◎He Wants to Test if You’re Luo Wanqing◎

Hearing this, father and son exchanged glances. Lu Lingchan’s face was full of panic, but Duke An was the first to react.

He turned to grab his sword, immediately saying, “You leave through the back right now. Father will buy you time!”

With that, Duke An led his men charging out with his sword.

Upon exiting the main gate, he saw a group of black-clad, gold-crowned youths with sabers at their waists, drawing blades in confrontation with his mansion’s soldiers.

Between the two groups, only one woman had not drawn her weapon.

She was extremely beautiful, with delicate features and a palm-sized face that was small and lovely, skin like lustrous jade, her person like white porcelain.

Her figure was tall and slender, appearing somewhat frail, but her posture was straight and proud. In her every gesture, there emanated a silent sense of strength. Combined with her cool temperament, she stood steadily between the two forces like an ice sculpture blade, though she hadn’t drawn her sword, her presence still made the Duke’s soldiers dare not advance a single step.

This was the absolute suppression belonging to a master. Duke An, long experienced in battle, could tell at a glance that this woman was no ordinary person.

He approached Luo Wanqing with his broadsword, looking at her coldly: “Who are you?”

“Greetings, Duke An.”

Luo Wanqing bowed politely, her cool, beautiful face showing not a trace of respect.

Seeing her youth, Duke An spoke with some disdain: “You’re from the Supervision Department?”

“Supervision Department Sixth-Rank Inspector, Liu Xiniang.” As Luo Wanqing spoke, she took out the documents and presented them to Duke An, looking up seriously: “Acting under orders to arrest suspect Lu Lingchan. I hope Duke An will accommodate us and avoid crossing blades.”

“You call my son a criminal and expect me not to cross blades?!”

Duke An suddenly drew his sword, but Luo Wanqing pressed down on his hand, directly forcing his sword back into its sheath.

Duke An looked up in shock.

Having fought many battles, he never imagined he could be prevented from drawing his sword by a young woman.

“Duke An,” Luo Wanqing’s patience seemed exhausted, “this subordinate said no crossing blades.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Fang Yuan’s excited voice came from the back courtyard: “Inspector, the person fled!”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s expression turned cold as she turned and walked away.

Duke An sensed trouble and struck at Luo Wanqing with his sword.

Hearing the sword’s sound, Luo Wanqing suddenly drew her blade and slashed down!

The blade energy was domineering and unstoppable. The moment the sword touched the blade edge, it broke in two.

Luo Wanqing spun the blade in her hand, and Duke An retreated in fright, feeling a chill on his neck as the blade wind seemed to slice across his throat. For a moment, he wasn’t sure if his head was still attached.

Seeing his terrified expression, Luo Wanqing’s face turned cold.

“Duke An, if you obstruct us again, that would be interfering with official duties. I’m not certain Duke An would have such good fortune again.”

“You…” Duke An came to his senses and angrily said, “How dare you?!”

“See if I dare!”

Luo Wanqing suddenly raised her voice, her killing intent sharp. Duke An was momentarily intimidated.

Seeing his silence, Luo Wanqing turned to call her people: “Move!”

With that, Luo Wanqing led her people charging toward the back courtyard, following the Inspectors who had already pursued Lu Lingchan.

Lu Lingchan had brought a guard and was running swiftly ahead. When Luo Wanqing and her team caught up, he immediately rushed into others’ rooms and ran out through different houses, causing chaos everywhere.

Fortunately, these days have given Luo Wanqing experience in pursuing people. Scanning the direction Lu Lingchan was running, she directly instructed Xing Ling: “There are only three intersections ahead. Wait for him at those three intersections.”

“Good.”

Hearing this, Xing Ling touched her toe to the wall and led people to block the alley entrances.

Luo Wanqing pursued Lu Lingchan from behind.

This young master had some martial arts skills and ran very fast. Not wanting to disturb too many civilians, Luo Wanqing didn’t press too urgently, fearing he might become desperate and take ordinary people hostage. She followed at a distance, herding him toward empty alleys.

