◎Third Prince, you too have such a day◎

Luo Wanqing led Xie Heng and Qingya all the way to the high seat. After sitting down, Xie Heng personally presented the Director’s seal, announcing that Luo Wanqing would temporarily assume leadership of the Supervision Department.

Afterward, Luo Wanqing briefly arranged personnel to remain in Dongdu three days hence, then went with Xie Heng to inventory weapons and provisions.

Once everything was prepared, on the night before departure, Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng went to pay respects to Li Zong.

Li Zong inquired about Xie Heng’s campaign plans while Luo Wanqing sat aside listening.

Li Zong was very confident in Xie Heng. Listening to Xie Heng’s report, his eyes showed some melancholy.

Seeing Li Zong’s expression, Xie Heng couldn’t help asking: “What troubles Your Majesty?”

“Seeing you, I don’t know why, but I suddenly think of Qingping.”

Li Zong spoke, turning to look out the window. He appeared somewhat weary, murmuring: “You’re very much like him in his youth… Each time he campaigned, he would discuss these same matters with me.”

“Regrettably, he betrayed Your Majesty.”

Xie Heng lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions: “Such a treasonous minister—Your Majesty needn’t think of him.”

Li Zong said nothing. He looked out the window, and after thinking for a long time, slowly said: “If only he hadn’t done those things back then…”

Feeling his loss of composure, Li Zong smiled and turned to look at Luo Wanqing: “Enough, it’s all in the past. I’ve been chatting with Heng’er and nearly forgot Director Luo.”

Li Zong’s eyes carried some scrutiny: “Director Luo won’t blame me, will you?”

“As long as I can personally slay my enemy, Your Majesty, there are many things I don’t care about.”

Luo Wanqing glanced at Li Zong, appearing completely indifferent to everything, pressing: “Your Majesty promised my people would confine Li Guiyu. Now that Your Majesty has him keeping vigil, have you forgotten?”

Hearing this, Li Zong seemed to just remember, laughing: “How could I? It’s just that directly stating his involvement in treason wasn’t quite appropriate then. Now you can take people there, saying you’re assisting the investigation, and lock him up. However…”

Li Zong was somewhat puzzled: “What do you intend by imprisoning him?”

“To prevent him from tipping off the Zheng clan.” Luo Wanqing looked up at Li Zong. “Moreover, doesn’t Your Majesty plan to pursue the Supervision Department assassination?”

Listening, Li Zong rubbed the cup’s rim, his expression growing cold. Thinking of that day’s assassination, Li Zong’s protective feelings toward Li Guiyu also faded.

“There are too many affairs now,” Li Zong considered. “After the Zheng family matter ends, we’ll see his attitude. You confine him first.”

Li Zong looked up at Luo Wanqing: “Do you need me to dispatch people from the Central Imperial Bureau?”

“The Supervision Department has sufficient personnel.” Luo Wanqing glanced at Yang Chun behind Li Zong, saying directly: “The Central Imperial Bureau manages palace affairs—quite complex. We won’t trouble them.”

Hearing this, Li Zong knew Luo Wanqing was making a point—the Central Imperial Bureau had too much contact with palace people.

The harem had been under Wang Lianyang’s control for years. Luo Wanqing didn’t trust the Central Imperial Bureau.

Li Zong didn’t insist, nodding and drafting an edict for Luo Wanqing to take and leave.

Li Guiyu was currently keeping vigil for Li Changrong in the palace. Luo Wanqing looked at the palace, saying calmly, “I’ll wait at Prince Guang’an’s mansion. You’ll fetch him?”

“Good.” Xie Heng nodded with a light smile. “I’ll arrange people to intercept along the route. If he shows any suspicious behavior, he might not wait for you.”

“He’ll come.”

Luo Wanqing spoke with certainty. Xie Heng raised an eyebrow, only saying: “Fine, then I’ll say you’re looking for him.”

Luo Wanqing looked at him helplessly, turned to put on her cloak and board the carriage, instructing: “Just read according to the edict.”

“Humbly following the Director’s orders.”

