Chapter 260 Shen Qingshu's Plan
Qin Xiaoning smiled bitterly at herself, "He is now in power and is going to marry the noble lady of Wang family of Langya. All the things that happened between him and me in the past will slowly disappear with the passage of time."

The young lady has beautiful features, and there is a hint of sadness hidden in her misty eyes, which makes people feel pity for her when they see her.

Shen Qingshu pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Qin Xiaoning, and asked in a gentle voice: "Are you feeling wronged for your child?"

He could actually see what was on her mind.

In the past, whenever she had something on her mind, she could never escape Lu Ji's eyes. She never thought that there would be someone in the world who understood her so well besides Lu Ji.

Qin Xiaoning did not evade the question. She nodded truthfully and replied slowly, "I will never be at peace if this child is born without a father."

"Who said this child has no father?" Shen Qingshu asked back, and then looked at Qin Xiaoning, his piercing eyes filled with expectation: "If you don't mind, I can be his father."

Qin Xiaoning was stunned by his words.

The crimson setting sun shone into the room through the window lattice, casting a soft glow on the man's handsome face.

"Qingshu--" Qin Xiaoning suddenly called his name.

"I always consider you as a good friend," she told him frankly.

Seeing Shen Qingshu instantly lost after hearing this, Qin Xiaoning continued: "I grew up in the mansion since I was young, and I have very little contact with people and things outside. In the past, I have never had many friends in my life."

"Qingshu." She called his name again: "If you cherish this friendship as much as I do, don't joke with me like this."

After hearing what Qin Xiaoning said, Shen Qingshu gradually frowned. The two of them sat in silence for a long time, and Shen Qingshu slowly smiled.

He said, "I saw that you were unhappy, so I was joking."

Qin Xiaoning also laughed.

After breaking the awkwardness, Shen Qingshu suggested: "My parents died young, and you also lost your father when you were young. We are both lonely people in the world. I have a suggestion, Ning, why don't we become siblings with different surnames, so that we can have one more relative each other."

"Okay." Qin Xiaoning agreed immediately.

Seeing the gloom on Qin Xiaoning's face dissipate, Shen Qingshu smiled and said, "Then from now on, I will be this child's uncle."

After a pause, he explained to her solemnly: "He is both an uncle and a father." Then, he said jokingly: "Oh! My responsibility is quite big."

Lu Ji inspected the city on behalf of the emperor and stayed at Su Wang's official inn.

The moon was above the willow branches. Lu Ji stood under the corridor with his hands behind his back, staring at the moonlight in a daze.

Ever since Qin Xiaoning left, every night, as long as he was not immersed in official business, he would always stare blankly.

"Your Majesty——"

It was not until Yingfeng, who was accompanying him, came over and spoke that Lu Ji came back to his senses from his complicated thoughts of missing her.

"Zhizhou Shen is outside the door asking to see you." Yingfeng replied.

When he heard that it was Shen Qingshu, Lu Ji's eyes lit up and he asked, "Did the people following him find anything?"

Yingfeng replied: "Nothing unusual was found."

Lu Ji was silent for a moment after hearing this, and then asked again: "What about the house where the Shen Zhizhou lives? Is there anything unusual?"

Yingfeng replied, "I went to check secretly in the afternoon. In addition to a few maids, there was a young woman living inside."

Before Yingfeng could finish, Lu Ji asked anxiously, "Did you see the woman's face clearly?"

"Look carefully." Yingfeng said, "It's not Miss Qin." Upon hearing this, Lu Ji immediately showed a look of disappointment.

"Your Majesty, do you want to see Magistrate Shen?"

"Let him in." Lu Ji replied.

After a while, Shen Qingshu followed Yingfeng into Lu Ji's room. Shen Qingshu greeted Lu Ji by addressing him as "Regent".

Lu Ji said calmly: "You and I are old friends, there is no need to be so restrained, just call me 'Prince' as before."

Shen Qingshu smiled, his bright face full of sincerity, and said half jokingly: "Now that the prince has become an assistant minister, he is more approachable than before."

It’s not that he is approachable, but meeting Shen Qingshu brought back the man’s sad memories.

I still remember that when Shen Qingshu was studying in Lu's private school, the little girl just wanted to play and borrowed a travel book from him. When he found out, he got furious with her and slapped her.

Later, the little girl brought up this old matter more than once, but Lu Ji never took it seriously.

He raised her, and secretly, Lu Ji always treated her as his own property. When she was disobedient, he naturally blamed her.

I've never felt that this was inappropriate.

Ever since she left, Lu Ji has been constantly reflecting on it.

It seemed that she was disciplined too strictly in the past.

He should be more patient with her and not lose his temper with her all the time.

It was even more wrong to hit her that time.

After hearing Shen Qingshu's joke, Lu Ji forced a smile and asked, "Shen Zhizhou came to see me, but is there any official business?"

Shen Qingshu said: "I have already finished discussing the official business with the prince during the day. I came to see you now purely to reminisce about the past."

He smiled and said, "I studied in the Lu family's private school, so I can be considered a Lu family student. Since the prince is here, I am just trying to show my hospitality as a host." He said, "I have prepared some wine in my humble home, and I hope the prince will be so kind as to come."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ji agreed readily.

He took Yingfeng out of the posthouse and was led by Shen Qingshu to his house. This was a house with two entrances and exits. Shen Qingshu led Lu Ji to the front hall. As Lu Ji walked, he looked around the house and said, "Shen Zhizhou is also a fifth-rank official. Compared with your status, your house seems a bit shabby."

Shen Qingshu replied, "I am just one person, so I don't need to live in a house that is too big."

Lu Ji asked, "Isn't Shen Zhizhou married yet?"

Shen Qingshu paused slightly when he heard this, and said to Lu Ji with a smile: "To be honest, I have already made an engagement and plan to get married next year."

As he spoke, he pretended to look around his house and said, "After I get married, I plan to move to a bigger house."

Lu Ji's eyes moved slightly when he heard this, and he asked casually, "Is Lord Shen engaged? Where is the girl from?"

Shen Qingshu replied: "She is not a daughter of a rich family, but the daughter of my uncle."

As the two were talking, a young woman in a floral dress slowly walked in from the backyard. When she saw Shen Qingshu, she called him "cousin."

Shen Qingshu hurriedly introduced to Lu Ji: "This is Shen's fiancée. My uncle unfortunately passed away last year, and my cousin and aunt are left alone. Since I have already made an engagement with her, I brought my aunt and cousin here early so that I can take care of them."

As he spoke, Shen Qingshu laughed at himself: "Your Highness also knows my family background. People like us who come from small families are not bound by those empty formalities."