◎Your Highness, I Want to Be Crown Princess◎

These words made Luo Wanqing’s body stiffen slightly. Seeing that she had listened, Cui Heng withdrew his hand that had been playing with her hair, nodded and said: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now.”

“Mm,” Luo Wanqing responded, “Call Fang Yuan and the others over, and remember to notify me about Dark Pavilion news.”

“I know.”

Cui Heng waved his hand and turned around: “I’m leaving.”

With that, he climbed out the window, touched his toe to the ground, and his figure disappeared outside the window.

After he left Zhang Yiran’s house and walked far away, he headed straight for the Supervision Department’s prison.

Entering the prison, he removed his mask.

The people around him all bowed: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng waved his hand and walked directly to the interrogation room.

Xuanshan was conducting an interrogation. Seeing Xie Heng enter, Xuanshan stood up respectfully: “Young Master.”

“We need to find Dark Pavilion before Zhang Jiuran’s trial. Have these people confessed anything?”

Xie Heng caressed the Qianji on his wrist, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Xuanshan replied respectfully: “They confessed three locations.”

“Call Zhuque, mobilize people.” Xie Heng turned and raised his hand, summoning people, “I’ll go personally tonight. Every single stronghold of Fengyu Pavilion – leave none standing.”

Luo Wanqing received Cui Heng’s message the next evening.

Fang Yuan and the others came over during the night. Several people had known each other when they were injured in the White Tiger Division, so they were quite familiar. Seeing Luo Wanqing, they smiled: “Hey, Chief Liu.”

“How are you all?”

Luo Wanqing was quite happy to see the three men. Beside them was also a woman who appeared refined and dignified. Standing there, she seemed different from the others, with something of the palace about her.

“Pretty good. We just got some rest when Chief Liu specifically requested us here.”

Fang Yuan said, seeing Luo Wanqing looking at the woman beside them, he quickly introduced: “This is Chief Xing Ling. She used to be a female official in the palace and also entered the Supervision Department through the death row assessment, joining a year before me and three years before you, Chief. She’s currently the strongest chief under the Four Chiefs in our department, winning the martial arts championship for two consecutive years. She was recently transferred over from her rest period. Chief Liu, you’re very fortunate!”

“Chief Xing Ling.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing quickly stood up and bowed to the woman.

The woman’s expression was indifferent as she nodded back, quite seriously: “Chief Liu.”

“This time, Chief Liu is in charge, and we all listen to you. Chief, you can just call us brothers by our names directly,” Fang Yuan said, bowing, “Chief Liu, just give us orders for whatever you need.”

“Thank you all for your support.” Luo Wanqing quickly exchanged pleasantries and thanked them. Xing Ling, beside them, remained expressionless, neither objecting to nor agreeing with the suggestion to use names directly.

Luo Wanqing sensed Xing Ling’s aloofness but didn’t mind, turning to ask about the department’s situation: “What about the news on Fengyu Pavilion’s Dark Pavilion?”

“Zhuque Chief personally led people to search all night,” Fang Yuan frowned, “They raided three Fengyu Pavilion locations, but all those people had fled.”

Luo Wanqing listened quietly and understood: “There won’t be news about Dark Pavilion for now.”

“Mm.” Fang Yuan responded, “Qinglong Chief said Chief Liu just needs to ensure the person you’re watching is safe, and you don’t need to worry about anything else.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded, then instructed everyone: “Please watch the Zhang family during this time. As for Chief Xing Ling,” Luo Wanqing looked up at Xing Ling, probing, “you go watch Guang’an Prince’s mansion.”

This made Xing Ling frown.

Luo Wanqing said seriously, “If you discover palace people surveilling Guang’an Prince’s mansion, don’t alert them. Return immediately to inform me. Can Chief Xing Ling do this?”

Although Xing Ling didn’t understand Luo Wanqing’s meaning, she still nodded: “Alright.”

After giving instructions, the four people climbed out the window and concealed themselves in the shadows around the Zhang mansion.

After everyone left, Luo Wanqing lay on her bed, contemplating the results Cui Heng had brought.

That Cui Heng couldn’t find the Dark Pavilion was within her expectations.

Fengyu Pavilion’s Dark Pavilion was extremely secretive. In the past that Zhang Jiuran had described to her, Dark Pavilion was also a place she had only stayed at briefly.

