◎I’ll Forge My Own Path◎

Luo Wanqing listened and raised her eyes: “You think I want to torment you?”

This calm attitude made Li Guiyu unconsciously curl his fingers, bringing some unease: “Don’t you?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t answer. She thought for a long time, connecting the whole situation, then confirmed with him: “You did all this just to force me to marry you?”

Li Guiyu’s eyes moved slightly. He didn’t argue, only asking: “What does Miss think?”

“Does my opinion matter?” Luo Wanqing chuckled lightly: “His Majesty wants to maintain the royal family’s dignity, and he also doesn’t want you to marry a noble family daughter. If you marry me now and casually issue a notice saying there was a misunderstanding between us, as long as I don’t commit suicide, it can preserve your reputation.”

Luo Wanqing spoke, leaning forward slightly and staring at him: “Since you and His Majesty have already discussed this matter, why come ask me?”

“Because I’m afraid Miss might do something foolish.”

Li Guiyu’s tone was gentle. Luo Wanqing frowned, and Li Guiyu looked up with a smile: “I’m afraid you think you can use the Xuantian Box’s passcode as a life-saving talisman to negotiate with Father Emperor.”

Luo Wanqing’s eyes turned colder: “What do you mean?”

“Miss, remember this well,” Li Guiyu leaned forward slightly, using a voice only the two of them could hear, saying softly: “The Xuantian Box passed through your hands. As long as the passcode comes from your mouth, you won’t survive.”

Luo Wanqing’s expression became stern. Li Guiyu straightened up and said softly, “Choose the best path for yourself. Don’t be foolish.”

As they spoke, footsteps came from outside. Both fell silent. A eunuch stopped at the door and said respectfully, “Third Prince, His Majesty sent someone to ask if the conversation is finished?”

Li Guiyu nodded. The eunuch bowed: “Miss, this way please.”

Luo Wanqing glanced at Li Guiyu and stood up thoughtfully.

When she reached the door, Li Guiyu suddenly called out a reminder, seeming somewhat unwilling: “Miss, marriage is your choice.”

Luo Wanqing turned to look at him and saw Li Guiyu raise his eyes, somewhat stubbornly reminding: “You chose to marry me—in the past and now too.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing shook her head, tearing away the thin paper he had pasted over his heart: “Deception or threats are not choices.”

Li Guiyu gripped his teacup tightly. He said with difficulty, “What a pity. You can only choose from the paths given to you.”

“I won’t choose,” Luo Wanqing turned and followed the eunuch away, saying calmly: “I’ll forge my own path.”

After leaving the room, Luo Wanqing sorted through the current situation.

She roughly understood Li Guiyu’s purpose. Meeting her in advance was actually to threaten her not to tell Li Zong the Xuantian Box’s passcode.

And Li Guiyu’s behavior must be because Li Zong had this intention, and Li Zong thinking this way might be related to Xie Heng.

Li Guiyu was right about one thing—if things came from her hands and the passcode was also given by her, the emperor would definitely suspect she had seen what was inside the box, or even suspect she had switched the contents. Whether she had seen it or switched it, if she had no other use to Li Zong, she would surely die.

But with Xie Heng’s intelligence, he probably prepared for this early. Since he dared let her trade the passcode for her life, he must have prepared for her telling the emperor the passcode to be fine.

What exactly did Xie Heng put in the box?

Luo Wanqing’s mind raced.

When Xie Heng placed things inside, it must have been just after returning from Jiangnan. How could he have predicted today’s scenario then? He could only act based on the situation at that time.

At that time, his first target was still the Zheng family—assassinating Zheng Pingsheng, turning the Zheng clan, leading troops to Si Province under the name of suppressing rebels, gaining military power after occupying Si Province, then joining forces with Li Shengzhao to attack the Northern Rong and bring back the Cui clan army…

So, inside was probably something detrimental to the Zheng family.

If it was something detrimental to the Zheng family, when she revealed the passcode, the emperor might not trust what was inside.

If she didn’t reveal it and the emperor guessed it himself, he might spare her life due to his intent toward the Zheng family.

But if what was inside wasn’t detrimental to the Zheng family, she would lose her last bargaining chip.

