◎Miss Luo, I Am Fond of You◎

Xie Heng listened quietly without immediately responding. She could only hear the person inside, seeming to be trying hard to regulate his breathing.

Luo Wanqing waited for a while before seeing the marriage contract being drawn through the window crack. Seeing Xie Heng accept the marriage contract, she felt relieved, knowing she had successfully coaxed him. Just as she was about to bid farewell, the window suddenly opened.

The young man standing inside the room wore sleeping robes, his hair half-bound with a hair tie. His expression showed no emotion, gentle and calm as always.

Luo Wanqing was startled, then saw Xie Heng smile with Cui Heng’s gentle tone: “I forgot – it’s cold outside. How could I let you stand there so long?”

“It’s not really…”

Before Luo Wanqing could finish her refusal, Xie Heng reached out through the window, lifted her, and seated her on the windowsill.

From this angle, she was much higher than Xie Heng. He looked up at her, his night-dark eyes reflecting the stars and her silhouette. He seemed to be restraining something with great effort, and his gaze made Luo Wanqing feel as if flames were licking at her, her face involuntarily warming.

She couldn’t help turning her head away, saying quietly: “What is Young Master looking at?”

“Qingqing is beautiful.”

Hearing her inquiry, Xie Heng only smiled, kissed her face, then helped her down, closed the window, and went inside to light a lamp: “I made you cold – I apologize. There’s a spring in the back courtyard.” As he spoke, Xie Heng lit the lamp and took out his sleeping robe from the wardrobe, handing it to Luo Wanqing: “Go wash up first.”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t quite understand Xie Heng’s reaction and couldn’t help stealing a glance at him. Seeing his calm expression with no discernible emotion, she could only respond with “Mm,” take the sleeping robe, and turn to leave.

After she left, Xie Heng finally released his tightly clenched fist and let out a heavy breath.

He sat at the table with feigned composure, took the marriage contract from his sleeve, spread it flat on the table, and quietly looked at the names written on it: “Xie Xiuqi” and “Luo Wanqing.”

He looked for a long time before finally being unable to restrain himself, chuckling softly.

Then he stood up and took the marriage contract to the secret chamber, carefully placing it in the highest box.

When Luo Wanqing finished bathing and came out, Xie Heng was still at the table. Luo Wanqing found it somewhat strange and said while drying her hair: “Young Master still not resting?”

“I still have some documents to review. You sleep first.”

Xie Heng spoke with his back to her. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, walked forward, and half-squatted in front of Xie Heng, puzzled: “Young Master, still angry?”

Xie Heng’s pen tip paused. After thinking for a long time, he sighed softly.

He put down the brush in his hand and looked up at her: “Are you cold?”

Luo Wanqing was startled. The room had a charcoal fire burning, and as someone who practiced martial arts, she naturally wasn’t cold.

But before Luo Wanqing could answer, Xie Heng sat cross-legged on the floor, reached out to pull Luo Wanqing over, guided her to sit in his embrace, naturally wrapped his arms around her waist, turned his head to look at her complexion, and asked with concern: “Is this warmer?”

Luo Wanqing was silent for a moment, realizing Xie Heng’s purpose, and cooperatively nodded: “Mm, not cold anymore.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng showed a knowing smile. He pressed against her back, rested his chin on her shoulder, held her entire person in his embrace, and looked over her toward the documents on the table, saying somewhat happily: “Then keep me company for a while. Sleep when you’re tired.”

“Young Master still hasn’t answered my earlier question.”

Luo Wanqing wasn’t distracted by his deflection and pursued with some confusion: “Is what I gave Young Master not enough to put you at ease?”

“I’m at least a proper young master from a respectable family.” Hearing her mention the marriage contract, Xie Heng could barely suppress his smile, his tone much lighter: “How could I be appeased by a mere piece of paper?”