When she was bought by Fengyu Pavilion, she and Zhao Yuyan and others received training together in one location.

They underwent assessments and fought each other, constantly learning killing techniques in that sunless place.

Once they became sufficiently excellent assassins, they would be drugged unconscious and then leave that place. When she emerged, she was already on the outskirts of the Eastern Capital and never returned.

None of Fengyu Pavilion’s Ming Pavilion assassins knew where it was. The only certainty was that Dark Pavilion was in the Eastern Capital. And now, most of Fengyu Pavilion’s strongholds in the Eastern Capital had probably been exposed by those assassins.

If Li Guiyu didn’t act and the Empress captured Zhang Yiran, the only place they could safely hide him now would be the Dark Pavilion.

As long as she could ensure Li Guiyu wouldn’t act and force the Empress to capture her, she would have a chance to enter the Dark Pavilion together with Zhang Yiran.

Then she could use Fengxun incense to transmit Dark Pavilion’s location, coordinate from inside with the Supervision Department from outside, and destroy Dark Pavilion in one strike. Then Zhang Yiran would have no more worries.

At the same time, she could also search for information about Jiang Fengwan in the Dark Pavilion.

Fengyu Pavilion’s master Xiang Sizi was a Wang family death warrior. Dark Pavilion should also be related to Wang family death warriors.

Although Li Guiyu’s master Jiang Fengwan was a sword saint, he was a Wang family death warrior. Dark Pavilion might have Jiang Fengwan’s records.

If she could find Jiang Fengwan’s records from Fengyu Pavilion’s Dark Pavilion and prove that Jiang Fengwan was just a death warrior, though it wouldn’t cause substantial harm to Li Guiyu, it would ultimately damage his reputation.

Just as Zhang Jiuran’s assassin identity would implicate Zhang Yiran’s official career, if Jiang Fengwan were just a death warrior, or even a Fengyu Pavilion assassin, that would also be harmful to Li Guiyu.

Of course, even if there wasn’t any, if she could resolve Dark Pavilion, she would be solving a major concern for Xie Heng, which would be an excellent opportunity for her advancement.

But this plan needed to solve three problems.

First, she needed to prevent Li Guiyu from helping the Empress. If Li Guiyu acted, the Empress wouldn’t need to use Dark Pavilion’s people.

Second, the Empress needed to have a necessity to kidnap Zhang Yiran.

Finally, she needed to have value for the Empress to kidnap her. Otherwise, if they just killed her with a knife on the way, there would be no coordination from inside and outside to speak of.

She couldn’t count on Zhang Yiran, a scholar, to coordinate from inside Dark Pavilion.

To achieve these three things, the core key was all on Li Guiyu.

Now that Li Shangwen had just gotten into trouble, although Li Guiyu and the Empress were forced to bind together, there was still a gap between them.

After all, Li Shangwen wasn’t dead; he still had a chance to make a comeback.

But what exactly had happened to Li Shangwen?

Luo Wanqing lay on the bed thinking. What could have happened to a crown prince who appeared perfectly fine that would make Li Guiyu and the Empress certain he could no longer be the crown prince?

What exactly had happened…

In a flash of inspiration, Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered the difference between when Li Shangwen first met her and when he saw her in the palace.

Li Shangwen was lustful. When he first saw her, he coveted her, but later in the palace, although he claimed to be infatuated with her at first sight, he had completely lost interest in her.

He didn’t even have the most basic sexual desire.

And now, the crown prince still had no heirs…

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized where Li Shangwen’s defect lay. She found it somewhat incredible, yet it made sense.

But she didn’t dare confirm it and decided to wait and see.

Wait for Xing Ling to notify her. If she saw palace spies, she would go find Li Guiyu.

Using the gap between Li Guiyu and the Empress to drive them apart, making Li Guiyu withdraw and cooperate with her.

And with her frequent dealings with Li Guiyu, the Empress would become interested in her, especially her face. To control Li Guiyu, the Empress would need a breakthrough point. She would make herself that breakthrough point. This way, the Empress wouldn’t kill her, and she could be kidnapped to the Dark Pavilion together with Zhang Yiran.

But this plan was too risky; Cui Heng might not agree.

