◎That was a face both similar to and different from his memory◎

Hearing the words “change your face,” Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but be surprised, instinctively asking: “Change my face?”

“Li Guiyu is no ordinary person.” Xie Heng’s fingers touched her scars, as if probing them. As he looked, he said calmly, “Ordinary people cannot get close to him. We can only use extraordinary means. Taking the initiative to approach won’t work—he must be the one to take you. I need to give you a face he will want, so you can get close to him. But,” Xie Heng looked up at Luo Wanqing, “are you willing to wear someone else’s face?”

“I humbly await Young Master’s orders.”

Luo Wanqing immediately lowered her head in response. Xie Heng’s movement paused slightly. He stared at her for a long time before finally saying: “Good.”

With that, he released his grip on her chin, straightened up, and said softly: “Find Zhusi outside the courtyard gate. From today, you’ll stay on the back mountain. You don’t need to ask me when going out—just find Xuanshan. Tomorrow I’ll have Elder Zhong come up to change your face.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare say much, responding respectfully: “Yes.”

Xie Heng didn’t say more and walked straight toward the house. Halfway there, he stopped: “Liu Xiniang.”

Luo Wanqing looked up to see him turn his head in profile, looking at her seriously: “I will have people verify every word you said in Yangzhou.”

Luo Wanqing involuntarily clenched her fists. He lowered his eyes, turned away: “You only have one chance to choose. Cherish it well.”

With that, Xie Heng stepped through the door, his figure disappearing from the courtyard.

Seeing Xie Heng leave, Luo Wanqing stood up from the ground, frowning as she pondered his words.

Cherish?

Cui Heng had said the same thing to her before. What exactly was she supposed to cherish?

Luo Wanqing couldn’t figure it out. She walked out of the small courtyard, and just as she exited the gate, she heard a young girl’s voice: “Inspector Liu.”

Luo Wanqing looked up to see a young girl in blue standing at the gate, saying softly, “Inspector Liu, this servant is Zhusi. Please come this way.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing realized that Xie Heng seemed to want her to stay on the back mountain.

“What about Cui Guanlan?” Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but blurt out: “Will he stay on the back mountain with me?”

“Young Master Guanlan doesn’t reside on the back mountain, but if needed, he will come up naturally.”

Zhusi gently answered Luo Wanqing’s question, leading her to a small house not far from Xie Heng’s residence.

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt as expected, yet still somewhat suffocated.

It felt like a fledgling leaving the nest, unable to help looking back at the warm nest where it was born.

But she suppressed this emotion. Having sent someone away last night, why think about it now? They would have to part eventually anyway.

She followed Zhusi into the house. Zhusi stood at the door and said gently, “Please, Inspector Liu. If you have any other needs, please inform this servant.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing walked into the room.

As soon as she entered, she sensed something strange.

This was obviously a woman’s living space—rouge, powder, hairpins, and undergarments were all complete, clearly prepared in advance.

“Does Young Master usually have other women living here?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but ask in confusion. Zhusi smiled slightly and only said, “This was prepared for Inspector Liu.”

Luo Wanqing’s movement holding a hairpin froze. Zhusi said respectfully: “This servant will go down now.”

Zhusi quietly withdrew. Her footsteps were very light, clearly someone with extremely strong concealment abilities. Luo Wanqing held the hairpin, looked around, and an indescribable anxiety welled up.

She felt this place was like a furnace, every object burning and reminding her.

This room was prepared for her, but not just prepared, meaning that at least by last night, Xie Heng had already planned to keep her here.

Her getting close to him wasn’t her scheme, but his orchestration.

Whether or not Baili had an incident today, he would have kept her on the back mountain. What was he plotting?

Why?

He knew she had eavesdropped on his conversation, knew she had various suspicious behaviors, yet instead of thinking about how to deal with her, he wanted to keep her.

Had he wanted to kill Li Guiyu since last night?

No.

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized, finally noticing the order of Xie Heng’s words earlier—you listen to me, and I’ll let you kill him.

I’ll let you kill him.

