A/N: This was a whole daydream of a transmigrator being attracted to villains and ends up changing the Wen's because of her well-meaning tactics which change their image in the cultivator world.
I will immediately thank PaulieMickey J for putting it into my head that the dreamer was an accountant before she died. (I overspilled on the possible storyline to her during our chats) These skills will come into play once she gets used to her new place. Adding onto this, this piece was semi inspired by "the guide to crazy villains" by Hikari_C. (I am eagerly awaiting an update and I will patiently wait with anticipation)
I have never written a sex scene as an opening scene, but hey, why the hell not lmao
I am also using different guides on AO3 to try not to mess up on the titles, but feel free to correct me!
Enjoy.
-Lucicelo
Throughout all the lucid dreams she ever had, this one was the most realistic of them all.
Hovering above her, Wen Ruohan was fully naked and in between her legs. Peering down, she soaked in his well-defined abs and licked her lips. His bulging forearms were on each side of her head, keeping himself upright as he thrust inside of her.
A thrill of excitement shot through her.
Hell yes.
She was really going to enjoy this.
Out of all the villains she dreamed of fucking, Wen Ruohan was one of the newer villains on her list. Although, in those other dreams, she always woke up before the fun ended. She hoped her subconscious didn't ruin her fun before she finished.
This happened far too often than she liked to admit.
As a single woman living in the city, she was alone more often than not. Her friends were always busy, her job was soul sucking, and her family lived in another area of the country. She seeked solace in tv programming and sought to consume everything she got her hands on.
Meaning, her attention went toward whatever show caught her attention. She ignored the similarities of why she enjoyed the shows she watched. The handsome villains were casted perfectly for their roles. She liked the drama and the heart stopping moments of all the shows she crossed off her list.
She was saddened when she finished the MDZS novels, finished the live action and anime, and read copious amounts of fanfiction. Not that she was a super fan. Her mind was forgetful on certain aspects that she didn't gravitate toward. Said the woman who consumed anything with the MDZS title, but she digressed.
Her mind returned to the grunting sexy man on top of her when he thrust into her sweet spot. Shivering in delight, she reached up her hands and gripped his forearms. Wen Ruohan appeared surprised at her actions, but he continued on thrusting into her.
During these dreams, her own name was a fuzzy reminder. Making it easier for her to take on the identity of the person whose eyes she looked through.
As far as she could see, the body she inhabited was well fit and defined. Far more fit than her own body. Whoever this woman was must work out often to keep up this shape. Good for her.
Her amazement over Wen Ruohan's bed partner's body dimmed. To her astonishment, Wen Ruohan fucked without feeling. His movements were mechanical, and it was completely luck that he hit the sweet spot. His piercing eyes were observing her, but not with the lustful gaze of a willing partner.
Oh.
This was a bit disappointing to experience.
Well, if Wen Ruohan wasn't going to put in effort, she was going to entice him.
She removed her hands from his forearms to wrap them around his neck. As a result, his chest pressed down against her breasts. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pushing his dick deeper inside of her.
His momentum went array as he interrupted his own push to balance himself on top of her. He said nothing as he paused his movements. Dick halfway inside of her, she held back the urge to use her legs to get him going, but she wanted to see what he would do.
He remained silent, almost puzzled by her actions. At least, he didn't yank her hands off of him and push them onto the bed. On a different day, she might enjoy being manhandled, but not this time.
When she tried to kiss him, he moved his face aside to hide his face into her hair. She almost wanted to pinch him for turning away from her. In her other dreams, the villains were passionate and kissed her breath away. Wen Ruohan was dismissive and…boring.
Oh no.
She didn't know why her mind was giving her such a lackluster performance. Either her subconscious was telling her to pick another character to obsess over or deep in her heart she knew he wouldn't perform well.
"How…disappointing." She muttered out loud.
"What did you just say?"
Her eyes snapped up, looking into his fiery offended eyes. His jaw clenched; his body tensed. She clearly offended the man. Not that she felt bad about saying it out loud, her words slipped out of her mouth. This was not her fault. He was not doing his part in making this fun for her.
Gulping, she played off an air of arrogance as she harrumphed. "Am I wrong?" Her hands curled around the back of his neck, grabbing handfuls of his hair. "You're not doing your best. Quite frankly, you're a bore."
"A bore, am I?" Wen Ruohan pressed his nose against hers, glaring deep into her eyes. "Wen Furen, you're walking a fine line."
