The Empress Wants It All: The Empire and Me - Chapter 41.2

Chapter 41.2

She spoke with such ironclad certainty that a flicker of suspicion flashed through Youqin Mingyue’s eyes.

I am an Exquisite-rank Kunze, ordinary Qianyuan cannot mark me at all. How could her body show no change?

Then, she realized something. When Lin Yanran marked her for the first time, she had actually claimed to be “impotent” at marking. For an arrogant Qianyuan, such words would be nothing short of a humoring humiliation, yet she had said it with a clear conscience. Furthermore, subsequent facts proved she truly knew nothing about marking.

Could it be that she was entirely unfamiliar with her own body?

True, she was a soul inhabiting a borrowed body. It was highly probable she was indeed unfamiliar.

Youqin Mingyue asked noncommittally, “You clearly can mark, why did you lie to me before, saying you were incapable?”

Hearing this, Lin Yanran became even more certain that she was settling old scores. Wanting only to clear herself of any blame, she hurriedly said, “At that time, I couldn’t feel my own pheromones and didn’t know how to mark. I really didn’t lie to you on purpose.”

Confirmed. This commoner was truly unfamiliar with her own body and even lacked basic knowledge of Qianyuan traits.

The corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily.

Excellent. Let her remain ignorant, and let her continue to be terrified. That way, I can control her better.

With her mind made up, she returned to her usual unruffled state. Her expression was faint, making it impossible for anyone to discern her inner thoughts.

In Lin Yanran’s eyes, however, she grew increasingly frantic. This look on the villain’s face looked exactly like she was planning to deal with her!

She quickly said ingratiatingly, “Mingyue, let me go get some water for you to wash up, shall I?”

True to her reputation as a master of manipulation, Youqin Mingyue immediately sensed Lin Yanran’s petty attempts to please her. She remained expressionless, merely offering a slight nod.

Lin Yanran hurried out. She opened the door to the central hall and went to the kitchen. Chen Xiaohua had already arrived to cook. Lin Yanran instructed, “Xiaohua, after the meal, boil a few buckets of hot water. Your sister-in-law needs a bath.”

Chen Xiaohua chirped her agreement. Lin Yanran added, “Xiaohua, add some lean meat porridge to breakfast. After eating, go buy a chicken to stew for lunch.”

Chen Xiaohua noted, “Sister Yanran, you’ve eaten chicken for two days straight now.”

Lin Yanran smiled. “Your sister-in-law is too thin and frail; I need to nourish her. We’ll eat chicken for these few days. Once I can buy pork, I’ll make other delicious things for her. Then you and Cuicui can improve your palates too.”

Chen Xiaohua cheered instantly, “Sister Yanran, you are so good to sister-in-law!”

Lin Yanran replied, “Naturally. After all, she is my wife.”

Youqin Mingyue found these words very pleasing to the ear.

Just then, a soft, graceful voice interjected: “My Lord, let me handle these chores.”

Youqin Mingyue immediately recognized it as the brothel courtesan and couldn’t help but furrow her brows.

Lin Yanran asked, “Miss Wang, you know how to cook?”

Wang Shouchun smiled charmingly. “My younger brother and I come from humble origins; naturally, we have done all sorts of work.”

Lin Yanran said, “Don’t talk about humble or not. In every trade, a master appears. Actually, cooking is a very happy thing; I like it very much.”

Wang Shouchun paused, then said, “My Lord is truly a special person.”

Lin Yanran laughed heartily.

A moment later, she entered the room carrying a basin of hot water, a face towel draped over her arm. She placed the basin on the table, soaked the towel, and wrung it out, intending to wash her face for her.

Looking at the wet towel being held out, Youqin Mingyue felt slightly uncomfortable. She frowned and said, “No need, I’ll do it myself.”

Lin Yanran countered, “Let me help. Your fingers are injured and shouldn’t touch water.”

Youqin Mingyue had forgotten about her finger injury herself. Hearing that she still remembered made her feel rather gratified. She sat upright, allowing Lin Yanran to serve her.

Lin Yanran reached out to brush aside the hair at her temples, her fingers pressing down the stray strands to prevent them from getting wet. Youqin Mingyue closed her eyes, her thick, long lashes casting shadows over her eyelids, showing a rare moment of serenity.

The morning light from the window filtered in, illuminating her celestial face in exquisite detail. Her delicate, smooth skin was as tender as congealed fat, glowing with a crystalline luster. Her soft silhouette was outlined by the light into deep, beautiful curves—quiet yet soul-stirringly beautiful.

She was so beautiful she seemed to glow, as if even the tiny dust motes in the air couldn’t bear to disturb her. At this moment, the two were face-to-face, extremely close.

Lin Yanran immediately felt the stunning impact of such close-range visual beauty! Her heart began to pound. Even her breathing grew a bit hurried.

She quickly pulled herself together and concentrated on wiping her cheeks, then moved to tidy her hair. Due to the brief intimacy last night, Youqin Mingyue’s collar was somewhat disarranged, and a few strands of hair hanging behind her head were tucked into her back collar.

