◎He can, but I cannot?◎

While the Supervision Department was lively with festivities, within Kunning Palace, there was nothing but shouting and scolding.

“Qinshu is dead, the Dark Pavilion is destroyed, and Shangwen has been forced to guard the imperial mausoleum,” Wang Lianyang slammed the table, her eyes red as she glared at the young man before her. “Explain this to me!”

“Your son has nothing to explain.” Li Guiyu listened to Wang Lianyang’s questioning with a calm expression. “I only did what I should have done and don’t know what happened.”

“Don’t know?” Wang Lianyang laughed bitterly. “Then explain to me—you said you’d cut off the Supervision Department’s tracking, so why did the Supervision Department still trace us to the Dark Pavilion?”

“I did cut off the person. That Inspector called Xing Ling is still fleeing and never got near the Dark Pavilion.”

“How did the Supervision Department find the Dark Pavilion?”

“I don’t know.” Li Guiyu answered frankly. “You’d have to ask the Dark Pavilion people how they handled Liu Xiniang. The Supervision Department has many ways of sending messages—why didn’t the Dark Pavilion people kill her from the start instead of bringing her back to the Dark Pavilion?”

Hearing this, Wang Lianyang was momentarily speechless.

Why bring Liu Xiniang back to the Dark Pavilion?

Wasn’t it for Li Guiyu’s sake?

The informant had seen her private relationship with Li Guiyu, and… according to Wang Qinshu, the identity of Liu Xiniang should have belonged to Zhang Jiuran, yet the Supervision Department had somehow produced a Liu Xiniang out of thin air.

She wanted to know where this Liu Xiniang came from, and also wanted to see if there was any possibility of controlling Li Guiyu, so she casually had the person brought back.

But she couldn’t say this directly. Wang Lianyang, feeling guilty, turned away and said: “Then how did you end up at the Dark Pavilion?”

“I saw you take Liu Xiniang away.” Li Guiyu looked calmly at Wang Lianyang and asked in return: “What did Mother Empress want her for?”

“What about Yunzhi?” Wang Lianyang didn’t answer Li Guiyu’s question that both knew the answer to, gritting her teeth: “Why did you want to kill her?”

“I wanted to kill Liu Xiniang.” Li Guiyu said directly. “Wang Yunzhi blocked me.”

“So you dared lay hands on her?!” Wang Lianyang flew into a rage. “She’s your uncle’s daughter, and you attacked her for a Liu Xiniang?!”

Li Guiyu remained silent, smiling mockingly.

“Why doesn’t Your Majesty ask why she helped Liu Xiniang fight against me? She’s my uncle’s daughter, but am I not your son? What, in Mother Empress’s heart, do I rank below Shangwen, even below Uncle’s daughter?”

“I don’t mean that…”

Wang Lianyang was made uncomfortable by the questioning, realizing she couldn’t tear her face with Li Guiyu now. She restrained her emotions and said quietly: “I’m thinking of you. Yunzhi is deeply favored by your uncle—offending her means offending your uncle. We depend on the Wang family.”

“The Wang family also depends on us.”

Li Guiyu said coldly.

Wang Lianyang frowned: “Guiyu, the Wang family doesn’t have only you as a prince.”

“Then you should make sure they only have one.” Li Guiyu looked at Wang Lianyang. “Mother Empress is the Empress—would it be difficult to move against your own sister’s children?”

Hearing this, Wang Lianyang’s eyes widened.

Li Guiyu smiled softly: “The Wang family may have more than one prince, but Mother Empress, now you only have me. Shangwen is already on his way to the imperial mausoleum—he won’t be coming back.”

“You promised me you’d keep him alive!”

Wang Lianyang immediately cried out anxiously.

Li Guiyu looked calmly at Wang Lianyang, his hands folded in his sleeves: “I promised to keep him alive, but the premise is that I’m the one controlling his life and death. If I can’t ascend to that position and someone else takes over, I can’t guarantee a deposed Crown Prince will live comfortably. Mother Empress,” Li Guiyu bowed his head, speaking seriously, “please distinguish between near and far relationships and don’t be misled by others.”

Hearing this, Wang Lianyang couldn’t help clenching her fists.

