Chapter 53: Success Breeds Envy, Fear Breeds Madness

The news spread quickly.

Chen Zhou’s father was an irresponsible old man who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun all year round, never concerning himself with business matters.

But the various managers were well aware that Chen Zhou had encountered problems.

Not daring to inform Chen Zhou about business matters, they had no choice but to report to Zhou Yu’e.

 

Zhou Yu’e could only suppress the matter for now.

She didn’t have any good solutions either.

Moreover, the most important thing now was to help her son recover quickly and stop him from being as paranoid as he had been the night before.

“For the time being, don’t tell Chen Zhou about these matters.

He has been unwell these past few days.

Once he recovers, you can report the business matters to him then.”

Zhou Yu’e said after a moment’s thought.

“Yes, Madam.”

The several managers quickly replied.

 

Zhou Yu’e sighed and headed towards Chen Zhou’s room.

At that moment, the entire Chen residence was shrouded in smoke.

The reason was simple: to keep Chen Zhou from being paranoid, Zhou Yu’e had specially invited monks to perform a ritual.

She also had people burn a large amount of paper money for Yun Xiang, hoping she would stop demanding Chen Zhou’s life.

 

Meanwhile, in the City Lord’s residence, Lu Shihuai was discussing the book Rebirth: The Abandoned Wife of the Marquis’s Household with several friends.

“How do you think Cui Niang will break through the situation later?”

Lu Shihuai asked, her eyes pleading as she was hooked by the book.

She had been worrying about Cui Niang all day, afraid she might be bullied in the marquis’s household.

“I don’t know.

I’m also curious how Wei Lan will write it.”

“Exactly, exactly.

But speaking of which, who is Wei Lan?

It’s like she appeared out of nowhere?”

“No kidding.

I really want to go ask her when the next books will be out.

We sisters aren’t short of silver.”

Lu Shihuai propped her chin on her hands, looking completely deflated.

“Hey, instead of waiting, why don’t we just send someone to the Lu family bookstore and ask?

That way, we’ll at least have some peace of mind.”

One of the young girls suggested.

“That’s true.”

Lu Shihuai called over the maidservants and servant boys in the residence and sent them off.

 

In less than half an hour, the several maidservants and servant boys returned.

 

Lu Shihuai quickly asked, “How did it go?

Did you find out who Wei Lan is?”

“Yes, we did.

The manager of the bookstore said the author of the storybook is their master of the Lu residence, Wei Lan.”

The young maidservant quickly said.

“You mean that live-in wife of Lu Zijin?”

“Yes, yes.”

The young maidservant quickly agreed.

“She can write storybooks too?”

Lu Shihuai and her friends were all shocked.

In the past, they had only talked about this matter as casual gossip in the city.

They never expected the book they were reading was written by Wei Lan.

 

Some of her friends urged Lu Shihuai, “Shihuai, your father is the City Lord.

Do you know Lu Zijin?

Could you ask her how Wei Lan’s writing on the next books is coming along?

When will they be available for sale?”

 

Lu Shihuai pressed her lips together and said, “My father never brings me along when he discusses matters.

I’ve only met Lu Zijin briefly a few times.

It wouldn’t be appropriate to just go and ask her like that.”

“Ah, then what can we do?

Just wait?”

“I really want to know what happens to Cui Niang.”

“Me too.

That ungrateful marquis is still putting on an act.

Thank goodness Cui Niang already knows what kind of person he is.”

 

***

 

At that moment, Wei Lan had completely finished writing Rebirth: The Abandoned Wife of the Marquis’s Household.

Because she was literate, Si Yun had become Wei Lan’s assistant, helping her organize the completed manuscripts one by one.

Of course, there was a benefit to working in Wei Lan’s courtyard: being the first to hear the city-wide sensation of a storybook.

 

These past few days, the maidservants in the courtyard had been working especially hard.

Everyone wanted to finish their work early so they could find time to listen to Si Yun read the story.

“How is it?

Are the remaining five volumes all organized?”

Wei Lan asked.

“They’re all organized.

This servant has sorted them as you instructed, one volume per stack.”

Si Yun quickly replied.

“Good.

Send someone to deliver the remaining three volumes to the bookstore.

Have them carve them quickly these next few days, then print and sell them.”

Wei Lan said.

“Yes, this servant will send someone right away.”

Si Yun said, quickly calling over a clever servant boy from the courtyard and sending him to deliver the items.

 

For this type of book, Wei Lan left a hook at the end of each volume.

Therefore, there was no need to sell all the books at once.

Selling them little by little, as she was doing now, was actually more effective.

