◎Mutual Ambush◎

Xie Heng paused for only a moment before imperceptibly shifting his gaze away, saying indifferently: “Acceptable.”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t understand what this “acceptable” meant. Then she heard Xie Heng call to her: “Come here.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing walked forward, lowered her eyes, and knelt halfway beside Xie Heng, waiting for him and Qingya to finish their chess game.

As Xie Heng placed his pieces, he said: “Five days from now, Li Guiyu will be ordered to leave the eastern capital to inspect the Southern Camp, passing through the capital’s outskirts. It happens that a group of human traffickers will be transporting their cargo out of the city in five days. Hide among them these few days, then on the fifth day, seek help from Li Guiyu and have him escort you home.”

As Xie Heng spoke, Qingya took out a map from his sleeve and handed it to Luo Wanqing.

“The location marked with a red dot on the map is your home. You are a hunter’s daughter named Qingqing, nineteen years old, abducted by traffickers while wandering in the eastern capital.”

Qingya introduced her identity to Luo Wanqing. Hearing the name “Qingqing,” Luo Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat, but she immediately understood they were trying hard to forge someone extremely similar to “Luo Wanqing.”

From name and age to appearance, their goal was to make her as similar as possible to the deceased Luo Wanqing.

They thought Jiang Shaoyan offering her a memorial tablet meant he was deeply in love with her, but she clearly knew Jiang Shaoyan wasn’t that kind of person.

He had feelings, but they would never influence his decisions.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help asking: “What if he doesn’t escort me?”

“That would be your mission.”

Qingya looked at Luo Wanqing with a smile, seemingly reminding her: “For your first mission, you’d better work hard.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, then said: “Yes.”

“Don’t force it if you can’t complete it,” Xie Heng reminded her after hearing her response: “Staying alive is important.”

“Yes.”

Having finished his instructions, Xie Heng said no more, waving his hand: “Take her to prepare.”

With those words, Zhuque, who had been waiting nearby, immediately said: “Inspector Liu, follow me.”

Luo Wanqing bowed to Xie Heng, then stood and followed Zhuque out.

Walking out of the courtyard, Zhuque handed Luo Wanqing some documents, instructing as they walked: “This is your identity information. Rest well during the day, memorize the information, and tonight we’ll disguise ourselves and go out for a stroll.”

“Disguise ourselves?”

“Those traffickers are particular about who they abduct. If you’re dressed in gold and silver, they won’t dare abduct you. Dress plainly—I’ll be abducted along with you.”

“You’re being abducted too?”

Luo Wanqing was curious. Zhuque nodded: “Yes, it’s your first mission. What if you get killed? I’ll protect you.” With that, Zhuque patted his chest: “Don’t worry, your senior will guide you.”

Luo Wanqing glanced at the youth who was about her height and felt somewhat amused.

She coughed lightly and said respectfully, “Then I thank Chief Zhuque.”

“No need to thank me.”

Zhuque waved his hand, parting ways with her in the corridor: “See you tonight.”

Luo Wanqing took the documents and map, looked down at them, chuckled softly, then turned around.

She memorized this “Qingqing’s” information. In the afternoon, Zhuque brought a makeup artist over. He had already dressed himself—just tied his hair in a ponytail, wore brown short clothes, looking like a poor family’s child ready to dig rivers and carry soil at any moment.

Zhuque pointed at Luo Wanqing and told the makeup artist, “Go, dress her up.”

The makeup artist immediately stepped forward and dressed her according to requirements.

A hunter’s daughter would naturally dress modestly—coarse cloth and hemp clothes, a wooden hairpin to bind her hair, her face bare without any makeup.

But even so, it couldn’t hide Luo Wanqing’s beauty.

Zhuque looked at Luo Wanqing’s completed outfit as she stood up. He nodded: “Good! With your looks, you’ll be abducted!”

“What do I need to do?”

Luo Wanqing asked in confusion. Zhuque waved his hand: “Nothing special. I’ll take you to the traffickers’ territory later. I’ll look for work while you just wander the streets naturally. Oh,” Zhuque remembered and immediately said seriously, “be innocent, acting a bit stupid would be better.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, understanding Zhuque’s plan.

Seeing the disguise was complete, Zhuque immediately said: “Let’s go.”

