Chapter 63

Chapter 63

● You don't care about me, so why did you call for me? ●

Luo Wanqing emerged from Xie Heng’s room, and Starling had already descended the mountain.

Zhu Si approached her and said gently, "Advisor Liu, you should go back to sleep. Young Master will have someone inform you of the results tomorrow."

Luo Wanqing nodded in thanks, but she already knew the outcome.

Perhaps it was because she was certain that the case was now in her hands; the gloom she felt on her way up the mountain had dissipated considerably. She smiled at Zhu Si and bid her farewell before returning to her own room.

As soon as she left Xie Heng’s small house, Qingya stepped inside. He swept his gaze across the floor and knelt down, saying gently, "I thought Young Master wanted to give the case to Starling."

"How do you figure?"

Xie Heng’s gaze shifted from where Luo Wanqing had been sitting, and Qingya smiled. "Advisor Liu won splendidly."

"It should be so," Xie Heng said with a smile. "If she didn’t have talent, I wouldn’t have personally tested her back then."

"Then why did you add another test?" Qingya found this odd.

Xie Heng lightly tapped the tabletop and said slowly, "If I hadn’t added another test, there would have been significant hostility toward her within the organization. If someone advances too quickly, they need to be held back a little."

Upon hearing this, Qingya understood Xie Heng’s intentions. If Luo Wanqing couldn’t outshine Starling in every aspect and relied solely on her martial prowess, she might as well continue training under Starling.

But now, Xie Heng had still given her the case. Qingya couldn’t help but ask curiously, "What did she say?"

"She said," Xie Heng propped his hand against his forehead and closed his eyes with a smile, "she would leave the position of The Eastern Palace’s Six Armies vacant for me."

Hearing this, Qingya was taken aback.

After some thought, he laughed and nodded. "Indeed, she is clever."

Then, Qingya sighed. "It’s a pity such a beautiful woman was injured like this today. I could see how envious she was when she looked at Starling’s Nine-Curve Sword."

Xie Heng heard the hint in his words but ignored it.

Qingya spoke cautiously. "But we haven’t seen Shadow Advisor Cui in a long time, have we?"

At these words, Xie Heng raised his eyes, and his thin lips parted as he simply said, "Get out."

******

Back in her own room, Luo Wanqing finally relaxed completely, and she suddenly felt pain all over her body.

She had been cut by Starling’s sword wind in several places, but while there were no serious injuries, the cuts stung fiercely.

These wounds were too minor for her to bother with, and she felt too exhausted to clean herself up. She simply took off her shoes, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep.

She slept in a daze and seemed to dream during the night.

She vaguely heard some sounds and tried to open her eyes, but she felt extremely drowsy. After struggling for a long time, she finally managed to open one eye slightly.

All she saw was a shadow, dressed in a wide-sleeved white robe, with long hair half-tied up with a red ribbon, and a silver-white pearl pendant mask. It seemed as if a deity had stepped into her dream, bathed in moonlight.

A cold fragrance wafted over, and Luo Wanqing was unable to move. She felt as if she was trapped in a dream from which she couldn’t escape.

She watched him sit down with difficulty and called out faintly, "Cui Heng?"

He paused in his movements but didn’t make a sound. Instead, he took some ointment from the medicine box, turned around, and carefully applied it to her wounds. He checked her pulse for a moment, confirmed that she was fine, and then prepared to get up and leave.

However, as soon as he moved, Luo Wanqing suddenly reached out weakly and tugged at his sleeve with slight force, murmuring softly, "Don’t go."

Xie Heng didn’t turn around. He held the medicine box and remained silent with pursed lips.

After waiting for a long time and hearing her breathing become deep, he knew that the calming incense had taken full effect. Finally, he closed his eyes and sat down, frustrated.

As soon as he returned, Luo Wanqing seemed to sense his presence, and her entire body relaxed. Her grip on his sleeve loosened slightly.

Xie Heng sat beside the bed with his back to her, listening to her breathing. After enduring for a moment, he finally turned to look at her.

She hadn’t changed out of her clothes from earlier that day, and the exposed parts of her skin were bruised. Lying curled up on the bed, her injured hand clutched at the corner of his clothes, making her appear like an abandoned kitten, pitiful yet endearing.

He quietly observed her for a while before raising his hand and pinching her neck.

Her slender neck seemed particularly fragile beneath his palm. Unconsciously, he exerted more force, lowering his body and staring intently at her. "You don’t care about me, so why did you call for me?"

Luo Wanqing didn’t seem to hear him. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if she felt aggrieved, and she called out again, "Cui Heng."

Her voice was different from usual, soft and gentle, almost like she was pouting, making his ears tingle: "You’re back."

