Chapter 11: Borrowing Your Blood

She had received a 21st-century education. Although she had inexplicably been transported to this strange era and could not change its outdated and rigid mindset, she was by no means a woman who lived by relying on a man. What she wanted was a life with money, power, and a daughter—an ideal life without a man.

As for why she had fallen to the status of a concubine in the Lu family, it was simply because her fate was unlucky. Others transmigrated into princesses, duchesses, or daughters of wealthy households, but she only became a lowly maid in the Lu household, a hapless wretch who had nothing at all.

Because of her outstanding looks and many talents, she caught the eye of the young Lu Wuwei, which led to her being envied and ultimately killed by Li Xian Yue. After Liu Ru Yin came into this world, no matter how unwilling she was to be a concubine, she could not fight against the entire feudal society. After all, she was just a delicate woman who could only try to survive first.

Survival was survival, but she did not believe in love. To her, love was not a talisman for survival but a curse that hastened death.

Men only slowed her progress toward wealth. Since she did not compete or fight and only liked to quietly accumulate silver, Li Xian Yue stopped tormenting her and instead treated her as if she were air—neither here nor there. Thus, she lived peacefully in the Lu household for over a decade.

As for Lu Lanxi, she always felt sympathy for her, pitied her, yet was frustrated by her inability to protect herself. Despite her beauty and exceptional martial arts skills, she neither dared to resist nor defend herself, enduring abuse all for the sake of a shred of pitiful familial affection.

In any case, she never bullied Lu Lanxi herself; she was merely a cold onlooker.

However, her daughter Lu Wanyu was unaware of her mother’s experiences and was somewhat confused. After all, Aunt Liu’s words were too profound.

Aunt Liu gently stroked her daughter’s little cheek and smiled warmly.

“Silly child, don’t worry. Your mother is not like Ye Nanzhi. I would never harm you. I will lay a path for you.”

At the Glazed Pavilion.

After eating, Bai Zhi felt a bit sleepy. Lu Lanxi told her to go rest first, then took a small box from her bosom.

“Third Miss, when did you return?”

Chun Chan had been waiting at the front gate for a long time but hadn’t seen anyone and didn’t know when the two had come back.

“Do I need to report my return to you, a mere maid?”

Lu Lanxi’s profile was sharp, her gaze icy as she stared at Chun Chan.

That traitor who betrayed her for personal gain—she had treated her well in their past lives, yet she turned out to be Lu Wanhe’s lackey, biting the hand that fed her.

Chun Chan tensed up, unsure how to respond. The Third Miss had never spoken to her like this, nor looked at her with such a terrifying gaze.

“Of course not... I’m just worried, Third Miss... Madam sent word that you should visit her.”

“Oh.”

...

Is that all?

Chun Chan was utterly incredulous. In the past, the Third Miss would have immediately gone to Madam’s place without hesitation. But now, she sat motionless, showing no intention to rise.

In that moment, an inexplicable unease welled up in Chun Chan’s heart.

It felt as if the person sitting before her was no longer the Third Miss she knew.

She glanced furtively at Lu Lanxi, who wore a bright red wedding dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, a delicate oval face, lips like ripe peaches, skin smooth as creamy jade, eyebrows like ink strokes, and slightly narrowed phoenix eyes with a mole on her nose tip—all of which made Lu Lanxi look like a transcendent fairy. Yet today, the same person gave off an aura not of ethereal grace but of seductive wickedness.

“Third Miss, you’d better hurry... If you’re late again, you’ll get beaten.”

Chun Chan’s voice was low, tinged with impatience or perhaps a veiled threat.

“Oh.”

Lu Lanxi continued to toy with the contents of the box, her expression and tone indifferent, radiating a cold aloofness that kept others at arm’s length.

“Chun Chan, what would you do if a dog you couldn’t tame bit its own master?”

“Of course, you slaughter it and cook it.”

Chun Chan replied with irritation.

“Oh.”

Lu Lanxi responded lightly, still fiddling with the box.

Chun Chan shot her a dissatisfied glance. Damn it, what madness had Lu Lanxi fallen into? If she angered Madam again, it would bring trouble upon herself.

“Third Miss, why are you still sitting there? How can you play with a broken box for so long without getting bored?”

Chun Chan was furious. Lu Lanxi had truly grown bold, even disregarding Madam.

“Third Miss, if you keep this up, I’ll have no choice but to report to Madam and the Eldest Miss. If you get punished, don’t blame me for not warning you.”

Chun Chan gritted her teeth and pushed. After all these years, she had grown used to speaking to Lu Lanxi in this tone.

If Lu Lanxi still didn’t move, she would quietly inform the Eldest Miss to protect herself from blame. She had no desire to get beaten.

“Chun Chan...”

Lu Lanxi interrupted her incessant chatter and threats with a sudden, meaningful call.

That voice was not gentle in the slightest.

“Third Miss, are you ready to go?”

“No rush. How do you think I usually treat you?”

“Third Miss treats this servant very well indeed.”

“If I need a little favor from you?”

Lu Lanxi turned her head, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips, but her eyes revealed no emotion.

“You flatter me, Third Miss. I’ve followed you for many years, and you treat me like a sister. Even if you asked for my life, I would gladly give it.”

“Then I’ll borrow a little blood from you.”

Lu Lanxi’s red lips curved slightly in a casual manner.

Chun Chan shivered all over. Lu Lanxi’s words sent chills down her spine.

Borrow her blood? A little favor? Even if she truly cared for her, would she really ask for her blood?

Besides, why in the world would she want her blood?

Looking at Lu Lanxi’s face, brimming with a dark smile, Chun Chan trembled, her legs growing weak.

“Third Miss, what do you want blood for? I can bring you chicken or pig blood from the kitchen... I don’t have much blood myself...”

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever you have is enough.”

Lu Lanxi raised her eyes, flicked her eyelids coldly at Chun Chan, then in an instant grabbed her wrist with one hand, picked up a dagger from the table with the other, and without hesitation, sliced into Chun Chan’s wrist.

“Ahhhhh—!”

Ignoring Chun Chan’s screams and struggles, she pressed her wrist firmly onto the box, letting her blood drip inside.

The tiny worms writhing inside the box perked up at the fresh blood, eagerly sucking the warm liquid.

“Third Miss, are you insane? Let me go! My blood is too lowly, unworthy of your noble lineage...”

“Heh, didn’t you say you’d gladly give me your life just now? Now that I ask for a little blood, you can’t bear it? How do you think I endured you cutting me to draw blood every day?”