◎An Inspector may marry, but can Inspector Liu?◎

The bowstring was extremely fast.

As soon as Luo Wanqing released her grip, the arrow broke through the rain, shooting directly toward Li Shangwen.

But the distance was too far. The sound of the arrow cutting through the air immediately alerted them. Someone struck down the arrow with a blade and slammed the carriage window shut, shouting: “Alert! Protect His Highness!”

Luo Wanqing gave them no chance. Arrow after arrow flew like meteors in rapid succession. Since she couldn’t hit Li Shangwen at this moment, she could only shoot at the carriage, forcing Li Shangwen to come out!

She shot several arrows to sever the reins connecting the horses to the carriage. Li Shangwen was trapped inside the carriage, afraid to come out for fear of her arrows.

People below charged up toward her. Luo Wanqing turned and kicked the massive boulder beside her, sending it rolling down toward the carriage, then drew her bow and shot rapidly at those attacking her.

The boulder rolled down, and guards hastily opened the carriage door, dragging Li Shangwen out and trying to flee with him.

Seeing this, Luo Wanqing used her last few arrows to shoot the horses, then drew the dagger Li Guiyu had given her, diving down to grab the hair of the person charging at the front, directly slitting his throat and seizing his blade.

She killed her way through the crowd in several leaps, chasing after Li Shangwen with her blade.

Anyone who approached her, she killed. Anyone blocking Li Shangwen’s path, she also killed!

She stared at Li Shangwen’s face, feeling she wasn’t seeing Li Shangwen.

She saw the blood in the great hall.

She saw the light falling on Zhang Jiuran’s face when she raised her neck.

She saw Zhang Jiuran clapping hands and laughing with her in the water prison.

She saw the sharp pain when she voluntarily rolled into the fire basin.

She saw those trampled lives.

She saw her powerless dignity.

She saw Li Guiyu when she was pressed to the ground and looked up, moving forward all the way…

She needed an outlet to crush all that mockery and superiority.

The anger and anguish suppressed in her heart exploded in this battle. She seemed to feel no pain.

When a blade struck her back, she slashed across the neck of the person before her.

When a spear grazed her arm, she raised her hand to wrap around it, dragged the opponent backward, then suddenly snapped it and leaped to pierce his skull.

Her eyes were full of blood, as if Zhang Jiuran’s blood splattered in her eyes in the great hall had not yet dried.

Others saw her killing fiercely and quickly surrounded her, while a small force escorted Li Shangwen in his escape.

But no one could stop her. She seized a long spear and swept through, pursuing Li Shangwen relentlessly.

Attack after attack, breakthrough after breakthrough. Li Shangwen was chased by her for nearly a li, stumbling as he fled. When she killed everyone around him cleanly, Li Shangwen watched the last person fall to Luo Wanqing’s blade and fled in panic.

Luo Wanqing pulled her blade from the body, looked up at the fleeing Li Shangwen, and with a flick of her hand, the blade landed steadily in front of Li Shangwen.

Li Shangwen screamed in fright, his legs giving way as he collapsed to the ground, not daring to move.

Luo Wanqing walked calmly toward him.

She was wounded all over, but wearing black clothes, the bloodstains were completely invisible. She held Li Guiyu’s dagger, approaching the terrified person before her.

Li Shangwen watched her approach, trembling as he retreated: “No… don’t kill me. Whatever you want, we can talk. I’m the Crown Prince, my mother is the Empress—whatever you want, I can give you.”

“Can a deposed Crown Prince still be called Crown Prince?”

Luo Wanqing spoke, and Li Shangwen was stunned.

He suddenly widened his eyes, shouting in shock: “Supervision Department?! You’re from the Supervision Department?! Xie Heng wants to kill me? I’m no longer Crown Prince, and he still won’t let me go?!”

“It’s not him who wants to kill you.”

Luo Wanqing decisively denied this, crouching down and looking calmly at Li Shangwen: “It’s me.”