Xie Heng paused in his movements, and his fingers relaxed slightly.

Her words soothed the creases of bitterness in his heart, smoothing them out one by one.

He raised his eyes and looked at the scars on her face.

After a long moment, he finally raised his hand and gently brushed over her wounds, bowing his head in defeat.

"Forget it."

His tone softened as he straightened up, helped her take off her outer robe, removed her socks, tidied her hair, and arranged her in a comfortable position on the bed.

Then, he pulled the covers over her.

Having done all this, his breathing was slightly disordered, and he knew he shouldn’t stay any longer. As he got up to leave, he realized that the corner of his clothes was still in her hand.

Xie Heng chuckled in frustration. He grabbed his sleeve and leaned down, pressing his face close to hers and threatening her in a hoarse voice, "If you don’t let go, don’t you dare cry."

With that, he yanked his sleeve hard. This time, Luo Wanqing really couldn’t hold on any longer.

He wriggled his sleeve free from Luo Wanqing's grasp and rose to his feet, somewhat disheveled as he left.

Luo Wanqing had an excellent sleep, and when she woke up the next day, she felt extremely comfortable. She lifted her hand to inspect the wounds, which had been tended to. Connecting this with her vague memories of the night before, she immediately realized that Cui Heng must have visited.

She hastily got out of bed and ran out barefoot, but after circling the long corridor, she saw no one around.

The events of last night seemed like a dream, leaving her somewhat dejected. She returned to the room in a daze, sitting there for a while. Then, she heard footsteps outside.

Luo Wanqing turned back in surprise, only to see Bai Li standing at the door, holding a sword.

Luo Wanqing was taken aback, then quickly composed herself and respectfully said, "Master."

"Seems rather disappointed?"

Bai Li sized her up, noticing the change in her mood. She smiled and asked, "Who did you think I was?"

"I..." Luo Wanqing tried to cover it up, but Bai Li directly said, "Cui, the Shadow Envoy?"

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused.

Bai Li entered, holding the sword and teased, "You couldn't even recognize footsteps. Seems like you were thinking about him too much."

Luo Wanqing knew she couldn't deceive Bai Li and changed the subject, "Master, do you know he's back?"

"He returned last night."

Bai Li glanced at the incense burner by her bedside. "But he's gone again."

"Ah..." Luo Wanqing nodded, looking at Bai Li who kept smiling at her. Her gaze finally fell on the sword Bai Li was holding. "What's this?"

"Finally asking?"

Bai Li laughed and handed her the sword. "This is your reward. You won against Xing Ling yesterday, and your sword broke. The Young Master decided to entrust the case to you and sent me along with this sword."

Luo Wanqing was taken aback, lowering her head to look at the sword in her hands.

"Take it."

Bai Li urged, and Luo Wanqing took the sword from Bai Li. It was a ring-handled sword, straight and long, with a round ring at its top. Its scabbard was white, inlaid with blue crystals, shining brightly in the sunlight.

Luo Wanqing drew the blade, feeling a chill as soon as it emerged. The room grew cold.

The silver-white blade gleamed, with a blue crystal line down the middle, dividing it into two. It reflected Luo Wanqing's face, both the sword and its wielder stunningly beautiful.

"This sword is called 'Xie Ling'," Bai Li introduced. "Forged from cold iron and crystal, its edge is sharp, and its body is tough. In terms of hardness, it's unparalleled. More importantly, this sword is incredibly light."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked over. Bai Li smiled. "Your swordsmanship is too fierce, relying on strength. Logically, it should be clumsy, but you don't want to sacrifice speed. Therefore, the only way to maintain your speed is to adjust the weight of the sword, ensuring it remains strong enough to withstand your immense power. Cui Heng searched for a while to find this sword. It wasn't easy, so please cherish it."

Hearing Bai Li's words, Luo Wanqing realized that although Xie Heng had tasked Bai Li with delivering the sword to her, it was actually Cui Heng who had found it specifically for her.

Xing Ling had Nine Turns from Xie Heng, and now she had Xie Ling from Cui Heng.

Her dissatisfaction from yesterday vanished, and she no longer felt that Xie Heng was being unfair.

"Master."

Luo Wanqing turned to Bai Li and said earnestly, "Thank you for bringing the sword."

"Only thanking me?" Bai Li raised an eyebrow.

"Of course not," Luo Wanqing said, slightly embarrassed. "Cui Heng... When I see him next time, I'll thank him personally."

"Sure," Bai Li thought for a moment and then suggested, "His birthday is on May 17th. Why not celebrate it for him?"

Unexpectedly, she received Cui Heng's birthday information from Bai Li, leaving her momentarily at a loss.

