Chapter 75

Chapter 75

◎Xiniang, you should be the one to erect my memorial tablet.◎

The night was absurd.

She didn't know why Cui Heng had changed his attitude after leaving and returning, but she knew that from the moment he pulled her out of the water, he seemed like withered wood blooming in spring, brimming with vitality.

At first, he was somewhat reserved, only using the jade pendant externally, always maintaining a distance, with only the pendant touching her.

He kept asking her questions and soothing her.

Apart from the initial kiss, everything else he did was gentle enough to make her lose herself.

Later, he became more unrestrained.

Each time she thought it was almost over and tried to pull away, he would draw her back into his embrace, asking, "Xiniang, is it not time yet?"

She didn't know what time he referred to, but since he asked, she felt as if the half-hour hadn't passed yet.

Not knowing how to respond, he would chuckle softly, placing her on the desk, taking the hairpin he had given her from the box where she had put his things, and inserting it into her hair before kissing her again, reassuring her that everything was fine, perhaps his blood wasn't very effective, and it would all be over in an hour anyway.

Feeling everything was too absurd and embarrassing, he would coax and comfort her, saying it was just the effect of the medicine and that she shouldn't feel guilty. He told her to tell him whatever she wanted, and he was there to help.

Indeed, he had come to help, keeping his clothes intact and not gaining any benefits for himself, which made it hard for her to believe he was doing this for her.

Yet, she also felt that he was the one who couldn't stop.

Luo Wanqing's thoughts weren't entirely wrong.

He had intended to stop when appropriate, but after holding back for so long, once he found a release, it was like a flood breaking through a dam.

As the light changed, he didn't want to let her go, so he lowered the bed curtains.

Her eyes were covered by a ribbon, unable to see the change in light within the curtained bed, feeling only a haze, as if this was the slowest hour of her life.

For a long, long time—so long that she lost track of time—she finally heard him say in a hoarse voice that using something hard would hurt.

She didn't understand, but she listened as he fetched water and gently washed her with tea, then leaned down, and she touched his nose.

Amidst the sounds and lights, she finally stopped counting the time, and when the spring rain poured down, she trembled and fell silent.

She heard him panting softly by her ear, lifting his hand to pinch the back of her neck, saying hoarsely, "Xiniang, you got some on my face."

Then, he pressed a point on her body, and darkness fell over her vision as he coaxed her, "Sleep now."

When Luo Wanqing woke up at dawn, she stared blankly at the bed curtains, not daring to recall what had happened the previous night.

Even though he hadn't gone all the way.

In fact, he had maintained a distance throughout, and she hadn't touched any part of him she shouldn't have, yet she was left with bruises all over, making the whole situation seem absurd.

Was she still considered chaste or not? It was completely beyond her comprehension.

Then she couldn't help but wonder where Cui Heng had learned all these tricks. Given his unpredictable nature, how many times had he done this?

This thought made Luo Wanqing feel somewhat agitated. She dared not think about it too much, telling herself that it was just a favor between colleagues, no different from when he helped her with bone sculpting. She consoled herself for a moment, preparing to get up, when she heard footsteps outside. Looking up, she saw Cui Heng enter with a plate of breakfast and a lantern in hand.

Today, he wore a blue robe with a white ribbon in his hair, looking rather fresh and elegant.

Seeing the ribbon in his hair, Luo Wanqing stiffened. Cui Heng glanced at her, pretending not to notice, and smiled, "Come have breakfast."

Luo Wanqing remained motionless, and Cui Heng set down the tray as if nothing had happened, turning to look at her, "What's wrong?"

Upon being asked, Luo Wanqing finally snapped out of it, quickly getting up and saying hurriedly, "Nothing."

With that, she headed towards the washroom, trying to calm her racing heart. Inside, she changed her clothes, washed up quickly, and after a brief pause, she finally came out again.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Cui Heng sitting at the table waiting for her.

He propped his chin up, looking out the window. The summer scenery was beautiful, and the lantern he brought was placed on the table. Chuisi stood by the window, imitating Cui Heng's posture, tilting its head to look at him.

Seeing this scene, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but smile, suddenly feeling that the amorous events of last night had dissipated. Sitting next to Cui Heng, she said warmly, "Have you had breakfast?"

"I've eaten."

"About that lantern," Luo Wanqing looked at it, having some recollection. It seemed to be the one Xie Heng had given her last night, but she wasn't sure why it was here, so she cautiously asked, "Is it Young Master's?"

"It's yours." Cui Heng explained casually, "Yesterday at the music gathering, you played well. It's for you."

Luo Wanqing understood. This lantern must have been a prize from the music gathering. Last night, she had returned it to Xie Heng, not realizing it was meant for her.

So she thanked Cui Heng sincerely, "Thank you. Please thank Young Master on my behalf as well."

Cui Heng turned to look at her, lightly tapping his cheek, sizing her up. His gaze swept over the marks on her collar, and he smiled, "What for?"

His words carried a hidden meaning, and Luo Wanqing understood. Knowing that avoiding the topic would only make things more awkward, she said formally, "Thank you for last night."

Cui Heng paused, savoring the distance in her words, his expression meaningful.

After a moment, he laughed, adding a hint of reproach, "It seems Si Shi doesn't intend to take responsibility for me?"

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was taken aback. Looking at Cui Heng in confusion, she wondered if he was the type who believed in marriage after intimacy.

He didn't seem like that kind of person, but she couldn't be sure.

After all, at the beginning of last night, he had been so gentlemanly that it surprised her. So she immediately tensed up, carefully choosing her words to apologize, "I'm sorry, I took the Euphoria Pill last night..."

"But when I touched you, half an hour had already passed," Cui Heng understood her words and asked with a smile, sounding even more cutting, "Hadn't the effects of the Euphoria Pill worn off?"

