Chapter 3: No matter how you look at scumbags, they are all scumbags

Back at the Luoxia Courtyard of Lin Jinruo, the servant who guarded the gate was nowhere to be seen, and the courtyard was in a mess, with no one tidying up.

Cai'er was cursing in the courtyard, but Lin Jinruo was not worried. These were just small matters. What was about to happen next was what had changed her life in her past life.

After returning to her room, she chose to apply a goose-yellow powder on her cheeks, instantly making herself look outdated. Coupled with her emaciated figure due to illness and the plain white mourning clothes, she appeared even more unattractive.

"What are you doing, Miss?" Bai Lan asked as she personally brought in the charcoal fire.

Lin Jinruo looked around but did not find the dagger she was looking for.

Cai'er blinked and took out a sharp silver hairpin. "Miss, can this replace what you're looking for?"

Lin Jinruo was slightly stunned. She hadn't noticed before and had only thought of Cai'er as a bold and daring maid, but she didn't expect her to be so clever.

She nodded and tucked the hairpin into her sleeve, saying to the two of them, "I'm going out later. You don't need to follow me."

The two didn't understand and were about to ask when footsteps crunching on the snow outside could be heard, followed by the entrance of the lady of the house.

As soon as she entered, she looked at the elegantly decorated room and the high-quality pear wood furniture, a flash of jealousy in her eyes. She didn't care about Lin Jinruo's expression and smiled insincerely, saying, "Jinruo, were you frightened by your elder sister today? She's straightforward and doesn't know how to sweet-talk. Don't take it to heart."

Lin Jinruo looked at the sudden change in attitude of the lady of the house and a hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of her mouth. "I know everything about Aunt-in-law's thoughts."

The lady of the house felt that something was off about her words but didn't dwell on it. She urged, "You shouldn't always be so withdrawn. A servant came to report that someone from your maternal family is waiting at the west side gate, looking for you. Go and see what they want."

Lin Jinruo already knew that the people waiting outside the west gate were not from her maternal family, but the despicable man, Zhao Han, who had used his father's military power to ascend to the throne and then ordered the execution of her father, and later cruelly broke her own legs. She was 'eager' to see him now!

She obediently went out, and Bai Lan and Cai'er took a step forward but were stopped by the lady of the house.

The two maids remembered Lin Jinruo's earlier instructions and could only hope that the spirits of their mistress's late husband would protect her and punish these wicked people.

But Lin Jinruo knew that she was the only one who could settle the score with these wicked people!

After leaving the gate, she found herself in a dim alley flanked by main roads but with no one around. She turned back to push the gate she had just come out of, only to find it blocked from the inside.

She remained indifferent and, instead of pleading with them to open the gate as she had done in her past life, she determined the direction and walked forward.

Before she could leave the alley, the shabby and burly man from her past life appeared, drunk and bare-chested, stumbling towards her just as he had done in her past life.

Lin Jinruo didn't dodge or scream. She knew that Zhao Han was nearby, this false gentleman.

A man in splendid attire waiting in a carriage around the corner waited for a while but didn't hear any screams. His handsome brows furrowed, and he lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, only to see the slender figure standing still, not moving at all.

Was she scared?

Zhao Han guessed, but still stepped forward and loudly reprimanded, "Bold thief, surrender!"

Saying this, he kicked the burly man to the ground with a few kicks, his handsome cloak sweeping up the snow like a dreamy hero. But in Lin Jinruo's eyes, there was only a flash of sarcasm.

Zhao Han hadn't even steadied himself when he saw Lin Jinruo scream and, with a flash of cold light, a sharp object pierced his arm.

His handsome face instantly turned dark, and he looked at the blood staining his sleeve. He felt a lingering fear. If he hadn't dodged quickly, the hairpin would have pierced his heart.

"Are you out of your mind?" Zhao Han couldn't help but say.

Lin Jinruo pretended to be flustered but only regretted why the blade hadn't pierced his heart. "Who are you? What do you want? I'll tell you, I am the daughter of the Grand General!"

Upon hearing her words, Zhao Han remembered his purpose and managed to suppress his anger. He pulled out the hairpin embedded in his arm and threw it on the ground. But looking at her pale and aged face, he couldn't bring himself to sweet-talk her. He said, "So, you're Miss Lin. Don't be afraid."

"This is His Highness the Third Prince, Miss Lin. His Highness just saved you," a servant explained.

Lin Jinruo blinked and lowered her eyes.

But in Zhao Han's eyes, she seemed shy, and indeed, his appearance was unmatched in the entire Jin Dynasty.

Lin Jinruo looked at him with a hint of trembling in her clenched fists due to her overwhelming hatred. But her rationality told her that killing him now would only lead to her own demise.

She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will remember this favor and repay it in the future." With that, she turned and left. Since they had met today, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future!

The person hiding behind the gate saw that the situation had been resolved and didn't block her from entering.

Zhao Han frowned in dissatisfaction, thinking about her face, which had no redeeming qualities, and the wound she had inflicted on him. A surge of anger rose within him.

The guard on the side busily said, "Third Prince, don't be angry. According to the eldest of the Lin family, whoever treats her a little better, she will be extremely grateful. Today, you have saved her life, and she will definitely be devoted to you in the future. Although she is ugly and foolish, she has a father with high status and power."

Hearing this, Zhao Han felt a bit relieved.

As they left, a man in a dark brocade robe slowly approached from a nearby corner. Thinking about the pale yellow face and the deep, bright eyes he had just seen, and glancing at the hairpin in front of him, he murmured lightly, "It seems that the Third Prince is quite self-righteous this time."

"Your Highness, are we really going to let the Third Prince marry General Lin's daughter?" the guard on the side asked.

Zhao Huaiyan's phoenix eyes grew slightly cold. "Why not? Praying mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Whether Miss Lin is willing to marry or not is still a mystery."

The guard, looking at his prince's stern and cold face, remembered the Third Prince's self-proclaimed beauty earlier and couldn't help but chuckle. "I will keep a close eye on it," he said.

"Good," Zhao Huaiyan responded lightly, then turned and left.

The attendant glanced at the hairpin on the ground, picked it up, and quickly followed after.