Then, she reacted and hurriedly said, "Alright, thank you for reminding me, Master."

"Don't tell anyone else."

Bai Li added seriously.

Such personal information as a birthday was too secretive. If someone discovered it, they might deduce Cui Heng's identity.

Since Cui Heng didn't want it known, there must be his own reasons. She immediately replied, "Understood. I won't let anyone find out."

"Alright. You need to take over the Eastern Palace remnant case today. Go down the mountain first. Yesterday, I told Old Liu..." Bai Li paused, then coughed lightly, somewhat embarrassed, and corrected herself, "I told Manager Liu to inform Fang Yuan. He notified everyone to wait for you in the Heavenly Hall today. Go ahead."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn't delay. After seeing Bai Li off with a bow, she quickly washed up and went down the mountain. On her way, she grabbed a bun from the dining hall and headed straight for the Heavenly Hall.

When she arrived at the meeting hall, not everyone was there yet. Only the three Fang brothers were already seated inside. Seeing her enter, Fang Yuan greeted her immediately, "Envoy Liu."

Luo Wanqing smiled at the three of them, and Fang Yuan beckoned her over, "Come, take the seat of honor."

"Fang Yuan, you're too kind," Luo Wanqing said, somewhat embarrassed.

Fang Yuan immediately said seriously, "Envoy Liu, listen to me. This isn't the time for politeness."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused slightly and then said seriously, "Go on."

"Envoy Liu, let me be frank with you," Fang Yuan lowered his voice, glancing at Fang Zhi and Fang Shun, who pretended not to hear their conversation. "Your experience is too shallow, and you're too young. Even though you defeated Xing Ling, many people still don't accept you. We three brothers know your abilities, but others may not. Today, you mustn't show any weakness. You need to establish some order. If you can't command respect, you won't be able to handle this case."

"I understand."

Luo Wanqing had anticipated this outcome yesterday and nodded. "Thank you."

"Here are the case files for the Eastern Palace remnants. You should read through them now and finish them today." Fang Yuan tapped on the thick stack of files on the table and continued, "Yesterday, Envoy Cui was ambushed while capturing traffickers. Although something happened to Envoy Cui, we caught many people yesterday. Today, you can have us stay here in the Supervision Division to interrogate them, but by tomorrow, you need to have a clear plan on how to proceed with the investigation."

"Alright."

Luo Wanqing nodded. Fang Yuan checked the time outside and then said, "They'll be here in half an hour. You should go over the case briefly first."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn't say much. She picked up the case files and quickly started flipping through them.

She had always been fast at reading medical texts, and now with the case files in her hands, she was rapidly skimming through them as well.

Fang Yuan, Fang Zhi, and Fang Shun were discussing how to interrogate suspects. After a while, he turned around and saw that Luo Wanqing had almost finished reading.

"Finished already?"

Fang Yuan was somewhat shocked. Fang Zhi and Fang Shun looked over, and Luo Wanqing nodded. "Finished. I have a grasp of it now."

The case involving the Eastern Palace wasn't actually complicated. It just seemed messy due to the sheer number of related cases. In essence, everything revolved around one word: "money."

The Eastern Palace's expenses were enormous. The crown prince's stipend alone couldn't cover them. From the ledgers seized from the Eastern Palace and the records of its expenditures, there was a large sum of money whose origin couldn't be traced.

Figuring out where this money came from would clarify who the so-called "remnants" were and the extent of the crimes the Eastern Palace was involved in.

The previous three Si Shi had followed this line of thinking. They had done a lot and had a general understanding of the sources of income for the Eastern Palace.

The main sources of Li Shangwen's wealth were threefold: bribes from local officials, the Eastern Palace's private assets, and illicit businesses.

The Eastern Palace's private assets weren't substantial, consisting mainly of land granted by the emperor. The annual income from these properties was only a small part of the Eastern Palace's finances.

However, the Eastern Palace's illicit businesses were extremely diverse.

Starting with the most basic human trafficking, ordinary people were sent to the border to work as slaves, while the attractive ones were sent to brothels. These women would then accompany guests to gambling dens, where loans were offered if the gambling wasn't enough...

These were the smallest operations, but they yielded extremely high profits.

Li Shangwen used his protection as leverage to invest in various industries, taking a cut of their revenues every year.

Essentially, this wasn't different from bribery and embezzlement.

However, unlike bribery and embezzlement, which typically involved officials in office,

the Eastern Palace gathered people from major clans. They were closely or distantly associated with Li Shangwen, all seeking a share in his success. Therefore, most officials in the Eastern Palace came from prominent families and were not easy to offend.

On the other hand, those involved in illicit businesses were mostly servants and commoners, relatively easier targets.

