◎Xie Heng awakens, interrogating Xiang Sizi◎

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing picked up a cup from nearby. Her expression remained unchanged as she suppressed her emotions and said, “How so?”

“I looked at Luo Qushu’s case files. The testimonies are extremely complete—from the salt merchant upstream, to the workers who helped him store salt, to the shopkeeper who helped him sell salt—all their testimonies are there. Plus, salt was found in his home, so the evidence seems to match up. But there’s one problem—”

Luo Wanqing turned to look at him. Zhang Yiran thought carefully and said, “It’s too complete.”

“Hm?”

Luo Wanqing finally showed some curiosity: “What do you mean?”

“I’ve seen many case files at the Censorate,” Zhang Yiran explained carefully. “But human memory comes first. Though testimonies exist, details aren’t necessarily complete, and there might even be slight conflicts. But the testimonies in Luo Qushu’s case are too detailed. The salt merchant could clearly remember what time, what trading location, how much he sold, and how they specifically negotiated. The warehouse keeper could clearly remember every detail of transporting the salt in. The salt-selling shopkeeper remembered all the amounts of salt sold. This doesn’t look like normal testimony at all—it’s more like a seamlessly constructed story that was carefully memorized.”

Listening to Zhang Yiran’s words, Luo Wanqing’s heart pounded.

But she knew that wrongful convictions couldn’t be flawless—there had to be traces to follow. The difficulty of her family’s case was never in being hard to investigate, but in “not daring to investigate.”

Otherwise, when she had already brought it before Xie Heng, if it could be investigated, why wait until today for Zhang Yiran to investigate?

She drank some water, her heart gradually cooling as she said calmly: “If Luo Qushu’s case is wrongful, what does it have to do with your father?”

“Naturally, there’s a connection,” Zhang Yiran considered. “My father was the escort, and Luo Qushu was the recipient. Both died together, probably for this item, so the murderer is likely the same person. If I can clarify the cause and effect of Luo Qushu’s case, perhaps I can also discover clues to my father’s case.”

“Then… that’s not necessary.”

Luo Wanqing said carefully, “I have other leads on Fengyu Pavilion. Your father’s case has little relation to Luo Qushu’s case. You don’t need to focus on Luo Qushu’s case.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran paused, seeming somewhat surprised.

Luo Wanqing looked up questioningly: “Minister Zhang?”

“This might be a wrongful conviction.”

Zhang Yiran reminded Luo Wanqing. Luo Wanqing blinked, not quite understanding Zhang Yiran’s meaning: “So what does Minister Zhang mean?”

“Since it’s a wrongful conviction,” Zhang Yiran frowned, “how can I not investigate?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. She stared steadily at Zhang Yiran’s gaze. For some reason, she was moved by this one sentence.

She was silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly: “You’re right.”

“Chief Liu also thinks…”

“This case does seem to have problems indeed. I’m also very interested.” Luo Wanqing interrupted Zhang Yiran, saying gently: “If Minister Zhang is convenient, could you bring the case files for me to see?”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran looked confused. Luo Wanqing patiently explained: “After all, I’m from the Supervision Department. If this case truly has problems, I can apply to open a case. It’s simpler for me to investigate than for Minister Zhang.”

Then Luo Wanqing smiled: “Since joining the Supervision Department, I haven’t opened my case yet. Please give me a chance to make merit by letting me have this case.”

“Chief Liu is joking.” Zhang Yiran reacted, understanding that Luo Wanqing wanted to get involved, and said hurriedly: “If Chief Liu is willing to handle this matter, that would be perfect. The case files are with me. I can bring them tomorrow. I just don’t know if…”

“It’s convenient.”

Luo Wanqing immediately said, “Minister Zhang can come anytime. I’m always available.”

“Good.”

Zhang Yiran said, immediately nodding: “Then I’ll deliver them tomorrow.”

After they finished talking, it became somewhat awkward. Zhang Yiran thought for a moment, then said slowly: “Well… I just came to see how you’re doing. Now that I’ve seen you, if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first.”

