◎Li Guiyu’s Confession◎

Listening to their conversation, Luo Wanqing really wanted to ask more, but since Cui Heng had interrupted, he clearly didn’t want her to ask. So she could only suppress her desire to pursue the matter and wait for Cui Heng to bid farewell to Xie Minsheng before following him out.

As soon as they stepped outside, Luo Wanqing was about to speak: “I…”

“Finally you’re out!”

Before she could finish, Cui Heng and Xing Ling, who had been waiting at the door, immediately approached. Luo Wanqing’s voice stopped abruptly. Cui Heng glanced at the room and asked curiously: “What did he keep you for?”

“Nothing important.”

Xie Heng didn’t answer him. Seeing people had come, Luo Wanqing couldn’t speak either. She only heard Xie Heng ask: “Where’s Xie Qing?”

“I sent him away,” Cui Heng looked around and lowered his voice, “Let’s go back to the courtyard first.”

Xie Heng nodded, and the four returned to the courtyard together.

Luo Wanqing remained silent all the way. Once back in the courtyard with the gate closed, Cui Heng immediately looked at Xie Heng and asked the question that also puzzled Luo Wanqing: “Is Zhao Bing at the Supervision Department?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak, only lowering his head to make tea while instructing Xing Ling beside him: “Xing Ling, go to the kitchen and get meal boxes.”

Hearing this, Xing Ling lowered her eyes and said quietly: “Yes.”

After Xing Ling left, Cui Heng frowned: “Is it really necessary for you to be so guarded against her?”

“Rules are rules. She’s not at the level to hear these things yet.”

Luo Wanqing had entered the Dark Pavilion and received missions – he couldn’t make exceptions for Xing Ling.

Cui Heng understood Xie Heng’s meaning and didn’t say more, only saying: “Alright, but first tell me clearly – what’s the deal with Zhao Bing?”

Xie Heng handed the tea to Luo Wanqing, then pushed another cup in front of Cui Heng, saying casually: “He’s in my custody.”

“You falsified his death report?” Cui Heng frowned.

Xie Heng responded: “Mm.”

“Why?”

“The Eastern Palace Six Rates became famous from the Battle of Heyu Pass, and Qingyun Ferry has old grievances. Shouldn’t I question him?” Xie Heng answered lightly, making Cui Heng speechless.

After thinking for a moment, Cui Heng said: “So you targeted him early on? You made all those rounds with His Majesty, using the Eastern Palace Six Rates’ incorporation into the North Four Armies as bait – was it all for this?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but glance at Cui Heng. His expression unchanged, he only said: “Partly.”

“So you learned from Zhao Bing early on that Heyu Pass used civilian corpses to claim military merit. When you heard these northwestern soldiers talking about distributing clothes, you understood what happened and knew they were Wang family people?”

“Mm.”

Understanding the situation, Cui Heng fell completely silent. He seemed unable to accept it, thinking for a long time before saying: “How dare they.”

“Why wouldn’t they dare?”

Xie Heng lowered his eyes to drink tea: “They won, didn’t they?”

The Noble Consort became Empress, the prince became Crown Prince, the unknown garrison commander became famous at Heyu Pass and became a high official controlling the Eastern Palace Six Rates, and the Wang family leaped to become the unrivaled noble clan in court.

They won so completely. Facing such grand glory and wealth, why wouldn’t they dare?

Cui Heng understood Xie Heng’s meaning. He listened quietly without speaking.

After a long while, he suppressed his emotions and tried to speak calmly: “Xie Minsheng doesn’t seem right. Tomorrow he probably wants to die together with those people. Should we leave some alive?”

“Today, go find Fang Hu’s family, tie up Zhao Zhuang, and after greeting Xie Minsheng, send them off Flowing Wind Island together. Tomorrow Zhuque should bring people in,” Xie Heng looked up to remind him, “Don’t send them too early and alert them. Leave when dawn approaches.”

“Understood.” Cui Heng nodded.

