Chapter 32

Chapter 32

◎ It's You, Cui Guanlan, Who Has A Soft Heart ◎

In response to the inexplicable anger of the person in front of him, Zhang Yiran knitted his brows and instinctively shielded the flute, asking, "Who might you be?"

Seeing Zhang Yiran's protective gesture, Xie Heng smiled.

He had heard of Zhang Yiran's reputation as an inexperienced youth, but it was just something he had casually come across before. As a former third-ranked scholar, he had been taken under the wing of the Minister of Censorate, Wei Xinzhen, and should have had an illustrious career ahead of him. However, due to his blunt honesty, the Emperor had taken a dislike to him and demoted him all the way to the Ministry of Works, where he served as a lowly associate minister.

Xie Heng had never dealt with such a person before, and upon meeting one for the first time, he understood why the Emperor didn't favor him. Nonetheless, he had no intention of clashing with this individual. He composed himself, suppressing his murderous intent, and said with a smile, "I am Shadow Envoy of Minister Liu. I came here drawn by the sound of the flute. May I ask why your Lady Minister entrusted this short flute to you, and where she is now?"

"I'm not aware of her whereabouts."

Zhang Yiran knew the hierarchy within the Censorate and, hearing that this man was a Shadow Envoy, felt somewhat relieved. However, he maintained a last vestige of caution, saying, "Since you're her Shadow Envoy, you should go find her yourself."

"Since Lord Zhang is unaware, then I shall take my leave. However, regarding the flute belonging to my supervisor," Xie Heng gazed intently at the instrument in his hand, a cold tinge in his smile, "Shouldn't it be returned?"

"It's her possession; it should await her return..."

Before Zhang Yiran could finish his sentence, Xie Heng had already closed the distance between them with a ghostly speed, snatching the flute without notice.

Zhang Yiran took a startled step back. With a swift motion, Xie Heng crushed the flute into dust, which cascaded from his hand.

"I shall retrieve the flute on her behalf. Now that you've played it, there's no need for her to use it again."

Xie Heng clapped his hands and nodded. "Goodbye then."

As he turned to leave, Zhang Yiran pursed his lips and called out loudly, "Well, then have her come to collect the money."

Xie Heng turned back in confusion. Zhang Yiran's face was cold as he said, "Tell her that I didn't use her golden pearl. I have my own official carriage, so there's no need for her money to buy one."

"Golden pearl?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Heng burst into laughter. He immediately realized what Luo Wanqing had done and nodded, saying, "Very well played."

Zhang Yiran didn't understand, but when he looked up, he saw the figure leap to a great height, stepping on branches and leaves as they disappeared into the moonlit night.

Xie Heng rushed straight to Luo Wanqing's residence upon his return to the Inspectorate. Pushing the door open, he found the room deserted.

At this sight, he was convinced that the eavesdropper that day was most likely Liu Xiniang.

After all these years of teaching her, her skills had been put to use against him.

He wasn't sure whether to commend her quick learning or scold her for her ill-timed actions.

But if she was indeed the one who had spied on them today, she might now be in grave danger. Li Guiyu was no ordinary man; he wouldn't leave any witnesses. If he hadn't killed her on the spot, it meant he had surely administered a deadly poison.

How far could she have fled with poison in her system? And where would she have gone?

If she were alone, she should have already succumbed and been discovered by Xuan Shan.

Yet, Xuan Shan hadn't found her, and she wasn't in her own room. Someone must have concealed her.

Someone was helping her... Apart from Cui Heng, who else in the Inspectorate could be assisting her?

Xie Heng mentally ran through a list of names and recalled someone.

Considering Luo Wanqing was with that person, he couldn't help but raise a hand to his forehead, shaking his head and laughing softly.

A minor official whom she had met on two occasions, and she presents him with a flute and golden beads.

A young nobleman whom she'd known for only two days and had constantly protected became the one she relied on in a crucial moment.

It was he who knew her first, did more for her. Yet at a time like this, she didn't seek help from Cui Heng, but Qin Jue instead?

It seemed that the change was in him.

Xie Heng lifted his gaze, directing it towards Qin Jue's courtyard.

With a stern expression, he made a beeline for Qin Jue's residence.

