◎Welcoming the Director—Long Live the Director◎

After everything ended, the courtyard filled with the pattering sound of rain.

After they washed up, sleep eluded them.

Dawn would break soon. During these three days she needn’t attend court, having to handle all miscellaneous affairs before the campaign. But today was her succession ceremony at the Supervision Department—she needed to prepare for attendance at daybreak. With only half an hour until dawn, neither felt sleepy and didn’t force it.

Though unspoken, they both had many questions. Now was the time for inquiries. So Xie Heng picked up a chess piece and invited Luo Wanqing forward: “Come, let’s play a game.”

Luo Wanqing walked to sit across from him, couldn’t help finding it amusing: “Since returning from Dao Sect, I seem to always be playing chess with you.”

“A good opponent naturally makes one want to practice constantly.”

Xie Heng smiled at her, praising, “Your chess skills have improved rapidly.”

“Young Master always said you wanted me to become the best Inspector in the Supervision Department.” Luo Wanqing looked at the board, pressing down her sleeves as she placed a piece, saying gently, “I naturally hope not to disappoint your judgment.”

“Then tell me,” Xie Heng glanced at her, “did you plan today’s situation from the beginning?”

“Not exactly.”

Luo Wanqing placed her piece, speaking honestly: “I was also taking it step by step.”

“What was your first intended step?”

Xie Heng was curious. Luo Wanqing said calmly: “Initially I thought that Young Master’s ending in the previous life, within my expectations, stemmed mainly from three things: first, Young Master instigated military disaster in Sizhou, earning people’s resentment; second, Young Master promoted the Great Xia Code and slaughtered aristocratic families, earning hatred from nobles and aristocrats; third, Young Master harbored self-loathing over past events and sought death himself.”

Xie Heng’s fingertips trembled, feeling somewhat embarrassed at being seen through by Luo Wanqing.

He laughed lightly, covering up: “Nonsense.”

“Among these three reasons, the third might be the primary cause, but since Young Master promised me, I believe you won’t abandon me now.”

Luo Wanqing said calmly, “Then the other two matters. Whether campaigning against Sizhou or promoting the Great Xia Code, both are irreversible. Persuading Young Master not to attack Sizhou—how would you control the Northern Three Armies? Moreover, if we didn’t first strike down the Zheng clan and directly announced the Cui family case to the world, with Wang and Zheng joining forces, Young Master’s position would be perilous. You couldn’t possibly not seek revenge, so campaigning against Sizhou—or rather, annihilating the Zheng clan—is inevitable and righteous.”

“So you wanted to bear the blame for me?” Xie Heng understood, looking up at her.

“I wanted to seek a way out for Sizhou.” Luo Wanqing looked at the board. “So I gathered extensive information about Sizhou. After seeing Sizhou’s situation, I suddenly felt that actually, Young Master’s campaign would be beneficial.”

Listening to her speak, with chess pieces falling between them, Xie Heng knew all the situations she described.

“Court taxes are thirty percent, but the Zheng clan demands money from officials—those who don’t comply, they find ways to dismiss. Officials remaining in position are all Zheng family loyalists. To pay tribute to the Zheng clan, these officials extract money layer by layer. By the time it reaches the people, taxes approach eighty percent or more. How can anyone survive such heavy taxation?”

Luo Wanqing smiled mockingly, continuing: “To survive, they can only accept Zheng family annexation, selling their land at low prices to become Zheng family servants. After a year of farming, everything goes to the family, leaving just enough money to survive. As slaves, they’re lowly and worthless. If a daughter is beaten to death, when the mother reports to officials, it’s just compensation money. In the end, they say she made death money and can be happy for life.”

“This is a local case?” Xie Heng understood.

Luo Wanqing nodded: “Yes, this is a local case.”

Luo Wanqing’s fingers tightened slightly as she looked up at Xie Heng: “Precisely because the Zheng clan has already squeezed the people dry, if we forcibly send troops without proper appeasement, leaving people homeless would be adding insult to injury. But if we go to uphold justice for the people, helping them rebel against the Zheng clan, that’s different.”