Xie Heng thought and continued: “Li Guiyu is still on the island. They must have discussed a backup plan with Xie Minran and are hiding, waiting for Xie Minran to appear. Everyone be careful today. Try not to appear alone in sparsely populated areas, especially not in watchtower blind spots.”

“I know.” Cui Heng stood up: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go find Fang Hu’s family first, then see if there are other ordinary people on the island who need to be sent away.”

“Mm.” Xie Heng nodded: “You and Xing Ling go together.”

“Alright.”

Cui Heng turned and headed out.

After Cui Heng left, Xie Heng turned to look at Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing looked at him and discussed: “I want to find Zhao Zhuang and question him again.”

Cui Heng didn’t immediately respond. Luo Wanqing explained: “Today Zhao Zhuang said Jiang Fengwan died…”

“Does it matter?”

Cui Heng looked up at her. Luo Wanqing was stunned. Cui Heng turned to look out the window, deliberately slowing his voice: “Everyone’s medicine is almost used up. Prepare more for everyone. I’ll take people to find Xiang Sizi first. Don’t wander around. After getting the medicine,” he paused, then looked at her, “don’t leave this courtyard.”

Luo Wanqing’s expression became stern, realizing Cui Heng didn’t intend to let her ask about this matter.

She didn’t understand why he was stopping her. Cui Heng, seeing her silence, asked again: “Is that okay?”

“Fine.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes and agreed quietly.

Hearing her agreement, Cui Heng’s expression softened. He stood up: “Then I’m leaving.”

“Mm.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t see him off. Cui Heng walked out on his own, then suddenly stopped. After thinking, he turned back and seemed to joke: “Speaking of which, though it’s fake, tomorrow will be my first time getting married. Xiniang,” Cui Heng’s eyes held some expectation, “prepare well.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was stunned. Cui Heng smiled and turned to leave.

Luo Wanqing stood there, taking a long time to react – Cui Heng had expectations for tomorrow.

He seemed to care about tomorrow’s wedding.

But Luo Wanqing didn’t dare think about whether he truly cared.

After all, this was just a deception to get up Xueling Mountain. Someone like Cui Heng should understand this clearly.

And moreover…

Zhao Bing wasn’t dead.

Luo Wanqing recalled this head of the Eastern Palace Six Rates. When she killed her way from Purple Cloud Mountain to the court, Zhao Bing had been blocked by Cui Heng and thrown into the river.

She had always thought this person was dead, and the Supervision Department had always reported it as such.

But he wasn’t dead.

And Cui Heng had never told her.

She had always thought Xie Heng wanted to kill the Eastern Palace Six Rates to break the Wang family’s control over the Six Rates Army, thought Cui Heng wanted to kill the Eastern Palace Six Rates to avenge the Qingyun Ferry siege.

But now she discovered she had thought too simply.

Cui Heng wanted the Eastern Palace Six Rates because they had been garrison commanders at Heyu Pass. He targeted the Eastern Palace Six Rates – it was never by chance.

He was so similar to Xie Heng, like a top chess master. You couldn’t see through his every move. When you thought this move was to capture a certain piece, looking back, you discovered he aimed for much more.

He was far more complex than she imagined, with deeper schemes.

And today, why didn’t he want her to pursue Li Guiyu’s matter with her father?

Was it because of jealousy?

Or… did he have other plans?

Luo Wanqing couldn’t understand for a moment, feeling countless questions swirling in her mind.

It had always been said the item was in her father’s hands, but why did this item end up in Flowing Wind Island’s mechanism core?

What was her father’s relationship with Flowing Wind Island? Had her father been to Flowing Wind Island?

Was that item really related to her father?

Everyone thought the item was related to her father because his movements were unusual, arriving in Jiangnan at just that time. But now it seemed Flowing Wind Island was built with Xiang Sizi’s participation, the item was taken from Zhang Qiuzhi by Xiang Sizi, and placed in Flowing Wind Island’s mechanism core by Xiang Sizi and Xie Minsheng together. Her father never appeared throughout – what did this item have to do with her father?

