◎Liu Xiniang, Kill Her◎

Unexpectedly, Xie Heng agreed so easily that all the words Luo Wanqing had prepared to persuade him suddenly got stuck in her throat.

Seeing that she neither responded nor withdrew, knowing she still had something to say, Xie Heng said indifferently, “What else is there?”

“Young Master,” Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but remind him, “if someone with ulterior motives makes an issue of this…”

“Right now, the most important thing is to take down the Eastern Palace’s Six Commands. I will handle other matters myself.” Xie Heng lowered his eyes to review documents, rarely offering her additional explanation. “Moreover, if this matter is brought up for discussion, it would not be because of any fault in this matter, but rather a case of fabricated charges – lacking this one incident wouldn’t make any difference.”

Hearing these words, Luo Wanqing’s heart settled down.

Xie Heng said in a low voice, “I will submit a memorial to the palace in three days requesting a public trial. You will attend court in five days. Prepare all the Eastern Palace materials during this time.”

“Yes.”

“My path – since you have chosen to follow, focus on the present and don’t overthink things.” As Xie Heng spoke, he raised his eyes to look at her. “Life and death rest with me, and have nothing to do with you.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood Xie Heng’s meaning.

In the end, it was nothing more than death, and Xie Heng had long been prepared.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel respect rising in her heart. She bowed respectfully, made her decision, and said earnestly, “Yes.”

“Also, aside from the Eastern Palace’s Six Commands, since you’ve taken on the Eastern Palace case, handle it properly.” Xie Heng spoke while raising his eyes. “Make it lively, make it thorough.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing pondered Xie Heng’s words in her heart and respectfully said, “Yes.”

“You may go.”

Xie Heng didn’t say more. Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered the words she had heard from Zhuque earlier and couldn’t help saying, “Young Master.”

Xie Heng raised his eyes to look at her. Luo Wanqing asked tentatively, “Did someone speak about me in court today?”

Xie Heng gave her a meaningful glance and only said, “The memorials impeaching you will be sent to your room later. Give me your response tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing stiffened.

The Censorate was indeed troublesome.

But judging from Xie Heng’s manner, it shouldn’t be too much trouble.

Luo Wanqing didn’t think much more about it. She bowed and walked out of the small courtyard, repeatedly pondering Xie Heng’s words “make it lively” and “make it thorough,” contemplating their meaning.

Thorough and lively – that meant making a big show of it. With so many scions of noble families in the Eastern Palace, when they went to arrest people, that would certainly be quite a spectacle.

Xie Heng’s meaning was to tell her not to hold back.

Although she had indeed planned to do just that, since Xie Heng specifically instructed it, she felt there must be other considerations involved. Since she couldn’t guess what they were, she simply stopped trying to figure it out and went down the mountain to call everyone into the meeting hall to review everyone’s progress from yesterday.

“Last night when I came back, I nearly got my head cut off.”

Fang Yuan, still shaken, told Luo Wanqing about yesterday’s situation, waving his hand. “Arresting these scions of noble families is different from those small-time troublemakers. We need to be more careful tomorrow.”

Luo Wanqing nodded as she listened, then said, “I’ll form a group by myself.”

Hearing this, everyone looked over in surprise. Luo Wanqing swept her gaze over everyone, finally settling on Xing Ling’s face, and simply said, “You all arrest people-arrest them with confidence.”

Luo Wanqing alone formed one group. She was the chief inspector of this case, and everything was authorized by her.

As long as those people were allowed to kill her, there would be no need to target these other inspectors.

Everyone understood – Luo Wanqing intended to use herself as bait, allowing them to take action.

“The Chief Inspector shows great righteousness.”

Fang Zhi cupped his hands and bowed. Luo Wanqing smiled and simply said, “Get to work.”

Everyone bowed and left. Luo Wanqing sat in the meeting hall, tapping the table as she thought about today’s schedule.

She needed to create an opportunity for someone to assassinate her, and this opportunity had to seem natural. If it wasn’t natural, it might make people suspicious.

Moreover, since she was already going to fabricate a crime, she couldn’t waste this opportunity.

Zheng Biyue’s face flashed through her mind. She remembered how she had stood at the prison door, looking at her with cold arrogance mixed with contempt. Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes and chuckled softly.

Initially, she hadn’t thought of deliberately causing trouble for her, but since everyone at the music competition knew that she and Zheng Biyue had formed a grudge, she might as well go along with the flow.