Luo Wanqing nodded to see him off. Zhang Yiran got up to take his leave. As he walked out, after a few steps, he suddenly stopped. After thinking, he turned back to look at Luo Wanqing and said slowly: “That… I heard about Shadow Envoy Cui’s matter.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. Zhang Yiran pressed his lips and said, “Please accept my condolences and look forward.”

“Mm.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, saying softly: “I know.”

Seeing her expression was calm, Zhang Yiran finally felt relieved and bowed before leaving.

After Zhang Yiran left, Luo Wanqing returned to her bed. Thinking about Zhang Yiran’s earlier words, she felt restless.

She hadn’t expected Zhang Yiran to focus on this case, nor that Zhang Yiran would investigate it. Seeing Zhang Yiran like this, she couldn’t help wondering what the outcome would have been if Zhang Yiran had been there initially, if she had sought help from Zhang Yiran.

It would only have harmed both others and herself, getting Zhang Yiran killed along with her.

With this thought, she knew the result and understood that meeting Xie Heng was already her best choice and outcome.

This case couldn’t be investigated even today, even by Zhang Yiran. If he continued investigating, it would only bring him trouble. Better to hand it over to her—whatever the outcome should be, she would settle it with her own hands.

As for Xie Heng…

Luo Wanqing remembered the notice she had seen in the crowd in Lingnan, finally becoming acutely aware that he was Xie Heng.

That Xie Heng, who was destined to die by a thousand cuts in her dream.

In the past when she thought about this, she always felt it was far from her, that this was Xie Heng’s destined path.

But now she understood that Xie Heng, like her family members, was someone whose fate she had to reverse.

She couldn’t let him walk the old path. Though she hadn’t been able to save Zhang Jiuran, she had to save Xie Heng. Just as she could let her family live peacefully now, she had to give Xie Heng a way to live.

Luo Wanqing got up and walked to the desk, taking out paper and brush. For the first time, she tried hard to think of all the information about Xie Heng from that dream.

But there was too little.

In that dream, she and Xie Heng had almost no interaction.

All their connection came from content she learned incidentally while inquiring about Li Guiyu.

In that dream, from the news she heard in Lingnan, after Li Guiyu returned to court, he soon married Zheng Biyue, gaining the support of the Zheng family. Later, with Xie Heng’s help, he brought down the Crown Prince. In the summer of Changshun’s fifteenth year, His Majesty passed away, and Li Guiyu ascended the throne with Xie Heng’s assistance.

When he ascended, a palace coup occurred, destroying the Wang clan. Afterward, he promulgated the “Great Xia Code,” and Xie Heng was the first high official to be tried according to the “Great Xia Code.”

Now that she had come to Dongdu, many things had changed. Zheng Biyue hadn’t married Li Guiyu, and Xie Heng hadn’t allied with Li Guiyu. But…

Xie Heng’s charges hadn’t changed.

She wrote down all the charges she remembered stroke by stroke, then thought about the real purposes behind these charges.

He killed the Crown Prince to clear the Qin family’s name while dismantling the Wang clan’s power.

Framing the Eastern Palace Six Rates was also to reduce the Wang family’s control over Dongdu’s military power while obtaining testimony from Zhao Bing, who had been stationed at Heyu Pass.

Massacring five hundred people on Liufeng Island was to avenge the common people of Heyu Pass…

All of Xie Heng’s charges essentially revolved around clearing the Cui clan’s name and seeking revenge.

But in the previous life, the Cui clan…

It was never cleared.

Luo Wanqing froze while holding her brush, suddenly realizing that in the previous life, Xie Heng had done so much—he had even implemented the Great Xia Code and suffered death by a thousand cuts—yet when she died, he still hadn’t cleared the Cui clan’s name.

Why?

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the charges on the paper, suddenly having many questions. In the previous life without her, did Xie Heng know about her father’s case? Did he know about the iron box’s existence? Did he obtain the iron box?

What exactly did he die for in the previous life, and in this life, had his fate changed because of her?

Luo Wanqing thought for a long time, but the dream had too few details. She could never understand the cause of Xie Heng’s death.

