The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night

"Lu Jinglan?" Ouyang Zhenzhu cried out in astonishment.

The newcomer was none other than Lu Jinglan, who was supposed to be in the Capital City.

Supported by her maid, she stepped down and gave the group a small smile. "It’s been a while. I trust you’ve all been well."

Zhi Wan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but her face was all smiles. "Little Aunt Jinglan, what brings you here?"

"It’s almost the sixth month, and the summer heat in the Capital City is getting heavier. It can’t compare to the cool of Jiangnan. Mother was concerned for me, so she let me bring Lan’er to Jiangnan to escape the heat and for her to get a change of scenery," Lu Jinglan said with a smile, but there was an unmistakable hint of triumph in her eyes.

Lu Lan?

The group was taken aback.

Just then, another young woman stepped out of the carriage.

"Zhi Wan, it’s been a long time." Lu Lan looked at Zhi Wan, an innocent smile on her face.

"It has been a while." Zhi Wan nodded.

"Are you all heading out?" Lu Jinglan asked.

"Yes, we’re off to the execution grounds to watch a beheading," Ouyang Zhenzhu said, deliberately trying to scare them, as she found the two of them quite repulsive.

As expected, both of their expressions changed.

"Zhi Wan, you... you all... why would you want to watch such a bloody scene?" Lu Lan asked, her face filled with confusion.

"Well, we’re idle anyway, so we thought we’d go see the commotion. Would you two like to come along?" Zhi Wan invited.

"We’re quite weary from the long journey. I think we’ll pass on joining the crowd," Lu Jinglan politely declined.

"Then suit yourselves." Zhi Wan had known they wouldn’t want to go. She gave a nod and got into the carriage with Ouyang Zhenzhu.

"Oh, right, is Jinzhi at the villa?" Lu Jinglan asked hurriedly, as if the thought had just occurred to her.

"That I don’t know. After all, my cousin doesn’t need to report his whereabouts to me," Zhi Wan said, shaking her head.

"Chen Jiu, you’re Jinzhi’s personal guard. You should know, right?" Lu Jinglan turned to ask Chen Jiu.

How sharp was Chen Jiu? Seeing how Zhi Wan had answered, he also spun a tale. "Miss Jinglan, Yangzhou City hasn’t been very peaceful lately. Robbers and pirates are rampant, so the Princely Heir is busy suppressing them. He’s not in the city."

"It’s that dangerous?" Lu Lan’s face paled, looking a little scared.

"Then why aren’t you and Junior Minister Duan helping Jinzhi suppress the pirates?" Lu Jinglan eyed the two of them suspiciously.

"Is Miss Lu trying to tell me how to do my job?" Duan Ling’s expression soured. "If I didn’t go, it’s naturally because I have other matters to attend to."

Lu Jinglan said awkwardly, "I’ve overstepped. Please don’t take offense, Junior Minister Duan. I was just worried about his safety." After speaking, she looked at Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu paused, then declared in a stern, righteous tone, "The Miss needs protection as well. The Princely Heir ordered me to stay behind and protect her."

Hearing this, Lu Jinglan clenched her fists and shot Zhi Wan a disapproving look. "Jinzhi is busy with official duties, yet he still has to divide his attention to look after you. You really shouldn’t be running around."

"Mr. Lu is more than happy to do it. Some people are just sour about it," Ouyang Zhenzhu said sarcastically.

"More than happy? I’d say he’s clearly enjoying every moment of it!" Duan Ling chimed in, though his words were rather intriguing.

As Lu Jinglan was pondering the meaning behind his words, she heard Zhi Wan urge, "We should get going, or we’ll be late."

"Right, right, let’s hurry. If we miss it, we won’t get to see the beheading," Ouyang Zhenzhu added in an excited tone.

The moment Lu Jinglan heard that, her thoughts were cut short and her stomach churned. ’To think Ouyang Zhenzhu, the legitimate daughter of a Marquis Mansion, could be so crude and malicious.’

Once Zhi Wan and Ouyang Zhenzhu were in the carriage, Chen Jiu cracked the whip, and the carriage departed from the Lu Family Villa. Duan Ling rode alongside on his horse.