She reached out to gently lift the hair, but she didn’t expect that as the black tresses were pulled out, the vivid red gland suddenly burst into her view.

The center of the gland was slightly closed, its color still a moving crimson, covered in marks left by teeth. Especially the tender center—it had been bitten into a mess, like fallen blossoms, full of a broken beauty that wildly teased the deep-seated desire to ravage within one’s heart.

Lin Yanran’s heart rate accelerated sharply. A surge of heat rose from her chest, billowing up and permeating her entire torso.

Last night, the lamp light was dim as a bean and the bed was draped in gauze. When she held her and kissed her, she only felt the seductive exotic fragrance while her vision was hazy and unclear. Now, with the morning light reflecting the scenery behind her neck, she finally knew what a mesmerizing place it was.

Her mind uncontrollably recalled the events of last night—scenes flashing by like fleeting light and shadows: the intimate rubbing of hair and temples, the continuous panting—driving her heartbeat faster and faster.

More lethally, out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed her rosy lips, which looked heart-stoppingly beautiful in the morning light.

She suddenly wanted to kiss her. This thought was like bamboo shoots after rain, popping up all at once and tugging at all her emotions.

Youqin Mingyue suddenly snapped her eyes open and swept an unpleasant glance at her. “Not done yet?”

Lin Yanran snapped back to reality with a start, realizing she was leaning toward her face. She froze in fright. A forced smile squeezed onto her face: “I was just tidying your hair. It’s done now.”

She forced herself to stay calm, stood up, and walked toward the door step by step. The moment she lifted the curtain, she immediately quickened her pace.

A flicker of doubt passed through Youqin Mingyue’s eyes. Why does it feel like this commoner is fleeing in panic?

Hmph, she must have a guilty conscience! As for what she was guilty about, it didn’t take much thought—it was surely because she was afraid of being held accountable for that secret bite she took last night.

She picked up the bamboo tube and “toothbrush” Lin Yanran had prepared and began cleaning her mouth. One had to admit, this commoner knew how to enjoy life; the bamboo tube had a handle, making it very convenient to hold, and this “toothbrush” was very similar to the ones in her Princess Manor, though the bristles were denser and softer, making it quite comfortable to clean her teeth.

As Youqin Mingyue silently brushed her teeth, she suddenly realized that she seemed to enjoy Lin Yanran’s service.

Why? For a long time, living under high pressure and hatred, she did not allow herself to have any uncontrollable emotions.

She immediately thought deeply on it.

Yes, because she had performed those intimate acts upon her—shameful and tragic events whenever she recalled them, her dedicated service was more or less a way to compensate for the displeasure in her heart. Thinking this, she no longer felt uneasy about the enjoyment, but rather felt it was justified.

This commoner owed her.

Lin Yanran stood under the veranda brushing her teeth, feeling utterly vexed. She warned herself harshly in her heart.

Lin Yanran, oh Lin Yanran, have you lost your mind? You actually want to kiss a murderous villain? Is it because you were single for too long in your past life that you’re now blinded by lust?

You must know that beauty is not just alluring; it’s deadly! You must stay alert! No improper thoughts allowed!

After finishing her wash, she went back inside to tidy up the basin and towel. She found some ointment, intending to apply it to Youqin Mingyue’s finger wounds and earn some favor points along the way.

“Mingyue, shall I take a look at the wounds on your hand?”

Youqin Mingyue looked at her and extended the injured hand.

Lin Yanran cradled it in her palm, carefully observing the cuts on the fingers. She looked very intently. Youqin Mingyue noticed her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

“Don’t do this to yourself in the future,” she said softly.

Youqin Mingyue said coolly, “If you hadn’t ruined my pills, why would I have come to this? If you hadn’t been so slow in making medicine, why would I have come to this?”

Lin Yanran’s face immediately looked chagrined. She didn’t dare speak further, cautiously applying the ointment to the injured fingers with meticulous movements and the lightest possible touch.

Youqin Mingyue stared at her.

Lin Yanran’s left cheek was still a bit red—it was the mark from the slap she had given her without hesitation just now. Qianyuan were usually arrogant and overbearing, valuing face above all else. Yet Lin Yanran showed none of the explosive rage typical after being hit; she even spoke to her gently and personally put on her shoes.

She could see Lin Yanran was trying to please her, but it wasn’t the kind of compromise driven by death threats. When she did these things for her, she was very serious and carried a sense of genuine concern.

The more Youqin Mingyue thought about it, the more she enjoyed it, and her hatred for being forced to be marked last night faded slightly.

She suddenly asked, “What is the deal with the stranger in the house?”

Lin Yanran was stunned for a moment, then realized she was asking about Wang Shouchun. She said, “I didn’t have time to mention it. Wang Shouchun is Wang Jinghong’s sister. The two of them have come to seek refuge with me. I was thinking that once our pharmaceutical workshop starts, we will definitely be busy. At that time, we’ll need someone to manage all the matters in the house. It happens that his sister can read and calculate, so she can be of help. I thought it better to let her be a manager. What do you think, Mingyue?”

