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

Chapter 17 has an excellent feel.
"Miss, go to bed and sleep, don't catch a cold."

Suddenly, Shuang'er's voice rang in my ears.

Zhiwan was startled awake and realized that she had fallen asleep on the table. She had just had a dream. The painting she had made was still sitting there, perfectly fine.

Seeing that her eyes were wet, her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing heavily, Shuang'er thought she was having a nightmare. "It's alright, Miss, it was just a dream."

Feeling guilty, Zhiwan calmly rolled up the painting and added, "Yes, it's just a dream."

"There's still some time before dawn, Miss, please go to bed and lie down," Shuang'er advised.

"Okay." Zhiwan stood up, but found her legs were extremely weak.

Shuang'er helped her to bed, tucked her in, and then left the outer room.

Thinking about what happened in her dream, Zhiwan was filled with shame.

Shuang'er was sleeping in the outer room, and she actually had that kind of dream...

Thinking of something, she sat up slightly, flipped open the pillow, and saw her storybook and picture album still there, perfectly intact.

But that dream felt so real...

she muttered.

Qingyun Residence.

Seeing that it was almost time, Chen Jiu went to wait outside Lu Zhan's room, as he was going to accompany the young master to court in a little while.

To his surprise, the usually self-disciplined crown prince did not come out today, and there was no sound coming from inside the house.

Seeing that it was getting late, and that further delay might make him miss the court session, he had no choice but to knock on the door and remind him, "Your Highness, it's time to get up."

The room was quiet for a while before Lu Zhan's slightly hoarse voice came through, "He's up."

Chen Jiu felt relieved.

Before long, Lu Zhan came out, already dressed in his official robes, looking as deep and aloof as ever.

Zhiwan slept soundly until dawn.

However, the first thing I do after getting up is to wash my underwear.

She went from feeling ashamed at the beginning to being able to take it calmly now.

It was just a fleeting dream.

After breakfast, Ouyang Zhenzhu arrived.

She was beaming with pride and radiant with joy. As soon as she saw Zhiwan, she grabbed her hand and asked with a grin, "So, have you finished reading the storybooks and picture books we bought last time? Were they good?"

Although Zhiwan read very carefully in private, she was still a little embarrassed when asked about it. She said shyly, "I just flipped through it casually."

Seeing her like this, Ouyang Zhenzhu concluded that she was shy and embarrassed, so she encouraged her, "Don't be embarrassed. Let me tell you, several of my girlfriends are secretly reading them. Once you read a few more, you'll find it normal. By the way, I've already finished reading the ones I bought. I came here today to exchange books with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan went to the inner room and gave her the book and the picture album.

Ouyang Zhenzhu flipped through the items, as if she had found a treasure, and smiled with delight, giving them all to Zhiwan.

Looking at the picture books and storybooks on the table, Zhiwan's fingers, which were resting on her lap, twitched as if she wanted to flip through them, but she held back in the end.

Ouyang Zhenzhu, holding her books, said, "I'm going back now. I'll come find you to play again next time."

Zhiwan was preoccupied with the storybooks and picture albums, so she didn't try to keep her. "Alright, I'll see you off."

"No need, no need, I'll go out myself." Ouyang Zhenzhu picked up her books and was about to leave, but was stopped by Zhiwan.

She took a bundle and helped her put the books inside.

"It's too conspicuous to carry it like that; it's better to hold it like this."

"Wanwan is so thoughtful." Ouyang Zhenzhu smiled broadly.

After she left, Zhiwan took the books left by Ouyang Zhenzhu and went into the inner room. Then she leaned against the bed and began to look through one of the picture books.

Before long, her face turned completely red.

The picture books that Ouyang Zhenzhu bought were much more explicit than the ones she had picked out for her last time.

The album features not only men, but also women.

Looking at the women with their clothes half-open, she felt ashamed, but couldn't resist her curiosity. After finishing the book, she remembered the paintings she had made the night before and couldn't help but take them out to look at them.

