The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 53: Blessed to Be Her Husband

’Could it be that she had been repressing herself for so long that she had such dreams to vent her feelings?’

’But why was the man in her dreams always the same?’

’And yet, she could never see his face clearly.’

Zhi Wan couldn’t figure it out, so she put it out of her mind.

「Meanwhile, at Qingyun Residence.」

Lu Zhan had also just woken up.

Thinking of what had happened in his dream, his brow furrowed.

’He felt more and more certain that the girl from his dream was real.’

’But which family’s young lady could she be?’

Lu Zhan was lost in thought.

He glanced at the hourglass and saw that it was already the Hour of the Tiger. Deciding not to go back to sleep, he rose, washed up, dressed, and prepared to attend the morning court.

By the time he left, he had already returned to his usual solemn and composed self.

...

Zhi Wan woke up late.

She had woken up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep, only to finally drift off again just before dawn.

She was lethargic during breakfast.

Seeing this, Shuang’er asked with concern, "Miss, are you unwell? Perhaps you should lie down for a bit after you finish eating?"

Zhi Wan shook her head. "I won’t. We may have rented the shop, but we still haven’t decided what to sell. Besides, I need to tell my aunt about it."

Hearing this, Shuang’er didn’t press the matter.

After finishing breakfast, Zhi Wan went to Lady Wei’s courtyard.

Wei Jinyi was doing embroidery in the courtyard. When she saw Zhi Wan arrive, a glint appeared in her eyes. She set down her work, rose, and said, "Wan’er, what brings you here today?"

"I came to chat with my aunt," Zhi Wan replied, then walked past her and straight into Lady Wei’s rooms without another glance.

Lady Wei was flipping through a catalogue of names. Seeing Zhi Wan, she quickly beckoned her over. "Wan’er, your timing is perfect! Come and help me look at these young ladies."

Zhi Wan paused, stunned. ’Is Aunt choosing a wife for my cousin again?’

She glanced back at Wei Jinyi, who had followed her in, and noticed her sour expression. Suddenly, she had an inkling of her aunt’s true intentions.

"Of course," she answered sweetly, moving to sit beside Lady Wei.

"This one has a fortunate look about her, very child-bearing. What do you think of her for your sister-in-law?" Lady Wei said with a grin, pointing to a dignified, stately-looking young woman in the catalogue.

Zhi Wan’s long lashes fluttered, but before she could speak, Wei Jinyi cut in disdainfully, "Aunt, she’s far too plump. My cousin would never like her."

"Nonsense! How is that plump? It’s auspicious! A young woman ought to have some flesh on her bones to be beautiful. Being thin as a reed is what’s unattractive." After speaking, Lady Wei seemed to recall something. She glanced at Wei Jinyi’s stick-thin figure and frowned. "Jinyi, don’t mind your aunt for being blunt, but you’re far too skinny. You should eat more and put on some weight."

Zhi Wan lowered her head, hiding the smile that touched her lips.

Wei Jinyi’s expression stiffened, and she glanced down at her own body.

’I’m a little thin, so what?’

’Aren’t all the young ladies nowadays striving to be as delicate as a willow in the wind?’

’I have a defined waist and slender legs.’

’People even praise me for having the gentle grace of a Jiangnan beauty.’

’Aunt has no taste whatsoever!’

She was furious, but she didn’t dare to contradict her aunt.

Her gaze shifted to Zhi Wan, who was sitting to the side. She had intended to make a point about her, but upon looking closer, she saw Zhi Wan’s almond-shaped face, her peachy cheeks, and her exquisite beauty. She was stunning, yet not overly thin.

Her soft, rosy face was pleasantly full without looking fat, and her chest was ample and well-endowed.

This observation only made Wei Jinyi feel more bitter with envy.

’Looking like a little vixen. So irritating!’

She couldn’t help but remark, "Well, Wan’er certainly has some flesh on her bones."

Zhi Wan shot her a look.

The hostility in her cousin’s eyes was baffling.

’Wei Jinyi was being tactful, but she was really just calling me fat, wasn’t she?’

Zhi Wan glanced at her and replied nonchalantly, "That’s because Aunt dotes on me, feeding me all sorts of delicious things. If I didn’t put on some weight, would I not be letting her kindness go to waste?"