Luo Wanqing followed Zhuque out and down the mountain. By the time they reached the main street, it was already dark. Zhuque led Luo Wanqing to the main street, which was decorated with lanterns and bustling with activity.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder down the street. Luo Wanqing observed their surroundings and couldn’t help asking curiously: “How will you be abducted later?”

She could understand these child-snatchers abducting a beautiful woman like her, but what would they want with Zhuque, a young man?

“They have a recruitment point that specializes in hiring workers. After recruitment, they drug them and transport them out of the eastern capital. The good-looking ones are sent to brothels, the ugly ones are sold as slaves to border states.” Zhuque explained seriously: “People are always worth some money.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing frowned: “How do you know this so clearly?”

“An informant has been inside for a while.” Zhuque glanced at Luo Wanqing: “After we use them this time, we’ll close the net and arrest them all, leaving none.”

“The Supervision Department handles this kind of case, too?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised. She had always thought the Supervision Department only handled major cases. Zhuque smiled and lowered his voice: “Do you know who’s backing the boss behind this?”

“Hmm?” Luo Wanqing was curious.

Zhuque whispered: “The Eastern Palace.”

This made Luo Wanqing’s eyes widen in disbelief: “The Eastern Palace is involved in this?”

“With so many subordinates, how can the Eastern Palace manage them all? They use the tiger’s name to intimidate and abuse their power. If we don’t cause them trouble, who would dare?”

Zhuque was quite proud. After walking through the long street, he patted Luo Wanqing: “I’m going to look for work now. Do as you please.”

With that, Zhuque turned and left.

Luo Wanqing walked along the long street, looking at the prosperous street, then glanced back at a teahouse she passed. After thinking, she simply returned to the teahouse, entered a private room, and ordered three cups of Biluochun tea.

The waiter heard Luo Wanqing order three cups of Biluochun and hesitated for a moment, then immediately said: “Right away, I’ll bring your tea.”

With that, the waiter went downstairs. Luo Wanqing sat in the private room and waited for a long time before finally hearing the door open.

She looked up at the sound to see a young man with a cinnabar dot between his eyebrows pushing the door open. She was somewhat puzzled and only said: “You’ve been staying here all along?”

“Just a coincidence.”

Xiang Sizi smiled, stepped into the room, walked to the opposite side of the tea table, lifted his robes, knelt down, and said with a smile: “Miss has been thinking for a long time. Did you hear the conversation between Xie Heng and Li Guiyu?”

Hearing Xiang Sizi’s question, Luo Wanqing didn’t immediately respond.

Only she knew about the conversation between Li Guiyu and Xie Heng. Whether they allied or not, Xiang Sizi should have no news yet.

But since Xiang Sizi knew Li Guiyu would be traveling, it proved there were Xiang Sizi’s people around Li Guiyu. So Xiang Sizi should know about Baili’s incident.

Xiang Sizi was asking this question to test whether she knew the news that the two had fallen out.

Luo Wanqing thought about it and said evasively: “I didn’t hear anything. Li Guiyu discovered me, wounded me, and I fled.”

“To escape from his hands, Miss Luo’s martial arts are quite good.”

Xiang Sizi listened while pouring himself tea, then glanced at Luo Wanqing’s face with feigned indifference: “How did Miss Luo change back to her face?”

“Xie Heng wants to place a chess piece beside Li Guiyu and is sending me over.”

Xiang Sizi’s movement paused as if thinking. Luo Wanqing stared at Xiang Sizi and asked: “Didn’t you say they would ally? But from what I can see now, that’s not the case, is it?”

“Just mutual maneuvering.”

Hearing this, Xiang Sizi was certain Luo Wanqing hadn’t heard anything and said confidently: “Li Guiyu has something Xie Heng wants, and Xie Heng has the power Li Guiyu desires. It’s only a matter of time before they come together.”

“Something Xie Heng wants?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand and continued: “What thing?”

“Originally, this shouldn’t be told to you,” Xiang Sizi sipped his tea, his expression slightly cold, “but since you didn’t hear their conversation, it doesn’t matter if I tell you. You know about Cui Qingping’s treason five years ago, right?”

“I know.” Luo Wanqing frowned, not expecting Xiang Sizi to bring this up, and couldn’t help asking: “What’s the connection?”

