Chapter 19 Coveted
Qin Xiaoning came back from the front yard and happened to run into the Sixth Girl.

"Sister Qin, why didn't you go to the private school today?"

"I had something to do today, so I didn't go." Then he smiled and asked, "Why didn't you go either?"

"I was going to go there, but when I saw you weren't there, I felt it was boring, so I lied to my husband and left early."

As he said that, he pulled Qin Xiaoning and said, "It's getting warmer day by day. My fifth sister and I have made an appointment with a few girls in the East Palace. We want to go for an outing at the end of the month. Sister Qin, you can come with us."

The girls stay at home all day long, so naturally they all want to go out and play.

Qin Xiaoning was tempted, but said, "I have to go back and ask your second brother before I can decide."

"Is my second brother so nosy?" The Sixth Girl pouted.

Lu Ji never restricted his younger siblings and was too lazy to worry about them, but as for Qin Xiaoning, if she wanted to go out, she really had to get his approval. He didn't restrict her freedom, but if she acted on her own without telling him, he would definitely scold her if he found out.

"Sister Qin, don't be afraid of him. I will talk to my second brother later." said the Sixth Miss.

Qin Xiaoning replied: "You don't have to tell him for me, but I have to tell him first, and then I can reply to you."

The two of them were walking and talking when they reached the hanging flower gate, where they saw a nobleman coming in. He was wearing a bright red brocade robe with a peony pattern embroidered with gold thread on the chest. He was holding a fan in his hand. He looked self-proclaimed to be elegant, but his eyes were vague and uncertain when he looked at people.

"Sixth sister, what a coincidence, you are skipping school today too?"

The Sixth Miss stopped walking when she heard the voice, and forced a smile with a wooden face: "It turns out to be Seventh Cousin, are you going to the private school, or have you finished school?"

"Can you come in from outside after school?" The young master said, then replied, "I'm going to see your mother. I heard that your aunt has a lot of fine horses, and I want to ask for one."

As he spoke, his eyes unconsciously fixed on Qin Xiaoning, looking her up and down, with a look of amazement in his small eyes: "Who is this girl?"

The Sixth Miss moved aside to block Qin Xiaoning and replied in a cold voice: "Sister Qin is someone close to my second brother."

When Lu Qilang heard that she was the prince's man, he no longer dared to look at Qin Xiaoning recklessly, but he could not hide the greed in his eyes. He looked at her from the corner of his eyes, stepped forward, bowed with both hands, and said with a smile: "Qilang greets my sister-in-law."

This person's words and actions make people feel disgusted.

"Let's go."

Qin Xiaoning didn't return his greeting and just took the Sixth Girl away.

The Sixth Miss saw that Qin Xiaoning was unhappy, and said to her, "Sister Qin, don't pay attention to him. The Seventh Cousin is the most prodigal son in our two mansions, and even in the entire Shen family. He is simply annoying to everyone."

The Shen family has a clean and upright tradition. All the sons and daughters in the family are ambitious, talented in both literature and martial arts. However, there is a Lu Qilang in the East Palace, who is a well-known playboy and a devil.

Although Qin Xiaoning had never seen Mr. Lu Qi before, she had heard of him.

"I heard that he is the posthumous son of the late fourth master?" Qin Xiaoning asked casually.

"Yes, my fourth uncle became a provincial governor before he was thirty. He was a hero all his life, but when he died on the battlefield, he left behind such an unpromising son."

As he spoke, he sighed, "Ah! He was also spoiled by my widowed Fourth Aunt. Every time Uncle Dongfu disciplined him, Fourth Aunt would cry about her dead husband, saying that they were left with an orphan and a widow, and were not liked by others. Uncle Dongfu was too proud to show off, and was afraid that people would say behind his back that he was mistreating his brothers' flesh and blood, so he turned a blind eye and ignored it. All the brothers in the family who were as old as him have entered the officialdom and made achievements, but this Seventh Cousin is the only one who is lazy all day long. I really don't know how worried he is."

The two of them talked as they entered the backyard. Passing by Lu Ji's study, they saw that the door was open. The Sixth Miss said, "I haven't seen my second brother for a while. I want to go see him." Then she begged Qin Xiaoning, "Sister, come in with me."

Although Lu Ji dotes on her, Qin Xiaoning knows her limits. The study is where Lu Ji handles government affairs, and she never sets foot there without Lu Ji's permission.

"The prince is taking a day off today, but he should be busy with government affairs."

Qin Xiaoning wanted to persuade the Sixth Miss not to disturb her, but the Sixth Miss said, "No matter how busy you are, you can't even spare the time to see your own sister." "If my sister doesn't want to go in, then I'll go in by myself."

As she spoke, the Sixth Miss turned and walked into Lu Ji's study.

Lu Ji was indeed busy with government affairs. He looked up and saw that it was his sister. He did not stop writing and asked, "Did you get into trouble outside again and want me to settle it? Or do you want something from me?"

The brother and sister have a deep affection for each other, and the sister is looking for him for no other reason.

The Sixth Miss smiled awkwardly: "Look at what Second Brother said, as if I came to see you with a purpose."

"I haven't seen you for a while. I miss you." The Sixth Girl said without blushing.

Lu Ji lowered his eyes and was busy with the things in his hands. He said calmly: "Can you believe this?"

The Sixth Miss smiled again, cleared her throat, and said, "At the end of the month, my Fifth Sister, I, and a few sisters from the East Mansion want to go out for an outing. I want to take Sister Qin with us. Is that okay?"

Hearing about Qin Xiaoning, Lu Ji raised his eyes and asked, "Did she ask you to ask?"

"Not really." The Sixth Miss said, "I talked to Sister Qin today, and he said he couldn't make the decision, and he needed your approval."

Lu Ji frowned slightly when he heard this, and without saying anything else, he just asked, "Who will accompany you?"

The daughter of a noble family is precious, so when she goes out for an outing, she must be protected by the young men in the mansion.

The Sixth Miss said, "The Third Sister in the East Mansion said that the Fifth Cousin is free and can accompany us."

Wu Lang was a calm man. Lu Ji nodded and said, "Bring some more servants with you."

It was agreed.

Seeing that the Sixth Miss had no intention of leaving, she asked, "Anything else?"

The Sixth Miss smiled awkwardly, considered for a moment, squinted her eyes and said, "I heard that the reward that Second Brother received last time included two pieces of Shu brocade, is that right?"

I knew she wouldn't come here for no reason.

Seeing that Lu Ji remained silent, the Sixth Miss started to act like a spoiled child and cried to him, "I need to make summer clothes. A few days ago, my eldest sister-in-law and I went to the warehouse to select fabrics, but there was not a single piece that satisfied me. I am the only sister that Second Brother has. Are you really going to see me have nothing to wear in the summer?"

"Just give me those two pieces of Shu brocade."

Lu Ji said, "There are at least a hundred or eighty kinds of silks and satins in the storeroom, but there's nothing you like?"

"Really not." The Sixth Miss's face fell. "Last year at the tea party for the noble ladies, Princess Huayang wore a Shu brocade skirt to show off in front of me. I was so angry. Now that my second brother has two pieces of Shu brocade, why don't you give me one? I want to wear it in front of Princess Huayang to anger her back."

Lu Ji was amused by this and raised his eyes: "Are you wearing clothes to irritate people?"

He then reprimanded in a deep voice: "Your competitive mentality is unacceptable."

"Second brother is reluctant to give it to me?" The Sixth Girl lost her patience.

"No." Lu Ji said bluntly.

Seeing this, the Sixth Miss was so angry that she turned around and left the study, muttering, "What a stingy guy."

(End of this chapter)