◎Yuyan, come, I’ll take you along◎

“You know this, too?”

Luo Wanqing smiled, then walked back to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured tea for both of them. After sniffing to confirm there was no poison, she turned and handed it to Qin Jue, explaining, “When I entered the city today, I had no travel permit, so I kidnapped him and disguised myself as a woman from his household to get in.”

“Ah, I see.” Qin Jue flipped down from the window, accepted Luo Wanqing’s tea, turned, and sat in a nearby chair. With a moment’s thought, he knew the result, “Then he sold you out?”

“Exactly!” Luo Wanqing glanced at Qin Jue, seeming to find it amusing in retrospect, “Quite upright indeed.”

“From your tone, it seems you don’t dislike him?” Qin Jue smiled as he sipped his tea.

Luo Wanqing found this strange: “I kidnapped him, he reported me – that’s only natural. Why would I dislike him?”

“Xiniang has a clear sense of right and wrong,” Qin Jue set down his teacup and nodded jokingly, “I quite admire that.”

Hearing his joke, Luo Wanqing felt as if they were back to those early days when they had just met. She couldn’t help looking up at him, studying him for a long time. Seeing that he looked well, she finally relaxed and asked hesitantly, “You… were you alright on the journey?”

“Naturally.” Qin Jue leaned against the armrest, raised his hand to support his head, and spoke lazily, “What could happen to me?”

“You had just finished helping me with bone restructuring, so you should still have had injuries. Things were too rushed then – I forgot to properly thank you. And that Seven Insects Seven Flowers Pill…”

“That doesn’t matter. I’ll get you medicine again at the end of the month.” Qin Jue interrupted her, then said seriously, “Let’s talk about serious matters now.”

Qin Jue became serious and said earnestly, “Tomorrow you’ll be taking the examination. I need to make this clear – during the examination process, don’t show any sign that you know me. It’s best not to have any contact with me at all. I have some things to do and don’t want any trouble. Understand?”

“I know.” Luo Wanqing nodded upon hearing this and looked up, “If you hadn’t come to find me today, I wouldn’t have sought you out.”

“I know you’re clever, but this matter is of great importance, so I still need to make it clear.”

Luo Wanqing nodded without saying more. Qin Jue thought for a moment: “Aren’t you going to ask me why?”

“I have no interest in your affairs.” Luo Wanqing lowered her head to drink tea, “If you don’t tell me, I won’t ask. I hope you’ll treat me the same way – if I don’t tell you, you don’t ask.”

“So distant,” Qin Jue sighed, then felt relieved, “How reassuring. Well then, I’ve brought you some medicine for strengthening your foundation and restoring your vitality. Rest well. During the Supervision Department examination, don’t fight unless you have to.” As he spoke, Qin Jue stood up: “I’m leaving.”

“I won’t see you out.”

Luo Wanqing’s voice was cool and distant as she walked straight toward the inner room.

Seeing her reaction, Qin Jue paused and couldn’t help turning back: “I came all this way with great difficulty, and you won’t even talk with me a bit longer?”

“After I finish the Supervision Department exam, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Luo Wanqing tested the water temperature. Knowing he was displeased, she lowered her head and smiled as she said something nice: “Seeing that you’re well today, my heart is at peace.”

Qin Jue paused, then said with satisfaction, “That’s more like it.”

After speaking, he flipped out through the window. Before leaving, he closed the window for her, then departed.

Luo Wanqing glanced at the window and couldn’t help smiling.

After taking a good bath, Luo Wanqing carefully examined the medicines Qin Jue had brought. These were exactly the medicines she needed most right now. Holding the medicines, she felt somewhat at a loss.

This person Qin Jue – though he always deceived her, in their interactions he truly had never let her suffer the slightest loss. Instead, she had been constantly receiving his favors.

She didn’t quite understand why he would do this. A person must want something from another, but she currently had nothing she could give Qin Jue. Even as a woman, with her face, she would be meaningless to Qin Jue.

This feeling of not knowing what she could give in return made her extremely uneasy. She couldn’t help suspecting Qin Jue’s motives, while also worrying that if Qin Jue truly was a good person, she would have no way to repay him.

But there wasn’t much point in thinking about it now. She needed to enter the Supervision Department, and she had to make use of every resource available to her.

As long as Qin Jue was good to her, she would treat him as a good person. After she entered the Supervision Department, she could repay him properly.

She’d use her first month’s salary to treat him to a good meal.

Having made this decision, Luo Wanqing put her mind at ease. She lowered her head to carefully examine the medicines, then selected one to take.

These medicinal materials were all extremely rare, top-quality medicines, excellent for treating injuries. However, with some adjustment, they could also serve excellently as sleeping drugs.

Unfortunately…

The female attendant had just said that no external items were allowed during the examination.

Luo Wanqing felt somewhat regretful. She turned and wandered around the room, beginning to search it.

