Chapter 27

Chapter 27

◎I am your Shadow Servant, Cui Heng, also known as Guan Lan.◎

Her voice was soft, but the courtyard was so quiet that her words stood out prominently.

Everyone turned to look, including the cold-faced Director of the Inspectorate.

His gaze lingered on her bloodied figure, and his aura subsided slightly before he spoke softly, "Crimson Bird, take her to tend to her injuries first."

"Yes, Young Master."

Upon hearing this, Crimson Bird hurriedly called out to Luo Wanqing, "Get up, come with me."

Luo Wanqing rose and followed Crimson Bird away. Before leaving, she glanced back and saw Xie Heng turn to inquire about the messenger, his brows furrowing slightly. "Luo Wanqing? Is she dead too?"

Listening to Xie Heng's question, she felt a bit puzzled.

Why would he specifically ask about her? Didn't he leave immediately after she reported the incident that day? Yet, he knew who she was?

Curiosity stirred within her, but she didn't dare linger. Following the Phoenix, she left the courtyard and couldn't help but ask, "Phoenix Envoy, who exactly is this Luo Family? And who is Luo Wanqing? Why does the Master pay such close attention?"

"You can address him as Young Master from now on," the Phoenix said nonchalantly, walking ahead. "The term 'Master' is for outsiders. You need to understand that you're serving our Young Master, not the Inspectorate. In the future, know whom to obey and whom to be loyal to."

Hearing this reminder, Luo Wanqing held her tongue and replied respectfully, "Yes."

"The Luo Family was originally a wealthy merchant family in Jiangnan. The head of the family, Luo Quanshu, was imprisoned and sentenced to death due to a case involving illegal salt trading. His family was exiled to Lingnan." Seeing that she was obedient, the Phoenix returned to her question without any concealment. "Such a minor case would usually never reach the Young Master's ears. But something small happened that caught his attention. The Young Master intended to personally interrogate Luo Quanshu, yet it turned out that the man had cowardly taken his own life in prison."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but clench her fists, softly asking, "And then?"

"In all the cases our Inspectorate has handled, nine out of ten suicides in fear of punishment were suspicious. How could we not understand that?" Zhuque scoffed, then added with a tinge of regret, "But at the time, no evidence could be found. Young Master intended to put this case on hold and merge it with a few others. To our surprise, that Miss Luo Wanqing from the Luo family went to great lengths to present her grievances before Young Master herself." Zhuque gestured dramatically. "You wouldn't believe it, Miss Luo was as beautiful as a celestial maiden, the kind that seemed delicate enough to break with a touch. Yet, she managed to dig through the water dungeon and even killed a Shadow Guard. What kind of determination was that? However, Young Master still managed to persuade her to leave, promising to clear her family's name in the future. Little did we expect..."

Zhuque paused, a look of pity appearing on their face as they sighed. "Man proposes, but God disposes. Miss Luo had a tragic fate. Young Master is a man of his word," Zhuque shook their head. "He must be feeling terrible right now."

Luo Wanqing listened quietly, unable to resist glancing back at the still brightly lit courtyard.

The person behind the screen that day... was it actually Xie Heng?

He had genuinely planned to vindicate her family?

If this were in the past, she might have believed Qilin's words without question.

But after these past three months and witnessing so many injustices along the way, her perspective had changed.

Zhang Jiuran's father, Qin Jue's entire family, and herself, Luo Wanqing – with the vastness of the world, how could the Censorate possibly oversee and correct them all?

What made her little case in the Jiangnan region worthy of the attention of Xie Heng, the head of the Censorate?

If he truly sought justice, why wouldn't Xie Heng advocate for others?

Luo Wanqing scoffed inwardly but maintained her composure, feigning curiosity. "What trivial matter caught your attention in such a small case?"

"You're quite inquisitive," Qilin chuckled. Luo Wanqing felt a slight tension in her heart, realizing she had overstepped. She was about to apologize when Qilin unexpectedly praised her. "A good habit! An excellent spy should possess such curiosity."

