◎Why are there shackles and a vanity table in the young master’s room?◎

Luo Wanqing felt her face heat up from his directness, not daring to respond further. She feigned composure and said, “Then I’ll take my leave?”

Xie Heng said nothing, only lowering his gaze to watch her.

Luo Wanqing waited for a long while before finally hearing him hum in acknowledgment: “Mm.”

Having received his response, Luo Wanqing nodded and bowed, then turned toward the window. She had only taken two steps when Xie Heng reached out to encircle her, forcibly turning her around. With dissatisfaction, he said, “Zhuque isn’t at the door. Take the main entrance.”

“But…”

Before Luo Wanqing could finish speaking, Xie Heng had already pushed her to the door. With a “swoosh,” he opened the main door, and moonlight instantly spilled down. Xie Heng looked back at her and smiled lightly, “The door’s already open. Shall we go?”

The moment the door opened, Luo Wanqing knew there was no one outside, yet she still couldn’t help but glare at Xie Heng.

Xie Heng smiled as he watched her, speaking gently: “Go back and rest well, Xiniang,” he said, his expression carrying restrained tenderness as he spoke earnestly, “I didn’t do well in the past. Now let’s start over.”

Luo Wanqing was startled. Xie Heng released her shoulders and leaned casually against the door frame, smiling as he said, “Go on. If you don’t leave soon, I might just keep you here.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded and stepped out the door.

After walking a few steps toward her room, she seemed to remember something and stopped to look back.

Xie Heng was still standing at the door, his single layer of clothing looking desolate, his gaze entirely focused on her. Seeing her suddenly look back, Xie Heng tilted his head and smiled, “What? Want to come back…”

Before he could finish speaking, Luo Wanqing had already hurried back, cupping his face and pulling him down, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him.

Wind blew cool leaves into the courtyard, and for an instant, all sounds fell silent.

Xie Heng’s pupils contracted sharply as he froze in place, staring dazedly at the girl before him, who boldly approached with her eyes closed.

Luo Wanqing cupped his face, her tongue tip gently exploring, prying open his lips and teeth. Xie Heng suddenly snapped back to reality, immediately raising his hands to embrace her waist and pull her into his arms, holding her as he turned from defense to offense, lowering his head to kiss her deeply.

In the past, he had always taken the lead in such matters, but this time was different. Luo Wanqing didn’t passively endure as she had before – she was remarkably proactive, like a nimble snake, engaging in a game of chase with him, occasionally confronting and entangling.

Xie Heng was stirred to hold her tighter. His sleeves were wide, almost completely enveloping her entire person within his embrace. The cold night couldn’t penetrate their flesh and bones as the temperature gradually climbed. Luo Wanqing placed her hand on his chest, feeling the increasingly rapid heartbeat beneath his ribcage, listening to his increasingly urgent breathing, satisfaction blooming in her heart.

Though she was the one taking initiative, she still couldn’t help but gradually lose strength, completely leaning against him while pressing down his hands that wanted to wander further.

Sensing that she wouldn’t allow him to go further, Xie Heng could only hold her and continue kissing without moving his hands inappropriately. After waiting for a long time, when Luo Wanqing felt her tongue root becoming somewhat numb, she reluctantly separated from their lingering embrace.

Xie Heng didn’t dare to forcibly detain her, only lowering his head to look at the person in his arms, whose lips were lustrous and whose face was flushed like sunset, his eyes full of barely contained anticipation.

However, Luo Wanqing said nothing, only looked at him with suppressed laughter before turning to leave.

Seeing this, Xie Heng couldn’t help but grab her hand, asking somewhat nervously, “Stay tonight, won’t you?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t respond, only raising her eyes to look at him, her gaze carrying some doubt. Xie Heng couldn’t help but smile bitterly, saying softly, “I won’t do anything. I just miss you.”

“Your injuries haven’t healed yet. Keeping Zhuque Envoy away for too long isn’t good.”

