Chapter 33

Chapter 33

◎ Listen to me, and I'll let you kill him. ◎

Cui Heng stepped out, while Luo Wanqing, lying in bed, took a moment to rest before drifting off to sleep. As dawn approached, a female attendant entered the room and respectfully said, "Enforcer, Young Master Guanlan has brought you medicine. He asks that you take it and rest. The Enforcer Head wishes to see you."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing's heart tightened, but she answered calmly, "Very well."

The attendant then served both the medicine and breakfast, placing them on the table before leaving.

Luo Wanqing got out of bed, sniffed the aroma of the medicine—it was made from top-grade detoxifying herbs, she wondered where Cui Heng had sourced them from. She pursed her lips, tilted her head back, and drank it down. Afterward, she fetched a cup of cold tea from the side, which helped to dilute the taste of the medicine.

After taking the medicine, she ate a few osmanthus buns and began to freshen up for her meeting with Xie Heng.

Last night, when she asked Cui Heng not to protect him, she knew that Xie Heng would summon her. She just hadn't expected it to be so soon.

She had indeed considered asking Cui Heng to keep her matter hidden, but on one hand, she didn't want to owe him a favor, potentially implicating him; on the other hand, Cui Heng was, after all, part of the Inspectorate, and he might not truly stand on her side.

She was aware that Cui Heng treated her kindly.

She was self-aware; with her current appearance, romantic love was utterly out of the question. Her relationship with Cui Heng was likely rooted in the camaraderie they shared during their journey from the Eastern Capital. His anger resembled that of a child whose best friend had chosen to play with someone else.

This affection meant little to Cui Heng, but for Liu Xiniang, it was one of the few things she held dear, given her depleted emotional reserves.

She would rather risk death to meet Xie Heng than drag Cui Heng further into these affairs.

Moreover, seeing Xie Heng might present an opportunity.

Given Xie Heng's status, it would take far too long for her to work her way from a new Enforcer to his trusted aide, capable of assassinating him.

Not to mention, whether Zhang Jiuran's insect poison could endure such a time frame was uncertain, and leaving her family in the hands of Xiangsi Zi felt increasingly perilous with each passing day.

Should she stay by Xie Heng's side, she would gain leverage in negotiating with Xiangsi Zi.

But how could she stay?

By telling Xie Heng straightforwardly that Xiangsi Zi had ordered her to kill him, asking for his cooperation to eliminate the threat together? The thought made Luo Wanqing smile wryly.

If she were to give this reason, she would have to explain to Xie Heng why the Acacia Seed had sought her out to assassinate him. Be it Liu Xiniang's identity as a Rain and Wind Pavilion assassin or Luo Wanqing's pretense as the death row prisoner, both were valid grounds for Xie Heng to lawfully execute her afterward.

Furthermore, even if Xie Heng accepted her identity, her objective was the insect poison and her family, whereas his was the Acacia Seed. She had no means to counterbalance his power. If the Acacia Seed threatened Xie Heng with her family's lives to escape, she might not be able to protect them.

Even if she managed to safeguard her family, their connection to her would only mean exchanging one perilous situation for another. They would forever be held hostage, a constant threat to her safety. What difference would that make?

She needed to separate her family from herself and send them away, ensuring they could never be used against her.

Her only option was to manipulate Xie Heng covertly. To collaborate with him directly would be akin to making a pact with the devil.

Not to mention, Xie Heng might be inherently proud. He might perceive her proposal of collaboration as an insult from an insignificant person, rendering her unworthy of partnership and thus opting to eliminate her instead.

If cooperation was impossible, then she must find a way to appease Xie Heng and stay by his side. She would gradually negotiate with the Acacia Seed from there.

But how could she do that?

She needed a plausible excuse to eavesdrop on him, and then convince Xie Heng to willingly keep her close.

Eavesdropping on Xie Heng would undoubtedly be a grave offense, as it would prove her ill intentions towards him.

But...

What about eavesdropping on Li Guiyu?

The thought that Cui Heng had directly suspected Li Guiyu last night gave Luo Wanqing a sudden breakthrough.

