◎She is Luo Wanqing◎

Luo Wanqing emerged from the dungeon as the night wind struck her face, finally breaking free from the bloody scene she had just witnessed, regaining some clarity of mind.

Too many things had happened this night: Xie Heng’s ambush of Jiang Shaoyan, Jiang Shaoyan’s alliance with Xie Heng, and the revelation that she was Zhang Jiuran, her cooperation with Fengyu Pavilion to ambush Xie Heng, only to be discovered by him, Xie Heng exposing her identity as Zhang Jiuran, attempting to make her surrender using Zhang Qiuzhi’s case, and promising that she could live as long as this “Zhang Jiuran” remained useful.

Though she had not acknowledged the identity of Zhang Jiuran, she had reached a cooperative agreement with Xie Heng—she would help him find Fengyu Pavilion.

Now, the most important thing was to find Xiang Sizi.

Regardless of Xie Heng’s motives or Li Guiyu’s intentions, she had only one goal at present: to protect herself and ensure her family’s safety, then leave with new identities.

Luo Wanqing closed her eyes to steady herself, but Xie Heng’s words—”She’s a physician, what are you?”—flooded her mind. She couldn’t help but take a deep breath, not daring to dwell on it further, and walked back to her room.

She needed to rest well and prepare to find Xiang Sizi tomorrow.

She took some sleeping medicine and slept deeply through the night. The next day, after reporting to Xie Heng’s men, she gathered some items that inspectors commonly used and set out.

The Supervision Department equipped each inspector with many tools difficult to find on the market. Today, she specifically brought the “Fengxun Incense” used for tracking people.

This incense was specially made. There was a bird called Fengxun that was extremely sensitive to this scent and could track it within a hundred li.

To avoid unwanted tracking, this incense came with a suppressing sachet. When the two sachets were together, they would not emit the scent that Fengxun birds could detect.

When needing to use it, one could destroy the suppressing sachet, allowing the Fengxun bird to immediately locate the target.

Luo Wanqing carried both sachets and went to the teahouse, ordering three cups of Biluochun tea. After waiting quietly for a while, a woman pushed open the door and entered.

Luo Wanqing looked up at her, and the woman respectfully said, “My master is inconvenienced today and sent this servant to meet with Miss in his stead.”

Luo Wanqing was not surprised to hear this. After nearly being discovered by Xie Heng last night, it was natural for him to be more cautious today.

If Xie Heng’s people had followed her here, there would be no need for any ambush afterward.

Luo Wanqing nodded, and the woman walked to the side of the room, opening a secret chamber and respectfully saying, “Please follow me, Miss.”

Luo Wanqing rose and followed the woman into the secret chamber, walking through a long corridor before arriving at a dim room.

Upon reaching the room, the woman led Luo Wanqing to sit at a desk, then, like a puppet, mechanically asked, “My master wants me to ask Miss a question: why did you let Xie Heng discover us last night?”

“Because he was foolish,” Luo Wanqing said coldly. “Did he think that Xie Heng, a man from a noble family, would lose his composure and become vulnerable to assassination while having romantic encounters with women in the wilderness?”

The woman remained silent, seeming to wait for something.

Seeing her expression, Luo Wanqing knew someone was present here.

They used a special communication method, and this woman was conveying the intentions of the person behind her.

After waiting a moment, the woman continued, “Then when Miss let our master escape last night, didn’t Xie Heng notice?”

“He noticed,” Luo Wanqing replied, half-truthfully, “but he couldn’t be certain. He has some affection for me now and is willing to trust me for the time being. But I don’t have many chances left. Next time, if he still can’t kill him,” Luo Wanqing looked up, searching for the person hidden in the shadows, “I’ll die with him.”

Speaking thus, Luo Wanqing lost patience with their evasiveness and said directly, “Where are my family members? I’ve proven my ability to lure Xie Heng out alone. Now the Pavilion Master should prove that my family is safe. If I can’t see my family again,” her voice carried a threat, “I’ll assume they’re already dead.”

The woman didn’t move immediately upon hearing this, waiting a moment as if receiving orders, then stood and walked to the wall ahead. She pulled a mechanism, and the wall opened to both sides, revealing four people lying on beds.

A woman stood beside these four people and respectfully bowed to her, introducing herself: “This servant is Qinglu, greetings to Miss.”

Qinglu.

Hearing this name, Luo Wanqing’s heart trembled.

She finally met the woman Zhang Jiuran had mentioned in her letter. Zhang Jiuran had placed this woman beside her family for today’s moment.

She pretended to nod coldly and rose to walk before the four people.

She immediately recognized them: her mother, her brother, her sister-in-law, and her little niece.

They lay quietly on the beds, breathing steadily with healthy complexions, obviously having taken some medicine and sleeping soundly.

They had all lost some weight but appeared to be in no danger. Looking at the people on the beds, Luo Wanqing felt her throat tighten with pain.

But out of caution, she still stepped forward to touch their faces, checking their physical characteristics, even taking their pulses to confirm their old ailments before finally feeling relieved.

“The Pavilion Master said we would take good care of your family and would never neglect them,” Qinglu said, watching Luo Wanqing’s actions. “Please rest assured, Miss. As soon as Xie Heng dies, we’ll immediately release them. Both your family and you can take new identities and start life anew.”

“What are the new identities?”

Luo Wanqing silently crushed the sachet, rubbing the incense on herself before turning to look at Qinglu.

Qinglu glanced at the standing woman, who nodded, and Qinglu then told Luo Wanqing, “There was a group of human traffickers in the Eastern Capital. We selected identities from among the people they trafficked that matched your family’s ages. Those people are dead, and your family will take their identities.”

Luo Wanqing’s movements paused slightly. She wanted to ask how those people had died, but she didn’t need to ask—she could guess the process.

She remained silent, and Qinglu continued, “Those people were not from Great Xia but came from other small countries for various reasons. They had travel permits and border crossing documents. After we release your family, they can take these permits to the authorities. The officials will formally issue identity documents, and from then on, you can stay in Great Xia legitimately.”

Luo Wanqing listened thoughtfully, then walked before Qinglu and stared at her, asking, “Who handled this matter?”

“This servant did.”

“You know their future identities?”

Luo Wanqing frowned.

Qinglu looked down at the ground with a steady expression and continued answering, “The identities were selected by the Pavilion Master and sealed away after selection. This servant doesn’t know them.”

“Give me the identity documents.”

After thinking, Luo Wanqing made a direct request, looking at the woman who had led her into the room.

The woman raised her eyes, and Luo Wanqing said, “I’ll take the identity documents. In ten days, we’ll assassinate Xie Heng together. I’ll bring Xie Heng out alone. When Xie Heng dies, you release my family, then set a location where I can personally retrieve them. This request isn’t unreasonable, is it?”

