Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Letting Zhi Wan Fuss Over Him

"It’s alright if you woke me. I can go back to sleep later," Zhi Wan said. Remembering something, she quickly set aside the clothes in her hands and lowered her head to carefully unwrap the gauze on his arm. "Let me see if the wound is any better. I need to reapply some medicine in a bit."

Lu Zhan had planned to get dressed and leave immediately, but upon hearing her, he didn’t refuse.

He leaned against the bedpost, letting her fuss over him.

After unwrapping the gauze, Zhi Wan saw that his injury seemed to have improved a bit. The tension on her small face finally eased. "It looks a little better."

"Mm," Lu Zhan nodded. "So you can stop worrying."

Zhi Wan got out of bed, fetched the medicinal ointment from the table, scooped some out with a clean bamboo sliver, and gently applied it to his arm. "Even though it looks like it’s getting better, you still need to be careful for the next few days, cousin."

"I know." The coldness between Lu Zhan’s brows was replaced by a gentle look.

After applying the medicine, Zhi Wan took the gauze and re-wrapped his arm. Then, she took his clothes and helped him dress, one piece at a time.

Lu Zhan stood up to make it easier for her to tie his sash.

Once the sash was tied, Zhi Wan noticed his hair was a bit messy and quickly guided him to a seat before the vanity mirror. "Your hair is a mess. Let me fix it for you."

Even though Lu Zhan was in a hurry to leave the city, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse his cousin’s kind gesture.

"Alright," he replied softly, sitting down in the chair.

Through the bronze mirror, he watched dotingly as the girl behind him combed his hair.

Zhi Wan didn’t notice the way her cousin was looking at her. She first removed his hair crown, then let down his black hair and began to carefully comb through his long locks.

Her cousin’s hair was dark and thick, as smooth as silk.

Holding it in her hands, Zhi Wan found she couldn’t bear to let it go.

Seeing the girl start to play with his hair as she combed, Lu Zhan couldn’t help but clear his throat lightly and remind her, "Cousin, any later and the servants will be waking up."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan remembered.

Her cousin not only had official business to attend to, but if they waited too long, all the servants would be up. It wouldn’t be good if he were seen staying the night in her room.

She gathered her thoughts, quickly finished combing his hair, and finally secured his long locks with a jade crown.

Looking at the incomparably handsome man in the mirror, Zhi Wan’s heart fluttered, and she felt a surge of emotion.

’Who would have thought that the man she once kept at a respectful distance would be the same one with whom she had done all sorts of shamelessly intimate things in her dreams, and who was now about to become her husband.’

The word "husband" brought two patches of crimson to Zhi Wan’s pretty little face.

She was already beautiful, but the blush on her face made her look both charming and alluring.

Lu Zhan saw this in the mirror, and a darkness stirred in his pitch-black eyes.

A moment later, he rose with restraint, leaned down to kiss his cousin’s forehead, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I’m leaving."

Zhi Wan came back to her senses, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed the corner of his lips. "Be careful on your way, cousin."

"Mm." Lu Zhan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He forced himself to turn and walk toward the door.

Afraid the servants might see, Zhi Wan didn’t escort him out, merely standing in the room and watching him leave.

Lu Zhan looked back and saw his cousin standing by the door, watching him go. A pang of reluctance rose in his heart.

But no matter how reluctant he was, he ultimately left.

No longer sleepy, Zhi Wan thought of the clothes her cousin had changed out of last night. She went to the washroom, gathered his clothes, washed them once in the bathing tub, and then rinsed them again with clean water.

After washing them, she hung them to dry directly in the washroom.

She was afraid someone would see them. Later, when a servant came in to clean, she made an excuse to keep them out of the washroom.

After breakfast, she had nothing to do and decided to paint.

She sat at her desk and quieted her mind to think of a composition.

Feeling inspired, she painted quickly.

In just half a day, she had finished two paintings.

In the afternoon, she was about to continue painting when Nanny Fang entered the courtyard, all smiles, with two women in tow.

"Miss, look who’s here!"

Hearing the voice, Zhi Wan thought her aunt had arrived, so she quickly put down her brush and went outside.

But instead, she saw Nanny Chen and Qiao’e standing in the courtyard, looking travel-worn.

Seeing her come out, Nanny Chen and Qiao’e quickly called out, "Miss!"

"Nanny! Sister-in-law Qiao’e!" Seeing them, Zhi Wan was both surprised and delighted. She went forward to greet them. "When did you arrive?"

"We arrived this morning," Nanny Chen replied. "We went straight to the Duke Dingguo Mansion. Madam Lu told us you had moved here and had someone bring us over."

"You must be exhausted. Quickly, come inside and sit," Zhi Wan said hurriedly.

She knew Nanny Chen was due to arrive in the next few days. She just hadn’t expected them to show up before she could send someone to meet them at the docks.

Once inside, Zhi Wan had a servant bring tea and snacks.

After Nanny Chen and Qiao’e had some refreshments, Zhi Wan asked, "Oh, Nanny, where are Brother Daniu and Brother Erniu? Did they come with you?"

"They came, they all came. After we received Madam Lu’s letter, our whole family set off for the Capital City at once," Nanny Chen replied, her eyes growing moist. Her miss was about to marry Prince Lu and had found a good home; she was truly happy for her. The master and mistress could finally rest in peace.

Zhi Wan knew that her aunt had summoned Nanny Chen’s entire family to the Capital City for a reason. It wasn’t just so they could be part of her dowry escort; it was mainly to give her confidence, to ensure she had people she could trust by her side.

With this in mind, she took Nanny Chen’s hand and said, "Nanny, if you’re willing, you can all live here from now on. You can help me look after the house, how does that sound?"

Nanny Chen wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said with a smile, "How could we be unwilling? It is our good fortune that you trust us, Miss."

"That’s right. After my mother-in-law received Madam Lu’s letter, she was too happy to sleep for days," Qiao’e added with a smile. "She’s been thinking of you constantly, Miss. The chance to see you married and to serve by your side—she said she would wake up from her dreams laughing. It’s just that the brothers and I are used to rough work and don’t really understand proper etiquette. We’ll need you to have someone teach us, Miss."

Zhi Wan had originally been worried that Nanny Chen’s family might be unwilling.

Although she didn’t see them as servants, she had been afraid they would feel uncomfortable and unhappy about the arrangement.

After all, life in the countryside might be poorer, but at least it was free. And Nanny’s family were all hardworking people; they’d have no problem feeding and clothing themselves back home.

But hearing Qiao’e speak, her worries were completely put to rest.

Nanny Chen’s family was worthy of her trust.

She knew what kind of people they were—honest and loyal.

In the future, she could entrust the Zhi Mansion to their care without any worries.

Then, when she came back for a short stay, the place wouldn’t feel so deserted.

After settling Nanny Chen’s family in, Zhi Wan returned to her room to continue painting.

She had thought her cousin would be back soon, but he was gone for two days without any news.

Even on the day the Lu Family came to the Zhi Mansion to deliver the betrothal gifts, her cousin did not appear.

Fearing Zhi Wan would be upset, Lady Wei put an arm around her shoulder and comforted her, "Don’t you worry. When your cousin gets back, I’ll give him a good scolding, no matter what business delayed him."