Xiniang, Be the One to Establish a Memorial Tablet for Me

That night was absurd.

She didn’t know why Cui Heng had changed his attitude after returning, but she knew that from the moment he pulled her from the water, he was like a withered tree meeting spring, bursting with infinite vitality.

At first, he was still somewhat restrained, only using the jade pendant externally. He always maintained distance, with only the jade pendant as indirect contact between them.

He constantly asked about her condition and comforted her.

Except for that initial kiss, everything afterward was tenderly intoxicating.

Later, he became unrestrained.

Time and again, she felt it was enough and wanted to withdraw, only to be pulled back by him as he asked, “Xiniang, hasn’t the time passed yet?”

She didn’t know what time it was, but when he asked, she felt as if that half hour hadn’t finished yet.

Not knowing how to respond, he would chuckle softly, place her on the desk, take the hair ornament he had given her from the box where she kept his gifts, insert it into her hair, then kiss her while comforting her – it was nothing, perhaps his blood wasn’t very effective, but it was just one hour after all.

When she felt everything was too absurd and embarrassing, he coaxed and comforted her, saying it was just the drug’s effect, that she shouldn’t blame herself, and whatever she wanted to do, she should tell him – he was just helping.

He truly was there to help, his clothing completely intact, gaining no advantage for himself, so much so that she didn’t dare think he was doing this for her.

But she also truly felt that perhaps he was the one who couldn’t stop.

Luo Wanqing’s thoughts weren’t wrong.

He had originally intended to stop at an appropriate point, but having restrained himself for so long, once there was a breach, it was like a dam bursting.

Seeing the light changing, he didn’t want to let her go, so he lowered the bed curtains.

With the hair ribbon covering her eyes, she couldn’t see. Inside the bed curtains, she couldn’t sense the changes in light either, only feeling dazed, thinking this was the slowest hour of her life.

For a very long time – so long she had lost all measure of time – she finally heard him say hoarsely that using hard objects any longer would hurt.

She didn’t understand, only hearing him fetch water to gently wash and clean, then he lowered his head, and she touched his nose.

In the symphony of light and sound, she finally stopped calculating time entirely. In the end, as spring rain poured down, she trembled and fell silent.

She heard him panting quietly beside her ear, his hand gripping the back of her neck as he said hoarsely, “Xiniang, you got it on my face.”

With that, he pressed her acupoint, darkness fell before her eyes, and she heard him coax, “Sleep.”

When Luo Wanqing woke at dawn, she stared blankly at the bed curtains, completely unable to recall what had happened the night before.

He hadn’t gone all the way either.

He had always maintained distance – she hadn’t even touched inappropriate parts of his body – yet she was covered in bruises, quite absurd.

Whether this counted as maintaining purity or not was completely beyond her comprehension.

Then she couldn’t help wondering where Cui Heng had learned so many techniques. Given his unreliable nature, how many women had there been before?

Once this thought arose, Luo Wanqing felt somewhat irritated. She didn’t dare think further, treating it as colleagues helping each other out, no different from the bone reconstruction before. After comforting herself briefly and preparing to get up, she heard footsteps outside. Looking up, she saw Cui Heng entering with a tray of breakfast and carrying a lantern.

Today, he wore blue robes with a white hair ribbon, appearing quite fresh and elegant.

Seeing the hair ribbon on his head, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help stiffening. Cui Heng glanced at her, pretending ignorance, and smiled, “Come eat breakfast.”

Luo Wanqing sat rigidly without moving. Cui Heng set down the tray and, as if nothing had happened, looked at her, “What’s wrong?”

Finally reacting to his question, Luo Wanqing quickly collected herself and got up, saying hurriedly, “Nothing.”

She then walked to the washroom, suppressing her rapidly beating heart. Inside, she changed clothes, washed quickly, steadied herself for a moment, then finally came back out.

Upon emerging, she saw Cui Heng sitting at the table waiting for her.

He was resting his chin on his hand, looking out the window. The summer scenery was beautiful. The lantern he had brought sat on the table, and Zhusi perched on the windowsill, imitating Cui Heng’s pose with its head tilted as it watched him.

Seeing this scene, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help smiling. Suddenly, all the intimacy from the night before seemed to dissipate like smoke. She sat beside Cui Heng and said gently, “Have you eaten breakfast?”

“I have.”

“That lantern,” Luo Wanqing glanced at it, having some impression – it seemed to be the one Xie Heng had given her last night, but she wasn’t sure why it was here, so she asked tentatively, “Is it Young Master’s?”

“It’s yours.” Cui Heng explained casually, “Yesterday at the musical gathering, you played well, so this is for you.”

Understanding, Luo Wanqing realized this lantern must have been a reward from the musical gathering. Last night, thinking it was Xie Heng’s lantern, she had returned it, not knowing it was originally hers.

She thanked Cui Heng seriously, “Thank you, and please thank Young Master for me as well.”

Cui Heng turned to look at her, lightly tapping his cheek with his finger as he looked her up and down, his gaze sweeping over the marks visible at her collar before smiling, “Thank me for what?”

This was pointed out. Understanding his meaning, Luo Wanqing knew that avoiding it would only make things more awkward, so she said matter-of-factly, “Thank you for last night.”

Cui Heng’s movement paused slightly as he tasted the distance in her words, his eyes meaningful.

After thinking for a moment, he smiled with some reproach, “So the Inspector doesn’t plan to take responsibility for me?”

These words left Luo Wanqing bewildered. She looked at Cui Heng questioningly, wondering if he was the type who demanded marriage after any physical contact.

He didn’t seem like it, but one could never be sure about such things.

After all, last night he had initially been such a gentleman that it surprised her. So she immediately became nervous, carefully choosing her words to apologize, “I’m sorry, last night I was affected by the Jile Pill…”

“But when I touched the Inspector, half an hour had already passed,” Cui Heng understood her meaning and asked with a smile, appearing increasingly sharp, “Had the Jile Pill’s effects not worn off yet?”

