Chapter 34

Chapter 34

◎ It was a face familiar yet distinct from his memory. ◎

Upon hearing the term "facial transformation," Luo Wanqing couldn't help but be surprised. She instinctively asked, "Facial transformation?"

"Li Guiyu is no ordinary man," Xie Heng's fingers brushed against her scar as if examining it. He spoke calmly while observing, "Ordinary people can't get close to him; we can only use unconventional means. You can't approach him directly, so he must come to you. I need to give you a face that he'll definitely desire for you to get near him. But," Xie Heng lifted his gaze to meet Luo Wanqing's, "are you willing to have someone else's face?"

"I'll follow your instructions, Sir."

Luo Wanqing immediately lowered her head and answered. Xie Heng paused in his movement, gazing at her for a long time before finally saying, "Very well."

Letting go of her chin, he straightened up and whispered, "Exit the courtyard and find Zhu Si. From today onwards, stay in the back mountain. You don't need to ask me when you want to leave; just ask Xuan Shan. Tomorrow, I'll have Old Zhong come up to change your face."

Luo Wanqing didn't dare to speak further and respectfully replied, "Yes, Sir."

Xie Heng didn't elaborate further and walked straight into the house. Halfway through, he stopped and called out, "Liu Xiniang."

Luo Wanqing looked up and saw him turn his profile to look at her seriously, "I'll have every word you say verified in Yangzhou."

Luo Wanqing involuntarily clenched her fists as the man lowered his gaze and turned away. "You only have one chance to choose. Treasure it well."

With that, Xie Heng strode into the house, his figure vanishing from the courtyard.

Seeing Xie Heng leave, Luo Wanqing rose from the ground, frowning as she pondered his words.

Treasure?

Cui Heng had said the same thing to her before. What was it exactly that she was supposed to treasure?

Unable to comprehend, Luo Wanqing stepped out of the small courtyard. Just as she exited, she heard a young girl's voice call out, "Supervisor Liu."

Looking up, Luo Wanqing saw a girl in a green robe standing at the entrance, softly saying, "Supervisor Liu, this way, please. I am Zhu Si, your servant."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing finally realized that Xie Heng seemed to have intended for her to stay on the back mountain.

"Where is Cui Guanlan?" Luo Wanqing blurted out. "Is he staying on the back mountain with me?"

"Lord Guanlan doesn't reside on the back mountain, but if needed, he will ascend the mountain himself," came the reply.

Zhu Si answered Luo Wanqing gently, guiding her to a small cottage not far from Xie Heng's residence.

Luo Wanqing heard this as expected, yet still felt a slight oppression in her chest.

It was like a fledgling bird leaving its nest, unable to resist looking back at the warm nest where it was born.

But she suppressed these emotions. After all, she had let him go last night; there was no point dwelling on it. Eventually, they all depart.

Following Zhu Si into the house, Zhu Si stood by the door and spoke softly, "Supervisor Liu, please make yourself at home. If you need anything else, feel free to inform this servant."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing stepped inside the room.

As soon as she entered, she sensed something odd.

This was clearly a woman's quarters, filled with makeup, hairpins, and small garments – all in readiness.

"Are there other women who usually reside here?" Luo Wanqing couldn't help but ask, puzzled. Zhu Si smiled slightly and replied, "These are prepared for Supervisor Liu."

Luo Wanqing's grip on the hairpin faltered. Zhu Si bowed respectfully and said, "This servant will take my leave first."

Zhu Si withdrew silently, her footsteps barely audible, indicating her exceptional stealth skills. Luo Wanqing held onto the hairpin, scanning her surroundings. An indescribable sense of urgency rose within her.

It felt as if she were in a furnace, with every object around her burning her, reminding her.

This room had been prepared for her, but clearly not just now. This meant that, at the very least, since last night, Xie Heng had intended for her to stay here.

Her proximity to him wasn't part of her plan; it was all orchestrated by him.

Regardless of whether Bai Li had encountered any trouble today, he would have kept her in the back mountain. What was his motive?

Why?

He knew she had overheard their conversation and had suspicious behavior, yet instead of dealing with her, he chose to let her stay.

Did he plan to kill Li Guiyu last night?

No.

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized, finally picking up on the nuance in Xie Heng's words just now — Listen to me, and I'll let you kill him.

Let you kill him.

