Chapter 173 (First Update)

Chapter 173 (First Update)

◎He had a sense of familiarity.◎

Luo Wanqing moved swiftly; in an instant, she had leaped over the cliff and severed the rope.

When Li Guiyu heard the rope snap, he knew it was impossible to pursue further. He stared at Xie Heng, puzzled, and asked, "Why are you here?"

As soon as these words left his mouth, Li Guiyu sensed something was amiss.

Though he wasn't present, he had been receiving reports from his subordinates. Zheng Pingsheng was killed, Li Zong narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, Zheng Bikui had escaped, and the Zheng family was scattered. Yet, at this moment, Xie Heng personally came to chase Luo Wanqing?

Not only did he come himself, but he also let her go?!

Luo Wanqing was the assassin who killed Zheng Pingsheng. Unless Li Zong intended to break ties with the Zheng family immediately, there was no way he would protect her.

If Li Zong wanted direct retribution, he wouldn't need an assassination; he could use the case against Luo Wanqing to imprison and execute Zheng Pingsheng legally.

Choosing assassination meant Li Zong had other plans and didn't want to escalate matters.

Perhaps he just wanted to kill the mastermind behind the past events to vent his anger, or perhaps he planned to take things slowly. In any case, Li Zong didn't want a full-scale conflict with the Zheng family at this time.

So why was Xie Heng here? For whom?

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Li Guiyu's mind.

He recalled today's grand wedding, the elaborate wedding gown that had clearly been prepared for a long time, the fight they had on the day of the arranged marriage, and even the night Luo Wanqing returned to East Capital, when Xie Heng's cold, challenging eyes peered out from behind the carriage curtains...

Something was off.

Li Guiyu suddenly realized that Xie Heng was not acting right.

His schemes were correct; every time he pushed Luo Wanqing into a corner, she managed to escape unscathed.

From proposing at the palace banquet to appealing at the Drum of Grievances, from the arranged marriage in prison to now—

Every time, Xie Heng was involved.

"Why are you here?"

Li Guiyu suddenly understood something, his expression becoming uncontrollable. He couldn't help but grab Xie Heng by the collar and said urgently, "She killed Zheng Pingsheng. The emperor will surely execute her. Do you know the consequences of letting her go?!"

Xie Heng looked up calmly and asked, "Are you losing your composure because of this?"

Li Guiyu froze, staring into Xie Heng's eyes, which seemed to see into his soul, and spoke directly to his heart: "Because someone else is protecting her besides you?"

"What do I have to lose my composure over?"

Hearing this, Li Guiyu forced a smile, "I'd be happy if someone helped her. Why would I lose my composure?"

"You're afraid."

Xie Heng spoke calmly, each word sharp like a knife: "You're afraid she'll fall in love with me."

"Nonsense." Li Guiyu sneered, "Do you think she would like you? She's a doctor."

Li Guiyu leaned closer, reminding him seriously, "I know her better than you. She won't like someone who can skin people alive, betray friends and family, and treat human life as nothing more than a tool."

"So you know she won't love you."

Xie Heng's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "She's a doctor, inherently kind. How could she possibly like someone like us? And you, with your ruthless heart, separated from her by family enmity, are merely drowning her repeatedly and then becoming her only straw. You think this way, she'll reach out to you."

This time, Li Guiyu remained silent. He scrutinized Xie Heng, hiding his emotions beneath a veneer of ferocity. Xie Heng looked at him with pity and said, "This is the only way you can keep her now, so you won't allow anyone else to become her straw."

"So..."

Li Guiyu finally understood, slowly realizing what was happening, and laughed with a hint of bloodlust: "You want to be her straw?"

"No." Xie Heng stared at him calmly and said, "I want her to become the goddess of the Luo River, needing no straw."

Hearing this, Li Guiyu's breathing became heavy. He saw the unhidden ambition in Xie Heng's eyes and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

He suddenly remembered someone who used death to instill fear in him, like a sword hanging over him... no, piercing through him, tormenting him day and night.

He restrained the urge to kill Xie Heng, gradually calming down amidst his rapid breaths.

He stared at Xie Heng like a snake, sensing his unusual affection and confirmed, "You covet her."

At this word, a faint smile appeared in Xie Heng's eyes.

He didn't respond, brushing aside Li Guiyu's hand that gripped his collar, turned, and walked away, bow in hand.

The sound of hooves echoed from the nearby forest as Zi Tang led a group rushing over, "Your Highness! The emperor has summoned you back."

Li Guiyu ignored Zi Tang, watching Xie Heng walk away nonchalantly, and couldn't help but call out, "Do you think you can save her?"

