◎You Quickly Get in the Wardrobe◎

Luo Wanqing looked at Zhang Yiran quite pitifully. Hearing these words, Zhang Yiran’s expression stiffened, seeming somewhat embarrassed.

Luo Wanqing hurriedly said, “Sir, just a few days! Once I find a place to stay in the Eastern Capital, I absolutely won’t disturb you!”

Zhang Yiran heard this and thought for a moment, finally saying: “You’re alone and away from home, which isn’t easy. If you don’t mind, you may stay in my courtyard.”

With that, Zhang Yiran stepped forward. He wrapped his hands with his sleeves, said “forgive the offense,” then reached out to help her up.

Luo Wanqing saw his wrapped hands and felt her heart soften. She let him help her stand and followed him inside.

Upon entering, they saw a woman with graying hair who was directing a servant boy in cleaning the courtyard. Seeing Luo Wanqing come in, she was stunned, then her eyes lit up as she said hesitantly: “This is…”

“Mother, don’t misunderstand.”

Seeing his mother’s expression, Zhang Yiran immediately raised his hand to stop her. After telling Luo Wanqing to “wait a moment,” he went forward and pulled his mother aside, quietly explaining Luo Wanqing’s background.

The woman listened with a smile, secretly glancing at Luo Wanqing, then comforted her son: “I understand, I understand. It’s just staying for a few days. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.”

With that, the woman came forward, led Luo Wanqing away, and smiled: “Miss, I’m Yiran’s mother. If you don’t mind, just call me Aunt Zhao.”

Luo Wanqing quickly nodded: “Aunt Zhao.”

Zhang’s mother smiled and said, “Come with me, I’ll take you to your room.”

With that, Zhang’s mother led Luo Wanqing inside. She asked for Luo Wanqing’s name, and Luo Wanqing gave the name “Qingqing.” Then she asked about Luo Wanqing’s background, and Luo Wanqing repeated the life story she had memorized when captured by human traffickers, adding that her mother had died from illness and she had nowhere to go.

Zhang’s mother showed some sadness, saying softly, “How pitiful. I also have a daughter who’s away from home now. I don’t know how she’s doing.”

Luo Wanqing paused. Zhang’s mother thought for a moment and added, “But she joined a famous sect, so she should be living well.”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her head without saying much.

Zhang’s mother led her to the guest room and gave her new bedding and blankets, then frowned: “I need to have Yiran buy some more things.”

“There’s no need…”

Before she could finish, Zhang’s mother bid her farewell and left. After a while, Luo Wanqing heard Zhang Yiran leaving the house.

Luo Wanqing hesitated for a moment, thought about it, then jumped over the wall and followed him out.

Zhang Yiran had gone to the street to buy things for herself. Luo Wanqing followed behind him, watching him buy women’s clothing and various daily necessities. Watching this, she actually began to feel somewhat embarrassed.

She felt guilty about deceiving such an honest person, but also felt that making too big a show might cause trouble.

She quietly followed Zhang Yiran all the way. After Zhang Yiran finished shopping, he walked back.

By the time he returned, it was already dark, and there were almost no pedestrians on the road. Just as they were about to pass through the alley and reach home, Luo Wanqing relaxed and was planning to return ahead of him when she heard rustling sounds nearby.

Luo Wanqing immediately concealed herself and scanned the surroundings, seeing several black-clad figures leap down and silently pursue Zhang Yiran.

These were all martial artists with almost soundless footsteps. As they chased after Zhang Yiran, the person in front took out a rope and was about to loop it around Zhang Yiran’s neck when someone suddenly grabbed his throat, yanked him back violently, and turned to face his companions.

Zhang Yiran walked out of the alley completely unaware. Everyone looked at this woman who had descended from heaven, their faces cold.

Someone shouted in a low voice: “Mind your own business!”

Luo Wanqing smiled slightly, directly crushed the windpipe of the person in her arms and flung him at the others, then drew her long sword and charged at the attackers.

The battle lasted only moments before Luo Wanqing dealt with all of them.

She searched through their belongings, and as expected, these people carried nothing to identify themselves. Even the clothes they wore were made of the most ordinary fabric.

But without thinking, she knew these people must have been sent by the Wang family. But whose people specifically?

