◎I am Your Shadow Envoy, Cui Heng, Courtesy Name Guanlan◎

Her voice wasn’t loud, but the entire courtyard was too quiet, making this statement particularly prominent.

Everyone looked over, including the Supervision Department Director, whose expression carried a chill.

His gaze lingered on the blood on her body, then his imposing aura softened slightly as he said gently, “Zhuque, take her to treat her wounds first.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Hearing this, Zhuque quickly beckoned to Luo Wanqing: “Get up, come with me.”

Luo Wanqing rose and followed Zhuque away. Before leaving, she turned back for a glance and saw Xie Heng turn to look at the messenger, frowning slightly: “What about Luo Wanqing? Is she dead too?”

Hearing Xie Heng’s question, she felt somewhat strange.

Why would Xie Heng specifically ask about her? That day when she went to complain, didn’t Xie Heng just leave directly? He actually knew about her?

She was puzzled but didn’t dare linger, following Zhuque out of the courtyard. She couldn’t help asking: “Zhuque Envoy, who are the Luo family? Who is Luo Wanqing? Why does the Director pay such attention?”

“In the future, you can call him Young Master like we do.” Zhuque walked ahead, speaking casually. “Director is what we call him for outsiders to hear. You should know you’re not following the Supervision Department—you’re following our Young Master. Who you listen to and serve loyally in the future, you must be clear in your heart.”

Hearing such a reminder, Luo Wanqing didn’t dare say more, responding respectfully: “Yes.”

“This Luo family was originally wealthy merchants from Jiangnan. The family head Luo Qushu was imprisoned for a private salt case, sentenced to death, and his family was exiled to Lingnan.” Seeing her compliance, Zhuque returned to her question without concealment, explaining carefully: “Normally, such small cases wouldn’t reach the Young Master, but something small happened that caught his attention. The Young Master planned to personally interrogate prisoner Luo Qushu, only to discover that Luo Qushu had committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help clenching her fists, asking softly: “What happened next?”

“Our Supervision Department has handled so many cases—out of ten who commit suicide from fear, nine have something fishy going on. Don’t we understand?” Zhuque scoffed, then showed some regret. “But we couldn’t find any evidence at the time, so the Young Master planned to set this case aside and combine it with several others. Unexpectedly, at this time, the Luo family’s eldest daughter, Luo Wanqing, found ways to reach the Young Master and complain.” Zhuque gestured animatedly. “You don’t know—that Miss Luo was beautiful as a fairy, clearly the type of beauty who’d break at a touch, yet she dug through the water prison and even killed a shadow guard. What kind of determination was that? But still, she was persuaded away by the Young Master. The Young Master promised her he would vindicate her family in the future. But unexpectedly…”

Zhuque didn’t continue, his face showing some pity as he sighed: “Human plans are no match for heaven’s will. Miss Luo also had a thin fate. The Young Master is a man of his word,” Zhuque shook his head. “He must be feeling bad now.”

Luo Wanqing listened quietly and couldn’t help but glance back at the still brightly lit courtyard.

The person behind the screen that day… was Xie Heng?

He planned to overturn her family’s case?

If this were in the past, when Zhuque said these things, she might have believed them.

But now, having traveled this path for three months, she had already seen so many unjust cases.

Zhang Jiuran’s father, Qin Jue’s entire family, plus her Luo Wanqing—in this vast world, even if the Supervision Department wanted to manage everything, how could they manage it all?

She was just a small case from Jiangnan—why would she deserve the attention of Xie Heng, a Supervision Department Director?

If it were truly for justice, why didn’t Xie Heng seek it for others?

Luo Wanqing sneered inwardly but showed nothing on her face, only pretending curiosity: “What small incident made the Young Master notice such a minor case?”

“You’re quite the inquisitive type.” Zhuque smiled. Luo Wanqing’s heart tightened, realizing she was asking too much. Just as she was about to apologize, unexpectedly Zhuque immediately praised her: “Good habit! Excellent spies should have this quality.”

