Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Lu Zhan Returns at the Crucial Moment

"Zhi Wan is not an outsider. She’s about to be my cousin-in-law," Wei Jinxiu retorted. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Zhi Wan didn’t know that everyone was still talking about her after she left.

Just as she reached the door of the private room where she was having tea with Ouyang Zhenzhu, she saw Ouyang Zhenzhu waiting for her.

"Wanwan, are you alright? Did they give you a hard time?" Ouyang Zhenzhu asked with concern.

"No," Zhi Wan lied, not wanting to spoil her friend’s mood.

"That’s good." Ouyang Zhenzhu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Should we stay longer?" Zhi Wan asked, changing the subject.

"While you were gone, I sat here by myself and ate so many snacks. Now I’m uncomfortably full. Why don’t we go for a walk instead?" Ouyang Zhenzhu suggested.

"Alright," Zhi Wan agreed with a nod.

The two of them wandered around until dark before heading back.

Zhi Wan had just returned to Yaoguang Pavilion and was resting for a moment when Shuang’er entered the courtyard with Jiang Shi.

"Miss, there’s been a breakthrough in the matter you asked me to investigate," Jiang Shi reported, standing outside the door.

Zhi Wan stepped outside and glanced at Shuang’er.

Shuang’er understood and dismissed all the other servants in the courtyard.

"What did you find?" Zhi Wan asked.

"According to the servants at Fushou Hall, the Fourth Miss begged the Old Madam to arrange a marriage for her, and she said she wasn’t picky about the family," Jiang Shi replied.

Zhi Wan was surprised.

’Lu Lan is that desperate to get married, and she doesn’t even care what kind of family it is?’

’She’s so anxious to leave the Lu Family. It seems she’s realized Aunt is about to make a move against her.’

’In that case, Lu Lan must have been the one who tampered with the portrait. Why else would she be so guilty and afraid?’

"I see. Keep an eye on her," Zhi Wan said.

’If Lu Lan is willing to leave the Lu Family on her own, it will save Aunt the trouble of taking action.’

’Still, I have a feeling Lu Lan won’t give up so easily.’

’I’ll wait and see what kind of family Old Madam Lu chooses for her.’

A few days later, Lady Wei selected some servants to accompany Zhi Wan as she moved to the Zhi Mansion.

Before she left, Lady Wei took Zhi Wan to Fushou Hall.

After all, Zhi Wan had lived in the Lu Family for five years. Today she was leaving, and when she returned, it would be as a wife of the Lu Family.

Therefore, according to etiquette, she ought to bid farewell to Old Madam Lu. Even though the old madam disliked her, proper courtesy could not be ignored.

Just as Zhi Wan had expected, the moment Old Madam Lu saw her, she immediately turned her head aside, looking like she didn’t want to see her at all.

Lady Wei was furious but restrained herself. She said, "Old Madam, Wan’er is moving out today. She came specifically to bid you farewell."

Hearing that Zhi Wan was moving out, Old Madam Lu’s heart stirred. She thought Lady Wei had finally seen reason and decided to kick Zhi Wan out.

"Thank you for your care over the past few years, Old Madam. Zhi Wan will remember it always. I wish you good health, peace, and happiness." Zhi Wan stepped forward, gave a curtsy, and spoke.

Old Madam Lu’s expression softened slightly. "It’s good that you’ve seen reason. I also wish you a safe and smooth journey, and may all your endeavors be successful."

Zhi Wan gave her a surprised look. ’It’s a rare thing to hear kind words from the old madam’s mouth.’

’But... surely the Old Madam doesn’t think that once I leave the Lu Family, I’m never coming back, does she?’

She glanced at her aunt, who shook her head slightly. Zhi Wan understood the unspoken signal and didn’t explain, simply smiling and saying, "Thank you, Old Madam."

Old Madam Lu waved her hand dismissively.

Lady Wei had no desire to stay any longer either and quickly left with Zhi Wan.

