Damn it, Li Chengqian, this bastard actually dared to threaten me! I am an independent woman in the 21st century, how can I bear such humiliation? I beat Li Chengqian's chest with all my strength, but he was like a stone, motionless, and hugged me tighter.

"Lin Qingya, you'd better face reality and obey me, otherwise..." Li Chengqian whispered in my ear, his tone cold and gloomy, like a poisonous snake spitting out information, "The palace will let you see with your own eyes that everything you care about will be reduced to nothing."

I shuddered. Li Chengqian was so crazy. He really dared to do that! My father had been honest and upright all his life. If I were implicated because of him, I… I would never forgive myself even if I died!

Seeing that I had calmed down, Li Chengqian had a smug smile on his face. He loosened his grip on me and stroked my cheek instead, saying frivolously, "That's right, Qingya, don't worry, as long as you are obedient, the palace will treat you well."

I suppressed my nausea and asked in a low voice, "What do you want me to do?"

Li Chengqian's eyes flashed with viciousness. He approached me and whispered, "I want you to help me... get rid of Xiao Rui!"

I was shocked. As expected, he still suspected Xiao Rui!

"Why?" I asked calmly, "The prince has always been at peace with the world, why do you want to..."

"Don't fight with the world?" Li Chengqian sneered and interrupted me, "Lin Qingya, you don't really believe that he is a good person, right? Don't forget, he is..."

Li Chengqian suddenly paused, as if realizing that he had let something slip. He looked at me deeply and said meaningfully, "There are some things that you'd better not know."

I became even more confused. What secret does Xiao Rui have?

"What? You don't want to?" Seeing that I was silent, Li Chengqian said with a hint of threat in his tone, "You have to think it over carefully. This concerns your father's life!"

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I didn't panic. The more at this time, the more I had to stay awake!

"Okay, I promise you." I raised my head and looked straight into Li Chengqian's eyes, saying firmly, "But I have one condition."

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows and asked with interest: "Oh? What conditions?"

"I want you to guarantee my father's safety!" I said word by word, "I want you to swear that from now on, you will never hurt my father in the slightest!"

Li Chengqian looked at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He suddenly reached out and lifted my chin, saying frivolously, "Qingya, are you negotiating terms with the Queen?"

I met his gaze without fear, "Yes, if you don't agree, then..."

"So what?" Li Chengqian approached me, his warm breath spraying on my face with a hint of danger.

I took a deep breath and gave it a try. I was going to die anyway, so I might as well give it a try!

"Then... we'll fight to the death!" I pushed Li Chengqian away fiercely, saying in a determined tone, "No, I'll take you to jail together!"

Li Chengqian obviously didn't expect me to suddenly attack him. He staggered back a few steps, with a flash of anger in his eyes.

"Lin Qingya, you..."

Li Chengqian was about to lose his temper when the carriage suddenly stopped and the driver's voice came from outside: "Your Highness, we've arrived."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart. He looked at me deeply and said in a cold tone: "Lin Qingya, you'd better pray, you didn't lie to me!"

Having said that, he turned around and got off the carriage.

I sat there, watching Li Chengqian leave, feeling mixed emotions. What should I do to protect my father and escape from Li Chengqian's clutches?

녊When I was at a loss, suddenly, I felt the carriage shake slightly, as if... someone got on?

I was shocked. Could it be that Li Chengqian had come back?

I turned my head sharply, only to be met with a pair of dark eyes as deep as the night...