Luo Wanqing thought as she arrived at the imperial study entrance. The eunuch had her wait at the door. After waiting briefly, she heard Li Zong’s voice from inside: “Come in.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her head and followed the eunuch inside. Once inside, she saw Li Zong sitting at the desk painting. Seeing Luo Wanqing enter, he glanced at her coldly.

Luo Wanqing ignored his unfriendly gaze and only knelt to pay respects: “This commoner greets Your Majesty.”

“I still remember the first time I saw you—it seems it was right here.”

Li Zong painted casually: “Lingshu told me then that you had good aptitude and planned to cultivate you. I truly didn’t expect you could accomplish such great things. Privately switching with a death row prisoner…”

Li Zong spoke, looking up at her: “Such audacity. Don’t you value your life?”

“This commoner values her life, but with my father’s revenge pending, I dare not ignore it. I was also at my wits’ end. I hope Your Majesty will forgive my crimes.”

Luo Wanqing spoke officialese with Li Zong. Li Zong raised his hand, and the eunuch closed the door and left, leaving only Yang Chun standing behind Li Zong as a guard.

“Your filial devotion is understandable to me.”

Li Zong put down his brush and sat in his seat, looking at her: “But you committed a capital crime, and what you said is too absurd, especially accusing Guiyu—it damages our imperial family’s dignity. Fortunately, Guiyu has deep feelings for you, and Lingshu also remembers old friendship, both pleading with me for mercy. I now give you two paths—”

Li Zong leaned forward slightly: “One is what Guiyu gave you—become Princess Guang’an, marry Guiyu, and clarify to everyone that you and Guiyu had a misunderstanding.”

Luo Wanqing immediately frowned. Li Zong seemed to anticipate her thoughts and smiled: “The other is what Lingshu gave you—produce something worthy of trading for your life, and I’ll spare you from death.”

Luo Wanqing fell silent, thinking for herself.

Marrying Li Guiyu was impossible.

Directly producing the passcode—Li Zong probably wouldn’t let her live, and would also distrust what was in the box.

Luo Wanqing thought for a long time before looking up: “What does Your Majesty want?”

“Your father owes me something,” Li Zong picked up his teacup, speaking leisurely: “If you can provide clues, I will naturally withstand pressure from court officials and, disregarding imperial dignity, give you a way to live.”

“What thing?”

Luo Wanqing immediately asked. Li Zong tapped the table lightly, considering: “Three characters.”

He didn’t give complete information, only looking at Luo Wanqing: “Do you have any clues?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak, seeming to recall.

Li Zong waited quietly. After a moment, Luo Wanqing seemed to think of something and said calmly, “I might know.”

“Oh?”

Li Zong was casual. He observed Luo Wanqing, obviously not quite believing: “You thought of it so quickly?”

“My father and I had an extremely close relationship. I was his most beloved child. He always told me everything.”

Luo Wanqing answered calmly: “Your Majesty mentioned three characters. I have some guesses, but if Your Majesty wants to know,” Luo Wanqing raised her eyes, “please allow me one condition.”

“I spare you from death, you don’t thank me for my grace, and you still want to negotiate conditions with me?”

Li Zong’s eyes carried coldness: “Do you really think I can’t extract things from your mouth?”

“This commoner dares not. I only want to use my life to ask Your Majesty for a favor.”

Luo Wanqing bowed lightly, speaking humbly.

Li Zong observed her expression and raised his hand: “Speak.”

“Please help me kill Zheng Pingsheng.” Luo Wanqing looked at Li Zong, speaking firmly: “I can die, but as long as you kill him, I’ll immediately tell Your Majesty the passcode.”

Hearing this, Li Zong chuckled lightly, lowering his eyes to hide the expression in them, only saying: “You want me to kill someone first before you’ll tell me the passcode—where is there such a way of doing business? What if you’re lying to me?”

“If this commoner deceives Your Majesty, you may kill or torture me as you please.”

“How much is your life worth?” Li Zong raised an eyelid, thought for a moment, and said: “Like this—business always has a deposit. Since you say you know, give me some hints so I can confirm you truly know these three characters. As long as I’m sure you’re not lying to me,” Li Zong smiled kindly, “I won’t treat you unfairly.”

Luo Wanqing listened, suppressing some unease in her eyes, but she forced herself not to show any emotion. However, this little concealment was too obvious before Li Zong. He observed her and said directly, “Do you know or not?”