These words exploded in Luo Wanqing's mind.

She instantly recalled that he had indeed mentioned something about "half an hour" back then. But later, he didn't say it like that. He comforted her, saying that it was all due to the drug's effects and told her to relax and not take it to heart. What did he mean now? If half an hour had passed, then last night she… She looked at Cui Heng in disbelief, her heart pounding violently as fear and panic gripped her. Cui Heng stared at her expression for a long time before his chest shook lightly as he laughed. "It was just a joke." He straightened up, releasing his hand that was propping up his chin. He only smiled at her and said quite sincerely, "It was indeed the drug's effect. Xiniang has no demands of me, Heng." However, these words sounded strange no matter how they were heard. Luo Wanqing felt somewhat guilty, so she simply avoided the topic and mumbled in response before reaching for some food. Just as she picked up a shrimp dumpling, she heard Cui Heng say, "But since I helped out, shouldn't I get some benefits?" These words made Luo Wanqing shudder, causing the shrimp dumpling to fall onto the table. She mumbled, "What… what kind of request?" "Just one thing," Cui Heng leaned forward, speaking seriously. "Before I die, can you make sure that I'm the only one for you?" Hearing this, Luo Wanqing froze and looked up at him. The person in front of her seemed to be joking, but she could hear a serious tone in his words. "I've never been involved with any woman except for my elders and sisters in my life, and it's unlikely that I'll marry and have children in the future. After my death, my grave will likely be alone without anyone to offer sacrifices. Now that I've helped Xiniang so much, can you set up a memorial tablet for me after my death? Is that too much to ask?" Memorial tablet. Only him in life, and offerings for him in death. The identity that allowed a woman to do such a thing was unspoken, but both of them understood it clearly. Luo Wanqing held her chopsticks tightly, ignoring the secret joy she felt from the phrase "never been involved with any woman." She only gazed quietly at the person in front of her. She wanted to ask why. Why did he change his mind halfway through last night. Why would he make such a request. However, she couldn't bring herself to ask, afraid that she might misunderstand or that her suspicions were correct. After thinking for a long time, she only tightened her grip on the chopsticks and pursed her lips, saying, "You won't die before me." Hearing this, Cui Heng chuckled gently, his eyes revealing a hint of tenderness as he understood her meaning. He asked, "Do you want me to live?" "Of course." Luo Wanqing looked up at him and said earnestly, "You will definitely live a long and healthy life, filled with blessings and well-being." Hearing Luo Wanqing's wish, Cui Heng remained silent. After a moment, he gently brushed her hair away and whispered, "Then promise me as well." "But I…" Cui Heng ignored her, as if she had already agreed. He straightened up and began making demands. "In addition, you're not allowed to take any more of those random drugs, you're not allowed to seduce young masters for missions, and you're not allowed to…" "I didn't seduce the young master!" Luo Wanqing forgot about Cui Heng's previous unreasonable demands and exclaimed in surprise when she heard the accusation of "seducing Xie Heng," instinctively explaining, "At that time, I just…" "The young master complained to me about it," Cui Heng shook his head and interrupted her, smiling. "He said that I didn't teach you well. You're the most promising Si Shi in our Supervision Division, yet you don't take care of yourself." Luo Wanqing was taken aback as Cui Heng stood up and walked in front of her. He extended his hand towards her. In the sunlight, the wrist bones under his green robe were distinct and as white as jade, while the wound across his palm was particularly noticeable. Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the knife wound on his palm, feeling cold fingers trace her cheek gently. "Xiniang," his black sleeves and hair fluttered in the wind, carrying his scent and brushing against her face. His eyes, dark with a hint of gold, looked down at her. "Too much rigidity leads to breakage. No matter why you came to the Supervision Division, taking good care of yourself is the most important thing." "How do I live well?" Luo Wanqing looked at the scar on his palm, somewhat lost. "Think about the future," Cui Heng placed his hand on her head. "Ten years, twenty years, until old age. If you think you might regret your current decision in the future, don't do it." Luo Wanqing listened to Cui Heng's words and thought back to recent times. Ever since that night she killed the crown prince, he had been elusive, ignoring her at first. Later, he sent Zuishis over, and finally, on his birthday, when she gave him the jade hairpin, he suddenly returned to his old ways, visiting her every night whenever he had free time. Putting his words together, Luo Wanqing belatedly realized, "You… were you angry with me?" Cui Heng raised his eyebrows, and seeing that she guessed correctly, Luo Wanqing knew that Cui Heng was indeed upset about her going to Xie Heng for Li Guiyu. Given his caring nature towards her, he must have been unhappy with her actions. Yet, he had endured and not said anything for so long. Feeling awkward, she said, "I… I guess the young master told you about my intention to go to Li Guiyu that night, right?" Seeing her realization, Cui Heng couldn't help but laugh. He caressed her jaw and said slowly, "Not just that."

Luo Wanqing looked at him in confusion. Seeing her bewildered expression, Cui Heng secretly resented her in his heart. Unable to resist, he added a few more words: "You said you would inform me about your plans to scheme against the Dark Pavilion. Then you said you didn't want to be under my protection. I thought we were close, but you didn't say a word when you killed the crown prince. You went to the Young Master for Li Guiyu and tortured Lu Lingchan for pleasure. Liu Xiniang..."

He gripped her jaw, forcing her to look up. He tightened his grip on her jawbone and praised her with a smile, "You're quite capable."

Feeling guilty from his accusations, Luo Wanqing finally understood where this anger was coming from. But she hadn't considered why he had the right to be angry. She hurriedly apologized, "I... I acted out of urgency."

"Will you do the same in the future?" Cui Heng looked at her, his tone cool.

Luo Wanqing quickly replied, "No."

She wasn't stupid; why would she fall into the same pit twice?

