Chapter 116: Bolder Than Anyone in Private

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Bolder Than Anyone in Private

Lu Zhan was initially displeased, but his expression softened when he saw how anxious she looked.

He glanced down at the sleeve she was clutching and pursed his lips. "They aren’t poisonous. Don’t worry."

"How do you know whether they’re poisonous or not?" Zhi Wan blurted out.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan seemed to understand something. His dark eyes narrowed slightly. "So, you thought I couldn’t identify the fruit and just picked it at random? You were afraid it was poisonous, so you threw it away because you didn’t dare to eat it?"

Zhi Wan fell silent.

Lu Zhan laughed in exasperation.

After a moment of silence, he said faintly, "It’s only right for you to be cautious, Cousin."

Realizing he wasn’t blaming her, Zhi Wan looked up. "You’re not mad at me, Cousin?"

Lu Zhan gave her a deep look and shook his head. "You don’t know me well, so your doubts are understandable. I just hope you maintain this same caution when dealing with others in the future, Cousin."

Zhi Wan nodded blankly. "I understand." Looking down, she realized she was still clutching her cousin’s sleeve. She hastily let go and took two steps back.

To hide her embarrassment, she took one of the fruits from her handkerchief and took a bite.

It really was sweet.

She couldn’t resist taking another bite.

Lu Zhan paused. "How come you’re not afraid they’re poisonous anymore?"

Zhi Wan glanced at him. ’You already tasted one, and you’re fine,’ she thought.

But she didn’t dare say that out loud.

She coughed lightly and said, a little embarrassed, "I was being presumptuous."

"Let’s go," Lu Zhan said coolly, starting down the mountain first.

Zhi Wan hurried to catch up.

On the way down, she came to truly understand the saying "going up the mountain is easy, but coming down is hard."

Although the mountain behind the house wasn’t very high, the path was incredibly steep. Combined with the muddy, slippery ground, Zhi Wan had to walk with extreme caution, and even then, she nearly fell several times.

When they finally reached the foot of the mountain, Zhi Wan was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when she heard her cousin ask, "Cousin, are you still thinking of finding a man to marry into your family?"

Zhi Wan froze for a second before she understood what he meant.

But being asked so directly by her cousin made her blush. She gave a subtle nod. "Yes."

Lu Zhan pressed his lips together, said nothing more, and walked straight ahead.

Zhi Wan found it a little strange, but she didn’t dwell on it.

When they returned to Nanny Chen’s house, the fenced yard was already bustling with activity.

Nanny Chen’s eldest son, Daniu, had returned, along with his wife, Qiao’e.

Zhi Wan then learned that Brother Daniu had married last year. His wife, Qiao’e, had a very large belly, and she looked like she was due any day now.

While everyone else was busy, Ouyang Zhenzhu was the only one at leisure. Seeing Zhi Wan return, she immediately sidled up to her and asked with a conspiratorial wiggle of her eyebrows, "Where did you and Mr. Lu go?"

"Nowhere special," Zhi Wan said, handing her the last fruit. "It’s very sweet. Do you want it?"

Ouyang Zhenzhu’s eyes lit up as she snatched it. "Of course!"

After finishing it, she looked at Zhi Wan, still not satisfied. "Are there any more?"

"That was the last one," Zhi Wan said, shaking her head. She felt a pang of regret for the ones she’d thrown away.

’If only I’d known they weren’t poisonous, I wouldn’t have tossed them.’

"Why were there so few?" Ouyang Zhenzhu frowned.

"They’re wild fruits. You think they’re that easy to pick?" Zhi Wan replied evasively.

Ouyang Zhenzhu looked a little disappointed. "If I’d known, I would’ve gone with you."

Zhi Wan thought, ’It’s a good thing you didn’t come. Otherwise, Cousin would have had to look after two people, and the mountain wasn’t any fun at all.’

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"By the way, where’s Mr. Lu?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked.

Zhi Wan blinked. "Didn’t he come back with me?"

"I didn’t see him come inside," Ouyang Zhenzhu said.

Zhi Wan frowned and went outside to find Chen Jiu.