“You?” Li Shangwen couldn’t believe it. “You want to kill me? Why?”

“The letter in today’s court—you wrote it, didn’t you?”

Li Shangwen swallowed hard, not daring to answer. Luo Wanqing pressed her blade to his neck: “The Empress dictated, you recorded, right?”

“I didn’t do it.” Li Shangwen began breathing rapidly. “I don’t know anything. I just helped Mother write some things—I don’t know anything.”

“You wrote the letter, but know nothing?” Luo Wanqing found it amusing.

Li Shangwen closed his eyes, crying from fear: “I know, but I didn’t do it! It was my mother, my uncle—it was them!”

“Why? Why frame the Qin family?”

“Mother suspected they still had things left by the Cui family.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing paused, looking up coldly: “What things?”

“I don’t know. I only heard Mother mention it once. I was only a teenager then—I don’t know! Spare me,” Li Shangwen bargained, “I’ll tell you everything I know if you spare me.”

This made Luo Wanqing’s heart skip a beat for a moment. She thought, then only asked: “Do you know Luo Qushu?”

Li Shangwen looked blank: “Who?”

“What a pity,” Luo Wanqing chuckled lightly. “What you know seems to have no value.”

Li Shangwen was stunned. Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes and asked one final question: “Why did you kill Yan Sanhong?”

“I didn’t mean to.” Li Shangwen showed some anger. “She… she came out to sell… but she wouldn’t…”

Before he could finish, Luo Wanqing couldn’t listen anymore. She pressed down with her hand, cleanly slitting his throat.

Blood sprayed on her face. Luo Wanqing placed her hand on his neck, feeling his pulse completely stop before standing up.

Tonight’s heavy rain would wash away her traces.

She hadn’t brought anything from the Supervision Department, using only weapons seized from them. Her martial arts style was also basic techniques learned haphazardly, without any particular lineage.

She swept the area, checked herself to confirm she’d left nothing behind, then touched the ground with her toe, clearing traces as she quickly fled.

She was wounded, but the black clothes showed no bloodstains in the night.

She slipped into the Supervision Department under the cover of darkness, entering to see a lively scene as if preparing for some banquet.

Not daring to look much, she silently rushed up the back mountain.

Only Xie Heng and the Four Chiefs lived on the back mountain. Today, Xie Heng should be busy with the Four Chiefs handling the aftermath, and she knew they had a secret chamber where they usually held meetings—most likely, they weren’t in the courtyard now.

She rushed up the mountain along the stone path. Just reaching the entrance, she saw Xie Heng holding an umbrella, standing at the end of the stone steps.

He wore white robes with black trim, his hair half-pinned with a crane crown, his stone-still eyes looking down at her.

He seemed to be waiting for her, but Luo Wanqing dared not think so.

She looked nervously at Xie Heng, gripping Li Guiyu’s dagger tightly in her sleeve, pretending calm: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng looked at her calmly, only asking: “Where did you go?”

“Buying things for Miss Zhang, but encountered an ambush.” Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes, speaking half-truths.

She couldn’t hide her injuries, so she might as well find a suitable excuse.

Xie Heng said nothing. Luo Wanqing bowed: “If there’s nothing else, this subordinate will withdraw to tend my wounds.”

Xie Heng didn’t respond. Luo Wanqing couldn’t continue the standoff and boldly stepped forward.

She was soaked by rain, water droplets trailing down her hair.

Her face was pale, her injuries severe.

Yet even so, she didn’t ask him for help with a single word.

He felt somewhat powerless.

He didn’t know why, but he suddenly very much hoped she would ask him for help.

Whether as Cui Guanlan.

Or as Xie Heng.

He hoped she could tell him her plans, what she wanted to do, openly and honestly like when they first met.

Back then, she could fight desperately to reach him, asking him to seek justice.

But now…

She trusted no one to seek any justice for her.

And the reason she didn’t trust was because back then, he had so casually dismissed her desperate plea.

He didn’t know who was wrong.

