Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 79

The noonday sun was scorching, and the river surface was rippling with jade-green waves, the water sparkling.

Still more than ten meters from the river channel, the road was already completely blocked by layers of people, packed so tightly that not a drop of water could squeeze through. All that could be seen were heads, not even a glimmer of water, let alone the river and the dragon boats.

“Let’s go, we’ll go over there.”

Lu Sheng glanced at the surroundings and spotted a row of eateries along the riverbank. These shops were built right next to the river, varying in height, most being two or three stories tall, offering a good vantage point for viewing the river.

“Good.”

They followed the outer edge of the crowd toward the restaurants. The streets on the inner side, away from the river, couldn’t see the water, and the flow of people was much sparser.

Walking along, the restaurants on the street were all full.

They walked all the way to the last restaurant, where the apprentices at the door were busy stopping the guests outside, “Esteemed guest, our restaurant is truly full. Perhaps you could try somewhere else.”

“It looks like we won’t be able to watch the dragon boat race,” Lu Sheng said, spreading her hands in frustration and looking at Qi Zhenshu.

“Then so be it…”

“Xiao Sheng.”

Before Qi Zhenshu could finish, she was interrupted by a gentle female voice.

Following the sound, Lu Sheng saw a luxurious carriage parked by the roadside behind them. Lin Shuqing stood in front of the carriage, smiling warmly at her.

“Shuqing?” Lu Sheng was surprised.

“Scholar Qi.” Lin Shuqing took two steps forward, nodding slightly to Qi Zhenshu beside Lu Sheng, and then said with a faint smile to Lu Sheng, “Xiao Sheng, are you also here to watch the dragon boat race?”

“I’m afraid we can’t see it,” Lu Sheng replied. “The restaurants here are all fully booked.”

“I reserved a private room at Linjiang Pavilion. Xiao Sheng, you can join us,” Lin Shuqing said, glancing at a six-story building beside her.

Linjiang Pavilion was the tallest restaurant on this street and had the best location. Lu Sheng had asked at Linjiang Pavilion first when they arrived, but their apprentice had said that all the private rooms had been reserved a month ago.

“No, thank you.”

Lu Sheng did want to watch the dragon boat race, but judging from Lin Shuqing’s words, she must have arranged to meet others.

“You have friends joining you, we won’t intrude.”

Three or four more carriages were continuously pulling up by the roadside, and in one of them, Lu Sheng saw an acquaintance.

Qin Feiyan was sitting outside the carriage compartment and spotted Lu Sheng and Qi Zhenshu on the roadside at a glance. As soon as the carriage stopped, she jumped down, exclaiming with surprise, “Xiao Sheng? When did you arrive in Qingzhou?”

After traveling to Qinzhou together last time, Qin Feiyan and Lu Sheng got along well, and she was quite fond of this younger girl.

Qin Feiyan had no acquaintances in Qingzhou, so seeing Lu Sheng now made her feel especially close.

“Sister Yan,” Lu Sheng replied with a smile. “I arrived a few days ago.”

“Is Xiao Sheng also here to watch the dragon boat race?” Qin Feiyan asked with a smile.

While they were talking, Princess Changning lifted the curtain of the carriage behind them and stepped down, walking toward them.

Her gaze swept over Qin Feiyan’s face, then past Lin Shuqing, and she addressed Qi Zhenshu and Lu Sheng, “Scholar Qi, Miss Lu.”

“Princess.”

“Princess.”

The two bowed in greeting.

Qi Zhenshu’s eyes passed over Lin Shuqing and Princess Changning, realizing that the two of them must be acquainted.

“The Princess is the friend I arranged to meet,” Lin Shuqing said with a faint smile to Lu Sheng. “Since we are all acquaintances, why don’t you join us?”

Lu Sheng was a little surprised that Lin Shuqing was also acquainted with Princess Changning.

Feeling a bit strange in her heart, something flashed through Lu Sheng’s mind, but she couldn’t quite recall what it was.

“Exactly, meeting is fate, and it’s more lively with more people,” Qin Feiyan also eagerly chimed in.

Among the people present, Lu Sheng was the only one she could talk to more, and she wanted to keep her company.

With the invitation put forth like this, Lu Sheng couldn’t very well refuse. She glanced at Qi Zhenshu.

Qi Zhenshu was aware of Lin Shuqing’s feelings for Lu Sheng and naturally didn’t want to join her, but with Qin Feiyan and Princess Changning present, she could only nod to Lu Sheng.

