Chapter 30

Chapter 30

◎ Lord Zhang, why not purchase a carriage? ◎

Luo Wanqing lifted her gaze to meet his, uncertain if he had overheard her conversation with Xiangsi.

"You don't trust me?"

She stared at him, posing the question directly.

Cui Heng smiled and replied, "After you killed so many from the Wind and Rain Pavilion, I'm afraid you might be ambushed if you were out alone."

Startled, Luo Wanqing didn't expect Cui Heng to ignore the possibility of her misdeeds and instead express concern for her safety.

She gazed at him intently. Cui Heng gave her a quick once-over, making sure she was unharmed. He then released her hair and turned to lead the horse, saying gently, "The horse is back. Let's head home."

"Who did you encounter just now?"

With the horse in tow, they walked side by side. Luo Wanqing glanced at him. Cui Heng didn't hide anything and straightforwardly said, "Seemed like someone from the Wind and Rain Pavilion."

Speaking thus, without waiting for Luo Wanqing to respond, Cui Heng seemed to express concern, "Perhaps they've come to kill you. You must be cautious."

With these words, there was no need for Luo Wanqing to explain herself; he had paved the way for her, leaving no questions about the events of that night.

Though Luo Wanqing wasn't sure of his intentions, since he didn't inquire further, she didn't bring it up either.

The two strolled back to the Inspectorate as if on a leisurely walk. Cui Heng handed their horse over to a servant to stable it, then accompanied Luo Wanqing back to her quarters. At the door, as Luo Wanqing was about to close it, Cui Heng suddenly spoke, "Xiniang."

Luo Wanqing looked at him inquisitively. Cui Heng gave her a gentle warning, "The Rain and Wind Pavilion's Bright Pavilion is practically crippled now, with only one Left Minister still capable. There's no need to fear them. However, they still have a Shadow Pavilion for internal affairs. It's unclear which noble family they rely on, but these families often nurture skilled assassins from a young age. You should be careful."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing lifted her gaze at Cui Heng warily. Cui Heng smiled and said, "Refining one's bones is no easy task. Xiniang, I cherish you, and you should cherish yourself as well. Rest well for the next few days and avoid overexerting yourself."

With that, he nodded in farewell and turned to leave with his lantern.

Watching Cui Heng head to the neighboring room, Luo Wanqing closed the door and lay back down on her bed.

She couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind Cui Heng's words, nor could she discern his true attitude towards her.

Cherish herself?

By "cherish," did he mean for her to stay out of the affairs of the Wind and Rain Pavilion, or was it simply a suggestion to take care of her health?

Luo Wanqing couldn't believe it was the latter. She deduced that Cui Heng must have known she met with someone from the Wind and Rain Pavilion tonight, but he probably didn't know what they discussed. Otherwise, with their plot aimed at Xie Heng, who was his cousin, Cui Heng wouldn't have dismissed her so casually.

And yet, Cui Heng let her go...

Perhaps it was because of the affection he held for her after she risked her life to save him, or maybe it was due to the fact that he had once reshaped her bones. To Cui Heng, shaping her bones was like taking on a disciple, and thus, he had expectations for her.

Wouldn't it be a pity if the person he had gone through great lengths to save were to be ruined?

Recalling Cui Heng's protection, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.

But she had no choice.

Thinking of her family still in the hands of Acacia Seed, Luo Wanqing immediately regained her composure, realizing that this was the most crucial matter.

Acacia Seed's words couldn't be trusted. With her family under her control, if Luo Wanqing followed Acacia Seed's directive and killed Xie Heng, she would become Acacia Seed's pawn. Her family's safety would be at the mercy of Acacia Seed, leaving her with no choice but to obey.

Just like Zhang Jiuran, her inability to kill Acacia Seed was largely due to her unwillingness to involve her family any further.

If she agreed to work with Xiangsi Zi, her future would be indistinguishable from that of Zhang Jiuran.

She had vowed to Zhang Jiuran that Liu Xiniang would forge an entirely different life, one not consumed by the fires of revenge.

Xiangsi Zi's words couldn't be taken at face value, but they also couldn't be dismissed outright.