Luo Wanqing’s voice carried some sweetness. She turned her head, forcing herself to use a calm tone to mask this sweetness, feigning composure as she said, “Next time. I’ll come to see you again next time.”

“When is the next time?” Xie Heng couldn’t restrain himself from pursuing the question, wanting to know the specific time.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then shook her head, “Depends on the situation.”

“Then tomorrow night…” Xie Heng felt like an impetuous young man, couldn’t help but move closer to her, then felt tomorrow night was too long and changed his words, “No, tomorrow. How about it?”

“You’ve just awakened. There will be many matters to attend to tomorrow.” Luo Wanqing continued to refuse, pretending to ponder, “I’ll see how things go.”

“Then…” Xie Heng held back again and again, finally suppressing all impulses to keep her, saying softly, “Whatever’s convenient for you. If you want to come over, blow the flute in advance to let me know.”

“Mm.”

“Also…” Xie Heng said, remembering something, couldn’t help but encircle her waist again, seeming considerate as he said, “I’ll arrange Elder Zhang’s matter, and I’ll also investigate your father’s affairs. You don’t need to worry too much about Elder Zhang’s situation. When you have time, come see me more often.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately knew he must have thoroughly investigated her recent movements. She suppressed her laughter, only saying, “We’ll see how it goes.”

Xie Heng paused. Luo Wanqing emerged from his embrace and pulled her cloak closer, “I’m tired. I’ll go first.”

With that, she turned and walked toward her room. After taking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something else.

“Oh, there’s one more thing.”

She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with moonlight and carrying a smile.

“I forgot to tell you – what I said for Cui Heng to hear was false. Since I woke up, I’ve been checking your pulse every night.”

Xie Heng was stunned. Luo Wanqing looked at his surprised expression and finally smiled, “Someone like you, young master, has never been something I’m settling for. I just wanted to get to know the real Xie Lingshu again.”

After speaking, she gently nodded and said tenderly, “Sleep well, young master.”

Xie Heng’s gaze rippled as he heard this “sleep well,” watching her push open her door, listening to her close it, until what seemed like rustling sounds of someone getting into bed came from inside. Only then did he slowly react, taking a deep breath and returning to his bed.

As soon as he lay down, Luo Wanqing’s body fragrance hit him. Xie Heng raised his hand to cover his eyes, and when he closed them, all he could see was Luo Wanqing saying he was never something she settled for, turning back to cup his face and kiss him.

That scene then transformed into countless past images – in the mountain cave, on Liufeng Island, at the Supervision Department, and even in this very room.

He remembered that night when he first arrived in Yangzhou and gave Luo Wanqing lip rouge. She had worn his clothes and walked barefoot into this room, stepping on the dark red soft carpet, her feet white as jade, like lotus blooms with each step.

Sleep well? How could he sleep well?

What torment.

He was tormented just thinking about tonight’s Luo Wanqing.

Yet as he thought about it, he couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

Silly girl.

How could he not know she came every night? Today, when he saw the mechanism lock was so smooth it didn’t have a single fingerprint, he had deliberately waited for her tonight.

Yet she took the initiative to tell him.

Silly girl.

Xie Heng raised his hand to grasp a strand of floating light carrying her fragrance, and couldn’t help but close his eyes with labored breathing.

Though she was only separated by a wall, his longing exploded beautifully in his heart a thousandfold.

He missed her in this moment.

Missed her so very much.

This night was like years for Xie Heng, while Luo Wanqing slept very well.

She didn’t know why, but after seeing Xie Heng lose his composure, she felt exceptionally happy.

Though she didn’t express this happiness, and even thought this might be Xie Heng indulging her, deliberately trying to please her, she still felt that weight in her heart dissipate, even finding some amusement in it.

Her heart felt relaxed. Upon returning to her room, she quickly fell asleep. When she woke at daybreak, she felt even more refreshed.

