Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 668 - 667: The Victim

Zhu Yu, who was nearby, let out a sigh of relief after hearing Big Beard’s inquiry.

Although the other party hadn’t truly confessed, the previous sentence undoubtedly acknowledged their earlier suspicions, bringing them a step closer to their goal.

"I am a victim whose family was ruined by the same person currently poisoning your Lan Country," Lu Qing answered Big Beard’s question, although his words were somewhat vague, "I possess advantages you do not.

And I need someone who can coordinate with me and take charge once everything settles down. Incidentally, you are hiding Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson.

We can both help each other fulfill our most urgent wishes and become allies."

"What kind of victim whose family was ruined by someone? You won’t even say your name, so how can I know if you’re telling the truth?" Big Beard asked.

Lu Qing smiled: "I know you won’t easily trust me; likewise, I haven’t been able to trust you from the start.

I know you were guards of Prince Lan Mansion who protected Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson during his escape, and that you are hiding in these mountains.

I mean no disrespect, but if we intended to make things difficult for you, your base would have already been wiped out by us."

Although Lu Qing’s tone was calm, his words expressed arrogance, causing the few people listening to look displeased. Wanting to retort but seeing their desperate situation, they swallowed the harsh words back down.

They had fallen into the traps laid by others twice, and if the other party was truly intent on tracking us down, the brother who "escaped" the night before to report would likely have led them straight to the main camp, instead of delivering these people directly.

In this light, the other party’s words seem to hold some truth.

"We’re not intentionally trying to toy with you or make fun of you by using such methods now.

It’s been over ten years since Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson disappeared, neither too long nor too short. If hearts have changed, the original intention might have been abandoned long ago, and everything changes with time.

We merely wanted to test you, as you all seem to be righteous heroes, which is why we wish to meet Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson.

The subsequent actions, for us, are also a gamble, so our identities will naturally be revealed after meeting Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson.

Until then, pardon me for not wanting to take the risk.

The matter is of great importance, and I won’t rush you into revealing anything immediately. Take your time, consider carefully whether it’s necessary for me to go to such lengths to deceive you for plotting against Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson."

"Since, since you say you know where our camp is, why don’t you directly come to us and state your purpose?" A younger person beside Big Beard noticed this doubt and questioned immediately.

Lu Qing neither felt surprised nor troubled by this question, nodding at the person: "We could indeed go directly to you, but how can you guarantee that you’d give us a calm and transparent opportunity to state our purpose?

You’ve been hiding here for over ten years, always on high alert for any unusual movements around you.

Our choice not to head to your camp directly but to operate nearby was for fear we’d be perceived as malicious.

If we, as you mentioned, headed directly to your hiding place with clear intentions, there’d likely be casualties before we could even speak.

Once there are casualties, wanting to sit down peacefully later to discuss alliance would become impossible.

My approach is firstly to test your loyalty to Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson and secondly to prevent harm on both sides, which would ruin the possibility of an alliance.

This is simply choosing the lesser evil under difficult circumstances."

With these words, those who initially didn’t agree also closed their mouths.

Lu Qing’s words were indeed not unfounded. If they had truly found their way to the camp, the people there would likely try to intercept them all along the way. Forced to this current situation, they’d probably not listen, and fighting would be inevitable.

Lu Qing watched them, reading their expressions to guess their thoughts and after a while, continued: "You can think it over, discuss among yourselves. Regardless of whether you choose to believe me or not, it doesn’t matter.

If you believe and accept my proposal, then select someone to report back and invite Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson to meet me.

If you don’t believe me, that’s fine too. Then the few of you will have to stay here, as we have ways to detain any groups that come, ultimately forcing Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson out."

"You!" The person beside Big Beard clearly couldn’t hold his temper; hearing this, he was immediately furious, "Who do you think you are? To demand our master to come meet you!"

"Shut up!" Before Lu Qing could respond, Big Beard roared, already following Lu Qing’s reasoning clearly.

Lu Qing’s request to have Prince Lan’s legitimate grandson come out might initially sound arrogantly dismissive, but in reality, having Lu Qing go to their camp would expose their base to others unnecessarily.

"We are only four people," Zhu Yu, who had been listening for a long time, couldn’t help but comment when seeing these people hesitating, "Surely there are more brothers left at the camp?

If so many people are guarding one person and they still dare not come to meet us, then this meeting is meaningless.

A person without resolve, even if entrusted with the whole Lan Country, would still become prey for others in the future."

The words were blunt and impatient, yet they left everyone speechless.

For the past ten years, they have tried to protect and teach the Young Master, believing he grew well under their guidance and protection.

Yet, despite doing well in other areas, the well-guarded upbringing meant the Young Master never faced any significant choices or storms.

In their hearts, they hoped the Young Master would eventually flourish and tidy up the chaotic Lan Country.

But whether he had such resolve, despite the individuals questioning, they themselves weren’t entirely sure either.