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

Chapter 13 Is he really that scary?
Lu Zhan looked up and saw the smile on the girl's face quickly disappear, and she stepped forward with an uneasy look, "Cousin."

Lu Zhan's handsome brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Was he really that scary?
He gave a curt "hmm" and, without saying anything else, stepped inside.

Seeing this, Ouyang Zhenzhu hurriedly called out to him, "Lord Lu!"

Lu Zhan glanced at her sideways, his expression cold and distant. "What is it?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu choked for a moment, and the joy of seeing him vanished instantly.

She was overjoyed when she didn't see him, but now, faced with his cold gaze, she couldn't utter a single word.

"me……"

Lu Zhan said calmly, "I have other matters to attend to, please excuse me."

Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Ouyang Zhenzhu felt extremely frustrated.

Zhiwan looked at her with some sympathy, but was powerless to do anything about it. She could only say, "Pearl, let's go buy some candied hawthorns. They're very sweet."

Ouyang Zhenzhu nodded and followed her into the carriage.

Once inside the carriage, Ouyang Zhenzhu looked like she was about to cry, and complained, "Your cousin is so cold-hearted."

“That’s how he always is, he treats everyone the same, it’s not targeting you,” Zhiwan said.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Zhenzhu was no longer sad. Instead, she looked at her with sympathy and said, "It must be hard for you to live under the same roof with someone like that."

Zhiwan blinked. It was alright; she and Lu Zhan didn't really have any interaction.

"Why...why do you admire him?" Zhiwan couldn't help but ask.

In her opinion, her cousin was cold, rule-bound, serious, and difficult to get along with. How could she be so foolish as to live with someone like that?

"He is handsome, the most handsome man in the capital, and he is also exceptionally capable. At a young age, he has already become the head of the Dali Temple. All the noble ladies in the capital admire him and want to marry him." Ouyang Zhenzhu counted Lu Zhan's merits on her fingers.

My cousin is indeed good-looking, and his abilities are also undeniable.

Zhiwan had no way to refute it.

“I don’t actually want to marry him. It’s like an actor on a stage. If you perform well, you’ll have plenty of fans. I just admire Lord Lu’s ability to solve cases,” Ouyang Zhenzhu said.

actor?

Zhiwan looked at her with admiration.

Ouyang Zhenzhu's courage in comparing her cousin to him in this way is commendable.

Upon arriving at the market, the two abandoned their car and walked.

The streets were bustling and lively.

Since entering the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, Zhiwan has lived a secluded life. When she does go out, she is always with Madam Wei. However, Madam Wei will not take her into the crowds. Instead, she takes her to shops selling jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, and other high-end items.

I've almost never had the experience of strolling around the streets like I did today.

When she was a child, she did go shopping with her parents.

But that was a long time ago.

Ouyang Zhenzhu showed no airs of a noble lady. She took Zhiwan's hand and led her to watch acrobatics, play pitch-pot, and buy all sorts of delicious and fun things.

Zhiwan had a great time, and the maids and servants who followed her soon had their hands full of things.

After browsing the market, Ouyang Zhenzhu, familiar with the place, took Zhiwan to a bookstore.

Before going in, she said mysteriously, "Wanwan, there are many beautiful books inside. I'll pick out a few for you in a bit."

Without much thought, Zhiwan nodded, "Okay."

After entering the bookstore, Ouyang Zhenzhu pulled Zhiwan to a bookshelf in the corner, then quickly pulled out a few books and picture albums from the shelf and stuffed them into Zhiwan's hands.

"So many, I can't finish reading them all." Zhiwan looked at the thick stack of books in her arms and immediately felt a pain in her eyes. Although she usually reads some books for leisure, she reads very slowly, and giving her so many at once made her feel a lot of pressure.

Seeing her looking like she was facing a formidable enemy, Ouyang Zhenzhu said with a smile, "These are just some leisure books, meant to pass the time, not for you to study. Listen to me, take them all, because you'll definitely find it's not enough to read later."

Zhiwan looked at her suspiciously, then flipped through the picture book in her hand.

Upon seeing the erotic images inside, her face flushed, and she hurriedly closed the album.

My heart was pounding.

The men in the picture book just now all seemed to be...naked.

Zhiwan's face flushed, and she finally realized what kind of books Ouyang Zhenzhu was referring to as "good books".

She felt shy and nervous, but also experienced an indescribable excitement.

Fortunately, she wore a veil when she went out, so she wasn't afraid of being recognized.

Ouyang Zhenzhu picked out a few more books, and then pulled Zhiwan to pay the bill.

Zhiwan hesitated for a moment, but in the end, curiosity overcame reason.

As she left the bookstore with the books in her arms, her face was still burning, but she felt an itch to go back and take a closer look.

Clearly, Ouyang Zhenzhu shared the same idea.

She pulled Zhiwan into the carriage, and after sending Zhiwan back to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, she left in a hurry.

Upon returning to Yaoguang Pavilion, Zhiwan stuffed all the books and picture albums into the quilt, then calmed her excited emotions and began to organize the things she had bought.

She bought gifts for Lady Wei, the Duke of Dingguo, and Lu Zhan.

She bought a purple shawl for Lady Wei, a jar of Autumn Dew White wine for Duke Ding, and a purple-tipped writing brush for Lu Zhan. None of them were cheap. Zhiwan spent almost all of the money Lady Wei gave her on these items.

"Take this wine and pen to your uncle and cousin, and make sure you don't send them to the wrong people," Zhiwan instructed Shuang'er.

"I know, I won't send it to the wrong person, Miss, please don't worry," Shuang'er said with a smile.

"Then go ahead." Zhiwan handed the things to her.

After Shuang'er left, she took the shawl she had bought for Madam Wei and went to Lan Courtyard.

Shuang'er went to deliver something, so this time, the maid accompanying Zhiwan was another maid, Dongxiang.

Dongxiang was a maid in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, and she was assigned to Zhiwan by Madam Wei. She served Zhiwan quite diligently on a daily basis.

"Your Highness is surely pleased with your thoughtfulness, Miss," Dongxiang complimented.

Zhiwan smiled and said, "My aunt loves me dearly, so I should show my filial piety to her."

Suzaku Hall.

Lu Zhenbei was playing chess with his younger brother, Lu Jingsi.

At this moment, the servant Zhao Changping walked in carrying a wine jar.

Upon seeing this, Lu Zhenbei casually asked, "Who sent it?"

"Your Excellency, it was Miss Zhao who sent this over through her maid. She said she went out for a stroll today and specially brought you some Autumn Dew White tea," Zhao Changping replied respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhenbei's expression softened slightly. "This child is truly thoughtful. Let's leave it for now. It just so happens that Second Master is here. Later, I'll have a few drinks with him."

When Lu Jingsi saw the jar of wine, something flashed in his eyes, and he smiled and said, "Zhiwan is indeed a grateful child, but I think my sister-in-law has really treated her like her own daughter all these years."

Lu Zhenbei nodded, "It just so happens that my wife and I have no daughters, and Zhiwan is such a well-behaved and sensible child. If she were willing to be our daughter, that would be perfect."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingsi's smile faded slightly, but then he said in a joking tone, "Brother, what you're saying is true. My Xin'er has always respected you and sister-in-law. If you're willing, I'll have her recognize you as her parents and take care of you in the future. After all, the Zhi family only has one child left, Zhi Wan. It's not appropriate for her to recognize you and sister-in-law as her parents."

(End of this chapter)