What need did her father have to come to Jiangnan?

And Li Guiyu…

Why exactly did Li Guiyu kill her father, and how did he reach this point?

She had to ask these questions.

She couldn’t become another Zhang Jiuran, couldn’t seek revenge in confusion.

Cui Heng wouldn’t let her go, and she didn’t want to conflict with him directly, so she’d go ask herself.

But Cui Heng was right – tomorrow’s timing was tight, and she needed to prepare medicine for everyone first.

Thinking this, Luo Wanqing went to the medicine room first.

The Supervision Department’s common medicines were wound medicines and poisons. Away from headquarters, they couldn’t compare to specially made medicines, but they were adequate.

She gathered common medicines, ground them into powder, made pills, and bottled them. By the time she finished, it was already midnight.

Light rain had started at night, but Cui Heng and the others hadn’t returned yet. The entire small courtyard was empty and quiet, unnaturally so.

Seeing everything was prepared, Luo Wanqing took an umbrella and pushed open the door.

After opening it, she discovered that every courtyard along the path had “double happiness” characters posted, and red lanterns hung from trees. The entire Flowing Wind Island was decorated with lights and colors, looking exceptionally festive.

But with the light rain and empty streets, this festivity carried a few traces of desolation.

Luo Wanqing looked at these happiness characters, stunned for a moment, then remembered her purpose and immediately headed toward where the guards lived.

She asked around for Zhao Zhuang’s location and went straight there.

It was just when Zhao Zhuang was changing shifts. He was hurrying back through the rain when, entering a small alley, he was suddenly attacked by a blade. Luo Wanqing slammed him against the building under the eaves, hiding in a watchtower blind spot, saying coldly: “Officer Zhao, there’s a question I forgot to ask you today.”

Zhao Zhuang, held at knifepoint, breathed rapidly and hurriedly said: “Miss… miss, please ask.”

“At the border, did you know a person?” Luo Wanqing spoke, then looked up: “His name was Luo Qushu.”

Li Guiyu was resting in a mountain cave when he heard commotion from the mountain below and slowly opened his eyes.

This was the hiding spot they had agreed upon with Xie Minran that Xie Minsheng didn’t know about. Last night, he had Wang Yunzhi find Xie Minran to discuss backup plans. If Xie Minsheng woke up, they would wait here for Xie Minran to revive.

Everything proceeded according to plan. The only unexpected thing was his injury.

Feeling the wound in his abdomen, Li Guiyu still felt pain.

That pain was like being burned by flames – long-lasting and persistent at the wound site, burning hot.

Someone outside the cave handed information to Wang Yunzhi. Li Guiyu glanced at Wang Yunzhi, propped himself up to sit, and looking at Flowing Wind Island decorated with lights and colors, couldn’t help asking: “What are they doing?”

“Preparing for a wedding banquet.”

Wang Yunzhi spoke calmly.

Li Guiyu frowned and immediately asked: “Wedding banquet? What wedding banquet?”

“News came from the island,” Wang Yunzhi handed him the note, thinking: “The item is at Flowing Wind Island’s core hub, the phoenix feather hairpin is in Ji Ruifang’s hands. The fastest way to Jirui Palace is to get permission from Jirui Palace to take the Sky Ladder up. To infiltrate Jirui Palace, they’re planning a fake marriage.”

“Who with whom?” Li Guiyu stared at Wang Yunzhi.

Wang Yunzhi paused, looked up at him with some mockery in her eyes: “Do you care about this too?”

“I asked who it is.” Li Guiyu’s tone carried a warning.

Wang Yunzhi was too lazy to elaborate and said directly: “Naturally Xie Heng and Liu Xiniang.”

Li Guiyu’s expression changed immediately. Wang Yunzhi glanced at him, turned away, and said calmly: “Don’t think about it. It has nothing to do with you anyway. Since you chose to return to the Eastern Capital, you should know you and Luo Wanqing have nothing to do with each other anymore.”

Li Guiyu held the note, momentarily unable to speak.