In Cui Heng's eyes, she was targeting Li Guiyu, hence the reason for giving the flute to Zhang Yiran.

It was unforgivable to have ill intentions towards Xie Heng, but Li Guiyu was a different story.

From listening in on Xie Heng and Li Guiyu's negotiation last night, it was clear that he had no intention of forming an alliance with Li Guiyu. He even seemed to have some friction with Luo Wanqing due to her relationship with Li Guiyu. If she were indeed targeting Li Guiyu, Xie Heng might not only spare her life but even keep her around.

But why would she target Li Guiyu?

Luo Wanqing held Thousand Changes in her hand, trying to detach herself from the identity of "Luo Wanqing."

When people pondered over issues, they often mixed their existing knowledge together, making it difficult to view things from another person's perspective.

For Luo Wanqing, she knew her own identity, Zhang Jiuran's identity, and the existence of Acacia Seeds. But what about Xie Heng?

What Xie Heng had obtained should be the information that the Inspectorate had gathered on the condemned. According to their investigation, the Liu Xiniang before Xie Heng's eyes was likely a minor chief of the Salt Gang, born in Yangzhou. Due to her family's poverty, she had been bought by the Salt Gang's leader and became a minor chief there.

Based on previous events, it seemed that Zhan Jiuran had wiped clean any trace of his past, otherwise he wouldn't have dared to infiltrate the Inspectorate.

Why would a minor chief of the Salt Gang target Prince Li Guiyu?

What connection could Liu Xiniang possibly have with Li Guiyu?

Putting aside Zhan Jiuran's past, the only link between Liu Xiniang and Li Guiyu was...

Luo Wanqing?

At this thought, Luo Wanqing suddenly realized that when she and Zhan Jiuran had dug through the prison wall to lodge a complaint, such a major incident had not resulted in punishment. Not only was the water prison's wall repaired, but no one was disciplined or investigated thoroughly – as if the event had never taken place.

Would the jailors have let them off so easily without orders from above?

And if there were orders, who could have given them?

Xie Heng?

If it was Xie Heng, he would have investigated how she came to file her complaint and the incident of fighting with Liu Xiniang, ending up in the water prison. Xie Heng... might also be aware of it.

Given this connection, it made sense that she befriended Luo Wanqing, who then asked her to keep an eye on Li Guiyu. This explanation, half-truth and half-fiction, could hold up under scrutiny by Xie Heng. With the guilt he displayed towards Luo Wanqing the previous night, perhaps she could find a way out.

The only issue was—

If Xie Heng knew about the connection between Liu Xiniang and Luo Wanqing, and he had been monitoring Luo Wanqing, did he know about her self-inflicted injury by crashing into a fire pit before leaving?

If he did, would he suspect her involvement with Luo Wanqing...

Suspect what?

At this thought, Luo Wanqing suddenly snapped back to reality, halting her train of suspicion.

She knew too much, and such knowledge always led her into self-doubt. But stepping outside of the information she possessed and viewing it from an outsider's perspective, who would believe that a young lady could become a killer of Zhao Yuyan in such a short time?

Luo Wanqing was convicted for exile. If she hadn't had that prophetic dream, no one would have imagined she'd die during her journey. There was no reason for Luo Wanqing to take the blame for a death row inmate like Liu Xiniang.

As for Liu Xiniang, she had only met Luo Wanqing by chance; there was no need for her to drain her inner strength for the sake of another person.

No one could fathom the choices these two women made. Now that "Luo Wanqing" was supposedly dead, as long as her family wasn't exposed by the Acacia Seeds, she could persist in claiming to be Liu Xiniang. Even Xie Heng would be powerless against her.

With her thoughts sorted out, Luo Wanqing calmed down. She held Thousand Mechanisms in her hand and turned her head to look out the window towards the rear mountain.

At this moment, she finally had the energy to ponder over Xie Heng and Li Guiyu's conversation from the previous night.

The Acacia Seed had instructed her to eavesdrop on their talk. Although she went with the intention of probing Xie Heng's stance, she was well aware that he had chosen Li Guiyu.

In their previous life, they were allies. Xie Heng had supported Li Guiyu's rise to the throne, only to be cruelly executed by him in the end.