Luo Wanqing choked slightly, momentarily finding it both laughable and tearful.

Zhuque didn’t hide anything, even seeming excited as he lowered his voice: “I’ll tell you about this, but don’t tell others.”

“Naturally.” Luo Wanqing’s expression darkened slightly. “Sir, rest assured.”

“That Luo Wanqing,” Zhuque said mysteriously, “was previously the Third Prince’s fiancée—the Third Prince who returned from the common people, you know?”

“I know.” Luo Wanqing’s eyes turned cold, couldn’t help but clench her fists, restraining her emotions as she nodded. “Famous throughout the realm.”

“That Luo Wanqing liked our Director!”

With these words, Luo Wanqing was somewhat confused, looking up in shock, and couldn’t help but make a questioning sound: “Ah?”

She liked Xie Heng? How did she not know?

“What’s with that expression?” Seeing her look, Zhuque immediately became displeased.

“Sir…” Luo Wanqing immediately reacted, restraining her shock, asking puzzledly: “How does Sir know this?”

“I heard it.” Zhuque showed some pride, explaining seriously: “We’ve been watching that Third Prince for a long time. That day, when he went to the prison to see Luo Wanqing, his people forced all the Supervision Department people away. I was angry and personally went to eavesdrop on their conversation.”

“You heard it?” Luo Wanqing blinked.

Zhuque’s face showed slight embarrassment as he coughed lightly: “Didn’t hear everything. That,” Zhuque said seriously, “the Third Prince is very strong.”

“Oh.” Luo Wanqing nodded. “Then what did you hear?”

“I just heard one sentence,” Zhuque said seriously. “Luo Wanqing said she liked our Young Master, had liked him since childhood. The Third Prince was just settling for less, and she wanted to use the Third Prince’s head to toast her and the Young Master’s wedding wine. This gave our Young Master face! I had to let the Young Master know about this, so I immediately returned to report. As a result, when the Young Master heard her father’s name, he decided to personally interrogate the prisoner.”

Listening to this, Luo Wanqing suddenly felt very grateful she had changed identities.

She never wanted to meet Xie Heng as Luo Wanqing again in this lifetime—too embarrassing.

She struggled to squeeze out a smile: “Does the Young Master know this Luo Qushu?”

“That would have to be asked of the Young Master.” Zhuque shrugged, turning to walk ahead. “But this Luo Qushu was a retainer of the Cui clan. The Young Master’s maternal clan is the Cui family, so knowing him wouldn’t be strange.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing, silently noting this information as she followed Zhuque up a small building and into a room.

Zhuque opened a room door for her, pointing to the room: “Our Supervision Department doesn’t have many female Inspectors. This small building was originally lived in by Aunt Baili alone. Now we’re giving you a room. When Aunt Baili returns, you’ll follow her arrangements.”

Luo Wanqing nodded upon hearing this. She had heard the name Baili from Liu Xiniang—this was the Supervision Department’s best spy. Hearing Zhuque call her “Aunt,” she must be quite old.

“I’ll follow Zhuque Envoy’s arrangements completely.”

Luo Wanqing bowed. Zhuque nodded, quite satisfied with her understanding, then said: “In a while, a doctor and female attendants will come to examine and treat your wounds. Our Supervision Department lacks nothing else—money is abundant. I observe that you know medicine. Whatever medicines you want, just tell the female attendants directly.”

“Then…” Luo Wanqing hesitated, somewhat embarrassed: “My monthly salary…”

Tomorrow she would need to go to the medical clinic to redeem Zhang Jiuran. The horse belonged to the Supervision Department. Today they hadn’t asked about it—probably too busy and forgot—but if they asked tomorrow, she should at least return the horse.

After returning the horse, she would be penniless. What would she use to care for Zhang Jiuran?

Moreover, the parasitic worm in Zhang Jiuran’s body—she didn’t know how to handle it. Whether for extending life or caring for someone, it would all require money.