Luo Wanqing was taken aback, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Qilin showed no intention of hiding the truth, even appearing excited as he whispered, "I'll share this with you, but don't mention it to anyone else."

"Of course," Luo Wanqing's expression darkened slightly. "Please rest assured, Your Excellency."

"That Luo Wanqing," the phoenix spoke in a cryptic tone, "was once the fiancée of the current Third Prince, the one who returned from the mortal world, you know?"

"I'm aware." Luo Wanqing's gaze turned cold as she involuntarily clenched her fists, controlling her emotions before nodding. "She's famous throughout the land."

"Well, that Luo Wanqing fancies our Director!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing was taken aback. She lifted her eyes in shock and couldn't help but question, "Huh?"

She liked Xie Heng? How was it possible that she didn't know?

"What kind of look is that?" The phoenix noticed her expression and immediately grew displeased.

"Lord..." Luo Wanqing quickly regained her composure, suppressing her astonishment as she asked doubtfully, "How did you find out?"

"I overheard it," the phoenix said with a hint of pride, explaining earnestly. "Our Surveillance Bureau has been keeping a close eye on that Third Prince for quite some time. On the day he visited Luo Wanqing in prison, his people forced our bureau members away. I couldn't stand it, so I went to eavesdrop on their conversation myself."

"You heard them?" Luo Wanqing blinked.

The phoenix appeared slightly awkward and coughed softly. "I didn't hear everything. Anyway," the phoenix continued solemnly, "the Third Prince is very powerful."

"Oh," Luo Wanqing nodded. "Then what did you hear?"

"I only caught one part," Zhuque said earnestly. "Luo Wanqing declared her love for our young master since she was young, and that Prince Third was just a compromise. She even mentioned using his head to celebrate her nuptials with the young master. How flattering for our young master! I had to inform him of such a matter. That's why I rushed back. Upon hearing her father's name, the young master decided to interrogate the prisoner himself."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt immense relief at having changed identities.

She never wanted to meet Xie Heng again as Luo Wanqing. It would be too humiliating.

She forced a smile. "Does Young Master know this Luo Quanshu?"

"That, you'll have to ask Young Master," Zhuque shrugged, turning to walk ahead. "But this Luo Quanshu is a guest of the Cui family. Our young master's maternal clan is also Cui, so it's not strange for them to know each other."

Luo Wanqing remained silent, mentally noting down this information. Following Zhuque, they entered a small pavilion and a room.

Zhuque opened the door to the room and pointed inside. "There aren't many female officials in our surveillance department. This small pavilion was originally occupied by Aunt Bai Li alone. For now, we've allocated a room for you. When Aunt Bai Li returns, you'll follow her instructions."

Luo Wanqing nodded upon hearing this. She had heard the name Bai Li from Liu Xiniang before. This was the best spy within the surveillance department. Hearing Zhuque address her as "aunt", Bai Li must be quite advanced in age.

"I'll leave everything to your discretion, Messenger Zhuque."

Luo Wanqing bowed, and the Phoenix nodded in approval of her politeness. Then she said, "In a while, a physician and a maid will attend to you for treatment and medicine. We may not have everything here in the Inspectorate, but we have ample funds. I can see that you have medical skills, so feel free to tell the maid what medications you need."

"Then…" Luo Wanqing hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed as she asked, "My monthly stipend…?"

She was about to redeem Zhang Jiuran at the clinic tomorrow. The horse belonged to the Inspectorate, and they hadn't asked her about it today, probably because they were too busy. But when they did inquire tomorrow, she would have to return the horse.

With no money left after returning the horse, how could she afford to take care of Zhang Jiuran?

Moreover, there was the issue of the parasites on Zhang Jiuran's body. Both saving his life and nurturing him back to health would require silver.

"Monthly stipend?"

