At these words, Zhi Wan clutched her handkerchief tightly.
Old Madam Lu’s aning was clear. If an outsider like Ouyang Zhenzhu could travel with Lu Zhan, it made no sense that a family mber like Lu Jinglan couldn’t. To deny Old Madam Lu would be unfilial.
Zhi Wan hadn’t expected Old Madam Lu to put the grandson she had always doted on in such a difficult position, and all for Lu Jinglan.
It seed Lu Jinglan was no less important to Old Madam Lu than Lu Zhan was.
’What will Cousin do?’
’Will he stop Zhenzhu from coming along to avoid gossip?’
’Or will he give in to Old Madam Lu and agree to let Lu Jinglan join them?’
At this thought, Zhi Wan couldn’t help but look toward her cousin.
She saw that her cousin’s expression was still calm, but his tone was much colder than before. "Grandmother, there is sothing you don’t know. I am not the only one assigned to this official business in Jiangnan. Ouyang Zhenzhu is Ouyang Lei’s sister. Whether she joins us is not for to decide, and I have no reason to forbid her from coming."
Zhi Wan blinked. ’Cousin ans that Junior Minister Ouyang is also going to Jiangnan?’
He hadn’t said it outright, but that was the implication.
’But that can’t be right. If Junior Minister Ouyang was going too, Ouyang Zhenzhu would surely know. Zhenzhu didn’t say a word about it, which ans Junior Minister Ouyang isn’t required for Cousin’s official business in Jiangnan.’
’Cousin was only saying that to shut Old Madam Lu up.’
Sure enough, upon hearing Ouyang Lei would be going too, Old Madam Lu looked a bit uncomfortable. "So, Ouyang Lei is going as well." Her tone softened considerably.
Lu Jinglan, who had been silent until now, turned to Zhi Wan with a look of surprise. "So Junior Minister Ouyang is going, too? Then why would Ouyang Zhenzhu bother going the long way around? Didn’t you make a special trip to beg Jinzhi just so she could tag along?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan’s dark eyes flicked to Zhi Wan, a hint of surprise in them.
Zhi Wan’s heart sank. ’Cousin doesn’t know that this afternoon, Lu Jinglan was hiding and listening in on our conversation outside Qingyun Residence. Now that she’s said this, will he think I was the one who went around telling everyone, and that’s how she found out?’
With this in mind, she deliberately adopted a hesitant expression. "Little Aunt Jinglan, you must have misheard. Though you and Lu Lan were hiding behind the flowering trees at the ti, you might not have heard clearly what Cousin and I were saying."
Lu Jinglan’s expression froze.
Just as she’d expected, Lady Wei, Lu Zhan, and even Old Madam Lu were all staring at her in surprise.
"You were actually hiding to the side, eavesdropping on them?" Lady Wei cried out in disbelief. "What kind of manners are those?"
Old Madam Lu’s face fell. She turned to Lu Jinglan. "What is all this about? Why were you hiding behind the flowering trees to eavesdrop?"
Lu Jinglan panicked and hastily explained, "It’s not like that, Wan’er has misunderstood! Lu Lan and I weren’t intentionally hiding there to eavesdrop. We were just passing by and happened to overhear you."
"Just passing by?" Zhi Wan asked, a look of confusion on her face. "But Cousin’s courtyard is quite a ways from the garden. How could you just happen to be passing by his courtyard?"
Hearing this, Lu Jinglan nearly dug her nails raw into her palms.
She had never imagined that Zhi Wan, who always seed so quiet and unremarkable, could speak with such a sharp tongue.
She hadn’t been just passing by. She and Lu Lan had seen Zhi Wan and had deliberately followed her.
And in her heart, she had been hoping for a chance encounter with...
She shot a quick glance at Lu Zhan, then forced herself to remain calm. "Lu Lan dropped her hairpin, and I was helping her look for it. It was just a coincidence that we happened to see you talking with Jinzhi, so we decided not to interrupt. We really weren’t trying to listen in on your conversation."
"Oh, I see. How considerate of you, Little Aunt Jinglan," Zhi Wan said with a smile.
Seeing the radiant smile on her face, Lu Jinglan’s gaze turned several shades colder.
Zhi Wan’s smile vanished, her expression turning serious. "But you really did mishear, given the distance. Cousin is traveling on official business, so there won’t be many won in the party. Junior Minister Ouyang is a man, and there are many things Zhenzhu wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing with her own brother. That’s why she ca to , asking to set out with tomorrow morning. So, of course, I had to ask my cousin’s opinion first. If Little Aunt Jinglan still has doubts, you’re welco to ask Junior Minister Ouyang yourself."
Lu Jinglan didn’t believe a single word she said, but this wasn’t the ti to argue. Doing so would only draw more attention to the fact she had been eavesdropping and make everyone doubt her character.
Old Madam Lu’s tone softened. "Even though it’s official business, bringing along one more family mber is hardly a big deal. Jinzhi, just let your little aunt co along..."
"Grandmother," Lu Zhan said, his tone growing heavy, "if my cousin were not returning to Yangzhou to sweep the graves, I would not be letting her travel with . I am carrying out an imperial edict. This is not a trivial matter. If even the slightest thing goes wrong, it is a consequence the Lu Family cannot afford."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Lu was left with nothing more to say.
After all, her grandson was traveling on official business, not on a leisurely tour.
"I set out early tomorrow morning. If Grandmother has nothing else, I will return to my quarters and rest," Lu Zhan said, rising to his feet.
"Go on," Old Madam Lu nodded, adding a word of caution. "Be careful while you’re away."
"Yes," Lu Zhan replied. He glanced over at Zhi Wan and said sternly, "Aren’t you going back to rest? If you can’t get up tomorrow morning, I won’t wait for you."
Zhi Wan froze for a mont. ’Is Cousin making an excuse for to leave? Is he afraid Old Madam Lu will give a hard ti again?’
Realizing her cousin’s intentions, she quickly stood up. "I’ll go back now."
Lu Zhan said nothing more and strode out of the room.
Zhi Wan looked to Lady Wei.
Lady Wei patted her hand. "Listen to your cousin. Go back and get so rest. I still have so matters to discuss with Old Madam Lu."
Zhi Wan nodded obediently. After paying her respects to Old Madam Lu, she departed.
Watching the two of them leave, one after the other, Lu Jinglan lowered her gaze to stare at the tips of her shoes.
’Jinzhi was willing to let Zhi Wan go with him, so why was he so unwilling to take her?’
’Zhi Wan is his cousin, but I am his honorary aunt!’
Lu Jinglan’s heart filled with bitterness and resentnt.
Old Madam Lu was also feeling disgruntled. She looked at Lady Wei and said, "You are far too indulgent with that girl, Zhi Wan. She may have lived in the Duke Mansion for five years, but has she started to think she’s the lady of the house? How dare she invite a guest to stay overnight without permission."
Lady Wei was displeased by this. She replied coolly, "Mother, how can you say such a thing? Although the Duke and I have not formally adopted Wan’er, we have long considered her our own daughter in our hearts. Besides, Wan’er’s etiquette has always been impeccable. Every ti Ouyang Zhenzhu cos to stay in the mansion, she asks first. I was the one who gave her permission.
"For you to speak of a child in such a way without knowing the full story is highly inappropriate, Mother. Wan’er has always respected you. It’s a good thing she already left and didn’t hear you. Can you imagine how hurt she would be?"
Old Madam Lu frowned, annoyed. "I was just making a casual remark. Why are you getting so worked up about it?"
"Are those the kind of words one should say casually?" Lady Wei retorted, suppressing her anger.
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