It was true that the Empress disliked Li Guiyu; thus, in the dream, Li ascended the throne under Xie Heng's support, only to exterminate the entire Wang clan.

Li Guiyu and Xie Heng's current intention to form an alliance was genuine.

But if they did unite, it would make it significantly more challenging for her to assassinate Li.

She needed to rescue her family from Xiangsi Zi's clutches.

She had to obtain the maternal insect from Xiangsi Zi to save Zhang Jiuran.

Moreover, she had to sabotage the alliance between Xie Heng and Li Guiyu, ensuring that Xie Heng wouldn't become Li's ally.

Ideally, she could eliminate Li Guiyu altogether.

Luo Wanqing caressed the sandalwood beads in her hand, pondering the current situation.

In the hands of these people, she was merely a pawn. But when everyone wanted to use her as such, she could manipulate them instead.

Xiangsi Zi sought to kill Xie Heng, while Xie Heng aimed for the Wind and Rain Pavilion. If she played her cards right, she could turn against either side, forcing them into a conflict.

If Xie Heng was innocent, she could use the Wind and Rain Pavilion as bait to approach him, then utilize his strength to dismantle the pavilion and rescue her family, obtaining the maternal insect.

If Xie Heng was suspicious... she could find an opportunity to eliminate him and surrender to the Empress. Before killing Li Guiyu, she would save her family.

Currently, her priority was to maintain stability with Xiangsi Zi, confirm her family's safety, and understand the true nature of Xie Heng.

What was his motive for allying with Li Guiyu? Was there a chance to break their alliance? Should he be killed or not?

Thoughts swirling in Luo Wanqing's mind, she eagerly wanted to find Xiangsi Zi, asking him to show her her family. However, she knew she couldn't act impulsively.

Throughout her journey, the Rain and Wind Pavilion might have been keeping watch. In this negotiation, it was clear that Acacia knew her well. By invoking Li Guiyu's connection to the Empress, she sought to make Ling Yuxiu understand the rationale behind Xie Heng's necessity to kill. Acacia knew that Ling Yuxiu was not one to indiscriminately take lives.

In turn, Ling Yuxiu needed to give Acacia ample reason to trust her. Otherwise, Acacia's vigilance towards her would be exceedingly high.

Moreover, if she appeared too eager to prioritize her family, she would become vulnerable to Acacia's manipulation. She had to convince Acacia that her personal principles were strong, and that she wasn't entirely controlled by her family's wellbeing. Only then would her loved ones be safer.

She required an opportune moment to make her decision appear more spontaneous and resolute. Once Acacia trusted her, she would seize the chance to investigate the situation with her family.

And Acacia, in a way, had presented her with that opportunity.

Considering the phrase "In two days, Li Guiyu will pay a visit," Luo Wanqing was convinced. For Xiangsi Zi, overhearing the conversation between Li Guiyu and Xie Heng would undoubtedly sway her to join the Wind and Rain Pavilion.

This thought piqued Luo Wanqing's curiosity. What could they discuss that would make Xiangsi Zi so certain she would abandon Xie Heng?

But such speculations were beyond her reach. She took a deep breath, lay down on her bed, and resolved not to dwell on it further. She would wait for Li Guiyu's visit, obtain evidence of her estrangement from both Li and Xie, and then approach Xiangsi Zi for negotiation.

Her first step, therefore, was to devise a plan to be notified of Li Guiyu's visit at the earliest possible moment.

However, Li Guiyu's whereabouts were not so easy to track. When they had spent time together in the past, no one could ever tail them without being detected within a mile.

If even those specialized in plundering and robbery posed such a challenge, where was she to find someone capable of keeping tabs on Li Guiyu now?

Luo Wanqing pondered and several candidates flashed through her mind. Eventually, she decided to investigate further the next day.

After resting for a day, she woke up the following morning and rummaged through her wardrobe for a plain blue-green dress typically worn by women. She then picked out a peach blossom mask before stepping out.

Her face was rather terrifying, attracting unwanted attention when she walked down the street. Although a mask would also draw notice, it was still an improvement over her actual appearance.

