◎She and Cui Heng, only this far◎

The Qin family, treason.

Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Luo Wanqing immediately understood.

It was Qin Jue’s case!

With this case presented, the Crown Prince had no intention to request her at this moment. Even if he did, he would at least have to deal with this case first.

This was indeed a good way to help her escape danger, but…

When officials had pleaded for the Qin family, several had been executed. Now, as an inspector with no foundation, bringing up this old case was completely gambling with her life.

Cui Heng was making her gamble with her life.

Realizing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but clench her fists.

She forced herself not to overthink and tried her best to handle the situation before her.

After Li Shangwen’s angry scolding, he immediately turned to look at the Emperor, saying urgently: “Father Emperor, this woman dares to present a treason case just to refuse me. She simply doesn’t know her place…”

“Where is Xie Heng?”

Emperor Li Zong raised his eyes, looking toward the outside of the hall. Hearing this, Empress Wang Lianyang immediately frowned: “Your Majesty, such a small matter…”

“Your Majesty,” Yang Chun stood beside Li Zong, respectfully saying, “Master Xie is waiting outside the palace.”

Hearing this, Wang Lianyang’s expression changed slightly. Just as she was about to rise, Li Zong said: “Let him in.”

“Your Majesty,” Wang Lianyang turned to look at Li Zong, saying coldly, “Must Director Xie be disturbed over one inspector’s words?”

“That’s his Supervision Department’s person.” Li Zong turned to look at Wang Lianyang. “If she’s talking nonsense, she deserves death. Shouldn’t the person who kills her notify Heng’er?”

Hearing the word “death,” Luo Wanqing’s palms grew cold with sweat.

She knelt on the ground, feeling Li Zong turn to look at her calmly: “Who told you to investigate this case?”

“No one.”

Luo Wanqing knew that since she was told to present the case, she couldn’t implicate others.

She explained: “I came from Yangzhou with Qin Jue, the Qin family’s surviving heir. We became friends on the road, so I paid some attention to this case. This subordinate didn’t know this case couldn’t be mentioned,” speaking thus, Luo Wanqing kowtowed to the ground, “I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

“Nonsense!” Li Shangwen shouted sharply. “Just because you’re a mere inspector, you dare investigate a treason case? Impossible. Father Emperor, it must be Xie Heng secretly harboring traitors!”

Li Shangwen spoke, stepping forward two paces, saying urgently: “Father Emperor, Xie Heng must be colluding with the Qin family. His uncle Cui Qingping and the Qin family…”

“Shut up!” Hearing this, Li Zong immediately shouted coldly. “What are you talking about! Who told you such nonsense?”

After Li Zong’s scolding, Li Shangwen calmed down somewhat. Seeing Wang Lianyang’s glance, he immediately understood.

The Qin family had already been convicted. Overturning the case would be questioning the imperial family’s dignity. What Li Zong valued most was the stability of imperial power in people’s hearts.

He forced himself to calm down, saying in a low voice: “This son was worried about the imperial family’s reputation and got excited momentarily. Please forgive me, Father Emperor. Father Emperor, this case is already closed. Whatever the result, if the Supervision Department wants to overturn it, it would damage the imperial family’s face…”

“What is Your Highness saying?”

Before he finished speaking, a clear voice like spring water came from outside the hall. Everyone instinctively looked and saw Xie Heng leading Qingya and Zhuque walking into the hall together.

Black wide-sleeved cloak, gold crown binding his hair, the Qianji bead bracelet on his hand a deep sandalwood color, contrasting with his winter-snow-white skin, black and white distinct, making the colors more intense.

Wang Lianyang and Li Shangwen immediately tensed, watching the young man step on the red palace carpet as he entered, bowing to Li Zong: “Your Majesty.”

“Heng’er has come.”

Li Zong raised his eyes, his expression calm: “Your inspector just presented the Qin family’s case to the Crown Prince. It’s a serious matter, so I called you to take a look.”

Speaking thus, Li Zong glanced at Luo Wanqing kneeling on the ground: “If she’s just trying to use the Qin family’s case to refuse the Crown Prince, deceiving the sovereign, she should be executed.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing lowered her gaze to stare at the ground.

