Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 45

Lu Sheng held the Golden Chrysanthemum Lantern, scrutinizing it with a heart full of joy.

“Qi Zhenshu, quick, look, this lantern spins.”

The Golden Chrysanthemum Lantern was small and delicate. After the little candle in the center was lit, the small petals of the golden chrysanthemum would slowly unfurl and begin to rotate gently.

Qi Zhenshu put down the handkerchief in her hand and walked over to Lu Sheng’s side. “It truly is unique.”

The young woman’s smile was like a flower, her dark eyes like water. The spinning light and shadow reflected in her bright pupils, like the Milky Way falling from the sky, the stars brilliant and sparkling.

Seeing how much she adored it, a thought suddenly sprang up in Qi Zhenshu’s mind: in the future, she could look for more delicate little trinkets.

Lu Sheng blew out the candle, carefully wrapped it up, and said with a smile, “Seeing this lantern, I just know Tangtang will love it.”

Qi Zhenshu’s expression immediately froze, and the slight, happy curve of her brows dropped.

So, the reason she wanted this lantern was to give it to Lu Qi.

“I was just wondering what toy to buy for her,” Lu Sheng said with a smile. “Now, this little flower lantern is just right for her.”

This was a lantern that she and Qi Zhenshu had won together, after all.

Mentioning her darling Tangtang, Lu Sheng felt very soft-hearted and said with deep concern, “I haven’t seen her for several days, and I miss her quite a bit. I wonder if the little one is getting used to staying at her aunt’s place?”

“Otherwise, maybe we should just bring her along next time we travel,” Lu Sheng said, putting the lantern away in her bag.

“She should be used to it,” Qi Zhenshu replied, lowering her gaze. She turned and climbed onto the bed, saying faintly, “Go wash up soon; the water has been refreshed.”

She also missed the child, but for some inexplicable reason, at this moment, she just could not bear seeing Lu Sheng so completely focused on Lu Qi.

Lu Sheng washed her face, mentally planning her tasks for the next day. After thinking for a moment, she added, “Tomorrow, when the chrysanthemums arrive, let’s go to the street and buy some Qinzhou specialty pastries for her.”

“The little one likes sweet things,” Lu Sheng said, refilling the foot-washing water and sitting on the edge of the bed. “The cheese and jujube paste cake I had today was quite good; she’ll definitely like it.”

They were setting off for Binhe County the day after tomorrow, and Lu Sheng planned to buy some local delicacies tomorrow as souvenirs.

Mentioning the cheese and jujube paste cake, Qi Zhenshu’s nose seemed to catch the sweet, rich milky scent again.

Unable to focus on the book she was holding, Qi Zhenshu simply put it aside and said in a slightly suppressed voice, “Children should not eat too many sweets.”

“I won’t buy too much,” Lu Sheng said, wiping her feet and climbing into bed with a smile. “The cloud slice cake from yesterday was also good; that one isn’t sweet.”

Qi Zhenshu’s eyelashes lowered slightly, her eyes were heavy, and she felt somewhat reluctant to respond to her.

“I saw that you seemed to enjoy it yesterday, too. I’ll buy a couple more boxes so we can eat them on the road.”

Raising her head in surprise, Lu Sheng was untying her hair band, letting her long, dark hair fall naturally over her shoulders.

With a breath, Qi Zhenshu seemed to smell that sweet, rich milky scent again, and her expression unconsciously softened.

As Lu Sheng lay down, the milky scent grew stronger. Qi Zhenshu instinctively felt the sweet fragrance pass through her nasal cavity, filling her mouth and making her tongue tingle from the sweetness.

“Mmm, you decide what to buy,” Qi Zhenshu replied softly, her tone imbued with a lightness she herself hadn’t noticed.

She rolled over and got out of bed, went to the table to pour a cup of tea, and drank it in one gulp.

Two days later.

Compared to the numerous issues on the way there, the return journey was exceptionally smooth.

Before noon on this day, the group arrived at Deer Village.

After unloading five hundred jin (catties) of imperial chrysanthemums at the winery, Lu Sheng and Qi Zhenshu bid farewell to the convoy from the escort agency, and then Lu Sheng mentioned finding Qi Bei to Qi Nan.

“This is the letter your sister asked me to bring back for you,” Lu Sheng said, handing the letter from her pocket to Qi Nan.

The day before their departure, Qi Bei had come to the inn to find Lu Sheng and asked her to help deliver a letter to Qi Nan.

Qi Nan took the letter and eagerly opened it. Overwhelmed with joy, she then grabbed Lu Sheng’s hand and said, “Xiao Sheng, thank you, thank you so much! Sister says she’s bringing Xiao Yin to Deer Village next month!”

“That’s wonderful news,” Lu Sheng said, genuinely happy for her.

“Lu Sheng,” Qi Zhenshu called out from where she stood by the carriage, reminding her, “Grand-Uncle asked us to come home for lunch.”

Her gaze seemed to casually sweep over their clasped hands. Qi Nan quickly let go, apologizing, “I was too happy just now. You two hurry and go eat.”

Lu Sheng, however, didn’t think anything of it. She smiled at Qi Nan, then turned and walked to Qi Zhenshu’s side, leaving the winery with her.

The warm autumn sun was not scorching, but Qi Zhenshu still felt a little heated.