She was clear about what this snake-like son of hers had done.

She also knew how Li Shangwen had reached this point.

But she was powerless.

Because he was right, Li Shangwen was finished, and he was her only son.

He needed the power she possessed as Empress, and she could only maintain her power if he ascended the throne.

Only with power could she protect Li Shangwen, at least ensuring he lived well.

Wang Lianyang closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and decided not to pursue what had happened at the Dark Pavilion last night.

She gritted her teeth and waved her hand: “Fine, let’s forget everything past. You and I, mother and son, should still work together. With Qinshu gone, the Dark Pavilion has no one in charge now. Though Yunzhi is young, you should take people and bring back the remaining members to preserve our strength…”

“Your Majesty.” Before she could finish, a cold girl’s voice came through.

Wang Lianyang immediately looked up. Li Guiyu coldly raised his eyes to see Wang Yunzhi in goose-yellow palace dress emerge from behind the curtain, saying gravely: “The Crown Prince has been assassinated.”

Hearing this, both Wang Lianyang and Li Guiyu were shocked.

Wang Lianyang rushed to her feet, trembling as she asked: “Where was he assassinated? Where is he?”

“On the road to the imperial mausoleum. He’s dead.”

Hearing this, Wang Lianyang stepped backward, leaning against the dressing table as if unable to believe it.

“How could this… how could this…”

Li Guiyu frowned, staring at Wang Yunzhi and only asking: “Who did it?”

“Unknown.”

Wang Yunzhi looked at Li Guiyu, her expression full of scrutiny: “But judging by the blade marks, it was our death-sworn warriors’ handiwork.”

Li Guiyu had a bad feeling.

Wang Yunzhi stared at Li Guiyu: “Third Prince, did you mobilize any death-sworn warriors tonight?”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu smiled, his scholarly face showing some mockery: “Can I mobilize Wang family death-sworn warriors?”

Wang Yunzhi paused, not refuting this.

“Fine,” Li Guiyu was too lazy to argue with her, his face turning cold as he took outer clothes from nearby and walked toward the hall entrance. “Where’s the body? I’ll take a look.”

“The messenger is outside the door.”

Wang Yunzhi said coldly: “Awaiting your news, Third Prince.”

Li Guiyu ignored her, walking out with a cold expression.

He knew Liu Xiniang had left tracking devices on her. He had led the Supervision Department there intending to use their hands to kill in the chaos.

According to his original plan, he would kill Wang Qinshu and Liu Xiniang, and if necessary, Wang Yunzhi as well, take what he wanted, and withdraw.

This way, no one would know he’d been to the Dark Pavilion. With the Dark Pavilion losing Wang Qinshu, the Empress would have no one to use, and the remaining people would eventually fall into his hands. In the future, the Empress could only rely on him.

Unexpectedly, Liu Xiniang and Wang Yunzhi had escaped.

Now, though Wang Lianyang and Wang Yunzhi had no evidence, they surely suspected him.

Moreover, Li Shangwen was dead…

Li Guiyu’s expression turned cold.

Wang Lianyang’s feelings toward Li Shangwen were completely different from her feelings toward him.

With Li Shangwen alive, Wang Lianyang would have to consider Li Shangwen no matter what and cooperate well with him.

Now that Li Shangwen was dead, Wang Lianyang’s dissatisfaction with him had reached its peak. He had to find the real killer of Li Shangwen to clear his suspicions.

Otherwise, he had no idea what Wang Lianyang might do.

Who would kill that waste Li Shangwen at this time?!

Li Guiyu frowned deeply, seeing the blood-covered messenger kneeling at the door, and said coldly: “Let’s go.”

The messenger was one of the Crown Prince’s guards who had escaped with injuries, not reporting to the court but coming directly to Kunning Palace.

Li Guiyu grabbed the guard and rushed to the scene.

The Empress’s people hadn’t reported yet, and the scene was entirely guarded by the Empress’s people. Li Guiyu approached to see bodies scattered all over the ground.

“The enemy should have ambushed from the slope about a li away,” Zitang, who had arrived early to investigate, pointed in the direction. “Coming from that direction, they chased and killed the Seventh Prince all the way. The guards couldn’t stop them and could only fight while protecting the Seventh Prince in his escape, but in the end, he was caught. Except for the one who escaped to report, none remained.”

