◎Taking the official seal wasn’t enough—even the clothes must be stripped from Director Luo◎

Luo Wanqing performed the proper courtesies to send Li Zong away, then followed the eunuch out, heading toward the imperial prison.

Upon returning to the familiar cell, Luo Wanqing sat down inside the room, leaning against the wall, and finally let out a heavy sigh of relief.

After leaving the suspension bridge, she had rushed down the mountain without stopping. She had prepared medicinal supplies, food, silver, and disguise clothing in the mountains two days prior. After finding these items, she simply disguised herself, put on the Imperial Guards’ uniform, and boldly walked through the searching crowds.

But her luck wasn’t great—midway, a soldier questioned her, and she had no choice but to knock him unconscious. When she descended from the mountain, the Imperial Guards discovered the unconscious soldier and began a citywide manhunt.

Dongdu was already under lockdown—she couldn’t escape. Given the intensity of the search, she would be discovered soon.

She had originally wanted to stay outside for a few more days before seeking out Li Zong, but to avoid capture, she had to advance her plan.

So she rushed all the way, infiltrating the palace under cover. With her skills, bypassing ordinary soldiers wasn’t difficult, but with Yang Chun present, she harbored no illusions about hiding within the palace. She might as well appear openly and speak frankly with Li Zong.

At this point, Li Zong had no other choice, nor would he make any other choice.

Now the Zheng family would inevitably rebel. Even if Zheng Bikui didn’t rebel, any slight disturbance would be enough to make Li Zong suspicious.

Once Li Zong and the Zheng family went to war, if there was even half a moment’s hesitation, allowing the Zheng family to gain momentum and the aristocratic families to respond, Li Zong would reach his end.

So he would make all preparations and immediately extinguish any sparks the moment they appeared.

Li Zong himself hadn’t realized that now, no matter what the Zheng clan did, in his eyes it was all sparks.

From Zheng Bikui openly attacking Zhang Yiran in the great hall, poisoning Jiqing in the inner court, damaging the petition drum, and beating ministers…

His patience with the Zheng family had long been worn away bit by bit.

So he would unconsciously choose to believe news unfavorable to the Zheng family. This assassination hadn’t even begun to be investigated before he had subconsciously accepted the source of this assassination attempt.

Now the Zheng clan had to rebel whether they wanted to or not. As soon as the Zheng clan rebelled, Li Zong would immediately send troops. When the war ended, to appease the aristocratic families and show he had no intention of moving against everyone, he would find someone to take the blame.

Whoever campaigned in Sizhou would be that scapegoat.

Without her, that person would be Xie Heng.

But now with her present, Li Zong needn’t cut off his arm.

Appointing her as Director of the Supervision Department, then having her lead the army to pacify the rebellion in Sizhou, and after the pacification, executing her on charges of bringing disaster to Sizhou.

Beginning to end, seamlessly connected.

But to elevate her to the position of Director and military supervisor, he would certainly need to erase her previous crimes and give her some merit. The most convenient course now would be to reverse the killing of Zheng Pingsheng from assassination to meritorious protection of the emperor, then censure Xie Heng for incompetent handling and demote him while promoting her to Director.

Once Li Zong did this, she could completely become Li Zong’s direct subordinate. This wedding would become her acting on Li Zong’s orders, and she and Xie Heng would be completely severed.

Whether killing the Crown Prince, killing the Six Rates of the Eastern Palace, or those five hundred men at Xueling Mountain, in the end, she could place it all on Li Zong’s head, binding herself to Li Zong from then on.

Starting from assassinating Zheng Pingsheng, she would rewrite his fate.

Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, finally feeling somewhat at peace.

From the prison, she could hear the rain outside. She was too tired, and listening to the rain made her drowsy.

Gripping the red cloth letter Xie Heng had given her, she finally dared to recall that last glance she had of him when escaping from the forest.

He seemed very angry.

Well, how could he not be angry?

On such an important day, she had even told him that she hadn’t attended the wedding on Liufeng Island that time, but would make it up to him this time—yet she had run away again.

