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

Chapter 144 I didn't sleep all night

Lu Zhan didn't say anything. He tore the paper with the drawing into pieces and threw it into the wastebasket.

Duan Ling pondered for a moment, then understood. "Your order to inspect Jiangnan this time was just a pretext? The Emperor ordered you to secretly investigate Prince Jin?"

Lu Zhan did not deny it.

Duan Ling frowned. "Isn't the Prince of Jin dead?"

“The Prince of Jin is dead, but he has descendants,” Lu Zhan said calmly. “His Majesty’s intention is for me to find the Prince of Jin’s descendants and eliminate any future troubles.”

Duan Ling was taken aback. "A descendant of the Prince of Jin?"

“Hmm.” Lu Zhan nodded. “I thought the Emperor’s information was wrong. Prince Jin had been dead for many years, and I had never heard of him leaving any descendants until I saw the relevant tattoos on those river bandits.”

Upon hearing this, Duan Ling's expression turned serious.

"If those river bandits are indeed related to the descendants of the Prince of Jin, then the descendants of the Prince of Jin are indeed a great scourge."

"Ah."

"So, you want to use those river bandits and stolen goods to lure out the descendants of the Prince of Jin and wipe them all out in one fell swoop?" Duan Ling vaguely understood his plan.

"Yes." Lu Zhan nodded and instructed, "This matter is of great importance. You'll have to work hard during this period."

Duan Ling shook his head. "I'm not worried about the trouble. I'm just afraid that the Prince of Jin's descendant won't fall for it, and your plan will be in vain."

"Let's take a look first," Lu Zhan said.

"Alright, you've had a tough time these past two days, get some rest," Duan Ling said.

He had just left when Chen Jiu came in carrying a bowl of medicine.

He said with a fawning expression, "Your Highness, it's time to take your medicine."

Lu Zhan glanced at him indifferently, took the medicine bowl, and drank the medicine.

After Chen Jiu took the empty bowl, he glanced at the prince's face. It seemed that the prince did not blame him for taking it upon himself to invite the young lady back.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Young Master, Miss Biao just instructed me to serve you during your bath."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan paused, glanced at his left arm, and shook his head, "No need."

"But your hand is injured, it's inconvenient for you..."

"It's alright." Lu Zhan didn't seem to care much.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiu decided not to press the matter further, helped him remove his clothes, and then left.

After taking a bath, Lu Zhan tied his belt with one hand and instructed Chen Jiu, who came in to tidy up, "Make a strong cup of tea in a bit."

Chen Jiu thought he had misheard, "Strong tea?"

"Mm," Lu Zhan replied.

Chen Jiu frowned and advised, "But it's already so late, and your hand is still injured. It's not advisable for you to drink tea. Your Highness should rest early, as you have to go to the execution ground to oversee the execution tomorrow morning."

"Go quickly!" Lu Zhan said in a deep voice.

Chen Jiu dared not disobey and hurried off, but he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

The young master didn't sleep last night and has been busy all day today. Why don't you rest earlier and instead drink strong tea?

Is there some important official business that hasn't been finished?

The next day.

Zhiwan woke up early.

After she finished washing up, she took Ouyang Zhenzhu to the neighboring courtyard to find her cousin.

"Ah Jiu, is your cousin up yet?"

"The young master didn't sleep all night. As soon as it was light, he took Jiang Shi to the government office and asked me to stay behind. I'll take you to the execution ground in a bit," Chen Jiu replied.

"You didn't sleep all night?" Zhiwan asked in surprise. "Why?"

"I don't know either," Chen Jiu shook his head.

Zhiwan frowned, her face filled with deep worry. Her cousin hadn't slept for two nights in a row; even someone with an iron body couldn't endure that.

Seeing her worry, Chen Jiu comforted her, "Miss, you don't need to worry too much. The young master used to stay up late often too. Once, he didn't sleep for three days in a row, but he was still in good spirits."

“But my cousin is still injured,” Zhiwan said.

As the two were talking, suddenly, the door to the east wing was pushed open, and Duan Ling came out.

Upon seeing Zhiwan, he was about to greet her, but when he saw Ouyang Zhenzhu beside her, his expression faltered. He then hurriedly said to Chen Jiu, "Tell your young master that I'm going back to the ship," and walked out of the courtyard.

"Hey, why are you running? You seem so guilty. Did you do something shameful last night?" Ouyang Zhenzhu shouted, hands on her hips.

Duan Ling paused, subconsciously turned around to look, and suddenly froze in shock.

How come he never noticed how pretty this girl was before?

Although the girl was standing with her hands on her hips, looking fierce and not someone to be trifled with, she was still very beautiful. Her actions were not vulgar at all, but rather quite cute.

Even though the more beautiful Zhiwan stood beside him, his eyes were still uncontrollably drawn to her.

"What are you looking at?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu's angry voice pulled Duan Ling back to reality.

He composed himself and cursed Lu Zhan inwardly.

Blame him.

If he hadn't been spouting nonsense in front of him last night, how could he have suddenly started paying attention to Ouyang Zhenzhu?

He must be out of his mind to think that Ouyang Zhenzhu, that fierce girl, is cute.

"I didn't see anything," he said casually.

“But looking at your shifty eyes and sneaky demeanor, you’re clearly guilty!” Ouyang Zhenzhu said.

"Me, a rat-faced, shifty-eyed person?" Duan Ling pointed at himself in disbelief. He was clearly handsome and had an extraordinary appearance.

"Besides you, who else?" Ouyang Zhenzhu crossed her arms, looking disgusted.

"I think you're the one with a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks, and a wicked mind!" Duan Ling said angrily.

Ouyang Zhenzhu lost her composure. "Hey, are you blind? I'm a beautiful woman, how could I have a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks?"

"Well, I'm quite handsome, so why do you say I have a rat-like face?" Duan Ling retorted.

Ouyang Zhenzhu choked for a moment, then retorted confidently, "Because that's exactly what you are."

Duan Ling: "..."

Listening to their childish argument, Zhiwan pressed her temples in exasperation. Were these two incompatible? They were bound to argue every time they met.

"It's getting late, we have to go to the execution ground," Zhiwan said, changing the subject.

Executions are usually carried out at noon, which is still early, but she was afraid that if she arrived late, she would have to stand at the back.

Upon hearing this, Duan Ling stopped arguing with Ouyang Zhenzhu and instead praised Zhiwan, saying, "The wontons my cousin made last night tasted amazing."

"I'm glad you don't mind, Young Master Duan," Zhiwan said.

“Not only do I think it’s delicious, but your cousin also said it’s delicious. He even ate it all up better than I did,” Duan Ling said with a smile, reverting to his usual playful demeanor.

Zhiwan was somewhat surprised, "Really?"

"Of course it's true," Duan Ling said seriously. "If you don't believe me, ask Chen Jiu."

Chen Jiu nodded vigorously, "Duan Shaoqing is right. I have served the young master for so long and have never seen him like any food so much. Only the wontons made by the young lady will the young master eat clean."

Zhiwan didn't think there was anything special about the wontons she made that could make Lu Zhan like them so much. She assumed that the two of them were just trying to make her happy, so she didn't take it to heart.

Upon arriving at the gate of the villa, the group was about to board the carriage when a carriage approached from afar and stopped in front of the Lu family villa.

The group looked toward the carriage.

The next moment, a person who should have been in the capital stepped out of the carriage.

(End of this chapter)