Zhi Wan dreamed of that man again.
This time, he went even further. Ignoring her resistance, he slowly untied the sash of her robe.
Zhi Wan gasped softly, her face flushed crimson as she clutched her collar tightly. “Don’t…”
“Don’t what?” The man’s voice was deep, carrying a hint of temptation.
In her daze, he suddenly raised her hands high above her head, then leaned down, pressing his body against hers.
Lost in the moment, Zhi Wan instinctively tried to see his face. But no matter how hard she looked, she could never make it out clearly. All she could see was his lean, narrow waist and those long, elegant fingers.
…
“Miss, it’s time to get up. The Duchess has sent someone to deliver a message, asking you to come to her courtyard to speak with her shortly.”
The voice of her maid, Shuang’er, sounded from outside the beaded curtain. Zhi Wan woke up drenched in sweat, feeling weak all over.
Declining the maid’s assistance, Zhi Wan got up and changed her clothes from the inside out.
Fearing that the maid might notice something, after washing her face, she soaked her undergarments in the basin, scrubbed them clean, and hung them to dry behind the bed.
Looking at these undergarments, Zhi Wan felt deeply ashamed.
As an unmarried young woman, for the past six months, she had been having nothing but those kinds of dreams. Was she ill? Or… did she need a man?
But such matters were too embarrassing to speak of, so she could only bury them deep in her heart.
After breakfast, she slowly made her way with her maid toward the Orchid Courtyard of Madam Wei, the Duchess.
“Cousin.”
Along the way, servants they encountered respectfully stepped forward to greet her.
Zhi Wan nodded slightly without speaking.
But before she had gone far, those people began gossiping behind her back.
“She’s just a distant relative with barely any connection. How shameless to keep clinging to the Duke’s estate.”
“What can be done? She’s an orphan girl. Since someone is willing to take her in, of course she’d cling on and refuse to leave.”
“They politely call her ‘cousin,’ and she really thinks she’s the mistress of this estate? She’s just an orphan living under someone else’s roof, yet she always puts on such airs!”
Shuang’er’s expression changed, and she turned to confront them, but Zhi Wan pulled her back. “Don’t cause trouble.”
Shuang’er’s eyes reddened with anger, her lips trembling. “Miss, those people are too much.”
“Pay them no mind. Let’s go.” Zhi Wan felt upset too, but what they said was the truth.
She had come to the Duke’s estate at the age of ten. Thanks to Aunt Wei’s kindness, she was allowed to live there, with food, clothing, and expenses comparable to those of the young ladies of the estate.
In the blink of an eye, she had already lived in the Duke’s estate for five years.
It was no wonder the servants gossiped.
If she were sensible, she should indeed take the initiative to leave.
But both her parents had passed away, and she had no relatives left at home.
With the vast world before her, where could she go?
Fortunately, she had already come of age. Once Aunt Wei arranged a marriage for her and she married, she would no longer have to live a life of dependence.
Zhi Wan tightened her grip on her handkerchief. That day shouldn’t be too far off.
Shuang’er felt sorry for her mistress but didn’t know how to comfort her. “Miss…”
Zhi Wan took a deep breath, a bright smile spreading across her lovely face. “Alright, Aunt is still waiting. Let’s not keep her too long.”
Orchid Courtyard.
Inside the room, Lu Zhan had just finished paying his respects to his mother, Wei Shi, when she began urging him to leave.
“You should go now. Wan’er will be here soon. That girl is afraid of you, so it’s best if you avoid her.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan’s brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing. “Mm.”
“In a couple of days, go meet that young lady from the Lin family.” Wei Shi suddenly remembered something and quickly called her son back.
Lu Zhan said calmly, “Mother, please decline. I have no intention of marrying for now.”
Hearing this, Wei Shi grew annoyed. “You’re not getting any younger. If you keep dragging your feet, all the good young ladies will be taken.”
“Mother worries too much,” Lu Zhan replied unhurriedly.