Seeing her seemingly enlightened gaze, Cui Heng couldn't help but feel a bit disdainful. He chuckled lightly and said, "Think things through in the future. I've invested a lot in you, just gold beads alone amount to several bags. Don't ruin my reputation or waste my gold beads."

"I understand."

Luo Wanqing immediately responded, her eyes burning with determination. "Rest assured, I won't stray onto crooked paths anymore. I'll become a good Si Shi who won't embarrass you."

Hearing this, Cui Heng paused.

Looking at her serious expression, he scoffed and released her. He sat down, feeling somewhat sullen, and poured himself a cup of tea to cool down. He lazily said, "Eat quickly. Afterward, you need to go down the mountain to see Lu Lingchan."

"Alright."

Luo Wanqing nodded, knowing that this was the matter at hand.

She hastily finished her meal and stood up. The two of them descended the mountain, with Luo Wanqing leading Cui Heng to the underground palace. Upon entering, they saw Fang Yuan coming out. Fang Yuan was taken aback upon seeing them and then looked at Luo Wanqing, "Who is this?"

"He's my shadow envoy, Cui Heng, also known as Cui Guanlan. This is Si Shi Fang Yuan."

Luo Wanqing introduced them to each other. Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan quickly smiled and bowed, "Si Shi Cui."

Cui Heng returned the bow, acknowledging the introduction.

"Where is Lu Lingchan?"

Without much small talk, Luo Wanqing directly looked toward the prison.

Fang Yuan led Luo Wanqing inside and explained, "We brought him back last night and had him detained, waiting for your interrogation. Si Shi Xingling has already prepared all the testimonies and witnesses available. As soon as Lu Lingchan confesses about the people from the Eastern Palace's Six Armies, we can immediately connect it to the evidence related to the black market and apprehend them."

Luo Wanqing trusted Si Shi Xingling's work. She asked about the room where Lu Lingchan was being held, bid farewell to Fang Yuan, and led Cui Heng inside.

Lu Lingchan was a high-risk prisoner, detained separately with no visitors allowed.

Luo Wanqing took the key from the guard at the door and led Cui Heng down the corridor to the cell where Lu Lingchan was being held.

Upon reaching the cell, they saw Lu Lingchan lying on the bed. His posture was stiff, and there was no rise and fall to his chest. Luo Wanqing immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly opened the door with the key, rushing over.

But once inside the cell, Luo Wanqing's expression changed as soon as she touched Lu Lingchan.

"What's wrong?"

Cui Heng entered the room. Luo Wanqing placed her hand on Lu Lingchan's neck, feeling for a pulse. Hearing Cui Heng's question, she turned to look at him, her expression grim.

"He's dead."

Luo Wanqing spoke, and Cui Heng showed no change in expression. He walked to the bedside, examined Lu Lingchan, and used his folding fan to lift his arm and pull aside his clothes. After examining him, he calmly stated, "He died two hours ago."

"It's Wu Jin Chan," Luo Wanqing pursed her lips, identifying the poison. "It takes four hours from poisoning to death."

"At that time, he was still at Zheng Manor." Cui Heng glanced at her and declared confidently, "It wasn't someone from the Supervision Division who did it."

"I know."

Recalling the events at Zheng Manor, the person most likely to want Lu Lingchan dead and have contact with him was Zheng Jinxin.

But who killed Lu Lingchan was no longer important. What mattered now was what she should do.

Lu Lingchan was the only person with direct ties to the Eastern Palace's Six Armies based on the information they currently had. With his death, they might still be able to investigate others, but the Eastern Palace's Six Armies were now completely untouchable.

She had promised Xie Heng that she would use this case to deal with the Eastern Palace's Six Armies. Now that she couldn't fulfill that promise, she wouldn't be able to explain herself to Xie Heng.

She remained silent, and Cui Heng didn't urge her. He waited quietly by her side until she finally said, "First, keep this news under wraps. No one must know that Lu Lingchan is dead."

"We should move him to the prison on the back mountain and have the Si Shi personally oversee him."

Cui Heng offered a solution, and Luo Wanqing nodded, standing up. "Take him away."

At her words, Cui Heng didn't move. Luo Wanqing turned to look at him. "What are you doing?"

"Um..." Cui Heng hesitated. "Can you get me a clean bag to put him in?"

"You think he's dirty?"

Luo Wanqing immediately understood and turned to carry him herself. "Then I'll carry him."

"No, no, no."

Cui Heng quickly stopped her and explained, "If you carry him like that, experienced Si Shi might notice that he's dead. Wait for me; I'll find a clean bag."

With that, Cui Heng held Luo Wanqing back and went to find a guard, returning with a clean burlap sack.

He also brought a sheet along.

Luo Wanqing sat to the side, watching as he pulled gloves out of his sleeve, stuffed the body into the sack, and then laid the sheet over his shoulders before lifting Lu Lingchan.

Watching his complicated process, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but say, "If you can't handle carrying a dead body, I'll do it."

"No way." Cui Heng raised his hand, using the end of his fan that hadn't touched Lu Lingchan to press against Luo Wanqing's shoulder. With his other hand, he lifted Lu Lingchan. "How could I let the Si Shi do such a task? Let's head up the mountain."