He had let her go, and she didn’t know how he planned to explain this to Li Zong. With his temperament, he probably wouldn’t push everything onto her. Perhaps… he had anticipated that she would kill Zheng Pingsheng.

This red cloth bore the words “mountain gate opens at night”—he was waiting for her to return.

But she wouldn’t return until she became Director of the Supervision Department.

Luo Wanqing laughed softly, forcing herself not to think further.

She feared that once she started thinking about that person, she wouldn’t be able to stop.

Tonight was their wedding night—she should have returned.

She had wanted to return.

Just like that, Luo Wanqing disappeared on that wedding night.

The soldiers had seen her for the last time when searching the mountains. Following the traces into Dongdu, the city was then sealed off. After searching house by house for three days and truly finding no one, to avoid causing unrest among the people, the restrictions were finally lifted.

Though the open searches ceased, the Supervision Department and Li Guiyu’s people never stopped for a moment. Both sides searched almost every possible place in Dongdu, but no trace of Luo Wanqing was found, and no unusual news emerged. The only difference was that Li Zong seemed to be in a poor mood that night, having some displeasure with the guards on duty in the palace, flying into a great rage, and having all the palace guards that night beaten with rods and thrown into prison.

For this reason, Xie Heng also searched and investigated repeatedly in the palace, but found not the slightest clue.

Luo Wanqing seemed to have evaporated from the human world—her life or death unknown, vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, many rumors spread among the people, mostly stemming from this chaotic wedding.

Some said Luo Wanqing was avenging her father, deliberately seducing Xie Heng, and that Xie Heng had lost his head over a woman, giving Luo Wanqing the opportunity to assassinate.

Others said Xie Heng was dissatisfied with the Luo family case and sought justice for Luo Wanqing by having her assassinate Zheng Pingsheng.

Still other conspiracy theorists claimed that since Luo Wanqing had said she was acting on His Majesty’s orders, perhaps the Emperor had used Luo Wanqing’s hand to assassinate Zheng Pingsheng…

Going round and round, eventually all the gossipmongers would circle back to the recent popular new book “The Romantic Supervision Department.”

This was a book describing how the orphaned girl Liu Qingqing, after her family was framed by her fiancé, changed her name and passed the Supervision Department examination, successively meeting Censor Zhang Chun, Supervision Department Director Xie Guanlan, and others. With everyone’s help, she avenged her family’s grievances and ultimately became the first female Inspector of the Supervision Department—a tale of passionate legend.

The story itself was rather conventional, but its timing was too coincidental, appearing for printing and sale throughout Great Xia shortly after the petition incident.

The story in the book corresponded point by point with Luo Wanqing’s life experiences. The author was already popular, and with extremely detailed knowledge of places difficult for common people to access, like the Supervision Department and the imperial palace, the writing brought characters vividly to life, making truth and fiction hard to distinguish. Though the characters didn’t engage in romance, their life-and-death bonds sparked endless speculation, making it a sensation in the Great Xia.

The Supervision Department had always been domineering, mysterious, and particularly terrifying in the people’s minds, but in this story, Xie Guanlan was cold-faced but kind-hearted, upright, and incorruptible. For Liu Qingqing’s sake, he was slandered and framed by court officials, nearly dying in the end.

Combining extreme beauty, strength, tragedy, and righteousness in one person, he became the perfect embodiment of an honest official in the hearts of Dongdu people recently.

Under this story’s influence, there were noticeably more people on the road when Xie Heng recently went to court. Seeing Xie Heng’s face occasionally visible from his carriage, people would look at their books, then up at the person, and feel that Xie Heng’s features seemed much more gentle than before.

People speculated about current events based on the book’s plot. With Luo Wanqing’s whereabouts unknown, seeing the female Inspector’s vindication and high spirits in the book, everyone couldn’t help feeling somewhat melancholy.

In the book, when Xie Guanlan was wrongly imprisoned, Liu Qingqing struck the petition drum, and the people knelt with her before the palace gates to request an audience. The Emperor was deeply moved and thus righteously eliminated his relatives, providing a perfect ending.

But in reality, after all the people had mustered courage to enter the palace and testify, everything seemed unchanged. The petition drum was fake, and in the end, it seemed no one could give her justice except for Luo Wanqing’s blade.