“Five years ago, the Northern Rong sought peace, and Li Guiyu served as a hostage, exchanged with a Northern Rong prince, and sent to the Northern Rong. The one who escorted Li Guiyu to negotiate the alliance was Cui Qingping. However, the Northern Rong suddenly broke the treaty and launched a surprise attack. Cui Qingping surrendered without fighting, allowing the Northern Rong to directly take ten cities, which remain unreturned to this day. Later, the Cui family was liquidated for the crime of treason. Cui Qingping was given a cup of poisoned wine in the palace and granted an intact corpse, while his entire clan was implicated. Xie Heng was young then and was once imprisoned for trying to plead for Cui Qingping. Later, he saw the error of his ways, was appointed by His Majesty, and personally handled the Cui family’s treason case. The entire Cui clan was executed under his supervision.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing had some vague memories.

The Cui family’s treason, surrendering ten cities this incident caused quite a stir at the time. She remembered that when her father rushed back from the border and took them away from the eastern capital, people on the streets were still discussing it.

Those affairs of state were too distant from her, and she didn’t care about them. But now, thinking back and carefully searching for all information related to Cui Qingping, she vaguely discovered something amiss.

The Cui family committed treason, surrendering without a fight. By rights, he should have received high official positions and generous rewards in the Northern Rong, but she remembered that on the day she left the eastern capital, while drowsily sleeping, she suddenly heard someone calling out loudly.

“General Cui?!”

“General Cui has returned?!”

It was still before dawn then. Their family carriage suddenly stopped, and her father seemed to want to lift the curtain to go out, but was held back by Yao Zelan.

Yao Zelan’s eyes were red. With one hand holding her daughter, who was sleeping against her knee, and the other gripping her husband, who wanted to go out, she desperately shook her head and said in a suppressed voice: “Qushu, let’s go.”

Luo Qushu clenched his fists tightly, trembling and unable to move. Yao Zelan bit her teeth and commanded the coachman: “Go! Leave immediately!”

Luo Qushu closed his eyes and sat down in pain.

She was young then, drowsily getting up to see her brother crawling toward the back window of the carriage.

Curious as well, she followed her brother over, leaned out, and looked out the back window of the carriage.

She saw a middle-aged man, clothes in tatters, weathered by wind and frost.

He wore a sword still stained with blood at his waist, carried broken jade, and in the morning light, walked into that majestic century-old capital.

Later, people upstairs said that he walked to the palace gates and knocked them open.

Some said that when he knocked open the palace gates, he had called out proudly, shouting again and again: “Guilty minister Cui Qingping has returned, begging His Majesty to send troops against the Northern Rong!”

“Guilty minister Cui Qingping has returned, begging His Majesty to send troops against the Northern Rong!”

But many people didn’t believe this, taking it as a mere rumor.

Because he was a surrendering traitor sentenced to death for treason, his surrender led to the complete fall of ten border cities, causing the Great Xia to lose the initiative. The once natural barrier of Fengming Pass had instead become the greatest obstacle to the Great Xia’s counterattack against the Northern Rong.

What could a surrendering minister speak of regarding sending troops, regarding advocating war?

Five years had passed, and Cui Qingping’s name had already become blurred in people’s memories. At least for someone like Luo Wanqing, who didn’t care about politics, she barely remembered him.

But now that Xiang Sizi specifically mentioned it, Luo Wanqing finally sensed the subtlety and realized: “Cui Qingping was wronged?”

“I didn’t say that.” Xiang Sizi smiled, then said solemnly: “It’s just that Xie Heng has been searching for things related to the Cui family all these years. Although he searches very secretly, we still discovered traces.”

“What does this have to do with Li Guiyu?” Luo Wanqing didn’t understand.

Xiang Sizi tapped the table, emphasizing: “Li Guiyu is currently the only person who was at the border then, is still alive now, and holds all the confidential information from that time.”

Luo Wanqing was startled. Xiang Sizi confidently poured tea, his tone indifferent: “If Xie Heng wants to know what happened back then, only Li Guiyu can tell him. Xie Heng personally executed his maternal clan. If he has the heart to vindicate the Cui family, then he truly endured humiliation and burdens. Having paid so much for this result, what reason would he have not to ally with Li Guiyu?”

Luo Wanqing said nothing.

Li Guiyu and Xie Heng hadn’t allied. She lied to Xiang Sizi, saying she didn’t know, so Xiang Sizi thought she didn’t know. Therefore, Xiang Sizi wanted to deceive her, making her think they were currently just testing each other and would eventually ally.