Her heart skipped a beat. She was Wen Furen? Wen Ruohan's wife. A flash of pity passed through her mind. She felt worse for the woman.
Narrowing her eyes, she added fuel to the fire. "Have you ever caused me to fly to the heavens?"
Wen Ruohan arched his brow. She managed to see it through her peripheral vision before he leaned back to look down at her. His dick was still half inside of her, making her adjust her hips a bit.
"You will regret those words,"
Laughing out loud, she dared him. "Prove me wrong. Do it." She tugged his hair enough to elicit a growl. "What are you waiting for, husband?"
After two orgasms, she was pliant, melting into the bedding she laid on. Her body trembled from overstimulation as Wen Ruohan released inside of her again. He pressed fully inside to release every drop before he softened and pulled out.
She thought he was done. He moved to lay on his side to catch his breath. He didn't look at her or even address her. This was fine. Sort of.
At least, he didn't leave her unsatisfied from his expert hands and wandering mouth.
Closing her eyes, she relished in the aftershocks of pleasure coursing through her body. She didn't move from her spot. Preferring to cool down from her high as her so-called husband left the room for the night.
All of a sudden, the feeling of rough fingers touched her tender, throbbing core. Eyes snapping open, she turned to her husband, who appeared amused as he resumed playing with her. He said nothing as he softened his touches to rub against her. She felt his smirk pressed against her cheek, taunting her, unrelenting in his movements. There was a point where he used his thumb to rub her clit and his pointer and middle finger to enter her body.
She was too prideful to beg him to stop. She urged him on. Taunted him to fuck her properly. In order to prove her wrong, he went far beyond his capabilities to leave her breathless. There were no complaints on her part.
As her eyes rolled back, she let out a moan, uttering out his name.
He pressed his lips against her ear, inquiring. "Disappointing, Wen Furen?"
Panting out, she turned her head toward him, a saucy smirk formed on her lips. "Slightly better."
Wen Ruohan chuckled into her sweated out hair. He removed his fingers from inside of her and wiped them down onto her stomach.
Before he moved away from her, she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Wen Ruohan took control of their kiss, not letting her do anything more than submit. She was more than fine with his overall domination. If only he did this from the beginning of her dream, but Wen Furen seemed to not put in her part in their nightly sessions.
For all she knew, Wen Furen was afraid of her husband and braced herself to sleep with him. However, many times she slept with him was something the dreamer didn't know. In her opinion, she would have jumped the man every night or any given opportunity.
Wen Furen probably tolerated this man to remain in this lavish lifestyle.
Dreamer understood the awkwardness of an arranged marriage. Throughout history, there were arranged marriages for a multitude of reasons. Many couples settled into their own dynamics to either remain faithful or went out to attain discreet lovers. Some fell in love or despised one another until their death.
Not all children were created with love in mind. Clans needed heirs and daughters to solidify alliances. Wen Furen possibly did her duty and stayed in the background. After all, she didn't need to do much in the grand scheme of things.
Wen Ruohan broke their kiss and chuckled against her lips. "Not tired of me yet?"
"Hmm…." She tucked a stray hair behind Wen Ruohan's ear. Her gaze lingered on the hickeys she left on his neck. He possibly didn't notice. "Practice makes perfect, dear husband."
Wen Ruohan leaned close and bit her neck. He lightly pushed her back onto the bedding before he got off the bed. He grabbed his robe and put it on. His long black hair cascaded down his back, semi tangled due to her grabby hands.
He said nothing more to her as he left the room.
Feeling lazy, she cuddled against her blankets and fell back to sleep.
She woke up with a sore body.
Without opening her eyes, she stretched out her limbs, letting out moans as her tense muscles relaxed. She snuggled against the sheets of the bed, surprised to feel better quality sheets. Not that she didn't use fabric softener, but her blankets were old. She was too cheap to buy high quality sheets even with her decent salary. The only soft blanket she owned was an old thick blanket with a wolf pattern and she kept it in storage for a majority of the year.
Rolling onto her back, she opened her eyes, squinting at the incoming light coming from the window. Odd. She closed her blackout curtains every night to slowly wake up. Rubbing her eyes, she adjusted to the light and looked at her hands. Her dainty and soft looking hands. The scars from her childhood mischief were gone. Her nails were also nicely shaped and groomed.
