The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 77: The Goddess Has Feelings, Prince Xiang Has No Dream
Zhi Wan felt the hand Lu Jinglan had linked with hers stiffen.
She paused, turning to look at the innocent-faced Lu Lan. ’I never realized Lu Lan had such a loose tongue.’
’But was she really being unintentional?’
’If anyone else heard that, what would they assume about my cousin and me?’
Zhi Wan suppressed her anger and said nonchalantly, "Lu Lan, have you injured your eyes?"
Lu Lan was taken aback. "My eyes aren’t injured..."
"If they’re not injured, then why are you seeing things?" Zhi Wan sighed. "My cousin regards me as a sister, and I respect him as a brother. If we’re wearing clothes of the same color and standing together, doesn’t that just make us look more like actual siblings?"
Lu Lan was speechless.
A smile touched Lu Jinglan’s lips. "That’s right. Jinzhi has long considered Wan’er a little sister." She then looked at Lu Lan, her expression turning serious as she warned, "Lu Lan, it’s one thing to speak without thinking at home. Our family will hear it and won’t think much of it. But if an outsider heard what you just said, it would undoubtedly damage Jinzhi’s good name and bring malicious gossip upon the Duke Dingguo Mansion."
Lu Lan’s expression faltered. "Auntie, I was just speaking off the cuff. I was only joking."
"We are not at home. We are out, at the Prince Gao Yang Mansion. You must choose your time and place for jokes. While you’re here today, remember to watch what you say and do. Don’t bring trouble upon our Duke Dingguo Mansion," Lu Jinglan said gravely.
"I understand." Lu Lan lowered her head.
Zhi Wan glanced at her.
Lu Lan’s provocations today, whether intentional or not, confirmed her earlier suspicions.
’Lu Lan really does blame me for her own misfortunes.’
When Xuanyuan Jing learned that Lu Zhan had come to the Prince Mansion, she actually came out to greet him personally.
"Lu Zhan!" Her face was full of joy, as if she had forgotten the unpleasantness that had occurred last time in front of the Duke Dingguo Mansion.
Lu Zhan’s expression was cold. "The Commandery Princess invited my cousins, and my mother asked me to escort them."
This was his way of explaining that he had not come for her birthday.
But Xuanyuan Jing didn’t care about the reason. As long as Lu Zhan was here, she was happy.
"Please, come inside and have a seat." Xuanyuan Jing’s tone was light. As a result, even her gaze toward Zhi Wan was much less harsh, though her expression remained arrogant. "Zhi Wan?"
"Greetings, Commandery Princess." Zhi Wan stepped forward to curtsy, then took a box from Nanny Fang and offered it to her. "A small token of my well wishes. Please accept it, Your Highness." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan also curtsied to Xuanyuan Jing in turn.
Xuanyuan Jing glanced at the contents of the box, saying neither that she liked it nor disliked it. She simply passed the box to the serving girl behind her, her eyes turning to Lu Zhan, her gaze burning.
Lu Zhan turned his head to look at Chen Jiu.
Chen Jiu immediately presented a box.
Xuanyuan Jing eagerly took it, but when she opened it, her expression stiffened slightly. "Tea leaves?"
"I am a man of simple means. A box of tea is all I can offer," Lu Zhan said, his handsome face impassive.
If it had been a gift from anyone else, Xuanyuan Jing would have thrown the box away long ago.
But this was from Lu Zhan. Although it wasn’t to her liking, she still accepted it. "I’m already very happy that you could come."
"What about us? Are you happy to see us?" At that moment, a teasing voice rang out.
Zhi Wan looked over and saw it was Duan Ling and Ouyang Lei.
Zhi Wan was a little surprised to see the two of them appear together. Just then, a head popped out from behind them, calling out with a grin, "Wanwan!"
"Zhenzhu!" Zhi Wan was both surprised and delighted.
Ouyang Zhenzhu had already run over.
She first curtsied to Xuanyuan Jing and presented her gift, then affectionately grabbed Zhi Wan’s hand.
Seeing Duan Ling and Ouyang Lei, Xuanyuan Jing lifted her chin high, saying with disdain, "What’s there to be happy about, seeing you two?"
