The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 76: Those Who Don’t Know Might Mistake You for a Married Couple
Yaoguang Pavilion.
When Zhi Wan awoke, she found it was still dark outside.
She grew a little irritated as she recalled what the man in her dream had said.
’That man actually thought I was a courtesan?’
But on second thought, a misunderstanding was fine. She had no intention of letting him know her true identity anyway.
This misunderstanding could even save her a lot of trouble.
With that thought, Zhi Wan was no longer angry at all.
However, when she remembered what that man had done to her in the dream, she couldn’t help but touch the top of her thigh.
After it was over, the area had been burning hot and stinging.
But it didn’t hurt now.
Even so, she still pulled down her trousers to check.
Seeing no marks on her delicate, fair skin, she was finally relieved.
Still, she had certainly learned something new tonight.
’So that’s how it is between men and women,’ she thought. ’You can do it even through clothes...’
She felt a strange sensation in her heart, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was wrong.
Remembering she had to go to Prince Gao Yang Mansion tomorrow, she stopped thinking about it and lay back down to sleep.
「The next day.」
Zhi Wan had just finished dressing when Nanny Fang arrived.
"Miss, the mistress has instructed this old servant to accompany you to Prince Gao Yang Mansion."
"Thank you for your trouble," Zhi Wan said.
"This is the birthday gift the mistress prepared," Nanny Fang said, handing a box to Zhi Wan for her inspection.
Zhi Wan opened it and saw a pair of ruby earrings.
Such a gift was neither too extravagant nor too perfunctory. It was very suitable as a birthday present for Princess Gao Yang.
"Aunt is always so thoughtful," Zhi Wan said, closing the lid and handing it back to Nanny Fang for safekeeping.
She had originally prepared a landscape painting she had done herself as a birthday gift for Xuanyuan Jing. Since her aunt had prepared another gift, there was no need to give her painting anymore.
When they reached the front courtyard, Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan were already there.
Seeing Nanny Fang following behind Zhi Wan, the two were a little surprised. "Nanny Fang, you’re coming with us?"
Nanny Fang smiled and nodded. "The mistress asked this old servant to come along to take care of the Miss."
A flicker of understanding crossed Lu Jinglan’s eyes as she nodded. "Sister-in-law is truly thoughtful."
But a flash of jealousy flickered in Lu Lan’s downcast eyes.
’Aunt is so good to Zhi Wan,’ she thought. ’She’s so considerate of her in every way, even sending her trusted confidante, Nanny Fang, to accompany her to a simple banquet.’
When she looked up again, her expression was normal. She walked forward, intimately took Zhi Wan’s hand, and praised, "Sister Zhi Wan, you look so beautiful today. This dress really complements your skin tone."
Zhi Wan was wearing a purple dress today. Her hair was simply styled in a single coiled bun, tied with a matching silk ribbon and adorned with a single jeweled flower.
It looked simple, yet it gave off an air of nobility.
"Don’t make fun of me," Zhi Wan said with a smile, pulling her hand back.
Ever since she realized Lu Lan might blame her for what had happened, she had been on guard against her.
Lu Lan’s sudden intimacy felt unusual to her.
"It’s getting late. We should get going," Zhi Wan said, looking at Lu Jinglan.
Lu Jinglan nodded. "Let’s go."
Outside the mansion gates, three carriages were waiting.
The one at the very front was Lu Zhan’s exclusive carriage.
Chen Jiu, who was waiting there, saw Zhi Wan come out and quickly reported to the person inside the carriage, "Princely Heir, the Miss is here."
"Mm," Lu Zhan responded without showing his face.
Lu Lan immediately spotted Lu Zhan’s carriage and Chen Jiu waiting by it. "Huh? Is Big Brother going out too?" she exclaimed in surprise.
Hearing this, Zhi Wan and Lu Jinglan looked toward the carriage and saw that it was indeed Lu Zhan’s.
Lu Jinglan strode over quickly. "Jinzhi, you’re back so early today?" As she spoke, she approached the carriage and knocked on the window frame. "Jinzhi!"
Lu Zhan heard her voice but didn’t open the window, merely asking coolly, "Is something the matter?"