Seeing that Qi Zhenshu had no objection, Lu Sheng smiled and said, “Then we shall impose on you.”

“Well, this is lively indeed.”

No sooner had Lu Sheng finished speaking than a sweet voice rang out behind the group.

Shen Jiaying, dressed in a floral brocade dress, walked gracefully to the side of the group. She first curtsied to Princess Changning, “Princess.”

Then she turned to Lin Shuqing, with a beaming smile, and asked, “Do you mind if I join in?”

The smile between Lin Shuqing’s eyebrows subtly lessened, but her voice remained unchanged, still gentle, “Come along.”

Shen Jiaying looked at Lu Sheng and Qi Zhenshu with curved eyebrows and smiled, “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Lin Shuqing paused for a moment, then introduced them to Shen Jiaying, “This is Lu Sheng and Scholar Qi.”

“Shen Jiaying,” Lin Shuqing’s smile was gone from her lips, and her voice was indifferent.

Shen Jiaying heard her words, and the smile in her eyes momentarily faded as she turned her head to look at Lin Shuqing.

Lin Shuqing gave her a deep look and then said to everyone, “It’s about time, let’s go up to Linjiang Pavilion.”

The group walked to the entrance of Linjiang Pavilion, where the apprentice was blocking a girl in a pink dress: “Miss, our Linjiang Pavilion is full. Perhaps you could try another place.”

This girl in pink was Ruan Ru, whom Lu Sheng had seen in front of her house a few days ago.

“Full?” Ruan Ru frowned, highly displeased, “I clearly saw someone go in just now.”

“They are guests who booked private rooms in advance,” the apprentice explained with a placating smile.

“Booked? In the past, coming to your place to eat, we never heard about needing to book.”

“Today is the Duanwu Festival, and many people are here to watch the dragon boat race, so our place requires advance booking for a seat.”

“Do you know who I…”

Ruan Ru’s words were cut short as Ruan Peng pulled her sleeve, advising, “Little sister, let’s go look elsewhere.”

“But Linjiang Pavilion has the best view on this road,” Ruan Ru pouted, somewhat reluctant.

“She is with us,” Lin Shuqing walked to the side of the two girls and said to the apprentice.

“Miss Lin.” The apprentice quickly bowed respectfully upon seeing Lin Shuqing.

Hearing her voice, Ruan Ru’s face instantly lit up with a smile. Before she even turned her head, she happily exclaimed, “Sister Lin!”

Besides the scholars specially selected for the imperial examinations each year, Baihe Academy also had regular teaching classes. Lin Shuqing and Shen Jiaying had both been disciples taught by Headmaster Ruan, so they were quite familiar with the Ruan sisters.

“Sister Shen, Princess Changning.”

Ruan Ru greeted all the older girls she saw one by one. When her gaze fell upon Qi Zhenshu and Lu Sheng, she clearly paused, and her voice became much quieter, “Sister Shu.”

Qi Zhenshu responded with an indifferent expression.

Lu Sheng secretly thought, judging by this, this person probably hasn’t given up yet.

The young girl’s feelings were too obvious; just one sentence was enough for anyone with eyes to notice the difference.

Shen Jiaying raised an eyebrow with a hint of amusement in her eyes, Lin Shuqing glanced sideways at Ruan Ru, and Princess Changning took in the expressions of everyone.

Ruan Peng, who was solely focused on her studies, was completely oblivious to matters of romance and didn’t notice her sister’s feelings for Qi Zhenshu.

Dong dong! Dong dong!

Two loud drumbeats sounded from the river.

“The dragon boat race is about to start, let’s go up first.” As the hostess, Lin Shuqing naturally took the lead in ushering everyone.

The private room Lin Shuqing had reserved was quite large. Even though the number of guests had increased from three to eight, it still easily accommodated everyone.

Just as they stepped into the room, a continuous burst of drumming came from the river.

Everyone passed through the room and went to the balcony on the side. Over ten dragon boats on the river were poised and ready at the starting line.

Clang!

A crisp gong sounded, and the dragon boats rapidly surged forward.

Dong dong qiang! Dong dong qiang! Dong dong dong dong! Dong dong dong dong qiang!

Drumming and cymbal sounds rose and fell, echoing across the river. Shouts and cheers erupted along both sides of the riverbanks, creating a tremendous roar.