As Zitang spoke, he led Li Guiyu to Li Shangwen’s corpse. Li Guiyu crouched down to examine Li Shangwen’s wounds while asking: “How many opponents?”

“One.”

This made Li Guiyu pause.

The people protecting the Crown Prince this time weren’t top experts. With Fengyu Pavilion’s inner and outer pavilions nearly destroyed, and the first-class masters who originally guarded the Crown Prince killed that night at Fangfei Pavilion, the Empress simply couldn’t produce anyone decent to escort the Crown Prince.

But over forty guards would be a substantial force even for ordinary assassins.

The Empress had originally thought that now that the Crown Prince was deposed, killing him served no purpose. Only some past enemies might seek revenge, and such revenge seekers wouldn’t make too big a commotion, so she wanted to quickly send him to the mausoleum tonight while all parties hadn’t yet reacted.

Who knew the attacker would react so quickly?

One person suggested personal revenge, yet pursuing for a Li and killing so many guards indicated a first-class expert.

He looked down at the wound on Li Shangwen’s neck, analyzing while reaching out to pry open the wound for careful observation, hearing Zitang say, “The escapee said it was a woman with a face veil, couldn’t make out her appearance.”

A woman.

This was a Wang family dagger, but Li Shangwen’s wound wasn’t smooth—that dagger should have a notch, and the position of that notch…

It was identical to the one he’d given Luo Wanqing.

Realizing this, Li Guiyu suddenly froze.

He looked at the wound in disbelief.

Impossible…

This dagger… how could it be…

A woman, a dagger.

His hands began trembling.

Zitang, nearby, noticed something amiss and said: “Your Highness?”

“Your Highness?” Zhao Dewang, who had followed, saw Li Guiyu’s strange expression and hurried to ask: “Did you discover something?”

This question startled Li Guiyu back to awareness.

He couldn’t reveal this matter. Jiang Fengwan’s blade killed Li Shangwen here—no matter what reasons he had, he couldn’t clear himself of this affair.

Whether Wang Lianyang, his father Li Zong, or even court officials, all would suspect him.

That blade, as long as he didn’t speak, no one would know.

He couldn’t expose himself first.

Li Guiyu calmed down and said calmly, “It’s indeed our death-sworn warriors’ blade. Make a list of people the Seventh Brother offended before, especially family members—search house by house.”

He tucked his trembling hands into his sleeves and said coldly, “This prince is tired and will return first. Zitang, Qingzhu, come with me.”

Ignoring Zhao Dewang, Li Guiyu turned toward the capital after speaking.

As he walked, he kept thinking of that person called Liu Xiniang.

He couldn’t help wondering—where was she?

Was that blade in her hands?

But then he immediately realized his thoughts were wrong.

So what if it was in her hands or not? What could one blade prove? She could have this blade.

She was a salt smuggler who crawled out of death row.

He had tested her bones and skills—there was no way they could belong to Luo Wanqing.

He shouldn’t have any unnecessary thoughts.

But in his mind appeared the scene from that night at the Supervision Department, when the woman opened the door and walked in, pushing the Five Stone Powder into cold water.

That expression overlapped with the woman from Jiangnan in his memory.

So many differences, so many absolute reasons why she couldn’t be her, yet he had to admit that the light that attracted him in these two people was identical.

Like flames in the night—to a moth’s eyes, they simply couldn’t be hidden.

He couldn’t help wondering about that dagger—

Was it really in her hands?

Could she be… could she be…

The moment that possibility emerged, he felt completely unable to control himself, feeling the broken hole in his heart suddenly become whole.

He couldn’t even help wanting to smile.

He wanted to see her.

Knowing she was now at the Supervision Department, knowing he shouldn’t go, knowing he shouldn’t be impulsive over a woman.

But he wanted to see her.

Li Guiyu stopped walking.

“Your Highness?”

Zitang, seeing Li Guiyu suddenly halt, was curious.

“Go to the Supervision Department.”

Li Guiyu gave a hoarse command, then turned around.

