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

Chapter 280 Indeed, a beautiful face

"Your Highness, you should reapply the medicine and bandages." At this moment, Jiang Shi took out the medicine and cotton cloth and reminded him, "Otherwise, if Miss Biao sees this, she will scold Your Highness again."

Lu Zhan thought of his cousin's instructions before he left, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He nodded and said, "Alright."

"Oh, people with wives who care about them are just different," Duan Ling said sourly, squatting to the side.

Lu Zhan glanced at him and said, "You're not getting any younger. When you come back to the capital this time, you should settle your marriage as soon as possible."

Duan Ling's lips twitched slightly, and he teased, "People with fiancées are just different; even their tone of voice sounds just like an elder in their family."

Lu Zhan: "..."

As they set off, he whispered something to Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi nodded.

Not long after, Jiang Shi quietly left the group.

……

Capital, Eastern Palace.

After returning to the East Palace, Xuanyuan Hongjun felt listless and unable to muster any energy for anything. His mind was filled with the charming and beautiful image of Zhiwan.

How come he never noticed before that there were any pretty and charming women in the capital?
The thought that such a beautiful woman would soon belong to Lu Zhan made him feel uneasy.

How could Lu Zhan, a mere subject, possess such a stunningly beautiful woman?

Such a beauty deserves him!
He is the future monarch of the Great Chen Kingdom, and all the beauties in the world belong to him!

Xuan Yuan Hongjun became more and more unwilling to give up, determined to get his hands on that beauty!
Thinking of this, he sent someone to invite the Crown Princess.

"Your Highness, is there anything you wish to do for me?" the Crown Princess asked me respectfully.

Xuan Yuan Hongjun lost all interest the moment he saw that indifferent face.

I really don't understand why my father would marry such an ordinary-looking crown princess for me.

If it weren't for the fact that this was a marriage arranged for him by his father, he would have wanted to depose her and establish another crown princess.

However, although this Guo woman was of average appearance, she still had one redeeming quality: she was never jealous and took good care of her wives and concubines in the backyard.

Thinking that another beauty would soon be added to his harem, Xuan Yuan Hongjun suppressed his dislike for the Crown Princess, patted the seat next to him, and said gently, "Crown Princess, please sit down next to me."

Guo Yingrong felt no joy at all; instead, she felt exhausted.

She knew perfectly well that the Crown Prince didn't like her, only beautiful women. This time, his closeness to her must be another attempt to get her to do something immoral for him.

She was unhappy, but dared not disobey, and slowly walked over and sat down.

Xuan Yuan Hongjun took her hand and looked at it, and found that although Guo's face was ordinary, her hands were very beautiful.

He played with it for a while before speaking, "Your Highness, it's been a long time since we held a flower-viewing banquet in the Eastern Palace. Shall we invite some female relatives to come and liven things up?"

After hearing this, what else did Guo Yingrong not understand?
It seems the Crown Prince has probably set his sights on another woman.

She withdrew her hand and said calmly, "As the Crown Prince, Your Highness should prioritize state affairs. These matters of the inner court are not for Your Highness to concern yourself with."

Moreover, last year there was a disaster, and Father Emperor ordered the entire palace to be frugal and avoid extravagance. The palace hasn't held a flower-viewing banquet in a long time. If our Eastern Palace were to suddenly hold one, we would certainly be reprimanded by Father Emperor and Mother Emperor.”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Hongjun's expression turned cold. He reached out and pinched her chin, saying, "Guo Shi, do you dare to disobey my will?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not, but I have a duty to offer advice," Guo Ying said, enduring the pain with neither servility nor arrogance.

Xuan Yuan Hongjun irritably pushed her away, angrily saying, "You and Ouyang Lei are truly cousins; even your words of advice are exactly the same!"

Guo Yingrong slumped awkwardly on the couch, but quickly straightened herself up and sat up.

"I wonder what my cousin said to Your Highness?"

