Chapter 38 This is your cousin, Jiang Fu
Qin Xiaoning was not like that. After being asked by him the first night, she could not get out of bed the next day. But today she was too lazy because she had to follow the Duke's wife and the girls to the villa outside the capital.

Since the wedding consummation, the two of them have been waking up at different times. Today is the first time they can get together for breakfast.

Qin Xiaoning has always had a small appetite and usually only drinks a bowl of bird's nest porridge for breakfast.

After breakfast was served, Lu Ji waved his hand to dismiss the servants in the room and ate alone with her. Seeing that she ate so little like a kitten, he kept blaming her: "You should eat more. You are as weak as a cat. You can't bear the slightest effort. You cried again last night."

Qin Xiaoning put down the small white-glazed bowl and looked up at the man in front of her.

He had not yet changed into formal clothes and was only wearing a shirt. The soft material of the shirt stuck to his body, revealing his strong and lean muscles. Even when he was eating, he stood straight, his body seemed to be made of iron. If you hadn't experienced it with him, you would never imagine how strong the strength in his waist was.

It almost made me fall apart.

And you blame her for crying?
Qin Xiaoning snorted and said angrily, "With someone like you, even if I eat eight meals a day and grow up like a cow, I still can't handle it."

Lu Ji was amused when he heard this and teased her: "Then don't eat too much. I don't want to sleep with my arms around a cow."

After breakfast, the two went out together. Lu Ji went to the court. When he left the second gate, he told Qin Xiaoning, "You go first with mother and sixth sister. I'll go directly after the court."

Qin Xiaoning nodded in agreement, and after watching him leave the mansion, she turned and went to the front yard to look for the Sixth Miss.

The carriage and horses had already been prepared. It was the mansion's luxurious carriage, a four-horse carriage, spacious and comfortable, with a thick felt floor and soft cushions on the seats. There was a low table with fragrant tea and fruits on it.

Qin Xiaoning and the fifth and sixth girls took a carriage out of the city. After less than half an hour, they arrived at the mansion.

This villa was built on the top of a mountain. Walking up the bluestone steps to the top, you can see the villa with green bricks and brown tiles, which looks like a palace in the sky, shaded by green pines and trees, and surrounded by clouds and mist.

The wife of the Duke and her female relatives entered the villa. Everything had been arranged already. Because the masters were going to stay here for one night, the steward took everyone to their respective courtyards to take a rest first.

The steward may have considered that the prince might stay here tonight, so he separated Qin Xiaoning's yard from the fifth and sixth girls'. Qin Xiaoning lived in the backyard. It was called a yard, but in fact it was an open garden with a two-story blue brick building. In front of the building was an endless lake and behind it was a waterfall several meters high. There were not many flowers and plants, and the most planted were rare trees.

"The prince likes this place the most. Every time he comes, he stays here, so this has become his special residence." The steward led Qin Xiaoning upstairs and introduced enthusiastically.

After all, considering Qin Xiaoning's identity, the steward did not lead her into the main house, which should be where Lu Ji's wife would live in the future.

The steward led Qin Xiaoning into the side room and said thoughtfully, "Young lady, please stay here. We knew you were coming, so we specially decorated it for quite some time. All the furnishings and supplies are new."

Although it is a side room, it is spacious and comfortable, and the layout is very elegant. You can see the waterfall outside by opening the window. It must be a very good sleep to fall asleep at night accompanied by the sound of rushing water.

Qin Xiaoning knew her own identity clearly. She smiled faintly at the manager and said, "Very good. I like it very much."

As he said this, he took out a hundred coins from his sleeve pocket and stuffed it into the steward's hand: "Sorry for the trouble, Madam. Bring her some wine."

After all, she is not a real master. The people under her are attentive to her mainly because of Lu Ji, but Qin Xiaoning also has to show some appreciation.

In a high-ranking family, with her status, it is not enough to rely solely on the favor of the master. She needs to make many good friends in order to maintain her long-term relationship.

The steward didn't expect that the young girl looked young but was a good person. He smiled even more deeply, declined, took the money, and said as he left: "You have been traveling a long way. Rest here for a while. The peach blossom banquet will start soon. I will come to inform you." He added: "You have never seen the peach forest in this villa. It is so beautiful."

After the nanny left, Qin Xiaoning lay down on the bed. She was indeed tired, not because of the long journey, but because of the torment she suffered at the hands of Lu Ji last night.

Although he had been trained by him for quite some time, he still couldn't bear it.

She closed her eyes unconsciously and didn't open them until the nanny came to call her.

"Miss Qin, the peach blossom banquet ahead is ready. I will take you there."

Qin Xiaoning stood up, fixed her hair in front of the diamond-shaped mirror on the dressing table, and followed the nanny downstairs.

After winding around for a while, a red wall several meters high appeared in front of us. I pushed open the door, and the eyes were filled with layers of peach blossoms.

The pink and white peach blossoms are in full bloom, stretching as far as the eye can see. The fragrance is so fragrant that it feels like you have entered a paradise.

It's really beautiful.

Following the nanny up the stone steps to the high platform, I heard the voice of the Sixth Miss when I was halfway up: "Sister Qin, come up quickly. It's so beautiful to stand here and look at the peach forest."

Qin Xiaoning quickened her pace and walked towards the Sixth Girl who was standing on the top. The two of them stood together and looked into the distance. The entire Taoyuan was in sight, it was truly a beautiful sight.

This high platform is called Taohuawu. There are several large white marble pillars around the platform, and they are wrapped with light gauze. Tables have been set up on the platform, filled with delicacies and fine wines. Maids with cloud-like hair buns stand around, waiting for the arrival of the distinguished guests and serving them a banquet.

Qin Xiaoning and the Sixth Miss were admiring the peach blossoms for a while when they saw in the distance the wife of the Duke and a group of people coming towards them in a mighty procession.

"Who is that person?" The Sixth Girl looked down from above and pointed at a girl in red and asked.

Qin Xiaoning looked in the direction of her hand and shook her head, "I don't recognize it."

"The one walking with mother is my cousin from the Marquis Zhongshun's mansion. Could that girl be her daughter?" The Sixth Miss frowned slightly, "Didn't they say it was a family dinner? Why did they invite outsiders?"

As they were talking, the Duke's wife led a group of people up to the high platform. After greeting each other and taking their seats, the Duke's wife waved to her daughter, the Sixth Miss, and introduced her to the girl in red, saying, "Qing'er, this is your aunt's daughter, her name is Jiang Fu. She played with you when you were a child. Do you remember?"

Hearing this, the Sixth Miss looked at the girl called Fu'er. She had some impression of her, but couldn't remember clearly. She asked, "Has Sister not been in the capital in the past few years?"

Jiang Fu didn't listen to what the Sixth Miss said. She was distracted, her eyes fixed on Qin Xiaoning who was standing not far away.

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(End of this chapter)