A Thousand Li Under the Same Bright Moon, Guanlan is With You

“So what?”

Xie Heng understood, but was still unwilling to accept it.

“So I want to win.”

As Luo Wanqing spoke, her thoughts became increasingly clear. She looked at Xie Heng seriously and said calmly: “I know Young Master is right—there’s only a thin line between setting up a situation and weaving one’s cocoon. But I want to win once. With this mother poison present, this is when he’s least guarded against me. I have more opportunities to strike. Moreover, he knows the forest routes well. Although Wang Yunzhi is watching him, Wang Yunzhi’s visit this time might also be for Cui Qingping’s belongings. We three parties are already enemies—we might as well make good use of Li Guiyu. Furthermore, this subordinate guarantees that I will only take the mother poison and will not cause trouble. Please grant this request, Young Master!”

Li Guiyu had come under imperial orders—even Xie Heng might not dare harm him. She had to appease Xie Heng to get the chance to stay.

However, Xie Heng seemed unconcerned about this. He listened quietly to her words, as if understanding everything, only saying: “You use his trust born from the mother-child poison to strike at him, while he uses your past affection to protect himself. To deceive someone’s true heart, one must first give their own true heart. Are you certain he’s the only one who’s entered this game?”

Listening to this, how could Luo Wanqing not know?

His sacrificing himself to save her, letting her call him Shaoyan, his uncontrolled displays of kindness, his unconscious goodness, shadows of Jiang Shaoyan carved into him—weren’t these also part of the trap he’d set for her?

Betting she would soften, betting on her goodness, betting on… her feelings for Jiang Shaoyan.

In the past, she might have softened, but now…

She unconsciously raised her hand to touch her Qianji dagger, saying calmly: “If there’s no true heart, no true heart will be given. If there is a true heart, then whether it’s given or not, it exists. This subordinate believes she can win.”

Xie Heng’s gaze lowered slightly. He watched Luo Wanqing’s movements quietly, then suddenly asked: “Because of Cui Guanlan?”

This heart-penetrating question made Luo Wanqing look up in surprise.

The moment Cui Guanlan’s name appeared, it was like opening a candle in a box, filling her heart with firefly light.

Xie Heng watched her expression change, thought for a moment, then finally extended his hand to her from the tree: “Give me the mooncake.”

Seeing Xie Heng’s attitude change, though Luo Wanqing wasn’t clear why, she was still somewhat happy.

She stepped forward and handed the mooncake to Xie Heng. His fingertips curled as he took the mooncake, saying somewhat wearily: “Go then.”

Some paths—if she didn’t walk them herself, she would never get through them.

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing bowed and turned to leave.

Xie Heng looked up at her retreating figure. The wilderness wind stirred the leaves. He watched for a moment, but ultimately couldn’t accept it, suddenly calling out: “Liu Xiniang!”

Luo Wanqing turned back to see Xie Heng on the tree quietly studying her, suddenly asking: “If it were Cui Heng here today, would you be happier?”

This question stunned Luo Wanqing. She hesitated for a moment, unwilling to lie, and could only say: “This subordinate dare not answer.”

If she directly said she’d be happier, it would be an insult to Xie Heng.

She didn’t dare offend Xie Heng so boldly.

Hearing this, Xie Heng chuckled softly, the frost and snow between his brows completely melting away.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but freeze, watching him leap down from the tree like a white butterfly, barefoot, walking to stand before her.

He had just bathed, still carrying water vapor on his body.

The river water had washed away the scent of the sachets he usually wore, leaving only the clean fragrance of soap beans on his body, mixed with water vapor and burning body heat, all rushing toward her.

Luo Wanqing felt somewhat uncomfortable but kept her composure: “What are Young Master’s orders?”

Xie Heng didn’t answer. He only extended his somewhat cold hand to take hers.

Luo Wanqing looked up at him uncertainly, feeling him place half a mooncake in her hand: “A thousand li under the same bright moon.”

As he spoke, he raised his head, his black-gold eyes gazing at her with restraint and tenderness, momentarily resembling someone from her memory: “Guanlan is with you.”

These words made Luo Wanqing’s heart pound like drums. She looked at the person before her in disbelief.

Guanlan is with you…

Seeing her dazed expression, Xie Heng couldn’t help but smile again.

He seemed to know what she was thinking and released her hand at the right moment, turning toward the tree. His usually clear voice carried some tenderness: “From Cui Guanlan to you. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. Go back.”

Luo Wanqing controlled her heartbeat and looked down, only then discovering that besides the mooncake, there was also a red string with a golden pendant necklace in her hand.

The small pendant was engraved with Cui Heng’s and her name. Luo Wanqing recognized it at a glance—it was a marriage charm from the matchmaker temple in Yangzhou.

Usually, people used wooden plaques, but Cui Heng had made it in pure gold.