Upon hearing this, the woman only asked, “What is Miss’s plan for ten days from now?”

“In ten days, I’ll bring Xie Heng to Fangfei Pavilion,” Luo Wanqing said half-truthfully. “You’ll bring people there to ambush. I’ll also try to help. When you see Xie Heng and me together, give me Zhang Jiuran’s mother parasite. When we kill Xie Heng together, you must release my family.”

The woman lowered her eyes without speaking, seeming to listen intently to something.

After a long while, the woman looked up: “Can you guarantee Xie Heng will go to Fangfei Pavilion alone?”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing replied directly, “If he’s not alone, you simply won’t act.. However, Xie Heng is very strong,” she emphasized. “Please cherish this opportunity, Pavilion Master, and strike decisively. Otherwise, both he and I will lose our lives.”

Hearing this, the woman nodded, then gestured to Qinglu: “Give her the documents.”

Qinglu nodded, taking documents from her sleeve and approaching. When Luo Wanqing received the documents, she inconspicuously made contact with the other woman’s hand, applying Fengxun incense to her.

Qinglu glanced at her but said nothing more.

Luo Wanqing took the documents and placed them in her robes, then said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”

No one present stopped her. The woman who had led her in escorted her back along the original route. She returned to the Supervision Department with the documents and immediately brought out a Fengxun bird to track the trail.

After tracking until nightfall, she saw a small courtyard from far away at the foot of a mountain in the suburbs. The courtyard was brightly lit with people coming and going, clearly heavily guarded.

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare get too close. After observing for a while, she saw Qinglu, who had taken a broom and was sweeping in the courtyard. Luo Wanqing thought that Qinglu must have seen her actions today and was perhaps waiting for her, which was why she was still doing chores in the courtyard at this hour, making it convenient for Luo Wanqing to spot her.

Luo Wanqing plucked a leaf from a tree and played a tune on it.

The moment she played the tune, everyone became alert and sent people to search the forest.

Luo Wanqing quickly left her position and circled to the back of the courtyard. Qinglu also immediately left the courtyard when she heard the tune, deliberately separating from the others under the pretense of investigating.

Luo Wanqing followed Qinglu into the forest. Once they were far from the crowd, Qinglu immediately said, “Come out.”

Luo Wanqing dropped down from a tree. After a moment of silence, she bowed and said, “Thank you for taking care of my family recently. Are they all right?”

“I’m doing this for Sister Jiuran. She never asked me for anything, so I’ll handle this matter well for you.”

As Qinglu spoke, she glanced around, then took out a floor plan and handed it to Luo Wanqing: “This is the building layout here. Your family has been held here recently. To clean up their identities, we captured a group of trafficked people and mixed your family among them. They’re guarded here. So far, they think they’ve been sold to the Eastern Capital. After sending your family away, we’ll sell these people.”

“Do you have freedom of movement normally?”

Luo Wanqing looked down at the floor plan while asking thoughtfully. Qinglu understood her meaning: “I get one day off every fifteen days. If you need to find me, my next rest day is in nine days in the afternoon. We can arrange a meeting place. You must explain clearly what you want to do.”

“Good. In nine days at the Wei hour, Huguo Temple’s Buddha hall,” Luo Wanqing set the time and place. “I’ll tell you the plan.”

The two didn’t have much time and quickly ended their conversation before parting ways.

Luo Wanqing obtained the information and returned to the Supervision Department with her family’s identity documents.

She was still living in the back mountain where Xie Heng resided. Upon returning to the mountain, she saw Xie Heng leading people in discussion in the courtyard. Seeing her return, everyone’s voices paused. Zhuque hesitated momentarily, then called to Luo Wanqing: “Inspector Liu, please come sit.”

Liu Xiniang bowed to Xie Heng and the others, then walked into the courtyard. Zhusi brought a cushion and placed it in the corridor for Luo Wanqing to sit.

Xie Heng glanced at her and asked directly, “You went to see Xiang Sizi?”

“Yes.” Luo Wanqing answered truthfully. “I’ve arranged for them to ambush at Fangfei Pavilion in ten days as you instructed. But they have a requirement.”

Hearing this, everyone looked over. Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes: “They want me to bring you alone to Fangfei Pavilion.”

This caused everyone to exchange glances. After a moment, Xie Heng said calmly, “Acceptable.”

“Young Master,” Xuanshan frowned upon hearing this, “isn’t this too risky?”

“Bringing too many people is also risky,” Qingya picked up tea and poured a cup for Xie Heng beside him, smiling, “Do you think the Third Prince would capture Baili and use her to force our Young Master to join the campaign against Fengyu Pavilion for no reason?”

“What do you mean?” Zhuque didn’t understand. “What would happen if we brought too many people?”

“If the Crown Prince were to go and die at Fangfei Pavilion, with us bringing so many people and making such a spectacle there, we’d be implicated,” Xuanshan glanced at Zhuque and tapped his head. “Use your brain.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s expression became stern.

The Crown Prince was also going…

She knew that based on her understanding of Jiang Shaoyan, he was never someone who would act for petty gains.

Capturing Baili and offending Xie Heng was to force Xie Heng to cooperate with him in killing Xiang Sizi, making it convenient for him to take over underworld forces before the Emperor. While this made sense, it didn’t feel like Jiang Shaoyan’s style of using minimal effort for maximum effect.

But if Jiang Shaoyan wanted to use Xie Heng to move against the Crown Prince this time, that would make sense.

She just hadn’t dared think it initially, since the Crown Prince was the heir to the throne—how would Jiang Shaoyan dare act so rashly?

He insisted on forcing Xie Heng to go and deceived him about Fengyu Pavilion’s presence to make Xie Heng bring a large group of assassins.

When the time came, if Fengyu Pavilion’s people weren’t there and the Crown Prince died, with Li Guiyu never showing his face, Xie Heng would have difficulty explaining to His Majesty why he appeared at Fangfei Pavilion with so many people on the night the Crown Prince died.

“Qingya, obtain an invitation to Fangfei Pavilion. Xuanshan, mobilize troops. In ten days, Inspector Liu and I will depart at the Xu hour, first going to Fangfei Pavilion. We’ll meet the Third Prince first. He and I have agreed that we’ll simultaneously place our people on the auction block—I’ll bid for Baili, and he’ll take Inspector Liu away. Half an hour after we depart, Zhuque will lead troops following the Fengxun incense to find Fangfei Pavilion’s location. Once we have Baili and Fengyu Pavilion make their move, you’ll act.”

“Yes.”