That's why the three Si Shi had focused on investigating cases related to these illicit businesses in recent times.

Even so, the three Si Shi still met their untimely deaths.

If they touched upon the core interests of Li Shangwen's faction, they could expect even more ruthless retaliation.

To reduce obstacles, she couldn't openly reveal her true intentions. She needed to lower their guard, making them believe she was like the Zhongyu Mansion, a fence-sitter. This way, she would have more opportunities to gather evidence. Then, she needed a key figure, a witness central to all the cases, striking at the vital point for a decisive blow.

And that person...

After reviewing all the relevant individuals in the case files, Luo Wanqing made her decision.

The Crown Prince's Chancellor, Lu Lingchan.

As the Crown Prince's Chancellor, Lu Lingchan was responsible for all matters within the Eastern Palace. He had been Li Shangwen's companion since childhood and had a deep friendship with him. Many things were handled by him personally. Based on the existing clues, he seemed to be the linchpin of the Eastern Palace's operations, connecting with the powerful above and managing illicit businesses below. If she could control him, everything would fall into place.

The only problem was that he came from a very high-ranking family. His grandfather, Duke An, had distinguished military achievements and enjoyed considerable prestige in the army. Imprisoning him wouldn't be easy and would require solid evidence to withstand the pressure from the Duke An's estate.

Luo Wanqing pondered this and suddenly remembered something. She looked at Fang Yuan. "Fang Yuan, how did the previous three Si Shi meet their ends?"

"The first was ambushed on his way home. The second was poisoned while eating noodles. As for Cui Si Shi, despite learning from their experiences and not acting alone, he was still ambushed during a mission."

"Why were they ambushed?" Luo Wanqing asked keenly.

Fang Yuan was taken aback. Luo Wanqing continued, "Did they know your movements in advance?"

Only if they knew in advance could they set up an ambush.

Fang Yuan thought about it and then realized, "Right, how did so many people know to wait for us?"

As soon as he said this, voices could be heard outside. Luo Wanqing looked up and saw people entering. There were both old and young, men and women, and nearly thirty people entered one after another. Some greeted her, while others ignored her completely.

Luo Wanqing remained silent until finally, Xingling arrived.

As soon as she entered, everyone stood up, showing great respect. "Si Shi Xingling."

Xingling nodded, glanced at Luo Wanqing, but said nothing. She sat down in the first seat to Luo Wanqing's left.

Once she sat down, everyone else took their seats as well.

The Fang brothers exchanged awkward glances with Luo Wanqing, who remained silent. She knew that this was their way of asserting dominance over her.

Although she had won against Xingling yesterday, it didn't mean that everyone was convinced.

Strength wasn't the only thing that mattered; one's temperament was also important. A sword that never left its scabbard held no value. Today, they were testing her.

She didn't say much, turning to look at the door and saying gently, "Close the door, please."

Upon hearing this, no one moved.

At that moment, a man with a square face stood up, smiling. "Oh, I've gained some weight recently. I need more exercise. I'll close it."

"Thank you," Luo Wanqing smiled and greeted him.

The man beamed and hurriedly said, "Si Shi, my name is Zhao Sanhu. You can call me Hu Zi."

"Alright, I'll remember that."

Luo Wanqing nodded, and the man quickly returned to his seat.

Everyone around stared at him, and Zhao Sanhu snorted coldly, ignoring them.

When Zhao Sanhu sat down, Luo Wanqing began with a gentle introduction: "Everyone, I am the new officer in charge of the Eastern Palace case, Liu Xiniang. It's our first meeting today, so I hope we can support each other in the future."

"Sure, sure." Zhao Sanhu and Fang Yuan clapped for Luo Wanqing. Beside them, Fang Zhi kicked Fang Yuan, who quickly gave Luo Wanqing an apologetic look and fell silent.

Luo Wanqing smiled indifferently and then said, "Since it’s our first meeting, let's introduce ourselves. Starting with..." She turned to look at Xing Ling. "The Si Shi, Xing Ling?"

Hearing this, Xing Ling didn’t make things difficult for her and calmly replied, "Xing Ling."

With Xing Ling speaking up, everyone else introduced themselves. Luo Wanqing got to know about thirty people, exchanging pleasantries with them, which warmed up the atmosphere.

After some time, Xing Ling couldn’t help but urge, "Let's talk about the case."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded and said, "I’ve reviewed the case quite thoroughly. I know you’re all very capable and have already captured many suspects. Today, let’s start by interrogating those human traffickers."

"What happens after that?"