Looking at Cui Heng's appearance, Luo Wanqing momentarily regretted bringing him along. He was truly too troublesome, to the point of being a nuisance. Thankfully, with Lu Lingchan on their shoulders, everything became much simpler. After Luo Wanqing signed the transfer order and applied to move Lu Lingchan to the rear mountain prison, she took Cui Heng and carried the man straight back to the rear mountain. Upon arriving at the rear mountain, Luo Wanqing and Cui Heng threw the corpse into the prison. Luo Wanqing couldn't help but say, "What should we do with this person now? We can't just let him rot here." "Don't worry about that. I'll find a coffin and temporarily seal him in it with some body-preserving herbs. What Si Shi needs to be concerned about now," Cui Heng reminded her, "is what to do next?" Luo Wanqing knew that Cui Heng's reminder was correct. Next, how to investigate the case and how to explain it to Xie Heng were the most important things at present. Luo Wanqing didn't speak. After thinking for a long time, she finally said, "I'll go deal with the others first with Xingling. Tonight... I'll think about it." Hearing this, Cui Heng nodded and didn't say much. Then he said, "Then I'll accompany you..." "No need." Thinking of Cui Heng's troublesome appearance earlier, Luo Wanqing immediately refused, saying, "You... You've been up all night. Rest first. I'll go alone." "Then I'll wait for you tonight?" Cui Heng was amused by her words and then said, "Actually, I wasn't tired last night." "Rest well." Luo Wanqing didn't talk to him any further and turned around to leave. Cui Heng followed her out of the prison with a smile, saw her off down the mountain, and when she had descended, his expression turned serious. He immediately turned around and walked back to his small courtyard. Qingya and Xuanshan were discussing something. Seeing Xie Heng enter, Qingya picked up a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Young Master has seen Lu Lingchan?" "Dead." Xie Heng spoke, and Qingya and Xuanshan were taken aback. They exchanged glances, and Xuanshan furrowed his brows, saying, "What about the Eastern Palace side?" "Lu Lingchan is the only one who possesses evidence of the Eastern Palace's Six Armies' involvement in the Eastern Palace affairs," Qingya pondered. "If he's dead, Young Master will have to find another way if he wants to take action against the Eastern Palace's Six Armies." "It's not over yet." Xie Heng walked onto the corridor, and Qingya and Xuanshan looked over. Xie Heng sat down at the table and said calmly, "The outcome depends on Liu Xiniang." Luo Wanqing went down the mountain and arrived at the meeting hall, where everyone was waiting inside. After capturing Lu Lingchan yesterday, everyone was very happy. Being able to bring the Crown Prince's Chancellor into the Supervision Division meant that the Eastern Palace case might be close to its end. This greatly changed everyone's attitude towards Luo Wanqing. When she entered the meeting hall, everyone stood up respectfully and greeted, "Si Shi Liu." Luo Wanqing looked at everyone's hopeful smiles without changing her expression. She sat down in the main seat of the meeting hall, and Fang Yuan poured her a cup of tea, saying happily, "Si Shi Liu, have some tea." Luo Wanqing remained silent as everyone watched her. Ran He tentatively asked, "Si Shi Liu, can we interrogate Lu Lingchan today?" "Yes, he's the Crown Prince's Chancellor. According to the confessions and evidence we've already obtained, most of the matters should have been handled by him. He's the core of the entire Eastern Palace. As long as he confesses, we can follow the list and arrest people. The Eastern Palace case won't be far from ending!" Fang Yuan was extremely happy, and everyone laughed when he said this. Luo Wanqing listened to them discussing which cases involved Lu Lingchan but lacked evidence, and which cases had no leads and were waiting for his confession to see if they could make progress. After listening for a while, Luo Wanqing finally spoke, saying softly, "Lu Lingchan... has already been taken to the rear mountain." These words caused the entire hall to fall silent. Everyone exchanged glances, waiting for Luo Wanqing's explanation. Luo Wanqing thought about it. Simply saying that Lu Lingchan was on the rear mountain without giving a reason would definitely not pass. Moreover, since Lu Lingchan had been poisoned, those who had poisoned him would surely know. If she concealed it too much, it would instead make her seem guilty. After much deliberation, Luo Wanqing told half-truths, saying, "He was poisoned by someone. Fortunately, I discovered it in time, but it was still very dangerous. Now he can only be sent to the rear mountain for Doctor Wei to treat and see if there's a chance to save him." Wei Qianqiu was the doctor specifically assigned to treat Xie Heng, and no one dared to say whether his methods could revive the dead. However, this meant that Lu Lingchan was almost caught in vain. Fang Yuan thought about it and then smiled, consoling, "He's not dead yet, right? Let's focus on other tasks first and see if he survives." "That's also my intention." Luo Wanqing's voice was calm, and everyone calmed down. Luo Wanqing instructed calmly, "Although having Lu Lingchan's confession would make things much easier, it doesn't mean the case can't proceed without him. We've already gathered evidence against many other officials but held back. Today, apply for arrest warrants for all of them, starting with Lin Shuzhi." Luo Wanqing's voice turned cold. "Arrest whoever you can." "Yes." Everyone immediately agreed and didn't question Luo Wanqing's decision. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and then added, "Things are different now. We're dealing with officials from noble families. Everyone must be careful. Don't act in batches. Cases are not as important as lives. Don't risk your lives." Hearing Luo Wanqing's instructions, everyone laughed. Fang Shun joked, "Si Shi Liu is overthinking it. We're all seasoned veterans." Luo Wanqing smiled without speaking and simply said, "Go ahead." Everyone didn't slack off. They got up and prepared to apply for arrest warrants. After everyone left, the room was left with only Xingling. Luo Wanqing looked up and asked, "What's wrong?" "The others aren't affected," Xingling said calmly. "But I reviewed the files. Without Lu Lingchan, we can't handle the Eastern Palace's Six Armies." Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up. She looked at Xingling's tightly gripped sword and frowned. "Do you have to deal with the Eastern Palace's Six Armies?" "Absolutely." "Why?" "Si Shi Cui was harmed by them." Xingling spoke with certainty. Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled. She had previously dealt with Cui Ziran and hadn't found any clues indicating that the Eastern Palace's Six Armies were behind it. "How can you confirm that?"

