NCCnovel Chapter 6 Head-on Confrontation
Chapter 6 Head-on Confrontation
Chu Qingyin sat in the carriage, but her mind remained unsettled.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently. She opened her eyes, lifted the curtain, and asked, "What's going on?"
The coachman replied, "Don't worry, young lady. There was just a child who fell down up ahead, and the horse got startled."
Chu Qingyin nodded and was about to lower the carriage curtain when she suddenly noticed something unusual.
She looked around and caught a glimpse of a carriage following closely in the distance.
Perhaps it was the woman's intuition that kicked in, but she felt that something was off about the carriage.
"Someone is following me..." Chu Qingyin's heart skipped a beat, and several possible people who might be following her flashed through her mind—
The known enemies of the original owner are Aunt Jiang and her half-sister Qiao Qingling.
After a moment's hesitation, Chu Qingyin said to the driver, "Turn around and find the nearest teahouse."
The driver replied, "Yes."
The carriage quickly turned around and slowly drove towards an elegant teahouse not far away.
"Miss, it's getting late. Shouldn't we head back to the manor?" Xianglan asked疑惑地.
"No rush, have a cup of tea before you go back."
Chu Qingyin didn't bother to explain, and closed her eyes after saying that.
When the carriage stopped in front of the teahouse, she put on a veiled hat and quickly found a private room by the window to sit down.
The view here is expansive, offering a clear view of the street.
"Waiter, bring me a pot of West Lake Longjing tea."
Chu Qingyin gave the instructions softly, then sat quietly by the window, her face expressionless, but her eyes constantly scanning the street warily.
Before long, she saw a familiar figure in blue appear at the entrance of the teahouse.
A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. It was him?
The person downstairs seemed to sense her gaze as well, and without any attempt to avoid it, walked straight into the teahouse.
Before long, the tall man walked to the opposite side of Chu Qingyin and sat down leisurely.
“Miss Qiao, what a coincidence,” Lu Zhiheng said, his voice cold and indifferent, seemingly devoid of any warmth.
Chu Qingyin thought to herself, "What a coincidence!" but her face remained expressionless.
She slowly set down the celadon teacup, looked up at Lu Zhiheng, and smiled: "Lord Lu, it is indeed a coincidence."
Lu Zhiheng scrutinized Chu Qingyin, his dark eyes filled with inquiry: "Miss Qiao, what brings you to have time for tea?"
Chu Qingyin smiled slightly and asked in return, "Isn't Lord Lu also busy? Aren't the affairs of the court busy enough?"
Lu Zhiheng picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, but his gaze never left Chu Qingyin's face.
"Although official duties are busy, there's still time to have a cup of tea. But Miss Qiao, I heard you've just recovered, why are you out today?"
The man's seemingly casual tone made Chu Qingyin's heart tighten.
Her slender white fingers, holding the teacup, tightened slightly. She lowered her eyes and said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Lu. I am much better now. It's good to come out for a walk and breathe some fresh air."
“Yes, fresh air is indeed good.” A sharp glint flashed in Lu Zhiheng’s eyes. “I just wonder if the air in the Ministry of Justice is considered fresh for Miss Qiao?”
Chu Qingyin's breath hitched, but she quickly calmed down.
She looked directly at Lu Zhiheng and said calmly, "What do you mean by this, Lord Lu?"
Lu Zhiheng leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "It's nothing, Miss Qiao. I'm just curious, why would a young lady like you go to the Ministry of Justice?"
The man's gaze was tangible, like a mirror that revealed everything, leaving no room for anyone to hide.
Chu Qingyin's heart raced. She took a deep breath before managing a smile and asking, "Lord Lu, were you following me?"
Lu Zhiheng raised an eyebrow and slowly leaned back in his chair: "Miss Qiao, you've misunderstood. I just happened to run into you."
Chu Qingyin sneered: "Is that so? Then Lord Lu is quite the coincidence."
Lu Zhiheng did not refute her, but stared at her and asked again, "Miss Qiao has not yet answered my question."
"Lord Lu, you're meddling too much. What is your relationship with me? Why should I report to you where I go?"
"Yes, that makes sense."
Lu Zhiheng nodded, then put down his teacup and said, "Then I wonder how Miss will explain this after Lord Qiao finds out."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin couldn't help but curse inwardly, "This despicable person still loves to tattle!"
If Qiao Gongquan were to find out about this, it would only cause more trouble.
After staring at the man before her for a long time, Chu Qingyin finally gave in. She sighed and said, "Lord Lu, I just had a nightmare last night about my deceased mother. I went to the Ministry of Justice today to ask my cousin to help me make offerings to the prisoners and pray for my mother's well-being. Is that not allowed?"
Praying for one's deceased mother, or giving alms to prisoners?
Where did this absurd claim come from?
"If Lord Lu doesn't believe me, he can just ask my cousin."
Chu Qingyin bit her lip, raised her pitiful little face, and looked at him with a mournful expression: "I really don't know where I offended Lord Lu, that you would treat me like a criminal and interrogate me."
Upon hearing the young girl's seemingly resentful yet tearful accusations, Lu Zhiheng's expression changed slightly.
Looking again at those deep, watery eyes, I felt a strange, inexplicable feeling.
"Miss Qiao, please don't take it to heart. I'm not interrogating you. I just have a past relationship with your father and wanted to show him some concern."
Concern? Ha, men never tell the truth.
Chu Qingyin sneered inwardly, but showed gratitude on her face: "Thank you for your concern, Lord Lu. I will be careful."
Having said that, Lu Zhiheng knew he couldn't stay any longer.
He stood up, about to turn and leave, when he suddenly remembered something and stopped.
"Miss Qiao, I hope you will remember what I said today."
He looked down at the slender young woman sitting quietly by the window: "There are some places you shouldn't go. Be careful what you say and do, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Chu Qingyin alone sitting at the tea table.
Looking at that aloof and upright figure, a hint of coldness flashed in Chu Qingyin's eyes.
This Lu Zhiheng is indeed a cunning and scheming fox.
Today was only their first meeting, yet he already became suspicious.
However, she was not so easily intimidated by him. Once she turned the tables, she would definitely tear off his hypocritical fox skin!
But how can she turn things around now?
The daughter of a high-ranking official is neither a bad thing nor a good thing; she is merely a sheltered lady with no real power.
With this mediocre hand of cards, how can she consolidate her power and turn the tide...?
As the sun set and dusk deepened, Chu Qingyin closed her eyes in the carriage on her way back to the mansion, her mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.
Perhaps it was a stroke of luck; just as she was about to doze off, she stumbled upon a perfect opportunity. Upon returning to her residence, she overheard the servants gossiping about it—
"Have you heard? The palace just issued an imperial decree that His Majesty will be holding another selection of ladies in February! Our eldest and second daughters are among those selected!"