"My idea is," Luo Wanqing turned to Xing Ling and discussed, "to get the names of those involved from the human traffickers. We can follow the leads to raid brothels, gambling dens, and loan sharks, rescue the civilians, and close the case. This way, we save lives, ensure our safety, and fulfill our duties. What do you think?"

Upon hearing Luo Wanqing’s words, no one in the room spoke. They looked around as if they hadn’t understood her.

Xing Ling looked at her and bluntly said, "We won’t touch the nobles and scions of prominent families, right?"

"That’s correct."

Luo Wanqing nodded with a smile, seemingly worried that others hadn’t understood. She elaborated, "Regardless of what information we uncover today, if the suspect comes from a prominent family with deep roots, we’ll simply strike their name off the list and pretend we don’t know."

"Liu Xiniang, the Si Shi," Xing Ling looked at her coldly. "If you don’t report your findings, it goes against the rules."

"Then report it to me, and I won’t report it. Punish me if you must." Luo Wanqing turned to Xing Ling seriously. "I’ll ensure everyone’s safety."

"So we have a big shot here, who knows both the ways of officials and the underworld," a mocking voice came from the crowd. Luo Wanqing recognized it as Sun Shangquan, another Si Shi. Seeing her glance over, he respectfully said, "I’ll follow Liu Xiniang’s orders."

"Thank you." Luo Wanqing pretended not to notice his sarcasm and turned to ask, "Does everyone agree?"

At these words, Xing Ling stood up abruptly, kicked Luo Wanqing’s chair, and walked away.

Luo Wanqing remained seated, forcing a smile, but before she could speak, her chair shattered.

She maintained her seated posture, squatting on the ground. No one spoke; they simply got up and left one by one.

Seeing everyone leave, Luo Wanqing hurriedly called out, "Remember to come to the meeting hall at the same time tomorrow!"

No one responded.

Fang Shun passed by Luo Wanqing and sighed, "Liu Xiniang, you... Sigh!"

Then Fang Zhi walked past and said coldly, "Liu Xiniang, this isn’t right."

Finally, Fang Yuan passed by, holding back for a moment before saying, "Forget it, we’re friends."

With that, Fang Yuan left, leaving Luo Wanqing alone in the room. She composed herself, glanced around the room, thought for a moment, and went to find Cui Ziran.

Cui Ziran, upon waking from his severe injuries, was surprised to see her. "You’re... the Si Shi who saved me that day?"

Luo Wanqing nodded, then sat down and said seriously, "Cui Ziran, I’d like to ask you a question."

"Go ahead."

"On the day you were ambushed, which Si Shi did you inform about the mission location beforehand?"

Luo Wanqing meticulously asked Cui Ziran about the events leading up to and following the incident, as well as those involved. Afterward, she bid him farewell.

Leaving the room, she went to find

Then she returned to the Dungeon and found Zhao Sanhu.

Zhao Sanhu was interrogating someone when he saw Luo Wanqing and hurriedly said, "Liu Xiniang?"

"I came to see you," Luo Wanqing smiled. "Thank you for helping me today. Everyone ignored me, but you were there."

"Liu Xiniang, you’re too kind."

Blushing from Luo Wanqing’s praise, Zhao Sanhu quickly arranged a chair and invited her, "Please sit. I’ll continue the interrogation while you watch."

"Alright."

Luo Wanqing sat down and said gently, "Just go through the motions. There’s no need to push too hard. After all, this is the emperor’s son. Does His Majesty really want us to investigate?"

"You’re right."

Zhao Sanhu nodded and flattered her, "Previous officers didn’t understand like you do. If even the Imperial Household can slack off, why should we take the lead in the Supervision Division?"

"Smart."

Luo Wanqing praised him and chatted casually with Zhao Sanhu.

As night fell, Zhao Sanhu conducted a cursory interrogation and then left with Luo Wanqing.

After Zhao Sanhu left, Luo Wanqing went to the room where Xing Ling was guarding the prisoners. The prisoners inside were barely alive, and Xing Ling had piles of records beside her. Upon seeing Luo Wanqing enter, Xing Ling looked up. "What do you want?"

"I need your help."

Luo Wanqing approached Xing Ling and whispered, "Can you transfer Zhao Sanhu’s prisoners to me? I need to review them."

She had played the good guy in front of Zhao Sanhu, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to take the lead. She needed to use Xing Ling’s authority to review the prisoners again.

Zhao Sanhu’s interrogation style wouldn’t yield much.