“The Zheng clan’s accumulated power is too heavy—people won’t resist so easily.”

“That’s because Young Master has never been a commoner.” Luo Wanqing spoke with certainty: “Though grass is soft, it can break stone. They need only a guiding light.”

Listening, Xie Heng gradually understood: “You want me to become that light?”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing affirmed: “But for Young Master to become that light, we must make people believe you will uphold justice for them and can do so. The best current plan is for everyone to know Young Master took my case and saw Zheng Pingsheng punished. But I also knew His Majesty’s willingness to punish Zheng Pingsheng couldn’t be for me, only for himself. So after returning, I looked for opportunities to make the Zheng family angry at His Majesty. Even without Zheng Bikui,” Luo Wanqing smiled, “I planned to cause trouble for the Zheng family.”

“But with Zheng Bikui, you had it much easier.” Xie Heng tapped the table with his chess piece. “His attack on Zhang Yiran at the banquet displeased His Majesty.”

“I had Jiqing poisoned before His Majesty, directly threatening His Majesty’s safety—His Majesty was even more displeased.”

“Then you struck the petition drum to anger Zheng Bikui,” Xie Heng thought through it, “publicly having me take the case before the people, bringing people to the hall to seek justice for you. Killing three birds with one stone—intensifying conflict between the Zheng family and His Majesty, making me a righteous official in people’s hearts, while paving the way for you to kill Zheng Pingsheng.”

“Then I had Xuanshan write books and compose works for Young Master, spreading your fame far and wide. After I assassinated Zheng Pingsheng and the Zheng clan rebelled, Young Master would lead troops to Sizhou. I would cooperate with you to take Sizhou.”

Listening, Xie Heng nodded in understanding, then seemingly casually lowered his head to place a piece: “After all that, you still haven’t explained clearly why you chose to act at the wedding.”

Speaking, Xie Heng looked up with a smile, eyes carrying some sadness: “Knowing I cared, why make things difficult?”

“Since you cared,” Luo Wanqing was equally puzzled, “why indulge it?”

“You answer me first, then I’ll respond.”

As Xie Heng spoke, Luo Wanqing thought, organizing her thoughts: “Initially, because Zheng Bikui was there, without help, my chances of assassinating Zheng Pingsheng alone weren’t great. I guessed Young Master’s box contained something to make His Majesty want Zheng Pingsheng dead. So in prison, I agreed to assassinate Zheng Pingsheng for His Majesty, while using the excuse of Zheng family spies near Young Master to have His Majesty conceal this from you. To distance himself from me and conveniently shake off Li Guiyu, His Majesty arranged the marriage, having me strike during the wedding.”

“So you deceived me?”

Xie Heng chuckled. Luo Wanqing didn’t dare answer, only continuing: “Once His Majesty arranged the marriage, breaking ties with Young Master became very difficult. So I sought solutions. Later, learning that Young Master had placed a map of the munitions depot with the Zheng family, I decided to force the Zheng clan to rebel, then use this to threaten His Majesty for the position of Director. This way, in the world’s eyes, though I married Young Master, it was His Majesty’s arrangement. After becoming Director, it would seem like repaying kindness with enmity. Combined with my actions at the banquet, Zheng Bikui would surely tell his family His Majesty ordered me to act, thus maximally protecting Young Master…”

Listening to her explanation, Xie Heng’s eyes showed some heartache. Luo Wanqing kept her head down, explaining: “During this period, I also guessed Li Guiyu would persistently entangle things. When he actively approached me, promising to help kill Zheng Pingsheng, I guessed he thought His Majesty knew the Xuantian Box’s contents and wanted to assassinate His Majesty, so I went along with his plan…”

“He provided explosives, you prepared the garden; he found assassins, you gave calling cards.” Xie Heng turned to drink tea, praising: “Your cooperation was quite seamless—worthy of former lovers.”

