◎Do You Want to Live?◎

Hearing Zhang Chunzi’s voice, Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised, then couldn’t help but smile: “Senior, we meet again.”

“I’ve never seen anyone go in and out of the heavenly prison like you.”

Zhang Chunzi said, curious: “What crime is it this time?”

“Deceiving the sovereign.”

Luo Wanqing spoke without any concealment, briefly explaining the whole story. Zhang Chunzi listened with amazement and couldn’t help but think: “I said this girl seemed strange when I saw her last time—turns out the internal energy wasn’t her own. That you could walk to today is indeed an extraordinary fortune, quite a legend. However…”

Zhang Chunzi paused, seeming unable to understand: “Since you’ve already reached the position of Fourth Inspector in the Supervision Department, how could you not realize that filing complaints like today wouldn’t achieve anything?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. Zhang Chunzi analyzed: “The Zheng family has soldiers and power, contributing considerable tribute annually. Your case is too small—even if the world is watching, it can’t compare to one Zheng Pingsheng. Not to mention anything else, if Zheng Pingsheng were killed, Wang Shenfeng would first suspect whether Li Zong plans to kill him next. The Zheng family would also wonder if Li Zong might find an excuse to kill them all like he did with the Cui and Qin clans. Li Zong would also have to consider whether they’re all speculating about him and might rebel someday. The people’s resentment will always just be resentment,” Zhang Chunzi smiled mockingly. “Having soldiers and power is what truly threatens Li Zong. If you wanted to use the people to pressure him, you miscalculated! He’ll only think this gives him reason to extract some benefits from the Zheng family, such as—”

Zhang Chunzi thought for a moment, then said: “Trading the Southern Office Sixteen Guards commander position for Zheng Bikui’s life?”

“I know.”

Luo Wanqing spoke calmly. Zhang Chunzi was stunned and couldn’t help saying: “You know? Then why did you still do it? You should know that you have no one protecting you. Li Zong is angry right now and probably wants to chop off your head to vent his anger.”

“He won’t.”

Luo Wanqing’s tone was certain. Zhang Chunzi thought for a moment and asked curiously: “Do you think Xie Heng will save you?”

“Yes and no,” Luo Wanqing smiled. “Whether the Young Master saves me or not, I won’t die.”

“Oh?”

Zhang Chunzi heard her tone and thought: “You seem quite confident—you…”

Zhang Chunzi was somewhat uncertain: “It wasn’t intentional, was it?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak, only lowered her head and took some withered grass, weaving a grasshopper in her hands.

The withered grass was too thin, making weaving a grasshopper quite difficult. Luo Wanqing carefully wove the grasshopper while Zhang Chunzi became interested: “What are you thinking? Tell me about it. Why did you deliberately accuse Zheng Pingsheng? Why did you want to come to the heavenly prison?”

“Senior, the friendship between you and me probably isn’t enough to discuss these things.”

Luo Wanqing spoke methodically: “I can only say that I gave everyone an opportunity.”

“Your words are too strange,” Zhang Chunzi said, not understanding. “Who did you give what opportunity to?”

Just as Zhang Chunzi finished speaking, before Luo Wanqing could answer, he made a “tsk” sound and then said: “Someone’s coming. This old man is leaving.”

With that, Zhang Chunzi’s aura disappeared from nearby.

Luo Wanqing glanced at the wall next door. He seemed to always live here, able to freely enter and exit any cell. Whenever someone came, he would actively disappear, ghost-like.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but be curious. But just after he disappeared, she heard the sound of doors opening at the prison entrance. A young man in dark robes and a golden crown walked alone into the prison.

Luo Wanqing quietly watched him enter. When he stood before her cell door, Luo Wanqing nodded and bowed: “Young Master.”

“Is Zhang Chunzi here?”

Xie Heng ignored her and called out. Then an old man’s voice responded loudly from a distance: “Alright, I’ll go farther away.”

Xie Heng’s eyes showed some amusement. After waiting a while and confirming Zhang Chunzi had gone far away, he crouched down and looked at Luo Wanqing kneeling in the cell, his gaze falling on the grasshopper she had folded: “What are you making?”

“Folding a grasshopper.”

“This withered grass is hard to fold.” Xie Heng spoke with implication.

Luo Wanqing smiled knowingly and only said, “I’m trying.”

