Chapter 72

Chapter 72

• Young Miss, for whom do you play your lute? •

Luo Wanqing's playing was intense and frenzied; hearing such a simple melody, her lute paused.

In that brief moment of pause, the music surged forward, like a gentle spring breeze enveloping her fingertips, tenderly caressing them.

Luo Wanqing involuntarily softened her tone, the sounds of the lute and zither intertwining like two streams flowing from different places, finally converging in harmony to paint a picture of the Jiangnan landscape.

Luo Wanqing unconsciously smiled, and at that moment, a gentle breeze blew, loosening her veil which fell with it, revealing her full face.

The audience held their breath for an instant, no one had expected that such an intense piece could come from the hands of such a delicate woman.

Li Guiyu stared intently at the woman on stage, as if seeing the girl who had learned the zither for him years ago, raising a smile and asking, "Shaoyan, how was my playing?"

But at this moment, she wasn't looking at him.

This realization made him clench his fists tightly, his entire body trembling.

Luo Wanqing only looked up at Xie Heng.

And Xie Heng, pressing his hand against the zither strings, raised his gaze toward Luo Wanqing.

At that moment, Luo Wanqing felt as if autumn waters were rippling silently.

It was as if they were meeting for the first time, a noble young master and a refined maiden.

When golden wind meets jade dew, their encounter surpasses countless moments in the world.

Xie Heng smiled slightly, and only then did Luo Wanqing react, hastily withdrawing her gaze, rising to bow with her lute.

Applause thundered, and Luo Wanqing put aside her nervousness, carrying her lute to Li Guiyu, saying coolly, "Thank you."

She planned to leave, but Li Guiyu grabbed the corner of her robe.

Luo Wanqing looked up at him, and Li Guiyu seemed to be struggling to suppress his emotions, his lips quivering. But before he could speak, Luo Wanqing warned him in a voice audible only to the two of them.

"Let go!"

In public view, Li Guiyu's behavior was already inappropriate.

Everyone watched them curiously, Zheng Biyue's expression turning cold.

Luo Wanqing pulled her sleeve free from his grasp, set down her lute, and bowed to everyone, saying, "If there is nothing else, I will retire to rest. As for those who played against me, please enjoy the performances of others. Farewell."

With that, she turned and walked out with her lute.

Li Guiyu didn't dare look at her.

He feared that if he looked at her any longer, he wouldn't be able to let go.

Luo Wanqing knew that Li Guiyu's emotions were off, and he likely wouldn't follow her right away.

She strode out, reaching the door where a servant girl approached, offering a cup of wine. "Miss, this is Boya Wine."

Boya Wine was specially served to outstanding performers at the musical gathering. Luo Wanqing didn't doubt it, but as soon as she brought the cup to her lips, she detected something else in the wine.

Holding the cup still, the servant girl grew uneasy. "Miss Liu?"

Luo Wanqing remained silent, thinking for a moment, she glanced back at Zheng Biyue and drained the cup, placing it on the tray the servant girl held. Then, she left with her lute.

Stepping outside, Wang Yunzhi, forced to sit next to Li Guiyu, couldn't help but scold, "I think you've lost your mind."

Li Guiyu closed his eyes without speaking. Wang Yunzhi sat upright, saying coldly, "Later, help me get into the backyard."

Li Guiyu acknowledged her request.

Xie Heng glanced at them indifferently, lazily saying, "Let's continue."

Luo Wanqing, holding her lute, immediately took a pill from her sleeve.

The wine contained a potent aphrodisiac called Ecstasy Pill. After taking it, one would feel weak within fifteen minutes, followed by a surge of desire lasting about an hour.

This drug had no other harmful effects on the body; after an hour, it would be harmless. The pill and its antidote left no trace after consumption, making it perfect for tarnishing a woman's reputation.

Zheng Biyue was most likely behind it, clearly enraged by Luo Wanqing today.