“Still can’t compare to Young Master,” seeing sourness in his tone, Luo Wanqing smiled. “When did Young Master realize I would act?”

“Explosives have a sulfur smell that those with keen noses detect,” Xie Heng said flatly. “After you buried them, I had people scatter specialized odor-removing soil. When you invited those extra people, Qingya had already reported the list to me. I approved it, too.”

“So, Young Master tacitly allowed my actions?”

Luo Wanqing was curious. Xie Heng thought, saying softly, “I just thought your enemy was more suitably dealt with by your hand. Since you only wanted to part ways with me, I used the death-exemption token,” Xie Heng looked up at her with a somewhat smug smile, “to bind us together forever.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing wasn’t surprised, only saying gently: “Unfortunately, now that I’m Director, Young Master’s abacus probably won’t sound quite right.”

“At least it made one sound,” Xie Heng responded reluctantly. “I now have a legitimate status.”

Not expecting him to keep fixating on this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help laughing. Seeing her smile, Xie Heng’s heart softened, continuing: “So what did you plan by having Li Guiyu plant explosives?”

“If he planted explosives, that’s assassination—would His Majesty spare him?” Luo Wanqing placed her piece, eyes slightly cold. “Among my demands to His Majesty, first was becoming Director—to protect you and prevent me from revealing the munitions depot location to the Zheng clan, he would certainly agree. Second was confining Li Guiyu under my supervision.”

“Just confinement?” Xie Heng was curious.

Luo Wanqing said calmly, “Can’t Young Master see? Among current princes, His Majesty values him most, with signs of succession. This assassination involves so many people—even if murderous intent arises, without investigating clearly, His Majesty won’t truly want to kill him. Confinement for investigation suits His Majesty perfectly. But Li Guiyu won’t think so. Knowing what he’s done and trusting no one, just confining him—when I bring people over, telling him His Majesty ordered me to kill him, he’ll believe it.”

“You want to kill him?” Xie Heng understood.

Luo Wanqing looked at the board: “Today Supervision Department people will first surround Prince Guang’an’s mansion. The day after tomorrow before departure, all Supervision Department experts will accompany me there. If he’s willing to leave with dignity, I’ll leave him a whole corpse. If he wants to resist imperial orders and commit treason,” Luo Wanqing looked up at Xie Heng, “kill without mercy.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng’s face showed a smile.

Playing with the chess piece in his hand, he smiled: “After killing him, you’ll leave Dongdu with troops and the Supervision Department people. When His Majesty discovers it, it’ll be too late to pursue—he can only wait for your triumphant return.”

“Starting today, Young Master can send express orders calling Supervision Department personnel nationwide to Sizhou. Upon reaching Sizhou, simultaneously send messages to the northwest. Today is the third day of the fourth month—we’ll take Sizhou before the twentieth. His Highness Shengzhao can bring Second Young Master Cui and Xing Ling to attack the northern barbarians on the twentieth.”

“Provisions and military supplies supported by the Qin and Xie clans will reach Sizhou city on the twentieth,” Xie Heng analyzed with Luo Wanqing. “After taking Sizhou, I’ll seal all frontline information, reporting to His Majesty that the Zheng clan colluded with northern barbarians pressing at the borders.”

“Then dispatch troops straight for the northern barbarians,” Luo Wanqing said with certainty, “attacking from front and rear with His Highness Shengzhao, forcing barbarian negotiations—either fight to the end, return the ten cities, or let the army pass through back to Great Xia.”

Li Shengzhao commanded mostly cavalry—forty thousand cavalry returning with families, joining their eighty thousand, plus tens of thousands of elite Supervision Department Inspectors, totaling nearly one hundred fifty thousand troops occupying Sizhou, opening Sizhou granaries, with years of accumulation from the Qin and Xie clans and Xie Heng’s inheritance from the Cui family.