These words made Luo Wanqing’s mind explode.

She suddenly remembered that he had indeed seemed to say something about “half an hour” at the time.

But that wasn’t what he said later.

He had comforted her, saying it was all the drug’s effect, telling her to relax and not worry about it.

What did he mean now?

If half an hour had passed, then last night she…

She looked at Cui Heng in disbelief, her heart pounding violently, both afraid and panicked. Cui Heng watched her expression for a long time before his chest shook lightly as he laughed.

“Just joking.”

He straightened up, releasing the hand supporting his chin, and looked at her with a smile, quite sincerely saying, “It was the drug’s effect. Xiniang asked nothing of Heng.”

However, these words sounded strange no matter how she heard them. Luo Wanqing felt inexplicably guilty and simply stopped discussing it, giving a vague response as she picked up food.

Just as she picked up a shrimp dumpling, she heard Cui Heng say, “But since I helped, I should get some benefit, right?”

This scared Luo Wanqing so much that she shuddered, and the dumpling fell onto the table.

She mumbled, “What… what kind of benefit?”

“Just one thing,” Cui Heng leaned forward, speaking seriously, “Before I die, could you have only me?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was startled and looked up at him.

The person before her seemed to be joking, but she heard some serious undertones: “In my life, apart from elders and sisters, I’ve never been involved with women. In the future, I’ll likely find it difficult to marry and have children. After death, I’ll probably have a lonely grave with no one to offer sacrifices. Now that I’ve helped Xiniang so much, asking Xiniang to establish a memorial tablet for me after death isn’t excessive, is it?”

A memorial tablet.

In life, only he; in death, making offerings for him.

The identity that would allow a woman to do such a thing, though he didn’t say it outright, they both understood.

Luo Wanqing gripped her chopsticks. She ignored the secret joy brought by “never been involved with women” and quietly looked at the person before her.

She wanted to ask why.

Why did he change his mind halfway through last night?

Why would he make such a request?

But she couldn’t bring herself to ask, afraid she was misunderstanding, yet afraid she wasn’t.

After thinking for a long time, she only gripped her chopsticks tightly and said with pursed lips, “You won’t die after me.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng chuckled softly, showing some tenderness in his eyes. Understanding her meaning, he only asked, “You want me to live?”

“Naturally.”

Luo Wanqing looked up at him seriously, “You’ll live a long, healthy, and peaceful life.”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s blessing, Cui Heng didn’t speak.

After a moment, he reached out to gently brush her hair aside and said softly, “Then promise me too.”

“But I…”

Cui Heng ignored her, as if she had already agreed, and straightened up to begin making demands: “Besides that, from now on, no more randomly taking strange drugs, no seducing young masters for missions, no…”

“I didn’t seduce Young Master!”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t care about Cui Heng’s other ridiculous demands. Upon hearing the accusation of “seducing Xie Heng,” she exclaimed in shock and instinctively explained, “I was just…”

“Young Master has already complained to me about it.” Cui Heng shook his head to interrupt her, smiling as he said, “He said I didn’t teach you well – our Supervision Department’s most promising future Inspector doesn’t value herself.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. Cui Heng stood up and walked to her.

He extended his hand toward her. In the sunlight, the hand beneath his blue sleeve had distinct joints, white as jade, with the wound across his palm particularly striking.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the knife wound on his palm, feeling cool jade fingers trace across her cheek with tender affection.

“Xiniang,” his black hair and wide sleeves carried his scent as they brushed her cheek in the wind, his lowered eyes dark with golden flecks, “excessive rigidity leads to breaking. Whatever brought you to the Supervision Department, living well yourself is most important.”

“What counts as living well?” Luo Wanqing looked at the knife mark on his palm, somewhat confused.

“Think about the future.” Cui Heng placed his hand on her hair, “Ten years from now, twenty years, until old age. If your current decisions might cause regret in the future, then don’t make them.”

Listening to Cui Heng’s words, Luo Wanqing thought about recent days.

Starting from the night she killed the Crown Prince, his whereabouts had been unpredictable. At first, he ignored her, then sent Zhusi over. Until his birthday when she gave him a jade hairpin, he suddenly became like before again, coming to see her every night when free.

Combined with his current words, after going around in circles, Luo Wanqing belatedly understood: “Are you… Angry with me?”

Cui Heng raised an eyebrow. Seeing she had guessed correctly, Luo Wanqing knew Cui Heng was indeed angry about her seeking out Xie Heng for Li Guiyu’s sake.

Given Cui Heng’s protective nature toward her, such behavior would certainly displease him.

But he had endured for so long without saying anything.

She said somewhat awkwardly, “When I… wanted to go to Li Guiyu’s side, Young Master told you that same night, didn’t he?”

Seeing her realization, Cui Heng couldn’t help smiling.

He caressed her chin and said slowly, “Not just that.”

Luo Wanqing looked at him questioningly. Seeing her confused expression, Cui Heng felt secretly resentful and couldn’t help saying more: “You were supposed to inform me about calculating against the Dark Pavilion, but you said you didn’t want to be under my protection. I thought we were close, but you killed the Crown Prince without a word. You sought out Young Master to sacrifice yourself for Li Guiyu and took the Jile Pill to catch Lu Lingchan. Liu Xiniang…”

He cupped her chin, suddenly forcing her to look up, gripping her jawbone tightly as he smiled and praised, “You’re truly capable.”

Luo Wanqing felt guilty under his accusations, finally understanding where this anger originated, but he hadn’t considered why he had the right to be angry. She hurriedly apologized, “I… it was all urgent circumstances.”

“Will you do this again in the future?” Cui Heng only looked at her, his tone cool.

