◎There’s someone in the carriage?◎

“Was that arrow trying to kill me shot by you?”

Seeing who had arrived, Luo Wanqing jumped down from the carriage, her hand on her blade as she spoke coldly.

While speaking, she was also nervous about Xie Heng in the carriage.

Xie Heng had wanted to get up just now, but was forcibly pressed down by her. Now he obediently concealed his presence. With Xie Heng’s abilities, she couldn’t detect anyone there, and Li Guiyu shouldn’t be able to either, but there was no guarantee against accidents.

She planned for a quick resolution. After scanning the surroundings, she said directly, “What do you want?”

“Did Miss drink wine tonight?”

Li Guiyu didn’t respond directly to her. He smelled the wine scent carried by the night wind and asked this seemingly random question.

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing frowned and shouted coldly, “I’m asking you a question!”

“It wasn’t me.”

Sensing Luo Wanqing’s anger, Li Guiyu shook his head and explained, “It was Zheng Bikui.”

Li Guiyu’s frankness somewhat surprised Luo Wanqing. Her expression softened slightly as Li Guiyu patiently explained, “Zheng Bikui heard news of Zheng Biyue’s death and specially returned early. He and Zheng Biyue were born of the same mother and had an extremely good relationship. Years ago, his master was killed by Xie Heng. To avenge this, he trained bitterly for a long time. Though he hasn’t reached grandmaster level, his strength is formidable. If Miss were to face him directly, I fear you wouldn’t be his match.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled. Li Guiyu looked up at Luo Wanqing, his expression gentle. If not for his luxurious clothing, Luo Wanqing would have thought he was no different from years ago in Jiangnan.

He looked at Luo Wanqing with eyes carrying some worry, only saying, “I’m concerned about Miss. Today, learning of Miss’s return, I especially hurried back. I happened to hear he was ambushing here and came specifically to stop him.”

“Your network of informants is quite extensive.”

Luo Wanqing caught the implications—her movements, Zheng Bikui’s movements, Li Guiyu knew them all.

Li Guiyu smiled, but his eyes carried bitterness: “Spiders weave webs originally to hunt, but now I discover that being able to protect those I want to protect is also great fortune.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t want to discuss this further with him and said coldly, “Thank you for informing me, Your Highness, but if not for Your Highness just now, Zheng Bikui should be dead. He should be more grateful to Your Highness. If there’s nothing else, please return to rest. Morning court begins in two hours—Your Highness shouldn’t waste time.”

Having clarified the situation, Luo Wanqing directly dismissed him. Li Guiyu listened to her words but made no sound.

Seeing Li Guiyu standing quietly in place, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel nervous. She listened carefully for sounds from Xie Heng while staring at Li Guiyu, hoping he would leave quickly.

She needed to force Li Guiyu away first to avoid the possibility of his detecting Xie Heng’s presence when she opened the carriage door.

However, Li Guiyu didn’t move. Only after a long time did he softly ask, “Is Miss concerned about me?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing frowned: “Have you been taking Five Stone Powder again?”

Li Guiyu smiled bitterly and shook his head: “Not today, just harboring vain hopes.” Then Li Guiyu asked, “Does Miss still carry the signal flare I gave her?”

In Jiangnan, he had given her a signal flare to carry with her. He had carefully taught her how to use it, telling her that if she encountered any danger, she should light this signal flare and he would immediately come to her.

It was just that during those five years, he was always following her, and she never encountered any real danger.

She had carried this never-used signal flare for five years, until the day before her imprisonment, when Li Guiyu said he was going out to inspect goods and that this signal flare was somewhat damp and he needed to replace it.

He had taken away this token for seeking his help and never returned it.

Mentioning it now, Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled. Li Guiyu smiled and said, “I forgot—I took it and didn’t return it to you. I’m giving it to you now.”

Saying this, Li Guiyu handed the signal flare to Luo Wanqing, explaining, “I won’t harm you, but the Zheng family won’t let you go either. Miss, as long as you’re willing,” Li Guiyu hinted, “I will always stand behind you.”

“I don’t need it. I have the Supervision Department.” Luo Wanqing coldly refused.

“Xie Heng won’t risk his life for you, just one Inspector.” Li Guiyu had anticipated this and earnestly reminded her, “Only I will. Facing the Zheng family alone, you won’t survive.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing smiled.

In the cold night, blade light flashed, so fast that Luo Wanqing’s movement was barely visible. The signal flare in Li Guiyu’s hand had already been cut in two.

Luo Wanqing looked at him with a smile, reminding him, “I have my blade. Your Highness, please return.”