But he had taught her that in chess, you must place pieces in advance.

She knew she couldn’t kill Li Guiyu in one move. She had to place pieces slowly.

Making the crown prince fall early and drawing Li Guiyu into the succession struggle was her piece.

In the crown prince’s case, driving apart Li Guiyu and the Empress was her piece.

She was too far from Li Guiyu. Each of her pieces required risking her life.

Cui Heng cherished her life, but if she cherished her life, she couldn’t have come this far.

And besides…

Luo Wanqing turned to look at the box on the dressing table that held the medicine bottle Zhang Yiran had given her.

Whether for Zhang Yiran or Zhang Jiuran, she wanted to take this gamble.

How could such a good official like Zhang Yiran have his future ruined by those petty people?

Having made her decision, Luo Wanqing’s heart settled. She closed her eyes and slept well. When she woke up the next day and heard rustling sounds outside the door, she quickly got up and walked out, seeing that Zhang Yiran had already dressed in his official robes and was preparing to leave.

Seeing the early-rising Luo Wanqing, Zhang Yiran was somewhat surprised, then smiled: “Why is Qingqing up so early?”

“I’ll see you off to morning court.”

She had escorted Zhang Yiran yesterday, and she didn’t feel comfortable with Zhang Yiran going out alone.

However, hearing this, Zhang Yiran smiled and shook his head: “You’re a guest in my home, not a servant. You already escorted me yesterday; rest well today.”

With that, Zhang Yiran stubbornly turned and left. Luo Wanqing helplessly raised her hand, signaling Fang Yuan and the others to secretly follow.

Luo Wanqing sighed and turned back, wanting to return for more sleep, but after just a few steps, she felt it seemed to be raining.

She thought for a moment, quickly grabbed two umbrellas from the door, and ran out again.

Zhang Yiran hadn’t gone far yet. Luo Wanqing called to him: “Sir Zhang!”

Zhang Yiran stopped, seeing Luo Wanqing running over with an umbrella.

Zhang Yiran was stunned. Luo Wanqing reached him and handed him an umbrella: “Sir, it’s raining. Take an umbrella.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran reacted and couldn’t help but smile, taking the umbrella from Luo Wanqing’s hand and saying gently: “Thank you, miss.”

As the two were talking, there were rustling sounds nearby. They both looked up and saw Li Guiyu’s carriage stop at the prince’s mansion. He was walking out of the main gate and seemed to notice people nearby, looking over.

Their gazes met, and Li Guiyu’s expression turned slightly cold.

Zhang Yiran saw Li Guiyu and bowed to him, then turned to look at Luo Wanqing, saying gently: “Miss, please go back first. I’ll leave now.”

With that, Zhang Yiran left with the umbrella.

Luo Wanqing watched Zhang Yiran walk away. Li Guiyu stepped out from the gate and walked behind Luo Wanqing, following her gaze, and said calmly, “Why is Chief Liu here?”

“To repay the favor for saving someone last time.”

Luo Wanqing said, unconsciously stroking the Qianji, turning to look at Li Guiyu with a slight smile: “Good morning, Third Prince. Are you going to morning court?”

“You’re staying at his house?”

Li Guiyu ignored her pleasantries and glanced at the Zhang mansion.

“That’s right.” Luo Wanqing nodded, then smiled: “Does Third Prince find this inappropriate?”

“You should be measured when doing things with that face.” Li Guiyu smiled, his tone cold: “Don’t drag others down with you when you’re seeking death.”

Hearing the warning in these words, Luo Wanqing fell silent. After a moment, she looked up with a light smile: “What exactly are Your Highness’s feelings toward Miss Luo?”

“That’s not for you to manage.”

With that, Li Guiyu turned to leave. Luo Wanqing suddenly called out: “Your Highness.”

Li Guiyu looked back. Luo Wanqing’s expression was peaceful: “If you have time today, I’d like to visit the prince’s mansion to discuss something with Your Highness. Would that be convenient?”

Li Guiyu heard this and remained silent. Luo Wanqing looked at him quietly.

After waiting for a moment, Li Guiyu responded: “Fine.”

With that, he turned and walked toward his carriage.

After the carriage left, Luo Wanqing turned back to the house. As soon as she entered her room, Xing Ling jumped in.