Looking back, even a hundred times over, in such a scenario, he might make the same choice to send her to Lingnan.

But seeing her going forward alone, he still felt regret.

If he could have helped her back then, if he had pulled her up then, would she not be like this now, as if he didn’t exist, desperately fighting alone to do everything?

He couldn’t help but reach out, gripping her arm.

Luo Wanqing looked up warily, hearing Xie Heng say: “You’ve been here with me all afternoon.”

Realizing what Xie Heng was saying, Luo Wanqing widened her eyes. Xie Heng lowered his gaze without looking at her, only saying: “Your celebration banquet is at two quarters past Xu hour. Baili is waiting inside for you—go apply medicine. Don’t let anyone notice you’re injured later.”

“Young Master…”

Luo Wanqing’s lips trembled. Xie Heng released her hand, saying lightly: “Go tend your wounds. I’ve sent Zhuque and Xuanshan to clean up the aftermath.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn’t move. She stared blankly at Xie Heng.

Xie Heng looked up: “Can’t walk?”

“No.”

Luo Wanqing finally came to her senses.

Xie Heng glanced at his room: “Go in.”

Hearing the command, her mind completely unable to function, she walked back in bewilderment.

Walking along the path, she couldn’t understand.

Xie Heng knew?

He knew—why would he still help her?

A deposed Crown Prince was still a prince. If she killed a deposed Crown Prince and it was investigated, that would also be a grave crime.

If Xie Heng didn’t get involved, it would be her fault alone.

If Xie Heng got involved, in the future, it would become Xie Heng’s weakness.

Why would he still help her?

Luo Wanqing’s mind was in turmoil. She walked into the room in a daze to see Baili already waiting there. Seeing Luo Wanqing, she stood up and said gently: “Quick, let me see.”

Seeing Baili, Luo Wanqing belatedly felt guilty, murmuring: “Master.”

“Don’t talk now, come in first.”

Baili glanced at her and pulled Luo Wanqing to sit down.

She first checked Luo Wanqing’s pulse, confirming no internal injuries, then efficiently cut open Luo Wanqing’s clothes. Seeing her body covered in wounds, she gasped.

“You girl, how much suffering have you endured!”

Baili frowned but didn’t stop her hands.

She had prepared all medicines and bandages early, quickly applying medicine to Luo Wanqing while saying: “Doing such a big thing without telling Young Master—Young Master was so worried about you.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing, raising her head to look through the rain curtain at the young man standing at the door.

He stood in the wind and rain, yet remained steady. With him guarding the door, it seemed all this wind and rain had nothing to do with her.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at Xie Heng, unable to help asking: “Young Master… knows?”

“Of course he knows.” Baili bandaged Luo Wanqing.

“Young Master doesn’t blame me?”

“Blame you for what?”

“He’s still a prince after all.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes, somewhat nervous.

“So what?” Baili methodically tied the bandage, then chuckled lightly. “Young Master has wanted to kill him for a long time—he won’t blame you.”

Luo Wanqing stiffened.

In that instant, images suddenly flashed through her mind of Xie Heng’s ending from her previous life’s dream.

His ending was something she heard from others.

At that time, she was in Lingnan, already had her own courtyard, and had planted many lychee trees.

That was the third year of the implementation of the “Great Xia Code.”

She heard he died according to the law.

In her previous life’s dream, they had no connection.

Their only link was perhaps hearing that he was executed in the Eastern Capital, death by a thousand cuts, and when he died, snow filled the sky.

That year, it snowed in Lingnan.

He had many crimes, too numerous to record.

Among his most serious crimes, the first was assassinating Crown Prince Li Shangwen.

In the dream’s previous life without her, Li Shangwen had also died.

Who killed him?

The answer was obvious, yet she couldn’t believe it.

Why would he kill him?

Kill a meaningless deposed Crown Prince?

She stared blankly at his back, her heart beating faster.

In the previous life, why did he end up with death by a thousand cuts?

