Chapter 90: Intimacy and Insurrection

After dinner, Wei Lan and Lu Zijin went back to rest early.

They had indeed been exhausted on the journey.

 

Lu Zijin entered the bedroom, and Wei Lan followed closely behind her.

 

Lu Zijin turned around and smiled at Wei Lan.

“I’m going to bathe.

Why are you following me?

Aren’t you going to bathe in the next room?”

 

Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin tightly.

“Wife, I missed you.

I want to bathe with you.”

 

Seeing her little Qiankun looking at her with eager eyes, and thinking that Wei Lan had indeed been without intimacy the entire journey, which was quite pitiful, Lu Zijin nodded.

 

Wei Lan’s eyes lit up.

She hugged Lu Zijin and kissed her.

“I knew you were the best to me, wife.”

 

Lu Zijin’s eyes curved, and she pinched her little dog’s ear.

She had also been without intimacy for a long time and missed Wei Lan a bit.

 

So Lu Zijin instructed the maidservants that she and Wei Lan would bathe together, and to adjust the amount of water in the tub accordingly.

 

After the maidservants had prepared the bathwater, they withdrew.

 

Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin and refused to let go.

Lu Zijin smiled and bit Wei Lan’s lip.

“Be good.

Hug me later.”

“Mm.”

Only then did Wei Lan release Lu Zijin slightly, taking her hand and leading her behind the screen.

“Wife, I’ll help you wash later and give you a massage too.”

Wei Lan’s eyes shone as she spoke.

 

Lu Zijin knew exactly what Wei Lan was thinking.

She smiled faintly and nodded.

 

Wei Lan hurriedly took off her clothes and got into the wooden tub first.

Her gaze fell on Lu Zijin.

“Wife, hurry up and join me.”

 

Lu Zijin undressed unhurriedly.

Her little Qiankun’s eyes were practically glued to her.

Lu Zijin smiled and shook her head.

 

After undressing, she stepped up the wooden steps and into the tub.

Then she was immediately pulled into Wei Lan’s arms.

“Wife, sit on my lap.

I’ll help you wash.”

Wei Lan leaned in and nuzzled against Lu Zijin’s shoulder.

 

Lu Zijin pushed the clingy little Qiankun back slightly, then pinched Wei Lan’s chin and tore off the plaster on the right side of her neck.

Sure enough, her little Qiankun’s gland opening was plump.

 

Lu Zijin leaned in and kissed the corner of Wei Lan’s lips, then bit down directly.

The scent of fresh snow pheromones immediately spilled out.

 

Before Wei Lan could even start on her wife, she was bitten by her.

 

She sniffled, and the mist in her eyes grew thicker.

“Wife, it tickles~ You can’t suck it all out.

Otherwise, I won’t have any strength again.”

“Be good.

I’m here.”

Lu Zijin coaxed as she sucked a few more times.

When she looked up again, she saw her little Qiankun’s gaze had already gone unfocused.

If she hadn’t been holding onto the edge of the tub with both arms, she might have slipped in.

 

The corners of Lu Zijin’s mouth curved.

She then kissed Wei Lan, her fingertips pressing on the gland opening, squeezing out the pheromones inside bit by bit.

 

Tears formed at the corners of Wei Lan’s eyes.

“Wife, no more.

Wuwu~ I can’t take it.

If you keep going, there really won’t be any left.”

“It’s fine.”

Lu Zijin coaxed as she bit a few more times.

In the end, Wei Lan had to be held by Lu Zijin to keep from choking on the water.

 

She sniffled and looked at Lu Zijin with soft, weak eyes.

She hadn’t even made a move yet, and her wife had already played with her.

Wei Lan wanted to cry.

 

Seeing her little Qiankun on the verge of tears, Lu Zijin quickly coaxed her.

“Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I’ll let you be on top, okay?”

 

Wei Lan sniffled and nuzzled against Lu Zijin’s chest.