As soon as she opened the door, she found Cui Heng standing right outside. Upon seeing her attire, he assessed her from head to toe and grasped the situation. "The Envoy wishes to go out?"

"Mm-hmm," Luo Wanqing nodded, lifting her gaze to meet Cui Heng's. "What's the plan for today?"

Upon hearing Luo Wanqing's question, Cui Heng knew she had other plans in mind. He asked, "How does the Envoy wish to proceed?"

"I need to attend to some matters. How about you take the day off?" Luo Wanqing ventured cautiously.

Cui Heng's brows lifted, and he inquired, "Is the Envoy planning to act behind my back?"

Luo Wanqing felt a bit guilty but covered it with a light cough. She replied, "It's just a small personal matter."

Standing at the door, Cui Heng remained silent as he watched her. Luo Wanqing ventured a question, "Can I handle this on my own?"

"Of course," Cui Heng nodded, raising his hand in a respectful gesture. "I'll follow your lead, Envoy."

"Then, you should rest."

Luo Wanqing dared not meet his gaze, hastily descending the stairs and parting ways with Cui Heng.

She couldn't quite explain why, but perhaps it was because she had just been caught by Cui Heng with the Acacia Seed last night, and now she was about to act independently today. It all felt rather audacious. Her heart pounded loudly as she descended the stairs, as if she were about to do something nefarious.

Indeed, she was up to no good.

But she had no choice. She needed to swiftly arrange for someone to keep an eye on Li Guiyu, ideally eavesdropping on their conversation with Xie Heng. That way, when she met the Acacia Seed again, she could more easily gain its trust. Moreover, understanding the true foundation of Xie Heng and Li Guiyu's alliance would give her leverage to undermine it in the future.

Wan Qing, Luo Wanqing, Xie Heng, Li Guiyu, Cui Heng, and Guiyu remained consistent throughout the translation for clarity.

With a guilty conscience, she observed if Cui Heng was following her. Once she confirmed that he wasn't, she inquired around and soon found Qin Jue's courtyard.

Qin Jue had already brought Zhang Jiuran back and was massaging her in the yard. Seeing Luo Wanqing enter, he was momentarily taken aback before frowning. "Why are you here?"

Luo Wanqing closed the gate and walked into the yard. The sight of the lifeless Zhang Jiuran stirred a bitter feeling within her.

Looking up at Qin Jue, she asked softly, "Is she alright?"

"Her meridians and bones can be barely connected, but practicing martial arts is out of the question. All her senses are gone. She's like a living person trapped in a coffin, knowing nothing. At this point, we're just prolonging her life with medicinal herbs. When the medicine stops, so will her life," Qin Jue explained, then continued, "What brings you here?"

"I need to obtain the mother worm from Xiangsi Zi, but I need your help," Luo Wanqing stated straightforwardly. "Can you find someone to keep an eye on Li Guiyu for me?"

"Li Guiyu?"

Qin Jue furrowed his brow. "Why do you want to monitor him?"

"That's my business."

Luo Wanqing didn't elaborate. Qin Jue pondered for a moment and shook his head. "Right now, I can only borrow the aid of the Censorate. If you want to keep an eye on Li Guiyu, you'll have to ask them."

Luo Wanqing choked on her words. Did she really need Qin Jue's help to use the Censorate's resources?

She needed to determine where Xie Heng and Li Guiyu stood before she could decide her own stance.

Seeing her expression, Qin Jue knew she was reluctant to involve the Censorate. He pursed his lips and said, "At the moment, I have...

"Enough, I understand."

Luo Wanqing raised her hand to stop him. She glanced at Zhang Jiuran and said, "Just take care of her. I'll figure something out myself."

With that, Luo Wanqing turned around and left, stepping outside on her own.

It had been many years since she last visited the Eastern Capital. As she walked, she bought a few things and asked around for the location of Li Guiyu's residence. Then, she leisurely made her way there.

Li Guiyu's mansion was a royal gift. It was said that when he was merely thirteen, the emperor had already prepared for him to establish his own household and be granted a princely title, a clear sign of his favor.

