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

Chapter 14 Zhi Wanqie truly understood

Lu Zhenbei sighed, "That's exactly right, otherwise your sister-in-law would have already adopted Zhiwan as her daughter. As for your Xin'er, forget about her, she's too naughty. Your sister-in-law and I don't have the energy to take care of another child."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingsi felt somewhat annoyed.

The eldest brother clearly looks down on his daughter, Xin'er.

Although what happened at the flower-viewing banquet was a private affair, he didn't believe his elder brother hadn't heard his sister-in-law mention it.

The elder brother said that Xin'er was very naughty, which was actually an indirect remark that he and Lou had not raised their daughter well.

"Snapped!"

Lu Zhenbei suddenly made a move, instantly reversing the situation on the chessboard, and reminded him, "What are you thinking about? A large number of your pieces have been captured."

Lu Jingsi chuckled, "I was just craving your wine."

Lu Zhenbei glanced at the wine on the table, then pointed at him and said, "You, you, let's have a few drinks later, you two brothers."

"That's daring!"

Qingyun Residence, Lu Zhan's study.

Today, Lu Zhan had a rare day off from official duties, so he sat leisurely in a chair reading a book.

At this moment, Chen Jiu came in carrying a long box.

"Your Highness, Miss Biao has sent you a calligraphy brush."

Lu Zhan glanced at it and said indifferently, "Just leave it there."

"Yes." Chen Jiu placed the box on the table.

After finishing reading the book, Lu Zhan opened the box and took a look.

It is a purple-tipped brush.

He took out the pen and touched the tip with his fingertip.

It's a fine purple-haired brush; that girl is very thoughtful.

After thinking for a moment, he said to Chen Jiu, "Take that red silk inkstone from my storeroom to Miss Biao."

He had never accepted gifts from girls, but Zhiwan was different from other girls. She lived in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and was considered a relative, so it didn't matter if she accepted them.

However, he had never returned the gift to the girl, and after thinking it over, the only suitable one was the red silk inkstone from his private treasury.

"Yes," Chen Jiu replied respectfully.

Yaoguang Pavilion.

When Zhiwan opened the box and saw that it contained a red silk inkstone, she looked at Shuang'er in astonishment, "You mean this was sent by my cousin?"

“Yes.” Shuang’er nodded. “Chen Jiu delivered it personally.”

Zhiwan: "..."

She gave him a calligraphy brush, and he directly gave her a red inkstone.

This red silk inkstone is extremely valuable; it could buy many of the calligraphy brushes she gave to Lu Zhan.

Everyone says her cousin values ​​rules and etiquette, and today she truly understands that now.

But this gift is too extravagant. What kind of person would she be if she accepted it?
"Return the inkstone." Zhiwan resealed the inkstone and handed it to Shuang'er.

Shuang'er said with some difficulty, "When Chen Jiu delivered it just now, he said that the young master didn't like to use this inkstone and it had been sitting in the storeroom. The young master also said that this inkstone is more suitable for a young lady's use."

This directly blocked Zhiwan's idea of ​​returning the inkstone.

Since things had already gone this far, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to return the items, so she had no choice but to accept them, even if it meant swallowing her pride.

But she made up her mind that she would never send anything to Lu Zhan again.

I was originally going to buy a calligraphy brush for Lu Zhan today, but it was just something I did on the side.

After all, his aunt and uncle had already given gifts, so it wouldn't be right for Lu Zhan, his cousin, not to give one back.

I just didn't expect Lu Zhan to reciprocate.

She got a good deal by exchanging a calligraphy brush for a red inkstone.

……

Evening, Lu Zhan's study.

Chen Jiu knocked on the door again and came in. "Young Master, the Duke has sent someone to invite you to have a drink at the Vermilion Bird Hall."

Lu Zhan put down his pen and asked, "Do you know who else is in the Vermilion Bird Hall?" "I heard that Second Master is also there," Chen Jiu replied.

Lu Zhan pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "Just say I have official business to attend to, and we'll have a drink together another day."

"Yes," Chen Jiu replied respectfully.

He knew why the heir had declined the Duke's invitation.

The young master mainly didn't want to see the second master.