Luo Wanqing hadn't wanted to drink it.

However, if she refused, she would have to argue with Zheng Biyue, wasting time. She had brought a pill that suppressed all drug effects, which would delay the Ecstasy Pill's effects for two hours. By then, she would have returned to the Supervision Division, and she could endure the effects. There was no point in arguing with Zheng Biyue here.

Furthermore, she had been considering how to get into the backyard. Now that Zheng Biyue had drugged her, it was likely that she had prepared to lure Luo Wanqing there for some purpose. Luo Wanqing decided to play along and let the servant take her to the backyard.

So she deliberately took the drug and walked out with her lute. As expected, someone followed her.

Pretending not to notice, she waited until the drug should have taken effect, then stumbled, quickly supporting herself on a pillar, feigning discomfort.

As soon as she leaned on the pillar, a servant girl hurried over, asking, "Miss, what's wrong?"

"I..."

Luo Wanqing struggled to raise her head, looking at the servant girl. "I'm... feeling unwell..."

"I'll take you to rest in the backyard."

The servant girl quickly supported Luo Wanqing, who smiled and said, "Thank you."

Luo Wanqing handed her lute to another servant girl and was led out of the courtyard by the one who spoke to her.

She memorized the path as she walked. The maid led her out of the courtyard and into a grassy area with a small river running through it, over which was an arched bridge. The river separated the main and back courtyards, with guards patrolling near the bridge. People were constantly crossing the bridge, but they were all women. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing feigned unease and asked, "Are we going to the back courtyard?" "Yes." The maid, fearing that she might not want to go, hurriedly reassured her, "Miss Liu, don't worry. Today is the music festival, so many ladies will be resting in the back courtyard. You're not alone." Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked relieved and said, bowing her head, "I hope I'm not causing any trouble for Miss Zheng." The maid gave an awkward smile and helped Luo Wanqing across the bridge before showing the guards their token. Luo Wanqing noticed that the back courtyard was exclusively for women. Tokens weren't required when leaving the courtyard, and the guards didn't pay much attention. However, tokens were needed when moving from one courtyard to another. As they walked, Luo Wanqing memorized the route. The maid took her to a room, and Luo Wanqing deliberately acted embarrassed. Upon entering the room, she stammered, "Mi...miss... I'd like to be alone for a while." The maid observed her and tentatively asked, "Miss Liu, are you alright? Should I call a doctor?" "No," Luo Wanqing interrupted hastily, urging, "You...you should leave now." Seeing her state, the maid knew the medicine was taking effect. She didn't ask further and bowed before leaving. Once the maid had gone, Luo Wanqing heard footsteps approaching. She quickly got into bed and drew the curtains. Soon after, someone entered the room and headed straight for the curtained bed. As the curtains were pulled back, a hand curved like an eagle's talon shot out, grabbing the man by the throat and slamming him onto the bed, with the tip of a knife pressed against his neck. The man looked at Luo Wanqing in terror as she whispered, "Don't make a sound if you don't want to die." He didn't dare move. Luo Wanqing loosened her grip slightly and quietly asked, "How do I get to Zheng Jinxin's room?" "Go west out of here. It's the furthest courtyard. Her place is a separate little courtyard." The man swallowed nervously and asked, "What are you going to do?" Luo Wanqing didn't answer. She knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her sword, tore off a piece of the bedsheet, and bound him up quickly. Then, she climbed out of the window and went around to the front door, where she saw a maid on guard. Knowing that the maid would alert others, Luo Wanqing approached her and knocked her out, throwing her into the room. Soon after, the sound of a zither could be heard outside. The music was similar to what Xie Heng had played earlier, like celestial music descending to earth. The