Fengyu Pavilion? Or Li Guiyu?

Luo Wanqing glanced at these people, her gaze suddenly falling on a sword in one person’s hand.

She picked up the sword and weighed it, seeing the character “Yang” carved on the blade.

All weapons in the Great Xia were carved with their origins. The Yang family was the most famous weapons shop in Jiangnan, and almost all ordinary weapon supplies in Jiangnan came from the Yang family.

This was common in Jiangnan, but in the Eastern Capital…

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and understood the origin of tonight’s assassins.

She threw the sword back to its original place, turned around, and took out the short flute. After blowing it to notify Cui Heng of her location, she returned to the Zhang family.

Just as she slipped into her room, Luo Wanqing tore her clothes and was preparing to treat her wounds when she heard Zhang Yiran knocking at the door.

Luo Wanqing paused, looked toward the door, thought for a moment, then put on an outer garment to cover herself and went out to open the door.

Zhang Yiran stood at the door with things in his hands. Seeing that Luo Wanqing had already let down her hair, he didn’t dare look up and said somewhat embarrassedly: “Miss Qingqing, my mother instructed me to buy some daily necessities for you. She’s asleep now, so I’m delivering them. Please forgive me.”

Luo Wanqing quickly took the items: “Thank you, Sir Zhang.”

“Miss Qingqing…”

Zhang Yiran seemed to notice something and frowned. Luo Wanqing’s heart tightened, then she heard Zhang Yiran say, “Rest early.”

With that, Zhang Yiran bowed and turned to leave.

Luo Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door, then heard Cui Heng’s flute sound not far away. Cui Heng must be looking for her.

She responded with her flute to indicate her specific location. Soon, she heard the sound of branches and leaves rustling outside.

Luo Wanqing quickly went to the window and saw Cui Heng standing in a tree on the wall, surveying the surroundings.

Luo Wanqing called softly: “Cui Heng!”

Cui Heng turned around at the sound. Seeing her in the room, he touched his toe to the wall and leaped down, landing directly in her room.

Luo Wanqing closed the windows and the door. Seeing him surveying her room, she couldn’t help but smile: “How did you get here so fast?”

“I was already planning to come find you.” Cui Heng looked around the room, smelled the scent of blood in the air, and turned to look at her: “You’re injured?”

“Mm,” Luo Wanqing didn’t hide it, “Li Guiyu’s people came earlier. I fought with them outside.”

“Where are they?”

“All dead.”

Cui Heng heard this and used his fan to pull open her collar, looking through it and nodding: “Just a flesh wound.”

His movement was too natural. By the time Luo Wanqing reacted, it was too late. Seeing him put away his fan, she pulled at her collar, then said: “I came tonight to scout the situation. I’ve already infiltrated Jiuran’s family. There are three people in her household. When you go back tonight, transfer Fang Yuan, Fang Zhi, and Fang Shun – the three brothers – to me, and transfer one more person.”

“Alright.”

Cui Heng nodded, then took out a medicine bottle from his sleeve, his gaze falling on the bloody wound on her shoulder: “Shall I apply medicine for you?”

Luo Wanqing’s movement paused slightly. Cui Heng smiled: “Don’t tell me you find it inconvenient?”

“No.”

Luo Wanqing reacted. What inconvenience could there be between her and Cui Heng?

She sat down generously, swept her hair aside, and directly pulled open her shoulder to expose the knife wound, lowering her head: “Please.”

Cui Heng’s gaze fell on her wound, where red and white intermingled. He sighed, then took the medicinal paste from nearby and lowered his head: “Fortunately, this medicine is precious, or Chief Liu would have another scar.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Luo Wanqing smiled, “As long as it heals quickly.”

After tonight, assassins would probably come again. Although the wound was small, it would still affect her somewhat.

Cui Heng understood her meaning and looked at her helplessly, chatting casually: “You just don’t trust yourself. Otherwise, staying back to guard Zhang Jiuran would also be a merit. Now you’re injured…”

As Cui Heng was speaking, he took another bottle of medicine to change the treatment and apply it to her wound, when footsteps suddenly came from outside.

Luo Wanqing heard the sound and instinctively stood up, covering his mouth with her hand.

Then, knocking sounds came, and Zhang Yiran’s voice rang out simultaneously: “Miss Qingqing, are you asleep?”