"Where’s my cousin?"

Chen Jiu pointed to the carriage and whispered, "He’s resting in the carriage."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan didn’t press the matter, deciding she would call her cousin when it was time to eat.

With Shuang’er and Nanny Fang helping, a table full of dishes was quickly set out.

Zhi Wan, Lu Zhan, and Ouyang Zhenzhu were invited to take the seats of honor.

"We’re simple country folk, so we don’t have much to offer. Please, Princely Heir, Miss, make do with what we have," Nanny Chen said apologetically as she took a wine jug and poured for them.

Zhi Wan didn’t mind at all, but she was a little worried that Lu Zhan and Ouyang Zhenzhu might not be accustomed to such rustic fare.

She only relaxed after seeing Lu Zhan pick up his chopsticks and Ouyang Zhenzhu digging in happily.

Nanny Chen’s family was a bit stiff around Lu Zhan, but the atmosphere was harmonious enough.

During the meal, Daniu and Erniu toasted Lu Zhan. He didn’t refuse a single one, draining his cup each time.

The two brothers marveled to themselves. ’Prince Lu looks so cold, but he doesn’t put on airs at all.’

Nanny Chen understood perfectly. ’Prince Lu is doing this for the Miss’s sake, treating us like her family.’

Seeing it was getting late, Lu Zhan looked over at Zhi Wan. Noticing she was about finished eating, he spoke up. "We should get going. The roads will be difficult to travel once it gets dark."

"Alright," Zhi Wan agreed with an obedient nod,

As they were leaving, Zhi Wan pulled Nanny Chen and Qiao’e aside. She took out two purses and pressed one into each of their hands. "Nanny, please take care of yourself. I’ll come see you again when I have the chance. Qiao’e, I’m afraid I’ll already be back in the Capital City when your time comes. This silver is for you and the baby. Please use it to buy yourself and the child some nice things to eat."

Qiao’e froze, the heavy weight of the purse in her hand snapping her back to reality. "Miss, I can’t possibly accept this."

"That’s right, Miss. Why are you giving us this? The things you bought for us were already more than enough," Nanny Chen added, also trying to refuse.

Zhi Wan put on a stern face. "If you refuse again, I won’t come visit next time."

That finally made them stop.

Just before she got into the carriage, Nanny Chen pressed a box into Zhi Wan’s hands. "Your mother entrusted this to me for safekeeping before... before her accident. She said that if you ever found someone to rely on, I was to give this to you. If not, then I was never to give it to you.

Now that you have Prince Lu to rely on, I think it’s time I gave you the box."

At first, Zhi Wan was just surprised that her mother had left her a box like this. But Nanny Chen’s next words made her face burn with embarrassed anger. "Nanny, please don’t just say whatever you want!"

’What does she mean, I have Prince Lu to rely on?’

’He’s just my cousin. How does that make him someone I rely on?’

As she thought this, she shot a nervous glance to the side, hoping Lu Zhan was already in the carriage and hadn’t heard what Nanny Chen said.

But of course, her worst fear came true.

Lu Zhan hadn’t gotten into the carriage. He was standing right there, and as she looked over, his gaze met hers.

Zhi Wan: "..."

She was so embarrassed she could have died. Forgetting to even say a proper goodbye to Nanny Chen, she scrambled into the carriage.

Watching the swaying curtain of the carriage, Lu Zhan paused. He was about to board when Nanny Chen stopped him.

"Prince Lu, our Miss is sensitive. Please be patient with her. She’s a good girl. I hope you will cherish her and take good care of her," Nanny Chen said, wiping away her tears.

After this parting, she didn’t know when she would ever see them again.

She only hoped that her Miss would live the rest of her life in peace and happiness.

Lu Zhan thought to himself, ’That girl? Sensitive? In private, she’s probably not sensitive at all. In fact, she might be bolder than anyone.’

"Mm," he responded coolly. "You take care as well, Nanny."

Hiding in the carriage, Zhi Wan broke out in a cold sweat as she overheard the conversation between Nanny Chen and her cousin.

’And why did Cousin agree?’

’He must just be humoring Nanny, right?’