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

Chapter 73 With Lu Zhan looking after him
Madam Wei glanced at the little girl beside her, recalling how she almost got into trouble at the Fu family's flower-viewing banquet last time. She was worried that the girl might be bullied again, so she said, "Mother, let Jinglan and Lan'er go together then. Wan'er won't go."

Lou was surprised. "Why? The invitation clearly stated that Wan'er should also go. We can't afford to offend the Prince of Gaoyang's mansion. Or is it that you're worried about Wan'er's status?"

Madam Wei glanced at her and said, "What's wrong with my status, Wan'er? The main reason I'm not letting her go is that Princess Gaoyang wants to befriend Jinglan. Even if Wan'er doesn't go, the princess won't say anything."

“But sister-in-law, I heard Wan’er say last time that Princess Gaoyang was chasing after Jinzhi and came to the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion. She suddenly sent someone to deliver an invitation. I think it’s more like it’s aimed at Wan’er.” At this moment, Lu Jinglan suddenly spoke up.

"What?" Wei asked in astonishment.

The others also looked surprised.

Lu Jinglan looked at Zhiwan and said with a smile, "Wan'er, do you still remember this?"

Zhiwan glanced at her and nodded, "Of course I remember." Meeting Wei's surprised eyes, she paused and explained, "There was such a thing. I originally wanted to tell you, but I thought it wasn't important, so I forgot about it later."

Madam Wei patted her hand, "If you've forgotten, you've forgotten. It's not a big deal."

"Our Jinzhi is truly captivating to the young lady. The princess has even followed him all the way to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Perhaps soon, my sister-in-law will have a princess as her daughter-in-law," Lou Shi joked.

Madam Wei looked displeased: "Second sister-in-law, watch your words. Don't spread rumors about things that aren't true. If you ruin the princess's reputation, the Prince of Gaoyang will probably hold you accountable later."

Lou's face stiffened, and she shut her mouth in an annoyed manner.

Madam Lu said, "Since Princess Gaoyang has sent an invitation, don't refuse, go." She paused, then looked at Zhiwan, "Although you are not a young lady of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, you are going on behalf of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, so don't embarrass it."

Upon hearing this, Lady Wei was about to lash out, but Zhiwan grabbed her hand.

She replied obediently, "Please rest assured, Madam, Zhiwan will be careful with her words and actions."

"That's good. When the time comes, you all must listen to Jinglan and not act rashly," Madam Lu instructed.

“Yes,” Zhiwan and Lulan replied in succession.

Lu Jinglan said playfully, "I've taken on the role of an elder, so I'll definitely take good care of you two."

Suppressing her displeasure, Madam Wei said, "Then you must act like an elder. If the two young girls go with you and something happens to them in the Prince's mansion, I will be disappointed in you."

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I will definitely take good care of Wan'er and Lan'er. If anything happens to them, I will have no face to stay in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion any longer," Lu Jinglan said solemnly.

Madam Lu's expression changed. "You silly girl, it's not that serious. They're not three-year-olds anymore. How can they need someone to take care of them in everything? Why are you taking on all the responsibility? You're not that much older than them."

"I was just worried that my sister-in-law would be concerned about Wan'er, so I wanted to put her mind at ease," Lu Jinglan said with a smile, appearing carefree.

“She’s a grown woman, what’s there to worry about? If something happens to her at a birthday banquet, what future will she have?” Old Madam Lu glared at Zhiwan with displeasure.

“Yes, sister-in-law, don’t worry. It’s just a birthday banquet. Most of the attendees are young ladies and gentlemen,” said Madam Lou.

Wei sneered inwardly.

The old woman herself said that Wan'er and Lan'er should listen to Jinglan, but now she's saying that Jinglan isn't much older than the two girls.
She couldn't directly confront the old woman, but she was quite blunt with Madam Lou. "Yes, it's just a birthday banquet, but I'm afraid my second sister-in-law has forgotten that Lan'er had an accident at home last time. If something can happen at home, what about on someone else's turf?"

Lou choked and dared not speak again.

Old Madam Lu slammed her hand on the table and pointed at her nose, scolding, "The good daughter you raised could do such a despicable thing!"

Lu Lan said with tears welling up in her eyes, "Grandmother, please don't blame Mother. Second Sister was just confused for a moment, that's why... it's all Lan'er's fault. How can Lan'er have the face to live in this world? She should have died long ago."

At this point, she was already sobbing.

Lou's face was very ugly. This wretched girl, on the surface, was trying to help her out of a predicament, but in reality, she was complaining and playing the victim in front of the old woman.

Sure enough, Old Madam Lu said with great pity, "You poor girl, you have such a hard life. Well, in the future, your grandmother will arrange your marriage and find you a good family."

“Grandmother…” Lu Lan lay on her lap, her face covered in tears.

Lou's face turned ashen.

She really underestimated this wretched woman.

If she were to bypass her and have the old lady arrange the marriage for her directly, how would she be able to control her in the future?
Although the Lou family had suffered a setback, the Wei family still looked displeased.

After leaving the Orchid Courtyard, Zhiwan tugged at her sleeve, "Aunt, don't worry about Wan'er, Wan'er will take care of herself."

Madam Wei's expression softened slightly as she looked at the girl's obedient appearance with great tenderness.

"I'll have Granny Fang go with you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Aunt." Zhiwan did not refuse.

Madam Wei sighed, "You don't need to take my words to heart."

Hearing her address the old lady directly as "old woman," Zhiwan couldn't help but laugh. She nodded and said, "Don't worry, Aunt, I didn't take it to heart."

Madam Wei laughed and cautioned, "When you go to the banquet tomorrow, be careful of Xuan Yuanjing, and even more so of Lu Jinglan. That girl is no good."

Zhiwan paused for a moment, "Aunt Jinglan, she..."

"In short, just listen to your aunt, you can't go wrong." Madam Wei didn't explain further.

"I understand." Zhiwan nodded.

Thinking of something, Madam Wei asked, "Did Princess Gaoyang really chase after your cousin all the way to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion?"

Zhiwan nodded, "Yes." After thinking for a moment, she carefully recounted what had happened last time.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wei frowned. "So, I'm afraid that Princess Gaoyang is taking her anger out on you. She'll definitely make things difficult for you at tomorrow's birthday banquet. No, you'd better not go to the birthday banquet at the Prince Gaoyang's residence tomorrow."

“But since the princess is coming for me, it wouldn’t be right for me not to go,” Zhiwan said.

Wei said nonchalantly, "Just make up an excuse. Would the Prince of Gaoyang really make trouble for the Duke of Dingguo's mansion over such a trivial matter? Don't worry, nothing will happen."

“Aunt, if the princess is determined to cause me trouble, even if I avoid it this time, can I avoid it next time? I think I should still go,” Zhi Wanxin said hesitantly.

After meeting Princess Gaoyang last time, she had someone inquire and learned that Prince Gaoyang was quite powerful in the court and was the Crown Prince's strongest rival.

It wouldn't be good if I caused trouble for my uncle and cousin.

"Tomorrow is the princess's birthday banquet. With so many guests, she will surely be hesitant and won't dare to do anything to me. Besides, didn't you say you wanted Granny Fang to come with me? If anything happens, I will immediately have Granny Fang return to the manor to inform you."

After thinking about it, Madam Wei finally agreed, "Alright, it's your decision."

She wasn't really afraid of the Prince of Gaoyang's mansion, but she thought that she could have her son escort Wan'er there.

With Lu Zhan looking after Wan'er, she didn't need to worry.

(End of this chapter)