She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Jiang Ruining gave a haughty snort: "What help? I don't care about the Xie family's affairs anymore. We can make our own animal traps!"

Wan Yi and Chu Jin stood close together, their hands secretly making a heart shape and secretly shipping them as a couple—that was something Ning Ning had taught them!

Others: "..." So confident! People with ability and skills have real strength!

Xiao Che's voice was cool, but his tone softened to a gentle one: "The Xie family is useless, there's no need to help them. I can make animal traps, I can help with that."

Jiang Ruining declined: "No need, with you here, no one can really relax and have fun."

Xiao Che looked up at everyone, his expression and tone as approachable as possible: "Don't worry about me, just play however you want."

The others looked at each other, unable to refuse, and could only smile and say "okay".

Then the lively atmosphere suddenly cooled down.

Only Wan Yi and a few others, who were bolder, were chattering away; the rest were whispering and acting cautiously.

Jiang Ruining was unaffected, but seeing that no one else dared to speak loudly, she felt helpless: "Your Highness, please go about your business!"

Xiao Che had no choice but to stay and not force himself to join in. He quietly extended an invitation: "I've had some ingredients prepared. I'll cook your favorite dishes for dinner tonight so we can dine together."

Jiang Ruining nodded: "Send me a tent, and I'll eat with Chu Jin and the others. We're tired of eating wild game these past few days."

Xiao Che, who wanted to have dinner with her, gave her a mournful look.

Jiang Ruining gave him a look that seemed to say, "Do you want me to back down and cooperate with you?"

Xiao Che didn't want to upset her, so he could only wait for her arrangements: "Okay, when you've had enough fun, have someone tell the cook."

Jiang Ruining nodded and continued with her work: "Okay, I understand. Go ahead!"

Xiao Che squatted for a while longer before getting up and leaving.

Wan Yi stroked her chin and clicked her tongue: "The prince's back view seems a bit desolate."

Jiang Ruining didn't even look up: "No."

He'll definitely sneak into her tent tonight, what a load of rubbish!

Xiao Qing pushed Wan Yi aside and leaned closer, fidgeting and hesitating. After a long while, she finally mustered up the courage to ask, "Ningning, do you like the Prince?"

Jiang Ruining glanced at him, her smiling eyes seemingly filled with a galaxy of stars: "Children shouldn't discuss such serious matters."

Xiao Qing felt she was changing the subject: "Ningning, I'm two years older than you."

Jiang Ruining nodded and said "Mm," then changed the subject: "Those who haven't signed in at the yamen or been tortured and beaten by their errands are all children."

Even before he confessed his feelings, Xiao Qing could clearly hear the rejection. Was his love at first sight going to wither away like this?

No, no!

No!

He racked his brains, highlighting his strengths: "Those who have signed in at government offices and been tormented by errands are all old in spirit and age! But we're about the same age, have similar mindsets, and similar tastes—we're clearly a better match!"

Wan Yi patted his shoulder from behind.

Xiao Qing knew who was patting him without even turning around. From childhood to adulthood, he had never won a verbal argument against Wan Xiaonv more than a few times, and his psychological trauma had been brought out by it. He twisted his shoulders, trying hard to shake off her hand, and... argue with her!

But Wan Yi's innocent and bright laughter didn't let him off the hook: "Ningning has never signed in at the yamen, but that perverted Madam Jiang torments her all day long. She has to outwit and outmaneuver her! She's more mature than you, smarter than you, and more mentally sound than you."

"Marrying you isn't just about getting another husband, it's about getting another... mmm..."

Xiao Qing choked back her helpless mouth; her words, her laughter, all turned into a cruel "hehehe": "Give me some face! Please!"

Wan Yi shrugged: "Mmm..."

Look, even a fool knows he's a fool and unworthy of a fairy!

Tsk!

A group of people were making a ruckus, laughing and chasing each other. By the time the animal trap was finished and released into the woods, the sun had already set.

Jiang Ruining instructed someone to tell the cook to start cooking: "Once it's done, send it directly to the Zheng family's tent. We'll eat it with Lingyi."

She was sad for many days, but she should be feeling better now.

Go talk to her, eat something nice, and her mood should gradually recover!

After the guard agreed, he quickly went to deliver the message.

The group then began to walk back at a leisurely pace.

I didn't encounter anything unpleasant or dangerous.

It's another beautiful day!

They went back to wash up.

Then Jiang Ruining and the others went to the tent of the Zheng family's female relatives.

Jiang Ruining peeked into the tent, but didn't actually go inside.

After washing up, Zheng Lingyi sat in a round-backed chair, lost in thought. She had lost a lot of weight; the baby fat on her face was gone, and she looked haggard and mature. Her former innocence had become hazy.

The maidservant reminded her, "Miss, the county princess has arrived."

Zheng Lingyi seemed to wake from a dream, and looked back to see a little head peeking in, beckoning to her mysteriously.

she wondered.

But I still got up and went over.

Having been bedridden for many days and barely eating anything, his steps were unsteady, and he walked with slight panting, asking, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Ruining raised her index finger to her lips and shushed him, her voice very low: "Is there anyone else here? I have something extremely important to tell you."

Zheng Lingyi immediately fell silent, even her footsteps became soft as she approached her, and she leaned closer to listen.

Jiang Ruining spoke each word with utmost seriousness: "Tonight, we're one short for mahjong!"

Zheng Lingyi's dazed mind took a while to process what she was saying, and she was stunned for a moment.

She thought that Ningning was going to talk about... the Xie family.

Thinking of those people, her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand. The bitterness and stinging pain stemming from the deception were pumped out of her heart and instantly reached every part of her body, making her shiver with cold.

Jiang Ruining held her cold hand tightly with his hands, which he had deliberately warmed, transferring his warmth to her.

Then, another head popped out from above them, blocking the view with an exorcism mask: "One!"

Below, a head peeked out, its face obscured by a cluster of pretty wildflowers: "One!"

It was Wan Yi and Chu Jin.

Zheng Lingyi stared at them in a daze.

The fact that three beautiful young ladies acted so strangely to cheer her up shows how much they cared for her.

She has so much; she shouldn't dwell on something that can't be changed and make everyone continue to worry about her!

And, to be honest, being one player short for a game is a really serious matter!

A slow smile curved his lips, and light shone again in his slightly upturned eyes: "One!"

Many people gained weight in the ten days or so since they arrived, because wild game is rare and the dining environment is lively and cheerful, so they couldn't control their appetites.

Over the next ten days or so, I slowly started to lose weight again.

The food prepared by the camp was barely acceptable, and the ingredients were almost unchanged, so everyone was getting sick of it.

So everyone enjoyed and was very satisfied with this delicious and visually appealing dinner.

After playing a few more rounds of mahjong, the conversation naturally turned to cheerful topics, and Zheng Lingyi's listless spirits visibly improved.

When the night was deep and quiet.

They all dispersed.

Jiang Ruining had a great time that day. She was a little tired, but not too tired. She was just the right amount of tired to fall asleep as soon as she got home. After washing her face and rinsing her mouth, she lay down on the bed and soon her breathing became even.

Jin Yu extinguished the candles one by one.

She would usually leave one lamp on, but she had a gut feeling that it was best to turn them all off tonight!