Miss, For Whom Do You Play the Pipa?

Luo Wanqing’s pipa music was reaching its passionate, frenzied peak when she heard such a simple melody. Her pipa playing paused momentarily.

In that brief pause, the qin music immediately enveloped her, like a gentle spring breeze wrapping around her fingertips with tender kisses.

Luo Wanqing involuntarily slowed her tempo. The pipa and qin sounds became like two flowing streams coming from different places, finally converging and intertwining in the same tone, sketching out the scenic beauty of Jiangnan landscapes.

Luo Wanqing unconsciously smiled, and at that moment, a gentle breeze arose. Her veil, which had somehow loosened, fluttered down with the wind, revealing her complete face.

The surroundings fell silent in an instant. No one had expected that such passionate music had come from the hands of such a gentle, beautiful woman.

Li Guiyu stared fixedly at the woman on stage, as if seeing the young girl who had once learned the qin for him, lifting her radiant smile and asking, “Shaoyan, am I playing well?”

Only now, at this moment, she wasn’t looking at him.

This realization made him clench his fists tightly, his entire body trembling with tension.

Luo Wanqing only looked up at Xie Heng in the elevated position.

Xie Heng pressed his hand against the qin strings and raised his eyes to look at Luo Wanqing.

In that moment, Luo Wanqing felt as if autumn waters were flowing, silently streaming.

The two seemed to be meeting for the first time – a noble young master and a refined young lady from a modest family.

When golden wind meets jade dew, it surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world.

Xie Heng smiled slightly, and only then did Luo Wanqing react. She hurriedly withdrew her gaze, stood up holding her pipa, and bowed respectfully.

Thunderous applause erupted. Luo Wanqing set aside her earlier nervousness, walked to Li Guiyu with her instrument, and said coolly, “Thank you.”

She then intended to leave the stage, but Li Guiyu suddenly grabbed the corner of her robe.

Luo Wanqing looked up at him. Li Guiyu seemed to be desperately suppressing his emotions, his lips trembling lightly. But before he could speak, Luo Wanqing warned him coldly in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“Let go!”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Li Guiyu’s behavior was already improper.

Everyone curiously watched them, and Zheng Biyue’s expression also turned cold.

Luo Wanqing yanked her sleeve from his grip, set down her pipa, then bowed to everyone: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go rest first. As for those who challenged me to a musical duel, please sit here and continue enjoying others’ musical performances. Farewell.”

With that, she picked up her pipa, turned, and walked toward the exit.

Li Guiyu didn’t dare look at her.

He was afraid that if he looked one more time, he wouldn’t be able to let go.

Luo Wanqing knew Li Guiyu’s emotions were unstable right now, so he probably wouldn’t chase after her immediately.

She strode toward the exit. At the door, a maid approached and offered her a cup of wine: “Miss, this is Boya wine.”

Boya wine was specially presented to outstanding performers at the musical gathering. Luo Wanqing didn’t suspect anything, but as she brought the cup to her lips, she detected something else in the wine.

Luo Wanqing held the wine cup without moving. The maid became somewhat anxious: “Miss Liu?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t respond. After thinking for a moment, she looked back at Zheng Biyue, then drained the wine in one gulp and placed it on the maid’s tray before walking out with her pipa.

After she left, Wang Yunzhi was forced to sit beside Li Guiyu and coldly cursed, “I think you’ve gone mad.”

Li Guiyu closed his eyes without speaking. Wang Yunzhi sat up straight and said coldly, “Help me leave later and send me to the back courtyard.”

Li Guiyu agreed.

Xie Heng glanced at them indifferently and said lazily, “Continue then.”

Luo Wanqing walked out of the courtyard holding her pipa and immediately took a pill from her sleeve.

The wine had contained a potent aphrodisiac called the Jile Pill. After taking this drug, one’s body would weaken within a quarter-hour, followed by intense desire lasting about an hour.

The drug had no other harmful effects on the body; enduring one hour would resolve it. This medicine came with an antidote, leaving no traces after use, making it perfect for framing women’s reputations.