The star spirit glanced at her and said nothing more, turning to mobilize personnel. After dragging the prisoner over, the star spirit washed her hands and said, "I'm leaving." Luo Wanqing was left in the room. She looked back at the prisoner and then nodded. "My apologies." In no time, screams echoed from the interrogation room. Less than half an hour later, Luo Wanqing came out after washing her hands. Her interrogation skills were taught by Cui Heng, and she had become increasingly proficient with them. Thinking of Cui Heng, Luo Wanqing looked down at her sword, smiled, and returned to the mountain. She took a bath and sat down at her desk. She saw that Zhuisi had stopped at the window again. She reached out to stroke the eagle's head, sat by the window, and began writing a letter to Cui Heng. I know you came last night. It's a pity we didn't meet. If there's a next time, don't hesitate to wake me up. After writing this, she thought of what Bai Li had said about birthdays and couldn't help but laugh as she continued. We've known each other for so long, yet I've never prepared a gift for you. Do you have any preferences? Could you tell me? After finishing, Luo Wanqing tied the note to the eagle and sent it away. As Luo Wanqing's eagle flew off, the ground inside the Guang'an Prince's Mansion was filled with kneeling people. Li Guiyu sat high above, tapping his chin with his hand supporting his cheek. He listened as Zhao Bing, the oldest among the Eastern Palace's Six Armies, who was kneeling on the ground, said, "Now that the Seventh Highness has passed away, you are our new master. We hope that when you take up residence in the Eastern Palace, you will give us your support." "Sure," Li Guiyu tapped his chin lightly with his index finger and slowly said while looking at the people kneeling on the ground, "But the prerequisite is that you must survive until that day." "We rise and fall together with Your Highness," Zhao Bing smiled. "Your Highness will surely protect us. This time, we were able to deal a heavy blow to Cui Ziran thanks to your extraordinary methods." "General Zhao flatters me." Li Guiyu's expression turned colder. He sat up straight and said slowly, "As a prince who has only recently returned to the East Capital, there isn't much I can do for you generals. It's all your own achievements. However, I heard that the Si Shi of the Supervision Division has been replaced again. What are you going to do?" Li Guiyu raised his eyebrows. "Kill him again?" "Your Highness need not worry about this," Zhao Bing wore a satisfied expression. "According to our informants, the new official in charge of the Eastern Palace case has finally learned her lesson. She knows where to draw the line, so we won't cause any more trouble." "That's good." Li Guiyu nodded. Killing three Si Shi had finally made the Supervision Division quiet down a bit. He thought for a moment and asked, "Which Si Shi is it?" Such a person, if he could befriend and promote within the Supervision Division, would be very convenient in the future. But just as this thought arose, he heard Zhao Bing say, "Liu Xiniang." Li Guiyu paused in his movements. He lifted his eyes and said coldly, "Who?" Zhao Bing sensed something was wrong and repeated blankly, "Liu Xiniang." The appearance of this name caused everyone present in the Guang'an Prince's Mansion to look surprised, all turning to look at Li Guiyu. Li Guiyu caressed the jade ring on his hand. After a long while, he let out a light laugh. "Keep an eye on her." Li Guiyu pondered and instructed coldly, "This person cannot be trusted. Keep a close watch. If there's any unusual movement..." He turned to look at Zhao Bing. "I'll handle her myself." Luo Wanqing slept for a while. When she woke up the next day, she saw Zhuisi perched at the window again. This time, Cui Heng had replied to her, saying simply, "Anything you give me brings me joy." Seeing Cui Heng's reply, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but smile. She wasn't sure whether it was because of Cui Heng's reply or the words he had written. She put away the letter and went down the mountain with a good mood. Then, she led everyone and said, "Yesterday, we found out that these human traffickers have accomplices. Let's take them down and rescue the civilians." "Yes." Everyone got up lazily. The star spirit glanced at them and said coldly, "Hurry up!" Hearing this, everyone dared not relax and quickly got moving. Luo Wanqing watched with a smile. She dressed in soft armor, wore a saber, wrapped Qianji around her hand, and led the team straight to the hideout they had uncovered during the interrogation the previous night. When they arrived in the outskirts, the star spirit waved her hand, and everyone immediately surrounded the courtyard. After preparing, the star spirit gave Luo Wanqing a look, and Luo Wanqing immediately went forward to knock on the door. But as soon as she knocked once, everyone showed shocked expressions. At the same time, the star spirit stepped forward and kicked open the gate, shouting, "Supervision Division arrest! Everybody get down!" As she spoke, the people from the Supervision Division filed in, and the targets, already startled, rushed into the rooms to escape. The star spirit entered with her saber in hand and glared fiercely at Luo Wanqing. "Are you crazy?" Luo Wanqing paused at the door and then touched her nose. Lesson learned. In the future, don't knock on doors. Having learned this experience, when they went to another hideout in the afternoon, Luo Wanqing took the lead, ahead of the star spirit, and kicked open the door, shouting, "Supervision Division arrest! Everybody get down!" With the star spirit leading the way, although Luo Wanqing seemed lazy, their team was even fiercer than before. Within seven days, Luo Wanqing took down five human trafficking dens, closed three brothels, and four gambling dens. They freed over three hundred people, received complaints from seventeen prostitutes, and dealt with hundreds of cases of injuries and disabilities related to loan sharking. Their military achievements were glorious, and their names shook the streets of the East Capital. During these days, the Imperial Household Department finally concluded the investigation into the assassination of the Crown Prince, stating that he had been killed by bandits.