The guard protected Lu Lingchan as they scrambled through the alleys, with Luo Wanqing’s team following leisurely behind. The two seemed to realize Luo Wanqing was catching them like fish in a barrel. The guard gritted his teeth and simply said, “Young Master, you run first!”

With that, he pushed Lu Lingchan away and charged at Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing sidestepped to dodge, directly circling past the guard’s arm and rushing toward Lu Lingchan, instructing the Inspectors behind her: “Deal with him.”

With that, Luo Wanqing reached out to grab Lu Lingchan.

At that moment, a cold arrow shot swiftly. Luo Wanqing rolled and turned, barely dodging it, and Lu Lingchan took the chance to flee wildly.

Suddenly, a large group of assassins emerged from all around, and arrows rained down chaotically.

Luo Wanqing’s pupils contracted sharply as she shouted: “Fall back!”

With that, she raised her hand to shatter the arrows around her, quickly looked up to confirm the archers’ positions, then leaped onto the wall and rushed toward the nearest archer.

She moved too fast—before the opponent could even react, she had already reached them.

The archer turned back in terror at the sound, and Luo Wanqing seized the bow with one hand while grabbing his neck with the other, snapping it with a “crack.”

At that moment, all the arrows rushed toward her. Luo Wanqing used the body as a shield to block a wave of arrows, her movements continuous as she charged toward the next archer.

In just moments, she had cleared out all the archers hidden in the alley, grabbing the last one by the neck, dislocating his jaw, extracting the poison from his mouth, and smashing him hard on the ground.

The other Inspectors had also dealt with the other assassins and rushed up.

“Go catch Lu Lingchan!”

Luo Wanqing handed the archer to the remaining Inspectors and ran in the direction Lu Lingchan had fled. When she reached the alley entrance, she saw the injured Fang Yuan.

“Where is he?”

Luo Wanqing asked urgently. Fang Yuan’s face looked grim as he answered honestly: “A large group suddenly rushed out. Lu Lingchan escaped, and Xing Ling is pursuing him.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help punching the wall, then turned back to find the archer who was still alive. When she returned, she saw the previously living person now lying on the ground with an arrow in his body.

Luo Wanqing coldly scanned everyone: “What happened?”

“There was suddenly a cold arrow just now.” One Inspector spoke up boldly, hesitating: “We couldn’t stop it.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing said no more. She went forward to examine these people’s corpses—they had no identifying marks, and their faces were burned, clearly prepared to die.

“We tried to intercept that last arrow.”

Seeing Luo Wanqing crouched before the last archer, the intercepting Inspector said hesitantly: “But our blade shattered, and we still couldn’t stop it.”

With that, the Inspector showed Luo Wanqing the blade that had broken at one corner. Luo Wanqing looked at the chip on the blade edge and calmed down: “This isn’t your fault.”

Even if she had been there, she might not have been able to stop that arrow.

What expert was here helping Lu Lingchan?

Luo Wanqing looked at the blade with a cold expression. Seeing no clues could be found from the corpses, she stood up: “Clean up these people.”

As she stood up, she heard footsteps nearby.

She turned her head to find Xing Ling returning. Xing Ling frowned tightly, and before Luo Wanqing could ask, she spoke: “He escaped.”

“Which direction?”

“The Zheng family.”

Hearing this, everyone present was stunned.

Luo Wanqing also frowned: “Which Zheng family?”

“The Zheng of Great Xia’s Four Surnames.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing at this. Xing Ling said calmly, “I’ve already had people watch the Zheng mansion gates. As soon as he comes out, we’ll arrest him.”

“What if he doesn’t come out?”

Fang Yuan couldn’t help asking, and no one present spoke.

The Supervision Department could search most residences in the Eastern Capital, but the Zheng family happened to be one they couldn’t search.

Never mind arrest warrants—even with arrest warrants, given the Zheng family’s capabilities, their household surely had masters stationed there. Unless they brought out the Inspector or even Xie Heng himself, with just Luo Wanqing alone, she definitely couldn’t enter the Zheng mansion.