People like Li Shangwen didn’t get death by a thousand cuts, people like Li Guiyu didn’t get death by a thousand cuts, people like Zheng Pingsheng didn’t get death by a thousand cuts—why was it specifically Xie Heng?

Given his character and methods, if he were just a politician playing power games, how could he reach that point?

“Done.”

Baili finished applying medicine and handed her black clothes to change into, smiling: “There, I wrapped several layers and included sachets. Take it easy tonight—don’t let it bleed through.”

Baili stood up and walked out.

Luo Wanqing knelt on the ground, quietly watching Baili walk to Xie Heng’s side.

She said something to Xie Heng. He nodded, and Baili turned to leave.

After that, Xie Heng didn’t turn back, continuing to stand at the door.

After a while, the rain lessened, and Zhuque and Xuanshan both returned.

They spoke about something in the rain. Xie Heng seemed satisfied, then waved his hand and the two left. Only after they were gone did Xie Heng turn back.

As soon as he looked up, he saw Luo Wanqing kneeling on the corridor.

Lamplight fell on her ice-snow-like skin, flowing with radiance. She stared intently at him, as if only this person existed in her eyes.

Xie Heng met her gaze, his heart warming. He walked back under the corridor with his umbrella, saying gently: “They said you did it very cleanly—nothing needs your cleanup.”

“Young Master,” Luo Wanqing’s voice trembled lightly, “hand me over.”

“Everything’s already handled—it’s too late.” Xie Heng shook the rain off his umbrella, placing it under the eaves and walking into the room to the table with hairpins. “The celebration banquet is about to start. Pick a hairpin—shall we go?”

Luo Wanqing was speechless. He had made his decision—she couldn’t change it.

She stared fixedly at the young man before her, like high mountains and deep seas, profound and majestic.

Her fingertips curled slightly.

“Young Master…” Hearing this, Luo Wanqing clenched her fists and finally asked: “Back in Yangzhou, behind the screen—was that you?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng unconsciously tightened his grip on the hairpin. Luo Wanqing watched his expression. After a long time, she finally heard him say: “I’m sorry.”

This was the second time he said sorry to her, and only now did she know what he was apologizing for.

For not taking her case back then.

For sending her to Lingnan back then.

He didn’t have her courage.

She could risk her life to fight the Crown Prince for the injustice in her heart, but he couldn’t accept her desperate plea for a wrongful case in Yangzhou.

Thus sending her down this path of bone-crushing, flesh-tearing, blood-soaked struggle.

If he could have been more impulsive back then, could have weighed pros and cons less, there would be no Liu Xiniang today.

He didn’t say it explicitly, but in that moment Luo Wanqing understood what he was apologizing for. Tears immediately fell.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t speak. Looking at the person before her, she suddenly understood the cause of his death.

She was wrong.

He wasn’t someone who would do anything for power.

If he were, he wouldn’t notice a small citizen like her, wouldn’t apologize to her at this moment.

If he were, he wouldn’t cover for a sixth-rank official who killed a deposed Crown Prince.

The Supervision Department’s use of Cui Qingping’s “Code” wasn’t for convenient management, the Supervision Department’s training of Inspectors wasn’t accidental, but because he—

From now, or even earlier, from when he executed the Cui family, from when he established the Supervision Department, everything he did was for that final outcome from her previous life.

That outcome where the “Great Xia Code” was successfully implemented, where common people’s lives were no longer simply decided by officials’ words, where everything had legal basis, and where he too died according to law.

But that outcome could have been changed.

His fate had already changed.

The Crown Prince hadn’t been assassinated but was legally and reasonably deposed. The beginning of Xie Heng’s crimes had been changed.

Perhaps starting from this incident, he wouldn’t have died.

But she—

She assassinated the Crown Prince. Now his covering for her would be iron-clad evidence of his instructing the Crown Prince’s assassination in the future.

She had thus forcibly pushed him back toward the path of death.