“And now? Have you tried and gotten results?” Xie Heng inquired.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and nodded: “I’ve tried it out.”

“Have you given up?” Xie Heng asked with a smile.

Luo Wanqing’s movements paused slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she gently nodded.

Xie Heng looked at her calm expression, his smile fading somewhat, and couldn’t help asking: “Will you be sad?”

“With the dust settled, I have nothing to be sad about.” Luo Wanqing’s tone was peaceful. She only looked up at Xie Heng: “I’m just worried about how Jiqing will be arranged now?”

“In the Supervision Department.”

“What about those commoners who testified today?” Luo Wanqing worried: “Will the Zheng family go to trouble them?”

“There were too many people, and no records were kept. Most importantly, His Majesty warned Zheng Bikui that if anything happens to any of these commoners, he’ll kill him to appease public anger.”

Xie Heng spoke with some amusement: “Zheng Bikui doesn’t dare do anything for now.”

“His Majesty won’t kill him?”

Luo Wanqing asked knowingly. Xie Heng shook his head and only said: “Zheng Bikui gave up the Southern Office Sixteen Guards and promised to complete the garden construction this summer.”

Luo Wanqing listened without comment. Xie Heng turned to look at her: “Anything else you want to ask?”

“I’m somewhat puzzled.”

“Hmm?” Xie Heng tilted his head, his curiosity piqued: “Puzzled about what?”

“This morning, Young Master was hinting for me to reveal my identity and file the complaint, right?” Luo Wanqing spoke about the morning’s events carefully: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll cause trouble for you?”

“I have plenty of troubles. One more won’t make much difference.” Hearing it was about this, Xie Heng couldn’t help but smile. He unconsciously rubbed the ornament at his waist and said honestly, “For Xiniang to restore her identity is more important to me.”

“Why is it important?”

Luo Wanqing had never understood why Xie Heng seemed to care so much about restoring her identity.

Xie Heng thought for a moment before finally explaining: “When you told Zhang Yiran that Zhang Jiuran was his sister, then asked him not to acknowledge Zhang Jiuran for his prospects, he questioned you about whether you had lived such a life of hiding your name and living shamefully. He said he couldn’t let his sister live such a life. At that moment, I saw envy in your eyes.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned, then realized he had kept such details in his heart for so long.

She quickly said: “I didn’t mind…”

“I minded.” Xie Heng interrupted her, smiling: “At that time, I felt you shouldn’t have to live such a life. Someday, your family should be vindicated, and you should be able to stand proudly before people and say your name is Luo Wanqing. What Zhang Yiran could do, I could do too.”

Luo Wanqing stood frozen in place. Xie Heng smiled, then collected his expression: “Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Let’s discuss important matters.”

Xie Heng spoke with a serious tone: “Is our wager over?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing also became serious and only asked: “What does Young Master want to do?”

“If it’s over…”

Before he could finish, urgent footsteps came from the entrance. Zhuque called anxiously: “Young Master, this is bad. People from the Central Imperial Office have come.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng’s expression became stern. He immediately whispered, “I’ve changed the passcode to what your father used. Trade the passcode for your life.”

After speaking, Xie Heng stood up and quickly left.

Luo Wanqing sat in place, pondering Xie Heng’s words.

Trade the passcode for life…

Hearing this, she understood Xie Heng’s plan.

Xie Heng dared to let her reveal her identity naturally because he had given her a protective talisman.

By revealing her identity, she also reminded Li Zong that she was Luo Qushu’s daughter.

The daughter of the only person who might know how to open the Xuantian Box.

For Li Zong, her case was too small. Killing her would only maintain imperial authority; not killing her could also be seen as a good deed. Her life and death weren’t important, but if he could exchange the Xuantian Box’s passcode, Li Zong wouldn’t mind letting her live.

Actually, without Xie Heng’s reminder, this was also her plan. But now that Xie Heng spoke up, it meant that perhaps from the beginning, Xie Heng had been waiting for this moment.

Why was he waiting for this moment? What had he put in the box? What would Li Zong see when he opened it?

If Xie Heng had indeed placed something in the box for Li Zong to see, if he directly told Li Zong the Xuantian Box’s passcode, Li Zong would suspect he had already opened the Xuantian Box and would be wary of its contents.

