The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night

Zhao Dong had no choice but to lead the two of them toward the passenger ship.

Zhi Wan’s heart was in her throat. She just wanted to get on the ship and leave the Capital City as soon as possible.

She walked quickly, and when Zhao Dong saw this, he couldn’t help but speed up as well.

With the ship in sight, Zhao Dong turned back and warned, "The people on a passenger ship are a mixed crowd. You and Shuang’er are young women. Once you’re aboard, stay in your cabin unless it’s absolutely necessary."

"Okay, I understand," Zhi Wan agreed.

When they reached the ship, Zhao Dong exchanged a few pleasantries with the steward and was about to help Zhi Wan and Shuang’er board. Just then, the sound of clashing swords and scraping scabbards rang out. An instant later, a troop of government officers rushed over and surrounded the ship.

A government officer at the front drew his sword and shouted, "The Ministry of Justice is on official business! Everyone, stay where you are! Anyone who moves will be considered a suspect and taken in for questioning!"

Seeing the commotion, everyone gasped. Whether they were rushing to board or unload cargo, they all stopped in their tracks and moved to the side, not daring to make a move.

Zhi Wan was also frozen to the spot.

The Ministry of Justice?

’Is my cousin here?’

Her heart leaped into her throat, and she grew extremely anxious.

"What’s going on? What are people from the Ministry of Justice doing here?" The ship’s steward was also frightened by the scene and muttered in a low, puzzled voice.

Zhao Dong was just as confused. He was about to say something when he saw Zhi Wan grab Shuang’er’s hand, trying to get on the ship. He was startled and about to warn her when he saw a fine steed galloping toward them on the pier.

In the blink of an eye, the horse had reached Zhi Wan and her servant, blocking their path.

Zhi Wan stiffened. She slowly raised her head, only to see the man on the horse looking down at her, his handsome face cold and utterly devoid of a smile.

At the sight, her heart trembled. Her palms grew sweaty with nervousness, and she didn’t know what to do.

’My cousin really did chase me down.’

She felt her world go dark.

She opened her mouth, wanting to call out, but her throat felt as if it were blocked, and no sound came out.

Lu Zhan looked down at her, his thin lips forming cold words. "This official has received a secret report that Miss Zhi is connected to a recent major case. Please come with this official to assist in the investigation!"

Staring at the man who was so gravely putting on an official air, Zhi Wan was utterly stunned.

’What does my cousin mean?’

’How did I get involved in a major case?’

’Could it be that my cousin is furious I left without saying goodbye and is now abusing his power for personal revenge?’

For a moment, Zhi Wan couldn’t fathom the man’s thoughts.

Just last night, this very man had kissed her so intimately. She never thought he would turn on her so quickly and mercilessly.

"Princely Heir, could there be some misunderstanding? How could our Miss be involved in a major case?" Shuang’er snapped back to her senses, speaking up in a panic.

The government officer, not knowing the full story, thought Zhi Wan was actually a major suspect and stepped forward with shackles.

"Are you coming on your own, or do we have to bind you?"

Shuang’er was furious. She stood protectively in front of Zhi Wan and snapped, "How dare you! Do you have any idea who my Miss is?"

"And who is she?" Lu Zhan asked, his voice icy as he held the reins.

Hearing the frost in his voice, Shuang’er suddenly didn’t dare to utter another word.

No matter how dense she was, seeing the Princely Heir chase her Miss all the way to the docks finally made her understand why her Miss was in such a hurry to leave the Capital City.

The government officer had thought the two young women might really have some powerful background. He had hesitated, but seeing his superior’s attitude, he cast aside his reservations, reached out to shove Zhi Wan, and barked, "Get a move on!"

However, before the officer’s hand could touch Zhi Wan, a sharp WHISTLE cut through the air. The next moment, a welt from a whip appeared on the back of his hand, and fresh red blood began to well up.

The officer cried out in pain and anger. He was about to look for who had whipped him when his gaze met Lu Zhan’s cold, intimidating eyes.

Startled, the officer clutched his injured hand, lowered his head, and took a few steps back, completely baffled.

’Why did His Excellency whip me?’

Lu Zhan’s handsome face looked as if it were masked in frost.

He spurred his horse forward a couple of steps, then suddenly turned back, snatched up the girl who was standing there dumbfounded, placed her on the horse in front of him, and rode off.

Everyone was stunned.

Shuang’er came to her senses and ran a few steps in the direction the horse had gone, crying, "Miss—"

Hearing her cry, Zhi Wan jolted back to reality as if waking from a dream, only to see the man’s arm wrapped around her waist.

Her mind went completely blank.

After a long moment, she regained her awareness.

’So my cousin really does know that I’m the one who shares his dreams.’

Although they had done many intimate things with wild abandon in their dreams, they had never crossed any lines in reality. But now, her cousin was brazenly holding her in his arms, and they were even sharing a horse in front of everyone.

Zhi Wan felt extremely uncomfortable. She pleaded in a low voice, "Cousin, please let me down."

The man said nothing, but the arm around her waist tightened.

Zhi Wan’s face burned. Utterly defeated, she could only try to hold herself upright and avoid leaning back against him as much as possible.

Seeing the girl trying so desperately to keep her distance, Lu Zhan’s expression grew even frostier.

The horse galloped on, quickly leaving the docks behind.

Zhi Wan assumed her cousin would take her back to the Duke Dingguo Mansion and began to worry. ’How am I going to explain this to my aunt when I see her?’

But instead, the horse galloped on without entering the city, made a loop, and returned to the docks.

’What’s going on?’

Just as Zhi Wan was trying to make sense of it all, Lu Zhan suddenly reined in the horse. She saw Chen Jiu walking briskly toward them.

"Princely Heir."

"Is it arranged?" Lu Zhan asked in a low voice.

"It is arranged," Chen Jiu replied respectfully, bowing his head. Inwardly, however, he was screaming like a groundhog: ’Yoooo, the Princely Heir is absolutely head over heels for the Miss, isn’t he?!’

’He even skipped the morning court session to personally chase her to the docks.’

’It’s a good thing they managed to stop her. Otherwise, if I had failed in my duty to watch over her, the Princely Heir would have exiled me to the frontier.’

Listening to their exchange, Zhi Wan was completely bewildered, unable to understand the riddle they were speaking. She turned her head just in time to see her cousin dismount.

Seeing this, she grabbed the saddle, preparing to get down herself, but a strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind and lifted her down.

Zhi Wan’s body tensed instantly, and her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

Even after her feet were on the ground, the man didn’t let go. Instead, he held her tightly, her back pressed unavoidably against his chest.

Her face instantly turned red.

Fortunately, her veiled hat concealed her face from others.

But the man’s warm breath on the nape of her neck made her feel as if her whole body was on fire. She was extremely flustered and, at the same time, deeply ashamed.

’Chen Jiu is right there, and the docks are bustling with people everywhere.’

"Cousin, y-you can let go of me," Zhi Wan pleaded softly.

The man gave her a cool glance before finally releasing her and taking a step back.

Just as Zhi Wan was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the man’s cold, low voice commanded, "Men! This woman is involved in a major case. Take her into custody!"

Zhi Wan looked at him, stunned. Seeing his completely unsmiling face, her heart sank.

’Is my cousin being serious?’