Hearing Luo Wanqing's question, the Phoenix realized, "Oh, the Inspectorate pays its stipends at the end of each month, twenty taels of silver. But if you need money, just inform your Shadow Attendant. Each Attendant has a different monthly allowance, and yours will submit the request for approval. From now on, besides your missions, your Shadow Attendant will handle all your other affairs."

As Luo Wanqing absorbed the Phoenix's explanation, she gradually understood, "So my Shadow Attendant will take care of everything?"

"Yes, just focus on serving the Inspectorate," the Phoenix nodded. "Your Shadow Attendant will attend to all your needs – weapons, clothing, doctors, connections, disguises… your Attendant will arrange it all. Since you're new, you'll be assigned an experienced Shadow Attendant who recently lost their Master. They're a senior, so listen to them for now." The Phoenix advised, "Once you're familiar with the Inspectorate, you'll take the lead, and they'll support you."

Listening to this, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but feel anticipation. She then asked, "When will my Shadow Attendant return?"

"Let's do it tomorrow."

The Phoenix pondered, "I'll help you ask Black Mountain later. It's under his jurisdiction."

"Wan Qing appreciates your help," Luo Wanqing smiled sincerely.

The Phoenix nodded and then said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

As the Phoenix turned to leave, Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered something. "Uh, Envoy Phoenix."

The Phoenix turned back, confused. Luo Wanqing asked earnestly, "How is Qin Jue?"

The Phoenix froze. He instinctively wanted to inquire which Qin Jue she was referring to.

But he wasn't sure if Luo Wanqing was aware that Qin Jue had changed his identity along the journey. Awkwardly, he replied based on what Luo Wanqing currently knew, "He's alive and well. When we found him, he had thirty keys in hand and had qualified as a Shadow Envoy."

Luo Wanqing sighed in relief. The Phoenix caught on and probed cautiously, "Do you want Qin Jue to serve as your Shadow Envoy?"

Luo Wanqing was taken aback. She hadn't considered that, but Qin Jue was also a viable option.

Thus, she nodded and said, "I have no objections."

The Phoenix, looking slightly awkward, hesitated before speaking, "Then... I'll discuss it further later."

Luo Wanqing bowed, "As you wish, Phoenix Envoy."

The Phoenix nodded, "Alright, get some rest. This matter is crucial, I'll take my leave."

With that, he hastily left the room.

Confused, Luo Wanqing watched his overly anxious figure disappear. She couldn't fathom what had transpired.

After sitting in her room for a moment, a maid appeared at the door, guiding a physician and an apprentice. They knocked and entered, tending to Luo Wanqing's injuries and examining her. She mentioned Zhang Jiuran's condition and requested some life-sustaining herbs from the doctor.

The Censorate was very generous, and the medicines she asked for were quite expensive. The physician prescribed them without hesitation.

Estimating the cost of these medications, Luo Wanqing thought that if money became tight in the future, she could sell the Censorate's herbs on the side to supplement her income.

With her wounds tended to and the bed tidily made by the female servant, she was finally able to rest.

This bed was far more comfortable than any she had slept in during her time in Yangzhou, yet she found it hard to fall asleep. After months of constant vigilance, the sudden release of tension left her feeling uneasy.

There were too many matters that required her attention.

How could she save Zhang Jiuran?

Then there were her family members. According to Zhang Jiuran's account, the news of their demise in the landslide was likely false. They must have been rescued by Zhang Jiuran on the way and later abducted by the Acacia Seeds.

The Acacia Seeds would surely use her as leverage; they would come for her sooner or later. But she couldn't help but wonder about the well-being of her loved ones.

And...

That impostor Qin Jue.

The image of him leaning against the window, smiling warmly at her, flashed through Luo Wanqing's mind. She couldn't resist glancing at the window.

To this day, she knew nothing of his identity, his name, or even his true appearance.

Perhaps she should have inquired of Zhuque earlier. As someone sent by the Censorate, Zhuque should know something about it, right?

