◎He’s Dead◎

As soon as Yang Chun spoke, chaos erupted in the courtyard behind them.

Luo Wanqing’s heart sank slightly as she followed Xie Heng to the side hall. Xie Heng’s expression wasn’t good, and Luo Wanqing didn’t dare speak.

Upon entering the side hall, Luo Wanqing saw imperial physicians surrounding Jiqing’s bedside. Seeing Xie Heng enter, the physicians all knelt, leaving only an elderly doctor sitting beside the bed, applying acupuncture to Jiqing: “Jimsonweed is normally a deadly poison that kills upon contact with blood, colorless and odorless. Fortunately, someone sealed his acupoints in time and channeled internal energy into him.”

“Director Ruan.”

Xie Heng nodded in greeting, leading Luo Wanqing to the bedside.

The imperial physician looked up toward Xie Heng, nodding: “He’s out of danger now.”

“Thank you, Director,” Xie Heng nodded, then asked: “Can he be moved now?”

Xie Heng explained quietly: “His Majesty wants him transferred to the Supervision Department.”

“No problem.” Director Ruan shook his head. “Just have people bring a stretcher.”

“Thank you, Director.”

After Xie Heng finished speaking with the physician, Luo Wanqing had people bring a stretcher and carry the unconscious Jiqing out.

Jiqing was placed separately in another carriage, guarded by Zhuque. When only the two of them remained in the carriage, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help asking: “Young Master, what does His Majesty mean?”

“What do you mean by what does he mean?”

Xie Heng opened the teacup on the table, pretending not to understand.

Luo Wanqing glanced toward the carriage behind them, asking quietly: “Why did His Majesty have Jiqing returned to the Supervision Department?”

Hearing her question, Xie Heng glanced at her, then turned away without responding.

He simply poured two cups of tea from the teapot and pushed one toward Luo Wanqing.

Seeing Xie Heng’s silence, Luo Wanqing carefully asked: “Young Master?”

“Don’t you have anything to confess to me?”

Xie Heng finally asked. Luo Wanqing paused, then understood what Xie Heng meant.

After thinking for a moment, she said softly: “Given Young Master’s wisdom, do I need to spell it out?”

“I’m not a worm in your belly – how would I know what schemes you’re plotting?” Xie Heng swirled his teacup, his tone carrying some resentment: “Inspector Liu tells me, her pillow companion, nothing. I’m truly hurt.”

“Please don’t jest, Young Master.” Luo Wanqing saw Xie Heng putting on airs and smiled bitterly. “Minister Zhang is still in prison – please explain clearly so I won’t worry.”

“You don’t need to worry about Zhang Yiran.”

Seeing Luo Wanqing’s anxiety, Xie Heng stopped joking and spoke seriously: “His Majesty imprisoned him to appease the Zheng family’s anger. He’s a promising young man highly regarded by the Pure Stream faction. With Song Xichao present today, they won’t let anything happen to him. When the Pure Stream officials receive word, there should be people kneeling outside the imperial study tomorrow. Then His Majesty will release him with a convenient excuse, which will also satisfy Zheng Pingsheng.”

Xie Heng glanced at Luo Wanqing. Her expression wasn’t good. She clenched her fists tightly, forcing herself to calm down, asking as placidly as possible: “What about Jiqing? Why would His Majesty have the Supervision Department bring him back?”

“Because His Majesty doesn’t know how to handle Jiqing right now, and Yang Chun is afraid of someone dying in the palace.”

Xie Heng explained patiently: “His Majesty knows in his heart what really happened with this case. He knows Jiqing spoke the truth, so he suspects the one who acted was either Zheng Bikui or Zheng Pingsheng.”

“He doesn’t suspect Li Guiyu?”

“First, he’s still uncertain whether Li Guiyu did this. Li Guiyu grew up under his watch, and before Li Guiyu went to the northern frontier, this truly wasn’t something he could have done. As for what kind of person Li Guiyu is now, His Majesty can’t see either.”