“Monthly salary?”

Zhuque heard Luo Wanqing’s inquiry, then realized: “Oh, the Supervision Department’s monthly salaries are all given uniformly at month’s end. Not much—twenty taels of silver. But if you need money, you can tell your Shadow Envoy directly. Each Inspector has different monthly allowances. Your Shadow Envoy will help you submit for approval. In the future, aside from carrying out missions, all your miscellaneous affairs will be arranged by your Shadow Envoy.”

Listening to Zhuque’s description, Luo Wanqing gradually understood: “So everything about me is handled by my Shadow Envoy?”

“Yes, you just need to risk your life.” Zhuque nodded. “The Shadow Envoy will take care of everything for you. Preparing weapons, clothes, finding doctors, finding connections, disguises… the Shadow Envoy handles it all. You just give orders. However, since you just entered, you’ll generally be assigned an experienced Shadow Envoy whose Inspector just died to guide you. After all, they’re senior, so listen to them more for now.” Zhuque advised her. “Once you’re familiar with the Supervision Department, the relationship between you two will be led by you, with him providing support.”

Listening to this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel anticipation, then asked: “When will my Shadow Envoy come?”

“Tomorrow, I suppose.”

Zhuque pondered, “I’ll help you ask Xuanshan later—this is his responsibility.”

“Thank you, Zhuque Envoy.”

Luo Wanqing smiled, thanking him sincerely.

Zhuque nodded, then said: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go.”

With that, Zhuque was about to turn and leave when, in a flash, Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered: “Um, Zhuque Envoy.”

Zhuque turned back questioningly. Luo Wanqing said seriously, “How is Qin Jue?”

Zhuque’s movements stiffened. He instinctively wanted to ask which Qin Jue she meant.

But he also wasn’t sure if Luo Wanqing knew that Qin Jue had changed identities along the way. He could only awkwardly speak according to what Luo Wanqing currently knew: “Alive, unharmed. When we found him, he had thirty keys in his hand and qualified to become a Shadow Envoy.”

Luo Wanqing sighed in relief. Zhuque suddenly understood, probing: “Do you want Qin Jue as your Shadow Envoy?”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. She hadn’t had this thought, but Qin Jue wasn’t impossible either.

So she nodded, only saying: “I have no particular objection.”

Zhuque looked embarrassed, hesitating: “Then… then I’ll discuss it later.”

Luo Wanqing bowed: “I’ll follow Zhuque Envoy’s instructions completely.”

Zhuque nodded: “Good, then rest well. This matter is significant. I’m leaving.”

With that, he hurriedly left the room.

Luo Wanqing looked puzzledly at his somewhat excessively panicked retreating figure, not understanding what had happened.

She sat in the room briefly when a female attendant appeared at the door. She led a doctor and a medicine boy, knocked, and approached. Luo Wanqing let them in to examine and bandage her wounds. Thinking of Zhang Jiuran’s condition, she also asked the doctor for some life-extending medicinal materials.

The Supervision Department was extremely generous. The medicines she requested were all valuable, yet the doctor prescribed them without blinking.

Luo Wanqing calculated the price of these medicines, thinking that if money became insufficient in the future, she could resell medicines from the Supervision Department, which could supplement her income somewhat.

After bandaging her wounds and simple cleaning, the female attendant made her bed, and she could finally sleep.

This bed was much more comfortable than any she’d had in Yangzhou, but she had trouble sleeping. After months of being on guard, suddenly asking her to relax her tense nerves made her somewhat unaccustomed.

Moreover, there were too many matters requiring her attention.

How to save Zhang Jiuran?

Then there were her family members. According to Zhang Jiuran, the news that the Luo family all died in the landslide should be false. Her family should have been rescued by Zhang Jiuran midway, then captured by Xiang Sizi.

Xiang Sizi would come to find her sooner or later to threaten her. She just didn’t know how her family was faring.