For Xie Heng, killing Li Guiyu was a kind of reward.

In Xie Heng’s mind at this moment, she wasn’t the first choice to kill Li Guiyu—it was just that she asked, so he used Li Guiyu as bait to “let” her kill.

What he wanted was for her to listen to him.

How had he determined her identity in his heart, such that he demanded her obedience?

Every word he said, everything happening now, seemed to remind her that he had long known she came with ill intentions. He didn’t believe a single word she said—he was just indulging her, letting her submit. As long as she opened her mouth to tell the truth, she could be forgiven.

But why didn’t he believe her?

Luo Wanqing looked down at the gold hairpin, thinking about every word she had said. Every sentence could be verified—let him investigate all he wanted.

She now had a general understanding of the Supervision Department’s style. When investigating cases, they searched for information from the perspective of guilt, but when making final judgments, they required solid evidence.

Xie Heng was now suspicious of her. His reminders, having Zhusi remind her, using this room to remind her—all were to pressure her, then agree to her request, as if everything could be forgiven if she just spoke up.

If she were an assassin sent on a mission, she should be anxious and fearful of discovery, perhaps unable to sit still and confess everything to Xie Heng.

But if she confessed…

Luo Wanqing wasn’t certain what the result would be, but regardless, she couldn’t afford to gamble.

She couldn’t so rashly confess without being caught. If she was going to confess, she needed to have life-saving cards first.

For instance, she at least needed to become the most suitable person in Xie Heng’s mind to approach Li Guiyu.

If Baili were alive, Xie Heng would save her. If Baili were dead, Xie Heng would also avenge her.

This way, even if she exposed her assassin identity, at least the Supervision Department would only pursue responsibility after she killed Li Guiyu and became useless.

By then, even if they pursued responsibility, she would at least have no regrets.

Thinking of this, her heart settled somewhat, then looking around, she became somewhat happy again.

Xie Heng’s suspicion of her wasn’t entirely without benefits.

He saw her as an assassin, warning while recruiting, hoping she would betray Xiang Sizi. She would go along with his intentions. He wouldn’t speak plainly, and she wouldn’t say it directly, but Xie Heng would give her many conveniences.

Like today, staying on the mountain.

This was her leverage for future negotiations with Xiang Sizi.

Thinking this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but glance down the mountain. Going to find Xiang Sizi now would be too conspicuous, and with toxins still not completely cleared from her body, it was better to rest.

She suppressed her urge to go down the mountain immediately and sat down to meditate in the room.

The medicine Cui Heng had given her that morning was excellent. After resting for a day, she felt much better.

When night came, she went to sleep early. In the middle of the night, she instinctively sensed someone in the room. The moment she opened her eyes, she instinctively drew her blade, but just as she had risen halfway, someone gripped her hand.

A familiar voice came: “It’s me.”

Luo Wanqing looked up blankly to see Cui Heng wearing a mask sitting beside the bed. He wore jade-colored brocade robes with white jade at his waist, looking no different from usual.

His voice had always maintained the tone from when he was Qin Jue. She had never heard his real voice.

She stared at him blankly. After a moment of silence between them, Luo Wanqing hesitantly withdrew her blade, sat up, and asked in confusion: “How did you come?”

“I shouldn’t have come.”

Cui Heng pressed his lips together and said in a low voice: “But I heard some news and still wanted to come ask you.”

“Ask what?”

Luo Wanqing was puzzled.

“I heard you agreed to the face-changing matter,” Cui Heng looked up at Luo Wanqing, his tone gentle: “Have you decided?”

“What is there to consider?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand.

Cui Heng was startled, then said: “You’re changing to someone else’s face. Don’t you mind?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s emotions stirred.

If it were in the past when she was still young, never mind wearing someone else’s face, even wearing the same clothes as someone else would displease her.

But now, even her identity belonged to someone else. Why would she care about a face?

Moreover, if she hadn’t guessed wrong, that face…

Luo Wanqing smiled and said gently, “As long as I can kill Li Guiyu, what does one face matter?”

“You want to kill him that much?”

Cui Heng was puzzled: “Why?”