After thinking for a while, Luo Wanqing made her plan. She wrote a visiting card, went to the back mountain to retrieve Lu Lingchan’s jade pendant from his coffin, and headed directly to the Zheng residence.

Arriving at the Zheng residence’s gate, she respectfully approached, presenting the visiting card along with the jade pendant, and said to the Zheng residence’s doorkeeper, “My young mistress would like to meet with Second Miss Zheng. Please convey this message.”

The doorkeeper looked down at the jade pendant and immediately recognized its considerable value. He quickly accepted the card and sent it to Zheng Jinxin’s room.

Seeing the doorkeeper carry it inside, Luo Wanqing left directly and went to the teahouse where she had arranged to meet Zheng Jinxin, entering a private room.

She waited in the room for a long time, then heard commotion outside. She sipped her tea lightly and soon heard the waiter knocking on the door, opening it to escort a woman inside.

Luo Wanqing turned to look and saw Zheng Jinxin wearing a robe, her face extremely grim as she stood in the doorway.

Seeing her, Luo Wanqing smiled and gestured, “Second Miss Zheng, please.”

Zheng Jinxin didn’t dare linger at the door. She immediately entered, pulled off the hood covering her head, knelt, and sat across from Luo Wanqing, and said coldly, “Minister Liu, what is the meaning of this today?”

“What are you talking about, Second Miss Zheng?” Luo Wanqing smiled as she looked up. “I don’t understand.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Jinxin pressed the jade pendant onto the table and said through gritted teeth, “What are you doing sending me Lu Lingchan’s jade pendant? We agreed that once he left the Zheng residence, he would have nothing to do with me. Now you…”

“You were the one who poisoned him, weren’t you?”

Luo Wanqing spoke, and Zheng Jinxin paused.

She pondered Luo Wanqing’s words and only said, “What poison?”

“Lu Lingchan was poisoned with Black Gold Coil. Calculating the timing, he was poisoned while in the Zheng residence. You let us take him away so easily because you had already calculated his death, and we would help you dispose of the body. This way, no one could ever identify that you had once harbored him, is that right?”

Luo Wanqing smiled as she spoke, pushing the freshly brewed tea toward Zheng Jinxin and said gently, “Unfortunately, he lived.”

Hearing this, Zheng Jinxin looked at Luo Wanqing in disbelief. Seeing her shocked expression, Luo Wanqing chuckled, “What? Didn’t the person who gave you the drug tell you that the Supervision Department has the best physicians in the world? I requested Wei Qianqiu to examine him. Although he’s still unconscious, it’s only a matter of time before he wakes up.”

Zheng Jinxin remained silent. She looked at the leisurely demeanor of the person before her, suppressed her fear, and said directly, “Minister Liu, speak plainly. Why did you call me here? What do you want to do?”

“I’m not interested in the matter between you and Lu Lingchan. The Eastern Palace case isn’t something I must handle either. What I’m most concerned about is one person.”

Luo Wanqing looked up, and Zheng Jinxin immediately understood Luo Wanqing’s meaning, asking directly, “Who?”

“Zheng Biyue.”

Luo Wanqing said earnestly, “I need to investigate something and need First Miss Zheng’s help. I want to meet with her alone.”

“She never goes out alone,” Zheng Jinxin immediately refused. “If this is what you need, I can’t help you.”

“Are you afraid I’ll harm her?”

“If I bring her out and something happens,” Zheng Jinxin said calmly, “my father will kill me.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing laughed. She fiddled with the Qianji Bead Bracelet on her wrist, slowly raised her head, and smiled meaningfully, “Don’t worry, he won’t.”

Zheng Jinxin frowned at these words. Luo Wanqing smiled and said, “If you become a prince’s consort, your father would never kill you.”

This statement stunned Zheng Jinxin. Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes to look at the Qianji bracelet and said casually, “It’s quite laughable when you think about it. You’re family, yet she’s always been the favored daughter of heaven. Your mother died early, the household matron doesn’t like you, your father pays you no attention, and you have to scheme for your marriage arrangements. You finally used every means to connect with Lu Lingchan, hoping to rise with the Crown Prince and become the wife of Duke An’guo, but then the Crown Prince fell. Now it’s good – the Wang clan only has Li Guiyu left as their son, so the Wang clan will fully support Li Guiyu. And your sister,” Luo Wanqing emphasized, “is going to marry him.”

“So what?” Zheng Jinxin said coldly, “Everyone has their fate.”