 

Having finished writing the complete set of six storybook volumes, Wei Lan planned to rest for a while.

After all, she had only written this to annoy Chen Zhou and deliberately compete with the Chen residence for business.

But her main profession was still carving jade.

Not having touched jade for a few days, Wei Lan found her hands itching to carve.

She planned to rest for a day and then start carving her jade tomorrow.

 

In the afternoon, Xiao Nanyan actually sent a visiting card, saying she wanted to see the master of the Lu residence.

 

Wei Lan was stunned for a moment when she received the card.

That’s right; she hadn’t been to Yuyaxuan for almost two weeks now.

Xiao Nanyan had probably already sold the last set of twelve zodiac jade plaques.

 

Thinking this, Wei Lan quickly said, “Quickly, invite Boss Xiao to my study.”

“Yes.”

The guard immediately went to the gate to invite her in.

But because Xiao Nanyan was visiting the Lu residence for the first time, she wasn’t familiar with the layout.

Also, as a guest, it wasn’t proper to enter through the back gate, so she had to walk all the way from the front gate to Fuqu Pavilion.

 

By the time Xiao Nanyan arrived at Fuqu Pavilion with her people, nearly half an hour had passed.

 

Wei Lan heard the commotion and quickly went to the courtyard to welcome her.

“Please come in.

I’ve had them prepare some cheese.

Eat some first.”

 

Xiao Nanyan still had her veil covering her face.

Seeing Wei Lan come out, she smiled and said, “Your courtyard is really remote.

I walked for half an hour with my people to get here.

It’s really far.”

“It is a bit far.

I always go out through the back gate.

Come on, let’s go inside and talk.”

Wei Lan made a ‘please’ gesture.

 

Xiao Nanyan followed Wei Lan into the study.

Only after entering the study did she feel a little better.

Wei Lan’s study had basins of ice to cool it down, making it much more comfortable than outside.

 

After the servants had withdrawn, Xiao Nanyan removed her veil and sat down at the table to eat the cheese.

 

After a few bites, she felt less hot.

“Why haven’t you come to the shop these past few days?

I’ve already sold the last set of twelve zodiac jade plaques.

Do you have any new stock?”

 

The last set of jade plaques had been extremely popular.

In the end, Xiao Nanyan had sold them for ten thousand taels of silver each.

And even then, many people were still on the waiting list.

Since Wei Lan hadn’t been to Yuyaxuan for many days, Xiao Nanyan had decided to come see her.

“I’ve been busy with other things lately and haven’t had time to carve jade.”

Wei Lan explained.

“Busy with what?

Did Lu Zijin assign you other tasks?”

Xiao Nanyan quickly asked.

“No.

You must have heard about the Lu residence’s dyeing workshop warehouse being set on fire.

Chen Zhou was behind it.

We naturally had to fight back, so we proactively stole Chen’s business away.”

 

Xiao Nanyan ate a few more bites of the iced cheese and then said, “Ah, I heard that your family’s bookstore suddenly became very popular in the city, stealing business from the Chen residence.

So it was intentional on your part.”

“Naturally.”

Wei Lan nodded.

“Good.

Remember to come find me when you have new carvings.

Lately, many people have been asking about you.

Quite a few of them aren’t even from Panyang City; they came specifically to buy your jade carvings.

It seems your name has already made waves since the last Jade Appreciation Competition.”

Xiao Nanyan was, of course, happy that so many people were seeking Wei Lan out; it meant she could raise the prices even further.

“Mm.

I’ll start carving jade tomorrow.”

Wei Lan smiled.

“Oh, by the way, that storybook from your bookstore, the one called Rebirth: The Abandoned Wife of the Marquis’s Household, I heard it’s been selling out like crazy.

The author’s name is the same as yours?”

Xiao Nanyan asked, puzzled.

 

Wei Lan pulled a book from her desk.

“Don’t be puzzled.

I wrote it.

Take it back and read it.

It’s a good way to pass the time when you’re bored.”

 

Xiao Nanyan looked at Wei Lan.

When she had heard the name, she hadn’t quite believed it.

But since Wei Lan said so, this book must indeed have been written by Wei Lan.

“You can write storybooks too?

Your wife really struck gold.”

 

Xiao Nanyan was a bit envious.

Lu Zijin had married a live-in wife, and yet her live-in wife could both carve jade and write storybooks.

Importantly, Wei Lan could earn silver but still remained content as a live-in wife in the Lu residence.

A Qiankun like Wei Lan, you probably couldn’t find another one in all of Panyang City.

“Of course.

But I just write casually.

