Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 77

The sky was clear and blue, with white clouds lazily drifting across the heavens.

After eating, Qi Zhenshu went to wash the dishes, and Lu Sheng endured the soreness in her lower back to quickly gather the bedsheets.

When she saw the large circle of dark watermark on it, the shame that Lu Sheng had just managed to suppress resurfaced.

It was all due to this body being too sensitive.

Having fetched water and washed the bedsheet clean, Qi Zhenshu wiped her hands and emerged from the nearby shed, walking over to Lu Sheng’s side. With a calm demeanor, she pulled a corner of the bedsheet, helping to wring out the water together.

“Why didn’t you call me to help?”

“Weren’t you busy?” Lu Sheng muttered softly, lowering her head.

I just didn’t want to call you to help, that’s why I washed it myself.

Qi Zhenshu hung the bedsheet on the bamboo pole nearby. She turned around and saw Lu Sheng rubbing her waist, so she asked, “Are you uncomfortable?”

Lu Sheng glanced at her, hesitating to speak, and replied speechlessly, “No.”

After saying that, she turned and headed back to the house, but after only a few steps, she couldn’t help but touch her waist.

Washing a bedsheet had made her waist even sorer.

Qi Zhenshu followed behind her, watching for a long time before she suddenly realized.

Seeing that she was about to spread a new bedsheet, Qi Zhenshu hurried over, took the bedsheet from her hand, and said, “I’ll do it.”

The sun was good today, so Lu Sheng moved a long bench to sit under the eaves and sunbathe. After making the bed, Qi Zhenshu walked over and sat beside her, placing her hand on Lu Sheng’s waist and gently massaging it through her clothes.

The soft palm brought warmth, and Qi Zhenshu’s movements were very gentle, relieving much of the soreness in Lu Sheng’s waist.

Lu Sheng felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

It seems like a certain blockhead can still be very considerate.

Naturally, she leaned her head against Qi Zhenshu’s shoulder, squinting at the clouds changing shape in the sky with the wind.

Qi Zhenshu lowered her head and glanced at the top of Lu Sheng’s head, her hands continuing to massage as she softly suggested, “The weather is nice today, would you like to go see the flower market in the south of the city?”

Yawning lazily, Lu Sheng lightly shook her head and whispered, “Can’t walk.”

“If you’re sleepy, then go to bed and sleep for a while.” Qi Zhenshu smoothed the hair on her forehead.

“No.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, just like the low murmurs next to her ear last night.

Qi Zhenshu’s hand paused, and she looked up at the clear blue sky.

After sitting under the eaves for a while, the person who had been so adamant about not going eventually succumbed to sleepiness.

The next day.

The academy’s break was only one day, so Qi Zhenshu got up early and went to the academy after breakfast.

When Lu Sheng woke up, she only saw a note left by Qi Zhenshu on the table: Breakfast is being kept warm on the stove.

Lu Sheng ate the hot bun, and her heart felt warm too.

When the sun had climbed over the treetops and she figured the time was about right, Lu Sheng headed out to the White Crane Academy.

She was used to being busy at the wine shop on weekdays, and after staying at home for two days, Lu Sheng felt a bit bored, so she thought of going to the academy to wait for Qi Zhenshu to finish school.

Of course, she also had a little ulterior motive: she wanted to see if Ruan Ru was still looking for Qi Zhenshu.

When the gong sounded, students walked out one after another.

Unlike the noisy scene of the primary school students flocking home like chirping birds, the academy’s scholars were all high-spirited and walked with steady steps. Occasionally, they passed by in groups of three or five, discussing things that Lu Sheng didn’t understand.

Lu Sheng spotted Qi Zhenshu in the crowd right away. The (charming and beautiful) young girl was not by her side, but instead, there was someone whom Lu Sheng would never have expected.

The woman wore an embroidered cloud satin dress in moon-white, with a light purple sheer outer garment. Her long hair was tied up, and a piece of Hetian jade hairpin was tucked into her hair. Her attire was noble and elegant, and her demeanor was proper and poised.

What was most unforgettable was her refined and extraordinary beauty.

It was Princess Channing.

Seeing Princess Channing again, especially seeing her next to Qi Zhenshu, Lu Sheng’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The two stopped when they reached the entrance and did not walk toward the mountain gate.

They were talking, standing half-turned towards each other. Although the expression on Qi Zhenshu’s face was not warm, it wasn’t the coldness she showed to others either.

