The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 1 A Dream
Zhiwan dreamed of that person again.

This time he went even further, ignoring her resistance and slowly untying her sash.

Zhiwan gasped softly, her face flushed, and she clutched her collar tightly. "No..."

"Don't what?" the man asked in a deep, seductive voice.

While Zhiwan was stunned, the other person suddenly raised her hands above her head and then leaned down to press them down.

In her infatuation, Zhiwan subconsciously tried to look at his face, but no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't see it clearly. She only saw the man's slender waist and his long, beautiful fingers.

……

"Miss, it's time to get up. The Duchess has sent someone to tell you that she wants you to come to her courtyard to talk in a little while."

The maid Shuang'er's voice rang out from outside the beaded curtain. Zhi Wan woke up covered in sweat, feeling weak all over.

Refusing the maid's service, Zhiwan got up and changed her clothes from the inside out.

Fearing that the maid might notice something, she washed her face, soaked her underpants in a basin, scrubbed them clean, and then hung them behind the bed to dry.

Looking at the underpants, Zhiwan felt ashamed.

She's a virgin, and for the past six months, she's been having those kinds of dreams all the time. Is it because she's physically ill? Or... does she need a man?

But such things were too embarrassing to talk about, so she could only keep them buried deep in her heart.

After having breakfast, she and her maid slowly made their way to Madam Lu's (Wei Shi's) Orchid Courtyard.

"Cousin girl."

When they encountered servants on the road, they all politely stepped forward and bowed.

Zhiwan nodded without saying anything.

Before she could get far, people started gossiping behind her back.

“A distant relative who has absolutely no connection to us has the nerve to keep staying at the Duke’s mansion.”

"What can we do? She's an orphan, and if someone is willing to take her in, she'll naturally cling to them and never leave."

"Just because we politely call her 'Miss Cousin,' does she really think she's the mistress of this mansion? She's just an orphan girl living under someone else's roof, yet she always puts on such a high and mighty face!"

Shuang'er's expression changed, and she turned around to argue with them, but Zhiwan stopped her, saying, "Don't cause trouble."

Shuang'er's eyes reddened with anger, and her lips trembled. "Miss, those people have gone too far."

"Ignore it, let's go." Zhiwan was also upset, but what they said was true.

When she was ten years old, she came to the Duke's Mansion. Thanks to Aunt Wei's kindness, she was allowed to live in the Duke's Mansion, and her food, clothing and daily necessities were the same as those of the young ladies in the mansion.

Before she knew it, she had been living in the Duke's mansion for five years.

It's no wonder those servants were so gossipy.

If someone is sensible and knows what's good for them, they should indeed ask to leave.

But both her parents had passed away, and she had no relatives left.

Where in this vast world can she go?

Fortunately, she had come of age and her aunt arranged a marriage for her, so she no longer had to live a life of dependence on others.

Zhiwan clenched her handkerchief; this day shouldn't be too far away.

Shuang'er felt sorry for her mistress but didn't know how to comfort her, "Miss..."

Zhiwan took a deep breath, and a smile appeared on her bright face. "Alright, Aunt is still waiting. Don't keep her waiting too long."

Orchid Academy.

Inside the house, Lu Zhan had just finished paying his respects to his mother, Madam Wei, when she began to shoo him away.

"You should go now. Wan'er will be here soon. That girl is afraid of you, so avoid her." Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan frowned slightly but said nothing. "Okay."

“Go and meet Miss Lin in a couple of days,” Madam Wei said, remembering something, and quickly called her son back.

Lu Zhan said calmly, "Mother, please postpone it. I have no intention of getting married for the time being."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei became angry, "You're not getting any younger. If you keep wasting your time, all the good girls will be taken by someone else."

“Mother is overthinking it,” Lu Zhan said calmly.

Seeing his indifferent and nonchalant attitude, Madam Wei became angry. "Tell me the truth, is it really true, as the rumors say, that you don't like women and only like men?"

A crack appeared on Lu Zhan's usually cold face, and his brows furrowed. "Mother, don't talk nonsense!"

"I hope I'm just talking nonsense, and it's not true." Mrs. Wei glanced at her son sideways, waved her hand dismissively, and said, "Let's go!"

Just as Lu Zhan turned around, a maid's voice announced from outside the door, "Madam, Miss Biao has arrived."

He paused, about to continue walking out, when suddenly, Madam Wei stood up from her seat, quickly grabbed his arm, and pushed him into the inner room.

Lu Zhan: "..."

"Don't come out!" Madam Wei warned, then returned to her seat, straightened her clothes, coughed lightly, and said to the outside, "Let Wan'er in."

Before long, Zhiwan came in.

"Wan'er greets Aunt." Zhi Wan curtsied to Madam Wei.

"Come sit next to me quickly," Madam Wei beckoned to her kindly.

Zhiwan obediently walked over and sat down.

Madam Wei took her hand and looked her over carefully.

The little girl has delicate and beautiful features, as if she stepped out of a painting. She is also well-behaved and sensible, making her a rare gem.

Madam Wei praised, "You've grown even more beautiful in just a few days."

"Aunt, please don't make fun of me." Zhiwan lowered her head shyly.

Madam Wei chuckled and said, "I'm not making fun of you. If you don't believe me, ask your cousin..." She paused abruptly and changed her words, "If you don't believe me, ask Granny Fang."

The old nanny Fang, who was serving nearby, immediately chimed in with a smile, "Miss Cousin has indeed grown even more beautiful. She is so radiant and lovely. Looking at the entire capital, I'm afraid no one can compare to her."

These words made Zhiwan blush deeply. She bit her pink lips and said, "I think there is no one in the entire capital who is as good at coaxing people as Granny Fang."

“This old servant isn’t lying to you; this old servant is telling the truth,” Granny Fang said with a smile.

Inside the room, Lu Zhan leaned against the wall. The voices outside were quite loud, and even though he didn't want to listen, they still reached his ears clearly.

The image of the timid and cautious young girl in my mind makes it hard to imagine what kind of beauty Fang Mama was, the one who was said to be unmatched in the entire capital.
His memory of Zhiwan was still stuck half a year ago.

One afternoon six months ago, he was passing by the lotus pond when he saw a little girl fall into it while picking lotus roots. The little girl was shouting for help, but there was no one in the garden at that time, so he pulled her out.

Seeing that she had caught her breath, he didn't stay any longer and left immediately.

Outside, Madam Wei suddenly sighed, took Zhiwan's hand and said, "In the blink of an eye, you've come of age. Your parents in heaven must be very pleased."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan raised her head and said solemnly, "Wan'er was able to grow up smoothly and without worries entirely thanks to Aunt's upbringing. Wan'er will always remember this."

Madam Wei patted her hand, "Your mother and I are best friends, the closest of sisters. Her daughter is my daughter. Fortunately, I haven't let her down and have raised you to adulthood."

Zhiwan was grateful. Madam Wei had indeed treated her very well; even a mother and daughter couldn't be more kind to each other.

At this moment, Madam Wei suddenly changed the subject and said softly, "Now that you have reached the age for marriage, although I am reluctant to part with you, I cannot delay your important life event, otherwise your mother in heaven will surely blame me."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan's beautiful peach blossom eyes lit up.

My aunt's implication was that she wanted to find her a husband...

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(End of this chapter)