Blinking rapidly, she sat up, causing the blanket to flutter down to expose her bare chest. "Uh…" Yanking off the sheets from the rest of her body, she looked around the room. She was surprised to notice she was still in the room she fucked Wen Ruohan in.
"I'm…not dreaming?" Getting up from the bed, she snatched a robe from one of the chairs and wrapped it around her. Pinching her hand, she hitched her breath from the incoming pain. "No…fucking way."
She clenched her jaw and let out a muffled scream.
After panicking for twenty minutes, a sudden headache caused her to sway on her bare feet. Rubbing her temples, she stumbled over to her bed and sat down. Memories of the life of Zhang Xuehua poured into her head. From the earliest of memories to the last few days, she took in everything this woman was about.
Zhang Xuehua was the first daughter, third in line of her siblings. Her relationship with her siblings was decent, but non-existent with the eldest son. She married Wen Ruohan almost three years ago, getting pregnant almost immediately. The isolation in her rooms came from using her baby's survival as a means to keep herself locked in. Keeping her from having to interact with people from Qishan Wen.
Trying to dig more into these memories, she was relieved to note that Zhang Xuehua remembered key members of staff and Wen Ruohan's council. Forgetting those key details wouldn't serve her well. She could feign forgetfulness, but her reputation would plummet because the Original didn't find it necessary to retain important names.
The most significant memory was that of Zhang Xuehua's son. Her son. Wen Xu. Zhang Xuehua was happy about his existence, but a bit distant. A bout of postpartum entered the Dreamer's mind as a reason for her behavior. She let the nanny care for her son almost ninety percent of the time while she remained in her rooms. Then again, Zhang Xuehua might have developed a distant parenting approach due to the example of her own mother.
Yeah, the Dreamer was not about to leave her new kids to flounder about. She will guide them to be half decent in between trying to keep Wen Ruohan from not killing them all.
Speaking of kids, the Dreamer hoped and prayed that this woman had not birthed Wen Chao yet. Out of all the characters of the Wen's, Wen Chao was the one she wanted to drop kick into a volcano.
When saw images of only Wen Xu, she let out the biggest sigh of relief.
Zhang Xuehua collapsed onto her bedding in exhaustion as the midwife announced the birth of her son. Relief washed over her entire body. For months, Zhang Xuehua prayed for an heir for her husband. To prove that their marriage produced the results the Wen's wanted.
The immediate conception of this baby was seen as a good sign of Wen Zongzhu's reign. Whispers of Wen Furen's capability as a wife elevated through this child. She was accomplishing her duties as a wife.
As a result of her pregnancy, Zhang Xuehua delayed taking over the sect wife's duties in order to nest in her rooms. Only her most trustworthy servant entered inside and tested out her food before she ate. She wanted to keep herself away from those who could poison her or cause her to miscarry. A bit extreme, but Zhang Xuehua was diligent in keeping her place.
Convincing her husband was easy.
The hint of an outsider hurting his legacy prompted him to allow her to hide away.
And for the rest of those months, Wen Zongzhu visited a handful of times. Only coming around when the healer inspected her or during a rare dinner in the main room.
For a first year of marriage, Zhang Xuehua felt no closer to her husband than during their courting process. He sent her gifts, courtesy letters, and spoke to her decently. She knew him in her marital bed, but not as a person. His constant absences didn't help endear the couple together.
Zhang Xuehua was relieved he visited no brothels. Wen Zongzhu focused solely on cultivation and building up his ever-growing strength. Rumors of bastards or lovers were dispelled almost immediately by Wen Zongzhu's hand. Pushing the baseless gossip underneath the breath of those who resented Wen Zongzhu for his untouchable status.
Zhang Xuehua was no stranger to the rumors of her new husband. He was a tyrant, taking over Qishan Wen with his own hands, and swinging his sword whenever he was bothered. His manner of speaking was arrogant and self-assured. Due to his high rank, it was to be expected, but the evil glint in his eyes was scary.
At least, he treated her with utmost respect.
No one could claim Wen Zongzhu didn't treat his wife well.
The head healer handed the heir into Zhang Xuehua's arms. "He looks and sounds healthy, Wen Furen. You did well."
Nodding her head, Zhang Xuehua looked at her baby and caressed his chubby cheeks. "Has Wen Zongzhu been alerted of the birth of his heir?"
"Yes, Wen Furen."
Not wanting to urge her husband to rush, Zhang Xuehua gulped. "Good."
Blinking back tears, Zhang Xuehua lifted her head in time to notice a familiar retreating decorative red robe beyond the entrance.