The person who would use such a thing was most likely Zheng Biyue. It seemed she had indeed been provoked today.

Luo Wanqing initially hadn’t wanted to drink it.

But first, if she didn’t drink, she’d have to waste time arguing with Zheng Biyue. She had brought the Qingxin Pill, which suppressed all drug effects – taking it would delay the Jile Pill’s effects for two hours. In two hours, she’d be back at the Supervision Department, where she could endure until it passed. There was no point arguing with Zheng Biyue here.

Second, she had been wondering how to get into the back courtyard. Now that Zheng Biyue had drugged her, if nothing went wrong, she must have prepared to lure her to the back courtyard for some purpose. She might as well go along with the plan and let the maid escort her to the back courtyard.

So she deliberately took the drug and walked out with her pipa. Sure enough, she felt someone following her.

She pretended not to notice. After a while, calculating when the drug would take effect, she staggered and quickly supported herself against a nearby pillar, feigning physical discomfort.

As soon as she leaned against the pillar, a maid immediately approached and asked urgently, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

“I…” Luo Wanqing looked up at the maid with difficulty, “I’m feeling unwell… I…”

“Let me help you rest in the back courtyard.”

The maid quickly supported Luo Wanqing. Luo Wanqing smiled and said, “Thank you.”

She then handed her pipa to another maid and was helped out of the courtyard by the woman who had spoken to her.

As she walked, she memorized the surrounding paths.

The maid led her out of the courtyard to a grassy area. In the middle of the grassland was a small river with an arched bridge.

The small river separated the main courtyard from the back courtyard. Guards patrolled repeatedly near the bridge.

People constantly crossed the bridge, but they were all women. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing deliberately showed unease: “Are we going to the back courtyard?”

“Yes.”

Hearing her question, the maid feared she didn’t want to go and quickly reassured her: “Miss Liu, don’t worry. Today’s musical gathering has many female guests resting in the back courtyard. You’re not alone.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing showed a relieved expression and lowered her head: “As long as I’m not troubling Miss Zheng.”

The maid smiled awkwardly and helped Luo Wanqing cross the bridge, showing her token to the guards.

Luo Wanqing observed that the back courtyard was indeed all women. Walking from the courtyard outward didn’t require a token – the guards didn’t monitor it closely – but entering the back courtyard from the main courtyard required a passage token.

Luo Wanqing memorized the route as she was escorted to a room. There, she deliberately acted distressed and stammered upon entering: “Miss… miss… I’d like to be alone for a while.”

The maid observed her and asked tentatively, “Miss Liu, are you alright? Should I call for a physician?”

“No need.” Luo Wanqing immediately interrupted her, somewhat urgently shooing her away, “You… you should leave quickly.”

Seeing her condition, the maid knew the drug was taking effect. She didn’t ask more questions, bowed, and withdrew.

After the maid left, Luo Wanqing heard male footsteps outside. She immediately got on the bed and lowered the bed curtains. Moments later, someone entered.

The person went straight to the curtained bed. As he lifted the curtain, a hand curved like an eagle’s claw suddenly shot out, directly grasping his throat and slamming him onto the bed, while a blade pressed against his neck.

The man looked at Luo Wanqing in terror. Luo Wanqing spoke in a low voice: “Don’t make noise if you don’t want to die.”

The man didn’t dare move. Luo Wanqing loosened her grip on his throat slightly and asked quietly, “How do I get to Zheng Jinxin’s room?”

“Go out and head west, to the courtyard at the very edge. Her courtyard is a separate small compound.”

The man swallowed hard and asked back, “What are you going to do?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t answer him. She directly knocked him unconscious with her blade’s sheath, tore up bed sheets, quickly tied him up, then climbed out the window and circled to the door, where she saw the maid guarding the entrance.

Knowing she was there to report back, Luo Wanqing walked straight up and knocked her unconscious with one strike, then threw her into the room as well.

Then Luo Wanqing heard Qin music from outside – similar to what Xie Heng had played earlier, like celestial music descending to earth.