Perhaps this cause hadn’t appeared yet, but what was certain was that he was currently walking forward along the path of the previous life.

These charges weren’t charges—they were Xie Heng’s fate.

And what she had to do was change this fate.

She couldn’t let these things become his crimes. What he hadn’t accomplished in the previous life, she would do.

The Cui clan wasn’t cleared—she would achieve their vindication.

Xie Heng died by a thousand cuts—she would give him a perfect life.

These charges were his crimes, but they were also hers.

When at wit’s end…

Luo Wanqing stared at the writing on the paper, suddenly realizing—she had always felt that Xie Heng was forcing her to push him toward his fate of death, so she resented him for it. It was only because his life was too bitter that she had to sympathize.

But at this moment, she suddenly discovered that this was Xie Heng’s lifeline.

These matters were essentially all done by her. If she could take responsibility for these crimes, Xie Heng could clear his name.

Thinking of this, her eyes became slightly moist, and she suddenly felt somewhat comforted.

She smiled and picked up her brush to continue writing down all the charges she remembered.

In the dream, she had looked too carelessly, only glancing hurriedly, and it was in a dream. Now, nearly a year later, when she recalled that dream, all the charges had become extraordinarily blurry.

What she could remember now was only “assassinating Minister of Justice Zheng Pingsheng,” “abuse of military force, bringing chaos to Sizhou,” and “plotting to harm the entire Zheng clan.”

She remembered these only because they were related to the Zheng family.

Sizhou was where the Zheng family’s main branch was located. In the previous life, for some unknown reason, after Zheng Pingsheng was assassinated in Dongdu, Xie Heng led troops to attack Sizhou and exterminate the entire Zheng clan.

She had been so happy she couldn’t sleep all night.

It was precisely because of the deterrent effect of the Zheng and Wang families’ extermination that later, whether Li Guiyu’s ascension or the implementation of the “Great Xia Code,” no major threats were encountered.

If she remembered correctly, these should be his biggest charges, but she still felt there seemed to be another extremely serious charge afterward, which she could never remember.

She sat at the desk for a long time, finally deciding to give up trying to remember.

Xie Heng was right—if someone wants to frame you, they can always find a pretext. She would no longer naively think that guilt could be judged. For him to reach that point, it must have been due to other reasons.

Rather than recalling what happened in the previous life, she might as well do more for the current Xie Heng.

Do something.

For instance, hiding their relationship, this was the greatest protection for Xie Heng.

Cui Heng was wonderful, but he had a weakness Xie Heng shouldn’t have. Especially if Li Guiyu discovered this, given his nature, it would be a fight to the death with Xie Heng.

Thinking that she had to protect Xie Heng made her want to laugh.

Someone like Xie Heng dared to think this way.

She smiled self-mockingly, lit a candle, held one corner of the paper with his charges and the timeline of future events, and placed it over the candle flame, letting the fire consume it.

The flame burned with blue fire, extinguishing his charges one by one, like devouring his life.

Luo Wanqing watched quietly. After the paper finished burning, she couldn’t help looking toward the adjacent room.

She knew Xie Heng was lying next door, but she couldn’t go directly over. When Xie Heng was severely injured, except for the Four Envoys, no one could approach him. She couldn’t either.

This realization made her feel sad for a moment. She thought for a while, decided to go out for dinner first. When she returned, she meditated on her bed until late at night. Hearing Zhuque yawning outside, she got up, climbed over the wall out of the courtyard, and caught a wild cat outside.

Luo Wanqing carried the wild cat to a nearby area, threw it onto the roof, then positioned herself on the wall closest to Xie Heng’s window.

Soon the cat started meowing. Zhuque seemed bored too. Hearing the cat, he immediately became excited and started “meow meow meowing” in conversation with the cat.

Seeing the opportunity, Luo Wanqing immediately got up. Taking advantage of Zhuque’s distraction, she controlled all her muscles and footsteps, leaping to Xie Heng’s window.

Arriving at Xie Heng’s room window, she checked around and confirmed there was only one common Supervision Department mechanism on the window. She took out Qianji to easily dismantle it, then lightly leaped inside.