From the Acacia Seed's tone, it was confirmed that Li Guiyu possessed something Xie Heng desperately needed.

However, last night, Xie Heng had rejected Li Guiyu because of Luo Wanqing.

Why?

She was certain that she and Xie Heng had never crossed paths in the past. Could it be that Xie Heng's rejection of an alliance with Li Guiyu was solely out of guilt?

If so, he must have had an exceptional character. How could he have collaborated with Li Guiyu in his previous life?

Luo Wanqing couldn't fathom it, but she didn't have the luxury of pondering further. Rising to freshen up, she heard Qilin's voice outside her door, "Minister Liu, the Lord has summoned you."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused in her handling of the Thousand Mechanisms Bead Bracelet, took a deep breath, and stepped out, opening the door. She bowed respectfully, "Yes."

Qilin, seeing her emerge from her room, didn't comment further. Instead, he sized her up and down before stating, "Remove the Thousand Mechanisms."

Luo Wanqing dared not argue and promptly withdrew her concealed weapons, handing them over to someone behind Qilin.

Then, Qilin instructed a female attendant to inspect her thoroughly, ensuring she wasn't carrying any hidden weapons. Satisfied, he led her towards the rear mountain.

Prepared with her words, she remained composed throughout the journey, following Qilin up the mountain to the courtyard where she first met Xie Heng.

The morning sun was just right, illuminating Xie Heng as he sat on the veranda, engrossed in reviewing documents.

Dressed in a simple white robe, he seemed to have just risen. His long hair was half-bound with an elegant jade ribbon, exuding an air of leisure.

However, even in his casual demeanor, there was an inherent nobility that permeated his bones, as if an invisible measuring rod surrounded him, scrutinizing every move he made, leaving no room for anyone to let their guard down.

Beside him knelt a gentle-faced youth in a green robe, busily brewing tea. Upon seeing Zhuque enter with Luo Wanqing, the young man looked up and smiled, offering Xie Heng a cup of tea with a mild tone, "Zhuque has returned."

"Brother Qingya."

Zhuque greeted, then respectfully bowed to Xie Heng, "My Lord, I have brought her back as instructed."

Luo Wanqing, listening to their exchange, stepped forward and knelt on one knee, respectfully addressing, "This subordinate greets my Lord."

"Mm."

Xie Heng acknowledged with a soft sound, his voice devoid of emotion. He then got straight to the point, "Explain."

Luo Wanqing was taken aback by Xie Heng's directness; he didn't even bother to ask further before concluding that she was responsible for the previous night's incident.

For a moment, Luo Wanqing hesitated to respond, fearing that Xie Heng might be fishing for information, and she would inadvertently reveal too much.

Seeing her silence, Xie Heng understood her thoughts and lifted his gaze, "Why weren't you summoned to the mountain last night?"

"This subordinate," Luo Wanqing's heart raced slightly. She didn't hide her nervousness, lowering her head and gritting her teeth as she said, "was following Third Prince."

This answer caught everyone by surprise, even Xie Heng himself was taken aback.

He lifted his gaze, seemingly puzzled, and frowned. "Li Guiyu?"

"Yes," Luo Wanqing answered truthfully. Xie Heng stroked the teacup in his hand as he gazed at her, his eyes like piercing mirrors. He said calmly, "Tell me everything."

"I was entrusted by someone to keep a close eye on Li Guiyu, so I arranged for someone to monitor him. Last night, he left in the middle of the night. When my informant informed me, it was already too late. In my haste to catch up, I discovered that he had come to the Inspectorate."

"You disregarded the prohibition to go up the mountain just to track his movements?" Xie Heng understood her intentions.

"Yes," Luo Wanqing quickly explained. "But I'm incompetent. There were numerous traps on the mountain, and by the time I arrived, I didn't hear anything."

Upon hearing this, Xie Heng let out a soft "huh," and Luo Wanqing couldn't discern if it was mockery or something else.

Qilin beside him scoffed lightly, "Being able to get up the mountain is already a feat. What's there to be modest about?"