And then…

That fake Qin Jue.

Luo Wanqing’s mind flashed with the image of that person leaning against the window, smiling at her. She couldn’t help glancing at the window.

She still didn’t know that person’s identity, name, or even true appearance.

She should have asked Zhuque earlier. Since he was sent by the Supervision Department, Zhuque should know, right?

But there was no rush. Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, adjusted her breathing, thinking that the future was long—she’d see him again later.

Unable to sleep, she simply regulated her breathing and entered meditation. Before long, she felt much more settled in her heart and drowsily fell asleep.

When she slept, on the other side of the Supervision Department, lights blazed brightly.

Xie Heng sat cross-legged before his desk, lightly tapping the table: “So no one has seen the Luo family’s corpses?”

“Yes.”

The person who returned from Lingnan said seriously, “The landslide happened suddenly. By the time we got the news and entered the mountains, everything was already buried. There shouldn’t be any survivors.”

Xie Heng said nothing. Xuanshan, beside him, glanced at Xie Heng, saying quietly: “Young Master, shall we send more people to search?”

“Send someone to watch,” Xie Heng said, lowering his eyes. “They have no martial skills. Without a miracle, they can’t escape. Have someone watch and find the bodies for proper burial.”

With these words, everyone fell silent. Xie Heng sat quietly in place while everyone could sense this leader’s dejection.

He had been too arrogant.

Xie Heng looked at the tea before him, recalling his last meeting with that woman.

“Sir, some results that come too late have no meaning.”

At the time, he had only taken it as her complaint. But thinking now, any results at this point would indeed be meaningless for the Luo family.

He had failed her.

Xie Heng’s heartstrings trembled slightly. He secretly adjusted his emotions, then turned to look at a blue-robed young man on the other side, asking: “Qingya, how is Qin Jue?”

“He has no serious injuries and has been settled,” Qingya replied methodically, his voice gentle. “The Fengyu Pavilion people have all been captured, their identities verified. That Zhao Yuyan, who died today, should be Fengyu Pavilion’s Right Envoy. Now, the combat-capable people in Fengyu Pavilion’s open organization should be almost completely wiped out. It will be hard for them to cause trouble again for several years. But there’s one person…”

Qingya hesitated. Everyone looked over as Qingya frowned: “Although Qin Jue didn’t say much, only telling me that this new Inspector Liu saved him, I think this Liu Xiniang is somewhat too strange.”

Xie Heng didn’t say much, only: “Explain in detail?”

“A small Salt Syndicate helm master who could kill Fengyu Pavilion’s Right Envoy,” Qingya looked around at everyone. “Isn’t that strange?”

“Then what do you think she might be trying to do?” Xie Heng asked carelessly.

Xuanshan, beside him, spoke steadily: “To invest such stakes, there’s only one possible objective—”

With that, everyone looked toward Xie Heng together.

Qingya’s gentle voice was unusually serious: “Young Master.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng lowered his eyes. He tapped the table lightly, saying slowly: “I reconnected all her meridians and reshaped all her bones. I’ve examined her—she doesn’t have Fengyu Pavilion’s parasitic worms.”

“Young Master, controlling someone doesn’t necessarily require parasitic worms.”

Xuanshan reminded him. Xie Heng looked at Xuanshan, saying directly: “You suspect she’s from Fengyu Pavilion?”

Xuanshan hesitated. Although Liu Xiniang was strange, there was currently no direct evidence proving she was from Fengyu Pavilion.

She hadn’t harmed them—in fact, she had helped them quite a bit along the way.

If not for her today, Qin Jue might not have survived.

Xuanshan pressed his lips together, saying softly: “It’s hard to say.”

“Indeed hard to say, but we’ll know if we test her.” Xie Heng flicked his sleeve, his expression calm. “She’s good material. She hasn’t sabotaged our affairs along the way—instead, she’s helped considerably. With proper cultivation, she might even be able to take over Aunt Baili’s position in the future. We shouldn’t give up easily.”