Xuanyuan Hongjun snorted coldly, not wanting to say more about the matter, and only said: "You should get the flower appreciation banquet organized as soon as possible. I will handle things with Father Emperor."

Seeing his insistence, Guo Yingrong had no choice but to ask, "In that case, I will invite the female relatives according to the usual invitation list."

"Let's add another young lady from the Zhi family, Zhi Wan," Xuan Yuan Hongjun said, stroking his chin with a smile. Upon hearing this, Guo Yingrong frowned. "The Zhi family? I've never heard of such a family before?"

“They’re relatives of the Duke of Dingguo’s family. You can find out by asking around.” Xuan Yuan Hongjun said impatiently, “You need me to teach you such a small thing? What use are you to me?”

Guo Yingrong felt uncomfortable, but dared not argue, so she could only agree, "Your Majesty, I will take care of it as soon as possible."

"At the latest, I must see that woman the day after tomorrow." Xuan Yuan Hongjun said this and then got up and left.

Guo Yingrong felt physically and mentally exhausted.

There are already enough women in the Eastern Palace, but I didn't expect that the Crown Prince would take a fancy to another girl today.

After pondering for a moment, she sent someone to inquire about Zhiwan.

Zhifu.

"Ah sneeze!"

After returning from the Wei family, Zhiwan went directly back to the Zhi residence.

But for some reason, I started sneezing frequently.

"Miss, could you have caught a chill?" Shuang'er asked with concern.

“The weather isn’t cold, so it shouldn’t be,” Zhiwan shook her head.

"Then... it must be that the young master is thinking of Miss," Shuang'er teased.

Zhiwan glared at her, "Don't sneeze next time, or someone will be thinking about you."

Shuang'er raised her hand to apologize, "This servant was wrong."

The next day.

Zhiwan thought about how many paintings she had made in recent days, so she organized them and planned to send them to the bookstore. Just then, Chen, the wet nurse, walked in hurriedly.

"Miss, someone from the Eastern Palace has arrived."

Upon hearing the words "Eastern Palace," Zhiwan's heart sank.

Could it be someone sent by the Crown Prince?
Zhiwan clenched her fists, forcing herself to remain calm, and asked, "What did the person look like? Did they say anything?"

"The person who came was dressed as a maid, like a stewardess from the palace. She has been invited to the front hall for tea, saying she has a few words to say to the young lady in person," Chen the wet nurse replied.

When Zhiwan heard that it was a maid, she breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good that it's not Xuanyuan Hongjun.

She followed Nurse Chen to the front hall and met the head maid.

As she sized up the headmistress, the headmistress had already sized her up as well.

A look of amazement flashed in the steward's eyes. She thought to herself: What a beautiful face! No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince is so fond of her.

"Are you Miss Zhi?" the head maid asked.

Zhiwan nodded, "Yes, I am. I haven't asked, Aunt..."

"I am just a maidservant by the Crown Princess's side. Miss Zhi, you can just call me Xiying," the head maidservant said with a smile.

Zhiwan nodded. "Aunt Xiying, may I ask what brings you out of the palace today?"

“The Eastern Palace hasn’t been lively for a long time. The Crown Princess said that she will hold a flower-viewing banquet in the Eastern Palace tomorrow and invite all the young ladies in the capital to come to the palace to enjoy the flowers. She specially sent me out of the palace to invite the young ladies from various families,” Xi Ying replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan's heart sank.

Logically, she wouldn't be invited to the banquet held at the Crown Prince's palace.

Thinking about her encounter with the Crown Prince at the Wei residence yesterday, she couldn't help but wonder if it was the Crown Prince's doing.

Thinking of this, she held her forehead and said weakly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness... but my body is really not cooperating. I caught a cold last night and will not be able to attend the flower viewing banquet at the East Palace tomorrow. Please ask my aunt to apologize to Your Highness on my behalf."