Wang Yunzhi looked down the mountain and said lightly: “People can’t have everything. Since you’re unwilling to stay in Yangzhou, don’t always think about the past. If you truly pledge yourself to the Wang family, the Wang family naturally won’t treat you poorly. But in the future,” Wang Yunzhi glanced at him, “forget the past. Consider Jiang Shaoyan dead. You can’t have everything – your attitude isn’t good. You must let go of something.”

Li Guiyu didn’t speak. Listening to Wang Yunzhi’s words, his breathing became somewhat rapid.

Seeing something was wrong, Elder Zhang, nearby, quickly said: “Your Highness, let me help you rest.”

With that, Elder Zhang signaled to Zitang, and the two quickly came forward to help Li Guiyu rest in a small cave to the side.

Li Guiyu had just sat down when he urgently looked up at Elder Zhang: “She’s getting married.”

“That’s fake.” Elder Zhang immediately comforted him seriously: “Your Highness, that’s just an expedient – it’s fake!”

“That’s Cui Heng!” Li Guiyu spoke urgently, his abdominal wound immediately showing blood. He stared at Elder Zhang anxiously: “She tried to kill me for him. Elder Zhang, that’s Cui Heng. They’re getting married tomorrow!”

Elder Zhang was momentarily speechless. Beside him, Zitang whispered: “Elder Zhang, His Highness probably isn’t clear-headed yet.”

“Your Highness.” Elder Zhang looked at Li Guiyu’s expression with some sadness.

Elder Zhang knew all too well about Li Guiyu and Luo Wanqing’s situation.

He had accompanied Li Guiyu since childhood, chased Li Guiyu to Jiangnan, and lived incognito in the Luo family for Li Guiyu’s sake. He understood Li Guiyu’s feelings better than anyone.

He looked at the person before him, showing rare pleading eyes, knowing what Li Guiyu wanted to do. But he could only take out Five Stone Powder from his sleeve and say gently: “Take some more, sleep, and tomorrow when Xie Minran wakes up according to plan, everything will be fine.”

Li Guiyu looked at Elder Zhang’s expression and turned away in a daze.

He looked at the Five Stone Powder with some confusion.

“Your Highness,” Elder Zhang tentatively offered the Five Stone Powder, “Please take some?”

“Do you know what you’re saying?”

Li Guiyu looked at Elder Zhang blankly. Elder Zhang paused. Li Guiyu reminded him: “If I take any more today, I might die.”

“Your Highness is overthinking,” Elder Zhang quickly said, “This time I specially had the Five Stone Powder purified. With Your Highness’s constitution, taking a little more should be fine.”

“Should be? What do you mean ‘should be’?” Li Guiyu persisted, then realized: “Why do you want me to take Five Stone Powder?”

“Your Highness!” Seeing Li Guiyu’s unclear state of mind, Elder Zhang immediately said, “The bigger picture is important. A mere Luo Wanqing isn’t worth mentioning. You must not risk yourself or act outside the plan. You are of noble bearing and will surely ascend the throne in the future. We’ve followed Your Highness this far – please don’t disappoint our expectations!”

Li Guiyu didn’t speak. He looked one by one at the eyes of those around him. They all looked at him nervously, but not one stepped forward to take away the Five Stone Powder from Elder Zhang’s hand.

In that instant, he suddenly remembered how Luo Wanqing had resolutely pushed away the Five Stone Powder in prison.

He knew that if Luo Wanqing were here, she would take away the Five Stone Powder.

Whether it was Luo Wanqing or Luo Qushu, they would never give him such things.

They would only give him a mooncake on Mid-Autumn Festival and tell him not to force himself. They were like a clear moon, always hoping he would walk the right path.

He had never felt so clear-headed.

What was he seeking?

What was he doing?

Noble bearing, ascending the throne, revenge, the pinnacle of ten thousand people – did it matter?