"Don’t worry about the Old Madam’s attitude. You don’t need to take it to heart," Lady Wei comforted her after they left Fushou Hall.

"I know," Zhi Wan replied with an obedient nod.

"Alright, let’s not talk about her anymore. Go back to Yaoguang Pavilion and see if there’s anything else you need to take. We’ll meet at the residence gate in a little while," Lady Wei said.

"Okay." Zhi Wan nodded, and after parting with her aunt, she returned to Yaoguang Pavilion with Shuang’er.

In reality, Shuang’er had already packed everything and had Jiang Shi and the others move it to the carriage.

Still, she had lived in Yaoguang Pavilion for five years. She had practically grown up here and had developed an attachment to the courtyard.

Even though she would be back next month, once she married her cousin, she wouldn’t be living here anymore.

She walked into the room, her gaze sweeping over every corner.

Finally, she brushed aside the beaded curtain, intending to look inside the inner chamber.

But the moment she stepped into the inner chamber, the metallic tang of blood assaulted her nose.

Startled, she froze. Her eyes scanned the room, finally landing on the bed.

The next moment, she let out an involuntary scream.

Hearing her scream, Shuang’er rushed over. "Miss, what is it?"

"The b-bed... On the bed... URK!" Zhi Wan’s voice trembled uncontrollably, and she retched before she could finish speaking.

Shuang’er jumped in fright and looked toward the bed. The next instant, the color drained from her face. "A d-dead body..."

"Sister Zhi Wan?" At that moment, Lu Lan’s voice sounded from outside the door.

Before Zhi Wan or Shuang’er could react, Lu Lan walked in.

"Sister Zhi Wan, I heard you’re moving out of the Lu Residence today. My mother was just saying she wanted to come see you off. I haven’t seen her return, so I came to have a look."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan started and looked toward the bed.

Only then did she see clearly that the person lying on the bed, covered in blood, was none other than Aunt Xu.

At that moment, Lu Lan also saw the scene on the bed. She let out a sharp scream and lunged forward. "Mother—"

Zhi Wan’s heart sank. She realized she might have just walked into an elaborate trap set for her.

A cold sweat broke out on her back.

"Shuang’er, go and notify Aunt at once! And tell Jiang Shi to come here as well," she ordered, her voice trembling.

"Yes." It was the first time Shuang’er had ever seen a dead body. Her legs felt weak with fear, but she forced herself to run out.

Just then, Lu Lan suddenly snapped to her senses. She lunged at Zhi Wan and grabbed her by the throat, completely unhinged. "Zhi Wan, why did you kill my mother? She came to see you off out of the kindness of her heart, and you repaid her with this cruelty! You’re utterly depraved!"

The sudden attack caught Zhi Wan completely off guard. She was thrown to the ground, Lu Lan’s hands closing around her throat.

The feeling of suffocation made Zhi Wan’s beautiful eyes widen in terror.

She struggled desperately to pry Lu Lan’s fingers away, but Lu Lan was merciless, determined to kill her.

"You killed my mother! I’ll avenge her!" Lu Lan’s eyes were filled with a cold, murderous intent.

Zhi Wan kicked and struggled, but Lu Lan seemed to feel no pain, her grip on Zhi Wan’s neck never loosening.

As the life was choked out of her, a tear slid from the corner of Zhi Wan’s eye.

"You... let me go..." she managed to force out the words.

Just when she thought she was going to die at Lu Lan’s hands, a figure rushed into the room.

The next moment, she saw Lu Lan—who had been pinning her down, her face twisted with a murderous grimace—sent flying like a broken ragdoll.

Fresh air flooded into her throat. Zhi Wan gasped for breath, not even bothering to see who had saved her.

Not until a man’s deep, familiar voice sounded above her: "Cousin."

Zhi Wan froze. As soon as she looked up, she was pulled into a broad chest, the familiar scent of cedarwood filling her senses.