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

Chapter 103 Lu Zhan is hiding his unease

“But I also have to blame myself!” Ouyang Zhenzhu suddenly said with self-reproach.

Zhiwan snapped out of her daze and asked, puzzled, "Why are you blaming me?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu said with a regretful look, "If I hadn't seen Liu Niang in the water that day and run to tell Lord Lu and Duan Ling, Lord Lu wouldn't have ordered Liu Niang to be pulled out. If Liu Niang hadn't been pulled out, none of these things would have happened. You wouldn't have been kidnapped, and you wouldn't have been pushed into the river."

Zhiwan was both amused and exasperated. "How can you blame yourself? Since they planned this, even if you hadn't seen Liu Niang that day, there would have been a second or a third. Eventually, someone else would have discovered them and pulled them out."

Moreover, anyone who sees someone in the water would find it impossible to ignore it.

You did nothing wrong; the ones who are wrong are those with ulterior motives.

Ouyang Zhenzhu was taken aback, her eyes brightening. "What you said makes so much sense. How come I didn't think of that?"

“So you shouldn’t blame yourself,” Zhiwan said with a smile.

Ouyang Zhenzhu said earnestly, "I was quite guilty at first, after all, it was I who discovered Liu Niang, but after your analysis, I feel much more at ease." As she spoke, she held Zhiwan's hand and said with a smile, "Wanwan, you are really smart."

Zhiwan chuckled.

The rest of the journey went smoothly, and they encountered no more bandits. Two days later, Granny Fang woke up.

That day, several people were talking in Zhiwan's room when there was a knock on the door.

Shuang'er opened the door, then returned and reported, "Miss, it's Jiang Shi. He says the young master wants to speak with you."

Zhiwan was taken aback.

Since waking up and seeing her cousin that day, she has stayed in her cabin to recover from her injuries for the past few days and has not gone out, so naturally she has not met her cousin.

Her cousin suddenly contacted her at this time; she wondered what it was about.

When Zhiwan recalled what happened that night, she felt a little apprehensive. She didn't really want to see Lu Zhan, but she couldn't refuse.

Finally, she got up and went out.

Jiang Shi was Lu Zhan's other personal bodyguard, but his personality was completely different from Chen Jiu's. Chen Jiu was talkative and enthusiastic, while Jiang Shi was taciturn and silent like a shadow.

Zhiwan rarely saw him, as he was usually dispatched by Lu Zhan on missions.

Upon seeing Zhiwan emerge, Jiang Shi bowed respectfully without speaking, only gesturing for her to proceed before stepping forward.

Zhiwan followed him all the way to the council hall.

When they went in, Duan Ling was there too.

Seeing Zhiwan enter, he quickly asked with concern, "Cousin Zhiwan, are you feeling any better?"

"Thank you, Duan Shaoqing, I'm all better now," Zhiwan replied.

Although the bruises on my back haven't completely faded, they don't hurt as much anymore.

She turned her gaze to the man sitting in the chair and gave a slight bow, "Cousin."

"Sit down," Lu Zhan said calmly.

Zhiwan sat down as instructed.

The council chamber was quiet, except for the gurgling sound of water on the small red clay stove.

At this moment, Duan Ling suddenly coughed lightly, stood up and said, "You guys talk, I'm going out for some fresh air."

After he left, the council hall became even quieter, and Zhiwan twisted the handkerchief in her hand uncomfortably.

Lu Zhan noticed her restraint, pursed his thin lips, and asked, "Would you like some tea?"

Zhiwan shook her head, "No need."

Lu Zhan paused, then poured her a glass of water. "I forgot you're still taking medicine, so it's really not advisable for you to drink tea."

"Thank you, cousin." Zhiwan paused for a moment, then reached out and took the cup, blew on it, and took a small sip.

Noticing her restraint and awkwardness, Lu Zhan frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

Why did my cousin suddenly revert to the timid demeanor she had shown towards me before?
Could it be that what happened that night caused my cousin to feel distant from me?
Recalling what he had said that night, Lu Zhan frowned. After a long while, he explained in a low voice, "What happened that night... was a temporary measure. I never intended to abandon you. Please don't... take it to heart."

After saying that, he picked up his teacup, lowered his head and drank the tea, as if to hide his unease.

Zhiwan was taken aback, surprised that her cousin would actually explain things to her. She looked at the man opposite her with utter astonishment.

Lu Zhan lowered his thick, long eyelashes, pretending not to see his cousin's gaze.

Zhiwan snapped out of her daze, looked away, and said in a low voice, "I actually know that my cousin had his reasons for doing that."

Lu Zhan looked at her in surprise, "You knew?"

"Hmm." Zhiwan nodded, lowering her eyes, and said, "I didn't take it to heart."

“Then you…” Lu Zhan looked at her uncertainly.

Zhiwan blinked, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "I've never been held at knifepoint and thrown into the river before. I was terrified." She would never admit that her cousin's cold attitude that day had frightened her.

“It was my oversight,” Lu Zhan frowned.

He hadn't expected Liu Niang to kidnap his cousin, so when the incident happened, he only sent one guard to stand outside her cabin, putting his cousin in danger.

Sensing the apology in his tone, Zhiwan shook her head. "It's not my fault, cousin. Everyone has things they can't consider. By the way, did you call me here for something?"

Lu Zhan collected his thoughts and said calmly, "We should arrive in Yangzhou by tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan was delighted, "Really?"

"Hmm." Looking at the bright smile on her face, Lu Zhan hesitated for a moment before saying, "But tonight, you will have to leave by small boat first."

"What?" Zhiwan exclaimed in astonishment.

Lu Zhan thought she was scared, so he gently comforted her, "I will send Jiang Shi to escort you. The rest of the journey will be peaceful, and nothing will happen."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan blurted out, "And you, where are you going?"

Lu Zhan paused, lowered his head to drink his tea, and said nothing more.

Zhiwan then realized that she had spoken out of turn. Her cousin's actions concerned court secrets, and she shouldn't have asked so many questions.

She stood up and said, "Then I'll go back and pack."

"Mm." Lu Zhan nodded.

……

late at night.

As Zhiwan and her group boarded the small boat with Jiang Shi, Ouyang Zhenzhu complained, "What is Lord Lu doing? He actually made us take a small boat to Yangzhou in the middle of the night. Isn't he worried that in the pitch black, if the boat capsizes, we'll all fall into the river and become fish food?"

"Pah! Pah! Miss Ouyang, don't talk nonsense!" Granny Fang was so frightened that she quickly stopped her.

“Miss Ouyang, there are some things you shouldn’t say carelessly,” Shuang’er also scolded.

“Miss, you’d better say less, it’s rather frightening,” Xi’er said.

Ouyang Zhenzhu remained silent, feeling resentful.

In the quiet night, only the sound of wooden oars gliding across the water could be heard.

Zhiwan knew that her cousin must be after Liu Niang's gang of bandits.

Liu Niang and her people are so cunning. Will my cousin be in danger on this trip?

Zhiwan was somewhat worried.

“Miss, it’s the young master!” Shuang’er suddenly tugged at her sleeve.

Zhiwan was startled and turned to look. Sure enough, she saw a figure standing by the railing of the large ship.

The night was too dark, and the figure looked somewhat blurry, but Zhiwan still recognized him at a glance; it was her cousin.

The night wind whipped his clothes around him, and the sword at his waist gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

She was startled; just as she had expected, her cousin was going on a campaign to suppress bandits.

She opened her mouth, then couldn't help but call out, "Cousin..."

(End of this chapter)