The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night

The moment she finished speaking, she saw her cousin’s handsome face darken.

Her cousin was normally distant and cold to others, and his high station endowed him with the dignified air of a superior.

The way his face fell now was quite intimidating, making her feel a little uneasy.

But at the same time, she was also confused and bewildered.

’Is my cousin so unhappy because he’s displeased with Chen Junyu?’

’But it’s not like I’m about to settle on marrying Chen Junyu right away.’

’Although I think he’s quite nice, I still need to get to know him better.’

Just as the atmosphere grew stagnant, Chen Junyu stepped forward.

"I am Chen Junyu. It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Lu." Chen Junyu said, offering a cupped-fist salute.

Lu Zhan’s gaze fell upon him, his expression stern and imposing. After a moment, he nodded and said coolly, "This official has just returned and has many matters to attend to. I won’t keep you, Mr. Chen."

The dismissal was obvious, and it made Chen Junyu pause for a second. His gaze couldn’t help but drift to Zhi Wan.

The young woman was as fair as jade, her beauty unparalleled. Standing gracefully beside the handsome and distinguished Lu Zhan, they looked like a match made in heaven.

He paused, then quickly dismissed this inopportune thought.

’If there were something between Miss Zhi and Mr. Lu, she wouldn’t need to be recruiting a live-in husband.’

"In that case, I won’t impose any longer." Chen Junyu was tactful. He bowed to Zhi Wan and said, "Miss Zhi, I will take my leave now."

Zhi Wan had been feeling awkward, but seeing how poised and magnanimous he was, her embarrassment vanished, and her impression of him improved.

’To remain so composed and tactful in the face of my cousin’s powerful presence is truly rare.’

’He may be a bit poor, but as long as he’s ambitious, that’s better than anything.’

As Zhi Wan thought this, she returned his bow with a curtsy. "Take care, Mr. Chen."

When she looked up, however, she met her cousin’s icy, mirthless gaze.

She froze, tightening her grip on the handkerchief in her hand. ’Why is my cousin looking at me like that?’

’Did I... do something improper?’

"Oh? When did you get back, Mr. Lu?" Just then, Ouyang Zhenzhu walked over, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Zhi Wan silently breathed a sigh of relief and took her friend’s arm. "My cousin just got back."

Ouyang Zhenzhu was about to say something when she suddenly felt Lu Zhan’s cold gaze sweep over her, and she instantly froze.

’How did Mr. Lu get even scarier after coming back from Yangzhou?’

’It’s not like Mr. Lu has ever been particularly warm to me, but he’s never been like this. His blatant dislike is both awkward and frightening.’

’Did I offend him somehow?’

Ouyang Zhenzhu muttered to herself, suddenly not daring to linger any longer. She quickly said to Zhi Wan, "Wanwan, since Mr. Lu is back, you two must have a lot to talk about. My cousin and I will head back for now. I’ll come visit another day."

Zhi Wan also found her cousin a bit terrifying today and really didn’t want to stay and face him. Just as she was about to use the excuse of seeing her friend out to escape his gaze, her cousin spoke first. "Nanny Fang, please see Miss Ouyang and Mr. Chen out."

Zhi Wan: "..."

She could only watch helplessly as Nanny Fang escorted Ouyang Zhenzhu and Chen Junyu out the main gate.

"The sun is strong. Don’t just stand there foolishly. Come inside and talk," Lady Wei urged from her spot on the steps.

"Aunt, I..." Zhi Wan was just about to find an excuse to slip away when a man’s deep voice interrupted her. "Are you not coming in, Cousin?"

Zhi Wan: "..."

Meeting the man’s mirthless eyes, she subconsciously swallowed the excuse she had prepared.

She fell silent and followed the man into the main hall.

"The summer heat is so intense. You must be exhausted from your journey. Quickly, drink some chilled lotus seed soup to cool down." Lady Wei took a bowl from a servant and handed it to Lu Zhan, then took another for Zhi Wan. "You have some too. You were only standing outside for a moment, and your face is already flushed from the sun."

At these words, Lu Zhan’s gaze fell on the young woman’s face.

Her skin was delicate, and her face was indeed a little red.

Sensing his gaze, Zhi Wan grew flustered. She quickly took the bowl and lowered her head to eat the lotus seed soup, hiding her discomfort.

"Ah Zhan, why did you return so suddenly? You didn’t even have someone send a message ahead of time. And have you not been taking care of yourself? You look exhausted." Lady Wei’s chattering voice pulled Lu Zhan from his thoughts.

"It was a last-minute decision to return. Time was tight, so I didn’t travel by water," Lu Zhan replied.

Zhi Wan kept her head down, eating her soup. She didn’t know if she was being overly sensitive, but she felt her cousin’s gaze linger on her for a moment as he spoke.

She paused and looked up at her cousin, only to see that he had already lowered his head and was eating his own soup.

’So it was just my imagination.’

Zhi Wan silently chided herself for being paranoid.

"You rode back on horseback?" Lady Wei frowned. "It’s a long way from Jiangning. How many days did you ride?"

Lu Zhan paused before answering, "Three days."

"Three days?" Lady Wei was astonished. Jiangning was a thousand *li* from the Capital City. For him to make it back in just three days meant he must have traveled day and night without a moment’s rest.

At this realization, she was both heartbroken and reproachful. "What could possibly be so urgent? Even a body of iron can’t withstand that kind of strain! Don’t take your youth for granted and treat your body so carelessly."

Lu Zhan paused, not answering directly. He only said, "I have to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor shortly. I’ll rest when I return, so Mother needn’t worry."

Hearing this, Lady Wei assumed he had rushed back day and night for official business and couldn’t help but sigh. "I’ll have someone prepare water for you. Finish your soup, wash up quickly, and get to the palace sooner so you can come back sooner."

"Thank you, Mother," Lu Zhan said with a nod.

Lady Wei shook her head and left to make the arrangements.

Seeing her aunt leave, Zhi Wan also quickly stood up. "Cousin, I’ll be heading back now."

Lu Zhan put down his bowl and called out to her, "Cousin."

Zhi Wan stopped and turned back. "Is there something you need, Cousin?"

Lu Zhan paused, then rose and walked over to her. He looked down at her. "We haven’t seen each other for a while, and it seems you’ve become... distant with me?"

Hearing this, Zhi Wan’s eyelashes trembled, and she uncomfortably tightened her grip on her handkerchief.

’I was clearly happy to hear my cousin was back, but for some reason, facing him this time, I feel a little timid and uncomfortable.’

’I wonder if it’s because he’s so similar to the man from my dream?’

’And am I just being too sensitive? I keep feeling like the way he looks at me is different than before.’

"Hmm?" When she didn’t respond for a long time, Lu Zhan prompted her with a low hum.

Zhi Wan snapped back to reality and shook her head, forcing a relaxed tone. "Not at all. You’re overthinking it, Cousin."

"Good," Lu Zhan said lightly, his gaze falling on her right arm. "How is the injury on your arm? Does it still hurt?"

At his words, Zhi Wan touched her right arm and shook her head. "It stopped hurting a long time ago. Thank you for having someone find that ointment for me, Cousin."