Chapter 13 Take it off
When Qin Xiaoning woke up, it was already noon and Lu Ji had already gone to court.

Although Lu Ji has not returned yet, the news of his promotion has already spread back to the mansion. Everyone in the mansion is happy, and the maids in Qingsong Garden are even happier, as their master has been promoted and they can get rewards.

Qin Xiaoning was also happy. She hoped that Lu Ji would be well. Although she knew that her relationship with him could not last long, she hoped for his well-being more than anyone else.

Qin Xiaoning had no appetite after waking up, so she washed up, ate some bird's nest porridge, and left the house.

Today is a really good day, the sky is high and the sun is exceptionally bright.

In just a few days, the mansion with its carved corridors and painted buildings was already shaded by green willows and blossoming flowers. Qin Xiaoning stood under the corridor of the main hall and looked into the distance, seeing a sea of ​​colorful flowers.

Faintly, clear piano sounds came from the private school. Qin Xiaoning was attracted by the sound and left the yard.

The private school of the government office is not far from Qingsong Garden. After leaving the courtyard, go around the southwest corner of the garden, walk up the arch bridge, and you can see the private school of the government office across a bamboo forest.

The powerful and wealthy families all had their own private schools, such as the government offices, but not many of them also had girls' schools. Girls' schools taught poetry, books, rituals, music, singing, dancing, women's work, etc. The purpose was to allow their girls to receive a better education and improve their quality and cultivation.

The newly hired female musician was playing the zither with the girls in the courtyard of the private school.
The pleasant spring scenery, the beautifully dressed ladies of noble families, and the rippling sound of the piano form a touching picture that makes people unable to help but be fascinated.

Qin Xiaoning sat on the bridge, looking at the scene in the private school. She was absorbed in watching and listening attentively. Before she knew it, a long piece of music had ended. She only came back to her senses when the pianist led the students into the house.

Turning around, she saw Lu Ji coming over and standing behind her.

"My Lord——"

When she saw Lu Ji, her eyes lit up and she called him.

Lu Ji had just returned from the palace and had not yet changed out of his court robes. The dark purple military officer's uniform made him look even taller and more heroic. There was a smile on his angular face. Perhaps it was because the afternoon sun was too bright, but his deep eyes were filled with warmth as he looked at her.

"What are you looking at? You're so engrossed. I've been standing here for a while and you didn't even notice." He looked at her with a smile on his face and spoke.

Qin Xiaoning stood up. The bright sunlight shone through the mottled shadows of the trees, spreading from her layers of clothes to her beautiful face. She smiled at her and replied, "I have nothing to do, so I listen to the girls in the private school playing the piano." Then she sighed inaudibly, with envy on her face, "They play really beautifully."

Lu Ji lowered his eyes to look at her and asked, "Like?"

She nodded and said nothing else. Thinking of his promotion, she asked him, "Did the prince just come back from the palace?" Without waiting for Lu Ji to speak, she came close to him and said to him, "I heard that the prince was promoted to General Longwu?"

There was a smile on her bright little face, and when she spoke to him, there was a hint of mischief in her tone.
Lu Ji glared at her: "Do you know how high of an official rank General Longwu holds?"

The little girl shook her head and replied with a smile: "Although I don't know what this official position is, I think it must be a very important position."

"You're right." He looked at her and raised his eyebrows. "Why? Do you want to curry favor with me?"

The little girl's smile was cunning, and her tone was playful: "Since you have been promoted, the salary should be quite high, right?"

Lu Ji shook his head: "I don't know yet." He snorted coldly and said: "It has nothing to do with you. The salary must be returned to the public."

The little girl immediately frowned and snorted, "Since I can't decide on my own salary, why should I cling to you?"

After saying that, she twisted her waist, left the man behind and walked away.

Lu Ji stood there, looking at her back, smiling, and said, "Although I can't decide my salary, as long as I say a word, I can go to a private school to study and play the piano like the young ladies in the mansion." When the little girl heard this, she immediately stopped and turned around: "What did you say?"

Lu Ji didn't say anything again, and walked away. The little girl caught up with him in small steps, grabbed his sleeve, and asked eagerly, "What did you say just now?"

Who wants to be bored and stuck in the house all day? It is certainly a pleasure to study poetry, books, rituals and music with peers.

"Are you going to send me to a private school, right?" She looked at her with a gleam of surprise in her eyes.

Lu Ji stopped, took away her little claws, and hummed like her: "Since this prince is not worthy of your attachment, why do you come to pester me again?"

After saying that, he started to walk away. The little girl quickly caught up with him and grabbed his clothes again. She looked flattering and said, "Cling to me, cling to me. Can't I cling to you? Once the prince opens his mouth, I can get what I want. You are the prince, and you have the final say in this mansion. I dream of clinging to you."

"You are indeed aware of this, but unfortunately, I am unwilling to speak my mind at the moment."

Lu Ji looked proud and took away her hand again.

"No, my lord, can't you just think that I said something wrong just now?" The little girl came up to him again, asking for help.

"Don't argue with me outside, that's nonsense."

He looked around pretentiously, then walked away with big strides, ignoring her nagging.

The little girl didn't give up. She took small steps and chased after him, shouting, "Wait for me, wait for me, oh, my ankle is sprained."

He didn't care how hard she was chasing him or how much she was shouting, and he had no intention of stopping. The girl really couldn't catch up with him, so she could only watch his cold back gradually disappear from her sight.

A person returned to Qingsong Garden and asked the gatekeeper, who said that the prince had just returned to the house. Qin Xiaoning hurriedly ran into the main room holding up her skirt.

Lu Ji was sitting and drinking tea. When he saw her come in, he looked up and sneered, "You're really quick."

The little girl ran and panted slightly. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, walked up to him with a smile, sat down on the chair opposite, held her face with one hand, stared at him and asked, "Are you really going to send me to a private school?"

She had a gentle attitude, a gentle tone, and a flattering smile.

Lu Ji glanced at her, then picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "It depends on your performance."

The little girl's spirits suddenly lifted.

"Can I give the prince a shoulder massage?"

As she said that, she immediately stood up and walked around behind him. As soon as her little hand touched him, Lu Ji stood up and dodged, then turned around and stood in front of her, and said with thin lips: "Take it off first."

Take it off?

The little girl was stunned and looked at him with her big almond-shaped eyes, panic-stricken.

(End of this chapter)