Lin Qinghe's smile froze on her face, but she quickly composed herself, forcing a fawning smile.
"Your Highness, this is all a misunderstanding... As I said, from now on, you are my master, and I will serve you with all my heart. How could I dare to do such a heinous thing again? It's these servants who are too foolish and misunderstood my intentions."
Lin Qinghe pleaded and cajoled, but You Rong remained unmoved.
With no other options, Lin Qinghe shamelessly continued, "Your Highness, why don't you move to the adjacent side hall for dinner first? I'll have someone tidy up the sleeping quarters again, and then you can return to rest, how about that?"
You Rong let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and strode out of the sleeping quarters.
Judging by his demeanor, he was heading towards the adjacent side hall.
Seeing this, Lin Qinghe, holding the meal placed on the table, hurriedly followed.
Outside the hall, she bumped into Zhu Hong and others returning with tools. Lin Qinghe didn't forget to remind them, "Remember! Tidy up the Crown Prince's sleeping quarters properly. If any of you dare to be lazy, I won't let you off!"
"Yes, Sister Qinghe," the palace maids replied in unison.
Lin Qinghe paid them no further mind, rushing after You Rong.
In the side hall, You Rong had already taken a seat before the writing desk, holding a book and gazing down at it, his expression as stern as before.
Lin Qinghe swallowed hard, and forced herself to approach, placing the dinner before You Rong.
"Your Highness, please have dinner."
You Rong remained silent, his face cold.
"Your Highness, is the meal not to your liking? Shall I have someone prepare a new one?"
You Rong still didn't speak. Lin Qinghe frowned, feeling exasperated.
This damned You Rong, why is he so difficult!
She had already explained, couldn't he show a little kindness! He always has that stern face!
Despite her internal grumbling, Lin Qinghe never forgot her primary objective: to make You Rong change his opinion of her and trust her, so she could act more freely later.
Lin Qinghe sighed inwardly, and once again forced a fawning smile. "Your Highness, it is my fault. I will accept any punishment you mete out, but you must not refuse dinner because you are angry with me and starve yourself. That would be terrible, wouldn't it?"
This time, You Rong finally showed a slight reaction. He looked up at Lin Qinghe, but said nothing.
Lin Qinghe was filled with confusion.
What was he doing? He was looking at her but not speaking, making her feel uneasy.
Could it be... he really wanted her to be punished?
She had just said it casually! She didn't intend to be punished!
But then again, to appease You Rong, punishment would be acceptable!
After all, given how much You Rong disliked her, he would surely want her out of his sight and tell her to leave immediately. This way, she would have demonstrated her awareness of her mistakes and willingness to be punished, while avoiding kneeling.
This was a brilliant move!
Lin Qinghe put on a sincere expression. "The Crown Prince's sleeping quarters were a mess today. Although it wasn't my intention, I cannot escape responsibility. I will accept the same punishment as the other palace maids: kneeling for an hour."
Lin Qinghe got up on her own accord, walked to the entrance of the side hall, and with a thud, knelt down.
However, after Lin Qinghe knelt, everything unfolded contrary to her expectations.
You Rong, who had refused to touch his meal no matter how she persuaded him earlier, put down his book, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat slowly.
Lin Qinghe was stunned.
Huh?
He was eating dinner? Shouldn't he have told her to get out immediately?!
But then Lin Qinghe waited and waited. By the time You Rong finished his dinner and picked up his book again, he still hadn't told her to leave.
Lin Qinghe knelt there, the corners of her mouth twitching fiercely.
You Rong was definitely doing this on purpose!
If she stood up and left now, it would prove that everything she said earlier was false. But if she didn't... kneeling for a full hour in this cold weather would cripple her legs!
Since You Rong didn't speak, Lin Qinghe naturally couldn't leave.
When You Rong wasn't paying attention, Lin Qinghe glared at him fiercely twice.
Fine!
You Rong, you're cruel! I'll kneel today!
Lin Qinghe didn't notice You Rong let out a barely audible cold snort as she lowered her head with a dejected expression.
Lin Qinghe felt as if time crawled as she knelt for a full hour. Her legs were numb and devoid of feeling, as if they weren't her own.
Lin Qinghe gritted her teeth and endured. She said to You Rong, who was still sitting and reading, "Your Highness, I... I won't disturb your reading. I'll take my leave for now and go check if your sleeping quarters have been tidied up."
You Rong naturally didn't answer, nor did he even glance at Lin Qinghe, making her feel like she was deliberately seeking punishment by lingering there.
Lin Qinghe forced herself to stand up, staggered, and nearly fell to her knees again. Fortunately, she managed to regain her balance, and finally, dragging her numb legs, she hobbled out.
Only after Lin Qinghe's retreating figure disappeared from the hall entrance did You Rong put down his book, his expression thoughtful, as if contemplating something.
Lin Qinghe went to check You Rong's sleeping quarters. Zhu Hong and the others had been quite efficient. The previously messy room was now tidied up, clean, and simple. The damaged doors and windows had been repaired, and the bedding and brazier were replaced with new ones.
Lin Qinghe asked Zhu Hong to invite You Rong back to rest, while she, skipping dinner, returned to her own room.
Lying on the bed, Lin Qinghe massaged her numb legs. Thinking of You Rong's indifferent face, she gnashed her teeth in anger and punched the quilt fiercely.
"This is infuriating! You Rong, you scoundrel, you're just as detestable in the system as you are in the real world..."
Meanwhile, You Rong returned to his sleeping quarters. The room was now completely renovated.
Not long after Zhu Hong and the others withdrew, a voice deliberately lowered intentionally could be heard from outside the sleeping quarters: "Your Highness, it's me, the eunuch. Are you resting?"
You Rong, who was resting with his eyes closed on the couch, opened his eyes and said faintly, "Eunuch Wang, come in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
With a creak, the door opened, and an old eunuch walked in, bowing respectfully. "This servant greets Your Highness."
This person was Eunuch Wang, an old eunuch who had served You Rong since childhood. However, ever since Lin Qinghe arrived at the East Palace, he had been relegated to doing rough work in the back courtyard.
You Rong nodded slightly. "Eunuch Wang, please rise. Did you come here secretly for something?"
Eunuch Wang stood up and said worriedly, "Your Highness, this servant heard in the back courtyard that Lin Qinghe, that wicked servant, has been making things difficult for you again, causing you to catch a cold the day before yesterday. This servant is very worried, so I came to see how you are."
You Rong pursed his lips. "Eunuch Wang, there's no need to worry. Lin Qinghe... has changed her behavior these past two days. She hasn't made things difficult for me, and has even stated that from now on, she only has me as her master and will never betray me again."
As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Wang became anxious. "Your Highness! You must not be deceived by Lin Qinghe, that wicked servant! Her sudden display of kindness must have a hidden agenda! Today, this servant also saw her adding something to your meal!"