"The Eastern Palace's Six Armies all originated from the Wang clan's loyal warriors. Led by Zhao Bing, the Left Commander, the six of them share a bond forged in life and death. They've had a long-standing feud with Envoy Cui, and there had been arguments before the incident."

"This doesn't mean they were the ones who made their move," Luo Wanqing mused. "They merely argued."

"Then let this be for Envoy Cui's past," Xingling said in a bland tone. "For the sake of the past, we shouldn't let them off."

Luo Wanqing didn't understand, only asking, "The past?"

"Nothing."

Xingling steered the conversation elsewhere, suppressing something as she softly said, "If Lu Lingchan is dead, what does Envoy Liu plan to do about the Eastern Palace's Six Armies?" Xingling raised her eyes to look at Luo Wanqing. "Will Envoy Liu take action against them?"

As Xingling asked, Luo Wanqing's gaze swept over the hand holding the sword.

She seemed to be struggling to control her emotions, her knuckles turning white from gripping the sword too tightly.

Luo Wanqing was familiar with this emotion. She looked at Xingling for a moment before saying gently, "Don't meddle with the matter of the Eastern Palace's Six Armies."

At these words, Xingling abruptly stood up, seemingly having received an answer, and strode out.

But after taking just a few steps, she heard Luo Wanqing say softly, "I will kill them."

Xingling was surprised, turning around in shock. Luo Wanqing waved at her as if nothing had been said.

Xingling watched her in bewilderment. Luo Wanqing said calmly, "Go arrest them. Take care of the other cases."

Hearing this, Xingling didn't argue further. She pursed her lips tightly and finally said, "Alright."

With that, she turned and left. Luo Wanqing stood in the meeting hall, thinking for a long time before sitting down.

Although she didn't know what had happened between Cui Ziran and the Eastern Palace's Six Armies, judging from Xingling's attitude, she knew that Xingling would absolutely have to kill the Eastern Palace's Six Armies.

Her emotional state was too familiar to Luo Wanqing, identical to how she had felt before killing the Crown Prince. She had no doubt that if she didn't intervene, Xingling would find an opportunity tonight to assassinate the Eastern Palace's Six Armies.

But she could successfully assassinate the Crown Prince due to a combination of favorable circumstances: the Wang clan's martial forces had been nearly wiped out in the months prior, the Empress provided her with an unexpected opportunity to swiftly transfer Li Shangwen to the Imperial Tomb, and Li Shangwen himself lacked martial skills. The deposed Crown Prince held no value, so she could risk everything to kill Li Shangwen.

The Eastern Palace's Six Armies were different. According to the information she had obtained, they were exceptional martial artists and generally operated within the East Capital. It was completely impossible to kill them without leaving any trace.

If Xingling attempted to assassinate them, the best outcome would be a life-for-life exchange.

But even then, she might just be throwing her life away.

She couldn't allow Xingling to go down this path. Moreover, she had promised Xie Heng that she would help clear the positions of the Eastern Palace's Six Armies.

Once those positions were vacant, she could demonstrate her worth to Xie Heng, be promoted to the rank of Fifth Grade Envoy, enter the Secret Chamber, and obtain information about her father.

She hadn't forgotten why she joined the Supervision Division.

But now that Lu Lingchan was dead and she had no leads, it seemed unlikely that she could gather solid evidence to openly bring down the Eastern Palace's Six Armies.

There was only one possibility...

The accusation against Xie Heng flashed through Luo Wanqing's mind.

"Falsely accusing the Eastern Palace's Six Armies"

This accusation flashed through her mind, and Luo Wanqing instantly recalled last night, when Xie Heng had whispered "offend" while embracing her.

This "offend" resonated with her now, making her acutely aware that he was a person, a living, breathing individual.

Even though his fate was sealed to die for the implementation of the Great Xia Law, at this moment, he lived in her life.

While it was true that if she had to choose between the implementation of the Great Xia Law and Xie Heng's survival, she would unhesitatingly choose the law that would save countless lives in the future, this decision should never have been hers to make.

She had already pushed Xie Heng closer to his predetermined fate by involving him in the assassination of the Crown Prince. She couldn't allow herself to push him further towards death.

If there was any way to save him, she had to try.

Luo Wanqing took a deep breath, picked up the case files, and began reviewing them, hoping to find some other clues.

But after searching all day, she still found no leads.

As night fell, she reluctantly got up and returned to the mountain.

Upon arriving, she saw Cui Heng sitting on the steps outside her room, teasing Zuisi with sunflower seeds.

Zuisi, like a common chicken, wobbled in front of Cui Heng, trying to peck at the seeds in his hand.

Seeing this scene, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but laugh, warning Cui Heng, "Its beak is sharp; don't hurt yourself."

"Don't worry."

Cui Heng tossed the seeds to it and looked up, smiling. "I raised it. I'm more familiar with it than you are."

"Where did you get the eagle?"

Luo Wanqing was curious, walking up to Zuisi and reaching down to stroke its head.

Having served as a messenger between the two of them, Zuisi had become familiar with Luo Wanqing.

Watching Luo Wanqing pet it, Cui Heng said warmly, "From the Northwest."

"You've been to the Northwest?"

Luo Wanqing was curious.

Cui Heng nodded, saying calmly, "Yes, I've been there several times."

As he spoke, Cui Heng raised his eyes to look at her and said with understanding, "Did things not go well today?"

"Lu Lingchan is dead, and the lead on investigating The Eastern Palace's Six Armies has been cut off."

Luo Wanqing sat down beside Cui Heng and said thoughtfully, "I promised Young Master that I would use this case to clear the way for him to take over The Eastern Palace's Six Armies so that I can enter the Secret Archive and get my father’s case."

"In fact, there's no need to rush," Cui Heng mused, comforting her. "Your father's case is complicated in itself. The Head of the Division actually hopes that you will take some time to develop further. You've only been here for a few months since coming from Yang Zhou, and your foundations aren't stable yet. It's all happened too quickly."

