Chapter 330: Lu Zhan: Then Let’s Bathe Together
Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Lu Zhan: Then Let’s Bathe Together
The old man was overjoyed and emotional, his eyes moistening once more.
"This child was born just over a month ago and doesn’t have a name yet. I ask that the Heir’s wife bestow a name upon him," the old man said.
"Rest assured, when my cousin returns, he will help choose a name for him," Zhi Wan said.
The old man nodded gratefully. He cast one last, reluctant glance at the swaddled baby and took his leave. "I have imposed on you today. This old man will take his leave now."
Watching his stooped figure and weathered face, Zhi Wan sighed inwardly and asked, "Sir, do you have any other family at home?"
The old man shook his head. "This old man only had one daughter. My wife passed away a few years ago. There is no one else at home."
Hearing this, Zhi Wan couldn’t bear it. She looked to Lady Wei and asked, "Mother, why don’t we ask him to stay? He can help take care of the child."
Lady Wei knew she felt sorry for the old man, who was of such an advanced age and would have no one to care for him if he returned to Yangzhou.
She nodded and said, "The decision is yours."
Seeing no objection, Zhi Wan said to the old man, "Sir, you would only be alone if you went back. Why not stay in the Capital City? You can also help look after my little cousin."
The old man hesitated. "But I’m already so old. I’m afraid I don’t have many days left. If I stay, I will only be a burden to you..."
"Not at all. You are overthinking things, sir. My little cousin is still so young. It would be wonderful if you could stay and help care for him," Zhi Wan said sincerely.
’It couldn’t have been easy for a man his age to travel all the way from Yangzhou to the Capital City with my little cousin.’
’Besides, my little cousin looks clean and healthy. He’s clearly been well cared for.’
’You can tell the old man put his heart into it.’
While she truly felt for the old man, who was so old and alone with no one to care for him, she was also being practical. She was already pregnant, and once her own child was born next year, she would have even less time to look after her little cousin.
If the old man helped look after him, it would be a great weight off her mind.
"Please stay, sir. You’ve taken such good care of this child. It’s clear you know how to look after children," Lady Wei added, trying to persuade him.
In truth, the old man couldn’t bear to part with the child either.
The baby had been placed in his hands right after birth.
For the past month, he had personally handled all his care, from feeding to changing diapers.
He had grown attached to the child during their journey.
"I... I actually know a little medicine," the old man stammered.
"Oh, you’re a doctor!" Lady Wei was delighted. "Then you simply must stay! The child is still so little. If he gets a headache or a fever, we’ll have you here to look after him. It would even save us the trouble of calling for a doctor."
"Yes, sir, please stay," Zhi Wan urged again.
The old man truly couldn’t part with the child and finally decided to stay.
"Then I will be so bold as to stay." The old man bowed to the two of them.
Zhi Wan then personally took the old man and the baby to the Zhi Mansion to get them settled.
That evening, Lu Zhan returned from the wedding banquet at the Huainan Prince Mansion, and Zhi Wan told him about her little cousin.
"...I want to adopt him. What do you think?"
Lu Zhan had no objections after hearing her out. "Whatever you want."
Zhi Wan knew he wouldn’t object, but thinking of what her uncle had done, she still had some concerns. "But my uncle... will what he did cause you any trouble?"
Lu Zhan understood her worries and reassured her, "No one knows your uncle had connections to the pirates and the descendants of King Jin. All of that was buried with his death. As long as you don’t let it slip in the future, it’ll be fine."
Zhi Wan breathed a sigh of relief. "I understand. I won’t tell my little cousin either when he grows up."
"Good. Then there’s no problem," Lu Zhan said.
"Actually, when I found out I had a little cousin today, an idea suddenly came to me," Zhi Wan said abruptly.
"What idea?" Lu Zhan was curious.
"My little cousin’s surname is also Zhi. In the future, he can be the one to carry on the Zhi family line," Zhi Wan said with a grin.
Lu Zhan paused, understanding her meaning. He looked down at her slightly swollen belly and reached out to touch it. "You mean... our first child won’t have to carry on the Zhi family line?"
"Mhm," Zhi Wan nodded.
Before, both her cousin and her mother-in-law had said that her first child should take the Zhi surname to carry on the family line and ensure its prosperity.
’But in reality, that wouldn’t be fair to the child.’
’After all, the Zhi family can’t compare to the Duke Dingguo Mansion.’
’The child assigned to the Zhi Mansion might feel a sense of disparity, grow resentful, and come to hate me for it.’
She had been thinking about this problem for some time.
She had originally decided to wait until her children were older and ask for their opinions.
If none of them were willing, she would drop the matter.
She never expected a little cousin to suddenly appear today.
When she decided to adopt him, she had already considered that he could be the one to carry on the Zhi family line.
So, her cousin’s appearance had solved a difficult problem for her.
"Whatever you want. As long as you’re happy." Lu Zhan had no objections. Then, he suddenly swept her up into his arms.
Zhi Wan yelped in surprise and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. "What are you doing?"
Lu Zhan paused and whispered in her ear, "It’s been well over three months. Does my dear cousin remember?"
"What?" At first, Zhi Wan didn’t understand what he meant. But when she met his heated gaze, she got the message.
She blushed and lightly tapped his chest. "No, you can’t! Stop teasing me and put me down!"
"I’m not teasing. I’ll be gentle." Lu Zhan chuckled softly and carried her to the bed.
Zhi Wan’s face flushed, but she didn’t say anything more.
For the past few months, her cousin had been exercising great restraint and hadn’t touched her. But she knew it had been very difficult for him.
Now that her pregnancy was stable, as long as he wasn’t too rough, she would let him have his way.
But once on the bed, when she saw her cousin undoing his sash, she suddenly remembered something and quickly stopped him. "Wait! You haven’t bathed yet..."
Lu Zhan froze mid-action, then suddenly scooped her back into his arms.
"What are you doing now?" Zhi Wan looked at him, confused.
"We’ll wash together," Lu Zhan said with a perfectly straight face.
Zhi Wan: "..."
When she came to her senses, she stammered, "I... I’ve already bathed."
"Then help me wash," the man’s voice was low and pleased.
Zhi Wan: "..."
...
「Huainan Prince Mansion.」
The guests had dispersed, and the entire Prince Mansion had returned to tranquility.
But from the bridal chamber came the loud THUD of something heavy hitting the floor, followed by the bride’s shriek.
"Duan Ling, you idiot! Do you even know what you’re doing? You’re killing me!"
Duan Ling, who had just been kicked out of bed: "..."
He gritted his teeth, climbed up from the floor, and pounced on his bride again, unwilling to give up. "I promise it won’t hurt this time."
The next moment, Ouyang Zhenzhu howled, "Don’t you go out carousing all the time? Is this all you’ve got?"
"I only go for the drinks! I’ve never done anything else!" His head was starting to ache from her yelling. Distracted for a moment, he earned several new scratch marks on his back.
"Bastard!" Ouyang Zhenzhu roared, flailing wildly.
And so, their wedding night passed in a flurry of fighting and fooling around.