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

Chapter 28: No Good Intentions

Lin Ruqin's expression turned serious. "Lin Rusi would never be this kind."

"She must have discovered that Hongxiu was secretly doing this for my own good, which is why she entrusted you to me."

Hongxiu and Hongzhi exchanged glances and hesitated before saying, "Miss, could there be an even bigger conspiracy?"

The three of them discussed Lin Rusi's thoughts, and their expressions grew increasingly grim.

After dealing with Hongxiu's matter, Lin Rusi walked out of the Peony Pavilion.

As she passed the back garden, Lin Rusi suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She frowned and turned around, following her instincts.

She glanced around cautiously behind her and found no one suspicious.

Am I just overthinking things?

From the moment she started strolling through the back garden with Lin Ruqin, she had a feeling of being watched.

This feeling is becoming increasingly strong now.

Lin Rusi was still worried, so she followed the feeling of the gaze she had just received.

After going around in circles, they still couldn't find any clues.

Lin Rusi scratched her cheek, realizing she had really been overthinking it.

Could it be that I haven't been resting well lately, which is why I have this illusion?

Lin Rusi didn't think too much about it and strode back to the Star-Picking Pavilion.

Unbeknownst to Lin Rusi, no sooner had she left the back garden than Li Jingyang, who had been hiding behind the artificial hill, emerged.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and hid behind the artificial hill that Lin Rusi had inspected, otherwise he would have been discovered.

That brat is pretty perceptive; she actually managed to detect him following her.

Li Jingyang dared not linger at the Lin residence and swiftly scaled the wall to leave.

On his way back to the Prince's Mansion, Li Jingyang kept replaying the scene he had witnessed in his mind.

Lin Ruqin kept saying that Lin Rusi had been bullying her.

However, when Lin Ruqin bumped into Lin Rusi, Lin Rusi did not bully her; instead, she showed concern for her.

Another problem arises: if Lin Ruqin was lying, then the fear she showed after clashing with Lin Rusi wouldn't have seemed so convincing.

He could tell that Lin Ruqin's fear when she bumped into Lin Rusi was genuine.

Moreover, he witnessed the entire process of Lin Rusi standing up for Lin Ruqin and asking for money.

Each and every scene, and the complete apologies to Lin Ruqin, couldn't explain Lin Ruqin's instinctive reaction of fear.

what is this?

Li Jingyang was completely baffled; it seemed there was more to the story.

Lin Mansion, Zhaixing Pavilion.

Granny He earnestly advised, "With Hongxiu gone, the Second Miss only has two maids left."

"Two girls aren't enough."

"Miss, Madam said to send a few more clever and quick-witted maids over."

Lin Rusi declined, saying, "Granny, I already have enough maids by my side."

Granny He insisted, "If this old servant makes a bad arrangement, Madam will surely blame this old servant when she finds out."

"Second Miss, please agree to this old servant's request."

"The maids were all personally selected by the madam for the young lady, and they are absolutely capable of serving her well."

Lin Rusi didn't like having so many maids around her, but she couldn't go against Granny He's wishes, so she had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

After receiving Lin Rusi's consent, Granny He's eyes lit up and she immediately summoned the person.

A dozen or so maids stood in a row, all of them pretty and intelligent.

Lin Rusi looked the maids up and down. They looked pretty and smart, but she didn't like the cleverness in their eyes. They looked shifty and sneaky.

Lin Rusi doubted that this was not the girl Si Yu had chosen. She frowned and looked at Granny He, asking suspiciously, "Granny, are you sure this is the maid my mother chose for me?"

"correct."

Is there a problem?

Lin Rusi twitched her lips. Not only was there a problem, but the problem was serious.

These maids were not simple-minded; each one was cunning and restless.

Logically speaking, Si Yu, who has been in charge of the Lin family for so many years, shouldn't have such poor judgment in judging people.

How come all the girls you picked are restless and cunning?

She could spot the problems with these girls at a glance, so how could Si Yu not notice them?

Si Yu has always doted on her and would never casually pick a few maids to deal with her.

But these problems, which she had carefully selected, were simply too big.

Seeing that Lin Rusi's expression was not good, Granny He quickly told the maids to leave.

"If the Second Miss doesn't like any of them, there are other maids she can choose from."

Lin Rusi leaned back in her chair, picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, and gestured for Granny He to call the second group of people over.

The second group was even worse than the first group; they didn't look like honest people at all.

Granny He was also patient. Lin Rusi would replace one batch of people with another if she didn't like them, thinking that she had high standards.

After looking at them all, Lin Rusi gave up completely. "Granny He, I don't like any of these girls. Don't make me look at them."

All the people Si Yu picked seemed to be sycophants.

Lin Rusi used to like girls like that, but things are different now.

Granny He frowned, looking troubled. "If the Second Miss doesn't like it, then this old servant can find some other maids to help out?"

"Madam is worried about the Second Miss. The Second Miss should at least pick a few that she likes to keep."

Lin Rusi rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit of a headache. "Never mind."

"I'll just go buy it from the human slave dealer myself."

Granny He hesitated, "This..."

"This isn't a good idea."

Lin Rusi shrugged and asked helplessly, "I've already looked through them all, and none of them catch my eye."

“If I let them stay, they won’t serve me well, and I’m not satisfied with them.”

"Granny, please tell my mother that she doesn't need to worry about the maids anymore; I'll choose them myself."

Granny He sighed, bowed slightly to Lin Rusi, and turned to leave Zhaixing Pavilion.

Inside the Peony Pavilion, Si Yu frowned immediately upon hearing what Granny He said.

"Did she really say that?"

Granny He's expression tightened, and she nodded cautiously, "That's right."

"The second young lady doesn't want Madam to choose maids anymore; she wants to buy them herself from the slave trader."

Si Yu's face darkened. In the past, Lin Rusi's maids were all handpicked by her.

Now she looks down on everything.

"I think I'll go check out the Star-Picking Pavilion."

As soon as Si Yu finished speaking, Lin Rusi's loud and clear voice came from outside the door.

"There's no need for Mother to go to the Star-Picking Pavilion again."

She lifted the warm curtain and strode in, first smiling at Si Yu.

Si Yu grabbed Lin Rusi's hand and asked, puzzled, "Rusi, what's wrong with the maid I chose for you?"

"You used to be able to pick several you liked, how come you can't find any you like now?"

Lin Rusi chuckled, took Si Yu's hand, and led her to the chaise lounge.

"Mother, lie down first."

Si Yu lay on the chaise lounge, puzzled, while Lin Rusi knelt down and began to massage her.