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

Chapter 56: Escape

If she sneaks out this time and gets caught again, she probably won't have another chance to come to the capital.

As darkness fell, she slipped and tumbled down the slope.

Dong Xiaoyue felt dizzy and disoriented. She lay on her back on the ground, her body spread out in a starfish shape, staring blankly at the darkening sky.

It was already dark, and she hadn't yet left the forest.

Dong Xiaoyue used all her strength, enduring the pain in her limbs, to struggle to get up from the ground.

It hurts.

Fortunately, after the sky darkened, the moon appeared in the sky.

The moonlight was bright and clear, pouring down like cool water.

Dong Xiaoyue found a wooden stick, used it to support her body, and moved forward with a limp.

Having finally escaped the forest, Dong Xiaoyue felt like she was half dead.

She was so tired that she leaned against a tree by the roadside and fell asleep without realizing it.

The next day, a voice came from beside my ear.

"girl?"

Dong Xiaoyue jolted awake and suddenly opened her eyes.

A round-faced girl was standing beside her, staring intently at her.

Dong Xiaoyue was so frightened that she jumped up and stared in horror at the woman beside her.

"Who...who are you?"

Hongzhi stood up and looked at Lin Ruqin behind her. "Miss Chang, she has woken up."

Dong Xiaoyue was a little confused, "Miss Eldest?"

Lin Ruqin stepped forward and looked down at her. "Miss Dong, my name is Lin Ruqin."

She stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Dong Xiaoyue's eyes, "Get up quickly."

Dong Xiaoyue carefully examined Lin Ruqin. "Your surname is Lin?"

"How do you know me?"

Lin Ruqin held Dong Xiaoyue's hand.

Dong Xiaoyue was so frightened that she pulled her hand back, but Lin Ruqin helped her up.

She stiffened her neck and looked terrified.

Lin Ruqin had Hongzhi bring a new set of clothes from the sedan chair and handed it to her, saying, "Change into these first."

Dong Xiaoyue hesitated before taking the clothes, then looked at Lin Ruqin and asked, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"I already know about what happened between you and my sister."

Lin Ruqin smiled gently, "I feel very sorry for what my sister did to you."

"But you can ask me other questions later. Your clothes are dirty and you have many wounds on your body."

"Let's change our clothes now."

Dong Xiaoyue belatedly looked at herself.

Her clothes were torn in several places and covered in blood, which looked quite frightening.

She couldn't help but gasp, wondering how she had managed to walk out of the forest with her broken body yesterday.

Dong Xiaoyue climbed into the sedan chair, changed her clothes, and then came out.

Lin Ruqin then took out a small package from her bosom, which contained pastries.

Dong Xiaoyue's stomach started rumbling, and she snatched the pastries away without a second thought and ate them whole.

She chewed voraciously, wolfing down her food, showing no signs of being a proper young lady.

After eating and drinking her fill, Dong Xiaoyue wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth and thanked Lin Ruqin.

"Thank you for your help, young lady."

She twisted her fingers and asked cautiously, "Did my father send you to find me?"

Are you going to send me back?

Before Lin Ruqin could answer, Dong Xiaoyue knelt down with a thud.

She grabbed Lin Rusi's sleeve, looking at her pitifully, "Please don't send me back!"

"If my father finds me, he will definitely send me out of the capital!"

"Miss Chang, can you please help me!"

"I really don't want to go back to my hometown!"

A calculating glint flashed in Lin Ruqin's eyes, and she quickly pulled Dong Xiaoyue up.

"I was on my way to the temple to offer incense when I bumped into you on the road. It wasn't your father who sent me to find you."

"If you want to stay, you should apologize to my sister properly."

“My sister is the most favored in the Lin family, and she is also the future Princess Jinglie. Her words carry the most weight.”

"If you can cheer her up, you can get her to say a few words for you to your father,"

Dong Xiaoyue frowned.

Given the past conflict between her and Lin Rusi, why should Lin Rusi speak up for her?

Lin Rusi probably couldn't be happier that she was sent away as soon as possible.

Dong Xiaoyue shook her head. "No, Lin Rusi hates me so much, why would she speak up for me?"

"Miss Chang, isn't there any other way?"

She looked at Lin Ruqin earnestly, "I can hide by your side, I can be your maid."

She raised three fingers and swore to the heavens, "I will take good care of you. Please, Miss Chang, take me in."

Lin Ruqin shook her head, thinking what she said was a fantasy.

"You are the daughter of the Minister's family. My father has met you. Would you like to be my personal maid?"

"Besides, your father only wants you to leave the capital. If he knew that I was making you a maid in the Lin family, he would definitely be unwilling."

"Just do as I say, and let my sister speak on your behalf."

Dong Xiaoyue's brows were furrowed, her eyes were red-rimmed, and her eyes were misty with tears, making her look pitiful.

She lowered her head and sobbed, "Miss Chang, can't we think of another way?"

"I really don't want to ask the Second Miss for help."

Lin Ruqin appealed to her emotions and reasoned with her, saying, "My sister may seem arrogant and domineering, but she is actually very kind."

"Besides, you've already apologized, why should my sister hold a grudge against you?"

"The conflict between the two of you was caused by a misunderstanding. Believe me, as long as you ask her to come out and apologize, she will definitely come out."

"Tell her your difficulties then, and she might understand."

After thinking for a while, Dong Xiaoyue asked hesitantly, "But even Miss Chang isn't sure if she'll really help."

How can I be sure?

Lin Ruqin patiently persuaded her for a while longer. Dong Xiaoyue frowned, thought for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "Okay."

"I agree."

Dong Xiaoyue took a deep breath, looking somewhat nervous.

She nervously rubbed her hands together, looking at Lin Ruqin, "Miss Eldest, you must put in a good word for me with the Second Miss."

"Do not worry."

Lin Ruqin's smile deepened. "I will definitely put in a good word for you."

Lin Ruqin brought Dong Xiaoyue to the Lin residence, and in order to avoid being discovered, the two deliberately went through the back door.

Lin Ruqin ordered Hongzhi to take Dong Xiaoyue to the Zhaixing Pavilion, "My sister lives there."

"Go find her."

Dong Xiaoyue was caught in a dilemma, "Huh?"

"Miss Chang, aren't you going to call her out for me?"

"I... I'm afraid I can't go see her like this."

Lin Ruqin comforted her, "It's not impossible. My sister isn't that scary."

"Go quickly."

She pushed Dong Xiaoyue forward, and Dong Xiaoyue reluctantly moved to the front of the Zhaixing Pavilion, hesitating whether to go in or not.

Wanqi noticed Dong Xiaoyue outside the door, frowned slightly, and walked out with cold, solemn steps.

Who are you looking for?

Dong Xiaoyue's heart leaped into her throat. "I'm here to see the Second Miss!"