Luo Wanqing quickly said, “I won’t.”

She wasn’t stupid – why step in the same pit twice?

Cui Heng looked at her seemingly all-knowing expression and felt somewhat disdainful. Chuckling lightly, he only said, “Think more about things in the future. I’ve invested considerable effort in you – several bags of gold beads alone. Don’t tarnish my reputation or waste my gold beads.”

“I understand.”

Luo Wanqing immediately agreed, her gaze earnest: “Rest assured, I’ll never take crooked paths again and will become a good Inspector who doesn’t shame you.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng’s movement paused.

Looking at her serious expression, he sneered, then withdrew his hand and sat down somewhat irritably. Taking a cup from the side, he drank tea to cool his anger, saying lazily, “Hurry up and eat. You still need to go down the mountain to see Lu Lingchan later.”

“Alright.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, knowing this was the current priority.

She quickly finished eating and stood up. The two went down the mountain one after the other. Luo Wanqing led Cui Heng to the underground prison. As soon as they entered, they saw Fang Yuan coming out. Seeing them both, Fang Yuan was startled, then looked at Luo Wanqing: “This is?”

“My Shadow Envoy, Cui Heng, Cui Guanlan. This is Inspector Fang Yuan.”

Luo Wanqing introduced both sides. Hearing this, Fang Yuan immediately smiled and bowed: “Shadow Envoy Cui.”

Cui Heng returned the bow, acknowledging the introduction.

“Where is Lu Lingchan?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t make small talk and looked directly toward the prison.

Fang Yuan led Luo Wanqing inside, explaining: “After bringing him back to the department last night, I had him detained, waiting for you to interrogate him. Inspector Xing Ling has already prepared all current confessions and witness testimony. As soon as Lu Lingchan reveals the Eastern Palace people, we can immediately connect with the evidence related to the underground black market and arrest them.”

Luo Wanqing trusted Xing Ling’s work. She asked about Lu Lingchan’s cell location, bid farewell to Fang Yuan, and led Cui Heng inside.

Lu Lingchan was a serious criminal, held in solitary confinement with no visitation allowed.

Luo Wanqing got the keys from the guard at the entrance and brought Cui Heng into the corridor, walking to Lu Lingchan’s cell.

Upon reaching the cell, she saw Lu Lingchan lying on the bed. His lying position was rigid, with no movement in his chest. Luo Wanqing immediately sensed something was wrong, quickly unlocked the door with the key, and rushed forward.

But upon entering the cell and touching Lu Lingchan, Luo Wanqing’s expression changed.

“What’s wrong?”

Cui Heng entered the room. Luo Wanqing placed her hand on Lu Lingchan’s neck pulse. Hearing Cui Heng’s question, she turned to look at him, her face extremely grim.

“He’s dead.”

Luo Wanqing spoke. Cui Heng’s expression didn’t change much. He walked to the bedside, looked at Lu Lingchan, used his folding fan to lift his arm and clothing to examine everything, then said calmly, “Died two hours ago.”

“It’s Black Gold Binding.” Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, identifying the poison. “From poisoning to death takes four hours.”

“He was still at the Zheng residence then.” Cui Heng glanced at her and stated with certainty, “It wasn’t someone from the Supervision Department.”

“I know.”

Recalling the events, the most likely person who had contact with Lu Lingchan at the Zheng residence and wanted him dead was Zheng Jinxin.

But who killed Lu Lingchan was no longer important. What mattered now was what she would do.

Lu Lingchan was the only person in their current information who had a direct connection to the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus. With Lu Lingchan dead, perhaps others could be investigated, but the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus were now completely untouchable.

But she had promised Xie Heng she would handle the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus through this case. Now unable to do so, she couldn’t explain to Xie Heng.

She remained silent. Cui Heng didn’t rush her either, standing quietly to the side for a while before hearing her say, “First, lock down this information. No one can know Lu Lingchan is dead.”

“Then take him to the back mountain prison, with the Inspector personally guarding him.”

Cui Heng provided Luo Wanqing with a solution. Luo Wanqing nodded and stood up: “Take him away.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng didn’t move. Luo Wanqing turned to look at him: “What are you doing?”

“That…” Cui Heng hesitated, “Could you get me a clean bag to put him in?”

“You find him dirty?”

Luo Wanqing immediately understood and turned to carry him herself: “Then I’ll carry him.”

“No, no, no.”

Cui Heng quickly stopped her, explaining: “If you carry him out like that and experienced Inspectors see, they might detect that he’s dead. Just wait for me – I’ll have someone find a clean bag.”

With that, Cui Heng held Luo Wanqing down while he went to find the guard, requesting a clean hemp bag.

He also brought a bed sheet.

Luo Wanqing sat to the side, watching him pull gloves from his sleeve, stuff the person into the bag, then spread the bed sheet on his shoulder before carrying Lu Lingchan.

Watching his complex procedures, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help saying, “If you can’t handle dead bodies, I’ll carry him.”

“Absolutely not.” Cui Heng raised his hand, using the end of his fan that hadn’t touched Lu Lingchan to press against Luo Wanqing’s shoulder while carrying Lu Lingchan with his other hand, saying only, “How could such a task trouble the Inspector? Let’s go up the mountain.”

Seeing Cui Heng’s behavior, Luo Wanqing momentarily regretted bringing him along – he was truly troublesome, so much so that he was a burden.

Fortunately, once Lu Lingchan was carried, everything became much simpler. After Luo Wanqing signed the transfer documents requesting Lu Lingchan be moved to the back mountain prison, she brought Cui Heng and the body directly back to the back mountain.

Arriving at the back mountain, Luo Wanqing and Cui Heng threw the corpse into the prison. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help saying, “What do we do with this person now? We can’t just let him rot here.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll find a coffin and temporarily seal him in with some body-preserving medicinal materials. What the Inspector should worry about now,” Cui Heng reminded her, “is what happens next?”