The room was completely dark. The soft carpet on the floor further muffled her footsteps. She hurried to Xie Heng’s bedside, lifted the bed curtain, and saw Xie Heng hadn’t awakened yet.

Luo Wanqing suppressed her nervous heartbeat, held her breath, and placed her hand on his pulse.

Though the pulse was still very weak, it had stabilized. At least the situation was stable. Luo Wanqing felt relieved and could finally turn her gaze to his face without distraction.

In his sleep, he carried the cold aloofness that Xie Heng usually used to keep people at bay. But because he had lost much weight during this time, this coldness contained several parts of fragility, like a thin sheet of ice, crystal clear, easily shattered.

His complexion was pale, his lips not as rosy as usual. Luo Wanqing quietly watched him, her hand that had been checking his pulse involuntarily moving down to hold his hand.

The moment their palms overlapped, Luo Wanqing suddenly calmed down. The restlessness that had been clamoring in the hidden depths of her body all day suddenly disappeared. She just quietly looked at the person before her, listening to Zhuque arguing with the cat outside.

Young Master.

Cui Heng.

She silently recited his name in her heart, looking at his face, feeling these two people slowly merging on the face before her.

For a moment, she remembered the previous life in her dream, the instant she had stood in the crowd looking at the notice. Thinking this way, the handsome face before her seemed to bleed.

During her time at the Supervision Department, she had also seen similar cruel punishments like death by a thousand cuts. At this moment, she could vividly imagine the appearance of the person before her with flesh separated from bone.

Just thinking about it made her heart tighten.

She couldn’t let him die.

She looked at him calmly, holding his hand like holding her scabbard, bringing it to her lips for a gentle kiss.

Xie Heng slept very quietly, but the moment she kissed him, he seemed to sense it, his fingertips trembling lightly.

Luo Wanqing kissed the back of his hand. Hearing the cat seemed to have run away, and Zhuque calling for it to return, she knew she couldn’t stay long. She immediately withdrew her hand and got up, taking advantage of Zhuque’s inattention to silently retreat from the window.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to wipe clean the fingerprints on the window lock, being as cautious as a thief.

After seeing Xie Heng once and confirming his safety, Luo Wanqing finally felt her heart settle and had a good sleep.

After sleeping until the next day, in the morning, Cui Heng brought Wei Qianqiu to check her pulse.

Her injuries were all external wounds, not serious. After Wei Qianqiu took a simple look, he got up and left.

When only Cui Heng remained in the room, Luo Wanqing saw he wasn’t leaving and knew Cui Heng had something to say. She hesitated about the form of address before saying, “Minister Cui, is there something?”

“Oh,” Cui Heng hesitated, holding back for a while before saying: “That… you and Lingshu…”

Hearing Cui Heng’s words, Luo Wanqing guessed somewhat in her heart. After waiting a moment, she heard Cui Heng say quietly: “What’s your relationship now?”

Luo Wanqing raised her eyes and gently asked back: “Why does Minister Cui ask this?”

“Before he fainted, he had Wei Qianqiu prepare contraceptive medicine for you. You two…”

Luo Wanqing paused, suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed. Maintaining her composure on the surface, she only lowered her eyes and lied: “The situation was urgent. I transgressed against my superior to save someone. I offended Young Master.”

“Ah?” Cui Heng looked shocked, seeming unable to process this: “You transgressed?”

“Young Master was severely injured. I needed to cultivate the Yin Moon Scripture to heal him. It was an emergency measure. I hope Minister Cui and Doctor Wei will keep this secret and not spread it.”

Luo Wanqing spoke methodically. Cui Heng listened in stunned silence.

For a moment, he didn’t know how to explain to Luo Wanqing, nor was he clear about the actual situation between Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng, so he didn’t dare say much.

Seeing he couldn’t speak, Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and asked in a business-like manner: “How is Xing Ling now?”

“Oh,” hearing about Xing Ling, Cui Heng immediately said: “She’s still in the cell. Don’t worry, I’m looking after her. But after all, so many people are watching. We still need to wait for Lingshu to wake up and handle it.”

