Chapter 130: This... Is Hardly Proper, Is It?

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: This... Is Hardly Proper, Is It?

Zhi Wan’s mind went blank, and she forgot how to react.

Lu Zhan gazed down at the quiet girl in his arms, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile.

Nearby, Chen Jiu’s jaw dropped.

’How could the Princely Heir be holding the Miss?!’

’This... this is improper, isn’t it?’

Hearing footsteps approaching, Chen Jiu’s heart skipped a beat. He hurried over to intercept them.

’Can’t let anyone see this.’

’Otherwise, the Princely Heir’s spotless reputation would be ruined.’

’Sigh, responsible subordinates like me are a rare breed.’

’Chen Jiu was truly worrying himself sick over his master’s reputation!’

Zhi Wan finally snapped back to her senses. She frantically pushed her cousin away, her lovely eyes wide with shock and embarrassment.

’Why did he wrap his arm around my waist again?’

’The last time, on the mountain behind Red Leaf Village, it was the same...’

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if her cousin had done it on purpose or by accident.

Noticing the scrutinizing look in her eyes, Lu Zhan paused before asking, "What’s wrong?"

Zhi Wan was taken aback by his question. She looked up and saw his expression was perfectly normal, as if the whole thing had just been an accident.

Her brow furrowed slightly. ’Am I being too sensitive?’

"N-Nothing," she finally mumbled, lowering her head.

’I must be overthinking this. My cousin is a gentleman who always observes the strictest propriety. He wouldn’t have put his arm around my waist on purpose. I was the careless one, falling right into his arms. I’m the one who was rude.’

Zhi Wan convinced herself.

Lu Zhan saw the conflict on her face. He paused, then gave the box in his hand a little shake and asked in a low voice, "Is this for me?"

At his words, Zhi Wan finally remembered. She looked up at the box in his hand, her lips parting and closing before she finally nodded. "Yes."

"Then why didn’t you give it to me, hmm?" Lu Zhan asked, confused.

Zhi Wan was about to say something when she suddenly glimpsed the Jade Pendant hanging from his waist. Her face instantly grew hot.

’My cousin is of noble status; he certainly doesn’t lack for jade. The pendants he wears are all priceless. But the one I bought is only worth ten taels of Silver. How could I dare? How could I have the audacity to give something like this to him?’

The more Zhi Wan thought about it, the more inadequate she felt, and she had the urge to snatch the box back.

But remembering the little accident just now, she dismissed the thought.

"What’s in the box isn’t worthy of you. I’ll get you something else next time..."

Zhi Wan’s voice died in her throat. The man had already opened the box and taken out the Jade Pendant.

The green Jade Pendant, held in Lu Zhan’s hand, made his fingers seem even fairer and more slender. The blue tassel dangled between them, a beautiful sight.

Zhi Wan froze.

"I love this Jade Pendant from you," the man said, his deep voice laced with a smile.

Zhi Wan snapped out of it and looked at him in surprise. "You... you don’t find it beneath you?"

Lu Zhan said nothing. He simply untied the Jade Pendant at his waist and looked at her. "If my cousin would be so kind..." He trailed off, then lowered his head and fastened the green Jade Pendant to his belt himself.

Zhi Wan was so surprised she was speechless.

She hadn’t expected him to immediately wear the Jade Pendant she’d given him.

Zhi Wan couldn’t resist looking a little longer.

Her cousin had a naturally cool and inscrutable temperament. Dressed in dark robes today, he appeared all the more profound and imposing, difficult to approach. But with the green Jade Pendant hanging from his waist, that somber air seemed to lessen, replaced by a hint of gentle warmth.

As Zhi Wan watched, her gaze suddenly fell to his narrow waist, cinched by his sash.

’He was so tall and slender; he looked good in any kind of robe.’

Looking at his narrow waist, Zhi Wan’s thoughts unexpectedly drifted to the man from her dream.

