The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 73: With Lu Zhan Looking After Her

Lady Wei looked at the young girl beside her, remembering the flower-viewing banquet at the Fu family’s estate where she had nearly gotten into trouble. She couldn’t help but worry, fearing the girl would be bullied again. "Mother," she said, "when the time comes, let’s just have Jinglan and Lan’er go. Wan’er shouldn’t."

Lady Lou was surprised. "Why? The invitation explicitly says Wan’er is to go as well. We can’t afford to offend the Prince Gao Yang Mansion. Or... are you worried about Wan’er’s status, Sister-in-law?"

Lady Wei shot her a glance. "What’s wrong with my Wan’er’s status? The main reason I don’t want her to go is that I believe Princess Gao Yang wants to befriend Jinglan. The Commandery Princess won’t say a thing if Wan’er doesn’t go."

"But Sister-in-law, I heard Wan’er mention last time that Princess Gao Yang pursued Jinzhi all the way here, to the Duke Dingguo Mansion," Lu Jinglan suddenly interjected. "For her to send an invitation out of the blue... I think it’s more likely because of Wan’er."

"What?" Lady Wei was stunned.

The others were also stunned.

Lu Jinglan looked at Zhi Wan and said with a grin, "Wan’er, do you remember that?"

Zhi Wan glanced at her and nodded. "Of course I remember." Meeting Lady Wei’s astonished gaze, she paused for a moment before explaining, "Something like that did happen. I meant to tell you, but I didn’t think it was important and later forgot about it."

Lady Wei patted her hand. "If you forgot, you forgot. It’s nothing important."

"Our Jinzhi certainly is a charmer. To think the Commandery Princess chased him all the way to the Duke Dingguo Mansion," Lady Lou teased. "Perhaps before long, Sister-in-law, you’ll have a princess for a daughter-in-law."

Lady Wei’s face darkened with displeasure. "Watch your mouth, Second Sister-in-law. Don’t spout nonsense about things that are nothing but baseless rumors. You’ll ruin the Commandery Princess’s reputation. Before you know it, Prince Gao Yang will be here to hold you accountable."

Lady Lou’s expression stiffened, and she sullenly held her tongue.

Old Madam Lu said, "Since Princess Gao Yang has gone to the trouble of sending an invitation, don’t try to refuse. All of you will go." She paused, her gaze falling on Zhi Wan. "Though you are not a young lady of the Duke Dingguo Mansion, you will be representing us on this visit. Do not disgrace the name of the Duke Dingguo Mansion."

Upon hearing this, Lady Wei was about to erupt, but Zhi Wan squeezed her hand.

She replied dutifully, "Please rest assured, Old Madam. Zhi Wan will be sure to watch her words and actions."

"Good. When you are there, you are all to listen to Jinglan. Do not act rashly," Old Madam Lu instructed.

"Yes," Zhi Wan and Lu Lan replied in turn.

Lu Jinglan said playfully, "Since I’m playing the part of the elder here, I will certainly take good care of you both."

Suppressing her annoyance, Lady Wei said, "Then you had better look the part of an elder. Two young ladies are going with you. If anything happens to them at the Prince Mansion, Mother will be deeply disappointed in you."

"Rest assured, Sister-in-law. I will absolutely look after Wan’er and Lan’er," Lu Jinglan said seriously. "If anything were to happen to them, I would be too ashamed to remain in the Duke Dingguo Mansion."

Old Madam Lu’s expression shifted. "You silly girl, why be so dramatic? They are not three-year-olds; how could they possibly need someone watching over them for everything? Why are you shouldering all this responsibility? When it comes to age, you aren’t much older than them yourself."

"I was just trying to ease Sister-in-law’s worries about Wan’er, wasn’t I?" Lu Jinglan laughed, looking completely unconcerned.

"She’s practically a grown woman, what is there to worry about? If she can’t even attend a birthday banquet without getting into trouble, what will she ever amount to?" Old Madam Lu shot a displeased glare at Zhi Wan.

"That’s right, Sister-in-law, you shouldn’t worry. It’s only a birthday banquet, and the guests will just be other young ladies and gentlemen," Lady Lou chimed in.

Lady Wei scoffed internally.

’The old bat just said Wan’er and Lan’er have to listen to Jinglan, and now she’s saying Jinglan isn’t much older than them?’

