Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Obvious at a Glance, She Had Just Been Loved

At her words, Lu Zhan’s heart skipped a beat, a startling desire swirling in his eyes.

But faced with his cousin’s invitation, he was torn, a war raging within him.

Not even the most difficult of cases had ever left him so conflicted.

Yet in this situation, he hesitated.

After Zhi Wan spoke, she buried her face in his chest. But a long moment passed, and she heard not a word from her cousin, nor did he make a move.

Anxious, she couldn’t help but lift her head to look at him.

She saw him lying there, his handsome face showing no trace of joy. Instead, it was deep and inscrutable.

Zhi Wan’s heart sank.

’Does my cousin think I’m too forward?’

She knew that for a woman to say such things was far too improper.

But the words were out, and she didn’t regret them. She wouldn’t back down.

She clutched the lapel of his robe and asked in a low voice, "Don’t you want me, cousin?"

Lu Zhan snapped back to his senses. Looking at his cousin’s impossibly beautiful face, a wry smile touched his own handsome features.

How could he not want his cousin?

He had wanted her for a very long time.

Every time he saw his cousin’s charming and captivating appearance, it was a test of his self-control.

Especially when they were alone together. Several times, he had nearly lost control. In his heart, he wanted to cast aside all etiquette and rules and make her completely his.

But the propriety he had been taught since childhood would not allow him to do something so disgraceful.

More importantly, he adored his cousin and didn’t want to wrong her. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He wanted to save the beauty of her first night for their wedding night.

But now, his cousin’s somewhat hurt words shattered all his resolve and self-control.

He said nothing, instead pressing her head down and capturing her lips in a kiss that was both dominating and gentle.

"No regrets?"

"No regrets." Though she felt a little ashamed, Zhi Wan shook her head firmly.

With her words, Lu Zhan’s last shred of reason crumbled to dust.

He rolled over, pinning the girl beneath him.

Within the dim bed curtains, the man stripped Zhi Wan’s wedding gown from her body, piece by piece.

When her fair, beautiful back was exposed to the air, the man’s searing hot chest pressed against it.

For some reason, a sudden clap of thunder echoed across the sky, followed by a torrential downpour.

The fast and heavy raindrops beat against the roof and windowpanes, masking the heart-pounding, blush-inducing sounds from within the room. The occasional sob from a woman was also swallowed by the sound of the rain.

The sudden storm lasted the entire afternoon, only stopping at dusk.

In the side room, Shuang’er had a good nap.

Ever since the Princely Heir had arrived in the afternoon, she had tactfully retreated to the side room.

As her lady’s personal maid, she was quite perceptive.

Every time the Princely Heir came to see her lady, he would stay in her room for a good while.

And every time she went in to serve her lady after the Princely Heir had left, her lady’s face was always flushed red.

Although she had no experience with the affairs between men and women, she had been influenced by the crude jokes the servants sometimes told amongst themselves, so she had a general idea of things.

After the Princely Heir left her lady’s room, her lady’s face would always be flushed with passion. He must have been "teasing" her.

But as for how far the "teasing" went, she had no idea.

However, the Princely Heir had always been a man of propriety and rules, extremely measured in his actions. He would never cross the line with her lady before their wedding.

That was why she and Nanny Chen always felt at ease leaving them alone when the Princely Heir came to visit.

Seeing the rain had stopped, she figured the Princely Heir must have left. She dressed and went to her lady’s room.

When she reached the door, however, she found it tightly shut, with no servants on watch in the courtyard.

’The rain must have been too heavy just now,’ she thought. ’It was impossible to stand under the eaves, so the servants must have gone to take shelter.’

She didn’t think much of it, but seeing the door shut so tightly made her a little worried about her lady, so she raised her hand and knocked.

"Miss, are you all right?"

Inside, Zhi Wan lay on the bed, weak and drenched in sweat.

Although her cousin had helped her change into a clean dress before he left, her eyes were moist and her body was pliant. Anyone could tell she had just been intimate.

Thinking of the pleasure she had experienced all afternoon, Zhi Wan gently bit her lip.

Though she felt ashamed, the fact that she had truly become her cousin’s woman put her anxious heart at ease.

They were already betrothed, so she did not regret tasting the forbidden fruit with him.

Just then, Shuang’er’s knock brought her back to her senses.

Afraid her maid would notice something was amiss, she quickly let down the bed curtains again and scanned the bed.

The bed was now clean and tidy. Her cousin had already changed the soiled sheets and taken them with him.

Certain that everything was in order, she finally said, "Come in."

But the moment the word left her mouth, she realized her voice was extremely hoarse.

She was startled by the sound of her own voice.

’It must be from crying so hard when my cousin was ’teasing’ me this afternoon.’

The memory of the afternoon with her cousin made her face flush red again.

Shuang’er pushed the door open and entered.

"Miss, are you all right?"

Zhi Wan composed herself. "I’m fine."

"But your voice is so hoarse," Shuang’er said, still worried.

"It’s nothing. I probably just... have some internal heat. Can you get me a cup of honey water? I need to soothe my throat," Zhi Wan said, forcing herself to stay calm.

As expected, Shuang’er didn’t suspect a thing. "Yes, Miss," she replied, then turned and left.

A moment later, she returned with a cup of honey water.

Zhi Wan’s hand reached out from behind the curtains. "Give it to me."

Shuang’er handed the cup to her.

After drinking it, Zhi Wan felt her throat was much better.

Seeing her hide behind the curtains, Shuang’er thought she was sick. "Are you not feeling well, Miss?"

"My body is a little sore. I just need to rest for a bit," Zhi Wan said.

Shuang’er didn’t question it and took the empty cup.

As she was about to leave, she remembered something and asked, "When did the Princely Heir leave?"

"He left after the rain stopped," Zhi Wan said.

Shuang’er asked no more questions.

Zhi Wan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

...

「Duke Dingguo Mansion.」

Lu Zhan had just finished bathing and was stepping out of the washing room when he heard his mother approaching.

"Is the Princely Heir inside?"

"Yes," a servant replied.

"Ah Zhan." Lady Wei called his name as she pushed the door open and walked in.

She paused when she saw her son with his long hair down, water dripping from the ends, clearly having just bathed. "Were you caught in the rain?"

"Yes, I got a little wet on the way back," Lu Zhan said calmly. "Did you need me for something, Mother?"

"It’s nothing important. I was just thinking how you’ve been leaving early and coming back late lately, not eating properly. So I had the kitchen stew a pot of ginseng chicken soup for you.

Drink it while it’s hot." As Lady Wei spoke, she took a bowl of soup from a food box and placed it on the table in front of her son.

"Thank you, Mother." Lu Zhan put down the towel he was using to dry his hair, picked up the bowl, and took a sip.

The moment he took a sip, however, he nearly spat it out.

He looked at the soup in the bowl, then back at his mother. "How much ginseng did you put in this?" he asked.

"Not much, just two stalks." Lady Wei held up two fingers.

Lu Zhan was speechless.

"Don’t mind the bitterness, just drink it up," Lady Wei urged. Inwardly, she was secretly thinking about grandchildren. ’My son is so thin, he needs more nourishment. Only then can I hope to hold a grandchild sooner rather than later.’

A vein throbbed on Lu Zhan’s temple. He wanted to refuse, but under his mother’s watchful gaze, he braced himself and drank the entire bowl of ginseng soup.

Seeing the empty bowl, Lady Wei was very satisfied.

Before leaving, she noticed a bulging bundle on the table and asked curiously, "What’s this?"