From Lu Sheng’s position, she seemed to see Qi Zhenshu’s slightly raised eyebrows, and Princess Channing’s face held a faint smile.

Under the clear blue sky, white clouds floated lightly, and ancient trees stood tall in front of the mountain gate. In the center of the picture was an open vermilion red gate.

The two people in front of the gate had delicate and beautiful faces. The breeze rolled up their skirts, branches swayed, and shadows shifted.

Even Lu Sheng had to admit that this scene was exceptionally harmonious and beautiful, like a painting, and the people in the painting were very well-matched.

But she was outside this picture.

A sense of uncontrollable panic arose in Lu Sheng’s heart. Her steps involuntarily moved forward; she wanted to go up and break this harmonious scene that was so dazzling to her.

“Qi Zhenshu.” Lu Sheng stood at the bottom of the academy steps, looking up, and called out, suppressing the tremor in her throat.

Qi Zhenshu frowned slightly and slowly turned her head. Lu Sheng’s heart suddenly thumped.

The moment she saw Lu Sheng, her light eyebrows slightly curved, and a fleeting look of joy flashed in her eyes. Qi Zhenshu cupped her hands toward the Princess, “Princess, please allow me to consider it further.”

Following Qi Zhenshu’s gaze, Princess Channing also saw Lu Sheng at the bottom of the steps. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and then she looked away, saying to Qi Zhenshu, “Alright.”

From the way the two had been talking just now to hearing their conversation now, Lu Sheng’s heart sank.

They had clearly met after their separation in Qinzhou, and when had Princess Channing and Qi Zhenshu become so familiar? Why hadn’t Qi Zhenshu mentioned it to her?

Moreover, Lu Sheng wondered if it was her illusion, but she sensed a slight hint of hostility in Princess Channing’s eyes.

Lu Sheng’s heart sank even further.

Could Princess Channing have set her sights on Qi Zhenshu, just like in the book?

How did they meet in the book?

Lu Sheng tried hard to recall, but too much time had passed, and she couldn’t remember clearly.

It seemed like Princess Channing encountered an assassination, and Qi Zhenshu stepped in to save her.

Yes, Princess Channing encountered an assassination, and Qi Zhenshu used a door panel to trap the assassin and block the long blade aimed at the Princess.

“Don’t you think the author had just gotten her leg stuck in a door when she came up with this plot? I feel so sorry for the assassin.”

Her deskmate had said that and laughed hysterically, even lifting her leg to demonstrate the motion vividly. Lu Sheng remembered this meeting scene immediately.

“What are you thinking about, so absorbed.” Qi Zhenshu patted Lu Sheng’s shoulder and asked with a raised eyebrow.

Lu Sheng snapped back from her memory and subconsciously asked, “Why is Princess Channing here?”

“Hmm?” Qi Zhenshu didn’t understand, pulling her hand and walking out of the mountain gate.

Lu Sheng looked down at their clasped hands, and her heart steadied.

Qi Zhenshu was with her now, and the person she liked was her.

Even if Princess Channing was interested in her, it was already too late.

Lu Sheng comforted herself inwardly.

“Why is she at the academy?” Lu Sheng laced her fingers with Qi Zhenshu’s. “Isn’t she the Transport Commissioner? Why is she in Qingzhou?”

“The prefectural yamen of Jiangnan Dao is located in Qingzhou. Except for going out on inspections, she usually handles official duties in Qingzhou. She came to the academy to listen to Dean Ruan’s lectures,” Qi Zhenshu answered Lu Sheng’s questions one by one.

“Is she here to attend classes too?” Lu Sheng felt a subtle unease, but tried to remain as calm as possible.

“She is not here to attend classes, but occasionally comes to listen to Dean Ruan’s lectures,” Qi Zhenshu thought for a moment and explained, “Dean Ruan was her teacher at the Imperial College.”

How could it be such a coincidence!

“When did you become so familiar with Princess Channing?” Lu Sheng finally asked the question she most wanted to ask.

Could it be that Princess Channing frequently comes to listen to lectures, and the two of them became familiar after repeated encounters?

Lu Sheng hadn’t read the novel; the plot she knew was what she had heard from her deskmate. Apart from the beginning and the end, which she vaguely remembered, she had basically forgotten the rest of the content.

Aside from the deskmate’s praise for Qi Zhenshu and how perfectly matched she and Princess Channing were, which she recalled in her dreams, Lu Sheng couldn’t remember at all how the original book’s Qi Zhenshu and Princess Channing got together.

