Zhi Wan froze. 'Surely he's not talking to me?'
"Do you need me to come over and drag you out?" the man's deep voice sounded again.
A shiver ran down Zhi Wan's spine. Not daring to hope she was mistaken, she led Shuang'er out from their hiding spot.
Lu Zhan was not in his official robes today. He wore a moon-white gown. Unlike the imposing authority he exuded in his uniform, the pale color made him look exceptionally refined and noble. From a distance, he looked more like an elegant and graceful young gentleman.
But this "young gentleman" had, in just a few words, revealed such a murderous aura that the Chief of Staff's daughter had turned pale with fright and fled without a shred of dignity.
'Now that he's caught me eavesdropping, how will he punish me?'
Zhi Wan was deeply uneasy.
As she approached the man, the sense of oppressive authority only intensified. She curtsied cautiously. "Co-Cousin."
Sensing his gaze upon her, she quickly added before he could speak, "We were just passing by. We didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Lu Zhan said nothing, merely lowering his eyes to gaze dispassionately at his young cousin.
Just now, in a fleeting glance outside the Moon Cave Gate, he'd noticed that the little girl he remembered as being still childish had grown up.
Looking at her up close, he was struck by how beautiful his young cousin had become.
At this thought, he subtly took two steps back, creating more distance between them.
Seeing him remain silent and even step back, Zhi Wan grew even more anxious.
'Not only is my cousin angry that I was eavesdropping, but he also seems disgusted with me!'
Realizing this, Zhi Wan lowered her head further, a fine sheen of sweat already forming on her fair forehead. She deeply regretted her decision to listen in.
'But it's not like I heard any state secrets,' she mused.
'That Miss Lin, though... she seems to be the one Aunt wants to choose as a wife for Cousin.'
'But Cousin scared her away.'
A sudden thought struck her, and she quickly whispered a promise, "Don't worry, Cousin. I won't tell anyone."
"And what is it that you won't tell anyone?" Lu Zhan's dark eyes narrowed as he asked in a low voice.
Zhi Wan: "..."
Her lips parted. 'Should I remind him that he just threatened Miss Lin?'
After a moment's thought, she offered a tactful reminder, "Aunt... is very fond of Miss Lin."
"So?" Lu Zhan raised an eyebrow.
"Miss Lin... you scared her off," Zhi Wan said in a tiny voice.
"I was merely speaking the truth," Lu Zhan said, unconcerned.
Zhi Wan blinked. Seeing that he didn't seem to intend to punish her, she asked cautiously, "Well... if there's nothing else, may I go now?"
Lu Zhan took in her wary and timid demeanor for a moment before nodding. "Mm."
Zhi Wan let out a silent sigh of relief. Just as she was about to leave, she heard her cousin add in that same cold, low voice, "Hear no evil, understand?"
"I understand," Zhi Wan said, ashamed. "I won't dare do it again."
"Ah Zhan! Oh, Wan'er, you're here too?" Just then, Lady Wei walked over.
"Aunt," Zhi Wan called out urgently, as if she'd just found her savior.
Lady Wei came closer, patted her hand, and then looked at Lu Zhan, asking irritably, "Where is Miss Lin?"
Lu Zhan paused. He didn't speak, but his gaze flickered toward Zhi Wan.
Zhi Wan noticed and discreetly moved to stand behind Lady Wei.
Lady Wei was taller than her, so standing behind her effectively hid her from view.
Little did she know, Lu Zhan had seen her small movement.
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice deepened. "Mother, you should ask my cousin."
Zhi Wan stiffened. 'Why ask me?'
'Cousin was the one who scared her away. What does it have to do with me?'
"Why ask Wan'er?" Lady Wei asked, surprised.
"My cousin knows what happened. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving," Lu Zhan said, glancing in the direction behind his mother. With that, he turned and walked away.
"The flower viewing banquet isn't over yet!" Lady Wei called out, annoyed.
But Lu Zhan was already far away.
Lady Wei felt a pang of frustration.
