Surprise! The villain is my brother, stay calm!

Hearing this, Luo Qiuyu felt very sorry, but Xiao Lanjue was also a handsome man and was highly valued by the prince, so it was okay for her to marry him, and she could not be married to the son of another high-ranking official.

In the future, with the support of his "new aunt" Luo and his own master, Xiao Lanjue would not dare to bully him, and his future life would definitely be happy and fulfilling.

Moreover, his former master is coming back and he can continue to repay his kindness. Isn't this killing three birds with one stone?

"Everything is up to the master!" Luo Qiuyu agreed.

Lu Zhanxing shook his head: "I will give you and Xiao Lanjue a chance to meet by chance. You must make him impressed by you and even interested in you."

Xiao Lanjue will only plan sincerely for the Anguo Mansion if he likes someone. If he uses his power to force Xiao Lanjue to marry someone he doesn't like, there may be no problem in the early stage, but once something happens to the Anguo Mansion, a smart man like him will easily backfire. To be safe, it is better to let Xiao Lanjue fall in love with someone first.

Just like Princess Yaoguang, you will be more motivated if you like something, right?

One day, Xiao Lanjue was discussing with the old Duke, Prince Lu Mu Qingli and others about where to go for better development and how to quickly return to Beijing after the new dynasty.

After the discussion, Prince Lu said, "Mr. Mu is wanted, so it's not easy for him to go out. I don't trust anyone else with this matter, so this matter can only be handed over to Mr. Xiao."

"Prince Lu, please give your orders."

"This prince must spread the news of my grandfather's critical illness as quickly as possible. Remember, don't be too deliberate."

Xiao Lanjue immediately responded: "Yes, I understand!"

He turned around and was about to go out, but he bumped into Luo Qiuyu who was delivering snacks. Not only did the snacks on Luo Qiuyu's plate fall all over the floor, but Luo Qiuyu also "coincidentally" stepped on the snacks and slipped, falling backwards.

Xiao Lanjue's expression changed slightly, and he immediately reached out his hand. He finally caught the person, but his feet slipped and both of them fell to the ground.

"what!"

When Luo Qiuyu came back to her senses, her cheeks flushed: "Let go, let go!"

She slapped Xiao Lanjue's "excessive" hand. Xiao Lanjue lowered his eyes and saw that one of his hands had "rested" on his cousin's chest. His face immediately turned red and he quickly stood up to apologize: "I'm sorry, cousin, I didn't mean it..."

At this time, Lu Zhanyan and Mu Qingli walked out together.

"What happened? Cousin, what happened to you?"

"Cousin, he...she bullied me..." Luo Qiuyu said with a red face and a crying voice.

Lu Zhanyan's eyes darkened slightly: "Mr. Xiao?"

"Prince, it's not what you think..." Xiao Lanjue was also very nervous. He really didn't mean it.

Luo Qiuyu said aggrievedly: "Yu'er made some new snowy snacks and wanted to send them to the old Duke to try, but he...he bumped into someone and..."

Her face was red and she couldn't continue. She just wanted him to be a hero and save the beauty, and then meet a few more times. She didn't believe that Xiao Lanjue wouldn't be attracted to her. But this Xiao Lanjue was really something. He could interpret the hero saving the beauty as taking advantage of her. It was too... too much...

Xiao Lanjue said helplessly: "Sir, I was too careless and offended my cousin. No matter what the punishment is, I will accept it."

I was indeed in the wrong in this matter. If I hadn't been in such a hurry to go out, I wouldn't have bumped into my cousin, and such a thing would not have happened.

In fact, he didn't know that Bai Jing was on the roof. He just fell because Bai Jing hit the bottom of his shoe with a small stone, causing him to slip. Only a real accident would be more real, right?

"Since you are wrong, let my cousin have the final say!" Lu Zhanyan handled the matter impartially.

Luo Qiuyu rolled her eyes and said, "I'm out of snacks. I'll punish him by making him come with me to make snacks."

"Mr. Xiao, are you willing to be punished?"

Seeing that it was just a small matter, Xiao Lanjue agreed without saying a word.

So, Luo Qiuyu pulled Xiao Lanjue to the kitchen. As for what kind of sparks would be created, it depended on the two of them.

Mu Qingli looked at Master Lu in confusion. Wasn’t this too much of a coincidence?

Lu Zhanyan said calmly: "With Mr. Mu's status, he shouldn't be looking for a partner outside, right?"

Hearing the music of the strings, he knew the elegant intention. He knew that Lu Zhanyan had the leverage over him, so he didn't have to worry about betrayal, but Xiao Lanjue didn't have it, so he needed to win him over completely?

Then why is it necessary to win over Xiao Lanjue completely?

Thinking about what had happened to Master Lu recently, he had a bold guess in his mind, and he couldn't help but feel a little frightened.

"Your Majesty, this is..."

"As you think, Mr. Mu should be happy to go all out, right?"

The two looked at each other, and Mu Qingli immediately said, "I will follow you till death, Prince."

Lu Zhanyan patted his shoulder and said, "Follow me to the study."

The two of them went to discuss important matters tacitly.

In the kitchen, everyone was sent out and Xiao Lanjue was forced to knead the dough and light the fire himself. The two of them worked together to make snacks. Occasionally, when they needed to take something, their hands would always touch, and they would separate as soon as they touched.

Luo Qiuyu nervously tucked her hair behind her ears, but she didn't notice that there was flour in her hands and her face was also covered with flour.

Xiao Lanjue curled his lips and smiled, thinking that this cousin was not only beautiful, but also had a cute and lovely personality.

He couldn't help but feel moved in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it. How could someone of his ordinary status be worthy of the cousin of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion?

The two of them successfully made a new snack, and Luo Qiuyu was very happy: "Okay, the punishment is over. Seeing that you are so dedicated and responsible, this is a reward for you."

After saying that, she took a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, then picked up the snack plate and ran away.

Xiao Lanjue took the snack from his mouth and looked at her leaving back with an obscure expression. He had no official position now, so it was useless even if he liked her.

He suppressed the throbbing in his heart, shook his head, and turned away.

However, in the following days, he could always see her, and her every frown and smile always touched his heart.

He always loses his concentration when discussing things. Lu Zhanyan guessed that Xiao Lanjue has become interested in his cousin.

So, he and Lu Zhanxing took another drastic measure and decided to arrange a marriage for his cousin.

Three young men with good family backgrounds were selected. These were naturally chosen by Luo. She already felt guilty towards her third daughter and naturally did not want to delay her niece.

Although the family backgrounds of these three are not first-rate, they are still good in Beijing, and their family traditions are also good. My niece will definitely not be bullied if she marries into them.

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Lanjue felt heartbroken but also comforted himself that it was better for her to marry that young man from a noble family than to follow him.

Besides, how could my cousin fall in love with a poor scholar like me?

Shaking off the inappropriate thoughts in his mind, Xiao Lanjue walked back to his You Ran Residence in a daze, only to see his cousin standing under a tree with tears in her eyes. When she saw him coming, she walked over and asked him sadly, "Do you really not like me at all?"

"Cousin..." He looked at the heartbroken Luo Qiuyu in disbelief. She... also...

Luo Qiuyu wiped her tears and said, "If you are interested in me, you shouldn't be so timid. If you are not, just pretend I didn't say anything."

She said this and ran away, leaving Xiao Lanjue standing there in a daze.

He had not yet decided whether he should take the initiative to confess his feelings to his cousin, but news came that Master Lu was going to get married to bring him good luck.