Her emotions were strange – nervous yet calm.

Now it was no longer a situation she could control.

She knew that when she produced the Qin family documents, she had already become a chess piece placed on the board by Xie Heng, used as bait, isolated and surrounded.

The only thing she could do was wait.

Wait for Xie Heng’s rescue and mercy.

Hearing Li Zong’s words, Xie Heng, nearby, said calmly: “That’s natural, but this subject is somewhat puzzled.”

Speaking thus, Xie Heng turned around, looking up at Li Shangwen: “How does Your Highness know the Supervision Department wants to overturn the case?”

“She just presented…”

“That shouldn’t be complete documents.” Xie Heng interrupted Li Shangwen’s explanation. He glanced at the ground. “The shell of what she has is used in the Supervision Department to contain evidence documents. Your Highness didn’t even open it just now, yet confirmed the Qin family was wronged?”

“They’re certainly not wronged…”

“Then why is the Supervision Department overturning the case?” Xie Heng asked sharply. “Why does Your Highness think the Supervision Department is trying to vindicate the Qin family rather than pursuing a new case?”

This made Li Shangwen pause.

He hadn’t thought carefully just now. Seeing the Qin family name, he instinctively assumed Luo Wanqing was here to request a case reversal.

Seeing his silence, Xie Heng methodically walked behind Luo Wanqing, bent down to pick up the documents Li Shangwen had thrown away.

He lowered his head to open them, pulled out the papers inside, flipped through them, then said slowly: “There doesn’t seem to be any evidence here that could prove the Qin family’s innocence. Just some ordinary correspondence.”

Li Shangwen dared not speak.

Over the years, court officials had long experienced Xie Heng – there was nothing he couldn’t interrogate out of people.

He was usually cold and taciturn, but if he spoke, he could make even dead people answer his questions.

Now he understood he had fallen into a trap.

What Xie Heng deliberately had Luo Wanqing present was evidence unrelated to the Qin family. It was only because he instinctively thought the Qin family was wronged that he assumed Xie Heng was here to overturn the case.

Knowing he wouldn’t say anything more, Xie Heng dusted off the documents, saying meaningfully: “Your Highness seems to know quite a lot.”

“I don’t understand what the Director means.” Li Shangwen argued stubbornly.

Xie Heng glanced at him coldly, like looking at a dying man. He didn’t say much more, handed the documents to Luo Wanqing, saying indifferently: “Rise and step down.”

Speaking thus, he looked up at Li Zong, who was thinking, respectfully saying: “Your Majesty, there are some matters this subject wishes to report privately to Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty,” at this point Wang Lianyang finally spoke, looking up at the Emperor calmly: “Inspector Liu’s situation just now – guessing she wanted to vindicate the Qin family is understandable. But Director Xie came aggressively, as if prepared in advance.”

Speaking thus, Wang Lianyang glanced at Xie Heng: “The Supervision Department already has overwhelming power. Now, even the Crown Prince is not in their eyes.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Xie Heng’s tone was calm. Wang Lianyang sneered, stood up, and flicked her sleeves: “Crown Prince, let’s go.”

Wang Lianyang rose and led Li Shangwen out of the great hall. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing also bowed and took her leave.

Yang Chun tactfully led people away. Soon, only Xie Heng and Li Zong remained in the great hall.

Li Zong’s face showed fatigue: “Speak.”

“Today’s matter was deliberately arranged by this subject. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Xie Heng spoke directly, knelt, and said straightforwardly: “This subject cannot allow the Crown Prince to humiliate my subordinate.”

“You…”

Li Zong sighed: “A woman – was it necessary to use a case like the Qin family’s to frighten Shangwen?”

“This isn’t about a woman. This is about the Supervision Department’s dignity.” Xie Heng looked up at Li Zong. “Your Majesty, the Supervision Department has reached today through iron-blooded methods. If my inspectors can be transferred like concubines, how can Your Majesty expect me to serve you in court in the future?”

