Duan Ling rubbed his nose. "Of course she can come, I’m just a little surprised. After all, didn’t she just return to the Capital City from Yangzhou not long ago?" He then turned to Zhi Wan eagerly. "Cousin Zhi Wan, come, let me take you inside. I’ll have the Post House Manager pick out a nice courtyard for you."

Just as Zhi Wan was about to nod, she heard her cousin’s cold, displeased voice. "You seem to have a lot of free time. Is all your official business finished?"

Duan Ling was taken aback. "Well, you’re here, aren’t you?" he said sheepishly. "I’m allowed to take a breather, right?"

"So because I’m here, you can slack off?" Lu Zhan frowned.

Duan Ling: "..."

"Go back to your work. I will take care of my cousin myself. You don’t need to concern yourself," Lu Zhan said in a low voice. He then turned his head to Zhi Wan. "Follow me."

"I know," Zhi Wan replied, following him into the post house.

Watching their figures disappear inside, one after the other, Duan Ling came to his senses and hastily grabbed Chen Jiu. "What’s going on?"

"What do you mean, ’what’s going on’?" Chen Jiu feigned ignorance.

"Why did Cousin Zhi Wan suddenly show up in Jiangning? What’s she here to do?" Duan Ling asked, his curiosity piqued.

"She’s here for a visit," Chen Jiu said dismissively.

"Don’t try to fool me!" Duan Ling glared at him, annoyed. "You dare to pull one over on me? You’ve got some nerve!"

Chen Jiu quickly replied, "How would I dare try to fool you, sir? The Miss is truly just here in Jiangning for a visit."

Duan Ling stroked his chin. "Really?"

"Absolutely true!" Chen Jiu stopped just short of swearing an oath.

Seeing that he didn’t appear to be lying, Duan Ling frowned. "But I can’t shake the feeling that something’s... strange between your Princely Heir and Cousin Zhi Wan this time."

Chen Jiu’s eyes flickered. "You must be imagining things, sir."

’The matter between the Princely Heir and the Miss hasn’t been announced yet. I can’t reveal it to anyone, not even Junior Minister Duan.’

"Fine," Duan Ling said, pinching the bridge of his nose. ’I must have been too busy lately, so tired I’m starting to see things.’

Seeing him drop the subject, Chen Jiu breathed a silent sigh of relief.

「Inside the post house.」

The Post House Manager deferentially led Lu Zhan and Zhi Wan to a courtyard. "This courtyard faces a good direction and the surroundings are quiet and secluded. Out of the entire post house, this one is by far the coolest."

When Lu Zhan saw that the courtyard was situated right next to his own, he couldn’t help but give the Post House Manager a long look.

The Post House Manager flinched under his gaze and hastily lowered his head, his heart pounding with anxiety.

’I wonder if this arrangement is to Mr. Lu’s liking?’

Lu Zhan said nothing, instead turning to Zhi Wan. "Cousin, what do you think?"

Zhi Wan didn’t particularly care where she stayed. "It looks nice enough," she said. "I’ll stay here, then."

Lu Zhan nodded and said to the Post House Manager, "Please have it cleaned thoroughly."

"Yes, sir," the Post House Manager replied respectfully.

’The courtyard is cleaned daily, and my superior must know that. Yet he still gave the order. He must hold this young lady in very high regard.’

With this thought, the Post House Manager dared not show the slightest neglect and hurried off to arrange for a cleaning crew.

"They need to clean inside, so it won’t be ready right away," Lu Zhan said. "Why don’t you rest in the courtyard next door for a bit?"

Zhi Wan nodded and followed him next door.

She had assumed the neighboring courtyard was unoccupied. It was only after she stepped inside that she realized it was her cousin’s.

As she followed her cousin into the room, she began to feel it was improper and thought about leaving. But then she heard him say, "You can rest here. Make yourself comfortable. I still have official business to attend to, so I can’t stay with you."

Before Zhi Wan could even process his words, her cousin had already left the courtyard.

Shuang’er surveyed the room, inwardly delighted. ’It seems the Princely Heir truly does care for our Miss. He’s even letting her into his private chambers.’

