Zhi Wan finished her cup of cold tea, and her breathing steadied.
Sothing ca to mind, and her expression flickered. She took a clean nstrual cloth from her trunk and went into the washroom.
After changing, she rinsed out the used cloth.
Once she was done, she lay back down on the bed.
’In my dream, I could sll the alcohol on him. If I hadn’t woken up just now, would he have discovered I was on my period?’
The thought made her grateful she had woken up in ti.
’That would have been so embarrassing.’
She yawned. Seeing it was still early, she closed her eyes, intending to sleep a little longer.
anwhile, in the neighboring courtyard, Lu Zhan was also awake.
His eyes were clouded with desire.
A mont later, he rose and went into the washroom to take a cold bath.
By the ti he erged, the clarity had returned to his eyes.
Seeing the faint light of dawn outside, he decided against resting further. He picked up the case file Jiang Shi had brought back from the Jurong County Governnt yesterday and began to read.
...
Zhi Wan ended up sleeping in again.
When Ouyang Zhenzhu ca looking for her, she teased, "What were you doing last night? You were sleeping so soundly. I ca to call for you several tis."
Zhi Wan felt a pang of guilt. "Perhaps I just didn’t sleep well the night before last."
Ouyang Zhenzhu heard this and believed her, not pressing the matter further.
Zhi Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, Miss, the Princely Heir had soone deliver this for you this morning," Shuang’er said, handing a box to Zhi Wan.
"My cousin sent this?" Zhi Wan asked, taking the box in surprise.
"Yes," Shuang’er confird with a nod.
Zhi Wan curiously opened the box. She froze when she saw it was filled with silver notes.
Ouyang Zhenzhu leaned in for a closer look, green with envy. "Mr. Lu is so good to you! He gave you so many silver notes. I wish I had a cousin like him."
Zhi Wan snapped out of her daze. A part of her was happy, but she also found it strange.
’Why would my cousin suddenly give so much money?’
"Wanwan, can you please tell Mr. Lu that I want to be his sister, too?" Ouyang Zhenzhu pleaded, hugging Zhi Wan’s arm.
Zhi Wan was speechless.
"Miss Ouyang, if Junior Minister Ouyang heard that, he’d be heartbroken," Nanny Fang said, unable to stifle a chuckle.
"He’d be heartbroken? As if! He’d rather spend his salary at brothels than spend a single coin on ." The more Ouyang Zhenzhu spoke, the more frustrated she beca. "Why couldn’t Mr. Lu be my brother?"
Her antics made the others laugh.
Zhi Wan couldn’t help but smile.
After a mont of laughter, she closed the box. "I’ll return this to my cousin later."
"Why would you return it?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked, looking at her in confusion.
Zhi Wan said helplessly, "I can’t accept it. I haven’t done anything to deserve it."
Ouyang Zhenzhu didn’t understand. "Mr. Lu must think of you as his own sister. That’s why he gave you the silver notes. If you refuse, it’ll just seem like you’re being distant."
"That may be true, but I still can’t take my cousin’s money." Zhi Wan was firm.
’My aunt and uncle are already so good to , and my cousin has taken such good care of lately. How could I accept his money with a clear conscience?’
With that thought, she stood up decisively. "I’m going to return this to him right now."
Shuang’er quickly said, "Miss, the Princely Heir isn’t here. I saw him go out."
Zhi Wan paused. "He went out?"
"Mhm, he left shortly after dawn," Shuang’er confird.
Hearing this, Zhi Wan had to drop the idea.
’I’ll just have to wait for him to get back and return the silver notes then.’
"Wanwan, the weather’s nice today. Let’s go out for a walk," Ouyang Zhenzhu suggested.
Zhi Wan had planned on painting, but she agreed.
It had been raining constantly when they first arrived in Yangzhou, and then Zhenzhu had gone with her back to Jurong. They hadn’t had a chance to properly explore the city.
"Should we invite Junior Minister Duan to co along?" Zhi Wan asked.
"Why would we invite him? He’s not at the villa anyway," Ouyang Zhenzhu said with a pout.