Thinking of that tomb-like Wang residence, thinking of the heavy rain the day news of Luo Wanqing’s death came, thinking of the two people running hand in hand through the long street under fireworks in the Eastern Capital, thinking of the mooncake Luo Wanqing had given him that Mid-Autumn night.

If he had never obtained it, perhaps he could still endure. But having walked this path, how could he let go?

If he let go, even a poisoned mooncake…

He would never get it again.

Li Guiyu slowly smiled.

“I understand,” he seemed to make some decision, softening his voice and instructing gently: “I won’t use the Five Stone Powder anymore. Let me rest alone for a while.”

Seeing Li Guiyu calm down, everyone exchanged nervous glances but didn’t move.

Li Guiyu’s face darkened as he shouted angrily: “Get out!”

Hearing his angry voice, everyone immediately retreated.

After they left, Li Guiyu gripped his sword and hurriedly stood up.

Miss.

He covered his wound and rushed into the rain.

Only one thing filled his mind.

He couldn’t let her leave again.

Miss.

As he frantically ran downward, Luo Wanqing held a blade to Zhao Zhuang’s neck, reminding: “Have you heard the name Luo Qushu at the border?”

“I have!” Feeling the blade cut his skin, Zhao Zhuang hurriedly said: “I’ve heard of him.”

“What did he do?”

Luo Wanqing had a vague sense, and Zhao Zhuang recalled, digging through all his memories: “He… he was very capable. His archery was excellent, he shot several enemy generals, and was highly regarded.”

“What else?”

“Also… also…”

Zhao Zhuang kept recalling, then suddenly remembered: “He killed Jiang Fengwan!”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing gripped the blade tightly and shouted: “Say it again?!”

“He…” Zhao Zhuang was frightened and stammered: “He… he shot and killed Jiang Fengwan.”

“Why?” Luo Wanqing didn’t understand and asked urgently: “Why kill him? Wasn’t Jiang Fengwan rescuing Li Guiyu back to the city? Why would he kill him?”

“I don’t know.”

Zhao Zhuang hurriedly shook his head: “I’m not clear either. I know the enemy tortured His Highness for three days, but His Highness didn’t say a word. General Cui wouldn’t open the gates either. The enemy probably lost interest and suddenly said that if the city gates still weren’t opened, they’d kill the Third Prince as a sacrifice to heaven before storming the city. That’s when Jiang Fengwan suddenly charged out. He rescued the Third Prince alone. When General Cui saw this, he quickly opened the city gates. General Cui personally went out to bring the Third Prince back to the city. Jiang Fengwan held off the enemy until the very last moment.”

Zhao Zhuang continued with some pity in his eyes: “After the Third Prince entered the city, he wanted to go back and save people, but he was too severely injured. Everyone held him back. Jiang Fengwan was just outside, not far away. He knelt and begged General Cui not to close the city gates. But everyone was afraid,” Zhao Zhuang said with difficulty, “Everyone feared something would go wrong. Everyone wanted to close the gates, but General Cui was still hesitating. Just at that moment…”

“Luo Qushu shot and killed Jiang Fengwan.”

Luo Wanqing listened to Zhao Zhuang’s words and suddenly understood.

Why did Li Guiyu so desperately want to kill her father?

Why he never regretted it, never felt he was wrong.

“What happened then?”

She asked with difficulty. Zhao Zhuang said quietly: “Then, then the Third Prince fainted. I don’t know what happened after that. I was rushing back to notify the Wang family. I only heard before leaving that the Third Prince wanted to kill Luo Qushu, and Luo Qushu was demoted back to the Eastern Capital. I don’t know anything after that.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say, only feeling her heart was like sinking in mercury, impermeable and painful.

She tried hard to control her emotions and asked with difficulty: “What else?”

“Nothing more!”

Hearing this, Zhao Zhuang immediately waved his hands: “Really, nothing more. I wasn’t familiar with him. Sir, I’ve said everything I can. Please spare my life…”

Luo Wanqing stared at him without immediately speaking.

Zhao Zhuang was so scared he almost cried: “Sir…”

Hearing his crying voice, Luo Wanqing finally reacted.