Cui Heng heard this, his eyes moved slightly, and he looked at Luo Wanqing with questioning in his gaze.

Luo Wanqing’s heart was in turmoil. She hadn’t expected Zhang Yiran to return at this time.

She instinctively wanted to conceal her identity and didn’t care about Cui Heng’s emotional changes. She quickly pushed Cui Heng toward the wardrobe, pushing while whispering: “I’ll explain to you later. Get in the wardrobe first.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng was somewhat shocked.

She wanted him to get into the wardrobe?

She wanted him to hide in the wardrobe in front of Zhang Yiran?!

He looked at her in disbelief without moving. Zhang Yiran knocked without getting a response and couldn’t help but raise his voice, knocking more urgently: “Miss Qingqing? Are you there? Miss Qingqing, are you alright? Miss? If you don’t respond, I’m going to kick the door down!”

Luo Wanqing was made nervous by Zhang Yiran’s knocking and simply used force to stuff Cui Heng into the wardrobe, saying in a low voice: “Just for a moment. I’ll get rid of him right away. Don’t be angry.”

Cui Heng, holding the medicine bottle, was forcibly stuffed into the wardrobe and stared at her blankly from inside.

Just as Luo Wanqing tried to close the wardrobe door and plunge into darkness, Cui Heng suddenly reacted.

How dare she!

He pushed open the wardrobe door. Just as Luo Wanqing turned around to compose herself and prepare to respond to Zhang Yiran, he suddenly reached out. One hand flicked toward the window to open it, while the other covered her mouth and dragged her back inside!

Luo Wanqing crashed heavily into his chest, and the wardrobe made a soft “clang” sound.

Luo Wanqing was about to make a sound when she heard Zhang Yiran say, “Miss Qingqing, I’m coming in.”

The moment the words fell, Zhang Yiran kicked open the door and rushed into the room.

Luo Wanqing held her breath completely, her mind blank.

The wardrobe wasn’t large. Her entire body was trapped between Cui Heng’s knees, pressed tightly against his chest with no space at all.

Luo Wanqing’s heart was beating rapidly. Afraid that Zhang Yiran would discover them, she felt this scene was too embarrassing.

Cui Heng looked down at her startled appearance, then glanced through the wardrobe crack at Zhang Yiran’s anxious state, and smiled silently.

He looked down at the medicine bottle in his hand, thought for a moment, then encircled Luo Wanqing and reached out to open the medicine bottle.

Luo Wanqing saw his movement and immediately turned back to glare at him, warning him not to move.

But Cui Heng just smiled slightly and slowly pulled out the cork.

The cork separated from the bottle with an extremely soft “pop” sound that rang like thunder in Luo Wanqing’s ears.

Fortunately, Zhang Yiran outside didn’t notice and was just searching the room: “Miss Qingqing?”

Luo Wanqing felt her entire body tense up.

She began praying for Zhang Yiran to leave quickly—

Or for Cui Heng to behave himself.

But neither was doing as she wished. Zhang Yiran began observing the surroundings.

The door bolt was still there. The door had been locked from the inside to the outside. The surrounding items were still there. The stool showed signs of being sat on. The bed showed no signs of anyone sleeping…

“Qingqing?”

Zhang Yiran called out warily, walking toward the inner room.

Hearing this call, Cui Heng’s beautiful eyes turned cold. Right in front of Luo Wanqing, he poured the medicinal paste onto his fingers, then slowly lowered his head and bit onto Luo Wanqing’s clothing, gently pulling it toward her shoulder.

He did these movements very lightly and slowly. Luo Wanqing could feel his breath and his movements.

She felt her clothing being pulled down by his lips and teeth, while his hand with the medicinal paste circled under her arm, went around her front, and explored into her garment.

Luo Wanqing was greatly alarmed and instinctively pressed down on his hand, her breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

Cui Heng noticed her movement but didn’t stop. He just forcefully, yet slowly and tentatively, explored her garment.

Their breathing in the wardrobe became somewhat heated. Luo Wanqing didn’t know why, but her resistance to his hand gradually weakened.

Until the moment his hand touched her wound, pain and an indescribable tingling surged up together. Luo Wanqing trembled and finally let her hand drop completely, lowering her eyes.

