C9

Shen Zhi Xiao's expression was very ugly. His originally gentle eyes now had a hint of sullenness in them. Su Xiao Jin did not care about anything else and rushed out the door. Unexpectedly, she tripped on the doorstep, and in the next moment, her entire body was thrown out. Shen Zhi Xiao and Xiao Xi'er ran over together, and Su Xiao Jin just cried and pulled Xi'er along as she ran. Before she left, she did not forget to look at Shen Zhi Xiao with her pitiful eyes.

Shen Zhi Xiao stood there in a daze, watching Su Xiao Jin's back as she ran away. At this time, under the red lanterns, half of the corridor was immersed in shadow, the other half was as bright as a gem. Under the reflection of the two, her figure flashed past, appearing extremely weak.

His heart couldn't help but twitch. She would always hide in the forest and cry by herself. As long as she consoled her with a gentle voice, she would curl up in her arms like a rabbit, and after a long time, she would mutter, "Big Brother Zhi Xiao, I don't like it here."

At the beginning, he only felt pity for Su Xiao Jin, seeing her act like a frightened bird at her young age. Although she was silly, she also knew how to fear, knew how to endure and remain silent. Even a fool would have to be so careful with such a splendid prime minister's mansion.

But later on, Su Xiao Jin became someone he couldn't ignore. He also didn't understand why he would fall in love with a fool. She didn't know how to draw or write, and she didn't even know how to read. However, he liked her.

How good is it to be a fool? Because of his stupidity, Su Xiao Jin would always do things that made him happy. She would patiently practice writing her name on the ground, because this was taught by Shen Zhi Xiao. She would very straightforwardly tell him: "Big brother Zhi Xiao, I like it." Although she couldn't say it out loud, he knew that she liked him in her heart and treated him as the best person she had ever had besides Little Joy.

A very simple person walked into his heart with a complicated expression on his face. Shen Zhi Xiao stood outside the long corridor, his white clothes fluttering in the wind. His face, which was as mild as ink, gradually revealed a gentle smile. His eyes, which were as warm as jade, were filled with pain.

When Gu Zhiqiu stepped out of the doorway, he could no longer hear Su Xiaojin's cries. A green leaf gently fell, landing on his shoulder. Although it was May, it didn't make him feel sad at all. It had been so long since he had looked at Su Xiao Jin. If it weren't for the fact that she ran away from home and the fact that her shrewdness had shocked him, he might not have noticed her at all.

However, he felt a bit of heartache and guilt right now.

Shen Zhi Xiao turned around and respectfully bowed to Gu Zhi Qiu. He said, "Prime Minister, since the Emperor has come, there is no need for me to stay here any longer. For Xiao Jin's present, may I trouble you to give it to her. I will take my leave first."

His words carried a sense of indifference and alienation. He should have called Zhi Qiu "uncle", but his eyes were now filled with desolation. Thinking of Xi'er's words, he couldn't help but loathe this little gentleman in front of him.

He had never thought that even if he was here, her living environment wouldn't improve at all. Fortunately, his grandfather would return from the border soon. At that time, he would see who could bully his little brocade!

Gu Zhiqiu was furious. He knew that the Xiao family was the most prestigious family, while his father, Shen Li, was a third-grade Imperial Physician. He was also a young talent and was famous throughout the capital. With Shen Nian around, Shen Li did not join any political party. He was a person who was loyal to the Emperor. Thus, Gu Zhiqiu wanted to win over Shen Zhixiao. However, he knew that Shen Zhixiao had been angered for what happened tonight, but even so, he was still the dignified Prime Minister. With such a cold expression on Shen Zhixiao's face, how could he possibly hide his face?

As he thought about this, his face seemed as if it had sunk into a pool of water. There was nothing abnormal about it.

Seeing that Shen Zhi Xiao was about to leave, Gu Zhi Qiu suddenly took a step forward and walked beside him, saying: "Zhi Xiao, you don't have to leave in such a hurry, the Emperor should be at the door by now. If you leave now, the Emperor might even think that you're 'guilty of being a thief'."

Shen Zhi Xiao paused for a moment before looking at Gu Zhiqiu, who was smiling at him with a complicated gaze. With a bitter feeling in his heart, he lowered his gaze to hide the disgust in his eyes and said, "In that case, I'll be troubling Prime Minister."

Since the Emperor had come, he must have made some arrangements beforehand. No one could be sure if Young Master Qiushan suddenly came because he knew that Shen Jingxiao had come late into the night and was afraid that he had already sided with the Prime Minister. That was because they could not think of any other reason.

The two of them walked out of the Prime Minister's Residence. As expected, just as they stood there, a palanquin with red petals stopped in place. Beside the palanquin was an old eunuch dressed in casual clothes. Other than him, there were four other guards, riding on horseback on either side of him.

The palanquin was opened, and Young Master Qiushan slowly walked out. He was wearing a golden robe with complicated patterns on it, but the color was light. It gave him an indescribably graceful and elegant look. A pair of jet-black boots. It did not look like a pair of large gems in the daytime. Instead, they simply had the pattern of leaves embroidered with golden threads. However, they still exuded a noble aura.

