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

Chapter 281 Lu Zhan: Don't be afraid, I'm here.

Seeing this, Xi Ying reached out to help her up, her eyes filled with undisguised surprise, "Is the young lady really feeling unwell?"

Zhiwan coughed a few times, then said awkwardly, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Aunt..."

Xi Ying was startled and subconsciously let go of her hand. "If you are really not feeling well, it is not good to force you."

"I have failed the Crown Princess's kindness," Zhiwan said apologetically.

Xi Ying glanced at her, unsure whether she was faking it or genuinely ill.

But one thing is certain: this young lady has absolutely no desire to go to the Eastern Palace.

Thinking of this, Xiying nodded, "Since you are not feeling well, then Miss Zhi should take good care of yourself. I will tell the Crown Princess when I get back."

"Thank you for your trouble, Auntie," Zhiwan said with difficulty, panting.

Xi Ying left quickly.

As soon as she left, Zhiwan immediately called Shuang'er over and instructed her, "Go to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion immediately and invite your aunt over."

Shuang'er went immediately.

Wei arrived quickly, bringing with her a doctor.

She had already learned from Shuang'er that someone from the Eastern Palace had arrived, and she also knew that Zhiwan was feigning illness.

Just in case, she brought along a doctor she trusted.

If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. What you're afraid of is that the Crown Prince will go mad and come to your door with the imperial physician. In that case, Wan'er's feigned illness will be exposed.

If they are accused of fooling the Crown Prince, that would be troublesome.

The doctor was highly skilled. After a few needles, Zhiwan looked like she had caught a cold. Her face was pale, her voice was weak, and she coughed occasionally.

After seeing the doctor off, Madam Wei sat down by the bed and took Zhiwan's hand, saying, "Luckily you were clever enough to pretend to be sick and decline the flower viewing banquet."

Zhiwan said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Aunt. I always cause trouble and make you worry."

"How come you're the one who caused the trouble?" Madam Wei disagreed. "It's clearly those people's fault, don't try to take the blame on yourself."

Zhiwan naturally knew that it was all other people's fault, but although she did not actively cause trouble, she was the one who brought it upon herself.

She felt guilty for repeatedly causing her aunt to worry about her.

If the Crown Prince is not willing to give up, in order to avoid causing trouble for the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, she will ruin her face.

Isn't it just because the Crown Prince is attracted to her face?
Then she'll give it up.

A resolute glint flashed in Zhiwan's eyes.

Lady Wei was unaware that she had this idea in mind. After comforting her, she felt somewhat relieved when she saw that no one else from the Eastern Palace was coming.

"You should rest well. The Crown Prince's Palace shouldn't send anyone else today," said Madam Wei.

“Okay.” Zhiwan nodded.

Although she was faking illness, she had been given several injections, which left her feeling listless, weak, and drowsy, and she really wanted to sleep.

After she fell asleep, Madam Wei went back home first.

In the evening, Shuang'er and Chen, the wet nurse, fed Zhiwan some porridge, then sat in the outer room doing needlework and talking quietly.

To keep an eye on Zhiwan, the two sat outside the beaded curtain, a position from which they could see well into the inner room.

Therefore, when a figure flashed by in the inner room, both of them noticed it immediately.

The two were terrified.

They thought the Crown Prince had come to take him away.

Even so, the two men grabbed scissors and stools, and rushed in without hesitation, shouting, "Where did these thieves come from, daring to trespass into a woman's boudoir?"

Just then, the figure suddenly turned around and looked at the two of them.

"Prince?"

Upon seeing who it was, Shuang'er exclaimed in surprise and quickly stopped in her tracks. Chen, the wet nurse, was not as quick as her. Holding the scissors, she couldn't stop in time and was about to poke Lu Zhan when Lu Zhan easily dodged to the side and even reached out to pull Chen, who was rushing forward, back.

Once Chen the wet nurse had regained her balance, Lu Zhan released her.

He was initially embarrassed when the two caught him breaking into his cousin's room at night, but seeing their entourage, he realized something was wrong.

"Has something happened at the manor?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Your Highness, you're finally back! If you hadn't come back, Miss would have been taken away." Shuang'er thought of the Crown Prince's matter and blurted out the truth in her anxiety, "When you suddenly appeared in Miss's room just now, we servants thought that the Crown Prince's people had come to kidnap Miss."

Lu Zhan's expression darkened upon hearing this, "The Eastern Palace?"

"Yes, someone from the East Palace came today to invite you to the flower-viewing banquet tomorrow, Miss..."

"cousin!"

Before Shuang'er could finish speaking, a weak voice suddenly rang out.

The three looked toward the bed and saw that Zhiwan had woken up at some point. She propped herself up and lifted the gauze curtain with one hand.

Seeing her pale, bloodless face exposed outside, Lu Zhan's heart tightened. He didn't care that there were still servants in the room, and quickly went over to pull her into his arms.

"Why does my cousin look so haggard?" Lu Zhan's voice was strained, and his brows were furrowed.

Seeing this, Shuang'er and Chen, the wet nurse, quickly and tactfully withdrew.

Zhiwan initially thought she was dreaming, so she couldn't help but pinch herself. She found it hurt, and since the dream didn't disappear, she knew it was real.

She shook her head in her cousin's arms, "I'm fine."

Seeing her little actions, Lu Zhan was both amused and annoyed. "This isn't a dream."

Zhiwan muttered, "Who told you to take so long to come back?"

Hearing the girl's coquettish tone, Lu Zhan's heart softened. He pulled her to sit down on the edge of the bed, his slender fingers touching her pulse, intending to take her pulse, but she grabbed his hand, saying, "I'm not sick."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan thought she was putting on a brave face and said angrily, "You're so sick, and you still say you're fine?" His voice was also a bit harsher.

Zhiwan was not angry at all. Instead, she propped herself up and whispered, "Cousin, I was faking it. I'm not sick."

Seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, Lu Zhanjun's face showed surprise. He then raised his hand to touch her forehead and was relieved to find that it wasn't very hot.

Combining this with what Shuang'er had mentioned earlier about the flower-viewing banquet at the Eastern Palace, he immediately understood, "Is it because of the Eastern Palace?"

"Mm." Zhiwan nodded gently, feeling a little uneasy.

She recalled the strange looks she received at the Wei family yesterday. Old Madam Wei even directly blamed her for her unruly appearance. Later, her aunt had a falling out with Old Madam Wei because of her.

She was afraid that her cousin would also have reservations about her.

Thinking of this, her eyes dimmed and she lowered her head.

But at that moment, the man's long, slender fingers lifted her chin. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

With just one sentence, Zhiwan's unease and concerns vanished.

She snuggled closer to her cousin, tugged at his collar, and whispered a complaint, "Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Lu Zhan swallowed hard, tightened his grip on her slender waist, and offered a brief explanation, "Something came up on the way and we were delayed."

Zhiwan wanted to ask more, but he kissed her lips.

Zhiwan felt somewhat embarrassed when she thought of her sickly appearance.

Fortunately, Lu Zhan only scratched the surface and quickly released her, instead holding her shoulder and asking, "What happened at the Eastern Palace?"

Because of his kiss, a blush appeared on Zhiwan's pale face. When he asked about it, she calmed herself down and hurriedly told him in detail what had happened at the Wei family.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan clenched his fists, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

Zhiwan sensed that his aura had changed and couldn't help but feel a little scared.

She reached out to pull his sleeve, but saw several streaks of bright red blood flowing from his sleeve, staining the back of his hand.

Zhiwan was startled and said in a trembling voice, "Cousin, your hand is bleeding..."