Li Zong’s movements paused slightly. After hesitating a moment, he said with some apology: “I was thoughtless. Shangwen’s uncle left last time at Fangfei Pavilion to protect him. I was concerned about his unease and wanted to arrange someone by his side, but I overlooked you. It’s just that a case like the Qin family’s…”

Li Zong raised his eyes, his gaze cold: “Are you investigating?”

“Originally, no.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng said seriously, “But recently, this subject received some news. I hadn’t had time to report it yet. When I encountered today’s matter, this subject thought of the Qin family case and tested the Crown Prince.”

Hearing this, Li Zong frowned: “What news?”

“Recently, in Jinling, there was a land dispute between the Crown Prince’s consort’s family, the Jiang family, and a Qin family branch. Finally, the land was awarded to the Jiang family.”

Li Zong’s movements stopped. He fell silent. Xie Heng stopped at just the right point.

After a long time, Li Zong said slowly: “The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation. He cannot be moved recklessly.”

“This subject acted emotionally for a moment.”

Hearing this, Li Zong smiled helplessly: “Your dog temper…”

Speaking thus, he sighed and waved his hand: “Alright, go down. Don’t let there be a next time.”

“Yes.”

“And that inspector of yours.”

Li Zong spoke. Xie Heng’s movements paused slightly. Li Zong looked down at his teacup, saying indifferently: “Teach her a proper lesson.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng understood Li Zong’s meaning.

This wasn’t about punishing Liu Xiniang – it was about punishing him.

He bowed respectfully, saying calmly: “Yes.”

Speaking thus, he rose and walked out. At the door, he saw Luo Wanqing waiting respectfully.

“Go to the punishment hall,” Xie Heng glanced coldly at Luo Wanqing, “receive twenty lashes.”

Hearing twenty lashes, Luo Wanqing sighed with relief.

Without approval, directly presenting the Qin family case was a provocation to the Emperor.

When Xie Heng and the Emperor conflicted, one person had to be punished to give both sides face.

She was undoubtedly that person.

But twenty lashes was already the best outcome.

Luo Wanqing relaxed, following Xie Heng, Qingya, and others as they left the palace.

Qingya followed Xie Heng into the carriage. She and Zhuque rode horses, guarding both sides of Xie Heng’s carriage. When they left the palace gates, she couldn’t help turning back to look at the palace, thinking of today’s scene of Cui Heng in official robes walking toward her.

Was that him?

His real identity?

But immediately thinking, she pressed down the thought.

Between her and Cui Heng, they couldn’t go deeper – they could only go this far.

Cui Heng had too many secrets. If he didn’t want her to know, she couldn’t know.

If she insisted, that would be repaying kindness with enmity.

Luo Wanqing suppressed her thoughts and returned to the Supervision Department. Xie Heng didn’t have her report anything, leading Qingya and Zhuque separately to the dungeons.

Just after separating from Luo Wanqing, Xie Heng coldly ordered: “Hang the ring the Crown Prince gave Yan Sanhong on that finger and send it to the Eastern Palace now.”

Qingya paused, then understood who Xie Heng meant by Yan Sanhong.

He frowned, somewhat worried: “Won’t this be too conspicuous?”

No matter what, Li Shangwen was still the Crown Prince. Directly sending him such things – if Li Zong found out, he might be displeased.

“Send it.”

Xie Heng turned and walked into the dungeon, saying only: “I’ll lend him a hundred times the courage.”

He wouldn’t dare present the finger wearing the ring of the brothel woman he strangled to the Emperor to make accusations.

Hearing this, Qingya knew Xie Heng wouldn’t change his mind.

That night, the item was delivered to the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace didn’t sleep all night.

Luo Wanqing knew nothing of what happened in the Eastern Palace.

After separating from Xie Heng, she returned to her room, changed clothes, and then voluntarily went to the punishment hall to receive her punishment.

The punishment hall belonged to the Xuanwu Division under Xuanshan’s management. But as soon as she arrived at the punishment hall to explain the situation, Xuanshan shook his head: “Inspector Liu, please return. Your Shadow Envoy has already received the punishment for you.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned, then realized Cui Heng had already come.