Luo Wanqing dared not speak. Xie Heng pondered for a moment before pressing on, "Keeping watch over Third Prince is a life-threatening task. Who entrusted you with this and made you risk your life like this?"

"Yes…" Luo Wanqing hesitated, seemingly realizing the absurdity of her words, but she continued softly, "It was a friend I met by chance. She saved me, and in return, I'm willing to risk my life for her sake."

"Does she have a grudge against Li Guiyu?"

Xie Heng asked nonchalantly, seemingly unconvinced by her story, "Although Third Prince has been living among the people for a long time, his reputation has always been excellent. What kind of friend do you have that could have a feud with him?"

"She's just a young maiden, insignificant and voiceless compared to Third Prince. But the debt of saving my life was repaid with a massacre," Luo Wanqing lifted her head, meeting Xie Heng's gaze. "That's a blood feud."

Hearing this, Xie Heng paused in his tea-drinking, lifting his head and frowning as he asked, "Who is your friend?"

"On the day I joined the Inspectorate, I received news of her death."

Luo Wanqing looked at Xie Heng with a calm expression, "Her name was Luo Wanqing."

Everyone around them froze. Xie Heng stared into her eyes for a long while before he let out a soft laugh.

He stood up, stepping down from the corridor barefoot, and approached her.

"Miss Liu Xiniang, do you know what I hate the most in this life?"

He gazed down at her, and just his mere presence made Luo Wanqing feel an invisible weight pressing down upon her from above.

It was as if he knew everything, leaving no room for deception.

Controlling her racing heartbeat, Luo Wanqing replied calmly, "I am unaware."

"I despise people who think they're clever. This is your last chance," Xie Heng's gaze deepened slightly, "Tell the truth."

"All that I've said is the truth!"

Lifting her eyes, Luo Wanqing strained to restrain every muscle that might betray her emotions, each breath she took.

The man before her seemed like a tiger watching her, a deity of judgment. Any slip on her part would prompt him to pounce, severing her throat with ferocity.

She mastered her emotions flawlessly, completely forgetting her true identity. Assuming the role of Liu Xiniang, standing up for her friend, she displayed anger and declared, "Yes, I admit to eavesdropping on Young Master's conversation. I am guilty. But isn't it rightful for me to avenge my friend? Why won't Young Master believe me and insist on thinking that I have ill intentions?"

These words caused Xie Heng to pause. He lowered his eyes to study the person before him, momentarily unsure whether what she said was genuine or not.

"What about the Pavilion of Storms and Rain?"

Xie Heng pressed on coldly, "On the second night after joining the Inspectorate, you left in the middle of the night to meet with someone from the Wind and Rain Pavilion. Why?"

"I ventured out late at night to retrieve a horse I had pawned at a clinic," Luo Wanqing explained, aware that Cui Heng had already divulged everything about her. She quickly denied any wrongdoing, "I encountered the pursuit of the Wind and Rain Pavilion members on the way and had a confrontation, but there was no prior acquaintance."

"You then left Cui Heng behind to be alone…"

"I went to find Li Guiyu, and later asked Zhang Yiran to tail me," Luo Wanqing interrupted Xie Heng, bowing her head to the ground. "My Lord, every word I speak is the truth. I hope you can see through it clearly."

This made Xie Heng pause. The people present exchanged glances.

Fixing his gaze on her, Xie Heng realized that she had left no room for error. Without resorting to torture, he seemed powerless to extract any more information from her.

But torture...

She had already endured the reshaping of her bones. Even if he crippled or flayed her, he might not get the truth out of her.

Their standoff filled the room with silence.

After a moment, Xie Heng called out, "Qingya."

Upon hearing this, Qingya understood Xie Heng's intention. He chuckled softly and took the file from the side, saying gently, "So according to your description, this friend of yours is Luo Wanqing, the eldest daughter of the Luo family, right?"

"Yes," Luo Wanqing replied in a slightly hoarse voice. "It's her."

"According to the records, you, Lady Liu, are a salt peddler who roams the jianghu, while Miss Luo is a sheltered young lady. How did the two of you meet?" Qingya opened the file and gently probed further.