“Luo Wanqing is dead. What she couldn’t complete, Liu Xiniang will complete for her.”

Luo Wanqing looked at Cui Heng openly, without the slightest hesitation.

Cui Heng’s eyes were full of confusion: “You didn’t know her for long.”

“Does friendship depend on duration?” Luo Wanqing asked in return. Cui Heng didn’t speak.

Both fell silent. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then finally said: “You came… just to ask about this?”

“Mm.”

Cui Heng nodded, then looked up and smiled: “As long as you’ve decided.”

“What if I were unwilling?” Luo Wanqing was curious.

Cui Heng raised an eyebrow, then said: “Then I’d talk to Director Xie about trying a different method.”

“You have that kind of influence?”

Luo Wanqing found it amusing. Cui Heng nodded, tapping his shoulder lightly with his folding fan, seeming quite proud: “I do carry some weight in the Supervision Department. But it mainly depends on your performance, too.”

“My performance?”

Luo Wanqing instinctively sensed something was wrong. She pressed down her wariness with a smile, looking at the young man before her: “What performance of mine?”

Cui Heng looked at Luo Wanqing’s expression and seemed somewhat sad.

He reached out and covered Luo Wanqing’s eyes, sighing: “Let’s not talk like this anymore.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes. She couldn’t see ahead, only feeling her eyelashes brush against Cui Heng’s palm, and his hand paused slightly.

After a moment of silence, Cui Heng said gently, “I have some matters and need to travel far for a while. Let’s not meet for now. To avoid you deceiving me, and to avoid me deceiving a young lady.”

Luo Wanqing understood Cui Heng’s meaning.

Having reached this point, with Xie Heng suspicious of her, whether she was to carry out Supervision Department missions or be tested, she and Cui Heng could no longer maintain that state of “you don’t ask me, I don’t doubt you.”

If they continued to associate, it would just be mutual deception.

She suppressed her emotions and only asked: “What about the poison in your body…”

“Keep it. That bit of poison won’t harm me.”

Cui Heng smiled and said gently, “When we meet again, you can give me the antidote then.”

Luo Wanqing paused, suddenly remembering the blood he had given her to drink when she was poisoned. She vaguely realized his body seemed different from ordinary people, but didn’t dare confirm it.

Since Cui Heng was unwilling to take it, and she couldn’t make it right now anyway, she could only respond softly: “Alright.”

Cui Heng looked at her childlike appearance and seemed helpless.

He thought for a moment, then still opened his mouth to explain: “The Supervision Department has too much power. With a red brush stroke on case files determining life and death, since its establishment, too many people have wanted to kill Xie Heng.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand what he wanted to say, but still listened quietly.

“But his life isn’t his own. He has too many people to protect and can’t allow any mistakes. So he lives very carefully. If he’s harsh with you, please don’t hold it against him.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’m a bad person?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand this apology. It was natural for Xie Heng to suspect her—why was he apologizing in advance?

But hearing her question, Cui Heng only laughed lightly.

“Let Xie Heng deal with bad people. I’ll just treat you as that good seedling who knew nothing. If you are a bad person,” Cui Heng said meaningfully, “then I probably won’t see you again.”

With that, Cui Heng removed his hand covering her eyes. Luo Wanqing looked at him in confusion.

Cui Heng gazed at her for a moment, then finally said: “Since you have no objections, I’ll leave.”

“Mm.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t try to keep him.

Cui Heng patted her shoulder as if comforting her, then got up to leave.

Luo Wanqing didn’t watch him leave. Only after he was gone did she turn her head to glance outside the door.

Then she lay back down, closed her eyes, and barely slept all night.

The next morning, Zhusi came early to wake her. After washing up, she was led by Zhusi out the door to Xie Heng’s courtyard.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Xie Heng drinking tea with an elderly man. The elder was over sixty with half-white hair but looked vigorous, sighing to Xie Heng: “I told Baili long ago to stop. At her age, which woman still works as a spy like her? She just couldn’t rest easy about you…”

“Young Master.”