He had to see her.

Whether it was or wasn’t, he at least had to try.

Having made his decision, he moved swiftly, leading his people onto rooftops, leaping and bounding through the night rain, heading straight for the Supervision Department.

Reaching the Supervision Department gates, before even approaching, two guards spotted them from afar and leaped from the entrance, slashing toward Li Guiyu.

Li Guiyu spun and flicked his hand against both sword blades, directly forcing both men back three zhang to land in the distance.

“I want to see Liu Xiniang.”

Li Guiyu landed on the rooftop with Qingzhu and Zitang, looking up at the guards he’d repelled, saying coldly: “Tell Xie Heng that Li Shangwen is dead.”

Hearing this, the guards knew something had happened, and one immediately rushed deep into the Supervision Department.

At this moment, the banquet was nearing its end. Luo Wanqing didn’t dare drink much, forcing herself to maintain awareness while playing with everyone.

Just as Xie Heng was about to stand and dismiss the gathering, a guard opened the door. Zhuque at the doorway spoke with him and immediately changed expression, then hurried to the elevated area to say a few words to Xie Heng. Xie Heng put down his wine cup and immediately looked toward Luo Wanqing.

“Liu Xiniang.”

Xie Heng called out, and everyone instantly fell silent. Luo Wanqing sensed something had happened and looked up to see Xie Heng stand and call to her: “Come with me.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing exchanged glances with Fang Yuan and the others, then followed him out.

Xuanshan stayed behind to arrange for the others, while the remaining three Chiefs followed Xie Heng outside.

Luo Wanqing followed behind Xie Heng, walking all the way to the Supervision Department entrance to see Li Guiyu with two people standing at the door, looking up at the Supervision Department’s plaque.

Hearing footsteps, Li Guiyu turned around. Seeing the woman following Xie Heng, his gaze immediately couldn’t move away.

Similar, yet different.

He kept staring at Luo Wanqing. Sensing his gaze, Luo Wanqing raised her eyes and looked back coldly.

Those eyes.

Eyes that hated him.

Seeing those eyes, Li Guiyu couldn’t help smiling.

Luo Wanqing’s expression grew stern. When they reached the entrance, Xie Heng stopped, and everyone faced off across the gate.

Xie Heng looked calmly at Li Guiyu: “Third Prince visits late at night—what business do you have?”

“Nothing much.”

Li Guiyu smiled and only said: “Just came to inform Director Xie that the Crown Prince was assassinated tonight.”

“Oh?” Xie Heng raised his eyes. “Is Your Highness here with an imperial edict?”

“No.”

“I came to discuss something with Director Xie,” Li Guiyu’s gaze fell on Luo Wanqing. “This Inspector Liu beside you resembles my late fiancée too much. I truly cannot suppress my feelings of longing and would like to reserve a position for Inspector Liu in my manor. To show my sincerity, I will personally request an imperial edict from Father Emperor. Director Xie can rest assured—I wouldn’t dare let someone granted by Father Emperor die in my residence.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was somewhat stunned.

Xie Heng’s expression didn’t change. Li Guiyu looked back at Xie Heng and smiled: “With Inspector Liu at my side, it would be much easier for the Supervision Department to gather intelligence about me, saving Director Xie from being confused about my actions and unable to report to Father Emperor. Moreover,” Li Guiyu spoke meaningfully, “if Inspector Liu has revenge to seek, being by my side would be much more convenient than being with Director Xie.”

With these words, Luo Wanqing knew Li Guiyu had discovered something.

She had used his blade—he suspected her, so he used this obvious temptation to hook her.

Getting her to his side while giving her a life-saving identity, this was a perfectly tailored open scheme for her.

She looked up at Li Guiyu. Li Guiyu also knew she understood, turning to look at Luo Wanqing with a slight smile: “If Inspector Liu is interested, she can come directly to my manor to find me. I will request an imperial edict from Father Emperor.”

“She won’t go.”

Xie Heng suddenly spoke.

Li Guiyu looked up in surprise. Xie Heng looked calmly at him: “The Supervision Department has no interest in Your Highness. Please return.”