Duan Ling smirked. "Is that so? A shame the Goddess is interested, but Prince Xiang has no such dreams."
Xuanyuan Jing’s expression changed, and she snapped, "Shut your mouth!"
"But it’s the Commandery Princess’s birthday today. You should be happy," Duan Ling said with a broad, cheerful smile.
Xuanyuan Jing clenched her fists, wanting to lash out, but seeing Lu Zhan to the side, she restrained herself. She instructed a nearby servant, "Take these gentlemen to see my father, the Prince."
"Yes, Your Highness." The servant bowed and walked over to Lu Zhan and his companions. "This way, my lords. Please follow me."
As Lu Zhan was leaving, he said to Zhi Wan, "After the banquet ends, I will wait for you outside the mansion."
"Yes." Zhi Wan nodded obediently.
Seeing her obedient appearance, Lu Zhan paused, then his gaze shifted to Xuanyuan Jing. "Commandery Princess, this cousin of mine has always been timid and shy around strangers. I must trouble you to look after her."
Xuanyuan Jing was initially a little happy that he was speaking to her, but after hearing his words, her face immediately fell. "What do you mean by that? Are you implying I would give her a hard time?"
"The Commandery Princess is extraordinarily magnanimous; naturally, you wouldn’t make things difficult for a young girl," Lu Zhan said lightly.
"I’m still a young girl too," Xuanyuan Jing pouted.
"AHEM, AHEM..." Ouyang Lei looked like he was about to bring up last night’s dinner.
To be fair, Xuanyuan Jing wasn’t old. But she was famous throughout the Capital City for being fierce and unreasonable. She was known to call for beatings and killings at the slightest provocation, vicious to the core. To see her put on such a delicate, girlish act was genuinely nauseating.
Duan Ling also felt a bit sick to his stomach, but he held it in.
Lu Zhan ignored Xuanyuan Jing and followed the Prince Mansion’s servant away.
"Old Lu never attends these kinds of banquets. Why did he come today? And he even dragged the two of us along," Duan Ling said, confused.
"A task from my mother." Lu Zhan frowned. "I brought you two along to avoid suspicion."
"Your mother really treasures Cousin Zhi Wan." After this remark, Duan Ling’s gaze landed on Lu Zhan, and he let out a surprised, "Huh? Why does the robe you’re wearing today look like it’s the same color as Cousin Zhi Wan’s dress?"
"You’re not seeing things. It is the same color," Ouyang Lei said, casting a teasing glance at Lu Zhan. "I never knew you had such a romantic side."
Lu Zhan said coldly, "It’s merely a coincidence."
The two had wanted to tease him more, but they shut their mouths upon seeing they had arrived at the main hall of the Prince Gao Yang Mansion.
Zhi Wan’s group followed Xuanyuan Jing to the garden.
When they reached the entrance, Xuanyuan Jing stopped and looked at Zhi Wan with suspicion. "Why are you also wearing purple?"
Zhi Wan knew she had noticed that her clothes matched her cousin’s. She explained, "Today is the Commandery Princess’s birthday banquet, so of course I had to wear something formal and elegant to show my respect for you. That’s why I chose this purple dress. I had no idea my cousin would also be here, much less wearing the same color. It is purely a coincidence!"
Xuanyuan Jing finally dropped the subject. But as she looked at Zhi Wan’s beautiful face, her brow furrowed, and she warned, "You are forbidden from having any designs on Lu Zhan!"
Zhi Wan’s face paled. "I regard my cousin as a brother! How could I possibly harbor such disgusting thoughts? Please be careful with your words, Commandery Princess!"
Seeing her face had turned pale, Xuanyuan Jing finally believed her. "Good. Otherwise..." She moved closer, staring at her beautiful face, and said viciously, "I would destroy this face of yours and throw you into a beggar’s den!"
After saying that, she led the way into the garden.
Seeing that Zhi Wan’s complexion wasn’t good, Ouyang Zhenzhu supported her and consoled her in a low voice, "You don’t need to be afraid of that venomous woman. Someone can handle her."
"What?" Zhi Wan asked, confused.