Zhusi interrupted the elder’s words, saying respectfully: “Inspector Liu has arrived.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng held his tea, and the elder both turned around. The elder looked her up and down, then looked at Xie Heng: “Is it her?”

“Mm.”

Xie Heng responded, turning back to look at the tea pet on the table.

The elder walked down from the long corridor into the courtyard, crouched down, stared at Luo Wanqing for a moment, then said thoughtfully: “Burns, the skin and flesh are all necrotic.”

The elder raised his hand to feel the bones of Luo Wanqing’s face, examining while commenting: “Excellent bone structure. She must have been a beauty before. How did it get like this? But it’s not difficult to fix.”

The elder turned back to look at Xie Heng: “What do you plan to make her look like?”

“Zhuque.”

Xie Heng called out. Zhuque immediately stepped forward respectfully: “Elder Zhong, this woman.”

With that, Zhuque unrolled a painting. Everyone looked toward the scroll to see a woman in a prisoner’s clothes, barefoot with disheveled hair, running toward them.

This painting was newly made, the ink still vivid. Though the woman in the painting was in shabby clothes, her features were delicate and beautiful. This dishevelment only made her appear pitiful and deserving of sympathy.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the painting.

This should be how she looked when she first met Xie Heng.

“Give her a face according to this girl’s appearance.”

Xie Heng sat to the side, sipped his tea, his voice slightly cold: “Ten days. Can it be done?”

“Ten days?”

Elder Zhong looked back in surprise: “So urgent?”

“Baili’s body wasn’t found, but we found some traces. She should have been taken away early by Li Guiyu’s people.”

Xie Heng tapped the table lightly, analyzing calmly for Elder Zhong: “I need to confirm this woman’s value to Li Guiyu before planning the next step. Ten days is my limit—the sooner the better.”

“Like this… It’s not impossible, just use some strong medicine to make the wounds heal faster.”

Elder Zhong pondered, then turned to look at Luo Wanqing: “You’ve become an Inspector, so you shouldn’t be afraid of pain, right?”

“Everything is up to Elder Zhong’s arrangements.”

Luo Wanqing spoke respectfully.

Elder Zhong nodded, then asked somewhat puzzled: “Why must you go through the trouble of changing faces? Wouldn’t a mask work?”

“How do you think the previous spies died?”

Xie Heng glanced at Elder Zhong and said indifferently, “If masks couldn’t be detected, could Li Guiyu have killed Baili?”

Elder Zhong was speechless, then nodded: “True. Well then, young lady,” Elder Zhong turned to look at Luo Wanqing, “shall we go?”

Luo Wanqing nodded, bowed to Xie Heng, then followed Elder Zhong and Zhuque carrying the painting to the inner room.

As they walked, Elder Zhong introduced himself: “Young lady, you don’t know this old man, do you? I’m called Zhong Lingshu, a physician who likes to research strange and unusual things. In changing faces, I’m the only one in the world. My craftsmanship is excellent—don’t worry.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn’t dare speak.

Zhong Lingshu’s name in medical circles was so revered that even speaking it aloud was considered presumptuous.

A legendary divine physician with countless students, he was the most respected figure among all who studied medicine in the Great Xia.

But her identity was just a salt merchant. She didn’t dare speak rashly, following Zhong Lingshu to a room already prepared. The medicine boys stood in the room. Zhong Lingshu washed his hands, pointed to a semi-reclining bed, and said to Luo Wanqing: “Young lady, please lie down. Zhuque,” Zhong Lingshu directed Zhuque, “hang the painting there so I can look at it while I work.”

Zhuque quickly complied, hanging the painting in the direction Luo Wanqing faced.

Luo Wanqing looked at herself in the painting and found it somewhat amusing. She hadn’t expected that after going in circles, she would end up using her face.

Zhong Lingshu directed the medicine boys beside him, preparing instruments. After a while, he sat at Luo Wanqing’s head, looked up at the painting, then down at Luo Wanqing, and suddenly spoke: “Strange.”

Luo Wanqing sensed something and felt her heart tighten. She asked: “What does Elder Zhong find strange?”