She rose and changed clothes, washed up, went to eat, and when she returned, she heard Xie Heng’s voice calling from next door: “Liu Xiniang.”

His voice was cold and indifferent. Luo Wanqing immediately straightened with serious attention, restraining her mood as she walked to her door and respectfully said, “Young master.”

Xie Heng was sitting behind the high desk, wearing his usual dark gold-patterned long robe, but compared to usual days, there seemed to be some subtle difference.

It seemed this robe was made of more lustrous fabric, or perhaps because today he chose a gold crown inlaid with more gorgeous pearls.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t say exactly what had changed, but she just felt that the person sitting high above seemed more handsome today.

However, she dared not look too long, only glancing once before lowering her eyes.

Xie Heng noticed her gaze and suppressed his smile. One hand reviewed documents while the other lay flat on the desk surface as Wei Qianqiu administered acupuncture.

Xuanshan and Baili knelt beside them. Xie Heng pulled open a document and said indifferently, “Come in and wait.”

Luo Wanqing dared not ask what she was waiting for, only stepped inside, and knelt beside Baili.

Xie Heng quickly finished reviewing the documents, set them aside, then glanced at Wei Qianqiu who was removing needles, and instructed Xuanshan: “Leave the documents here. Later you’ll take them to Qingya and report the Jiangnan affairs truthfully to His Majesty – not one word can be different.”

Xuanshan respectfully acknowledged and carried the documents down.

Xie Heng then looked at Baili: “Does Aunt Baili have other matters to attend to later?”

“This subordinate still has Baihu Division documents to review.” Baili smiled, only saying, “I won’t accompany you, young master.”

“Mm.” Xie Heng nodded, then looked back at the silver needles in his hand, supporting his forehead as he said, “If there are too many Baihu Division documents, Aunt Baili can find someone to share the burden.”

When these words were spoken, everyone was startled, and then they all understood.

Whether it was Luo Wanqing’s solo entry into Xueling Valley for seven days to draw maps and kill six hundred people, or her protection of Xie Heng in Jirui Palace, defeating Ji Ruifang and entering the grandmaster ranks, the strength she displayed was already sufficient for one of the Four Chiefs’ positions. What she currently lacked was experience. Xie Heng’s confirmation today that Baili could delegate authority was both a confirmation and a suggestion.

When Baili realized this, she immediately smiled and hurriedly said, “That couldn’t be better.”

With that, Baili rose like Xuanshan and said gently, “This subordinate takes leave.”

Baili and Xuanshan both withdrew. After Wei Qianqiu had removed all the silver needles and Xie Heng had taken his medicine, he gestured to Wei Qianqiu, who understood his meaning, packed away the needles, and rose to take leave.

The room was instantly left with only Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng, the door wide open with Zhuque still outside. But for some reason, Luo Wanqing inexplicably remembered her proactive behavior last night at this moment and suddenly felt somewhat nervous.

She controlled her excessive emotions, making herself appear more composed. Xie Heng showed no abnormality, reviewing documents as usual before closing them and rising, “Come with me.”

Luo Wanqing followed Xie Heng in rising, seeing him head toward the inner room, her steps hesitated slightly.

Xie Heng noticed her hesitation, turned to look at her, seemingly puzzled: “Why do you hesitate?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing realized she was overthinking and quickly caught up with Xie Heng.

The two walked one after the other into the inner room. As soon as they entered, Xie Heng drew down the curtain, and the room instantly became extremely dark. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel nervous.

She stood in place, not daring to ask, then saw Xie Heng walk to the bookshelf and pull out several books. The bookshelf immediately slid aside, revealing a large door.

Xie Heng pushed open the door and instructed, “Follow me.”

Seeing the dark chamber ahead, Luo Wanqing instinctively asked, “Just this subordinate?”

“I want to show you something important,” Xie Heng patiently explained, “No need for complications.”