Wen Zongzhu was there.
He stood in the hallway, waiting for news of her and their baby's condition. He did care. Maybe, the care extended to their child, but he was present throughout the delivery.
Cradling her son against her chest, Zhang Xuehua pressed a kiss against his forehead.
"Okay, let's recap." Zhang Xuehua tapped her fist into her palm. "Zhang Xuehua is married to Wen Ruohan. Sexy as fuck villain from MDZS. She has already given birth to Wen Xu. Wen Chao is not born yet. Thank fuck." Twirling her hair with her pointer finger, she got back up on her feet.
Wandering over to the floor length mirror, she observed this new body of hers.
The Original's body wasn't bad to look at. At her best, she was a fresh-faced woman with delicate features. Her black hair trailed down toward the back of her knees, well-oiled and soft from great care. Running her hands over her skin, she noted it was soft and supple, pale white without scars. This new body was well sculpted through luck and exercising in the privacy of her rooms.
Feeling a gush of liquid leave her body, she looked down to see Wen Ruohan's cum trickling down her leg. Grimacing, she looked around the room and saw a bowl of water. Snatching whatever piece of cloth, she grabbed on the way to the face washing station. She spent a bit of time cleaning herself. A mortified blush washed over her face as she cleaned her lower half the best she could.
After she was finished, she tossed the used cloth into the container beside the face washing station.
Even though Wen Ruohan technically fucked his wife, this time, he fucked the Dreamer. A dreamer who could have died without regrets, but the realization of this new development slowly crept up on her.
She was stuck in Zhang Xuehua.
There was no going back to her old body. She suspected she died. Otherwise, this was all a lucid dream she concocted after multiple dreams of no satisfaction.
The details of her death were fuzzy, but she suspected she died from overworking. She always went overboard in her job and stayed after hours to complete her work. Everyone else benefited from her overtime but herself.
Groaning out loud, she patted her own face, almost crying at the unfairness of it all.
Her old life was out of her reach.
She would miss the modern amenities. Her cellphone was her lifeline, her streaming services provided her countless hours of entertainment, and her apartment was in a decent part of the city. Her family and friends would be extremely missed.
Through her sadness, she saw this was the chance of a lifetime.
There was no telling what she could do in this body. She was married to a powerful man. Marriage was something she never got to do in her old life. The lack of interest in dating left her to imagine fucking fictional men. A disappointment to the average person, but she stopped getting embarrassed once she grew into an adult.
Besides, Wen Ruohan was different from the canon timeline. A lot less deranged in his pursuit of power, more so focusing on slowly gaining power in his region.
Endearing herself to him would give her an easier time in this life. If she played her cards right, she might derail him away from the demonic cultivator route. As much as she grew hot under the collar for his villainy, she wanted to live long enough to enjoy being the new Wen Furen.
Crying about dying not too long ago, she thought of this new life as a vacation. She had not experienced a luxurious vacation in her old life. Might as well plan out ways to safeguard the happiness of herself and her new children.
Why not divert her new husband from dangerous, mind breaking cultivation tactics?
Keeping Wen Ruohan's mind focused on anything other than overruling the cultivation world would take time. The man had a tunnel vision mindset about power while admirable, was a pain in the ass.
There were other ways to take over the world. Commercialism being one of the most obvious routes to slowly overtake trade. Wen Ruohan would lap up the idea of his name being stamped on almost everything being bought in the markets. The idea itself might not be possible. Maybe, it was better to establish dominance over certain trading goods to bring in wealth.
Sighing, she rubbed her arms and hugged herself.
She had her work cut out for her.
Last night was a good indicator of her good fortune. Wen Ruohan might have already liked Zhang Xuehua or tolerated her. This break of her demure mask could bring him even closer into her arms.
First, she needed to check if she was a cultivator.
Hovering her hand over the location of her meridians, Zhang Xuehua concentrated on this spot. In an instant, she felt her golden core. A decent, strong core, but unused due to her role as Wen Furen.
The image of her sword, a thin light blade with a pearl sheen with a carved floral handle popped into her imagination.
Mingzhu.
Wen Furen kept this sword in her wardrobe, unused, gathering dust and mothballs. Curious, Zhang Xuehua went to the large wardrobe that kept valuable robes and found the sword far in the back.
"A-Hua, you cannot roughhouse like a man anymore!" Her mother tipped her nose back. "The Zhang's somehow managed to gain Qishan Wen's attention. You cannot continue cultivating. It is not lady-like."