There, he intended to have a... pleasant, lengthy conversation with Liu Xiniang.

Xie Heng arrived swiftly. When he got there, Qin Jue had just finished administering medicine to Luo Wanqing.

He spent half an hour boiling the medicine, and Luo Wanqing felt increasingly cold, her consciousness fading.

By the time Qin Jue fed her the medicine, black spots swam before her eyes, and her organs began to ache subtly.

After taking the medicine, she knew it would be ineffective. Gasping softly, she instructed, "Bring me the residue. I'll apply it to my wound."

Qin Jue frowned. He could tell that Luo Wanqing's condition was worsening, but he was powerless to help. He fetched the residue and urged, "Should I take you to the infirmary instead?"

Luo Wanqing pursed her lips, insisting, "Let's apply the medicine first."

If it didn't work, she would seek out a physician.

Seeing that she wouldn't budge, Qin Jue handed her the residue.

Her injury was on her chest, concealed by her clothes. Qin Jue passed her the medicine and turned to retreat into another room to give her privacy. As Luo Wanqing pushed her hair behind her ear and unbuttoned her garment to apply the medicine, the door slammed open with a loud bang!

In an instant, Luo Wanqing drew her sword and turned to see Cui Heng standing at the entrance.

Cui Heng held a small fan in his hand. His gaze swept from Luo Wanqing's face, down to the half-exposed wound on her chest, and then over to Qin Jue, who stood nearby.

Qin Jue was the first to regain his composure, promptly turning around to shield Luo Wanqing, as if he intended to explain.

However, before he could speak, Cui Heng strode forward, using his fan to nudge Qin Jue aside. He said coldly, "Step aside."

As he spoke, he halted in front of Luo Wanqing. She pulled her clothes together and stared at him anxiously. Cui Heng lowered his gaze, noticing the bluish tint on her lips. He said softly, "Xiniang, do you want me to carry you back?"

Luo Wanqing sensed that the man before her was in a foul mood. She didn't dare respond, instead struggling to stand up on her own. She whispered, "I...,"

but before she could finish, Cui Heng scooped her up horizontally and turned to walk out, issuing a warning to Qin Jue as they went, "If you dare follow, I'll throw that woman in your room out."

Upon hearing Qin Jue's words, his pursuing steps immediately halted as he watched Cui Heng carry Luo Wanqing away directly.

Luo Wanqing was carried back to her room by Cui Heng. Upon reaching the room, he tossed her onto the bed. Then, he sliced his hand and squeezed blood into the tea, returning with the cup in hand. Gripping her hair, he forced her to tilt her head back and downed the concoction.

Severe pain wracked Luo Wanqing's body, rendering her incapable of resistance. The tea was poured hastily, and she struggled to swallow it, eventually choking and coughing urgently.

Seeing this, Cui Heng released her hair, throwing her back onto the bed. He pulled up a chair, sat elegantly beside it, and gazed at her intently.

Kneeling on the bed, Luo Wanqing coughed softly. After a moment's respite, she felt somewhat better.

With renewed strength, she lifted her head to glare at Cui Heng. "What did you give me to drink?"

"I believe it's more appropriate for me to ask the questions right now," Cui Heng said with a smile, fanning himself.

Luo Wanqing's expression turned cold. Upon hearing his tone, she knew that he had come to confront her.

Given his intelligence, he must have guessed that the Inspectorate was searching for her tonight. Therefore, he was now interrogating her.

But her situation didn't allow for such an interrogation. She whispered, "You can ask, but give me the medicine first."

As she spoke, she attempted to get out of bed. However, as soon as she moved, Cui Heng's fan landed on Luo Wanqing's shoulder, and she immediately felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on her.

She lifted her eyes coldly to see Cui Heng towering over her, asking in a stern voice, "Where's the flute I gave you?"

Luo Wanqing was taken aback; she hadn't expected him to ask about this.

Remaining silent, Luo Wanqing wasn't sure if Cui Heng was aware of the whereabouts of the short flute. Instinctively, she sensed that the current Cui Heng posed a great danger to her.

She didn't wish to involve Zhang Yiran in such danger, so she simply said, "You've mentioned before that those were items given to me by the Inspectorate, to do with as I please."