At this point, revealing the Cui family case, restoring Li Shengzhao’s identity, and striking directly at Dongdu would achieve great success.

The remaining words needn’t be spoken—the two quietly looked at each other.

As darkness turned gray-blue with birds chirping, Xie Heng’s gaze gradually grew tender: “I have one final question.”

“What?”

“Since you planned everything, the timing of assassinating Zheng Pingsheng that day,” Xie Heng probed, “was that also planned?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing knew what Xie Heng was asking. She quietly observed him—he looked no different from usual, but kept fingering his chess piece.

Sensing his desperately controlled tension, after a long time, she said: “No.”

Xie Heng’s heartbeat quickened, but he didn’t dare look away, hearing her say helplessly, “I just wanted to marry Young Master, so I delayed the timing.”

Getting this answer, Xie Heng couldn’t suppress his rising smile, turning to look out the window.

He said nothing, placed no pieces, just pursed his lips in quiet laughter.

Seeing him motionless, after a long time, Luo Wanqing tentatively said: “Young Master, it’s your turn to place a piece.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng turned to glance at her, smiling as he casually tossed his chess piece aside.

“Not playing anymore.”

He stood up: “Dawn is almost here. Director should rest briefly—I’ll go prepare.”

Luo Wanqing was startled, watching Xie Heng fetch clothes to put on, placing a crown before the mirror.

Today, he didn’t wear court robes but his usual white silk garments topped with a jade crown. The white clothes were also scattered with silver petals, somewhat similar to Luo Wanqing’s attire.

Before long, he brought people in.

“Come.”

Xie Heng approached her, extending his hand: “I shall serve the Director in rising.”

Luo Wanqing instinctively glanced at the people beside them—all servants kept their heads lowered.

Xie Heng led her to wash and rinse, then took official robes from a servant’s hands, dressing her piece by piece, finally tying her sash and leading her before the mirror to place her golden crown.

He drew her eyebrows and dabbed lip rouge. When everything was finished, Luo Wanqing looked up at herself and him in the mirror.

He stood beside her, also looking at their reflection.

After a long time, Xie Heng said hoarsely, “Very beautiful.”

“Young Master, Director.”

Qingya came to the doorway, respectfully saying: “Are you ready?”

“Ready.”

Xie Heng turned, extending his hand to Luo Wanqing with a smile: “Director, please.”

Luo Wanqing blushed slightly at his teasing, raising her hand to grasp Xie Heng’s.

Xie Heng helped her rise, then followed behind her as they descended the mountain together.

The two walked down the back mountain together, arriving at the Supervision Department’s great assembly hall.

The hall was already packed with people. Xuanshan and Zhuque stood on either side of the high golden throne, watching Luo Wanqing appear with Zhuque and Xie Heng.

The moment they appeared at the entrance, Xuanshan and Zhuque led everyone in kneeling, respectfully saying: “Welcoming the Director.”

As the words fell, everyone in the Supervision Department hall knelt in unison: “Welcoming the Director.”

Luo Wanqing looked at the sea of kneeling people, at the red carpet extending to the high golden throne, feeling the morning light gradually spilling down.

She instinctively turned back to see Xie Heng standing beside her.

A trace of amusement flashed in his cold eyes. Luo Wanqing felt somewhat reassured.

She turned back, took a deep breath, stepped through the threshold, and, mimicking Xie Heng’s usual manner, raised her hand: “Rise.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “Was the assassination timing also planned?”

Luo Wanqing: “No, I changed the plan for you.”

Xie Heng: “Great! My wife loves me. I’m not playing this chess game anymore. However, my wife plays from now on, I’ll follow. From now on, I’m just her strongest enforcer!”

Qingya: “Young Master, don’t get love-brained.”

Xie Heng: “You don’t understand—this is called following the boss. My wife is the chosen one. I just need to follow and coast.”

Qingya: “What if your wife isn’t the chosen one?”

Xie Heng: “Then I’ll make her the chosen one! I’ll always follow her!!”