"But, A-Niang-" Zhang Xuehua piped up, but her mother's stern look silenced her words.
Her mother waved her expensive fan as she paced around Zhang Xuehua's girlhood bedroom. "You will thank me when your intended, Wen Ruohan, bellows about your delicate nature to the other sect leaders. Add onto the fact that his dutiful wife gave him multiple sons! What more does a man want?"
Zhang Xuehua doubted her mother's suggestion but listened attentively. She was months away from her marriage ceremony and needed all the advice she could receive. Her aunts and married cousins certainly gave her enough bedroom advice for a lifetime.
Despite this strained relationship with her mother, Zhang Xuehua knew her mother was successful in her marriage. There were no outside children to speak of and her father was besotted by his wife.
Then again, her mother neglected her children for her oldest brother, the Zhang heir. She cared little for them unless it pertained to alliances and showing them off. Zhang Xuehua learned to temper her resentment of her mother's lack of interest to keep her golden core stable.
Well, it appeared she wouldn't need to cultivate anymore. She was to be married to a powerful man. He would protect her behind Quishan Wen's walls.
But she was not leaving her beloved Mingzhu behind.
"Old Zhang Xuehua, your mom is a jerk." She unsheathed the sword and looked at the pearl-like sheen of the blade. "How could she stop you from cultivating? Look at this thing!"
Waving it around, she saw different colors emanate from each swing of the blade. She didn't know how the blacksmith managed to get the blade to this type of sheen, but she was glad for it. This made the sword unique and stood out of the crowd. Almost as if the blacksmith infused the blade with actual pearls.
From the memories, Zhang Xuehua was a decent cultivator. One of the best female cultivators in her family, better than her eldest brother. Yet, she hunched her shoulders when it came to her mother's demands. Her father, who used to support her, deferred her to her mother's wishes. After all, her mother was only looking out for her best interest.
Too bad the Old Zhang Xuehua listened to her mother's advice. She could have shed this demure exterior and helped reign in Qishan Wen alongside her husband. From what the Dreamer knew, Wen Ruohan liked power and intelligence. His wife could have been a powerhouse behind the scenes while Wen Ruohan went along with his evil deeds.
Then again, Wen Ruohan could have easily turned against his own wife if he thought of her as an enemy. Powerful men were paranoid of their longevity, and a powerful spouse might be a deterrent. The same went to their own sons.
Zhang Xuehua sighed.
There was no rush to yank Wen Ruohan to her side. The main canon timeline was years away and Qishan Wen was not public enemy number one.
She hoped they were not past the point of no return.
Sheathing the sword, Zhang Xuehua kissed and patted the sheath. "I'm glad Old Zhang Xuehua didn't leave you behind. You're a beauty!"
In the middle of lavishing her sword with affection, her stomach growled. "Wonder what time it is. I'm hungry. Eh…someone will come get me." She sauntered over to her vanity, set down her sword against the table, and sat down.
As Zhang Xuehua brushed out her long hair, it was so pretty, someone knocked on her door. Before she managed to say something, someone said. "Wen Furen." A group of servants opened the door to Zhang Xuehua's bedroom, entering with their heads bowed low.
Zhang Xuehua held back a grimace and presented a tender smile. This might be a bad move, but oh well. She wasn't sure how this woman acted in this universe. For all she knew, the original was a pampered spoiled bitch who scared her servants like the rest of her evil family members.
There was no information about Wen Furen. She was the unnamed and faceless woman who died after giving Wen Ruohan two sons. Headcanons spanned throughout the fandom on how or when she died. There was no concrete evidence of the personality of this woman.
Without the sudden surges of memories, Zhang Xuehua was certain she would have been discovered. The difference in roles would have kept these servants from voicing their concerns to her. They might tell someone in higher authority or maybe not.
Although, the previous night of sex was a blur of pleasure and adventure. Her sudden switch up brought Wen Ruohan to put in effort in pleasing her. Then again, the stab at the man's pride might have prompted him to prove her wrong.
After all, she called him disappointing.
A slight blush bloomed on her cheeks.
At the end of the night, she had no complaints. He, in fact, proved her wrong.
Putting her attention back to the servants, Zhang Xuehua's blush rescinded. The sudden flush might have been excused as residual warmth or her lack of clothing. The thin robes certainly did nothing to provide comfort.