Luo Wanqing knew Cui Heng’s reminder was correct. What happened next – how to investigate the case and how to explain to Xie Heng – was currently most important.

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. After thinking for a long time, she finally said, “I’ll first work with Xing Ling and the others to handle the other people. Tonight… I’ll think some more.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng nodded without saying much, then said, “Then I’ll accompany you…”

“That’s not necessary.”

Thinking of Cui Heng’s troublesome behavior earlier, Luo Wanqing immediately refused, saying only, “You… you were also tired all night. You should rest first. I can go alone.”

“Shall I wait for you tonight?”

Cui Heng was amused by her words, then said, “Actually, I wasn’t tired last night either.”

“Rest well.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t discuss it further and turned to leave directly.

Cui Heng smiled as he followed her out of the prison, seeing her down the mountain. After she went down the mountain, his expression became stern as he immediately turned back to his small courtyard.

Qingya and Xuanshan were discussing something. Seeing Xie Heng enter, Qingya picked up his tea and smiled, “Young Master, did you see Lu Lingchan?”

“He’s dead.”

Xie Heng spoke. Qingya and Xuanshan were startled. The two exchanged glances, and Xuanshan frowned, saying, “What about the Eastern Palace then?”

“Lu Lingchan was the only person who held evidence of the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus’ involvement in Eastern Palace affairs,” Qingya pondered. “If he’s dead, Young Master wanting to move against the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus will require finding another way.”

“It’s not over yet.”

Xie Heng walked up the corridor. Qingya and Xuanshan looked over as Xie Heng sat at the table and said calmly, “The outcome depends on Liu Xiniang.”

Luo Wanqing went down the mountain to the council hall, where she found everyone waiting.

With Lu Lingchan captured yesterday, everyone was very happy. Being able to bring the Crown Prince’s Chief Clerk into the Supervision Department meant the Eastern Palace case was probably nearing its end.

This greatly changed everyone’s attitude toward Luo Wanqing. As soon as she entered the council hall, everyone automatically stood up respectfully: “Inspector Liu.”

Luo Wanqing looked at everyone’s hopeful smiles, her expression unchanged. She sat in the main seat of the council hall. Fang Yuan brought tea over happily: “Inspector Liu, have some tea.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. Everyone looked at her, and Ran He tentatively asked, “Inspector Liu, can we interrogate Lu Lingchan today?”

“Yes, he’s the Crown Prince’s Chief Clerk. According to the confessions and evidence everyone has gathered, most of the affairs should have been handled by him. He’s the core of the entire Eastern Palace. As long as he confesses, we can arrest people according to the list. The Eastern Palace case won’t be far from concluded!”

Fang Yuan was extremely happy. As he said this, everyone smiled too.

Luo Wanqing listened to them discuss which cases involved Lu Lingchan but lacked evidence, and which cases had no leads but were waiting for Lu Lingchan’s confession to see if they could progress.

After listening for a long time, Luo Wanqing finally spoke quietly: “Lu Lingchan… has been sent to the back mountain.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, waiting for Luo Wanqing’s explanation.

Luo Wanqing thought carefully. Simply saying Lu Lingchan was at the back mountain without giving a reason would not work. Moreover, since Lu Lingchan had been poisoned, the poisoner certainly knew. If she covered up too much, it would seem suspicious.

After careful consideration, Luo Wanqing said half-truthfully: “He was poisoned. Fortunately, I discovered it in time, but it’s still very dangerous. He can only be sent to the back mountain for Doctor Wei to treat and see if there’s a chance to save him.”

Wei Qianqiu was the doctor who specifically treated Xie Heng. No one dared claim they could predict his abilities.

However, this meant Lu Lingchan was essentially captured for nothing. Fang Yuan thought about it, then smiled and comforted: “Well, he’s not dead yet, right? Let’s work on other things first and talk again when he recovers.”

“That’s exactly what I think.”

Luo Wanqing’s voice was steady. Everyone calmed down, too. Luo Wanqing calmly instructed: “Although having Lu Lingchan’s confession would make things much simpler, it doesn’t mean the case can’t proceed without him. We’ve already gathered evidence on many other officials but haven’t acted yet. Today, go apply for arrest warrants. Starting with Lin Shuzhi,” Luo Wanqing said coldly, “arrest whoever we can.”

“Yes.”

Everyone immediately agreed, no longer questioning Luo Wanqing’s decisions.

After thinking, Luo Wanqing added: “Now is different from before – we’re dealing with aristocratic officials. Everyone must be careful. Don’t act separately. The case isn’t more important than your lives – don’t risk them.”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s instructions, everyone smiled. Fang Shun joked, “Inspector Liu is overthinking. We’re all old hands at this.”

Luo Wanqing smiled without speaking, only saying: “Go then.”

Everyone didn’t slack off either. They stood up and went to apply for arrest warrants.

After everyone left, only Xing Ling remained in the room. Luo Wanqing looked up: “What is it?”

“The others won’t be affected,” Xing Ling said calmly, “but I’ve looked at the files. The Eastern Palace Six Bureaus can’t be arrested without Lu Lingchan.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing raised her head and looked at Xing Ling’s hand gripping her sword tightly, frowning: “You must deal with the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus?”

“I must.”

“Why?”

“They killed Inspector Cui.”

Xing Ling stated with certainty. Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled – she had dealt with Cui Ziran before and hadn’t seen any clues pointing to the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus.

“How are you certain?”

“The Eastern Palace Six Bureaus all come from Wang family death warriors. The six are led by Left Guard Captain Zhao Bing, with life-and-death bonds. They’ve long been at odds with Inspector Cui and had arguments before the incident.”