Xie Heng ignored him, stepping forward, and Li Guiyu shouted, "Xie Heng, you are a solitary minister. Your honor and disgrace are tied to my father. If you defy him for a woman, he will doubt you! Today, she is doomed. Only I can save her!"

Xie Heng didn't respond, walking into the forest, tossing his bow to the waiting Vermilion Bird, and mounting his horse.

"Whether I can protect her," Xie Heng said without turning back, "depends on my abilities."

Hearing this, Li Guiyu's eyes widened suddenly.

An inexplicable sense of familiarity spread over him, reminiscent of the moment on Liufeng Island when Cui Heng pushed him out of the arrow rain.

He couldn't let Xie Heng save Luo Wanqing.

He didn't know why he thought of Cui Heng at this moment, but he instinctively felt that if Xie Heng saved Luo Wanqing, something fundamental would change between the three of them.

He could not let Xie Heng become Luo Wanqing's straw, could not let her have another way out.

She only had him.

By Luo Wanqing's side, there could only be Li Guiyu.

He couldn't discern the reason behind Xie Heng's actions, and he didn't wish to think about it too much. When Zi Tang led his troops to him, he grabbed one of the empty horses Zi Tang brought, leaped onto it without hesitation, and chased after Xie Heng down the mountain.

The two parties charged down the mountain, one in front and one behind. Seeing this, Qingya pointed at a tree behind them and instructed Vermilion Bird with a smile: "Vermilion Bird, cut that tree three-quarters of the way through."

"Sure thing."

Vermilion Bird dismounted and leaped, slicing the trunk with a single stroke, leaving only a thin strip of bark connecting it. He then landed back on his horse after a few bounds.

As he mounted, Li Guiyu and his group just reached the tree. The tree could no longer hold its weight and crashed to the ground. Li Guiyu did not rein in his horse but turned it around and shouted, "Change course, follow me."

The group veered onto a smaller path. Vermilion Bird, seeing this, was quite pleased and reported to Xie Heng, "Young Master, we've shaken them off."

Xie Heng acknowledged with a nod and praised, "Good job."

The three hurriedly descended the mountain. Upon reaching the courtyard, Xie Heng instructed Vermilion Bird, "Lead people to search the mountain for her. If you find her, don't report it; return to the back mountain cottage."

He didn't specify who, but Vermilion Bird and Qingya understood. Vermilion Bird responded, leading his men with bows drawn to search for Luo Wanqing.

Xie Heng and Qingya headed into the inner courtyard. Everyone was still trapped within the Supervision Division, as Li Zong feared assassins and stationed heavy troops there, waiting for Xie Heng's return.

With no one else nearby, Qingya finally asked about the events on the mountain, following Xie Heng with a serious expression, "Young Master, what is your next move?"

"To save her."

"The cost of protecting her is high. Have you considered it carefully?" Qingya whispered, analyzing, "His Majesty originally wanted to kill Zheng Pingsheng to vent his anger and use his death to probe the Zheng family's tomb. Now that Liu Si Shi killed Zheng Pingsheng in such a manner, the Zheng family might suspect His Majesty has intentions of exterminating their clan. It would be justified for the Zheng family to rebel. However, since members of the Zheng family are still present, and they haven't rebelled yet, there is still room for negotiation. To prove his innocence, His Majesty will surely use Lady's life to appease the Zheng family."

"I know."

Xie Heng lifted his robe and entered the courtyard. Seeing Xie Heng unmoved, Qingya glanced at him again and continued, "Even if His Majesty doesn't kill her now, once the Zheng family rebels and His Majesty suppresses the uprising, to prevent the conflict from escalating and all noble families from feeling threatened, he will certainly execute Lady as the instigator of the conflict to pacify the noble families. No matter what, she faces certain death today."

"Would walking this path lead to any other outcome?"

Xie Heng calmly asked, and Qingya paused, then understood something.

Xie Heng stepped towards the brightly lit hall and said calmly, "Qingya, she merely turned my path into hers. This was our plan."

"She never believed I could change the fate she saw. She just wanted to distance herself from me, claim everything as her own doing, and turn Luo Wanqing into the Xie Heng in her dreams."

Xie Heng spoke, clenching his fists, and as he entered the hall, he muttered under his breath, audible only to Qingya, "Dream on."

Qingya looked at him and saw Xie Heng's cold face, restraining his emotions as he respectfully greeted, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

The hall was full, with all guests still present. Li Zong sat high up, seemingly still shaken by the day's assassination attempt, looking somewhat weary.

