Chapter 5: Picking Up Your Master to Return Home

The person sent to fetch wine returned at this moment. As he put down the wine jug and was about to lie in her arms, Zhu Wansheng’s muscle reaction was faster than her brain. She almost leapt up, dodging a full five steps away as if avoiding a bedbug.

Zhu Yilin glared with seductive eyes, “You’re truly boring. You don’t drink to your heart’s content, you don’t play to your satisfaction. Is that Ji gentleman of yours really worth preserving your chastity for? Don’t you want to taste one of my men? Each has their own flavor, Wansheng. You won’t know if it’s good unless you try.”

“No thanks.” Zhu Wansheng was almost nauseated to the point of explosion. The idea of sharing men only made her feel dirty.

Zhu Yilin said nothing, pulling the man in front of Zhu Wansheng close and whispering in his ear.

This is bad. Her sixth sense told her this person was about to cause trouble. Zhu Wansheng turned to leave.

As she turned, her arm was suddenly gripped tightly. The man had practically jumped over to grab her wrist. “My lady, it’s not too late to leave after finishing this jug of wine.” Though the man looked frail, his strength was considerable.

“Let go first.”

The man seemed not to hear. With a forceful tug, there was a spinning sensation. Without a doubt, she had been easily knocked down.

“Miss Zhu instructed me to serve you well, my lady. As long as you like me, I can live. You wouldn’t be so heartless as to leave me for dead, would you?” The man lay on top of her, breathing into her left ear as he spoke.

The first reaction came from her stomach. The sweet dishes she had eaten at noon seemed to have rushed up to her throat, ready to erupt at any moment.

Zhu Yilin opened a new jug of wine, her eyes filled with disgust and provocation as she looked at her.

Zhu Wansheng’s tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed. She thought: You really shouldn’t have messed with me. Little Chemist, DMSO, 1000 mL, splash it directly on that woman next to me. The faster and more violent, the better!

The man on top of her, seeing no reaction from her, as if she was resigned to her fate, freed one hand to undo her clothes. But he saw her lips suddenly curl up in a cold smile.

His hand froze. Zhu Wansheng’s red lips parted slightly in a half-smile, “Three, two, one…” His body reacted instinctively. He stiffened against her and immediately released his grip.

A piercing, spine-chilling scream followed, accompanied by a stench so strong it made his eyes water. Before the man could react to what was happening, a sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen, and he slid straight backward.

He stared in shock at Zhu Wansheng as she slowly got up. She smiled, her gaze sweeping over him harmlessly before settling on Zhu Yilin, who couldn’t open her eyes, wanted to scream but didn’t dare, and was flailing her arms and legs in the air. She said softly, “Threaten me? It’s my mercy that it wasn’t concentrated sulfuric acid.”

As she spoke, a smile hung on her face, but it carried a hint of malice and a certain pleasure he couldn’t interpret.

He clutched his stomach and curled up in a corner, terrified that in a fit of anger, she might punish him with that horribly smelling substance.

***

Hearing the scream, Lanfan couldn’t stay put for a moment. She drew the soft whip tied at her waist and was about to rush up when she ran into Zhu Wansheng, who was wearing a smile.

Lanfan asked curiously, “My lady, who’s up there? Was someone screaming just now? Are you alright?”

She shook her head, “It’s Zhu Yilin’s business. You know about it, tell me.”

Whether it was due to the transmigration or not, the memories of the original owner were fragmented, like watching highlights rather than the full series. There were many things she only half understood, such as Zhu Yilin. She vaguely knew that Zhu Yilin loved to play and was lustful, but beyond that…

Lanfan was not one for subtlety and didn’t think too much. But before speaking, she looked around and then lowered her voice, “My lady, did you have an argument with her? Has what we did been exposed?”

Zhu Wansheng didn’t understand, so she went along with it, “Yes.”

Lanfan slapped her thigh, “I was so careful, how was it still discovered? Maybe there was a problem with the marriage certificate we sent. If this blows up, I’ll take full responsibility. This has nothing to do with you, my lady!”