back courtyard became noisy with people. Two young girls came walking from a distance, and Luo Wanqing overheard one say, "It's Xie Qilang playing the zither. They say he's willing to play five pieces today. Let's hurry and watch." With that, the girls ran off, and Luo Wanqing realized that Xie Heng was helping her by drawing people away. But then she wondered why he hadn't done it sooner. After some thought, she realized that this wasn't just about drawing people away; it was also a signal that Wang Yunzhi might have arrived. With this in mind, she didn't hesitate and rushed to Zheng Jinxin's courtyard, avoiding people along the way. Zheng Jinxin, being a lady, couldn't hide a grown man easily, so she must have hidden him in her own room. If she searched Zheng Jinxin's room, she would likely find Xing Ling soon. As she searched the courtyards in the back courtyard, she spotted a dilapidated one in the distance. Just as she was about to approach it, she sensed a fierce gust of wind coming from behind her. Luo Wanqing sidestepped and grabbed a white silk ribbon. She swung it forcefully, and Wang Yunzhi landed in front of her, striking towards her face! Luo Wanqing pulled out her token and pressed it against Wang Yunzhi, saying coldly, "The Supervision Division is conducting an investigation. Miss Wang, don't cause trouble for yourself." "Then arrest me!" Wang Yunzhi kicked the token. Without a search warrant or solid evidence, she couldn't arrest Wang Yunzhi at the Zheng residence. Not wanting to engage with her, Luo Wanqing leaped away. Wang Yunzhi immediately followed, and they fought as they moved. As they entered the courtyard, they heard sounds of combat inside. Luo Wanqing jumped into the courtyard and saw a group of people fighting. A man was wielding a sword at Xing Ling, who seemed unable to dodge in time. Luo Wanqing rushed over, grabbed Xing Ling by the collar, and pulled him back, kicking the guard named Zi Tang away. At the same time, she turned around and slashed at Wang Yunzhi's incoming silk ribbon. Although the ribbon appeared soft, it was surprisingly tough and wrapped around the blade like a snake. Xing Ling quickly intercepted Zi Tang's sword and told Luo Wanqing, "He's in the well!" Hearing this, both Wang Yunzhi and Luo Wanqing rushed to the well. The well was covered with a wooden lid, which was making thumping noises. Lu Lingchan was anxiously calling for help from inside, "Help me! Are you my father's men? Help me!" Luo Wanqing lifted the wooden cover, but Wang Yunzhi immediately pressed it down. Luo Wanqing punched the cover, and they began fighting over it, neither giving in. Luo Wanqing lifted the cover, and Wang Yunzhi pressed it down. This continued as the two sides fought fiercely in the small courtyard. In the distance, Xie Heng's zither music grew more intense, and the battle in the courtyard intensified. Luo Wanqing knew that this couldn't continue. Everyone was currently drawn to the front courtyard by Xie Heng's music. Once he finished playing, there would likely be people in the back courtyard. She and Wang Yunzhi were evenly matched, and without a surprise move, she wouldn't be able to subdue Wang Yunzhi. Thinking hard, she suddenly looked up and exclaimed happily, "Young Master?!" Wang Yunzhi instinctively defended herself and turned around. Luo Wanqing seized the opportunity to open the well cover and pushed Wang Yunzhi down, pinning her down firmly. She then shouted, "Fang Zhi, bring me a stone!" Fang Zhi was the strongest person here. Hearing this, he didn't hesitate and carried a large boulder, being chased by someone with a sword. As he slammed the boulder onto the well, Luo Wanqing kicked away the pursuer and spun her sword forward, knocking out another person with the hilt.

Zi Tang, seeing this, didn't hesitate for a moment and barked, "Retreat!"

Without Wang Yunzhi to suppress them, they couldn't win.

Wang Yunzhi, as the direct descendant of the Wang family, wouldn't die, but they were different.

In an instant, the courtyard fell silent. Luo Wanqing let out a breath and leaned against the large stone. Then she felt the stone shake as Wang Yunzhi shouted, "Liu Xiniang, let me out!"

"Is this Zheng Jinxin's residence?"

Luo Wanqing completely ignored Wang Yunzhi and looked around her.

