Ouyang Zhenzhu said with a wide smile, "You’re leaving tomorrow morning, right? I’ll just sleep here tonight, then I can leave with you tomorrow. It’ll save us from rushing around and wasting ti."
Zhi Wan: "..."
Seeing her troubled expression, Ouyang Zhenzhu asked cautiously, "What’s wrong? Is there a problem? Or are you worried your aunt won’t agree? Don’t worry, I’ll go talk to her myself."
Zhi Wan sighed. "My aunt isn’t going anymore. Tomorrow, I’m leaving with just my cousin."
"Ah?" Ouyang Zhenzhu was surprised.
Looking at the bundle Ouyang Zhenzhu was clutching, Zhi Wan didn’t have the heart to refuse her. After a mont’s thought, she said, "If you really want to go, I’ll ask my cousin first. If he agrees, then there shouldn’t be a problem."
"Okay, then go quickly," Ouyang Zhenzhu urged.
As Zhi Wan was about to leave, Ouyang Zhenzhu thought of sothing, pulled her back, and added, "Tell Mr. Lu that I’ll be on my best behavior. I’ll listen to everything and won’t cause him any trouble at all."
"Alright," Zhi Wan agreed, then left with Shuang’er.
When they were nearing Qingyun Residence, Zhi Wan stopped. She didn’t go any closer, instead sending Shuang’er to ask for Lu Zhan.
A short while later, Lu Zhan himself actually ca out with Shuang’er.
"Cousin." Zhi Wan hurried forward to greet him.
Lu Zhan asked, "Did sothing happen?"
"Well, it’s about Zhenzhu. She just arrived at the residence, saying she wants to visit Yangzhou and travel with us. Her parents have already agreed," Zhi Wan began, a little embarrassed. "She didn’t know that my aunt isn’t going anymore. I saw that she’d already brought her luggage, so... I ca to ask if you would be willing to let her co with us, Cousin."
’It was already troubleso enough for him to take her along. If Ouyang Zhenzhu was added to the group, she was afraid her cousin would be displeased.’
But she couldn’t bear to see Ouyang Zhenzhu leave in disappointnt, so she had no choice but to co and ask.
"Then let her co," Lu Zhan said.
Zhi Wan looked at him in surprise. She hadn’t expected her cousin to agree so readily, without the slightest hesitation.
eting the young woman’s astonished gaze, Lu Zhan paused for a mont before explaining, "It’s a long journey. If Ouyang Zhenzhu cos along, she can keep you company and help pass the ti."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan was both overjoyed and touched. "Thank you, Cousin."
Lu Zhan shook his head and asked in a gentle voice, "Is there anything else?"
"No, nothing," Zhi Wan said quickly. "You can get back to your work then, Cousin. I’ll be going."
"Alright. Be at the main gate tomorrow morning at 5 a.m.," Lu Zhan instructed, then turned and went back into Qingyun Residence.
With the matter settled, Zhi Wan was thrilled and wanted to hurry back to tell Ouyang Zhenzhu the good news.
"Wan’er, what were you just discussing with Jinzhi?"
Just then, two figures erged from behind a flowering tree.
It was Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan.
Seeing the two of them, Zhi Wan felt her good mood sour. "Nothing important," she said coolly.
Lu Jinglan frowned slightly, her expression disapproving. "Nothing? But I could have sworn I heard you begging Jinzhi to take Ouyang Zhenzhu to Yangzhou. Wan’er, that’s rather thoughtless of you. Jinzhi is traveling on official business. Taking you is already trouble enough for him. If you bring an outsider along, it will surely interfere with his duties."
Zhi Wan found this almost laughable. ’So she heard everything but still pretended to ask, and now she’s lecturing like an elder.’
She felt a surge of disgust but kept her expression innocent. "But Cousin has already agreed."
Lu Jinglan’s eyes narrowed as she studied Zhi Wan’s pretty face.
’How had she never noticed before that Zhi Wan was so good at finding opportunities to appear before Jinzhi?’