“Chief Liu,” Xing Ling said calmly, “Palace people have been there the whole time.”

Luo Wanqing heard this and fiddled with the lamp wick, responding: “Continue watching.”

Xing Ling glanced at her and said nothing more, leaping away.

Luo Wanqing extinguished the lamp and took a nap.

When Luo Wanqing woke up, it was already daylight. She walked to the courtyard and saw Zhang’s mother with a servant drying bedding in the yard.

Seeing Luo Wanqing wake up, Zhang’s mother smiled and said gently, “Miss Qingqing, you’re awake?”

“Aunt Zhao.”

Luo Wanqing bowed. Zhang’s mother smiled and invited Luo Wanqing: “Come eat quickly.”

With that, Zhang’s mother led Luo Wanqing to sit at the table. Zhang’s mother had Luo Wanqing eat breakfast while asking about her family situation. Luo Wanqing told Zhang’s mother about the life story she had memorized. Zhang’s mother showed pity, then sighed: “Our Yiran also lost his father early. No wonder he brought you back – it’s fellow sufferers sympathizing with each other. He originally had an older sister…”

Zhang’s mother paused here, then shook her head: “Let’s not talk about these things. What do you like to do normally? Aunt Zhao will chat with you to keep you from being bored.”

She chatted with Zhang’s mother for a while and helped her with some tasks. Zhang’s mother, probably instructed by Zhang Yiran and considering her injuries, had her rest early.

She rested in her room all day. When night came, Zhang Yiran returned, and Fang Yuan and the others also came back, reporting everywhere Zhang Yiran had been.

His daily life was very simple: morning court, repairing river channels, returning home.

After the report, Fang Yuan said, “By the way, Chief Liu, this was something we encountered Zhuque Chief at the palace gates, and he asked us to give it to you.”

With that, he handed her a book with the character “Law” written on it.

“Zhuque Chief said that Young Master Guanlan wants you to memorize this thoroughly.”

“What is this?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat curious. Fang Zhi smiled: “These are the rules for our Supervision Department’s case judgments. Each chief handles cases independently – arresting, interrogating, and finally determining guilt, then submitting to the Xuanwu Chief and Qinglong Chief for review, and finally to the Director for approval. Once confirmed correct, the verdict can be finalized.”

Luo Wanqing listened and opened this “Law” book, finally understanding where all those endless case files Xie Heng reviewed daily came from.

“Why do I need to memorize this?”

Luo Wanqing was puzzled, but as soon as she asked, she saw the first sentence in the book: “Law is justice itself. Without law in the world, there is no justice in the world.”

“Naturally, there must be rules.”

Fang Zhi explained: “Otherwise, for similar cases, if you want to judge this way and he wants to judge that way, all based on personal thoughts, what fairness would there be?”

“That’s right.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, then had everyone rest while she lowered her head to read the book by candlelight.

This book was written very systematically, separately stipulating punishments, crimes, and sentencing standards, with extremely detailed commentary and explanation for each “law.”

Looking at this book, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel dazed, remembering her time in prison.

When she was in Yangzhou, she had heard people say that righteous officials had discerning eyes and could control people’s life and death.

Except for a few cases like private salt that had some written requirements, most case verdicts depended on the judge’s thoughts.

She had never seen such detailed legal provisions, but as she read, she became somewhat surprised.

Because many provisions here were extremely similar to the “Great Xia Law” promulgated in her previous life’s dreams after Li Guiyu ascended the throne and the Wang family was exterminated.

That “Great Xia Law” was promulgated after Li Guiyu became emperor and the Wang family was exterminated. It was said that there was considerable resistance during implementation, but the Supervision Department was extremely powerful and spread throughout the country. All county officials had to pass examinations on the “Great Xia Law.” Those who failed or handled cases not according to the “Great Xia Law” would be directly dismissed upon local reporting, with the Supervision Department appointing replacements. Under such iron-fisted policies, the “Great Xia Law” was finally implemented.

Around the “Great Xia Law,” lawyers also became increasingly competent.

Luo Wanqing had once thought of using the “Great Xia Law” to overturn cases and had carefully studied this law that gave many people headaches, so she was quite familiar with it.

Now, looking at this “Law,” Luo Wanqing understood why the Supervision Department later had so many people skilled in law appointed throughout the country.