But having delivered that blade…

“The Zheng family won’t rebel, will they?”

Everyone couldn’t help feeling somewhat worried.

Then someone sighed: “That depends on the Zheng family’s attitude. But even if they rebel, it would take at least a month. Everyone should just live their lives well!”

By logic, the escaped Zheng family members fleeing back to Sizhou would need to run for four days even without sleep.

After the Zheng family deliberated and decided on rebellion, by the time the news traveled back, it would be about a month.

But no one expected that seven days later, news of the Zheng clan’s rebellion would reach Dongdu.

Xie Heng listened to Qingya’s detailed report on the way to court: “The Zheng clan attacked the county office of Jinghuai Prefecture two days ago, hung white cloth, and raised their family crest banner.”

“From Dongdu to Sizhou, even riding fast horses without sleep would take three days,” Zhuque listened, somewhat puzzled. “Two days ago—that’s only five days after Zheng Pingsheng died, and the Zheng family has already risen? Had Zheng Bikui just arrived and not even slept? Are the Zheng family people this impulsive?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng and Qingya exchanged glances and said flatly: “Investigate.”

“Whether we investigate or not isn’t important anymore,” Qingya put away the message and looked up at Xie Heng. “It all depends on how the personnel for Sizhou are arranged.”

Xie Heng nodded, distracted.

Qingya thought for a moment, understanding what Xie Heng was thinking, and said carefully: “Young Master, no news is the best news right now.”

Xie Heng responded without saying more.

The group reached the palace gates. Xie Heng attended court as usual, entering the hall, but these days he was always somewhat distracted, the distraction carrying unease, yet he dared not think too much.

Qingya was right—no result was the best result.

Today’s morning court was somewhat more solemn compared to usual. The aristocratic families looked worried, having probably all received the military reports.

When Li Zong entered the hall, he glanced around, appearing extraordinarily calm. He took his high seat and, as usual, began inquiring about weather conditions in various regions. But before finishing his questions, the anxious-faced Minister of War Sun Zhengli could barely contain himself and interrupted Li Zong: “Your Majesty, this minister has urgent matters to report!”

“What urgent matters?”

Li Zong looked over leisurely. Sun Zhengli immediately said, “Last night, the Ministry of War received news that Zheng clan members led people to attack the county office of Jinghuai Prefecture in Sizhou. They have now displayed their family banner hanging in the office—the Zheng clan has rebelled!”

At these words, court officials who hadn’t received the news immediately broke into clamorous discussion.

Li Zong’s expression remained unchanged as he nodded: “I know.”

“Your Majesty,” Sun Zhengli said urgently, “since you know, how do you plan to handle the Zheng clan?”

“How to handle this matter—didn’t we already have a result last time?”

Li Guiyu spoke with a smile, looking up at Xie Heng: “The trouble Director Xie stirred up—didn’t Director Xie say he would personally lead troops and pacify Sizhou within a month? If he let the Zheng clan step one foot outside Sizhou, would Director Xie present his head? Director, do you still remember these words?”

Li Guiyu repeated Xie Heng’s words. Xie Heng immediately stepped forward and was about to speak when Li Zong said: “Beloved Xie was just speaking in jest—how could you take it seriously, Guiyu?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng paused, instinctively sensing something was wrong. He looked up at Li Zong on high, seeing Li Zong seemingly deliberating: “This matter is of great importance—no place for jokes.”

“Your Majesty speaks truly.”

Wang Shenfeng listened, then stepped forward to bow, saying earnestly: “Mobilizing and preparing armies cannot be accomplished in a day. Your Majesty, we should still have people investigate the situation further, and after confirming the Zheng clan’s treason, then decide whether to negotiate or fight. This would also allow time to recall generals from the borders to Dongdu, and for the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to prepare provisions and weapons. After preparations are complete…”

“Dongdu could be captured by the Zheng clan by then.”

Li Zong interrupted Wang Shenfeng: “Speed is crucial in warfare—how can there be logic in preparing thoroughly before fighting?”

“Does Your Majesty wish to campaign against the Zheng clan?”

