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

Chapter 45: True Thoughts

Meanwhile, Lin Ruqin, wearing a face mask, tiptoed out of Nuanchun Pavilion under the cover of dusk.

Hongzhi walked ahead, cautiously looking around.

Only after making sure no one was in front of her would she wave to Lin Ruqin, who was walking behind her, signaling her to come over.

Lin Ruqin lowered her head and caught up with him in quick, short steps.

After walking to the back door, Hongzhi glanced around again before pushing the door open and letting Lin Ruqin leave.

"Miss, I will stay here and watch over things. Please go and come back quickly."

Lin Ruqin nodded, looking around with some concern, "Be careful in everything."

The two did not exchange any further words. After a brief exchange of glances, Lin Ruqin left from the other side.

Lin Ruqin hailed a sedan chair and asked the driver to take her to Tongxin Lake outside the city.

Tongxin Lake is located in a remote area and few people go there.

In addition, it was getting late, and there were hardly any people around Tongxin Lake.

After getting off the sedan chair, Lin Ruqin removed her face mask and walked with a somber expression towards the pavilion by Tongxin Lake.

From afar, she saw a figure standing under the pavilion.

I didn't expect him to arrive so early.

Lin Ruqin quickened her pace, and upon approaching, bowed to the departing figure, saying, "Third Prince..."

Li Zeyan turned around and saw Lin Ruqin's eyes curving into a beautiful arc.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time. Why are you only arriving now?"

Just as Li Zeyan was about to approach, Lin Ruqin suppressed her nausea and forced a smile, saying, "Third Prince, it's quite a distance from the Lin residence to here."

"In addition, given that my sister spent the night with Prince Jinglie a few days ago, the Lin residence is now heavily guarded, and it won't be easy for her to get out."

"Let's get down to business."

Lin Ruqin wanted to go back before it got completely dark, to prevent Li Zeyan from having any bad intentions.

Li Zeyan narrowed his eyes, not revealing Lin Ruqin's thoughts.

"Tell me, what are your plans?"

Lin Ruqin's eyes darted around. "Since we're going to change the bridal sedan chair, we need to make it flawless."

"On the day of our wedding, my daughter will specially change into the same wedding dress and sedan chair as my sister."

Li Zeyan nodded thoughtfully, "There is a way, but can you be sure that my Third Imperial Uncle truly wants to marry Lin Rusi?"

He raised his chin and looked into the distance. "If, in my royal uncle's eyes, marrying you and your sister are the same, what would you do?"

Lin Ruqin was stunned for a moment, never expecting Li Zeyan to say something like that.

Seeing that she did not answer, Li Zeyan turned around and looked at Lin Ruqin with a sharper gaze.

His gaze held a newfound penetrating intensity, as if he were about to see through all of Lin Ruqin's thoughts.

Lin Ruqin didn't know why she felt a little guilty.

Not wanting Li Zeyan to see through her thoughts, she cleared her throat somewhat awkwardly and avoided his gaze.

Li Zeyan's lips twitched twice, and his smile became more playful.

Lin Ruqin felt as if she had been seen through, and said somewhat angrily, "What does the Third Prince mean by this?"

Do you think my daughter wants to marry Prince Jinglie?

“The reputation of Prince Jinglie is so bad. If it weren’t for causing Lin Rusi pain, my daughter would never have resorted to such a desperate measure.”

She looked at Li Zeyan with a cold gaze and said righteously, "Third Prince, you should not use such petty thoughts to speculate about my daughter."

Li Zeyan burst into laughter after hearing Lin Ruqin's words.

"Lin Ruqin, oh Lin Ruqin."

He took two steps closer, his smiling eyes fixed on her.

Lin Ruqin curled her hands, pursed her lower lip, stared at Li Zeyan with a deep gaze, and took two steps back in fear.

She tried to remain calm and asked, "Third Prince, what do you mean by that?"

"Am I wrong, my daughter?"

Li Zeyan's smile became even more unrestrained, "Lin Ruqin, you certainly speak in a high-sounding manner."

"You don't want to marry me at all. The person you want to marry is my third uncle. Am I right?"

Lin Ruqin's heart skipped a beat, and her smile froze instantly.

She forced a smile, her lips twitching slightly. "Third Prince, what do you mean by that?"

Li Zeyan let out a series of disdainful clicks of his tongue.

He looked Lin Ruqin up and down, his gaze sweeping over her body inch by inch.

Lin Ruqin suppressed her disgust and met Li Zeyan's scrutinizing gaze without flinching.

"Third Prince, just say what you mean. Why put on such a hypocritical act? And even slander me."

Li Zeyan suddenly approached Lin Ruqin, startling her so much that her heart jumped into her throat.

Seeing her pale face, Li Zeyan laughed.

Lin Ruqin was a little annoyed, feeling that she had been played by Li Zeyan from beginning to end.

She curled her fists and glared at Li Zeyan with a sinister look. "Third Prince!"

"All right."

"Does this prince need to spell out who's putting on an act?"

"Lin Ruqin, Lin Ruqin, I was wrong to have liked you before. I never expected you to be so hypocritical."

Lin Ruqin's fig leaf was completely torn off by Li Zeyan, and her face turned bright red.

Li Zeyan didn't want to waste any more words with Lin Ruqin, so he turned away, his demeanor revealing his contempt for her.

Lin Ruqin was so angry that she trembled all over.

She had never been humiliated like this before; Li Zeyan was the first!

Lin Ruqin glared at Li Zeyan, then turned and snorted before striding away.

As time went by, the wedding date drew closer.

The Luo residence.

With a loud bang, the white jade cup crashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.

The maid was startled, jumped back a step, and knelt on the ground with a thud.

"Please calm down, Miss!"

Sitting on the mahogany chair, Luo Lan's brows furrowed into a deep frown, her eyes burning with fierce anger.

"How can you expect me to calm down?!"

"Bitch maid!"

Enraged, Luo Lan grabbed the teapot and smashed it hard against the maid's forehead.

The scalding tea splashed all over the maid, who screamed in pain as her skin, scalded by the hot water, turned bright red.

Luo Lan was still not satisfied, and without regard for anything else, she picked up the things on the table and started smashing them.

"Get out of here, all of you!"

"Get out, all of you!"

Luo Lan was hysterical, like a complete madwoman.

"Lin Rusi! Lin Rusi! I want her dead!"

Luo Lan's facial features were ferocious.

Since the last time, she was confined to her home and not allowed to go out because of her ugliness. Today, she was finally released from confinement.

Luo Lan pretended to teach Lin Rusi a lesson and make her pay a heavy price.

At this moment, Luo Lan's personal maid came over and suggested a plan, "Miss, why don't we try to hold a banquet?"

Luo Lan calmed down, her brows furrowing slightly. "A banquet?"

“That’s right, we can invite that bitch Lin Rusi to the banquet. Miss can use the banquet to teach her a lesson.”

Luo Lan nodded thoughtfully, her eyes suddenly lighting up.

"This is a good idea."

Luo Lan beamed with joy and immediately took off her jade bracelet, saying, "Here you go."