I still prefer carving jade.”

Wei Lan said with a smile.

 

In the end, Xiao Nanyan ate another bowl of cheese in the study before leaving.

But when she left, Wei Lan, afraid she might complain about the distance, simply had Xiao Nanyan go out through the back gate.

After all, they were close friends; there was no need to stick to all the rules.

 

After seeing Xiao Nanyan off, Wei Lan finally had half a day to rest.

She simply went back to the bedroom to catch up on sleep, sleeping until evening.

 

Meanwhile, Lu Zijin had already submitted all the cloth from the warehouse to the court for inspection.

Officials from the capital had come to inspect each piece of cloth.

Now, all the cloth had been boxed up and would be shipped to the capital in a few days.

 

As for the silver, the court had already paid out very promptly.

With this matter completed, Lu Zijin no longer needed to be as tired as she had been for the past two months.

 

After finishing everything, she safely stored the five hundred thousand taels of silver she had earned from this royal merchant contract in the secret room in her bedroom.

 

Between Lu Zijin’s bedroom and the adjacent room, there was an area of nearly eight square meters that had been partitioned off separately.

The entrance was behind the bookshelf in Lu Zijin’s bedroom; there was a hidden door that led directly into the secret room.

 

Lu Zijin had specially treated the secret room; its walls were both fireproof and waterproof.

The inside was sealed with steel plates.

Even if someone tried to dig down from the roof, they couldn’t break into the secret room.

 

Only after doing all this did Lu Zijin have people come in to prepare dinner.

 

Thinking that she hadn’t seen Wei Lan for a few days, she asked, “What has the master been doing these past few days?”

 

Qianxue quickly replied, “The master has finished writing the complete set of storybooks.

The remaining three volumes have already been given to the bookstore to have them carve the blocks quickly and then print them.”

 

After a moment’s thought, Qianxue continued, “Also, Boss Xiao sent a visiting card today.

This afternoon, she went to the master’s courtyard and stayed for quite a while before leaving.”

 

Lu Zijin’s eyes shifted slightly.

She had originally been tired and planned to eat and then rest.

But now, it seemed she would go see Wei Lan after all.

 

After dinner, Lu Zijin took a sedan chair to Wei Lan’s Fuqu Pavilion.

 

When she arrived at Fuqu Pavilion, it was very quiet.

She asked and found out that Wei Lan was still resting.

 

Lu Zijin stopped the maidservants and servant boys in the courtyard from bowing, signaling them to be quiet.

She walked directly to Wei Lan’s bedroom door, gently pushed it open, and entered.

 

A single candle burned on the round table in the room, casting faint light.

 

Lu Zijin carefully walked to the bedside.

She gently lifted one side of the bed curtain and saw her little Qiankun sleeping soundly, with no sign of waking.

 

Lu Zijin’s gaze was tender, the corners of her lips slightly lifted.

She carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, leaned in, and gently kissed the corner of Wei Lan’s lips.

 

But as she pulled back, Lu Zijin smelled a faint, lingering rose scent on Wei Lan.

The fragrance was very light; it was only because Lu Zijin was a Kunze and sensitive to Kunze scents that she detected it.

 

Even though she knew Wei Lan and Xiao Nanyan were just friends, having another Kunze’s scent on Wei Lan still made Lu Zijin very uncomfortable.

 

She looked at her little Qiankun, sleeping so soundly and sweetly, and her gaze grew darker.

Lu Zijin simply leaned down and bit.

 

She bit Wei Lan’s lip, deliberately trying to wake her.

 

Sure enough, before long, Wei Lan groggily opened her eyes.

Then she felt Lu Zijin biting her lip.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Lu Zijin’s kiss entangled her so that she couldn’t utter a single word.

Only when Wei Lan couldn’t breathe and reached out to push Lu Zijin did her wife finally pull back a little.

 

The mist in Wei Lan’s eyes hadn’t yet cleared, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with red.

She looked impossibly soft and delicate.

 

She gasped for breath a few times before finally speaking.

“Wife, why are you here?”

 

Hearing her say this, Lu Zijin’s heart felt a little sour.

She leaned in again and deliberately bit Wei Lan’s lip.

“Naturally, I came to see you.

But the master hasn’t been good.

Your body has someone else’s scent on it.”

 

Wei Lan heard the tone in Lu Zijin’s voice and sensed she was in a bit of danger.

She quickly explained, “Xiao Nanyan came by today.

She hadn’t seen me at Yuyaxuan for days, so she came to see if I had any new stock.”

 

Lu Zijin was already aware of all this.