But there was no need to rush. Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, regulating her breath. She told herself that there would be ample time in the future, and they would meet again.

Unable to sleep, she focused on her breathing until she achieved a state of calm. Before long, she drifted off into a light slumber.

Meanwhile, at the Censorate headquarters, the lights were still on.

Xie Heng sat with his knees bent before a desk, tapping gently on its surface. "So no one has seen the bodies of the Luo family members?"

"Yes," the investigator who had returned from Lingnan confirmed earnestly. "The landslide occurred suddenly, and by the time we received word and reached the mountain, everything was buried. It's unlikely anyone survived."

Xie Heng remained silent. Xuan Shan glanced at him and whispered, "Young Master, do you want us to send more people to search?"

"Send someone to keep an eye on the situation," Xie Heng lowered his gaze. "Without martial arts skills, they wouldn't have survived without a miracle. Let's have someone monitor the area, recover their bodies, and give them a proper burial."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. Xie Heng sat quietly, and all could sense the gloom that had descended upon the leader.

It was his own arrogance.

Xie Heng gazed at the tea before him, recalling his last encounter with that woman.

"Sir, some outcomes come too late to matter anymore."

Back then, he had taken her words as mere complaints. But now, reflecting on it, any outcome at this point would indeed be meaningless to the Luo family.

He had wronged her.

Xie Heng's heartstrings trembled slightly. He concealed his emotions and then turned his gaze to the young man in green robes beside him, asking, "Qingya, how is Qin Jue?"

"He doesn't have any severe injuries and has been settled down," Qingya replied methodically, his voice gentle. "We've captured all the members of the Wind and Rain Pavilion, and their identities have been verified. The Zhao Yuyan who died today was likely the Pavilion's Right Envoy. Most of the combat-ready members of the Wind and Rain Pavilion in the Open Pavilion should have been wiped out. It'll be difficult for them to cause trouble again for several years, but there's one person..."

Qingya hesitated, and everyone looked over. Qingya frowned. "Although Qin Jue didn't say much, only mentioning that this new Inspector Liu saved him, I find it odd. This Liu Xiniang seems too peculiar."

Xie Heng didn't say much. He simply asked, "Elaborate?"

"A minor Salt Gang branch leader capable of killing the Wind and Rain Pavilion's Right Envoy," Qingya raised his eyes to survey the surroundings. "Isn't that strange?"

"So, what do you suppose she might be planning?" Xie Heng spoke nonchalantly.

From the side, Xuan Shan's steady voice echoed, "With such a significant investment, there can only be one purpose—"

At this, everyone turned their gaze toward Xie Heng.

Qingya's gentle tone was unusually earnest as he addressed the young lord, "My lord."

Upon hearing this, Xie Heng lowered his eyes. He tapped the table lightly and spoke in a measured pace, "I was the one who connected her meridians and shaped her bones. I've checked, and she doesn't have the Wind and Rain Pavilion's insects within her."

"My lord, controlling someone doesn't necessarily require the use of insects," Xuan Shan reminded.

Xie Heng looked at Xuan Shan and stated directly, "You suspect she's from the Wind and Rain Pavilion?"

Xuan Shan hesitated for a moment. Although this Liu Xiniang was peculiar, there was currently no direct evidence to prove that she was affiliated with the Wind and Rain Pavilion.

She hadn't harmed them; on the contrary, she had been of great assistance to them throughout their journey.

If not for her today, Qin Jue might not have survived.

Xuan Shan pursed his lips and softly said, "That's hard to determine."

"Indeed, it's not easy to say, but we'll know if we give it a try." Xie Heng brushed off his sleeves with a calm expression. "She's a promising talent, and she hasn't caused any trouble on this journey. Instead, she's been quite helpful. With proper cultivation, she might one day be able to take Aunt Bai Li's position. We shouldn't give up on her easily."