“Okay.”

 

Seeing her little Qiankun so obedient, Lu Zijin’s eyes curved.

She reached out and pinched Wei Lan’s earlobe, playing with it.

 

In the end, Wei Lan was played with by her wife for a good while longer until her gland opening was completely deflated.

Only then did Lu Zijin let her go.

 

But Wei Lan’s body was very weak.

Lu Zijin had to help her out of the tub to keep her from falling.

 

It was the same in bed.

Wei Lan lay on the bottom again.

It wasn’t that she wanted to; she just didn’t have the strength from being played with by her wife, so she could only lie there.

 

Lu Zijin leaned against her chest, occasionally kissing Wei Lan’s lips.

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin with a pitiful expression.

“Alright.

Tomorrow, I won’t bite your gland opening.

I’ll let you be on top, okay?”

Lu Zijin stroked Wei Lan’s cheek as she coaxed her.

 

Wei Lan sniffled and responded pitifully.

“Mm.”

 

Wei Lan’s pheromones had been completely played away, and she soon fell asleep.

 

Early the next morning, Lu Zijin woke up feeling refreshed.

Wei Lan, however, showed no sign of stirring.

Having her pheromones depleted would leave a person listless.

 

Seeing that her little Qiankun was still sleeping soundly, Lu Zijin got up and ate some breakfast.

Then she took her wooden box and went to Fan Chuan’s place.

She needed to hand over the silver notes to Fan Chuan for unified management and allocation.

 

Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei had both risen early.

At that moment, they were in the study together, looking over various military expenditures and accounts.

Before, Fan Chuan had needed to guard against Shen Lingwei.

But now, she didn’t.

 

Her wife was the number one talented lady in the capital and could naturally help her with a lot of work.

 

Just as the two were reconciling the accounts, Lu Zijin arrived.

“Cousin, Sister Shen, you’re both here.”

“Mm.

We thought we’d go over the military accounts carefully and calculate how much silver is left in my private treasury.”

Fan Chuan replied with a smile.

“Perfect timing.

I’ll hand over the silver notes I have to you, so you can manage and allocate everything.”

Lu Zijin said, handing over the wooden box in her hand.

 

Fan Chuan took a deep breath and solemnly accepted the box.

“Alright.

I’ll take these silver notes for now.

I will not let you down.”

 

Fan Chuan felt the wooden box in her arms was as heavy as a thousand jin.

This was her cousin entrusting her with her entire fortune.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

Lu Zijin asked.

“Of course.

I need people to coordinate supplies and keep accounts.”

Fan Chuan quickly said.

Moreover, those doing this work had to be people she trusted.

Her cousin had been in business since childhood and was even more familiar with accounting than she was.

She was the perfect person for the job.

“Alright.

Then I’ll stay and help.”

Lu Zijin said with a smile.

 

Fan Chuan nodded.

Seeing that Wei Lan hadn’t come, she asked, “Where’s Wei Lan?

Why didn’t she come with you?”

 

Lu Zijin cleared her throat softly, then said, “She’s a bit tired.

I thought I’d let her rest more.”

 

Fan Chuan nodded.

“That’s true.

The journey was indeed exhausting.”

 

Wei Lan, meanwhile, slept until lunchtime.

She listlessly got up and washed up.

Hearing from the maidservant at the door that Lu Zijin had gone to Fan Chuan’s place, Wei Lan rested for a good while before going over.

 

Fan Chuan was just about to send someone to invite Wei Lan to lunch when she saw her arrive.

But Wei Lan’s spirits seemed off.

Fan Chuan felt something wasn’t right.

Wei Lan looked exactly like Shen Lingwei after a night of being played with by her.

 

Then she quickly shook her head, thinking she was overthinking it.

Wei Lan was a Qiankun.

How could she end up like that from being played with by her cousin?

“Wei Lan, come in.

I was just about to send someone to invite you to lunch.”