Wei Jinyi was left speechless.

Lady Wei smiled and turned her gaze to Zhi Wan, noticing that the girl had blossomed even more lately. There was a spring-like charm in her eyes, and her entire being was as radiant as a ripe fruit, tempting one to pluck it.

Lady Wei suddenly found herself staring, momentarily stunned.

Being stared at so intently made Zhi Wan a little self-conscious. She gently tugged on her aunt’s sleeve. "Aunt?"

Lady Wei snapped out of her daze and patted Zhi Wan’s hand with a chuckle. "My dear Wan’er, you just keep getting more and more beautiful."

’I wonder which lucky boy will get to have her,’ she thought. ’With looks like these, Wan’er’s future husband will be a very fortunate man.’

Zhi Wan blushed slightly. "Aunt, please don’t tease me."

Watching their easy rapport, Wei Jinyi nearly shredded the handkerchief in her hands.

Lady Wei chuckled for a moment. Seeing Wei Jinyi standing there stiffly, she thought for a second and said, "Jinyi, you can come help me look too."

’That should be enough to make the girl give up hope, right?’

Nanny Fang had already told her about how Wei Jinyi had tried to bring her son snacks the day before.

Her son had been perfectly polite and proper in refusing Wei Jinyi’s advances, but she worried the girl was too obstinate to take the hint.

That was precisely why she had taken out the matchmaking catalogue—to make Wei Jinyi see the futility of her efforts and back down.

"Marriage is a serious affair. This is too rash. What if my cousin doesn’t like any of them?" Wei Jinyi couldn’t help but protest.

Lady Wei thought to herself, ’Even if a goddess from the heavens stood before him, my son wouldn’t be moved.’

’The whole point of this exercise is to make Wei Jinyi give up.’

’In fact, if it were possible, I’d love to just bypass him entirely and find him a wife myself.’

’But I know how headstrong he is. If I tried something like that, it would certainly incur his displeasure.’

With that in mind, she said aloud, "I am his mother. When it comes to his marriage, I am naturally the one to decide. If I say she’s a good match, then she is."

"Aunt, have you even considered my cousin’s feelings in all this?" Wei Jinyi asked indignantly.

Lady Wei was growing impatient. "If you don’t want to help, you can go back to your room."

Wei Jinyi was furious. She turned to Zhi Wan and demanded, "My cousin is so good to you! Why aren’t you helping to talk some sense into Aunt?"

Zhi Wan looked up in surprise. "About what?"

Wei Jinyi was speechless.

She stomped her foot. "I’ll go get my cousin!" With that, she ran out.

Lady Wei quickly shot Nanny Fang a meaningful look.

Nanny Fang nodded and led a few servants to follow her.

With Wei Jinyi finally gone, Zhi Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

Lady Wei, however, was frustrated. "Her parents have truly spoiled her rotten."

Zhi Wan didn’t know what to say, so she changed the subject. "Aunt, I actually came today because there was something I wanted to tell you."

"Oh? What is it?" Lady Wei asked, her interest piqued.

"I rented a shop on Huayong Street. I’m thinking of starting a small business," Zhi Wan said.

Lady Wei was surprised. "You’ve already rented the shop?"

"Yes. My cousin helped me find it. The rental was settled yesterday," Zhi Wan replied.

Hearing that Lu Zhan had helped, Lady Wei was very pleased. "So he is good for something after all, helping his little sister."

"Aunt, please don’t say that. My cousin is a very good person," Zhi Wan said earnestly.

"That’s the first time I’ve ever heard anyone praise him for being ’good’," Lady Wei said, amused.

Zhi Wan felt a little awkward. "My cousin only seems cold on the outside; he has a good heart." ’Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked someone to help me find a shop, or had Chen Jiu run around helping me.’

"My Lady, the Princely Heir has arrived." Just then, Nanny Fang’s voice sounded from outside.

Zhi Wan jumped in surprise. She turned her head and, sure enough, saw Lu Zhan walking in.

’What a coincidence!’

A fresh wave of embarrassment washed over her.

’Thank goodness I wasn’t just bad-mouthing him.’

She quickly rose and curtsied. "Greetings, cousin."