“Then…” Luo Wanqing thought seriously, turning her head with great earnestness: “Why exactly is Young Master angry?”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s question, Xie Heng felt his heart being held in someone’s palm, warmed until it was burning hot, his heart beating like thunder.

He didn’t dare respond. Luo Wanqing asked, puzzled: “Why is Young Master silent again?”

“Just joking.”

Seeing her serious pursuit, Xie Heng didn’t dare continue the jest. He turned to nuzzle her nose affectionately: “I’m not angry. Right now I’m regretting.”

Early spring was still cold, and the silence outside made Xie Heng’s voice particularly clear.

Luo Wanqing didn’t quite understand and continued asking: “Why regret?”

“Lean on me.”

Instead of answering, Xie Heng pressed her waist backward. Luo Wanqing’s entire body hit Xie Heng’s chest, all her weight pressing against him.

Her hair was still half-wet, seeping through the thin fabric to his burning chest. She was surrounded by Xie Heng’s body warmth and fragrance. This position was indeed much more effortless and comfortable, but for some reason, perhaps because they rarely had such intimacy outside of bed, she instinctively felt some resistance and discomfort.

But since Xie Heng had spoken, she didn’t want to be distant at this moment, so she forced herself to adapt to him.

Xie Heng noticed, glanced at her, then inserted his fingers into her hair, gently combing through it, saying softly: “Making Xiniang see my unsightly behavior makes me uneasy.”

“Why does Young Master say such things?”

The feeling of him combing her hair was very comfortable. Luo Wanqing gradually relaxed under his gentle strokes.

Xie Heng let her head rest on his shoulder, looking at the words on the memorial, saying softly: “Actually, I know Xiniang is right – whether it was deliberately letting Li Guiyu notice that night we met, or tonight’s various incidents in the palace… Xiniang’s choices were all correct. I merely took advantage of knowing Xiniang’s sense of propriety to act willfully, and afterward showed no remorse, making Xiniang come to coax me.”

“So Young Master knows.”

Luo Wanqing was soothed into drowsiness, squinting as she leaned against him: “Then why does Young Master still act this way?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak. He thought for a long time before slowly saying, “Perhaps Xiniang raised my expectations too high, but I ultimately didn’t get what I wanted, so I became angry?”

This answer puzzled Luo Wanqing. She couldn’t help but look over: “What do you mean?”

“Xiniang, I’ve seen you at fourteen.”

Xie Heng raised his hand, gently caressing her face. His fingertips slid over her eyes, her nose, her soft lips, reaching her earlobes.

He couldn’t help but kiss her earlobe, gently nibbling with his teeth, using these intimate touches to ease the empty, aching feeling in his heart: “I’ve also seen you in front of Cui Guanlan.”

“So what?”

Luo Wanqing’s face reddened from his disturbance. She lowered her eyes, asking with feigned composure.

Xie Heng held her tightly in his arms, while loosening her belt and gently kissing her, he continued: “I’ve seen the names carved all over the Jiangnan prison, heard the rumors about you and Jiang Shaoyan in Jiangnan. Xiniang, I know what you look like when you love someone…” As he spoke, his fingertips touched her neck’s spine, pressing down along the spine point by point. Her garment gradually slipped down from behind, revealing her smooth, beautiful back.

When the garment completely left her body, Xie Heng lifted her and placed her on the desk in front of him, looking up at her: “I can never get that kind of feeling again, can I?”

The lamplight illuminated her like porcelain and jade.

Luo Wanqing breathed lightly, saying hoarsely: “There’s no difference.”

“There is.”

Xie Heng spoke, taking a red brush from the side. The vermillion lightly dotted her lower abdomen, climbing upward, outlining brilliant red spider lilies.

