The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 83: Lu Zhan, You Refined Scoundrel

Lu Zhan was quite satisfied. "It’s getting late. Go back."

"Yes," Zhi Wan replied.

Back in Yaoguang Pavilion, Shuang’er couldn’t help but say, "Miss, I also smelled the scent of perfume and powder on the Princely Heir. Do you think he was having a rendezvous with some young lady?"

Upon hearing this, Zhi Wan reminded her, "We can talk about this amongst ourselves, but don’t go shouting it everywhere. You’ll ruin Cousin’s good reputation."

"I know," Shuang’er said at once. "But if his mother found out, she would surely be delighted."

Zhi Wan nodded. "That’s true. Auntie has always been worried about Cousin’s marriage. If he really has found a girl he fancies, Auntie won’t have to worry anymore."

"I wonder what kind of girl could make someone as ascetic as the Princely Heir fall for her?" Shuang’er said, full of curiosity.

Zhi Wan was also a little curious.

’But any girl who could capture the heart of someone like my cousin must be extraordinary!’

「The next day, at the Ministry of Justice.」

As evening fell and it was time to get off work, Duan Ling and Ouyang Lei were discussing which brothel to go to for drinks and women when Lu Zhan walked out of his office.

"Where are you two headed?"

The two knew his temperament. He would never set foot in a brothel unless a case was involved, so they deliberately asked, "We’re going out for drinks with the ladies. You in?"

Lu Zhan glanced at the two of them and slowly nodded. "Alright."

The two of them: "..."

’Did we hear that right?’

’Old Lu wants to go carousing with us?’

The two were so shocked their jaws dropped wide enough to fit a duck egg.

"Aren’t you leaving?" Lu Zhan frowned.

"Old Lu, are you serious?" Duan Ling snapped out of it and hurried to catch up.

"Do I look like I’m joking?" Lu Zhan retorted calmly.

Ouyang Lei rubbed his chin. "I was just thinking, it’s not like the sun rose from the west today. Old Lu, what’s gotten into you?"

"There’s definitely something wrong. Maybe it’s a trap!" Duan Ling narrowed his eyes, giving Lu Zhan a thorough once-over. "Did something happen to you?"

Lu Zhan ignored them and simply asked, "Which place were you planning on going to today?"

"The Spring Breeze Building, of course," the two said in unison.

Lu Zhan frowned. "You guys always go there. Don’t you get tired of it?"p>

"Do you have a better idea, then?" they quickly asked.

"I hear the Ruyi Building has a lot of new girls. Want to go check it out?" Lu Zhan asked nonchalantly.

The two of them: "..."

Ouyang Lei couldn’t hold back. "You well-dressed scoundrel, you actually know so much! You must have been visiting plenty of brothels behind our backs. And to think, last time in front of your cousin Zhi Wan, you swore up and down that you only go to brothels to investigate cases.

It’s clear to me you’ve been using ’investigating cases’ as an excuse for all sorts of romantic escapades.

I’m definitely going to tell Cousin Zhi Wan about your wicked ways and let her know you don’t practice what you preach."

Lu Zhan’s handsome brows furrowed slightly. Then, unhurriedly, he said, "If you want your mother to know that you spend your entire monthly salary on carousing, then by all means, go ahead and tell her."

Ouyang Lei was instantly speechless.

The last time, he had gone to great lengths to bribe Ouyang Zhenzhu and shut her up. He couldn’t let Lu Jinzhi ruin his plans.

At this thought, Ouyang Lei immediately said with a solemn expression, "I swear, I will not say a single word in front of Cousin Zhi Wan to ruin the image you have in her eyes."

Duan Ling sneered, full of contempt. "You two have the guts to do it but not to admit it. Unlike me. When I go carousing, I’ve always been open and honest about it."

"Old Lu, it’s been a while since we’ve paid our respects to the Old Prince. Tomorrow, let’s make a trip to the Huainan Prince Mansion and have a little chat with him," Ouyang Lei immediately said to Lu Zhan.

Lu Zhan glanced at Duan Ling and said slowly, "Good idea."