“Go.”

Knowing she couldn’t get more information and having no intention of making things difficult for him, Luo Wanqing moved the blade away. Zhao Zhuang immediately stumbled away.

After Zhao Zhuang left, Luo Wanqing stood alone in the alley, suddenly not knowing where to go.

For a moment, I didn’t know where to go.

Her father had killed Li Guiyu’s master first.

She stepped out from under the eaves, feeling the fine rain hitting her face.

Inexplicably, she thought of a year when she and Jiang Shaoyan had fought, and Jiang Shaoyan knelt at the door while she refused to see him. Her father came in to persuade her.

“Wanqing, Shaoyan is a good child. Please forgive him.”

“He’s not easy,” her father’s words still rang in her ears, sighing as he patted her shoulder, “but he’s a good person. In the future, even if he does excessive things, if you can forgive him, please do.”

Forgive him.

But how to forgive?

What he did was far beyond just “excessive.”

He wasn’t the child in Luo Qushu’s eyes. He was more ruthless and decisive than Luo Qushu had imagined.

She gripped her blade and walked out of the long alley, feeling someone blocking her path.

She looked up to see Li Guiyu standing not far away.

He wore black robes, standing in the rain, looking at her. The fine rain had soaked through his clothes, which clung to his body, vaguely resembling how he used to wear training clothes.

They looked at each other quietly. Luo Wanqing, seeing his expression, knew he must have been there for some time.

He should have heard everything.

Neither spoke. After a long while, Luo Wanqing said calmly, “My father always told me you were very good, a very good person. He said I should be more accommodating to you, be better to you, and spend more time with you. I always felt he favored you too much, but I thought he was right. In my heart, you were always very good, a very good person. Then I discovered that the Jiang Shaoyan of the past was even better than I thought.”

Li Guiyu’s eyelashes trembled as he said hoarsely: “Miss…”

“You were willing to give up your honor to become a hostage for the country. When being humiliated, you could remain silent for the sake of national dignity. From the past to the end, no matter what you did, my father probably always firmly believed you were that prince who went to the frontier as a hostage for the country.”

“Stop talking…”

“So I don’t understand,” Luo Wanqing stepped forward, staring at him intently, “I can’t understand how such a good person could do these things. Why would you frame my family, force my father to death, throw me in prison without a care, watch my family be exiled, never saying an extra word even unto death? I don’t understand. I’m not reconciled. I climbed up step by step, no matter how much it hurt, I had to climb before you. I wanted you to regret, to know you were wrong, to kneel at my father’s grave and apologize to him. But then you all tell me it was my father who killed your master first—”

Luo Wanqing’s voice stopped. She tried hard to control herself from letting tears fall: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

She couldn’t help saying: “If you had told me earlier, I might not have hated you so much. Now you make me feel like a clown. What are you hiding for – afraid I’d be hurt?”

“No.” Li Guiyu interrupted her. He looked at her seriously: “I want you to hate me.”

Luo Wanqing paused, suddenly realizing something.

She watched Li Guiyu look at her with reddened eyes, carrying some obsessive command: “I want you to hate me, I want you to always care about me, to put me first, not to love others, to forever hate only me. You should hate me forever, just like I hate you.”

Luo Wanqing listened to his words and looked at him in disbelief.

In that instant, she suddenly remembered that he had never directly said he liked her.

But he had said “hate” countless times.

He said he wanted her to hate him, but every time the emphasis was on remembering him, caring about him.

“What you want isn’t hate, is it?”

She blurted out.

Li Guiyu didn’t speak, but tears trembled and fell from his eyes in that instant.

Luo Wanqing understood immediately and said incredulously, “You want love.”

Li Guiyu covered the wound she had given him, not daring to answer.

“But I can’t give it.”

Realizing what Li Guiyu sought, Luo Wanqing smiled and spoke vindictively, word by word: “You killed my father, you destroyed my family, you forced me to this point. How could I possibly give you love?”