Everyone responded in agreement. Xie Heng sipped his tea and continued thoughtfully, “When chaos erupts, Li Guiyu will certainly take the opportunity to move against the Crown Prince. Inspector Liu will be beside him to monitor his movements. If he acts, protect the Crown Prince and wait for our reinforcement. During this time, Qingya will remain at the Supervision Department to respond to emergencies, and Xuanshan will enter the palace to report anomalies to His Majesty.”

“Report truthfully?” Xuanshan looked up.

Xie Heng nodded: “Report truthfully that the Third Prince seems to harbor ill intentions toward the Crown Prince and has arranged to meet me at Fangfei Pavilion. Request His Majesty’s permission, and if anything unexpected happens, grant the Supervision Department direct authority to apprehend the Third Prince. Also, dispatch people from the Central Imperial Office to provide support as His Majesty’s eyes.”

“Yes.” Xuanshan acknowledged.

After Xie Heng assigned tasks to all parties, he looked at Luo Wanqing: “Does Inspector Liu have any other questions?”

“I’ll follow your arrangements completely.”

“Then rest well these days. You may go now.”

Xie Heng gestured dismissively, and Luo Wanqing knew the following content wasn’t suitable for her to hear, so she rose and left.

Returning to her small room, she thought through Xie Heng’s and Fengyu Pavilion’s arrangements, then took out Qinglu’s building layout drawing and pondered for a long time before roughly forming a plan.

Thinking of the plan’s risks and remembering Xie Heng’s previous mockery, she couldn’t help feeling bitter.

She took out her family’s future identities from her sleeve, unfolding the documents and carefully reading every word and name.

In the future, these would be her family’s new lives.

In ten days, she would send her family away. They would take these documents to the authorities to register, and from then on, they could use identities completely unrelated to her, Luo Wanqing, to begin peaceful new lives.

She reverently touched those four names, folded the documents, held them close to her chest for a moment, then wrapped them up and locked them in a box hidden under her bed.

In the following days, Xie Heng was unwilling to let her get too involved, and she understood his wariness of her, so she quietly stayed on the mountain, meditating, practicing martial arts, and familiarizing herself with everything in the Supervision Department.

On the ninth day, at the appointed time with Qinglu, she asked Xie Heng for leave to go out and purchase some personal items.

Xie Heng was reviewing documents when he heard her words and looked up coldly: “Don’t play tricks.”

Luo Wanqing said calmly, “You can have someone follow me.”

“Unnecessary,” Xie Heng seemed too lazy to deal with her and only said, “Just don’t go looking for Qin Jue.”

Luo Wanqing was startled, not understanding Xie Heng’s meaning.

Xie Heng lowered his head, outlining characters with his red brush, and said indifferently, “I know you had a romantic relationship with him, but he now hates you to the bone. Even if you’re going to die tomorrow, don’t provoke him. Using Zhang Jiuran’s identity to deceive him once was enough.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing realized that Xie Heng thought she believed she might face mortal danger tomorrow and wanted to find an opportunity to bid farewell to Qin Jue.

He still thought she had used Liu Xiniang’s identity to deceive Qin Jue a second time.

Luo Wanqing found this somewhat amusing, but Xie Heng’s reminder made her realize that tomorrow, whether dealing with Fengyu Pavilion’s contingencies or protecting the Crown Prince from Li Guiyu, both were extremely dangerous tasks, and she might not survive.

If there was someone she needed to see, it would indeed be good to see them.

With this thought, she couldn’t help asking, “Do you know where Shadow Envoy Cui Guanlan is?”

Xie Heng’s movements paused. Luo Wanqing considered her words carefully, afraid of bringing trouble to Cui Heng, and only said, “Since I came to the mountain, I haven’t seen him for a long time. After all, he was the first person to take care of me when I entered the Supervision Department. I’d still like to bid him farewell.”

“He’s on a mission outside and won’t return for a while.”

Xie Heng thought for a moment and only said, “Complete your mission and return alive first, then we’ll talk.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt somewhat regretful, but life doesn’t always go as planned. She smiled serenely and respectfully said, “Yes.”

After taking leave from Xie Heng and descending the mountain, Luo Wanqing went straight to Huguo Temple. When she entered the temple, it was exactly the Wei hour, and she saw a woman in azure clothes shaking divination sticks and praying before the Buddha hall from afar.

Luo Wanqing walked to kneel beside her, placing two sachets, identity documents, a signal flare, and a bracelet wrapped together from her sleeve before the azure-clothed woman. She then pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and quickly said, “Two sachets—the green one suppresses the scent of the red one. At the Xu hour, destroy the green one, and the Supervision Department’s people will follow the scent. There’s a basement in your building—hide my family in the basement so they can’t be found.”

Qinglu calmly swept all the items into her sleeve, shook out a divination stick that fell to the ground with a clear sound, picked up the bamboo stick, and looked down at the divination text: “What if the Supervision Department searches the basement?”

“When they’ve killed enough Fengyu Pavilion people for you to take my family away, set off the signal flare,” Luo Wanqing bowed her head and kowtowed, then rose. “I’ll immediately set off the Supervision Department’s most urgent signal flare, summoning them to Fangfei Pavilion. Their mission isn’t to rescue these trafficked civilians. Discovering they went to the wrong place, they’ll at most leave one or two people to guard you and immediately rush to Fangfei Pavilion. Then you can take the opportunity to take my family away. Wait for me at Qingyun Ferry, five li from the Eastern Capital’s exit. I’ll arrange where to go from there.”

Even with Qinglu, she couldn’t be completely at ease.

Her family’s final destination could only be decided by her.

“Good.”

Qinglu understood Luo Wanqing’s plan.

Luo Wanqing continued, “That bracelet contains sleeping incense. Turn the snake’s head while holding your breath—after ten turns, it can fill a room, enough to handle ordinary Supervision Department disciples. Use it if needed, but don’t kill unnecessarily.”

“Understood.”

Qinglu looked at her once, then finally pursed her lips: “How is Jiuran?”

“Once we get the mother parasite, she’ll be fine. May the gods and Buddha protect us—she’ll reunite with us.”

Qinglu didn’t speak. She directly stood up, took an umbrella from the side, and said softly, “May the gods and Buddha protect us until we meet again.”

With that, Qinglu left.

Luo Wanqing looked up at the gods and Buddha, thought for a long time, then devoutly kowtowed.

When she returned to the Supervision Department, it was drizzling on the road. Walking in the rain, she suddenly heard Qin Jue call softly, “Inspector Liu.”

Luo Wanqing looked up in surprise to see Qin Jue standing ahead with an umbrella. She asked in confusion, “Why are you here?”

