The Minister: Cold by Day, Hot by Night-Chapter 69: Lu Zhan Is Truly Like a Thoughtful Older Brother

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Lu Zhan Is Truly Like a Thoughtful Older Brother

When they arrived at Fushou Hall, the elders were gathered in the main hall, chatting, so Lu Jinglan pulled Zhi Wan and Lu Lan into her room.

"It’s not convenient to shop near Jiuhua Temple, so I didn’t bring you any other gifts. However, I did pray for peace charms for you both," Lu Jinglan said, giving the two charms to them.

"Thank you, Little Aunt," Lu Lan said with a grateful expression.

Lu Jinglan patted her on the head like an elder. "As long as you’re not disappointed."

"Thank you, Jinglan," Zhi Wan added her thanks.

"Wan’er, you should call me Sister Jinglan. I am, after all, two years your senior," Lu Jinglan said with a beaming smile.

"But didn’t you want me to call you ’Aunt’ just a moment ago?" Zhi Wan asked with a look of surprise.

"If you really called me ’Aunt,’ you’d make me sound old," Lu Jinglan said helplessly.

"But Lu Lan calls you ’Aunt,’ doesn’t she? And according to seniority, my cousin should also call you ’Aunt’," Zhi Wan replied earnestly.

Lu Jinglan paused for a moment before huffing coldly. "Your cousin has never once called me ’Aunt.’ Since I’m younger than him, he definitely couldn’t bring himself to say it."

"I think I’ll stick to the family seniority and call you ’Aunt’," Zhi Wan said.

Lu Jinglan sighed. "Do as you wish. It’s just a title, after all."

"Little Aunt Jinglan," Zhi Wan said sweetly, batting her eyes.

Lu Jinglan reached out and pinched her cheek, then asked, "By the way, has anything happened while I’ve been away from the mansion?"

Zhi Wan smiled. "A while ago, Aunt hosted a flower-viewing banquet. She invited all the noble young ladies in the Capital, hoping to find a match for our cousin. It was quite the event. It’s a real shame you missed it."

"A flower-viewing banquet?" Lu Jinglan looked astonished. "But I thought Jinzhi didn’t want to get married yet?"

"Our cousin doesn’t want to, but Aunt wants to hold a grandson. Besides that, a little while ago, the Commandery Princess from Prince Gao Yang Mansion even chased him all the way to the Duke Dingguo Mansion, proclaiming her love for our cousin," Zhi Wan continued, her eyes subtly watching Lu Jinglan’s reaction.

Lu Jinglan raised an eyebrow. "Something like that happened?"

Lu Lan, however, was completely shocked. "That Commandery Princess from Prince Gao Yang Mansion is far too bold."

"I know, right? I was stunned speechless at the time," Zhi Wan said with a nod.

Lu Jinglan lifted her cup, took a sip of tea, and fixed her gaze on Zhi Wan’s face. She smiled. "Being pursued by a Commandery Princess all the way to the gates of the mansion... what was your cousin’s reaction? Was he pleased?"

"That, I wouldn’t know," Zhi Wan replied, shaking her head.

"But didn’t you say you saw it with your own eyes? That means you were there at the time," Lu Jinglan pointed out.

"I was there, but who can ever figure out what our cousin is thinking?" Zhi Wan sighed.

"That’s true. Big Brother has always been so serious and stern. How could anyone else know what he’s thinking?" Lu Lan nodded in agreement.

Lu Jinglan didn’t press the matter. Instead, she took out another palm-sized box and said to Zhi Wan, "You live near Jinzhi. Could you help me bring this gift to him later?"

Zhi Wan glanced at the box and shook her head. "Didn’t our cousin say he would be joining Old Madam for dinner tonight? You can just give it to him yourself then."

Lu Jinglan hesitated at her words. "I’m afraid I’ll forget by then."

"If you forget today, you can give it to him tomorrow. A gift from you to our cousin should be delivered by your own hand to show your sincerity. Besides, our cousin doesn’t allow others into his Qingyun Residence. I’ve never even been there. If you send me, I’m afraid I’ll be met with a closed door," Zhi Wan said, looking troubled.

A smile appeared on Lu Jinglan’s face. "Don’t blame your cousin. He’s like that with everyone—exceptionally unapproachable. I was already given the cold shoulder by him today."

Recalling the moment in the front courtyard when her cousin had coldly rebuffed Lu Jinglan, Zhi Wan’s gaze flickered.