“That doesn’t mean they acted.” Luo Wanqing pondered. “They only quarreled.”

“Then consider it for Inspector Cui’s past.” Xing Ling’s tone was flat. “For the past, they shouldn’t be spared either.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand and asked: “The past?”

“Nothing.”

Xing Ling diverted the topic, restraining something as she said quietly: “If Lu Lingchan is dead, what does Inspector Liu plan to do? The Eastern Palace Six Bureaus,” Xing Ling raised her eyes to look at Luo Wanqing, “will Inspector Liu handle them or not?”

Luo Wanqing listened to Xing Ling’s question, her gaze sweeping over Xing Ling’s hand gripping the sword.

She seemed to be desperately restraining her emotions, her knuckles white from gripping too tightly.

This emotion was very familiar to Luo Wanqing. She looked at Xing Ling for a moment, then said slowly: “Don’t interfere with the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus matter.”

Hearing this, Xing Ling suddenly stood up, seeming to know the answer, and strode outside.

After only a few steps, she heard Luo Wanqing say quietly, “I will kill them.”

Xing Ling was somewhat surprised and turned back in shock. Luo Wanqing acted as if she hadn’t said anything, waving at Xing Ling.

Xing Ling looked at her in surprise and suspicion. Luo Wanqing said calmly, “Go arrest people. Handle the other cases well.”

Hearing this, Xing Ling didn’t argue further. She pressed her lips together and finally said, “Alright.”

With that, she turned and left. Luo Wanqing stood in the council hall, thought for a long time, then sat down.

Though she didn’t know what had happened between Cui Ziran and the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus, seeing Xing Ling’s attitude, she knew Xing Ling was determined to kill the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus.

She was too familiar with that emotion, exactly like before she killed the Crown Prince. She did not doubt that if she didn’t intervene now, Xing Ling would find an opportunity to assassinate the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus tonight.

But her successful assassination of the Crown Prince was due to perfect timing and circumstances. The Wang family’s martial world forces had been nearly annihilated in the preceding months, the Empress had given her an unexpected opportunity by quickly transferring Li Shangwen to the imperial mausoleum, and Li Shangwen himself had no martial arts skills. As a deposed Crown Prince with no value, she could risk everything to kill Li Shangwen.

The Eastern Palace Six Bureaus were different. According to her information, they were martially exceptional and mostly active within the Eastern Capital. Killing them without leaving any trace was completely impossible.

If Xing Ling tried to assassinate them, the best outcome would be trading her life for theirs.

But she might even just die in vain.

She couldn’t let Xing Ling take this path. Moreover, she had promised Xie Heng she would help him clear the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus positions.

Only by clearing the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus positions could she demonstrate her value to Xie Heng, be promoted to Fifth Rank Inspector, enter the Secret Pavilion, and obtain her father’s files.

She had never forgotten why she came to the Supervision Department.

But now Lu Lingchan was dead, she had no leads, and continuing to investigate might not yield results. Wanting ironclad evidence to legitimately bring down the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus seemed to have become an impossible dream.

The only possibility…

The crime from Xie Heng’s previous life flashed through Luo Wanqing’s mind.

“Framing the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus”

As this charge flashed by, Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered last night when Xie Heng held her and said, “Forgive the offense.”

That “forgive the offense,” remembered at this moment, made her acutely aware.

This was a person, a living person.

Even if he was destined to die in the future for promoting the “Great Xia Laws,” at this moment, he lived in her life.

Although if she had to choose between the implementation of the “Great Xia Laws” and Xie Heng’s death, she would unhesitatingly choose to let this law that would save countless people’s fates in the future be implemented, this decision should never be hers to make.

She had already pushed Xie Heng further toward his predetermined fate by assassinating the Crown Prince. She couldn’t indulge herself in pushing Xie Heng toward death.

If there was any way to save him, she had to try.

Luo Wanqing took a deep breath, took the case files from beside her, and began reading, looking for any other clues.

But after searching all day, she still couldn’t find any leads.

Seeing it was late at night, she finally gave up and returned to the mountain.

Upon returning to the mountain, she saw Cui Heng sitting on the steps in front of her room, teasing Zhusi with sunflower seeds.

Zhusi swayed like a chicken in front of Cui Heng, trying to peck at the seeds in his hand.

Seeing this scene, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help smiling and reminded Cui Heng: “Its beak is very sharp. Don’t hurt yourself.”

“Don’t worry.”

Cui Heng threw the seeds to it, looked up, and smiled: “I raised it. I know it better than you do.”

“Where did you get the eagle?”

Luo Wanqing was curious, walking to Zhusi and reaching down to pet its head.

Having carried messages between them for some time, Zhusi was familiar with Luo Wanqing.

Cui Heng watched Luo Wanqing pet it and said gently, “The Northwest.”

“You’ve been to the Northwest?”

Luo Wanqing was curious.

Cui Heng acknowledged and said calmly, “Yes, several times.”

Then Cui Heng looked up at her knowingly: “Today didn’t go smoothly?”

“Lu Lingchan is dead. The lead to investigate the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus is broken.”

Luo Wanqing sat beside Cui Heng, thinking: “I promised Young Master I’d use this case to clear the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus positions for him, so I can enter the Secret Pavilion and get my father’s case.”

“There’s no need to rush,” Cui Heng pondered and comforted: “Your father’s case was complex to begin with. The Director’s intention is actually to hope you’ll develop more slowly. From Yangzhou to today, it’s only been a few months. Reaching this point with an unstable foundation – it’s been too fast.”

Luo Wanqing listened and understood Cui Heng’s meaning.

Haste makes waste.

But both Cui Heng and Xie Heng were thinking about her path as an Inspector in the Supervision Department, while she knew she wanted more than just being a good Inspector and establishing herself in the Supervision Department. More importantly, she wanted revenge.