'This rebellious son of mine. I arrange everything so carefully, and he doesn't care in the slightest.'
"By the way, Wan'er, do you know what happened? Where is Miss Lin?" Lady Wei asked, turning around.
Seeing that Lu Zhan had tossed the problem to her and then left, Zhi Wan had reason to suspect her cousin simply didn't want to deal with his mother.
Now, faced with her aunt's questioning, she felt she couldn't hide the truth, so she recounted everything that had just happened.
After hearing the story, Lady Wei was predictably furious. "And I thought that Lin Yutang was a well-read, sensible, intelligent, and virtuous girl. I never imagined she could be so foolish as to do something like this and nearly bring disaster upon your cousin. This time, I truly misjudged someone!"
"You can't blame yourself, Aunt. You can know a person's face, but not their heart. Besides, you haven't interacted with Miss Lin much, so how could you know her character?" Zhi Wan said comfortingly.
Lin Yutang's actions were indeed inappropriate.
She didn't know the details of Court matters, but from their conversation, it seemed Miss Li's father was sentenced to exile for corruption.
In the current dynasty, corruption was a grave offense.
Any official guilty of corruption and bribery had to be tried by the Three Ministries, with the final verdict delivered by the Emperor himself. Yet Lin Yutang had brazenly brought the convicted official's daughter to the Duke Dingguo Mansion and pleaded for justice before Lu Zhan, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Was she questioning the investigative abilities of the Three Ministries, or was she questioning the Emperor's judgment?
If someone with ill intentions were to learn of this, not only would Lu Zhan be impeached, but the Duke Dingguo Mansion itself would likely be in trouble.
Yet Lin Yutang was completely oblivious to the serious implications, even presumptuously demanding Lu Zhan give her face simply because her aunt favored her.
It was as if the law was a child's game in her eyes.
'Thinking about it now, Cousin was actually quite lenient with them. If he had truly reported this to the Court, the Lin Family would probably be finished.'
Lady Wei clutched her chest and sighed. "Forget it. Let's not talk about her anymore."
Seeing that her aunt's anger hadn't subsided, Zhi Wan said, "Aunt, let me help you to the pavilion to rest for a while."
"Alright."
Once they reached the pavilion, Zhi Wan poured Lady Wei a cup of tea.
After drinking the tea, Lady Wei turned to see her niece sitting quietly and obediently by her side. Her anger turned to delight. She patted Zhi Wan's hand and asked with a smile, "Have you seen any young gentlemen you like today?"
Zhi Wan shook her head honestly. "Not yet." She hadn't even had a chance to look around. First, she had run into that scumbag Wang Zeren, and then she'd stumbled upon Miss Lin and Miss Li pleading with her cousin.
"Don't worry. Many talented young men have come to the flower viewing banquet today. We can take our time and look," Lady Wei said encouragingly.
Zhi Wan nodded shyly. "Mm."
When the two of them walked back to the garden, a group of young masters and noble ladies from prominent families were gathered around, animatedly discussing the merits of several fine camellia pots.
Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, "Miss Zhi Wan is here!"
The young masters all raised their heads to look at Zhi Wan.
They saw a young woman with a face as lovely as an apricot blossom and cheeks like peaches. Her beautiful eyes were expressive and captivating. When she looked at people, she appeared so delicate and sweet that one couldn't help but feel a stir of affection.
Not a single young master present could tear his eyes away from Zhi Wan.
When she first entered the garden, everyone had thought her exceptionally beautiful. Now, seeing her up close, they felt her beauty was almost otherworldly.
Seeing how much attention Zhi Wan was receiving, the other young ladies felt a mix of envy and jealousy.
"She's just an orphan. What's so special about her?"
Someone in the crowd muttered.
Zhi Wan was used to hearing such comments and felt nothing, but Lady Wei's face instantly darkened.
Her gaze swept across the faces of the young ladies, and then she raised her voice. "Zhi Wan is my niece, and I have always treated her as my own daughter. Anyone who dares to look down on her is looking down on the Duke Dingguo Mansion!"