[That evening.]

Lady Wei held a welcome banquet for Old Madam Lu, and Zhi Wan was also asked to stay at Fushou Hall for the occasion.

To avoid tiring Old Madam Lu, Lady Wei had the banquet set up in Fushou Hall.

Lu Zhan arrived just as the feast was about to begin.

"Jinzhi, you must be exhausted. Someone, bring tea for the Princely Heir," Old Madam Lu hurriedly instructed.

Just as a maid brought the tea, Lu Jinglan intercepted it. "Jinzhi, here."

Lu Zhan took the cup but did not drink, placing it to the side instead.

Seeing this, Lu Jinglan’s brow furrowed slightly.

"Since everyone is here, I’ll give the order to serve the meal," Lady Wei announced.

Old Madam Lu nodded.

A short while later, the servants had finished setting out the dishes.

After the elders were seated, Lu Zhan and the others took their seats in order.

Seeing an empty seat next to Lu Zhan, Lu Jinglan was just about to take it when Lu Zhan said coolly, "That’s for our cousin."

Lu Jinglan stiffened for a moment, then, as if nothing had happened, she teased, "Since when did you become so considerate of our cousin, Jinzhi?"

Zhi Wan looked at Lu Zhan in surprise.

Lu Zhan shot her a cool glance. "Aren’t you going to sit down? Are you going to make everyone wait for you?"

Noticing everyone’s eyes turning toward her, Zhi Wan flushed with embarrassment and had no choice but to brace herself and sit down beside him.

Lu Jinglan clutched her handkerchief tightly and went to sit next to Lu Lan.

During the meal, Old Madam Lu glanced at Zhi Wan seated next to Lu Zhan, her brow creased. She looked at Lady Wei and said coolly, "I had assumed you would have married Zhi Wan off by the time I returned."

The words were extremely blunt, stopping just short of asking why Zhi Wan was still in the mansion.

Understanding the implication, everyone cast subtle glances at Zhi Wan.

Zhi Wan grew flustered and put down her chopsticks.

Suppressing her anger, Lady Wei smiled. "You’re joking, Mother. Speaking of which, Jinglan is two years older than Wan’er. If Jinglan isn’t married yet, there’s even less need to rush for Wan’er."

Old Madam Lu said, displeased, "How can Zhi Wan possibly compare to Jinglan..."

"Grandmother, you worry too much," Lu Zhan interjected, cutting her off. "Zhi Wan is the only sister I have. Naturally, Mother will be cautious regarding her marriage."

Old Madam Lu’s brow furrowed. "Sister?"

"Of course. A cousin is also a sister. Moreover, after all these years, Mother has long come to see her as her own daughter." Lu Zhan’s expression was nonchalant and his tone was unhurried. After speaking, he picked up the serving chopsticks, placed a piece of meat in Zhi Wan’s bowl, and said, "Eat."

Zhi Wan was grateful to him for saving her from the awkward situation, but when she saw the meat he had placed in her bowl, a trace of astonishment appeared on her small face.

’My cousin, he... ’

She instinctively looked up at him, but when her eyes met his dark, profound ones, she froze. She quickly averted her gaze and obediently picked up her chopsticks to eat. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lu Zhan’s expression softened slightly, and he proceeded to add some more vegetables to her bowl.

The onlookers who witnessed this were even more astonished than when they had heard Old Madam Lu’s words.

Lu Zhan actually served food to someone?

With such a considerate gesture, he truly seemed like a good older brother.

Something flashed in Lu Jinglan’s eyes.

Lu Lan watched Zhi Wan with a mix of envy and jealousy.

’To think that even Big Brother protects her... ’

Old Madam Lu was furious, but she couldn’t take it out on her favored grandson. Instead, she turned to Lady Wei. "She is just an outsi—"

"Mother, watch your words!" This time, it was Lu Zhenbei who cut her off with a deep voice.

Old Madam Lu was so incensed her chest heaved violently. "You people, one after another..." She managed to retain some of her composure and didn’t have a full outburst on the spot.

But her face was long and sullen.

Zhi Wan felt extremely uncomfortable, feeling as though she shouldn’t have been there that night.

’I am, after all, an outsider.’

’This was their family banquet. What was I doing here, trying to be part of the excitement?’

Just as she was sitting on pins and needles, a man’s deep, cool voice sounded from above her head. "Are you full?"