She was somewhat thirsty and wanted to speak to Lu Sheng, but her mouth felt dry and parched.

In Xiliang, there were strict social boundaries not only between men and women but also between people of the same gender. Adults would maintain a proper distance and would not be overly intimate.

Although she had guessed that Lu Sheng might be from another world, Qi Zhenshu still felt that this was inappropriate.

After all, Lu Sheng was a married woman, and it would be better if she wasn’t too casual when interacting with others.

Qi Zhenshu understood the principle clearly, but she didn’t know how to bring it up with Lu Sheng. Even after they returned home, put down their bags, and walked to Elder Lu’s house, she still hadn’t figured out how to mention it.

When they arrived at Elder Lu’s house, the one who opened the door for them was Lu Zheng. Seeing the two of them, she happily invited them inside.

Lu Zheng walked to the main hall’s doorway and called out with a smile, “Tangtang, come quickly and see who’s home?”

The little one was playing on the bed with Zhuo You. Hearing her eldest aunt’s words, she hurriedly flipped off the bed and scurried out on her short legs.

Seeing her two mothers in the doorway, she first froze for a moment, then happily ran over.

“Mama, Mother.”

The little one was wearing a goose-yellow padded jacket, and the small topknot on her head bounced with every step, making her look particularly amusing.

Lu Sheng quickly squatted down, her face wreathed in smiles, and wrapped her arms around the little one to pick her up, eagerly kissing her rosy cheek.

“Whose little darling is this? Haven’t seen you for a few days, and you’ve gotten even more adorable.”

“Mama~” The little one wrapped her arms around Lu Sheng’s neck and called out sweetly, “Tangtang missed you so much~”

The last two words of her sentence were tinged with a soft, tearful whimper.

Her heart melted into a puddle, and a slight sting of tears pricked her eyes. Lu Sheng lovingly stroked the child’s soft hair and said gently, “Mama missed her darling too. Next time we go out, we absolutely must bring our darling with us.”

“Really?” The little one’s crying instantly stopped, and she asked with joyful eagerness.

Lu Sheng nodded emphatically and kissed her cheek. “Next time, we’ll definitely bring you along.”

“Mama is the best.” The little one giggled and happily kissed Lu Sheng’s face twice.

The two similar faces, one big and one small, had crescent-moon smiles, looking as if they were carved from the same mold.

Qi Zhenshu’s eyes softened with tenderness, and she involuntarily reached out, wanting to hug both of them.

Before she could move, Lu Sheng held the little one out to her and said with a smile, “Come, let your Mother hug you too. Our little one has gotten heavier, you know.”

The raised hand changed direction, taking the little one. Unlike Lu Sheng’s kisses, Qi Zhenshu affectionately tidied the wisps of hair on the child’s forehead and gently pinched her tender cheek with a slight smile.

“Mother, Tangtang missed you too.” Once in her arms, the little one didn’t dare to be too boisterous; she just rubbed her neck softly and whimperingly, murmuring in a small voice.

“Be good~” Qi Zhenshu held her, gently patted her back, and asked softly, “Have you been obedient and practiced your calligraphy while staying at your great-aunt’s house these past few days?”

At the same time, at the inn.

Princess Changning sat by the table, elegantly picking up a delicate pastry for herself. After tasting it slowly, she put down her jade chopsticks and unhurriedly rinsed her mouth.

She glanced sideways at the woman in the lake-blue brocade dress on the other side and said in a teasing tone, “You rushed here all night, only to miss her. What a pity.”

Then she instructed the maid in cloth beside her, “A-Lü, pour her a cup of tea, and let her rest well.”

“Miss Lin, please have some tea.” A-Lü poured tea for Lin Shuqing.

“Why are you making fun of me like this?” Lin Shuqing picked up her tea and took a small sip, saying stubbornly, “I didn’t rush here just to see her.”

“In any case, it wasn’t for me,” Princess Changning pointedly countered.

The two had known each other for nearly ten years, were close friends, and spoke without reservation.

Lin Shuqing lowered her head to drink her tea and did not reply to her.

Princess Changning took a sip of tea, lowered her gaze, and said seriously, “What did the old man summon you back for a few days ago?”

“He wants me to get engaged to Shen Jiaying,” Lin Shuqing said calmly, as if discussing someone else’s affairs.

Shen Jiaying was the only daughter of Shen Qin, the proprietor of Lifeng Bank. The reason Old Master Lin wanted to bring the two together was self-evident.

“And you agreed,” Princess Changning stated with certainty, seeing her expression.

“Mhm.”

Being born into a major clan and enjoying its glory and wealth simultaneously meant having to bear the responsibility of ensuring the clan’s continued prosperity.

Marriage alliance was the destiny of the clan’s children.

In the second year after returning to the Lin family, Lin Shuqing had seen the dirtiest, most despicable secrets hidden behind the high walls, underneath the family’s seemingly glorious exterior.

She had lost her mother in childhood, was more precocious than the average child from a young age, and had recognized her own value to the Lin family early on. Marriage alliance was inevitable for her, and she had planned for it for a long time.

Furthermore, judging by the current situation, a marriage alliance with the Shen family was her best option.

This was also the outcome she most desired.

Not wanting to discuss the matter, Lin Shuqing changed the subject. “Hengchanglong has a new move again.”

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