Fan Chuan said with a smile.

“Oh, I’m here.

I guess I was really tired on the road.

I slept late.”

Wei Lan’s earlobes flushed slightly as she spoke.

After all, she couldn’t very well say it was because her wife had played away all her pheromones, could she?

“Indeed.

After lunch, you should continue resting.

There’s no rush with these things.”

Fan Chuan, seeing she was truly unwell, quickly said.

“Mm.

Then thank you for your consideration, cousin.”

Wei Lan was really tired at the moment.

 

She ate a hearty meal and then prepared to go back and catch up on sleep.

 

Lu Zijin got up to see her off.

She reached out and straightened the ‘little dog’ plaque on Wei Lan’s chest, then said softly, “Go.

Get some rest.

I’ll come back to keep you company tonight.”

“Mm.”

Wei Lan tugged at the corner of Lu Zijin’s clothes and shook it.

If Fan Chuan and the others weren’t there, she would have hugged her wife and acted spoiled again.

 

Lu Zijin smiled at her, reached out and touched Wei Lan’s cheek, and said, “Go.”

 

Only then did Wei Lan, still reluctant, slowly make her way back to their courtyard, looking back every few steps.

If she weren’t so tired, she would have wanted to stay with Lu Zijin.

 

Fan Chuan, watching from a distance, felt something was off.

No, why did she always feel like Wei Lan was acting like a delicate, coquettish Kunze?

 

She cleared her throat and instructed, “Have someone boil some rock sugar bird’s nest and send it to Wei Lan.”

“Yes.”

A servant immediately went to do it.

 

Lu Zijin walked back, a smile on her lips, and gave Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry for making you laugh.”

“Not at all.

It’s only natural to rest more when feeling unwell.”

Shen Lingwei quickly said.

 

After lunch, the three continued working in the study.

That morning, Fan Chuan had already sent out several groups of people to nearby provinces to buy grain.

It was currently autumn, and there were many merchants buying grain, so the people she sent wouldn’t be too conspicuous.

Additionally, she had sent people to exchange the remaining silver notes for actual silver and transport it back.

 

Anyway, Lu Zijin stayed busy until late before returning.

When she entered the bedroom, Wei Lan was still asleep.

 

Only when Lu Zijin came out of the bath did Wei Lan slowly wake up.

 

Lu Zijin lifted the bed curtain and looked at Wei Lan.

“Awake?

Are you hungry?”

 

Wei Lan propped herself up, hugged Lu Zijin, and nuzzled against her.

“I’m hungry.”

“Alright.

Cousin had someone prepare bird’s nest for you.

Drink some to tide you over.”

Lu Zijin kissed Wei Lan’s lips and said softly.

“Mm.

Wife, I haven’t seen you all day.

I missed you.”

Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin’s lower back and whined, acting spoiled.

 

Lu Zijin patted her little Qiankun’s back and said softly, “It’s my fault.

You were already exhausted from the journey.

I shouldn’t have played away all your pheromones yesterday.”

“Then…

I’ll be on top tonight.”

Wei Lan continued acting spoiled.

“Aren’t you tired?

If you’re up for it, of course, I’ll let you be on top.”

Lu Zijin said magnanimously.

 

Hearing this, Wei Lan immediately perked up.

“That’s more like it.”

“Alright.

I’ll go have the bird’s nest brought in to nourish your body.”

Her little Qiankun was still not very durable; drinking some bird’s nest would be good for her.

 

Fan Chuan didn’t actually drink bird’s nest much.

The reason it was stocked in the residence was for Shen Lingwei to nourish her body.

She hadn’t expected it to be used on Wei Lan.

 

Lu Zijin quickly brought the bird’s nest in.

She walked slowly to the bedside, sat down, and fed it to Wei Lan directly with a porcelain spoon.

 

Wei Lan’s eyes lit up, and she very happily let her wife feed her.