Fang Zhi, panting heavily, nodded and said, "Yes, we just found her when those people came and fought us for a while. If Si Shi had arrived any later, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to hold on."

"Xingling, bring Zheng Jinxin to me."

Luo Wanqing gave the order directly to Xingling.

It was easy to leave the back yard, and with Zheng Jinxin leading the way in would be simple too.

Xingling asked no more questions, took clothes from one of the unconscious maids on the ground, changed into them, and went out the door.

Zheng Jinxin lived in a remote part of the Zheng residence, in a separate courtyard, clearly not valued.

Wang Yunzhi continued to curse from the well. Luo Wanqing turned and gave a meaningful glance to everyone. Fang Zhi immediately went inside and found a sheet and some rope.

Fang Zhi placed his hand on the large stone and gritted his teeth as he lifted it.

The moment the stone moved, Wang Yunzhi leaped out. Fang Zhi threw the sheet over Wang Yunzhi's head, blocking her view, and everyone rushed forward, grabbing and holding her down. Luo Wanqing delivered a sharp chop, knocking her unconscious.

After knocking her out, Luo Wanqing waved her hand, and Ran He hurriedly tied her up, gagged her, and stuffed her into a nearby woodshed.

Then Luo Wanqing looked down at the terrified Lu Lingchan in the well and said calmly, "Do you want to climb up yourself or should I have someone fetch you?"

Lu Lingchan didn't dare to speak. Luo Wanqing had him pulled out and bound, then pushed into the house.

She sat down in the room and waited quietly.

After a while, Zheng Jinxin hurried back. The moment she entered the courtyard, she tried to run away.

But as soon as she turned around, she saw the maid who had come to inform her that Lu Lingchan needed help standing right behind her, forcing her to stop.

Luo Wanqing heard her stop and, looking down, said calmly, "Since you're here, why run?"

Zheng Jinxin suppressed her panic. Luo Wanqing raised her eyes to look at her. "Since I called you back, I didn't intend to harm you. Come in."

Zheng Jinxin didn't dare move. She looked at Luo Wanqing sitting in her room.

The woman wore a blue gauze dress, appearing like an ordinary maiden, but her posture was extremely relaxed, one hand supporting her chin, the other resting on the armrest.

There was a string of sandalwood beads on her hand. When she propped her chin up, the beads were exposed. The color of these beads was too deep, out of place with her surroundings, carrying a steady and ominous air that made one uneasy.

Zheng Jinxin's jaw trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but ask, "Y-you...who are you?"

"Me?"

Luo Wanqing raised her gaze and looked at the nervous woman at the door.

"The Case Leader of the Eastern Palace Crown Prince Affairs, Liu Xiniang."

Hearing this name, Zheng Jinxin's pupils constricted.

She really was after Lu Lingchan!

Now that they were already here and Lu Lingchan had been caught, it could be considered evidence of their crime. At this moment, if they simply walked out, Lu Lingchan would be finished, and so would she.

Zheng Jinxin forced herself to calm down. Her gaze fell on Lu Lingchan kneeling beside her, bound and gagged, his entire body shaking.

"What do you want?"

Zheng Jinxin stared intently at Luo Wanqing.

She wasn't stupid. Liu Xiniang's appearance here and calling her back without making a fuss must mean she had some ulterior motive.

Luo Wanqing smiled faintly and asked, "How do you want Lu Wushi to leave? Do we force him out of the courtyard, or does Second Miss Zheng know another way?"

"You want to sneak him out unnoticed?"

Zheng Jinxin gripped her handkerchief tightly. Luo Wanqing nodded. "Yes."

"I can help you, but I have one condition," Zheng Jinxin said immediately.

Luo Wanqing raised an eyebrow. "What condition?"

"I want you to cut out his tongue."

Zheng Jinxin spoke calmly.