But within this deception, most of it was true.

Xiang Sizi was willing to frankly tell her so much, probably because he didn’t plan to let her live.

If Xie Heng died, she must die.

But why was Xie Heng unwilling to cooperate with Li Guiyu?

Just for one Luo Wanqing? Why?

Li Guiyu had what Xie Heng most wanted. In the previous life in her dream, they had clearly allied.

Why did he refuse in this life?

Just because she had shouted that she liked him, Xie Heng paid attention to her family’s case, and because he had promised her to overturn the case, she died. Did he think Li Guiyu had bad character? Or did he feel guilty toward her? But she was just a stranger he met by chance. If he gave up such an excellent opportunity due to guilt, with such character, how could he have cooperated for so long in the previous life?

How exactly did he die? Why was he executed by a thousand cuts?

Thinking of Xie Heng’s fate, Luo Wanqing suddenly felt somewhat confused.

Based on her current interactions, given Xie Heng’s character and methods, how did he end up in that situation from her dream?

Luo Wanqing’s thoughts wandered far, but her expression remained unmoved. She lightly tapped the table and said calmly, “I understand your meaning. If Xie Heng and Li Guiyu are destined to be allies, I should kill him. But now I have the possibility of contacting Li Guiyu—why not let me kill Li Guiyu first?”

“Killing Li Guiyu is simple,” Xiang Sizi smiled. “You are a good blade, not worth using on him. You kill Xie Heng, and we’ll help you kill Li Guiyu.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up at Xiang Sizi: “You won’t deceive me, will you?”

“Even if I deceive you, do you have a choice?”

Xiang Sizi said seriously, “Now I am your only ally. As a lone woman seeking revenge, if you don’t rely on me, who else can you rely on?”

“You!”

Luo Wanqing feigned mild anger. Xiang Sizi gestured for her to calm down, as if looking at a child: “I’m just stating facts—don’t get angry. If you’ve made your decision, why don’t you tell me about your current progress?”

“I’m right beside Xie Heng now. He trains me daily.”

Luo Wanqing pretended to be unwilling, pressing her lips together: “I have many opportunities to get close to him.”

“I didn’t misjudge you.”

Xiang Sizi nodded, quite gratified.

“I can help you kill Xie Heng,” Luo Wanqing said calmly, “but I have two requirements.”

Xiang Sizi was puzzled: “Two?”

“Return my family to me, and,” Luo Wanqing looked up, “give me Zhang Jiuran’s mother insect.”

Hearing the name “Zhang Jiuran,” Xiang Sizi paused.

He looked up at her, thought for a while, then smiled: “She’s still alive?”

“Xiang Sizi,” Luo Wanqing observed his expression and said calmly, “She’s followed you since she was eighteen, always regarding you as teacher and father. Give her a way to live.”

Xiang Sizi didn’t speak. After a while, he lowered his head and swirled his teacup, only saying: “You haven’t known each other long, yet you talk quite a lot about her. It seems she wants to leave. I knew from the beginning she wouldn’t amount to much.”

With that, Xiang Sizi drained his teacup in one gulp, then asked: “Any other requirements?”

“I want to see my family once to confirm they’re still alive.”

“Fine, but I also need to confirm you can kill Xie Heng.”

Xiang Sizi said coldly, “Allow me to kill Xie Heng. Whether I act or not, I decide for myself. As long as I have this opportunity, I’ll let you see your family.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing thought about it. Xie Heng rarely left the Supervision Department, and when he traveled, he was always escorted by experts. The only chance for Xiang Sizi to possibly act would be five days later, on the outskirts, when Xie Heng ambushed Li Guiyu.

“Fine. Do you have a map?”

Luo Wanqing asked. Xiang Sizi took out a map and a charcoal pencil from his sleeve and pushed them to her: “You choose the location.”

Luo Wanqing took the map and glanced at it, marking a location in the forest near where Xie Heng had arranged. After circling the spot, she said to Xiang Sizi, “Five days from now, you can ambush people here. I’ll bring Xie Heng over alone. As long as I can bring him there, you bring my family over.”

“It’s a deal.”

Xiang Sizi nodded with a smile, then said: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave?”

“One last question,” Luo Wanqing said, looking up. “Are you certain you haven’t told anyone else about my situation?”