Beside him, Yang Chun was serving him ginseng tea. Seeing Xie Heng return, Li Zong turned to him and asked, "Did you catch her?"

"Your Majesty, she got away," Xie Heng replied. Li Zong showed no surprise.

He glanced at the trembling Zheng family members kneeling beside him, thought for a moment, and then threw the bowl of soup to the ground.

"Useless fools!" Li Zong exclaimed, "Not even able to catch an assassin. How can I explain this to the Zheng family elders?!"

Everyone secretly glanced at Li Zong, pondering the reason behind his words.

Luo Wanqing's cry of "By the Emperor's order" still echoed in their ears, and the tea apology was orchestrated by Li Zong. No one dared to believe he was uninvolved.

Seeing the Zheng family remained silent, Li Zong turned to Wang Shenfeng, who sat quietly nearby.

Wang Qingfeng sat beside Wang Shenfeng, and after the incident with Zheng Pingsheng, the distance between them had noticeably shortened. Sensing Li Zong's gaze, Wang Shenfeng smiled and said, "Your Majesty?"

"Wang elder," Li Zong sighed, "what do you think should be done about today's incident?"

"Your Majesty, why ask me?" Wang Shenfeng asked, surprised.

"This... truly troubles me." Li Zong glanced at the trembling Zheng family members and said, "What should I do now?"

The Wang family, being the first among the noble families, represented the attitude of all the major families in East Capital.

Li Zong spoke about the Zheng family but stared at Wang Shenfeng. Wang Shenfeng understood and said sincerely, "Your Majesty's heart, I understand. We grew up together, how could you harbor ill will towards old Zheng? It must be the assassin Luo Wanqing using your name to cause chaos. You must investigate this thoroughly, seal off East Capital, search for Luo Wanqing, issue arrest warrants nationwide, imprison all those involved, and interrogate them rigorously. Especially her subordinates—sentence them and execute them publicly. Perhaps she will come to rescue them. Once she appears, execute her to appease the Zheng family and comfort old Zheng's spirit."

Xie Heng straightened up, looking coldly at Wang Shenfeng.

Noticing Xie Heng's gaze, Wang Shenfeng smiled and met his eyes, "Does Young Master Xie find this suggestion inappropriate?"

Li Zong turned to look, seeing Xie Heng staring at Wang Shenfeng and smiling, "Does Lord Wang think Luo Wanqing should pay with her life for killing Zheng Pingsheng?"

"Shouldn't she?"

Wang Shenfeng's expression sharpened, and Xie Heng laughed lightly, "Then why shouldn't Zheng Pingsheng pay for Luo Qushu?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed instantly. Wang Shenfeng's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Xie Heng with interest, "Does Young Master Xie believe that Lady's actions today were justified?"

"There is fault, but the crime does not warrant death."

Xie Heng stared at Wang Shenfeng: "Regardless of who orchestrated today's chaos and where the assassins came from, setting aside whether you harbored treasonous intentions, just considering the matter between Zheng Pingsheng and her Luo family, she sought blood for blood, and there was cause."

As Xie Heng spoke, he looked around: "Zheng Pingsheng abused his power to frame innocent civilians, leading to their deaths. He should have been punished more severely. Yet now, he enjoys his retirement in peace. Don't you find this unjust?"

"It seems that Director Xie has harbored dissatisfaction with this case for a long time," Wang Shenfeng said, lifting his teacup and looking at Xie Heng as if he were a young man. "Why didn't you speak up before? Or are you now merely finding a noble excuse to pursue your own interests?"

"Indeed, I am pursuing my own interests." Xie Heng calmly admitted, and a smile appeared in Wang Shenfeng's eyes.

Xie Heng smiled: "Is it only allowed for your noble families to have selfish motives, and not me? Luo Wanqing sought justice, traveling from Yangzhou to East Capital. Now, she has put herself in harm's way to assassinate Zheng Pingsheng. Though she has committed a wrong, there was a reason. As her husband, I must stand by her side. If Lord Zheng could once be pardoned for his deeds, then Your Majesty—"

Xie Heng turned to look up at Li Zong high above, clasped his hands, and said: "When Your Majesty was once assassinated, I suffered severe injuries while saving you. At that time, Your Majesty granted me an imperial pardon token. In the past, I held this token merely as a reminder, to remind myself of Your Majesty's grace."

"Heng..."

"But today—" Xie Heng's tone suddenly became serious, interrupting Li Zong's words, and he raised his head earnestly: "I wish to use this imperial pardon token to request Your Majesty to spare my wife's life!"