The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 10 Provocation
Upon seeing her, Lu Xin panicked. "Auntie, Auntie."

Wei said calmly, "You're just spouting nonsense. Go down."

Lu Xin's expression changed, and she clenched her fists tightly. If she left like this, wouldn't that confirm that what she said earlier was nonsense?

But since her aunt had already spoken, she still wouldn't give up, which was bound to displease her aunt.

With her grandmother gone, her aunt was the one who called the shots in the vast Duke Dingguo's mansion.

Even her mother wouldn't dare offend her aunt, let alone her.

Thinking of this, Lu Xin glanced at Zhi Wan unwillingly and prepared to leave, but saw Zhi Wan smile at her.

That smile was nothing special, and others wouldn't have thought much of it, but in Lu Xin's eyes, it seemed like a provocation.

She was already unwilling to leave like this, and now Zhiwan's smile easily ignited the anger in her chest.

Zhiwan was just an orphan with no one to rely on, but Madam Wei valued her more than she, a proper young lady from the Lu family.

Jealousy and resentment drove Lu Xin to completely lose her mind.

She disregarded everything and shouted, "Auntie, I know you always favor her, but Young Master Wang was really pushed into the pond by her. You should punish her severely immediately, otherwise one day, the reputation of our Duke of Dingguo's mansion will be ruined by her!"

Wei's expression changed, and she looked at her with utter disappointment.

The reason I didn't pursue the matter earlier was twofold: firstly, out of consideration for the second wife's family; and secondly, because I didn't want to embarrass my niece in public.

But this niece didn't understand her good intentions at all.

Is this really shameless of you to make such a scene?

"I didn't! I don't even know any Young Master Wang. Why would I push him? Lu Xin, I know you've always disliked me, but you can't make things up and slander me. You keep saying I pushed some Young Master Wang, but can you let him confront me?" Zhi Wan was on the verge of tears. She took out her handkerchief and gently pressed it against the corner of her eye. Her eyes immediately turned red, and she looked helpless and pitiful.

Seeing this, Ouyang Zhenzhu and the other young ladies felt even more sorry for her; Zhiwan was so pitiful.

"Lu Xin, produce your evidence! If you don't have evidence, don't talk nonsense!"

"Why not just call Young Master Wang to come and confront us?"

"I think she's deliberately slandering Zhiwan!"

"Madam of the Duke of Dingguo, you must stand up for Zhiwan! Lu Xin has bullied her a lot!"

Hearing everyone chiming in to defend Zhiwan, Lu Xin felt a metallic taste in her throat and almost vomited blood.

What a fine Zhiwan!

What a two-faced scoundrel!
"Auntie, I didn't wrong Zhiwan, she..."

"Shut up!" Madam Wei was furious.

What Zhiwan said just now made her suddenly realize that Wan'er's situation in the mansion was probably not as stable as she thought. It seemed that she had been bullied by Lu Xin quite a bit.

Realizing this possibility, Madam Wei's heart tightened, and she said in a deep voice, "Wan'er has always been obedient and kind. Why would she push someone into the water for no reason? Lu Xin, if you want to smear her, you have to produce evidence. If you can't produce evidence, then you are deliberately slandering her!"

"I..." Lu Xin was speechless after being confronted, feeling as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, because she had no evidence at all.

Wang Zeren had already left the Duke of Dingguo's mansion because he had lost face, and no one else witnessed the incident.

"Someone, the Third Miss has gone mad. Take her back to the Second House!" Madam Wei didn't want to hear any more of her words and gave the order directly.

Lu Xin's face turned deathly pale. If she were taken away like this, her reputation would be ruined.

"Auntie, you have to believe me, I really didn't slander Zhiwan, what I said was all... um!"

Before she could finish speaking, Granny Fang personally led two old women to cover her mouth and carry her out of the waterside pavilion.

Lu Xin stared wide-eyed, trying to struggle, but it was all in vain against the two burly old women.

Soon, Lu Xin was taken away.

Suppressing her anger, Madam Wei said apologetically to everyone, "My niece is so ignorant, I'm sorry for making you all laugh. Please sit down, we've delayed you for so long, the food is getting cold."

The farce ended, and everyone returned to their seats.

They had truly had their eyes opened today. Lu Xin's outburst at the flower-viewing banquet was incredibly foolish and utterly unbecoming of a noblewoman. She had even been labeled as insane, her reputation ruined. The crowd shook their heads inwardly, but no one felt any sympathy for Lu Xin.

The scions of the powerful families on the other side, though unable to see what was happening here, had naturally heard the commotion that had just occurred.

The young men from prominent families who had originally intended to marry into the second branch of the Duke of Dingguo's family have completely given up on the idea.

A wife should be virtuous. Miss Lu is so inconsiderate of the occasion; if we were to marry her, she would surely cause unrest in the household.

Regardless of what others thought of Lu Xin, Wei was filled with guilt towards Zhi Wan.

But considering there were outsiders present, he said nothing, only saying, "Wan'er, I'm leaving this place to you."

“Yes, Auntie.” Zhiwan nodded obediently.

After watching Madam Wei leave the waterside pavilion, she returned to her seat, picked up her cup, and said gratefully to the ladies at the table, "Thank you all for speaking up for me today. I toast you all!"

The young ladies raised their glasses and drank together.

For a moment, the atmosphere at the banquet table was very lively, and it was not affected in the slightest by the earlier incident.

It was Zhiwan's first time drinking alcohol, and in her excitement, she accidentally drank too much. By the time the banquet ended, she was already quite tipsy.

Before leaving, Ouyang Zhenzhu held Zhiwan's hand and reminded her, "Zhiwan, I don't think Lu Xin will let this go so easily. You should be careful."

Zhiwan paused for a moment.

Lu Xin?
Although her aunt refrained from punishing Lu Xin earlier because there were guests present, she would not let Lu Xin off easily in private.

Moreover, after the commotion just now, Lu Xin's reputation is ruined.

In the short term, Lu Xin is too busy to do anything to cause trouble for her.

Perhaps, for the sake of their reputation, the Lou family will marry Lu Xin off as soon as possible.

Zhiwan didn't offer any explanation for Ouyang Zhenzhu's goodwill, but simply nodded obediently, "Okay."

Seeing her like this, Ouyang Zhenzhu felt a little sorry for her.

With Zhiwan being so well-behaved and kind, she's probably bullied even by the servants in the mansion.

"Zhiwan, you need to be fiercer, that way no one will dare to bully you." Ouyang Zhenzhu said, making a fierce expression. "Like me!"

Seeing this, Zhiwan almost laughed.

However, Ouyang Zhenzhu is a very kind-hearted person.

"I understand." Zhiwan suppressed a smile and nodded seriously.

Ouyang Zhenzhu scratched her head. "I'll come visit you again tomorrow."

“Okay.” Zhiwan nodded in agreement.

Ouyang Zhenzhu then left reluctantly.

"Miss, Miss Ouyang is such a kind person." On the way back to Yaoguang Pavilion, Shuang'er couldn't help but say.

“Yes.” Zhiwan nodded in agreement.

Shuang'er was about to say something when she suddenly curtsied and said, "This servant greets the young master."

Zhiwan was feeling the effects of the wine and her head was spinning. Upon hearing this, she looked up.

A tall figure walked over from not far away.

Only when the person got closer did Zhiwan recognize them.

"Cousin," she called softly.

Lu Zhan paused, his gaze falling on her flushed face, his brows furrowing slightly. "Have you been drinking?"

(End of this chapter)