“But you could have that fate.” Luo Wanqing’s tone carried some temptation. “Li Guiyu gave you the poison, didn’t he? He treats you quite well, too. If he were to marry you, he probably wouldn’t be unwilling.”

These words made Zheng Jinxin’s fingertips twitch slightly. Luo Wanqing continued persuading, “You also know that what Li Guiyu values is the Zheng family, and what the Zheng family values is his status and ability. His relationship with Zheng Biyue has nothing to do with love. Without Zheng Biyue, the Zheng family would still send another daughter for the political marriage, and Li Guiyu would still marry that daughter. And you,” Luo Wanqing emphasized, “are currently the only unmarried daughter of the Zheng clan besides Zheng Biyue.”

With these words, Zheng Jinxin finally understood Luo Wanqing’s meaning.

Her heart beat rapidly, not daring to speak.

Although her mother’s status was ordinary, she was still a daughter of the Zheng clan. If Zheng Biyue died, the Zheng family would need a daughter to marry Li Guiyu, and it would have to be her.

At that time, even if Zheng Biyue’s death was connected to her, given her father’s nature, he might not investigate deeply.

Seeing that she was tempted, Luo Wanqing sipped her tea and continued, “Li Guiyu is such an outstanding young talent, with the support of both the Wang and Zheng clans. Sooner or later, he’ll ascend to the throne, and then his wife will be the Empress. Second Miss Zheng, such an opportunity,” Luo Wanqing lowered her voice, “won’t you seize it?”

“Will you kill her?” Zheng Jinxin asked.

Luo Wanqing made no promises, only saying, “I want to meet with her alone. Help me lure her out, without anyone knowing.”

“She has many skilled guards around her.” Zheng Jinxin frowned. “Even if I lure her out, you won’t be able to see her.”

“I’ll handle that.” Luo Wanqing raised her eyes to look at her. “You just need to tell me the time and place.”

“I can’t lure her to anywhere too remote.” Zheng Jinxin frowned. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and said directly, “Then just tell her you saw Luo Wanqing.”

“Who?” Zheng Jinxin looked confused.

Luo Wanqing tapped the table, “Just tell her you found a woman who fled to the Eastern Capital outside, and as soon as she opened her mouth, she wanted to find her and Li Guiyu. She said her name was Luo Wanqing. You won’t need to say anything more – she’ll tell you to be quiet herself and have you take her to see.”

Hearing this, Zheng Jinxin immediately realized, “Luo Wanqing has history with you? She did something to wrong Luo Wanqing before?”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Luo Wanqing lowered her head to drink tea. “After this is done, you and Lu Lingchan will have no connection whatsoever. I arrested him somewhere else.”

“What about after?” Zheng Jinxin continued asking.

Luo Wanqing looked puzzled, “Hmm?”

“After I lure her over, how will you deal with her?” Zheng Jinxin asked with concern. “Will you kill her?”

“That depends on her.” Luo Wanqing raised her eyes, saying with certainty, “Whatever she did, I’ll do the same. You can think about it some more. When you’ve decided,” Luo Wanqing stood up and pushed Lu Lingchan’s jade pendant back, “take this jade pendant and report to the Supervision Department using my name.”

With that, Luo Wanqing nodded, “I look forward to meeting again.”

After Luo Wanqing finished speaking, she went downstairs, her mind full of thoughts about Zheng Biyue.

She had many things she wanted to ask her.

She wanted to know – when Zheng Biyue heard the name Luo Wanqing, what would her feelings be?

Would she feel guilty? Would she be terrified? Would she regret?

She wasn’t worried about Zheng Jinxin refusing her. After all, Zheng Jinxin had no choice.

Betraying her sister, trading Zheng Biyue for her bright future, or protecting Zheng Biyue and letting Luo Wanqing expose her harboring of Lu Lingchan and ruin her own life – anyone with a brain would choose the former.

It’s just that any seemingly perfect choice has its pitfalls.

Luo Wanqing walked downstairs and looked back at the private room.

Become a Buddha or become a demon, Zheng Jinxin – you choose for yourself.

When Luo Wanqing was meeting with Zheng Jinxin, Li Guiyu was still at Weiyang Palace.

After the morning court session, he was summoned by the Empress. The Empress looked somewhat weary, supporting her forehead while having a maid kneel behind her to massage her shoulders.

She first talked about various trivial matters, and Li Guiyu just listened quietly. After speaking for a while, the Empress finally got to the point: “When you were born, the delivery was difficult. I nearly lost my life, and from that moment, I knew you were an ill omen. Ever since you returned, nothing has gone smoothly.”