The Supervision Department seemed extremely wealthy. Even the rooms for prisoners were decorated magnificently.

There was even a compass placed in the center as decoration…

A compass?

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized – if there was a compass, there was lodestone. And if there was a lodestone…

An idea suddenly formed in Luo Wanqing’s mind.

She turned around, took the sword hanging on the wall, channeled her inner energy, and precisely cut off a small piece of lodestone, splitting it in two. Then she returned to the table, took out the medicines Qin Jue had given her, processed them properly, and made the sleeping drug she needed.

Afterward, she formed the medicine into a flat, coin-like shape, inserted one piece of lodestone into the medicine, then used the sword to make a small cut in her palm and inserted the other piece of lodestone into the wound.

After doing all this, she weighed the medicine in her hand, playing with it repeatedly for a long time. Only after confirming there were no problems did she decide to rest.

Before sleeping, she couldn’t help thinking of Zhang Yiran again.

Zhang Yiran’s plum paintings are famous throughout the land…

Qin Jue’s reminder echoed in her ears, and she suddenly realized why this name seemed so familiar.

In that dream of her previous life, there had been a master famous throughout the land for painting plum blossoms.

When she finally died, he was the leader of the honest officials, a model for all scholars under heaven, with students everywhere. He held the high position of Prime Minister and was the only minister in the court who had served three emperors without falling – a pillar of the state.

That master was named Zhang Yiran.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but lower her head to stare blankly at her palm. Her luck was truly excellent.

She had randomly kidnapped a future Prime Minister.

But thinking about it, Zhang Yiran was currently just an Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Works, and had no relation to her. She needn’t think too much about it.

She had robbed him, and if there were any misunderstandings, she could explain later.

With this thought, she felt much more at ease and lay down to sleep well through the night.

The next morning, she rose early, washed up, and began waiting. The female attendant had explained the night before that she couldn’t leave her room until someone came to fetch her.

When the female attendant knocked on her door, Luo Wanqing first took the antidote and hid the sealed medicine in her palm.

After making her preparations, she called for the female attendant to enter. The attendant came in carrying clothes and said respectfully, “Miss Liu, for today’s examination, no personal items are permitted. Please allow this servant to help you change clothes.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused, but still nodded and let the female attendant approach.

The female attendant helped Luo Wanqing change clothes.

It was called changing clothes, but it was a thorough search. She first had Luo Wanqing remove all her clothing, then had her extend her hands.

Luo Wanqing held her five fingers together, extending them flat for the female attendant to see.

She had once seen people on the street perform a trick where copper coins would vanish into thin air in the hands of those performers, impossible to find, no matter how one searched.

She had been extremely curious then, and later Jiang Shaoyan taught her that it was because their movements were too fast – when you looked at the back of the hand, they would transfer the object to the palm, and when you looked at the palm, they would transfer it to the back of the hand.

Jiang Shaoyan had demonstrated this magical trick for her, and she had practiced it many times when she had nothing else to do.

Last night, she had practiced again several times, confirming there were no problems before daring to decide to bring medicine into the examination.

But now, truly facing inspection, her heartbeat still accelerated uncontrollably.

She maintained a calm expression on her face, extending her palm flat to reveal her wounded palm.

“What is this…”

The female attendant hesitated and looked up at her. Luo Wanqing smiled, “I accidentally cut myself. Would you like to examine it, miss?”

The female attendant didn’t hesitate. She carefully examined the wound, then said, “Turn it over.”

Luo Wanqing turned her hand to show the back. As she turned her hand, she let the medicine slide to the palm side.

The attendant didn’t notice and continued, “Spread your fingers.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused.

The female attendant looked up at her alertly. Luo Wanqing smiled, “The Supervision Department’s search is truly thorough.”

As she spoke, she spread her five fingers.

Her hand was completely clean with nothing falling out. The female attendant looked up with satisfaction, then searched all the places on her body where things could be hidden, including her ears, nose, and finally even used clean hands to feel around her teeth.

Finally, she stepped back, helped Luo Wanqing put on white fitted clothing, bound up her long hair, and then led her out.

As she left, Luo Wanqing gripped the medicine that had been drawn up by the lodestone in her hand, her palm covered in cold sweat.

The female attendant led her all the way to the courtyard where they had been called to assembly yesterday. People were standing in small groups throughout the courtyard. When Luo Wanqing entered, everyone glanced at her but said nothing more.

These prisoners had already become acquainted during their journey to the Eastern Capital. Not many people remained from Yangzhou – just herself, Qin Jue, and Zhao Yuyan. Luo Wanqing entered and began looking for Zhao Yuyan. Soon, she saw her standing in a corner with Qin Jue beside her.

Seeing Qin Jue standing there, Luo Wanqing’s steps hesitated slightly. Remembering his instructions from yesterday, she didn’t rashly approach. Instead, she found a position not far from Zhao Yuyan and stood there, beginning to wait for the others.