“Inspector Xie just sent someone to notify me,” Qin Jue said, walking to her, looking somewhat puzzled and frowning, “saying you went out without an umbrella and asking me to wait on this road to bring you one.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was startled. Looking at this road that was the only way back to the Supervision Department, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat helpless.

Xie Heng wasn’t entirely heartless. Thinking she was Zhang Jiuran, despite everything, he still arranged for her to see Qin Jue once.

She didn’t tell Qin Jue about these complications, only asked about Zhang Jiuran’s condition, then chatted as they returned to the Supervision Department.

After returning, Xie Heng summoned everyone to review the next day’s action plan one final time. The following afternoon, Xie Heng brought in a beautician to do Luo Wanqing’s hair and makeup.

Since Luo Wanqing would be presented as someone Xie Heng was selling at Fangfei Pavilion tonight, she naturally wouldn’t dress as a guard.

Thinking of meeting Li Guiyu tonight, Luo Wanqing chose her most common style from the past: a water-blue wide-sleeved, cinched-waist long dress, high-pinned hair with clouds of locks, silver hairpins and swaying ornaments, half her hair falling behind her with two strands in front, appearing gentle and soft.

However, beneath this refined lady’s attire, her sleeves were full of concealed weapons and poisons, with blades hidden on her person.

After dressing up, Luo Wanqing secretly took two more of the Supervision Department’s highest-alert signal flares and a packet of incense specifically for suppressing Fengxun scent.

Having prepared everything, when evening came, Luo Wanqing followed Zhusi outside the Supervision Department, boarded a carriage, and followed Xie Heng’s carriage as it swayed out of the Eastern Capital.

Arriving at the Eastern Capital’s lakeside, the carriage finally stopped. Just as Luo Wanqing was about to get out, someone suddenly pulled open the carriage curtain. Luo Wanqing was startled and looked up to meet Xie Heng’s cold eyes.

“Put this on.”

Xie Heng handed her a gold-decorated mask. Luo Wanqing glanced around.

Many people were on this ferry, all wearing masks. At the front of the ferry were people wearing silver masks who were checking visitors’ invitations. After verification, they would grant passage, and according to the invitation’s level, they would invite people aboard ships that would sail to distant destinations.

Luo Wanqing put on the gold mask and looked up to see Xie Heng’s hand extended before her. She placed her hand on his, and just as she had when holding Jiang Shaoyan’s hand in the past, she used Xie Heng’s assistance to step down from the carriage.

Getting off the carriage, she instinctively felt someone watching them. Xie Heng also keenly sensed this. Holding Xie Heng’s hand, she turned to look and saw a pair of familiar yet cold eyes observing her icily.

While everyone around wore various masks, that person’s mask was identical to theirs. This was the agreed-upon sign for Li Guiyu and Xie Heng to recognize each other.

Xie Heng nodded toward the other party, and Li Guiyu politely smiled in return.

Xie Heng withdrew his gaze, grasped Luo Wanqing’s wrist in return, and led her directly to the ferry. He presented an invitation painted with peonies. Upon seeing the invitation, the attendant immediately bowed and escorted the two onto a small boat alone.

A boatman was already on the boat. After the two were seated, the small boat began moving. Luo Wanqing looked back and saw Li Guiyu also boarding a boat with a woman.

That woman’s steps were somewhat unsteady, clearly injured. Luo Wanqing watched quietly, then heard Xie Heng say, “That’s Aunt Baili.”

Unexpectedly, Xie Heng spoke up. Luo Wanqing turned to look at him, and Xie Heng said calmly, “I told Li Guiyu that you’re an important witness in the case. When the Qin family case concludes, he cannot kill you, but you’ll be under his custody. But this is a temporary measure. Your real task tonight is only to protect the Crown Prince, delay Li Guiyu, and stall until the Central Imperial Office’s people arrive.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up: “Central Imperial Office?”

“The Central Imperial Office serves His Majesty in the palace. They are the highest level of eunuchs and among His Majesty’s most trusted people. The Supervision Department and Central Imperial Office are His Majesty’s mutually balancing eyes. Only with the Central Imperial Office watching can our capture of Li Guiyu avoid His Majesty’s suspicion. So you’d better ensure Li Guiyu’s attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince is exposed before the Central Imperial Office’s eyes.”

“Young Master never truly intended to exchange me for Baili until now?” Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel somewhat surprised.

Xie Heng glanced at her indifferently: “You are guilty and may die in battle, by sword, or on the execution ground, but you shouldn’t die in Li Guiyu’s residence.”

“How can I get close to the Crown Prince?” Luo Wanqing frowned. “By forcing my way in?”

“The Crown Prince is lustful,” Xie Heng explained his plan. “Tonight I’ll demand that Li Guiyu and I exchange you and Baili through an auction. When you’re bid away by Li Guiyu, deliberately expose your face. Given the Crown Prince’s nature, he might compete for you. When he argues with Li Guiyu, you’ll have a chance to get close to him.”

“But I alone might not be able to hold off Li Guiyu.” Luo Wanqing thought of her previous encounter with Li Guiyu and couldn’t help frowning.

“The Crown Prince has an expert by his side who can restrain Li Guiyu. You’ll mainly need to deal with his remaining subordinates.”

Luo Wanqing understood Xie Heng’s meaning and nodded: “I’ll do everything possible, please rest assured, Young Master.”

“You won’t need to stall for too long,” Xie Heng’s voice was flat. “Zhuque will reinforce me. After we capture Xiang Sizi, we’ll come to your aid.”

Unfortunately, this reinforcement wouldn’t come very timely.

Luo Wanqing listened to Xie Heng’s calculations, thinking of the sachet she currently carried to suppress the Fengxun incense.

In half an hour, Zhuque would use Fengxun birds to find them, but with her sachet present, Zhuque wouldn’t be able to locate them. Instead, he’d be attracted by Qinglu’s sachet and go in the wrong direction.

She would wait until Qinglu gave the signal before telling Zhuque the correct location. By the time Zhuque arrived…

By then, Xie Heng might not come to reinforce a traitor like her.

But it didn’t matter.

Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes.

Xie Heng wouldn’t save her, but she would save Xie Heng. After all, she had set this trap for her family’s sake—she would do her best to protect him.

Tonight Zhuque wouldn’t provide timely reinforcement, so she needed to find a way to stall for time, giving Zhuque enough time to return.

The best method now was to use the Crown Prince to threaten Fengyu Pavilion.

After all, Fengyu Pavilion was the Empress’s underworld force. Compared to killing Xie Heng, protecting the Crown Prince was obviously more important.

Moreover, leading the Crown Prince to Fengyu Pavilion’s side would allow Li Guiyu’s people to clash with Fengyu Pavilion as well.