Luo Wanqing lowered her gaze and calmly recounted how she and Zhang Jiuran had met: "We were in the same cell at Yangzhou Prison. I had a conflict with Wang Qiniang in our cell, and it just so happened that she had a feud with Wang Qiniang, so she helped me out. That's how we got to know each other."

As she spoke, Qingya asked, asking with great detail about every aspect and every word.

As he asked, he made notes, and by the end, Qingya furrowed his brows as he looked at Luo Wanqing.

Xie Heng glanced at Qingya, who hesitated for a moment before saying in a measured tone, "There's no such thing as a perfect lie. Every action leaves a trail. Miss Liu, everything you've said can be verified by others. As someone in the Inspectorate, you should be well aware of its methods."

Qingya advised her, seemingly acting in her best interest: "If you tell the truth now, there might still be some leeway for Young Master. But if we verify after the fact, you probably won't even make it back to the dungeon, let alone avoid the Imperial Prison."

At the mention of "Imperial Prison," Luo Wanqing's mind was suddenly filled with the image of the human skin hanging there.

Her heart turned cold, but her expression remained composed as she replied, "I request that you thoroughly investigate this matter, Sir."

Xie Heng was silent, methodically rolling the thousand-stringed beads in his hand as if lost in thought.

Everyone waited for him to speak, no one daring to interrupt.

After a long while, Xie Heng finally lowered his gaze and looked calmly at Luo Wanqing, asking, "According to your account, Li Guiyu holds a deep grudge against Luo Wanqing, and you are her friend. Now that she is deceased, are you bound to avenge her by killing Li Guiyu?"

Luo Wanqing was taken aback; she hadn't expected Xie Heng to ask such a question.

She seemed to have fallen into a misunderstanding.

She had heard Xie Heng expressing concern about the Luo family and declining Li Guiyu's alliance on behalf of Luo Wanqing. In her subconscious, she assumed that Xie Heng didn't care about Li Guiyu's life or death.

However, this was the Inspectorate, an institution that oversaw punishment and belonged to the imperial court. If Xie Heng had no intentions towards Li Guiyu, how could the Inspectorate tolerate her assassinating an imperial prince?

But her previous words were full of conviction, painting her as an emotionally devoted person willing to risk her life for a ten-day friendship. If she were to now retract her statement and claim she had no plans to kill Li Guiyu, her credibility would be shattered.

Realizing this, a cold sweat trickled down Luo Wanqing's forehead.

She couldn't backtrack on her previous words; she could only take a gamble.

Closing her eyes, she said, "Milord, with Li Guiyu's temperament, after you rejected him last night and mentioned Wan Qing, he wouldn't let the matter rest."

"What nonsense!"

Zhuque scoffed from the side. "What power does he have to threaten Milord?"

Luo Wanqing ignored Zhuque, intent on persuading further.

But just as she opened her mouth, she heard Xuan Shan's panicked voice from outside.

"Milord!" Xuan Shan had never been so agitated. Everyone turned to look, only to see that he'd even forgotten about Luo Wanqing's presence as he urgently spoke, "Something's happened to Aunt Bai Li. Her Shadow Servant returned gravely injured, leaving behind only one message."

"Speak."

Xie Heng interrupted directly. Xuan Shan, panting, said, "Li Guiyu has set up an altar for Luo Wanqing in his bedroom, in the name of his late wife."

This left those present somewhat confused. Zhuque immediately asked, "What does that mean?"

No one dared to speak, but Luo Wanqing listened with remarkable calmness.

Jiang Shaoyan had indeed erected a memorial tablet for her.

He was truly acting out the role of a sentimental lover, just as she had expected.

The tablet was placed in his bedroom, hidden from others' sight. Bai Li must have stumbled upon it, and coupled with Li Guiyu's failed alliance with Xie Heng, Li Guiyu was simply making an example out of her.

Last night, Luo Wanqing knew that Li Guiyu wouldn't let things slide so easily, but she hadn't anticipated his ruthlessness or swiftness.

Right after Xie Heng refused him, he spread the news of Bai Li's near-death situation.

As one of the four envoys of the Inspectorate, Bai Li was killed on a whim, showing that Xie Heng's feelings held no weight with Li Guiyu.