Ever since the position of Vice Minister of Revenue became vacant, the Second Prince had been keeping a close eye on it. Since the case of the former Vice Minister of Revenue was handled by the Crown Prince and even received the Emperor's commendation, the Second Prince assumed that the Emperor had revealed his preferred candidate to the Crown Prince and had probed the Crown Prince's intentions several times.

But would the Emperor easily reveal his thoughts?

Even if the Crown Prince knew, he would never tell the Second Master.

The young master didn't want to deal with his second uncle, so he simply declined the Duke's invitation.

Suzaku Hall.

Lu Jingsi had glanced at the doorway several times.

At this moment, Zhao Changping walked in. "Lord Duke, the young master said he has official business to attend to and will drink with you another day."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhenbei nodded, "Understood."

Lu Jingsi narrowed her eyes slightly. Was she busy with official business?

He had inquired and found that the Dali Temple hadn't been busy these past few days. In his opinion, Lu Zhan clearly knew he was here, which was why he deliberately didn't come.

Thinking of this, Lu Jingsi was furious.

He was Lu Zhan's uncle, but this nephew never took him seriously.

After the position of Vice Minister of Revenue became vacant, he heard that the Emperor had asked Lu Zhan if there was anyone suitable to recommend. If Lu Zhan had mentioned him to the Emperor, wouldn't the position of Vice Minister of Revenue have fallen to him?
But his good nephew never imagined that his own uncle would think of him.

Lu Jingsi became increasingly annoyed as she thought about it.

Lu Zhenbei didn't notice his unusual behavior. After the servant left, he said, "Jinzhi is busy with official duties and rarely has any free time. I didn't think it through. If he doesn't come, the two of us brothers can drink together."

Lu Jingsi suppressed his anger, picked up his wine glass, and sighed, "Jinzhi is so busy with official duties, it's so difficult for me, his second uncle, to even see him." After saying that, he took a sip of wine.

Lu Zhenbei looked helpless. "Don't say you can't see him. As his father, how easy is it for me to see him? Alright, let's not talk about him anymore. Let's drink."

After a few drinks, Lu Jingsi ate a bite of food and said with emotion, "Among all the younger generation in our Lu family, only Jinzhi is the most promising. He has become the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review at a young age. The Emperor has repeatedly praised him in court and values ​​him highly. In my opinion, he will surpass you, my elder brother, soon."

Lu Zhenbei glanced at him and said nonchalantly, "If he can surpass me, then it's because he's capable."

In Lu Jingsi's view, his attitude was nothing short of showing off.

A shadow of gloom crossed Lu Jingsi's eyes as she sighed, "Our Lu Jun is such a bookworm. He only knows how to bury himself in his studies all day long. He should really learn from his older brother."

“Jun’er is already ambitious enough, don’t put pressure on him.” Lu Zhenbei frowned and disagreed.

Lu Jingsi sneered inwardly. Ambitious enough? His elder brother probably wished that the second branch of the family would stagnate, so that he could forever keep them ahead.

……

For several days in a row, Zhiwan stayed in her room reading books and looking at picture albums.

Every time she opened the door, Shuang'er saw that her young mistress's face was flushed, and she thought she was sick.

"Miss, the sun is shining brightly outside. Why don't you go for a walk? Staying indoors reading all the time will hurt your eyes," Shuang'er advised.

Zhiwan had just finished reading through the storybooks and picture books, so she nodded.

Shuang'er tied a sachet around Zhiwan's waist, and then took a cloak and tied it around her waist as well.

Zhiwan lowered her head and fiddled with the sachet at her waist.

This sachet was embroidered by Shuang'er.

On the pea-green sachet, an orchid was embroidered with silk thread, which was very elegant and refined. It looked very good with the autumn-colored dress she was wearing today.

As the sachet swayed, the rich and pleasant fragrance of the magnolia petals inside wafted out.

Zhiwan loved the fragrance of magnolia flowers.

Every year around this time, I would ask Shuang'er to make some dried flower petals, put them in sachets, and carry them with me.

Zhiwan gently inhaled the fragrance of the flowers and felt a sense of joy in her body and mind.

After strolling around the garden, Zhiwan got a little tired, so she went into the waterside pavilion to sit for a while, only to see Lu Zhan standing by the railing.

(End of this chapter)