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

Chapter 226 Lu Zhan: My cousin doesn't want to see me?

Meeting her cousin's eyes, Zhiwan felt very guilty, lowered her head, and whispered, "I didn't do anything."

She knew that the man she had just seen was the wanted criminal that her cousin was trying to arrest.

But she let him go...

Zhiwan was conflicted, unsure whether she should tell her cousin about it.

The man saved her at the restaurant yesterday, and he looks exactly like her father.

Although the man didn't admit it, she was already certain in her heart that he was her father's brother.

But how could he be a wanted criminal by the imperial court?
Zhiwan was in a very difficult position.

Seeing his cousin's hesitation, Lu Zhan said calmly, "May I come in and sit for a while?"

Zhiwan was taken aback and hesitated for a moment.

That person should have... left by now, right?

Seeing his cousin's hesitant expression, Lu Zhan narrowed his dark eyes slightly. "Is it inconvenient for me to go in?"

Zhiwan inexplicably felt a sense of pressure.

She quickly shook her head, "Of course not..." As she spoke, she stepped aside, "Cousin, come in."

Lu Zhan nodded and stepped into her cabin.

When Shuang'er saw him come in, she immediately and tactfully withdrew.

Zhiwan followed her cousin into the cabin, feeling extremely uneasy.

When she saw her cousin come in and walk straight to the window, her heart sank. Fearing that he might still be by the window, she hurriedly ran over and closed the window first.

"The wind is too strong, it's making me uncomfortable." As soon as Zhiwan finished speaking, she turned around and met her cousin's probing gaze.

Her heart skipped a beat. She twisted her handkerchief, forcing herself to remain calm, and asked, "By the way, cousin, why did you suddenly come to Yangzhou?"

Lu Zhan didn't speak, but instead pushed her away and opened the window she had just closed.

"It's so hot and humid, isn't my cousin worried about getting sick from keeping the windows so tightly closed?"

Zhiwan's heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she stared intently at her cousin's actions.

Seeing that he looked out the window and his expression remained normal, she breathed a sigh of relief, shook her head, and said, "I'm not hot."

Just then, her cousin suddenly turned around, raised his hand and lifted her chin. "Cousin, you don't seem very happy to see me. You didn't want me to come?"

Her delicate, butterfly-like eyelashes trembled slightly. "I... I was just a little surprised. My cousin himself said he was busy last time."

“I don’t have time, but a wanted criminal has appeared in Yangzhou. I must arrest him, otherwise I will not be able to return to the capital.” Lu Zhan looked into her eyes and said, word by word.

Zhiwan was startled.

If my cousin can't catch that person, he won't be able to return to Beijing?
so serious?

"What crime did that wanted criminal commit? Why can't he be caught? Why can't my cousin return to the capital?" Zhiwan suppressed her surprise and asked in confusion.

Lu Zhan looked at her without saying a word.

Zhiwan felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, and raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. "W-what's wrong?"

Lu Zhan paused, reached out and touched her hair, and said gently, "That wanted criminal is the leader of Liu Niang's gang of river pirates. Last time I was stranded on a deserted island, it was all thanks to him. He was the one who blew up the big ship."

"What?" Zhiwan exclaimed in astonishment.

Lu Zhan paused for a moment, then continued, "That bandit leader has robbed and killed many innocent people. The Emperor has issued a death order to bring him to justice."

Zhiwan was shocked and confused upon hearing this.

She was certain that the man was her uncle, but how could he have committed such a heinous act? And the Emperor had even issued such a death order…

Her face suddenly turned pale, her lips trembled, and she looked at the man, her voice pleading, "Cousin, could you..."

"No!" Lu Zhan interrupted her in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan's face showed a hint of displeasure. "I haven't even said what I want to do yet, and you're already saying I can't?"

Lu Zhan paused, then put his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, saying, "Cousin, you should know that I never show favoritism. So, even if that person is likely your uncle, I cannot let him go after he has committed such a heinous crime. Do you understand?"

Zhiwan stared at him, her face deathly pale. "You knew everything?"

“Yes.” Lu Zhan nodded. “I just found out too. The man’s name is Zhi Ye. He looks exactly like your father. He must be your father’s twin brother.”

He had only arrived in Yangzhou this morning when Chen Jiu reported the news he had gathered to him.

That man was not only my cousin's uncle, but also undoubtedly a descendant of the Prince of Jin.

If that's the case, then my cousin is also...

Lu Zhan's dark eyes darkened, and a hint of seriousness appeared between his brows.

My cousin must not know about this.

Furthermore, no one should be allowed to know about my cousin's relationship with that person.

In a short time, Lu Zhan had already made up his mind.

"Listen to me, if that person comes looking for you again, don't pay any attention to him, and don't get involved with him at all, understand?" Lu Zhan instructed.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan knew that he already knew that her uncle had just come by.

She said with some hesitation, "But he is my uncle, and he even saved me at the restaurant yesterday. What I did... would be too ungrateful."

"He saved you?" Lu Zhan was taken aback. "What happened at the restaurant yesterday?"

“My aunt and I went out to eat and ran into a servant from the Zeng family. In retaliation, that servant poured hot oil on me. It was my uncles who stepped forward and shielded me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here now, talking to you.” Zhiwan recounted what happened at the restaurant yesterday.

Lu Zhanjun's face darkened, and he looked her up and down anxiously. "Are you injured anywhere?"

“I already told you, my uncle shielded me, I’m perfectly fine.” Zhiwan grabbed his hand and shook her head.

Lu Zhan, still feeling a bit shaken, pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back. "It's alright."

Zhiwan paused, but didn't push him away. She let him hug her for a while before grabbing his collar and saying, "Cousin, could you please let him go for the sake of my uncle saving me?" Afraid that he would refuse, she quickly added, "Don't worry, next time I see him, I will definitely persuade him to change his ways and I will never let him commit another crime."

Lu Zhan patted her head and sighed, "You've only met him for the first time today, right? How can you be so sure he'll listen to you?"

“I am his own niece. He shielded me from scalding hot oil without hesitation. I believe he is kind-hearted, just like my father… Perhaps he had his reasons for doing evil, or some other hidden story,” Zhiwan said earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan paused, wanting to tell her the truth, but worried that she would be frightened, so he gave up and only said, "His Majesty has issued a death order. Even if I had not handled this case, His Majesty would have sent someone else."

Zhiwan was very anxious. "What should we do?"

“Go back to the capital and stay there. Don’t go anywhere else. This matter is not something you can interfere with,” Lu Zhan said.

Just as Zhiwan was about to say something, there was a knock on the cabin door, and Chen Jiu reported from outside: "Your Highness, the ship is about to depart, we must disembark."

Lu Zhan glanced at the cabin door and said to Zhi Wan, "I have to go. Take care of yourself."

"I understand." Zhiwan released his hand somewhat dejectedly, and ultimately didn't say anything more to plead for him.

It's one thing for her cousin to be nice to her, but he would never go the extra mile for her sake.

She couldn't help but feel a little down.

Just then, a shadow fell over her head.

(End of this chapter)