******

This trick may fool everyone, but it's unlikely anyone in the palace believes it. Yet since the case is closed, there will be no further pursuit, and Luo Wanqing feels relieved.

Later, she learns about Zhang Yiran's reassignment, seemingly from the Ministry of Works to the Censorate, which eases her final concerns.

She knows that what Zhang Jiuran worried most about before her death was her mother and younger brother. Now, her affairs haven't affected Zhang Yiran, and he seems to have gained the emperor's favor as a result. She imagines that Jiuran, wherever she is, can now rest easy.

Luo Wanqing listens to East Capital gossip while handling cases.

The investigations progress smoothly and unusually quickly.

However, despite her boldness, she doesn't encounter any excessively aggressive assassination attempts, unlike her three predecessors. Along the way, she demolishes cases, and within less than ten days, Luo Wanqing cleanses the East Palace of its illicit activities, imprisoning the last usurer. At the morning meeting, she happily announces to everyone, "Starting today, we can begin preparing to close the case."

No one speaks. The Fang brothers glance around, Xing Ling remains silent with a cold expression, and most of the Si Shi observe their surroundings. Only Zhao Sanhu, along with a few lazy Si Shi members, joins Luo Wanqing in her joy: "Great! After all this hard work, we can finally rest."

"Everyone can take it easy today. Rest up. I'll prepare the judgment document and notify you if anything comes up." With that, Luo Wanqing waves her hand. "Go ahead and return."

"Si Shi Liu."

Hearing Luo Wanqing's words, Fang Zhi can't help but speak up. He looks at her and says earnestly, "This case should continue to be investigated."

Luo Wanqing raises her head in puzzlement, and Fang Zhi continues, "You've seen it yourself—the sheer number of victims in this case. Just considering the human trafficking alone, those women and children who were abducted and taken far from home have had their lives ruined by these people. They've been beaten, abused, and even killed. Can the Si Shi not see the severity of this?"

"I see it," Luo Wanqing nods, countering, "Isn't that why we're arresting the traffickers, the killers, and the brothel madams?"

"But what about the masterminds behind the scenes?" Fang Shun can't hold back his frustration and looks at Luo Wanqing. "Why have they been able to commit these crimes for years? Who has been protecting them and directing them? Didn't you hear what the madam of the Swallow Pavilion said? She was once a victim herself, sold into the brothel because reporting to the authorities was useless. She was forced to become a new madam just to survive. Aren't those so-called 'higher-ups' the ones truly responsible?"

Luo Wanqing remains silent for a moment before forcing a smile. "I understand your anger, but we're just ordinary people. Even with our martial arts skills, we shouldn't overestimate ourselves. Let's leave it at that. Everyone, take a break. I'll write the judgment document and make sure to apply for bonuses for the division..."

Before she finishes, there's a loud bang as Fang Zhi slams down his cup. "I cannot comply."

With that, he turns and walks out.

As Fang Zhi leaves, others gradually rise and depart as well.

Soon, only Xing Ling and Zhao Sanhu remain in the room. Xing Ling sits still, and Luo Wanqing looks at her. "Si Shi Xing Ling?"

"Leave."

Xing Ling lifts her head and looks at Zhao Sanhu and the others.

Zhao Sanhu hesitates, glancing at Luo Wanqing, who nods. He smiles and quickly departs.

Once the meeting hall is left with only Xing Ling and Luo Wanqing, Xing Ling raises her eyes and says coldly, "Are you sure you won't continue this case?"

"That's right," Luo Wanqing nods. "We'll close it."

"Then give me the case," Xing Ling states directly. "If you're afraid, I'll take over."

"This won't do," Luo Wanqing shakes her head. "I'm aiming for a promotion."

"Then I'll handle the case, and you can have your promotion." Xing Ling grits her teeth.

Luo Wanqing continues to wave her hand. "That won't work either. If you handle the case, outsiders will still think it's me. In the end, they'll still target me."

"Liu Xiniang!"

Xing Ling suddenly draws her Nine-Curved Sword, and Luo Wanqing instantly blocks the incoming blade with her own.

