”

“Yes.”

Qing Zhi quickly sent someone to arrange it.

 

Lu Zijin glared at Wei Lan and admonished her, “From now on, when you come back from outside, bathe first.

I don’t like you carrying the scent of others on you.

Understood?”

“Oh.”

Wei Lan nodded obediently.

She hadn’t even noticed she had a scent on her.

 

Wei Lan raised her hand to her nose, trying to smell what it was, but Lu Zijin caught her chin, stopping the motion.

“Wait obediently for your bath.

Don’t go sniffing around.”

Although she had no real feelings for Wei Lan, she was still her Qiankun.

She didn’t want Wei Lan sniffing another’s pheromones.

“Alright.”

Wei Lan obediently put her hand down.

 

Maidservants had already brought the pastries Lu Zijin had ordered.

Lu Zijin wiped her hands with a cloth, then picked up a piece of pastry and fed it to Wei Lan’s lips.

“Eat a little something to tide you over.

You can have dinner after your bath.”

 

Wei Lan was hungry now, and seeing the offering, she immediately opened her mouth and took a bite.

The little pastries from Lu Zijin’s side were fragrant and soft.

She loved them.

“Mm, delicious.”

Wei Lan said, finishing the rest.

 

Seeing she liked it, Lu Zijin’s eyes curved slightly.

She picked up another piece and fed it to her.

“Eat slowly.”

“Mm, the food at your place is really good, wife.”

After eating two pieces of pastry fed by Lu Zijin, Wei Lan’s stomach finally stopped growling.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

Wei Lan smiled at Lu Zijin.

 

Soon, the maidservants had prepared the hot water.

Qing Zhi knocked and entered, bowing to Lu Zijin and Wei Lan.

“Young Lady, should we prepare for the master to bathe here, or in the next room?”

 

Lu Zijin thought for a moment, then said, “She’ll bathe here.”

“Yes.”

As Qing Zhi left, she glanced thoughtfully at Wei Lan.

 

The young lady didn’t like others using her things.

She never expected her to let the master bathe in her bedroom.

This was unexpected for Qing Zhi.

It seemed the young lady did have a special regard for the master.

 

Soon, servant boys poured bucket after bucket of water into the large wooden tub, adjusting the temperature.

Once it was ready, all the servants and maids withdrew, leaving only Lu Zijin and Wei Lan in the bedroom.

 

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin.

“Wife, I’ll go bathe now.”

 

Lu Zijin nodded at her.

“Mm.”

 

Wei Lan went behind the screen and began to undress.

She made sure to carefully set aside the six hundred taels in silver notes; this was money she had earned with great difficulty.

 

After putting the notes away safely, Wei Lan finally soaked herself in the wooden tub.

The tub had been pre-filled with flower petals.

Wei Lan soaked inside, so comfortable she could have fallen asleep.

 

Soon, she heard footsteps.

Lu Zijin had come over at some point.

 

Wei Lan looked up at Lu Zijin, a little confused.

“Wife?”

“Mm.

Let me help you wash.”

As Lu Zijin spoke, she had already rolled up her sleeves.

Her Qiankun had suffered a grievance today.

It wouldn’t hurt to pamper her a bit.

 

Lu Zijin took a cloth from the rack beside her, soaked it in the warm water from the tub, and began to wipe Wei Lan’s back.

 

Wei Lan was so comfortable she narrowed her eyes.

But not long after, she noticed Lu Zijin’s hands were wandering.

Her fingertips seemed to have touched the right side of Wei Lan’s neck.

 

Wei Lan looked up at Lu Zijin, confused.

“Wife?”

“Mm.

This plaster is wet.

Let me take it off for you.

We’ll put a new one on later.”

Lu Zijin coaxed softly, and then reached out and peeled off the plaster covering the gland opening.

The familiar scent of fresh snow pheromones wafted out.

The corners of Lu Zijin’s mouth curled up.

