Zhi Wan dreamed of that man again.
This time, he was even bolder. Ignoring her struggles, he unhurriedly untied the sash of her robes.
Zhi Wan let out a soft cry, her face flushing as she clutched her collar. "Don't..."
"Don't what?" the man's voice was deep and bewitching.
While Zhi Wan was still in a daze, he suddenly pinned her hands above her head and leaned down, pressing against her.
Lost in a haze of passion, Zhi Wan subconsciously tried to see his face, but no matter how hard she looked, she could never get a clear view. She could only make out his lean, narrow waist and his long, elegant fingers.
...
"Miss, it's time to get up. The Duchess has sent someone with a message, asking you to join her in her courtyard shortly."
The voice of her maid, Shuang'er, came from beyond the beaded curtain. Zhi Wan awoke, drenched in sweat and feeling weak all over.
Refusing her maid's assistance, Zhi Wan got up and changed all her clothes, from her undergarments to her outer robes.
Afraid her maid would notice something, she washed her face, then soaked her undergarments in a basin, scrubbed them clean, and hung them to dry behind her bed.
Looking at the undergarments, Zhi Wan felt a deep sense of shame.
'A proper, unmarried young woman like me has been having these kinds of dreams for half a year now. Is something wrong with my body? Or... do I need a man?'
But such matters were far too embarrassing to mention, so she could only bury them deep in her heart.
After breakfast, she took her maid and slowly made her way toward Lan Courtyard, the residence of Madam Lu, Lady Wei.
"Miss."
The servants she met along the way all came forward to greet her politely.
Zhi Wan nodded without a word.
But as soon as she was out of earshot, they started gossiping behind her back.
"A distant relative so far removed she's practically a stranger. How shameless of her to keep freeloading at the Duke Mansion."
"What can you do? She's an orphan. If someone's willing to take her in, of course she's going to cling on for dear life."
"We call her 'Miss' out of courtesy, and she really thinks she's a master of this mansion? She's just an orphan living off others' charity, yet she always has that stuck-up look on her face!"
Shuang'er's expression changed. She spun around, ready to confront them, but Zhi Wan pulled her back. "Don't make a scene."
Shuang'er was so angry her eyes turned red and her lips trembled. "Miss, those people are too cruel."
"Pay them no mind. Let's go." Zhi Wan didn't feel good about it either, but what they said was the truth.
She had come to the Duke Mansion at the age of ten. Thanks to Aunt Wei's kindness, she was allowed to live there, and her food, clothing, and expenses were all on par with the young ladies of the mansion.
In the blink of an eye, five years had passed since she started living in the Duke Mansion.
It was no wonder the servants gossiped.
Anyone with a bit of sense and consideration would have already offered to leave.
But both her parents were gone, and she had no other family.
'The world is vast, but where could she possibly go?'
Fortunately, she had already come of age. Once her aunt arranged a marriage for her, she would no longer have to live under someone else's roof.
Zhi Wan clutched her handkerchief. 'That day shouldn't be too far off,' she thought.
Shuang'er's heart ached for her mistress, but she didn't know how to comfort her. "Miss..."
Zhi Wan took a deep breath and forced a bright smile. "Alright, now. My aunt is still waiting. We shouldn't keep her."
「Lan Courtyard」
Inside the room, Lu Zhan had just finished paying his morning respects to his mother, Lady Wei, when she began shooing him away.
"You should go. Wan'er will be here soon. The girl is afraid of you, so you should make yourself scarce."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhan's sharp brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything, merely grunting in acknowledgement. "Mm."
"In a couple of days, you are to go and meet that Miss Lin," Lady Wei added, remembering something and quickly calling her son back.
Lu Zhan said coolly, "Please decline for me, Mother. I have no intention of marrying at the moment."
Lady Wei was instantly annoyed. "You're not getting any younger! If you keep dawdling, all the good girls will be taken."