To Xie Heng, taking the life of Li Guiyu was a form of reward.

In that moment, she wasn't his first choice to kill Li Guiyu; it was simply that since she had pleaded, he used Li Guiyu as bait, "allowing" her to do the deed.

What he truly sought was for her to obey him.

What made him so certain of her identity to demand her submission?

Every word and action of his seemed to imply that he was well aware of her malicious intentions. He didn't believe a single syllable she spoke, yet he indulged her, waiting for her surrender. As long as she spoke the truth, forgiveness would be granted.

But why wouldn't he trust her?

Luo Wanqing lowered her gaze to the golden hairpin, pondering over her previous words. Every statement could be verified; she had no issue with him investigating.

She now had a general understanding of how the Censorate operated. In their investigations, they searched for evidence from the perspective of guilt, but when it came to passing judgment, only solid proof would suffice.

Xie Heng currently doubted her, and all his reminders, through Zhu Si and this very room, were meant to exert pressure on her, so that she would eventually concede to his demands. It seemed as though he would forgive everything once she spoke up.

If she truly was an assassin acting under orders, she should be on edge, constantly fearing discovery. At the slightest unease, she might confess everything to Xie Heng.

But if she did confess...

Luo Wanqing wasn't certain what consequences would follow. Nevertheless, she couldn't afford to take that risk.

She couldn't simply admit guilt without a safety net. If she were to confess, it would only be after securing a lifeline for herself.

For instance, she had to become the person most suitable to approach Li Guiyu in Xie Heng's eyes.

Should Bai Li survive, Xie Heng would undoubtedly rescue her. If Bai Li met her end, Xie Heng would avenge her without fail.

In that case, even if her identity as an assassin were to be exposed, the Censorate wouldn't hold her accountable until she had done away with Li Guiyu and become useless to them.

When the time comes and if accountability is indeed pursued, she will at least have no regrets.

With these thoughts in mind, she felt a bit more reassured. She then looked around and grew somewhat cheerful.

There was some advantage in Xie Heng's suspicion of her.

He treated her as an assassin, warning and attempting to recruit her at the same time, hoping that she would turn against Xiangsi Zi. Thus, she would follow his intentions without making it explicit. He wouldn't directly address it, nor would she explicitly confess. However, he would grant her many conveniences.

For instance, allowing her to stay on the mountain today.

This was her bargaining chip for negotiating with Xiangsi Zi later.

Luo Wanqing couldn't help glancing down the mountain. It would be too conspicuous to seek out Xiangsi Zi now, plus the poison in her body had yet to fully dissipate. Resting would be the wiser choice.

She suppressed her urge to descend immediately and sat in her room to meditate.

The medicine Cui Heng gave her in the morning was exceptionally effective. After a day of rest, she felt almost completely recovered.

When night fell, she went to bed early. In the middle of the night, she sensed someone in the room and instinctively reached for her blade upon opening her eyes. However, halfway through standing up, her hand was firmly grasped.

A familiar voice echoed, "It's me."

Luo Wanqing looked up in surprise to see Cui Heng sitting by the bed with a mask on. He wore a luxurious jade-colored brocade robe, adorned with a white jade at his waist, looking no different from usual.

His voice remained the same as Qin Jue's; she had yet to hear his true tone.

She stared at him blankly. After a moment of silence, Luo Wanqing hesitantly pulled back the knife and sat up, asking in confusion, "Why are you here?"

"I shouldn't have come," Cui Heng pursed his lips and whispered, "But I heard some news and still decided to come and ask you about it."

"What do you want to ask?"

Luo Wanqing was perplexed.

"I've heard that you agreed to the face transplant," Cui Heng looked up at Luo Wanqing with a gentle tone, "Have you really made up your mind?"

"What is there to consider?"

Luo Wanqing was puzzled.

Cui Heng was taken aback for a moment before he said, "You'll be taking on someone else's face. Aren't you bothered by that?"

Luo Wanqing's heart stirred upon hearing this.

If it were in the past when she was still young, she would have been unwilling to even wear the same clothes as someone else, let alone switch faces with them.

But now, her very identity was that of another person. How could she be concerned about just a face?

Moreover, if she wasn't mistaken, that face...

Luo Wanqing smiled gently and replied, "As long as I can kill Li Guiyu, what does it matter about my appearance?"

"You want to kill him that badly?"

