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

Chapter 207 has probably already been completely devoured.

Lu Zhan kept his word and released Guo Yong at the next dock. However, Guo Yong's clothes were quite clean, and there was no blood on them.

It seems her cousin tricked her; he didn't torture Guo Yong.

Zhiwan breathed a sigh of relief.

When Guo Yong disembarked, he handed a bag of money to Zhiwan.

“Master, I failed to escort you to Yangzhou as agreed. Hereby, I return this commission to you.”

Zhiwan refused to accept the money. "This is not your fault. It's my own plan that changed. Besides, you helped me stop those thugs at the dock that day. You've wasted so many days because of me. Consider this money as my reward to you. Keep it safe. Your mother is getting old. Spend more time with her. Don't take on these long-distance jobs anymore. Take your mother and live a good life in the capital."

Guo Yong's eyes reddened. Thinking of his elderly mother at home, he finally didn't refuse anymore. He clasped his hands in a fist and said to Zhiwan, "Then I'll shamelessly accept it. If you need anything from me in the future, you can come to me anytime."

“Okay, I will.” Zhiwan nodded.

Guo Yong then disembarked, looking back every few steps.

"Guo Yong is a rare find," Chen Jiu remarked from the side.

Guo Yong could have simply pocketed the money and run away, but seeing that his cousin was in "trouble," he didn't hesitate to sneak onto the boat, hoping to find an opportunity to rescue her.

The plan failed, so he still wanted to return the money to his cousin.

This person is really honest.

"Then why did you hit Guo Yong so hard that day?" Zhiwan asked, dissatisfied.

Chen Jiu quickly defended himself, "I didn't recognize him that day; I thought he was an assassin."

Zhiwan didn't believe it.

When Chen Jiu questioned Guo Yong that day, it was clear that he had recognized Guo Yong.

The rest of the voyage went smoothly.

On this day, the ship finally arrived in Yangzhou.

Zhiwan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that her cousin would take her to Yangzhou. She figured that her cousin was in Jiangnan on official business and couldn't stay in Yangzhou every day. So, she would take the opportunity to suggest going to Jurong to find her wet nurse.

Even if her cousin didn't agree, she would find a way to go by herself when he went to work.

However, after arriving in Yangzhou, the ship did not stop, but instead headed straight for Jiangning.

Seeing this, Zhiwan felt as if she had been doused with cold water and hurriedly ran to find Lu Zhan.

"Cousin, we've arrived in Yangzhou, why don't we stop? Aren't we here to Yangzhou?"

Lu Zhan was sitting at the table looking at the files when he heard this. He looked up at her and said, "I haven't finished my official business in Jiangning yet. I'll trouble you to come with me to Jiangning first. After I finish things in Jiangning, I'll take you to Yangzhou. If you want to go see Nurse Chen then, I'll go with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan was furious. "If my cousin has official business to attend to, he can go by himself. Let me disembark!"

“No, I’m not comfortable leaving a young girl like you in Yangzhou,” Lu Zhan said calmly.

Looking at the man's cold and stern eyes, Zhiwan was very angry. "You still say you don't want to imprison me? You clearly do!"

Does my cousin have some misunderstanding about imprisonment?

"what?"

“Have I restricted your movements these past few days? Which imprisoned person is as free as you?” Lu Zhan asked.

Zhiwan frowned. "Although you haven't restricted my movements, we're on a ship, and the ship is sailing, so I can't get off."

“Once we arrive in Jiangning, I won’t restrict your movements. If your cousin wants to go out shopping, I won’t stop her,” Lu Zhan said.

Zhiwan was so angry that her heart pounded.

Lu Zhan paused for a moment and then said, "If you have nothing else to say, cousin, please go out first. I still have a few files to review."

Zhiwan stormed out, utterly dejected.

My cousin is always calm and collected, but the words he says are so ruthless, leaving no room for negotiation.

Although it's said there are no restrictions, there are actually restrictions everywhere. She can't even go to the places she wants to go.

To keep her close by without imprisoning her, and to keep her under close watch, is a form of imprisonment in disguise.

hypocrite!
"A scoundrel!" Zhiwan used every word she could think of to curse her cousin.

……

The boat carrying Zhiwan and Lu Zhan had just headed to Jiangning when the boat carrying Wei Shi arrived in Yangzhou.

She led her people to the Lu family villa in a great hurry, only to be told by Uncle Tian that Lu Zhan and Zhiwan had not come to Yangzhou.

Upon hearing this news, Madam Wei nearly choked.

"What? They didn't come to Yangzhou?"

"No." Uncle Tian shook his head, feeling a little puzzled. What was going on in Yangzhou lately? The Lu family members were coming one after another, and even the matriarch had come to Yangzhou.

"Could they have gone to the mountain villa?" Wei thought of the Lu family's property in Yangzhou and couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.

"This old servant hasn't received a report from the manager over there," Uncle Tian shook his head. "If Madam is worried, this old servant will send someone to Panyun Manor to check."

"Go quickly," Madam Wei urged.

Uncle Tian hurried off.

Madam Wei breathed a sigh of relief, took Fang Mama's hand, and sat down in the chair.

She gets seasick, and after days of traveling by boat, she's on the verge of collapse.

Having finally arrived in Yangzhou, they thought they would see their son and Wan'er, but they were not at the Lu family villa.

All she wants now is for people to go to the mountain resort.

However, when the man Tian Bo sent returned, he told him that there were no two people in the manor either.

Wei's vision went black, and she almost fainted.

Lu Zhan, that unfilial son!

He took Wan'er with him but didn't come to Yangzhou. Where did that person go?

"Madam, the young master went to Jiangning some time ago. Could he be in Jiangning now?" Uncle Tian couldn't help but guess when he saw her anxious look.

Wei's eyes, which had darkened, suddenly lit up. Yes, how could she not have thought of that?
My son recently returned to Beijing from Jiangning.

The thought of going to Jiangning and having to take a boat made her feel completely dejected.

But the thought of the innocent Wan'er lifted her spirits again.

No, she absolutely has to go to Jiangning.

The son harbors ulterior motives towards Wan'er. If she had waited any longer, the innocent Wan'er would have been completely taken advantage of by her son!
The more Wei thought about it, the more anxious she became. Without taking a break, she rushed to Jiangning.

Meanwhile, Zhiwan had already arrived in Jiangning with Lu Zhan.

As soon as he stepped off the boat, Lu Zhan's eyelids twitched, and he felt inexplicably uneasy.

When he turned around and saw his cousin following obediently behind him, he suppressed that sudden feeling.

It's him who worries too much.

Jiangning Inn.

Duan Ling had been extremely busy these past few days. When he learned that Lu Zhan had returned, he was overjoyed and immediately dropped his official duties to go out and greet him. However, he found Zhi Wan following behind Lu Zhan.

He was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Why is Cousin Zhiwan here?"

"Duan Shaoqing." Zhiwan curtsied.

"Don't be so polite." Duan Ling quickly waved his hand, looking at her with a puzzled expression. "Didn't you go back to the capital last time? Why are you in Jiangning this time?"

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan couldn't help but glance at her cousin.

Seeing this, Duan Ling also looked at Lu Zhan.

Lu Zhan asked calmly, "Can't she come to Jiangning?"

(End of this chapter)