So her growth had to be fast, at least faster than Li Guiyu’s.

According to the previous life’s timeline, from her imprisonment to the Emperor’s death and Li Guiyu’s ascension, the entire period was less than two years. She didn’t have that much time to grow slowly. If Li Guiyu ascended the throne and she tried to act then, it wasn’t impossible, but that would be following the path of Qin Jue from her previous life’s dream.

It would be too late.

She didn’t want to spend most of her life wearing down Li Guiyu, so she hoped for the fastest possible resolution.

But she couldn’t say these words. Speaking them would displease Cui Heng.

She changed the subject: “I also promised Xing Ling.”

“Xing Ling?”

This surprised Cui Heng: “What does this have to do with her?”

“She said the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus killed Inspector Cui. She was close to Inspector Cui, so I promised to help her. If I don’t help, she’ll probably act herself, and I’m worried.”

Cui Heng listened and this time didn’t object, only thinking: “Then how will you help?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. Zhusi nuzzled against Cui Heng’s hand as Luo Wanqing quietly looked ahead.

Seeing Luo Wanqing’s expression, Cui Heng understood: “Actually, you have an idea, don’t you?”

“I don’t know if it’s right or wrong.”

Luo Wanqing spoke softly. Cui Heng smiled: “Tell me.”

“Actually…” Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, “killing people doesn’t necessarily require solving cases.”

Cui Heng petted Zhusi without speaking. Since Luo Wanqing had started talking, she had no more reservations and said calmly: “If it’s just dealing with the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus, we can look for crimes or create crimes.”

“Explain in detail,” Cui Heng became interested. “What do you want to do?”

“Currently, I’ve announced that Lu Lingchan is being treated by Doctor Wei,” Luo Wanqing thought through her day-long plan: “After some days, I’ll announce that Lu Lingchan has awakened, then propose a public trial to conclude the case. The night before the public trial, I’ll give them a chance to kill me.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng understood: “The Eastern Palace Six Bureaus, knowing you have evidence, will definitely try to kill you.”

“As long as I kill them when they actively attack me,” Luo Wanqing looked up, “they assassinated the investigating Inspector – that’s a capital crime.”

“Good plan.”

Cui Heng nodded, then asked puzzled: “What are you hesitating about?”

“I’m afraid of implicating Young Master.”

Luo Wanqing turned to look toward the back mountain, murmuring: “Creating crimes – isn’t this a form of framing? If someone wants to settle accounts with Young Master in the future, this could become his crime, like covering for me.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng laughed aloud.

Luo Wanqing was puzzled: “What are you laughing about?”

“How could you have such thoughts?” Cui Heng turned to look at her, somewhat curious: “Their intent to kill you is real, your counterattack is real – how could this be considered framing them? If they didn’t harbor evil intentions, how could you force crimes upon them?”

Luo Wanqing paused, suddenly understanding that from a normal perspective, this reasoning was indeed correct.

But knowing Xie Heng’s future outcome, any possibility that touched the edges might contribute to that result, so she was more stringent.

But she couldn’t tell Cui Heng this, only saying: “What if this truly harms Young Master?”

“Then let it harm him.” Cui Heng smiled. “His crimes are countless – what’s one more?”

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at Cui Heng. His tone was gentle, but his words were particularly cold: “Xiniang, I’ve told you before – everyone is a chess piece, and Xie Heng is no exception. You don’t need to fear implicating him. He deserves to die.”

“You…” Luo Wanqing said incredulously, “How can you say that?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng realized that as a “subordinate” of the Supervision Department, discussing his superior this way was indeed shocking.

He thought for a moment and finally said, “Do you know that Cui Ziran was once a member of the Cui clan?”

“I’ve heard.” Luo Wanqing immediately remembered upon his mention and said curiously, “I was wondering why he could stay in the Supervision Department. But thinking my father was also living well, I wasn’t surprised.”

“Your father was just a guest advisor, different from him. He was born into the Cui clan, raised by them, given the Cui surname. People like him, if they hadn’t died on the Northwest battlefield back then, should have died on the execution ground. Do you know why he’s alive?”

“Why?”

“Because he killed Cui family members.”

This made Luo Wanqing freeze. Cui Heng smiled at her and continued: “The Qingyun Ferry where you bid farewell to your parents was originally called Liren Ferry. Back then, the Cui clan’s young men were all outstanding. After the clan was imprisoned, they tried to escape from jail.”

Cui Heng turned to look into the distance, speaking simply and calmly: “However, a group of former Cui clan members betrayed them. Led personally by Xie Heng, they intercepted the escaped Cui clan members at Liren Ferry. That day, nearly half of the Cui clan’s sons perished there – blood stained the clear river, corpses floated everywhere. The eldest prince Li Shengzhao and the Cui clan’s eldest son Cui Zigui were both killed by Xie Heng’s sword. The former Cui clan members who participated in this encirclement survived, and Xie Heng gained the trust of His Majesty and the aristocratic families, enabling him to establish the Supervision Department.”

“Cui Ziran was one of those who participated in the encirclement?”

Luo Wanqing understood. Cui Heng nodded, looking ahead: “So actually, you don’t need to worry about Xie Heng. He may not be bad, but he’s not kind. If his life can pave your way,” Cui Heng turned to look at Luo Wanqing, “I would be comforted, and he would be willing too.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. She quietly looked at Cui Heng. Though he was smiling, she saw sadness in his eyes.

“What about you?”

She suddenly spoke. Cui Heng was puzzled: “Me?”

“If he truly is the one who killed the Cui clan, as you said, why are you here?”

Luo Wanqing looked at him, her heart aching, wave after wave.

“You bear the Cui surname, are well-mannered, and your every movement follows aristocratic etiquette. You were once a young master of the Cui clan, weren’t you?”

