Zhi Wan looked at the wine jug in his hand, a strange feeling creeping over her.

’I already know that getting drunk allows one to enter another’s dreams, and Cousin must know it too. Why is he suddenly urging me to drink? Don’t tell me he wants to enter my dreams again?’

With that thought, she refused him decisively. "No."

Seeing the defensiveness in his cousin’s eyes, Lu Zhan paused, then nodded. "Alright."

After Lady Wei and Zhi Wan had eaten and drunk their fill and were preparing to leave, Lu Zhan suddenly placed a piece of red paper, with several dates written on it, in front of Lady Wei.

"Mother, I checked the almanac this afternoon. There are several auspicious days next month. Please take a look."

Lady Wei’s eyelid twitched as she looked at the red paper he offered. ’So that’s it. My son’s sudden attentiveness was just a prelude to his next move.’

’It’s a good thing I didn’t drink any wine just now, or I’d be completely led by the nose by him.’

Thinking this, she looked at her son with an indescribable expression.

’He actually checked the almanac himself to pick a date?’

’This son of mine... his impatience is just too much to watch.’

But she still took the red paper, glanced at it, and frowned. "Next month? Next month is too rushed."

"Didn’t you tell me to marry my cousin as soon as possible, Mother? There’s still a month to prepare. It’s not rushed at all," Lu Zhan said calmly.

Lady Wei was at a loss for words.

Her son had already ruined Wan’er’s reputation. Naturally, she hoped he would marry her as soon as possible. But next month was truly a bit too hasty. She didn’t want to slight Wan’er.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan looked at her cousin in astonishment.

’So, Cousin has already picked out the wedding date?’

Her heart skipped a beat. She stood up and said, "Aunt, Cousin, it’s getting late. I’ll be returning to my room now."

Lady Wei knew she was deliberately trying to avoid the topic. She put down the red paper and said lovingly, "Alright, you go on back."

Once Zhi Wan was gone, Lady Wei didn’t hold back, sarcastically jabbing at her son, "With you, it’s either you won’t marry at all, or you can’t wait a single moment longer, is that it?"

Lu Zhan glanced at her and said unhurriedly, "As you said yourself, Mother, I’m already getting on in years—an old codger. Naturally, I can’t wait, nor can I afford to."

Lady Wei: "..."

Lu Zhan pushed the red paper closer to her hand. "Mother, please finalize a date as soon as possible so we can begin preparations."

Lady Wei said, annoyed, "Lu Zhan, your marriage isn’t something I can decide on my own! As for the others in the family... you can deal with them yourself."

Lu Zhan knew perfectly well who "the others in the family" referred to.

"As long as you agree, Mother, Father won’t object. Grandmother won’t be a big problem either. Isn’t she eager to hold a great-grandchild? Now that I’m finally getting married, she should be quite gratified," Lu Zhan said dismissively.

Lady Wei: "..."

’He looks so sure of himself. Don’t tell me he’s already picked out a name for my grandson?’

At this thought, the corner of her mouth twitched.

’My son is in such a hurry. It seems he’s really been deprived of a woman for far too long.’

However, her son had always been strong-willed, and the old madam doted on and valued this eldest grandson. If her son made a decision, the old madam’s objections would be useless. But if the old madam couldn’t do anything about her son, she would likely make things difficult for Wan’er.

’But it’s not a huge deal. I can protect Wan’er.’

The thought that the little girl she doted on would become her daughter-in-law filled Lady Wei with emotion.

Putting aside her son’s actions, she actually thought this marriage was quite a good thing.

This way, Wan’er wouldn’t have to leave the Lu Family, and she could continue to look after her.

’I just wonder if Min Fu will blame me in the afterlife?’

Thinking of this, she said with great solemnity, "Ah Zhan, you must never forget that Wan’er is the girl you went to such great lengths to marry. You absolutely must not fail her." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Rest assured, Mother. That day will never come," Lu Zhan replied, his expression equally serious.

Hearing this, Lady Wei sighed, pointed to one of the dates, and said, "Let’s set it for this day, then. The twenty-third of next month. That will give us a little more time."

"As you wish, Mother." Lu Zhan nodded, having no objections.

Lady Wei thought for a moment, then added, "Since you are to marry Wan’er, I must go to her mother’s grave to inform her of this important event. Tomorrow, I will take Wan’er on a trip to Yangzhou first."

Lu Zhan pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "I’ve only just returned to Jiangning and have a lot of official business to attend to. I won’t be able to get away to accompany you, but I will arrange for an escort."

"Fine." Lady Wei nodded.

After her son left, she looked at the jug of huadiao wine and suddenly felt a craving. She reached out to grab it, preparing to pour herself a cup, but not a single drop came out.

"Where’s the wine?" she asked, stunned.

Nanny Fang said, "While you were speaking with the Princely Heir just now, he finished it all."

Lady Wei: "..."

When it sank in, she gritted her teeth. "That rebellious brat! He didn’t even leave me a single drop!"

...

After leaving Lady Wei’s room, Zhi Wan returned to her own.

Her mind was suddenly in turmoil at the thought that her cousin had already picked out a wedding date.

’Right now, in Aunt’s room, Cousin must be finalizing the date with her.’

’Once the date is set, I’ll really have to marry him.’

For a moment, she was overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions.

She had never thought of marrying her cousin. To think that one day, she would actually become his wife.

The very idea felt so unnatural.

"Miss, the bath is ready. Would you like to bathe now?" Shuang’er asked as she walked in.

Zhi Wan snapped out of her thoughts and nodded. "Yes."

Because she had slept for a long time that afternoon, Zhi Wan didn’t go to bed right after her bath. Instead, she took out a brush and paper, intending to paint.

But for some reason, she sat at the desk for a long time, holding the brush, with no inspiration whatsoever.

Looking at the ink blots spreading across the Xuan paper, she finally put down her brush in frustration.

’Forget it. If I can’t paint, I won’t.’

’I’m supposed to be going back to the Capital City anyway.’

Just as she was about to go to bed, there was a knock at the door, followed by Lady Wei’s voice. "Wan’er, are you asleep?"

Hearing her, Zhi Wan hurried to open the door. "Aunt?"

Lady Wei was in her nightclothes, holding a round fan. She smiled and said, "I’m not disturbing your rest, am I?"

"I’m not asleep yet. Aunt, please come in." Zhi Wan took her hand and led her into the room.

"Let’s have a sleepover tonight, just the two of us," Lady Wei said with a chuckle.

"Okay!" Zhi Wan agreed happily.

After they were both lying in bed, Lady Wei said, "Just now, your cousin and I settled on a wedding date. We’ve set it for the twenty-third of next month. What do you think of that date? If you don’t like it, we can change it."

Although Zhi Wan had expected them to have set the date, she was still taken aback to hear the exact day.

After a long moment, she snuggled into Lady Wei’s arms. "I’ll listen to whatever you decide, Aunt."

Lady Wei patted her back affectionately. "If you have no objections, then it’s settled."

"Okay."

That night, the two of them slept nestled together like a mother and daughter.

Zhi Wan thought she would sleep soundly until morning, but in the middle of the night, someone shook her awake.

Thinking it was her aunt, she called out groggily, "Aunt?" But when she opened her eyes, she saw the person sitting by her bed was him—that man.

Zhi Wan froze for a second, then called out tentatively, "Cousin?"

The man didn’t answer, instead asking, "Why did you just call for Aunt?"

"Because Aunt is sleeping right here," Zhi Wan said, blinking her sleepy eyes as she patted the bed.