Wang Shenfeng understood Li Zong’s meaning and probed for confirmation. Li Zong nodded: “Correct.”

“Then how does Your Majesty plan to arrange things?”

Wang Shenfeng pressed further, but Li Zong didn’t answer.

The court fell silent. Everyone understood that while there were generals present, most came from aristocratic families. With aristocratic families having numerous marriage connections and deep-rooted networks, this campaign against the Zheng clan wasn’t about expelling foreign tribes. Li Zong wanted to fight, but no one dared speak up. Even if they did speak up, once on the battlefield, whether they’d fight the Zheng clan or counter-attack Dongdu was anyone’s guess.

Only one person had status, ability, and Li Zong’s trust.

“Your Majesty,” seeing Li Zong remain silent, Xie Heng immediately stepped forward. “This minister is willing to share Your Majesty’s worries!”

Hearing this, Li Zong laughed lightly and shook his head: “You’re not suitable.”

Xie Heng was stunned, unable to guess what Li Zong intended to do.

He instinctively sensed trouble, his heart beating somewhat fast. If he wasn’t suitable, who was?

Li Zong had other candidates—who was this candidate?

Now, in this court, what other person with the ability and Li Zong’s trust would pick up this hot potato?

Who?

Xie Heng’s mind raced. Li Guiyu also frowned. Everyone’s minds flashed through countless names. Li Zong looked around: “What’s this? Besides Heng’er, is there no one else in this court willing to share my burdens? You all…”

Li Zong smiled as he stood up, somewhat indignant: “Can’t stop assassins, can’t stop rebellious ministers. Now people have kicked down the Great Xia’s banners and hung up their family crests, yet you can still play deaf and dumb without a word! Fortunately, I still have loyal ministers. Come!”

Li Zong looked up toward the entrance of the great hall and beckoned: “Enter the hall.”

Hearing this, everyone instinctively looked over and saw a woman standing at the entrance at some unknown time.

She wore the Supervision Department’s dark court robes—black clothes with gold patterns, gold thread embroidering a white tiger on the hem.

In the faint morning light, she stood like a steady, silent steel blade, like a composed bamboo standing upright, quietly positioned before the great hall.

Everyone’s eyes widened as they watched Luo Wanqing steadily step into the great hall.

Li Guiyu stared at Luo Wanqing in shock. Xie Heng frowned tightly. Meeting Li Zong’s gaze, Luo Wanqing walked along the red carpet of the great hall, finally reaching the very front, parallel with Xie Heng.

She swept her robes aside and knelt on one knee, performing the unique single-knee salute of military generals, calling out loudly: “Your subject Luo Wanqing, having executed the criminal, has returned to audience with Your Majesty!”

This proclamation startled everyone to attention.

Wang Shenfeng looked at Luo Wanqing with shock and doubt, couldn’t help saying: “How dare you return?!”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

Li Zong spoke, and everyone looked over to see Li Zong sitting on high, slowly saying: “I ordered her to return.”

“Your Majesty,” Wang Shenfeng said uncomprehendingly, suppressing anger, “she assassinated Zheng Pingsheng and is the chief culprit of today’s military disaster. Even if the death penalty can be avoided, living punishment is hard to escape. Now, Your Majesty has her swagger into the hall—what does this mean?”

“Chief culprit?” Li Zong heard this and laughed coldly. “The chief culprit of today’s military disaster should be the Zheng family!”

“Your Majesty?”

Wang Shenfeng frowned, incredulous: “If she hadn’t killed Old Zheng how would the Zheng family rebel?”

“If Zheng Pingsheng hadn’t planned rebellion, how would he have been killed?!”

Li Zong couldn’t control his angry shout. Everyone was startled. Li Zong seemed to realize his loss of composure, suppressed his breathing, and slowly said: “I have already given them too many chances. They are stubborn and unrepentant! Previously, I received intelligence that the Zheng clan, due to dissatisfaction with the handling of the Luo family case, harbored disloyalty toward me and intended to use Beloved Xie’s wedding banquet to assassinate me. I, showing mercy toward old ministers, wanted to give him a chance, but…”

Li Zong laughed coldly, staring at Wang Shenfeng: “Pingsheng disappointed me greatly. He colluded with ‘certain people’ to arrange assassins, while pretending to be poisoned to create panic and take the opportunity to assassinate. His heart harbored treachery, but fortunately, Beloved Luo detected it in time and executed him on the spot.”

