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

Chapter 337: Threatening the Empress

Lin Rusi then realized that Li Jingyang knew nothing about the Empress's illegitimate son.

She remembered that the Empress had an illegitimate child because of her memories from her past life, but that was a long time later.

Unexpectedly, it came in handy here. She smiled and grasped Li Jingyang's hand in return: "Your Highness, who said there's no leverage? I do have one here."

"You have it?" Li Jingyang lowered his head and asked in surprise.

Lin Rusi chuckled softly before continuing with Fang Yun's story: "In the northernmost part of the capital, there is a farming family named Fang. They have a youngest son named Fang Yun. Your Highness, if you wish to control the Empress, bring Fang Yun here."

Li Jingyang listened, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes: "Why capture Fang Yun? Who is he?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Rusi immediately laughed and then whispered something in Li Jingyang's ear.

As she finished speaking, Li Jingyang's eyes widened in shock.

While wondering, he couldn't help but gasp.

This is a heinous crime!

"Asi, are you telling the truth?"

"Why don't you go and check it yourself, Your Highness?"

Lin Rusi did not answer directly, but instead smiled meaningfully.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Jingyang asked again, "So, what are you planning to do next, Asi?"

"Your Highness need not worry, I will go to see the Empress!" Lin Rusi chuckled confidently, her eyes filled with a sense of certainty.

At the same time, Li Jingyang had some concerns: "I'll have someone accompany you. It's not safe for you to go to the Empress alone."

At this moment, the Empress's emotions were extremely unstable, and it was hard to guarantee that she wouldn't do something to Lin Rusi in order to protect her secret.

He absolutely would not allow Lin Rusi to take any risks.

Seeing this, Lin Rusi felt somewhat helpless. She gripped Li Jingyang's hand tightly, her voice carrying a hint of coquetry: "Your Highness, don't you believe me?"

"Of course it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that it's ultimately dangerous to be near the Empress. If you go into the palace alone, who knows what awaits you there?"

This time, Li Jingyang was very determined and refused to agree no matter what Lin Rusi said.

Seeing him shake his head, Lin Rusi grasped his hand with a hint of urgency: "Your Highness! Please trust me this once, okay? The Empress would never dare!"

Li Jingyang hesitated for a long time before sighing and nodding, "Alright, if you really want to go, then go. I will arrange for someone in the palace to meet you."

"I trust Your Highness. However, Your Highness should make arrangements regarding Fang Yun as soon as possible. As long as Fang Yun is in our hands, the Empress will be hesitant to act rashly and will certainly not do anything out of line."

Lin Rusi smiled and raised her lips, but her eyes suddenly darkened.

That same day, Li Jingyang arranged for someone to kidnap Fang Yun.

Just as Lin Rusi said, that person did indeed bear some resemblance to the Empress.

Upon seeing the person being brought in, Lin Rusi, who was already prepared, did not hesitate and quickly tidied herself up before heading straight for the palace.

Inside the palace at this time.

"Your Majesty, Princess Jinglie has arrived."

The nanny whispered in the Empress's ear.

Upon hearing this, the Empress immediately stood up, a hint of surprise in her eyes. She then tentatively asked, "Did she come alone?"

"Yes, does Your Majesty wish to see her?"

Although the nanny did not know the specifics of the feud between the two, she was well aware that the relationship between the Empress and that man was far from good.

"Of course, since he has come to me of his own accord, how could I not see him?"

The Empress let out a cold laugh. She suddenly stood up, her smile tinged with madness.

A short while later, Lin Rusi walked in.

The Empress waved her hand, dismissing everyone from the palace, and looked at Lin Rusi with a cold smile: "I didn't expect you to dare to come alone! You're quite bold."

"Should I say you're too arrogant and don't take me seriously, or that you're too confident and think Li Jingyang can protect you?"

The Empress propped her head up, her eyes filled with mockery as she looked at Lin Rusi.

Lin Rusi wasn't in a hurry. She raised her lips and said, "Since I dare to come to see Your Majesty alone, I have my own reasons. Does Your Majesty know why?"

At this moment, the Empress was blinded by excitement. After all, Lin Rusi was just one person, and there was nothing she could do.

If someone in this palace were to offend the Empress Dowager, who doesn't know what the consequences would be?

Even if she really punished Lin Rusi, no one would dare to say anything.

"How would I know? I'm not interested either! But now that you're here, you won't be leaving so easily."

She spoke with an air of arrogance and confidence, as if she was certain that Lin Rusi would fall into her hands.

Seeing her expression, Lin Rusi sneered: "Your Majesty, it seems you didn't take what I told you last time to heart at all."

"What?"

The Empress was stunned for a moment, recalling what Lin Rusi had said earlier, and her face turned pale and looked rather ugly.

She looked at Lin Rusi in disbelief: "What do you mean by this? Are you threatening me?"

After saying that, the Empress seemed to remember something, and then shook her head disdainfully: "But Lin Rusi, even if you really know, so what? Without evidence, you still can't touch me!"

As she spoke, she threw her head back and burst into laughter, her expression manic.

"Of course not!"

Lin Rusi shook her head, then walked slowly to the seat in front of the Empress, gave her a bright smile, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty probably doesn't know that Fang Yun is in the Jinglie Prince's residence!"

Lin Rusi's smile was beautiful, but that expression chilled the Empress to the bone.

"What did you say?!"

The Empress stood up in disbelief, her eyes wide.

The next moment, their eyes met, and Lin Rusi shrugged nonchalantly: "I said, Fang Yun is in my residence. He is your and the Left Censor's child. Only I know that. However, if Your Highness makes any rash moves, I cannot be sure."

She chuckled softly, and the Empress was immediately flustered.

Her face was filled with terror, and she was deathly pale.

I never expected that my biggest weakness would fall into her hands. It seems that this woman really can't be allowed to live.

Thinking of this, the Empress clenched her fists and stared intently in Lin Rusi's direction.

Her nails dug deep into her palms, and her eyes were particularly sinister.

Although she may have been exposed, she still pretended to be calm in front of Lin Rusi: "I don't know who Fang Yun is."

Lin Rusi sighed softly, not expecting that she would still be so stubborn.

"Does Your Highness truly not know?"

Lin Rusi curled her lips into a smile, her voice teasing.

The Empress glanced over slightly, her eyes practically radiating murderous intent.

Meeting her gaze, Lin Rusi seemed to read her thoughts and smiled casually: "As long as I am here with Her Majesty today and I am not harmed in any way, His Highness will bring Fang Yun before the Emperor and tell him everything."

Her eyes were cold and clear, yet held a sharp edge that was not easily detected, making her less harmless than she appeared.

Upon hearing this, the Empress's face contorted with rage, as if she had given up entirely: "So what?! You have no evidence!"

But Lin Rusi didn't care at all: "So what if there's no evidence? It's enough that I can ruin you, Your Majesty."

Even if Lin Rusi didn't say it, the Empress herself knew.

Of course she was afraid; the emperor was inherently suspicious.