Making this life’s him bear the crime of assassinating the Crown Prince again.

She seemed like fate’s chess piece. All her struggles meant nothing, taking a long detour only to reach the same destination.

She couldn’t change fate, only submit to it.

But he didn’t know.

Luo Wanqing looked up at the young man before her, calm as a deity, seeing his predetermined fate, and said tremblingly: “If I harm Young Master, would Young Master still say this sorry?”

“How could you harm me?” Xie Heng’s expression showed no ripples.

“Today’s crime of assassinating the Crown Prince will be Young Master’s death sentence in the future.” Luo Wanqing seriously announced his future. “If Young Master faces death by a thousand cuts because of this, would Young Master still say this sorry today?”

“I’m sorry.”

Xie Heng didn’t hesitate.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t speak. She looked at him quietly for a long time, finally asking: “What kind of path is Young Master walking?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng looked up at her.

A door separated them—he inside, she outside.

Behind her, rain pattered, yet she was extraordinarily quiet, her eyes like they’d been washed with clear water, gentle and bright.

“What path I walk,” Xie Heng dared not look directly, turning his head to select hairpins on the table, saying softly, “what does it have to do with you?”

“Because this path of a thousand cuts,” Luo Wanqing looked at Xie Heng seriously, “this subordinate wishes to walk with Young Master.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng slowly raised his head.

He feared he’d misheard, his heartbeat both heavy and slow.

He looked at the woman kneeling quietly on the ground. After a long time, he couldn’t help smiling: “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know.”

Luo Wanqing spoke calmly, without a hint of hesitation.

A path of a thousand cuts.

Hearing this, Xie Heng lowered his eyes, wanting to laugh.

He never thought he’d hear such words from her.

He wanted to refuse, yet remembered this seemed to be the third time.

Once in the bamboo grove, once in Yangzhou, this was her third time requesting to enter his life.

She was like a great flood, rolling forward, giving him no chance to refuse, arriving so unexpectedly yet forcefully on his path.

He felt something filling behind him, as if wanting to break free from its cocoon.

Actually, he had tried to restrain himself—restraining his desire for her, restraining his impulses toward her.

Not letting his dark thoughts disturb her path.

But she insisted on provoking him, insisted on coming.

Perhaps this was heaven’s gift.

Xie Heng’s heart gradually calmed. He made his decision, lowering his head with a light smile. Looking at the table, after a long time, he extended his hand toward her, calling out clearly: “Come!”

Luo Wanqing was surprised by his outcry but still followed his arrangement, standing up and coming before him, respectfully saying: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng turned around, rolling up one sleeve with one hand, taking the jade hairpin he’d selected with the other, gently inserting it into her hair.

Then he pulled her hand over, rewrapping the Qianji bead bracelet around her wrist.

“Since you’ve come, then come.”

Xie Heng looked up at her, his gaze falling on her cherry lips, then forcing himself to look up at her eyes, saying softly yet solemnly: “Don’t leave again.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes, saying earnestly: “Through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I’ll follow Young Master.”

“Let’s go.”

Xie Heng smiled and turned his gaze away without saying more, turning to lead Luo Wanqing out: “Your celebration banquet is about to start.”

He led her down the mountain.

They dressed very similarly.

Like him, Luo Wanqing wore black outer robes over single garments, jade hairpins securing their hair, Qianji bracelets gently swaying on both their wrists, touching and separating each time their sleeves crossed.

They arrived together at the entrance to the Supervision Department’s council hall, where the Four Chiefs were already waiting. Seeing them approach, the Four Chiefs followed Xie Heng inside.

The council hall had been transformed. Several long tables were arranged in the lower hall, with five small tables placed separately on the raised platform above.

As soon as Luo Wanqing entered, Fang Yuan stood up happily: “Inspector Liu, come, come over here!”

Hearing the call, Luo Wanqing glanced at Xie Heng. He waved his hand, so she turned toward Fang Zhi, Fang Yuan and the others.

