Chapter 9: Quarrel.

Song Lingyi felt uncomfortable being stared at and turned her head away, but Lu Qian pinched her cheek and brought her back.

Knock knock knock——

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Young Master, Sister Qingyue is here to bring medicine to Madam." Azhu deliberately called out slowly and loudly, fearing that the people in the room might not hear him.

When their eyes met, Song Lingyi suddenly felt panicked. She pushed Lu Qian away and wanted to find a place to hide.

Lu Qian was caught off guard and stumbled a few steps when she pushed him. Seeing Song Lingyi open the closet and trying to get in, he immediately held her down and said with a smile, "Aren't you bored?"

Song Lingyi glanced at him. It was better to be alone than to be discovered that they were in the same room in an unclear manner.

"Don't worry, she won't come in."

Lu Qian rubbed the top of her head, picked up a robe hanging on the wooden hanger, and walked to the door.

Before opening the door, he turned around and looked inside, just in time to see the yellow figure hiding behind the screen, and his thin lips curled up slightly.

The sound of voices mingled with the rustling of wind and rain. Song Lingyi, leaning against the screen, could barely hear what was being said on the veranda. Soon, the door closed again, shutting out all the noise, and the sound of footsteps on the floor became clearer and clearer.

Until there was a slight noise beside her, Song Lingyi turned her head and looked at Lu Qian. He was dressed neatly at this moment, and there was no sign of his absurd behavior just now.

"What, you still want to see?" Lu Qian chuckled, his eyes bright and his recklessness hidden in them.

Song Lingyi was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant. She felt at a loss, and her ears became redder and redder. "I want to go back."

Lu Qian didn't stop her. He just took out a thin cloak from the closet and put it on her. "Let's go. I'll take you there."

"It's just that short distance, why does he need to be sent off?" Song Lingyi frowned and muttered.

Besides, he was still injured, couldn't he just stay indoors? But I felt awkward not to say anything about my concern.

The night rain was drizzling, the corridors were deserted, and only a few lights were on in the courtyard.

Lu Qian took Song Lingyi to Zhilan Garden, and he had a lot to say to tease her along the way.

…

After this night, the relationship between the two quietly took a step closer. At least Song Lingyi no longer rejected contact with Lu Qian.

A period of peace and tranquility passed. Song Lingyi felt bored staying in the Duke's Mansion. She thought that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was busy with all kinds of affairs and should have forgotten about her, an insignificant little person, so she followed Lu Yu out of the mansion to settle the accounts.

As a result, as soon as he left the store and planned to go to the pastry shop, he was tied up by the Prince's men and taken to the teahouse and threatened.

Fortunately, Pei Zhao arrived in time, rescued her with a game of chess, and personally sent her back to the Duke's Mansion.

By then the sun was setting.

After Lu Yu finished settling the accounts, she couldn't find anyone, so she went back home. When she came back, she found that her cousin was not at home. She felt a little worried and ordered the servants to look for her near the shop.

Somehow the news reached Lu Qian's ears. When he heard that Song Lingyi had not returned home, he immediately took his men out. As a result, as soon as he arrived at the gate, he saw Pei Mansion's carriage parked at the gate.

Song Lingyi and Pei Zhao got off the carriage one after another, talking and laughing, and seemed to be getting along very harmoniously.

I don’t know what Pei Zhao said, but it made the girl smile again, her eyes shining like stars.

This scene was so dazzling to Lu Qian that he clenched his fingers so tightly that their joints turned white.

His jaw was clenched, his teeth biting the soft flesh in his mouth, his light-colored phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, and his expression was extremely solemn and indifferent.

When Song Lingyi turned around, she saw Lu Qian standing at the door staring at her, and she felt inexplicably guilty.

"Where are you going, young master?" Pei Zhao said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Lu Qian's gaze shifted away from Song Lingyi, and his tone was half joking and half indifferent: "Where we go is none of your business?"

His sword-like eyebrows and the corners of his eyes were lowered, filled with a sense of oppression, as if a storm was about to come.

Pei Zhao was used to Lu Qian's mood swings, so he kept smiling. However, Song Lingyi frowned, dissatisfied with Lu Qian's domineering attitude.

The two families have such a good relationship and the two have known each other since childhood, so why are they speaking in such sarcastic ways?

"Lingyi."

Song Lingyi tilted her head to look at Pei Zhao, "Well, what's wrong?"

"It's getting late, I should go back, see you next time." Pei Zhao was still as gentle as jade.

When the green-covered carriage drove into the main street, Lu Qian had stood beside Song Lingyi without knowing when, and whispered jealously: "Everyone has left, why are you still watching?"