As she spoke, the Empress raised her hand, and Zhao Dewang handed her tea from the side. The Empress took a sip, her tone full of disappointment: “You told me you would keep an eye on the Supervision Department, but the Dark Pavilion was destroyed. You said you would ensure Shangwen stayed alive, but later, Shangwen was gone too. Now you say you’ll protect the people Shangwen left behind, but what’s the result?”

The Empress laughed mockingly and raised her eyes: “Now Lu Lingchan has also been captured and taken back to the Supervision Department. Tell me, what use are you?”

“Your Majesty’s reproach is justified.” Li Guiyu’s tone was neither cold nor warm. He only said, “However, Lu Lingchan is already dead. Your Majesty can rest assured.”

“Dead?” The Empress’s face showed a cold expression. “The person has already been revived and is being held in the back mountain of the Supervision Department, where not even a mosquito can get in. How can you make him die?”

“The amount of poison I had Second Miss Zheng give him could never be survived.” Li Guiyu said with certainty. “I’m afraid the Supervision Department deliberately released false information. I also want to remind Your Majesty to tell the Eastern Palace’s Six Commands and others not to act rashly, and not to have any conflicts with Minister Liu.”

Hearing this, the Empress slowly raised her eyes: “Guiyu, I heard that at the music competition, you were again entangled with Liu Xiniang?”

Li Guiyu lowered his eyes and said softly, “Just some personal romantic matters.”

The Empress stared at him: “Can I still trust you?”

“Your Majesty,” Li Guiyu raised his eyes to look at the Empress and said calmly, “I share prosperity and adversity with the Wang family. The Eastern Palace’s Six Commands are all Wang family people. They served loyally under Shangwen with unwavering loyalty. I must treat them as Shangwen did, protecting them with all my heart.”

The Empress listened with an impatient expression, seeming to suppress something.

Li Guiyu raised his head and said earnestly, “But if I put in effort, I also need Your Majesty’s trust. If it continues as before, it’s hard to guarantee other troubles won’t arise.”

“Good.” Hearing this, the Empress smiled: “You and I, mother and son, should naturally work together with one heart.”

Li Guiyu heard this and bowed respectfully. After the two had a moment of apparent maternal kindness and filial piety, Li Guiyu took his leave.

As soon as Li Guiyu left, the Empress raised her hand and swept the cup away.

The palace servants immediately knelt on the ground. The Empress suppressed her anger and cursed: “This beast still doesn’t trust me! That Lu Lingchan must have been deliberately released by him. What personal romantic matters – if he were truly romantic, would Luo Wanqing have died?! Excuses, all excuses! He just can’t stand that the Eastern Palace’s Six Commands are Shangwen’s people, and still wants to eliminate them.”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger,” Zhao Dewang said anxiously. “Your Majesty, please give Third Prince another chance.”

“I can’t trust him,” Wang Lianyang pressed her lips together. “Listen to his words – he still considers those in the Eastern Palace to be Wang family people, Shangwen’s people. I’m afraid he doesn’t want to protect them.”

Wang Lianyang spoke while raising her hand to support her forehead, thinking: “Lu Lingchan’s side must still have left someone alive. If we let the Supervision Department continue investigating, I’m afraid Zhao Bing and the others can’t be saved. We need to find another way…”

Wang Lianyang closed her eyes and thought for a long time, finally saying: “Liu Xiniang, kill her.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Cui Heng: “If they’re chasing Master Zhang, please abandon him without hesitation. If they’re chasing me, please absolutely don’t give up on me.”

Luo Wanqing & Xing Ling: “How can you be like this? Master Zhang, what’s your opinion?”

Zhang Yiran: “I can’t stand seeing people with disheveled clothing.”

Cui Heng: “Is that the point?”

Zhang Yiran: “To me, it is.”

Xie Heng: “Rushing here and there, rushing here and there, fighting for a chance to appear!!”

[Mini Theater 2]

Luo Wanqing: “Cui Heng looks very much like Cui Heng. Well, let me randomly pick one then. I’ll share a room with Cui Heng.”

Cui Heng: “No. I don’t want to, I refuse.”

Luo Wanqing: “Why?”

Cui Heng: “I’m not stupid – sleeping in the same room as you. Do I not want to live?”

Zhang Yiran: “…”

Cui Heng: “Master Zhang isn’t afraid of death – this is something all of the Eastern Capital knows.”

Zhang Yiran: “…If you had said so earlier, it’s not that I’m not afraid…”