"You worry too much, Mother," Lu Zhan said unhurriedly.
Seeing his indifferent, unconcerned attitude infuriated Lady Wei. "Tell me honestly, is it true what the rumors say? That you don't like women, only men?"
A crack appeared in Lu Zhan's cold composure, and his brow tightened. "Mother, don't speak nonsense!"
"I hope it's just me speaking nonsense and not the truth." Lady Wei shot her son a sideways glance and waved her hand dismissively. "Now hurry up and leave!"
Lu Zhan had just turned to leave when a maid's voice announced from outside, "Madam, the Miss has arrived."
He paused. Just as he was about to continue out the door, Lady Wei suddenly shot up from her seat, grabbed his arm, and shoved him into the inner chamber.
Lu Zhan: "..."
"Don't you dare come out!" Lady Wei tossed back a warning, then returned to her seat. She straightened her clothes, cleared her throat, and called out, "Let Wan'er come in."
A moment later, Zhi Wan entered.
"Greetings, Aunt," Zhi Wan said to Lady Wei, giving a small curtsy.
"Come, sit here beside me," Lady Wei said, beckoning to her with a warm and friendly smile.
Zhi Wan obediently went over and sat down.
Lady Wei took her hand and looked her over carefully.
The young woman's features were exquisite, so beautiful she looked like she had stepped out of a painting. She was also well-behaved and sensible, a truly rare find.
Lady Wei praised her, "I haven't seen you in a few days, and our Wanwan has grown even more beautiful."
"Aunt, please don't tease me," Zhi Wan said, lowering her head shyly.
Lady Wei chuckled. "I'm not teasing you. If you don't believe me, just ask your cou—" She stopped herself abruptly and changed course. "If you don't believe me, ask Nanny Fang."
Nanny Fang, who was waiting at the side, immediately chimed in with a smile, "The Miss has indeed grown more beautiful. She's so radiant and fresh. I'm afraid no one in the entire Capital City can compare to the Miss."
This made Zhi Wan blush beet-red. She bit her pink lip and said, "I think no one in the entire Capital City is as good at sweet-talking as Nanny Fang."
"I'm not just sweet-talking you; I'm telling the truth," Nanny Fang said with a broad smile.
In the inner chamber, Lu Zhan was leaning against the wall. The voices from the outer room were not quiet, and even if he didn't want to listen, the conversation reached his ears clearly.
An image of the timid and cautious girl surfaced in his mind. He really couldn't imagine what Nanny Fang meant by 'radiant'. 'How could the girl who is supposedly so radiant that no one in the Capital City can compare be that same person?' he wondered.
His memory of Zhi Wan was still stuck six months in the past.
One afternoon six months ago, he was passing the lotus pond when he saw the girl fall in while trying to pick a seed pod. She had been screaming for help, but the garden was deserted at that time, so he had been the one to pull her out.
Once he saw she had caught her breath, he hadn't lingered and had left immediately.
In the outer room, Lady Wei suddenly sighed, squeezing Zhi Wan's hand. "In the blink of an eye, you've already come of age. Your parents' spirits in heaven would surely be pleased."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan lifted her head and said earnestly, "Wan'er was able to grow up so smoothly and without worry entirely thanks to Aunt's care. I will never forget your kindness."
Lady Wei patted her hand. "Your mother and I were sworn sisters, the best of friends. Her daughter is my daughter. Thankfully, I feel I haven't failed her trust and have seen you grow up."
Zhi Wan was filled with gratitude. Lady Wei truly treated her well; their relationship was as close as any real mother and daughter.
Just then, Lady Wei's tone suddenly shifted. She said softly, "Now that you've reached a marriageable age, as much as I hate to part with you, I can't delay this major event in your life. Otherwise, your mother's spirit in heaven would surely blame me."
At these words, Zhi Wan's beautiful, almond-shaped eyes lit up.
'The hidden meaning in her aunt's words was that she was going to find a husband for her...'