Shen Ning set off with his men early in the morning, but the address was not close. After a round trip and some delays, it was already dark when they returned to the capital.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the lights at the city gates appeared and disappeared.
After entering the city, she hurried home, huddled up as she walked into the mansion. When she got off the carriage, the snow and wind made her so cold that she stamped her feet, but she didn't expect that someone was waiting for her at home.
Green Plum handed over a warm fur coat to replace the snowflake-stained cloak on Shen Ning's body: "Master arrived an hour ago and had a soup pot prepared. The freshly made soup is just waiting for you to come back."
Shen Ning went inside. A pot of meat soup was simmering on a stove, and the aroma was irresistible to her after a long day.
Qin Zhuo sat on the chair next to him, reading a book in a relaxed manner. At first glance, he seemed more like the owner of the house.
As Shen Ning stepped inside, Qin Zhuo put down his book and stood up, his gaze naturally falling on her, softening with warmth: "You're back."
The atmosphere was a bit strange, as if they were a family. Shen Ning washed her hands and went over.
"Young Master Qin, what brings you here?"
Qin Zhuo frowned, pulled her hand and made her sit down: "Come address me differently."
Doesn't it feel awkward to still call him Young Master Qin in our current relationship?
Shen Ning was stunned for a moment: "What...?"
Qin Zhuo raised his chin slightly and lowered his gaze: "Qin Zhuo, Zhuo Lang, A Zhuo, you choose one."
Shen Ning opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
The first name is fine, but the last two are too intimate. It would be impolite to call them by their first names directly.
Seeing her discomfort, Qin Zhuo was not going to let her off the hook. He leaned closer and said, "I'm five years older than you, why don't you call me brother?"
Brother Qin Zhuo?
A wave of heat rushed to her face, but Shen Ning quickly suppressed it: "No."
The moment she heard the word "brother," she thought of Shen Shu calling him "brother" everywhere, which annoyed her.
Seeing that she wouldn't speak no matter what, Qin Zhuo had no choice but to pour her a bowl of hot soup: "No rush, think slowly, drink the soup first to warm yourself up."
The soup is made by simmering donkey bones and medicinal herbs. It warms and nourishes the body, and after drinking a bowl, you feel much better.
Green Plum adds freshly prepared meatballs and slices of meat to the pot, cooks them, and then dips them in a special sauce—it's simply delicious!
Shen Ning ate with shining eyes. She accidentally stuffed the whole meatball into her mouth. It was so hot, but she didn't want to spit it out. She chewed while breathing on it, and her cheeks bulged out.
After finally managing to finish eating, she looked up and saw Qin Zhuo's undisguised smile, and immediately felt a little embarrassed.
"Excuse me."
Qin Zhuo's smile faded slightly: "Are you sure you want to keep talking to me so politely?"
Shen Ning is shrewd and diplomatic, but she always feels a little awkward in front of Qin Zhuo and can't bring herself to say anything tactful.
The main problem is that this is her first time having this kind of relationship with a man, and she doesn't know how to get along with him.
Qin Zhuo leaned closer, and Shen Ning's subconscious step back instantly made him laugh in exasperation. He grabbed her arm to stop her from retreating, and with the other hand, he took a handkerchief to wipe the little bit of soup off her cheek.
"Why are you hiding? Knowing you're going to pay respects to Lord Shen, I wouldn't do anything to you today."
Shen Ning: "......"
After wiping his face, Qin Zhuo stood up, clutching a handkerchief: "Your body is still very weak, so get some rest early tonight."
Shen Ning suddenly reached out and grabbed Qin Zhuo's arm, saying with a light smile, "You should go back and rest early too, thank you."
Qin Zhuo looked at her with complicated feelings, feeling a sense of inexplicable frustration. Did she really have to be so polite?
Never mind, today is a special day, I won't argue with her.
"Lu Qing's identity is sensitive. You should avoid having open contact with him in the future; it won't do you any good."
So many people wanted to kill Lu Qing and take his place, but she just stepped in and saved him. She's really not afraid of death.
Shen Ning naturally knew that saving Lu Qing would offend many people, but she did it discreetly. Apart from Lu Qing herself, no one else should know that it was related to her. However, Qin Zhuo clearly knew.
How many people outside know this?
She had already anticipated her troubles.
As if guessing what she was thinking, Qin Zhuo raised his hand and touched her ear: "Don't panic, no one else knows except me."
Because everyone else who knew was already dead.
"Even if something happens, I'm here for you."
He still has the ability to protect her alone.
Qin Zhuo left, and Shen Ning held her bowl, not touching her chopsticks for a long time.
No one would understand. She wanted to save those who had died in their previous lives, but in reality, she just wanted to change their seemingly predetermined fate. She was changing their fate, but also for her own.
But she also understands that everything in this world has a cause and effect.
The fact that she saved Mo Lin and Mo Xue'er is the first hidden danger. At least for now, she still doesn't know who kidnapped Shen Yu.
Fang Shiyan and her two children seem to be in the least danger at the moment, but Liu Chunsheng is Shen Changlin's son, and who knows what he will be like when he grows up.
Now there's another Lu Qing. Even though Shen Ning's words sound nice, she doesn't think Lu Qing is a particularly good person. In officialdom, who isn't ruthless to reach their position?
Everything carries risks, but the worst thing is not having the ability to face risks, but not knowing where those risks come from.
Shen Ning slowly picked up a meatball and put it in her mouth. It was fragrant, soft, and chewy, and tasted delicious.
No one can live a life without worries and without any smooth sailing, and she knew she was unlikely to live that kind of life.
If you don't want to die, then try your best to live.
Whether she did something right or wrong, the future will provide the answer.
Qin Zhuo said he would protect her, so it wasn't for nothing that she placed her bets on him.
-----
Lu Family
Lu Qing went home, ate a meal, said a few words to his wife, and then hurried to his study.
Although he rushed back, there are still many things he needs to worry about.
He had only been gone for a month and a half, and his position as Imperial Censor had already teetered on the brink of collapse several times.
These people not only wanted to kill him for their official positions, but they even dared to damage his mother's coffin. He would never tolerate it.
He immediately picked up his pen, determined to write a memorial detailing his experiences during this period and present it to the emperor so that they could witness the power of his position as the foremost censor.
He wrote furiously, so focused on his work because of his resentment that he didn't even notice when another person had entered the room.
After finishing writing, he suddenly looked up and saw a young man in black brocade robes sitting beside him for who knows how long, idly playing with a jewel-encrusted dagger. He only looked over when the young man stopped.
His gaze was sinister, like that of a venomous snake.
Lu Qing frowned: "Qin Zhuo, when did you come in?"
Qin Zhuo: "I've been here since you started writing, but seeing your writing flow so freely, I couldn't bear to disturb you."
He slowly stood up, holding a folded document in his hand: "Lord Lu, don't be nervous. I just want to show you something and ask you for a small favor."
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