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

Chapter 550: Only One Choice

"The Crown Princess couldn't have seen me, after all, my family was raided a long time ago."

“But if I mention my father’s official position, you can probably come up with something else.”

The woman whispered her father's surname and his official title of Minister, which finally reminded Lin Rusi.

However, instead of searching for memories, she found a file she had previously read.

"If I remember correctly, their entire family should have been executed; no one should have been spared."

"No! My father was framed. That day, he seemed to have sensed something and sent me away."

Did you anticipate this?

Lin Rusi frowned slightly, clearly wanting to say something more, but was interrupted by the former heiress.

"I had told my brother about it before, but he thought the emperor wouldn't suspect anything and insisted on keeping him alive. In the end, he was executed along with my father."

As she said this, the woman's voice trembled slightly with tears.

Lin Rusi looked at her face, which was devoid of a single tear, and said nothing.

Seemingly sensing her dissatisfaction, the woman didn't offer any further explanation. Instead, she took a sip of tea to help her hoarse voice recover slightly.

"Putting an act in front of me would be the biggest mistake."

"I know the Crown Princess has seen countless people and thinks that I'm just acting when I say I'm crying, but I really don't have a single tear right now; I've already cried all my tears."

Lin Rusi did not respond, but calmly refilled the teacup.

She took a sip of her drink, then turned her head to look in another direction, pondering her child's current situation.

But the woman was unwilling to let Lin Rusi ignore her like this, so she took out a letter written in blood and placed it on the table.

The bloodstains on it had turned dark brown, clearly indicating that it was from a long time ago.

Lin Rusi did not reach out to take it, but instead picked up the teacup more calmly.

Amidst the other person's astonished gaze, he subtly moved his fingers to pour the tea onto it.

The woman quickly snatched back the handkerchief and tried to roar, her mouth already open, but she stopped herself abruptly.

Why did you do this?!

"Naturally, it's because the smell of this stuff is too strong, making me feel that it's fake and was made to deceive me."

“This isn’t a fake. The smell of blood on it…” The woman seemed to remember something, her fingers gripping her clothes tightly. After a long while, she spoke again, “The smell of blood on it must be from me. After all, I’ve paid a lot to be able to sit here.”

Lin Rusi saw the other person roll up their sleeve, revealing the scar on their arm, and then calmly looked away.

"You've certainly had a tough time, but the collaboration you're looking for is even more difficult. What price are you willing to pay for our help?"

“I…I can cooperate with you to help you seize the throne, and I can even protect you.”

"Protect me? I have so many guards, why would I need bandits like you to protect me?"

The woman was furious that Lin Rusi would deny it so blatantly, and she raised her hand to smash the table.

But a comment from someone nearby made the woman withdraw her hand.

"If you use your full strength, this tea set will cease to exist."

"you……"

Lin Rusi didn't say much, but calmly examined the woman. After discovering that the woman's figure was not much different from her own, she already had an idea in mind.

To bring this person under our control, it would be best to take those skilled bandits with us as well.

This would also give Li Jingyang some more options.

But that's clearly impossible now, since the woman is unwilling to back down and only wants to help each other avenge her family.

"We helped you get revenge, but you traded something that rightfully belonged to Jingyang to me. Don't you think there's something wrong with that?"

"So what? Without our help, he'll have to wait until that guy dies before he can ascend the throne. But with us, he can take the throne in a few years at most."

Upon hearing this, Lin Rusi laughed and slammed her hand on the table.

How did you know we wanted that position?

"You know the Emperor is worried that Jingyang will seize the throne and do nothing about it. Now you're trying to force something you don't want onto him. Will he be happy? Will I be happy?"

The woman was stunned, speechless at the spot where everyone else wanted the position.

Lin Rusi didn't want to give her a chance to react, and directly raised her hand to pat the woman's shoulder.

"Bai Youyou, if you really want us to help you, the simplest way is to join forces with me, or rather, with us."

"That's impossible. Why would I bow down to a weakling? You only survived in that cannibalistic place because of Li Jingyang and your petty tricks."

"You really think that's all your ability? Now you'll see your true skills."

Bai Youyou could no longer hold back, so she put on her bamboo hat and lowered her voice again.

"Guards, lock her up again."

"Yes."

Bai Ke was the first to rush forward, grabbing Lin Rusi's arm and trying to drag her out.

In order not to get hurt, she naturally cooperated and walked out of the room.

But he didn't look away; instead, he stared straight at her until Bai Youyou was almost out of sight before raising his voice.

"Think it over carefully. This is the only option you have. If you give it up, you'll have no chance."

"Shut up! How dare you, a prisoner, mock our boss like that?"

Lin Rusi looked at Bai Ke's ferocious face, shrugged indifferently, and walked straight to the small, dilapidated house with the only cellar, following her memory.

When the door opened, she walked straight in and returned to the silent group.

"mother!"

Upon hearing Changning's voice, Lin Rusi immediately pulled him into her arms and gently patted his back.

After a few more cries, the uncontrollable sobs finally subsided, and the child obediently curled up in her mother's arms.

"It's alright. I just went out and talked to someone for a bit. Look, you're not hurt at all."

"You're lying, your wrist is all red."

The cellar was almost dark, but Changning still noticed the scars on Lin Rusi's arm.

I carefully wiped it again and again with a handkerchief, and found that the mark was even redder, almost bleeding, before I stopped and blew on it.

"Everyone, come out."

The sudden sound made Lin Rusi pause again. After seeing the different faces, she nodded and led the half-injured guards out of the cellar.

But as soon as they stepped out of the cellar, the other party quickly walked out the door and huddled them inside.

"Eat something and start healing. Just think of it as resting in a different place."

As long as we're here, even if someone comes looking for us, it'll probably be Bai Youyou who's more troubled.

Thinking of this, Lin Ru put her hand back into her pocket, found the few pills, and threw them at the most seriously injured people.

After doing all this, Changning hugged the person tightly again, giving them no chance to act alone.