Now, if Xie Heng went through such a big circle and finally had Li Zong force the Xuantian Box’s results from her, even if there were suspicions, it would be much better than Xie Heng directly telling Li Zong.

Luo Wanqing frowned as she thought. Then she heard the sound of doors opening again, and several eunuchs entered one after another, walking to the cell door.

“Criminal woman of the Luo clan.”

The lead eunuch held a whisk and spoke rather coldly: “His Majesty summons you.”

With that, someone opened the cell door. Luo Wanqing stood up, had shackles put on by the jailers, and then followed them out.

Luo Wanqing recognized several of these eunuchs—they were all Yang Chun’s disciples and students, people who had gained favor before the emperor.

As Luo Wanqing followed them, she probed: “Does this father-in-law know why His Majesty summoned me?”

The eunuch ignored Luo Wanqing. She stepped forward and quietly slipped a gold pearl into the eunuch’s hand.

The eunuch glanced at her, saw that she was sensible, and smiled: “It was requested by Prince Guang’an.”

Prince Guang’an—Li Guiyu.

Hearing his name, Luo Wanqing guessed what was happening.

Her expression grew cold as she followed the eunuch to the imperial study.

Outside the imperial study, Zheng Pingsheng was leading Zheng Bikui out. Seeing Luo Wanqing, he sneered coldly, then left with Zheng Bikui.

Luo Wanqing paid no attention. She followed the eunuch forward, but instead of being led into the imperial study, she was brought to a side hall.

Seeing the side hall, Luo Wanqing frowned, alertly letting the Qianji bead bracelet slide into her hand, staring at the eunuch ahead: “Father-in-law, why are we at the side hall?”

“Because I have something to say to Miss.”

Li Guiyu’s voice came from the room. Luo Wanqing looked up coldly and saw Li Guiyu sitting at a desk.

He wore water-blue brocade robes and was looking down, drinking tea.

He was different from Xie Heng. Every time Xie Heng drank tea, he was extremely particular—from boiling water to brewing tea, it was very elaborate. But Li Guiyu drank tea very simply.

One teapot, one plain cup, tea leaves piled in the teapot. Cold tea or hot tea seemed to make no difference to him.

Luo Wanqing stood at the door without moving. Li Guiyu knew she was wary and didn’t look up, only lowering his head to sip cold tea before saying: “Come in. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t go to such trouble. Rather than standing there confronting me, you might as well finish talking early and make decisions early.”

Luo Wanqing looked at the attendants around her who were all waiting with lowered heads, thought for a moment, and finally stepped forward.

She walked alone into the room and sat down properly. Li Guiyu poured tea for her without saying a word.

After the two sat in silence for a moment, Luo Wanqing spoke first: “Say what you have to say directly.”

“Does Miss want to live?”

Li Guiyu spoke directly. Luo Wanqing looked up at the young man across from her. Li Guiyu sensed her gaze and met it calmly. He watched Luo Wanqing as if discussing something unrelated to either of them, speaking methodically: “Father Emperor is in a very bad mood today. He can’t touch others, so he can only take his anger out on Miss. He originally planned to have the Central Secretariat draft an edict to have you executed, but I stopped it.”

“And then?”

“Father Emperor cannot accept your slander against me. This damages not just me, but the face and dignity of the royal family. Now the only way to preserve the royal family’s face is for you to admit that you misunderstood me.”

“How to admit it?” Luo Wanqing already knew the answer but still asked.

Li Guiyu raised his eyes, suppressing his churning emotions, quietly gazing at the sharp-edged person across from him.

He looked at her mocking eyes, unconsciously gripping his cup tighter, but his face still carried a smile. As if nothing had happened, he spoke gently yet solemnly: “Miss, let us marry.”

Luo Wanqing’s expression didn’t change, but after Li Guiyu said these words, he felt his heart finally experience some sweetness.

This faint sweetness was drowned in endless pain, like drinking poison to quench thirst, making him unable to stop.

He quietly watched her, reminding, “Only by living can you take revenge. If you die, you’ll have nothing. And now, I am the only person in this world willing and able to protect Miss.”

With that, his tone carried some coaxing: “Doesn’t Miss want to torment me and kill me?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up and saw him lean forward.