Cui Heng was finally satisfied. He turned to watch the scene outside the wardrobe crack while using his hand to circle the wound and apply medicine, causing Luo Wanqing’s body to tremble lightly.

Outside, Zhang Yiran searched the inner room for a while, confirmed no one was there, then looked toward the open window.

Seeing some scratches on the window, Zhang Yiran frowned slightly and immediately climbed out of the window.

As soon as Zhang Yiran left, Luo Wanqing couldn’t bear it for another moment. She immediately pushed open the wardrobe door and leaped out, the Qianji hidden in her sleeve instantly forming a long sword that struck down!

Cui Heng lay in the wardrobe, his body slightly turned, and raised his hand to catch the Qianji blade between two fingers, smiling: “Aren’t you going to coax Sir Zhang?”

His clothing was slightly disheveled, his tone ambiguous.

Luo Wanqing heard these shameless words but also knew he was right. She gritted her teeth: “Wait for me to come back and settle accounts with you!”

Cui Heng released his grip. Luo Wanqing immediately put away the Qianji, straightening her clothes while walking outside.

Cui Heng glanced in the direction she left, then withdrew his gaze, leaned back in the wardrobe with his knees bent, and raised the fingers that had just touched her, examining and caressing them in the light.

Luo Wanqing calculated Zhang Yiran’s direction of departure, composed herself, took a detour to get in front of Zhang Yiran, and happened to run into him as he was searching for someone.

Zhang Yiran saw Luo Wanqing and was stunned, then hurriedly said: “Miss Qingqing?”

“Sir Zhang?”

Luo Wanqing looked back curiously and asked in confusion: “Are you looking for me?”

“You…” Zhang Yiran looked at the room, then at Luo Wanqing, then breathed a sigh of relief, “So you’re here. Earlier I went to find you and saw the door was locked with no sound inside, so I was worried something had happened.”

“Locked door?” Luo Wanqing frowned, then smiled, “Perhaps the door latch fell and got stuck when I went out. It’s so late – is there something you need, Sir Zhang?”

“It’s like this,” Zhang Yiran heard this and calmed down, saying gently, “Earlier I smelled blood on you, miss, and was afraid you were injured, so I brought some wound medicine. Please forgive me.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. She hadn’t expected that Zhang Yiran’s earlier strange behavior was because he smelled blood.

He had smelled it but didn’t assume she was a bad person. Instead, he was worried about her injuries.

This long-absent kindness made her somewhat at a loss. She hesitantly reached out to take the medicine bottle, saying somewhat uneasily: “Sir… aren’t you afraid I’m a bad person?”

“You haven’t done anything evil. Why should I assume you’re a bad person first?”

Zhang Yiran asked in confusion. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but look up at him.

She saw the young man’s expression was gentle as he said calmly, “You’re a woman alone in the world, which is already difficult. If you came to me, you must be at your wits’ end. If I suspect you because you’re injured and drive you to desperation, wouldn’t that be my fault? If you do evil, we’ll address it when you do.”

“Sir Zhang…” Luo Wanqing held the medicine bottle, suddenly feeling it burn in her hands. She said hesitantly: “You’re truly a good person.”

“Since you’re injured, rest more. My salary can still support one more mouth. When you’re better, you can look for work.” Zhang Yiran smiled and bowed, “I’ll take my leave first.”

“Sleep well, sir.”

Luo Wanqing saw Zhang Yiran off, watching the young man’s figure like a clear moon and fresh breeze, feeling somewhat dazed.

She looked down at the medicine bottle in her hand. It was the most ordinary wound medicine, but it made her feel it was extremely precious.

She returned to her room with the medicine and saw Cui Heng sitting in a chair, drinking tea as if nothing had happened.

She carefully placed Zhang Yiran’s medicine in a box. Cui Heng watched intently. After she put it away, she turned around and finally asked with suppressed anger: “What were you doing just now?”

“Applying medicine.”

Cui Heng answered matter-of-factly, his gaze falling on the box where she placed the medicine. As if nothing had happened, he raised smiling eyes: “Otherwise, what does the Chief think I was doing?”

This was a rhetorical question. Some things simply couldn’t be said aloud.

