Chapter 173: Lu Zhan: Heartless Little Girl
Fortunately, Lady Wei didn’t ask any more questions.
Zhi Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Jiu also sighed in relief, thankful the Miss was only joking.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and discreetly took a few steps back, putting some distance between himself and Zhi Wan.
’The Miss is going to be the death of me.’
Shen Longjin and Bai Yi continued to show the group around the training grounds.
After touring the training grounds, Lady Wei and Zhi Wan decided to head back.
"Bai Yi, Longjin, we’re going to Qingyin Pavilion to see an opera tomorrow. You should both come. Later, I’ll speak with the Duke and have him give you the day off," Lady Wei instructed before they left.
The two men were taken aback.
No matter how slow they were, they understood her intentions—the sudden summons yesterday with all its questions, followed by today’s surprise visit to the training grounds.
They couldn’t help but glance in Zhi Wan’s direction.
In truth, they had noticed her presence long ago but, minding their etiquette, hadn’t dared to look for too long.
Even now, they only took a quick glance before looking away.
"Yes," the two replied respectfully.
Lady Wei was very pleased. She took Zhi Wan’s hand and boarded the carriage.
Only after their carriage was far in the distance did Bai Yi say, as if waking from a dream, "The Duchess wants to pick a husband for her niece?"
Shen Longjin recalled the questions Madam Lu had asked him at the Duke Mansion yesterday and offered a mild correction, "To be precise, she’s picking a live-in son-in-law."
"A live-in son-in-law... there’s nothing wrong with that," Bai Yi said, unconcerned. "I have no family left, just me. If someone would have me, I’d be happy to be a live-in son-in-law."
Shen Longjin didn’t say anything, because his situation was the same as Bai Yi’s.
Seeing him silent, Bai Yi couldn’t help but ask, "Longjin, you’re not willing to be a live-in son-in-law?"
Shen Longjin said, "It’s not that I’m unwilling."
For someone of his background, it would be a blessing if anyone took a liking to him.
Looking at his handsome face, Bai Yi suddenly felt deflated. "It looks like the Duchess’s niece has her eye on you. I’m just here for comparison."
Shen Longjin was surprised. "How can you be so sure?"
Bai Yi irritably pinched his fair face. "You’re so good-looking. When we’re standing together, anyone who isn’t blind would choose you."
"When a woman chooses a husband, it’s not just about looks. Character is more important," Shen Longjin said with a disapproving frown.
Hearing this, Bai Yi nearly coughed up blood from exasperation.
He had reason to suspect this brother of his was subtly showing off.
In looks or character, he couldn’t compare to Shen Longjin.
"So you’re saying you wouldn’t care if the Duke’s niece wasn’t good-looking?" Bai Yi teased.
"Looks are just external. No matter how beautiful someone is, it all fades in a few years. Only character lasts a lifetime," Shen Longjin said.
"You and your grand principles." Bai Yi didn’t bother arguing. "Anyway, if things work out, remember to invite me to your wedding feast."
...
Chen Jiu was worried sick. The madam had actually invited Shen Longjin and the other man to Qingyin Pavilion for an opera tomorrow. It seemed she was very pleased with them.
They had only met twice, and now she was inviting them to an opera. After the opera, would they move straight to discussing marriage?
The moment he got back to the Duke Mansion, Chen Jiu was so scared that he couldn’t wait to write a letter to Lu Zhan and send it to Jiangning by carrier pigeon.
At the training grounds, he had deliberately tried to make Shen Longjin sound like a good-for-nothing, but it hadn’t changed the Miss’s mind at all. It was clear the Miss was very satisfied with Shen Longjin. He didn’t know what else he could do to sabotage things.
He could only ask the Princely Heir for instructions.
This time, he sent the letter rather early. Before evening fell, Lu Zhan, far away in Jiangning, received it.
"Why have carrier pigeons been bringing you letters so frequently these past two days? Has something happened?" Duan Ling asked curiously, seeing Jiang Shi untie the note from a pigeon’s leg and hand it to Lu Zhan.
Lu Zhan thought it was a reply from his cousin, and a faint smile touched his eyes. He didn’t answer Duan Ling, but instead unfolded the note and began to read.
After reading it, his expression instantly darkened.
"Old Lu, what on earth happened?" Duan Ling asked hastily, seeing his grim expression.
Lu Zhan didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, "If I were to return to the Capital City now, could you handle the case here by yourself?"
Duan Ling looked at him, astonished. "You’re going back to the Capital City? Why so suddenly?"
"Something’s come up," Lu Zhan said, his brows furrowed.
Seeing he didn’t want to say more, Duan Ling assumed something had happened with the Lu Family and clapped him on the shoulder. "If you must go back, then go. Leave things here to me."
Hearing this, Lu Zhan calmed down.
Last night, during a surprise inspection, they had discovered a hidden compartment in the hull of an official salt transport ship, used to smuggle several hundred *dan* of salt. This case likely implicated powerful officials at court. If they pressed on with the investigation, it would certainly drive those people to desperate measures—even murder to silence witnesses.
He couldn’t let Duan Ling face the risk alone.
He mused, "Never mind. We’ll talk about it in a few days."
"Are you sure it’s nothing?" Duan Ling frowned. "If something’s really wrong at home, you should go back. Don’t worry about me."
"It’s nothing. You should head back first," Lu Zhan said calmly, his hand tightening around the letter.
Duan Ling, still assuming it was a Lu Family matter, thought it wasn’t his place to ask more questions and took his leave.
Lu Zhan reread the contents of the letter.
According to Chen Jiu, his mother and cousin had met several of his father’s young officers yesterday. Two of them, Bai Yi and Shen Longjin, had particularly caught their eye.
Today, they had even made a special trip to the training grounds to observe the two men’s character up close.
That Shen Longjin fellow, in particular—an Order Flag Soldier, handsome and refined, like a pretty boy. His cousin seemed very pleased with him, and his mother had even invited them to the opera tomorrow.
If things went smoothly, the marriage might be settled.
At this thought, Lu Zhan pinched the bridge of his nose.
He regretted the suggestion he had originally made to his mother.
The thought of his cousin being satisfied with that Order Flag Soldier named Shen Longjin filled him with anxiety.
His face grim, he paced back and forth in his room.
’If I’d known this would happen, I should have found a way to stop my cousin from returning to the Capital City last time.’
A moment later, an idea struck him. He immediately sat down at his desk, picked up a brush, and wrote a letter. Then, he called for Jiang Shi.
"Take this letter back to the Capital City."
"Yes, sir." Jiang Shi took it.
After Jiang Shi left, Lu Zhan glanced at the sky outside. Seeing it was still early, he turned his attention to official business.
Only when night had fallen deeply did he have someone bring him strong liquor.
「Capital City, Duke Dingguo Mansion.」
Zhi Wan hadn’t done much painting during the day, so after dinner, she stayed in her room, hunched over her desk, and painted late into the night.
When she absolutely couldn’t stay awake any longer, she took off her dress and went to bed.
It was the height of summer, and even the nights were still hot.
Fond of the cool, she slept wearing only a dudou and under-breeches.
She was quite tired today and fell into a deep sleep.
In her sleep, she suddenly smelled the strong scent of alcohol. An instant later, a pain shot through her lips. She opened her eyes and saw him—that man.
She froze for a second before it registered, and she hurriedly pushed the man away. "Why are you here again?"
The man bit her lip again, as if in punishment, his voice low and displeased. "Heartless little girl!"