“Whether there’s interest depends on Inspector Liu,” Li Guiyu looked at Xie Heng with scrutiny. “If Inspector Liu is willing and His Majesty grants the edict, Director Xie won’t obstruct it, will you?”

“That depends on His Majesty.” Xie Heng answered in a business-like manner.

“Then good. Inspector Liu,” Li Guiyu looked at Luo Wanqing, his eyes showing confident amusement, “I’ll wait for you.”

After speaking, he nodded to Xie Heng in farewell: “I take my leave.”

Xie Heng didn’t respond. Li Guiyu led his people and turned to leave on his own.

Zhuque, looking at Li Guiyu’s wet clothes, couldn’t help murmuring: “Do they go out without umbrellas?”

Hearing this, Qingya coughed lightly, then turned to look at Xie Heng respectfully: “Young Master, we’ll go handle other matters first.”

Xie Heng nodded, and everyone departed, leaving only Luo Wanqing following him.

Xie Heng was silent for a while, seeming to want to say something, but finally only said: “Let’s go.”

Luo Wanqing quietly followed Xie Heng, her mind churning over Li Guiyu’s words.

Today’s assassination of the Crown Prince using Li Guiyu’s blade was intentional—she wanted the Wang family’s investigation to find only internal Wang family strife, unable to trace back to her.

But now, Li Guiyu had discovered the wound on the Crown Prince’s neck was from his blade, which was why he so uncharacteristically stormed the Supervision Department to demand her from Xie Heng.

Previously, he had always avoided her like the plague, wanting to kill her quickly.

Now he specifically wanted to request an imperial grant, giving her a life-saving talisman. He must suspect her identity and give her room to maneuver for verification.

If it were before, she wouldn’t have cared much about this room—if she wanted to kill him, the Supervision Department had plenty of methods, whether open or covert.

But now it was different—she had obtained her father’s roster at the Dark Pavilion.

She had never imagined her father was a Wang family death-sworn warrior, much less that he was friends with Jiang Fengwan.

If he was friends with Jiang Fengwan, and Jiang Fengwan seemed to have no other disciples, as his only disciple, given her father’s nature, the possibility of not knowing his brother’s only student was very small.

Her father knew Jiang Shaoyan.

Luo Wanqing was certain, and then her mind filled with questions.

If her father knew Jiang Shaoyan, then when he took in Jiang Shaoyan, he should have known Jiang Shaoyan was a prince. Why didn’t he send Jiang Shaoyan back to the palace?

What entanglement did he have with Jiang Shaoyan?

Why, when she interrogated Li Guiyu in prison, did he so confidently tell her that her father deserved to die?

Was Li Guiyu truly evil and unrepentant, or…

Did her father have guilt?

Thinking of the youth who had followed behind her in Jiangnan, Luo Wanqing suddenly felt sharp pain in her heart.

She suddenly wanted to know what had really happened.

Why was her father a Wang family death-sworn warrior yet served as a Cui family retainer?

Why, after becoming a Cui family retainer, was her father not implicated in the Cui family’s treason and able to so easily leave the Eastern Capital for Yangzhou?

Why could her father, as a death-sworn warrior, live quietly in Yangzhou for so many years without the Wang family caring?

What had happened back then?

The person most likely to know the answers was Li Guiyu.

She had to get close to Li Guiyu.

Luo Wanqing made her decision.

She at least had to find out what had happened. Since Li Guiyu had thrown out this olive branch, she should accept it.

Walking up the stone steps with Xie Heng, Luo Wanqing thought it through and boldly spoke: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng seemed to know what she wanted to say and didn’t respond.

Luo Wanqing knew he had heard, raised her eyes to look at the figure ahead, and said seriously: “I want to go to Prince Guang’an’s manor.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng stopped walking.

He was two steps higher than her, turning sideways to look at her coldly: “What did you say?”

“What this subordinate means is, I want to use this opportunity to get close to Li Guiyu.” Luo Wanqing analyzed: “Tonight I used the dagger he once gave me to kill the Crown Prince, so he doesn’t dare speak out, but he must suspect my identity. Judging by his reaction today, Luo Wanqing’s influence should be greater than we imagined.”

“So?”