Xie Heng sipped his tea: “Second, there’s no evidence in this case that can truly implicate Li Guiyu. What Jiqing could prove only concerned Zheng Pingsheng. Would he go to such lengths to poison a witness in the palace? Is it necessary?”

“His Majesty sees everything.”

Luo Wanqing praised sarcastically. Xie Heng heard the displeasure in her tone and thought for a moment before saying: “Yes, His Majesty understands everything. So now he tacitly accepts that the Zheng family was behind this. Whether it was Zheng Pingsheng or Zheng Bikui, His Majesty couldn’t truly punish either. Killing someone before the throne – if the punishment is too light, he fears others will follow suit, making His Majesty unable to rest easy. But if the punishment is too severe…”

Xie Heng paused, then shook his head: “The cost is too great.”

“So His Majesty plans to let this matter pass just like that?”

Luo Wanqing understood Li Zong’s decision. Her tone revealed no emotion as she asked calmly: “How does His Majesty want the Supervision Department to handle Jiqing? Should he die in the Supervision Department, or what?”

“Either way. His Majesty has only one requirement.”

Xie Heng unconsciously rubbed his fingers, saying slowly: “The court will soon announce this matter. His Majesty hopes he never appears again to cause any trouble.”

“I understand.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, thinking: “Then I’ll make arrangements.”

Xie Heng didn’t speak again. He sat in silence for a long time before looking up at Luo Wanqing.

“Xiniang,” he said. Luo Wanqing looked toward him upon hearing this, seeing Xie Heng watching her, his tone much gentler: “Don’t be sad.”

Luo Wanqing paused upon hearing this. She hadn’t had any emotions.

Or rather, she didn’t dare have any emotions.

Zhang Yiran was still in prison, Jiqing’s life hung in the balance – she didn’t dare indulge in any unnecessary emotions or thoughts.

But now, with Xie Heng saying this, she inexplicably felt somewhat hurt.

She instinctively wanted to say “it’s fine,” but couldn’t speak under Xie Heng’s gaze.

Xie Heng studied her. After a moment, he stood up, walked behind Luo Wanqing, and pulled her into his embrace.

When Xie Heng held her, her heart felt somewhat sour. She couldn’t help saying softly, “Young Master.”

“Mm?”

“You’re so annoying.”

Xie Heng looked sideways at her, seeing Luo Wanqing with downcast eyes and trembling lashes, seeming to suppress some emotion. He held the person in his arms, gently rocking: “Then let me tell you another annoying thing.”

“If it’s annoying, don’t say it.”

“What happened in the palace will soon be embellished and spread,” Xie Heng ignored her dissuasion and continued: “Whether it’s His Majesty, Zheng Pingsheng, or Li Guiyu, they all want good reputations. But to prove they’re right, they can only say Zhang Yiran was wrong. These days, the talk might not be pleasant to hear.”

Luo Wanqing had anticipated this. She nodded lightly: “I know.”

“Be prepared,” Xie Heng held her from behind, seeming to be a support she could lean on at any time. Yet Luo Wanqing kept her back straight, listening to him say: “If you can’t go on, just tell me.”

After leaving the palace, Luo Wanqing had Jiqing settled in his original room, then went to arrange new identity documents for him and his family.

In the afternoon, Jiqing finally woke up. He was quite surprised to find himself alive, lying in bed with a bewildered expression, seeming not to have realized he was still alive.

Luo Wanqing sat beside him, peeling an apple, saying leisurely, “Awake?”

Jiqing turned his head in disbelief, saying hoarsely: “Inspector Liu?”

“Rest well. Your poisoning wasn’t severe – you can get up in a couple of days. Tomorrow I’ll announce publicly that you died, then create a new identity for you. When you feel better, return to Yangzhou.”

Luo Wanqing cut off a piece of apple and offered it: “Want some?”

“Inspector Liu…”

Jiqing stared at Luo Wanqing in disbelief: “You’re letting me go?”

“What else?”

Luo Wanqing was curious. Jiqing’s thoughts were confused: “You… didn’t you say I did wrong, that I deserved to die…”

“You chose the path of life.”