The sequence of fearful glances from the servants made Zhang Xuehua want to bash her head against the wall. So, evil incarnate or a spoiled bitch was the answer.
Ugh.
As much as she liked villains, she didn't have a cruel bone in her body. She could play off a sarcastic and icy person, but to insult someone was off the table. Teasing was the best she could do in a moment's notice and that was if she knew the person she targeted.
"Rise," Zhang Xuehua said in an even tone. She didn't sound mad or arrogant to calm the servants. Not that it provided her positive results. All of them scrambled to bring in her clothes for the day and presented them to her judgment.
The oldest of the group, He Jiao, the name popped into her head, walked around the trembling girls. She was thin, short, but contained a powerful presence. Her black hair was pulled back in a high bun, with a simple but expensive hairpin, given by Zhang Xuehua, in her hairdo. She wore muted red robes, differentiating her from the Wen servants.
A sense of familiarity washed over Zhang Xuehua. He Jiao felt like a motherly presence in her life. Memories of a younger He Jiao trailing behind her in her natal home, nagging at her about decorum, was heartwarming.
When Zhang Xuehua thought of a mother, He Jiao popped into her mind. The one this body called mother was a disappearing presence, never staying in proximity of her daughters and younger sons. The oldest son was the one who held a prominent place in their mother's heart.
He Jiao was genuine in her affection. Careful in not overstepping her bounds, she tended to her lady with loyalty and exceptional service. She accompanied Zhang Xuehua after her marriage to continue tending to her. Her advice was similar to Zhang Furen, but more palatable for Zhang Xuehua to digest.
"Step aside." He Jiao commandeered the Wen servants and walked toward Zhang Xuehua. "Good morning, Wen Furen." She bowed deep, before motioning to the clothing. "From checking the weather, it appears to be a good day for lighter clothing. You may select from these robes, and I shall tend to your hair afterwards."
Zhang Xuehua turned around on her seat, amazed at the immense detail on the garments. It didn't take her long to pick the red robes with a black trim. The servants rushed to dress her, quick but careful when slipping the robes onto her body. She ignored the scrape of one of the servants' fingernails against her waist. There was no time to focus on a scratch, but the servant in question fell to the floor with her nose pressed to the ground.
Seeing this woman groveling at her feet, Zhang Xuehua lost her patience. She was not dealing with servants begging forgiveness over a scratch of all things. "Get up! I'm not dealing with this right now. Finish dressing me and then leave."
"Yes, Wen Furen." The servant got back up and continued on with her task.
A curl of guilt settled in Zhang Xuehua's stomach. She didn't know how people did this. Commanding people to do things was something she was not used to, but she would have to get used to it soon.
She was now Wen Furen.
The first thing He Jiao said after the servants left the room was, "Was Wen Zongzhu pleased?"
He Jiao settled behind Zhang Xuehua and picked up one of the jeweled hairbrushes from the vanity. She began brushing Zhang Xuehua's hair while awaiting her answer.
Zhang Xuehua let herself grin. "He left immensely satisfied."
"Good." He Jiao brushed Zhang Xuehua's hair with soft strokes. "Endearing yourself to your husband is key to keeping yourself in his good graces. Even more so, if you give him another son."
"What if I give birth to a daughter?" Zhang Xuehua threw it out there to keep the woman speaking.
"Then, you may try again for a son."
Zhang Xuehua used her mirror to look at He Jiao. "Now, now, He Jiao, do you really don't think a daughter is useless to my husband? A daughter from the famed Wen Ruohan seen as undeserving?"
He Jiao blinked rapidly, stunned at her words.
Zhang Xuehua could have laughed at the sight. He Jiao looked like a gaping fish. Air entered and left her mouth as she stared at the mirror, mortified and frozen in place.
A brief moment of time passed before He Jiao said. "I…did not mean to besmirch the influence of Wen-"
Zhang Xuehua giggled out loud, but quickly covered her face with her sleeve to stop He Jiao's usual comment on her etiquette. "Goodness, He Jiao, my beloved husband is not one to offend easily. I imagine he would train our daughter to stomp over the other daughters of the prominent sects. Don't you think so?"
He Jiao's shoulders softened in tension as she pinched Zhang Xuehua's cheek. Zhang Xuehua winked at her, before rubbing her oh so delicate cheek.
"How mean!" Zhang Xuehua whined. "How dare you pinch Wen Furen's skin!"
"I have done more than pinch your skin, you child." He Jiao chastised with an amused chuckle.