Hearing “something important,” Luo Wanqing understood she had been overthinking and quickly followed Xie Heng, saying earnestly, “Following the young master’s arrangements.”

Xie Heng gave her a meaningful look but didn’t expose the various scattered thoughts in her mind, only beckoning her down: “Follow me.”

Luo Wanqing listened to his words and followed him inside.

Upon entering the secret chamber, the door immediately closed behind them, followed by the sound of the bookshelf closing.

Luo Wanqing didn’t look back, raising her eyes to see steps leading deep into darkness with no visible end.

Xie Heng held a lamp in front, his dark robe flowing over the steps. Luo Wanqing followed behind him, slowly descending.

As he walked, he explained to Luo Wanqing: “After I woke up yesterday, I met with Xiang Sizi and Xing Ling. Xiang Sizi told me that years ago, he received a message from my uncle at the border, instructing him to rescue your father from Fengyu Pavilion and send him to Jiangnan, while also coming to Jiangnan to collect an iron box. He was responsible for keeping the box, and your father for keeping the key. The two had no contact whatsoever.”

Speaking thus, they reached the bottom of the steps and arrived at a room.

This room wasn’t large – visible were a stone bed, a writing desk, and wall-to-wall cabinets. Not far away was a hot spring with bathing facilities nearby, basically meeting the needs for one person’s long-term residence.

Luo Wanqing carefully surveyed the room. It was furnished with soft pillows and bedding that appeared newly changed, the bedsheets plain in color, apparently for male use. Strangely, however, there was also a vanity table in the room, its surface covered with an array of jewelry that was particularly eye-catching.

If the vanity table was strange, even stranger were the shackles on the bed.

Luo Wanqing’s gaze fell on the shackles, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Young master, what is this place?”

“Every room I have includes a secret chamber. I stay here when there are matters to attend to.”

Xie Heng spoke matter-of-factly, walking to a cabinet and taking out an iron box.

As soon as the iron box appeared in Luo Wanqing’s sight, her attention was drawn to it.

This iron box looked the same as when Luo Wanqing first saw it, with three rotatable gears on top and a keyhole below the gears. The box was entirely black yet very shiny. Xie Heng carried it to the desk surface, placed the lamp on the table, and beckoned Luo Wanqing: “Come here.”

Unlike their previous encounter, this iron box also had a wooden box placed on top, which, by its size, appeared to contain a hairpin.

“This is the Xuantian Box brought from Liufeng Island, and the box on top contains the Phoenix Feather Hairpin retrieved from Jirui Palace.”

Xie Heng began, pointing at the three gears on the box: “These three gears each have twenty-two teeth, marked with the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches respectively. Only by inputting the correct characters can the Xuantian Box be opened.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing finally understood: “The three characters you asked me to think of yesterday, young master – they’re the key to this box?”

“Correct.”

Xie Heng nodded. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but frown: “Why did you ask me to think of them?”

“Because Cui Zisi said you’re the person most likely to know the answer,” Xie Heng stood behind Luo Wanqing, looking over her shoulder at the iron box. “Do you have any clues?”

Luo Wanqing said nothing, only working hard to consider the information Xie Heng had just given her.

Characters from the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, three total, that left countless possibilities.

“You only have three chances to get it wrong,” Xie Heng reached from behind her to touch the iron box, his breath instantly enveloping Luo Wanqing. She instinctively tensed her body, hearing his slow reminder, “It contains gunpowder in its interlayer. If you exceed three incorrect attempts, the box will automatically explode.”

This statement made Luo Wanqing’s heart tighten. She was completely unable to consider Xie Heng’s overly intimate proximity behind her, thinking as she asked, “Are there any restriction rules? For instance, they can’t be the same character, or other limitations?”

“None.”

Xie Heng glanced at her and explained, “It can accommodate all possibilities.”

All possibilities – this expanded the range even further.