Looking down from Linjiang Pavilion, the entire river was visible. The dragon boats on the water were chasing each other, neither willing to yield.

“The blue one and the red one are neck and neck, which one do you think will win?”

Qin Feiyan was watching with great interest. She first glanced at Princess Changning, seeing her intently looking at the river, as if she hadn’t heard her question.

She turned and asked Lu Sheng on the other side, “Xiao Sheng, which dragon boat do you think will win?”

“I can’t tell, the red one looks a little faster.” Lu Sheng observed carefully, but the two boats were evenly matched, and she shook her head.

“I think the blue one is faster,” Ruan Ru interjected.

Lu Sheng raised an eyebrow, tilted her head with a smile, and asked Qi Zhenshu, “What do you think?”

Hearing this, Ruan Ru also looked at Qi Zhenshu, awaiting her reply.

Qi Zhenshu looked at the river surface and pondered, “The black one.”

Lu Sheng helplessly squeezed her hand hard.

This blockhead!

Princess Changning withdrew her gaze from the river and cast an appreciative look at Qi Zhenshu.

Qi Zhenshu thought Lu Sheng was confused and leaned down to explain to her, “If the red and blue boats don’t want to collide, they will have to readjust their course.”

Although the blue and red dragon boats were ahead, both boats’ bows were slightly off-course. Even if they didn’t collide, they would waste time correcting their direction, and the slightly trailing black boat might overtake them.

In front of everyone, Lu Sheng could only nod along, while squeezing Qi Zhenshu’s hand again.

She inwardly mocked Qi Zhenshu, calling her a big blockhead.

Who needs your serious analysis?

Shouldn’t you, no matter what, firmly side with your wife and say the red one will win?

Noticing their interaction, Ruan Ru felt a surge of delight. Her inquiries had been right: Sister Shu’s relationship with her wife was indeed poor.

After meeting Lu Sheng, Ruan Ru had specifically asked one of Qi Zhenshu’s classmates from her hometown for information.

That person told her that Sister Shu was forced to marry into the Lu family to pursue her studies, and her wife was a bossy, uncultured country woman with whom Sister Shu did not have a good relationship.

This person (Lu Sheng) had just been displeased by Sister Shu’s answer and deliberately squeezed Sister Shu to threaten her.

If she acts this way in front of so many people, who knows how vicious and unreasonable she is behind closed doors!

The others, hearing Qi Zhenshu’s words, also looked towards the red and blue dragon boats on the river.

“It is true,” Ruan Peng admired.

“You’re right.” Qin Feiyan praised her, “Your observation is meticulous.”

Shen Jiaying curved her lips and examined Qi Zhenshu closely with interest.

Lu Sheng noticed her gaze and felt a strange sensation in her heart.

The booming gongs and drums drew closer; the dragon boat teams were nearing the river section in front of Linjiang Pavilion.

Everyone unanimously looked back at the river surface.

Vaguely, Lu Sheng seemed to hear a faint sound from the next-door room, but the noise flashed by and was immediately covered by the cheers of the dragon boats passing in front of Linjiang Pavilion.

“One, two, one, two, one, two…”

The race on the river was intense. Lu Sheng was distracted for just a moment, and when she looked back, the dragon boat race had already been decided.

Sure enough, the black dragon boat was the first to cross the finish line.

“That was too fast, I didn’t get enough of it.” Qin Feiyan was the most unsatisfied, and she smiled and said to Qi Zhenshu, “Amazing, Xiao Shu!”

Qi Zhenshu slightly nodded. Noticing Lu Sheng’s momentary distraction, she leaned down and asked, “What’s wrong? What were you just thinking about?”

“I think I heard a strange sound from the next-door room,” Lu Sheng said. “But it was drowned out by the dragon boat’s cheering, and I didn’t catch it clearly.”

Hearing this, Qi Zhenshu looked at the room next door.

All the private rooms on the river-facing side of Linjiang Pavilion had balconies, from which the entire river could be seen.

During the dragon boat race just now, there were people standing on the balcony of almost every private room.

Prompted by Lu Sheng, Qi Zhenshu recalled that ever since they came out onto their balcony, they hadn’t seen anyone come out onto the neighboring balcony.

Reserving a private room at Linjiang Pavilion specifically for today, yet not coming out to watch the dragon boat race, was indeed a bit strange.

Before Qi Zhenshu had time to think further, a sharp scream rang out from outside the room.

“Ah!”

“Murder!”

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