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

Chapter 129 Lu Zhan: Are you scared?
“Cousin, there’s one more thing…” Zhiwan said hesitantly.

Lu Zhan raised his eyes. "What is it?"

“Doesn’t the ledger contain detailed evidence of Liang Qixian’s embezzlement? Can’t we just convict him directly?” Zhiwan asked cautiously.

Lu Zhan paused for a moment, then said calmly, “It’s easy to convict him, but there’s no evidence to prove that he killed your parents. I checked the case files from Jurong County back then, and they record that your parents were killed by bandits, and all the bandits involved were captured and executed that year.”

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan said anxiously, "Those bandits must have been sent by Liang Qixian. My parents were killed by Liang Qixian!"

"What evidence do you have?" Lu Zhan asked calmly.

Zhiwan choked.

“Of course I also think that Liang Qixian is related to your parents’ deaths, but there is no direct evidence to prove that he is the mastermind.” Lu Zhan frowned. “Before the law, what matters is evidence, not personal speculation.”

Zhiwan twisted her handkerchief, unable to utter a rebuttal.

Lu Zhan paused, then softened his tone, "Don't worry, I will investigate your parents' case thoroughly and bring the real culprit to justice."

"Thank you, cousin," Zhiwan said gratefully, but at the same time, she was a little worried. "But all the people involved have been executed, so there's no way to verify anything. How can we investigate what happened back then?"

“Investigating this matter will be difficult, but it’s not entirely impossible,” Lu Zhan said.

Zhiwan was overjoyed, "Cousin, you have a way?"

Lu Zhan hummed in agreement, his gaze falling on her face. "I'm afraid we'll need your help with this, cousin."

"Me? How can I help?" Zhiwan asked in surprise.

Lu Zhan did not answer directly, but brought up another matter, "When you revealed your surname to Liang Qixian yesterday, he probably already had murderous intentions towards you."

Zhiwan was taken aback. "How did you know, cousin?"

"Last night at Hongyun Restaurant, Zeng Gong's wife and daughter dared to lay a hand on you. Could it be that Madam Liang deliberately condoned it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan's heart stirred. "You mean, Madam Liang did that because she was instructed by Liang Qixian? Just because I revealed my surname as Zhi in front of the restaurant, Liang Qixian couldn't sit still and even harbored murderous intent towards me, but because he was mindful of my cousin, he didn't act immediately and instead had Madam Liang test my importance in my cousin's heart?"

Lu Zhan's fingers curled slightly. "Mm."

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Zhiwan's back.

When she met Liang Qixian, she couldn't control her emotions and deliberately revealed her surname to test his reaction. Unexpectedly, this aroused Liang Qixian's murderous intent towards her.

She overlooked one thing: if she suspected Liang Qixian was the murderer who killed her parents, then if Liang Qixian really was the murderer, he would definitely feel guilty and scared when he heard that her surname was Zhi. He would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.

After all, Liang Qixian must have killed his parents back then for the sake of the account books.

Looking back now, the fact that our home was robbed by bandits after my parents died must have been related to Liang Qixian; he must have been looking for the account books.

But he never expected that her parents would entrust the account books to Nurse Chen for safekeeping.

Many years have passed since this incident, and Liang Qixian probably thought the truth had long been buried. But she suddenly reappeared, and Liang Qixian, feeling guilty, would naturally associate her with the account books. How could he allow her to live?

So if it weren't for her cousin, she would probably be dead by now.

Thinking of this, Zhiwan clenched her fists and realized that her palms were already wet.

She composed herself and looked at her cousin again. "So, cousin, you want me to use myself as bait to lure Liang Qixian into revealing his true colors?"

Lu Zhan's eyes showed appreciation. "This is the fastest and most effective method." He paused, then asked, "Are you afraid?"

Zhiwan clenched her fists. "As long as I can avenge my parents, I'm not afraid."

Seeing the little girl's forced composure, Lu Zhan smiled slightly. "Mm."

While feeling uneasy, Zhiwan also hoped that Liang Qixian could be brought to justice as soon as possible. "Then I'll go back first."

“Okay.” Lu Zhan nodded. When Zhi Wan returned to the courtyard, she remembered that she had forgotten to give her cousin the jade pendant she was supposed to give him.

Preoccupied with her cousin's request to use her as bait, she lost interest in painting. Instead, she took some silk thread and asked Shuang'er to teach her how to make tassels, intending to make a tassel to attach to the jade pendant.

After spending the entire afternoon, she finally finished making the tassels and then tied them to the jade pendant.

"Wanwan, you've tied these tassels so beautifully," Ouyang Zhenzhu said as she came over and saw them.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan was somewhat pleased, but looking at the blue tassel on the jade pendant, she was not entirely satisfied.

I feel like the colors don't quite match.

My cousin will probably be disgusted if he sees this, right?
Seeing her conflicted expression, Ouyang Zhenzhu urged, "Quickly send the jade pendant to Lord Lu."

Zhiwan hesitated, "I...I'll deliver it tomorrow."

“You definitely won’t deliver it tomorrow, so I’ll deliver it for you.” Ouyang Zhenzhu said, then suddenly snatched the jade pendant from her hand, put it in the box, and ran out with the box in her hand.

Zhiwan was stunned.

Realizing what had happened, she hurriedly got up and chased after her, calling out, "Pearl..."

"Lord Lu, Wanwan has something to give you!"

As soon as Zhiwan reached the courtyard gate, she heard Ouyang Zhenzhu and Lu Zhan talking. Her expression changed, and she quickly ran out, where she saw Lu Zhan standing in front of the gate.

Seeing this, she hurriedly reached out and snatched the box back from Ouyang Zhenzhu's hand.

Fortunately, it wasn't too late.

Zhiwan hugged the box and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Noticing the man's gaze, she coughed lightly and explained calmly, "Pearl was just joking with you. This... wasn't meant for you."

Ouyang Zhenzhu stared at her in astonishment, "How can it not be? It's clearly..."

“Pearl!” Zhiwan interrupted her quickly.

Ouyang Zhenzhu choked for a moment, then said sullenly, "I'll go in first."

As soon as she left, Zhiwan glanced at Lu Zhan and said, "Cousin, if there's nothing else, I'll go in first too."

"No rush," Lu Zhan said.

"What?" Zhiwan asked, puzzled.

Lu Zhan glanced at her, then suddenly reached out his hand to her, "Isn't that box you're holding for me?"

Zhiwan slung the box behind her back and said awkwardly, "It wasn't meant for you..."

"Who is it for?" Lu Zhan asked slowly and deliberately.

Zhiwan: "..."

Lu Zhan looked down at her, then suddenly took a long stride and walked two steps closer to her.

His sudden approach startled Zhiwan, causing her to drop what she was holding.

Just then, the man reached out with his long arm and took the box in his hand.

When Zhiwan realized what was happening, she tried to grab it back, but the man raised his arm high. Because she lost her balance, Zhiwan uncontrollably fell into his arms.

Lu Zhan paused for a moment, then naturally reached out and wrapped his arms around the girl's slender waist.

(End of this chapter)