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

Chapter 447: The Empress Dowager Returns

The servants, seeing the table laden with food, all assumed that an ordinary person could never finish it and turned their heads away guiltily.

Do you remember the last person who was forced to do something like this as a crown prince? Now he has nothing left.

The servants couldn't help but look at Lin Rusi, only to find that she simply smiled gently and placed the food into Li Jingyang's bowl.

Seeing that the person had almost finished eating, they stopped them from continuing and placed their small hands on the already bulging belly.

"If you eat any more, you'll be stuffed to death. Come with me for a walk in the backyard, and while you're at it, put Changning to sleep."

Upon hearing the word "by the way," Li Jingyang nodded in satisfaction, took the softer little hand, and prepared to leave.

But before he had taken a few steps, he suddenly remembered what he had just said and switched to another hand with fewer calluses.

"Why switch hands? Do you look down on me?"

"That hand is too rough."

Upon hearing this, Lin Rusi couldn't help but cup her discarded hand and stroke the marks on it with her softer fingertips.

Again and again, the tickling made Li Jingyang feel itchy to the core.

With a little force, I grasped the mischievous little hand and kissed it repeatedly.

"Madam's hands are still more comfortable."

"I'll fix it for you in a bit, and I'll give you some hot water to soak it when you come back."

But Li Jingyang shook his head and let go of her hand.

She thought that the other person was uncomfortable because she had eaten too much, so she reached out and grabbed the corner of her clothes to keep her there.

"I still have some official business to attend to. I'll be right back from my study."

"Okay, then Changning and I will wait for you. Come find us soon."

Li Jingyang's separation was not due to official business, but more so because he didn't want to see Changning, fearing that he might do something carelessly that would anger Lin Rusi again.

Half an hour had passed by the time everything was finalized.

Worried that the person had already fallen asleep, Li Jingyang rushed out of the room and heard soft laughter coming from inside the room prepared for Changning.

"Changning is so good. Show your dad how she does it later."

"what!"

Accompanied by the child's soft exclamation, Lin Rusi let out another silvery laugh.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, then gently pushed Changning away with his delicate fingertips.

"You should go to sleep."

"He hasn't had enough fun yet, he won't sleep peacefully at night if he's not tired."

Upon hearing this, Li Jingyang couldn't help but frown, but thinking of the infamous voice from last night, he picked up a small toy and started teasing the child.

The little guy is only a few days old, but his agile figure already resembles his father's, which is somewhat pleasing.

The more they teased him, the more attentive they became.

The little guy's limbs kept swinging, expending all his energy.

Another half hour passed, and he finally yawned and curled up into a ball.

Lin Rusi handed the person over to the wet nurse, then took Li Jingyang's hand and walked out of the room.

The two stood in the courtyard, smiled at each other, and then walked to the other side.

"It's still early, shall we take a walk in the yard?"

"I will do as Madam says."

Li Jingyang wasn't particularly interested in this courtyard that he had long since grown tired of, but that didn't mean he couldn't see the expectation in Lin Rusi's eyes.

Having not taken a walk to relax for a long time, she immediately took her husband's arm and strolled slowly in the yard for quite a while.

Thinking of her swollen belly, she couldn't help but look down and see her now flat stomach. Without making a sound, she touched her lower abdomen, which hadn't fully recovered yet.

"Looks like I need to move around more."

"This is just right for you, Madam. You were too thin before."

Li Jingyang was so thin that Lin Rusi hesitated for a moment, but in the end she still put her head on his shoulder.

"But if I don't move now, you won't be able to carry me anymore."

"will not."

To prove himself, Li Jingyang picked the person up and carried them straight into the room.

He gently placed the person on the bed, but his hand did not leave; instead, it moved upwards and finally landed on the overly soft abdomen.

"You still care, so you are."

"How could that be? I just wanted to know if Madam had eaten enough, but all you did was keep feeding me."

"Do you think I don't know when I'm hungry or full? I'm eating when you're eating, so there's no need to worry about it."

He pushed the hand away and turned away in disgust, not wanting to pay any attention to it.

How could Li Jingyang let her go? He simply pulled her into his arms and left a kiss on her fragrant hair.

The action didn't stop; one kiss after another finally lingered on Lin Rusi's lips, as if asking her a question.

Lin Rusi had no reason to refuse, so she gave a soft hum and moved closer.

The next day.

Looking at his wife, who was still sleeping soundly in his arms, Li Jingyang smiled and told everyone that he was in a good mood today.

When Lin Rusi woke up, it was already noon.

She had intended to get up quickly, but as soon as she exerted herself, she felt aches all over her body and almost fell back onto the bed.

Helpless, he used his arms to prop himself up and finally got off the bed.

"Madam, the Empress Dowager has returned from the temple. You need to pay your respects to her today."

"Coming back at this time? I understand. Get me all freshened up and I'll be there in a bit."

Upon hearing Lin Rusi's response, the palace maids outside carefully pushed open the door, carrying various items to help her with her hair and makeup.

Without having to lift a finger, she also had time to think about the Empress Dowager who had always been in the temple.

After all, she had only heard of this Empress Dowager and had only met her a few times from outside.

Even so, those rumors were enough to make Lin Rusi be careful.

It wasn't just the methods she used, but also her decision to completely relinquish everything after the emperor ascended the throne and devote herself to Buddhism.

You know, many people can't let go of these things, and they might even show favoritism if they touch upon them even slightly, but she didn't at all.

"The Empress Dowager has suddenly returned. Does the Emperor still have a husband to know?"

"I returned suddenly today, and it seems the Crown Prince is unaware of it. I know nothing about the Emperor, nor dare I inquire. Please forgive me, Madam."

Seeing the palace maid suddenly kneeling on the ground, Lin Rusi simply waved her hand, signaling the maid to get up.

"Does anyone know the Empress Dowager's preferences? If we don't dress up properly, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will have something to say about it."

"Please forgive me, Madam, I know nothing about this."

"It would be strange if you knew."

However, Lin Rusi still knew some of the details.

Just like when the Empress Dowager returned, we don't know about other things, but there must be some reason related to Changning.

Lin Rusi thought about the child's adorable appearance and wasn't worried at all, but her furrowed brows still made the palace maid observing her slightly concerned.

"Is Madam worried that the Empress Dowager doesn't like you?"

"I'm not so much worried about whether I like it or not, after all, there's that lovable child Changning around, but..."

Lin Rusi didn't say the rest to the palace maid, but instead turned her head to look at herself in the mirror.

Having determined that her attire was appropriate and modest, she nodded in satisfaction and declined any further attempts to add more decorations.