Still just as pleasant.

 

With her right hand, she scooped some water from the tub and gently let it trickle over Wei Lan’s gland opening.

 

That area was inherently delicate.

Wei Lan couldn’t help but shiver, looking up at Lu Zijin with a pitiful expression.

“Wife, it tickles.”

 

Lu Zijin glanced at Wei Lan, then looked back at her gland opening, her gaze deepening.

“Be good.

There was plaster stuck there.

It needs to be washed clean.

Bear with it.

Let me wash off the residue for you.”

“Okay.

Thank you, wife.”

Wei Lan nodded obediently.

The gland opening needed a plaster every day, so it was prone to having sticky residue from it.

Wei Lan didn’t think anything was wrong; instead, she thought Lu Zijin was quite meticulous.

“You’re welcome.

Just be good.”

A slight smile played on Lu Zijin’s lips.

The fingertips of her index and middle fingers gently pressed against the gland opening, and then she began to rub slowly.

 

Wei Lan shrank her neck and shivered several times, feeling strange from Lu Zijin’s actions.

Her body felt a little hot.

A large surge of pheromones leaked out with Lu Zijin’s rubbing.

“Wife, this is strange.

It tickles, but it also feels a little good.”

Wei Lan’s voice went soft and pliant, several degrees softer than usual, her eyes looking at Lu Zijin with a pitiful expression, not knowing what to do.

 

The smile at the corners of Lu Zijin’s mouth deepened.

She increased the pressure of her fingers, but coaxed softly, “Be good.

Bear with it a little longer.

It’ll be over soon.”

 

Wei Lan’s ears and cheeks were flushed red from the rubbing.

She couldn’t help but press her forehead against Lu Zijin’s wrist, gently nuzzling it.

“Wife, is it not done yet?

It tickles so much.”

 

Looking at the little Qiankun, played with by her, nuzzling her wrist and acting spoiled, the darkness in Lu Zijin’s eyes deepened.

A Qiankun this soft and delicate naturally couldn’t be taken by anyone else.

 

Lu Zijin’s expression remained unchanged as she coaxed, “Almost done.

There’s still a little bit not clean.

I’ll use a bit more pressure.

Bear with it.”

 

With that, Lu Zijin increased the pressure again.

Wei Lan’s whole body flushed red, rubbed so much she nearly went limp in the tub.

In the end, Lu Zijin had to hold her with one hand to keep her from sliding into the water.

 

Lu Zijin looked at her Qiankun, now played with until she had no strength left, and finally began to ease the pressure on her fingers.

The inexplicable anger that had arisen earlier because Wei Lan carried another’s pheromones had now completely dissipated.

 

Lu Zijin was in an exceptionally good mood now.

If her Qiankun was ignorant, she could teach her slowly.

After all, she was the one who married her.

 

Thinking this, Lu Zijin’s fingertips gently brushed against the gland opening again.

Wei Lan immediately nuzzled her wrist, asking pitifully, “Is it done yet, wife?

It feels so strange.”

 

So soft, so delicate.

Why had she never realized before that teasing her little Qiankun could be so much fun?

 

Lu Zijin withdrew her hand from the gland opening and said matter-of-factly, “Alright, it’s clean now.

You can get out.”

 

But Wei Lan reached out and grabbed Lu Zijin’s hand, pressing her face against it.

Her eyes, shimmering with moisture, looked up at Lu Zijin.

“I can’t.

I have no strength.

I need to rest a moment.”

 

Lu Zijin bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Her little Qiankun’s gland opening had been played with until it was a bit red and swollen.

The fresh snow pheromones filled the entire room.

Of course, she would have no strength.

But Wei Lan was still blissfully unaware.

“Okay, no rush.

I’ll stay with you.”

Lu Zijin put on a very kind and patient expression, even reaching out to tuck a strand of long hair behind Wei Lan’s ear.

 

Wei Lan looked up at Lu Zijin and smiled.

