The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 107: Zhi Wan’s Face Flushed Red

Seeing the undisguised joy on the young lady’s face, Lu Zhan paused. His stern features softened slightly, and he gave a small nod. "Cousin."

Zhi Wan had many things she wanted to ask him, but now that she saw him in person, for a moment she didn’t know how to begin.

Holding her umbrella, she stood hesitantly in the rain.

Lu Zhan glanced at her embroidered shoes, which were already soaked. He frowned slightly and said coolly, "The rain is heavy out here. Come inside to talk." After speaking, he turned and entered the courtyard.

Zhi Wan hesitated for a moment, then followed him inside, holding her umbrella.

Arriving at the side hall, she closed her umbrella and leaned it against the wall. Just as she was about to enter, she heard her cousin instructing Jiang Shi, "Go to the next courtyard and ask Shuang’er to bring a pair of shoes and socks for the Miss."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan looked down at her own shoes and only then realized they were soaked.

She couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. ’I should have gone back to change my shoes before coming over.’

With that thought, she stood by the door, hesitant to enter.

Jiang Shi had already come out, opened an umbrella, and walked into the rain.

When Chen Jiu came over, he was a little surprised to see Zhi Wan still standing by the door. "Miss, why haven’t you gone in yet? I just went to the kitchen to get some breakfast for the Princely Heir. You probably haven’t eaten either. Quick, go on in and eat with him."

Zhi Wan hadn’t noticed before, but now she did. Feeling it was very rude to go inside with dripping wet shoes, she shook her head and said, "You go in first. I..."

"Come in!"

From within the hall, the man’s deep voice drifted out.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan could no longer hesitate. She lifted her skirt, stepped over the threshold, and walked inside.

In the hall, Lu Zhan was already seated at the table, pouring tea. Hearing her footsteps, he lifted his gaze slightly. "Sit."

Zhi Wan did as she was told and sat down across from him, her feet lightly touching the floor, afraid of getting the rug wet.

Lu Zhan was about to hand her the tea when he suddenly remembered something. He paused and said in a gentle voice, "I forgot to ask, how are your injuries? Are you still taking your medicine?"

Zhi Wan replied obediently, "I’ve finished the medicine Doctor Wang prescribed last time. The injury is mostly healed..." ’Except for my back, which still hurts a bit when touched.’

She didn’t say that last part out loud.

For one, she felt it would be embarrassing to tell her cousin about it; for another, she felt her injury was already almost completely healed.

"Then drinking some tea should be fine." Lu Zhan handed her the cup. "Have a taste."

"Mm." Zhi Wan nodded and reached out to take the cup.

The tea’s fragrance wafted up, mingling with the swirling steam.

Zhi Wan took a sip. The fragrance lingered in her mouth, and she couldn’t resist taking another.

"Is it good?" the man’s deep, pleasant voice suddenly asked.

Zhi Wan was taken aback and looked up.

The kettle on the small red-clay stove was making a GURGLING sound, and the white steam it emitted somewhat blurred the man’s face.

At that moment, her cousin’s slightly blurry face gave Zhi Wan a strange sense of familiarity.

"This tea was looted by those pirates from passing merchant ships. My men were taking inventory of the stolen goods yesterday, and I took a box."

The man’s deep voice interrupted Zhi Wan’s thoughts.

She collected herself and dismissed the absurd thought from her mind.

She looked down at the cup in her hand, her expression one of astonishment. "So, this tea is... stolen goods?"

It was unclear which of her words amused Lu Zhan, but the man, who was always stern and rarely smiled, actually let out a low chuckle. His dark eyes looked at her. "Scared?"

Zhi Wan’s long, curly eyelashes fluttered. ’So Cousin can smile after all,’ she thought.

She felt a strange sense of joy. Setting down her cup, she let a smile grace her lips. "Cousin, you’re a Court official and you’re not afraid. I’m not an official, so what do I have to be afraid of?"

Seeing the young lady’s teasing expression as she tilted her head, Lu Zhan chuckled. "Since you’re not afraid, have a couple more cups." With that, he picked up the teapot and refilled her cup. Perhaps wanting to put her at ease, he added, "It’s just a box of tea. It’s no big deal and doesn’t constitute corruption."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan found it rather amusing.