 

But bird’s nest wasn’t very filling.

After drinking a bowl, Wei Lan only felt like she had taken the edge off her hunger.

“I’m still hungry.

Have them prepare a meal.”

 

Wei Lan stretched.

After resting all day, her spirits had recovered somewhat.

 

Soon, the maidservants brought the food.

Wei Lan ate with a great appetite, and before long, most of the food on the table was gone.

Wei Lan stood up and walked around a bit, planning to digest her food in the bedroom.

 

Lu Zijin watched her little Qiankun with a smile.

“Are you done?”

“I’m done.

Wait for me a moment, wife.

I’ll be right there.”

With that, Wei Lan continued strolling around the bedroom.

 

When she felt she had walked enough, she finally rushed over to hug Lu Zijin.

“Wife, can you please not touch my gland opening tonight?”

 

Lu Zijin smiled and tapped Wei Lan’s nose.

“Alright.

As you wish.”

 

Wei Lan kissed Lu Zijin’s lower back a few times, then contentedly led her to the bed.

 

Lu Zijin said she would let Wei Lan be on top, and she did.

But an hour and a half later, her little Qiankun was limp and weak again, hugging her and acting spoiled.

“Wife, my hands are sore.

Let’s rest early, okay?”

 

Lu Zijin was so angry she laughed.

Her little dog was always all bark and no bite.

She had been so cooperative, yet Wei Lan’s wrists were sore.

 

Lu Zijin smiled and shook her head.

She pulled Wei Lan over and bit her gland opening hard.

Then she said, “Alright.

I’ll let you rest today.

After you recover for a few days, you’ll make up what you owe me.”

“Wuwu~” Wei Lan nuzzled against Lu Zijin, acting spoiled.

She always felt it wasn’t her fault; her wife just had too much stamina.

 

Wei Lan woke up early the next day.

Apart from slightly sore wrists, her spirits were much better.

Since Lu Zijin hadn’t played with her gland opening much yesterday, when she opened her eyes and prepared to get up, she saw Lu Zijin was already up.

“Wife, you’re up so early?”

Wei Lan got out of bed and stretched.

“Not really.

I need to help my cousin, so I have to go over early.”

Lu Zijin said.

“Then I’ll come help too.”

Wei Lan had been listless yesterday from her wife’s playing, but today she had finally recovered, so naturally, she wanted to help.

 

At the same time, a group of people wearing imperial guard uniforms arrived outside the Marshal’s residence.

They claimed to be imperial envoys sent by His Majesty to deliver a decree.

There were fifteen people in total, led by Wang Mian, the Vice Minister of Rites.

 

He had someone go announce their arrival.

The guards at the Marshal’s residence gate asked coldly, “Who are you?”

“How dare you!

Our master is an imperial envoy sent by His Majesty to deliver a decree.

Hurry up and come out to receive us!” the imperial guard shouted.

 

But the guards at the gate remained motionless.

“Wait here.

I’ll go report first.”

 

That imperial guard had been arrogant the whole trip and had never received such shabby treatment.

He was about to fly into a rage.

 

Wang Mian stepped forward and stopped him.

“What’s the hurry?

Waiting is fine.”

 

He waited there, arrogant, expecting Fan Chuan to come out and welcome him in.

 

At that moment, Fan Chuan was having breakfast with Shen Lingwei.

A guard ran up to report.

“Marshal, a group of over ten people has arrived at the gate.

They say they are imperial envoys sent by His Majesty.”

 

Fan Chuan’s brow furrowed slightly.

Calculating the time, it should have been at least another half month before the old emperor noticed anything wrong.

Why were imperial envoys here now?

 

Fan Chuan looked at Shen Lingwei.

“I’ll go take a look.”

“Be careful.”

Shen Lingwei reminded her.

 

Fan Chuan nodded, then quickly walked towards the main gate of the Marshal’s residence.