He watched her, his infatuated gaze carrying some expectation: “Then let me teach you—use my feelings, then kill me.” Li Guiyu seemed to fantasize about such a scene, his lips trembling uncontrollably from pain, yet he persisted: “That way I’ll suffer more. Want to try?”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Li Guiyu: “Want to try making me suffer more?”

Luo Wanqing: “Get lost, you pervert!”

Xie Heng: “How about I try?”

Li Guiyu: “Get lost, you big pervert!!”

[520 Special Episode – Shadow Envoy Incident 2]

Luo Wanqing led Zhuge Yun down the mountain. Once at the bottom, Zhuge Yun began helping her with work.

This day, Luo Wanqing was particularly comfortable, finding Zhuge Yun especially pleasing to the eye. She specially treated Zhuge Yun to drinks as a welcoming gift, only returning to the mountain in the evening.

When she returned to her room, she saw Xie Heng wearing a single shirt, sitting in her room. The sandalwood-colored Qianji device slid at his wrist as he supported his forehead, reading documents. Seeing Luo Wanqing enter, he glanced at her and said casually, “Inspector Liu is just returning now?”

“Not busy today,” Luo Wanqing said, quite happy. “Ayun helped me finish all the documents. I treated him to drinks.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng made no sound, lowering his head to write documents.

Late at night, Luo Wanqing noticed he was being somewhat restless and couldn’t help but reflect. Then she realized and asked breathlessly: “You’re unhappy about me finding a new Shadow Envoy?”

“How could I be?” Xie Heng bit her ear, his tone calm: “Having someone to help you is naturally for the best. You don’t just need one Shadow Envoy,” Xie Heng smiled, “A few more wouldn’t matter either.”

This sounded very magnanimous, but Luo Wanqing knew he was having an episode—he was having his old problem again.

But this time she didn’t want to go along with him, pretending not to understand and not saying much.

The next day, when Luo Wanqing went to work at the White Tiger Division, she saw Zhuge Yun had already been waiting in the room. Luo Wanqing glanced at him without saying much.

The two worked in separate areas. Luo Wanqing was responsible for reviewing and categorizing case files while instructing Zhuge Yun to write what she needed written. After Zhuge Yun finished, she would review it once more.

Today, Zhuge Yun’s imitation of her handwriting was even better. Luo Wanqing was very satisfied. In the evening, when Luo Wanqing needed to consult case files, she led Zhuge Yun to the document archive. Zhuge Yun held the lamp for her, following behind. With some free time to talk, Luo Wanqing turned back and said, “Thank you for helping me again today.”

“This is my duty. How is it helping?” Zhuge Yun replied politely, following Luo Wanqing and watching her flip through case files. He asked curiously: “Does Inspector Liu find it very tiring?”

“Tiring indeed. I can handle missions, but writing documents is the most exhausting.” Luo Wanqing said, beckoning: “Bring the light closer.”

Zhuge Yun brought the light over, and his breath also enveloped her.

Luo Wanqing paused but didn’t move away, only listening to the lamp-holder ask while protecting the candle: “Since it’s so tiring, why didn’t Inspector Liu find a Shadow Envoy earlier? I heard Inspector Liu previously seemed to have no Shadow Envoy?”

“I had one.”

Mentioning Cui Heng, Luo Wanqing’s tone became much gentler. She said slowly, “There was one before. He was very good, just didn’t appear often—too busy.”

“Sounds very incompetent.” Zhuge Yun’s tone became somewhat cold: “Why didn’t Inspector Liu replace him earlier?”

“I had no choice,” Luo Wanqing sighed. “He was the old hand, I was new. How could I dare replace him?”

“So now that Inspector Liu has become Division Chief, you found me?”

“Zhuge Yun’s” tone was unconsciously colder. Luo Wanqing, with her back to him, suppressed a smile: “Mm, finally had the opportunity. I’ve finally made it to the top. You work hard in the future, and I won’t treat you unfairly.”

“Then thank you, Division Chief,” the person behind spoke sarcastically: “Please enlighten me on how to be a good Shadow Envoy.”

“Help me get that book.”

Luo Wanqing pointed to case files at the top that she couldn’t reach. Zhuge Yun, or rather Xie Heng, looked up.

He glanced at the person in front of him, standing behind her, reaching for the case files, feeling as if the person in front was completely enveloped by him.

“Is this how to get it?”

He took the book from the shelf and handed it to Luo Wanqing, catching sight of the smile she couldn’t suppress.