Because from the beginning, they trained each chief to be capable of independent appointment to various places.

Was this training method coincidental?

If not…

What did Xie Heng want to do?

Someone like him…

Luo Wanqing thought of his unscrupulous pursuit of power, even personally judging and harming his maternal relatives, remembering the hanging human skins in the Supervision Department and his cold departure from Yangzhou prison, and couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Someone like him, where would he think that in the future, these chiefs he trained would become the blue sky for so many common people?

It was probably just for convenient control, to make the Supervision Department more systematic.

As for this “Law”…

It was said that the later “Great Xia Law” actually originated from the “Xia Law” that Cui Qingping had once promoted.

Cui Qingping promoted the “Xia Law,” but there were too few officials who could understand this law, or rather, too few officials willing to accept this law. After many years of promotion, it couldn’t reach the local level. Finally, after Cui Qingping’s death, the “Xia Law” became a forbidden book. If she guessed correctly, Xie Heng should have directly taken that “Xia Law,” changed its name, and made it the Supervision Department’s case-handling code.

He killed the person, but he also wanted to use his things.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but chuckle. Xie Heng… truly made the most of everything.

She spent half the night reading this book. When it was deep in the night, Luo Wanqing calculated the time and called Xing Ling in.

“Are palace spies still watching Guangping Prince’s mansion?”

“Still watching.”

“I understand.”

Luo Wanqing closed the book and stood up.

Night rain fell softly. After having Xing Ling leave, Luo Wanqing took an umbrella and went out, touching her toe to the ground and leaping over the wall, then walking toward Guangping Prince’s mansion.

Li Guiyu had given advance notice. When Luo Wanqing reached the gate and opened the door, she saw Elder Zhang standing behind it.

Elder Zhang saw Luo Wanqing, his expression slightly cold, but still lowered his eyes and said coldly: “Chief Liu, please.”

Luo Wanqing heard this and stepped into the house, following Elder Zhang around to the back courtyard, putting down her umbrella in the corridor, then being led into a bedroom.

Upon entering the bedroom, Luo Wanqing was stunned. The layout here was the same as her room in Jiangnan, even the combs and hairpins on the dressing table were identical.

The only difference was a memorial tablet placed in front, inscribed “Beloved Wife Luo Wanqing’s Spirit.” Below the tablet was an offering table with incense smoke curling up. The entire room was filled with smoke and mist, mixing the scents of sandalwood and Five Stone Powder, making one feel as if in clouds and fog, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

She stood in front of the memorial tablet for a while, then heard footsteps from the inner room. Turning around, she saw Li Guiyu walking out.

He wore a white shirt, seemingly feeling hot, exposing most of his chest. His dark hair was loosely pinned with a jade hairpin, his skin abnormally white, with some red at the corners of his eyes and brows.

Seeing Luo Wanqing, his expression was slightly dazed, then he reacted and nodded hoarsely: “Chief Liu.”

Seeing Li Guiyu like this, she knew he had no intention of concealing anything.

Her expression turned slightly cold: “Third Prince is quite informal with me.”

“Naturally,” Li Guiyu walked behind the tea table, picked up water, and began brewing tea, “Since Chief Liu dares to come here alone, I naturally must show sincerity.”

“Does Your Highness know what I’ve come to do?”

Luo Wanqing asked curiously.

Li Guiyu looked up at her: “About the crown prince’s matter?”

“Yes.” Luo Wanqing raised her eyes, “I’ve come to ask Your Highness to cooperate with me.”

Li Guiyu said nothing. He poured out the first pot of steeped tea: “Speak.”

“What does Your Highness think are my chances of becoming crown princess?”

Luo Wanqing stared at Li Guiyu, smiling as she asked.

Li Guiyu hadn’t expected her to ask this, pausing slightly.

Then he looked up coldly: “None.”

“Not even with Your Highness’s help?” Luo Wanqing asked sincerely, “I did save His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Hearing this, mockery flashed in Li Guiyu’s eyes.

“Choose a different condition,” Li Guiyu pushed the teacup in front of Luo Wanqing, looking up at her, “Don’t waste yourself.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “Still watching? Don’t you want to live?”

Luo Wanqing: “Watching what? What did I watch? What is the boss angry about?”