“Why would the Zheng family shelter him?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t plan to force her way into the Zheng mansion, thinking of solutions. Fang Yuan looked at Luo Wanqing and said carefully: “Have you forgotten? He’s half a son-in-law to the Zheng family.”

This made Luo Wanqing pause, then quickly recall Lu Lingchan’s information.

“Zheng Second Miss Zheng Jinxin is his fiancée?” Luo Wanqing thought, then wondered: “The Zheng family would shelter Lu Lingchan for Zheng Jinxin’s sake?”

“Perhaps Lu Lingchan is forcing Zheng Jinxin to shelter him.”

Xing Ling spoke, and everyone looked over.

Xing Ling looked around, stepped forward, and whispered in Luo Wanqing’s ear: “Lu Lingchan’s marriage was stolen by Zheng Jinxin through rather underhanded means. Just now, I saw Lu Lingchan climb over the wall from the back courtyard to enter, very familiar with the Zheng family’s back courtyard.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood.

Lu Lingchan could climb in from the back courtyard without alerting the Zheng family—he must have had secret dealings with Zheng Jinxin and visited many times.

Now that Lu Lingchan had entered directly, Zheng Jinxin would keep him for her reputation’s sake.

If they went directly to Zheng Pingsheng demanding the person, the Zheng family wouldn’t hand him over for their reputation either.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then said: “First watch the Zheng mansion, then return to think of a solution.”

Everyone exchanged glances, knowing there was no other way, and respectfully said: “Yes.”

Luo Wanqing silently led them to clean up the scene and return to the Supervision Department together.

Just as they reached the entrance, they saw a carriage stopped not far away, with two young guards standing beside it—they were Zitang and Qingzhu, Li Guiyu’s close attendants.

Luo Wanqing immediately stopped. When she stopped, all the Inspectors behind her stopped as well, looking up coldly at the distant carriage with her.

“Inspector Liu.”

Li Guiyu’s voice came from inside the carriage, carrying some amusement: “Is it convenient to come forward for a chat?”

Luo Wanqing looked at the vigilant Inspectors waiting around her and knew Li Guiyu had something to say.

This person never visited without a purpose. Connecting this to today’s sudden appearance of archers, Luo Wanqing’s expression turned cold.

She waved to the Inspectors behind her, saying calmly, “You go in first.”

With that, she stepped forward to Li Guiyu, raising her hand in salute: “Third Prince.”

“I heard Inspector Liu went to arrest Young Master Lu today. Any success?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s expression grew cold as she smiled mockingly: “Whether I succeeded or not, doesn’t Your Highness know best?”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu laughed from behind the curtain: “The Inspector seems very angry.”

“Is Your Highness so confident in the people the Wang family left behind?”

Seeing Li Guiyu’s lack of concealment, Luo Wanqing began sowing discord directly: “Protecting them like this, do you think they’ll serve you as master in the future?”

“My relationship with my maternal relatives is not for Inspector Liu to comment on. I came today to give the Inspector a gift.”

With that, Li Guiyu lifted the carriage curtain.

Today, he wore water-blue brocade wide-sleeved robes, looking quite gentle. He handed out a box, smiling at Luo Wanqing: “I’m skilled at woodwork and personally carved a wooden hairpin to present to the Inspector.”

“Your Highness is about to be engaged to Miss Zheng, aren’t you?” Luo Wanqing looked at Li Guiyu coldly: “What are you giving me this for?”

“The Qinyın Festival is being held at the Zheng family this year. There’s an invitation inside.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing froze. Thinking it through, she suddenly realized but frowned in confusion: “You want me to attend the Qinyın Festival?”

Li Guiyu smiled without moving, only extending the box and nodding: “I await Inspector Liu’s presence.”

Luo Wanqing hesitated briefly, then finally raised her hand to accept the wooden box.

Seeing her take the box, Li Guiyu’s smile deepened.

He gazed at Luo Wanqing, watching her open the wooden box, saying softly, “If I see the Inspector again, she could use this wooden hairpin, that would be perfect.”

“What exactly do you want to do?”

Luo Wanqing looked up at Li Guiyu, somewhat uncertain.