But she still didn’t like her little Qiankun’s body carrying someone else’s scent.

Her heart was so sour.

 

Lu Zijin reached out and pinched Wei Lan’s chin, her thumb gently pressing on Wei Lan’s already slightly swollen lips.

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Wei Lan stared straight at Lu Zijin, then opened her arms and acted spoiled.
“I missed you so much these past few days.”

 

Lu Zijin’s gaze darkened further.

Her long, dark eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she said softly, “I missed you too.”

 

With that, Lu Zijin kissed Wei Lan again.

The kiss was heavy and urgent, with occasional bites on Wei Lan’s lips.

Little Qiankuns were meant to be kissed senseless.

 

After a good while, Lu Zijin finally pulled back slightly.

But her fingertips precisely touched the plaster on Wei Lan’s neck and tore it off.

The scent of fresh snow pheromones spilled out, and Lu Zijin felt a wave of comfort wash over her.

 

She leaned down, bringing the tip of her nose close, and nuzzled affectionately.

Then she heard Wei Lan’s delicate voice.

“It tickles.

Wife, don’t nuzzle.”

Wei Lan shrank her neck as she spoke; her gland opening was very ticklish.

 

Lu Zijin naturally did not let Wei Lan off.

She opened her mouth and bit down.

The fresh snow scent assaulted Lu Zijin’s senses; her nose and mouth were filled with Wei Lan’s scent.

 

After biting and sucking for a while, Lu Zijin leaned against Wei Lan and closed her eyes to rest.

But even with her eyes closed, Lu Zijin’s hands were not well-behaved.

Her fingertips gently rubbed Wei Lan’s neck, making her shrink her neck and try to dodge.

 

Lu Zijin didn’t open her eyes, but she knew Wei Lan’s neck was sensitive.

She said deliberately, “No dodging.”

 

Sure enough, after Lu Zijin spoke, Wei Lan behaved herself.

Even though it was itchy, she let Lu Zijin play as she pleased.

 

After resting for a good while, Lu Zijin had regained some strength.

She leaned in and kissed Wei Lan’s lips, then asked, “Are you hungry?”

“A little.”

Wei Lan’s stomach growled a few times.

 

The corners of Lu Zijin’s mouth lifted.

She tore off the plaster on her own neck, then lifted the dark hair on one side of her neck, leaned down, and brought her gland opening to Wei Lan’s lips.

She said softly, “Eat.”

 

Wei Lan’s cheeks burned red.

She had meant she was really hungry and wanted to eat food, not this.

 

But since her wife was offering, it seemed rude not to take a bite.

So Wei Lan nervously pressed her lips to it.

She couldn’t help it; even though she roughly understood the rules of this world now, every time she did this, she was still afraid of hurting Lu Zijin, so she only dared to suck gently.

 

This puzzled Lu Zijin.

Logically, if a Qiankun met a Kunze they liked, the Qiankun’s favorite thing to do was to bite and nibble at this spot, even losing control in the process.

But Wei Lan was different.

Every time, she was so gentle, afraid of hurting her.

 

While Lu Zijin felt a warmth in her heart, she also felt a little uncomfortable.

Was it that she held no attraction for Wei Lan?

Was that why Wei Lan wasn’t interested in her gland opening?

Thinking this, Lu Zijin’s mood worsened.

 

She had practically brought it to her little Qiankun’s lips, and her little Qiankun still didn’t want to open her mouth and bite hard.

Did her pheromones not smell good?

Why was Wei Lan always so rational about this?

And she had never taken the initiative to touch this spot.

 

Thinking this, Lu Zijin stopped Wei Lan’s half-hearted, ticklish sucking and lay dejectedly on Wei Lan’s body.

“Growl, growl.”

Wei Lan’s stomach growled again.

She gently patted Lu Zijin’s lower back.

“Wife, I really need to eat something.

I’m starving.”

 

Lu Zijin propped herself up slightly and glared at Wei Lan.

Then she leaned down and bit Wei Lan’s lip hard.

Eat, eat, eat.

Her little Qiankun only knew how to eat delicious food.

Was she not as fragrant as those dishes in her eyes?

 

Even when bitten, Wei Lan just hugged Lu Zijin’s lower back and let her do as she pleased.

 

Seeing Wei Lan so obedient, Lu Zijin felt a little reluctant to tease her further.

She just thought she would find other ways to seduce Wei Lan properly later.

 

With that thought, Lu Zijin pulled back slightly and pinched Wei Lan’s cheek.

“Alright.

I’ll let you get up and eat then.

You eat, and I’ll go bathe.”

“Mm-hmm.”