Luo Wanqing circled around the estate once. Immediately, someone followed her. She took a glance and recognized them as Jiang Shaoyan's men. The security here was stricter than she had anticipated.

She pretended to stroll away from the mansion, stealing one last glance at the entrance. There were no street vendors in sight, and the vagrants along the alley seemed to be skilled fighters, leaving no gap for anyone to slip through.

It appeared that Jiang Shaoyan wasn't having an easy time in Dongdu.

Luo Wanqing couldn't help but find it amusing when she thought about it.

Standing on the street, she momentarily failed to comprehend his true intentions. What was he really after?

Was his life here better than when he was in Yangzhou?

She recalled how he always wore a smile back then, his eyes seemingly designed for laughter, capturing the entire spring glow of Yangzhou.

And now, with her in this predicament, he lived in constant fear of assassination. What was the point of all this?

Luo Wanqing took a deep breath and turned to leave.

Just as she was about to depart, a luxurious carriage stopped in front of the mansion. A young man with a weary expression emerged from the carriage, lifting the curtain. The moment he lifted his head, his gaze locked onto Luo Wanqing.

"Your Highness?"

Observing the expression on Li Guiyu's face, the butler Zhang Bo grew concerned. "What's the matter, Your Highness?"

The prince had just been slapped by the empress in the Kunning Palace in front of the crown prince; everyone knew he was in a foul mood.

Li Guiyu gazed at the woman's departing figure. He didn't speak, seemingly exerting great effort to restrain his emotions as he watched Luo Wanqing disappear from sight. It took him a long while before he could force himself to look away.

"Your Highness?" The butler hesitated, his voice tinged with fear. "Did you see something?"

"Nothing," Li Guiyu replied indifferently.

He hadn't seen anything—just her.

She had indeed...

kept her promise and returned.

Her memorial tablet was here, and so was she, always watching over him, indicating where she would wait for him.

With this thought in mind, Li Guiyu lowered his gaze and proceeded towards the bedroom.

He had always been like this, visiting Miss first upon his return every day.

He was concerned that Miss might be waiting for too long; if she waited too long for him, she could easily become displeased.

All of Li Guiyu's actions went unnoticed by Luo Wanqing.

She heard that Jiang Shaoyan had returned, but she dared not turn back, fearing to draw attention from Jiang Shaoyan's men.

She had already instructed them to keep a discreet eye on the Prince's Estate without causing any unnecessary complications.

With a composed departure, she frowned, pondering over how to arrange for someone to secretly monitor Li Guiyu.

Folded in thought, she tapped her fingers against her crossed arms, contemplating all possibilities.

Hire beggars?

Employ street vendors?

Or... a neighbor...

A neighbor?

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized something and turned to look at the row of mansions in front of the prince's residence. From their backyards, one could just catch a glimpse of the entrance to the prince's mansion.

If Luo Wanqing recalled correctly, five years ago, when she was still in the Eastern Capital, this area seemed to be designated for the government to house its officials.

Any Eastern Capital official ranked sixth level or above, who couldn't afford a home in the city, could rent a place here for only one silver tael per month - an incredibly low fee. Many officials without substantial family wealth would reside in these dwellings.

Typically, officials ranked sixth grade or above could hardly be unable to afford a residence.

But there was one individual...

Thinking of the young man who had to borrow an official's carriage, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but smile.

She promptly scanned the row of mansions and eventually spotted a "Zhang Manor." Unlike Li Guiyu's entrance, which was bustling with petty traders along the street, Luo Wanqing inquired around and confirmed that this was indeed Zhang Yiran's residence.

At the entrance of Zhang Yiran's residence stood a humble dumpling vendor, and Luo Wanqing decided to sit right there to start her wait.

She waited the entire afternoon until evening, until the vendor was almost packing up, when finally, Luo Wanqing spotted Zhang Yiran returning.

Indeed, he was "walking" back.

Luo Wanqing observed him in his scholarly green robe, mud stains evident on his attire, clearly indicating that he had been out in the countryside for some purpose.

Despite his attire, his air of integrity could not be concealed.