Soon, she saw fourteen people dressed as imperial guards, and, of course, a civil official at their head.

 

Wang Mian, seeing Fan Chuan arrive, became even more arrogant.

He was an imperial envoy sent by His Majesty, and the Fan family was full of loyal martyrs.

So naturally, she would treat him, the envoy, with great respect.

 

Fan Chuan walked over slowly and said, “Why is Minister Wang here?”

“This humble official is here on His Majesty’s orders to deliver a decree.

What, does the Marshal want me to deliver it here?”

Wang Mian said deliberately.

 

Fan Chuan smiled at him.

“Of course not.

Minister Wang, please.”

 

Wang Mian nodded at Fan Chuan and led his fourteen guards into the Marshal’s residence.

 

Fan Chuan signaled to Yun Heng.

Yun Heng understood immediately and disappeared from Fan Chuan’s side in an instant.

 

As soon as they entered the main courtyard, Wang Mian had the imperial decree brought out.

He didn’t open it, but announced loudly, “Fan Chuan, Marshal of the Northern Border Army, receive His Majesty’s decree!”

 

Then he reminded her, “Marshal Fan, your family members also need to come and hear the decree.

Send someone to fetch them.”

 

Fan Chuan smiled and nodded, instructing two guards in the residence to go and invite them.

 

Soon, Shen Lingwei, Lu Zijin, and Wei Lan all arrived at the front courtyard.

 

Wang Mian’s gaze fell on Shen Lingwei.

He nodded slightly at her.

But Shen Lingwei did not respond, which made Wang Mian frown slightly.

 

The corners of Fan Chuan’s mouth lifted.

She reminded him, “Minister Wang, everyone is here.

You may read the decree.”

“Alright.

Everyone, receive the decree!”

As Wang Mian finished speaking, Fan Chuan and the others knelt.

Fan Chuan was not willing to make a move just yet.

If the court had come to deliver supplies, she could endure a bit and take the provisions first before deciding what to do.

 

Wang Mian, seeing they were all kneeling, immediately said, “The Emperor decrees: Rebellions are rife in Jiangnan.

Tens of thousands of bandits are disturbing our lands.

Fan Chuan is hereby appointed Grand Marshal of the Southern Suppression, to lead fifty thousand Fan family soldiers to Jiangnan to suppress the bandits.

So reads the decree.”

 

After reading, he extended his arm and said, “Marshal Fan, accept the decree.”

 

Fan Chuan, however, sneered and did not accept.

She stood up, brushed the dust from her knees, and looked at him coldly.

“Did His Majesty not mention the provisions and pay?

The court has been withholding the Fan family army’s pay for months.

My soldiers can barely feed themselves.

How are they supposed to suppress the rebellion in Jiangnan?

On an empty stomach?”

 

Wang Mian hadn’t expected Fan Chuan not only to refuse the decree but also to say such things.

He immediately pointed at her.

“You… you’re not thinking of defying the decree, are you?”

 

Fan Chuan looked at him coldly.

“What if I am?

Withholding military pay for months from my army – I will not support such a fatuous emperor.”

“You… you…

Fan Chuan, don’t be foolish.

The Fan family army is full of loyal martyrs.

You cannot harbor disloyal intentions.”

Wang Mian was clearly very frightened and had already retreated among the imperial guards, afraid that Fan Chuan might attack him.

“You know my Fan family is full of loyal martyrs, do you?

But what has that loyalty brought us?

The suspicion of the royals, the scheming of you civil officials.

Men, seize them.

Not a single one of these people today is to be spared.”

 

As Fan Chuan finished speaking, soldiers in armor appeared throughout the front courtyard.

These were a thousand elite soldiers Fan Chuan had specifically withdrawn from the military, in case of an emergency.

And sure enough, an emergency had arisen.

“No, Fan Chuan, don’t do anything foolish.

Just accept the decree now, and I’ll pretend all of this never happened.”

