Chapter 100: He Even Has to Sacrifice His Looks

Chapter 100: Chapter 100: He Even Has to Sacrifice His Looks

"Shuang’er already said it’s the River Map, didn’t she? It’s not like you can understand it anyway," Lu Zhan said lightly.

Duan Ling: "..."

Then, seeing how Lu Zhan treasured the painting, an idea sparked in his mind. He scrutinized him. "So, what’s going on between you and your cousin?"

Lu Zhan frowned. "What ’what’s going on’?"

"Honestly, Miss Zhi Wan is so beautiful, and you two look quite good together. You’re not even real cousins by blood. Plus, she’s of marriageable age. Why don’t you just marry her?" Duan Ling grew more and more excited as he spoke. "Old Lu, you... Ugh!"

Before he could finish, he got a rap on the head.

Lu Zhan said coldly, "If you dare spout any more nonsense, believe me, I’ll toss you overboard to feed the fish."

Duan Ling said sullenly, "I was just joking. You don’t have to get so angry, do you?"

"A woman’s reputation is of the utmost importance. Don’t you know that? Is this something to be joked about?" Lu Zhan’s face was a mask of frost.

Duan Ling slapped his own mouth. "Alright, I misspoke!"

After he left, Lu Zhan unrolled the scroll again and looked down at it.

The afterglow of the setting sun made the river glitter. Two white egrets skimmed across the water’s surface, stirring faint ripples. A few boats were sailing on the river.

With just a few simple strokes, the evening river scene was sketched onto the paper, so beautiful one couldn’t look away.

He had forgotten that his cousin was also skilled at painting.

And she could effortlessly sketch a criminal from memory alone.

A hint of a smile flashed in Lu Zhan’s dark eyes. He rolled the painting up again and carefully put it away.

Two days later, while Zhi Wan was getting some fresh air on deck, she accidentally stumbled upon Chen Jiu and Miss Liu clinging to each other flirtatiously. Her eyes widened in astonishment.

"Ah Jiu?"

When Chen Jiu saw her, he hurriedly pushed away Miss Liu, who seemed intent on hanging off him, and bowed. "Miss."

"How could you two..." Even though Zhi Wan knew Chen Jiu was going to the lower decks for an assignment, she still felt very uncomfortable seeing him entangled with Miss Liu.

Miss Liu’s previously fabricated life story was fake, and her behavior was promiscuous and frivolous. Getting involved with her would surely be to Chen Jiu’s detriment.

"Miss Zhi, Chen Jiu is preparing to go to Qingzhou with me." Miss Liu casually tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes filled with amorous delight.

"What do you mean, ’go to Qingzhou with you’?" Zhi Wan frowned.

Miss Liu smiled, glanced at Chen Jiu, and said somewhat smugly, "Chen Jiu is willing to marry into my family and be the father to the child in my belly."

"COUGH COUGH COUGH..." Zhi Wan choked on her own saliva, coughing until her face turned red.

Nanny Fang was also completely astonished. While rubbing Zhi Wan’s back to soothe her, she earnestly tried to persuade him, "Ah Jiu, you... how could you be so foolish?"

"Old nanny, why is the way you talk so unpleasant? What do you mean, ’so foolish’? Is it such a shameful thing for Chen Jiu to be the father of my child?" Miss Liu said, displeased.

Nanny Fang’s lips trembled. Unable to hold back any longer, she retorted, "Let’s not even talk about whether it’s shameful. Is this supposed to be something glorious?"

"Nanny Fang, you don’t need to say any more. I’m getting on in years, and the Princely Heir still hasn’t arranged a marriage for me. Miss Liu is willing to give herself to me; I should be content. Besides, Miss Liu promised she won’t treat me poorly. She’ll show me a life of luxury, with endless wealth and glory waiting for me. Why would I refuse?

"Haven’t I had enough of being ordered around all day? Whenever the Princely Heir is displeased, he takes his anger out on me. After all these years, I have no dignity left." Chen Jiu grew more and more agitated as he spoke. Miss Liu quickly reached out and covered his mouth, chiding, "Don’t talk nonsense!"