“Of course I know.” Luo Wanqing immediately spoke. She seemed to force herself, putting on a calm facade: “My father always followed patterns in his work. He liked selecting the first few characters from sentences.”

Li Zong didn’t speak. He only studied her, scanning from head to toe, then examining every detail up close. After a long time, he chuckled lightly and said with certainty: “You don’t know.”

Luo Wanqing’s gaze moved slightly, then immediately steadied: “Your Majesty doesn’t trust me?”

“Go.” Li Zong waved his hand: “Have the Ministry of Rites draft an edict to prepare for the wedding.”

“Your Majesty?!” This time, Luo Wanqing finally couldn’t contain herself and said urgently, “I know those three characters. I truly know!”

As she spoke, soldiers rushed forward. The moment they touched Luo Wanqing, she shouted: “Let go of me!”

She pressed the soldiers to the ground with her hands. Seeing this, Yang Chun pulled Li Zong back and stepped forward, striking fiercely at Luo Wanqing with his palm.

Luo Wanqing sensed the palm wind attacking but had no time to dodge. She raised her hands to forcibly receive Yang Chun’s strike and was directly sent flying.

She crashed heavily into the door and window, falling into the courtyard outside. Yang Chun immediately followed, grabbed her with one hand, and quickly sealed her pressure points.

The moment she lost strength, soldiers immediately rushed up to press her down. She gasped as she was forced to kneel on the ground, looking up at Li Zong, swallowing her blood: “Your Majesty.”

Luo Wanqing spoke with difficulty: “I know some things are difficult for Your Majesty to handle, but they have repeatedly humiliated you. Don’t you feel unwilling? I know Your Majesty is uneasy about Xie Heng’s monopoly of power and unwilling to accept noble families. My use is not limited to one Xuantian Box.”

Li Zong listened, recovering from the recent incident, looking at Luo Wanqing with stern eyes.

Luo Wanqing looked up at Li Zong seriously: “Give me one chance. As long as I can kill Zheng Pingsheng, I’ll be Your Majesty’s pig or dog—I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“Take her away and teach her a lesson!”

Seeing this, Yang Chun shouted. Luo Wanqing also lost her strength, being dragged away by soldiers with unwillingness written all over her face.

After Luo Wanqing was taken away, Li Zong slowly came to his senses and couldn’t help frowning: “She has such martial skills?”

“After all, she’s someone who killed Ji Ruifang and stepped into the Grandmaster realm.”

Yang Chun helped Li Zong sit down. Li Zong thought silently without speaking. Yang Chun called people to repair the doors and windows, then turned back: “Why was Your Majesty so certain Miss Luo was lying?”

“If she truly knew those three characters, she should know they come from the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, not from some sentence.” Li Zong spoke casually: “Moreover, seeing her nervous expression and insisting on killing Zheng Pingsheng first, she was thinking of making one last desperate attempt before death. For Luo Qushu to dote on such a daughter is truly…”

Before finishing his words, Li Zong seemed to suddenly think of something and said urgently, “Quick, bring the Xuantian Box!”

Yang Chun turned back in surprise. Li Zong stood up again: “No, no need. I’ll go open it myself.”

With that, Li Zong hurried toward the secret chamber. When they reached the entrance, Li Zong noticed Yang Chun still following and immediately said, “You wait here first.”

Yang Chun was stunned, and Li Zong hurriedly went inside.

Yang Chun stood at the door, somewhat uneasy. After a long time, Li Zong emerged from the secret chamber.

He looked grave. Yang Chun quickly stepped forward, probing: “Your Majesty?”

“Send spies in Si Province immediately to White Egret Mountain,” Li Zong considered something: “Take messenger hawks. After arriving, if they discover any anomalies, report back immediately.”

“Yes.”

Though Yang Chun didn’t understand what Li Zong wanted to do, he still responded: “This servant will send the message immediately.”

“Also,” Li Zong lowered his eyes, thinking, slowly speaking: “Give Luo Wanqing a chance to escape.”

Yang Chun looked at Li Zong in surprise. Li Zong continued: “Send our most elite masters to follow her. Whatever people she meets, whatever she does,” Li Zong emphasized, “watch everything closely.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Li Zong: “Barbie Q, another day of being played.”

This Cang Lan Dao – Chapter determines the later direction. I kept hesitating, so I wrote it many times.