Chapter 98: Seduction

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Seduction

Zhi Wan looked at his stern, handsome face and suddenly grew hesitant. She was afraid she’d guessed wrong.

Noticing her hesitation, Lu Zhan’s voice softened slightly. "Don’t be afraid. Speak freely."

At his words, Zhi Wan voiced her suspicion. "I think there might be a problem with Miss Liu."

Lu Zhan raised an eyebrow slightly, asking with a neutral expression, "What’s wrong with her?"

Zhi Wan furrowed her brow. "Last night, when Nanny Fang and Shuang’er were helping Miss Liu change, they discovered her body was covered in scars, as if from long-term abuse. But today in her cabin, I saw that her face was lovely, and the skin she showed was smooth and delicate. She doesn’t look like someone who has suffered hardship. Then, she very calmly asked us our destination.

Her reactions and her demeanor aren’t at all what you’d expect from someone who has been through such a dark ordeal and barely escaped with her life."

Lu Zhan was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected his cousin to be so observant.

He praised her, "You have a keen eye for detail, cousin."

Zhi Wan grew embarrassed at the compliment. ’My cousin is the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, after all. If *I* could spot these things, he must have noticed them long ago.’

’It feels like I was just stating the obvious to an expert.’

At this thought, her face flushed, and she said hastily, "I-I should be going."

Seeing her embarrassment, Lu Zhan thought to offer a few words of comfort but decided against it. He only warned, "The rest of the journey may not be peaceful. You, Nanny Fang, and the others need to be on your guard."

Zhi Wan gave him a surprised look but quickly understood. "I see."

"Yes."

Back in her cabin, Zhi Wan carefully explained the situation to Nanny Fang and Shuang’er.

They both grew tense after hearing her words.

"Does this mean the river isn’t safe? Could there be pirates?" Nanny Fang asked, full of worry.

The color drained from Shuang’er’s face. "Pirates?"

"Don’t be too nervous. My cousin and Junior Minister Duan are here," Zhi Wan said. "I’m only telling you this so you’ll be more alert. Don’t sleep too soundly at night."

"Yes," the two replied respectfully. Inwardly, they weren’t quite as nervous anymore.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’That’s right. With the Princely Heir and Junior Minister Duan here, not to mention all the guards, we’d still have a fighting chance even if pirates did attack.’

"Also, just keep this to yourselves. Don’t go spreading it around and causing a panic," Zhi Wan added.

"We understand." The two nodded.

However, after Zhi Wan’s warning, they grew more vigilant. At night, while sleeping in the outer room, they took to placing daggers under their pillows.

After speaking with her servants, Zhi Wan called Ouyang Zhenzhu into her room and explained the situation to her as well, so she would be prepared.

Because of this, the two of them spent most of their time in their rooms, rarely venturing out onto the deck.

One evening, feeling stuffy after being cooped up in her cabin, Zhi Wan decided to go stand on deck for a breath of fresh air.

But as she opened the door, she was surprised to see Miss Liu talking with Chen Jiu.

"Chen Guard, I wish to thank Mr. Lu in person again. Would you please announce me?"

Chen Jiu said with a deadpan expression, "Miss Liu, you already thanked my master the other day. My master is very busy and is not seeing visitors. Please return to your cabin."

"You little guard, why are you so inflexible?" Miss Liu purred. Her soft, delicate hand was just about to rest on Chen Jiu’s shoulder when she spotted Zhi Wan emerging from her room. She instantly retracted her hand and curtsied to Zhi Wan. "Greetings, Miss Zhi."

Astonishment flickered in Zhi Wan’s eyes.

’Was Miss Liu just trying to seduce Chen Jiu?’

’And who told her my surname?’

She concealed her surprise and said nonchalantly, "Miss Liu, there’s no need for such formalities."

Miss Liu’s eyes shifted. With a smile, she said, "I was feeling cooped up in my cabin and was hoping to find someone to talk with. I wonder if Miss Zhi is available?"

"Actually, it’s not a good time. It’s getting late, and I was about to turn in for the night," Zhi Wan replied, also smiling.

Miss Liu let out a small laugh. "The sky isn’t even completely dark yet, and Miss Zhi is already turning in?"

Zhi Wan sighed. "To be honest, I still haven’t gotten used to being on a boat. I can’t sleep well at night, but I’m terribly sleepy right now, so I have no choice but to rest early."

Miss Liu said with a touch of awkwardness, "Very well, then. Miss Zhi, please get some rest. I won’t disturb you further. I’ll go have a chat with Miss Ouyang." With that, she walked away, swaying her hips.

Zhi Wan’s brow furrowed at the sight. She glanced at the guards on deck.

Thankfully, they were all well-trained and didn’t spare Miss Liu a single glance.

’But now Miss Liu is going to see Ouyang Zhenzhu...’

After a moment’s thought, she said to Nanny Fang, "Hurry over to Zhenzhu’s room and give her some support."

Nanny Fang understood her meaning and left at once.

Zhi Wan breathed a sigh of relief and turned her head to look at Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu felt awkward under her gaze. He said sheepishly, "She’s the one who came on to me." ’It’s a good thing I’ve been by the Princely Heir’s side for so long and picked up some of his self-control. A common, shameless hussy like that could never hope to sway me in the slightest.’

At this thought, he puffed out his chest with considerable pride.

Zhi Wan, oblivious to his inner thoughts, asked, "What did she want?"

Chen Jiu glanced back at the closed cabin door behind him and lowered his voice. "Ten to one she came to seduce the Princely Heir."

Zhi Wan was stunned.

"But do you know what kind of man our Princely Heir is? He wouldn’t even spare a glance for riffraff like her," Chen Jiu continued, speaking as if to himself.

Zhi Wan couldn’t help but say, "Miss Liu may have ill intentions, but she is still quite beautiful."

Chen Jiu shook his head. "Compared to the oirans in the Capital, she’s nothing special. The Princely Heir has been to every brothel in the Capital, and not a single woman has caught his eye."

"What?" Zhi Wan’s eyes flew wide as she stared at him.

’Her cousin has been to every brothel in the Capital?’

Only then did Chen Jiu realize his slip of the tongue. He clapped a hand over his mouth and said urgently, "Miss, please just pretend you didn’t hear that. You must not tell the Princely Heir!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the cabin door behind him swung open. Lu Zhan stood there.

Chen Jiu’s knees went weak, and he nearly dropped to the ground. He stammered, "Pri-Princely Heir..."

"Chen Jiu, get down to the lower decks. I don’t want to see your face for the next few days!" Lu Zhan said coldly.

"Yes, sir." Chen Jiu scurried away, looking completely dejected.

Zhi Wan jumped in fright. Seeing her cousin’s cold, dark expression, she clenched her fists and spoke up. "Cousin, Ah Jiu may have misspoken, but he didn’t mean to slander you. For the sake of his loyal service to you, could you please not be angry with him?"

"Ah Jiu?" Lu Zhan said coolly. "Are you two that close?"

Zhi Wan paused, taken aback. She explained, "Ah Jiu has been a great help to me. He’s hardworking and honest, and since we’ve all gotten to know each other... so..."

"So you think I’m moody and difficult to serve?" Lu Zhan lifted his gaze, looking at her coolly.

Zhi Wan’s brows knitted together. Suddenly, she couldn’t understand him at all.

’Her cousin was acting strangely tonight.’

’He didn’t seem all that angry, so why did he banish Ah Jiu to the lower decks?’