The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 39: Who’s Close, Who’s Distant, Isn’t It Obvious?

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Who’s Close, Who’s Distant, Isn’t It Obvious?

Lu Jun hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Brother, my parents want to marry Xin’er to the son of the Jixian County Magistrate. I’ve heard that man has violent tendencies. His first two wives were beaten to death by him. If Xin’er marries him, she’ll be sent to her death. Could you talk to my father and convince him not to marry her to him?"

Lu Zhan’s brow furrowed. "When did this happen?"

"You’re busy with official duties, Brother, so you probably don’t know. The Jixian County Magistrate came to our family branch yesterday to propose. My parents have already accepted their betrothal gifts, and even the wedding date is set—for next month." Lu Jun’s voice grew urgent. "I didn’t know about the Magistrate’s son at first. I only found out after asking around. Xin’er is my only sister. I can’t bear to watch her jump into a pit of fire."

Lu Zhan had heard a few things about the Jixian County Magistrate’s son as well.

Although he didn’t agree with his second uncle and aunt’s actions, he knew his uncle well. Once he made a decision, no one could change it, and trying would only make him resentful.

But to arrange the marriage so hastily... ’There must be more to it.’ Lu Zhan pressed further, "Why are Second Uncle and Aunt in such a hurry to marry Third Sister off? Given her prospects, finding her a good match in the Capital City shouldn’t be difficult."

Lu Jun gave a bitter smile. ’It seems Brother really is completely absorbed in his official duties, utterly unaware of the affairs within the household.’

"There’s something you don’t know, Brother. At the last flower viewing banquet, Wang Zeren somehow fell into the water. During the luncheon, in front of everyone, Xin’er accused our cousin, Zhi Wan, of pushing him in. But Xin’er had no proof. Instead, she just made a scene, and the image of her wildly accusing a member of her own family spread. In the end, it damaged her reputation."

"Later, Aunt found out that it was Xin’er who had secretly brought Wang Zeren into the mansion, and that the two were having an affair. When my mother found out, she was furious and immediately grounded Xin’er. She wanted to marry her off right away and didn’t care who the man was. That’s how this marriage with the Jixian County Magistrate’s son came about."

Lu Zhan’s expression darkened. "You’re saying Wang Zeren was also at our mansion’s flower viewing banquet?"

Lu Jun nodded. "That’s what I heard from the servants." He had been engrossed in his studies, preparing for next year’s spring civil service examination, so he hadn’t attended the flower viewing banquet his aunt had hosted.

Hearing this, Lu Zhan’s expression grew grim.

Wang Zeren’s reputation in the Capital was in tatters. No respectable family would ever invite such a person.

His mother, especially, would never make such a blunder as to invite someone like that to a flower banquet at the mansion.

Yet Lu Xin had brought this man into the mansion and, in front of all the guests, accused Zhi Wan of pushing him into the water.

’What else happened, where no one could see?’

’Could it be that Lu Xin bringing Wang Zeren into the mansion was premeditated?’

’Was her goal to ruin Zhi Wan?’

Lu Zhan immediately thought of what had happened last time at the Fu Family’s Villa.

That time, if he hadn’t happened to stumble upon them, Zhi Wan’s reputation would have been ruined.

’Perhaps the incident where Zhi Wan was harassed by Wang Zeren wasn’t a complete coincidence, either.’

’Wang Zeren must have set his sights on her at the Duke Dingguo Mansion’s flower viewing banquet!’

’Lu Jun said that Aunt later found out that Wang Zeren was brought into the mansion by Lu Xin for the last flower banquet, and that the two were having an affair. Mother definitely wouldn’t have investigated this on a whim; it must have been deliberate.’

’Mother must be doing this because of the danger Zhi Wan faced at the Fu Family’s Villa.’

’It seems, then, that Lu Xin’s marriage to the Jixian County Magistrate’s son is the result of Mother fanning the flames. This is her revenge for Lu Xin nearly harming Zhi Wan.’

In an instant, Lu Zhan understood everything.

