Zhi Wan froze. Surely he wasn’t referring to her?
“Do you want me to drag you out?” The man’s deep voice sounded once more.
A shiver ran down Zhi Wan’s spine. Not daring to rely on luck, she stepped out with Shuang’er.
Today, Lu Zhan was not wearing his official robes. Instead, he was dressed in a pale blue robe. Unlike the imposing and intimidating aura he exuded in his official attire, the pale blue color accentuated his noble and refined elegance. From a distance, he looked like a graceful and elegant young nobleman.
Yet this “young nobleman” had, with just a few words moments ago, exuded such a murderous air that the daughter of the Minister of Personnel was frightened out of her wits, fleeing in disgrace without a shred of dignity.
Now that her eavesdropping had been discovered, how would he deal with her?
Zhi Wan was filled with anxiety.
As she approached the man, she felt the oppressive sense of his authority even more keenly. Cautiously, she curtsied. “C-Cousin.”
Sensing his gaze upon her, she hurriedly added before he could speak, “We happened to be passing by and didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
Lu Zhan remained silent, merely looking down at his little cousin with a faint gaze.
Earlier, outside the moon gate, a fleeting glimpse had revealed that the once-childish girl in his memory had grown up.
Now, seeing her up close, he was startled to realize how stunningly beautiful his little cousin had become.
Thinking this, he subtly took two steps back to create distance.
Seeing him remain silent for so long and even retreat two steps, Zhi Wan grew even more anxious inside.
Not only was Cousin angry about her eavesdropping, but he also seemed to despise her!
Realizing this, Zhi Wan hung her head lower and lower. A fine layer of sweat had already formed on her fair forehead, and she deeply regretted her eavesdropping.
But she pondered—she hadn’t overheard any confidential matters, had she?
If anything, it was that Miss Lin, who seemed to be the very candidate Aunt Wei had chosen as Cousin’s wife.
Yet Cousin had frightened her away.
Thinking of this, a sudden inspiration struck her. She quickly lowered her voice and assured him, “Cousin, don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
“What is it that you can’t say?” Lu Zhan narrowed his dark eyes and asked in a deep voice.
Zhi Wan: “…”
Her lips parted slightly as she considered whether to remind him of how he had just threatened Miss Lin.
After a moment’s thought, she tactfully hinted, “Aunt… is very fond of Miss Lin.”
“So?” Lu Zhan raised an eyebrow.
“Miss Lin… was scared off by you,” Zhi Wan whispered softly.
“I was merely speaking the truth,” Lu Zhan said indifferently.
Zhi Wan blinked. Seeing that he didn’t seem inclined to punish her, she cautiously asked, “Then… if there’s nothing else, may I leave?”
Lu Zhan observed her cautious demeanor for a moment before nodding slightly. “Mm.”
Zhi Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard her cousin add in a cold, stern voice, “Do not listen to what you shouldn’t. Understand?”
Zhi Wan said shamefully, “I understand. I won’t dare to do it again.”
“A-Zhan! Oh, Wan’er is here too?” Just then, Wei Shi walked over.
“Aunt,” Zhi Wan called out urgently, as if she had found a savior.
Wei Shi approached, patted her hand, and looked at Lu Zhan with displeasure. “Where is Miss Lin?”
Lu Zhan paused, remaining silent, but his gaze shifted toward Zhi Wan.
Zhi Wan noticed this and subtly retreated behind Wei Shi.
Wei Shi was taller than her, and by standing behind her, Zhi Wan effectively concealed herself from view.
Little did she know, Lu Zhan had already noticed her subtle movements.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, his voice lowering a touch. “Mother, ask Cousin.”
Zhi Wan stiffened. Why ask her?
It was Cousin himself who scared them off—what did it have to do with her?
Wei Shi asked in surprise, “Why ask Wan’er?”
“Cousin knows what happened. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.” Lu Zhan glanced in the direction behind her, tossed out those words, and strode away directly.
Wei Shi called out somewhat angrily, “The flower-viewing banquet isn’t over yet.”
But Lu Zhan was already far away.
Wei Shi felt rather defeated.