“On the last boat ride to Qingzhou, she, Qin-jie, and I were in the same cabin. Princess Channing saw the Strategy for Governance I wrote. Our political views are quite similar, so we chatted and found each other congenial.”

When the two interacted in Qinzhou, Qi Zhenshu had already noticed that Princess Channing was indeed as brilliant as the rumors suggested. The subsequent conversation on the boat further instilled in her a sense of respect and shared goals with the Princess.

“She came to listen to the Dean’s lectures, and we had a few more encounters.”

Qi Zhenshu was afraid Lu Sheng would worry, so she didn’t mention the time she ran into Princess Channing during an assassination attempt.

Upon hearing her explanation, Lu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. This trajectory seemed somewhat different from the book.

Although a great deal of her worry had dissipated, Lu Sheng was still somewhat concerned.

“Why are you suddenly so interested in Princess Channing?” Qi Zhenshu stopped walking, frowned slightly, and looked at Lu Sheng.

Although they were now open about their feelings for each other, Qi Zhenshu still remembered Lu Sheng asking her what she thought of Princess Channing back in Qinzhou.

The present was different from the past. The moment Qi Zhenshu spoke, Lu Sheng instantly smelled a familiar sourness.

She found it amusing. She was worried that Qi Zhenshu and Princess Channing would follow the original plot and end up together, while Qi Zhenshu was getting jealous of her and Princess Channing.

“If she weren’t standing by your side, why would I ask about her?” Lu Sheng glared at her and openly showed her feelings to Qi Zhenshu.

At the same time, she also gave Qi Zhenshu a warning: she would be jealous of her and Princess Channing.

Stay away from her when you don’t have to!

Seeing Lu Sheng’s expression, Qi Zhenshu immediately understood. The corners of her mouth curved up, and she gently rubbed Lu Sheng’s head, “Don’t overthink things!”

Lu Sheng slapped her hand away, snorted, and complained sourly, “The day before yesterday it was Ruan Ru, and right after, Princess Channing shows up. Our esteemed Scholar Qi is truly a popular commodity.”

She wasn’t overthinking things. If Princess Channing wasn’t the official match in the book, why would she be so nervous?

However, after their conversation, Lu Sheng felt much more settled and was even in the mood to intentionally tease Qi Zhenshu.

“Nonsense,” Qi Zhenshu refused to accept the label Lu Sheng put on her. “Ruan Ru is just childish and shouldn’t be taken seriously. As for Princess Channing, that’s even more impossible.”

“My relationship with her is a relationship between gentlemen.”

That’s only because I’m here. Otherwise, you two would be wives with a bond as deep as life and death.

But Lu Sheng couldn’t say this to Qi Zhenshu; she could only grumble silently in her heart.

Thinking of this, Lu Sheng suddenly remembered what they had just been discussing.

“What did you tell her you needed to consider just now?” Lu Sheng still had a belly full of questions.

“She wants to invite me to be her Chief Clerk (Zhubu),” Qi Zhenshu frowned slightly.

In the second month of Princess Channing’s arrival in Qingzhou, the former Chief Clerk of the prefectural yamen committed suicide at home.

The Chief Clerk of the prefectural Dao is an aide who participates in confidential matters and oversees the affairs of the prefecture. She had just taken office, and right after, the former Chief Clerk committed suicide. Besides suicide to escape punishment for a crime, there could be no other reason.

But with his death, many things became unverified. Princess Channing had investigated for over a month, but the clues were sparse.

“Chief Clerk?” Lu Sheng didn’t quite understand.

“An official in the Dao’s prefecture,” Qi Zhenshu explained.

“It doesn’t sound like a very useful position,” Lu Sheng said. “Are you planning to go? Will it affect your studies?”

“No,” Qi Zhenshu thought for a moment. “My studies won’t be as demanding starting this month; I will only have half-day classes from now on.”

Princess Channing probably knew this, which is why she extended the invitation at this time. Moreover, according to Qi Zhenshu’s observation, Princess Channing’s previous visits to the academy were less about listening to lectures and more about selecting people.

If Qi Zhenshu wasn’t mistaken, in addition to her, Princess Channing probably also invited Ruan Ru’s older sister, Ruan Peng.

Princess Channing’s invitation to be the Chief Clerk was more of an invitation to be her personal advisor (Mouliao).

The Chief Clerk position was just an olive branch offered by Princess Channing.

“The position doesn’t matter,” Qi Zhenshu explained directly to Lu Sheng. “She wants me to be her mouliao (advisor).”

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