Since this involved his mother, he couldn’t undermine her. So he said, "Brother, I cannot get involved in this matter."

Hearing this, Lu Jun’s face showed his disappointment, and his eyes dimmed.

He had originally wanted to find his uncle, but his uncle had been with the army this whole time and hadn’t returned.

He went to find his aunt but was told by Nanny Fang that his aunt had been feeling unwell recently and could not be disturbed.

He had thought his brother would have a solution, so he had come to find him. He never expected his brother wouldn’t want to get involved.

In that case, he could only turn to his grandmother.

Unfortunately, his grandmother had taken Little Aunt Jinglan to Jiuhua Temple to pray and was not in the Capital at all.

"Then I won’t disturb you any longer, Brother. I’ll go back and write a letter and have someone send it to Grandmother. My parents will always listen to what Grandmother says."

Lu Zhan nodded. "Go on, then."

As soon as Lu Jun left, Lu Zhan summoned Chen Jiu and ordered, "In a little while, if the Second Young Master sends someone to deliver a letter to Jiuhua Temple, you must find a way to delay the messenger’s journey. Don’t let him deliver the letter too quickly. After the Third Miss is married, then let the letter be delivered into Grandmother’s hands."

"Yes." Chen Jiu acknowledged and turned to leave.

’But he couldn’t help but feel a little confused. Was the Princely Heir doing this for the Duchess, or for the Miss? Just now, by the entrance of the Hundred Flavors Building, others might not have noticed, but as the Princely Heir’s personal guard, he had been standing not far behind him, so of course he hadn’t missed the moment the Miss stumbled into his arms. Afterward, the Princely Heir had become visibly colder toward the Miss. But he never expected that when a matter involved the Miss, the Princely Heir would choose to sacrifice the Third Miss without a moment’s hesitation. Who he favored and who he didn’t—was there even a need to ask?’

「Yaoguang Pavilion.」

Zhi Wan didn’t know what had happened at Qingyun Residence.

When she brought Ouyang Zhenzhu into her room, she accidentally let her see her sketches.

That sketch was a discarded one, and although there was nothing improper on it, Ouyang Zhenzhu was hugging it to her chest and refused to let go.

"Wanwan, your drawing is so beautiful! It’s even better than the people in the art books sold at the bookshops. How are you so good at drawing?"

Zhi Wan smiled. "You really think my drawings are good?"

"Really! The people you draw are even better looking than those done by the Painters." Ouyang Zhenzhu held the drawing, full of praise.

Zhi Wan paused, then seized the opportunity. "In that case, do you think I could sell my drawings to a bookshop?"

"Huh?" Ouyang Zhenzhu was stunned for a moment, then said excitedly, "That’s a great idea! If you’re willing to draw for the bookshops, the major bookshops in the Capital would probably be fighting over your work!"

"Then... I’ll give it a try," Zhi Wan said.

"You really should give it a try. Those illustrated storybooks—some call them comic strips—are all the rage in the Capital right now. It’s just one picture with a few lines of text. They’re simple, easy to understand, and look great. The stories are also continuous, so you can’t put them down once you start. They’re a huge hit with everyone."

"Also, a lot of books these days like to have illustrations in them. Books with pictures are always more appealing than books with only words. The bookshops are probably short on Painters right now. You draw so well, they would be desperate to have you."

Ouyang Zhenzhu spoke with an easy confidence, showing she was clearly an avid reader of such things.

Hearing her say this, Zhi Wan felt more confident.

"Okay, I’ll go and try another day."

Seeing her serious expression, Ouyang Zhenzhu suddenly leaned in with a mischievous smile. "When I first saw this drawing just now, I thought it was a man you admire, that you’d secretly drawn him to soothe the ache of longing."

Zhi Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and she said hastily, "Don’t be ridiculous! I don’t have feelings for any man!"

Ouyang Zhenzhu blinked, her fingertip tapping the small mole on the man’s collarbone in the drawing. "If not, then why could you draw it in such detail? You didn’t just add this on a whim, did you?"