Wang Mian had never experienced anything like this.

His legs went weak with fear.

Not just him, even the fourteen imperial guards were terrified.

 

In recent years, the court had been corrupt.

The imperial guards were also incompetent, drawing salaries without merit.

They had never even killed anyone on a battlefield; they were all showy fakes.

“Wang Mian, don’t delude yourself.

Once Fan Chuan says something, she doesn’t change it.

I’m done serving the Great Zhou.

Kill them!”

As Fan Chuan gave the order, soldiers immediately protected Wei Lan and the others, while more surrounded Wang Mian and his group.

 

By now, Wang Mian was frantic and had begun to speak without restraint.

“Fan Chuan, don’t kill me.

Just don’t kill me, and I’ll tell you everything.

Your wife was a spy the emperor planted by your side.

You mustn’t trust her!”

 

The corners of Fan Chuan’s mouth lifted.

She laughed.

“My wife is naturally on my side.

Oh, by the way, the twelve guards the old emperor arranged for my wife – I’ve already killed them all.”

 

Fan Chuan raised her right hand, about to bring it down.

Wang Mian cried out again.

“Marshal, don’t kill me!

I beg you, Marshal!

If you want to raise an army, you need to know the situation in the capital.

I can tell you.

I can tell you everything.

Just please don’t kill me!”

 

Fan Chuan nodded.

“So, you are of some use after all.

Yun Heng.”

“This subordinate is here.”

Yun Heng stepped forward and bowed.

“Leave two of the imperial guards alive, and keep this Wang Mian alive too.

Dispose of the rest.”

 

With that, Fan Chuan looked at Shen Lingwei and the others.

“You all go inside.

Don’t let this sight offend you.”

 

Wei Lan took Lu Zijin’s hand and went with Shen Lingwei back to her courtyard.

 

After they left, Yun Heng gave the order.

The front courtyard erupted in the sounds of fighting.

Those imperial guards were indeed useless, and soon, one by one, they were eliminated.

In the end, Wang Mian was so scared he wet his pants.

He kowtowed to Fan Chuan repeatedly.

“Marshal, spare me!

I’ll tell you everything, anything!”

 

The two imperial guards beside him did the same, kowtowing and crying.

 

Fan Chuan had the three men brought to a courtyard and had chairs brought out, preparing to interrogate them thoroughly.

 

Wei Lan had Lu Zijin stay with Shen Lingwei, while she herself went to the courtyard.

Fan Chuan, seeing her arrive, quickly had a chair brought for her as well.

 

Wei Lan sat down, waiting for Fan Chuan to question the three.

“Alright, let me ask you about the situation in the capital.”

Fan Chuan was about to continue when Wei Lan interrupted her.

“Wait, cousin.

These three need to be questioned separately.

Have someone take detailed notes to prevent them from colluding and giving false information.

If any of the three gives false information, then just kill them all.

False information is worse than hearing nothing at all.”

Wei Lan said seriously.

 

Fan Chuan nodded at Wei Lan.

“Alright, Yun Heng.

Do as Wei Lan says.

Take these three to separate places for questioning.

Then bring them back later.”

“Yes, this subordinate accepts the order.”

Yun Heng quickly did as Wei Lan instructed.

 

In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the three had all confessed.

Soon, they were brought back, and Yun Heng presented the confessions to Fan Chuan.

 

Fan Chuan glanced at them, then handed them to Wei Lan.

 

Wei Lan also read them carefully.

The gist of the three confessions was that the rebellions in Jiangnan were rampant, not the tens of thousands mentioned in the decree.

The scattered rebel forces added up to over a hundred thousand.

The court was really at its wit’s end.

The emperor and the princes had come up with the idea of sending Fan Chuan to suppress the rebellion.

That way, the rebel problem would be solved, and Fan Chuan’s forces would be mostly depleted in the process.

For them, this was a plan with nothing but benefits.

 

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