What was all this about? Zhu Wansheng was completely confused. She probed, “Who did we get to forge the marriage certificate?”

Lanfan lowered her voice again, “Naturally, a master forger. We even went to Yulin City to find one. There shouldn’t have been any traces left.” She started muttering to herself, “Could it be that Gu Yingqing’s name was exposed and someone inquired about it?”

To avoid arousing suspicion, Zhu Wansheng couldn’t ask too much. She got into the carriage.

“My lady, are we returning to the mansion?”

“Yes, let’s go back.”

The carriage set off again with a clop-clop. Zhu Wansheng lifted the curtain and glanced at the gradually disappearing rouge shop. Rouge shop?

“Lanfan, let’s go back to the main store.” She had forgotten that the materials she asked Little Chemist for were still at the main store…

***

When the shopkeeper saw Zhu Wansheng, he stood up abruptly, putting on the fastest smile he could muster, “My lady, why have you come back?”

Zhu Wansheng didn’t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point, “May I use your second floor?”

She was so polite that the shopkeeper didn’t know how to react. He nodded repeatedly and waved his hands in panic, “My lady, how can you say that? This entire shop is yours. Use it as you please. There’s no need to ask. It’s just that the second floor hasn’t been cleaned for a while. I’ll send someone to clean it up for you right away.”

“No need. I’ve already had a look. It’s just a bit dusty, not a big problem. You can have someone clean it tomorrow morning. Lanfan, wait for me on the first floor. Don’t come up or let anyone else up unless I call for you.”

She certainly didn’t want someone coming in while she was experimenting and raising suspicions.

Lanfan lowered her head and responded, “Yes, my lady.”

As soon as she left, the shopkeeper let out a long sigh of relief. Seeing Lanfan’s troubled expression, he tentatively asked, “Why does Miss Lanfan look so worried today?”

Lanfan was never one to stand on ceremony. She sat down on the stairs, her eyes fixed on the door, and replied, “I’m just worried about my lady. She seems a bit strange… It feels like her temper has improved…”

The shopkeeper glanced upstairs. This Zhu Wansheng seemed completely different from the rumors. He wondered if the rumors were wrong or if this young lady’s temper was simply unpredictable and changeable.

Though curious, he didn’t dare to ask too much. He just went along with Lanfan’s words, “Lady Zhu does have a good temper. She speaks so gently and kindly.”

Lanfan didn’t respond. Her lady had a good temper? Not at all…

When her lady went shopping for clothes and jewelry, the shop assistants had to serve her with the utmost respect. Zhu Wansheng rarely said “thank you”. But these weren’t important. What mattered most was that her lady really disliked Young Master Gu. She didn’t want to talk to him, and seeing him made her irritated and want to throw things.

But these past few days, her lady had been patient with him, even staying in the carriage with him for so long without incident.

It was truly bizarre…

She clearly had an appointment with Young Master Ji today, but her lady said that things she didn’t remember didn’t count…

Lanfan pondered deeply. When did the change begin? It seemed to have started after she was driven out of Young Master Ji’s room that day!

Young Master Ji was indeed excessive. Her lady had visited many places, running her legs off to find precious sheet music for Young Master Ji. She went to deliver the gift with a heart full of joy, but couldn’t even enter the door. She only heard a cold voice at the door saying, “Since you already have Gu Yingqing, leave him alone…”

But it wasn’t the first time Young Master Ji had given Zhu Wansheng the cold shoulder and refused to see her. She wasn’t one to give up easily either.

Could it be that she had been putting on a brave face all along?

Could it be… that she was so heartbroken that she decided to transfer her affections and live a good life with Young Master Gu?

Lanfan was startled by her own thoughts. She gave herself a hard slap. How terrifying, truly terrifying. Her lady getting along well with Young Master Gu? Impossible…

***

The once dusty table on the second floor of the private room was now covered with reagent bottles, analytical balances, beakers of various capacities, and 50 mL centrifuge tubes with blue caps – all familiar items to her.

Although these configurations seemed particularly out of place in this ancient-styled room, after the recent incident, the scientific assistant’s status in her heart had skyrocketed. Who wouldn’t love a system that could both save people and help her make money at crucial moments?