Li Guiyu looked at this face that resembled the past too much and slowly put away his smile.

He quietly studied Luo Wanqing, then suddenly asked: “In the beginning, changing to this face was to attract me—why do you avoid me now?”

“That depends on Your Highness,” Luo Wanqing stared at Li Guiyu, “at first you wanted to kill me quickly, why do you pester me endlessly now?”

“Inspector Liu is wrong about this.” Li Guiyu smiled, his scholarly face showing some gentleness: “My desire to kill you has never changed.”

“Then why are you talking nonsense with me?”

Luo Wanqing closed the wooden box and turned to leave.

Li Guiyu calmly watched Luo Wanqing. Only after she entered the Supervision Department did he lower the curtain, saying flatly: “Let’s go.”

Luo Wanqing held Li Guiyu’s wooden box, pondering his intentions today.

Zheng Jinxin was Lu Lingchan’s fiancée, and the two had long had secret dealings. He had already guessed she would arrest Lu Lingchan, so he had people guard Lu Lingchan’s side, waiting for her to act.

But he didn’t have Lu Lingchan escape directly. Instead, he waited for her, intending to let her watch Lu Lingchan enter the Zheng mansion, then give her this Qinyın Festival invitation to make her attend.

But why did he insist on forcing her to go?

What was special about the Qinyın Festival?

Luo Wanqing held the wooden box with a cold expression as she returned to the back mountain. Just as she approached her small courtyard, she suddenly heard a light laugh behind her: “Such an ugly expression—did Lu Lingchan escape?”

Hearing this voice, Luo Wanqing turned back in delight to see the young master wearing a gilt mask, dressed in white robes with red patterns, holding a handful of sunflower seeds, leaning casually against a nearby peach tree, and smiling at her.

“Cui Heng?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t seen Cui Heng actively waiting for her at night in a long time, so she said, “You have no business today?”

“Having returned to the Eastern Capital, naturally, I’m free for a few days.”

Cui Heng leaped down from the tree, clapped his hands, and walked to Luo Wanqing. His gaze fell on the wooden box in her hands as he examined it: “Eastern Sea sandalwood, quite valuable. Only the palace received some tribute this year. A few days ago, His Majesty heard that the Third Prince enjoyed wood carving and bestowed some pieces…”

With that, Cui Heng looked up, smiling: “A gift from the Third Prince?”

Not expecting Cui Heng’s eyes to be so sharp, Luo Wanqing smiled: “He gave me an invitation to the Qinyın Festival.”

Cui Heng smiled without speaking. Luo Wanqing felt inexplicably guilty, hesitating before honestly saying: “There’s also a wooden hairpin.”

“Oh,” Cui Heng nodded, seeming to praise: “The Third Prince’s craftsmanship is impressive. It’s a pity he doesn’t make coffins.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help laughing aloud. Holding the wooden box, she turned to go inside, talking about official business: “Today, Lu Lingchan was rescued by him. He helped Lu Lingchan enter the Zheng mansion. Doing all this just to force me to attend the Qinyın Festival, but I don’t know what he wants to do.”

Cui Heng followed her inside, thinking without speaking.

Luo Wanqing placed the wooden box in the room, thinking as she turned back to look at Cui Heng: “What’s special about this Qinyın Festival? Why does he insist I go? Could he want to harm me at the Zheng mansion?”

“Let me see the invitation.”

Cui Heng asked Luo Wanqing for the invitation. Luo Wanqing opened the wooden box and handed it over.

Cui Heng opened the invitation and scanned it, then said: “This is a VIP invitation to the Qinyın Festival. Anyone receiving this invitation will be seated and must prepare a piece to perform at any time.”

“Perform?”

Luo Wanqing was curious. Cui Heng smiled: “The Qinyın Festival is the liveliest annual event in the Eastern Capital’s noble circles, focused on making friends through music. VIP invitations allow seating, and there will be games where guests can take the stage to play instruments.”

“I see,” Luo Wanqing nodded, thinking: “I heard the Qinyın Festival only invites young nobles from prestigious families, and each year they select a champion. I heard the young master once won several consecutive championships?”