"Were you asking me about that?"

Cui Heng knew she didn't want to implicate Zhang Yiran, which only made him angrier. He glared at her. "Where did you send the flute?"

"What exactly are you trying to ask?"

Luo Wanqing pressed on the Thousand Mechanism Bead bracelet around her wrist, subtly stepping back.

Noticing her movement, Cui Heng lifted his gaze and coldly asked, "Do you think I should be asking something else?"

"I think you should be…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Luo Wanqing swung the Thousand Mechanism Bead bracelet towards Cui Heng's face.

But Cui Heng seemed to have anticipated this. He grabbed the bracelet with one hand and pulled the fleeing woman back with the other, flipping her onto the bed and pinning her wrists behind her back. He then coldly asked, "Should I be asking if you went up the rear mountain tonight?"

Luo Wanqing was not surprised at all. She sensed the imminent danger and, without hesitation, turned around to pull out her hairpin, stabbing it towards Cui Heng!

Cui Heng was quicker, using the string of beads to bind and pull her attacking hand back. He then activated a mechanism, tying her hands behind her back. He continued, "Or should I ask if you're an assassin from the Wind and Rain Pavilion?"

Luo Wanqing remained silent. After those two moves in combat, she felt dizzy and collapsed on the bed, cold sweat breaking out all over her body due to the pain.

Seeing her condition, Cui Heng seemed somewhat disappointed. He pursed his lips, untied the Thousand Machine Bead that bound her, and pressed a finger on her acupoint.

Realizing he was helping her expel the poison, Luo Wanqing lay on the bed, biting her lip and not daring to speak.

Cui Heng's fingertips swept along her spine, forcing the poison towards the wound on her chest. He said indifferently, "Actually, I don't care about any of this. I'm only angry about one thing today."

He followed her spine up to her neck, then suddenly exerted force with his hand, gripping the back of her neck and forcing her head up.

He bent down, covering her ear, and asked in a cold voice, "Why are you kinder to them than me?"

Luo Wanqing was taken aback by his words.

He didn't ask what she had done but this instead?

She keenly sensed that his concern was slightly off-kilter. She frowned and asked, "Why are you angry?"

Xie Heng was taken aback. Luo Wanqing turned to look at him, asking calmly, "Why didn't you ask what I was doing?"

Upon hearing this, Cui Heng chuckled softly.

"You must have had ulterior motives, and that would be to kill Xie Heng."

As Cui Heng spoke, he straightened up and looked down at Luo Wanqing. "But your knife can't even touch me, let alone him?"

His words carried a hint of disdain. Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, anger rising within her.

Cui Heng sensed her displeasure and released his grip on her. He said casually, "Next time you use the Thousand Machine, be decisive. If you had used the Rain of Pear Blossoms Needles in your first strike just now, you might've already escaped. In the future, don't hesitate when taking action..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Luo Wanqing lunged forward abruptly!

Cui Heng's pupils constricted as he raised his hand to strike.

However, the woman did not dodge or evade. She charged directly at his palm, aware of the power it carried. Xie Heng quickly retracted his hand. In that split second, Luo Wanqing's knife was already at his throat.

Xie Heng was stunned. Luo Wanqing knelt on one knee on the bed, her hair disheveled, and her clothes half-slipped, revealing her smooth shoulders and neck.

Her lips still bore the crimson stain from drinking his blood, while her chest was marked with a wound seeping darkened blood. Her skin was as white as an orchid's bloom and as tender as a lustrous jade, contrasting vividly with the scarlet hues. Had it not been for her face, she would have appeared hauntingly enchanting.

The cold blade rested against his throat, and Xie Heng stared at her in a daze. The woman before him gazed intently into his eyes and, with a stubborn tone, declared, "I touched you."

It was upon hearing those words "touched you" that Xie Heng finally understood her intentions.

She was refuting his earlier statement, "Your knife can't even touch me."

Xie Heng was rendered speechless.

For the first time in his life, someone had a blade pressed against his vulnerable spot.

He looked at Luo Wanqing with a hint of surprise as she slightly leaned closer to him.

Their breaths intertwined, and Luo Wanqing locked eyes with him, reminding him, "Cui Guanlan, it's your heart that's soft. I'll ask again, why didn't you ask me what I did?"