Xie Heng bowed respectfully. Luo Wanqing sat in the carriage, calmly instructing those outside: “Go to the Supervision Department to deploy people, set up ambushes outside the palace, ready to coordinate with Young Master at any time. Zhuque Envoy and Qingya Envoy, accompany me to Prince Guang’an’s mansion.”

After speaking, everyone departed to handle their tasks.

Luo Wanqing sat alone in the carriage. Listening to the wheels turning, she unsheathed Xiling and laid it across her knees. Stroking Xiling, she felt this journey was particularly long.

When the carriage reached Prince Guang’an’s mansion, Supervision Department personnel had already arrived on horseback at the mansion gates. Elder Zhang led people blocking the entrance, confronting the Supervision Department.

As Luo Wanqing’s carriage approached, the Supervision Department personnel made way. Qingya dismounted first, then Luo Wanqing lifted the curtain and took Qingya’s hand to step down.

Seeing Luo Wanqing dismount, Elder Zhang frowned, saying incredulously: “Luo Wanqing?”

The moment he spoke, Zhuque suddenly struck. Elder Zhang instinctively blocked, and Qingya kicked out.

Elder Zhang instantly fell to his knees. Prince Guang’an’s mansion personnel drew their swords, but Elder Zhang urgently shouted: “Stop!”

Both sides stared tensely at each other. Elder Zhang also sensed something was wrong. Zhuque pressed Elder Zhang down, cursing: “Old fool, open your eyes and see clearly—is our Supervision Department Director’s name something you can call out?!”

Elder Zhang looked at Luo Wanqing in surprise: “Director?”

“Elder Zhang,” Luo Wanqing glanced at the people behind him, saying calmly, “Prince Guang’an is suspected of treason. Today, I come under orders to seal and search the mansion. I hope Elder Zhang will cooperate and not obstruct official business.”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Elder Zhang immediately cursed: “How could His Majesty have you come seal the mansion?!”

“Stand aside.”

Luo Wanqing glanced at him and stepped forward.

As she moved, Zhuque and Qingya immediately led people forward to clear the way.

Prince Guang’an’s mansion lacked masters, having only ordinary guards. In an instant, the Supervision Department controlled the mansion, and Luo Wanqing directly entered.

Elder Zhang was pressed down firmly. He glanced at the distance behind the trees—the person there immediately understood Elder Zhang’s meaning and rushed away.

When the scout reached the palace to inform Li Guiyu of the mansion being surrounded, Li Guiyu was burning paper money before the spirit altar. As paper money fell into the charcoal fire and the scout finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside.

Li Guiyu wore plain clothes and didn’t turn around, only instructing quietly: “After I leave, have Zitang and Qingzhu set traps outside the mansion to wait for me. Send news to Wang Shenfeng.”

The scout responded and immediately hid behind the hall.

Li Guiyu stood up, walked outside the hall, and saw Xie Heng leading people standing at the courtyard gate, raising the edict in his hand.

Seeing this, Li Guiyu led his people in kneeling, listening to Xie Heng read the edict: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Guang’an is suspected of treason and is confined to his mansion to cooperate with the Supervision Department’s investigation. This is decreed.”

“Your son receives the edict.”

Li Guiyu showed no expression, kowtowing respectfully.

After receiving the edict, Li Guiyu stood up. Xie Heng gestured: “Prince Guang’an, please.”

“Did she call you over, or did you want to come yourself?”

Li Guiyu turned to look at Xie Heng. Xie Heng’s expression was calm: “Duty requires it—following orders.”

“Duty?” Li Guiyu was puzzled. “What duty?”

“This official currently serves as Deputy Director of the Supervision Department.” Xie Heng met Li Guiyu’s gaze, emphasizing: “Third Prince, please.”

Hearing his words, Li Guiyu realized something, somewhat incredulous: “Deputy Director? You’re accompanying her on campaign?”

“Words are useless,” hearing him mention private matters, Xie Heng said directly: “She’s waiting for you. Whatever you want to ask, ask her.”

Finished speaking, Xie Heng couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries and turned to leave.

