In the hall, Lu Chengren drank tea first. During the break, Lu Zhaoyi remembered that they had not eaten yet, so she went out and ordered her servants to prepare for food.

And when she was about to return, it was Qu Qiniang's opportunity.

She pulled Lu Zhaoyi aside and whispered in her ear, "You are a counselor, have you never thought about what is different about him?"

Talking about Qu Qiniang, she has met Lu Chengren twice so far, once at the gate of the palace yesterday, and the second time right now.

But both times, the impression left on her was not very good.

When she saw Lu Chengren, although he was gentle and polite, he always had a sense of hypocrisy.

What's more, the wife of the bookkeeper, Lou Wanqing, is not what she seems. This woman has a gentle appearance and an unbreakable will. She can travel dozens of miles to Luojing even though she is pregnant. It can be said that she is very thoughtful.

Lu Zhaoyi paused and turned to look at her. There was confusion in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"In the future, don't mention this matter again! Don't mention a word about it."

When he said these words, Lu Zhaoyi's eyes were cold and stern, and looking straight at him could make people feel frightened.

Seeing this, Qu Qiniang's eyes darkened slightly and she pursed her lips in silence.

Lu Chengren has always been kind and gentle, unlike his elder brother Lu Chengye who has an aggressive temper.

Back then, Lu Zhaoyi escaped from marriage, and with the help of this second brother, he escaped successfully, so he was also punished.

Now, the second brother came to ask for help, how could she not help?

Returning to the hall, Lu Zhaoyi smiled and ordered his servants to set out the dishes and chopsticks. He entertained his brother and sister-in-law as warmly as ever, as if the words Qu Qiniang had just spoken outside the door had never been heard before.

Why is this happening here? Qu Qiniang stood outside the door, thinking deeply.

Unexpectedly, Lu Chengren picked up the cup and took a sip of tea. He glanced at Lu Zhaoyi inadvertently and saw her calm face. He was curious for a moment, "Seventh sister's face is quite happy. Why?"

"Ah, that's it." Lu Zhaoyi seemed to suddenly come to his senses and smiled, "It is said that the old lady of the Qiu family in Hanoi County was once a member of the imperial family of the former dynasty. He has ten sons, all of whom are famous people in the world."

"Seventh sister, do you have something to tell me?"

Suddenly, Lu Chengren interrupted her, looking at her with a solemn expression and squinting his eyes.

His official position as Chief Registrar was that of Chief Registrar of Yushitai, and his Shangguan, Yushi Zhongcheng, was none other than Qiu Taigong's second son, Qiu Quzi.

When asked about her ideas, Lu Zhaoyi just smiled and remained silent.

Lou Wanqing's eyes moved back and forth between the two of them, as if they were considering something.

"Do you... have something to ask for?" Lu Chengren couldn't help but ask again.

Lu Zhaoyi rolled his eyes and chuckled, "What are you talking about, second brother? It's just that my little sister wants to visit Mr. Qiu, but I can't find the source. I wonder if my second brother can introduce me to my little sister?"

this……

Lu Chengren was really hesitant about this request.

It seemed like he had been thinking for a long time before he slowly put down his chopsticks and said with a slight grin, "Well, my husband and I are living here right now, so we should help you. It can be regarded as the rent money paid for my brother!"

The brother and sister looked at each other and smiled, each with their own thoughts.

At this time, Lou Wanqing smiled and hurriedly smoothed things over, "What are you talking about? When you say this, don't you treat your uncle as an outsider?"

When Lu Chengren heard this, he immediately woke up and slapped himself in the face to apologize, "Little sister, the second brother is out of sight."

Seeing the couple singing along, Lu Zhaoyi smiled and said nothing, then left the hall citing official duties.

As soon as she went out, she made a look with her eyes and asked Qu Qiniang and Gu Man to follow her all the way back to the inner courtyard.

As soon as she entered the room in the inner courtyard, she took one person by hand, held their head, and listened closely.

"Xiao Man, what do you think the purpose of their trip is?"

Gu Man's head was pressed, his brain was blurred for a while, and he couldn't say a word.

The same is true for Qu Qiniang.

"Has there been any news from Aunt Qiao, Ying Siong?" Lu Zhaoyi said this as if talking to himself.

"Qi, Qiniang." Gu Man forcefully got rid of her restraints, "I haven't received Aunt Qiao's letter yet, why not ask the shadow spirit to urge it?"

After hearing this, Lu Zhaoyi gave away his hands, and the two of them immediately got rid of each other and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Even though I received a letter from the Lu Mansion Shadow Guard, it was just the same rhetoric as Lu Erlang." Qu Qiniang said indifferently.

Lu Zhaoyi also nodded in agreement with this point.

Then, she thought for a moment and said, "Second brother is staying at home temporarily. You still have to act as usual and see us later, right?"

Did she say this because she hoped they would pay more attention to Lu Chengren's behavior?