Luo Wanqing pressed her lips and stared at him. After a moment, she finally said, “Don’t do that again.”

Cui Heng didn’t respond. His smile faded. After a moment, he finally couldn’t help asking: “Are you angry?”

Luo Wanqing remained cold-faced without speaking.

Cui Heng looked up: “Getting angry at me because of Zhang Yiran?”

This made Luo Wanqing pause. She inexplicably felt somewhat guilty, turned her face away, but only said: “I think it’s inappropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate?”

Cui Heng stared at Luo Wanqing: “Is it inappropriate for me to apply medicine for you, or inappropriate for me to apply medicine for you in front of Zhang Yiran?”

“Cui Heng!”

Luo Wanqing instinctively felt something was wrong and frowned: “What do you mean?”

This made Cui Heng fall silent. The two were quiet in the room for a while before Cui Heng laughed: “Last time you gave my flute to someone else, this time you’re scolding me for him. Liu Xiniang, I think the friendship between you and me shouldn’t be worth less than Zhang Yiran, whom you’ve only met a few times, right?”

Luo Wanqing remembered this matter and belatedly realized her bias.

She hesitantly explained: “I’m not angry at you because of him. I just don’t want to fool around when I’m doing serious business.”

“I understand.”

Cui Heng also seemed somewhat irritated, saying flatly, “I have a bad temper. You don’t need to mind me.”

“You don’t have a bad temper either…”

“You should have told me earlier that he’s Zhang Jiuran’s relative.” Cui Heng opened and closed his folding fan, his tone flat.

“I didn’t deliberately hide it from you,” Luo Wanqing explained, “From when I received the mission and came down the mountain until now, there hasn’t been an opportunity to discuss these things.”

“I’m not blaming you.” Cui Heng interrupted her and looked up calmly: “I just want to tell you that if Zhang Jiuran’s family member is him, just protecting him won’t be enough.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned and somewhat confused: “Why?”

Cui Heng lightly tapped his palm with his folding fan: “He’s an official. If Zhang Jiuran is his sister, this will be a stain that follows him for life. His official career is finished. Threatening Zhang Jiuran by exposing her relationship with Zhang Yiran is itself a threat.”

“Can they just claim it without proof?” Luo Wanqing frowned, “Making groundless accusations against a court official…”

“How do you know they’re groundless?”

With these words, Luo Wanqing was stunned.

Zhang Yiran’s identity was arranged entirely by Fengyu Pavilion.

Fengyu Pavilion’s Dark Pavilion specialized in recording and handling internal affairs. To control Zhang Jiuran, would they leave no proof of Zhang Yiran’s identity?

“But you don’t need to worry,” Cui Heng said, standing up. “The assassins we captured at Fangfei Pavilion last time are still being interrogated. Once we get the location of Dark Pavilion, we’ll go destroy it and help you clean up Zhang Yiran’s identity.”

“When you interrogate people, will Dark Pavilion just wait there obediently?” Luo Wanqing had no hope and just looked up at him, “By the time you get the information, Dark Pavilion will be gone, right?”

“Then what can be done?” Cui Heng smiled.

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak, seeming to be thinking.

Cui Heng stood up and walked in front of her, raising his hand to lift a strand of her hair and casually playing with it: “I know you want to help him, but you’ve just entered the Supervision Department. Just guard Zhang Yiran well. Dark Pavilion isn’t for you to worry about.”

“What if I could help the Young Master destroy Dark Pavilion?”

Luo Wanqing looked up curiously. Cui Heng saw the barely contained ambition in her eyes and couldn’t help but smile.

“If you can destroy Dark Pavilion for the Supervision Department right now,” he stared into her eyes, “then in the future, within the Supervision Department, you’ll rise rapidly through the ranks.”

Luo Wanqing heard Cui Heng’s words and felt her heart stir.

Cui Heng saw she had ideas and became more serious: “However, Chief, if you want to do something, you must tell me. Otherwise,” his voice paused as he emphasized, “I’ll be angry.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “Cui Guanlan will arrive at the battlefield in one minute.”

Luo Wanqing: “Luo Wanqing will finish the battle in one minute.”

Xie Heng: “…Give me a chance to be a hero saving a beauty.”

Luo Wanqing: “Give me a chance to achieve merit and establish my career.”