Chapter 164 Chance Encounter
The capital has a pleasant climate. Once spring comes, the weather becomes warmer day by day.

Because they were going to stay in the villa on the top of the mountain for a while, Qin Xiaoning went to Mr. Su's place near noon the next day after she had packed up.

The master and the apprentice have a very close relationship and often interact with each other privately. Qin Xiaoning will be away for about half a month this time, so naturally she has to tell her master.

When she reached the Chuihua Gate, she happened to meet an acquaintance, Shen Qingshu.

"Miss Qin, how are you?"

"Master Shen?"

The other person was still dressed in blue, but after years of experience in official career, Shen Qingshu's temperament became more calm and restrained. When he met Qin Xiaoning, he bowed deeply to her.

After not seeing him for a year, Shen Qingshu, who had already entered the official career, had changed a lot. Qin Xiaoning didn't recognize him at first until he stopped and greeted her. Then Qin Xiaoning recognized who he was.

After being slightly surprised, Qin Xiaoning gradually regained her composure and politely corrected him, "Now I should call you Mr. Shen."

Qin Xiaoning was wearing a light pink skirt. The gentle spring sunshine shone through the mottled shade of the trees onto her pretty face, making the girl look charming and graceful.

Shen Qingshu smiled faintly upon hearing this, with a warm look on his jade-like face: "Miss Qin, you can still call me Master Shen as before."

They had only met once before, and the meeting was very unpleasant because of Lu Ji.

Thinking of Lu Ji, Qin Xiaoning immediately lost the desire to greet others: "Lord Shen is here to visit Mr. Su, right? Mr. Su must be here now, you should go over quickly."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingshu looked back at the path leading to Mr. Su's courtyard, then turned back to look at Qin Xiaoning: "Miss Qin is also going to look for Mr. Su?"

She was originally planning to go, but seeing Shen Qingshu leaving, Qin Xiaoning decided not to go.

"I was going to the front yard to talk to the girls and just happened to pass by here." She lied.

After saying that, Qin Xiaoning was about to say goodbye and leave, but Shen Qingshu called her over, thought for a moment, and said, "Last time, it was because of me that Miss Qin was blamed by the Lu family's heir, and I have been feeling uneasy ever since."

Not only was she blamed, she was also slapped in the face by Lu Ji.

The little girl learned her lesson and perfunctorily said, "It's in the past, don't mention it, and Lord Shen, don't take it to heart."

Shen Qingshu said, "Ms. Qin is so smart and gentle, but she is constrained by the Lu family's heir."

As he spoke, he bowed slightly to Qin Xiaoning: "Forgive me for being blunt, but a woman like Miss Qin should be cared for by a man. A man as rude as the Lu family's heir is not a good match."

Last time, Lu Ji scolded Shen Qingshu in front of her and was so angry that he wanted to throw her into the water.

In the eyes of a gentle scholar like Shen Qingshu, Lu Ji is simply a tyrant.

Qin Xiaoning didn't know how to explain it. She thought that this was a matter between her and Lu Ji, and it was not worth talking about it with an outsider. In order to end the topic as soon as possible, she said to Shen Qingshu: "The prince does have a bad temper. It just so happens that I just like his domineering personality. He looks cool and manly."

The little girl's expression was serious when she said this, without any joking in her mind, which made Shen Qingshu stunned.

The two were standing here talking when they heard the voice of the maid at the door saying, "Hello, my Lord."

This guy really can't help but praise.

Worried that Lu Ji would see her and make him unhappy again, Qin Xiaoning subconsciously wanted to avoid her, but Lu Ji had already strode over from the Chuihua Gate.

"My Lord." Qin Xiaoning had done nothing wrong, so she called out to Lu Ji, "Why are you back at this time?"

Lu Ji looked up and saw the man he had always disliked standing in front of his little girl. He walked over expressionlessly, not even glancing at Shen Qingshu who was standing beside him, and only said to Qin Xiaoning: "Here, wait for me?"

Qin Xiaoning shook her head and answered truthfully: "I originally wanted to look for Mr. Su, but I didn't expect to meet Mr. Shen here."

Seeing that Lu Ji was unhappy to see Shen Qingshu, Qin Xiaoning told the truth.

Lu Ji said nothing when he heard this. He raised his hand and took the little girl's hand and was about to walk towards Qingsong Garden. Qin Xiaoning was being pulled by him. Just as she took two steps, she heard Shen Qingshu calling out, "My Lord, please stay."

Lu Ji stopped walking, turned to look at Shen Qingshu, and said in a cold voice: "What does Lord Shen want to say?"

Shen Qingshu stepped forward, looked at Lu Ji, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "I am an outsider, and I should not interfere in the affairs of the prince's harem. However, Miss Qin and I are both students of Mr. Su. In theory, she should be considered my junior sister. When it comes to Miss Qin's affairs, I have to say a few more words."

Lu Ji had no expression on his face. He stood there, looking up at Shen Qingshu, waiting for him to continue.

Shen Qingshu continued, "I heard that Miss Qin has been raised by the prince since she was a child. The prince saved her life. Although this favor is as great as the sky, Miss Qin is a living person. She should have her own freedom and decision. I think it is not appropriate for you to restrict her like this."

In Shen Qingshu's eyes, she must be living in dire straits living with the tyrant Lu Ji.

Knowing that Lu Ji disliked Shen Qingshu, and seeing Shen Qingshu's aggressive words, Qin Xiaoning was really worried that the two would fight.

Without waiting for Lu Ji's response, Qin Xiaoning hurriedly said to Shen Qingshu, "Lord Shen, please be careful with your words. The relationship between me and the prince is not what you think."

Shen Qingshu looked at Qin Xiaoning and said, "Miss Qin, I know you are afraid of him, but you are only a teenager and you still have a long way to go. I advise you to think more about yourself."

Lu Ji smiled coldly when he heard this.

He turned around, staring at Shen Qingshu with a cold gaze, and said with a thin mouth: "Mr. Shen, haven't you figured it out yet? Ah Ning can't live without me."

He rolled his eyes at Shen Qingshu and said with disdain, "I hate people like you the most. You look like a modest gentleman, but your mind is full of ulterior motives."

This man likes Qin Xiaoning. Lu Ji could tell it the first time he met Shen Qingshu.

A man will only have such courage if he falls in love with a woman.

Dare to challenge his authority, especially in his mansion.

Facing Lu Ji's verbal humiliation, Shen Qingshu was not annoyed. He smiled faintly and replied: "A beautiful lady, day and night, thinks about clothes. Shen does not think there is anything shameful in this thought."

He met Lu Ji's cold gaze and said bluntly, "I think it is ungentlemanly of the prince to use his favor to blackmail a little girl like this."

"Master Shen, please stop talking."

Qin Xiaoning stopped Shen Qingshu with her eyes, then turned to look at Lu Ji: "Let's go."

However, Lu Ji refused to leave, and looked as if he was determined to fight the other party to the end.

He retorted to Shen Qingshu: "What a coincidence, Ah Ning seems to like my ungentlemanly character."

As he spoke, he lowered his eyes and looked at Qin Xiaoning: "A Ning, what do you think?"

Qin Xiaoning frowned, but nodded.

"Let's go, okay?" He asked in a negotiating tone, as if coaxing Lu Ji.

Seeing Shen Qingshu's face gradually becoming ugly, Lu Ji seemed to be unsatisfied. He turned to look at him again, with a sneer on his face, as if to deliberately irritate him: "A beautiful lady is a good match for a gentleman, but he can't get her, and he tosses and turns. I'm afraid that Mr. Shen will only toss and turn for the rest of his life."