Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Lu Zhan: My Cousin Doesn’t Want to See Me?

Meeting her cousin’s eyes, Zhi Wan felt a pang of guilt. She lowered her head and mumbled, "I didn’t do anything."

She knew the man from just a moment ago was the very Court fugitive her cousin was supposed to arrest.

But she had let him get away...

Zhi Wan was deeply conflicted. ’Should I tell my cousin what happened?’

The man had saved her at the restaurant yesterday, and he looked identical to her father.

Although the man hadn’t admitted it, she was already certain he was her father’s brother.

’But how could he be a Court fugitive?’

Zhi Wan was in a terrible bind.

Lu Zhan saw the conflict in his cousin’s eyes and asked calmly, "May I come in and sit for a moment?"

Zhi Wan froze, hesitating.

’That man... he should be gone by now, right?’

Seeing his cousin’s hesitation, Lu Zhan’s dark eyes narrowed. "Am I not welcome inside?"

Zhi Wan felt an inexplicable pressure.

She quickly shook her head. "Of course not..." Saying this, she stepped aside. "Please come in, cousin."

Lu Zhan nodded and stepped into her cabin.

When Shuang’er saw him enter, she tactfully excused herself.

Zhi Wan followed her cousin into the cabin, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Her heart sank when she saw her cousin walk straight toward the window upon entering. Fearing the man was still outside, she rushed over and shut it before Lu Zhan could reach it.

"The wind is too strong, it’s uncomfortable." As soon as Zhi Wan finished speaking and turned around, she met her cousin’s probing gaze.

Her heart skipped a beat. Twisting her handkerchief, she forced herself to appear calm. "Oh, cousin, what brings you to Yangzhou so suddenly?"

Lu Zhan didn’t speak. Instead, he pushed her aside and opened the window she had just closed.

"It’s so hot and stuffy. Aren’t you worried you’ll get sick from the heat with the window shut so tight, cousin?"

Zhi Wan’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest as she watched her cousin’s every move.

When he glanced outside the window and his expression remained normal, she assumed he hadn’t seen anything. She couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, shaking her head and saying, "I’m not hot."

Just then, her cousin suddenly turned around and tilted her chin up. "You don’t seem very happy to see me, cousin. Did you not want me to come?"

Zhi Wan’s butterfly-wing lashes trembled slightly. "I... I’m just surprised, that’s all. You were the one who said you were too busy last time."

"I am busy. But a Court fugitive has appeared in Yangzhou, and I must arrest him. Otherwise, I can’t return to the Capital City," Lu Zhan said, looking into her eyes and speaking word by word.

Zhi Wan was startled.

’If my cousin can’t catch that man, he can’t return to the Capital City?’

’It’s that serious?’

"What crime did the fugitive commit? Why can’t you return to the Capital City if you don’t catch him?" Zhi Wan asked, suppressing her astonishment.

Lu Zhan looked at her without speaking.

Zhi Wan grew uneasy under his gaze. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "W-what is it?"

Lu Zhan paused, then reached out to stroke her hair, his voice gentle. "That fugitive... he’s the leader of Miss Liu’s gang of pirates. It was his fault I was stranded on that deserted island last time. He’s the one who blew up the ship."

"What?" Zhi Wan was stunned.

Lu Zhan paused before continuing, "That Water Bandit Leader has robbed and murdered countless innocent civilians. The Emperor has issued a death warrant, ordering his execution."

Zhi Wan’s heart pounded with fear as she listened, but she also felt utterly lost.

She was certain that man was her uncle. ’How could he have committed such atrocities?’

’And the Emperor himself has issued a death warrant...’

Her face turned pale and her lips trembled. She looked at him, a pleading note in her voice, "Cousin, could you possibly..."

"No!" Lu Zhan cut her off, his voice firm.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan’s face fell. "I haven’t even said what I was going to ask, and you’re already refusing?"

Lu Zhan paused, then held her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Cousin, you should know that I don’t let personal feelings interfere with my duty. So, even though that man is very likely your uncle, he has committed such heinous crimes that I cannot possibly let him go. Do you understand?"

Zhi Wan’s face went white as a sheet as she stared at him. "You know everything?"

"Yes." Lu Zhan nodded. "I only just found out myself. The man’s name is Zhi Ye. He looks identical to your father, so he must be his twin brother."

He had only arrived in Yangzhou this morning when Chen Jiu reported the intelligence he had gathered.

’So not only is that man my cousin’s uncle, he’s also undoubtedly a descendant of King Jin.’

’If that’s the case, then my cousin is also...’

Lu Zhan’s dark eyes deepened, and a grave look crossed his face.

’I absolutely cannot let my cousin know about this.’

’And I especially can’t let anyone else find out about her connection to him.’

In that brief moment, Lu Zhan had already made up his mind.

"Listen to me," Lu Zhan urged. "If that man comes to you again, pay him no mind. Do not get involved with him in any way. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Zhi Wan realized he already knew her uncle had just been here.

She said, conflicted, "But he’s my uncle. And he saved me at the restaurant yesterday. To do that... would be so ungrateful."

"He saved you?" Lu Zhan was taken aback. "What happened at the restaurant yesterday?"

"My aunt and I went to eat and ran into a servant from the Zeng family. To get revenge, the servant threw hot oil at me, but my uncle stepped forward and took the hit. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you right now." Zhi Wan recounted the events of the previous day at the restaurant.

Lu Zhan’s handsome face fell. He anxiously looked her up and down. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I told you, my uncle blocked it for me. I’m completely fine." Zhi Wan took his hand and shook her head.

Overcome with belated fear, Lu Zhan pulled her into his arms and gently patted her on the back. "As long as you’re okay."

Zhi Wan stiffened for a moment but didn’t push him away. She let him hold her for a while before grabbing his lapel. "Cousin, since my uncle saved me, can’t you let him go just this once?" Fearing his refusal, she quickly added, "Don’t worry, the next time I see him, I’ll convince him to turn over a new leaf. I’ll make sure he never commits another crime."

Lu Zhan stroked her head and sighed. "Today was the first time you’ve ever met him, wasn’t it? What makes you so sure he’ll listen to you?"

"I’m his own niece! He didn’t hesitate to block scalding hot oil to save me. I believe he’s a good person at heart, just like my father... As for the evil he’s done, maybe there’s a reason, some hidden story," Zhi Wan said earnestly.

Hearing this, Lu Zhan paused. He wanted to tell her the truth but worried it would frighten her, so he refrained. He said only, "The Emperor has issued a death warrant. Even if I weren’t on this case, he would just send someone else."

Zhi Wan grew anxious. "Then what can we do?"

"Go back to the Capital City and stay put. Don’t go anywhere else. This isn’t something you can get involved in," Lu Zhan said.

Zhi Wan was about to say more, but just then, a knock came from the cabin door. Chen Jiu reported from outside, "Princely Heir, the boat is about to depart. We must disembark."

Lu Zhan glanced at the door and said to Zhi Wan, "I have to go. Take care of yourself."

"I know." Zhi Wan dejectedly released his hand, ultimately saying no more of her plea.

’It was one thing for her cousin to be good to her, but he would never bend the law for her sake.’

She couldn’t help feeling glum.

Just then, a shadow fell over her.