When the time came, Xie Heng could escape in the chaos, Zhuque would arrive, and as long as she could protect the Crown Prince until the Central Imperial Office arrived, Xie Heng could capture Li Guiyu in the Central Imperial Office’s witness under the charge of assassinating the Crown Prince, while her family secretly fled far away.

Even if she, Luo Wanqing, died now, it would be much better than her previous life in her dreams.

She sat silently with Xie Heng as their small boat reached shore, arriving at a small island with a five-story pavilion. From afar, they could hear the sounds of string and wind instruments—it was quite lively.

A maid inspected both of them thoroughly. When inspecting Luo Wanqing, one maid silently slipped her a box. Luo Wanqing glanced at her, and the maid stepped aside without expression.

The maid then led them into the pavilion, heading straight to a private room on the second floor. One side of the room faced the interior of the pavilion, overlooking the first floor’s hall with its debauchery, musicians performing on stage, dancing girls whirling, and women moving about to accompany guests.

The other side of the room was a corridor leading to a terrace, from which one could see the lake and mountain scenery outside.

“Where is this?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but be curious. Xie Heng shook his head: “Fangfei Pavilion chooses its location very carefully each year. I don’t know where this is. This pavilion was probably built recently for this purpose.”

“It seems like something from ghost stories.”

Luo Wanqing sighed. Xie Heng chuckled softly, picked up his wine cup, and said unconsciously: “A fox demon’s illusion, with beauties as companions.”

Both of them froze at these words.

For an instant, Luo Wanqing felt as if the person before her was that young master she hadn’t seen in so long.

Xie Heng looked away without expression, as if nothing had happened, and said calmly: “Let’s wait for now.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing more. She glanced outside and quietly calculated the time.

After waiting a while, the stage below began auctioning items one by one.

When the items were sold, more than half an hour had passed since their departure. Zhuque should have already set out and be nearing the place where her family was held.

There were Fengyu Pavilion people there, but the main force should all be at Fangfei Pavilion, leaving only minor guards to watch her family. With Zhuque’s abilities, it shouldn’t take more than a quarter-hour to clear them out.

Then they began auctioning people.

Each owner selling “beauties” would write in advance about the beauty’s age and special qualities, as well as the price and selling method, then display them together. Buyers in private rooms would bid, then come on stage to claim them.

Xie Heng had already registered her name, requesting to sell her masked. Her appearance was too striking—direct auction might make it difficult for Jiang Shaoyan to take her away. But if they didn’t go through the auction and directly exchanged people, neither side would feel secure about who would release their person first.

Only this way, placing both on the platform together and each claiming their own, would provide more reassurance.

When it came time to auction people, Fangfei Pavilion’s staff came in advance to collect them. Luo Wanqing respectfully rose: “Young Master, I’m leaving.”

Xie Heng nodded, staring at the people on the platform outside, waiting for Baili’s appearance.

Luo Wanqing silently placed the sachet that concealed the Fengxun incense scent under the table, then rose and left.

Wearing her mask, she followed the attendants to the stage. She looked down at the box, confirming this was Zhang Jiuran’s mother parasite.

Xiang Sizi had indeed kept his agreement—seeing Xie Heng board the island alone, he gave her the mother parasite.

Luo Wanqing put away the parasite and waited with lowered eyes. Soon, people around her took their positions and everyone began bidding.

There were many beauties tonight. She and Baili, wearing masks, weren’t particularly conspicuous. Soon they were both bid for. Luo Wanqing watched Xie Heng personally come down to take Baili away. As he passed her, she looked across the hall and saw blue fireworks exploding in the distant mountains.

That was Qinglu’s signal.

Zhuque had cleared out the Fengyu Pavilion guards watching her family!

She suddenly widened her eyes, grabbed Xie Heng’s sleeve, and handed Zhang Jiuran’s mother parasite into his hand.

Xie Heng felt the box and looked back in surprise, seeing her speak earnestly: “Give this to Qin Jue, fire the most urgent signal flare to summon Zhuque. Zhuque will be at least half an hour late. Go!”

Hearing this, Xie Heng immediately understood what had happened. Without hesitation, he pulled Baili and turned to leave the stage, pretending to be calm as he walked toward the private room. Soon after, Luo Wanqing saw the Supervision Department’s most urgent signal flare explode in the sky, followed by chaos upstairs.

The people of Fangfei Pavilion seemed unconcerned by this disturbance and continued auctioning the beauties on stage.

Luo Wanqing saw Li Guiyu walking toward her wearing his mask. She raised her hand to touch her hair and pressed the switch on her mask.

Li Guiyu walked before Luo Wanqing and extended his hand, saying gently: “Inspector Liu?”

Luo Wanqing ignored his hand and walked past him calmly. As she lowered her head, the mask fell from her face.

Li Guiyu was stunned, then saw her raise a pair of eyes that seemed to contain autumn waters, looking pitifully toward the private room she had earlier observed as most likely belonging to the Crown Prince.

In an instant, everyone around fell silent.

Li Guiyu immediately reacted, quickly raising his arm around her head, using his sleeve to cover her face and pulling her into his embrace, forcibly dragging her away.

“Wait!” came a low shout from above. “My young master wants to raise the bid.”

“This customer,” the Fangfei Pavilion attendant immediately responded, looking up with a smile, “once the hammer falls, no more bids can be added.”

The other party was obviously being unreasonable, arguing with the Fangfei Pavilion staff. Li Guiyu pressed down on her firmly, dragging her toward the private room while gritting his teeth: “Do you want to die?”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. Li Guiyu dragged her into the private room, kicked open the door, and threw her heavily to the ground!

Luo Wanqing rolled on the ground to absorb the impact, then knelt on one knee and looked up at him coldly.

Outside attendants closed the room door. Li Guiyu strode forward, grabbed Luo Wanqing’s chin, forcing her to look at him, and angrily said: “Using my young lady’s face to seduce men everywhere—you’re quite skilled! Don’t think I won’t kill you.”

“I wouldn’t dare think so.”

Luo Wanqing spoke calmly: “I just thought Your Highness could let me die more usefully.”

“Usefully?” Li Guiyu laughed mockingly. “What use are you?”

“The Crown Prince is here tonight,” Luo Wanqing stared into his eyes behind the mask, saying gently, “Why doesn’t Your Highness send me to the Crown Prince’s side? Once the Crown Prince dies, I come from the Supervision Department—no matter what, Xie Heng won’t be able to clear his name tonight. How about it?”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu looked at Luo Wanqing, his expression calming.

He studied her features. Today she was dressed exactly like the former Luo Wanqing, making her look even more like her.

She actually used this face to tell him to send her to another man’s side?

Li Guiyu laughed aloud.

