Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Lingering Tenderness
Zhi Wan froze, turning around. "What?"
"The injuries on my arms haven’t healed yet. I can’t move them freely, so I need my cousin to lend me a hand," Lu Zhan said, perfectly composed.
’So, Cousin came to see me this late at night just so I could help him wash up?’ Hearing this, Zhi Wan’s gaze fell on the bundle on his back.
She gave him a strange look. "What about the servants in your courtyard?"
"Chen Jiu isn’t back yet, and I’ve sent Jiang Shi here to protect you. As for the other servants, I’m not used to them being so close." Lu Zhan’s handsome brows furrowed slightly, and he looked troubled. "I... didn’t get to wash up last night either. It’s been hot these last two days, and I’m covered in sweat."
Zhi Wan was speechless.
"Besides, I just saw you. It’s only fair that you... get to look back," Lu Zhan said in a low voice.
Zhi Wan’s face flushed, and she couldn’t help but shoot him a glare.
’It’s not like I’m the type to take advantage of people.’
Despite her thoughts, her body was honest. She walked over, first untying the bundle from his back, then undoing his sash and helping him remove his outer robe.
After taking it off, she didn’t dare let her eyes wander downward. Instead, she said hesitantly, "I’ve already used this water. It’s too much trouble to have someone fetch more, and the servants might get the wrong idea."
"Isn’t there cold water over there? I can just use that. Or I can use your bathwater. I don’t mind," Lu Zhan said gently.
How could Zhi Wan let him use her bathwater?
She picked up a wooden basin, filled it with some cold water, and planned to help her cousin wash with a cloth.
But when she turned around, she saw that her cousin had already stepped into the bathtub.
Zhi Wan was speechless.
Meeting his cousin’s surprised gaze, Lu Zhan cleared his throat and explained, "The water is still very clean. Besides, after I’m done, you can just help me rinse off with some cold water."
Since it had come to this, Zhi Wan couldn’t say anything more.
She approached with the cloth and, making sure his arms were resting on the edge of the tub so they wouldn’t get wet, she began to wash his back.
By the time she was finished, Zhi Wan was covered in a light sheen of sweat, her face flushed. Images of her cousin’s fair, perfect physique flashed through her mind.
This was the first time she had seen her cousin’s body so clearly, and her heart was pounding like a frightened fawn.
She forced her gaze away from him, took the change of clothes from the bundle he’d brought, and helped him get dressed, piece by piece.
Looking at her cousin dressed in his white inner robe, a flash of inspiration struck Zhi Wan. She was suddenly eager to go paint it, so she said to him, "It’s getting late. You should go back now, Cousin."
Lu Zhan was speechless.
Zhi Wan thought he hadn’t heard her, so she repeated, "You should go back now, Cousin."
The corner of Lu Zhan’s eye twitched. He gave a faint "mm" and started walking toward the door.
Seeing this, Zhi Wan’s eyelid twitched. She rushed forward and grabbed him. "Cousin, you can’t use the main door! Someone will see you. You should leave through the window."
Lu Zhan looked down at her. "Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?"
Zhi Wan froze. Only then did she remember that she had wanted to ask her cousin about her uncle. Now that she was with him, she had completely forgotten.
At that thought, she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. "I do have something to ask you! Can you wait a little longer before you leave, please?"
Her sudden press into his embrace softened Lu Zhan’s heart. "Alright."
Zhi Wan led him into the inner chamber. She took a vial and some gauze from his bundle and asked, "Is this medicine for your injuries?"
"Yes," Lu Zhan nodded.
"Have you applied the medicine already? Should I reapply it for you now?" Zhi Wan asked.
Lu Zhan inclined his head. "I’ll trouble you then, Cousin."
Zhi Wan shook her head. She had him sit on the bed, then removed his inner robe and gently unwrapped the gauze from his arms.
When she saw the wounds on both his arms, her heart sank.
Her cousin’s injuries were much more serious than she had imagined.
Large areas were scorched by the fire, turning them bright red. In other places, the flesh was torn and mangled, still oozing blood. Even though two days had passed, it didn’t look like they had improved much.
’How much must that hurt?’
Fighting back tears, she gently applied the ointment to his wounds.
"It doesn’t hurt that much anymore," Lu Zhan said in a low, soothing voice when he saw the redness in her eyes.
"Of course it does," Zhi Wan’s voice choked.
She couldn’t bear to imagine the scene of her cousin charging into Huan’er’s burning home without a second thought.
If it weren’t for clearing her name, her cousin wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.
Lu Zhan seemed to know what she was thinking. He said gently, "Even if it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have stood by and watched someone die in that situation."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan felt a sting in her nose, and tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably.
She didn’t say anything, simply lowering her head and continuing to apply the medicine for her cousin.
’I know that while he seems cold on the surface, he is a very kind man with a strong sense of justice.’
Lu Zhan struggled to lift the back of his hand and wipe away the tears from the corner of her eye. He said with a smile, "These are just superficial wounds, but I saved four lives."
Zhi Wan knew how precious life was, but seeing his injuries, she couldn’t help but chide him. "How are these superficial wounds? If they don’t heal properly, you could lose the use of your arms."
"If I do, that just means you’ll have to take care of me," Lu Zhan teased.
"How can you still be in the mood to joke? I’m not kidding. Your arm injuries are so severe. If they don’t heal well, you’ll be left with more than just scars," Zhi Wan said, annoyed.
"I know, I won’t let my arms be crippled. The Emperor had the best Imperial Physician in the palace treat my wounds, and the medicine he prescribed is also the best. Don’t be fooled by how scary they look now; they’re really not a major issue anymore," Lu Zhan quickly reassured her.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Seeing that he didn’t seem to be lying, Zhi Wan finally relaxed, but she still insisted, "Have that Imperial Physician come take another look tomorrow."
She wouldn’t be at ease until she heard the Imperial Physician say it was nothing serious with her own ears.
"Alright. I hope they heal quickly, too. I’d hate to marry you and still not be able to..." Lu Zhan trailed off.
"Not be able to what?"
"Not be able to... hold you." Lu Zhan rested his smooth chin on her shoulder, his voice low and tinged with a lingering tenderness.
Zhi Wan’s face burned. She said nothing, carefully finishing the application of his medicine before wrapping his arms with clean gauze.
"In your condition, it’s better not to wear a shirt when you’re indoors. It’s still hot, and you’ll suffocate the wounds."
"Understood," Lu Zhan nodded. He paused for a moment, then asked, "Did you want to ask about that uncle of yours?"
Hearing this, Zhi Wan faltered. "He’s my uncle?"
"Yes. He’s your father’s twin brother," Lu Zhan replied.
’So he’s my father’s twin brother. No wonder he looks so much like him.’
Zhi Wan clenched her fists, asking nervously, "So... what happened to him?"
Lu Zhan’s thin lips pressed together. After a long moment, he said, "If I told you that I had him executed, would you blame me?"
