Chapter 248 Missing Her

Qin Xiaoning has settled down in Shu Wangan.

After packing the luggage, Qin Xiaoning ordered Sister Wang and Songzhi to go to the shop outside to buy some wine, meat, vegetables and bring back some. The three of them worked in the kitchen for a long time and prepared a sumptuous dinner.

Qin Xiaoning asked Sister Wang to call her husband to eat together. Brother Li entered the inner courtyard and wanted to kowtow to Qin Xiaoning, but refused to eat at the table. Qin Xiaoning hurriedly stopped him and said, "From now on, we are a family. Don't be so formal. It will make us look distant."

After much persuasion, Brother Wang finally sat down at the table in a reserved manner. Qin Xiaoning knew that the couple were both honest people. At the table, she said to Sister Wang, "From now on, you and Brother Wang will follow me. Although I am not as wealthy as the Zhao family, I will not reduce your wages. I heard that you used to earn 200 coins a month at the Zhao family. From now on, I will pay you 230 coins a month. I will not let you suffer any loss."

Sister Wang said hurriedly, "Miss, you are being polite. There are no rules here. My husband and I would rather follow you."

She had just set up her own business, so she needed someone who knew her well to help her. This couple was honest and reliable, so Qin Xiaoning naturally wanted to win them over.

"Let's put it this way. I have earned a lot of money from selling calligraphy, so I will certainly not let you down." Qin Xiaoning said with a smile, "Since you have set up your own business, you can stop calling me Miss and just call me Miss."

Upon hearing this, the couple raised their glasses to toast Qin Xiaoning. Qin Xiaoning was pregnant and couldn't drink alcohol, so she drank tea instead.

After the master and servants had a lively dinner, Brother Li went to the outer courtyard to guard the gate, while Sister Wang and Song Zhi surrounded Qin Xiaoning and talked about decorating the new house.

"Those flowers are not good." Qin Xiaoning leaned back in the soft chair and instructed Songzhi: "Go outside and buy some beautiful flowers and plants to plant tomorrow."

"I see this backyard is quite big. Do you want to grow some vegetables?" asked Sister Wang.

Qin Xiaoning thought for a moment and said, "I still need to plant more flowers and plants. I can grow some vegetables in inconspicuous places."

Although vegetables are practical, they are not very ornamental after all.

As she spoke, Qin Xiaoning reminded Songzhi, "When I was in Qingsong Garden, the purple peonies I planted in the flowerbed in front of my window were very popular. Find a way to get some and plant them in our yard."

Songzhi smiled and said, "My little ancestor, do you know the origin of the purple peony?"

She cleared her throat and said truthfully, "The prince ordered someone to bring it all the way from faraway Luoyang. It's very rare. It's really difficult for me to ask for it now."

In the past, when I was with Lu Ji, all the food, clothing and other necessities were naturally the best.

Seeing Songzhi complaining, Qin Xiaoning said angrily, "If you don't have it, then don't have it. It's not necessary to have it. It's the same if you get some common beautiful flowers and plants."

Then he pointed at Sister Wang and Songzhi and said, "Take some money and ask the tree sapling vendor to send some maple trees to plant in the yard. Then my child can study under the trees."

Songzhi covered his mouth and laughed when he heard this: "It's only been more than a month, and it hasn't taken shape yet. You're planning for the long term."

"Of course it has to be planted early." Qin Xiaoning leaned on the recliner and gently stroked her belly: "Children grow fast. They can read and write in the blink of an eye."

He also told Songzhi: "Go to the musical instrument shop and buy me a zither. Madam Jiang said that playing the zither and listening to music more often can make children smarter."

Listening to Qin Xiaoning's chattering, Songzhi couldn't help but feel sad: "A Ning, if the prince knew that you were pregnant with his child, he would be so happy."

Yes, if Lu Ji knew that I was pregnant with his child, he would naturally be happy.

In the past, he often asked her to give birth to a child for him.

It has been a month since he left, and Qin Xiaoning actually misses him every day.

She had been with him since she was seven years old. She naturally missed him when he suddenly left her. "Do you think the prince can find you?"

Without waiting for Qin Xiaoning to answer, Song Zhi said, "Of course we have to find him. Ning, if the prince knew that you let his child wander around, would he break your legs in anger?"

With Lu Ji's temper, it's risky!

"Don't tell me this." Qin Xiaoning glared at Song Zhi: "I'm pregnant and I can't stand being scared. Why are you saying this?"

While speaking, Qin Xiaoning put down the tonic soup in her hand and said, "I won't drink it for now. I have no appetite."

Songzhi glared at her and said, "Oh! You are afraid too."

"What are you afraid of?" Qin Xiaoning said stubbornly: "He can't find his way here."

Although he said this, he suddenly felt uneasy in his heart, so he reminded Songzhi: "Remember to wear a veil hat when you go out in the future."

Lu Ji, who was far away in the capital, sneezed violently when he heard the words being mentioned.

He rubbed his forehead and looked up from his work: "What time is it?"

Zhu Feng, who was serving at one side, said, "It's already the evening hour." Then he advised, "My Lord, you haven't had dinner yet, shall I go get it?"

"No need." Lu Ji waved his hand, then stood up and walked to the window.

Today is a full moon. The bright moon has just climbed above the treetops, casting a cool and refreshing shadow on the courtyard.

Zhu Feng glanced at the lonely figure of the prince and couldn't help but persuade him, "Prince, you haven't been eating much lately and you have lost weight."

Lu Ji turned a deaf ear to him. He looked up at the moon and murmured, "Where are you?"

In the first few days after the little girl left, he was like a madman all day long, and he was furious in his heart more than once. After catching the girl back, he gave her a severe lesson to vent his anger. However, as time went by after the little girl left, Lu Ji gradually regained his composure.

He began to wonder if he had ignored her feelings.

It made her feel insecure and she lost hope for their future, so she left so cruelly.

I don’t know if she can be safe outside alone.

Worry, regret, longing, and deep self-blame.

Lu Ji looked at the moon hanging in the night sky, and the little girl's voice and appearance unconsciously appeared in his mind.

She acted coquettishly with him, puffed up her cheeks like a little pufferfish to get angry with him, or slyly pestered him to go out and play.
Every bit of their past appeared before Lu Ji's eyes. The days before were so beautiful.

In the past, he always thought that he was the one taking care of her, but he didn't know that she was also the only oasis in his heart. With her cruel departure, his life was no longer interesting.

"My Lord, please eat."

Zhu Feng had already brought the food and stood behind the prince, saying softly, "The Duke's wife has been telling me to take good care of you and to persuade you to eat."

The prince still turned a deaf ear to him. He raised his hand to rub his scarlet eyes and replied in a completely unrelated manner: "A Ning has been gone for thirty-two days. Zhu Feng, when do you think she will come back?"