She discovered that her drawing skills were not bad either, comparable to those in the picture book. Then, thinking of what Ouyang Zhenzhu had said, she couldn't help but feel a stirring in her heart.

Although no one openly takes these books and picture albums out to read, many people probably look at them privately, which means there is a market for them.

If she made some paintings like these and sold them to bookstores, she should be able to earn some money, right?

Although her aunt treated her very well and didn't lack money for her, she knew that one day she would have to leave the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and go to her husband's family. She would have to rely on herself then, and having more money in her hands would give her more confidence in her husband's family.

Thinking of this, she perked up and carefully studied her own painting alongside the art books sold in the bookstore.

As she looked at it, she suddenly remembered the man's strong chest from her dream last night.

Although she never saw it in the end, the feel of it was wonderful.

If only I could draw it...

Zhiwan felt a pang of shame.

If her parents knew in the afterlife that the painting skills they taught her were used for such a thing, wouldn't they come up to her and scold her?
But then she thought, her parents love her the most, and if they knew she was doing this to earn money, they probably wouldn't blame her.

Zhiwan comforted herself, an idea popped into her head, and she immediately sat down at the table and began to paint.

……

These past few days, Zhiwan has been confined to her room and has been painting a lot.

That day, she finished tidying up the painting and planned to go out later to ask the bookstore if they would accept it.

Just then, Granny Fang arrived at Yaoguang Pavilion.

"Miss, Madam requests your presence."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan had no choice but to put aside the matter of selling paintings for the time being and went to the Orchid Courtyard with Granny Fang.

When they arrived at Lan Courtyard, they saw the Second Madam, Lou, as well as the Lu sisters, Lu Xin and Lu Lan.

Upon seeing Lu Xin, Zhi Wan paused in her tracks.

I didn't expect Lu Xin to come out so quickly.

It hasn't even been a month yet.

She seemed oblivious to Lu Xin's smug expression, and stepped forward to greet both Madam Wei and Madam Lou.

"Wan'er, sit down." Madam Wei smiled and pulled her hand, inviting her to sit beside her.

Upon seeing this, Lady Lou's eyes flickered slightly, and she praised, "It's only been a few days since I last saw you, but Wan'er looks even more beautiful now. She's truly adorable."

"Our Wan'er has been a beauty since she was little." Madam Wei affectionately stroked Zhi Wan's hair, her eyes filled with pride.

Lou sneered inwardly.

My sister-in-law is really funny. This isn't her own daughter, so what's she so proud of? No matter how much she loves her, she's just doing all the work for someone else.
Lu Xin was filled with jealousy and secretly glared at Zhi Wan.

Lu Lan sat quietly, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.

Although Zhiwan was an orphan, her aunt and uncle loved her dearly, which was much better than her situation as a concubine's daughter.

"What have you been busy with these past few days? I haven't seen you come out at all," Madam Wei asked with concern.

"There's nothing else, so I'll stay inside and read," Zhiwan replied.

“What a good child, but reading is bad for your eyes. You should go out and move around more often,” Madam Wei advised.

"I understand, Aunt," Zhiwan replied obediently.

"I called you here today because the Marquis of Xuanping's residence sent an invitation. Tomorrow, they will be holding a flower-viewing banquet at the Marquis's villa, and they specifically invited you, Xin'er, and Lan'er to attend," Madam Wei said gently.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan paused. The Marquis of Xuanping's residence? A flower-viewing banquet? And they specifically invited the three of them?
No wonder Lu Xin, who had been under house arrest, was released.

Lou Shi's face lit up with joy. "Sister-in-law, I heard that the heir of the Marquis of Xuanping is already eighteen years old, but he is still unmarried. Why is he suddenly holding a flower-viewing banquet? Could it be that he wants to choose a wife?"

When Madam Wei saw that she had said it directly in front of several young ladies, she was displeased and said indifferently, "How would I know? Besides, even if the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion had that intention, don't forget that they also invited other young ladies from the capital."

(End of this chapter)