He smiled at the two people respectfully bowing to him at the door. His eyebrows were raised and his eyes shone brightly under the moonlight. Under the light of the lanterns' flames, they were dyed with a bit of a demonic charm and savagery.

"No need for formalities." Young Master Qiu Shan's voice was gentle as he spoke. Then, his gaze landed on Shen Zhi Xiao as he said, "Young Master Shen will be serving in the imperial court in a few days. Prime Minister really loves talents. Have you already invited him to the mansion?" While he was speaking, he had already arrived at the bottom of the door. He was the first person to enter the Prime Minister's Estate.

There was no trace of panic in Shen Zhi Xiao's voice. He only lightly said, "Your Imperial Majesty is joking. He knew that Xiao Xiao had come late in the night because he heard that his long-lost cousin had returned. That's why he urgently wanted to take a look."

By this time, the three had already entered the courtyard and the eunuch was following by the side of the young lord, Qiu Shan. His gaze carefully roamed about the Prime Minister's Estate.

Young Master Qiushan smiled lightly and turned around, his black hair fluttering in the wind. For a moment, people were mesmerized by it. He looked at Shen Zhi Xiao and said: "Cousin? Could it be that foolish girl who was rumored to be able to make the whole city tremble? "

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My younger cousin has always been lacking in intelligence since she was young. It's a good thing that although she's a fool, she has an extremely pure and kind personality."

Young Master Qiushan sneered and turned his face, not allowing the people behind him to see the disdain in his eyes. "Hehe, she must definitely be a peerless beauty, otherwise why would Young Master Shen marry her under the gaze of the citizens and the strong opposition of your parents?"

Just like Su Xiaojin, Young Master Qiushan did not believe that there was really someone in the world who would fall in love with a fool. Besides, Su Xiaojin was not stupid at all.

Gu Zhiqiu followed at a leisurely pace, his eyes flashing with countless plans and doubts. His own people had rushed over to inform him of Young Master Qiushan's impetuous arrival tonight. It seemed like he had come on the spur of the moment. After coming here, he had always been asking Su Xiao Jin about her, could it be … A thought formed in his mind, Gu Zhiqiu shook his head. Impossible, the Emperor would take a fancy to a fool? Moreover, there shouldn't be many people who knew Su Xiao Jin's appearance, so how could he ask like that?

Arriving at the entrance of the main hall, Young Master Qiushan arrogantly sat in the most handsome position in the center of the main hall, while Shen Zhixiao and Gu Zhiqiu sat on opposite sides of him after receiving his orders.

Young Master Qiushan rested his cheek on one hand as he fixed his gaze on the box beside him. He could not help but ask curiously, "What is this?"

"In reply to the emperor, this is a gift from Zhixiao to my daughter. Speaking of which, Zhi Xiao is really infatuated with my daughter. " Gu Zhiqiu said with a smile.

Shen Zhi Xiao lowered his eyes and thought of Su Xiaojin. A smile appeared in the depths of his eyes.

In such a large room, the door was wide open and the lights were bright. The fragrance of the magnolia flowers wafted into the room.

Young master Qiushan was sitting there lazily, a look of disdain on his face. He glanced sideways at Shen Zhi Xiao, who was lost in thought, and said faintly," But I heard that Imperial Physician Yu Shi had already broken off the engagement a few days ago. Is that so?

Shen Zhi Xiao's expression became somewhat unsightly, his eyes also became colder, and his eyes drooped down as he said indifferently: "It's hard for the emperor to take care of everything everyday, and yet you actually know so much about this matter. "But it doesn't matter, I've decided to apply again. Grandfather will be back soon. He will definitely persuade father and mother." As he spoke up to here, his eyes flashed with a resolute light. Even if his parents did not agree, so what? As long as his grandfather knew that he truly loved Xiao Jin, and that Xiao Jin was always on tenterhooks in the Prime Minister's Estate, he would definitely be at ease in letting him marry her.

The Prime Minister's heart sank. Regarding the matter of Shen Nian coming back, he had already heard about it a few days ago, which was why he was so nervous about sending people to find Su Xiaojin. After all, Shen Nian was the same daughter back then, it was as painful as a treasure. Presumably, he didn't even have the time to ask the butler where Su Xiao Jin came from. Thinking of this, Gu Zhiqiu's expression turned even uglier.

Young Master Qiushan no longer spoke and lazily picked up the cup of tea on the table and carelessly teased the tea leaves floating on the surface of the water with the lid of the tea cup. His eyes lowered and a smile could be seen in the depths of his eyes as he took a sip and carefully savored the tea, slowly saying, "As expected, it's a good tea. The Prime Minister's family has quite a lot of treasures."

The two looked at each other before separating. The prime minister was not afraid of Young Master Qiushan, but these few years, although Young Master Qiushan was still indulgent and extravagant, he always made him feel uneasy and had to start being on guard against him. Immediately, he smiled lightly and said, "The Emperor is joking. No matter how good the items of the Prime Minister's Estate are, how could they be better than those of the palace?"

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