He Jiao pinched her cheek again before she handled her loose hair. With expert hands, He Jiao pulled Zhang Xuehua's hair into an intricate hairstyle. Half of her hair cascaded down her back while the rest was pinned just right. Next, He Jiao painted on her makeup and applied a floral scented perfume oil on vital parts of her body.
Inspecting herself on her small mirror, He Jiao elevated Zhang Xuehua without overdoing the accessories and the makeup. As much as Zhang Xuehua wanted to experiment with flashier makeup, the glam look was not acceptable. Emphasizing the delicate features of a woman was the current trend.
Pursing her lips, Zhang Xuehua asked. "When will breakfast be served?" She gazed over her shoulder with a pout. "I'm hungry."
He Jiao smoothed the wrinkles on her shoulders. "Breakfast will be brought in soon. Per your orders, we have leaned toward a lighter meal, but the midday meal will be more filling."
"Excellent."
Zhang Xuehua got up from her seat and walked toward the larger mirror. Inspecting her whole body, she complimented He Jiao for her perfect hands.
He Jiao demurred. "You flatter this one, Wen Furen."
Zhang Xuehua grinned. "A wonder my husband keeps his hands to himself if you transform me into a beauty every morning." She paused in ogling herself to pout. Old Zhang Xuehua stayed in her rooms like a hermit. No wonder Wen Ruohan didn't gaze at his hot wife.
Of course, the Dreamer loved recharging her social battery, but she wanted nothing more than to stare at her new hot husband. Then again, changing her mind on dining outside of her rooms would be seen as strange. Everyone in Qishan Wen was used to their Wen Furen keeping herself out of sight.
Sighing, she turned back to He Jiao. "Is Wen Zongzhu eating in his study?" Zhang Xuehua pondered out loud. "He must have paperwork to work on if he prefers not to dine in the main eating area."
He Jiao said. "Wen Zongzhu prefers to dine in the main room, but you keep yourself and the heir to your rooms."
Zhang Xuehua gaped. "And he permits me to stay in my rooms? I'm certain the other servants talk of my unsociable behavior."
He Jiao frowned. "Servants do not question their masters, Wen Furen."
"But you do." Zhang Xuehua pointed out; her smile quirked into a teasing one. "Quite often, in fact."
"In the privacy of your rooms," He Jiao admitted. "I wouldn't dare contradict you in front of my superiors."
A knock on the door signified that breakfast arrived.
He Jiao rushed over to open the door, bringing in multiple servants who carried food and drink on their trays. They first bowed to Zhang Xuehua, greeting her by her title, before they set down multiple plates onto the low-rise table situated beside the window. They all bowed to Zhang Xuehua one last time before they left the room.
He Jiao wasted no time in poking her food with a silver needle, then adding a drop of liquid from a bottle she kept inside of her sleeve. Afterwards, she took bites of every single dish, waiting a moment for a reaction.
The Dreamer almost wanted to tell her to stop, but she held herself back. He Jiao did this willingly, not wanting her mistress to suffer poisoning or complications. Having started poison resistance and poisons identifying training since the woman was a child, He Jiao was a reliable and valuable person to have on her side.
He Jiao tipped her head. "Nothing is wrong with the food, Wen Furen."
"Thank you!" Zhang Xuehua picked up her chopsticks and dug in.
Zhang Xuehua took the first bite of her food, taking her time to chew and savor the flavors. Holding back her reaction, she ate various bites of every single plate. She squealed inside of her head. Everything was delicious and flavorful.
He Jiao didn't react differently to Zhang Xuehua's behavior. In fact, she appeared relaxed, almost smiling at Zhang Xuehua's behavior.
This was good news to the dreamer. She didn't want to have to explain her sudden change in personality or actions. Old Zhang Xuehua might have had this playful personality, but kept it well hidden from everyone. The snippets of memory showed the dreamer that this body was taught not to behave outside of etiquette.
Despite the fact this body contained a golden core, she pushed herself down to satisfy her mother and elder brother. She couldn't outshine the heir of her family.
This was not going to happen to the Dreamer.
She could behave in front of Original's parents and elder brother, but she was not going to hide herself away.
If the Zhang's complained about her behavior, she would hide behind her husband or use him as an excuse. Her branch of the Zhang family was cut off due to her gender and having married into Qishan Wen. They could relay their complaints to her husband and see how they handled his fierce, sexy glance.
TBC