Lu Wanqing sized up Chen Xiuer and instinctively felt that this was not a girl Xiao Rui would be interested in, so she smiled and said, "No, I'm here to see my cousin."
"Cousin?" Chen Xiuer was momentarily confused, then her sense of crisis surged, and she blurted out, "My cousin only has me as his cousin, so don't you dare get involved here!"
Lu Wanqing: "..." Who wants to see your cousin?
She was speechless at Chen Xiuer's antics and realized that her cousin could never possibly like this girl, who was so stupid.
"My cousin's surname is Xiao. Could it be that your cousin's surname is also Xiao?" Lu Wanqing asked, feigning surprise.
Xiao is an imperial surname. Ordinary families with the surname Xiao were either forced to change their surname or were prominent families. In a small place like Dingshui Village, it is impossible for people with the surname Xiao to appear out of nowhere.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiuer felt relieved, relieved that they hadn't come looking for Lu Yanzheng.
Once she relaxed, she spoke more politely, "I'm sorry, young lady, I was a bit hasty just now. Are you talking about Young Master Rui? He's at my cousin's house."
As she spoke, Chen Xiuer pushed open the gate to Jiang Qinyu's courtyard and called out, "Sister-in-law, a young lady has come to see Young Master Rui!"
Chen Xiuer did it on purpose.
She loudly reminded Jiang Qinyu that the young master Rui had a cousin, and that as a married woman, she should refrain from gossiping about him.
Jiang Qinyu and Xiao Rui had finished discussing their business, and when they heard Chen Xiuer's shout, both of them showed surprise.
"Young Master Rui's cousin is here too?" Jiang Qinyu's gossip instincts suddenly kicked in.
In ancient times, cousins were often involved in something more than just a relationship. Could Xiao Rui and his cousin be engaged?
Xiao Rui immediately frowned and said, "My cousin did come to Yongshan County with me, but she should be in the county town right now."
After he finished speaking, he looked up and saw Lu Wanqing following Chen Xiuer into the room.
"Cousin!" Lu Wanqing exclaimed in surprise when she saw him.
Xiao Rui's expression remained unchanged, revealing neither joy nor anger. He nodded in response and then bid farewell to Jiang Qinyu, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Madam. I will come to discuss the specifics again in a few days."
"Young master, there's no need for such formalities," Jiang Qinyu said with a faint smile.
Xiao Rui straightened up. "I've troubled you a lot today, so I'll take my leave now. Please don't see me off, Madam."
After saying that, he turned to Lu Wanqing and said, "Cousin, you must be tired from your journey. The general is not at home today, so it is inconvenient for you. We will visit you another day."
Lu Wanqing was completely led away by Xiao Rui, but she couldn't help but look back at Jiang Qinyu before leaving.
The woman stood with her hands clasped behind her back, watching them leave with a smile on her lips. Her gentle and leisurely demeanor made people feel good about her at first sight.
This goodwill could easily make people overlook her appearance, but even if it was just a fleeting glimpse, Lu Wanqing knew that the other person's looks were no less than those who were called beauties.
So... this is what my cousin likes?
Xiao Rui led Lu Wanqing out of Dingshui Village in silence. When they reached the main road and saw Lu Wanqing's carriage, he left her behind and took his men with him.
"Cousin!" Lu Wanqing called from behind, but Xiao Rui seemed not to hear her, his carriage speeding away.
Lu Wanqing stomped her foot and quickly climbed into the car, yelling, "Aren't you going to chase after them!"
So the two cousins went back to their separate residence one after the other.
Xiao Rui got out of the car at a leisurely pace, while Lu Wanqing jumped out in a hurry, forgetting to maintain the image she always maintained in front of Xiao Rui.
"Cousin! Listen to me... I didn't mean to follow you..." Lu Wanqing said hurriedly.
Xiao Rui interrupted her, "If you have something to say, cousin, come to my study."
His tone remained calm and unhurried, revealing no true emotion whatsoever.
But Lu Wanqing knew that he was angry.
Xiao Rui headed towards the study, with Lu Wanqing following behind in frustration, her head almost drooping to her chest.
Oh no, it seems my cousin is really angry today. I should have known better than to go to him. Why couldn't she hold back?
Thinking about these things now is useless. Lu Wanqing racked her brains trying to figure out if she could find a way to appease her cousin.
Upon entering the study, Xiao Rui sat down at the desk and said to Lu Wanqing, "Cousin, please make yourself at home."
Lu Wanqing quickly waved her hand, "I won't sit down, um..."
She wanted to apologize for what happened today, but Xiao Rui didn't give her a chance. He looked up at her and asked, "Why did you follow me today, cousin? Was it your uncle's idea?"
Lu Wanqing's father, Lu Qingsheng, is her maternal uncle.
"No, no," Lu Wanqing quickly denied, "It has nothing to do with my father. I was just worried about my cousin going to the countryside alone, so..."
Xiao Rui interrupted her again, "I'm not alone, Eleven and the others are following me in secret."
Lu Wanqing choked, lowered her eyes in a panic, and stammered, "I, I'm just... just scared..."
“Cousin, please speak freely,” Xiao Rui’s voice was still gentle, but there was no warmth in his eyes. “We are cousins, so you can tell me anything.”
Lu Wanqing was taken aback, then asked uncertainly, "Can I really tell you everything?"
"Okay, sure." Xiao Rui nodded.
Lu Wanqing hesitated for a long time, wondering whether she should speak up or not.
Xiao Rui didn't urge her; he picked up a book from the table and started flipping through it.
Seeing this, Lu Wanqing was unsure whether Xiao Rui was truly angry about what happened today.
If he's not angry, can she tell him her true feelings?
Lu Wanqing was a little unsure, so she tentatively asked, "Which general's wife did you meet today, cousin?"
Living in a village, with such a small courtyard, could they be the family member of some sixth-rank general in the army?
But that lady doesn't look like someone of such low status!
"Which lady in Yongshan County do you think is worth visiting?" Xiao Rui looked up at her.
Lu Wanqing frowned and thought about it carefully. Her cousin was right. There really weren't many people worth him lowering his status to visit.
Yongshan County... Oh, right! Yongshan County produced a Great General Who Protects the Nation!
"Is she the wife of the Great General Who Protects the Nation?" Lu Wanqing's eyes widened in surprise.
Xiao Rui nodded, "That's right. He's also the discoverer of sweet potatoes, winter wheat, and high-yield rice, a hero of Yongshan County's post-disaster reconstruction, and..."
He paused, not continuing, and simply looked at Lu Wanqing, saying, "Cousin, do you think such a person is worth my visit?"
"Of course it's worth it!" Lu Wanqing blurted out, but then, remembering what she had seen when she entered the courtyard earlier that day, she stammered, "But cousin, you... you can't have any other thoughts about that lady!"
Xiao Rui's expression changed upon hearing this, and he said coldly with a grim face, "Cousin, watch your words!"
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