"Miss, why don’t you sit and rest for a moment?" she said, helping Zhi Wan to a seat.

Zhi Wan felt uneasy. "No, we can’t. This is my cousin’s residence. We shouldn’t be in here."

"But it’ll take them a while to clean the other courtyard," Shuang’er reasoned. "And the sun is scorching. We’ll get burned if we wait outside. Don’t overthink it, Miss. The Princely Heir isn’t in the courtyard anyway. We’re just resting for a little while. As soon as the other courtyard is tidied up, we’ll go right over."

At these words, Zhi Wan glanced at the sun outside. It was nearly noon, the time of day when the sun was most unforgiving.

Waiting outside would certainly not be as cool or comfortable as staying indoors.

Zhi Wan hesitated for only a moment before reality won out.

’Oh, well,’ she told herself. ’He isn’t here, anyway.’

Before long, Chen Jiu appeared at the doorway carrying a platter of fruit and pastries. He knocked. "Miss, the Princely Heir sent me to bring you some refreshments."

"Thank you, Chen Guard," Shuang’er said, quickly going over to take the platter.

Chen Jiu smiled. "I’ll be just outside. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call for me."

"Alright," Shuang’er nodded.

"Miss, I’ll take my leave now," Chen Jiu said with a bow to Zhi Wan before departing.

"Miss, this fruit has been chilled. It’s nice and cold. You should have some," Shuang’er said. Feeling how cold the platter was, she quickly placed it in front of Zhi Wan.

Zhi Wan nodded and picked up a small fork, spearing a piece of watermelon.

After eating, she started to feel drowsy and laid her head on the table to nap.

Shuang’er urged, "The table is too hard, Miss. Why don’t you lie down on the daybed?"

"It’s fine. I’ll just rest here for a moment," Zhi Wan declined.

Hearing this, Shuang’er didn’t press the issue.

’Knowing my Miss’s disposition, it’s already a stretch for her to be resting in the Princely Heir’s room. Getting her to lie down on his daybed is absolutely out of the question.’

Shuang’er picked up a silk fan and began fanning Zhi Wan.

The afternoon drone of the cicadas was like a soothing melody, bringing a sense of peace.

Lulled by the constant chirping, Zhi Wan soon fell fast asleep.

Knowing her miss was sensitive to the heat, Shuang’er fanned her diligently.

Just as she herself was starting to feel drowsy, a tall, slender figure entered the room. A jolt went through her, and all sleepiness vanished in an instant.

When she got a clear look at the newcomer, she started to speak, but was silenced with a single glance.

"Give me the fan. You may go," Lu Zhan whispered.

Shuang’er hesitated, her eyes darting to her sleeping miss.

’It’s true that I hope she marries the Princely Heir, but she’s asleep right now. I don’t feel right leaving her alone in the room with him.’

"Princely Heir..." Shuang’er whispered, nervously gripping the fan in her hand. "Are you... serious... about my miss?"

Lu Zhan noted the young maid’s nervousness and, hearing her question, gave a firm nod. "Yes."

Having received his assurance, Shuang’er no longer hesitated. She quickly handed him the fan and slipped nimbly out the door.

The room fell silent. Lu Zhan sat down in the chair beside Zhi Wan. He fanned her with one hand, propping his cheek on the other as he gazed at his cousin’s sleeping face.

She was sleeping soundly. Tiny beads of sweat dotted her fair, smooth forehead from the heat.

The afternoon sun was scorching and bright, filling the room with light and illuminating the fine, downy hairs on her face.

She looked so innocent and lovely as she slept.

’In fact, he had seen her sleeping in his dreams before, but her face had always been unclear.’

’So this was the first time he had truly seen what she looked like when she was asleep.’

A doting look flickered in Lu Zhan’s eyes. As his gaze landed on her soft, rosy lips, his Adam’s apple bobbed. He paused for a moment before slowly leaning in closer.

Just as his lips were about to touch the corner of hers, a woman’s furious roar erupted from outside. "Lu Zhan, get your ass out here right now!"