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

Chapter 155 A Master of the Art of Pleasing Men
Zhiwan was unaware of what happened in Yangzhou after she left.

She was on a merchant ship, and since Lu Zhan had previously cleared out the pirates, the voyage was now going very smoothly.

During the day, she would chat with Ouyang Zhenzhu to pass the time and enjoy the river view; at night, she would stay in the house to paint.

Time flew by, and on this day, she and Ouyang Zhenzhu and the others finally arrived in the capital.

As soon as I stepped off the dock, I heard a voice laughing and cursing, "So you finally decided to come back?"

"Brother!" Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Ouyang Zhenzhu shouted and rushed over.

Ouyang Lei hurriedly took a few steps back and scolded, "Ouyang Zhenzhu, you went to Yangzhou for a while, how come you still haven't improved? You're a grown woman now, what kind of behavior is this, shouting and yelling like this?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu didn't mind being scolded at all; on the contrary, she felt a sense of warmth towards her.

“Ouyang Lei, it’s been a while since I last saw you. I’ve actually grown to like you. It’s a pity I can’t keep my promise to give you the skinny horse.”

Ouyang Lei couldn't take it anymore and gave her a sharp rap on the head. "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll throw you into the river to feed the fish!"
"Young Master Ouyang." Zhiwan walked over and bowed to him.

"Cousin Zhiwan," Ouyang Lei immediately said in a friendly tone, "How was your trip to Yangzhou? Did you have a good time?"

"Not bad." Zhiwan nodded with a smile.

"Wanwan, I suddenly remembered something," Ouyang Zhenzhu said, taking her hand with a serious expression.

"What's wrong?" Zhiwan asked, puzzled.

“Have you forgotten? There are still five sluts living in Panyun Manor. Didn’t you say that Chu Chu has impure thoughts? You asked Lord Lu to move to Panyun Manor, wouldn’t that be creating an opportunity for her?” Ouyang Zhenzhu said.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan finally remembered the matter, and her heart sank.

Yes, she had forgotten that there were still a few prostitutes living in Panyun Manor.

She was wary of Lu Jinglan, but forgot about Chu Chu from Panyun Manor.

She clenched her handkerchief. "My cousin... he shouldn't be so easily bewitched by that Chu Chu."

“That’s hard to say. Chu Chu is quite beautiful, and she’s a former slut, so she must know how to please men. Don’t let Lord Lu’s serious demeanor fool you; he might not be able to resist a beautiful woman!” Ouyang Zhenzhu said eloquently.

Zhiwan became even more worried upon hearing this.

"What are you talking about? Old Lu is raising skinny horses? Did I hear that right?" Ouyang Lei interjected excitedly.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan immediately explained, "Young Master Ouyang, it's not what you think. My cousin doesn't keep skinny horses."

"Then what about the 'skinny horse' you mentioned earlier?" Ouyang Lei asked with great interest.

“If I had known you were so interested, I would have bought you a skinny horse no matter what,” Ouyang Zhenzhu said.

Ouyang Lei said seriously, "Ouyang Zhenzhu, don't talk nonsense. Your brother is a respectable person."

"Come on, you're someone who frequents brothels, and you still have the nerve to call yourself a respectable person?" Ouyang Zhenzhu said with a look of disdain.

Ouyang Lei coughed lightly, changing the subject, "By the way, you came back so quickly, is it because of Madam Lu?"

Upon hearing him mention his aunt, Zhiwan hurriedly asked, "Young Master Ouyang, have you heard any rumors?"

“The matter of Uncle Lu caused quite a stir in the capital recently. Not only did I hear about it, but even the Emperor himself inquired about it,” Ouyang Lei sighed.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan's heart sank. "So, it really is true?"

Ouyang Lei said, "The specifics are not clear to outsiders, but that Wang is quite resourceful. She brought her son and made a scene at the Censorate. Uncle Lu was impeached by the censor and even reprimanded by the Emperor. Fearing damage to the family's reputation, Old Madam Lu took it upon herself to bring the mother and son into the mansion and even gave them a proper status."

"What?" Zhiwan's expression changed. She thought Lu Jinglan was exaggerating, but she didn't expect things to be more complicated than she thought.

Now that the mother and son have moved into the Duke of Lu's mansion, wouldn't my aunt be even more heartbroken?

"Miss, I have already hired a carriage, it's just ahead." At this moment, Chen Jiu walked over and reported to Zhiwan.

Zhiwan nodded, not wanting to linger any longer. "Ouyang Shaoqing, Zhenzhu, I'll be going now. Let's get together again next time."

"Okay, be careful," Ouyang Zhenzhu instructed.

After bidding farewell to the brother and sister, Zhiwan, along with Granny Fang and Shuang'er, boarded the carriage back to the Duke of Lu's mansion.

Zhiwan was preoccupied with her aunt and had no heart to appreciate the capital city, which she had been away from for some time.

Chen Jiu traveled swiftly, and the carriage soon arrived at the Duke of Lu's residence.

As soon as she got off the carriage, Zhiwan had Shuang'er and Chen Jiu carry the luggage inside, while she, along with Granny Fang, went directly into the mansion to Lan Courtyard to see Madam Wei.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the two arrived at the Orchid Courtyard, they saw a young woman holding a child's hand standing in front of the door, speaking to Yinliu in a mournful voice, "Miss Yinliu, please tell Madam that I have brought Xuan-ge'er to pay my respects to Madam."

"Aunt Wang, please go back. Madam is not feeling well and cannot see you." Yin Liu said calmly, but then she saw Zhi Wan and Granny Fang. Her face lit up with joy, and she called out, "Miss Wang, Granny Fang, what brings you back?"

Zhiwan glanced at Aunt Wang and her son, thinking to herself: Is this the woman and son that my uncle keeps outside?

She frowned almost imperceptibly, then looked at Yinliu with a smile, "Yinliu, how is your aunt?"

Upon hearing the name of Madam Wei, Yinliu's eyes suddenly reddened. She took Zhiwan's hand and said, "It's good that Miss Wei is back. Go in and see Madam. Madam will surely be happy to see Miss Wei."

Without further delay, Zhiwan and Granny Fang quickly entered the courtyard.

Yinliu ignored Aunt Wang and her son, closed the courtyard gate, and quickly followed.

Inside the room, Madam Wei was lying on a chaise lounge, her face pale and thin, devoid of her former vitality.

Zhiwan felt a pang of pain in her heart and hurried over, "Aunt!"

Madam Wei was taken aback, turned around and looked at her, surprised, "Why are you back?"

"Wan'er misses her aunt." Zhiwan squatted down beside the chair, took her hand, and pressed her face against it.

Madam Wei's heart softened, and she sat up and pulled her into her arms. "Auntie missed you too."

Zhiwan felt a pang of sadness. "From now on, Wan'er will not go anywhere else. I will stay with my aunt."

Madam Wei joked, "Aren't you getting married either?"

"I won't marry. As long as Aunt doesn't dislike Wan'er, Wan'er is willing to serve you for the rest of her life," Zhi Wan sincerely said.

"Why have you become so silly after your trip to Yangzhou? Or did your cousin bully you?" Madam Wei chuckled and patted her head.

“My cousin didn’t bully me; he took good care of me,” Zhiwan quickly said, afraid that she might misunderstand her cousin.

"Really?"

"of course it's true."

"That's good. It wasn't for nothing that I carefully reminded him before he left." Madam Wei breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned as she thought of something. "Did Lu Jinglan gossip in front of you and say something?"

Zhiwan paused, then gripped her hand tightly. "Aunt, we all know. You've suffered so much."

(End of this chapter)