She became a bit greedy: Little Chemist, do you have lab coats and gloves?

Zhu Wansheng: Yes.

A set of lab coats, a pack of gloves. She wiped the floor and sat down, suddenly feeling quite pleased. She had plenty of time to do scientific research here. She could ask the system to provide a glove box to continue researching her luminescent materials. If she accidentally returned to her original world, wouldn’t her papers be published without a hitch?

The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Zhu Wansheng could no longer suppress her smile. Fortunately, no one was beside her, otherwise she might have received looks like Gu Yingqing’s, as if she were crazy.

***

As the sun was sinking below the horizon, its light fading, Gu Yingqing loosened his outer robe. Just as one foot was about to enter the steaming bath, Mangxiao rushed in hurriedly, not even knocking, and went straight to his side, panting heavily, “Young Master… Lady Zhu’s maid Xiaosuda has come.”

Gu Yingqing responded irritably, “What does she want now?”

Mangxiao shook his head like a rattle drum, patting his chest to catch his breath, “I don’t know. She just instructed this servant to find you and asked you to go quickly.”

Gu Yingqing glanced at the still steaming bath, his brows furrowed. He didn’t move or speak.

Mangxiao carefully tugged at his sleeve, “Young Master, if we’re late…” They might get scolded.

When Gu Yingqing opened the door, the veins on the back of his hand were bulging. Mangxiao followed behind him, suddenly understanding. Divorce might be good for both of them. Since Gu Yingqing had married into the family, he had endured so much pent-up anger.

Gu Yingqing stood at the door. Mangxiao’s gaze passed over him to see a burly woman standing under a tree in the courtyard. He could never distinguish between Lady Zhu’s maids. They all looked similar, with strong builds and bad tempers. He wondered where she found these people.

Recalling the wedding night, after the ceremony, Gu Yingqing had disappeared, and Zhu Wansheng had become furious. Mangxiao was ordered to bring some food.

Unfortunately, he became the target of her anger. It happened so quickly that he still couldn’t remember whether it was Lanfan or Xiaosuda who had picked him up and thrown him out of Zhu Yinke.

Only the lingering pain in his tailbone reminded him of this humiliating history.

Xiaosuda glanced sideways at the two, slightly raising her chin. Although she was standing, her demeanor was superior. “The old Lady Zhu asked me to relay to you: ‘Your lady has not yet returned home, how dare you return alone? It’s already late. What if something happened to your lady? Can you bear the responsibility? I hope you find your lady and return home quickly.'”

After a moment, Gu Yingqing gave a soft “Mm.”

Xiaosuda’s gaze swept across the courtyard, slightly disdainful, before she left haughtily.

Mangxiao sneaked a glance at his young master. Though his face remained calm, he must be fuming inside. “Young Master, shall I prepare the horse?”

Gu Yingqing didn’t respond.

Even after they got into the carriage, Gu Yingqing remained silent. Mangxiao felt troubled. When a couple doesn’t get along, even a minor character like him suffers. He swallowed and asked, “Young Master, where shall we go?”

“The main rouge shop.” Gu Yingqing finally deigned to speak.

“Young Master, if I may be so bold, please don’t speak to the lady like this when we arrive. If you anger her, you’ll only make things harder for yourself.”

“She doesn’t deserve it.”

Mangxiao waved his hands in fright. Although there was no one around, he still felt uneasy and spoke with some urgency, “You mustn’t say such things about the lady, Young Master.”

In fact, his young master hadn’t done anything wrong. He too had been forced into this marriage. Although he wasn’t good at pleasing people, he was honest and proper, never fooling around outside, and never actively causing trouble.

Moreover, not only was he blessed with good looks, but he was also accomplished in the four arts of the scholar, and skilled in swordsmanship. Even when he was wronged for no reason, he would just endure it without making a fuss.

In his view, Gu Yingqing was far superior to that weak, overly refined Young Master Ji. But Lady Zhu just couldn’t stand him, and his young master wasn’t one to humble himself, which is why things had come to this…