After the Supervision Department completely controlled Prince Guang’an’s mansion, Luo Wanqing walked alone to the back courtyard following memory.

This back courtyard was almost identical to the Luo mansion. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she seemed to step into endless memories.

The last time she came here was to negotiate with Li Guiyu about destroying the Dark Pavilion. Then, this place had disgusted her greatly. Yet now, looking at these landscapes, her heart was extraordinarily calm.

She pushed open the door and entered the room. The room still carried the scent of Five Stone Powder. Luo Wanqing walked to the incense burner, cleaned it out, opened windows for ventilation, then sat at the tea table.

She took a wine pot from her waist, placed it on the table, poured wine, then quietly waited.

After waiting long, footsteps sounded outside. Luo Wanqing looked up to see Xie Heng at the door. His expression was unpleasant as he pushed open the door: “He’s here.”

From Xie Heng’s tone, Luo Wanqing knew there weren’t many people in the courtyard. She smiled, saying gently, “Let me chat with him.”

“As the Director wishes.”

With that, Xie Heng simply turned and left.

Luo Wanqing looked at Li Guiyu standing at the door. After thinking, she gestured: “Your Highness, please sit.”

Li Guiyu didn’t move at her words. He looked at this extremely familiar room—no Five Stone Powder scent, only spring wind carrying peach blossom fragrance falling before the window.

For an instant, he seemed to return to old times in Jiangnan, but the woman in black robes with golden crown, sword at her side, clearly reminded him this wasn’t the past.

His heart suddenly felt both sour and satisfied. He stepped into the room, knelt across from Luo Wanqing, and softly called: “Miss.”

Luo Wanqing held her wine cup, saying softly: “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu chuckled. His gaze remained fixed on Luo Wanqing’s face, greedy and infatuated: “How could Miss let me not come?”

All along this route were Supervision Department people. If he showed the slightest suspicious behavior, Xie Heng would immediately act.

He might not even see her one last time.

Luo Wanqing wasn’t surprised by this, only considering: “Then you still came back—do you think Prince Guang’an’s mansion has many mechanisms, making escape easier?”

Li Guiyu said nothing, only staring at Luo Wanqing: “You promised to let me help you kill Zheng Pingsheng—was it to frame me from the beginning?”

“You promised to help me kill Zheng Pingsheng,” Luo Wanqing looked up at him with an understanding smile: “Wasn’t it to use me from the beginning?”

Li Guiyu said nothing. Luo Wanqing lifted her wine cup for a sip: “I opened the Xuantian Box. I know what’s inside.”

A flash of panic crossed Li Guiyu’s eyes, but he quickly steadied himself. Luo Wanqing continued: “With something like this, whoever knows about it, you want dead. If I’m not mistaken, even Wang Shenfeng and Zheng Pingsheng don’t know what you did on the battlefield, do they?”

If they knew, they would certainly use it to threaten Li Guiyu.

A prince who opened city gates on the battlefield—if this news leaked even slightly, Li Guiyu would be forever barred from the throne, even cursed by ten thousand people until death.

“So to ensure the news never spreads, you’d find ways to have His Majesty die. My striking at Zheng Pingsheng—wasn’t this your best opportunity? So I deliberately let you plant explosives. I kept witnesses and evidence. What do you think, given His Majesty’s temperament toward patricides?”

“What would happen?” Li Guiyu knew the answer but still asked.

Luo Wanqing looked down at her wine cup: “This contains heartbreak grass—quite fast after drinking. After your death, they’ll announce you died suddenly of illness. What you did will be buried with the earth.”

“You killed Zheng Pingsheng, killed me, and now you’re leading troops to Sizhou to quell the Zheng clan rebellion,” Li Guiyu scrutinized her. “Do you think you can survive?”

“That’s not your concern.”

Luo Wanqing said flatly, “The wine in the other cup isn’t poisoned. This is probably our last meeting.”

Li Guiyu’s heart trembled. Luo Wanqing looked up at him: “Having known each other, let’s drink one cup.”

“Having known each other…” Li Guiyu spoke, couldn’t help laughing: “Can Miss and I only be considered as having known each other?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t respond, seeming to consider.