This was the first time she actively explored his identity. Cui Heng paused and didn’t speak.

Luo Wanqing took his silence as confirmation and continued asking: “If so, since Xie Heng harmed the Cui clan, why are you still here?”

Cui Heng didn’t answer, but Luo Wanqing provided the answer: “Because he had no choice either. The Cui clan was already in desperate straits then. Rather than that, letting Xie Heng act could better preserve the Cui clan and continue Cui Qingping’s legacy of implementing the ‘Great Xia Laws.’ That’s why you stayed here, isn’t it?”

Cui Heng didn’t speak, so Luo Wanqing knew she had guessed correctly.

She looked at Cui Heng and explained: “Guanlan, if so, Young Master was saving people, not killing them. You shouldn’t resent him.”

Cui Heng smiled at her, his gaze moving slightly.

Seeing him silent, Luo Wanqing was puzzled: “Cui Heng?”

Cui Heng didn’t answer.

After a long time, he reached out and quietly embraced Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing was startled by his embrace and instinctively tried to retreat, but he spoke gently: “Don’t move.”

Luo Wanqing stopped moving. She let him hold her quietly, feeling emotions from behind Cui Heng’s mask for the first time.

Whether as the past “Qin Jue” or as Cui Heng of the Supervision Department, he always wore a mask, smiling to conceal all his true emotions.

He always stood beside her, yet remained like a perfect illusion.

Strong, gentle, carrying the carefree attitude of laughing at life, seemingly invulnerable.

But in this moment of embracing her, she finally felt that the person before her had broken through that invisible ice wall and descended to her side.

She remained quietly silent. After a long time, she heard Cui Heng say seriously: “But he proposed the ‘Great Xia Laws.'”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand. Cui Heng held her, not daring to look at her, only saying: “He was young and ignorant when he told Cui Qingping. At that time, he was just an aristocratic young master who played the qin well and had decent martial arts, but because he was well-born, everyone praised him until he became conceited.”

Holding this person in his arms, he finally dared to look back and said softly, “So he proposed the ‘Great Xia Laws,’ and Cui Qingping thought it was excellent. When everyone opposed it, he supported the Cui clan stubbornly. When the Cui clan got into trouble, he couldn’t do anything. You guessed right – the Cui clan was indeed at a dead end then. That escape was a conspiracy from the start.”

“Cui Heng…”

Luo Wanqing didn’t know whether she should stop him from continuing.

“But I won’t forgive him.” Cui Heng closed his eyes. “The Cui clan perished because of his foolishness and arrogance. My clan members all died – my brothers, sisters, relatives, friends – they all died by his hand, yet he lives well.”

Cui Heng’s body trembled lightly as he said hoarsely: “I will never forgive him.”

“I’m here only because he promised that everything he does will be repaid.”

With that, Cui Heng slowly opened his eyes and said calmly, “So don’t worry about him. Xiniang, he’s just a chess piece.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t know how to respond.

No matter how many reasons there were, Xie Heng had acted, making him Cui Heng’s enemy.

She couldn’t console Cui Heng.

Though Xie Heng had been kind to her, if she had to choose between the two, for Liu Xiniang, Cui Heng would always outweigh anyone except her family.

In the past, she had suspected Cui Heng’s identity, even wondering if he might be Xie Heng.

But at this moment, she finally completely dismissed this thought.

No one would actively urge others to let themselves die, nor would anyone hate themselves this much.

Moreover, compared to Xie Heng, Minister of Personnel Cui Heng was more like him, but she didn’t want to investigate or compare.

She remained silent. Cui Heng also felt he had said too much. After calming down for a long time, he released her and smiled at her, seemingly joking: “You only need to be good to me alone. Don’t keep so many people in your heart, or I’ll feel aggrieved, thinking I’m getting a raw deal.”

“What raw deal are you getting?”

Knowing he didn’t want to discuss the Cui clan matter anymore, Luo Wanqing followed his lead and asked with a smile.

Cui Heng looked at her, placing his hand on his chest, quite seriously: “Cui Heng has given Xiniang his whole heart. Apart from Xiniang, there’s no one else in his heart. But Xiniang thinks of Li Guiyu today, Xie Heng tomorrow, and might put Zhuque, Qingya, and Xuanshan in her heart the day after, plus caring for Xing Ling and other Inspectors. How am I not getting a raw deal?”

This made Luo Wanqing laugh. She looked at the person before her with amusement: “Shadow Envoy Cui speaks sweet words so easily – you must have said plenty before.”

“How could that be?”

Cui Heng immediately became serious. He leaned close to Luo Wanqing, half-serious, half-joking: “I live for Xiniang, exist for Xiniang. Apart from Xiniang, there’s nothing else.”

He was too close, instantly reminding Luo Wanqing of last night’s absurd events. Though she knew it was just joking, she couldn’t help her heart racing.

Not daring to look directly at him for fear of appearing flustered, she looked away and tried to remain composed: “Don’t make such jokes anymore.”

Cui Heng knew when to stop and didn’t continue. He moved back to create distance, as if nothing had happened, turned to look at Zhusi, and said slowly: “Your idea is good. If you want to conclude the Eastern Palace case but worry about the Director, why not let him choose himself?”

Luo Wanqing turned to look at Cui Heng and saw him looking at her seriously: “For my sake, don’t be too good to him.”

Luo Wanqing paused, then finally said gently: “Alright.”

“Then continue practicing tonight and go tomorrow.”

Since joining the Supervision Department, whenever Cui Heng had time, he would come to guide her in practice. One hour of sword practice daily was Luo Wanqing’s unshakeable habit.

Knowing it was already late and inappropriate to disturb Xie Heng, Luo Wanqing followed Cui Heng’s suggestion, took her blade, and sparred with him.

