Zhi Wan’s mind went blank.
Until a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK sounded at the cabin door.
Then ca Lady Wei’s voice. "Wan’er, may I co in?"
Zhi Wan jumped, hastily shoving her cousin away. Her face turned so crimson it looked like it might bleed. She spun around in a panic. "What do we do? It’s Aunt!"
"Don’t be afraid," Lu Zhan soothed, his voice husky as he held her.
Zhi Wan, thinking he had a plan, was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when she saw him suddenly walk toward the cabin door.
Her heart leaped into her throat. She wanted to stop him, but it was too late—her cousin had already pulled the door open.
Zhi Wan: "..."
Standing outside, Lady Wei froze the mont she saw her son open the door. Once she recovered, she stared at him suspiciously. "What are you doing here?"
"I just rembered I have sothing to discuss with you, Mother," Lu Zhan said with a perfectly straight face.
"What is it?" Lady Wei asked, confused.
"Let’s talk in your cabin," Lu Zhan said, perfectly composed.
As she listened to their footsteps recede, Zhi Wan’s pounding heart finally began to settle.
But when she recalled what her cousin had just done to her in that very cabin, her face burned red all over again.
’And he called ** brazen! From where I’m standing, he’s the one who’s got a lot of nerve!’
The thought of how close she’d co to being caught by her aunt made her feel deeply embarrassed.
She pressed a hand to her chest and poured herself another cup of tea.
As Lady Wei reached her own cabin door, the more she thought about it, the more sothing felt off. She stopped and turned. Seeing her son’s placid expression, her eyes narrowed. "All right, you should hurry and get off the boat," she said, exasperated. "We’re about to set sail."
Lu Zhan paused, knowing his mother had seen through him. He gave a light cough and nodded. "Mother, you and my cousin travel safely."
"I know. Now hurry along," Lady Wei said with a look of feigned annoyance.
Lu Zhan didn’t linger, quickly making his way off the boat.
Lady Wei stood on the deck, watching her son on the pier. She shook her head with an amused smile.
’Sothing to discuss, indeed,’ she thought. ’It was obvious he had a guilty conscience and just wanted to lure away.’
’As if I didn’t know what he’d co aboard for!’
’But since his and Wan’er’s marriage was about to be finalized, she supposed it was harmless for him to want a little preview of the sweetness to co, so long as they didn’t do anything too out of line.’
’Her son was a man of extres—once his heart was engaged, all rules and etiquette were tossed to the wind.’
’She never would have imagined that her son, always so self-restrained, proper, and composed, would one day act as impulsively as a hot-headed boy.’
’Ah, but it was good to be young,’ Lady Wei mused. ’To have the freedom to be so reckless.’
Lady Wei sighed to herself.
While Zhi Wan was traveling to Yangzhou with her aunt, Chen Jiu was in a prison cell, putting on a false-hearted act for Miss Liu.
Having not seen her for several months, Chen Jiu noted that Miss Liu’s belly had grown much larger.
When she saw Chen Jiu, a spark of light flared in her dull, lifeless eyes. "Chen Jiu? It’s really you!"
Chen Jiu said awkwardly, "Miss Liu. It’s been a while."
Hearing this, Miss Liu’s face fell. "You have the nerve to see ? You treacherous son of a bitch!"
Chen Jiu feigned anger. "If you’re going to talk to like that, then I’m leaving." With that, he turned and headed for the cell door.
Seeing this, Miss Liu frantically grabbed him. "I didn’t say you could go," she said urgently.
Only then did Chen Jiu stop. "What did you want from ?" he asked coolly.
Miss Liu didn’t answer. Instead, she lowered her head and began to wipe away tears. "You got our entire stronghold wiped out. The brothers have fallen into the hands of the governnt, and we don’t know if they’re dead or alive. I’m trapped in this prison. After all the misery you’ve brought upon us, can’t I even curse you a few tis?"