“Twenty lashes finished?!”

She spoke urgently. Xuanshan’s movements paused slightly, then he nodded: “Yes, finished. Even broke the whips.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing hurriedly bowed and quickly turned to leave.

She rushed back up the mountain all the way. Reaching the corridor, she began blowing her short flute to summon Cui Heng while pushing open the door.

Just as she entered, a breeze blew in from the door, lifting the light gauze on the bed.

Through the gauze curtains, Luo Wanqing saw a young man lying on his side on her bed, propping his head up.

He wore white robes with a gilt pearl-adorned mask. Hearing her open the door, he opened a pair of smiling eyes.

“I heard,” he looked at Luo Wanqing with squinted, smiling eyes, “and have been waiting here for the Inspector.”

Luo Wanqing ignored him, walking straight in and reaching to grab his clothes.

Cui Heng rose and caught her hand in one motion, pulling her toward him.

“What is the Inspector doing?” He raised an eyebrow. “Entering the room and immediately trying to undress me?”

“Master Xuanshan said you took my punishment for me.”

Luo Wanqing looked up at him: “Let me see.”

Cui Heng hesitated a moment. Seeing Luo Wanqing’s stubborn gaze, he could only smile helplessly, release her hand, turn around, and generously remove his upper garment, revealing his back crisscrossed with whip wounds: “Look.”

Luo Wanqing saw the whip marks, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Then she stood up to get medicine, returning to press Cui Heng onto the bed, saying coldly: “Apply medicine.”

“I know.” Cui Heng lazily found a comfortable position, glancing back at her. “Wasn’t I waiting for the Inspector to return to apply it for me?”

“There’s no need for this in the future.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her head to apply medicine for him, saying coldly: “The punishment that should be mine, I’ll take myself.”

“How is this your punishment?” Cui Heng closed his eyes and scoffed. “His Majesty is teaching the Director a lesson – why should it fall on you?”

“It shouldn’t be you either.”

Luo Wanqing glanced at him. Cui Heng’s movements paused slightly, then he said, “Count it as my bad luck having such a relative.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Luo Wanqing glared at him, then got up to put things away.

Cui Heng methodically put on his clothes, got down from the bed, and walked to the small table. He heard Luo Wanqing seemingly making casual conversation: “Why did the Young Master think to bring up the Qin family case today?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng played with the chess pieces in the chess box.

Luo Wanqing turned to look at Cui Heng: “If it was just to have me refuse the Crown Prince, there was no need to use such a major case as Qin Jue’s family to block the Crown Prince’s mouth, right? Does the Young Master want to vindicate the Qin family?”

“Why not?” Cui Heng smiled. “Qin Jue has been in the Eastern Capital for some time, too. She can’t stay forever, can she?”

“But we don’t have enough evidence to implicate the Empress.”

“Do you think evidence is the most important thing in handling cases?” Cui Heng looked up at Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised. Cui Heng turned to look at the chess board, sat at the chess table, picked up a chess piece, and said casually: “Do you know how to play chess?”

“A little.”

Luo Wanqing spoke honestly. Considering it, she had played with her father in childhood, later with Jiang Shaoyan. They all said her chess skills were acceptable.

Cui Heng looked up and smiled, picked up a white stone, and gestured: “Shall we play a game?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing walked over and sat across from the chess table. She looked down at the board and first placed a stone in the corner. Cui Heng boldly placed his directly on Tengen.

Seeing this move, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help looking up at him.

This was an extremely arrogant way to play. Most people would first establish foundations in the corners, then gradually expand around them.

This opening move, placing on tengen – if not foolish, then it showed absolute confidence in one’s chess ability, starting with a commanding view of the entire board.

“You see, in chess, if you want to capture your opponent, you must first cut off their breathing space.”

Cui Heng played very quickly, almost without thinking, as he began his layout.

Luo Wanqing sensed his strong chess ability and responded cautiously, placing stones while listening to him say calmly, “A case is just a chess piece. Once you play it, it will run.”

Speaking thus, Cui Heng placed a stone next to Luo Wanqing’s. Luo Wanqing immediately tried to connect with the other stones she had placed.