This rebellious son—she had arranged everything so carefully, yet he showed not the slightest bit of interest.
“Oh, Wan’er, do you know what happened? Where is Miss Lin?” Wei Shi turned and asked.
Seeing that Lu Zhan had tossed the question to her and then simply walked away, Zhi Wan had reason to suspect that Cousin just didn’t want to deal with her aunt.
Now facing her aunt’s inquiry, she couldn’t very well hide it, so she recounted everything that had just happened here, detail by detail.
After hearing it, Wei Shi was indeed furious. “I thought that Lin Yutang was a well-educated, intelligent, and virtuous girl. Who would have thought she could be so foolish, doing such a thing and nearly harming your cousin. This time, I truly misjudged her!”
“You can’t blame yourself, Aunt. It’s hard to know someone’s heart by their face, and besides, you haven’t had much contact with Miss Lin. How could you know her character?” Zhi Wan comforted her.
That Lin Yutang’s behavior was indeed inappropriate.
She wasn’t clear about court affairs, but from their conversation, it seemed Miss Li’s father had been sentenced to exile for involvement in corruption.
In this dynasty, corruption was a serious crime.
Any official found guilty of corruption or bribery would be tried jointly by the three judicial offices, with the final verdict issued by the Emperor. Yet Lin Yutang had openly brought the daughter of a convicted official to the Duke of Dingguo’s residence and even approached Lu Zhan, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, to plead for mercy and cry injustice. Was she questioning the competence of the three judicial offices, or doubting the Emperor’s judgment?
If this were discovered by those with ill intentions, not only would Lu Zhan face impeachment, but even the Duke of Dingguo’s household might find itself in trouble.
Yet Lin Yutang seemed completely unaware of the gravity of the situation, presuming upon her aunt’s favor to arrogantly demand that Lu Zhan give her face.
In her eyes, the law seemed almost like a game.
Thinking back now, Cousin had been quite polite to them earlier. If he had truly reported it to the court, the Lin family would likely be finished.
Wei Shi pressed a hand to her chest and sighed. “Forget it, let’s not mention that person anymore.”
Seeing she was still simmering with anger, Zhi Wan said, “Aunt, let me help you to the pavilion to sit for a while?”
“Alright.”
Once in the pavilion, Zhi Wan poured Wei Shi a cup of tea.
After drinking the tea, Wei Shi turned and saw her sitting quietly and obediently by her side, which turned her anger into delight. Patting Zhi Wan’s hand, she asked with a smile, “Have you seen any young gentlemen you fancy today?”
Zhi Wan honestly shook her head. “Not yet.” She hadn’t even had the chance to look—first she ran into that scoundrel Wang Zeren, then witnessed the incident with the two young ladies, Lin and Li, pleading with Cousin.
“It’s alright. Today’s flower-viewing banquet has brought many talented young men. We’ll take our time looking,” Wei Shi encouraged.
Zhi Wan nodded shyly. “Mm.”
When the two returned to the garden, a group of young nobles and ladies were gathered around several pots of premium camellias, commenting and critiquing, creating quite a lively scene.
Just then, someone called out, “Miss Zhi Wan is here!”
The young men from noble families all raised their heads and looked toward Zhi Wan.
They saw a girl with rosy cheeks and bright, captivating eyes. When she looked at people, she appeared delicate and charming, making it impossible not to feel affection for her.
Every young nobleman present was captivated by Zhi Wan.
When she had entered the garden earlier, everyone had already thought her exceptionally beautiful. Now, seeing her up close, she seemed almost otherworldly in her beauty.
Seeing Zhi Wan receive so much admiration, the young ladies present felt a mix of envy and jealousy.
“She’s just an orphan girl. What’s so special about her?”
Someone in the crowd muttered these words.
Zhi Wan was accustomed to such remarks and felt nothing, but Wei Shi’s face darkened immediately.
Her gaze swept over the faces of the young ladies before she raised her voice and declared, “Zhi Wan is my niece, and I have always treated her as my own daughter. Anyone who dares to look down on her is looking down on the Duke of Dingguo’s household!”