Hearing this, Xie Heng lifted his gaze to meet hers.

Her eyes were captivating. Ever since he laid eyes on her, they had concealed a blade that he himself had honed, witnessing its edge gradually shine with a sharp brilliance.

He nurtured her, guided her, and molded her being personally; every aspect of her was intertwined with his existence.

This realization caused a subtle tremor in his heart. His gaze fell upon the wound on her chest, and it seemed to him like a vibrant peony in full bloom.

For the first time in his life, he felt desire for someone - and this person's blade was nestled against his throat.

He closed his eyes, finding the situation incredulous, but eventually, he accepted it.

He let out a soft laugh.

"You're right."

It was his heart that softened, and he was the one who lost.

As he spoke, he raised both hands and gently held her shoulders. Luo Wanqing was taken aback, then watched as the young man leaned toward her without any hesitation, lowering his head.

He came with unwavering determination.

With him so close, Luo Wanqing's knife could only retreat. Before she could react, he pressed his lips directly onto her wound, burying them in her chest.

Luo Wanqing trembled, about to speak when she felt the young man's lips gently seal over her wound, drawing a gentle suction.

Her blood trickled into his mouth through the injury, intertwining their existence in an indescribable bond.

Paralyzed, Luo Wanqing realized what he was doing. She suppressed the shivers that arose from the suction, reassuring herself that he was saving her life. She turned her head stiffly, remaining silent.

Cui Heng sucked out the toxic blood, spitting it onto a handkerchief. Only then did he lift his gaze to meet the woman's barely composed expression.

His lips were tinged with blood, exuding an unusually captivating charm, resembling an alluring ghost as he gazed at the coldly composed woman in the moonlit night.

Luo Wanqing remained rigid, not daring to meet his gaze.

Cui Heng observed her for a moment before chuckling softly.

"You were just threatening me with a knife, but now you're ignoring me."

As he spoke, he raised his hand, intending to help her pull up her clothing. However, at his touch, she trembled, suddenly seeming to come to her senses as she hastily said, "I'll do it myself."

Cui Heng watched silently as she dressed. The two sat quietly on the bed for a moment before he finally spoke, his voice tinged with weariness, "Tell me, what mischief did you get up to tonight? Were you attempting to assassinate the Prefect?"

Luo Wanqing shook her head.

Cui Heng pondered for a moment and then understood, "Are you interested in Li Guiyu?"

Zhang Yiran's residence happened to be right in front of Li Guiyu's door. She had given the flute to Zhang Yiran, and with Li Guiyu's visit tonight, it was clear that Zhang Yiran would play the flute, targeting Li Guiyu.

She hadn't expected Cui Heng to be so perceptive. Luo Wanqing didn't respond, but after some thought, she realized that Cui Heng must have known the flute was with Zhang Yiran.

Confused, she asked, "Did you go see Zhang Yiran?"

"Yes," Cui Heng's tone turned colder.

Luo Wanqing was puzzled, "The secret signal I arranged with him is different from yours. Why did you still go?"

"How many people do you think have this short flute?" Cui Heng could tell what she was thinking and glanced at her indifferently, "Identifying the flute's sound depends on its tone, not the signal."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing realized that this short flute was likely another backdoor arranged by Cui Heng.

She hesitated, "I didn't expect it to be so valuable."

Cui Heng didn't want to hear her words, they were all things he disliked.

Cui Heng turned his head away in a huff, and Luo Wanqing remained silent.

The two of them sat in silence for a long while. Then, with a sigh, he seemed resigned, "Lie to me next time, even if it's just to deceive me."

"I don't want to lie to you," Luo Wanqing replied honestly.

Cui Heng paused in his actions, then shook his head, "I won't listen to your nonsense anymore in the future."

"Then don't lie to me in the future," Luo Wanqing said softly, "Whatever you give me is from you, whatever I deserve is mine, there's no need to deceive me."

"I just like deceiving you," Cui Heng said impatiently. He got up from the bed and said casually, "This poison is too potent. I'll find someone to prepare medicine for you. You should get some rest."

"Cui Heng," Luo Wanqing called out to him, pressing her lips together. "You can tell the Lord yourself. There's no need to protect me."

