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

Chapter 504: It wasn't him

Fan Zhe hesitated slightly, but in the end he continued to enjoy the food on the table.

However, he wasn't very focused on eating, and would occasionally glance at the backyard, as if he felt that was where the real attraction lay.

But Lin Rusi knew very well that besides their carriage, only Changning and the secret guards were there.

Although she didn't know if the other party was aware of the group of people hiding nearby, she had no way to hide the child, and the best thing to do now was to keep the uncontrollable people around her.

It's not about being confident in your subordinates, but about giving them the impression that you know nothing, or that you're fearless.

Only in this way can people feel that they can't afford to offend you and dare not act recklessly.

After much deliberation, Lin Rusi finally looked towards the seats behind her.

"These dishes are delicious, but they don't taste as good as the ones from my hometown. I wonder if the shopkeeper could lend me the kitchen so I can cook some of my favorite dishes."

"Madam can cook? Judging from her appearance, she seems more like someone who has never lifted a finger."

Fan Zhe seemed to realize he had said something wrong, so he immediately covered his mouth and gave the person an apologetic smile before turning his head to look at the seat next to him.

His gaze was clearly sweeping around, but he finally coughed lightly and cautiously looked at Lin Rusi.

"I wonder if I will have the honor of tasting the dishes that Madam likes?"

"That's not impossible, but will the kitchen staff agree to it?"

Lin Rusi looked at the shopkeeper standing in the distance and noticed that his gaze was fixed on her, so she knew something was going to happen. She immediately waved to the guard next to her.

The other party immediately understood and beckoned to the shopkeeper to bring the person to his side.

After exchanging a few words, the other party took the ten taels of silver and left with a smile.

"What dishes would you like to make, Madam? I'll have the servants go out and buy them right away."

"Just a few simple home-style dishes will do. That's all I know how to make, just something to satisfy my cravings sometimes."

Although that's what she said, Lin Rusi's eyes already made the guards understand what she meant, and they immediately went out to prepare.

Fan Zhe thought this would give him a chance to spend time with her, but to everyone's surprise, someone else filled the empty seat the next moment.

Since he couldn't get closer, he could only chat and try to find answers from snippets of conversation.

"Changning should be exhausted by now, why don't we let him come in and rest for a while?"

"That depends on whether the little guy is willing to come back. You don't know how I can do anything about this little guy."

Before I could understand what it meant, the sound of children's silvery laughter came from outside.

"I want to ride too, to learn from my father's wisdom and bravery!"

“Young Master, this is too dangerous. Please do not take the risk. If you really want to learn, I will find you a gentle foal.”

At this point, Changning refused and insisted on having someone take her horseback riding.

The guards had no choice but to step forward and ask Lin Rusi for instructions.

But Changning, who was brought back, was still in a daze and even tried to grab her mother's clothes to ask what had just happened.

To prevent anyone from imitating Changning's speech and exposing her, Lin Rusi slapped his little bottom.

"Didn't you say you wanted to memorize the Three Character Classic before? Now you're making a fuss about riding a horse?"

"mother……"

"I don't want to hear you say that now, go upstairs and memorize your lessons."

While Changning was still in a daze, the guards who had framed him packed her up and took her back upstairs.

“It’s good for children to be energetic; staying home to study all the time is not a solution.”

“You just said it’s dangerous outside, how could I dare let him go out? If he really wants to learn, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. There’s no need to risk his life.”

Fan Zhe never expected that his words would have such an effect, but now that it has become a reality, he can only prepare to talk about something else from another angle.

But just as he was about to speak, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Lin Rusi with a smile.

"Since I'm staying, will I be able to see the young master? Madam's property isn't much; she should have returned by now. Could it be that he's off there indulging in debauchery?"

"Will not."

Lin Rusi spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, her expression remained unchanged, and she even turned her head to look at the seat next to her.

"He likes to surprise me with little tricks. I'm afraid he's out working on something right now, and most people wouldn't be able to find him."

"But why are you suddenly so interested in Jing Yang? Did he do something?"

To avoid arousing suspicion, Lin Rusi put on a troubled expression.

She even bowed to the person behind her, hoping that this would make him forgive her petty husband.

Fan Zhe was taken aback when he was suddenly apologized to. He then immediately helped the person up and pressed them back to the table.

“What are you saying, Madam? Brother Jingyang didn’t come yesterday. I just saw how affectionate you two were and thought you were inseparable, so I asked a few more questions. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

"I see, it seems I was overthinking things."

Lin Rusi smiled at the person, then turned her gaze outside, trying to find the figure she wanted to lean on.

"He hasn't returned by this hour. Could it be that Brother Jingyang has run out of the city? Should I help him find someone to go out and check?"

"No need for that, he just promised me he wouldn't do anything dangerous."

The next moment, the guard who had gone out to buy groceries returned, carrying a bouquet of flowers.

"The master said it was for the madam."

"Where did this person run off to? You can find him, so why don't you come back with him?"

Having been outside for so long, the guard naturally knew that someone might be watching them, and he said what he had prepared.

"There are problems with the lord's shop accounts, and an investigation will be conducted throughout the night. I hope Madam will forgive him for not being able to return today."

"What a coincidence? Or have those people been doing a lot of good deeds behind my back?"

Any businessman would be unable to remain calm knowing that something was wrong with his shop. Lin Rusi stood up immediately, but then, as if remembering something, sat down again.

"Aren't you worried at all, Madam? Shall I go with you to take a look?"

"No need to trouble Young Master Fan. With Jing Yang there, I'm afraid the group won't be able to stay for more than two days. I need to make some good preparations to celebrate."

Without waiting for Fan Zhe's reaction, she quickly took the groceries she had bought and walked into the kitchen.

The guards followed him inside, cleared a quiet space for their master, and began quickly preparing the vegetables in their hands.

Lin Rusi, who should have been cooking, sat to the side flipping through the letters hidden inside.

"That's all?"

"We've only found this much; the rest still needs verification, so we can't take it seriously for now."

Knowing that something difficult to investigate must have happened, Lin Rusi nodded and waited until all the dishes were finished before leaving.

Fan Zhe was hesitant to eat, since this person had been missing for so long, and it was hard to be sure what he was.

However, he was worried that Lin Rusi would notice, so he could only eat it in a few bites.

After the person left, the guards brought back the remaining information.