After refusing marriage, she was pampered by the prince who acted as a shield.

Chapter 40: A Lonely Man and a Lonely Woman

It was the first time Mingming had ever seen this wooden house.

But Lin Rusi felt a sense of familiarity that she couldn't quite explain.

She clearly remembered seeing it somewhere before, but the images flashed through her mind too quickly for her to grasp.

Moreover, the furnishings of the wooden house were also very familiar.

Lin Rusi stood in the center of the wooden house, looking around.

No matter how hard she tried to recall, she couldn't remember anything related to the wooden house.

She was clearly visiting the Royal Nunnery for the first time, so why did she feel such a sense of familiarity?

As darkness fell outside, Li Jingyang took out pillows and blankets from the cabinet in the wooden house.

"It's getting late, and it's probably too late for the two of us to go back now."

"Let's sleep here for the night."

Lin Rusi snapped out of her daze and stared blankly at Li Jingyang.

"What did you say?"

Li Jingyang spread the pillow and blankets on the bed board by himself, and after exhaling a breath of stale air, he said, "You'll have to make do here tonight."

Lin Rusi bit her lip, her face turning bright red again.

She lowered her eyes, flustered and blushing so deeply she felt like she could pinch herself until she bled.

"That's not appropriate, is it?"

"A man and a woman alone in a room..."

Lin Rusi's voice was so faint it was barely audible.

At that moment, she wished she could find a crack in the ground and disappear into it.

Li Jingyang laughed heartily; he understood Lin Rusi's concerns.

"Don't worry, I am not that kind of despicable and vile person."

"You sleep inside, I'll sleep outside."

As he spoke, Li Jingyang pushed open the door, leaped, and jumped onto the locust tree outside the wooden house.

He found a very thick branch and lay down on it lazily, looking quite content.

Lin Rusi's eyes were wide open the whole time.

Everyone says Li Jingyang is a useless prince, but his lightness skill is so amazing, how can he be a useless person?

Lin Rusi looked at the bed and found that Li Jingyang had already made it up.

A warm feeling washed over her as she gently stroked the blanket.

In some ways, Li Jingyang is quite considerate.

Li Zeyan is not even as good as his toes.

Fortunately, she has completely gotten rid of Li Zeyan.

Lin Rusi walked to the window, looked up at Li Jingyang lying in the tree, and said softly, "Your Highness, I'm going to sleep now. You should rest well too."

With a leaf dangling from his mouth, Li Jingyang said casually, "Sleep well."

Lin Rusi lay on the bed, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, feeling exceptionally calm.

Before she knew it, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Lin Rusi is very particular about her bed; having gotten used to sleeping on her own bed at home, she rarely falls asleep on beds outside.

But I don't know why today.

Perhaps because she was too tired, Lin Rusi fell asleep as soon as she lay down.

And I slept soundly all night without a wink.

Meanwhile, in the capital city...

Lin Ruqin, accompanied by Hongzhi, hurriedly entered Nuanchun Pavilion from the back garden.

She originally intended to go straight in through the main gate, but she found that there were many guards at the main gate.

Lin Ruqin's heart was pounding.

If it weren't for her and Hongzhi's quick pace, the back door would have been guarded by the guards.

"Go and find out what happened."

Lin Ruqin took a sip of water and asked Hongzhi to investigate.

A moment later, Hongzhi returned quickly with light, quick steps, "Reporting to Miss."

"The reason why there are so many guards guarding the Lin residence is because of the Second Miss."

Lin Ruqin frowned. "What's wrong with her?"

Hongzhi approached Lin Ruqin and whispered in her ear, "The Second Miss hasn't returned since she went out."

Lin Ruqin narrowed her eyes slightly, "It's already this late, and she still hasn't come back?"

"of."

"When the master found out, he was furious and sent many more guards."

"The master is still angry."

Lin Ruqin's lips curled slightly, "Lin Rusi left with Prince Jinglie, and there's still no news of her..."

"Tsk tsk, let's go watch the show."

Lin Rusi is about to suffer a lot.

The Lin family had strict family rules, and given Lin Lezheng's status and position, he was extremely strict in disciplining his daughter.

After all, there are so many people in the imperial court watching, and the slightest carelessness could give others cause for criticism.

Lin Rusi hasn't returned by this hour, which is like walking right into Lin Lezheng's trap.

At this moment, Lin Le was throwing a tantrum at Si Yu inside the Peony Pavilion.

"This is outrageous!"

"She's getting more and more outrageous! What time is it? She still hasn't come back!"

Si Yu's eyes darted around, and she tried to explain to Lin Rusi intermittently, "She's still a child, and it's understandable that she's playful."

"Husband, she might be back in a little while, why are you so angry?"

Lin Lezheng, his face dark, angrily said, "Heh, you'll be back in a bit?"

"Look at what time it is now?"

"That brat, she's got some nerve now, acting like she owns the place because of my favoritism!"

Si Yu bit her lip. "Husband, I am also partly to blame for this."

"Hehe, it's good that you know!"

Lin Le stared intently at Si Yu and said bluntly, "Look at the good daughter you've raised!"

"How shameless! They don't even know they should be back by now!"

"If this gets out, how will my colleagues view me?"

Just as Lin Le was throwing a tantrum, Lin Ruqin walked in.

"Father, don't be angry."

She gently advised Lin Lezheng, "When I parted ways with my sister, she left with a man."

"Perhaps the two went somewhere else and haven't been able to come back yet."

Lin Lezheng's eyebrows immediately shot up. "What? She left with a man?"

Si Yu was furious and glared at Lin Ruqin, "Don't talk nonsense!"

If she left with another man, that would be a big problem.

Even though the two are engaged, people will still gossip if a single man and woman are together.

Startled by Si Yu's shout, Lin Ruqin lowered her head, feigning fear. "I... I was just telling Father what I saw."

"This is outrageous!"

"Lin Rusi is becoming more and more disobedient!"

Lin Le started rambling on and on to Si Yu.

"An unmarried girl, still engaged, dares to go out with other men!"

"Siyu, Siyu, this is the wonderful daughter you raised!"

"If this gets out, where will the Lin family's reputation be? What will you do if Prince Jinglie investigates?"

Si Yu knelt down with a thud, frantically trying to defend Lin Rusi.

“My lord, Lin Rusi is arrogant and domineering, but she would never do something so insulting to one’s innocence.”

"This is just Lin Ruqin's side of the story. Who knows if she has ulterior motives and is trying to slander my Rusi!"

Si Yu spoke, looking at Lin Ruqin with a gloomy expression.

Lin Ruqin's eyes were red and misty.

She pouted, explaining with a lump in her throat, "Why would I slander my sister?"

“This matter concerns the reputation of our Lin family. My daughter would never gamble with the future of the Lin family to slander her sister.”