“You can.” Hearing her say this, Li Guiyu smiled and desperately refuted: “I can.”

Luo Wanqing frowned, looking at him in confusion: “What?”

“Look,” Li Guiyu spoke calmly and gently, “your father killed my master, killed the only person in this world who was unconditionally good to me, right outside the city gates, three zhang away. Just a little more and my master could have come in—”

Li Guiyu’s voice paused, then his lips trembled slightly as he smiled bitterly: “But I still love you.”

Luo Wanqing’s eyes widened in shock.

She watched his tears fall as he cried and smiled: “Do you know why Luo Qushu knew who I was and what I wanted to do, yet still adopted me?”

Without waiting for Luo Wanqing to answer, he told her, “Because he thought he could move me, so he put me by your side. He wanted to use you, use your family to corrupt me, to defeat me, thinking this way I could give your family a way out.”

“You think of him like this?”

“Isn’t that so?” Li Guiyu smiled mockingly: “Otherwise, why would he dare save me, his enemy? It’s because he knew he could influence me. I knew his plot, so every day I was with you, I told myself never to let him succeed.”

Li Guiyu’s tone became agitated: “I wanted to always remember what he did. I wanted to make him suffer, make him despair. I wanted everyone related to him to experience the pain I went through. So I should have killed you, I should have hated you, I should have made you follow Luo Qushu into hell together. I should have made you suffer as much as I suffered. I should have done this, but I couldn’t!”

He spoke as he moved forward, looking at her with water-filled eyes at the person whose face he couldn’t see clearly: “When you died on Lingnan Road, I died once. When you came back to life, I was cut by a thousand knives, countless times. Seeing injuries on you pains me, seeing you practice martial arts makes me regret, seeing you learn music, seeing you become like another person, seeing you drift further from me – I’m afraid, I’m terrified. I can’t kill you, can’t hate you, can’t love you. Knowing it’s wrong but taking wrong steps! Now I admit it.”

Li Guiyu looked at her steadily: “Since I can be wrong, why can’t you?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing suddenly realized what he was saying.

She looked at him in disbelief: “You’re crazy?”

Li Guiyu looked down into her eyes and smiled like a cornered beast: “Miss, we can’t escape each other. I can’t flee, and you can’t hide. Let’s be wrong together.”

With that, Li Guiyu paused. He looked at the person before him, remembering the full house congratulating them at their engagement, remembering the wedding dress he had seen in the room when he went to find her earlier.

He looked at the person before him, and under these happiness characters and lights throughout the street, asked abruptly: “Should we get married?”

Saying this, he suddenly felt like a butterfly released from a box, lightly spreading its wings.

No regret, no hesitation. When the words left his mouth, he knew he should have done this long ago.

He should have admitted it – wrong is wrong, so what if it’s wrong.

He liked this person. Even if it was calculated, even if they were enemies, he still wanted to like her.

Li Guiyu’s eyes lit up as if finally finding a way out: “Let’s pretend the past doesn’t exist. I’ll help you kill Zheng Pingsheng, clear your father’s name, then request an imperial decree for our marriage. I can bring back Aunt, Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, and Wenshui too—” Li Guiyu smiled: “I’ll take good care of them. We can celebrate Mid-Autumn together every year. Miss, you’ll still give me a mooncake. I’ll become Emperor, you’ll become Empress—”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was shocked and instinctively refused: “Impossible.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He looked at her shocked expression mixed with panic, suppressed the trembling pain in his heart, and squeezed out a smile as if completely unaware why she was refusing, saying urgently: “If you don’t like it, it doesn’t matter. Then I won’t seek these things. I can return to Jiangnan, just like before. I’ll be Jiang Shaoyan, Miss’s own Jiang Shaoyan.”

“Impossible!”

“Miss!” Seeing Luo Wanqing keep denying, Li Guiyu couldn’t help but raise his voice. His eyes filled with the past held nothing but pleading, making Luo Wanqing freeze.

In that instant, she saw not Li Guiyu.