Chen Jiu pulled her hand down and chuckled foolishly. "I just got a little carried away, didn’t I? I’ll stop. Let’s go below."

Watching the two descend intimately to the lower decks, Nanny Fang couldn’t hold back her fury and cursed, "Chen Jiu, you dog! You have no conscience! How dare you betray your master! You’ll come to a bad end."

Chen Jiu, who was going down the stairs, heard this and stumbled, nearly tumbling down. Fortunately, Miss Liu was quick to catch and steady him.

"The words of an old woman actually scared you?" Miss Liu said with a half-smile.

Chen Jiu said sheepishly, "Even though the Princely Heir doesn’t treat me well, I am still betraying my master. Hearing her say that... it makes me a little uneasy."

Miss Liu sneered. "Look at you, what a coward. Once I show you the wider world, you won’t think that way anymore. After all, isn’t everyone in this world just living for themselves?"

"The wealth and glory you promised me... can you really deliver?" Chen Jiu asked, his face full of longing.

"You’ll get your share of the benefits when the time comes," Miss Liu swore.

With complicated feelings, Zhi Wan returned to her cabin with Nanny Fang.

Nanny Fang was still indignantly cursing Chen Jiu.

"The Duke Mansion treated him well, and the Princely Heir even saw him as a brother. To think he’d betray the Princely Heir for a creature like that... what a bastard!"

Shuang’er also said with a sigh, "I never would have thought Chen Guard was that kind of person."

Zhi Wan remained silent.

’She knew Chen Jiu was putting on an act. He hadn’t betrayed her cousin; he had his reasons for doing what he did.’

’She just couldn’t figure out what could possibly be worth such a great sacrifice from him.’

Late at night, Zhi Wan was sitting at her desk as usual, engrossed in her painting, when a strange sound suddenly rang out.

She froze for a moment, then pushed open the window and saw a signal arrow streak across the sky, illuminating the pitch-black night.

Realizing something was wrong, she quickly shut the window tightly. Just as she was about to wake Nanny Fang and Shuang’er, she found they were already awake.

"Miss, what was that sound just now?" Shuang’er asked nervously.

"I’m not sure either. Something might be about to happen," Zhi Wan said, feeling a little uneasy.

Because after that sound, the entire ship fell eerily silent, as if no one had noticed.

Just as she was wondering whether she should go tell Lu Zhan about this, someone suddenly shouted, "Pirates are on board! Help—"

The three of them jumped in fright.

Before they could react, the sounds of running footsteps and scraping weapons came from the deck outside, followed by the clash of blades and shouts of battle.

"There really are pirates!" Nanny Fang said with a trembling voice, hastily gripping a dagger and shielding Zhi Wan and Shuang’er behind her.

"Miss, what are we going to do?" Shuang’er’s voice was also trembling.

Nanny Fang forced herself to remain calm. "It’s alright, it’s alright. The Princely Heir and the others are here."

Zhi Wan was also panicking inside, but she agreed, "Right. Don’t be afraid. My cousin and the others are here."

The three of them stayed in the cabin, their hearts in their throats as they listened to the fierce sounds of fighting outside.

As the three waited nervously, the cabin door was suddenly rammed with great force, making a loud "BANG! BANG! BANG!" sound.

The three of them were terrified.

"Quick, barricade the door!" Seeing that the door was about to be broken down, Zhi Wan finally snapped out of it and rushed over, trying to hold it shut.

Seeing this, Nanny Fang and Shuang’er also hurried over to help.

But it was too late. The cabin door was smashed open.

Miss Liu and Chen Jiu appeared at the doorway. A guard, covered in blood, lay at their feet.

Miss Liu held a knife, her previous weak demeanor gone, replaced by a ferocious expression. She was the first to rush in, placing the blood-stained blade against Zhi Wan’s neck.

"I saw it long ago. That man named Lu values you the most! Miss Zhi, you’re coming with me."

Looking at the bloodstains on the blade, terror flashed in Zhi Wan’s eyes. "What... what are you doing?"