Cui Heng was puzzled. "Why?"

"Luo Wanqing is dead. Liu Xiniang will complete the tasks she left unfinished."

Luo Wanqing looked at Cui Heng straightforwardly, without any hesitation.

Confusion filled Cui Heng's eyes. "You haven't known her for long."

"Is the length of time spent with someone what truly matters in building relationships?" Luo Wanqing countered, leaving Cui Heng silent.

The two fell into a quiet moment. After some thought, Luo Wanqing asked, "You came... just to ask about this?"

"Mm," Cui Heng nodded. Then, he lifted his gaze and smiled. "As long as you've made up your mind, that's good enough."

"What if I'm unwilling?" Luo Wanqing inquired curiously.

Cui Heng raised an eyebrow before replying, "Then I'll discuss it with Sect Master Xie and see if there's another way."

"You have such influence?"

Luo Wanqing found it amusing. Cui Heng nodded and gently tapped his shoulder with his folding fan, seemingly quite proud of himself. "I do hold some weight in the Inspectorate. However, it mainly depends on your performance."

"My performance?"

Luo Wanqing sensed something amiss but suppressed her wariness with a smile. She looked at the young man before her and asked, "What kind of performance are you referring to?"

Cui Heng gazed at Luo Wanqing with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

He reached out and covered her eyes, sighing, "Let's not talk like this."

Luo Wanqing lowered her gaze. Blindfolded, she could only feel her eyelashes brush against the palm of Cui Heng's hand, causing him to pause slightly.

There was a moment of silence between them. Cui Heng spoke gently, "I have some matters that require me to be away for a while. Let's not see each other until then. This way, neither of us will deceive the other, nor will I deceive any young maiden."

Luo Wanqing understood Cui Heng's intention.

Given their current situation, with Xie Heng suspecting her, whether it was for her mission from the Inspectorate or to test him, it was impossible for her and Cui Heng to maintain their previous "If you don't ask, I won't doubt" stance.

Their continued interaction would only result in mutual deceit.

Suppressing her emotions, she asked, "Then, what about the poison in your body?"

"Leave it be. That amount of poison poses no threat to me."

Cui Heng smiled warmly and said, "When we meet again, you can give me the antidote then."

Luo Wanqing paused, instantly recalling the blood he had fed her when she was poisoned before. She vaguely sensed that his body seemed different from an ordinary person's, but she dared not confirm it entirely.

However, since Cui Heng refused to take it, she didn't have time to act on it now. All she could do was softly agree, "Alright."

Looking at her childlike demeanor, Cui Heng seemed helpless.

After some thought, he still chose to explain, "The Surveillance Bureau wields too much power. A single stroke of the red pen on a case file can decide a life. Ever since its establishment, too many people have tried to kill Xie Heng."

Luo Wanqing didn't quite understand where he was going with this but still listened quietly.

"He doesn't own his life; there are too many people he needs to protect. He can't afford any mistakes. That's why he lives cautiously. If he's strict with you, I hope you won't hold it against him."

"Are you not afraid that I'm a bad person?"

Luo Wanqing didn't grasp the apology. It was only natural for Xie Heng to suspect her, so why was he apologizing in advance?

Upon hearing her question, Cui Heng merely chuckled lightly.

"Let Xie Heng deal with the bad guys. I'll just treat you as that promising young talent who knows nothing. If you're a bad person," Cui Heng added with a meaningful tone, "then I probably won't get to meet you again."

Cui Heng removed his hand from covering her eyes, and Luo Wanqing looked at him questioningly.

After studying her for a moment, he finally said, "Since you have no objections, I'll be on my way."

"Mm-hm."

Luo Wanqing made no attempt to stop him.

Cui Heng patted her shoulder, seemingly in reassurance, then got up to leave.

Luo Wanqing didn't watch him go. She turned her head only after he had left, glancing briefly at the door.

Then she lay back down, closed her eyes, and barely slept all night.

The next morning, Zhu Si came early to rouse her. After getting dressed and freshening up, Luo Wanqing was led by Zhu Si out of her quarters and to Xie Heng's courtyard.

As soon as they entered the yard, they saw Xie Heng having tea with an elderly man. The old man, well into his sixties with half-gray hair, was full of vitality. He was expressing his thoughts to Xie Heng, "I've been telling Bai Li to quit for a long time. At her age, which woman would still be working as a spy? But she just can't let go of you..."