Li Guiyu looked at her face. He seemed to be desperately restraining something, smiling as he inquired: “Miss, why become Director of the Supervision Department?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused. She vaguely sensed something, looking up to see Li Guiyu leaning close: “And why make Xie Heng Deputy Director? You’re already Director—keeping him beside you, how can you control the Supervision Department?”

Luo Wanqing rubbed her fingertips, listening to Li Guiyu’s seemingly seductive words: “Miss, to master power, one must be ruthless. If you can’t be ruthless… you’ll only become a target before him.”

Luo Wanqing’s expression showed no change. Li Guiyu clenched his fists, staring at Luo Wanqing’s seemingly knowing eyes, trembling: “Or are you doing this just to be his target?”

Not expecting Li Guiyu to guess so accurately and quickly, Luo Wanqing’s eyes flashed with admiration.

Li Guiyu’s pupils constricted as he breathed rapidly.

Seeing his realization, Luo Wanqing no longer concealed it, saying directly: “Yes, I want to take the blame for him.”

“Take the blame for him…”

Li Guiyu laughed. He couldn’t help reaching out, gently touching her eyes that Elder Zhong had altered, suppressing emotions and breathing, saying with difficulty: “Miss, do you know? When I came in just now and saw you sitting in this room, knowing you came to kill me, I felt very happy. I’ve imagined countless times you sitting here, us starting over, you loving me like before, and me also like the past… I am Jiang Shaoyan.”

Li Guiyu’s tone carried pleading: “I am Jiang Shaoyan. I would hold you in my palm, always follow behind you, give you whatever you want. I wouldn’t let you have even a scratch, wouldn’t dare even touch you, but him?!”

Li Guiyu breathed lightly, dropping his gaze to her nape.

The pattern on her nape had faded—he could see it was a plum blossom, slowly extending down her spine.

He stared fixedly at that brilliantly blooming plum blossom, covering her ear, lips trembling with laughter, eyes moist: “He touched you, didn’t he?”

“I heard the mechanisms at the door being dismantled.”

Luo Wanqing’s tone was calm as she reminded, “You don’t have much time.”

“Where did he touch?”

Li Guiyu insisted on asking. Luo Wanqing frowned, warning: “Li Guiyu!”

“Do you like it that much?” Li Guiyu continued pressing, looking at that brilliant plum blossom, remembering her words to him, angrily demanding: “If you like it so much, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up coldly: “How can you speak such vile words?”

“Vile?”

Li Guiyu heard this, slowly laughing: “You know about being vile? When you were doing these things, why didn’t you think about what you were doing?!”

“What did I do? In what capacity do you criticize me?”

Luo Wanqing met his incredulous gaze, speaking calmly: “Xie Heng and I are husband and wife, united in mutual affection through proper matchmaking. My intimacy with him…”

“Shut up!”

Li Guiyu finally couldn’t bear it. His rational string suddenly snapped as he drew his sword. Luo Wanqing simultaneously drew her blade upward.

Blade and sword edge clashed together. Simultaneously, Xie Heng’s voice sounded from the window. He sat leaning against the window frame, lazily saying: “Wife, can he die now?”

The moment his words fell, Li Guiyu unhesitatingly leaped toward the side window. Xie Heng moved like a ghost, chasing rapidly. His soft sword emerged from his sleeve like a spirit snake, slashing toward Li Guiyu’s back. Yet Li Guiyu completely didn’t dodge, pointing his toes toward the wall to leap out!

He couldn’t hesitate at all. Even turning to block once would let Xie Heng stop him, and he’d never have another escape chance.

He abandoned all defense, neither dodging nor avoiding nor blocking, only using maximum speed to cross the wall.

Xie Heng’s blade swept across Li Guiyu’s entire back. Just as he was about to pursue closely, Elder Zhang, who had been lurking motionless, suddenly charged from the side corridor, crashing hard into the tree beneath Li Guiyu’s feet.

Prince Guang’an’s mansion instantly shook. The ground spun wildly as Zhuque wailed: “How are there still more!”

But it was too late.