Lu Jinglan, used to his behavior, laughed. "It’s nothing, I just wanted to ask if you were heading out."
"Mm," Lu Zhan replied.
"Where are you going?" Lu Jinglan pressed.
But this time, Lu Zhan didn’t respond.
Lu Jinglan felt a little dejected, but remembering his usual disposition, she let it go.
She was about to ask Chen Jiu when Nanny Fang came over and said first, "Miss Jinglan, the Princely Heir is also going to Prince Gao Yang Mansion."
"Jinzhi is going to Prince Gao Yang Mansion too?" Lu Jinglan was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Well, we can travel together then."
Nanny Fang nodded and respectfully announced to the carriage, "Princely Heir, the Miss is ready. We can depart now."
"Mm." A low male voice came from inside the carriage.
After that, Chen Jiu drove the carriage away.
Lu Jinglan withdrew her gaze and looked at Zhi Wan, her eyes holding a faint hint of scrutiny.
Lu Lan, however, smiled and said, "Sister Zhi Wan, Aunt is truly meticulous in her care for you. It wasn’t enough to send Nanny Fang; she even had Big Brother come along to look after you."
’That’s absurd,’ Zhi Wan thought. ’My cousin is busy with countless affairs, how could he have so much free time? Besides, I never heard Aunt mention this. There’s no way he’s going to Prince Gao Yang Mansion because of me.’
Seeing both of them looking at her with complicated expressions, she frowned. "That’s not it. My cousin knows Princess Gao Yang as well. Perhaps the Commandery Princess herself invited him."
Hearing this, Lu Jinglan’s expression cleared. She took both of their hands and said, "Alright, let’s get in the carriage. Jinzhi has already left."
The three of them took one carriage, while the accompanying maids and old nannies took the one behind.
When they arrived outside the Prince Gao Yang Mansion, the area was already full of carriages. Clearly, many people had come to celebrate Xuanyuan Jing’s birthday today.
Just as the three of them disembarked from the carriage, Chen Jiu approached. "Miss Jinglan, Miss, Third Miss, the Princely Heir is waiting up ahead."
"Then let’s hurry over. We mustn’t keep Jinzhi waiting," Lu Jinglan said quickly.
Like a considerate elder, she beckoned to Zhi Wan and Lu Lan while walking ahead herself.
Zhi Wan walked behind her. Noticing Chen Jiu’s gaze, she paused and asked in a low voice, "Ah Jiu, what is it?"
Chen Jiu was looking at her dress with a strange expression. "The Princely Heir..."
"What about the Princely Heir?" Zhi Wan asked, confused.
Chen Jiu cleared his throat and stammered, "Miss, you’ll understand when you see him in a moment."
Zhi Wan was a bit puzzled, but she didn’t dwell on it.
It wasn’t until she saw Lu Zhan that she understood why Chen Jiu had been stammering earlier.
’Her cousin was wearing robes the same color as her dress?!’
She wasn’t the only one who was astonished; the others were just as surprised.
Lu Zhan’s gaze paused on Zhi Wan for a moment before shifting away, a trace of surprise flashing in the depths of his eyes.
"Did you two... plan this?" Lu Jinglan raised an eyebrow, her tone seemingly teasing, but her hand clutching her handkerchief tightened slightly.
Zhi Wan hadn’t expected such an awkward coincidence. She hurriedly explained, "No, not at all. I didn’t know my cousin was coming, and I certainly didn’t know..."
"Let’s go in," Lu Zhan said, cutting her off.
Zhi Wan froze, looking at him in confusion.
’Why won’t my cousin let me explain? Isn’t he afraid of being misunderstood?’
Seeing that Lu Zhan didn’t seem to care, Lu Jinglan’s smile returned. She took Zhi Wan’s arm and said mischievously, "You two cousins really have a tacit understanding."
"Little Aunt Jinglan, please stop teasing me. Today was purely a coincidence," Zhi Wan said with a helpless expression.
"Sister Zhi Wan, dressed like that today, you and Big Brother look so well-matched standing together. Anyone who didn’t know better would probably think you were husband and wife," Lu Lan whispered in her ear. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was loud enough for Lu Jinglan to hear.