The soft texture of the brush and the cool tip traveling over her skin brought waves of trembling. Luo Wanqing heard Xie Heng say gently, “You see, you even resist depending on me. You weren’t like this even with Cui Guanlan. Now you act meticulously, thinking three times before acting. You have no impulses and can always make the optimal choice. But in matters of the heart, without impulse, it seems cold. Yet I can’t blame anyone – it’s all my own doing. I can only think over and over: what if I could have gone to Jiangnan with you like Li Guiyu that year in the bamboo forest? Or if I had taken your case regardless of everything, like Zhang Yiran in Yangzhou? Or when you entered the Supervision Department, if I had told you my identity instead of deceiving you…”

As Xie Heng spoke, he pulled her toward him, spread her out, took a completely new brush from the side, moistened it on her body, then used it to draw colorless flowers on the inside of her legs.

While painting, he thought: “If so, could you love me the way you loved Cui Guanlan?”

Speaking thus, he made the final stroke and looked up at the person breathing softly under the lamplight.

At this moment, Luo Wanqing’s snow-white body was adorned with brilliant red, rarely so gorgeous, making her stunningly beautiful.

Xie Heng looked at the person beautiful as a demon, smiled, and said with some anticipation: “I thought, I don’t ask for you to have the same feelings for me as you had for Jiang Shaoyan, but if you could have for Xie Lingshu what you had for Cui Guanlan, I would be satisfied. When Xiniang led me out of Snow Spirit Valley and broke the chains for me to leave, I thought I would get such feelings. But when Xiniang returned, I discovered it was different.”

“So now,” Luo Wanqing breathed heavily, raised her foot to rest on Xie Heng’s shoulder, applied slight pressure, used her hand to support herself from behind, stared at Xie Heng, and said hoarsely: “Does Young Master still think this way?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak. He stared at the magnificent scene before him. After a long time, he said in a low, hoarse voice: “Now I don’t think this way anymore.”

Speaking thus, he straightened up and leaned forward. Sensing his approach, Luo Wanqing’s breathing became more erratic.

Xie Heng’s gaze remained locked on her as he swept the table with one hand, scattering books and scrolls across the floor.

He supported himself on the table’s edge with one hand while the other searched in a small box nearby for an ankle chain, draping it over Luo Wanqing’s ankle and fastening it with one hand.

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare be distracted, only staring into his eyes. Xie Heng looked at her bright, sharp eyes and smiled gently: “Now I think that perhaps it’s not that my Qingqing doesn’t love me enough, but that she’s rational enough – this is her way of loving me.”

At these words, Luo Wanqing’s eyes trembled slightly. For a moment, she didn’t dare speak.

Xie Heng placed his hand through her hair, his eyes gentle as he explained: “How would someone without feelings know I wanted my father’s permission? I forgot you’ve lived through one lifetime – you’re afraid of the future, aren’t you?”

Xie Heng inquired. Luo Wanqing’s heart relaxed slightly as she nodded: “Afraid.”

Xie Heng understood, lowered his head until their foreheads touched, and said earnestly: “I understand now. Don’t be afraid. From now on, I won’t cause you trouble. Whatever Qingqing tells me to do, I’ll do.”

“Young Master is joking.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt Xie Heng was deceiving her. Making him obedient seemed harder than ascending to heaven.

But Xie Heng smiled: “I’m serious. I only ask for one thing—”

As Xie Heng spoke, he opened his eyes. Those naturally beautiful eyes seemed to suddenly shed all disguise, becoming extraordinarily bright and sharp. Desire unveiled itself in his eyes without concealment, forming a small, hook-light yet sharp-that caught at one’s heart, making Luo Wanqing’s breathing quicken.

He moved closer to her, covered her ear, and said softly: “Since Xiniang gave me a marriage contract, I’ll consider tonight our wedding night. Could Xiniang allow me to lose composure once, and also lose composure once for me?”

“Am I not losing composure enough in front of Young Master?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing instinctively tightened her fingertips, her fingerpads tensing against the table surface, saying somewhat nervously: “What more does Young Master want?”