Watching him approach the door to knock, Luo Wanqing hastily put on her mask and hurried after him. With a dumpling still in her mouth, she mumbled, "M...Mister Zhang!"

Hearing the voice, Zhang Yiran turned around, confused. Before him was a young lady in a sky-blue dress, wearing a peach blossom mask that covered her entire face, jogging towards him.

Somewhat bewildered, he respectfully asked, "Miss?"

Swallowing the dumpling, Luo Wanqing gazed at Zhang Yiran. In that instant, she felt as if she had been transported back to the time when she was still Luo Wanqing. She felt a sudden bashfulness, worried about any lingering food odor. Taking a step back, she whispered, "It's...me."

Recognizing her voice after a moment, Zhang Yiran responded, "You..."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the main door swung open, and a woman's voice sounded, joyfully exclaiming, "Yiran's back..."

"Mum, hurry—" Zhang Yiran rushed to pull the door, attempting to hide the woman inside.

"Madam!"

Luo Wanqing immediately realized that Zhang Yiran was about to expose her and hastily squeezed through the entrance. Once inside, she addressed Zhang's mother, "I'm a friend of Lord Zhang."

"Get out!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yiran promptly tried to pull her away.

But as an intellectual, he lacked the strength to move Luo Wanqing; instead, she pulled him inside with ease.

Luo Wanqing closed the door behind her and respectfully spoke to the visibly stunned matriarch, "Madam, I have some matters to discuss with him. Please wait a moment."

Without waiting for a response, Luo Wanqing tugged Zhang Yiran further into the house.

Zhang Yiran's face flushed red as he protested passionately, "Let me go! How proper is it to pull and push like this? You, a convicted criminal..."

"Lower your voice, you don't want to frighten your mother!"

Luo Wanqing softly chided. Zhang Yiran was taken aback but, noticing his mother still watching them, he finally held back his anger and allowed Luo Wanqing to pull him towards the backyard.

The courtyard was small. With a light tap of her toe, Luo Wanqing leaped onto a tree for a better view, confirming that it was indeed an excellent spot for observing Jiang Shaoyan's residence.

Descending from the tree, she heard Zhang Yiran's cold voice: "If you didn't apply for a government position, what brings you here?"

"I did apply," Luo Wanqing replied truthfully with a smile, "I'm now an official at the Inspectorate. Please don't keep calling me a convict."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yiran was startled, looking at her doubtfully. "The Inspectorate? You passed the exam?"

"Yes, that's right." Luo Wanqing nodded and extended her hand. "Where's my stuff?"

Zhang Yiran pursed his lips, seemingly reluctant, but still said, "Follow me."

Luo Wanqing was surprised. She caught up to him and asked, "You really kept it?"

"It's not mine to dispose of," he replied.

With a stern expression, Zhang Yiran spoke up. Luo Wanqing looked at him curiously. "What if I never come back?"

"I'll keep it for a lifetime," Zhang Yiran retorted, staring at her.

Luo Wanqing found the situation somewhat amusing. She followed Zhang Yiran into a storage room. He rummaged through some items and said coldly, "Here, now don't come back."

"That won't do," Luo Wanqing immediately replied with a bright smile. "I'm here to ask for your help."

"I have nothing to do with you..."

"Remember that you have an older sister?" Luo Wanqing interrupted.

Zhang Yiran paused in his actions, lifting his head and frowning. "What are you trying to say?"

"She's in the Eastern Capital," Luo Wanqing stated calmly. Zhang Yiran was taken aback. Luo Wanqing continued softly, "I have something to take care of, and if you assist me, after it's done, I'll have her come find you."

"What are you talking about?" Zhang Yiran found it hard to believe. "She's in the Eastern Capital?"

"Mm-hmm."

Luo Wanqing dared not elaborate. She nodded and assured, "Don't worry, she's doing well."

"She's doing well but she won't come to see us?" Zhang Yiran fixated on Luo Wanqing. "Does she know how long Mother has been waiting for her? Mother thinks of her day and night, weeping until she developed an eye condition. But she doesn't know where she is, afraid of disturbing her. Now you tell me she's right here in the Eastern Capital, yet she doesn't come to see us?!"

