Chapter 151: Do You Want to Indulge With Me One Last Time?
Lu Zhan paused, glancing at his left arm. "I forgot."
"How can you forget something like getting injured?" Zhi Wan’s brow furrowed in disapproval. "Did you drink your medicine tonight?"
Lu Zhan: "..."
Zhi Wan’s expression was stern. "Cousin, can’t you take better care of yourself?"
Lu Zhan was about to explain that it was just a minor injury, but Zhi Wan had already turned her head to call for someone. "Shuang’er, go next door and see if my cousin’s medicine is ready. If it is, bring it over."
’I’ll have to watch him drink it myself.’
’He’s so much trouble.’
’He gets injured, refuses his medicine, and wants to drink alcohol instead.’
’He has so little regard for his own health.’
Lu Zhan: "..."
A moment later, Shuang’er returned with a bowl of medicine.
"Miss, the Princely Heir’s medicine is ready."
"Give it to me." Zhi Wan stood, took the bowl, and placed it in front of Lu Zhan. Then she poured out his cup of tea.
’I almost forgot. He can’t drink tea while he’s taking medicine.’
"I touched the side of the bowl; it’s not too hot. Cousin, drink this quickly so you can go back and rest."
Under the girl’s watchful gaze, Lu Zhan silently picked up the bowl and drank the medicine.
As soon as he set it down, she handed him a piece of candied fruit.
"The medicine is bitter. Eat this, and it won’t taste so bad."
Lu Zhan looked at the candied fruit in his cousin’s hand, paused, then reached out and took it.
Under her watchful gaze, he placed the candied fruit in his mouth.
’I never eat candied fruit.’
’But since she’s the one giving it to me, I’m willing to try.’
"You should go back and rest, Cousin. I need to go pack my things," Zhi Wan urged.
Lu Zhan murmured his assent and stood up.
Looking at the girl’s slender figure, he paused and said, "If Mother wants to find you a husband, refuse for now. We can discuss it after I get back. Remember that!"
Zhi Wan was confused. "Why?"
Lu Zhan looked down and adjusted his sleeves. "Marriage is a momentous decision; it can’t be treated lightly. I should be there to help you screen them."
Zhi Wan was touched by his words.
’My cousin is so good to me.’
She nodded obediently. "I understand."
Lu Zhan’s fingers, hanging at his side, curled tightly in a moment of restraint.
He watched her for a moment longer before finally turning to leave.
As soon as he left, Zhi Wan called for Nanny Fang and Shuang’er to pack, while she went to inform Ouyang Zhenzhu about their return to the capital the next day.
"...I promised I’d spend time sightseeing with you, but now I have to go back in such a hurry."
"It’s fine. You can visit Jiangnan anytime. Your aunt’s situation is more important," Ouyang Zhenzhu said understandingly.
"Well, you should pack up and get to sleep early. We’re leaving first thing in the morning," Zhi Wan advised before returning to her own room.
「Meanwhile, in the courtyard next door.」
"What did you say?" Chen Jiu thought he must have misheard, staring at his master, the Princely Heir, in astonishment.
Lu Zhan raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose and repeated himself. "Go get a jar of wine. The strongest kind."
Chen Jiu: "..."
’The Princely Heir is acting strange. Don’t tell me staying up all night has driven him mad?’
’Strong tea last night, strong wine tonight?’
’This job is getting harder and harder.’
"Your arm is still injured. This isn’t the time for drinking," he advised conscientiously.
"Just go. Or do you want to forfeit this month’s pay?" Lu Zhan’s voice dropped.
Without another word, Chen Jiu scurried away.
’Money is definitely more important than the Princely Heir’s health!’
He quickly returned with a jar of strong wine.
Watching the Princely Heir break the clay seal and start chugging it straight from the jar, it suddenly dawned on him.
Just now, Nanny Fang had told him that the Duke had wronged his wife and even had an illegitimate son.
’Is the Princely Heir upset about this? Is that why he’s drowning his sorrows?’
"Princely Heir, please drink slowly. Don’t hurt yourself. I don’t think the Duke is that foolish. Even though he kept his illegitimate son a secret from you and his wife, there’s no way he’d let that boy take your place and inherit the title.
After all, you’re the son of the legal wife, and now you’re the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Getting rid of that illegitimate son would be child’s play for you, wouldn’t it? There’s no need to abuse your body like this!"
"Shut up. Get out!" Lu Zhan slammed the wine jar down, his gaze cold and dark.
Chen Jiu: "..."
He wanted to say more, but after meeting his master’s icy glare, he shrank back and spinelessly retreated.
Once he was gone, Lu Zhan continued to drink.
He only started to feel drunk after finishing the entire jar.
He stood up and staggered into the washroom.
After washing up, he lay down on the bed.
As the alcohol took hold, he quickly fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw the girl he had been longing for, already sitting by his bed.
"You’re here?"
he said in a low voice, pushing himself up with his right hand.
"You drank again? You reek of alcohol." The girl wrinkled her nose, her tone full of disdain.
Lu Zhan paused. Instead of speaking, he reached out with his right arm and pulled her into his embrace.
The girl was caught off guard by his unusually affectionate gesture.
"What’s wrong with you?" Once she recovered, she uncomfortably pushed him away and studied him with a searching gaze.
’Ours is just a fleeting affair. I can’t have him developing feelings for me. I don’t want to invite trouble.’
Lu Zhan still said nothing. His long fingers tilted her chin up as he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her.
"I just missed you..."
After a long moment, his muffled voice came from between their entangled lips.
But she still heard him clearly.
With her aunt on her mind, she had been feeling impatient with him and wasn’t in the mood for anything to happen between them.
But hearing his words, her heart inexplicably softened, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
She thought about how she would likely have to find a husband to marry into her family after this trip. Treating this as a final farewell, she tilted her head back and passionately returned his kiss.
Her sudden initiative and passion stunned Lu Zhan for a moment. Then, with one arm, he lifted her onto the bed.
The girl fell back onto the soft bedding, receiving the man’s tender yet domineering kiss.
The temperature in the room rose sharply.
She felt hot and sticky as her slender legs unconsciously wrapped around the man’s waist.
The last of Lu Zhan’s reason snapped back into place.
He looked down at the girl beneath him.
Although he couldn’t make out her face in the darkness, her beautiful and charming face appeared in his mind’s eye.
She was like a crabapple blossom, uniquely alluring, waiting to be plucked...
When he suddenly stopped, she looked at him, her eyes hazy with desire. Her soft, pliant hand slipped expertly inside his robes. "What’s wrong?" she murmured, displeased.
Lu Zhan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked at her, his dark eyes filled with complex emotions. Finally, with great restraint, he pushed her legs away, withdrew from her, and lay on his back beside her.
She was thrown by his sudden withdrawal.
Panting, she narrowed her almond-shaped eyes at the man beside her. A moment later, she suddenly rolled over and straddled his waist.
The soft warmth against his hips sent a jolt through Lu Zhan, who almost lost control, until her voice rang out, "One last time!"
"What?" Lu Zhan snapped back to his senses.
"This is the last time. After tonight, we won’t see each other again." The girl looked at him intently. "So, are you going to let go and be with me, one last time?"