Luo Wanqing understood what Cui Heng meant as she listened.

Haste makes waste.

But while Cui Heng and Xie Heng were thinking about her path as a Si Shi in the Supervision Division, she knew that what she wanted was more than just being a good Si Shi and establishing herself in the division. More importantly, she wanted revenge.

So she had to grow faster—at least faster than Li Guiyu.

If she followed the timeline of her previous life, from when she was imprisoned until the emperor passed away and Li Guiyu ascended the throne, it would be less than two years. She didn't have the luxury of time to grow slowly. If Li Guiyu became the emperor and she waited to make her move, it wouldn't be impossible, but that would be following the path Qin Jue took in her dream.

It would be too late.

She didn't want to spend most of her life fighting against Li Guiyu, so she hoped to act as soon as possible.

But she couldn't say these words out loud. If she did, Cui Heng might not be pleased.

She changed the subject and simply said, "I also promised Xingling."

"Xingling?"

This surprised Cui Heng. "What does this have to do with her?"

"She said that The Eastern Palace's Six Armies harmed Si Shi Cui, and she is close to him. I promised to help her. If I don’t help, she might take matters into her own hands, and I’m not comfortable with that."

Cui Heng didn’t refute her this time. He simply asked, "How will you help her?"

Luo Wanqing didn’t say anything. Chuisi rubbed against Cui Heng’s hand, and Luo Wanqing looked quietly ahead.

Seeing Luo Wanqing’s gaze, Cui Heng understood. "Actually, you have an idea, right?"

"I don’t know if it’s right or wrong."

Luo Wanqing spoke softly, and Cui Heng smiled. "Tell me about it?"

"Actually…" Luo Wanqing pursed her lips. "Murder doesn’t always have to be through investigation."

Cui Heng stroked Chuisi without saying anything. Now that Luo Wanqing had started speaking, she didn’t hold back and said calmly, "If we’re just dealing with The Eastern Palace's Six Armies, we can find a crime they committed, or we can create one."

"Explain in detail," Cui Heng said, now interested. "What do you want to do?"

"Right now, I’ve announced that Lu Lingchan is being treated by Doctor Wei," Luo Wanqing said, explaining the plan she’d been thinking about all day. "In a few days, I’ll announce that Lu Lingchan has woken up, and then propose a public trial to conclude the case. On the night before the trial, I’ll give them a chance to kill me."

At this point, Cui Heng understood. "The Eastern Palace's Six Armies know that you have evidence, so they’ll definitely try to kill you."

"As long as I kill them when they attack me," Luo Wanqing raised her eyes. "Their assassination attempt on a Si Shi is a capital offense."

"That’s a good plan."

Cui Heng nodded, then asked curiously, "What are you hesitating about?"

"I’m afraid of involving Young Master."

Luo Wanqing turned her head and looked at the mountain behind her, murmuring, "Creating a crime is a form of false accusation, isn’t it? In the future, if someone wants to settle scores with Young Master, this will become his crime, just like if he had covered up for me."

When he heard this, Cui Heng laughed.

Luo Wanqing looked at him in confusion. "Why are you laughing?"

"How could you think like that?" Cui Heng turned to look at her, curious. "They really want to kill you, and your counterattack is real. How can this be considered false accusation? If they hadn’t harbored evil intentions, how could you have falsely accused them?"

Luo Wanqing paused. She instantly understood that logically, this made sense.

But she knew what would happen to Xie Heng in the future. Any possibility that could lead to that outcome might become a factor, so she was more strict.

But she couldn’t tell Cui Heng that, so she said, "What if this really harms Young Master?"

"So be it." Cui Heng laughed. "His crimes are countless. What’s one more?"

Luo Wanqing stared at Cui Heng in surprise. Cui Heng spoke gently, but his words were icy cold. "Xiniang, I’ve told you that everyone is a pawn, and Xie Heng is no exception. You don’t have to fear involving him. He deserves to die."

"You… How can you say that?" Luo Wanqing couldn’t believe it.

When Cui Heng heard this, he realized that as a "subordinate" of the Supervision Division, it was shocking for him to speak ill of his superior like this.

He thought for a moment and finally said, "Do you know that Cui Ziran used to be part of the Cui family’s old guard?"

"I’ve heard of it." When Luo Wanqing heard him mention it, she immediately remembered and asked curiously, "At the time, I wondered why he could stay in the Supervision Division. But when I thought about how my father was still alive, I didn’t find it strange."

"Your father is just a guest scholar, which is different. He was born into the Cui family, raised by them, and given the Cui surname. People like him should have died on the battlefield in the Northwest or on the execution grounds. Do you know why he’s still alive?"

"Why?"

"Because he killed members of the Cui family."

These words stunned Luo Wanqing. Cui Heng looked at her with a smile and continued, "The ferry where you saw your parents off was originally called Departure Ferry. Back then, the young men of the Cui family were all outstanding. After the entire clan was imprisoned, they actually managed to escape."

Cui Heng turned his head to look into the distance and said simply and calmly, "However, a group of the Cui family’s old guard betrayed them. Xie Heng personally led them to intercept the escaped Cui family members at Departure Ferry. That day, nearly half of the Cui family’s young men died there, their blood staining the river and floating corpses covering the fields. Crown Prince Li Shengzhao and the Cui family’s eldest son, Cui Zigui, were both killed by Xie Heng’s sword. Those who participated in the ambush survived, and Xie Heng gained the trust of His Majesty and the noble families, allowing him to establish the Supervision Division."

"Cui Ziran was one of those who participated in the ambush?"

