The Daily Life Of Mei Furen Doting On Her Husband - Chapter 10

Wu Zhen nodded in response, took the piece of undead bone from Liu Taizhen’s hand, and dropped it into the leather bag at her waist. “Your constitution isn’t suited for handling this kind of thing. I’ll take care of it.”

Liu Taizhen was momentarily taken aback, but her tone softened. “Don’t always rely on being lazy. Put in some effort.” Having known each other for many years and practically growing up together, Liu Taizhen understood that despite Wu Zhen’s playful demeanor, she was remarkably dependable when it came to tasks. There was nothing Wu Zhen couldn’t accomplish.

Wu Zhen grinned mischievously, sweeping her hair back playfully. “Of course, Snake Lord. I won’t slack off anymore.”

Liu Taizhen’s eyebrows twitched in response. Before she could retort, Wu Zhen burst into laughter and gracefully made her way off, leaving Liu Taizhen standing there with a bemused expression.

…

 Mei Si and his friends returned to the boat after their altercation with the group of sharp-tongued girls, feeling satisfied. He sought out Wu Zhen to continue discussing his paintings but found her engrossed with a strange transparent stone.

“I have one of those stones too,” Mei Si remarked casually.

“Oh, you do?” Wu Zhen paused, then extended her hand naturally. “I like this thing. Give me yours.”

Mei Si scratched his head with a regretful expression. “Ah, well, my cousin came home this morning, and he seemed to like it, so I gave it to him.”

 Wu Zhen looked puzzled and asked, “Your cousin, the eldest son of the Mei family?”

Mei Si nodded, “Yes, he’s my eldest cousin. Actually, I’m not very familiar with him. We’ve only met a few times. We don’t usually interact much. It seems he came today to mention his own wedding. The last time I saw him was at the end of the year. Oh, by the way, he’s a Minister in the Ministry of Justice. Sister Zhen, you probably don’t know him.

Wu Zhen thought to herself, “Not only do I know him, but I might also become your cousin’s wife.”

Wu Zhen never liked to procrastinate when it came to tasks. Upon learning that the eldest son of the Mei family possessed an undead bone, she immediately abandoned her group, made up an excuse, and swiftly rode away from the Yudai Pond on horseback.

She was determined to secure the undead bonefirst, to prevent any accidental harm to the eldest son of the Mei family.

His residence was in Changle Street, near the east wall. Finding his address easily, Wu Zhen headed towards Chunming Gate, then turned south towards the east wall of Changle Street. She typically avoided the usual routes and gateways, choosing instead to scale the wall at this location.

Wu Zhen tied her horse under a locust tree by the roadside, where it waited patiently in the shade. Despite its docile demeanor with Wu Zhen, the horse was known to be fiercely protective and would trample anyone unfamiliar who attempted to steal it.

Confident that her horse was safe, Wu Zhen patted its head and approached the tall wall surrounding the neighborhood. Seeing no one nearby, she effortlessly climbed the wall in a few swift steps and vaulted over.

After climbing the main wall, she now faced the task of climbing the wall surrounding the Mei family’s eldest son’s house. Although not very high, Wu Zhen proceeded cautiously, using one hand to peek over and ensure the coast was clear inside before gracefully leaping down into the compound.

Mei Zhuyu, the eldest son of the Mei family, had arrived from Quzhou a year ago following the deaths of his parents. Without siblings, his closest relatives in Chang’an were Mei Si and his family, along with Imperial Concubine Mei. However, according to Mei Si, Mei Zhuyu was reserved and not known for his warmth or socializing, preferring to live a solitary life in his mansion. As Wu Zhen observed, it became clear he truly lived a quiet existence; there wasn’t even a servant visible in the courtyard below.

 His house appeared modest to Wu Zhen, much smaller than Duke Yu’s Mansion, but sufficient for a single person. She headed directly for the courtyard where Mei Zhuyu lived. Uncertain if anyone was in the front yard, she listened intently and detected a faint rustling noise from the backyard, which she disregarded.

If Mei Zhuyu didn’t have the undead bone on his person, then it likely was within his house. 

Wu Zhen, though behaving like a thief, played the role of a guest, feigning admiration for the scenery in the courtyard. During that era, vibrant red and purple flowers were cherished, and nearly every household boasted peonies, plum blossoms, hydrangeas, roses, and hibiscus. However, Mei Zhuyu’s courtyard was devoid of such colors, dominated instead by shades of dark and light green.

There were green vines cascading over the nearby wall, a few pine trees dotting the yard, and a clump of bamboo flourishing by the window. A loquat tree stood proudly in the courtyard, its branches adorned with green, unripe fruits. In front of the corridor, a pond had been dug, graced with a couple of newly sprouted lotus leaves that stood tall and graceful. Several clumps of calamus sprouted from the cracks between large rocks near the pond, adding to the fresh greenery.

Yet, despite these natural beauties, the doors, windows, corridors, and pillars were all fashioned from dark wood, lacking a single vermilion touch. The entire courtyard exuded an air of elegance, tranquility, and… coldness.

As summer was near, Wu Zhen couldn’t help but shiver.

“Damn it! If I marry a man like this, I’ll be bored to death,” Wu Zhen muttered as she approached Mei Zhuyu’s door and pushed it.

Wu Zhen had calculated that Mei Zhuyu would be on duty at the Ministry of Justice that day, leaving her free to explore his home confidently and generously.

True to expectation, no one was home. The furnishings were sparse in Mei Zhuyu’s bedroom—just a bed, wardrobe, boxes, and desk. The study adjacent was semi-partitioned by a bamboo curtain, cluttered with numerous books.

Wu Zhen looked at the bookshelf for a while before she started searching for the undead bone. But despite her efforts, she failed to detect even a trace of lingering resentment after a thorough search.

 Could it not be there? Did the young man really carry that thing with him? What bad luck.

Wu Zhen closed Mei Zhuyu’s wardrobe and was just thinking about leaving for the Ministry of Justice when she heard footsteps outside the room. The sound was so faint that most people probably couldn’t hear it, but Wu Zhen had sharp ears and could hear someone approaching. She walked calmly to the window and attempted to push it open to slip into the backyard. But before she could open the window, she heard rustling outside again.

 Looking through the small crack in the window, she spotted an old man dressed as a servant sweeping fallen leaves outside. If she exited that way, she would surely encounter him. The study’s window was not an option either, as it risked being noticed by the newcomers. The room was sparse with little to hide behind, and the beams above offered no concealment… Tsk, there seemed to be no other choice.

Wu Zhen began to undress.