"That Lu Jinglan is such a persistent leech, actually running all the way to Yangzhou on her own," Ouyang Zhenzhu said scornfully.

Thinking of the scene Lu Jinglan had caused the night before they left for Yangzhou, Zhi Wan wasn’t particularly surprised.

"She likes my cousin, so of course she’d follow him here, no matter what."

"What?" Ouyang Zhenzhu was utterly shocked. "Lu Jinglan likes Mr. Lu? No, what right does she have to like Mr. Lu? Isn’t she his aunt in name? Old Madam Lu adopted her as a goddaughter."

"You said it yourself, ’in name’," Zhi Wan said.

"She’s so shameless, isn’t she? And has no self-awareness. Mr. Lu clearly doesn’t like her. If he did, would he have waited until now? I think Mr. Lu would fall for you before he’d ever fall for her," Ouyang Zhenzhu said with contempt.

Zhi Wan’s eyelid twitched. "What nonsense are you spouting? Talk about her if you want, but why drag me into it?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu said sheepishly, "I was just getting worked up. Besides, I’m speaking from the heart. You’re a thousand times better than that Lu Jinglan. If Mr. Lu didn’t have eyes for you, how could he possibly have eyes for her?"

Zhi Wan: "..."

She rubbed her forehead. "I don’t like your comparison one bit."

Ouyang Zhenzhu blinked, teasing, "What part don’t you like? The part about Mr. Lu not having eyes for you?"

"Say one more word of nonsense, and I’ll throw you out of this carriage!" Zhi Wan’s face hardened as she threatened her.

Ouyang Zhenzhu quickly covered her mouth. "Alright, alright, I’ll stop talking."

"Miss, the Princely Heir didn’t have breakfast this morning. Should we buy some and deliver it to him at the Government Office?" Just then, Chen Jiu’s voice came from outside.

Zhi Wan noted it was still a while before noon, so her cousin should still be at the Government Office. She replied, "Then pull over up ahead. I’ll get out and take a look."

"Yes, ma’am," Chen Jiu responded, driving the carriage to the front of a shop.

He really was a clever one.

’The Princely Heir will surely be delighted to see the breakfast the Miss bought specially for him,’ Chen Jiu thought with a touch of pride.

"I’m heading back to the ship, so I won’t accompany you," Duan Ling said from his horse to Zhi Wan and Ouyang Zhenzhu, who were climbing out of the carriage.

"Then get going. It’s not like anyone asked you to come along," Ouyang Zhenzhu retorted with a pout.

Duan Ling gritted his teeth in frustration. As he was leaving, he suddenly leaned down and gave her hair a little tug.

By the time Ouyang Zhenzhu realized what had happened, he had already galloped away on his horse.

"That bastard! He better not let me run into him again, or I’ll bite his head off!" Ouyang Zhenzhu fumed.

Zhi Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "You and Junior Minister Duan are really like a pair of bickering rivals."

"Who’s a rival of his?" Ouyang Zhenzhu said, disgruntled.

Zhi Wan paid her no more mind and entered the shop to pick out some breakfast for Lu Zhan.

The breakfast shops in Yangzhou City mostly featured local specialties.

Zhi Wan saw that they had three-dice buns, which Lu Zhan loved, so she ordered some, along with a few other things.

When they arrived at the Government Office, Lu Zhan was in his office, his head bent as he reviewed a case.

"Princely Heir, the Miss has brought you breakfast," Chen Jiu announced as he led Zhi Wan inside.

Lu Zhan paused, looking up to see that Zhi Wan had indeed arrived.

"Cousin, eat something first before you handle your work," Zhi Wan said, approaching with the food box. She took the breakfast out and arranged it on the table.

Lu Zhan looked at the sumptuous breakfast on his desk. He paused, set down his brush, and said in a low voice, "Thank you for thinking of me, Cousin."

"It’s what I should do," Zhi Wan replied without much thought.

"Would you like to eat together?" Lu Zhan asked, looking up at her.

"I’ve already eaten," Zhi Wan said, shaking her head. Seeing the exhaustion between his brows, she paused, then couldn’t help but add, "Cousin, you must take better care of yourself. You’re still injured. Staying up all night like this will ruin your health."