He leaned close to her, pressing against her mask, and whispered: “You wish.”

The moment he finished speaking, Li Guiyu struck at Luo Wanqing’s neck. Luo Wanqing quickly retreated, raising her foot to kick. Li Guiyu caught her ankle and slammed her hard toward the ground. Luo Wanqing felt as if all her bones were shattered as she hit the ground, then heard voices from outside: “Young Master, my young master would like to discuss with you—he wants that beauty.”

The two in the room looked at each other for a moment. Luo Wanqing rushed toward the door, crying out: “Help!”

Before she finished speaking, Li Guiyu charged forward and grabbed her hair. Luo Wanqing grasped her Qianji bracelet and turned to stab back. The moment Li Guiyu released her, the door was violently burst open. Luo Wanqing saw the young man standing among a group of people behind the door and urgently called out, throwing herself toward him: “Young Master, save me!”

Li Guiyu strode forward. The middle-aged man standing at the door reached out to catch her. Luo Wanqing fell at the feet of the young master in the center. The young man quickly stepped forward, saying with pity: “Did the beauty get hurt? I… I’ll take you away right now.”

Li Guiyu’s expression was dark. Blocked by the middle-aged man, the other party looked at him coldly: “My young master will compensate you for the money. We’ll take the person.”

Luo Wanqing acted frightened as the person who should be the Crown Prince wrapped her in his clothes, held her in his arms, and comforted her as they walked out.

“Don’t be afraid, young lady,” Crown Prince Li Shangwen was obviously not very old but seemed extremely experienced in dealing with women. He held Luo Wanqing and walked along the corridor with pity, saying gently, “My uncle is highly skilled in martial arts. Nothing will happen.”

Luo Wanqing trembled without speaking, but her ears keenly heard intense fighting above, guessing that Fengyu Pavilion had moved against Xie Heng.

She needed to quickly take action to save Xie Heng. Although she had seen Xie Heng’s formidable strength in their last encounter, today was different.

Fengyu Pavilion had set up a full ambush, and he was also carrying an injured Baili—it would be difficult to handle.

But she couldn’t act rashly. With her abilities, she had to wait—wait for Li Guiyu’s people to make the first move before she’d have a chance to kidnap the Crown Prince alone.

Her mind raced as Li Shangwen’s comforting words didn’t register at all. She only looked back at Li Guiyu standing in the doorway.

Seeing her looking back while in Li Shangwen’s arms, Li Guiyu smiled coldly.

For an instant, he seemed to return to childhood, when that woman had placed everything in Li Shangwen’s hands, saying gently: “Everything in this world belongs to Shangwen. Guiyu, you’re the older brother—you must learn to yield. Do you understand?”

He would.

He had always yielded in his youth, always worked hard, giving everything to Li Shangwen. And what was the result?

Li Shangwen…

How could he have everything?

He smiled at Luo Wanqing and drew his hand across his throat. In that instant, Luo Wanqing sensed danger. Instinctively, she held the Crown Prince and leaped toward the nearest window. At the same time, countless arrows shot out from both sides!

Li Shangwen screamed in her arms. Luo Wanqing held him with one hand and grabbed the eaves with the other, leaping upward, when she heard the sound of a sword cutting through the air!

However, this sword only reached her before the middle-aged man the Crown Prince had called uncle burst through the window and pulled back her attacker!

The middle-aged man saw her protective posture and shouted: “Protect His Highness!”

Luo Wanqing snatched the long sword from the attacking assassin, smoothly drawing it across his throat, then grabbed Li Shangwen’s collar and leaped to higher ground, saying calmly: “Follow me!”

With that, she dragged the screaming Li Shangwen through several bounds, leading the assassins by sound toward where Xie Heng was fighting.

She charged all the way to the highest floor of Fangfei Pavilion, kicked open a window, dragged Li Shangwen out, and the moment she saw Xie Heng, she placed her sword at the Crown Prince’s throat and shouted at everyone: “Stop!”

Everyone was stunned. The moment they recognized who had arrived, Xiang Sizi grabbed a bow and arrow from someone beside him and immediately shot the two assassins who had charged in, shouting: “You dare!”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. She backed into a corner with Li Shangwen at sword-point, ensuring she had no space to be ambushed from behind, and said calmly: “Xiang Sizi, come here.”

“Are you insane?”

Xiang Sizi looked at Luo Wanqing and said through gritted teeth: “Do you know who you’re holding hostage?”

“Don’t I know who I’m holding hostage?”

Luo Wanqing spoke calmly, then raised her voice: “Come here!”

Xiang Sizi held his sword without speaking.

Nearby, Xie Heng held his sword protecting Baili in a corner, surrounded by everyone. Xie Heng glanced coldly at the confronting Luo Wanqing and Xiang Sizi. Baili whispered: “Young Master, you should go by yourself.”

“Aunt,” Xie Heng shook his head, “it’s fine.”

Luo Wanqing assessed the situation and realized Xie Heng was being held back by Baili.

If she could just give Xie Heng an opportunity to take Baili and leave, Xie Heng would be fine.

Actually, she could just maintain this standoff with Xiang Sizi, stalling for time until Zhuque arrived.

But she couldn’t let Xiang Sizi say too much in front of Xie Heng.

Luo Wanqing glanced at Xie Heng. Xie Heng immediately understood her meaning. He estimated the distance between himself and Xiang Sizi and quietly held up one finger.

One move.

Luo Wanqing understood how long Xie Heng needed to reach them. Holding the Crown Prince hostage, she took a deep breath. Watching Xiang Sizi getting closer, Xiang Sizi lowered his voice: “Your family is still in my hands. Don’t refuse a toast and drink a forfeit. This is the Crown Prince—if he gets so much as a scratch, you’ll die a thousand deaths…”

Before he finished speaking, Xiang Sizi suddenly struck with his sword!

The sword light blazed as Luo Wanqing pushed the Crown Prince away and met Xiang Sizi’s sword with her own. At the same time, Xie Heng broke away from Baili and charged from behind Xiang Sizi.

Xie Heng came too fast and fierce. Xiang Sizi instinctively knew the real deadly danger was behind him, but he couldn’t dodge in time and could only turn to face it.

Just as his sword met Xie Heng’s, Luo Wanqing didn’t hesitate—she swung her sword directly at his neck, cleanly severing it!

Xie Heng only had time to shout “No!” before blood splattered across his face.

Suddenly, a woman’s cold voice came from behind the curtain: “Kill them.”

In an instant, everyone rushed forward. Luo Wanqing chased after the Crown Prince as swords blocked her path. Xie Heng protected Baili with a sweeping sword stroke, clearing the area around them. Luo Wanqing grabbed the Crown Prince and held him in front of the two of them, shouting again: “Back off!”