“I want Qingqing to at least continue being the fourteen-year-old Luo Wanqing in front of me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Flowers need careful tending, as do people. Miss Luo,” Xie Heng gazed at her earnestly: “I am fond of you. I hope you will entrust your life to me, let me protect you, let me cherish you, give me a way home, give me… a guiding light.”

Speaking thus, Xie Heng lowered his eyes: “Leading through the underworld, guiding the lost home – as long as Miss Luo is there, I can always find my way back.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s heart ached and raced. She said nothing. Xie Heng raised his eyes: “Is that acceptable?”

“Having given you the marriage contract,” Luo Wanqing looked into his eyes and responded: “It should naturally be so.”

“Then…” Hearing this, Xie Heng chuckled softly, finally unable to restrain himself. He lowered his head to kiss her lips, saying lingeringly: “I think, being the gentleman who personally received the marriage contract, I surely can’t be inferior to others. What others should have, I naturally should have too.”

Speaking thus, he grasped her ankle, lowered his head to kiss it, saying gently: “Right?”

When Xie Heng said this, Luo Wanqing didn’t react immediately.

By the time she did react, it was too late for everything.

At first, he said that she had cried that night at the music gathering, and she had cried in front of Cui Guanlan, so he couldn’t show favoritism.

So he firmly grasped her ankle, kissed beneath the red spider lilies, doing what Cui Guanlan had done over and over, repeatedly coaxing her: “Xiniang, don’t suppress it – there’s no one around.”

Then he said that the day she entered the Eastern Capital, Minister Zhang had painted her face, and he had wanted to paint for her then, but now he feared causing her trouble, so he could only paint where others couldn’t see.

So he pressed her against the table.

She only felt the lamp shadows swaying constantly. Around her were documents he had reviewed. She couldn’t see the characters. In her unclear consciousness, the brush tip traveled over her smooth back. She asked repeatedly if he was finished painting, but in the end, she didn’t know whether he had finished or not.

All night her ears were filled with the tinkling sound of the ankle chain. When Luo Wanqing hazily awoke, it was nearly dawn.

From outside came Qingya’s voice: “Young Master, it’s time for court.”

Luo Wanqing immediately awakened and held her breath.

Xie Heng patted her back as comfort, then calmly said: “Go prepare first. I’ll come out shortly.”

“Young Master, don’t dawdle too long.”

Qingya seemed long accustomed to this, and Xie Heng responded: “Mm.”

“I heard from Zhuque that last night you had Inspector Liu keep watch,” Qingya remained outside without leaving, saying, puzzled: “Inspector Liu isn’t here now. Does Young Master know where she went?”

Hearing her name, Luo Wanqing immediately tensed. Xie Heng noticed she was frightened and impatiently opened his eyes to explain: “I had nothing for her to do, so I let her sleep early.”

“Oh,” Qingya laughed, “I knew Young Master was considerate toward ladies.”

“Are you getting too little sleep?”

This was not Xie Heng’s first time doing this. His counter-question didn’t arouse Qingya’s suspicion, who only said: “Just joking. Young Master, get up when you’re alert. I’ll go arrange the carriage first.”

With that, Qingya turned and went down. Xie Heng squinted and held Luo Wanqing in his arms. Luo Wanqing immediately struggled and whispered, “Young Master, I should go first.”

“Wait until I leave before you go.” Xie Heng grabbed her: “No one dares enter my room when I’m not here. There are people outside now. I’ll take them away, then you go back.”

“Young Master’s side is too troublesome.”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help complaining. Xie Heng chuckled softly: “Then should I come find you instead?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately thought of last night and realized that if she let Xie Heng actively seek her out, she probably wouldn’t have peaceful days.

She had thought the bamboo forest incident was due to the datura’s influence, but last night she realized perhaps the bamboo forest was his normal performance – daily life had been constraining him.

Luo Wanqing quickly shook her head and urged, “Then go quickly.”

“Qingya always calls me at least a quarter-hour early. Let me hold you a while longer.”