Xie Heng analyzed and made his decision, looking up: “I’ll personally guide her. Make the arrangements.”

Hearing this, everyone showed surprise. Qingya immediately frowned in dissuasion: “Young Master, if she’s here to kill you, keeping her by your side would be inappropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate?” Xie Heng chuckled. “If she’s truly here to kill me, she can use me as target practice for assassination attempts. If she can injure me, then she can indeed fill Baili’s position.”

“Even if she has intentions to harm the Young Master, you would still keep her?” Qingya was astonished.

Xie Heng looked puzzled: “Why not keep her?”

“But she might be from Fengyu Pavilion…”

“I don’t care which pavilion she’s from. Since she entered my Supervision Department’s door, she’s my person. If someone wants to steal her,” Xie Heng glanced at Qingya, interrupting him forcefully: “They can try to take her.”

Seeing Xie Heng’s determination, everyone present fell quiet.

Xuanshan pondered, then said: “How does the Young Master plan to guide her?”

This question gave Xie Heng pause. He thought carefully, considering: “The Xie Heng identity still needs to be kept to test her and give her practice. I shouldn’t appear directly.”

Xie Heng spoke, thinking of something, looking up at Qingya: “Did Qin Jue tell you whether she recognized Qin Jue and me?”

“He did,” Qingya replied truthfully. “She recognized that the Qin Jue from Yangzhou to the Eastern Capital was another impostor, but currently doesn’t know your identity.”

“I see.” Xie Heng seemed somewhat regretful, nodding, then considering: “Has her Shadow Envoy been arranged?”

“Not yet,” Xuanshan replied honestly. “Still coordinating. Since she just entered, she needs a more experienced Shadow Envoy, but currently, the experienced ones all have their Inspectors. I’m still coordinating.”

“How about this,” Xie Heng smiled, seeming to think of a brilliant idea, saying happily: “I’ll be her Shadow Envoy!”

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, not daring to say more.

Xie Heng thought this idea was excellent and was about to speak when footsteps of Zhuque returning came from nearby.

He turned to see Zhuque enter the room, bow, then sit cross-legged casually before the desk, asking a female attendant for tea, looking toward Xuanshan: “Xuanshan, have you arranged that Liu Xiniang’s Shadow Envoy?”

With these words, everyone looked over. Xie Heng also felt puzzled: “Why are you asking this?”

“Liu Xiniang just told me,” Zhuque drank some tea, looking somewhat troubled: “She wants Qin Jue. But Qin Jue is also new. I said it would be better to find someone experienced to guide her. Why did she take a liking to Qin Jue? Did they develop feelings during the examination?”

Hearing Zhuque speak, Xie Heng’s expression grew slightly cold. Everyone sensed something was wrong, watching him seemingly casually: “Which Qin Jue does she want?”

“Ah?” Zhuque didn’t understand, thinking about Luo Wanqing’s context.

She first asked if Qin Jue was injured—that referred to the real Qin Jue. Following this logic, the one she wanted…

“Should be the real one?” Zhuque hesitated.

“I see…”

Xie Heng picked up his teacup, lowering his head to use the tea lid to stir the green leaves in the bowl, his tone meaningful.

Xuanshan and Qingya keenly sensed Xie Heng’s mood, both looking away and beginning to cough quietly, trying to remind Zhuque.

But Zhuque remained oblivious, continuing: “I think Liu Xiniang wanting Qin Jue isn’t impossible. We’re shorthanded now, and these two just passed the examination. Qin Jue has a gentle personality and is meticulous. Liu Xiniang seems quite capable. The two partners would be suitable. It’s just that both are newcomers going on missions together—wouldn’t that be inappropriate?” Zhuque spoke, looking toward Xie Heng, who was drinking tea with his head down, seeking his opinion: “What do you think, Young Master?”