No one dared move again. Luo Wanqing held the Crown Prince as a shield before everyone and said quietly to Xie Heng: “Go.”

Xie Heng looked at her with an uncertain expression, protecting Baili as they backed away. The two sides were at a standstill. Luo Wanqing didn’t dare look back—she couldn’t see Xie Heng’s expression and only said: “Young Master, go through the window.”

“Zhang Jiuran.”

As Xie Heng reached the window and protected Baili as she went out, he couldn’t help but grab her shoulder before leaping out the window, saying through gritted teeth: “You deceived me again.”

“Xiang Sizi is dead. Qin Jue only has Zhang Jiuran as a witness left,” Luo Wanqing said calmly. “Young Master, you must let her live.”

“That depends on whether you can survive yourself!”

With that, Xie Heng turned and swept Baili up, leaping down.

All the assassins immediately jumped out of different windows in pursuit. At the same time, many people suddenly rushed into the room toward the Crown Prince.

“Protect the Crown Prince!”

Seeing the approaching force, the woman behind the curtain suddenly stood up, exclaiming: “Protect the Crown Prince!”

The assassins chasing Xie Heng were urgently recalled.

Xie Heng, holding Baili, leaped from the cliff and landed on a lone boat in the distant lake.

When he landed and looked back, he saw the Fangfei Pavilion standing on the island’s heart, densely packed with people holding sharp weapons.

Baili looked up at the young man beside her, who was gazing at Fangfei Pavilion, hesitating: “Young Master…”

She wanted to say something, but didn’t know what to say.

She didn’t know what had happened between these two young people. She hesitated and only asked: “Aren’t we saving that inspector?”

“No.” Xie Heng spoke calmly.

Baili was somewhat confused. This wasn’t Xie Heng’s usual way of handling things.

Xie Heng never gave up any opportunity when it came to Supervision Department personnel.

Xie Heng ignored Baili and only lit a signal flare, throwing it into the sky, saying flatly: “When Zhuque arrives, have someone take you back. I’ll stay here with men to blockade Fangfei Pavilion and wait for the Central Imperial Office. We must not let Li Guiyu escape. Our people can’t get involved, or we won’t be able to explain clearly later.”

Baili listened, thinking of the girl who had risked her life to come here, and felt uneasy.

But she had no ability to help now and could only listen to Xie Heng’s decision, saying hesitantly: “If there’s a chance to save her…”

If there’s a chance to save her…

Xie Heng raised his eyes, unsure for a moment whether he should save her or not.

He had given her many chances, and she had deceived him every time.

Even if she had come to save him just now, how much value was there in a rescue that came after first putting him in danger?

“Let fate decide.” Xie Heng’s voice drifted in the night. “She’s committed many evils. If she dies today, she deserves it.”

Xie Heng waited in the middle of the lake. Soon, Supervision Department personnel arrived by boat. Zhuque hurried to Xie Heng’s side, saying urgently: “Young Master? Earlier I a don’t know why, but Fengxun led us to chase…”

“Blockade Fangfei Pavilion.”

Xie Heng didn’t let Zhuque continue, saying coldly, “Don’t let Li Guiyu escape.”

As they spoke, everyone saw Luo Wanqing holding Li Shangwen as they were both violently kicked out of the high building.

She reached out to grab the eaves and absorb the impact before hitting the ground.

Without any hesitation, she raised her sword to block the blade falling toward her and dragged the Crown Prince up to shield him behind her.

After catching her breath and standing up, she looked around and found that Fengyu Pavilion’s people were becoming fewer and fewer. Lights blazed all around, with dense clusters of small boats in the distance.

Small boats?

Luo Wanqing was startled, then saw Xie Heng and Zhuque standing at the bow of a boat.

Zhuque held a knife and seemed somewhat reluctant. Xie Heng had his hands folded in his sleeves with an indifferent expression.

A nearby assassin slashed at her. Luo Wanqing dodged while protecting the Crown Prince, then, somewhat bewildered, realized what was happening.

Reinforcements had arrived, but Xie Heng… wasn’t planning to save her.

Why?

Luo Wanqing looked up and saw Li Guiyu on the high building drawing his bow, then understood.

Because Xie Heng wanted to force Li Guiyu to kill the Crown Prince.

He had never intended to save the Crown Prince. He surrounded Fangfei Pavilion so Li Guiyu couldn’t escape. Li Guiyu’s only way out was to kill the Crown Prince here.

If he killed the Crown Prince, as the Empress’s only remaining son, the Empress would protect him—that was his only chance at survival.

Otherwise, attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince was a capital offense.

Xie Heng was setting a trap for Li Guiyu, forcing him to kill, while notifying the Central Imperial Office. As long as she could stall until the Central Imperial Office arrived and let them witness Li Guiyu killing the Crown Prince, both of the Empress’s sons would die.

Even if she couldn’t protect the Crown Prince and died beside him, even if the Central Imperial Office didn’t arrive in time and Li Guiyu killed the Crown Prince, the Empress would still lose the Crown Prince—a severe blow to her.

Xie Heng was calculating against the Empress. He didn’t care whether one or two princes died, nor did he care if she died.

From the beginning, when he had her protect the Crown Prince, he was prepared to sacrifice her.

Li Guiyu’s desperate counterattack wasn’t something she and a remnant of Fengyu Pavilion could withstand alone.

He had never planned for her to live.

Luo Wanqing understood this and wasn’t particularly surprised. She had deceived him repeatedly—being able to deceive him until now was already quite good.

Thinking that Qinglu should have already taken her family away by now, and that Zhang Jiuran’s parasite had been taken by Xie Heng and would probably be given to Qin Jue.

If she could hold out until the Central Imperial Office arrived, Li Guiyu would also die.

What more could she ask for?

Thinking this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

She snatched the knife from an attacker and drew it across his throat, then shoved Li Shangwen into a corner, shouting: “Stay there! I’ll protect you!”

The moment her words fell, arrows flew down from the high building. Luo Wanqing raised her sword and slashed down!

The arrows carried tremendous internal force. When Luo Wanqing deflected them, her palm split and bled from the shock.

People kept rushing at her from all sides. Luo Wanqing slashed with her blade repeatedly as Li Shangwen cowered behind her, feeling blood constantly splattering on him and trembling with fear.

Luo Wanqing glanced up with her peripheral vision.

On the high building, Li Guiyu nocked three arrows and looked down at her calmly.

Luo Wanqing looked up and smiled.

She had to do something.

Although Xie Heng wouldn’t save her now, and the Supervision Department had abandoned her, the Supervision Department had Cui Guanlan.

The first person Liu Xiniang had met in this world who was very, very good to her.