Hearing this condition, everyone present was stunned, and Lu Lingchan struggled and screamed. Zheng Jinxin seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief, saying, "No one else can know about his departure from here today."

Luo Wanqing didn't say anything. After thinking for a moment, she nodded and said, "Once I get what I want to know, I can help you cut out his tongue."

Zheng Jinxin stared at Luo Wanqing. "Now."

Luo Wanqing chuckled. "Then we'll walk out through the front gate. It might be troublesome, but it's not impossible."

This made Zheng Jinxin clench her teeth. After a long while, she finally said, "Fine, but you can't ruin my reputation."

"I have no grudge against you, Miss," Luo Wanqing nodded. "That goes without saying."

As she spoke, hurried footsteps sounded from outside. Luo Wanqing immediately knew that Zheng Biyue had discovered her escape.

Since she had set this trap, she would certainly come to "catch the adulterers." Now that she had run away from the backyard, Zheng Biyue would naturally lead people to search everywhere.

Luo Wanqing immediately looked at Zheng Jinxin. "Take them away. Later when I return, help me hide."

"Alright."

After saying this, Luo Wanqing immediately leaped out of the courtyard and ran to the main courtyard in the back. She left a hairpin behind and then went to other places to leave some traces.

She led the guards away and hid in a tree before running back to Zheng Jinxin's room.

Zheng Jinxin sent Xingling and the others away through a small pond. According to Zheng Jinxin, this pond was connected to a stream, and after considering this route, Luo Wanqing confirmed there were no issues and thus stopped worrying about them.

She stayed in Zheng Jinxin's room until nightfall, by which time the guards outside had finally relaxed somewhat. Luo Wanqing calculated the time and felt a slight loosening in her body. She knew she couldn't stay any longer and, disregarding the danger, glanced at Wang Yunzhi who had woken up twice but been knocked out by her. Carrying Wang Yunzhi, she said "farewell" to Zheng Jinxin and then leaped out of the small courtyard.

Once she left the small courtyard, Luo Wanqing found a place to dump Wang Yunzhi and then quietly made her way outside.

However, the Zheng residence was indeed under tight security. After a few leaps, she was immediately spotted. Someone shouted urgently, "Who's there?!"

The guards rushed toward her direction. Luo Wanqing didn't dare to walk on the walls anymore and hid behind some flowers, gritting her teeth as she continued forward.

However, these flowers clearly couldn't conceal her figure, and the guards quickly caught up. Luo Wanqing held her Thousand-Mechanism Hairpin, glancing back at the pursuers while running and pondering where to go next.

As she was thinking, a sudden gust of wind came from the side. Luo Wanqing turned around abruptly and stabbed, only for the other party to grab her wrist. They engaged in a swift series of pushes and pulls, and with the long pole of a lantern in hand, they pressed her against the wall.

"Get lost!"

Li Guiyu's voice suddenly exploded. The pursuing guards froze, finding Li Guiyu facing away from them.

They exchanged glances. Li Guiyu turned his cold gaze upon them. "Don't you recognize me?"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood.

Li Guiyu was a frequent guest at the Zheng residence and had an extraordinary relationship with Zheng Biyue. Not daring to offend him, they hastily said, "Third Highness, sorry. A thief infiltrated the backyard today, and Miss ordered us to conduct a thorough search. We apologize for disturbing Your Highness."

"No problem," Li Guiyu replied, turning to look at Luo Wanqing with a cold stare. "Retreat."

Hearing Li Guiyu's words, everyone quickly backed off.

Only she and Li Guiyu remained in the alley. Li Guiyu held a lantern, using its long pole to press the sharp end of the Thousand-Mechanism Hairpin against her neck.

He seemed to have much he wanted to say but didn't open his mouth. He suppressed his emotions and stared at her intently.

Luo Wanqing breathed lightly. After a long moment, she finally spoke. "Is Your Highness certain you want to talk here?"

"Was it you?"

Both of them spoke at the same time, causing Luo Wanqing to pause.