’That man had also been tall and slender, with a lean, firm waist... it had felt so good to touch...’

"Cousin?"

The man’s deep voice pulled Zhi Wan from her thoughts.

Meeting her cousin’s eyes, she felt a pang of guilt and quickly changed the subject back to the Jade Pendant. "Cousin, I bought this Jade Pendant in the market this morning when I was out shopping with Zhenzhu. It only cost ten taels of Silver. It’s so cheap... it doesn’t suit your status."

Hearing this, Lu Zhan watched her with his calm, dark eyes. "Because it’s inexpensive, you feel it doesn’t suit me, Cousin? Then tell me, how much must a Jade Pendant cost to be worthy of me?"

Zhi Wan said earnestly, "You are of noble status, Cousin. Naturally, only a priceless Jade Pendant would be worthy of you."

Lu Zhan paused. His slender fingers caressed the Jade Pendant at his waist. "But to me," he said, his voice low and pleasant, "any Jade Pendant from my cousin is priceless."

Zhi Wan stared at him, stunned.

’What is he saying?’

’That to him, the Jade Pendant I gave him is also priceless?’

Although his words sounded like he was just trying to humor her, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of joy.

But once she calmed down, her reservations returned. "If you like it, Cousin, perhaps you could wear it at home. But when you go out, you should switch back to your original one."

Lu Zhan didn’t reply. Instead, he held out the pendant he’d just taken off. "This is for you."

Zhi Wan froze, waving her hands in refusal. "I can’t accept that."

"A fair exchange," Lu Zhan said calmly.

Zhi Wan was speechless.

’The Jade Pendant I gave him is only worth ten taels, but his is priceless.’

’How could I possibly accept it?’

"I can’t take this," she insisted, shaking her head.

"Be good and take it," Lu Zhan’s tone grew a little firmer.

Before Zhi Wan could react, the man took her hand and pressed the Jade Pendant into her palm.

Zhi Wan stood frozen to the spot.

"Go on inside," Lu Zhan said calmly, releasing her hand.

Clutching the Jade Pendant, Zhi Wan dazedly turned and went into the courtyard.

Lu Zhan stood there for a moment longer. As soon as he entered his own courtyard, Chen Jiu followed him in.

"Princely Heir..." Chen Jiu’s tone was grave.

Lu Zhan shot him a glance. "What is it?"

"Princely Heir, are you serious? I saw everything just now, outside the courtyard," Chen Jiu asked, his voice agitated.

Lu Zhan paused, then countered, "And what do you think?"

"They say a rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its own burrow! And besides, that’s the Miss! Haven’t you always treated her like your own sister? How could you suddenly make a move on her? If the Duke and Madam find out, you’ll be in for it, and then some..." Chen Jiu grew more and more agitated as he spoke, but he trailed off when he met his master’s icy, warning gaze. He silently finished the thought.

"If you dare breathe a word of this, or let anything slip, I’ll cut your tongue out," Lu Zhan said coldly.

Chen Jiu immediately slapped a hand over his mouth.

’The Princely Heir is ruthless!’

’But why is he so afraid of word getting out?’

’Could it be... he just wants to toy with her and has no intention of taking responsibility?’

At this realization, Chen Jiu’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his master.

’What an animal.’

’Making a move on his own cousin is bad enough, but he doesn’t even want to take responsibility?’

’Should I tell the Duke and Madam about this, or not?’

Chen Jiu was torn.

Lu Zhan paid him no mind, untying the new Jade Pendant from his waist and examining it fondly.

He had never cared about his accessories.

Everything he wore had been chosen for him by his mother.

But today, his cousin had given him one.

A smile flickered in the depths of Lu Zhan’s eyes.

"Princely Heir, Prefect Liang is here... and he’s brought several... several..." a servant reported from outside the door, his voice stammering.

Lu Zhan’s brow furrowed. "Brought what?" he demanded.

"Trained... courtesans," the servant replied, choosing his words with extreme care.