Chapter 516: Lu Ji and Qin Xiaoning’s Youth

Qin Xiaoning originally thought that after the prince went to the battlefield, there would be no one to support her, and her life would certainly be much worse than before. However, she did not expect that everyone in the mansion was still very kind to her, especially the maids and servants in Qingsong Garden, who spoiled her like a gold nugget. When Lu Ji was not around, they even treated her like the master of the courtyard.

The girl lived a comfortable and happy life and was very satisfied.

Spring went and autumn came, and three years passed in a flash. Lu Ji finally returned.

Amber married Desheng, the son of the mansion’s chief steward, so she knew more information than others.

Amber said that the old general who led the expedition to Hexi accidentally lost the food supply route, which put the army in danger. The prince acted cunningly and led 10,000 personal soldiers to attack the enemy camp and regained the food supply route. The saint was very happy, because the commander of the Hexi army died of illness, so the saint wanted to call back the prince, probably to use him in an important position.

This year, Lu Ji was only in his early twenties.

Qin Xiaoning listened to Amber’s vivid description and was happy for the prince in her heart: “The prince is really capable.”

“Of course, our prince has a promising future. Many aristocratic families with daughters of marriageable age are looking forward to his triumphant return to the capital.”

Such an outstanding man is naturally in great demand, and countless wealthy nobles are hoping to recruit him as their son-in-law.

The little girl has now reached the age of marriage and is old enough to understand the ways of the world. As she pondered over what was happening here, she felt lost and sad.

But she was a clear-headed person. Although Lu Ji had always treated her kindly, she understood the huge difference between them and she absolutely dared not even think about it.

“Sister Amber, I heard that you opened an embroidery shop outside?” Now, the little girl has begun to worry about her future. The prince will get married sooner or later, and she is grown up, so it is not good for her to stay in the mansion forever.

“I run the business jointly with someone else. My mother-in-law is in charge of purchasing for the upper room. There are many people working outside, so my business is doing well.” As the daughter-in-law of the mansion’s chief steward, Amber is also someone who knows how to make a living.

Hearing this, the little girl begged, “Sister, can you let me buy a share?”

“You want to invest?” Amber smiled awkwardly: “You don’t have to worry about food and drink here, why do you have to worry about this business?”

The little girl lowered her head when she heard this. “I have to plan for my future. Although the mansion is good, I can’t stay here forever.”

Hearing this, Amber whispered to her, “I heard from my mother-in-law that the battle in Hexi will not last long. When the prince returns this time, the Duke’s wife plans to choose a concubine for him to take with him.”

The little girl covered her mouth in surprise: “Sister, why are you telling me this? What does this have to do with me?”

Seeing the little girl like this, Amber thought she was just shy and smiled without saying anything more.

When she turned around to leave, she found that the prince had returned to the house at some point and was standing at the door looking at them.

Amber was surprised, but before she could say anything, the prince waved his hand and ordered her to leave.

Qin Xiaoning looked at the prince whom she hadn’t seen for three years, and somehow, tears fell from her eyes.

After not seeing each other for a few years, the prince had become darker, but more heroic. He stood there with a slight anger on his face, not saying a word, just looking at her quietly.

He had always been kind to her, and suddenly acting like this made the little girl feel a little overwhelmed.

“Young Master…” After a long time, she called him softly.

The man then stepped forward, raised his hand and pulled her to him without saying anything, glared at her and asked, “What were you talking about with Amber just now?”

His voice was cold and angry.

The little girl was a little scared. She thought carefully about what she had just said and thought that there was nothing to hide. She answered truthfully, “Sister Amber has a business outside, and I want to make some money with her.”

The man raised his eyebrows when he heard this: “Are you short of money? You won’t have enough food and clothing with me.” He became more and more angry.

She quickly explained: “That’s not the case. I have everything I need here and I live a good life. It’s just…”

For some reason, she didn’t dare to mention her future plans to the man.

The two of them just stood facing each other. The prince’s face was frighteningly dark. He didn’t say anything, and she didn’t dare to say anything.

After a long time, someone came in from outside. It was the Crown Prince’s deputy general Liang Tuan and the Duke’s wife’s personal nanny.

Liang Tuan clasped his fists and said, “Commander-in-chief, time is running out. The army has already assembled outside the city.”

The Young Master turned his gaze away from the little girl after hearing this. Qin Xiaoning couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. She was about to sneak away, but just as she took a step forward, she was stopped by the Young Master’s stern eyes.

She stood there obediently.

“We’ll set off in an hour.” Lu Ji ordered Liang Tuan, and then asked the nanny beside the Duke’s wife, “Is there anything else with mother?”

The maid stepped forward and said, “The Duke’s wife just mentioned to the prince that she wants to take a concubine for you. I don’t know when you will be back, so it would be good for you to have someone to serve you.”

Today, Lu Ji is already the commander-in-chief of an army. When the commander-in-chief goes on an expedition, he can bring one or two maids and family members with him.

Hearing this, Lu Ji looked at the little girl next to him again.

Qin Xiaoning’s heart was beating “boom boom” as if a little deer had run in.

The prince just stared at her with his eyes like hooks, and finally the little girl couldn’t stand it anymore. She asked out of worry, “Mammy is waiting for the prince’s reply, why are you looking at me like that?”

Lu Ji gave a meaningful smile.

Qin Xiaoning glanced at him and felt as if he was up to something bad, so she secretly rolled her eyes at him.

After a while, the noble prince said, “I remember the last time I went to war, you insisted on asking me to go with you, didn’t you?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the nanny and deputy general Liang Tuan who came on orders were focused on her.

Qin Xiaoning was so angry that she almost fainted: “Who has to pester you? My Lord, please be careful with your words.”

She blushed with annoyance.

Lu Ji smiled, with a bit of mischief, and then said to Liang Tuan and Nanny: “See, the little girl is shy.”

Liang Tuan laughed in agreement.

The nanny was very smart and could understand her master’s thoughts, so she asked again, “The Duke’s wife said that the prince has to choose his own concubine. The army is about to start. Who do you think he will choose?”

Hearing this, Lu Ji looked at Qin Xiaoning again.

His gaze was scorching, making people feel uncomfortable.

Qin Xiaoning lowered her head tightly, her palms were full of sweat due to nervousness. In front of everyone, she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

At this moment, the noble prince actually grabbed her hand in front of everyone, and then said casually: “This girl likes to pester me. Since you want to bring someone, then choose her.”