Arrow rain fell from the entire courtyard. Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng pursued closely, but Elder Zhang suddenly threw himself over, shouting: “Your Highness, run quickly!”

Xie Heng’s sword edge swept across Elder Zhang’s throat. Blood splattered as Xie Heng dodged aside. This momentary delay allowed Luo Wanqing to chase Li Guiyu outside.

But once outside the mansion, prepared crossbow bolts shot rapidly from the alley. Luo Wanqing drew her blade to block, momentarily hindered, and Li Guiyu vanished without a trace.

Luo Wanqing stopped, knowing further pursuit was meaningless, immediately ordering: “Capture them!”

But seeing Li Guiyu escape, these people also scattered in all directions.

Zhuque ordered pursuit while Luo Wanqing stood on the rooftop, watching Prince Guang’an’s mansion personnel fleeing everywhere.

After watching briefly and confirming they couldn’t capture anyone important, she leaped back into the courtyard to see Xie Heng examining Li Guiyu’s mechanism arrays.

“Young Master seems not urgent at all.”

Seeing Xie Heng’s leisurely expression, Luo Wanqing frowned.

Xie Heng glanced at Luo Wanqing, smiled: “He won’t survive.”

Luo Wanqing looked up questioningly. Xie Heng flicked his soft sword: “This strike took half his life. I also coated the blade with heartbreak grass. If he can survive…”

Xie Heng smiled: “Then he’s been saved by someone.”

Li Guiyu escaped from Luo Wanqing’s hands. Just as he leaped from Luo Wanqing’s sight, he could no longer support himself and spat blood.

But he knew he couldn’t stop.

He supported himself against the wall, walking step by step forward.

He couldn’t stop.

He had to kill them all, kill these people.

Wang Shenfeng, Zheng Pingsheng, Li Zong, Xie Heng…

He counted these people’s names one by one, but those past hatreds were all overshadowed by today.

His mind was full of the plum blossom on Luo Wanqing’s nape, of her holding a fan and walking into the flower hall with Xie Heng holding red silk, of her wedding dress already prepared, of Xie Heng’s provocative cold gaze behind the light gauze curtains in the back mountain carriage.

What tattoo.

What body identification?

Liar!

Liar!!

Rage burned in his mind. His head was full of his intimate times with Luo Wanqing years ago.

He secretly kissed that person on the small boat. He only dared sit beside the bed, carefully holding her hand after she slept. He had been actively embraced by her. Her trembling eyelashes and fragrant breath when being kissed…

Damn it!

Xie Heng deserved to die!

He had to live. He would kill him. He had to live.

Darkness gradually eroded him. He could hardly see clearly, but he knew he had to survive.

Just like every time before, he had to survive. He didn’t know why he lived, perhaps for revenge.

But he had to survive.

“Shaoyan…”

Luo Wanqing’s voice sounded in his ear, carrying a faint smile.

He could even clearly feel the warmth of her arm linked with his, gently saying: “I’ll accompany you for life.”

Miss…

Li Guiyu couldn’t support himself and fell to his knees, but he forced himself to crawl forward bit by bit, one more step, even just one step.

Miss.

On this life’s long road, I’ll crawl over. Wait for me.

He breathed lightly, listening to Luo Wanqing’s voice over and over.

“Shaoyan, Shaoyan.”

Wait for me.

“Tsk.”

A disgusted female voice sounded from above, looking down at Li Guiyu, who could no longer see clearly on the ground, coldly mocking: “Third Prince, you too have such a day.”

Hearing this voice, Li Guiyu laughed softly.

“Miss is wrong,” Li Guiyu’s heart slowly settled. He lay on the ground, hoarsely saying: “I’m just returning to yesterday.”

Returning to days without Luo Wanqing.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Li Guiyu: “Liars! You two are both liars!”

Elder Zhang: “Your Highness, I told you long ago they’re a pair of scoundrels—don’t be soft-hearted, strike them down!!”

Xie Heng: “Oh my, Xiniang, he’s praising us as scoundrels!”

Luo Wanqing: “…”

Li Guiyu: “Elder Zhang, you dared praise him like that—you died without injustice.”