The back courtyard became restless with voices. Two young ladies walked by from a distance, and Luo Wanqing overheard one say, “It’s Seventh Master Xie playing the qin. They say he’s willing to play five pieces today. Let’s hurry and go listen.”

The young ladies ran off. Luo Wanqing realized Xie Heng was helping her draw people away.

But then she thought something was wrong – why hadn’t Xie Heng started drawing people away earlier?

After some consideration, Luo Wanqing understood this wasn’t just to draw people away, but also to notify her that Wang Yunzhi might be coming.

Thinking this, she didn’t dare delay and hurried toward Zheng Jinxin’s small courtyard while avoiding people.

For a sheltered young lady like Zheng Jinxin, hiding a grown man would be difficult – he could only be hidden in her room.

If she searched Zheng Jinxin’s quarters, she would find Xing Ling quickly.

She made her way to the secluded small courtyard in the back area. Just as she was about to enter the dilapidated compound, she felt a fierce palm wind attacking from behind.

Luo Wanqing dodged sideways and grabbed a white silk ribbon. She raised her hand and whipped the ribbon hard. Wang Yunzhi followed her momentum and landed in front of her, striking toward her face with one palm!

Luo Wanqing drew out her token and pressed it forward, pressing it in front of Wang Yunzhi while saying coldly, “Supervision Department conducting official business. Miss Wang, don’t make trouble for yourself.”

“Then arrest me!”

Wang Yunzhi kicked at the token.

Without a search warrant or solid evidence, she couldn’t arrest Wang Yunzhi at the Zheng residence. Luo Wanqing didn’t want to get entangled with her and directly leaped away.

Wang Yunzhi immediately followed. The two fought as they moved. Just as they entered the courtyard, they heard sounds of combat from the inner courtyard.

Luo Wanqing leaped into the courtyard and saw people fighting fiercely. One person was slashing at Xing Ling with a blade. Seeing Xing Ling couldn’t dodge in time, Luo Wanqing quickly arrived, grabbed Xing Ling by the collar and pulled him back, kicked away the guard called Zitang, then turned and slashed at Wang Yunzhi’s pursuing silk ribbon.

The silk ribbon appeared soft but was extremely tough, wrapping around the blade like a snake.

Xing Ling quickly blocked Zitang’s blade and said to Luo Wanqing, “The person is in the well!”

Hearing this, both Wang Yunzhi and Luo Wanqing rushed toward the well.

The well was covered with a wooden lid that was making “thudding” sounds. Lu Lingchan was anxiously calling for help from inside: “Save me! Are you my father’s people? Save me!”

Luo Wanqing moved to lift the wooden cover, but Wang Yunzhi immediately pressed it down. Luo Wanqing threw a punch, and the two immediately began fighting at the well’s edge, neither yielding to the other.

When Luo Wanqing lifted the cover, Wang Yunzhi pressed it down. When Wang Yunzhi lifted it, Luo Wanqing pressed it down. The two sides were evenly matched, fighting fiercely in the small courtyard.

In the distance, Xie Heng’s qin music rang out powerfully while the battle in the courtyard grew more intense.

Luo Wanqing knew this couldn’t continue.

Currently, everyone was attracted to the front courtyard by Xie Heng. Once he finished playing, people would likely come to the back courtyard.

She and Wang Yunzhi were evenly matched – without using extraordinary tactics, she couldn’t subdue Wang Yunzhi.

After much thought, she suddenly looked up and exclaimed joyfully, “Young Master?!”

Wang Yunzhi instinctively turned to defend herself. Luo Wanqing immediately opened the well cover, pressed Wang Yunzhi down, and held her firmly while shouting, “Fang Zhi, bring a stone!”

Fang Zhi was the strongest person there. Hearing this, he unhesitatingly lifted a huge stone and charged forward while being pursued and slashed at. The moment he slammed the boulder onto the well, Luo Wanqing kicked away her pursuer, then spun her blade forward, knocking out one person with the blade’s sheath.

Seeing this, Zitang didn’t hesitate and shouted, “Retreat!”

With Luo Wanqing’s arrival and Wang Yunzhi suppressed, they couldn’t win.