"Sir,"

Zhu Si interrupted the elder, respectfully saying, "Envoy Liu is here."

Upon hearing this, Xie Heng, holding his tea, turned his head alongside the elder. The elder sized her up from head to toe before turning to Xie Heng. "Is it her?"

"Mm-hm," Xie Heng confirmed, then turned back to the teapot on the table.

The elder descended the corridor and stooped down in the courtyard, studying Luo Wanqing intently. He pondered, "It's a burn, the flesh is ruined."

Speaking thus, the elder raised his hand to touch the bones on Luo Wanqing's face, examining them as he continued, "Excellent bone structure. She must've been a beauty before. How did she end up like this? But it's not an impossible task."

The elder turned to Xie Heng. "What do you plan to turn her into?"

"Phoenix," Xie Heng called out. Immediately, Zhu Si stepped forward obediently and said respectfully, "Old Zhong, this woman."

As she spoke, Zhu Si unfurled a scroll. Everyone's attention was drawn to the painting, which depicted a woman in prisoner's attire, barefoot with her hair loose, running desperately.

The painting was clearly recently done, with vivid ink still fresh. Despite the lady in the artwork being disheveled in attire, her features were exquisitely beautiful, such distress only adding to her vulnerability, evoking even more sympathy from onlookers.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the painting.

This, undoubtedly, depicted her first encounter with Xie Heng.

"Give this maiden a face based on her appearance here."

Seated nearby, Xie Heng sipped his tea, his voice cool and detached: "Can you accomplish this within ten days?"

"Ten days?"

Old Zhong turned with surprise, "So soon?"

"Bai Li's body hasn't been found, but there were traces suggesting she was taken away earlier by someone from Li Guiyu's side."

Xie Heng tapped the table lightly, calmly analyzing the situation for Old Zhong and said softly, "I need to determine the significance of this woman to Li Guiyu before planning my next move. Ten days is my maximum limit; the sooner, the better."

"Well... that can be done. It's just a matter of applying a stronger remedy to hasten the healing process."

Old Zhong pondered, then turned to Luo Wanqing. "You're already an Envoy; you shouldn't be afraid of pain, right?"

"I'll leave it entirely to Old Zhong's discretion," Luo Wanqing answered respectfully.

Old Zhong nodded, but then seemed puzzled. "Why go through the trouble of changing your face? A mask would suffice, wouldn't it?"

Xie Heng glanced at Old Zhong and replied calmly, "How do you think the previous spy died? If a mask couldn't fool Li Guiyu, how could he have possibly killed Bai Li?"

Old Zhong was taken aback before nodding. "I see. Well, young lady," he turned to Luo Wanqing, "shall we go?"

Luo Wanqing nodded, bowed to Xie Heng, and then followed the Vermillion Bird, who carried the portrait, as they walked with Old Zhong towards the inner chamber.

As they walked, Old Zhong introduced himself. "You probably don't know me, young lady. I'm Zhong Lingshu, a physician by profession. I have a knack for studying peculiar things. Face-changing is a unique skill that only I possess in this world. You can trust my expertise."

Luo Wanqing listened silently, not daring to speak.

The mere mention of Zhong Lingshu's name was considered an offense in the medical community.

A legendary physician with countless disciples, he was the most revered figure among all medical learners in Xia country.

Yet, she was merely a salt merchant, and thus dared not speak up recklessly. Following Zhong Lingshu into a prepared room, where an apprentice stood by, Zhong Lingshu washed his hands and pointed at a semi-reclining bed. He spoke to Luo Wanqing, "Lie down, Miss. Zhuque," directing his assistant, "hang the painting there so I can revise it as needed."

Zhuque promptly obeyed, hanging the painting in front of Luo Wanqing.

Looking at her own image on the canvas, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and helplessness. She never imagined that, after all the twists and turns, her face would still be the key.

While guiding the apprentice to prepare the surgical tools, Zhong Lingshu eventually sat down at the head of Luo Wanqing's bed. He glanced at the painting, then at her, suddenly remarking, "Odd."

Luo Wanqing sensed something and grew tense. "What is odd, Old Zhong?" she asked.

"Your bone structure doesn't need any alteration at all?" Old Zhong looked at the portrait, then at Luo Wanqing, hesitating. "You already resemble each other closely?"