“You’re so good to me, wife.

Thank you for staying with me.”

“Naturally.

You are my Qiankun.

Of course, I am good to you.”

Looking at her Qiankun, who was played out and still saying she was good, Lu Zijin almost couldn’t help but laugh.

Her little Qiankun was so innocent about these matters.

In the future, she could probably sell her, and Wei Lan would still be counting the money for her.

 

But since Wei Lan was this well-behaved, she naturally had to keep her by her side always.

 

Lu Zijin reached out and touched Wei Lan’s cheek, asking softly, “Feeling better?”

“Mm.

I’m getting out now.”

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin as she spoke.

 

Lu Zijin calmly nodded.

“Mm, get out.”

 

Wei Lan blushed a little.

Wasn’t Lu Zijin going to turn around while she got out? She was still a bit shy.

“Um, can you turn around first?”

Wei Lan tugged at Lu Zijin’s wrist, her tone still soft and pliant from having expended so much pheromone, as if she were acting spoiled with Lu Zijin.

 

Lu Zijin found this very pleasing.

Her little Qiankun had been played with until her pheromones were exhausted and still hadn’t noticed anything wrong.

Now she was getting shy.

 

Lu Zijin smiled considerately at Wei Lan, putting on an air of being very agreeable, and turned around.

 

Only then did Wei Lan feel comfortable enough to get out of the tub.

 

Lu Zijin listened to the sounds behind her and asked, “Need help?”

“No, no, I can manage.”

WeiLan hurriedly dried herself, afraid Lu Zijin would come over to help.

 

Lu Zijin stood there, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Wei Lan really was quite amusing.

 

Soon, Wei Lan had dressed in the clothes Lu Zijin had prepared, which were probably also Lu Zijin’s.

The material was exceptionally good, soft and gentle against the skin.

 

Wei Lan didn’t forget to put her silver notes safely into the inner layer of the dress before she started drying her hair.

“Wife, I’m dressed.”

“Mm.”

Lu Zijin acted very politely, only turning around when she heard this, as if she hadn’t been the one just moments ago pressing and playing with Wei Lan’s gland opening.

“Here, let me help you dry your hair.”

Lu Zijin took another dry cloth and helped Wei Lan dry her hair.

She helped Wei Lan comb it up and fastened it with a golden hairpin.

“There.

Go sit and rest for a while.

I’ll have someone come clean up and bring you your dinner.”

Lu Zijin was exceptionally considerate now.

“Mm, thank you, wife.”

Wei Lan thought Lu Zijin was actually quite nice.

She had helped her bathe, arranged her dinner, and protected her when she was being framed today.

 

Soon, the maidservants came in to tidy up, and Wei Lan’s dinner was brought in one dish after another.

 

Lu Zijin sat beside Wei Lan, planning to eat a little more with her.

 

Wei Lan was genuinely hungry today, plus having her pheromones exhausted by Lu Zijin’s playing.

She felt like she could eat a whole cow.

 

There were many kinds of dishes for dinner: clear simmered ginseng chicken soup, small grilled lamb chops, pan-fried rabbit meat, and more.

 

Wei Lan immediately started eating.

The food in Lu Zijin’s courtyard was delicious; she loved it!

 

Seeing her eat so heartily, Lu Zijin laughed.

“Slow down.

There’s plenty here.

No one’s competing with you.

Try this crab.

It’s seasonal river crab, very fresh.”

“No, I’ll eat other things first.

That one’s too much trouble.

I can’t be bothered.”

Wei Lan was starving and didn’t have time to slowly pick at crab.

She needed some big meat first to fill her stomach.

 

Seeing her eat so fast, afraid she might choke, Lu Zijin quickly poured Wei Lan some chicken soup and placed it beside her.

 

Lu Zijin only ate a few bites herself; she had already had dinner and was just keeping Wei Lan company now.