As Xie Heng analyzed the situation and made his decision, he lifted his gaze and said, "I'll bring her myself. Make the necessary arrangements."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed surprise. Qingya immediately frowned and tried to dissuade him. "Young Master, if she truly came to kill you, wouldn't it be unwise to keep her by your side?"

"What's unwise about that?" Xie Heng chuckled. "If she genuinely intends to assassinate me, she can use me as a target for practice. If she can injure me, then she's capable of taking Bai Li's position."

"Even if she has ill intentions towards you, Young Master, why would you still keep her?" Qingya was astonished.

Xie Heng was puzzled. "Why wouldn't I?"

"But she could be from the Rain and Wind Pavilion..."

"I don't care which pavilion she's from. Either way, once she steps into my Inspectorate, she becomes mine. If anyone tries to take her," Xie Heng glanced at Qingya, interrupting him, and stated firmly, "they'll have to fight me for her."

Seeing Xie Heng's determination, everyone present fell silent.

Xuan Shan pondered for a moment before asking, "How does Young Master plan on bringing her along?"

This question caught Xie Heng off guard. He thought for a moment and replied, "I need to keep the identity of Xie Heng to test her and give her some practice. It's not suitable for me to show myself directly."

As Xie Heng spoke, an idea came to him, and he lifted his gaze to look at Qingya. "Did Qin Jue tell you if she recognized him or me?"

"Yes," Qingya answered truthfully. "She realized that the Qin Jue she encountered on the journey from Yangzhou to Dongdu was an impostor, but she doesn't know your identity yet."

"Interesting," Xie Heng said with a hint of disappointment, nodding his head. Then, he considered, "Have you arranged a Shadow Servant for her?"

"Not yet," Xuan Shan admitted. "I'm still working on it. As she's new to the bureau, she needs an experienced Shadow Servant, but all the seasoned ones are already assigned to their respective duties. I'm trying to sort it out."

Xie Heng smiled, seemingly struck by a brilliant idea. He exclaimed cheerfully, "I'll be her Shadow Servant then!"

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances but refrained from commenting.

Xie Heng found this notion excellent and was about to speak when he heard the sound of Zhuque returning. Turning his head, he saw Zhuque enter the room, pay a respectful greeting, then casually kneel down at the desk, requesting a cup of tea from a servant. Looking at Xuan Shan, he asked, "Xuan Shan, have you settled on a Shadow Servant for Liu Xiniang?"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gazes, and even Xie Heng found it perplexing. "Why do you ask?"

"Xiu Xiniang just told me," said Zhuque, sipping her tea with a hint of distress. "She wants Qin Jue. But Qin Jue is also new. I suggested finding someone experienced to guide her, so why did she set her sights on him? Could they have developed feelings during the exam?"

As Zhuque spoke, the expression on Xie Heng's face softened slightly, alerting everyone that something was off. He seemed nonchalant as he asked, "Which Qin Jue does she want?"

"Aah?" Zhuque was caught off guard. After pondering for a moment, she tried to interpret Luo Wanqing's context.

She first inquired about Qin Jue's injury, which referred to the real Qin Jue. Based on that, the Qin Jue she wanted...

Zhuque hesitated. "The genuine one, perhaps?"

"Mmm..." Xie Heng lifted his teacup, using the lid to stir the green leaves within, his tone carrying a deeper meaning.

Xuan Shan and Qingya, both perceptive to Xie Heng's mood, shifted their gazes away and started coughing discreetly as a reminder to Zhuque.

But Zhuque remained oblivious and continued, "I don't see why Liu Xiniang wanting Qin Jue would be a problem. We're short-handed, and they both just passed the exam. Qin Jue has a gentle disposition and handles tasks meticulously. Liu Xiniang seems efficient to me. They'd make a good team. The only issue is that they're both new. Wouldn't it be unwise for them to go on a mission together?" Zhuque glanced at Xie Heng, who was looking down, seeking his opinion. "What do you think, Young Master?"

"It's not appropriate," Xie Heng nodded and turned to Xuan Shan. "You arrange for someone suitable."