"Then where did he go?" Zhi Wan asked.
Ouyang Zhenzhu sneered. "I bet he’s gone to Haitang Pavilion to see that Fang Fei woman."
Zhi Wan was at a loss for words.
’This girl is still hung up about last night.’
She looked at Ouyang Zhenzhu thoughtfully. "You seem to care a lot."
"Care about what?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked, montarily stunned.
"About Junior Minister Duan..." Zhi Wan paused deliberately. Just before Ouyang Zhenzhu could get angry, she quickly added, "And his association with that girl from the brothel."
"That’s ridiculous! I don’t care at all. I’m just worried he’ll catch so disease and pass it to my brother or Mr. Lu. After all, they’re always together," Ouyang Zhenzhu said, her voice rising.
Zhi Wan blinked. "Alright, then I was just talking nonsense."
Ouyang Zhenzhu put her hands on her hips, annoyed. "Are you trying to get a rise out of on purpose?"
"No, of course not," Zhi Wan quickly tried to placate her. "It was my mistake. Please don’t be angry."
Ouyang Zhenzhu huffed, but still not satisfied, she reached out and squished Zhi Wan’s cheeks.
Zhi Wan endured it silently.
After so playful roughhousing, the two of them left the villa with Shuang’er and Xi’er in tow.
They declined the carriage Elder Tian had arranged and walked to the bustling city center instead.
"Miss, I’d like to buy so silk thread," Shuang’er said, pointing to a stall.
"Go ahead," Zhi Wan nodded.
So Shuang’er pulled Xi’er along with her to choose so.
"Co one, co all, don’t miss out! The finest jade jewelry right here! Fair prices, honest dealing for one and all!"
The shouted cry from a nearby stall caught Zhi Wan’s attention.
Zhi Wan pulled Ouyang Zhenzhu over to have a look.
"What can I get for you two young ladies?" the vendor asked enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up.
Zhi Wan didn’t answer. Her eyes scanned the jades at the stall until they landed on a green Cloud Jade Pendant.
She reached out to pick it up. "How much is this?"
"An excellent eye, Miss! The quality of that jade is superb. For you, just ten taels of silver," the vendor said with a broad smile.
Ouyang Zhenzhu tried to dissuade her. "Wanwan, you won’t find any real quality jade at a street stall. Why don’t we check a proper shop later?"
The vendor was instantly displeased. "Miss, you’ve got no eye for these things. Just because my prices are low doesn’t an the quality is poor. You can ask around! The jade sold by , Wang San, is famous far and wide."
"Famous far and wide? Don’t make laugh," Ouyang Zhenzhu said, crossing her arms. "The things at this stall are worth one tael of silver at most. You’ve got so nerve asking for ten."
The vendor grew frantic. "Miss, everything I have here is quality! That jade pendant in the other young lady’s hand? Ten taels is a steal! If I’m trying to swindle you, you can go right ahead and call the guards on !"
Ouyang Zhenzhu was about to say more, but Zhi Wan stopped her. "Zhenzhu, I like this Jade Pendant."
"Well, if you like it, then buy it." Seeing how much Zhi Wan wanted it, Ouyang Zhenzhu said no more and took out so silver to pay the vendor.
"I can’t let you pay for it." Zhi Wan gently pushed her hand back and took out ten taels of silver from her own purse, handing it to the vendor.
The vendor bead, imdiately finding an exquisite box for the pendant. "You’re so decisive, Miss! My first custor of the day. As a bonus, I’ll give you this bracelet."
"Thank you," Zhi Wan said. She took the box and clutched it to her chest, unable to take her eyes off it.
Seeing her expression, Ouyang Zhenzhu teased, "Don’t tell you’re planning to give that to a secret lover?"
Zhi Wan jumped. "Don’t say such things! I don’t have a secret lover!"
"Then who’s it for?"
"I’m keeping it for myself. Is that so wrong?"
"But you can tell at a glance that this Jade Pendant is ant for a man," Ouyang Zhenzhu stated confidently.
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