Xie Heng led Qingya and Zhuque to the elevated area. Xuanshan and Baili had already taken their seats early. Seeing Xie Heng approach, both stood and bowed. Xie Heng nodded, indicating everyone should sit.

People gradually assembled. Xuanshan counted heads, then had someone close the main doors.

Luo Wanqing sat on a long bench guided by Fang Yuan, getting to know people.

After everyone chatted noisily for a while, Zhuque saw it was about time, stood up, and walked out with a bowl of wine, saying happily: “Everyone, we called you here today because we accomplished something big—we finally completely eliminated Fengyu Pavilion, which we’d been chasing for years!”

Hearing this, everyone cheered and caused an uproar, very pleased.

“We should thank all the Inspectors for this, but today, we especially want to thank Liu Xiniang, Inspector Liu, who sold herself to find us a path!”

Zhuque called to her: “Inspector Liu, stand up.”

Luo Wanqing felt somewhat embarrassed, standing up under everyone’s gaze. Zhuque wasn’t satisfied, waving his hand: “Get up on the table!”

As soon as he spoke, Luo Wanqing felt Fang Zhi beside her swing a hand-chop at her. She instinctively moved back, Fang Yuan immediately followed, and everyone around instantly blocked her escape routes, forcing her to jump onto the table.

When she leaped up, everyone cheered loudly. Having never encountered such a scene, Luo Wanqing could only pretend calm, cupping her hands: “Greetings, everyone.”

“This is Inspector Liu, who just joined us this year. Everyone take care of her from now on. Come,” Zhuque raised his hand, “raise your cups to the hero!”

Everyone raised their cups together. Luo Wanqing was handed a wine bowl. Standing high, she saw hundreds of people smiling warmly at her as they raised their cups. Turning back, she saw Xie Heng behind the curtain also raising his wine bowl, as if toasting her.

This atmosphere infected her. Thinking of the people she’d just killed, she also raised her cup and drank it all with everyone.

After finishing this drink, the atmosphere opened up. Someone pulled Luo Wanqing down, Fang Yuan dragging her along happily: “Come, Inspector Liu, today we won’t go home till we’re drunk!”

Fang Yuan and Fang Shun then flanked her, taking her around to toast people.

Luo Wanqing had learned finger-guessing and drinking games from Zhang Jiuran in prison, all of which came in handy tonight.

Every time she played finger-guessing, she thought of Zhang Jiuran.

Every time she drank, she thought of Zhang Jiuran.

But she didn’t dare let anyone see anything unusual, happily playing with everyone, being forced round after round to toast, trying to escape when she really couldn’t take it, only to be pulled back.

When not toasting, they played games—shaking dice, riddles, pitch-pot, even sparring.

Luo Wanqing truly hadn’t encountered such scenes, feeling dizzy all over yet vaguely happy.

Xie Heng sat on the elevated platform. Everyone else had gone down to play, with only Baili still keeping him company up high.

Having drunk some wine with Zhuque and the others earlier, Xie Heng was in excellent spirits too. He watched Luo Wanqing from afar in the crowd—he’d never seen her so unrestrained.

Baili glanced at him, then at Luo Wanqing, thought for a moment, and said softly: “Xiniang is a good girl—pretty and good-tempered.”

Hearing Baili speak, Xie Heng turned back and said calmly: “Good martial arts, smart, resilient character. Given time, she can take on great responsibilities.”

“I’m not talking about that.”

Seeing Xie Heng deliberately avoid the topic, Baili felt somewhat helpless.

Xie Heng understood Baili’s meaning, his tone flat: “I only talk about this.”

“You child,” Baili laughed despite herself, “can’t your mind think of other things? Such a beauty wasted!”

Xie Heng said nothing, raising his eyes.

Luo Wanqing in the crowd was particularly radiant.

She was sparring with a young man, apparently having bet a row of drinks.

Her features were very beautiful—delicate and gentle, with a naturally fragile quality, as if she were some porcelain that would shatter at a touch.