Luo Wanqing nodded. Cui Heng added, “You don’t need to worry too much about Lingshu either. He could have woken up long ago, but Qianqiu said he’s too troubled, and it’s not good for recovery if he wakes up. So now we’re keeping him asleep with medicine. When his injuries improve more, we’ll let him wake up.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, understanding that patients like Xie Heng were the most troublesome for doctors. She also agreed with Wei Qianqiu’s approach.

The two chatted casually for a while. Cui Heng probed her attitude and had other matters to handle, so he got up to leave.

Before leaving, Luo Wanqing suddenly called out to him: “Your Highness.”

Cui Heng’s movements froze. Luo Wanqing raised her eyes and said calmly, “No one likes being deceived. Take good care of Xing Ling.”

Cui Heng instantly understood what Luo Wanqing was talking about.

He had hidden the news of his death, letting Xing Ling suffer for six whole years, using six years to seek revenge for him until now. Even if there were reasons, Xing Ling’s pain was real.

Cui Heng stiffened for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said softly: “I know.”

With that, he said no more and turned to leave.

For the next two days, Luo Wanqing spent her time meditating and recuperating. Zhang Yiran would bring copies of her father’s case files to discuss the case with her.

At night, she would secretly go look at Xie Heng.

She couldn’t clearly say what she went to see, perhaps to confirm his safety, or perhaps just to see him as a person.

By the third day after she woke up, her injuries had mostly healed, and she could walk around. Zhang Yiran also brought news.

He had visited all the people who gave testimony, making final confirmations today.

“They’re all gone.” Zhang Yiran’s expression was grave. “The upstream salt merchant who testified about selling salt to him died in prison. The worker who transported salt was killed in a dispute while working on the river embankment at the beginning of this year. The shopkeeper went overseas for business and has disappeared… All related personnel—not one can come forward again.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised.

She wasn’t surprised that Zheng Pingsheng and Li Guiyu would frame her father, but to kill so many people for this case, though they were all common people—if they could kill these people so easily, why did killing her father require framing?

Her father was originally a remnant of the Cui clan. Any random reason could be used against him. Why did Zheng Pingsheng need to go through such a big circle?

Was it because her father had sheltered Li Guiyu, and if he died mysteriously, it would damage Li Guiyu’s reputation?

But dying at Zheng Pingsheng’s hands, others would suspect, too, wouldn’t they?

Luo Wanqing couldn’t figure it out for a moment and said, “Why did they want to frame Luo Qushu?”

“Who?”

Zhang Yiran instinctively asked.

Luo Wanqing didn’t answer. After thinking, she turned to Zhang Yiran: “Those who recorded testimony—Minister Zhang found them. But the customers who bought salt mentioned in the testimony, has Minister Zhang looked for them?”

“No.” Reminded by her, Zhang Yiran immediately remembered: “That shopkeeper did mention a woman who bought salt from him. I’ll go look.”

“I’ll go with Minister Zhang.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing got up.

Zhang Yiran instinctively turned back: “Your injuries?”

“No problem.”

Luo Wanqing grabbed an outer coat from nearby, putting it on as she said, “These days, I’ve recovered well enough. I need to move my muscles and bones anyway.”

Luo Wanqing spoke as she walked out: “Let’s go.”

When the two walked out of the Xie residence’s main gate, Cui Junye, Baili, Xuanshan, Zhuque, and others were all gathered around Xie Heng’s bed, nervously watching Wei Qianqiu insert needles one by one into Xie Heng’s body.

When the last silver needle was inserted into his wrist, Xie Heng coughed up a mouthful of blood, then began coughing and slowly opened his eyes with labored breathing.

“He’s awake! He’s awake!”

Zhuque called out excitedly.

Wei Qianqiu methodically began withdrawing the needles, explaining: “Young Master, the last mouthful of stagnant blood is expelled. You should be fine now.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng gasped and took a handkerchief from nearby, wiping the blood from his mouth.

He had experienced such scenes too many times. After catching his breath for a moment, he said hoarsely: “Where is Liu Xiniang?”