Luo Wanqing replied softly, lowering her head to open the case file, saying gently: “Thank you.”

Xie Heng suddenly realized something and probed: “I wonder what the previous Shadow Envoy usually did with the Division Chief?”

“Nothing much,” Luo Wanqing said, looking down: “Just often spent money on me, buying things, and had to tell me every day that Inspector Liu was the best in the world and he was far inferior.”

Luo Wanqing put the case file back and said seriously, “Then repent, apologize to me, and talk about how he was lazy and made my workload heavy. Then repent about his narrow-mindedness and lack of tolerance.”

“This Shadow Envoy was indeed too excessive.”

Xie Heng followed her, listening to her nonsense, agreeing: “The Division Chief should have replaced him earlier.”

“He still had some redeeming qualities.”

“Such as?”

“Such as…” Luo Wanqing thought, turning back to glance at Xie Heng: “He was good-looking.”

“Oh?” Xie Heng chuckled: “Compared to me?”

“Well…” Luo Wanqing deliberately pondered, but before she could speak, Xie Heng said: “So I also have some comparable ability, making the Division Chief hesitate so long.”

“It’s not hesitation, just that saying it directly might make him arrogant.”

Luo Wanqing smiled: “His appearance is the best in my heart.”

“I see.” Xie Heng nodded: “So the Division Chief let him occupy the Shadow Envoy position just for his looks?”

“And money. He always gave me bags of gold pearls.”

Luo Wanqing spoke quite seriously. Xie Heng snorted softly: “Didn’t realize the Division Chief was such a money-grubbing person.”

“Of course, there’s also the most important point.”

Luo Wanqing finally stopped teasing him, turning to look at the bookshelf in front, raising her head to search for the case files she wanted, saying gently, “I like him.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng paused. One soft sentence made all his sulking seem to dissipate. He looked at the person so close, enveloped by his shadow, as if she belonged completely to him.

The lamplight flickered, shadows of bookshelves layered upon layers. The entire archive was empty except for them. Desire and greed instantly grew wildly.

He chuckled softly, gently lowering his head to bite at her neck bone.

The tingling sensation spread from her neck bone. Luo Wanqing lightly patted, saying hoarsely: “Don’t fool around. This is the archive.”

But this pat only made him more brazen. He placed the lamp on the bookshelf, the flame unprotected, instantly extinguished.

Luo Wanqing was pressed against the bookshelf by him, gripping the sandalwood partition tightly. He never let her turn around, only forcing her eyes to brim with moisture.

Xie Heng listened to her low whimpers, feeling the stickiness at his fingertips, chuckling as he asked: “Inspector Liu, is this also how the previous Shadow Envoy served?”

“Stop talking nonsense.” Luo Wanqing gritted her teeth: “Hurry up.”

Xie Heng raised an eyebrow but said no more, only saying softly: “Shall we rest tonight?”

Luo Wanqing understood his meaning and agreed.

Xie Heng smiled and carried her horizontally, returning to the mountain.

Once they tumbled onto the bed, Luo Wanqing finally had the chance to ask: “Why did you pretend to be Zhuge Yun for no reason?”

“To see how you get along with new people.”

Xie Heng bit at the clothing ties to untie them. He removed his mask, revealing his true face, leaning forward: “So this is how the Division Chief gets along with new people?”

“Yes,” Luo Wanqing smiled, placing one leg on his shoulder: “New people are still better.”

Xie Heng looked up at her, kissed her calf, quite patiently: “When did you discover it was me?”

“From the beginning.”

Xie Heng was somewhat puzzled, frowning: “What gave me away?”

“Because…” Luo Wanqing smiled at him: “Yesterday, I already told Zhuge Yun that I didn’t need a Shadow Envoy and asked him to help others instead.”

Xie Heng was stunned and couldn’t help asking: “Why? You’re too busy every day.”

“But I know the Young Master wants me to learn myself, to write myself.”

Luo Wanqing looked at him: “Moreover, in my heart, my Shadow Envoy can only be Cui Guanlan.”

Xie Heng said nothing. After a moment, he leaned forward to kiss her.

“After you learn to write documents well, I’ll write for you in the future.”

He kissed her, swallowing her whimpers into his lips and teeth: “I’ll write for you for a lifetime.”