Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"Cuiwei, just go with Taohong." Shen Chuning ordered.

Cuiwei looked at Shen Chuning with some concern: "But Miss..."

Shen Chuning patted her hand that was supporting her arm and comforted her, "I can't get lost in this governor's office. Besides, Miss Wang is with me. She won't hurt me, will she?"

At this moment, Wang Ruolin showed a guilty look on her face, but she soon calmed down and agreed, "Leave your young lady to me, don't worry."

Cuiwei then reluctantly followed Taohong away.

After the two left, Wang Ruolin asked with a smile, "Chu Ning has been in Shandong for a while now. What do you think of Shandong?"

Shen Chuning smiled slightly and replied, "The climate in Shandong is better than in Beijing. Beijing is too dry. My throat always hurts for a few days at this time of year in previous years, but I haven't felt any pain since I came to Shandong."

Wang Ruolin smiled and nodded. "I just love Shandong. When I was little, I went to visit my grandparents' home outside Beijing with my mother. Unexpectedly, the weather was so dry that my nose started bleeding every day. My mother was so scared at the time, she thought I had some incurable disease. After I returned to Shandong, it never happened again."

Shen Chuning smiled faintly and said nothing.

Wang Ruolin continued, "If I could choose, I would really like to stay in Shandong for the rest of my life."

Shen Chuning raised her eyebrows, "Is Miss Wang leaving?"

Wang Ruolin's eyes were dejected. "I'm old, and I have to get married. I was originally going to marry in the capital, to my maternal grandfather's family. But after my maternal grandfather retired from the position of Prime Minister, the family situation was not very good. My cousin was originally granted a marriage, but the crown prince died early, and my cousin can only live with the Buddha in the green lamp for the rest of her life. My uncles are not doing well, and the Huang family is about to fall. My father helped me break off the engagement on the grounds that our horoscopes are incompatible. I heard that he recently asked someone in the capital to help me find a partner..."

Shen Chuning comforted him, "Parents who love their children will plan for them in the long run. Lord Wang also doesn't want you to have a hard time in the future."

Wang Ruolin sighed, "I really envy you. You can make your own decisions about marriage."

Shen Chuning's expression changed, and she said sternly, "Miss Wang, you're going too far. Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. It's not right for our Shen family to let our young people make their own decisions!"

She muttered to herself that if these words were to spread, someone might say that the elders of the Shen family had poor discipline for their children. If things went wrong, it would be difficult for the younger generations of the Shen family to find a partner.

Seeing this, Wang Ruolin hurriedly explained, "I was careless and said the wrong thing. Actually, I envy the Shen family for listening to the opinions of the younger generation and giving them the right to make their own choices. They can choose not to marry or marry someone they don't like. Such a family tradition is truly admirable!"

Hearing this, Shen Chuning's expression eased slightly, but she didn't say anything more. She just asked calmly, "Hasn't the garden arrived yet?"

There was a hint of impatience in his tone, and it was obvious that he didn't want to get entangled with Wang Ruolin any more.

"We're almost there, just around the corner." Wang Ruolin replied quickly, leading Shen Chuning into the garden.

Soon, they came to a night-blooming cereus.

Shen Chuning observed the Epiphyllum carefully and found that although there were several flower buds on it, they were tightly closed and showed no signs of opening.

She shook her head in disappointment and said to herself, "It seems that the flower will not bloom today. I'd better go back first."

Wang Ruolin looked embarrassed and apologized repeatedly, "I'm so sorry, Chu Ning. It must be that little maid who spread the news. I will definitely punish her when I get back."

"This flower should be in full bloom in three days. I wonder if Mr. Wang will have the chance to invite Miss Shen to come and appreciate the flowers then?" The speaker was a man who walked out from under a tree not far away.

He was wearing a green robe, a white belt around his waist, and black cloth shoes. He looked simple and low-key.

His face was ordinary, without any eye-catching features. He was neither handsome nor ugly. His figure was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin. He was the type that would be hard to find in a crowd.

"Brother!" Wang Ruolin shouted in surprise.

She quickly ran towards the man and took his arm affectionately.

"Chun Ning, this is my brother Wang Hongwen." She turned around and introduced him to Shen Chuning with a smile.

Shen Chuning raised her eyebrows and thought to herself: I've finally found the real culprit.

Wang Hongwen smiled and bowed to Shen Chuning, then said gently, "I have long heard of Miss Shen's name. I am deeply honored to meet you today."

Shen Chuning nodded politely in response.

At this time, Wang Hongwen said: "Lin'er, mother seems to have something urgent to talk to you about."

Wang Ruolin was troubled by the thought. She looked at Shen Chuning hesitantly and said in a tangled manner, "But Miss Shen wants to go back to the mansion, and the maid is not around. I have to send her back."

Wang Hongwen smiled and said, "In that case, why don't I take Miss Shen home? That way, my sister can go see her mother without worry."

Wang Ruolin was still hesitant and looked at Shen Chuning for help.

Shen Chuning nodded in agreement.

So Wang Hongwen smiled and said to her, "Then let's go."

After saying that, he led Shen Chuning out of the garden.

As they walked, Shen Chuning suddenly felt something was wrong.

She stopped and asked doubtfully, "Prince Wang, this doesn't seem to be the way I came here?"

Wang Hongwen rolled his eyes and said, "There are two gates with hanging flowers between the East Courtyard and the West Courtyard. Don't worry, Miss Shen, it doesn't matter which one you go through."

Shen Chuning stopped and said, "My maidservant was called away by Taohong, who is with Miss Wang. If I go back by another way, she won't be able to find me."

Wang Hongwen: "Don't worry, Miss Shen. I'll send someone to tell them."

Although he said this, Shen Chuning remained unmoved, so he had no choice but to take Shen Chuning back the way they came.

"I just heard Miss Shen and my sister say that you think Shandong is better than Beijing." Wang Hongwen said.

Shen Chuning said this to Wang Ruolin on the way here. It seems that Wang Hongwen has been following them for a long time.

"I just think the climate in Shandong is better than in Beijing." Shen Chuning retorted.

Wang Hongwen: "Miss Shen, are you willing to stay in Shandong for a long time? Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could enjoy your life here?"

Shen Chuning: "My father won't always be the governor of Shandong. If he changes to another job, I will naturally follow him."

"You...you might want to consider marrying and moving to Shandong, so you can stay here permanently."

Shen Chuning suddenly felt a surge of anger in her heart. She felt that the Wang family's behavior was indeed a bit reckless and inappropriate. How could they casually ask her such questions?

However, she didn't show any anger on her face. She just lowered her head shyly and said softly, "How can An Ning make decisions on these matters without authorization? I hope you won't make such a joke."

When Wang Hongwen heard that Shen Chuning did not directly reject him, he couldn't help but feel secretly happy, as if he saw the dawn of hope.

He had heard that when the young masters and young ladies of the Shen family proposed marriage, they had to be of the type that they themselves liked.

Now it seems that he may have a chance to win Shen Chuning's heart.

He began to fantasize in his mind that if he could successfully marry Shen Chuning home, with the power and background of the Shen family, he might be able to become the local emperor of Shandong like his father and grandfather in the future.