"Don't be hasty," Luo Wanqing reminds her with a smile. "Si Shi Xing Ling, remember to accept defeat gracefully."

"I thought you were going to handle the case properly," Xing Ling trembles with anger. "But you're just a waste!"

Luo Wanqing remains silent. Xing Ling sheathes her sword and strides out. "I'll go see the head of the division."

"Why are you so determined to pursue this case?"

Luo Wanqing sheaths her blade and looks at Xing Ling, puzzled.

Facing away from her, Xing Ling whispers, "Cui Ziran was the one who brought me into the Supervision Division."

Considering him her mentor, seeking justice for him is understandable.

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing plays with her Qianji in her hand, thinking for a long time before quietly saying, "Come back tomorrow."

Hearing this, Xing Ling turns around in confusion.

Luo Wanqing smiles. "Tonight, I'm going to see Wang Linchun."

Wang Linchun is one of the officials involved in the case who accepted bribes. Hearing that Luo Wanqing plans to meet him, Xing Ling's eyes show surprise and hope.

Luo Wanqing smiles, rises, and waves. "See you tomorrow."

She then leaves the courtyard.

She proceeds to inform the Fang brothers and Zhao Sanhu, giving each of them a different name of an official involved in bribery, notifying them that she will act tonight. After finishing with Zhao Sanhu, she finally rests. It is then that she realizes it is already the sixteenth day of the fifth month. Tonight will mark Cui Heng's birthday.

She had written to him two days ago, asking if he would return tomorrow, but he hasn't replied.

Regardless of whether he comes or not, she has prepared.

In recent days, she visited the Treasure Pavilion and used all her accumulated monthly stipend to commission a white jade crane hairpin. Today, she finally has the time to retrieve the jade hairpin.

Luo Wanqing thinks about it and changes into a light blue dress, adorns herself with the hairpins Cui Heng had given her, and dresses like an ordinary woman. She then goes to the Xuanwu Division to collect a short flute for communication using her monthly stipend, turning to head towards the Censorate's office.

Upon arriving at the Censorate, she asks someone to inform Zhang Yiran of her presence and requests that he come to see her.

She stood at the entrance of the Imperial Censorate, waiting. In no time, she heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.

As Luo Wanqing turned her head, she saw Zhang Yiran hastily walking out of the door. Upon catching sight of Luo Wanqing, his eyes flickered with a hint of amazement, and he instinctively said, "Qing..."

He instinctively wanted to call out the pseudonym she used when she was at Zhang's residence, but then quickly realized his mistake and hastily bowed, saying, "Si Shi."

"Long time no see."

Luo Wanqing smiled and took a moment to appraise his scarlet official robe, speaking in a gentle tone: "I've heard that Minister Zhang has been promoted. Congratulations on your future success, and I regret not being able to congratulate you sooner due to my recent busy schedule. Please do not take offense."

"No worries."

Mentioning the promotion, Zhang Yiran felt a bit embarrassed and hastily said, "Has Minister Si come for some important matter?"

"There's nothing much," Luo Wanqing glanced at the official building, then, "I just wanted to ask if Minister Zhang has any time?"

"Yes," Zhang Yiran nodded, then said, "Please wait a moment, I will go and ask for leave now."

Without waiting for Luo Wanqing to say anything more, Zhang Yiran hurriedly entered the main gate.

Seeing Zhang Yiran take leave without hesitation, the guard standing at the entrance couldn't help but show a look of surprise, scrutinizing Luo Wanqing from head to toe.

Luo Wanqing, feeling a bit embarrassed, touched her nose and then turned to look at the bustling street.

After waiting for a while, someone suddenly shouted: "Lord Zhang Yiran!"

Upon hearing the call, Luo Wanqing knew it was Zhang Yiran who had arrived. She instinctively turned her head and saw a crowd of officials standing in the courtyard, craning their necks to watch the spectacle.

As Luo Wanqing turned her head, she noticed someone in the crowd gasping in shock.

Zhang Yiran changed into a dark blue casual outfit and came out with a stiff expression, murmuring, "Let's go."

Luo Wanqing, puzzled by the sudden influx of officials, nodded absentmindedly and followed Zhang Yiran as they made their way out.

After the two individuals arrived, the Imperial Censorate immediately became lively.

Someone couldn't help but sigh, "With such beauty, no wonder even Minister Zhang was captivated."

The author has something to say:

"Intimate Theater"

Xie Heng: "I am furious, on the verge of turning dark, I am terrifyingly dreadful. I refuse to look at her, and even if I do, it's only to vent my anger, I..."

Luo Wanqing: "Cui Heng, the medicine packet."

Xie Heng: "…Xiniang, you are truly wonderful."