“Since he’s set aside his killing intent and wants to test my identity, why not let me go there to deal with him, and assist the Department in the future?”

Luo Wanqing weighed each word carefully as she thought: “Li Guiyu’s methods are extraordinary. If we don’t place someone by his side, I think Young Master would also find it hard to feel at ease.”

Hearing her words, Xie Heng remained unmoved.

Luo Wanqing was puzzled: “Young Master?”

“Is it for me or Li Guiyu?”

Xie Heng stared at Luo Wanqing, his eyes seeming able to see through everything, leaving the heart nowhere to hide.

Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised by this question and couldn’t help but hesitate, not knowing how to answer.

Seeing this, Xie Heng smiled mockingly and pressed: “Li Guiyu?”

“This subordinate… does indeed have some personal motives.”

Seeing Xie Heng leave no room for evasion, Luo Wanqing didn’t dare lie, pressing her lips together: “But this subordinate only wants to know about certain past events. My loyalty to the Supervision Department is unwavering—I would never betray my master. In my heart, the Supervision Department comes before personal revenge.”

“Not permitted.” Xie Heng answered without hesitation, turning to continue up the steps, waving his hand to dismiss her: “Go back.”

“Young Master.”

Luo Wanqing frowned, not understanding Xie Heng’s reason for refusal, trying to continue insisting: “This is a win-win situation. The Supervision Department has no one more suitable than me to investigate Li Guiyu. What concerns does Young Master have?”

Xie Heng didn’t answer.

Luo Wanqing was confused and couldn’t help getting somewhat angry, chasing after him to persuade: “If Young Master finds it inappropriate, please speak directly. When Young Master originally had me change this face, he had this intention. I know Young Master later considered my welfare, but now going to Prince Guang’an’s manor poses no great danger. Young Master needn’t worry about my safety, nor my intentions. I’m willing to go to Prince Guang’an’s manor not as a sacrifice for the Supervision Department. Since we spent so much effort changing my face, we should make full use of it…”

“Liu Xiniang!” Xie Heng finally couldn’t endure it, suddenly raising his voice and turning to stare at her intently, trying hard to control himself: “Be quiet.”

Luo Wanqing, under his stare, felt as if her entire body were frozen by invisible force. The person before her had such overwhelming presence that she could barely stand steady, let alone speak.

Seeing Luo Wanqing quiet down and seemingly afraid, Xie Heng felt some regret, suppressing his emotions as he turned away and strode up the final steps.

Luo Wanqing heard him leave and felt quite unwilling. She couldn’t give up so easily, so she could only continue asking: “Does Young Master have other concerns?”

Xie Heng ignored her.

Luo Wanqing followed up, continuing to persuade: “Li Guiyu no longer has killing intent toward me. Today was deliberate temptation on his part, but it also proves he’s indeed affected by my identity. Young Master won’t let me go—what exactly are you concerned about? If it’s because I have some impropriety, Young Master can speak directly to me. I…”

Before she could finish, Xie Heng suddenly reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her forward.

Luo Wanqing was pulled backward by him, instinctively grabbing his clothing. When she looked up, she saw him looking down at her, and her entire body stiffened.

They were very close—this was the third man to be so intimate with her besides Cui Heng and Li Guiyu.

Xie Heng had touched her before, but always in urgent situations when she had no time to feel anything.

But at this moment, with just the two of them, all her senses instantly focused on him.

His palm was on her waist—only now did she feel that his hands were large, one hand encompassing most of her waist.

This contrast stirred romantic feelings. His hand unconsciously tightened, forcing them closer.

Not far away was the small courtyard, with the mountainside nearby. After the rain, fireflies flew in the grass, and tree leaves rustled around them.

The Eastern Capital blazed with lights throughout the streets, and palace lanterns swayed gently in the mountains. Xie Heng lowered his head slightly, approaching her face, his voice pressed between them: “Afraid?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare speak—her heart was racing.

Only now did Xie Heng’s magnificent appearance truly register with her.

She didn’t dare show any abnormality. Xie Heng seemed unaware too, steadily holding her as his jewel-like eyes looked up to stare into hers: “He has no killing intent—then what kind of intent does he have?”