After practicing for an hour, Luo Wanqing planned to bathe and rest. Seeing Cui Heng’s spirited condition, she suddenly remembered: “When do you sleep?”

This made Cui Heng pause. Luo Wanqing asked, puzzled: “You slept later than I last night and woke earlier than I. I remember when I examined your pulse in Yangzhou, you seemed prone to headaches. Was that pulse reading real?”

“The pulse was fake.” Cui Heng thought about it and didn’t lie to her. “But the headaches are real. I don’t like sleeping.”

“Why?”

“I dream easily.” Cui Heng’s tone became somewhat flat. “Nightmares.”

Luo Wanqing paused, then nodded: “I understand.”

“But if the Inspector could kiss me,” Cui Heng joked, “I’d sleep well.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn’t respond and put away her blade.

Cui Heng leaned against the corridor pillar, crossing his arms and sighing: “Unfortunately, the Inspector is stingy and definitely won’t agree. If I force it, it would be ungentlemanly, but my nightly nightmares…”

Before he finished speaking, Luo Wanqing had already walked to his side. During his chatter, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his exposed cheek.

All of Cui Heng’s words instantly stopped. He turned his head in a daze, looking at Luo Wanqing in disbelief.

Seeing his reaction, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help laughing aloud.

She suddenly understood the pleasure Cui Heng usually got from teasing her. Looking at the stunned young man, she joked: “Can you sleep peacefully tonight?”

It took Cui Heng a long time to recover. He could no longer joke and looked away, somewhat at a loss: “Mm.”

“Then go sleep.” Luo Wanqing urged. “It’s too late. You should sleep well.”

“Alright.”

Cui Heng nodded, straightened up, and for once didn’t joke, saying quietly: “You sleep too.”

With that, he walked away.

Luo Wanqing watched his retreating figure, thinking about his earlier words.

She remembered when he first took her to bid farewell to her family and heard the name “Qingyun Ferry,” he had paused for a moment.

Then he unhesitatingly carried her to the ferry.

At that time, she didn’t know what he was hesitating about in that brief moment, but knowing today, she felt heartache.

She realized that the more someone smiled, the more heartbreaking it was when they spoke of sorrowful things.

Fortunately, it was all in the past.

She thought with some comfort that Cui Heng had survived, and the Cui clan would eventually be vindicated. Once vindicated, perhaps Cui Heng could remove his mask and live well.

She wouldn’t establish a memorial tablet for him.

He had to live better and longer than she.

Luo Wanqing rested well that night. Upon waking early in the morning, she went to find Xie Heng.

Xie Heng attended morning court before dawn, so Luo Wanqing waited obediently at his door. After a while, she heard Zhuque’s voice from down the mountain, complaining: “Those dogs from the Censorate are just asking for a beating. With solid evidence, if we arrest them, we arrest them. What did Inspector Liu do wrong? If some old lady dies of fright and she has to take responsibility, should she also be responsible if my grandmother’s rooster gets pregnant?!”

Hearing herself mentioned, Luo Wanqing curiously looked over. Just as Zhuque finished speaking, the group reached the steps and looked up to see Luo Wanqing standing behind the courtyard gate, curiously observing them.

Xie Heng wore the Supervision Department Director’s court robes – black garments with gold patterns, a wide robe, and a golden crown. Today, he wore an additional pair of black leather gloves, making him appear even more aloof.

Qingya and Zhuque followed behind him. Upon seeing Luo Wanqing, everyone fell silent.

Luo Wanqing quickly bowed first, respectfully saying: “Young Master, Azure Dragon Envoy, Vermillion Bird Envoy.”

“Something wrong?”

Seeing her, Xie Heng knew her purpose and asked directly.

Luo Wanqing didn’t waste words either, replying: “Regarding the Eastern Palace case.”

Qingya and Zhuque exchanged glances. Xie Heng nodded: “Come in and talk.”

With that, Xie Heng walked into the courtyard, instructing Luo Wanqing: “Wait in the courtyard.”

Luo Wanqing acknowledged and followed into the courtyard after Xie Heng entered.

Xie Heng went inside to change into casual clothes first, while Qingya and Zhuque returned to their respective courtyards to change.

Luo Wanqing waited alone. Soon, she saw Xie Heng emerge.

He had changed into white casual robes and switched to silver gloves.

Luo Wanqing unconsciously focused on his gloves. Xie Heng seemed unaware, kneeling at his desk, methodically removing his gloves to reveal a pair of perfect, flawless hands. He reached for a vermilion brush and said indifferently: “What is it?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing suddenly snapped back to attention and quickly said: “Reporting to Young Master, this subordinate has a matter requiring your decision.”

“Speak.”

“Lu Lingchan is dead. Using the Eastern Palace case to bring down the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus will be difficult.”

Luo Wanqing slowly presented her long-prepared plan: “This subordinate thinks that in a few days, could the department deliberately spread word that Lu Lingchan has been revived, while simultaneously proposing a public trial to conclude the case, thus forcing the Eastern Palace Six Bureaus to actively attack me.”

With that, Luo Wanqing raised her eyes seriously: “As long as they act, this subordinate will kill them.”

Xie Heng looked down, his deliberately disguised hands showing no trace of injury when viewed from a distance.

Perfect as a jade statue, he held the vermilion brush and wrote the character “kill” on the judgment document, saying indifferently:

“Approved.”

Author’s Notes

Mini Theater

Xie Heng: “Establish a memorial tablet for me, be my wife.”

Luo Wanqing: “Don’t worry, you won’t die after me.”

Xie Heng: “Think more about me in the future – I’ve invested a lot in you!”

Luo Wanqing: “Don’t worry, I’ll become a good Inspector who won’t shame you.”

Xie Heng: “…When it comes to dodging romantic implications, you’re still the best.”

Luo Wanqing: “When it comes to manufacturing relationships, you’re still the master.”