Cui Heng turned back to look at her and saw the sincerity in Luo Wanqing's clear black and white eyes. "I appreciate your kindness, but I don't want to involve you."

Upon hearing this, Cui Heng's lips curled into a mocking smile. "You want to kill Xie Heng, anyway, right?"

Luo Wanqing paused for a moment before replying hesitantly, "It doesn't necessarily mean I want to kill him."

Seeing Luo Wanqing's honesty, Cui Heng's anger flared up.

"If it's 'not necessarily'," he said, emphasizing the words, "then there is still a desire to kill him."

He took a deep breath and waved his hand. "Understood. I'll talk to the Lord. Rest now, and live well!"

With that, he pushed the door open and left.

Luo Wanqing watched his departing figure, biting her lip. Eventually, she lay back down.

With Cui Heng's assurance, though still somewhat anxious about how Xie Heng would handle the situation, she felt much more at ease.

Cui Heng had been too considerate towards her, beyond what was normal. She didn't know the reason behind it, but regardless, she didn't want him to suffer any consequences for his kindness towards her.

What she did might not be tolerated by the Inspectorate. Cui Heng was, after all, one of its members, and perhaps even related to Xie Heng. The Cui family's position in the Inspectorate must be owed to Xie Heng's favor. Cui Guanlan would always stand on Xie Heng's side.

She could choose to ignore and pretend ignorance, but exploiting someone's feelings to achieve her goals made her no different from Jiang Shaoyan.

Moreover, it was actually better if Cui Heng was disappointed in her.

She had accused Cui Heng of being soft-hearted, but wasn't she the same?

Cui Heng was like a gentle haven; the longer they spent together, the more she found herself sinking deeper. But how could she afford any weakness on her journey?

It would be for the best if he didn't treat her so kindly.

Lowering her gaze, she gazed at the vivid wound on her chest, listening to his footsteps fade away.

When his voice was completely gone, Luo Wanqing relaxed and sprawled onto the bed.

Xie Heng would likely learn of this incident tomorrow and summon her. She needed to carefully plan how to utilize Xie Heng to her advantage.

As Luo Wanqing began to ponder her next move in her mind, Xie Heng exited the room and started ascending the mountain path.

Qingya was on his way with some documents when he spotted Xie Heng. He carried the papers as he followed behind Xie Heng, softly saying, "Young Master, both Xuan Mountain and Zhuque have scoured the entire Inspectorate tonight, but they couldn't find anyone."

"En." Xie Heng acknowledged, seemingly deep in thought.

Qingya glanced at Xie Heng's expression. Seeing that he didn't press for more information, Qingya understood that Xie Heng knew who the eavesdropper was.

There was only one person whom Xie Heng would protect at this moment.

Qingya chuckled. "It was Liu Xiniang?"

"Yes," Xie Heng replied straightforwardly, fiddling with the string of beads in his hand. "I plan on having her come meet me tomorrow."

"To meet you?" Qingya was taken aback. "So soon? I thought you were going to wait a bit longer."

Xie Heng didn't respond. He stepped up the stairs, his mind still on the knife that had been pressed against his neck. After a long while, he said, "Qingya."

"Princess, please proceed."

"She held the blade to my throat."

Upon hearing this, Qingya was momentarily taken aback.

Xie Heng spoke calmly, "This Beauty's Blade is too sharp; I can't hone it any further. She must choose whether to serve me or be broken by me."

Qingya, reassured by Xie Heng's words, smiled warmly and said, "Prince has everything under control."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Xie Heng's lips twitched, but he didn't elaborate.

A plan?

What plan? This was a miscalculation on his part.

He had always believed that the blades to watch out for were those sharp ones. Now, he realized that an unsharpened treasure like hers was the most perilous.

She tempted him into refining it, and he thought he had the ability to manage her, so he nurtured and indulged her.

Only tonight did he abruptly realize that the edge of that blade could now rest against his neck.

Perhaps it was the allure of those eyes, or the breathtaking sight of her, bloodied and charging on horseback towards him. Maybe it was because he had shaped her very being, or perhaps it was the swift pace of her growth that filled him with a sense of accomplishment...