He moved close to her ear, knowing he shouldn’t speak but unable to help himself, asking quietly: “Or are you saying he can, but I cannot?”

When the lights throughout the Eastern Capital were extinguished, Li Guiyu returned to his residence.

It had rained tonight, leaving the courtyard damp everywhere. He led his people through the corridor back to his room.

The room held the lingering scent of Five Stone Powder. Walking into the room, his mind flashed to that night in prison when Liu Xiniang pushed through the door.

He stopped, looking up at the cold memorial tablet in the room.

“Your Highness,” Elder Zhang’s voice came from outside, quite anxious. “I heard the Crown Prince was assassinated? What was the Empress’s reaction? Has the killer been caught?”

As Elder Zhang spoke, he reached the doorway and saw Li Guiyu looking at the memorial tablet. Elder Zhang’s steps paused.

“Elder Zhang,” Li Guiyu said hoarsely, “send people to Yangzhou.”

At his words, everyone at the door was stunned.

Everyone present knew that since returning to the Eastern Capital, Yangzhou had been almost taboo in the manor.

Yet today, Li Guiyu brought it up voluntarily.

“Investigate that Liu Xiniang,” Li Guiyu said calmly. “Check everyone who’s had contact with her thoroughly. And the young lady’s body,” Li Guiyu’s voice paused slightly, then he finally spoke: “Find it, dig it up from Jiangnan, and send it to the Eastern Capital for me.”

Hearing this, everyone knew Li Guiyu’s emotions must have gone wrong.

Zitang and Qingzhu hurriedly knelt and responded: “Yes.”

Elder Zhang stood at the doorway, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking: “Did Your Highness discover something?”

“Elder Zhang,” Li Guiyu looked at the memorial tablet hoarsely, “the blade that finished the Crown Prince tonight was the one I gave the young lady—Master’s blade.”

Hearing this, Elder Zhang’s pupils constricted sharply, then he immediately said: “Someone must have obtained that blade from Miss Luo and used it to frame Your Highness!”

“What if she’s still alive?”

Li Guiyu turned back in confusion.

Elder Zhang immediately spoke: “Impossible! Even if Miss Luo were alive,” Elder Zhang panicked slightly—he knew too well that person’s weight in Li Guiyu’s heart. He gritted his teeth: “she couldn’t possibly appear in the Eastern Capital!”

“What if she came?”

Li Guiyu looked at Elder Zhang, asking persistently.

Elder Zhang’s expression grew stern. He suddenly realized Li Guiyu truly had this thought, and he couldn’t indulge Li Guiyu’s imagination.

He gritted his teeth and only said: “Then kill her again.”

Hearing this, sharp pain suddenly cut through Li Guiyu’s heart. He instinctively cried out: “No.”

Seeing Li Guiyu’s reaction, Elder Zhang’s gaze turned cold.

He looked at the young man in the room and said calmly: “Your Highness said that if she dared come to the Eastern Capital, you would kill her.” Elder Zhang lowered his voice to remind: “Have you grown soft-hearted?”

Li Guiyu said nothing, restraining his trembling as he turned to look at Luo Wanqing’s name on the memorial tablet.

After a long time, he walked forward and reached out to touch her name.

“I’m not soft-hearted.”

He stood in the darkness, looking at “Luo Wanqing” on the memorial tablet, feeling as if his entire being dwelt in a desolate grave.

He didn’t dare speak it aloud.

His heart ached.

He had once thought that sending her to Lingnan was giving her a way to live.

When news of her death came, he realized this life path wasn’t for Luo Wanqing.

It was for himself.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “I, the noble Director of the Supervision Department, am powerful, cold, handsome, wielding great authority, with no interest in women whatsoever. Everything is my chess piece. If a woman loves me, I accept it. If she doesn’t love me, I don’t love her either. She likes Li Guiyu? Let her like him—I’ll part ways with her. Proud as I am, I would never bow down for love.”

Luo Wanqing: “Playing the flute”

Xie Heng: “Wife, wait a moment, Cui Heng will be right over.”

Zhuque: “Young Master, didn’t you say you wouldn’t bow down for love?”

Xie Heng: “It’s Cui Heng who’s bowing down—what does that have to do with Xie Heng?”