Xuan Shan promptly responded respectfully, "Yes."

Zhu Que looked at Xuan Shan in confusion. "Huh? Didn't you say that the Shadow Messengers were insufficient? Who would be suitable?"

"Zhu Que," Xie Heng called out to him. Zhu Que turned his head and saw Xie Heng smile before suddenly asking, "When registering for the preliminary test yesterday, did you leave early?"

Zhu Que's face froze, and he hesitated. "Young Master, about this matter..."

"A six-month deduction of your monthly stipend."

Xie Heng sipped his tea and stood up. "If there's nothing else, go to bed. Everyone should get some proper rest."

With that said, Xie Heng left with his hands behind his back.

Zhu Que stood stiffly, taking a long while to react. He then stared at Qingya in shock. "I only left a tiny bit earlier! Is it appropriate to punish me so severely?!"

"You know Young Master's temperament," Qingya said, looking at Zhu Que with pity. "If he's unhappy, no one will be happy."

"What could possibly upset him?"

Confused, Zhuque watched as Qingya sighed and rose to leave without further explanation.

Zhuque turned back to Xuan Shan, lost, "What did I do wrong?"

Xuan Shan didn't answer directly. Instead, he stood up, patted Zhuque on the shoulder, and simply said, "Don't compete with the young master for anything."

Zhuque stood there, dumbfounded, watching everyone depart one by one, each more enigmatic than the last.

He sat there for a long time, pondering, but couldn't figure out why he had been punished with half a year's salary!

While Zhuque was lost in confusion, Luo Wanqing slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, she woke up refreshed, tidied herself up, and heard a knock on the door.

Stretching her body, she opened the door to find a young man standing there, dressed in luxurious garments and wearing a golden mask that covered half his face, all while wearing an amiable smile.

His attire, a jade-colored robe embroidered with golden threads, shimmered in the morning light.

Luo Wanqing was taken aback before recognizing the familiar voice: "Greetings, Minister Liu."

Her eyes widened, then she realized, "You...?"

She opened her mouth but hesitated, unsure how to address him.

He smiled slightly and said, "I am your Shadow Envoy, Cui Heng, also known as Guanlan."

The Author has something to say:

"Short Scene #1"

Luo Wanqing: "When did you start paying attention to me?"

Xie Heng: "Since my subordinate mentioned that you were pretending to be engaged to someone else while secretly pining for me."

Luo Wanqing: "???"

Xie Heng: "I thought it wasn't right, but it worked out well for me."

Luo Wanqing: "In this lifetime, I don't wish to meet you as Luo Wanqing again. Farewell, I'll forever be Liu Xiniang."

"Mini-Drama · 2"

Xie Heng: "I've made up my mind, I want to be her Shadow Attendant, it'd be delightful!"

Crimson Phoenix: "But Liu Xiniang said she wants Qin Jue."

Xie Heng: "Which Qin Jue? It must be me, right? Did she misunderstand or did you?"

Crimson Phoenix: "It's the real Qin Jue."

Xie Heng: "What? She's already thinking of teaming up with someone else just two days after I left?"

Crimson Phoenix: "Forget two days, she could team up with someone in just two hours."

Xie Heng: "....Did you leave work early yesterday?"

Crimson Phoenix: "??? Why are you bringing that up?"

Xie Heng: "A six-month deduction of your monthly stipend, Xuan Shan. You should be more sensible."

Xuan Shan: "Yes, sir. You are the Eternal, Exclusive, and Finest Shadow Minister to Lord Liu."

"Mini Scene 3"

Luo Wanqing: "Wow, you're quite the master of disguise! One alias after another."

Xie Heng: "Meeting my match, I can't afford to lose. Neither of us will reveal our true identities unless the other does!"

Zhucque: "Are you two playing dress-up?"

Xuan Shan: "Misunderstood, this is like a mortal version of reincarnated love stories. It's not just in xianxia tales that one can change identities to fall in love."