Wang Yunzhi was a legitimate daughter of the Wang family who wouldn’t die, but they were different.

In an instant, the courtyard became quiet. Luo Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the boulder. Then she felt the boulder shake as Wang Yunzhi shouted from inside: “Liu Xiniang, let me out!”

“Is this Zheng Jinxin’s residence?”

Luo Wanqing completely ignored Wang Yunzhi and looked around.

Fang Yuan, breathing heavily, nodded: “Yes, we just found the person when those people came and fought over him for a while. If the Inspector had arrived later, I’m afraid we couldn’t have held on.”

“Xing Ling, bring Zheng Jinxin here for me.”

Luo Wanqing directly ordered Xing Ling.

Leaving the back courtyard was simple; entering with Zheng Jinxin leading would be easy.

Xing Ling didn’t ask questions. He took clothes from the unconscious maid, changed into them, and walked straight out the door.

Zheng Jinxin lived in a remote part of the Zheng residence, in a separate courtyard, clearly not valued.

Wang Yunzhi was still cursing from the well. Luo Wanqing looked back and gestured to everyone. Fang Yuan immediately went into the room to find bed sheets and rope.

Fang Zhi placed his hands on the boulder and gritted his teeth to lift it.

The moment the boulder moved, Wang Yunzhi leaped out. Fang Yuan threw the bed sheet to cover Wang Yunzhi’s vision, and everyone rushed forward – some grabbing, some holding. Luo Wanqing delivered a fierce blow to the back of her neck, directly knocking her unconscious.

After knocking her out, Luo Wanqing waved her hand. Ran He quickly came up to tie her up, gag her, and stuff her into the nearby woodshed.

Then Luo Wanqing looked down at Lu Lingchan in the well, who was full of terror, and said calmly, “Will you climb up yourself or shall I have someone pull you up?”

Lu Lingchan didn’t dare speak. Luo Wanqing had him pulled out, tied up, and pressed into the room.

Then she sat down in the room and waited quietly.

After a while, Zheng Jinxin hurried back. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she immediately wanted to run.

But just as she turned around, she saw the maid who had earlier come to notify her that Lu Lingchan was seeking her help standing right behind her, forcing her to stop in her tracks.

Luo Wanqing heard her stop and said calmly without looking up, “Since you’re here, why run?”

Zheng Jinxin suppressed her panic. Luo Wanqing raised her eyes to look at her: “Since I called you back, I have no intention of harming you. Come in.”

Zheng Jinxin didn’t dare move. She looked at Luo Wanqing sitting in her room.

The woman wore a blue gauze dress, looking like an ordinary young lady from a good family. But her posture was extremely relaxed, one hand supporting her forehead, the other resting on the armrest.

On her hand was a string of sandalwood prayer beads. When she raised her hand to support her forehead, the beads were exposed. The color of these beads was too deep, clashing with her overall appearance, carrying a kind of calm killing intent that made people’s hearts panic.

Zheng Jinxin’s teeth chattered slightly. She couldn’t help asking, “Who… who are you?”

“Me?”

Luo Wanqing looked up at the nervous woman at the door.

“Chief Inspector of the Eastern Palace Crown Prince case, Liu Xiniang.”

Hearing this title, Zheng Jinxin’s pupils contracted sharply.

She had indeed come for Lu Lingchan!

Now that they had captured the people and Lu Lingchan was caught, it was like catching both the criminal and the evidence. As long as they walked out now, Lu Lingchan was finished, and so was she.

Zheng Jinxin forced herself to calm down. Her gaze fell on Lu Lingchan, who was kneeling nearby. He was bound and gagged, trembling all over.

“What do you want to do?”

Zheng Jinxin stared at Luo Wanqing.

She wasn’t stupid. Liu Xiniang’s presence here, calling her back without making a scene, must have some purpose.

Luo Wanqing smiled slightly and asked, “How would you like Young Master Lu to leave? Should we escort him out of the courtyard, or does Second Miss Zheng know other routes?”

“You want to smuggle him out secretly?”

Zheng Jinxin gripped her handkerchief tightly. Luo Wanqing nodded: “Yes.”