Lost in thought, Luo Wanqing lowered her gaze, remaining silent.

After a moment of silence, Xuan Shan finally bowed his head, his eyes reddened and voice hoarse, "Young Master, about this matter..."

"Where is the body?" Xie Heng's voice was frighteningly composed.

Xuan Shan was taken aback, then promptly grasped the opportunity and hurriedly said, "Aunt was chased to the cliff edge, and her body hasn't been found yet."

"Search for her. If she's alive, bring her back. If she's dead, find her remains."

"Yes."

Xuan Shan promptly agreed and rushed out with the others.

The courtyard was left with only Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng.

Luo Wanqing lowered her gaze, pondering over the events that had just transpired.

Bai Li was the most skilled spy in the Inspectorate. Judging from everyone's reactions, she had deep bonds with the Inspectorate members. With her in trouble, they wouldn't let it go easily.

What she had just said might not have convinced Xie Heng entirely, but sometimes, truth or deception didn't matter as much as usefulness. As long as she could be of use, Xie Heng would at least temporarily keep her around.

Given Bai Li's incident with Li Guiyu, the Inspectorate wouldn't send more spies to their deaths at Li Guiyu's hands.

On the contrary, someone like her, suspected and harboring a deep grudge against Li Guiyu, became the perfect pawn to infiltrate and gather intelligence on him.

If she could seize this opportunity, Xie Heng might attach great importance to her.

The more she approached Xie Heng, the higher the expectations Covert Acacia had for her. In turn, she would have more leverage in negotiating with Covert Acacia.

After considering these thoughts, she made a resolute decision and spoke, "My Lord, I, your subordinate, am willing to atone for my mistakes by avenging White Tiger Envoy."

Upon hearing this, Xie Heng turned his gaze toward her.

Luo Wanqing remained prostrated on the ground, not daring to lift her head as she said, "I understand that My Lord still has doubts about me. The mission to spy on Third Prince is extremely perilous. My Lord may allow me to undertake it. If successful, it would be for the best. If I fail, my life is but a trifle."

Xie Heng didn't respond. He stared at her back, seemingly having seen through her intentions.

Silent for a long while, he slowly stepped forward, looking down at the half-kneeling figure before him and softly said, "Look up."

Luo Wanqing was taken aback. She knew Xie Heng had a plan in mind but was unsure what he intended to do. With hesitation, she raised her face, gazing at the coldly detached lord before her. As he looked at her face, he calmly asked, "Do you wish to avenge Luo Wanqing?"

With this question, Luo Wanqing grasped Xie Heng's intention.

He had agreed!

He had developed a desire to kill Li Guiyu.

Xie Heng's intent to eliminate Li Guiyu was clear, regardless of whether he could actually succeed or not. At the very least, in this lifetime, Li Guiyu would lose his allies.

The thought of being able to kill Li Guiyu stirred excitement within her.

Suppressing her intense emotions, she portrayed herself as an impartial friend, simply responding, "Yes."

"At any cost?"

"At any cost."

"Very well then."

Xie Heng's tone seemed resigned.

Bending down, he lifted his hand to grasp Luo Wanqing's chin, gazing into her eyes as if making a lighthearted jest, "Then let's change that face."

Luo Wanqing was slightly taken aback.

Xie Heng's eyes lowered slightly, his hair gently cascading down, allowing the cool breeze to brush against it, carrying a subtle fragrance that brushed against her cheeks.

The noble gentleman was like a divine sculpture, self-restrained yet dignified. Gazing into her eyes, he traced her facial scars with his fingers, calmly saying, "Listen to me, and I'll let you kill him."

Author's Note:

"Short Scene"

Xie Heng: "When it comes to falling in love, the moment I take the first step..."

Audience: "Don't worry, we'll take care of that remaining 99% for you."

Xie Heng: "..."

Audience: "You're welcome."

Xie Heng: "Did I say thank you?! I, Yonghuang Niu Kegu·Heng! I don't need love!"

Jiang Shaoyan/Zhang Yiran: "Really? Are you serious?"

Xie Heng: "We're getting married tomorrow. Oh no, right now!"