Luo Wanqing looked at Jiqing calmly: “If you had chosen to frame Minister Zhang or abandon him, I truly wouldn’t have left you a way out. But you chose to protect him – I respect your conscience.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes, saying softly: “I forgive you.”

Jiqing didn’t quite understand. He didn’t know in what capacity Luo Wanqing was “forgiving him,” but with countless questions in his mind, he could only ask about his main concern: “How is Minister Zhang?”

“Still in prison.” Luo Wanqing took a bite of an apple and briefly explained the situation.

After the explanation, Jiqing finally relaxed. Seeing him calm down, Luo Wanqing stood up: “Rest well. When your documents are ready, I’ll see you off.”

Jiqing then remembered: “What about the case?”

Luo Wanqing turned to look, seeing Jiqing staring at her anxiously: “If I leave, what happens to the case?”

“Minister Zhang and I will find more evidence.” Luo Wanqing smiled: “Don’t worry about it – go live your own life.”

After saying goodbye to Jiqing, Luo Wanqing returned to the White Tiger Division.

She took out the case files and carefully reviewed them again.

With the current leads, without Jiqing, there was no way to convict Zheng Pingsheng, and it would be very difficult even to overturn her father’s case.

If this case were to continue being investigated, only two paths remained.

Either she would personally come forward to accuse Zheng Pingsheng and Li Guiyu, using her father’s letter and the marriage arrangement to prove her father was literate and thus overturn the confession, then use her own testimony and Jiqing’s previous statement to corroborate each other.

Or let Zhang Yiran continue investigating to find new evidence.

The former involved too much. If she came forward, it would be mutual destruction. Not only might she fail to bring down Zheng Pingsheng, but even if successful, she would certainly be questioned about the prisoner substitution. That was a capital offense.

The best plan was to let Zhang Yiran continue investigating.

If so, the first thing she needed to do was get Zhang Yiran released and search for new evidence.

Luo Wanqing steeled her resolve. After thinking for a moment, she called someone over and had them spread word in teahouses about Jiqing being killed in court and Zhang Yiran being detained.

However, news about Zhang Yiran spread faster than expected. What happened at noon, by evening, the White Tiger Division had received reports from all quarters.

Someone had begun spreading the story throughout the Eastern Capital almost immediately after the incident ended, but their version differed from what Luo Wanqing wanted.

They told various versions of the story.

Some said Zhang Yiran coerced Jiqing to frame Zheng Pingsheng, Jiqing refused to the death, and finally committed suicide in the great hall.

Others said Jiqing wouldn’t testify, so Zhang Yiran killed him and blamed others.

Still others claimed Zhang Yiran misunderstood Zheng Pingsheng and forced Jiqing to testify. When Jiqing refused, Zhang Yiran flew into a rage and killed him in court…

The rumors became increasingly outlandish. Eventually, they even claimed Zhang Yiran was infatuated with her, and because Zheng Pingsheng wanted to kill her, he abused his censorial authority to frame Zheng Pingsheng for revenge.

But regardless of how they spread, in all these rumors, Zheng Pingsheng was innocent, while Zhang Yiran, whether intentionally or not, was slandering.

The day after these rumors circulated, Luo Wanqing had people spread counter-rumors that Zhang Yiran was seeking justice for the people but was suppressed by powerful families and remained imprisoned.

Within a day, both sides’ claims filled the Eastern Capital. On this day, younger officials from the Pure Stream faction indeed gathered outside the imperial study, demanding that Li Zong release Zhang Yiran.

These officials knelt for a full day. On the third afternoon, Li Zong felt the time was right and finally decided to release Zhang Yiran.

Hearing the news, Luo Wanqing hurried to meet him.

She couldn’t go to the prison, only wait in the square. Zhang Yiran had received word early and emerged from his cell.

The iron shackles were heavy. Zhang Yiran hadn’t seen sunlight for several days. When he emerged, he saw sunlight scattered across the branches.

He raised his hand to shield his eyes. His first words upon leaving were to ask the guard hoarsely: “How is Jiqing?”

The guard was stunned and hadn’t had time to answer when a voice spoke from behind.

“He’s dead.”