“I can help you, but I have one condition.” Zheng Jinxin immediately spoke.

Luo Wanqing raised an eyebrow: “What condition?”

“I want you to cut out his tongue.”

Zheng Jinxin spoke calmly.

Hearing this condition, everyone present was stunned. Lu Lingchan immediately began struggling and screaming. Zheng Jinxin seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief as if freed from him: “No one else can know that he left from my place today.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. After thinking for a moment, she nodded: “After I get the information I want, I can help you cut out his tongue.”

Zheng Jinxin stared at Luo Wanqing: “Now.”

Luo Wanqing chuckled: “Then we’ll just walk out the front door. Though it’s somewhat troublesome, it’s not impossible.”

This made Zheng Jinxin grit her teeth. After a long while, she finally said, “Fine, but you can’t ruin my reputation.”

“I have no grievance with you, miss,” Luo Wanqing nodded. “Naturally.”

Suddenly, urgent footsteps came from outside. Luo Wanqing immediately realized Zheng Biyue had discovered she was missing.

Since she had set up the trap, she would come to “catch them in the act.” Now that she had escaped from the back courtyard, Zheng Biyue would naturally bring people to search everywhere.

Luo Wanqing immediately looked at Zheng Jinxin: “You take them away. I’ll come back later, and you help me hide.”

“Alright.”

With that, Luo Wanqing immediately climbed out of the courtyard and ran to the main courtyard in the back area, leaving a hairpin behind, then went to other places to leave some traces.

She drew the guards away, hid in the trees, then ran back to Zheng Jinxin’s room.

Zheng Jinxin sent Xing Ling and the others away through a small pond. According to her explanation, this pond had flowing water that connected to the small river outside. Luo Wanqing considered this route and, confirming there were no problems, stopped worrying about them.

She stayed in Zheng Jinxin’s room until dark, when the guards outside finally relaxed somewhat. Luo Wanqing calculated the time and felt her body becoming somewhat loose. She knew she couldn’t stay any longer. Regardless of the danger, she looked at Wang Yunzhi, who had woken up twice and been knocked unconscious by her both times, picked her up, said “farewell” to Zheng Jinxin, then leaped out of the small courtyard.

After leaving the small courtyard, Luo Wanqing dumped Wang Yunzhi in a random place and headed silently toward the exit.

However, the Zheng residence was now extremely heavily guarded. After a few leaps, she was immediately discovered. Someone shouted, “Who’s there?!”

Guards rushed in her direction. Luo Wanqing didn’t dare continue on the walls and hid behind flowers and grass, gritting her teeth as she moved forward.

But these flowers and grass obviously couldn’t conceal her figure. The guards quickly caught up. Luo Wanqing gripped her Qianji hairpin, running while looking back at the pursuers, thinking about where to go.

While considering, a sudden gust of wind came from the side. Luo Wanqing quickly turned and stabbed, but the other person grabbed her wrist with one hand. After several quick pushes and pulls, he used a lantern pole to press her against the wall.

“Get lost!”

Li Guiyu’s voice exploded. The pursuing guards paused, seeing Li Guiyu with his back to them.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Li Guiyu turned back with cold eyes: “Don’t you recognize me anymore?”

Hearing this, everyone immediately reacted.

Li Guiyu was a frequent guest at the Zheng residence with an unusual relationship with Zheng Biyue. The crowd didn’t dare offend him and quickly said, “Third Prince, our apologies. Today a thief infiltrated the back courtyard. The eldest miss ordered us to investigate strictly. We disturbed Your Highness and hope for your forgiveness.”

“No matter,” Li Guiyu looked back at Luo Wanqing, staring at her coldly, and said, “Withdraw.”

Hearing Li Guiyu’s words, everyone quickly retreated.

Only she and Li Guiyu remained in the small alley. Li Guiyu held a lantern, using its long pole to press against the Qianji hairpin, with the hairpin’s blade against her neck.

He seemed to have many things to say, but didn’t speak. He suppressed his emotions, staring at her intently.

Luo Wanqing breathed lightly. After a long time, she finally spoke: “Is Your Highness certain you want to talk here?”