All the prisoners were gradually led to the courtyard by attendants. Seeing that most people had arrived, the red-clothed youth who had led Luo Wanqing in yesterday came striding energetically from the back courtyard with his people. He looked up and shouted, “Is everyone here?”

“Everyone’s here.”

The attendant responsible for counting respectfully said, “Zhuque Envoy, we can begin.”

“Then I’ll call the roll.”

Zhuque lowered his head, took the register, and said quickly, “Anyone whose name I call who doesn’t respond, I’ll consider dead. If they’re not dead, I’ll execute them on the spot. So, prick up your ears and listen carefully!”

Hearing this, everyone shuddered and immediately responded, “Yes!”

Zhuque rapidly called names. He spoke fast, and those below answered fast. Luo Wanqing only heard, “Liu Xiniang!”

She instinctively responded, and he had already moved on to the next name.

Over a hundred people were completely counted in less than half a quarter-hour. Zhuque tossed the register aside and looked up. “Let me tell you the rules. If you want to enter the Supervision Department and sit in positions like mine, where you can show your face and be an official, you need to achieve merit and accomplish something. You have nothing now, so when you come in, you’ll work first. Work is divided into two types: one handles paperwork, information collection, and the other internal affairs – these are called Shadow Envoys within the department. The other handles fighting and killing, executing individual missions – these are called Inspectors. Today’s examination is divided into preliminary and final tests. The preliminary test involves team participation. Those who pass the preliminary test with excellent results can become Shadow Envoys. After that, if you want to become an Inspector, you can take the final test. Those who don’t pass the preliminary test can also take the final test. If you can pass the final test, you can get another chance and become a Shadow Envoy.”

“What’s the difference between becoming a Shadow Envoy and an Inspector?”

Someone shouted. Zhuque glanced at them and said flatly, “You enter the Supervision Department through death row pardons. If you become a Shadow Envoy, you only get a five-year pardon. After five years, you either take another examination to become an Inspector, or you die. But if you become an Inspector directly, you get a lifetime pardon and have nothing more to do with being a death row prisoner. Moreover, each Inspector is assigned a Shadow Envoy, and the Shadow Envoy’s tasks are assigned by the Inspector.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood that for the Supervision Department, the existence of Shadow Envoys was more like an observational examination. For those with potential but not yet excellent enough, becoming a Shadow Envoy could give them room to grow.

And the Inspector was the true pardon.

The work of Shadow Envoys was more like assistance; Inspectors were the ones who truly held real power in the Supervision Department.

“This examination takes place in the Supervision Department’s estate. Two hundred keys have been placed throughout the estate. One key counts as one point. Calculated by team, with the team’s total points averaged out, anyone scoring thirty points or above passes. You can form teams or go alone – your choice. During the process, any methods are allowed with no bottom line. You can do whatever you want – there are no rules here.”

“What about poison?”

Someone shouted. Zhuque glanced over and said flatly, “If you can bring poison in and use it, that’s your skill.”

Everyone looked over. The person who had spoken was stared at by everyone and got startled, then quickly realized something and hurriedly said, “I was just asking because I’m afraid someone might poison me. I didn’t bring any poison!”

Everyone said nothing and began thinking about what Zhuque had just said.

Two hundred keys, thirty points each – that meant the preliminary test would only select fewer than seven people.

No rules, killing allowed – this meant the real difficulty wasn’t finding keys, but finding keys and still being able to keep them.

If you were strong, going alone to search would naturally be best. But if you weren’t strong, you’d naturally need to form alliances. With more people, you might even be able to counter-rob the “strong” lone wolves.

But if there were too many people, there wouldn’t be enough to divide equally, so personnel selection had to be elite.

“The rules are about finished. Those of you who want to form teams can discuss among yourselves. Once you’ve decided, walk forward into the estate. If you want to actively withdraw and enter the final test during the process, just turn around and come back out.”

After Zhuque finished speaking, he turned and said, “Open the gates.”

As he spoke, everyone saw the gates behind Zhuque open, revealing the spacious courtyard beyond.

After thinking for a moment, everyone immediately began quietly discussing team formation.

Luo Wanqing hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Zhao Yuyan. But unexpectedly, Zhao Yuyan turned directly around and looked at Qin Jue with pleading eyes, “Young master, you’re also from Yangzhou, aren’t you? How about we team up?”

Luo Wanqing’s steps paused. She saw Qin Jue look back coldly, as if considering.

Zhao Yuyan bit her lip and said timidly, “If… if you don’t agree, young master, I’m afraid I won’t survive.”

“This…”

“Yuyan,” before Qin Jue could speak, Luo Wanqing immediately called out. She walked in front of Zhao Yuyan and said gently, “Are you looking for teammates? Let me take you along.”