Faced with Zhang Yiran's interrogation, Luo Wanqing was at a loss for words.

As she pondered over how to lie, Zhang Yiran spoke up, "Is she not doing well?"

Luo Wanqing paused. Seeing her reaction, Zhang Yiran knew the answer.

He didn't say anything else. His hands trembled slightly. After a long while, he composed himself and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Don't let them find out. Keep an eye on the Guang'an Prince's Mansion."

Luo Wanqing didn't dare dwell on Zhang Yiran's emotions. She whispered, "If they leave the mansion at night using ordinary carriages, inform me."

"How would I notify you?"

Zhang Yiran looked up at her. "Should I find you at the Inspectorate?"

"No," Luo Wanqing promptly declined. "Don't get involved with me. Our acquaintance should remain between us, and no one else should know. This flute is specially crafted; its sound can travel fifteen miles."

After some thought, Luo Wanqing passed the flute that Cui Heng had given her.

She had tested it before; this flute emitted a unique sound that was inaudible to ordinary people. Only those skilled in martial arts, when focusing their attention, could hear it. Both Cui Heng and she were capable of discerning it.

It was likely that such flutes weren't exclusive to Cui Heng, so the key point of verification lay in the code.

The agreed-upon code between Cui Heng and Luo Wanqing was three sharp, prolonged notes in succession. She could change the code without alerting Cui Heng. Even if he were to be alarmed...

it wouldn't matter much.

She could simply say that she lent it to Zhang Yiran.

Luo Wanqing pondered and suggested, "If he leaves the residence, play 'Willows by West Lake' on this flute. I'll be able to hear it."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yiran glanced at the flute in his hand and pursed his lips. "What's your relationship with her?"

Luo Wanqing paused, pondered for a moment, then softly replied, "Friends."

As she spoke, she looked around. Zhang Yiran was truly the poorest official she had ever met.

Recalling how he had walked back today, she couldn't bear to watch. From her bag, she took out two small gold beads and placed them in his hands, urging, "Buy some better medicinal herbs for your aunt, and... " She looked up, hesitantly continuing, "Get a carriage."

Zhang Yiran, upon hearing this, instantly flew into a rage. He immediately exclaimed, "I don't want...!"

Before he could finish, Luo Wanqing hastily rushed out with the items, her feet barely touching the ground as if she were eager to pay the bill. She hurriedly left, saying, "I'm leaving."

"Come back!"

Zhang Yiran grabbed the gold beads and dashed out, angrily yelling at Luo Wanqing, who was flying away, "Take your money back! I don't want it!"

Luo Wanqing hadn't expected him to be so angry. She didn't dare to return.

With the items in her arms, she raced all the way back to the Inspectorate and hastily jumped through her bedroom window.

Upon entering, Cui Heng was seen waiting in the room.

The table was filled with dishes. Cui Heng glanced up and caught sight of Luo Wanqing's embrace. He chuckled and asked, "Looks like you've had quite the successful trip. Where did you buy all these?"

Luo Wanqing, holding the items, hesitated. "I didn't exactly buy them."

Cui Heng found this odd. He stepped forward and took the items from Luo Wanqing's arms. After a brief look, he asked in confusion, "These were all gifts I gave you before. Didn't you…?"

His words trailed off as if he suddenly understood something. He turned to look at her with a meaningful expression. "Lord Zhang, huh?"

Author's Note:

"Short Scene"

Someone: "To spend my money on a carriage for a man, Xiniang, you've really grown in ambition."

Luo Wanqing: "…Isn't… isn't this my salary?"

Someone: "Ask Phoenix if he earns such a high salary."

Luo Wanqing: "… How about I sell medicinal ingredients to pay you back?"

Someone: "Ask the Crimson Phoenix if he can do that."

Luo Wanqing: "… Then I'll save up to repay you."

Someone: "You should ask…"

Crimson Phoenix: "Stop asking! I told you not to ask! I can't! It's all because of the credit card he opened for you!"

To be honest, the Inspectorate actually paid quite a decent salary.