Chapter 168: Lu Zhan Really Only Likes Women
Zhi Wan: "..."
Looking at the Princess lying contentedly in her lap, the corner of Zhi Wan’s mouth twitched.
’But she did help me out so much today. Letting her use my lap as a pillow doesn’t seem like too much to ask.’
This morning, she had followed Princess Chang Le’s instructions from yesterday and gone to the Princess Mansion to find her, but unexpectedly, Princess Chang Le hadn’t woken up yet.
She had initially thought Princess Chang Le had backed out and no longer wanted to accompany her to the Prince’s Villa. But to her surprise, a eunuch attending the Princess gave her a waist card. He explained that the Princess had given the order last night for Zhi Wan to take the waist card and go to the Prince’s Villa first, and that Princess Chang Le would arrive later.
Holding Princess Chang Le’s waist card, she felt very confident. She fully believed that as long as she presented Princess Chang Le’s waist card, Xuanyuan Jing would be wary.
But she never expected Xuanyuan Jing to be so brazen. She even framed her for forging Princess Chang Le’s waist card and wanted to have her killed.
If Princess Chang Le hadn’t arrived in time, she had no doubt that she would have met a grim fate at Xuanyuan Jing’s hands today.
’Princess Chang Le is my great benefactor!’
At this thought, Zhi Wan spoke up. "Your Highness, I’m quite good at massage. Would you like me to rub your temples? It might help ease your headache."
Princess Chang Le must have truly had a headache. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes were closed. Upon hearing the offer, she grunted in agreement, "Mmm."
Seeing her consent, Zhi Wan rubbed her hands together, placed them on the Princess’s forehead, and began to massage her temples.
After a short while, the furrow in Princess Chang Le’s brow relaxed. She lifted her eyelids to glance at Zhi Wan. "I didn’t realize you had such a skill. My headache is much better."
Zhi Wan smiled. "I’m glad it’s provided some relief, Your Highness."
"You’re very skilled at this massage. Do you do this for people often?" Princess Chang Le asked.
"Yes." Zhi Wan nodded and explained, "My aunt often gets headaches, so I specifically sought out a doctor to learn this massage technique."
"How thoughtful of you," Princess Chang Le said with a nod.
After their meal at the Hundred Flavors Building, Zhi Wan offered to escort Princess Chang Le back, but she was refused.
"That’s enough. You can go back. No need to see me off. I can get back on my own."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan didn’t insist. "Then let me help Your Highness into the carriage."
Princess Chang Le didn’t refuse. She took Zhi Wan’s hand and climbed into the carriage. But just before entering the compartment, she caressed the back of Zhi Wan’s hand. "So smooth!"
Zhi Wan: "..."
Chen Jiu covered his eyes.
’It’s too much to watch! Princess Chang Le is such a rogue!’
Only after watching Princess Chang Le’s carriage drive off into the distance did Zhi Wan get into the carriage driven by Chen Jiu.
When they arrived at the Duke Dingguo Mansion, Zhi Wan stepped onto the stool Chen Jiu had prepared for her and disembarked from the carriage.
"Miss..." Chen Jiu called out to her hesitantly as she was about to go inside.
"Ah Jiu, is something the matter?" Zhi Wan asked.
Chen Jiu hesitated.
But when he recalled the scene from a moment ago, he felt he shouldn’t hesitate.
’The Miss is so innocent, while Princess Chang Le is clearly a seasoned player. Who knows when the Princess might lead the Miss astray.’
’If that happens, will the Princely Heir take his anger out on me and blame me for failing in my duty to protect her?’
At this thought, he glanced around to make sure no one was there, then lowered his voice to warn her, "Miss, Princess Chang Le has... unusual tastes. You... should not get too close to her."
Zhi Wan: "..."
’Ouyang Zhenzhu said the same thing before, and now Chen Jiu is saying it too. Could it be true that Princess Chang Le really has... *that* kind of preference?’
Thinking about Princess Chang Le’s various unconventional actions today, her eyelid couldn’t help but twitch.