“We don’t lack this little time!” Seeing he had no intention of getting up, Luo Wanqing hurriedly pushed him: “Inspector Xie, please go to court.”

Xie Heng closed his eyes and chuckled, remaining motionless despite Luo Wanqing’s pushing. After a long time, he heavily pressed her into his embrace once more, then said: “Alright, now I can go a whole morning without thinking about Qingqing.”

“Go quickly, go quickly.”

Luo Wanqing felt she had never found this person so annoying.

Xie Heng ignored her, only nuzzled her, and said seriously: “There are some things I need to instruct Zhang Yiran about. I’ll come find you both to discuss them when I return from court.”

Luo Wanqing paused, then understood this was serious business and nodded.

Xie Heng looked at the sky, sighed, and reluctantly got up to wash.

Since they had ended in the spring water last night and cleaned up properly, Xie Heng didn’t need to do much. After changing clothes and washing up, he walked to Luo Wanqing, who had just changed clothes, lowered his head to kiss her again, then said: “Alright, I’m leaving. I always use contraceptive measures – you don’t need to take any additional medicines.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused and hurriedly said: “In the future, you…”

“I’m leaving.”

Xie Heng didn’t want to hear more and turned away directly.

Reaching the door, he seemed to suddenly remember something and turned to look at Luo Wanqing, saying gently, “Qingqing.”

Luo Wanqing raised her eyes and saw Xie Heng looking at her. After hesitating for a moment, he said: “I’m not a lustful person.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked shocked, feeling she had never seen such a shameless person in her life.

Xie Heng was amused by her expression but still said seriously, “Only when I’m holding Qingqing do I truly feel that I’m alive and very happy.”

These words startled Luo Wanqing. Xie Heng smiled, turned, and walked out the door.

She stood in the room thinking for a long time, then looked up toward the doorway.

After a long while, she smiled softly: “Why say such things?”

After all, she wouldn’t dislike him for it.

She lowered her head to arrange her clothes, quickly cleaned the room of any traces, and waited outside the small courtyard. As soon as Xie Heng came out, Qingya and Zhuque followed him out together.

According to official rank, the Four Chiefs should attend court daily, but due to the Supervision Department’s special duties, only two accompanied Xie Heng to court each day.

The usual companions were Qingya and Zhuque – Zhuque could fight, Qingya could scold.

After Xie Heng took everyone away, Luo Wanqing finished cleaning the scene. Listening to the sounds, she carefully jumped out the door and window and returned to her small room.

Reaching her room, she finally caught her breath. At the mirror, she pulled down her clothes slightly and saw the plum blossoms dotting her back. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Even the hot spring water hadn’t washed it off – what material was this?

Fortunately, these were places concealed by clothing that couldn’t be seen. Too lazy to argue with Xie Heng about it, she returned to bed to catch up on sleep. However, Xie Heng’s words from last night kept echoing in her mind.

“Now I think that perhaps it’s not that my Qingqing doesn’t love me enough, but that she’s rational enough – this is her way of loving me.”

The moment he said this, Luo Wanqing almost thought he had figured it out.

He was too clever – clever to the point of being frightening. Any trace might make her feel he had guessed everything.

But so what if he guessed?

She would continue regardless.

Luo Wanqing took a deep breath, lay on the bed for a while, and when she really couldn’t sleep, she simply got up, went down the mountain to the pharmacy to get some throat-protecting medicine, and went to find Zhang Yiran.

Most throat-protecting medicines were cooling. After taking some, Luo Wanqing felt a cool sensation in her mouth.

She walked to the door of Zhang Yiran’s room and knocked. The door quickly opened to reveal Zhang Yiran reading in the courtyard.

Seeing Luo Wanqing, Zhang Yiran was quite pleased, stood up, and smiled: “Xiniang, why are you here?”

Luo Wanqing raised her hand and pointed toward Jiqing’s courtyard: “Taking you to see Jiqing.”

As soon as Luo Wanqing spoke, Zhang Yiran found it strange: “What happened to your voice, Xiniang? Did you catch a cold?”