When Li Guiyu asked, his hand trembled. His eyes welled up with moisture as he gritted his teeth and asked, "Luo Wanqing, was it you?"

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood his meaning.

When she played "King Yue's Sword," she knew this moment would come. She smiled, looking at the person in front of her whose eyes held fear, and countered, "Why does Your Highness ask like this?"

"You have a Yangzhou accent."

"I came from Yangzhou."

"You share many details with her."

"I deliberately learned them."

"You know I was the last one to see Luo Qushu."

"Not just Luo Wanqing knows this."

"The knife I gave to Luo Wanqing appeared in East Capital."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Did you kill the Crown Prince?"

"No."

"What about the lute?!" Li Guiyu stared at her. "Only a few people in the world can play 'King Yue's Sword.' She practiced it for so many years. How long have you been in the Supervision Division? Did you learn it to pretend to be her?"

"Yes."

"And the fact that every segment of 'King Yue's Sword' she learned was missing a note?"

"Yes!"

"You hate me."

With this definitive statement, Luo Wanqing fell silent.

She couldn't deny it.

Her hatred for him was etched into her bones, making even denial difficult.

Li Guiyu didn't speak again. He looked at her, laughing as if he had finally won.

The Thousand-Mechanism Hairpin still pressed against Luo Wanqing's neck, and blood beads seeped out from between the pin. Li Guiyu's grip slightly loosened as he controlled the urge to plunge the hairpin deeper into her neck. He whispered, "Miss."

Luo Wanqing stared at him without speaking.

He forced a smile tinged with blood, his eyes filled with both hatred and pain. "On the night of May seventeenth, for whom were you playing the lute?"

Luo Wanqing said nothing in response.

During their earlier exchange, her internal energy had stirred the effects of the Clarity Pill somewhat. She used her internal energy to suppress its effects and silently slid the signal flare into her palm.

"Li Guiyu," Luo Wanqing finally spoke up. She took a step back, disengaging from Li Guiyu's grasp, and smiled at him as she softly said, "I've finally realized something today."

Li Guiyu looked at her quietly as Luo Wanqing laughed. "You truly love her."

Li Guiyu was taken aback.

Luo Wanqing retorted, "Is it that I've been learning the pipa for too long, or that I haven't been training in martial arts for long enough? Would you like to feel my bone structure? How about probing my internal energy? If my information is correct, Luo Wanqing is a physician, but do you remember how I got into the Supervision Division?"

At Luo Wanqing's question, Li Guiyu recalled the day he went to the Supervision Division for the assessment. The woman before him emerged from the room drenched in blood.

He had visited the scene later. It was one of the most gruesome murder scenes he had ever witnessed.

The ground was covered in clots of blood, and many people had been torn apart by hand. Zhao Yuyan had been killed by someone who ripped into her chest, crushing her organs.

"Is it because I resemble Luo Wanqing so much, or does His Highness wish for Luo Wanqing to be alive? Your Highness," Luo Wanqing hinted, "you need to think this through."

Author's note:

"Side Scene"

Xie Heng: "What kind of wedding dress does Si Shi like?"

Luo Wanqing: "He's insulting me!!"

Xie Heng: "??? No, I'm being serious."

Luo Wanqing: "… Don't scare me, it won't work out."

Luo Wanqing, a woman who fought a bloody battle in East Capital just to avoid marriage.

"Side Scene 2"

Q: "Every time you go on missions, you bring a lot of gear. What exactly do you carry?"

Luo Wanqing: "There's too much to list. To put it simply, Si Shi's combat power relies half on martial arts and half on high-tech. Our average standards in the Supervision Division are high mainly due to our weapons research and development department."

"Side Scene 3"

Xie Heng: "Damn, I'm glad I came back quickly. There was hair-pulling here and almost a home invasion by Zhang Yiran there. You really know how to act, sending horses secretly even without any martial arts skills."