The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night

Zhi Wan came back to her senses. She plucked the flower from her hair and looked down at it.

The crabapple blossom between her fingers was exquisite and lovely, small and delicate.

Elder Tian must have adored crabapple blossoms; they were planted in every courtyard of the estate.

She had seen so many that she hadn’t paid them much mind.

But just now, her cousin had actually placed this very blossom in her hair, saying that she and the flower were a perfect match.

’Crabapple blossoms are beautiful and symbolize a lovely maiden. Was my cousin complimenting me when he said that?’

’Was my cousin just being thoughtless, or... did he mean something else?’

Zhi Wan’s thoughts were in a tangle.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that his affection for her had surpassed that of a brother for a sister.

It left her feeling utterly lost.

She stood there for a while before finally going inside, casually placing the crabapple blossom on the table.

After tidying up and getting ready to leave, she saw the blossom on the table. She paused, then couldn’t resist finding a book and pressing the flower between its pages.

「Outside the courtyard gate.」

When Zhi Wan and Ouyang Zhenzhu came out, they were surprised to see the girls from yesterday were there as well.

And by the looks of it, they were coming along on the trip.

"What is the meaning of this? Your cousin is bringing them along? I never knew he was so foolish. Have they bewitched him after only a single night?" Ouyang Zhenzhu grumbled under her breath.

Zhi Wan also found herself unable to understand her cousin’s reasoning.

’My cousin has always been a stickler for propriety.’

But today, not only was he taking all these girls on an outing, but he was also making her and Zhenzhu go along...

Just as the two of them were puzzling over it, the window of the carriage beside them was suddenly pushed open, revealing Lu Zhan’s handsome face. "It’s getting late. Get in the carriage."

Zhi Wan froze for a second, then asked softly, "Can we... not go?"

"No," the man said in a low voice, his sharp brows knitting together slightly.

Zhi Wan was taken aback.

’If my cousin is taking those girls on an outing, why does he insist on bringing me and Zhenzhu?’

’This doesn’t feel like a pleasure trip. It feels like something is about to happen.’

Just then, an unfamiliar guard approached them and said in a low voice, "If you would please hurry into the carriage. We’re only waiting for you two."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan and Ouyang Zhenzhu realized that the girls who had been standing by the gate were already in the carriage behind them.

"We’re... riding with Mr. Lu?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked, taking in the situation.

"Yes," the guard replied with a nod, gesturing for them to board.

The two of them exchanged a look before finally climbing into Lu Zhan’s carriage.

"Cousin, where are we going?" Zhi Wan couldn’t help but ask once they were settled inside.

"Do you remember what I said to you the other day?" Lu Zhan countered.

Zhi Wan paused. It quickly came back to her, and her expression turned grave.

’My cousin said he wanted me to act as bait to lure Liang Qixian into revealing himself. So today’s trip... it’s for that?’

She couldn’t help but grow nervous. It was only then that she realized she hadn’t seen Chen Jiu or Jiang Shi, and the guards outside were all unfamiliar faces.

’Chen Jiu and Jiang Shi are my cousin’s personal guards. Where have they gone? Why aren’t they with him this time?’

Lu Zhan noticed her anxiously twisting her handkerchief. He paused, then said, "Don’t be so nervous. Nothing will happen."

Zhi Wan nodded obediently. "I understand." But she was still tense inside.

’According to my cousin’s plan, we should already be under surveillance by Liang Qixian’s men. For all I know, we’re surrounded by them right now.’

’The only thing I don’t understand is why he brought those other girls along.’

’And I remember Liang Qixian sent seven girls yesterday, but just now, there were clearly only five outside...’

’If you add me and Zhenzhu, that makes seven.’

At this thought, she suddenly understood. Her cousin’s arrangements must have a different purpose.

She recalled how, back in her courtyard, her cousin had specifically instructed her and Zhenzhu to wear veils. And now, he had them get into his carriage.

This way, anyone who didn’t know better would mistake the two of them for those slender maids. Furthermore, by taking such a large group of women on an outing, her cousin was being incredibly ostentatious. Outsiders would surely assume he was a debauched, frivolous, and incompetent official.

And those who were originally wary of him would see this and think he was no longer a threat.

Realizing this, Zhi Wan suddenly understood. Her cousin wasn’t going to use her as bait at all. He was using this spectacle to lull the spies watching them into a false sense of security.

Still, she couldn’t figure out why he had to bring her and Zhenzhu along. And where had the other two slender maids gone?

"What are you two talking about?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked, completely baffled.

Zhi Wan snapped back to reality and shook her head. "It’s nothing."

The carriage passed through the city gates and continued for a long time before finally coming to a stop.

Ouyang Zhenzhu pushed open the window and looked out. Seeing nothing but a desolate, mountainous wilderness, she cried out in astonishment, "Mr. Lu, you brought us all the way out to a place like this for fun?"

Zhi Wan looked out as well, her face filled with surprise.

Lu Zhan said nothing, simply rising and disembarking from the carriage.

Ouyang Zhenzhu was filled with regret. She leaned close to Zhi Wan’s ear and whispered a complaint, "If I had known we were coming to some desolate mountain, I wouldn’t have come."

Zhi Wan patted her hand and soothed her in a low voice, "My cousin has his reasons. We should just follow along."

"Fine," Ouyang Zhenzhu nodded.

But after getting out of the carriage, her dejection was swept away as she exclaimed, "Huh? There’s a manor here!"

Seeing the huge villa ahead, Zhi Wan was also stunned.

From the angle where the carriage had stopped, all they could see was the desolate wilderness; they hadn’t seen the manor situated on the other side.

A man who appeared to be a steward came out to greet them and ushered everyone inside.

"There are hot springs at the manor. Do as you please," Lu Zhan instructed Zhi Wan, then left with the steward.

Zhi Wan was still wondering what her cousin could possibly be plotting when Ouyang Zhenzhu, having overheard the words "hot springs," grabbed her and took off running.

"Wanwan, let’s go soak in the hot springs!"

Zhi Wan’s train of thought was broken. She followed her friend around the manor for a bit before they found a maid to guide them to the hot spring baths.

The pools were indoors. After dismissing the maid and bolting the door, Ouyang Zhenzhu began to undress.

"I really thought Mr. Lu was going to sell us off in some godforsaken corner. I never expected he was bringing us to a hot spring. I’ve misjudged him."

Zhi Wan didn’t rush to take off her clothes, instead walking a lap around the room.

By the time she finished, Ouyang Zhenzhu was already in the pool. "Wanwan, why haven’t you taken your clothes off yet?"

Zhi Wan paused. She wasn’t quite used to bathing with others.

She hesitated.

"You’re not afraid I’ll see your body, are you?" Ouyang Zhenzhu teased. "Don’t forget, the last time you fell in the river, I was the one who changed your clothes."

The corner of Zhi Wan’s mouth twitched.

She certainly remembered that incident, but she had been unconscious at the time and completely unaware.

But since Zhenzhu had put it that way, it would be inappropriate for her to hesitate any longer. She slowly began to undo her dress.

"Wanwan, your figure is amazing!" Ouyang Zhenzhu cried out suddenly, covering her nose.