Everyone listened dumbly to Li Zong’s words, watching him take a deep breath, saying somewhat painfully: “I was prepared to endure it all, to give everyone face, but they became even more excessive. Now they even dare raise troops in rebellion—fine, then I’ll settle accounts clearly with everyone. Heng’er.”

Speaking of settling accounts, Li Zong called Xie Heng’s name. Everyone was somewhat surprised to see Li Zong turn to look at Xie Heng: “You’re always cautious, yet on your wedding day, such blunders occurred. I imagine you’ve been tired these days as well. Why don’t you temporarily set aside the Supervision Department and rest for a while?”

Listening, Xie Heng felt emotions churning in his heart. Not daring to say more at this moment, he could only bow: “Yes.”

“Guiyu,” Li Zong turned to look at Li Guiyu. “I heard your tenth brother was brought to the wedding by you. He’s so young, yet you let him stay alone in the outer courtyard. Now that he’s gone, as his elder brother, spend these days keeping vigil for him.”

“Yes.”

Li Guiyu responded uneasily. At this point he couldn’t fathom Li Zong’s intentions at all and dared not say more.

Li Zong went through them one by one, finding fault with these people’s oversights at Xie Heng’s wedding banquet, either confining them to house arrest or fining them money.

Finally, Li Zong looked at Luo Wanqing: “As for Beloved Luo, though young and lacking seniority, she is clever and saved my life at the wedding banquet. In the Supervision Department, she has repeatedly solved major cases. As they say, appoint people based on merit. Since Heng’er is resting, you shall temporarily act as Director of the Supervision Department and concurrently serve as military supervisor.”

“Your Majesty must not!”

Xie Heng couldn’t help speaking out, but Li Zong paid no attention, overriding Xie Heng’s voice and continuing directly: “Command the Right Yulin Guard, Left Dragon Tiger Army, and Right Dragon Tiger Army from the Northern Four Armies, plus the sixteen guards of the Southern Office—totaling eighty thousand men. Depart from Dongdu three days hence. I give you a chance to avenge and vindicate your Luo clan. I also hope you will, in Sizhou, raise heavenly might, protect imperial authority, and show those rebellious ministers and traitorous sons what becomes of those who commit treason and rebellion!”

“Your subject obeys the imperial decree.”

Luo Wanqing responded loudly. The two exchanged words back and forth, completely ignoring everyone else, and settled the matter definitively.

Everyone, seeing Li Zong’s attitude, knew there was no room for reversal.

Wang Shenfeng looked up at Li Zong and said coldly: “Your Majesty, having Master Zheng’s enemy lead troops to annihilate the Zheng clan—Your Majesty, do you intend to leave the Zheng clan no path to survival?”

“Wang Shenfeng,” Li Zong looked up at Wang Shenfeng, “still speaking for treasonous ministers at this point—what do you mean, beloved minister?”

Wang Shenfeng was about to explain when Li Zong smiled: “Do you also want to rebel?”

“This minister dare not.”

These words carried weight. Wang Shenfeng’s expression changed dramatically as he hurriedly said: “This minister only…”

“No need to discuss this matter further. That’s settled. Today, whoever speaks for the Zheng clan will be dealt with for treason as well. Heng’er, you and Beloved Luo return and properly transfer the Director’s duties. Your people… especially Zhuque and Qingya, don’t make things difficult. If I learn that anyone in your Supervision Department disobeys imperial orders and troubles Beloved Luo, I’ll personally find them.”

“Yes.”

Xie Heng, along with Zhuque and Qingya, responded coldly. With protection extended to this degree, they needn’t say more.

Seeing Xie Heng’s response, Li Zong felt relieved and continued: “The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue prepare provisions, weapons, and equipment. If you can’t prepare them,” Li Zong looked up and swept his gaze over Sun Zhengli and Wang Liansheng, laughing lightly, “step down and yield your positions to the worthy.”