Her cousin, who had always been so strict about rules and insistent on the law, had one day swiped a box of tea from a pile of stolen goods and was now telling her in all seriousness that a box of tea didn’t constitute corruption.

She suddenly felt that the cousin before her had a more down-to-earth air about him, no longer so lofty and unapproachable.

Zhi Wan relaxed.

A rainy day, the scent of tea, and a relative who was like an older brother by her side—a sense of contentment bloomed in Zhi Wan’s heart. She felt that she wasn’t alone and without support after all.

She had her aunt, her cousin, her uncle.

They were all her family.

"Thank you, Cousin." She held the cup, her eyes curving into a smile as she spoke sincerely.

Lu Zhan didn’t speak, but a hint of doting affection flashed in his eyes. "If the weather clears up tomorrow, I’ll accompany you back to Jurong to pay respects at the graves."

"Okay." Zhi Wan nodded happily.

Just then, Chen Jiu came over and reported, "Princely Heir, Miss, breakfast is served."

"Alright." Lu Zhan responded, setting down his cup and looking at Zhi Wan. "Let’s go eat breakfast."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan glanced down at her shoes and shook her head. "Cousin, you go eat first. I’ll go back after I change my shoes and socks."

Lu Zhan was about to say something when he saw Jiang Shi return, with Shuang’er following behind him.

Seeing the shoes and socks in Shuang’er’s hands, Lu Zhan stood up and walked out.

Jiang Shi and Chen Jiu also followed him out.

With no one else in the room, Zhi Wan immediately took off her shoes and socks and, with Shuang’er’s help, put on a fresh pair.

"When the Princely Heir was away, you were always thinking about him, Miss. Now that he’s finally back, you should stay and sit with him for a while longer. This servant will take her leave first." After speaking, Shuang’er grabbed Zhi Wan’s wet shoes and socks and scurried away.

Zhi Wan: "..."

Outside the door, Lu Zhan stood under the eaves of the veranda. The words spoken by the maid inside carried clearly to his ears.

He paused for a moment, then looked at Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shiyi froze, but having followed him for so many years, he immediately understood and nodded. "Yes, the Miss was very worried about you. She was always asking this subordinate when you would return. This subordinate could see that she wasn’t eating or sleeping well..."

"Old Jiang, did you sneak into the Miss’s chambers? Otherwise, how would you know she wasn’t sleeping well?" Chen Jiu asked, looking aghast.

"Nonsense!" Jiang Shiyi kicked out at him, scolding, "Don’t ruin my good name!"

"What good name do you have to speak of? Isn’t your usual work crawling under people’s beds and climbing on their roofs?" Chen Jiu teased.

Jiang Shi’s composure cracked. He clenched his fists. "I do that for the missions our master assigns."

"Mm, missions are missions, but the Miss isn’t one of the people you’re supposed to be tailing," Chen Jiu said righteously.

"Who asked for your damn opinion?" Jiang Shi said, exasperated. "I just guessed, because the Miss was always asking me for news about the Princely Heir."

Chen Jiu was about to say more when he heard Lu Zhan command, "Since you have so much free time, go and investigate whether the Prefect of Yangzhou and the Assistant Magistrate are colluding privately."

Chen Jiu paused, looked at Jiang Shi, and urged, "Hurry up and go."

Cradling his sword, Jiang Shi said coldly, "The Princely Heir was telling you to go."

Chen Jiu looked at Lu Zhan. "Princely Heir?"

"Go at once!" Lu Zhan said in a low voice.

Chen Jiu: "..."

Chen Jiu, who had to leave in the heavy rain, was utterly miserable.

To eliminate the pirates, he had endured humiliation and shouldered heavy responsibilities, even having to feign civility with that pirate, Miss Liu, and nearly losing his virtue to her. He never expected that right after the pirates were dealt with, not only did the Princely Heir show him no sympathy, but he even kicked him right out the door.

’Could there be any subordinate more tragic than me?’

Zhi Wan was unaware of the little interlude outside. After tidying herself up, she was about to leave when she saw her cousin walk in.

Seeing him, she belatedly realized that her cousin might have overheard what Shuang’er said earlier...