But remembering that the Princess was her benefactor, she couldn’t help but defend her. "Ah Jiu, Princess Chang Le was just joking with me. You can’t just spread rumors about her because of that!"
Seeing her defending Princess Chang Le, Chen Jiu grew anxious. "This subordinate would never spread rumors about her! The entire Capital City has heard about this. If you don’t believe me, Miss, you can ask around."
Zhi Wan hesitated. "But doesn’t the Princess like... my cousin?"
"The Princess likes the Princely Heir, but that doesn’t stop her from liking women, too," Chen Jiu said, dropping a bombshell.
Zhi Wan: "..."
Seeing that she was a bit taken aback, Chen Jiu cleared his throat. He felt he should clear the Princely Heir’s name to avoid any misunderstanding from the Miss. "But rest assured, the Princely Heir doesn’t like Princess Chang Le at all. He only likes..." He stopped himself abruptly, not daring to say more.
’The fact that the Princely Heir likes the Miss can’t be revealed yet. After all, I don’t know what the Princely Heir’s plans are.’
But his sudden interruption and cryptic expression made Zhi Wan misunderstand completely.
’What does my cousin only like?’
She suddenly recalled the rumors she had heard in the Capital before, which said her cousin only liked men...
Masking the shock in her eyes, she couldn’t help but ask in a tiny voice, "So... my cousin really does only like men?"
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." Chen Jiu choked on his own saliva and started coughing. After he recovered, he stared at Zhi Wan, dumbfounded.
Seeing his reaction, Zhi Wan took it as a tacit admission and sighed. "That sort of thing is indeed quite shocking. But in a way, I suppose my cousin and Princess Chang Le are kindred spirits. ’They both have unusual tastes.’"
Chen Jiu: "..."
"Don’t worry, I’ll help my cousin keep this secret. I won’t let it slip out," Zhi Wan promised.
"No, Miss, you’ve misunderstood! The Princely Heir doesn’t like men, he only likes women!" Chen Jiu finally snapped out of it and hurriedly explained.
"Oh." Zhi Wan nodded.
Seeing her perfunctory response, Chen Jiu knew she didn’t believe a word he was saying.
He was so anxious he felt like he was getting blisters in his mouth.
’My intention was to remind the Miss not to get too close to Princess Chang Le, lest she be taken advantage of. How did the conversation end up with the Princely Heir liking men?’
’If the Princely Heir finds out, he’ll definitely have me exiled to some faraway land!’
At this thought, Chen Jiu repeated in terror, "The Princely Heir really does only like women!"
"I know," Zhi Wan said with a sigh. ’It must be so difficult for Chen Jiu. As a subordinate, he knows his master has unusual tastes, yet he has to do everything in his power to cover for him.’
’But regardless of whether my cousin likes men or women, he’s still the cousin I respect.’
With that, she changed the subject. "By the way, Ah Jiu, when we were leaving the Prince’s Villa today, I saw you fly down from the roof. What were you doing up there?"
"Nothing. I was just bored," Chen Jiu said, looking frustrated that she clearly didn’t believe him.
He couldn’t enter the Prince’s Villa, but he was worried the Miss might run into danger, so he took advantage of a moment when the villa’s guards weren’t looking and flew up to the roof.
He had seen everything that happened in the villa’s main hall.
Just as the Miss was about to be bullied, he had been about to go down and save her, but unexpectedly, Princess Chang Le arrived and resolved the situation for her.
Setting aside Princess Chang Le’s preferences, they really did have her to thank for today’s events.
’The Miss is really clever, managing to get Princess Chang Le to come to her rescue.’
"By the way, Miss, you’ve been back for a few days now. Would you like to write a letter to the Princely Heir?" Chen Jiu said, feeling quite pleased with himself for his clever idea.
’If the Princely Heir receives a letter from the Miss, he’ll be so happy... maybe he’ll even give me a raise?’
Zhi Wan paused for a moment. "Write a letter to my cousin?"