With that, Li Zong stood up and walked out: “Court is dismissed.”

The court ministers respectfully saw Li Zong off.

After Li Zong left, the court ministers whispered among themselves, secretly observing Luo Wanqing and discussing matters before dispersing.

Luo Wanqing looked toward Xie Heng beside her, but Xie Heng didn’t spare her a single glance, turning to follow Li Zong out of the great hall.

Luo Wanqing felt a slight pang in her heart, standing there at a loss.

Zhuque glanced at Luo Wanqing, momentarily seeming not to know what to say. After thinking, he simply said nothing and chased after Xie Heng: “Young Master, wait for me, I’ll walk with you!”

After Zhuque left, Qingya turned to look at Luo Wanqing, hands clasped in front, saying with a half-smile: “Director Luo?”

Luo Wanqing knew this was Qingya’s mockery. She felt somewhat flustered and said softly: “I… I’ll explain everything to the Young Master later.”

Hearing this, Qingya raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, then nodded: “Madam truly accomplishes great things in silence. I am inferior.”

Luo Wanqing smiled awkwardly, walking out with Qingya. The two walked across the square. Qingya asked some questions about recent events and told Luo Wanqing about Xie Heng’s recent situation.

“The day you left, the Young Master waited for you all along. He didn’t sleep all night, and the next day had all the wedding decorations in the residence removed. These days, he’s been constantly inquiring about your news. He seems fine, but he hasn’t eaten for a long time.”

“Hasn’t eaten?”

Luo Wanqing immediately frowned. Qingya nodded, only saying: “Says he has no appetite. He’s lost a whole circle of weight.”

Luo Wanqing’s heart rose in her throat. Qingya sighed: “Oh, and he was scolded by Li Guiyu too. Quite pitiful.”

“Scolded?”

Luo Wanqing immediately asked: “What did he scold him about?”

“I was standing far away and didn’t hear clearly,” Qingya recalled. “Something about him not being Cui Heng, just displaced affection or something.”

Listening, Luo Wanqing understood.

As they talked, they reached the palace gate carriage. Qingya glanced at the carriage and said, “Madam, wait here for the Young Master. I have some matters to attend to, and fearing I’d be collateral damage, I’ll take my leave first.”

With that, Qingya bowed, gave instructions to the coachman, then turned and left the palace.

Luo Wanqing nodded dumbly and boarded the carriage herself.

The carriage was piled with documents, still the same as before, filled with Xie Heng’s scent surrounding her nostrils.

Breathing in his scent made her feel at peace. Leaning against the carriage wall, she closed her eyes to rest briefly.

After waiting a short while, voices came from outside. Luo Wanqing opened her eyes just as Xie Heng lifted the carriage curtain to enter.

Their eyes met. Before Luo Wanqing could speak, she saw Xie Heng turn to get out of the carriage: “Director Luo, you go first.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s eyes widened. Regardless of appearances, she reached out and grabbed Xie Heng’s sleeve.

The sleeve pulled the garment, sliding from Xie Heng’s shoulder. Luo Wanqing froze in her tracks. Xie Heng looked back at her coldly. After a moment, he smiled mockingly: “What’s this? Taking the official seal wasn’t enough—you want to strip this official robe too, Director Luo?”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “What’s this? Taking the official seal wasn’t enough—you want to strip this official robe too, Director Luo?”

Luo Wanqing: “Yes.”

Xie Heng: “…You’re more passionate than I imagined.”

Luo Wanqing: “A woman who dares take your official seal naturally dares strip you naked.”

[Mini Theater 2]

Li Guiyu: “Watch me set a trap for Xie Heng. Father Emperor, have Xie Heng go to war.”

Xie Heng: “Watch me turn the tables. Your Majesty, let me go!”

Li Zong: “No, Heng’er, you rest. Please welcome my mystery guest!!”

Luo Wanqing: “I’m here! Boss, I’m here!”

Li Guiyu (eyes wide with shock): “Father Emperor’s skills are superior—I can’t understand at all.”

Xie Heng: “…Boss, wife, though you both start with the same character, doesn’t mean you’re on the same side.”