Song Lingyi rolled her eyes at him and imitated his tone: "Is it your business?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that the young man in front of her was in a bad mood and his mood was very low. After looking at her deeply, he turned around and strode into the mansion with an extremely impatient look.

This young master has had a bad temper for a long time. Song Lingyi didn't take it seriously and went straight back to Zhilan Garden.

As soon as she stepped into the room, she found several kinds of pastries on the table above the couch. Song Lingyi picked up a piece and took a bite.

Hongju came in with hot tea and said with a smile, "This cake was sent by the young master. Do you like it, young lady?"

"Did he give it to you?" Song Lingyi was surprised.

Hongju nodded and placed the hot tea on the table. "The second young lady came back from settling the accounts and found you weren't home, so she sent someone to look for you. The young master came to deliver cakes and happened to hear a few maids discussing this matter. He was about to look for you too, but luckily you're back."

It turned out that Lu Qian went out to find her, Song Lingyi suddenly realized.

As the master and servant were talking, there was a sudden commotion in the courtyard. Through the half-open carved lattice window, they saw Lu Qianqi walking towards the main house in a rage, and the maids all tried to avoid him.

"Girl, this..." Hongqi was also a little panicked.

It is a well-known fact that my daughter and the young master do not get along well. Recently, their relationship has finally eased a little, but why is the young master acting like he has eaten firecrackers again?

"You go out first." Song Lingyi was still calm.

Hongju agreed and just as she reached the door of the main house, before she could greet anyone, she saw the figure in brocade robe walk into the main house without stopping.

Once the door was closed, no sound from inside could be heard. The maids did not dare to be curious and went about their business.

Lu Qian walked straight to Song Lingyi without hesitation, his brows filled with suppressed anger and barely perceptible helplessness.

"What...what...are you going to do?" Song Lingyi couldn't help but take a step back, with a hint of panic and surprise in her bright black eyes.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Facing that oppressive gaze, Song Lingyi took a long while to calm herself down and took a deep breath: "Brother Jianzhi and I..."

The rest of her explanation was swallowed in astonishment. Lu Qian suddenly hugged her and buried his head in her neck. He was obviously so tall that this position would be very uncomfortable, but he didn't say a word.

After a long time, the young man's depressed voice rang in his ears: "Song Lingyi, if you apologize to me now, I will forgive you."

“……?” Song Lingyi was stunned.

Apologize?

she?

Apart from the phrase "what's it to you", it seems that she didn't do anything bad, but he had a very bad attitude.

"No." She refused.

Lu Qian didn't say anything.

The atmosphere is weird.

"Thank you for the cakes... Brother Kejianzhi sent me back home, and it was really rude of you to be so rude to him—"

Before she finished speaking, Lu Qian suddenly let go of her, clasping his large hand behind her head. His brows furrowed, his eyes lowered, his expression fierce. Without saying a word, it was enough to make Song Lingyi's heart tremble. He stared at her for a moment, then sighed in frustration.

"Aren't you going to settle the accounts with Lu Yu today?" he asked.

"Yes." Song Lingyi didn't understand why his mood changed so quickly. She turned her dark eyes slightly and took the initiative to explain, "It was just a coincidence that I met Brother Jianzhi."

"What coincidence?" Lu Qian lowered his eyelashes, with no emotion on his face.

“…”

Song Lingyi didn't want to tell Lu Qian about what happened in the teahouse, as it involved events before her arrival in Beijing. Pei Zhao didn't ask, because he was a man of good manners and a sense of boundaries. But this man was possessive and inquisitive. If he knew about her and Xiao Mingyi's affairs, who knows what would happen.

They were silent for a moment, and Lu Qian chuckled softly, his dark eyes suddenly becoming cold and piercing.

"Why, is there a secret between you and Pei Zhao?"

"No." She retorted weakly.

"Then why do you care about Pei Zhao's feelings and even treat me coldly because of him?" Lu Qian stared at her with his slightly red eyes, unblinking, "Do you like him?"

This was the second time he asked this question, but last time he asked Pei Zhao.

Song Lingyi in his dreams had never chosen him, so Lu Qian was instinctively afraid that he would lose her again if he wasn't careful. He desperately wanted a response from her, but for so long, she wouldn't even approach him unless he was persistent.

A sudden silence swept across the room.

"Brother Jianzhi has always been helping me. Even if it is out of friendship, I don't want you to have such strong hostility towards him." Song Lingyi frowned.

There seemed to be a flash of sinisterness and disappointment in Lu Qian's eyes. He sneered and said "I know", then turned and left Zhilan Garden.