“Is it you?”

They both spoke simultaneously. Luo Wanqing was startled.

After Li Guiyu asked, his hand began trembling. Tears welled in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and asked, “Luo Wanqing, is it you?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood his meaning.

She had known this moment would come when she played “King of Yue’s Sword.” She smiled, looking at the person before her whose eyes held suppressed terror, and asked back, “Why does Your Highness ask this?”

“You have a Yangzhou accent.”

“I come from Yangzhou.”

“You resemble her in many details.”

“I deliberately studied her.”

“You know, I was the last person to see Luo Qushu.”

“More than just Luo Wanqing knew this.”

“The blade I gave Luo Wanqing appeared in the Eastern Capital.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Did you kill the Crown Prince?”

“No.”

“What about the pipa?!” Li Guiyu stared at her. “Only a few people in the world can play ‘King of Yue’s Sword.’ She studied for so many years – how long have you been in the Supervision Department? Did you also learn this to impersonate her?”

“Yes.”

“And the missing note in each section of ‘King of Yue’s Sword’ that she learned – is that also you?”

“Yes!”

“You hate me.”

This was a statement of certainty. Luo Wanqing no longer spoke.

She couldn’t deny it.

Her hatred for him was carved into her bones and blood – even denial was difficult.

Li Guiyu said nothing more. He looked at her as if he had finally won, and began to laugh.

The Qianji hairpin was still pressed against Luo Wanqing’s neck, blood drops seeping from the hairpin. Li Guiyu’s hand loosened slightly as he controlled his desire to thrust the Qianji into her neck. He called out softly, “Miss.”

Luo Wanqing stared at him without speaking.

He forced out a smile tinged with blood, his eyes filled with both hatred and pain, and asked, “On the night of May seventeenth, for whom were you playing the pipa?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t respond.

From fighting with him earlier, her internal energy had circulated, and the Qingxin Pill’s effects were loosening. She used her internal energy to suppress the drug’s effects while silently sliding the signal flare into her palm.

“Li Guiyu,” Luo Wanqing finally spoke. She stepped back, withdrawing from Li Guiyu’s grip, smiled at him, and said softly, “Today I finally discovered something.”

Li Guiyu looked at her quietly. Luo Wanqing smiled: “You truly loved her.”

Li Guiyu was startled.

Luo Wanqing asked back, “Learning the pipa takes a long time, but learning martial arts doesn’t take long? Do you want to feel my bone structure? Do you want to test my internal energy again? If my information is correct, Luo Wanqing was a physician, but do you remember how I passed the Supervision Department’s examination?”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s questions, Li Guiyu’s mind flashed to that day at the Supervision Department examination, when this woman had walked out covered in blood.

He had gone to see the scene afterward – it could be counted as the most brutal murder scene he had ever witnessed.

The ground was covered in blood clots, many people had been torn apart by hand, and Zhao Yuyan had been directly disemboweled, her organs crushed to death.

“Is it that I’m too much like Luo Wanqing, or does Your Highness hope that Luo Wanqing is alive? Your Highness,” Luo Wanqing spoke meaningfully, “you need to think clearly.”

Author’s Notes

Mini Theater 1

Xie Heng: “What kind of wedding dress does the Inspector like?”

Luo Wanqing: “He’s humiliating me!!”

Xie Heng: “??? No, I’m being serious.”

Luo Wanqing: “…Don’t scare me, there’s no future for us.”

Luo Wanqing – a woman who fought bloody battles in the Eastern Capital just to avoid marriage.

Mini Theater 2

Question: “You always bring tons of equipment on every mission. What exactly do you carry?”

Luo Wanqing: “That’s way too much to list. Let me put it this way – an Inspector’s combat effectiveness is half martial arts, half high-tech. Our Supervision Department maintains high standards mainly because our weapons research and development department is really capable.”

Mini Theater 3

Xie Heng: “Damn, good thing I came back quickly. While I was distracted here, Zhang Yiran almost stole my base. He has no martial arts skills yet still secretly tries to court her – you’re something.”