Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Lu Zhan: Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Here

Seeing this, Xi Ying reached out to steady her, unable to hide the surprise in her eyes. "Are you truly feeling so unwell, Miss Zhi?"

Zhi Wan coughed forcefully a few times and said with embarrassment, "I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, ma’am..."

Startled, Xi Ying subconsciously let go. "If you are truly unwell, Miss, then I suppose I shouldn’t insist."

"I’ve failed to accept the Crown Princess Consort’s kind intentions," Zhi Wan said, her face full of apology.

Xi Ying sized her up, uncertain whether she was pretending or truly ill.

But one thing was certain: this Miss Zhi had no desire to go to the Eastern Palace.

With this thought, Xi Ying nodded. "Since you are unwell, Miss Zhi, you should focus on your recovery. I will explain to the Crown Princess Consort when I return."

"Thank you for your trouble, ma’am," Zhi Wan said with difficulty, gasping for breath.

Xi Ying left quickly.

The moment she was gone, Zhi Wan immediately summoned Shuang’er. "Go to the Duke Dingguo Mansion at once," she instructed. "And ask my aunt to come over."

Shuang’er left at once.

Lady Wei arrived very quickly, and she brought a physician with her.

She had already learned from Shuang’er that someone from the Eastern Palace had visited, and she also knew that Zhi Wan was feigning illness.

As a precaution, she had brought a trusted physician.

A performance had to be convincing. She feared that the Crown Prince might do something crazy, like showing up with an Imperial Physician. If that happened, Wan’er’s act would be exposed.

And being charged with the crime of deceiving the Eastern Palace would be a great deal of trouble.

This physician was highly skilled. With just a few needles, he made Zhi Wan appear as if she had caught a chill—her face pale, her voice weak, punctuated by occasional coughs.

After seeing the physician off, Lady Wei sat by the bed, took Zhi Wan’s hand, and said, "It’s a good thing you’re so clever. You knew to feign illness and avoid the flower-viewing banquet."

Zhi Wan said apologetically, "I’m sorry, Aunt. I always seem to cause trouble and make you worry."

"How is this you causing trouble?" Lady Wei disagreed. "It’s clearly their fault. Don’t you dare take the blame."

Zhi Wan knew it was the fault of others, of course. But even if she hadn’t actively sought trouble, it was she who had brought it to their door.

She felt terribly guilty for making her aunt worry about her again and again.

’If the Crown Prince doesn’t give up,’ she thought, ’I’ll ruin my own face to avoid bringing trouble to the Duke Dingguo Mansion.’

’Isn’t it my face the Crown Prince is after?’

’Then I’ll just have to part with it.’

A determined glint flashed in Zhi Wan’s eyes.

Lady Wei had no idea what her niece was contemplating. After comforting her for a while, she saw that no one else came from the Eastern Palace and began to feel a little more at ease.

"You get some rest. The Eastern Palace shouldn’t be sending anyone else today," Lady Wei said.

"Alright." Zhi Wan nodded.

Although she was only feigning illness, the acupuncture had left her completely drained. She felt listless and drowsy, overcome with a desire to sleep.

Lady Wei waited until she was asleep before heading back.

That evening, after feeding Zhi Wan some congee, Shuang’er and Nanny Chen sat in the outer chamber, doing needlework and speaking in hushed tones.

To keep an eye on Zhi Wan, they sat just outside the beaded curtain, a position that gave them a clear view of the inner chamber.

So, when a figure flashed past inside the chamber, they both noticed it instantly.

Their hearts pounded with fear.

They thought someone from the Eastern Palace had come to abduct her.

But even so, one grabbed a pair of scissors and the other a stool, and they charged in without a second thought. "What scoundrel dares to trespass in a young lady’s private chambers?"

Just then, the figure turned to look at them.

"Princely Heir?"

Recognizing the visitor, Shuang’er cried out in surprise and stopped in her tracks.

Nanny Chen wasn’t as quick to react. She was still lunging forward with the scissors, unable to stop, and was about to stab Lu Zhan. But he sidestepped with ease and even reached out to stop Nanny Chen’s forward momentum.