Luo Wanqing understood. Cui Heng nodded and looked ahead, saying indifferently, "So in fact, you don’t have to worry about Xie Heng. He may not be bad, but he’s certainly not virtuous. If his life can pave your way," Cui Heng turned to look at Luo Wanqing, "I would be very comforted, and he would be willing too."

Luo Wanqing said nothing, silently looking at Cui Heng. He was smiling, but she could see the sorrow in his eyes.

"Then what about you?"

She suddenly spoke up, and Cui Heng looked puzzled. "Me?"

"If he really is the one who killed the Cui family as you say, why are you here?"

Luo Wanqing looked at him, her heart aching.

"You have the surname Cui, how elegant. Your every move follows the etiquette of a noble family. You used to be a young master of the Cui family, didn't you?"

This was the first time she had actively probed into his identity. Cui Heng paused, not saying anything.

Luo Wanqing took it as an acknowledgment and continued, "If that's the case, why are you still here after Xie Heng harmed the Cui family?"

Cui Heng did not answer, but Luo Wanqing gave her own answer: "Because he had no choice. The Cui family was already in dire straits; it might as well have been Xie Heng who acted, allowing more of the Cui family to be preserved and ensuring that Cui Qingping's legacy of promoting the Great Xia Law could continue. That's why you're still here, isn't it?"

Cui Heng remained silent, and Luo Wanqing knew she was right.

She looked at Cui Heng and tried to comfort him. "Guilan, if that's the case, the Young Master was saving people, not killing them. You shouldn't resent him."

Cui Heng smiled at her, his gaze flickering.

Seeing that he was silent, Luo Wanqing asked, "Cui Heng?"

Cui Heng did not respond.

After a long while, he reached out and quietly embraced Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing was taken aback by the hug, instinctively trying to pull away, but he gently told her, "Don't move."

Luo Wanqing stopped and let him hold her, feeling for the first time the emotions behind his mask.

Whether it was the past "Qin Jue" or Cui Heng of the Supervision Division, he always wore a mask, using his smile to hide all his true feelings.

He was always by her side, yet he seemed like a perfect illusion.

Powerful, gentle, and carefree with a smile that spoke of life, seemingly invulnerable.

But in this moment when he held her, she finally felt that the person before her had broken through the invisible wall and come to her side.

She stayed quiet, and after a long while, she heard Cui Heng say seriously, "But it was he who proposed the Great Xia Law."

Luo Wanqing didn't understand, and Cui Heng, holding her without daring to look at her, explained, "It was his youthful ignorance that led him to tell Cui Qingping about it. Back then, he was just a noble family's young master who played the zither well and had decent martial arts skills. It was just that he was born into a good family, and everyone praised him, praising him until he lost his head."

Holding her in his arms, he finally found the courage to look back, speaking softly. "So he proposed the Great Xia Law, and Cui Qingping thought it was excellent. When others opposed it, he supported the Cui family, going against the tide. But when the Cui family got into trouble, he couldn't do anything. You were right; the Cui family was indeed in a hopeless situation back then. That prison break was a conspiracy from the start."

"Cui Heng..."

Luo Wanqing wasn't sure whether she should stop him from continuing.

"No matter how many reasons there are, Xie Heng's actions made him an enemy to Cui Heng."

She couldn't persuade Cui Heng.

Although Xie Heng had helped her, if she had to choose between the two, Cui Heng would always be more important to Liu Xiniang than anyone other than her family.

In the past, she had also doubted Cui Heng's identity, even wondering if he could be Xie Heng.

But at this moment, she finally dispelled that thought completely.

No one would urge others to kill themself, nor would they hate themselves so much.

Moreover, compared to Xie Heng, the Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Cui Heng, was more like him. She just didn't want to investigate further and therefore didn't compare them.

She remained silent, and Cui Heng realized he had said too much. After a while, he released her and smiled at her, as if joking, "You only need to be good to me. Don't fill your heart with so many people, or I'll feel wronged, thinking I've suffered a great loss."

"What have you lost?"

Luo Wanqing knew he didn't want to talk about the Cui family anymore, so she went along with his words and laughed, asking in return.

Cui Heng looked at her, placing his hand on his chest, quite seriously. "Cui Heng has sincere feelings for Xiniang, and there is no one else in his heart. Unfortunately, Xiniang thinks of Li Guiyu today, Xie Heng tomorrow, and Zhuque Qingya and Xuanshan the day after, not to mention the Star Spirits and other Si Shi. How can I not feel wronged?"

This made Luo Wanqing laugh. She looked at the person in front of her and said, "Shadow Envoy Cui is quite the smooth talker, aren't you? You must say these things often?"

"How could that be?"

Cui Heng immediately became serious, leaning close to Luo Wanqing, half-serious and half-joking. "I live and breathe for Xiniang. There is no one else but Xiniang."

He was too close, making Luo Wanqing recall the absurd events of last night. Knowing it was a joke, her heart still raced.

She didn't dare meet his gaze, afraid of appearing flustered, so she looked away, pretending to be calm. "Stop joking around."

Cui Heng knew when to stop and didn't say anything more. He stepped back, maintaining a distance as if nothing had happened, turning to look at Zuishen and slowly saying, "Your idea isn't bad. If you really want to handle the case of the Eastern Palace and are wary of the Head Envoy, why not let him choose himself."

Luo Wanqing turned to look at Cui Heng and saw him looking at her seriously. "Do it for me, and don't be too kind to him."

Luo Wanqing paused, and finally replied softly, "Alright."

"Then let's continue practicing today, and go tomorrow."

Ever since entering the Supervision Division, Cui Heng would come to guide her in her training whenever he had time. Practicing swordplay for an hour each day was a steadfast routine for Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing knew it was late and didn't want to disturb Xie Heng any further, so she listened to Cui Heng and retrieved her sword to spar with him.