 

Having nothing else to do, she took a small bowl, used a tool to pick the crab meat into it, and placed it in front of Wei Lan.

“Here, eat.

I picked it for you.”

“Thank you, wife.

You’re so kind.”

Wei Lan obediently thanked her, took the bowl of crab meat, and finished it in a few bites.

 

Wei Lan ate most of the large table of food.

Finally, she even ate two more crabs before feeling completely full.

It was already late at night, dark outside, and she didn’t feel like going back to her own courtyard.

 

Thinking this, Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin.

“Wife, can I stay in the next room tonight?

I’m a bit tired and want to go back to sleep in the morning.”

“Naturally.

You’ve had a long day today.

Go back and rest early.”

Lu Zijin naturally wouldn’t refuse Wei Lan.

“Okay, I’m going then.”

Wei Lan had expended a lot of pheromones and was sleepy now.

 

Lu Zijin nodded.

“Mm, go rest.

I’m going to bathe and rest too.”

 

Having obtained Lu Zijin’s consent, Wei Lan got up and went to the next room.

She took off her dress and fell right asleep; she had been exhausted today.

 

***

 

Lu Zijin had the dishes cleared away and soaked in the bath herself.

 

Leaning back in the wooden tub, she thought of Wei Lan from just a moment ago.

Her gaze deepened as she looked at the index and middle fingers that had been rubbing Wei Lan’s gland opening.

The scent of fresh snow pheromones hadn’t completely dissipated from the room.

Lu Zijin felt her throat tighten.

This shouldn’t be?

Her heat had just passed not long ago.

 

Lu Zijin splashed water on her face with her hand, trying to stop thinking wildly.

She quickly got out of the tub, changed into clean clothes, and waited for her hair to dry before lying down to rest.

 

But that night, Lu Zijin didn’t sleep well at first.

Her mind kept wandering to Wei Lan.

Her fingertips seemed to still retain the sensation of Wei Lan’s gland opening.

Just a light press, and her little Qiankun couldn’t handle it.

Just thinking about it made her fingers itch.

 

Lu Zijin thought she must be affected by Wei Lan’s pheromones, since the fresh snow scent hadn’t yet dissipated from the bedroom.

Thinking that, she felt less conflicted.

But still, her mind was full of the image of Wei Lan just moments ago in the tub, her face red as she was teased.

Lu Zijin didn’t know when she finally fell asleep.

 

***

 

Compared to Lu Zijin, Wei Lan, carefree and unconcerned, slept extremely soundly.

Soon after entering the room and undressing, she fell asleep.

 

The next morning, Lu Zijin rose early as usual.

She was going out today to inspect the shops.

When she ate breakfast, Wei Lan still hadn’t woken up.

 

Lu Zijin instructed, “Qing Zhi, when the master wakes up, make sure she eats breakfast before she leaves.

I’m going out now.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Qing Zhi quickly responded.

She secretly observed the young lady’s expression and always felt that the young lady treated the master differently.

 

***

 

In Yun Xiang’s room, she had spent silver to have a young maidservant fetch a physician.

However, Deng Jin only treated the masters of the residence.

For servants like them, Deng Jin’s disciples did the treating.

 

So, Yun Xiang had to request one of Deng Jin’s disciples to treat her.

The male neutral practitioner accepted Yun Xiang’s silver, prescribed five days’ worth of ointment, and instructed her to apply it daily.

 

Yun Xiang didn’t dare show her face.

After the physician left, she sat alone in front of the bronze mirror, crying at her reflection while applying medicine to her pig-like face.

 

She clenched her teeth and whispered venomously, “Wei Lan, just you wait.

You’ll be driven out of the residence sooner or later.

The young master is the true master of the Lu residence.

Hiss…”

 

Even opening her mouth was an effort now.

Grimacing in pain as she applied the medicine, she still fantasized about the scene of Chen Zhou becoming the master of the Lu residence and her sharing in the glory.

 

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