“When it runs, you chase. When it resists, you strike. But to win, the prerequisite is having pieces.”

Cui Heng spoke, continuously surrounding Luo Wanqing, saying calmly: “Tell me, why did the Young Master have you present this matter in the palace today?”

“To… test the Crown Prince’s reaction?” Luo Wanqing thought about today’s events, pondering.

“First, the Crown Prince knows the Qin family was wronged. His reaction today will make His Majesty suspicious. More importantly, his consort Jiang comes from the Jiang family of Jiangnan, a great aristocratic family that had many conflicts with the Qin family in Jiangnan. After the Qin family fell, the Jiang family rose. The Crown Prince gained power like a tiger with wings, and the Wang family prospered even more. For His Majesty, what he wants to see is the Qin and Jiang families fighting each other in Jiangnan, not the Jiang family allied with the Wang family dominating Jiangnan alone. So today, His Majesty will take on this case. This is one chess piece.”

Speaking thus, Cui Heng placed a chess stone next to Luo Wanqing’s piece with a click.

“Second, the palace has many ears and eyes. Today’s events will quickly reach the ears of all the great families. Each family has princes, and each has calculations. If they know the Crown Prince is involved in this matter and His Majesty suspects him, they will certainly add fuel to the flames. From tomorrow on, the Crown Prince is destined to have no peace.”

Cui Heng placed another chess stone. Luo Wanqing’s heart paused as she saw that this path seemed to reach a dead end on the board.

She switched to another path, thinking: “All the aristocratic families will submit memorials trying to push this case forward. But the Empress won’t be willing. With the Wang family’s power, if they go all out to protect someone, we don’t have enough evidence to bring down the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, the Wang family is powerful. If it were only this, our evidence wouldn’t be enough. But,” Cui Heng looked up, placing another stone, “the Empress brought Li Guiyu back a few days ago.”

On the chessboard, only then did Luo Wanqing discover she was blocked by a stone she hadn’t noticed before.

This stone had been placed several moves earlier, waiting quietly here all along.

Luo Wanqing looked up at Cui Heng. Cui Heng smiled slightly: “Li Guiyu is now waiting to take over everything from the Crown Prince. The Wang family won’t go all out to protect the Crown Prince. Although we can’t confirm who the mastermind is now, Zhang Jiuran can confirm that Fengyu Pavilion is connected to the Wang family. We can force the Wang family to hand over whoever is controlling Fengyu Pavilion and continue the investigation. But if we continue investigating, what will we uncover?”

“The mastermind of the Qin family case?”

“That must be someone with great power in the Wang family.” Cui Heng said calmly. “Between the Crown Prince and that person, the Wang family will make their own choice.”

Speaking thus, Cui Heng placed a stone on the board.

Her piece that had been running was completely cut off from its last breath. Cui Heng looked into her eyes, smiling as he picked up her pieces one by one: “I concede.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. After Cui Heng finished removing the black stones, Luo Wanqing discovered that after he had carved out a large territory, he was already approaching her most solid core area.

Step by step, advancing steadily.

“Is the Young Master’s goal this time only the Crown Prince?” Luo Wanqing understood. She looked up at Cui Heng. “After bringing down the Crown Prince, the Young Master will have more and more chess pieces to surround the Empress and even the Wang family.”

Cui Heng smiled without speaking. Luo Wanqing looked thoughtfully at the chessboard: “So the piece the Young Master needs to play now,” she raised her eyes, “is Zhang Jiuran?”

“Correct.” Cui Heng rubbed the chess piece, looking at the board and nodding. “In a few days, court officials should demand a public trial of this case. Zhang Jiuran is the key witness. As long as she’s there, the Wang family will panic on their own.”

“She hasn’t awakened yet.” Luo Wanqing reminded him.

Hearing this, Cui Heng looked up.

His eyes held some warmth, as if happy for her.

“She’s awake.”

Cui Heng spoke. Luo Wanqing’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Just this morning.”

Author’s Note:

Luo Wanqing’s daily routine: Silently discovering the possibility of her husband among the crowd