“Your bone structure doesn’t need any changes at all?” Elder Zhong looked up at the painting, then down at Luo Wanqing, hesitating: “You two originally looked similar?”

Luo Wanqing’s palms were sweating. Elder Zhong used a knife to gesture at Luo Wanqing’s face, seeming unable to proceed, thinking: “It seems I just need to repair the skin and flesh. What kind of fate is this?”

“Elder Zhong,” Luo Wanqing carefully said, “similar bone structure is one thing, but whether they can look alike still depends on Elder Zhong’s skill.”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s subtle praise, Zhong Lingshu was pleased. He nodded: “You’re right.”

With that, Zhong Lingshu took a bowl of anesthetic from the side, gave it to Luo Wanqing to drink, and comforted her: “Sleep well. You’ll hurt for a few days when you wake up, then you’ll be fine. How you ultimately look depends on your constitution, but don’t worry—no matter what, you’ll look better than now.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing and obediently drank the anesthetic.

Being somewhat ugly wouldn’t matter.

As for resemblance, she found it hard to predict.

As Zhong Lingshu said, bone structure was important, but skin was what ultimately showed. What she would recover to look like depended on her constitution.

After drinking the anesthetic, she soon lost consciousness.

When she woke up, her entire head was wrapped in bandages, her face burning with pain.

Beside her was the clinking of basins. Seeing her open her eyes, Zhong Lingshu turned to look: “Young lady, are you awake?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t speak. Zhong Lingshu was washing his hands nearby, saying as he washed: “I didn’t do much, just adjusted your eyes a bit. That girl had almond eyes, somewhat more innocent compared to yours. Since you’re a Supervision Department Inspector, being cooler suits your temperament better.”

Luo Wanqing listened quietly, unable to speak. Zhong Lingshu stood up, checked on her, then said: “I gave you some strong medicine. When you go back, meditate and practice daily, using the medicine to recover faster. If you’re quick enough… five days should be about right.”

“Thank you, Elder Zhong.”

After trying for a long time, she could finally speak hoarsely.

Zhong Lingshu looked at Luo Wanqing like a caring elder, sighing: “You children have suffered.”

With that, he stepped out, instructing the medicine boys to care for Luo Wanqing, then waved his hand: “I’m leaving.”

Luo Wanqing lay on the bed, recovered for a while, then the medicine boy came forward to help her sit up.

Luo Wanqing felt her face burning with pain, but other parts were fine. She sat for a while, then stood up, bid farewell to the medicine boy, and walked out despite the pain.

She had only taken a few steps when she saw Xie Heng waiting at the door with Zhuque. Luo Wanqing was startled, then quickly bowed to Xie Heng: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng looked at her, then glanced at a maid. Zhuque immediately understood and called out: “Someone come help her.”

Luo Wanqing was puzzled, then saw Xie Heng nod at her before turning to leave.

A maid came forward to support her. Zhuque turned to look at her and criticized seriously: “You don’t need to act strong right now. When I’m injured in the Supervision Department, I always have people carry me. Outside, I’m still a young master.”

“Chief Zhuque is right.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but smile.

But smiling hurt a bit.

Seeing this, Zhuque waved his hand and said, “Go on, smile another day. You look ugly now.”

Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, nodded, and bid farewell.

Supported by the maid, she returned to her room, then drank the medicine Zhong Lingshu had prepared. Following his requirements, she began meditating and practicing, using the medicine’s effects to circulate her internal energy repeatedly, promoting wound healing.

At first, it felt like burning pain, but gradually the wounds began to itch.

This itch was like ants crawling all over her body—she couldn’t scratch it or shake it off.

By midnight, the pain and itch intensified. Unable to endure it, she gave up meditating and began rolling around on the bed.

She gasped heavily, pounding the wall with her fists, tossing and turning for a long time, unable to dispel the discomfort from the healing wounds.

She didn’t know how long she endured this, when suddenly the sound of a guqin came from outside.

The sound was very calm, like an anchor in stormy seas, instantly clearing Luo Wanqing’s consciousness.