Li Guiyu’s expression grew slightly cold. Understanding Luo Wanqing’s meaning, he put away the remaining half of the signal flare, chuckled softly, then said, “Miss can think about it again. If you just want to kill me, you can.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised. Li Guiyu studied her expression and couldn’t help but smile, his eyes seeming to carry some hope as he spoke, “Just give me five years. You love me, marry me, I’ll do what I should do, and then you and I will go to Yangzhou.”

Luo Wanqing looked at him in disbelief, but Li Guiyu spoke with extreme happiness, fantasizing, “I bought the Luo residence. We can go back. You always wanted to raise a cat, but aunt wouldn’t allow it—this time we can. I’ll transplant a grapevine from the Western Regions for it to climb. Then every night we can lie together…”

Before he could finish, a light cough suddenly came from inside the carriage.

Li Guiyu’s expression changed instantly, looking up sternly: “Who?!”

Luo Wanqing’s heartbeat quickened instantly, her hand gripping the blade hilt. Sensing Luo Wanqing’s reaction, Li Guiyu immediately turned to look at her, asking incredulously, “There’s someone in the carriage?”

“That’s not something you should inquire about.” Luo Wanqing’s voice turned cold as she continued dismissing him, “Your Highness, please return.”

Li Guiyu’s expression was extremely ugly. He looked at the carriage, then realized—Luo Wanqing was out of the Eastern Capital in the middle of the night, and she smelled of wine. She wasn’t alone…

Who was it?

Who was accompanying her?

Cui Heng had just died—had she already found a new lover? Impossible, that wasn’t her character.

But her time with Cui Heng… hadn’t been long since their separation either.

Li Guiyu’s mind was in chaos. He forced himself to calm down, but couldn’t manage it at all. He stepped forward directly. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing immediately drew her blade, the scabbard heavily striking Li Guiyu’s chest as both shouted fiercely, “Move aside!”

“Stand back!”

Luo Wanqing’s eyes showed no hint of yielding. Li Guiyu looked at the scabbard pressed against his chest, staring fixedly at the carriage, breathing rapidly.

There was someone inside—the person who had been drinking and celebrating with Luo Wanqing tonight.

From the voice just now, it should be a man.

Who was it?

Li Guiyu clenched his fists. Luo Wanqing watched him warily. In their standoff, Li Guiyu forced himself to slowly calm down.

Luo Wanqing was here—she couldn’t possibly let him advance a single step. She was now with the Supervision Department, frequently traveling on missions. Traveling with others and even drinking late at night wasn’t a big deal. He couldn’t panic first and make himself a laughingstock.

Li Guiyu forced himself to step back, smiling with difficulty: “So the Inspector is traveling with someone.”

“Get lost.”

Luo Wanqing spoke icily. Li Guiyu smiled, nodded, but changed his form of address, adopting a familiar attitude as he advised, “Since Xiniang is accompanied by a friend, then go ahead. Guiyu won’t disturb you first. Oh, and,” Li Guiyu looked up at Luo Wanqing’s hair, saying gently, “Xiniang is still unmarried after all. Wearing a married woman’s hairstyle only invites gossip—better to wait until after marriage to wear it. Today’s incense is also too sweet and cloying. I’ll send appropriate incense another day.”

After speaking, Li Guiyu bowed and turned to leave.

Seeing him finally depart, Luo Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and didn’t want to bother with his nonsensical words.

However, just as she relaxed, Li Guiyu suddenly turned back, a hidden weapon in his hand flying straight at the carriage. Luo Wanqing hastily drew her blade, but it was too late!

The flying blade crashed into the carriage door with a thunderous sound, completely shattering it.

Behind the carriage door were silver silk curtains. As the door burst open, fierce wind danced wildly. Among the swaying light gauze, a black-clothed young man sat with his hand to his forehead, one hand holding the throwing knife he had just caught, casually examining it. Then, seeming to sense someone watching, he looked up with cold indifference mixed with provocation at Li Guiyu, who was staring at him in shock from not far away.

The wind rose suddenly and fell calmly. With just one glance, the gauze curtains fell again, concealing Xie Heng in the carriage, leaving only a vague outline visible.

Li Guiyu stared blankly at that face, frozen in place.

But Luo Wanqing reacted with the fastest speed, hurriedly kneeling and saying urgently, “This subordinate failed to stop him in time. Please forgive me, Young Master!”

Hearing this, Xie Heng’s movement paused as he immediately understood that Luo Wanqing was drawing a clear line between them.

He looked through the gauze at the kneeling Luo Wanqing. Though he knew her reasons, anger still flared in his heart.

