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

Chapter 218 My cousin is the one with the most audacity.
Zhiwan's mind went blank.

Until the hatch was knocked on, "Knock knock knock!"

Then came Wei's voice, "Wan'er, may I come in?"

Zhiwan was startled and hurriedly pushed her cousin away. Her face turned as red as if it could bleed, and she paced around anxiously, "What should I do? It's my aunt!"

"Don't be afraid," Lu Zhan said in a hoarse voice, holding her close.

Zhiwan thought he had a solution and was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she saw him suddenly walk towards the cabin door.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she wanted to stop him, but it was too late. Her cousin had already opened the cabin door.

Zhiwan: "..."

Standing outside the door, Madam Wei froze in shock the moment her son opened it. Recovering her senses, she looked at him with a face full of suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

"I just remembered I have something to discuss with my mother," Lu Zhan said seriously.

"What is it?" Wei asked, puzzled.

“Let’s talk in Mother’s cabin,” Lu Zhan said calmly.

Hearing the two footsteps fade into the distance, Zhiwan finally felt relieved.

But thinking about what her cousin had done to her in that cabin just now, her face flushed red again.

Her cousin even said she was incredibly audacious, but in her opinion, it was her cousin who was the one who was lecherous!

She felt embarrassed at the thought of almost being caught by her aunt.

She patted her chest and poured herself another cup of tea.

As Wei walked to the door of her cabin, she felt increasingly uneasy and stopped. Turning back, she saw her son's calm demeanor and narrowed her eyes. She said irritably, "Alright, hurry up and get off the boat. It'll be leaving soon."

Lu Zhan paused, realizing his mother had seen through him. He coughed lightly and nodded, "Mother and cousin, please be careful on the road."

"Okay, go down now." Madam Wei said with a look of disgust.

Lu Zhan didn't linger and quickly disembarked.

Standing on the deck, Mrs. Wei looked at her son standing on the dock and shook her head with a smile.

The idea that he needed to discuss something with her was clearly just her son's guilty conscience, and he wanted to get rid of her.

When she didn't know what he was doing on the boat?
But considering that her son and Wan'er's marriage was about to be finalized, it wouldn't hurt for her son to want to have a taste of happiness, as long as he didn't do anything out of line.

My son is either completely unmoved, or once he is, he throws all rules and etiquette to the back of his mind.

She never imagined that her son, who had always been self-disciplined, proper, steady, and reserved, would one day act as impulsively as a young boy.

However, youth is great; you can do whatever you want.

Wei sighed inwardly.

Just as Zhiwan was heading to Yangzhou with her aunt, Chen Jiu was in prison, engaging in a charade with Liu Niang.

After several months apart, Liu Niang's belly had grown much larger.

Upon seeing Chen Jiu, a glimmer of light flashed in her gloomy eyes. "Chen Jiu? It really is you!"

Chen Jiu said awkwardly, "Liu Niang, it's been a long time."

Upon hearing this, Liu Niang's face darkened. "You still dare to come see me? You treacherous dog!"

Chen Jiu pretended to be angry and said, "If you talk to me like that, then I'll leave?" With that, he turned around and walked out of the prison.

Seeing this, Liu Niang hurriedly pulled him back and said urgently, "I didn't tell you to leave."

Chen Jiu stopped and said calmly, "What do you want with me?" Liu Niang didn't answer, but lowered her head and wiped away her tears. "You ruined our village. It's been destroyed, our brothers have fallen into the hands of the government, and their fates are unknown. Even I'm trapped in this prison. You've hurt us so badly, can't you even let me curse you a little?"

Chen Jiu sighed, "I have no choice in the matter. My indenture is still in Lu Zhan's hands, so I can only obey orders." As he spoke, he reached out and put his hand on Liu Niang's shoulder, solemnly assuring her, "But don't worry, I can't save others, but I will still find a way to get you out of here."

Liu Niang's heart skipped a beat. "Really?"

"Of course it's true!" Chen Jiu patted his chest and assured him, "Actually, I've been suffering a lot these days. Whenever I think of how good you've been to me, I feel so guilty that I can't eat or sleep. Now that Lu Zhan has finally transferred me to Jiangning, I'm determined to find a way to get you out of here."

Liu Niang was deeply moved. "Chen Jiu, I knew I hadn't misjudged you." She then went to kiss Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu was startled and quickly stepped back.

Liu Niang said unhappily, "You despise me?"

Suppressing the urge to vomit, Chen Jiu awkwardly reminded her, "Liu Niang, you haven't bathed for months, you... you stink!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Niang looked down and became flustered. She explained, "I didn't have a chance to take a bath. I'll make sure to wash myself thoroughly once I get out."

"I'll get you out of here as soon as possible," Chen Jiu said hurriedly. "I can't stay too long, or Lu Zhan will become suspicious. I'll be going now."

Liu Niang reluctantly held his hand and pleaded, "You must come and rescue me as soon as possible. I don't want to stay in this awful place for even one more day."

"Don't worry, I will," Chen Jiu assured him again.

Only then did Liu Niang let go and allow him to leave.

As soon as Chen Jiu came out of the prison, he saw Duan Ling waiting there.

"So, are you happy to see your old flame?" Duan Ling teased.

Chen Jiu thought to himself: If the other party weren't a friend of his young master, he would really like to find a dark and windy night, put this guy in a sack, and give him a good beating.

What a ridiculous idea!
Although Liu Niang was not a good person, he still felt uneasy about deceiving a woman.

What is all this about?
Seeing that he was unhappy, Duan Ling stopped teasing him and coughed lightly, saying, "Chen Jiu, that Liu Niang is a tough nut to crack. Even after so long, she still refuses to reveal who is behind it all. I had no choice but to send you in."

I know you've been wronged. After this is all done, I'll definitely reward you handsomely and find you a beautiful wife.

Upon hearing the word "beauty," Chen Jiu's eyes immediately lit up, and his unease vanished instantly. A fawning smile spread across his face. "Young Master Duan, you must keep your word!"

"I absolutely keep my word!" Duan Ling assured him.

Chen Jiu was secretly delighted.

Later that evening, he personally cooked chicken soup and sent it to Liu Niang.

Seeing him arrive so quickly, Liu Niang was overjoyed and went to greet him, "Chen Jiu..."

"Liu Niang, when I came to see you earlier, I was so heartbroken to see how thin you were. And the baby in your belly, it has suffered so much with you, I don't know if it's growing well. So I specially made some chicken soup for you, please drink it quickly." Chen Jiu placed the food box in his hand on the low table, and then took out a bowl of chicken soup from it.

Liu Niang was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but reach out and touch her belly. Her eyes suddenly reddened. "Chen Jiu, you are so good to me."

"This is all I owe you," Chen Jiu said, filling a bowl with chicken soup and handing it to her.

Looking at the fragrant chicken soup and chicken leg in the bowl, Liu Niang suddenly burst into tears. "Chen Jiu, why don't you ever ask me whose child this is?"

"This is your private matter, why should I ask so many questions?" Chen Jiu scratched his head and said innocently.

"I was so stupid..." Liu Niang mumbled, and drank the soup in the bowl.

"Why do you describe yourself like that?" Chen Jiu asked, puzzled.

Liu Niang smiled bitterly, "This child is my elder brother's. I knew he only had eyes for his deceased wife, but I still loved him relentlessly and took the opportunity to drug his tea and have sex with him..."

(End of this chapter)