She raised her sweat-covered face and looked toward the window, but couldn’t see anyone.

The following days were the same—meditating, soaking in medicine, over and over.

On the fifth day, Zhong Lingshu finally returned. He brought people to remove Luo Wanqing’s bandages, carefully examined and observed for a while, then said happily: “Good, even better than I imagined! Take a look.”

With that, Zhong Lingshu placed a mirror in front of Luo Wanqing. She raised her eyes to see herself in the mirror.

Very similar to before, yet not quite the same.

Probably because her eyes had become somewhat more elongated, compared to the past, she now had an additional air of “stay away” coldness, but with slightly upturned eye corners, she also had a hint of allure.

Other than that, there was almost no difference from her past face.

“Isn’t it too beautiful?”

Zhong Lingshu leaned over, looked at the mirror, then at Luo Wanqing, unable to help but sigh: “A truly peerless beauty! How come I never encountered such beauties when I was young?”

“Elder Zhong!”

Just as Zhong Lingshu finished speaking, Zhuque burst in happily: “Is it done? Young Master said If there are no problems…”

Before finishing, Zhuque froze in place. Seeing Zhuque’s reaction, Zhong Lingshu laughed and reminded, “What did Young Master say?”

“Oh.”

Only then did Zhuque react, shifting his gaze away, not daring to look at Luo Wanqing: “He said to have Inspector Liu go over and see. You all get ready.”

Zhuque turned to leave: “I’m going.”

“Hey, young man!”

Zhong Lingshu pointed at Zhuque’s retreating figure, then looked at the silent Luo Wanqing, somewhat puzzled: “Why are you so calm? Isn’t this face beautiful enough?”

“Elder Zhong’s craftsmanship is excellent.”

Luo Wanqing turned back and nodded: “I’m just a bit shocked.”

“It’s also because your bone structure is good.”

Zhong Lingshu nodded. Luo Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Zhong Lingshu, hesitated for a moment, then said: “Elder Zhong, could I ask you for a favor?”

“Hmm?”

Zhong Lingshu looked over in confusion. Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together and said carefully, “Could you not tell others about my similar bone structure and not suffering much?”

“Why?”

Zhong Lingshu didn’t understand.

Luo Wanqing smiled and said gently, “I still want to claim credit. If I can gain a bit more sympathy from the Director, it will be easier for me in the future.”

Hearing this, Zhong Lingshu understood and nodded: “Easy to say. I listen to whatever beauties say.”

Luo Wanqing knew Zhong Lingshu was joking and nodded in thanks: “Thank you.”

“Hurry up and get ready.”

Zhong Lingshu called for the female attendants outside to come in, urging, “That boy Xie Heng is waiting. This is the first time he’s ever waited for a woman. I’ll leave first—if anything comes up, have Xie Heng call me.”

“Elder Zhong, take care.”

Luo Wanqing stood up to see Zhong Lingshu off.

Then turning back, she saw the female attendants bringing over water-blue gradient wide-sleeved robes. Luo Wanqing was served by them into clothes befitting a noble young lady, with silver-patterned gauze draped outside, then had her hair arranged in an updo with ornamental hairpins. After putting on the Qianji device, she followed them out of the small courtyard.

Xie Heng was playing chess with Qingya in the courtyard. Luo Wanqing was led to the long corridor, and before she could bow, she heard Xie Heng say: “Don’t kneel.”

With that, Xie Heng held a chess piece and rolled up his sleeves, casually raising his eyes.

The figure of a woman in water-blue entered his vision—that was a face both similar to and different from his memory. In memory, when that person came toward him, she was both resolute and fragile, like shattered ice, sharp yet beautiful, scattered across the world.

However, the woman in the long corridor now carried the steadiness of an ancient well, yet also had the sharpness of a sword.

She possesses such beautiful and gentle features, yet all are suppressed by her overall coldness.

At that time, the wind blew April peach blossoms everywhere.

The woman raised her hand to adjust her sleeve, revealing the Qianji he had personally wound around her wrist, slightly bowed her head, and said respectfully: “Young Master.”