Sweat formed in Luo Wanqing's palms as Old Zhong held the knife near her face, seemingly reluctant to proceed. He pondered, "Seems like just some flesh restoration is needed. What a coincidence."

"Old Zhong," Luo Wanqing carefully said, "while the bone structures may be similar, whether they truly resemble depends on your skill."

Upon hearing Luo Wanqing's subtle compliment, Zhong Lingshu felt a sense of joy. He nodded and replied, "You're right."

As he spoke, Zhong Lingshu fetched a bowl of anesthesia from the side and fed it to Luo Wanqing, soothing her, "Take a nap. The pain will subside in a few days. Ultimately, how you'll look depends on your constitution, but don't worry, you'll definitely look better than you do now."

Luo Wanqing didn't say anything and obediently drank the anesthesia.

In fact, it wouldn't matter if she looked a bit worse.

As for resemblance, she found it hard to predict.

Just as Zhong Lingshu had said, the bone structure was crucial, but the skin appearance would be the final outcome. How she would recover depended on her constitution.

After drinking the anesthesia, it wasn't long before she lost consciousness.

When she woke up, her head was wrapped in bandages, and her face burned with pain.

The sound of clinking metal pots filled the air. Seeing that she had opened her eyes, Zhong Lingshu turned his head to look at her and asked, "Miss, are you awake?"

Luo Wanqing was unable to speak. As Zhong Lingshu washed his hands nearby, he commented while doing so, "I didn't make any major changes. I just adjusted your eyes. That young lady had almond-shaped eyes, which were slightly more youthful compared to yours. You are, after all, an Inspectorate Envoy. A colder demeanor suits your aura."

Luo Wanqing listened silently, unable to speak. Zhong Lingshu rose and examined her before saying, "I've administered some potent medicine for you. After you return, meditate daily and use the herbs to speed up your recovery. If all goes well... five days should be enough."

"Thank you, Old Zhong," she managed to rasp after a long effort.

Zhong Lingshu looked at Luo Wanqing with affection, like a caring elder, and sighed. "You youngsters have endured so much."

With that, he stepped out, instructing the apothecary boy to tend to Luo Wanqing before waving goodbye. "I'm off."

Lying on the bed, Luo Wanqing took a moment to recuperate. The apothecary boy then came forward to help her sit up.

Her face burned with pain, but otherwise, she felt manageable. She sat for a while, then stood, bidding farewell to the boy before enduring the discomfort and leaving.

After a few steps alone, she saw Xie Heng waiting with the phoenix, Zhuque, at the entrance. Luo Wanqing froze, then quickly bowed to Xie Heng. "Sir."

Xie Heng looked at her, then glanced at the maid. Zhuque immediately understood and called out, "Someone, lend a hand."

Luo Wanqing was taken aback as Xie Heng nodded at her before turning away.

A maid approached to assist her, and Zhuque turned to look at her, earnestly admonishing, "If you want to be strong, there's no need to do it now. I've always been carried when injured in the Inspectorate, and I'm still Young Master outside."

"The Envoy Zhuque speaks wisely," Luo Wanqing responded with a smile.

However, her laughter caused her some pain.

Seeing this, Zhuque waved her hand dismissively, saying, "Go on, save your laughter for another day. It's ugly."

Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, nodded in farewell, and left with the maid's support.

Back in her room, she drank the medicine prepared by Zhong Lingshu, then followed his instructions to meditate and circulate her inner energy, leveraging the medicinal effects to hasten the healing of her wounds.

At first, it felt like a burning sensation, but gradually, an itch began to surface.

This itch felt like ants crawling all over her body – she couldn't scratch it away, nor could she shake it off.

By midnight, the pain and itch intensified, and she found it unbearable. She gave up on meditation, tossing and turning in bed instead.

She gasped for air, pounding the wall with fists, but no matter how long she tossed and turned, she couldn't alleviate the discomfort from her healing wounds.

She had no idea how long she endured until suddenly, the gentle strains of a guqin sounded outside.

The melody was tranquil, like an anchor in a stormy sea, instantly clearing Luo Wanqing's mind.

Raising her sweat-drenched face, she peered out the window, but saw no one.

In the following days, it was the same routine: meditation, medicinal baths, and repetition.

On the fifth day, Zhong Lingshu finally returned. He brought in assistants to remove Luo Wanqing's bandages and meticulously examined her. Then, with delight, he exclaimed, "Excellent, even better than I imagined! Take a look."

