"It's snowing, Mommy, it's snowing outside!"

Lingling trotted into the study, her little face flushed from the cold as she spoke happily.

Qi Yuning walked to the door and saw that it was only the beginning of November, and it was snowing in Shengjing City. Although it had snowed in the mountains a long time ago, it was the first snow in the city.

In just one afternoon, Qi Yuning received many invitations to poetry gatherings in the snow from young men from wealthy families who had the leisure time.

Qi Yuning has always been afraid of the cold and declined to write poems in the snow. On such a cold day, it is more suitable for him to use a charcoal brazier to keep warm in the study.

"Princess, the eunuch from the neighboring princess's mansion came to say they found a fawn. Her Highness the Princess and her husband invite you and Lingling to the princess's mansion to enjoy some roasted venison."

Qi Yuning didn't want to go out at all in the middle of winter, but since Princess Pingrou invited her, she really couldn't refuse.

She ordered her maid to bring a silver fox cloak, wrapped herself tightly in it, and also wrapped Lingling tightly in it before going to the princess's mansion next door.

It was snowing heavily outside, and a thin layer of snow had accumulated on the ground and among the trees.

Before entering the princess's mansion, Qi Yuning saw Lu Ze dismounting from his horse. He seemed to have just returned from the Dali Temple and was still wearing a purple official robe.

"Daddy!" Lingling threw herself into Lu Ze's arms.

Lu Ze took Lingling and said with a faint smile, "I heard Yun'er killed a deer."

Qi Yuning said, "So it was the deer that the little bald donkey shot. He's a monk, isn't he afraid of the Buddha blaming him?"

Lu Ze said, "He's been a meat lover since he was a kid. He's been eating leafy greens for nearly three months now. It's really surprising that he has such determination. In order to avoid marrying the princess, he'd rather not eat meat than become a monk."

Qi Yuning frowned, "What do you mean?"

Lu Ze smiled and said, "Xiao Yun'er is blind."

Qi Yuning finally relaxed his brows. "He hasn't changed his bad habits. I sent so many people to watch him, yet he still managed to poach a fawn. I never thought he would even dare to hunt the deer in Xianglin Temple."

Lu Ze carried Lingling into the courtyard. Princess Pingrou was overjoyed to see Lingling. She didn't even notice Lu Ze, not even Qi Yuning. She just held Lingling in her arms and smiled softly, "Lingling, do you miss your grandmother?"

"If you miss your grandmother, Lingling wants to see Lulu."

Princess Pingrou took Lingling to see the little deer imprisoned in the cage. The deer had an arrow in its leg, and its eyes were so pitiful that it whimpered.

Lingling said, "Grandma, Xiaolulu is injured. We shouldn't eat Xiaolulu. Can we raise Xiaolulu and let him play with Lingling?"

Princess Pingrou patted Lingling's head and said, "Little Lingling is so kind, so of course it's good. Come, ask the imperial physician to come and treat the little deer's arrow wound."

Lu Baozhu, standing by, was not happy. "Mother, now that the fawn has been cured, what are we going to eat today? Won't we have roasted venison?"

Princess Pingrou said, "It's the same with lamb. Yuning loves lamb the most. I've also ordered three-month-old lambs to be prepared and roasted whole. We also have some goats from the south. The goat soup with the skin is also a must."

Princess Pingrou invited Qi Yuning to come in and sit down. The lamb was already being roasted and the aroma filled the air.

Lu Ze went back to the courtyard to change into casual clothes, fearing that the oil from the barbecue would get on his official uniform.

After Lu Ze left, Princess Pingrou gave Qi Yuning a roasted lamb chop and said with a faint smile, "Yuning, have you heard that He Siqing is retiring?"

Qi Yuning nodded and said, "I heard about it."

Princess Pingrou asked, "Are you willing to marry my Ze'er now? After you marry into our princess's mansion, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

Lu Baozhu nodded and said, "You are marrying into the Dali Temple as the wife of the Minister of Justice. What an honor! When can you enter the Princess's residence and serve me, your sister-in-law?"

Princess Pingrou frowned and looked at Lu Baozhu and said, "Baozhu, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Lu Baozhu said, "After getting married, it is only natural to serve your mother-in-law and sister-in-law."

Princess Pingrou frowned and said, "This natural and self-righteous rule does not exist in the Princess's Mansion. If you want this rule, then mother will find you a husband's family that has the rules of taking care of your sister-in-law!"

Lu Baozhu pouted and snorted, "Mother! How can you be so disloyal?"

Princess Pingrou smiled and looked at Qi Yuning, "Yuning is not an outsider. Yuning, you also know that Ze'er is a Shaoqing when he enters the court. It is difficult for him to get promoted. If you miss this opportunity, it will take ten or fifteen years before you have the chance to get promoted.

Your Majesty also intends to let Ze'er succeed the position of Dali Temple Minister, but the only prerequisite is that Ze'er get married. Yuning, can you marry Ze'er as soon as possible?"

Qi Yuning looked at Lingling who was eating grilled lamb chops in Princess Pingrou's arms. As long as Lingling was around, they would get married sooner or later.

There is no way she doesn't want Lingling.

Although Lu Ze is the grandson of His Majesty and will be the Duke of Lu in the future, these are just empty titles, while the Minister of the Dali Temple holds the real power.

The wife of the Dali Temple's Shaoqing and the wife of the Dali Temple's Qingqing are only one word apart, but the honor is completely different.

Just as Qi Yuning was about to nod, she heard Lu Ze's voice coming from the door.

"Mother, I will not marry just for the position of Dali Temple Minister. Please don't make things difficult for the princess."

Qi Yuning wanted to say that she was not embarrassed, but Lu Ze had already refused, what else could she say?

Princess Pingrou glared at Lu Ze angrily, "You!"

Lu Ze walked up to Qi Yuning and said slowly, "Princess, don't be embarrassed. I know you don't want to marry me yet, and I won't force you."

Qi Yuning smiled faintly, but in her heart she was thinking that Lu Ze should not be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as he did not have the ability to read people's expressions or understand their minds.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!