Chen Jiu sighed. "My hands were tied. My deed of servitude is still in Lu Zhan’s hands, so I have to obey his orders." He reached out and placed a hand on Miss Liu’s shoulder, promising solemnly, "But don’t you worry. I can’t save the others, but I will find a way to get you out of here."
Miss Liu was visibly moved. "Really?"
"Of course it’s true!" Chen Jiu declared, thumping his chest. "To be honest, I’ve been in tornt these past few months. Every ti I rember how good you were to , I feel so guilty I can barely eat or sleep. Now that Lu Zhan has finally transferred to Jiangning, I’m determined to find a way to get you out."
Tears of gratitude welled in Miss Liu’s eyes. "Chen Jiu, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you." With that, she leaned in to kiss him.
Startled, Chen Jiu leaped back.
Miss Liu’s face fell. "Are you disgusted by ?"
Fighting back the urge to gag, Chen Jiu reminded her awkwardly, "Miss Liu, you haven’t bathed in months. You... really stink."
Hearing this, Miss Liu looked down at herself and grew flustered. "I haven’t had a chance to bathe," she explained. "Once I get out, I promise I’ll wash myself clean."
"I’ll get you out as soon as I can," Chen Jiu said quickly. "I can’t stay too long, or Lu Zhan might get suspicious. I should go."
Miss Liu clung to his hand, unwilling to let go. "You have to co back for soon," she urged. "I can’t stand another day in this hellhole."
"Don’t worry, I will," Chen Jiu promised again.
Only then did Miss Liu release his hand, letting him leave.
The mont Chen Jiu stepped out of the jail, he saw Duan Ling waiting for him.
"So? Happy to see your old fla?" Duan Ling teased.
’If this guy wasn’t a friend of my Princely Heir,’ Chen Jiu thought, ’I’d find a dark and stormy night, throw a sack over his head, and beat the ever-living crap out of him.’
’Who cos up with such a rotten idea?!’
’Miss Liu might not be a good person, but deceiving a woman like this just didn’t sit right with him.’
’What a ss this all was.’
Seeing Chen Jiu’s sour expression, Duan Ling stopped teasing him. He cleared his throat and said, "Chen Jiu, that Miss Liu is a tough nut to crack. It’s been this long, and she still refuses to give up the mastermind behind all this. We had no other choice but to ask you to step in."
"I know you feel wronged by this. After it’s all over, I’ll be sure to reward you properly. I’ll even pick out a beautiful wife for you."
The mont he heard the word "beauty," Chen Jiu’s eyes lit up. The unease in his heart vanished like smoke, replaced by a fawning smile. "Junior Minister Duan, you’d better keep your word!"
"You have my word!" Duan Ling guaranteed.
Chen Jiu was inwardly gleeful.
So, later that evening, he personally simred a chicken soup and brought it to Miss Liu.
Delighted to see him again so soon, Miss Liu hurried to greet him. "Chen Jiu..."
"Miss Liu, seeing how gaunt you were earlier... my heart ached for you. And the child in your belly has suffered so much along with you, I worried if it was even growing properly. So I made you so chicken soup. Here, drink up." Chen Jiu placed the food container he was carrying on a low table and took out a tureen of chicken soup.
Miss Liu froze for a mont. She couldn’t help but touch her belly, and her eyes suddenly reddened. "Chen Jiu, you’re so good to ."
"It’s what I owe you," Chen Jiu said, ladling the soup into a bowl and handing it to her.
Looking at the fragrant, rich soup and the chicken leg in her bowl, Miss Liu suddenly burst into tears. "Chen Jiu, why have you never asked whose child this is?"
"That’s your private business. Why would I ask about it?" Chen Jiu said, scratching his head with a simple-minded look.
"I’ve been so foolish..." Miss Liu mumbled, then drank the soup in her bowl.
"Why would you say that about yourself?" Chen Jiu asked, feigning confusion.
Miss Liu gave a bitter smile. "This child... belongs to our leader. I knew his heart belonged only to his wife who died young, but I loved him anyway, recklessly. I took a chance... I drugged his tea and... we slept together..."
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