Hearing the voice, Lu Zhan froze. A vein pulsed at his temple.

’It’s Mother!’

Before he could even react, he found himself staring into his cousin’s wide-open eyes.

Zhi Wan had also heard her aunt’s voice. At first, she thought she was dreaming or had misheard. But when she opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of her cousin’s handsome face, magnified right in front of her.

Startled, she opened her mouth to scream, but a large hand clamped over it.

The next moment, she was lifted off her feet. Her cousin had swept her up into his arms.

Zhi Wan stared at him, astonished. "Cous—"

"Don’t make a sound. Your aunt is here," Lu Zhan whispered urgently.

At his words, Zhi Wan immediately fell silent.

’So I didn’t mishear. That really was my aunt’s voice?’

’But why would she suddenly come to Jiangning?’

’And judging by her voice, she sounded furious.’

’Could she have come here for me?’

At this realization, the color drained from her face.

’It seems my worst fear has come true.’

’The last thing I ever wanted was for my aunt to misunderstand me and be disappointed in me.’

Seeing the tears welling in her eyes, Lu Zhan’s heart clenched. He soothed her, "Don’t worry. It’s not as bad as you think. Trust me, I’ll handle this."

With that, he carried Zhi Wan and hurried into the inner chamber.

His gaze swept around the room before he gently placed Zhi Wan on the bed.

"I’m sorry to trouble you, cousin, but please stay here for now. Don’t make a sound!"

Zhi Wan quickly blinked back her tears and nodded. She then pulled the quilt over herself.

Seeing this, Lu Zhan lingered by the bed for a moment before turning and leaving the inner chamber.

He had just stepped out when he saw his mother storming in.

"What brings you here, Mother?" Lu Zhan asked, his voice composed.

"You insolent whelp, kneel!" Lady Wei’s face was ashen—whether from rage or seasickness, it was hard to tell. She pointed a finger at her son’s face and roared.

Lu Zhan hesitated, his gaze shifting to Duan Ling, who had followed her in.

Duan Ling raised an eyebrow at him, making no effort to hide his glee at Lu Zhan’s misfortune.

’TSK, TSK, TSK. To think that Mr. Lu, the favored son of heaven, always so proper and meticulous, would see the day his own mother pointed a finger in his face and cursed him out.’

’How could I possibly miss such a good show?’

He pretended not to see his friend’s warning glare and stepped forward to solicitously pat Lady Wei’s back. "Auntie, please, calm down. What on earth did Jinzhi do to make you so angry you’d travel all this way to Jiangning? Just say the word, and I’ll deal with him for you!"

’In his mind, Old Lu must have returned to the Capital City and ruined yet another marriage his mother had painstakingly arranged for him. That had to be why she was furious enough to chase him all the way to Jiangning for a scolding.’

Just as he pricked up his ears to listen in, Lady Wei took him by the hand and said kindly, "Ah, Lingzi, I have a private matter to discuss with Lu Zhan. Could you please give us a moment?"

Duan Ling immediately put on a wounded expression. "But Auntie, I’m not an outsider..."

Lady Wei’s lips twitched. "I don’t see you as an outsider, but what Lu Zhan has done this time... it’s too shameful to speak of. We mustn’t air our dirty laundry in public. I hope you can understand my position, Lingzi."

Duan Ling was deeply disappointed and dragged his feet toward the exit.

An elder had driven him out. Even if he were shameless enough to stay, he probably wouldn’t hear anything. He had no choice but to leave in disappointment.

Once she was sure he was gone, Lady Wei ordered the door to be shut.

The loud SLAM of the door made Lu Zhan’s eyelid twitch.

He frowned. "Mother, you’re raising such a storm. May I ask why?"

"Lu Zhan, are you still going to play dumb with me?" Lady Wei was seething. She turned to Nanny Fang at her side. "Bring me the cane!"

Nanny Fang hesitated before pulling a rattan cane from behind her back. "My Lady," she pleaded, "the Princely Heir has always been so proper. I’m afraid there must be some misunderstanding. Perhaps you should—"

Lady Wei snatched the cane from her hand and whipped it through the air.

The sound of it slicing through the air made Nanny Fang flinch. She shot the Princely Heir a look that said, *You’re on your own*, and retreated to a corner.

Lady Wei gripped the cane and pointed it at her son. "Kneel!"

Lu Zhan’s handsome brows knitted together. "Mother, even a criminal has the right to know his crime. And I, for one, do not believe I have done anything wrong."

He would have been better off staying silent. His words sent Lady Wei into a fury.

She brought the cane down hard on her son’s shoulder.

"You... you wolf in sheep’s clothing! I actually believed you were ascetic, that you had no interest in women. I never imagined you were secretly coveting Wan’er! And to think you would be so depraved as to lay your filthy hands on her! Poor, sweet Wan’er, so obedient and good... forced by a monster like you, a beast in human skin, and abducted all the way to Jiangning.

Hand over Wan’er now! You’d better pray nothing has happened to her, or I swear I’ll disown you, you insolent son!"

Lu Zhan didn’t flinch, taking the full force of the blow. But his eyelid twitched at his mother’s words. He couldn’t help but say, "Mother, it’s not what you think..."

"Not what I think? Then what is it? Wan’er was perfectly fine, and then she runs away from home. You must have forced her! Then you intercepted her and brought her to Jiangning. If that’s not abduction, what is?" Lady Wei fumed.

Lu Zhan paused, then turned to Nanny Fang in the corner. "Please leave us. I need to speak with my mother alone."

Nanny Fang, taking the hint, quickly withdrew.

After the door was closed once more, Lu Zhan finally faced Lady Wei, his expression serious. "Mother, I do have feelings for my cousin. But my actions have not been as vile as you describe."

His candor took Lady Wei by surprise. She was momentarily stunned.

She hadn’t expected him to admit it so freely.

’She couldn’t help but wonder if she had been too impulsive.’

But then her eyes fell upon the fruit platter on the table, and her suspicion flared anew.

’Her son never cared for fruit or pastries. Why would his room be stocked with them today?’

’And that round silk fan on the table...’

Ignoring her son, Lady Wei walked straight to the table, snatched up the fan, and began to inspect it.

’This fan was clearly a woman’s...’

Lu Zhan’s heart sank when he saw his mother looking at the fruit. When she grabbed the fan, a muscle in his brow twitched, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of nervousness.

"Ah Zhan, which young lady does this fan belong to?" Lady Wei asked, holding it up and looking at her son with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"It must be... my cousin’s. She just arrived at the posthouse with me today. Her own courtyard isn’t ready yet, so I let her rest here for a bit. I was about to return it to her," Lu Zhan said calmly.

His expression was serene, but a thin sheen of sweat had formed on his palms.

"So it really is Wan’er’s," Lady Wei nodded. Then her expression suddenly darkened. "Lu Zhan, you’ve disappointed me more than I can say." With that, she lunged for the inner chamber.

A vein pulsed at Lu Zhan’s temple. He moved quickly to block her path, his voice deepening. "Mother, that is my private chamber. It is improper for you to enter! I urge you to reconsider!"

"Move!" Lady Wei’s face was grim as she roared.

Lu Zhan’s brows drew together. He didn’t move. "Forgive me, Mother, but I cannot obey."

Seething with uncontrollable rage, Lady Wei raised the cane and brought it down hard across his body. "You insolent whelp!"