The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night

Jiang Shi sized him up, finally at a loss for words.

"Hey, what’s with that look?" Chen Jiu was displeased.

"The Princely Heir said you look coarse, and I couldn’t agree more." After speaking, Jiang Shi drained his cup and rose to leave.

Chen Jiu looked himself over.

’This is called being brawny and strong, all right?’

’No taste!’

Turning his head, he was shocked to see the Princely Heir pick up an unopened wine jar, break the clay seal, and start chugging it.

Chen Jiu was startled and quickly tried to dissuade him. "Princely Heir, drinking too much is bad for you. The men Liang Qixian sent are long gone. You don’t need to keep up the act."

"I know my limits. You may leave," Lu Zhan said, dismissing him directly.

Hearing this, Chen Jiu had no choice but to withdraw, though he couldn’t help but wonder to himself, ’The Princely Heir isn’t a heavy drinker. He’s always so restrained. Why is he guzzling it down tonight?’

Only after finishing the entire jar of wine did Lu Zhan return to his room, his steps unsteady.

He shed his robes and entered the washroom.

「Li Mansion.」

Liang Qixian was horrified when he heard his scout’s report.

But he had to be thankful for one thing: the account book hadn’t fallen into Lu Zhan’s hands yet.

At this thought, he calmed down and commanded, "Gather our men. Tomorrow, use any means necessary to get that account book back for me!"

"Yes, sir!" his subordinate replied.

At the Lu Family Villa, the night was deep. Zhi Wan, sleeping soundly, suddenly drifted into a dream.

She found herself in a washroom where a man with an excellent physique was asleep in a steaming bathtub, his head propped on one hand.

The thick scent of alcohol in the air made her frown.

She leaned down, sniffed at the man, and then shoved him awake rather roughly. "Hey, how much did you drink? You reek of alcohol!"

Pushed by her, the sleeping man nearly toppled into the water.

After steadying himself, his eyes landed on her, and a faint smile touched his lips. "You’re here."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan looked at him suspiciously. "It seems like you were waiting for me?"

Lu Zhan didn’t speak. Instead, he reached out, took her wrist, and caressed it for a moment before suddenly pulling her into the tub with him.

SPLASH! Hot water splashed all over the floor.

Zhi Wan wiped the water from her face and stared at him, stunned. "What are you doing?"

The man didn’t answer. His deep, dark eyes stared at her lips for a moment before he suddenly leaned in, cupped the back of her head, and kissed her deeply.

His movements weren’t rough, but they were domineering, forcefully drawing out her unique sweetness.

Zhi Wan was dazed for a moment. When she came to her senses, she couldn’t help but blush.

’Why is this man a little... ahem, lecherous today?’

But she didn’t find it repulsive; in fact, she rather enjoyed it.

Until she felt the man’s hand slip under the hem of her clothes.

His slightly calloused palm grazed over her skin, sending a shiver through her entire body. Finally, his fingers came to rest on her waist.

He seemed to love her waist, his fingertips lingering there, caressing it until Zhi Wan’s heart trembled.

"Don’t..."

Zhi Wan finally couldn’t take it anymore and begged for him to stop.

But her voice was so soft and seductive it was as if she were flirting.

Lu Zhan’s breathing grew ragged, and a thin sheen of sweat beaded on his smooth forehead.

He pressed Zhi Wan into his embrace, his fingers finding the sash of her dress and slowly untying it.

A moment later, a light garment floated in the steaming water. The girl’s skin, as smooth and soft as fine silk, was exposed to the air and the man’s eyes.

The cool air on her shoulders brought a sliver of Zhi Wan’s lost sanity back.

She was startled to see her clothes slipping off, but when she turned and saw the man’s smooth, jade-like chin, she was somehow possessed to kiss it.

First his chin, then his Adam’s apple, and then his collarbone...

The bone-deep, tingling sensation made Lu Zhan’s entire body tense, yet he indulged the girl’s boldness.

For a moment, the washroom filled with a sensual, fragrant air. An uncontrollable emotion caused them both to lose a bit of control.

Until Zhi Wan suddenly cried out and woke up.

The erotic dream vanished. Zhi Wan looked at the leg draped over her waist, and the corner of her eye twitched.

