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

Chapter 135 has transcended the bond between siblings.

Zhiwan snapped out of her daze, took off the flower from her hair, and looked down at herself.

The crabapple blossoms between my fingers are delicate, beautiful, and adorable.

Uncle Tian probably had a great fondness for crabapple blossoms, as crabapple trees were planted in every courtyard of his villa.

Because she had seen it so many times, she didn't pay much attention to it.

Just now, my cousin actually put this crabapple blossom in her hair and said that she and the crabapple blossom were a perfect match.

Crabapple blossoms are delicate and beautiful, symbolizing beautiful girls. Was my cousin praising her when he said that?

Was my cousin's action unintentional, or... did he have some other intention?
Zhiwan was somewhat confused.

She always felt that her cousin's feelings for her had gone beyond those of siblings.

This left her feeling helpless.

She stood there for a while before going inside and casually placing the crabapple blossoms on the table.

After she finished getting ready to leave, she saw the crabapple blossoms on the table, paused, and couldn't resist finding a book and pressing the blossoms inside.

Outside the gate of the villa.

When Zhiwan and Ouyang Zhenzhu came out, they saw that the girls from yesterday were also there.

And it seems they're going to travel together.

"What do you mean? Your cousin is going to bring them along? I never knew your cousin was so foolish. He was bewitched by them in just one night." Ouyang Zhenzhu scolded softly.

Zhiwan was also a little confused about her cousin's thoughts.

My cousin has always been very particular about etiquette.

But today he's not only bringing so many girls with him, he's also taking her and Pearl along...

Just as the two were struggling with their decision, the window of the carriage next to them was suddenly pushed open, revealing Lu Zhan's handsome face. "It's getting late, get in the carriage as soon as possible."

Zhiwan paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Can...we not go?"

"No," the man said in a deep voice, his brows furrowing slightly.

Zhiwan was surprised.

Why did my cousin have to bring her and Pearl along when he took those girls on the trip?
This doesn't look like they're going on a trip; it looks like they're going on business.

Just then, an unfamiliar guard approached and said in a low voice, "Please get into the carriage quickly, we've been waiting for you."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan and Ouyang Zhenzhu realized that the girls who had been standing in front of the door had already boarded the carriages behind.

"We... are riding in the same carriage as Lord Lu?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked upon seeing this.

"Yes." The guard nodded and gestured for him to enter.

The two looked at each other for a moment before finally getting into Lu Zhan's carriage.

"Cousin, where are we going?" Once in the carriage, Zhiwan couldn't help but ask.

"Do you remember what I said to you that day?" Lu Zhan asked in return.

Zhiwan was taken aback, but quickly remembered, and her expression immediately turned serious.

My cousin told me the other day that she should use herself as bait to lure Liang Qixian into revealing his true colors, so today's outing is for this purpose?

She couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Only then did she realize that she hadn't seen Chen Jiu and Jiang Shi earlier, and the guards outside were all unfamiliar faces.

Chen Jiu and Jiang Shi are both my cousin's personal bodyguards. Where did they go? Why didn't they come with me this time?
Lu Zhan noticed her nervously twisting her handkerchief, paused, and said, "Don't be too nervous, nothing will happen."

Zhiwan nodded obediently, "I understand." But she was still a little nervous.

According to my cousin's plan, they should already be being watched by Liang Qixian's men. In fact, there might be Liang Qixian's men all over the place now.

What she couldn't understand was why her cousin would bring those girls along.
Moreover, she remembered that Liang Qixian had sent seven girls yesterday, but just now there were only five outside... If you include her and Pearl, there would be seven.

Thinking about this, she suddenly realized that her cousin's arrangement probably had another purpose.

Because she remembered that when they were in her courtyard, her cousin had specifically told her and Pearl to wear veils, and now he had made them get into the carriage.

In this way, those who don't know the situation will definitely mistake the two of them for those "skinny horses" (a euphemism for prostitutes). In addition, it is really ostentatious for my cousin to take such a group of girls out for fun. Others will definitely think that my cousin is a philanderer and a corrupt official.

Those who were originally wary of their cousin became even less afraid of him after seeing his behavior.

Thinking of this, Zhiwan suddenly realized that her cousin didn't want her to use herself as bait at all, but rather to use this to lull the people secretly watching her into a false sense of security.

She still couldn't understand why her cousin had brought her and Pearl along. And where had the other two "skinny girls" gone?
"What are you talking about?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked, looking puzzled.

Zhiwan snapped out of her daze and shook her head. "It's nothing."

After the carriage left the city gate, it traveled for quite some time before finally stopping.

Ouyang Zhenzhu pushed open the window and looked outside. She saw desolate mountains and wilderness and exclaimed in astonishment, "Lord Lu, you brought us to a place like this for sightseeing?"

Zhiwan looked outside, her face also showing surprise.

Lu Zhan didn't say anything, but got up and got off the carriage.

Ouyang Zhenzhu was filled with regret. She whispered to Zhiwan, "If I had known we were coming to this desolate mountain, I wouldn't have come."

Zhiwan patted her hand and whispered reassuringly, "Your cousin has his reasons. We should just follow him."

“Alright then.” Ouyang Zhenzhu nodded.

However, after getting off the carriage, she immediately shook off her dejection and exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, there's actually a manor here!"

Seeing the huge villa in front of her, Zhiwan was also stunned for a moment.

From the angle at which the carriage stopped, they could only see a desolate wilderness, so they didn't see the manor located on the other side.

A man who appeared to be in charge came out to greet them and invited them inside.

"There are hot springs on the estate, please make yourselves at home," Lu Zhan instructed Zhi Wan before following the steward.

While Zhiwan was still wondering what her cousin was planning, Ouyang Zhenzhu, who had heard about the hot spring, dragged her away.

"Wanwan, let's go soak in the hot springs."

Zhiwan's thoughts were interrupted, and she followed her around the manor. Then she found a maid to guide her to the hot spring pool.

The pool was built indoors. After dismissing the maids and bolting the door, Ouyang Zhenzhu began to undress.

"I thought Lord Lu was going to take us to some remote place to sell us, but I didn't expect him to bring us to soak in the hot springs. I misunderstood Lord Lu."

Zhiwan did not rush to undress, but instead strolled around the room.

After she finished shopping, Ouyang Zhenzhu had already entered the pool. "Wanwan, why aren't you taking off your clothes yet?"

Zhiwan paused for a moment; she was somewhat unaccustomed to bathing with others.

She hesitated.

"You're not afraid I'll see your body, are you?" Ouyang Zhenzhu teased. "Then don't forget, last time you fell into the river, I was the one who changed your clothes."

Zhiwan's lips twitched slightly.

She naturally remembered this incident, but she was unconscious at the time and had no idea about it.

However, since Pearl had already said so much, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to hesitate any longer, so she slowly took off her dress.

"Wanwan, you have such a great figure!" Ouyang Zhenzhu exclaimed suddenly, covering her nose.

(End of this chapter)