Only when Nanny Chen had regained her balance did Lu Zhan let go.

He was initially embarrassed at being caught barging into his cousin’s chambers at night, but their reactions told him something was wrong.

"Has something happened in the mansion?" he asked in a low voice.

"Princely Heir, you’re finally back! If you hadn’t returned, our mistress would have been taken away." Thinking of the Crown Prince, Shuang’er became anxious and blurted everything out. "When you suddenly appeared in her room just now, we thought the Eastern Palace had sent someone to seize her."

Lu Zhan’s expression darkened. "The Eastern Palace?"

"Yes. Someone from the Eastern Palace came today to invite our mistress to a flower-viewing banquet at the Palace tomorrow. Our mistress..."

"Cousin!"

Before Shuang’er could finish, a weak voice called out.

The three of them turned to the bed to see that Zhi Wan had woken up. She was propped up on one elbow, pushing aside the bed curtains with her other hand.

Seeing her pale, bloodless face, Lu Zhan’s heart clenched. He paid no mind to the servants still in the room as he strode to the bed and pulled her into his arms.

"Cousin, why do you look so worn?" Lu Zhan’s voice was tight, his brows knitted together.

Seeing this, Shuang’er and Nanny Chen tactfully withdrew. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

At first, Zhi Wan thought she was dreaming. She couldn’t resist pinching herself. When she felt the pain and the scene didn’t vanish, she knew it was real.

She shook her head in her cousin’s embrace. "I’m fine."

Seeing her small action, Lu Zhan was both exasperated and amused. "This isn’t a dream."

Zhi Wan mumbled, "Well, whose fault is it for being gone so long?"

Hearing the petulant affection in her voice, Lu Zhan’s heart softened. He settled her beside him on the bed, his long fingers moving to her wrist to take her pulse, but she caught his hand. "I’m not sick."

Hearing this, Lu Zhan thought she was just being brave and said with a hint of anger, "You’re this ill and you still say you’re fine?" His tone grew a little stern.

Zhi Wan wasn’t annoyed in the slightest. Instead, she propped herself up and whispered, "Cousin, I’m faking it. I’m not really sick."

Seeing that she wasn’t lying, a look of surprise crossed Lu Zhan’s handsome face. He then raised a hand to her forehead. Finding it cool to the touch, he felt a measure of relief.

Connecting this to what Shuang’er had mentioned about the flower-viewing banquet at the Eastern Palace, he immediately understood. "Is this because of the Eastern Palace?"

"Yes." Zhi Wan nodded lightly, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.

She remembered the strange looks everyone at the Wei Family residence gave her yesterday. Old Madam Wei had even directly blamed her for having looks that invited trouble. Later, her aunt had argued with Old Madam Wei over it, and they had parted on bad terms.

She was afraid her cousin would also resent her for it.

At this thought, her eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head.

But just then, his long fingers tilted her chin up. "Don’t be afraid. I’m here."

Those few words were enough to dispel all the anxiety and fear in Zhi Wan’s heart.

She snuggled closer into her cousin’s embrace, tugging at his collar as she complained softly, "Why did you take so long to come back?"

Lu Zhan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He tightened his arm around her slender waist and explained simply, "I was delayed by some trouble on the road."

Zhi Wan wanted to ask more, but he silenced her with a kiss.

Zhi Wan, thinking of her own sickly appearance, felt a flush of embarrassment.

Thankfully, the kiss was brief. Lu Zhan quickly pulled back, resting his hands on her shoulders. "What’s going on with the Eastern Palace?" he asked.

The kiss brought a blush to Zhi Wan’s pale cheeks. When he asked his question, she took a moment to compose herself before carefully recounting everything that had happened at the Wei Family residence.

As Lu Zhan listened, his fists clenched, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.

Zhi Wan sensitively perceived the change in his entire demeanor and couldn’t help but feel a little frightened.

She reached out to grab his sleeve but stopped when she saw several rivulets of crimson blood trickling from inside it, staining the back of his hand.

Zhi Wan was terrified. "Cousin," she said, her voice trembling, "your hand... you’re bleeding..."