Luo Wanqing looked at the box with furrowed brows. Seeing her troubled expression, Xie Heng softened his tone: “You certainly won’t think of it immediately. You can take your time. Think about any special words your father said to you, any special things he did…”

Xie Heng reminded her: “If he left clues for you, he couldn’t have made them completely undetectable.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded and said respectfully, “Yes.”

“Your task these coming days is this. You can examine this box and hairpin more carefully.”

Luo Wanqing listened to this, stepped forward, and carefully observed the iron box and hairpin for a long while, almost memorizing every pattern on them before saying, “Young master, I’ve more or less memorized them.”

“Mm.”

Xie Heng nodded, then said, “I’ve already informed His Majesty that we’ll leave Jiangnan in seven days. I’ll enter seclusion in two days. During this time, you’d best find the correct key to open this box. If you need help with anything, you can find me or Xuanshan.”

“Yes.”

“Any other questions?”

Xie Heng inquired carefully. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and still couldn’t help asking, “Young master, you said you’ve met Xing Ling?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng looked up and only said, “Yes. What about it?”

Luo Wanqing considered her words carefully: “I wonder how Xing Ling is now, and how the young master plans to handle the situation?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak for a moment. After a while, he finally said, “Ask me about this later tonight.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing knew this question was a private matter for Xie Heng, and he didn’t want to discuss such things with her at this time.

Luo Wanqing didn’t press further, only saying, “This subordinate understands.”

“Any other questions?”

Xie Heng continued inquiring. Luo Wanqing paused, thought for a moment, and finally looked toward the vanity table, asking curiously, “Young master’s room… why is there a vanity table and shackles?”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater 1]

Luo Wanqing: “Hmph, deceiving me for so long. I’ve gone dark. I’m going to be an emotional scoundrel. I’m going to string him along.”

Xie Heng: “Wow, wife’s skills are high. I’m doing a 360-degree spiral leap to bite this hook! But, wife, fishing requires focus. You can fish for me, but you can’t fish for others anymore, okay?”

Luo Wanqing: “We’ll see how it goes.”

Xie Heng: “Huh????”

Luo Wanqing: “Know your place. You’re the one being fished, not the one using the hook to fish me back! Rein in your habits and get properly fished!”

Xie Heng: “Oh… okay… as long as you’re happy. But remember, don’t go out to dinner tonight!”

[Mini Theater 2]

Xie Heng: “Xiniang, don’t go out chatting with those random people. I’ll investigate father-in-law’s (crossed out, father-in-law’s) affairs.”

Luo Wanqing: “… Young master, don’t call me that too early.”

Qingya/Zhuque/Xuanshan/Cui Heng: “Tsk tsk, look at his worthless appearance.”

Baili: “How wonderful. I can see Lingshu has a partner before I retire.”

[Mini Theater 3]

Luo Wanqing: “Tonight, I mastered the essence of being a scoundrel. Xing Ling, let me teach you – it’s very simple.”

Xing Ling: “Mm?”

Luo Wanqing: “Just change all your answers to ‘we’ll see how it goes.'”

Xing Ling: “I’ll try.”

Cui Heng: “Xing Ling, want to go out and play?”

Xing Ling: “We’ll see how it goes.”

Cui Heng: “Great, I’ll go prepare.”

Xing Ling: “??”

Cui Heng: “Xing Ling, want to date?”

Xing Ling: “We’ll see how it goes.”

Cui Heng: “Your situation is like mine, wife.”

Xing Ling: “Get lost!”

Cui Heng: “Xing Ling, want to get married?”

Xing Ling: “No!”

Cui Heng: “Great, I’ll send out invitations.”

Xing Ling: “Xiniang, I think this method doesn’t work.”

Luo Wanqing: “It indeed doesn’t work on the deaf.”

Xie Heng immediately perked up his ears.

That evening—

Xie Heng: “Xiniang, tonight, I’m deaf.”