’If I had known, I never would have agreed to let Ouyang Zhenzhu sleep with me. She interrupted my fun.’

Thinking about what had almost happened in the dream, Zhi Wan couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.

She moved Ouyang Zhenzhu’s leg off her, got up, and downed two cups of cold tea.

’Strange, why are the dreams so frequent this time?’

At the same time, Lu Zhan also woke up in the bathtub.

Remembering what had just happened in the dream, he raised a hand to touch his lips. Having had a taste, he now longed for more.

「The next day.」

At the crack of dawn, a carriage quietly departed from the back gate of the Lu Family Villa, heading for the city gates.

Zhi Wan didn’t yet know that someone disguised as her had gone to Jurong.

After waking in the middle of the night, she had fallen asleep again and was now sleeping soundly with Ouyang Zhenzhu.

Until Nanny Fang came knocking on the door.

"Miss, the Princely Heir is here."

Zhi Wan, who had been fast asleep, woke up immediately at her words.

’My cousin?’

She quickly shook Ouyang Zhenzhu.

"What?" Ouyang Zhenzhu grumbled, rolling over.

"Get up, my cousin is here," Zhi Wan said, hastily getting up to dress.

Ouyang Zhenzhu was instantly awake as well. "Why is your cousin here?" she asked, confused.

"I don’t know either." Zhi Wan shook her head. "But it must be for something important."

The two of them hurriedly dressed and washed up before opening the door and stepping out.

They were surprised to see Lu Zhan standing in the courtyard.

He stood before a crabapple tree.

The crabapple blossoms were in full, brilliant bloom. He held a single petal between his long fingers.

The bright, delicate petal made his fingers look even longer, with slender, pale knuckles.

Zhi Wan was captivated by the scene, unsure for a moment whether the flower was more beautiful, or his hand.

"Wanwan, is this what they call being cruel to a helpless flower?" Ouyang Zhenzhu suddenly whispered, leaning close to her ear.

Zhi Wan: "..."

Just then, Lu Zhan turned around. "You’re up?" When he saw Ouyang Zhenzhu standing beside her, his handsome face froze for an instant. "Miss Ouyang, what are you doing here?"

"I’ve been here all along," Ouyang Zhenzhu said nonchalantly, adding with a grin, "I even slept with Wanwan last night. But you, Mr. Lu, didn’t you have a beauty to keep you company last night? Why are you up so early today?"

Lu Zhan: "..."

Seeing a faint trace of embarrassment on the man’s handsome face, Zhi Wan quickly interjected to smooth things over. "Cousin, did you come to see me about something important?"

Lu Zhan paused. His gaze fell on her face, and thinking of their rendezvous in the dream last night, his own handsome face flushed.

"I’m going on an outing in a little while. If you and Ouyang Zhenzhu are free, you should come along," Lu Zhan said, clearing his throat with a slight cough.

Zhi Wan looked at him in surprise.

’My cousin is so busy, how does he have time for an outing?’

Ouyang Zhenzhu, however, didn’t think too much of it. The moment she heard "outing," she asked enthusiastically, "Mr. Lu, where are we going?"

"You’ll know when we get there." Lu Zhan didn’t explain further.

"Wanwan, let’s go! I want to go," Ouyang Zhenzhu said at once, shaking Zhi Wan’s hand.

Zhi Wan had no choice but to nod in agreement. "Then, please wait for us a moment, cousin."

"Mm," Lu Zhan grunted. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Remember to wear your veils."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan didn’t think much of it.

She usually wore a veil or a veiled hat when she went out anyway.

"Understood."

"When you’re ready, come to the front gate. You don’t need to bring your maids," Lu Zhan instructed further.

"Mm," Zhi Wan nodded obediently.

Ouyang Zhenzhu, unable to wait, had already rushed inside to get ready.

Zhi Wan was about to go inside as well when she saw her cousin walking toward her.

She paused, startled, and asked, "Cousin, is there anything else you need to tell me?"

Lu Zhan didn’t speak. After stopping in front of her, he suddenly took the crabapple blossom he was holding and tucked it into her hair bun.

Zhi Wan froze.

"This crabapple blossom suits you well, cousin," Lu Zhan said lightly, then turned and walked away.