Seeing his indifferent, nonchalant attitude, Wei Shi became even more irritated. “Tell me honestly, is it true what the rumors say—that you don’t like women, only men?”
A crack appeared in Lu Zhan’s cool demeanor, and his brow furrowed. “Mother, don’t talk nonsense!”
“I hope it’s nonsense and not the truth.” Wei Shi shot her son a sidelong glance, waved her hand dismissively, and said, “Hurry up and leave!”
Just as Lu Zhan turned to go, a maid’s announcement sounded from outside the door. “Madam, the young lady has arrived.”
He paused, about to continue on his way, when suddenly Wei Shi rose from her seat, swiftly grabbed his arm, and pushed him into the inner chamber.
Lu Zhan: “…”
“Don’t come out!” Wei Shi tossed out a warning before returning to her seat. She straightened her clothes, cleared her throat lightly, and called out, “Let Wan’er come in.”
Before long, Zhi Wan walked in.
“Wan’er greets Aunt.” Zhi Wan curtsied to Wei Shi.
“Come sit by me.” Wei Shi beckoned to her kindly.
Zhi Wan obediently walked over and sat down.
Wei Shi took her hand and examined her closely.
The young girl had delicate, beautiful features, as lovely as a figure from a painting. She was also well-behaved and sensible, making her truly endearing.
Wei Shi praised, “It’s only been a few days, but our Wan Wan has grown even more beautiful.”
“Aunt, don’t tease me,” Zhi Wan said shyly, lowering her head.
Wei Shi chuckled. “I’m not teasing you. If you don’t believe me, ask your cous—” She abruptly stopped herself and changed her words. “If you don’t believe me, ask Nanny Fang.”
Nanny Fang, who was waiting nearby, immediately chimed in with a smile. “The young lady truly has grown more beautiful. She looks so fresh and radiant—I doubt there’s anyone in the entire capital who can compare to her.”
This made Zhi Wan blush deeply. She bit her pink lips lightly and said, “I think there’s no one in the entire capital who can compare to Nanny Fang when it comes to sweet-talking.”
“This old servant isn’t sweet-talking you—I’m telling the truth,” Nanny Fang said with a beaming smile.
In the inner chamber, Lu Zhan leaned against the wall. The conversation outside was quite loud, and even if he didn’t want to listen, it clearly reached his ears.
The image of the timid, cautious little girl surfaced in his mind, making it hard to imagine what kind of “fresh and radiant” beauty Nanny Fang was describing—one that supposedly had no equal in the entire capital.
His memory of Zhi Wan still lingered from half a year ago.
One afternoon half a year ago, he was passing by the lotus pond when he saw the young girl trying to pick lotus pods and accidentally falling into the water. She cried out desperately, but no one was in the garden at that time, so he fished her out.
Seeing that she had caught her breath, he didn’t stay long and left directly.
Outside, Wei Shi suddenly sighed and, holding Zhi Wan’s hand, said, “In the blink of an eye, you’ve already come of age. Your parents in heaven must be comforted.”
Hearing this, Zhi Wan looked up and said earnestly, “That I’ve grown up smoothly and without worries is entirely thanks to Aunt’s care and upbringing. Wan’er will always remember it in her heart.”
Wei Shi patted her hand. “Your mother and I were bosom friends, the closest of sisters. Her daughter is my daughter. Thankfully, I have not failed her trust—I have watched over you and raised you.”
Zhi Wan felt deeply grateful. Wei Shi had indeed treated her exceptionally well; even a biological mother could not have done more.
Then, Wei Shi suddenly shifted the topic, speaking softly, “Now that you have reached marriageable age, though I am reluctant to part with you, I cannot delay your life’s major event. Otherwise, your mother’s spirit in heaven would surely blame me.”
Hearing this, Zhi Wan’s beautiful peach-blossom eyes brightened slightly.
Her aunt’s implication was that she intended to find her a husband…