After Lu Zijin got off her, Wei Lan limply got out of bed.

 

Her lips were a bit sore; they seemed to have been swollen from Lu Zijin’s biting.

But since it was her wife who bit her, it didn’t really matter.

 

Wei Lan poured herself a cup of water and drank it.

Lu Zijin opened the door and instructed the maidservants and servant boys to make preparations.

Soon, Wei Lan’s meal was all brought out.

 

Si Yun and several young maidservants placed the dishes on the round table one by one.

Then Si Yun noticed that the master’s lips seemed swollen.

 

She didn’t dare look too much, but she could guess.

Every time the wife came, the master’s lips seemed to swell.

 

After the dishes were served, the maidservants withdrew.

 

Wei Lan sat at the table and looked at Lu Zijin.

“Wife, I’m going to eat now.

Do you want to have a little with me?”

“I’ve already eaten.

You go ahead.”

Lu Zijin sat down next to Wei Lan and watched her eat the dishes on the table with great relish.

 

Lu Zijin sighed.

When would Wei Lan enjoy eating her as much as she enjoyed eating these dishes?

Little Qiankuns really only knew how to eat.

“Eat slowly.

Be careful not to choke.”

Lu Zijin ladled out a bowl of sweet fermented rice soup and placed it beside Wei Lan’s hand.

“Thank you, wife.

I’m so hungry.”

Wei Lan said, then continued her sweep of the round table.

 

Lu Zijin waited for Wei Lan, her eyes fixed on her, and sighed softly.

 

Soon, the maidservants had prepared the bathwater.

After dismissing them, Lu Zijin went in to bathe.

 

She soaked in the wooden tub for a while, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Lu Zijin’s gaze fell on Wei Lan’s side outside the screen, but she could only see her shadow.

It looked like Wei Lan had already finished eating and was sitting at the table drinking sweet soup.

 

Lu Zijin’s eyes curved slightly.

“Wei Lan, come in and help me wipe my back.”

“Oh, okay, right away, wife.”

Wei Lan finished the last sip of sweet soup in her bowl, then walked to the screen and hesitantly shuffled over.

 

Lu Zijin wasn’t wearing any clothes.

Wei Lan was a bit embarrassed to go over.

 

But when Lu Zijin turned her head to look at Wei Lan, she saw her shuffling nervously towards the tub, her eyes fixed on the floor, not daring to look at her.

 

Lu Zijin sighed.

Her Qianjun was too polite.

What could she do about it?

 

Lu Zijin shook her head with a smile and urged, “Walk faster.

I’m waiting.”

 

Hearing the urging, Wei Lan quickened her tiny shuffling steps.

 

Lu Zijin was amused.

When Wei Lan reached the edge of the tub, Lu Zijin turned around, reached out, and gently pinched Wei Lan’s hand that was resting on the edge of the tub.

She asked softly, “Why won’t you look at me?

Does the master not like me anymore?”

 

As she spoke, Lu Zijin deliberately played with Wei Lan’s palm.

 

Wei Lan only glanced up for a moment, but her entire body turned red from her cheeks to her toes.

Her brain went completely blank.

Mainly, Lu Zijin was too beautiful; her skin was so fair, and her body smelled so nice.

 

Wei Lan swallowed hard before stammering out, “You’re not wearing any clothes.

I’m embarrassed to look.

It’s not that I don’t like you.”

 

Lu Zijin almost couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Of course, she knew she wasn’t wearing any clothes while bathing; otherwise, why would she have called Wei Lan over to look?

But Wei Lan had this ‘I’m very polite’ attitude, only glancing once before blushing and looking away.

 

Lu Zijin sighed, feeling that at this rate, she wouldn’t even need to postpone the baby matter herself.

Her Qianjun was so soft and whiny; even if she wanted a baby, she probably wouldn’t be able to conceive one.

 

Oh well.

She and Wei Lan hadn’t been married that long.

Since Wei Lan wasn’t ready yet, they would take it slow.

She couldn’t force Wei Lan to do more intimate things.

Thinking this, Lu Zijin pointed to the wooden tray on the stool beside her, which held a cloth for washing.

“Help me wipe my back.”

“Oh, okay.”

Wei Lan immediately picked up the cloth, wet it, and then, somewhat shyly, began to wipe Lu Zijin’s back.

 

As for Lu Zijin, any lingering romantic feelings in her heart had been completely dispelled by Wei Lan’s politeness.

Now, she simply wanted Wei Lan to wipe her back.

She discovered that having a Qiankun who was too obedient wasn’t necessarily a good thing either.

 

---