But this suited his consistently luxurious style.

Cui Heng had come to Yangzhou.

Looking at this marriage charm, she belatedly realized that what Xie Heng had said was “a thousand li under the same bright moon.”

He was telling her that for a thousand li, there was one moon, that Cui Heng and she were under the same bright moon, sharing this moment across the world.

Though she didn’t know why, for that brief moment just now, she had almost thought it was Cui Heng standing before her.

But now she understood—Xie Heng was perhaps hinting that Cui Heng was very close, that he would come soon.

Guanlan is with you.

Luo Wanqing held the necklace, her heart rippling slightly.

She looked up to thank him, saying seriously: “Young Master, thank you.”

The youth sat in the tree with his eyes closed, saying nothing.

Thinking he might be displeased about delivering the message, Luo Wanqing didn’t dare disturb him. She held the necklace and mooncake, nodding as she bowed: “Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Young Master. This subordinate takes her leave.”

Xie Heng didn’t respond. Luo Wanqing suppressed her joy and withdrew.

Only after she had gone far did Xie Heng dare to look up. After watching her disappear into the distance, he raised his hand, cupping the empty moonlight.

He wanted to compete.

Even if grasping only empty moonlight, Cui Guanlan—he still wanted to compete.

Luo Wanqing walked back with the mooncake, eating as she went.

After finishing, she brushed off her hands, removed the crumbs, and hung the marriage charm around her neck.

She wasn’t entirely clear about her feelings, but she knew one thing.

Cui Heng had never promised her a future. He lived behind a mask—she didn’t know his identity and wouldn’t have future interactions with him. Perhaps when they met on the street someday, they would be like strangers.

Rather than make things difficult for herself, it was better to follow Cui Heng’s advice: follow her heart.

If she wanted to think of him, she’d think. If she missed him, she’d miss him. If his marriage charm made her happy, she’d wear it on her body.

Thinking that Cui Heng was nearby, Luo Wanqing felt somewhat joyful. She returned happily to the fire to find Li Guiyu sitting there tending it.

Hearing her return, he looked up at her, his gaze sweeping over her entire body, thinking as he said: “Miss seems very happy?”

Luo Wanqing ignored him, sitting to one side, only giving him an answer: “Young Master agreed to let me stay.”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu glanced at her. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the red string around her neck.

Li Guiyu instantly focused and struck out. Luo Wanqing instinctively raised her knife to block, revealing half the blade as she looked up coldly: “What are you doing?”

“What’s that around your neck?!” Li Guiyu stared at Luo Wanqing’s throat.

He knew this red string well—in the past, every year, Luo Wanqing had taken him to Yangzhou to get one.

He had kept them one by one in the residence, touching them countless times.

He clearly remembered that before she went to see Xie Heng, there had been no red string around her neck.

He immediately realized what had happened. The hand pressing against Luo Wanqing’s knife unconsciously applied force as he said coldly: “Xie Heng gave it to you?”

“Your Highness, the Third Prince,” Luo Wanqing looked up coldly, only reminding him, “Young Master is watching.”

Li Guiyu’s movements stiffened. Luo Wanqing stared at him: “I just convinced Young Master to travel with you. Could it be that in Your Highness’s eyes, this red string is more important than the bigger picture?”

Li Guiyu pressed his lips together without speaking, looking at her coldly without a word. Luo Wanqing calmly sheathed her knife and lowered her head to tend the charcoal fire.

However, Li Guiyu couldn’t remain calm. He seemed to endure for a long time before finally saying: “Whose name is on it?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t respond. Li Guiyu thought for a moment, then smiled mockingly: “Miss is truly capable. Father Luo hasn’t been gone long, and before the family’s revenge is complete, you’re already in the mood for new love.”

“You have the nerve to mention him!”

Luo Wanqing looked at him coldly. Li Guiyu sneered: “Did I say something wrong?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t deny it.

She didn’t want to talk so much with him.

Seeing this, Li Guiyu became even angrier, but thinking of Xie Heng in the distance, acting now would likely cause more trouble.

But he couldn’t endure it. The thought of her wearing a marriage charm with another man’s name around her neck made him feel like ants were crawling densely all over his heart, biting at him piece by piece.

He couldn’t help but touch the sword hilt at his waist, murderous intent uncontrollably overflowing as he said: “What did I tell you when I saw you in Yangzhou? You…”

“Want some?”

Luo Wanqing suddenly extended her hand, offering a mooncake.

Li Guiyu was startled by the offered mooncake, watching as Luo Wanqing looked at the fire, saying indifferently: “My father once instructed me that no matter what happened, every Mid-Autumn Festival, I should give you a mooncake.”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu’s pupils contracted sharply.

Seeing he wouldn’t take it, Luo Wanqing placed the mooncake on a stone, saying flatly: “I never promised you anything. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”

With that, she rose and walked to the pile of dry grass, lying down fully clothed.