After all, Lu Chengren had been an official for many years and had climbed out in a place where civil servants gathered. Unlike military generals like her elder brother Lu Chengye, he naturally had some connections in the city, so he had to slowly figure out his thoughts first.

Gu Man and Qu Qiniang looked at each other and nodded heavily.

…

The next two days in Yong'anli Mansion went smoothly, and nothing happened.

Until this day, the noble families in the capital were spreading rumors that Qiu Zhongcheng had obtained another Lin'er. The Qiu family also planned to hold a banquet with open doors and invite all the noble families in Luojing to the banquet to celebrate this event.

When this news reached Lu Zhaoyi's ears, she knew that the time had come.

Immediately, she sent someone to notify Lin Chang in Fangchiyuan on the outskirts of Beijing, waiting for an opportunity to prepare for action.

Then she took Qu Qiniang and Lu Chengren to Qiu Mansion.

For the banquet, the wealthy families from Beijing came one by one, and the Qiu family also set up a special venue. When everyone entered the courtyard, it was luxurious.

Taigong Qiu was old and didn't like to work hard, so he sat in the main hall, drinking tea and chatting with his old friends from the previous court.

By the time Lu Zhaoyi and others arrived, Qiu Taigong had already closed his eyes to rest, and behind him, someone offered him tea.

Looking from a distance, she saw that the person busy in the Qiu Mansion was Qiu Quzi, the chief censor.

It seemed that Qiu Quzi was aware of it and looked into the distance with an unexpected expression.

"Master Lu, you're not on duty today, so you came to my house to join in the fun?" He stared at Lu Chengren's face, but never glanced at anyone else.

This seems deliberate.

Lu Chengren felt a chill in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He just bowed his hands and said, "I am sincerely here to visit you, and I am also here to introduce you."

"Oh? Recommended? What does this mean?" Qiu Quzi raised his eyebrows and looked serious.

Only then did he turn his attention to Lu Zhaoyi.

"Oh, isn't this the lady Lu who argued with Lu Situ in the palace a few days ago?"

"Exactly!"

She bowed her head respectfully and lowered her head.

But my heart has long been filled with thoughts. How could Qiu Quzi, the fifth person in the world, be equal to Gou Chen? How could it be so simple?

With suspicious eyes, Lu Zhaoyi nodded slightly, "Qiniang didn't seem to notice Qiu Zhongcheng during the court meeting that day."

"Ah!" Qiu Quzi raised his head suddenly, thinking in thought, "Ms. Lu is serious in words, but I am only a fifth-rank censor, Zhongcheng. She is soft-spoken and soft-spoken. Naturally, she is not as eye-catching as Situ and the Right Prime Minister."

Lu Zhaoyi smiled and said, "Qiu Zhongcheng is so humble. Your Majesty and Zhongcheng once ate, slept and bathed together. Who wouldn't envy this kind of relationship?"

"Please don't mention it. This will bring bad reputation to Your Majesty. However, I am still lucky enough to see Madam Lu's sharp tongue." Qiu Quzi responded coldly, very cautiously.

At this point, the two of them were acquainted.

Entering the Qiu Mansion, during the banquet, some palace officials recognized Lu Zhaoyi during the banquet, and came up to bother her and try to please her in every possible way.

Everyone knows that during the court meeting that day, Madam Lu fought with the Right Prime Minister and Situ alone. Her strength was amazing, but most of the courtiers admired her.

Lu Zhaoyi smiled and responded one by one.

Even Qiu Taigong, despite his old age, came down from the banquet to toast Lu Zhaoyi.

"Hahaha, Mrs. Lu, I have long heard that although you are a daughter, you are no weaker than a man. You led a thousand cavalry to attack the Nanyang Marquis Mansion and opened the gate..."

Mr. Qiu became more and more enthusiastic as he talked.

Qiu Quzi, who was still entertaining the guests, noticed something. His eyes suddenly flashed with fear, and he quickly ran over and pulled his father to shut up.

"Everyone, everyone, Madam Lu, please forgive me, my father made a mistake while drunk!" As he said this, he helped Taigong Qiu to the backyard.

At this situation, Lu Zhaoyi sneered in her heart. She naturally knew that Qiu Quzi had always been forbearing and cautious in his words and deeds, so it was not surprising that he acted like this.

But this time, she didn't know whether this person knew something or was being too cautious.

Just as the guests in the courtyard regained their sight, there was a commotion outside, and everyone's eyes were attracted again.

Lu Zhaoyi also raised his eyes, and within a moment, he saw a slim woman in red, followed by a guard of honor, slowly stepping into the mansion.

As soon as Qiu Quzi came out of the inner courtyard, he was startled when he saw the person at the door. He lowered his head and walked forward, ran forward, knelt down and shouted: "Your Majesty, Qiu Quzi, the Prime Minister of the Censor, welcomes Cai Guifei!"

Lu Zhaoyi shook his head slightly and looked at the man with blurred eyes.

This person is the only concubine in Xia Pei's harem?

Cai Zhengjun?
Chapter completed!