“It is inappropriate.” Xie Heng nodded, turning to Xuanshan: “You arrange someone suitable.”

Xuanshan immediately responded respectfully: “Yes.”

Zhuque looked at Xuanshan puzzledly: “Eh? Didn’t you say there weren’t enough Shadow Envoys? Who would be suitable?”

“Zhuque,” Xie Heng called him. Zhuque turned to see Xie Heng smiling, suddenly asking: “Yesterday during the first examination registration, did you leave work early?”

Zhuque’s face stiffened, hesitating: “Young Master, about this matter…”

“Half a year’s salary deducted.”

Xie Heng lowered his head to sip tea, standing up: “If there’s nothing else, let’s sleep. Everyone rest well.”

With that, Xie Heng left with his hands behind his back.

Zhuque sat stiffly, taking a long time to react, looking at Qingya in shock: “I only left work a tiny bit early—is such heavy punishment appropriate?!”

“You know the Young Master’s temper.” Qingya looked at Zhuque with pity. “When he’s unhappy, no one should expect to be happy.”

“What’s he unhappy about?”

Zhuque couldn’t understand. Qingya sighed without explaining further, getting up to leave.

Zhuque turned back to Xuanshan in confusion: “What did I do wrong?”

Xuanshan didn’t answer him, standing up and patting his shoulder, only saying: “Don’t compete with the Young Master for things.”

Zhuque remained bewildered in place, watching everyone leave one by one, each more mysterious and profound than the last.

He sat in place thinking for a long time but couldn’t figure out why he was fined half a year’s salary!

Zhuque spent the night in confusion while Luo Wanqing slept well.

She slept until the next day, waking refreshed. After washing up, she heard someone knocking at the door.

She stretched and opened the door. As soon as she opened it, she saw a young man in magnificent robes and jade crown, wearing a golden half-mask covering half his face, standing at the door with a smile.

He wore jade-colored clothes with golden threads that shimmered in the morning light.

Luo Wanqing was startled, then heard a familiar voice: “Greetings, Inspector Liu.”

Luo Wanqing’s eyes widened, then she realized: “You…”

She spoke, but momentarily didn’t know how to address him.

He smiled slightly, only saying: “I am your Shadow Envoy, Cui Heng, courtesy name Guanlan.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater 1]

Luo Wanqing: “When did you start paying attention to me?”

Xie Heng: “From when my subordinate said that while being someone else’s fiancée, you secretly harbored feelings for me.”

Luo Wanqing: “???”

Xie Heng: “I think that’s not quite right, but I’m pleased with myself.”

Luo Wanqing: “I never want to meet you as Luo Wanqing again in this lifetime. Farewell, I’m forever Liu Xiniang.”

[Mini Theater 2]

Xie Heng: “I’ve decided—I want to be her Shadow Envoy. Wonderful!”

Zhuque: “But Liu Xiniang said she wants Qin Jue.”

Xie Heng: “Which Qin Jue? Surely me, right? Did she get confused, or did you get confused?”

Zhuque: “The real Qin Jue.”

Xie Heng: “What? I’ve only been away from her for two days, and she already wants to team up with someone else?”

Zhuque: “Never mind two days—she could team up with others in two hours.”

Xie Heng: “…Did you leave work early yesterday?”

Zhuque: “??? Why bring that up?”

Xie Heng: “Half a year’s salary deducted. Xuanshan, be sensible.”

Xuanshan: “Right away. Young Master is Inspector Liu’s forever, only, and best Shadow Envoy.”

[Mini Theater 3]

Luo Wanqing: “Good heavens, you’re like a layered cake! One identity after another.”

Xie Heng: “Worthy opponents—I can’t lose. Identities are like clothing—if you don’t take yours off, I won’t take mine off!”

Zhuque: “Are you two doing costume roleplay?”

Xuanshan: “Wrong. This is the mortal realm version of multiple lifetimes—not only can immortal cultivation stories have romance with changing identities.”