With those words, Zhong Lingshu placed a mirror before Luo Wanqing. As she lifted her gaze, she saw her reflection.

It resembled her old self yet was distinctively different.

Perhaps due to her now narrower and longer eyes, she exuded a colder demeanor that kept others at bay compared to before. Yet, the slight upward tilt of her eyelids added a subtle allure.

Aside from this, her face was virtually unchanged from its previous state.

"Is it too beautiful?"

Zhong Lingshu leaned over, glanced at the mirror, then at Luo Wanqing, and couldn't help but remark, "Truly a peerless beauty! Why didn't I encounter such a beauty in my youth?"

"Old Zhong!"

Just as Zhong Lingshu finished speaking, Cuique rushed in with delight, "Is it ready? The young master said that if there's no issue..."

Her words trailed off as she stood frozen in place. Seeing Cuique's reaction, Zhong Lingshu chuckled and prompted, "What did the young master say?"

"Oh."

Zhuque finally came to his senses and shifted his gaze, not daring to look at Luo Wanqing. He instructed, "Have Minister Liu take a look. You two should get ready."

Zhuque turned and left, "I'm going now."

"Heh. Kid!"

Zhong Lingshu tapped his finger at Zhuque's retreating back, then looked at the silent Luo Wanqing, feeling puzzled. "Why are you so calm? Isn't this face appealing enough?"

"Old Zhong's skills are truly exceptional."

Luo Wanqing turned back and nodded, "I was just a bit taken aback."

"It also helps that your bone structure is excellent," Zhong Lingshu affirmed. Luo Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Zhong Lingshu, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Old Zhong, could I ask a favor of you?"

"Hmm?"

With a quizzical look, Zhong Lingshu turned to her. Luo Wanqing pursed her lips and spoke cautiously, "Since my bone structure matched so well and I didn't endure much suffering, could you keep this from others?"

"Why?" Zhong Lingshu was puzzled.

Luo Wanqing smiled gently and explained, "I still wish to earn credit for this. If it can make Lord Si take more pity on me, it would make my future path smoother."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Lingshu understood and nodded, "Of course, I'll listen to any request from a beauty like you."

Luo Wanqing, aware of Zhong Lingshu's jest, nodded in gratitude. "Thank you."

"Better get yourself ready quickly."

Zhong Lingshu called in the maidservants from outside and urged, "Xie Heng is waiting. It's his first time doing so for a woman. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. If anything comes up, send for Xie Heng to call me."

"Take your time, Old Zhong."

Luo Wanqing stood up to see Zhong Lingshu off.

As she turned back, she saw a maid carrying a water-blue, wide-sleeved robe. Luo Wanqing allowed them to help her dress in the attire fit for a noble lady, topping it with a silver-embroidered veil. After styling her hair and adorning it with hairpins, she affixed the Thousand Mechanisms Belt around her waist and left the courtyard with her attendants.

Xie Heng was engaged in a game of chess with Qingya in the yard. As Luo Wanqing was led to the corridor, she heard Xie Heng say before she could bow, "No need to kneel."

With that, Xie Heng picked up a chess piece, rolled up his sleeves, and casually lifted his gaze.

A figure in water-blue attire caught his eye – a face similar yet different from his memory. In his recollection, the person had approached him with a resolve that was also fragile, like shattered ice, sharp yet exquisite in its beauty.

However, the woman standing in the corridor now exuded a calmness akin to an ancient well, coupled with a keenness resembling a sword.

Despite his features being so delicate and gentle, they were all overshadowed by the chilling aura around him.

At that time, April winds blew, scattering blossoming peach flowers across the sky.

The woman lifted her hand to push back her sleeve, revealing the Thousand Mechanisms bracelet he had personally bound around her wrist. She bowed her head slightly and respectfully said, "Sir."

The author has something to say:

That being said, you don't need to reread chapters I've edited unless I specifically mention it. I usually just fix minor errors or add supplementary details that don't affect the storyline's continuity. You can keep reading straight through; it's just my own obsessive-compulsive disorder at play.

I'll give a heads up if an edit will impact the plot.

Finally, I'm back. It'll take some time to get back into the groove.

"Short Scene"

Xie Heng: "F*ck!! My wife is so beautiful!! More beautiful than ever before!!"