Luo Wanqing nodded, not daring to say more. Though she knew Zhang Yiran definitely couldn’t tell what was wrong, she still felt guilty.

She stepped forward, leading Zhang Yiran out to see Jiqing.

Zhang Yiran followed behind Luo Wanqing, saying with some worry: “I couldn’t sleep all night at the Supervision Department last night – I felt uneasy. The more I thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. Why would Zheng Bikui suddenly want to kill me? Though we have no friendship, we’ve met before. He may be rash, but he’s certainly not stupid. Being so impulsive – didn’t he think about the consequences?”

“What consequences would he face?”

Luo Wanqing asked knowingly. Zhang Yiran frowned and shook his head: “I’m afraid there won’t be any consequences. I’m just a scholar from a humble family. He didn’t even touch me – whether he intended to kill is debatable. Moreover, Inspector Xie forced him to kneel yesterday with an arrow, which could be considered his punishment. Most importantly, His Majesty has needed many things from the Zheng family over the years. Though Zheng Bikui has a bad temper, he’s still a child. His Majesty watched him grow up – there are some feelings…”

Zhang Yiran analyzed, saying unwillingly, “His Majesty couldn’t heavily punish him for this.”

“Mm.”

Luo Wanqing nodded: “So what do you think Jiqing would think upon hearing this?”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran’s eyes widened suddenly.

He instantly realized: “This is Zheng Bikui displaying the Zheng family’s power.”

He knew Luo Wanqing would stop him – he couldn’t kill Zhang Yiran.

He deliberately acted so impulsively precisely to show Jiqing and those commoners who wanted to follow Zhang Yiran in bringing accusations exactly what they faced.

Even if he openly tried to kill Zhang Yiran in the great hall, he could escape unscathed.

What more for grass-like people like them?

“This is bad!”

Zhang Yiran suddenly reacted and rushed forward. Luo Wanqing grabbed his collar and pulled him back: “No hurry.”

With that, Luo Wanqing leisurely led Zhang Yiran into Jiqing’s courtyard.

Upon entering, Jiqing looked over with cold eyes. Zhang Yiran and Luo Wanqing exchanged glances. Luo Wanqing smiled: “Master Clerk Jiqing looks even more confident today.”

“Just kill me.”

Jiqing’s expression was calm, seeming to have lost patience with pretending. He said coldly: “I’ve learned about Zheng Bikui nearly killing Minister Zhang. You can’t win. Spare me and spare yourselves.”

“How did the news reach you?”

Luo Wanqing leaned against the doorway with her arms crossed. Jiqing looked up at Zhang Yiran: “Minister Zhang still won’t give up?”

“I told you when I knocked you unconscious,” Zhang Yiran said calmly, “Having encountered this, I’ll see it through even if I die. These are all your debts. Don’t you feel any guilt for causing so many deaths?”

Jiqing pressed his lips together without speaking. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and only said: “Master Jiqing, I won’t ask you to testify. I just ask you to help with one thing.”

“What?”

Jiqing looked up. Luo Wanqing smiled, her expression slightly cold: “Tell me how today’s news reached you.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “Xiniang, I am not lustful.”

Luo Wanqing: “I have never seen such a shameless person in my life!! Some male leads in this author’s other works are like plain water, but when it comes to you!! Think about whose problem this is!!”

Xie Heng: “Seriously speaking, it’s just because snakes like warm places. Without holding my wife, my heart always feels empty…”

[Mini Theater 2]

Luo Wanqing: “Before, I thought Young Master was a disciplined, serious boss who worked hard. Now—”

Qingya: “Ha, if I didn’t call him to get up a quarter-hour early every day, the entire court would have to wait for him to attend. All of the Eastern Capital would know our boss loves to stay in bed.”

Xie Heng: “Do you know why I didn’t want to be an official before? Court at dawn – whoever wants to go can go!!”