“Chief Liu is fine. She woke up three days ago and can move freely today.”

Xuanshan answered calmly. Without needing Xie Heng to ask more, he began reporting: “Young Master, you’ve been asleep for five days. Currently, Minister Cui and Zhuque are both fine. The phoenix feather hairpin has been found. Ji Ruifang has been captured but remains unconscious. Xiang Sizi and Qinglu are safe and awaiting trial. Xing Ling has been imprisoned. Qingya sent word from Dongdu that the Third Prince has returned to Dongdu. Besides that, all is well in Dongdu.”

Xie Heng closed his eyes. Hearing she was safe, he finally felt at ease. Supported by Zhuque to sit up, he took water from Baili and said calmly: “Elaborate.”

“I’ll do it.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng quickly said: “I’m more familiar with these matters than Xuanshan. Let me tell you!”

Then Cui Heng began detailing the Supervision Department’s movements from when he fell into the water.

“As soon as you fell, Liu Xiniang became desperate, jumping right after you…”

“I told you to talk about important matters.”

Hearing this opening, Xie Heng’s heart jumped. His originally suppressed emotions were instantly stirred by Cui Heng. He controlled his impulse to see her and emphasized: “Talk about the urgent matters first.”

Cui Heng’s enthusiasm was dampened, and he deflated, having to honestly recount everything Xie Heng didn’t know.

Xie Heng listened as he carefully described how Luo Wanqing alone entered Snow Spirit Mountain to draw maps and kill people, then entered Jirui Palace to rescue people.

He heard how he negotiated with Ji Ruifang, taking the iron box to find Ji Ruifang, and how after entering, the valley passage was destroyed by explosions on both sides, burying the passage with earth.

He heard how Xing Ling came back to rescue him and Zhuque, and during their escape, they were pulled up by Xiang Sizi and Qinglu in the ventilation passages, avoiding disaster until Xuanshan led people into the valley…

After listening for a long time and confirming no details were missed, Xie Heng turned to Wei Qianqiu: “Can Ji Ruifang wake up?”

“At most two days.”

Xie Heng nodded, then said: “Then arrange for Xing Ling to be tried first tomorrow. After Ji Ruifang wakes up, try her together with Xiang Sizi.”

“Yes.”

After giving instructions on official matters, Xie Heng waved for everyone to leave, keeping only Cui Heng by his side.

Cui Heng was somewhat confused: “Why are you keeping me alone?”

“The words you were interrupted from saying earlier.” Xie Heng raised his eyes. “You can speak now. In detail.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng snorted coldly and stood up: “I won’t tell you now. If you want to know, ask yourself!”

Xie Heng nodded at this, not too concerned, only saying: “Fine. Where is she?”

“Oh,” mentioning this, Cui Heng seemed somewhat happy. He didn’t leave and turned around: “Chief Liu went out today.”

Xie Heng’s expression didn’t change as he opened a report. Cui Heng revealed a gleeful smile and reminded, “She went with Minister Zhang.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng’s movements stiffened as he looked up coldly.

Cui Heng crossed his arms and smiled: “Chief Liu said you two have no relationship. She was just afraid you’d die and wanted to cultivate the Yin Moon Scripture with you to save your life. Now that you’re alive and kicking, do you think she still cares about you?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak, only gripping the report in his hand tightly.

Cui Heng curiously observed him: “Why no reaction? You knew already?”

“If you dare ask her such things again,” after a long time, Xie Heng finally looked down and spoke with restraint, “go soak in the lake yourself and don’t come up.”

Cui Heng sucked in a cold breath. Xie Heng looked down at the document in his hand and said calmly: “Zhuque, bring both Xiang Sizi and Xing Ling over, and call Liu Xiniang back. Tell her—”

Xie Heng’s voice paused as he adjusted his tone before saying: “I’m awake. I’m looking for her.”

Author’s Note:

[Little Theater]

Cui Heng: “You’re finished! Your wife doesn’t want you anymore!”

Xie Heng: “If my wife doesn’t want me anymore, you can go bury yourself in the lake.”