Duan Ling: "..."

He gritted his teeth and pointed at the two of them. "You guys are ruthless!"

"Oh? Didn’t you just say you’ve always been open and honest about your carousing? Why are you getting so flustered the moment we mention visiting your esteemed mansion? Could it be you’re afraid of the Old Prince’s cane?" Ouyang Lei said with a punchable look on his face.

Duan Ling: "..."

...

In the Capital City, although the Ruyi Building wasn’t as sought-after by high officials and nobles as the Spring Breeze Building, it was a brothel that had risen rapidly in the last two years, and its business was quite prosperous.

When the three arrived at the Ruyi Building, Duan Ling magnanimously ordered a whole bevy of girls to attend to them.

After the Madam led a group of girls into the room, Duan Ling pointed to the two prettiest ones and said, "You two, serve this gentleman well. If you do a good job, I will reward you handsomely."

When the two chosen girls looked at the man he was pointing to, their cheeks immediately flushed, and their hearts bloomed with delight.

They had welcomed and seen off so many clients here, but they had never seen a man so handsome and with such a noble, refined air.

The two of them scrambled to be the first to rush over.

"My lord, please let me serve you..."

"No, let me do it."

The other girls also watched, eager to make a move. They had never seen such a good-looking man.

Although the other two gentlemen weren’t bad-looking either, they paled in comparison to the man sitting in the center.

The ignored Ouyang Lei slapped the table. "Hello? Are we invisible to you?"

The Madam said with a placating smile, "Don’t be angry, my lord. These girls are just inexperienced." Turning to the girls, she said, "Why aren’t you hurrying over to serve the two gentlemen?"

Only then did the girls reluctantly walk towards Duan Ling and Ouyang Lei.

Ouyang Lei was so angry he laughed.

’Usually, when girls see us, they’re as passionate as fire, you know?’

’But the moment Lu Zhan is around, the girls can’t see anyone else.’

’If I’d known, I wouldn’t have brought this guy along.’

"Stop!" On the other side, Lu Zhan’s cold voice stopped the two girls who were about to pounce on him.

The two girls, who had been brimming with enthusiasm just a moment ago, immediately stood frozen in place, looking as if they’d done something wrong.

Lu Zhan didn’t look at them, but at the Madam. "Doesn’t the Ruyi Building have any other girls?"

Hearing this, the Madam’s expression turned a little sour. ’Could it be that this gentleman doesn’t fancy any of the girls in my establishment?’

’I hand-picked all of these girls myself, you know.’

’But it makes sense. One look at him and you can tell his status is extraordinary. His coming to the Ruyi Building was probably just a fluke.’

Wanting to keep this valuable client, the Madam immediately put on a fawning smile. "We do have other fine girls at the Ruyi Building. I wonder, what sort of temperament is my lord looking for?"

Lu Zhan paused, then said lightly, "I want someone feisty and fiery. And preferably... someone who knows how to have fun."

When Duan Ling and Ouyang Lei heard this, they almost fell off their chairs.

They stared at Lu Zhan with wide eyes, as if he were a stranger.

’The three of us have known each other since we were children, yet we had no idea this man was such a good actor. He usually acts so aloof from women, so ascetic, with a look of having no desires at all. We never expected him to have such a wild side.’

’He’s been fooling us so completely.’

’And here we were, frequenting brothels and calling ourselves experts in the art of love. It seems we’re far too conservative compared to Lu Zhan.’

’Feisty and fiery is one thing, but he even wants someone who "knows how to have fun"?’

’Does that mean what we think it means?’

The two were both shocked and utterly impressed.

’No wonder he’s our superior. We’re not even in the same league when it comes to this sort of thing.’

When the Madam heard this, she gave a knowing smile. "I understand. I’ll go make the arrangements right away."

Lu Zhan ignored the looks of awe and shock from his two friends and said calmly to the group of girls, "Place the index finger of your left hand on your nose."

The girls were stunned, but they obediently did as they were told.

"Old Lu, what game are you playing?" Duan Ling asked, looking astonished.