That afternoon, the teaching nanny arrived.

This time, instead of etiquette, they were learning about the virtues of women.

Every day, Lin Yuxin had to memorize passages from the Four Books and Five Classics, and she was on the verge of going crazy.

So, on the fifth day, she ran away.

That’s right—Lin Yuxin ran away.

That very night, she packed a small bundle, took a rope from her personal space, and climbed over the wall to escape.

[Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, I’m sorry. I’m going out for a few days. I’ll come back when I’ve had enough fun.]

Lin Yuxin looked back at the Lin residence but felt no attachment to it.

She turned and left without hesitation.

She didn’t notice that there were two people hiding on the wall behind her.

“Big Brother, are we really letting Little Sister leave just like that?”

Lin Shaoyang asked in confusion.

He had overheard his sister’s thoughts and was shocked to learn that she was planning to run away from home.

But their eldest brother had said not to intervene for now.

“Letting her go out and relax isn’t a bad thing. We have people following her. Besides, Mother said things at home won’t be peaceful these days,” Lin Chenglie said helplessly as he watched his sister’s figure disappear into the distance.

“Mother is about to make a move?”

Lin Shaoyang asked worriedly.

“Mm. Mother said they’ve started reaching for Xinxin, so we need to resolve this quickly!”

Lin Chenglie hadn’t expected that the father he once took pride in was nothing more than a hypocrite.

He had thought that their father was strict with him because he had high expectations.

But now he realized that their father simply didn’t care for any of the children born from their mother.

Meanwhile, their father had secretly built another family with both sons and daughters. Naturally, he had no concern for them anymore.

After that, the two brothers went to their mother’s courtyard and talked with her for a long time before coming out.

…

After leaving the Lin residence, Lin Yuxin entered a dark alley.

When she emerged, she was dressed as a man and headed straight for Yan Hong Lou.

Yan Hong Lou was the largest brothel in the capital.

The women inside were either abducted commoners or the daughters of fallen officials.

When families were exiled or executed, the more beautiful daughters would be sent here, while the less fortunate ones were sent to military camps as comfort women.

Lin Yuxin had spent some time gathering this information.

Standing at the entrance of Yan Hong Lou, she saw two brightly dressed women calling out to customers.

[Wow! So this is the famous Yan Hong Lou? It’s so lively. The Sixth Prince comes here often. He’s so obsessed with Ru Yan that he’s practically drained himself dry!]

As soon as she stepped inside, one of the women pulled her in.

“Sir, come on in! We have all kinds of beauties inside.”

“Oh? Is that so? Are they as beautiful as you?”

Lin Yuxin lifted the woman’s chin playfully and smirked.

“Don’t worry, sir. They’re even more beautiful than me.”

The woman batted her eyelashes at Lin Yuxin shyly.

“Great! That’s what I like to hear!”

With an air of supreme confidence, Lin Yuxin strode inside.

The first-floor hall was lively, filled with men and women at every table. Each man had a woman in his arms, drinking, chatting, and indulging in all sorts of improper behavior.

But Lin Yuxin wasn’t fazed at all. She was a modern soul—she had even watched CDs before! This was nothing.

She was led to a private room, where the air was fragrant with incense.

“Sir, please take a seat. I’ll bring in the ladies for you,” the brothel keeper said respectfully before leaving.

…

At the Regent’s residence…

“Your Highness!”

Wang Yu rushed in with urgent news.

“What is it?”

Li Xiaocheng was about to rest for the night.

“Well… Lady Lin has run away from home. Our people followed her, and she… she went into Yan Hong Lou!”

Wang Yu hesitated before speaking, finding it difficult to believe.

When he first received the report, he was completely stunned.

What kind of young lady pulls a runaway stunt like this?

And if she was going to run away, why go to a brothel?!

His lord had already helped Lady Lin twice for no apparent reason.

After much hesitation, he had decided to report this matter.

Li Xiaocheng was silent for a moment before putting his clothes back on.

In a flash, he disappeared.

“Your Highness?!”

Wang Yu looked up in shock—where did he go?!

…

At the Lin residence…

“Young Master! The young lady went to Yan Hong Lou!”

A servant reported breathlessly.

“What did you say?!”

Lin Chenglie was stunned and asked again in disbelief.

“The young lady went to Yan Hong Lou!”

The servant lowered his head even further.

He felt like his life was over.

He had just reported that the young lady had gone to a brothel—surely he would be silenced for this!

He was doomed!

Lin Chenglie immediately turned and rushed to his mother’s courtyard.

“Mother!”

“What’s wrong? Why are you here so late?”

Zhao Hanya asked when she saw her son arrive in a hurry.

“Little Sister went… to a brothel!”

Lin Chenglie said awkwardly, keeping his head down.

“Ridiculous! That girl is too careless with her reputation. If this gets out, how will she ever get married?! Xue Ying!”

Zhao Hanya called out.

A shadow suddenly appeared, kneeling before her respectfully.

“Master!”

“Protect Xinxin! From now on, you will stay by her side.”

“Yes!”

With a flash, Xue Ying disappeared.

“Mother, why not bring Little Sister back?”

Lin Chenglie asked in confusion.

“There’s no rush. Let her have some fun outside for now,” Zhao Hanya sighed.

…

Lin Yuxin had no idea how much her visit to Yan Hong Lou was worrying the people around her. She was having the time of her life.

With beauties in her arms, fine wine in her cup, and lovely music in the background, life was grand.

“Is Ru Yan not here?”

Lin Yuxin casually asked while drinking the wine handed to her by a beauty.

“Ru Yan has been taken by an important figure and no longer sees guests. Why? Does Sir wish for Ru Yan’s company too? Are we not beautiful enough?”

A sweet-looking woman pouted playfully.

“How could that be? I was just curious. You’re all stunning.”

Lin Yuxin quickly hugged the beauty and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“You’re so bad!”

The woman blushed and playfully hit Lin Yuxin on the chest.

[Ru Yan is the Sixth Prince’s woman. He’s so devoted to her that he even refused the Emperor’s title of Yi Wang! Among the Emperor’s five sons, only the Sixth Prince wasn’t granted a title.]

[It’s rumored that he gave up his title for Ru Yan because he loves her deeply. But I know she’s just a cover. The Sixth Prince may be lustful, but he’s secretly gathering soldiers to prepare for a coup.]

[Of all the princes, he’s the first to rebel and comes closest to seizing the throne. Who would have thought that a man drowning in pleasure could accumulate such powerful forces? It’s been years in the making, and Yan Hong Lou is one of his key assets.]

[I’m here to see how profitable this place is—and to rescue someone.]

Lin Yuxin leisurely sipped her wine and enjoyed the company of the women.

She didn’t know that on her rooftop, two people were listening—Li Xiaocheng and Xue Ying.

And everything she had just thought to herself… Li Xiaocheng had heard it all.

His face remained expressionless, but inside, he was utterly shocked.