So it was for the sake of the pharmaceutical workshop.

Youqin Mingyue was noncommittal. Her gaze lingered on her face as she said calmly, “Why did I hear Chen Xiaohua say you were going to make her the housekeeper?”

Lin Yanran was very surprised—weren’t manager and housekeeper roughly the same thing?

She could only say, “They mean the same thing. My household is small right now; calling her a housekeeper feels a bit embarrassing. What family wealth is there for her to manage?”

Youqin Mingyue let out a cold snort from her nose. “Could it be you still think the hundred gold taels I rewarded you with are too little?”

Lin Yanran’s eyes widened. The villain was way too petty—she was still dwelling on this! Her bewildered expression immediately drew great dissatisfaction from Youqin Mingyue: “So I hit the mark?”

Lin Yanran’s scalp felt numb. “Of course not! Mingyue, whatever you reward me with, I like it.”

Youqin Mingyue swept a faint glance at her.

Lin Yanran had a sudden inspiration and spoke about the entry of fields and gold/silver into the business. She then explained the modern shareholding system to her. Youqin Mingyue was naturally brilliant; she grasped the essence after hearing it once and said, “This method is good; let it be implemented as such.”

Lin Yanran agreed and took the chance to say, “Mingyue, I’ve already pulled Liu Zhenzhen and her master, Senior Feng, in as original shareholders. I’ve earned fifty thousand taels of silver for our workshop!”

How could Youqin Mingyue not tell she was trying to please her? But as soon as she mentioned Liu Zhenzhen, she immediately recalled the words “soulmate” and “helper” mentioned by Shadow. For no reason, she felt displeased.

This displeasure immediately dragged up all other displeasures.

Her expression turned cold as she said neither heavily nor lightly, “Earning fifty thousand taels at once is indeed not bad. I just wonder how many fifty thousands will be paid out as dividends to your ‘soulmate’ when the time comes.”

Lin Yanran: “?”

She was a bit dazed. What did the villain mean by this? Was she blaming her for selling the original shares too cheaply?

She hurriedly tried to remedy: “Mingyue, this is just the beginning and they are acquaintances, so naturally I couldn’t ask too high a price. Once our pills sell well, the value of the shareholders will naturally rise. At that time, asking for a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand taels will be no problem.”

“Rest assured, the workshop is ours. I truly have the workshop’s best interests at heart and sincerely hope our pills sell well. I will absolutely never do anything to harm the workshop.”

She spoke with conviction, her tone sincere. Her bright eyes looked at her, and the earnest gaze made Youqin Mingyue turn her face away. She said coldly, “I see.”

Just then, Chen Xiaohua called for the meal. Lin Yanran asked considerately, “Where would you like to have breakfast?”

“In the room.” She worried her body fragrance hadn’t fully dissipated. Curiously, she could still smell Lin Yanran’s pheromones right now. They were slightly different from last night—now the scent was much lighter, very pleasant, with a warm and reassuring feeling.

She immediately grew alert. I enjoy this commoner’s service because she owes me, but I must never become addicted to her pheromones!

Lin Yanran went to the kitchen. Wang Shouchun had just placed the dishes on a tray. “My Lord, you’ve come at the right time. Here is the breakfast for you and the Mistress.”

“Thank you.” Lin Yanran took it and added, “My household doesn’t distinguish between high and low status. Whatever you like to eat, feel free to make it.” She immediately pulled out two hundred taels in banknotes. “Use these for expenses for the time being.”

She really intends to let me manage the house?

Wang Shouchun took them gracefully. “My Lord, please rest assured. I will certainly keep your household in perfect order.” She added, “Does my Lord have anything today that you need me to remember for you?”

Lin Yanran thought about it and actually came up with something. She had instructed Lin Feng and Lin Jianghe yesterday to look for pork and fresh vegetables; they would likely come to report soon. She mentioned this, then spoke about her plan to host a banquet for Liu Zhenzhen and Feng Gu, and introduced her five Beta subordinates in passing.

Youqin Mingyue sat alone in the room. After a while of not seeing Lin Yanran return, she suddenly felt a bit stifled and wanted to go to the window to take a look. However, the moment she moved, she discovered—her calves were like jelly, with no strength at all. When her feet touched the floor, it was as if she were stepping on cotton; she couldn’t stand up at all.

The weakness after being marked actually hadn’t disappeared yet!

Her face quickly turned red. Clutching her sleeves with both hands, she was filled with shame, annoyance, and grief.

It wasn’t even this serious last time. This time must be because Lin Yanran fell asleep while holding her gland in her mouth!

Commoner! Commoner! Commoner! Commoner! It’s all her fault!

She had a stubborn nature. The more she couldn’t stand, the more she wanted to challenge it. Gritting her teeth, she used the table for support to get up and moved step by step to the window. Then she saw Lin Yanran standing at the kitchen door, talking to the newly arrived courtesan.

There was even a breezy, spring-like smile on her face.

The sense of enjoyment Youqin Mingyue had just accumulated disappeared without a trace.