But those eyes were clear and cold, suppressing that fragility and bringing a sharpness that made people want to test her.

Beautiful enough to move hearts, and when she called out softly, even more heartbreaking.

Think of other things?

Xie Heng held his wine, watching the brilliant figure under the lights, taking a light sip.

He thought about it.

Day and night, he thought too much.

Thinking of her clinging to him, softly sobbing and crying from pain during bone-shaping.

Thinking of the heated confrontation when he treated her poison that time.

And last time’s peach blossom wine.

Thinking of this person, whose body was shaped entirely by him, everything intimately connected to him, thinking of her saying “through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I’ll follow Young Master,” he was filled with a hidden desire.

But how could such things be spoken aloud?

This was someone he’d personally cultivated, someone who might very well succeed Baili in the future.

How could he tell anyone about his dark thoughts of wanting to pin her to the bed for day and night pleasure?

Feeling his body’s changes, he lowered his eyes, hiding the darkness in them, bowing his head to sip wine.

Just then, people below started cheering, and Luo Wanqing reluctantly brought a cup of wine up.

“Young Master.” Luo Wanqing showed some embarrassment. “I… I lost at arm wrestling and came to hand-feed you wine.”

Xie Heng paused, glanced around, and only said: “How do you feed it?”

“I hold it while you drink.”

Luo Wanqing spoke honestly, her face clearly showing the urge to run away quickly.

Xie Heng said nothing. Looking at the person so close, he nodded.

Then, amid everyone’s cheering, he reached out his hand, grasping hers in return.

The moment his cold knuckles touched hers, Luo Wanqing instinctively wanted to pull back. He immediately gripped tighter, steadily bringing the wine cup to his lips.

His fingers were jade-like, lustrous and cool, but his palm was warm. His hand bones seemed to wind around hers like entangling vines, their identical Qianji bead bracelets gently colliding and brushing.

Luo Wanqing’s heart trembled, involuntarily holding her breath.

Sensing her reaction, Xie Heng lowered his lashes, not daring to look up, restraining his further impulses, forcing himself to merely drink the wine and then release her.

“Done.”

Xie Heng lowered his eyes.

“Thank you, Young Master!”

As if granted amnesty, Luo Wanqing quickly returned to the crowd.

Baili had been watching Xie Heng, her eyes full of amusement.

Knowing Baili’s meaning, Xie Heng said slowly: “She’ll stay at the Supervision Department.”

Baili looked puzzled, then saw Xie Heng raise his eyes, saying with certainty: “She’s my person anyway.”

Hearing this, Baili thought for a moment, then shook her head while holding her wine: “It’s different.”

Xie Heng didn’t quite understand.

Baili lowered her head to drink, saying softly: “An Inspector may marry, but can Inspector Liu?”

Xie Heng froze.

Baili pretended not to notice, turning to look at Luo Wanqing.

“I’ve been observing Xiniang’s habits recently. She should have had someone extremely close to her in the past—not a woman, right?”

Baili turned to look at Xie Heng, quite curious: “Childhood sweethearts?”

“No.”

Xie Heng lowered his eyes, drinking his wine in one gulp: “Blood feud.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: “I really regret not seeing Young Master kick Li Guiyu.”

Xie Heng: “I just can’t figure out why I let him go back then.”

[Mini Theater 2]

Luo Wanqing: “I must grab the soup dumplings before Zhuque can!”

Zhuque: “Inspector Liu, Young Master has eaten alone for 23 years—you’re the first to grab food from his plate. Awesome!”

Luo Wanqing: “…Did I steal Young Master’s favorite soup dumplings? T T”

Baili: “Miss Liu, don’t worry. We never had Yangzhou soup dumplings on our table before you came.”

[Mini Theater]

Li Guiyu: “Want to check if my sweetheart is sleeping well. Damn, saw a man coming out! What can I do? Flee like a wild dog! I’ll kill him! Kill him!”