He came from the Supervision Department.

So she would do something for the Supervision Department.

“Supervision Department’s Liu Xiniang,” Luo Wanqing suddenly roared. Li Guiyu raised his hand and released the arrows. Three arrows flew toward Luo Wanqing. She turned her blade and struck down all three arrows. A tremendous force crashed into her, sending her staggering back. She used all her strength to stand firm and called out hoarsely: “By order, protecting Crown Prince His Highness!”

Hearing this, Xie Heng suddenly looked up.

With her words, the Supervision Department could be completely cleared of blame.

On the high building, Li Guiyu looked at her in surprise at this woman buried in the crowd.

Though her demeanor was completely different, at that moment, he seemed to see the girl from five years ago, standing before him outside the bamboo house.

Their figures overlapped—such resilience, beauty, stubbornness, and courage.

“If you don’t take him away, then I’ll stay here with him myself.”

That was the first person to stand before him after he had been abandoned by everyone and crawled back from death’s door.

Such a delicate girl, yet she would stand before him and force her family to save him.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered how much he had missed this stolen tenderness and bravery, day and night.

He couldn’t let go, so he learned to weave that moving grasshopper over and over again.

He was afraid she would know it was wrong from the beginning, so he kept stealing information about that person from her lips.

He knew he was a thief, but he couldn’t let go.

Li Guiyu’s hand holding the arrows trembled slightly, but he still took five arrows.

Xie Heng closed his eyes. He knew the woman before him couldn’t possibly block these five arrows.

He couldn’t bear to watch. Holding the box she had given him, he turned away: “Let’s go.”

Zhuque looked reluctant but didn’t dare say more.

The small boat turned around. Xie Heng looked down at the wooden box.

He couldn’t understand.

Such a bad person—why did she repeatedly make people feel she might be good?

She had deceived others and harmed entire families, yet she kept saving Qin Jue, and even her last possessi,on was to be given to Qin Jue.

She had left nothing for Cui Guanlan, let alone for Xie Heng.

All along, she had only wanted his life.

He smiled bitterly and opened the wooden box.

But the moment he opened it, he froze.

Inside the box was a parasite—he recognized it immediately as the mother parasite.

Fengyu Pavilion’s mother parasite.

She wanted him to give a mother parasite to Qin Jue?

Qin Jue had a cousin there who had been tortured by Fengyu Pavilion and was dying. Did she know her?

No, that wasn’t right.

Xie Heng suddenly realized something. Before he could think further, he saw a figure in azure robes stepping onto the lake surface, rushing across the waves to him urgently.

“Qingya?”

Baili spoke in surprise. She had known Qingya for years and had never seen him so anxious and distraught.

Qingya took out a painting scroll and documents, saying urgently: “Young Master, there’s something I must come to tell you.”

Xie Heng closed the wooden box and snatched the painting scroll. When unrolled, it revealed a familiar face.

“Elder Zhong sent over a hundred paintings down the mountain. Though the features vary, most resemble this appearance. Liu Xiniang’s original face seems identical to Luo Wanqing from Yangzhou.”

Xie Heng stared blankly at the scroll. Qingya continued: “There’s also news from Yangzhou. Liu Xiniang and Luo Wanqing did indeed stay in the water dungeon together and seemed to have a good relationship. Liu Xiniang’s face was burned during torture, but there’s something very strange. On the day Luo Wanqing was exiled, she suddenly sought death, deliberately crashing into a brazier and burning her face. At the time, we were afraid Li Guiyu would discover we were paying attention to the Luo family, so to protect them, we didn’t give special care, and the jailers didn’t report it.”

Xie Heng’s pupils contracted sharply as he looked up in shock.

Luo Wanqing was disfigured?

Luo Wanqing was the disfigured one!

In an instant, everything connected.

Luo Wanqing and Liu Xiniang knew each other.

Luo Wanqing was disfigured, and Liu Xiniang was also disfigured;

Liu Xiniang was Zhang Jiuran, a top-level expert with deep internal force, yet when he first saw Liu Xiniang while impersonating Qin Jue, the person before him seemed to have borrowed internal force, knew nothing, and still had some ladylike airs;

Luo Wanqing died on the exile road, and a disfigured cousin with Fengyu Pavilion parasites appeared in Qin Jue’s courtyard;

And this current Liu Xiniang hated Li Guiyu, said she and Luo Wanqing were close as sisters, and was willing to risk life and death for Luo Wanqing…

…

It was Luo Wanqing!

Xie Heng suddenly realized.

The one who risked life and death was Liu Xiniang, and the one who survived was Luo Wanqing!

She had never deceived Qin Jue, she wasn’t full of evil deeds, and she certainly didn’t deserve to die.

She was someone who had done good all her life, yet was wrongly imprisoned, who had desperately petitioned for justice only to be rejected by him, who had originally enjoyed a complete life with loving parents but had never wronged anyone—she was Luo Wanqing!

So she could remain calm listening to Zhang Qiuzhi’s case, and she repeatedly denied being Zhang Jiuran.

But when he insulted her with “Luo Wanqing is a physician, what are you?” her voice became hoarse and she silently turned away.

Because she was Luo Wanqing.

Her trembling hands after killing weren’t pretense; her refusal to torture people wasn’t an act—she treasured every life, yet had fought her way here through slaughter.

She couldn’t die.

She shouldn’t die!

He owed her—she had never wronged anyone.

He had abandoned her once. It was because of his incompetence that she had reached this point. There shouldn’t be a second time!

Xie Heng turned back in panic and rushed toward the woman with the sword on the island.

At that very moment, Li Guiyu watched the woman in the crowd rising and falling with her blade, killing fiercely, and released his bowstring. Five arrows were fired simultaneously!

Young Lady.

Li Guiyu watched the five arrows speed away and thought calmly—

Someone too much like you, Shaoyan, dare not keep alive.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: “Young Master, I want to go out.”

Xie Heng: “You can go anywhere, just don’t go see Qin Jue.”

Luo Wanqing: “Oh, then can I see Cui Guanlan?”

Xie Heng: “…She wants to see Cui Guanlan, she still has some conscience… What can she do about liking Qin Jue? Forget it, let her be happy. Damn, why am I so sad? Why? Qin Jue, go bring Inspector Liu an umbrella.”

Qin Jue: “Huh?”

Luo Wanqing: “Young Master, before I die, I want to give my last possession to Qin Jue.”

Xie Heng: “You just deceived me, and now instead of comforting me, you’re asking me to give something to another man? Don’t go too far!”

Luo Wanqing: “Young Master, let me do one last thing for the Supervision Department.”

Xie Heng: “…Damn, don’t think you can deceive me again. Meeting you has been my—”