As expected, Lady Wei continued, "Normally, I shouldn't be discussing such matters with you, but you have no other family left. After thinking it over and over, I feel I must consult with you."
Zhi Wan was stunned at first. It was all so sudden. She had thought her aunt would wait a while longer before bringing up the topic of marriage.
But then, a thrill of secret delight ran through her as she considered the benefits of getting married.
'Once I'm married, I'll no longer have to live under someone else's roof. And I certainly won't have those... shameful, lustful dreams anymore.'
Thinking of this, she replied obediently, "Wan'er will follow whatever decision Aunt makes."
Lady Wei squeezed her hand. "Since you have no objections, I'll start looking into it for you tomorrow. Don't you worry, your aunt will definitely choose a fine husband for you."
"Thank you, Aunt," Zhi Wan said gratefully.
Lady Wei smiled. "Tell me, do you have any thoughts about your future husband? For instance, what kind of man would you like to marry? It will help me know what to look for."
Zhi Wan's pretty face flushed hot. For some reason, images from her dream flashed through her mind: the man's tall frame, his lean waist, his powerful arms...
Her face grew redder and redder. She suddenly realized something: 'The reason I keep having those dreams must be because I'm just that desperate for a man.'
Seeing her face so red it looked like it might bleed, Lady Wei thought she was just being shy and chuckled, teasing, "Why is your face so red?"
"Wan'er..." Zhi Wan came back to her senses. Having just spoken a single word, she realized her voice was a little hoarse. She quickly took a sip of tea to cover up her strangeness. Once she had calmed down, she said in a soft, delicate voice, "Wan'er has no particular thoughts. Wan'er trusts Aunt's judgment."
Her voice was naturally soft, and the way she spoke made her seem all the more well-behaved.
Lady Wei was both happy and gratified to hear this, but she still insisted, "No matter what, your own thoughts are the most important. You must tell me whatever is on your mind."
Looking at her elder's concerned and loving expression, Zhi Wan's lips moved. She almost blurted out: 'I want to find a tall, strong man.'
Fortunately, she had enough sense to stop herself in time.
'If I had said that, Aunt would surely think I was frivolous.'
Zhi Wan secretly patted her chest and put on a shy expression, lowering her voice slightly. "Aunt, I want to marry... a refined and courteous man."
Marrying a refined and courteous man—that was the proper thing for a young lady like her to say.
What she didn't know was that Lu Zhan's hearing was excellent. Even though she had lowered her voice, he, in the inner chamber, had still heard every word clearly.
Thinking of his little cousin, with her innocent face, saying she wanted to marry a refined and courteous man, Lu Zhan felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.
'How old is the little lass, anyway?'
It seemed the conversation outside wasn't going to end anytime soon. Since they were discussing a young lady's private matters, it was truly inappropriate for him to keep listening. He gave a light cough and walked out from the inner chamber.
Seeing the man emerge from behind the beaded curtain, Zhi Wan was utterly dumbfounded.
'Why is Cousin in the inner chamber?'
Thinking about her behavior just now, and the things she had said, she wanted to find a hole to crawl into and hide.
'Oh, heavens! He didn't hear what I just said, did he?'
Zhi Wan felt so ashamed.
The blush on her already beet-red face spread down to her neck, and she lowered her head until her chin touched her chest.
"Lu Zhan, where are your manners?" Lady Wei glared at her son, clearly displeased with his sudden appearance.
"I still have a great deal of official business to attend to," Lu Zhan said flatly.
Hearing this, Lady Wei was left speechless.
Her son was indeed very busy.
As Lu Zhan was leaving, he paused, then turned his head to Lady Wei and said, "Isn't she still just a child? Isn't it a bit too early to be looking for a husband for her?"
Zhi Wan froze. She looked up, but all she saw was the man's departing back.
Lady Wei was a little annoyed, but also felt helpless.
This son of hers had always been independent and had his own strong opinions; the views of others couldn't sway him in the slightest.
Thinking of what her son had said, she couldn't help but mutter, "Well, she can't be like you, still unmarried at twenty-five, can she? What would people say?"
As she spoke, Lady Wei rubbed her temples, a headache coming on.
Her son was wonderful in every way, except for his refusal to marry.
Men his age already had children who could run and jump.
Afraid that Zhi Wan would be influenced by him, she quickly said to her, "Don't listen to your cousin. He refuses to marry himself, and now he wants to stop you. It's not like we're marrying you off immediately. We can take our time choosing. We'll only discuss the wedding after we've found someone good."
Zhi Wan's face was still bright red. Suppressing the shame in her heart, she said obediently, "Yes, Wan'er will listen to Aunt." Seeing that Lady Wei looked uncomfortable, she stood up, walked behind her, and said considerately, "Let me massage your temples, Aunt."
Lady Wei patted her hand. "Our Wan'er is still the most obedient and considerate one."
Seeing that she didn't refuse, Zhi Wan rubbed her hands together to warm them, then began to massage her aunt's temples.
Her pressure was just right, and Lady Wei felt very comfortable.
Before long, Lady Wei's eyelids grew heavy. A moment later, she had fallen asleep.
Seeing this, Zhi Wan slowly stopped her movements.
Nanny Fang brought over a blanket and gently draped it over Lady Wei.
Then, the two of them quietly exited the room.
Once outside, Nanny Fang praised her with a smile, "Your technique is truly excellent, Miss. No wonder the mistress is always praising you."
"That is just Aunt's kindness in praising me," Zhi Wan said humbly.
Nanny Fang looked at her and sighed internally. 'Such a good girl. It's a pity she has no family left.'
"Since Aunt is asleep, I'll head back now," Zhi Wan said.
"This old servant will see you out," Nanny Fang said quickly.
"It's only a few steps. There's no need to trouble yourself," Zhi Wan stopped her.
After leaving Lan Courtyard, Zhi Wan took Shuang'er with her to the garden.
Spring had arrived. The garden was in full bloom, with butterflies fluttering about—a picturesque scene of a sunny spring day.
Zhi Wan stood under a magnolia tree. Seeing the ground littered with petals, she squatted down, picked them up, and wrapped them in her handkerchief.
She loved the fragrance of magnolia flowers and dried some every year to make sachets.
Shuang'er also squatted down to help her pick them up.
As they were gathering the petals, a pair of feet suddenly appeared before the mistress and her maid.
Before either of them could react, the feet began to forcefully grind the magnolia blossoms on the ground.
The perfectly fine magnolia petals were instantly crushed into a pulpy mess.
Zhi Wan looked up, and seeing Lu Xin's face filled with malice, she wasn't particularly surprised.
In the entire Duke Dingguo Mansion, only Lu Xin would do something so foolish.
"Zhi Wan, have you fallen so low that you need to pick petals off the ground to make fragrances? Has our Duke Mansion treated you poorly?" Lu Xin looked down on Zhi Wan, deliberately kicking at the crushed petals with the tip of her shoe, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
The other girl was clearly looking for trouble. Zhi Wan's brow furrowed slightly, but she said nothing. She only looked down regretfully at the ruined petals on the ground before standing up.
She patted down her skirt, ignored Lu Xin, and turned to leave with her maid.
Seeing this, Lu Xin shot a look at the maid beside her.
The maid understood at once. She immediately rushed forward and slapped the handkerchief full of petals out of Shuang'er's hand.
In an instant, the whole bundle of petals fell to the ground.
Before Shuang'er could react, the maid stomped on the petals a few times, crushing them completely.