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

Chapter 237 Zhiwan Wants to See Her Cousin
Madam Wei mocked, "The old lady dotes on Lu Jinglan, but does she not consider that she was born a beggar? Even with such a lowly status, the old lady did not despise her and treated her better than her own son. How come our Wan'er has become a lowly maid?"
"Our Wan'er is at least from a family of upright officials; she's far better than that beggar! If our Wan'er is a lowly girl, then Lu Jinglan is a vile and filthy slut!"

"You!" Old Madam Lu clutched her chest in anger, turning to Lu Zhenbei and saying, "Does she even respect me as her mother-in-law when she speaks to me like that? Aren't you going to do anything about her?"

Lu Zhenbei frowned. "Minghui is not wrong, and it was you who spoke inappropriately first!"

Madam Lu was so angry that her face turned ashen. She pointed at them and shouted angrily, "It seems that I have no say in this family. You are all so disobedient and unfilial to me!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingsi frowned and disagreed, saying, "Mother's words are truly disheartening for us sons. We have always respected you and have never failed to be filial to you."

It seems that, just as my sister-in-law said, in my mother's eyes, Lu Jinglan, an outsider, is better than us, her own sons.

Otherwise, why would they criticize us like this because of Lu Jinglan, an outsider?

After saying that, he shook his head and sighed, looking disappointed.

Old Master Lu choked, his face showing unease.

“Mother, you must be fair. Since you can accept Lu Jinglan and treat her as your own daughter, why do you dislike Wan’er, who is the descendant of Qingliu, so much?”

You shouldn't show favoritism!
Moreover, Wan'er has always been well-behaved and sensible, and would never cause trouble on her own initiative. On the contrary, Lu Jinglan suddenly went missing. I think she clearly hid herself to make you, Mother, worry." Lu Zhenbei said in a deep voice.

"You're talking nonsense. How could Jinglan be so ignorant?" Old Madam Lu said angrily.

"But the truth is, Lu Jinglan did disappear without any reason. Our family is not an ordinary family. What kind of petty thief could be so capable as to run into the mansion, kidnap someone, and not alert the guards?"

In my opinion, just as my elder brother said, Lu Jinglan has probably hidden herself away. Lou Shi had long harbored resentment towards her mother-in-law for treating Lu Jinglan so well.

He dotes on a stranger like the apple of his eye, while his own granddaughter is treated worse than a stranger.

Just thinking about it makes me angry.

In her opinion, it would be better if Lu Jinglan disappeared, and preferably never came back.

"Impossible! Don't talk nonsense!" Old Madam Lu pointed at her nose and scolded.

Lou shut his mouth in annoyance.

“Since Mother is so worried, then we can send people to look for them. But if we can’t find them, there’s nothing we can do. After all, if someone is determined to hide, it’s impossible to find them,” Madam Wei said at this moment.

Although Madam Lu was dissatisfied, she had nothing to say.

Soon, Madam Wei sent all her servants out to search.

While Fushou Hall was making a ruckus, Lu Lan went to Yaoguang Pavilion.

Upon her arrival, Zhiwan's expression turned indifferent. "What do you want with me?"

Lu Lan looked at her awkwardly, "Sister Zhiwan doesn't seem to be very welcoming to me."

"Even if you weren't welcome, you still showed up uninvited, didn't you?" Zhiwan looked at her behavior with amusement.

"I was a little scared, that's why I came to find Sister Zhiwan..." Lu Lan said, then began to sob softly, "Does Sister Zhiwan know? Aunt Jinglan suddenly... disappeared last night."

“It’s something the whole household knows, so naturally I’ve heard about it too.” Zhiwan looked at her scrutinizingly. “Lu Lan, you’re so afraid. Could it be that Lu Jinglan’s disappearance is related to you?”

Lu Lan paused in her sobs, her fingers clenched tightly into her palms beneath her sleeves, and forced a smile as she said, "Sister Zhiwan, this joke isn't funny."

“Is this a joke? You’re acting so scared, it’s easy for people to become suspicious of you,” Zhiwan said.

“I…I have no ill feelings towards Aunt Jinglan, how could I possibly harm her? On the contrary, it’s you, Sister Zhiwan…Grandmother said that Aunt Jinglan’s disappearance is related to you,” Lu Lan said softly.

Zhiwan glanced at her, not angered by her words, and instead said calmly, "You say there's no discord, so there isn't. But in places where no one can see, you two might have already fallen out. So, while I was having a dispute with Lu Jinglan, you colluded with outsiders to kidnap her, and that way you can frame me."

Lu Lan stared in astonishment, "Sister Zhiwan, why would you think that? Why would I do that?"

“Yes, I want to know too.” Zhiwan looked at her sharply. “Lu Lan, I have no grudge against you, why did you want to harm me?” Lu Lan was startled, but forced herself to remain calm and said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. When have I ever harmed you?”

“Although I have no evidence, when I left without saying goodbye last time, rumors spread throughout the manor that I had eloped with someone. Did you spread those rumors?” Zhiwan said coldly.

"Sister Zhiwan, you're really going to wrong me! That matter has nothing to do with me, I didn't spread it!" Lu Lan said anxiously.

Seeing her anxious expression, Zhiwan sneered inwardly. This Lu Lan was even better at acting than she was.

She didn't want to play games with her, so she went straight to the point: "What happened to you has nothing to do with me. You should hate and blame the person who plotted against you, not blame your anger and grievances on someone unrelated."

When the topic of being defiled came up, Lu Lan turned pale and trembled all over.

After a long pause, she forced a smile and said, "What are you saying, Sister Zhiwan? How could I blame my misfortune on you? You're overthinking it."

"I hope I'm overthinking it. After all, every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. I've never harmed you, and I have a clear conscience!" Zhiwan said calmly.

"I understand." Lu Lan nodded and replied softly, "Then I'll go back now."

"Ah."

As soon as Lu Lan left, Shuang'er frowned and said, "Why is this Fourth Miss acting so strangely? Is she really blaming Miss for that incident?"

Zhiwan nodded. "It should be."

"This is completely unreasonable," Shuang'er said angrily.

"Human hearts are unpredictable. In the future, avoid anything related to Lu Lan and don't fall into her trap," Zhiwan advised.

"This servant understands." Shuang'er nodded.

After leaving Yaoguang Pavilion, Lu Lan, contrary to her timid demeanor, wore a strange smile.

With the money she had saved for a long time, she left the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and found a painter to paint her portrait.

After completing the painting as requested, the artist looked at the figure he had drawn and exclaimed, "What a beautiful girl!"

Lu Lan stared at the person in the painting, a half-smile on her face, and said, "You also think she's beautiful?"

The artist nodded, his gaze lingering on the painting. "I've never seen such a beautiful person before. Is this someone the girl imagined?"

“No, that’s not it.” Lu Lan shook her head with a smile, took the painting, and slowly admired it. “The person in this painting is a poor relative who lives with us.”

The painter exclaimed in surprise, "She really existed? Then why is the young lady painting her?"

Lu Lan didn't answer. She lowered her head, rolled up the painting, and then tossed the money pouch to him. "This is none of your business."

The painter took the money pouch and wisely kept quiet.

Evening, Yaoguang Pavilion.

Zhiwan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

In the afternoon, the embroiderers from the brocade workshop came to take her measurements and prepare to make her a wedding dress.

Shuang'er was overjoyed, but for some reason, she had an uneasy feeling, as if something was about to happen.

In addition, she also wanted to ask her cousin about Lu Jinglan's sudden disappearance.

Unfortunately, she hasn't dreamed about her cousin in a long time.

I wonder what my cousin is busy with?
(End of this chapter)