“Mm.” Cui Heng listened, his smile fading slightly with some nostalgia: “He returned from the mountains at fifteen and began participating in the Qinyın Festival, winning three consecutive championships.”

“What about after?” Luo Wanqing was distracted: “Did the young master stop participating?”

“As people grow up,” Cui Heng chuckled lightly, “they stop attending such entertainment.”

With that, Cui Heng brought the topic back: “So Li Guiyu forcing you to attend the Qinyın Festival probably wants to hear you play a piece.”

“Why would he want to hear me play?”

Luo Wanqing was puzzled.

Cui Heng leaned against the table, thinking: “You have a habit when playing pipa—your ending notes tend to rise.”

This surprised Luo Wanqing, who asked back: “Do I make my ending notes rise?”

“Perhaps there are other habits you haven’t noticed, but he knows,” Cui Heng looked at her, speaking with certainty: “He wants to test if you’re Luo Wanqing.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing froze. Holding the wooden hairpin, she felt somewhat bewildered: “He… why go to such lengths for this?”

If she were Luo Wanqing, according to Li Guiyu’s words, since she came to the Eastern Capital, he would kill her.

Then he should just kill her directly. Why keep testing like this?

Whether she was Luo Wanqing or not, what difference did it make?

She dared not think deeply. Cui Heng quietly watched her, only saying: “Do you want him to know?”

“Naturally, it’s best if he doesn’t.”

Luo Wanqing immediately responded: “If he knew and found evidence to accuse me of impersonating a death row prisoner, saying the young master sheltered me, wouldn’t that cause trouble for the young master? There’s no need to let him know.”

“Then you don’t plan to attend this Qinyın Festival?”

Cui Heng joked. Luo Wanqing shook her head: “No, I must go. Lu Lingchan is at the Zheng mansion. The Qinyın Festival will have many people and distractions—it’s the best opportunity to catch him.”

“Then what to do?” Cui Heng smiled at her: “Li Guiyu is waiting for you.”

“He’s familiar with my pipa playing,” Luo Wanqing thought, raising an eyebrow: “If I play something he hasn’t heard, wouldn’t that work?”

“Such as?”

“I can’t play the qin.”

“Qin?” Cui Heng didn’t understand, somewhat incredulous: “You can play pipa but not qin?”

Most people in the Eastern Capital based their instruments on the qin. If one couldn’t play qin, they usually couldn’t play other instruments either.

However, Luo Wanqing was not among them.

“That’s right,” Luo Wanqing said honestly, “I only know the pipa. Now with just two days until the Qinyın Festival, I need to learn qin in two days…” Luo Wanqing turned toward Xie Heng’s small house, gathering courage: “I’ll go find the young master right now!”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater #1] Luo Wanqing: “Why are you so talkative today? I say one sentence, you reply with ten.” Cui Heng: “Angry!! Can’t I say a few more words?! Do you know how long I’ve been holding back while using Xie Heng’s main account?!” Luo Wanqing: “You are very different from the young master.” Cui Heng: “That’s right, I’m not the young master!” Luo Wanqing: “You are…” Cui Heng: “If this were a cultivation novel, I’d be his inner demon.” Luo Wanqing: “…You have quite an imagination.”

[Mini Theater] Xie Heng: “Why aren’t you sleeping so late?” Luo Wanqing: “Maybe I’m waiting for you.” Xie Heng: “Whoa, she’s fishing for me.” Luo Wanqing: “I just told the truth.” Xie Heng: “Whoa, she’s straight-up fishing for me.” Luo Wanqing: “…” Xie Heng: “I like this”

[Mini Theater #2] Xie Heng: “Only giving me one medicine packet?” Luo Wanqing: “Did you want to light two packets in one night?” Xie Heng: “Whoa, she’s fishing for me.” Luo Wanqing: “???” Xie Heng: “Otherwise, why not give me everything at once, making me come collect it daily?” Luo Wanqing: “You make a good point…” Xie Heng: “Don’t give it to me, I’m leaving. Keep fishing for me—I like it.” Luo Wanqing: “…”