She couldn’t confront the old woman directly, but she showed Lady Lou no such courtesy. "Yes, it’s just a birthday banquet. But I’m afraid Second Sister-in-law has forgotten that the last incident with Lan’er happened right here, in our own home. If trouble can find her here, what’s to stop it on someone else’s territory?"

Lady Lou was left speechless and didn’t dare say another word.

Old Madam Lu slammed her hand on the table and pointed at Lady Lou’s nose. "A fine daughter you’ve raised, capable of such a disgusting deed!"

With tears welling in her eyes, Lu Lan said, "Grandmother, please don’t blame Mother. Second Sister was just confused for a moment, that’s why... that’s why... It’s all my fault. How can I possibly go on living? I should have just died long ago."

By this point, she was sobbing too hard to speak.

Lady Lou’s expression was frightful.

’This little wretch! On the surface, she’s trying to get me off the hook, but in reality, she’s just whining and playing the victim in front of the old hag.’

Sure enough, Old Madam Lu said with great pity, "You poor, ill-fated girl. Never mind. From now on, Grandmother will personally arrange your marriage. I will be sure to find you a good family."

"Grandmother..." Lu Lan collapsed onto her lap, her face streaked with tears.

Lady Lou’s face turned livid.

’I really underestimated this little trollop.’

’If the Old Madam arranges her marriage directly, bypassing me, how will I keep her under my thumb in the future?’

Although Lady Lou had been put in her place, Lady Wei still looked displeased.

Once they had left Lan Courtyard, Zhi Wan tugged on her sleeve. "Aunt, please don’t worry about me. I’ll be careful."

Lady Wei’s expression softened. Looking at the girl’s sweet, obedient face filled her with affection.

"I’ll have Nanny Fang accompany you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Aunt." Zhi Wan didn’t refuse.

Lady Wei sighed. "Don’t take that old woman’s words to heart."

Hearing her call the Old Madam "that old woman" so directly, Zhi Wan couldn’t help but laugh. She nodded. "Don’t worry, Aunt. I haven’t taken it to heart."

Lady Wei laughed as well, adding a word of caution, "When you go to the banquet tomorrow, be careful of Xuanyuan Jing. But be even more careful of Lu Jinglan. That girl is bad news."

Zhi Wan paused. "Little Aunt Jinglan...?"

"Just listen to your aunt. You won’t go wrong," Lady Wei said, not explaining further.

"I understand." Zhi Wan nodded.

A thought occurred to Lady Wei, and she asked, "Did Princess Gao Yang really chase your cousin all the way to the Duke Dingguo Mansion?"

Zhi Wan nodded. "Yes." After a moment’s thought, she recounted the incident in detail.

Lady Wei’s brow furrowed as she listened. "In that case, I’m afraid Princess Gao Yang is taking her anger out on you. She will surely make things difficult for you at the birthday banquet tomorrow. This won’t do. You shouldn’t go to the banquet at the Prince Gao Yang Mansion tomorrow."

"But if the Commandery Princess is targeting me, it won’t look good if I don’t go," Zhi Wan said.

Lady Wei said dismissively, "We’ll just make an excuse. Would Prince Gao Yang really make trouble for the Duke Dingguo Mansion over such a trivial matter? Don’t worry, nothing will happen."

"Aunt, if the Commandery Princess is determined to cause trouble for me, I can hide this time, but can I hide the next?" Zhi Wan said, her voice full of apprehension. "I think it’s better if I go."

After meeting Princess Gao Yang last time, she had made some inquiries. She learned that Prince Gao Yang was a powerful figure at court and the Crown Prince’s strongest rival.

’It would be terrible if I brought trouble upon my uncle and cousin.’

"Tomorrow is the Commandery Princess’s birthday banquet. With so many guests present, she’ll have to show some restraint and won’t dare do anything to me. Besides, didn’t you say you would have Nanny Fang come with me? If anything really happens, I’ll have Nanny Fang return to the mansion immediately to let you know."

Lady Wei thought for a moment before finally agreeing. "Alright. We’ll do it your way."

’It wasn’t that she was truly afraid of the Prince Gao Yang Mansion. Rather, an idea had occurred to her: she could have her son escort Wan’er.’

’With Lu Zhan looking after Wan’er, she would have nothing to worry about.’