He remained silent. Luo Wanqing knelt on the ground, not daring to speak. Li Guiyu also belatedly realized that Xie Heng being here was perfectly normal.

Now that Luo Wanqing had entered the grandmaster level, Baili was already preparing to step down. It was normal for him to promote Luo Wanqing to one of the Four Chiefs.

The Four Chiefs always followed Xie Heng, taking turns being responsible for his safety. If Xie Heng wanted to go up the mountain tonight, it was nothing unusual for Luo Wanqing to follow.

Between superior and subordinate, having some wine was normal too—perhaps they weren’t the only ones drinking.

Li Guiyu analyzed all the circumstances, but still felt uneasy. He always felt something was wrong, something was off.

He stared at the gauze curtains, watching the shadow inside playing with the weapon he had thrown in. In this eerie silence, Luo Wanqing’s heart beat rapidly. She needed Xie Heng’s response; she needed Xie Heng to cooperate in finishing this performance.

Li Guiyu realizing Cui Heng’s identity would be harmful with no benefits—she couldn’t let that happen.

She bit her teeth and was about to speak again when she heard Xie Heng say, “Return to the mountain and bring down another carriage.”

This was a completely official tone, also Xie Heng’s characteristically cold voice.

Seeing Xie Heng respond, Luo Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. Without even glancing at Li Guiyu, she immediately got up and leaped straight up the mountain.

With Luo Wanqing gone, only Li Guiyu and Xie Heng remained—one sitting in the carriage, one standing outside, separated by light gauze curtains. They seemed unable to see each other clearly, yet also seemed able to see through each other’s truest appearance.

Li Guiyu stared at Xie Heng, saying carefully, “I didn’t expect to meet the Chief here. Is the Chief traveling late at night with only Inspector Liu?”

“What,” Xie Heng chuckled, his voice mocking, “must I now report my whereabouts to Your Highness?”

The only person who needed Xie Heng’s reports was the Emperor above. Hearing this, Li Guiyu immediately said, “The Chief jests. I’m merely curious.”

“If I hadn’t been here today, I wouldn’t have known how Your Highness normally harasses the female inspectors in my department. I’ll note this incident for Your Highness and truthfully report it to His Majesty later. Your Highness has the bearing of a crown prince,” Xie Heng’s tone carried some contempt, “you should refrain from such lowly behavior.”

“The Chief speaks too severely,” Li Guiyu lowered his eyes, “I merely have some past connection with Inspector Liu and was reminiscing.”

Xie Heng didn’t respond. He couldn’t say more.

Seeing Xie Heng’s displeasure, Li Guiyu finally said, “If the Chief has no other business, then I’ll take my leave.”

Xie Heng ignored him. Li Guiyu bowed and withdrew.

As soon as he turned around, his expression turned cold. Carrying his bow down the mountain, just as he reached a distance where he was certain Xie Heng couldn’t hear, Li Guiyu immediately said to Zitang behind him, “Immediately investigate Cui Heng’s information again and send it to me.”

Zitang acknowledged. Then the group walked to another group of people in the forest.

Li Guiyu’s eyes immediately fell on the young man sitting in a chair in the forest, polishing his bow. His expression turned cold.

“Young Master’s actions remain as impulsive as ever.”

Li Guiyu walked over, stepping on dead leaves, mockingly saying, “Without even identifying the target clearly, you dare attempt assassination? If I hadn’t arrived in time tonight, I fear it would be difficult to speak final words with Young Master.”

“What do you mean by not identifying the target?”

Zheng Bikui frowned: “Wasn’t Liu Xiniang in the carriage?”

Li Guiyu laughed coldly without saying more. He only walked up to Zheng Bikui, bent down slightly, and said quite seriously, “Young Master, if you make another move against Liu Xiniang next time, I won’t be as easy to talk to as today.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Zheng Bikui looked up mockingly: “Then what does Your Highness plan to do? Your Highness should know that killing her now isn’t just for my grudge. What she brought back from Jiangnan—you know better than we do.”

Li Guiyu didn’t speak. After thinking for a long time, he only said, “What if she becomes one of our people?”

“How would she become one?”

Zheng Bikui continued polishing his bow. Li Guiyu smiled: “I’ve already discussed with your father. If Liu Xiniang is willing to marry me and work for us, he can let bygones be bygones.”

“Marriage?” Hearing this, Zheng Bikui seemed to find it extremely ridiculous. He thought for a moment, then nodded: “Fine, I’d like to see how you manage to chew down this hard bone from the Supervision Department.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “I can’t listen to this anymore. What kind of disgusting nonsense is he saying? I cough, cough, cough!”