Reborn into the palace, she seduces the emperor's heart, driving the chief minister to madness!

Chapter 12 A Romantic Debt Comes Knocking

Chu Qingyin turned around abruptly and saw Lu Zhiheng, dressed in a blue brocade robe, slowly walking in from outside the pavilion. He then took out a clean white handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to her.

Why is it that annoying guy again?

Chu Qingyin inwardly grumbled, but outwardly remained expressionless, saying calmly, "Lord Lu, what are you doing here?"

Seeing that she wouldn't take the handkerchief, and that her fingers were still bleeding, Lu Zhiheng raised an eyebrow: "If you want to know, take the handkerchief first."

Chu Qingyin: "..."

It's inexplicable.

Despite her inner grumbling, she still took the handkerchief, gently pressed it against her injured finger, and calmly said, "Thank you."

Lu Zhiheng didn't mind her attitude and said calmly, "I came to discuss official business with your father and happened to hear the zither music, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect Miss Qiao's zither skills to be so exquisite. It's truly impressive."

Chu Qingyin gave a slight smile and lowered her eyes: "Lord Lu, you flatter me."

Lu Zhiheng looked at her: "Although the music was beautiful, it was somewhat unsettling. Is something on your mind, Miss Qiao?"

Chu Qingyin frowned. She had never thought Lu Zhiheng was a meddlesome person before, so why was he so talkative these past few times they met?

After thinking it over, she could only conclude that the man was probably still suspicious of her because of her last visit to the Ministry of Justice, and was constantly trying to get information out of her.

Thinking of this, Chu Qingyin suddenly looked up at Lu Zhiheng and revealed a charming and alluring smile: "Lord Lu guessed right, I do have something on my mind. Would you like to listen?"

Lu Zhiheng was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to react this way.

That smile is so unreserved.

Suppressing his disdain, he lowered his eyes and said, "If Miss Qiao is willing to confide in me, I am all ears."

Chu Qingyin chuckled softly, then stood up, supporting herself on the stone table with both hands, and slowly approached Lu Zhiheng.

Lu Zhiheng instinctively tried to back away, but Chu Qingyin raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you want to hear my troubles? Why are you hiding, Lord Lu? Do you think I, a weak woman, can eat you in public?"

Lu Zhiheng: "..."

He clenched his hands under his robe sleeves and stood still, no longer moving.

Chu Qingyin stopped in front of him, then looked up at him with a smile and said, "I was wondering why Lord Lu is always so concerned about me? Do you have some special feelings for me?"

Lu Zhiheng's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

He took a small step back and said calmly, "Miss Qiao is too kind. I was just being polite and showing concern."

Seeing that the man wasn't buying it, Chu Qingyin also dropped her alluring expression and said coldly, "Since that's the case, then Lord Lu need not trouble himself. My affairs are none of your concern."

The moment the words were spoken, the atmosphere between the two became tense.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

Xianglan rushed into the pavilion in a panic, panting, "Miss, something terrible has happened!"

Chu Qingyin frowned: "What's wrong?"

Xianglan hesitated, glancing at Lu Zhiheng beside her, and stammered.

Logically speaking, anyone with a modicum of manners would know to avoid suspicion in this situation.

But Lu Zhiheng remained unmoved, standing aside with his thick eyebrows slightly raised, as if watching a good show.

Chu Qingyin cursed inwardly for being despicable, then looked at Xianglan and said, "Speak, what is it?"

Xianglan bit her lip and said, "That scholar Lin is here, making a huge fuss and shouting that he wants to see you!"

Chu Qingyin's expression suddenly changed.

She had heard that the original owner's old flame had been kicked out by Qiao Gongquan, so she hadn't paid any attention to him. She never expected that this guy would be so reckless as to come looking for her.

For a moment, Chu Qingyin didn't know whether to blame Qiao Gongquan for not handling things cleanly or to blame the original owner for poor judgment. She clenched the handkerchief in her hand, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down: "Where is he?"

Xianglan replied, "He was stopped by the gatekeeper outside the mansion, but he kept shouting that he had to see you."

Chu Qingyin straightened her clothes: "I understand. Go tell the gatekeeper that I'll be there soon."

Xianglan responded and left.

Chu Qingyin turned to look at Lu Zhiheng and said calmly, "Lord Lu, please excuse me."

Lu Zhiheng lowered his dark eyes, his thin lips curving slightly. "It seems Miss Qiao has quite a few romantic entanglements."

Chu Qingyin paused, looking coldly at the man before her: "Lord Lu, what do you mean by this?"

Lu Zhiheng said, "It means exactly what it says, Miss Qiao, please don't worry too much."

Chu Qingyin could easily hear the sarcasm in his words. Suppressing her displeasure, she raised her eyes and looked Lu Zhiheng up and down, then sneered, "That's still better than Lord Lu. He always has a stern face. He's a man in his mid-twenties, and not a single woman is around him. I wonder if he's not interested in women, or... if he has some unspeakable secret."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhiheng's expression changed slightly.

How could a young lady from a respectable family say such things? It's utterly shameless.

He was about to speak again, but Chu Qingyin was too lazy to waste time with her. She snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Lu Zhiheng stepped forward and said, "Wait, I'll go with you to take a look."

Chu Qingyin turned around abruptly, a cold glint in her eyes: "No need, Lord Lu. My affairs are none of your concern."

After saying that, she turned and walked towards the gate of the mansion without looking back, leaving Lu Zhiheng standing alone in the same spot.

Watching that slender figure quickly disappear into the distance, Lu Zhiheng gently rubbed his rough fingertips, his long, narrow black eyes narrowing slightly.

He had no grudge against this Miss Qiao, so why did she act like a little hedgehog with sharp quills all over her body whenever she saw him, with an inexplicable hostility?

--

A gentle breeze was blowing, and Chu Qingyin walked briskly towards the gate of the mansion, secretly devising a plan in her mind.

The news of the royal selection was known throughout the land. If Lin Yue had simply inquired a little, he would have known that she was on the selection list. Yet, instead of staying far away, he took the initiative to cause trouble at her door, which was truly strange.

In this situation, there are only two possibilities—

First, this scholar surnamed Lin has a brain disorder.

Second, someone is sabotaging her behind the scenes, trying to ruin her reputation.

But in either case, there's nothing for Chu Qingyin, who has already died once, to be afraid of.

She arrived at the gate with a calm expression, only to see a scholar dressed in an elegant blue robe shouting loudly outside the gate.

"Go and fetch your young lady! Your household must give me an explanation today, or I'm not leaving!"

"Young lady, you've finally arrived." Upon seeing this, the gatekeeper hurriedly stepped forward, his expression full of bitterness and helplessness: "This fellow is really too difficult to deal with! He said he wouldn't leave until he saw you."

Chu Qingyin took a deep breath, straightened her clothes slightly, and then gestured to the doorman: "Open the door, I'll go and meet him."