Whatever the reason, while her identity remained uncertain, she had already become capable of holding a blade to his throat - that much was true.

She asked why he was angry, but not about other matters.

He pondered this for a long while.

Why was he angry?

Perhaps it was because, having witnessed her growth firsthand, he had become too engrossed in the "need" she provided, inadvertently placing her within an overly intimate boundary.

He was never the epitome of a gentle gentleman. As a child, he relished solitude, and as an adult, his fiery temper seemed unchanged, albeit well-concealed.

He had personally guided her into their world, shaping every bone and sinew in her body.

Naturally, he assumed she was his blade, belonging to him alone.

Everything was at his disposal, everything was under his control.

Yet, upon reflection, he realized that wasn't the case.

He had never truly controlled her.

On the Eastern Capital Road, he saw her as an assassin, tried to test her, planned to kill her. Yet, she risked her life for him, stirring pity and compassion that led him to reshape her bones.

During her assessment for the Inspectorate, she protected Qin Jue single-handedly and plotted the annihilation of Zhao Yuyan. The entire Inspectorate was shaken, ready to deal with her. He viewed her as a pawn in his game, wanting to tame this unpredictable blade for his own use. In the end, it was she who held a knife to his throat that very night.

He treated her with tender affection, hoping to win her unwavering loyalty, but in the next breath, she trusted Qin Jue more than him. It was he who flew into a rage, feeling ashamed and despicable.

...

All of her actions surpassed his expectations.

To think he regarded himself as the hunter, only to be bitten by the prey—was there anything more absurd?

Xie Heng gave a self-deprecating smile.

If she were an ordinary woman, it might have been tolerable. But alas, she was not.

Her close ties with the Pavilion of Wind and Rain cast doubt upon her identity. Should she indeed be an assassin, in time, she could very well become his undoing.

This realization roused his vigilance swiftly, prompting him to retreat hastily, far beyond his initial intentions.

Xie Heng pondered, casting a glance at the small lodge where the woman resided, not too far away.

The breeze brushed against his ink-black hair, glistening with a light sheen of sweat. As he watched the lamps flicker to life in that lodge, he found himself involuntarily murmuring her name between his lips.

Xiniang.

Only in this solitary utterance did he come to understand why he enjoyed calling her by her name so much.

It turned out that from the moment he spoke her name, it was both a command and an enticement.

Xin, niang.

Author's Note:

"Scenelet·1"

Xie Heng: "I have incredible self-control! The moment I realized my feelings for her, I turned around and left immediately. I would never get entangled in the vortex of love!"

Qingya: "Master, I heard you calling her name from the mountaintop."

Xie Heng: "..."

"Scenelet·2"

Xie Heng: "Submit to me or be broken by me, Liu Xiniang. You choose."

Luo Wanqing: "I am already captivated by your heart."

Xie Heng (surprised): "You're not here to kill me?!"

Luo Wanqing: "No."

Xie Heng: "Wuwuwu, Xiniang, I spoke out of turn. Wuwu, how could I bear to harm you? I was just showing off. I was so upset when I thought you were coming to kill me, wuwuwu."

Luo Wanqing: "…Stop talking, you're spoiling the narrative."

"Mini Scene 3"

Subordinate: "There's something suspicious about Liu Xiniang's evaluation process. She must be from the Wind and Rain Pavilion!"

Xie Heng: "Give her a chance."

Subordinate: "She met with someone from the Wind and Rain Pavilion! They must be plotting against you!"

Xie Heng: "Give her another chance."

Subordinate: "She secretly met with Zhang Yiran and gave him a flute. There's definitely a conspiracy involved."

Xie Heng: "I cherish her… give her one more chance."

Subordinate: "She overheard your conversation, she's surely here to assassinate you."

Xie Heng: "…One last chance! Just one more!"

Luo Wanqing: "I indeed came to kill you."

Xie Heng: "…I'll give you another opportunity. Think it over before you answer."

Subordinate: "She has more chances than a Contra's life."

"Mini Scene·4"

Xie Heng: "If I'm not tempted, it's fine for you to kill me. But if I am, I can't let you do it."

Luo Wanqing: "Why?"

Xie Heng: "Because you truly have the ability to."