Although they called each other ’cousin,’ they weren’t actually cousins at all—not even distant relatives. And now, they were about to travel together.
The journey to Yangzhou was not a short one.
’If Zhi Wan used this trip as an opportunity to get closer to Jinzhi, then...’
A cold glint flashed in Lu Jinglan’s eyes.
’She absolutely could not allow that to happen!’
"Sister Zhi Wan, Big Brother is traveling on official business," Lu Lan said, her brow furrowed in disapproval. "Ouyang Zhenzhu may be your good friend, but she’s still an outsider. You really shouldn’t be causing trouble for him."
"Then what do you think I should do now? My cousin has already agreed, and I’ve already promised Zhenzhu that she could co along," Zhi Wan said, looking at her as if asking for advice.
Lu Lan fidgeted with the handkerchief in her hands and lowered her eyes. "If Sister Zhi Wan truly wanted to be considerate of Big Brother, she should take the initiative to cancel this with him."
Zhi Wan put on a troubled expression. "You’re right. But I’ve already bothered my cousin about this once, and I’d be too embarrassed to trouble him again. Lu Lan, you’re so good-natured, gentle, and kind. Why don’t you go talk to him?"
The thought of her elder brother’s stern, unsmiling face made Lu Lan’s pupils contract, and she took a step back.
In her heart, her big brother intimidated her even more than her own father.
Her gaze flickered away as she said softly, "This is a ss of Sister Zhi Wan’s own making. It’s only right that she resolve it herself."
"Oh, so you don’t dare to go? I don’t dare to either," Zhi Wan said with a blink.
Lu Lan clenched her handkerchief tighter.
Zhi Wan thought this was just a minor incident and didn’t give it another thought. She never expected that, later that evening, Old Madam Lu would send soone to summon her.
She had a faint suspicion that it had sothing to do with Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan.
Composed, she followed the servant to Fushou Hall.
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhan and Lady Wei were also there.
"Greetings, Old Madam Lu, Aunt, Cousin." Zhi Wan bowed to each of them in turn.
"Have a seat," Old Madam Lu said, her expression cold.
After having Zhi Wan sit beside her, Lady Wei spoke up. "Mother, why have you summoned us all here so late at night?"
Old Madam Lu glanced at her and got straight to the point. "Jinglan has never been to Jiangnan and has always longed to go. Since Jinzhi is heading to Jiangnan on official business, it’s a perfect opportunity for Jinglan to go along. On the way, she can even take care of Jinzhi and Zhi Wan."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan couldn’t help but look toward Lu Jinglan. ’So this was her plan all along, to go to Yangzhou as well?’
At that mont, Lu Jinglan was looking right at Lu Zhan.
Noticing Zhi Wan’s gaze, Lu Jinglan withdrew her own and offered her a gentle smile, as if the unpleasantness from earlier in the day had never happened.
Zhi Wan looked away.
’She had never imagined that Lu Jinglan would also want to go to Jiangnan.’
’Then again, given Lu Jinglan’s sordid thoughts, how could she possibly pass up an opportunity to spend ti with Cousin?’
"Grandmother, you know as well as I do that I am traveling on official business, not for leisure. It is inconvenient and improper to travel with so many female relatives. I do not agree to this," Lu Zhan said in a low voice.
Old Madam Lu’s expression changed.
Lu Jinglan also clutched her handkerchief tightly.
Lady Wei, who had been furious, relaxed her brow when she heard her son’s refusal. She said, "Nanny Fang has served for many years and is the most ticulous and capable person I know. She will take good care of the two girls, so there’s no need to trouble Jinglan. If Jinglan wants to visit Jiangnan, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. It would be more appropriate for her to go with her husband after she’s married."
Having been publicly rebuffed, Old Madam Lu was furious. She glared at Lu Zhan. "You’re willing to let an outsider like Ouyang Zhenzhu co along, but suddenly it’s inconvenient for your own aunt to join? Are you not even going to give your grandmother any face?"
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