Li Guiyu sat in place, looking at the mooncake before him, remembering how every year in the past, Luo Qushu had given him a mooncake.

Back then at the Luo residence, there were many people. During Mid-Autumn Festival, he would always stand outside the door, but each time Luo Wanqing would call him in, have him sit down, and then the whole family would celebrate Mid-Autumn with him.

And no matter what, at the end of the feast, Luo Qushu would give him a mooncake, then pat his head and tell him: “Shaoyan, happy Mid-Autumn Festival, may your life be peaceful and smooth.”

But thinking of this immediately brought to mind that closing gate, and before the gate closed, his master’s body was full of arrows.

The Cui family’s best archers.

Li Guiyu closed his eyes and smiled, his heart growing cold again. He picked up the mooncake and bit into it calmly, piece by piece.

Lotus seed paste mooncakes were rather sweet, but he was used to it.

Sweet was sweet, pain was pain—he could endure it, he could bear it.

But thinking of the marriage charm around Luo Wanqing’s neck, he felt his heart being gradually strangled by vines.

He had thought the torment would eventually end, but it turned out it was just beginning.

Luo Wanqing slept for half the night. When she woke, she saw Xie Heng sitting to one side. He glanced at the newly awakened Luo Wanqing and commanded flatly: “Sleep.”

Luo Wanqing was startled and was about to speak when she heard Xie Heng say decisively, “Sleep.”

This tone brooked no further refusal. Luo Wanqing could only lie back down sheepishly.

The next day, when Luo Wanqing woke early, she saw Xie Heng had picked wild fruit and placed it to one side. She and Li Guiyu exchanged glances, then heard Xie Heng say: “From today, we travel together with His Highness the Third Prince. Xiniang and I will protect His Highness’s safety, while His Highness finds the path.”

Luo Wanqing was startled, then understood what Xie Heng was saying, feeling somewhat happy.

Being able to travel with Xie Heng was certainly better than traveling alone with Li Guiyu.

She immediately said, “Yes.”

“Go wash up.”

Xie Heng instructed. Afraid of delaying their journey, Luo Wanqing quickly got up to wash.

When she returned, Li Guiyu and Xie Heng had already packed their things. The two sat on opposite sides—Xie Heng with his usual cold demeanor, Li Guiyu’s expression equally unpleasant.

Luo Wanqing glanced at both of them, sensing something was wrong in the atmosphere, and couldn’t help saying: “Has something happened?”

“Nothing.” Xie Heng took over, glancing at Li Guiyu. “Your Highness, the Third Prince, please explain the situation. After walking for two days, have you figured out the patterns of this dense forest formation?”

“I’ve roughly figured out a bit.”

Li Guiyu calmed his emotions and explained coolly: “This dense forest has switched all the directions according to a lateral sequence. The normal order is north up, south down, west left, east right.”

Li Guiyu wrote the four directions on the ground according to up, down, left, right, then said: “But this dense forest makes north into east, east into south, south into west, and west into north. In this dense forest, what you feel is east is true north. When we entered the dense forest, the cave was south and Xueling Mountain was north. Since Liufeng Island is between the two, what we need to do is go toward what feels like east.”

“That’s all?”

Luo Wanqing was curious. Li Guiyu couldn’t help but smile, only saying: “Miss, this is just the basic pattern of this formation, giving you a direction. Within this large formation, there are countless small killing formations. According to Xie Minran’s habits, since the correct direction is east, the correct direction for the small killing formations is most likely also east. When you encounter small killing formations, just go east.”

“What about the final life-and-death formation?”

Xie Heng asked, thinking: “Four-direction chaos formations are generally anchored by mountains and water at both ends. Our entry point was the mountains, so the end point is water. At the end of the great formation, there must be a life-and-death formation as a final defense. What does Xie Minran usually use?”

“Mandarin duck life-and-death formation.”

Li Guiyu didn’t hide anything either. Hearing this name, Xie Heng frowned, and Luo Wanqing knew this formation must have something peculiar about it, turning to look at Xie Heng: “Young Master?”

“There are only two ways to exit the mandarin duck life-and-death formation. The first method is to calculate every step of its life path and walk out without activating the formation.” Xie Heng pondered, speaking slowly. “Once activated, this formation splits into yin and yang formations—yin formation death, yang formation life. When the dead in the yin formation are greater than or equal to the number of dead in the yang formation, the yang formation will open.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt a chill in her heart.

She unconsciously gripped her knife hilt. Li Guiyu seemed to understand her thoughts, turning to look at her with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “It is a good place for killing.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: “Xie Heng, a small dragon male designed for women.”

Xie Heng: “Why do you say this?”

Luo Wanqing: “Normal people don’t sleep in trees.”