After they practiced for an hour, Luo Wanqing planned to take a bath and rest. Seeing that Cui Heng was still full of energy, she suddenly asked, "When do you sleep?"

This question caught Cui Heng off guard. Luo Wanqing asked in confusion, "You went to bed later than me last night and woke up earlier than me. I remember checking your pulse in Yang Zhou. You seemed prone to headaches. Was that true?"

"The pulse reading was fake," Cui Heng admitted without lying, "but the headaches are real. I just don't like sleeping."

"Why not?"

"I have dreams easily." Cui Heng's tone grew a little cooler. "Nightmares."

Luo Wanqing paused before nodding and saying, "I see."

"But if Si Shi could give me a kiss," Cui Heng joked, "I'd sleep better."

Luo Wanqing remained silent at his words and put her sword away.

Cui Heng leaned against a pillar in the long corridor, folding his arms and sighing, "Unfortunately, Si Shi is stingy and definitely won't do it. If I insist, it would be ungentlemanly of me. But I have nightmares every night..."

Before he could finish, Luo Wanqing walked over to him and, while he rambled on, tiptoed to give him a quick peck on his exposed cheek.

Cui Heng stopped mid-sentence, turning to look at Luo Wanqing in disbelief.

Seeing his reaction, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but laugh.

She suddenly understood the fun Cui Heng had when he teased her. Looking at the stunned young man in front of her, she joked, "Can you sleep soundly tonight?"

It took Cui Heng a while to come back to his senses. He couldn't joke around anymore and turned his eyes away awkwardly. "Yeah."

"Then go to sleep," Luo Wanqing urged. "It's too late. You should get some proper rest."

"Okay."

Cui Heng nodded, straightened up, and whispered, "You should sleep too."

With that, he walked out.

Luo Wanqing watched his back as she recalled his words.

She remembered how he had paused for a moment when he heard the name "Qingyun Ferry" when he sent her off to bid farewell to her family. Then, he had picked her up without hesitation and rushed to the ferry.

At the time, she didn't know what he hesitated about, but now that she knew, she felt heartache.

She realized that the more someone smiled, the sadder their stories were, which made them all the more heartbreaking.

Fortunately, it was all in the past.

She found some comfort in the fact that Cui Heng had survived. The Cui clan would eventually be exonerated, and once that happened, Cui Heng might be able to take off his mask and live a good life.

She wouldn't offer him a memorial tablet.

He had to live better and longer than her.

Luo Wanqing had a good night's rest and woke up early the next morning to find Xie Heng.

Xie Heng had gone to the early court session before dawn, so Luo Wanqing waited patiently at the door. After a while, she heard Zhuque's voice coming from below, grumbling, "Those pups from the Office of Censors are just asking for a beating. With solid evidence, we can arrest them. What did Lady Liu do wrong? They want her to take responsibility for scaring the old lady to death. What about my grandma's rooster getting pregnant? Is she responsible for that too?!"

Hearing her mentioned, Luo Wanqing couldn't help but look over. Just as Zhuque finished speaking, the group reached the top of the stairs and saw Luo Wanqing standing behind the courtyard gate, curiously observing them.

Xie Heng wore the uniform of the head of the Supervision Division: a black robe with golden patterns and a golden crown on his head. Today, he wore a pair of black leather gloves, making him seem even colder and prouder.

Qingya and Zhuque followed behind him. As soon as they saw Luo Wanqing, everyone fell silent.

Luo Wanqing hurriedly greeted them respectfully. "Young Master, Dragon Envoy, Vermilion Bird Envoy."

"What is it?"

Seeing her, Xie Heng knew her purpose and asked directly.

Luo Wanqing got straight to the point. "It's about the Eastern Palace case."

Qingya and Zhuque exchanged glances, and Xie Heng nodded. "Let's talk inside."

As he spoke, Xie Heng entered the courtyard and instructed Luo Wanqing, "Wait in the courtyard."

Luo Wanqing complied and followed him into the courtyard after he entered.

Xie Heng went into the room to change into casual clothes, and Qingya and Zhuque also returned to their respective courtyards to change.

Luo Wanqing waited alone. After a short while, she saw Xie Heng emerge.

He had changed into a white casual outfit and switched to a pair of silver gloves.

Luo Wanqing couldn't help but focus on his gloves. Xie Heng seemed unaware as he sat down at the desk, calmly removing his gloves to reveal flawless hands. He picked up a vermilion brush and said coolly, "What is it?"

Snapping back to reality at his words, Luo Wanqing hurriedly said, "Reporting to Young Master, this subordinate has something to ask you to decide."

"Go on."

"Lu Lingchan is dead. It might be difficult to use the Eastern Palace case to bring down the Eastern Palace's Six Armies."

Luo Wanqing slowly presented the plan she had prepared for a long time. "This subordinate thinks that in a few days, the division could deliberately spread the news that Lu Lingchan has been revived. At the same time, we could propose a public trial to conclude the case, forcing the Eastern Palace's Six Armies to make the first move against us."

Speaking, Luo Wanqing raised her eyes and said earnestly, "Should they make a move, this subordinate will surely kill them."

Xie Heng lowered his eyes; the hand he had deliberately disguised would reveal no scars unless examined closely at short range.

It was perfect like a jade statue, holding a vermilion brush and writing the character "kill" on the verdict, saying indifferently:

"Approved."

Author's note:

"Side scene"

Xie Heng: "Erect a memorial tablet for me, be my wife."

Luo Wanqing: "Rest assured, you won't die after me."

Xie Heng: "Think of me more in the future, I've invested a lot in you!"

Luo Wanqing: "Rest assured, I will definitely be a Si Shi that won't disgrace you."

Xie Heng: "… When it comes to dodging affectionate advances, you're still the best."

Luo Wanqing: "When it comes to creating relationships, you're still the best."