Xiang Sizi didn’t speak. He thought for a long time, then said slowly: “Take good care of Jiuran. After you finish this matter, she’ll be free.”

Luo Wanqing was startled. Xiang Sizi stood up, walked toward the door, and said indifferently: “I’ll clean up what needs to be cleaned up for you two, so she can live well in the future.”

With that, Xiang Sizi pushed the door and left.

Luo Wanqing sat in place for a long time before reacting.

Xiang Sizi… was willing to let Zhang Jiuran leave?

Only Zhao Yuyan and Xiang Sizi knew about Zhang Jiuran leaving Fengyu Pavilion. Now that Zhao Yuyan was dead, only Xiang Sizi knew.

If he didn’t report it, didn’t tell anyone, then Zhang Jiuran could quietly leave Fengyu Pavilion.

After five years together, with a relationship like teacher and father, since Zhang Jiuran couldn’t kill him, could he so decisively kill Zhang Jiuran?

Luo Wanqing suddenly understood somewhat. She looked up in the direction Xiang Sizi had left, smiled mockingly, and got up to leave.

Having finished their business, Luo Wanqing went downstairs. It was now the busiest time, and she wandered on the street. After walking for a while, she felt someone following her.

She didn’t make a sound, pretending to be a young woman who had come to the city to shop, looking here and there on the street.

As she walked, someone suddenly patted her shoulder. She turned around to see an old woman smiling apologetically at her, asking: “Young lady, do you know how to get to Pingmen Alley?”

Luo Wanqing showed a confused expression, looked around, then said: “Grandmother, that way isn’t easy to navigate. How about I take you there?”

“Thank you, thank you so much, young lady.” The old woman showed gratitude and thanked her repeatedly.

Luo Wanqing supported her arm and led her toward an alley. Just as they entered the alley, someone pounced from behind her.

Luo Wanqing had long since noticed but pretended not to know. She acted startled as the person covered her mouth and nose with a drug-soaked cloth!

Luo Wanqing held her breath, showed terror, struggled slightly, then pretended to be drugged and went limp.

Several men emerged from the alley, looking at Luo Wanqing unconscious on the ground. One of them said happily, “Oh, this kind of merchandise will sell for a high price. Should we send her directly to that place…”

“What are you thinking?”

The old woman crouched down, patted Luo Wanqing’s face, turned to glare at the speaker, and only said: “Take her out of the eastern capital to sell. Don’t cause trouble.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The old woman’s words seemed to carry great weight. Everyone immediately responded. The old woman stood up, looked at Luo Wanqing on the ground with satisfaction, and smiled: “This will sell for a good price.”

Luo Wanqing listened quietly as they picked her up, took several routes, and finally threw her into a room.

As soon as she was thrown in, she heard many women’s and young men’s voices crying out for help.

Luo Wanqing pretended to be unconscious, listening to the sound of the door closing. After a while, she felt someone nudge her with their foot. Zhuque’s voice sounded, saying quietly: “Stop pretending, they’re gone.”

Luo Wanqing opened her eyes to see all the women crowded by the door, while the men were tied up and unconscious on the other side.

Zhuque was tied up, sitting against a pillar, looking at her: “Just endure these few days. Eat and sleep, sleep and eat, wait to be sold.”

With that, Zhuque used his chin to point at some steamed buns on the ground, urging Luo Wanqing, “I’m hungry. Bring that steamed bun over and let me have a few bites.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing hesitated. She crawled forward, picked up the steamed bun, broke it into small pieces, and fed them to Zhuque’s mouth. As she fed him, she frowned: “Can we eat their food? Isn’t it drugged?”

“It’s fine, I have experience,” Zhuque said while eating the bun: “If there are drugs…”

Before he could finish, Zhuque’s head tilted to one side, and he fell unconscious.

Luo Wanqing looked down at the steamed bun, thought about it, and still set it aside.

Zhuque slept for a day. When he woke up the next morning, Luo Wanqing saw him open his eyes and smiled: “Chief Zhuque, you didn’t finish what you were saying yesterday.”

Zhuque looked up blankly: “Huh?”

“You said you had experience,” Luo Wanqing said, handing him the morning steamed bun with a smile. “If the steamed buns are drugged, what happens?”

Zhuque remained silent. He looked at the steamed bun in front of him, thought about it, and said seriously: “You’ll have a good sleep.”