It was the youth under the corridor who folded grasshoppers for her, who carved the little cats she liked under lamplight, helped her with the embroidery homework her mother had assigned, accompanied her boating across the clear stream reflecting brilliant stars, listening to music and consulting doctors, spending five years – Jiang Shaoyan.

She stared blankly at him, hearing his hoarse voice: “Take Shaoyan home.”

Luo Wanqing looked at him in confusion. Li Guiyu slowly approached: “I can’t find the way back,” he gripped her wrist, “take me away.”

Take him away.

Take him back to the best time of his life.

He had struggled, tried to escape. He couldn’t get away. Since he couldn’t escape—

Then go back.

So what if her father killed his master? He had also killed her father. Both were blood feuds. Everyone was already dead – why couldn’t they be together?

If it was wrong, then let it be wrong. Yellow Springs and azure skies, hell and burning – he would go with her.

This thought made him feel intoxicated. He looked at her obsessively.

Miss.

She had returned, his miss.

If he had never lost her, if she had never come back, if he had never experienced the companionship after loss and recovery, if he had never seen her brilliant with a blade, he might never have known how important those five years were.

“Miss…”

“Xiniang.”

Two voices rang out simultaneously. Luo Wanqing suddenly came to her senses, jerked her hand back, and quickly retreated half a step before looking up at the newcomer.

At the end of the long alley, a young man in blue robes held a black umbrella. Rain beads fell from the umbrella’s edge like a curtain of pearls, separating him from them.

He stood motionless, unknown how long he had been there. His gaze was too calm, without the slightest emotion.

This kind of Cui Heng was too unfamiliar. Luo Wanqing instantly felt panicked. She instinctively felt she should say something, but couldn’t think where to begin.

But before she could think of an explanation, he took the first step forward.

He asked nothing, only quietly walked to her side and handed her the umbrella.

The umbrella blocked the surrounding rain, isolating her with warmth from everything else. He draped his warm outer garment over her, then took the umbrella and, as if he hadn’t seen Li Guiyu at all, took her hand and said calmly: “Let’s go.”

The two walked hand in hand past Li Guiyu. Li Guiyu stood in the rain and suddenly called out: “Miss.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t acknowledge him. She followed Cui Heng forward, then heard him say: “Before dawn tomorrow, at the island’s departure dock, I’ll wait for you there. As long as you come, kill me or want me—”

Li Guiyu looked up at her retreating figure being led away: “Either is fine.”

Luo Wanqing’s steps almost faltered, but Cui Heng didn’t give her the chance.

He pulled her forward, forcefully and firmly compelling her to move ahead.

“Don’t you want a resolution? You and I must have a resolution. Tomorrow I’ll wait for you, Miss. You must remember—”

As they spoke, Luo Wanqing followed Cui Heng out of the alley, immediately seeing the entrance packed with people. As soon as they emerged, Xing Ling, Xie Qing and others swarmed in.

“You said you would always like me.”

Li Guiyu’s voice came from behind: “You said you would always stay with me.”

“Miss,” fighting sounds came from inside, and Li Guiyu raised his voice: “You were the first to say you’d take me home!”

These words made Luo Wanqing’s hand tremble. Cui Heng gripped her tightly.

He dragged her forward.

“Don’t listen, don’t look, don’t turn back. Xiniang,” his voice was calm, “walk forward.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: “After harming me for 110 chapters, you suddenly say you like me. You scared me silly.”

Li Guiyu: “I didn’t say it. I hate you. I just want you to hate me like I hate you.”

Xie Heng: “That’s good then. Otherwise, I’ve been chasing my wife for 110 chapters, and you suddenly say you like her and want to reform – that would scare me more.”

Li Guiyu: “…”

Xie Heng: “It’s good that you keep being stubborn. It’s less threatening to me. Keep it up.”

Li Guiyu: “Miss!! I like you!!!”

Luo Wanqing: “I thought you were pretty stubborn…”

Xie Heng: “Hmph, pathetic. When it comes to being hard, it’s still me. Hard mouth, harder body!”