Chapter 214: Chapter 214: What Happened to Having No Interest in Women and Being Ascetic?

"A marriage? Whose marriage?" Duan Ling asked, staring at him in astonishment, thinking he must have misheard.

"My own, of course," Lu Zhan said calmly.

Duan Ling was taken aback, as if he’d just heard the most outlandish news. "But I thought you weren’t ever getting married?"

"Well, now I do," Lu Zhan stated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Duan Ling was dumbfounded.

Seeing the persistent smile on his friend’s face, he grew suspicious. ’Why does Old Lu look so... giddy?’

’What happened to staying away from women and living an ascetic life?’

The more he thought about it, the more something felt off.

Besides, if Old Lu was willing to marry, Lady Lu would be so overjoyed she’d probably wake up laughing from her dreams. Why would he need to arrange the marriage himself?

’Could it be that Old Lu has his heart set on someone?’

At this realization, Duan Ling’s eyes widened in bewilderment.

He and Old Lu had been practically inseparable recently. Aside from Old Lu’s trip back to the capital, which he hadn’t joined, he had been by his side the entire time.

’Old Lu has a woman he fancies, and I had absolutely no clue?’

’Did Old Lu hide it that well, or am I just that oblivious?’

’Or is it a woman he met on his trip back to the capital?’

"Who is she? Do I know her?" Duan Ling was dying of curiosity.

’Just what kind of goddess must she be for Old Lu to personally fight to marry her?’

"Which family is she from? Come on, tell me!" Duan Ling urged impatiently.

Lu Zhan paused, deciding to be mysterious. "You’ll find out in due time."

Duan Ling was about to press him further, but Lu Zhan cut him off. "Let’s focus on the task at hand."

With that reminder, Duan Ling remembered what he was supposed to be doing and hurried out to find Chen Jiu.

The moment he was gone, Lu Zhan immediately summoned Jiang Shi. "Go find someone to check for auspicious wedding dates in the near future."

Jiang Shi didn’t ask any questions. He answered respectfully and was about to withdraw when Lu Zhan stopped him again. "On second thought, just bring me the almanac. I’ll choose one myself."

...

Zhi Wan rested for a while. By the time she woke, it was already dusk.

As Shuang’er helped Zhi Wan wash up, she reported, "Miss, I just went to the adjacent courtyard. The Princely Heir is still kneeling on the ground."

Zhi Wan paused, surprised. "Aunt still hasn’t told Cousin to get up?"

"No," Shuang’er said, shaking her head. "When I went to look, the Princely Heir was kneeling on the ground and handling official business. He’s been kneeling all afternoon."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan clutched her handkerchief. Her aunt was making her cousin kneel to vent Zhi Wan’s anger for her. If she didn’t intercede, her aunt would probably make him kneel indefinitely.

Although she had been resentful of her cousin that afternoon for disregarding her wishes and trying to force a marriage, the thought of him kneeling for so long dissipated her anger.

Besides, she had already agreed to marry him. There was no point in letting him continue to be punished by kneeling.

With this in mind, she said, "I understand. I’ll go see my aunt."

When she arrived at Lady Wei’s room, Lady Wei was already awake and enjoying some tea and pastries.

Seeing Zhi Wan, she quickly beckoned her over. "Wan’er, come and sit. The Post House Manager just sent over some pastries, fresh from the kitchen. They’re quite good, you should try one."

Zhi Wan did as she was told and sat beside her.

After resting all afternoon, Lady Wei had clearly recovered her spirits. Her complexion looked much better as well.

She patted Zhi Wan’s hand and offered her the plate of pastries.

Zhi Wan took one.

After taking a bite, she chose her words carefully and said, "Aunt, my cousin has been kneeling all afternoon. Could you please let him get up now?"

"That boy bullied you. You don’t need to feel sorry for him. Just let him kneel a while longer. A little kneeling won’t kill him," Lady Wei said dismissively.

Zhi Wan knew her aunt was just putting on a tough front; deep down, she cared for her cousin more than anyone.

But for Zhi Wan’s sake, she had steeled herself to punish him.

At that thought, she affectionately shook Lady Wei’s arm, wheedling, "But Cousin has so much official business to attend to. Besides, if people see him, it’ll damage his authority. Please, Aunt? Let’s just have him get up. I’m not angry with him anymore."

Lady Wei sighed and stroked her head. "My dear Wan’er, you’re so kind-hearted. Fine, since you’re not angry with him anymore, we’ll let him get up."

Upon hearing this, Zhi Wan immediately said to Nanny Fang, "Please go quickly and tell my cousin to get up."

"Yes," Nanny Fang replied happily as she went out.

Before long, she returned with Lu Zhan following behind.

Zhi Wan froze for a moment as she watched her cousin limp into the room.

It reminded her of the dream where he was injured and stranded on a deserted island.

His leg had been injured then, and he had walked with some difficulty, but it hadn’t been as severe as this.

’He must have hurt his legs from kneeling all afternoon,’ she thought.

The first thing Lu Zhan saw upon entering was Zhi Wan.

Noticing her gaze fixed on his legs, he faltered for a second before trying to walk more normally. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Seeing her son enter and immediately stare unabashedly at Wan’er, Lady Wei felt a flash of disdain. ’Tsk, tsk,’ she thought. ’I should really let all those people who say my son likes men get a look at this.’

’Does he look like he likes men at all?’

"Mother. Cousin," Lu Zhan said in a low voice as he stepped forward.

Thinking of his actions, Lady Wei gave him the cold shoulder. "What are you doing here?" she asked frostily.

Lu Zhan cleared his throat. "Mother has traveled a long way. I had a special dinner prepared and came to join you and my cousin."

"Who asked for your company?" Lady Wei snapped, though she didn’t send him away.

Lu Zhan smiled and simply instructed the servants to bring the food into the room.

After the servants had set the table, he respectfully invited Lady Wei to take the seat of honor, then motioned for Zhi Wan to sit beside her.

Seeing him so attentive and thoughtful, both Lady Wei and Zhi Wan felt it was a little strange.

"Are you up to something?" Lady Wei demanded bluntly.

Lu Zhan had just taken a seat on her other side. At her words, his handsome brows furrowed slightly. "Mother, you’re worrying for nothing."

"Am I?" Lady Wei watched him with suspicion.

Lu Zhan paused, then picked up his chopsticks. "This fried yellow croaker is a Jiangning specialty. Mother, Cousin, please try some."

Holding his wide sleeve back with one hand, he used his chopsticks to place a golden, crispy yellow croaker on each of their plates.

Faced with such a delicacy, Lady Wei couldn’t be bothered with her suspicions. She took a bite and found it was indeed delicious. "Wan’er," she said to Zhi Wan, "this fish is good. Go ahead and eat. It’s not poisoned."

Zhi Wan: "..."

The corner of Lu Zhan’s eye twitched. He continued to serve them. "This Jiangning stewed chicken is also excellent."

When the two of them were nearly full, Lu Zhan picked up the wine ewer. "Would Mother care for a small cup? It’s your favorite Huadiao wine."

"I certainly will not. If I get drunk, won’t you just lead me by the nose?" Lady Wei said, eyeing him calmly.

’Her son is a crafty one. It’s always best to be on guard,’ she thought.

Lu Zhan paused, not pressing the issue. He turned to Zhi Wan instead. "Cousin, would you care for a cup?"