◎Can You and I Still Be Called Pure?◎

“She is a daughter of the Zheng clan. If you kill her without cause, no one can protect you.” Cui Heng’s tone was indifferent. “Don’t let revenge cloud your judgment.”

“Who says I’m killing her without cause?” Luo Wanqing smiled, speaking leisurely: “I told Zheng Jinxin to use Luo Wanqing’s identity to lure Zheng Biyue out, saying I have matters to discuss with Zheng Biyue privately. Then I also reminded her that as long as Zheng Biyue is gone, she could become a prince’s consort. In Zheng Jinxin’s eyes, Zheng Biyue is surrounded by Li Guiyu’s people. If Zheng Biyue wants to kill Luo Wanqing, she would avoid Li Guiyu and come up the mountain alone with her. This is Zheng Jinxin’s best opportunity to strike at Zheng Biyue.”

“You hope to kill Zheng Biyue through Zheng Jinxin’s hand?”

“Or use Zheng Jinxin’s life to harm her.” Luo Wanqing turned to look at Cui Heng, saying calmly: “Zheng Jinxin may not be able to kill – she’s just an ordinary concubine’s daughter, but Zheng Biyue isn’t. If Zheng Biyue contacts the Eastern Palace’s Six Commands and uses herself as bait to lure me out, then Zheng Biyue is prepared to kill tonight. Zheng Jinxin won’t be able to kill her. And given Zheng Biyue’s nature, if Zheng Jinxin dares to harm her, she won’t plan to leave Zheng Jinxin alive. She probably wants to take this opportunity to kill both me and Zheng Jinxin together.”

“Fratricide within a clan is a great taboo for noble families,” Cui Heng understood Luo Wanqing’s meaning and said calmly. “As long as you don’t die and obtain evidence of her killing on the spot, even if you don’t kill her immediately, you can use this to convict her later.”

“Yes.” Luo Wanqing smiled, her tone becoming lighter: “Moreover, I have many things I want to ask her.”

“Ask what?” Cui Heng was curious.

Luo Wanqing fell quiet. She suddenly remembered the winter in Yangzhou, the wind and snow in the prison.

The cell had no door, and cold wind mixed with dampness blew in, chilling one to the bone.

“I want to ask many things. I want to ask why her father framed my father, who proposed it, and for what purpose?”

“I want to ask who was involved in handling this case, what sufferings my father endured in prison.”

“I want to ask if it was Li Guiyu who killed my father, and why she came to see me in prison.”

“I want to ask if she felt any guilt when she saw me. I want to ask,” Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but smile, “when I press a blade against her, I want to ask if she regrets it.”

Speaking thus, she took a sip of wine. Cui Heng listened quietly. After a long while, he slowly said, “Does doing these things make you happy?”

“Whether I’m happy or not,” Luo Wanqing turned to look at him, “I came to the Supervision Department for revenge. If I do nothing, am I here to be a saint?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng’s movements paused.

After a moment, he laughed self-mockingly: “True enough.”

“By the way,” Luo Wanqing remembered Li Guiyu’s words from earlier and couldn’t help poking Cui Heng with her finger, asking tentatively: “The Young Master will protect me, right?”

“He will,” Cui Heng glanced at her and straightened up: “Rest assured and seek your revenge. You won’t die.”

Speaking thus, he put down the wine bottle and stood up, one hand behind his back, the other flicking his sleeve, saying coldly: “I’m leaving.”

“Wait.” Seeing him about to leave, Luo Wanqing remembered the medicine packet she had prepared today and quickly called out to him.

Cui Heng turned back and saw Luo Wanqing go into her room.

She ran out and produced a medicine packet, handing it to Cui Heng.

Cui Heng looked up questioningly. Luo Wanqing explained: “If your headaches are severe, you can light this medicine packet directly to help you sleep.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng’s movements paused.

He examined the medicine packet for a long time. The depression he had carried all evening finally dissipated somewhat, and he finally understood what he had been waiting for tonight.

After thinking for a moment, he reached out to take the medicine packet, rolling it between his fingers and playing with it for a while. He identified the ingredients inside, knowing it was only enough for one night’s use, and smiled.

Looking up at her, “You’re only giving me one packet?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t know why he asked this and pondered her answer: “You can’t use too large a dose in one night.”

“I understand.” Cui Heng smiled as he tucked the medicine packet behind him, seeming to understand something as he suppressed some of his smile and said: “Then I’ll come again tomorrow.”

That phrase “come again tomorrow” seemed to roll around his tongue several times, carrying some sweetness.

Luo Wanqing suddenly felt somewhat uncomfortable. She coughed lightly and only said, “Good, I’ll wait for you tomorrow.”

After saying this, he still didn’t leave, just smiled as he looked at her.

Luo Wanqing looked up questioningly: “What’s wrong?”

“Chief Inspector,” seeing that she didn’t understand, he lowered his voice to remind her, “giving me medicine like this could be considered seduction on my part.”

“A pure heart makes a pure person,” seeing that he misunderstood, Luo Wanqing immediately answered very seriously, “don’t overthink it.”

“Chief Inspector, when you see me, can you still use the word ‘pure’?” Cui Heng raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Practicing medicine to help people,” Luo Wanqing knew what he was referring to, her ears slightly warm, “I am naturally pure.”

This amused Cui Heng. After a moment, he suddenly lowered his head and brushed against her lips.

Luo Wanqing was startled and stepped back. Cui Heng was finally satisfied, laughed out loud, and turned away: “Chief Inspector, maintain your purity well. I’m leaving.”

He walked away leisurely. Luo Wanqing’s heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

She collected herself for a moment, sat in the corridor, took a sip of wine to suppress her thoughts, and privately admonished herself that this person had no principles and was probably just being competitive – she mustn’t let her thoughts wander.

After sleeping through the night, Luo Wanqing heard Zhusi report that yesterday’s messenger had come again.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, opened her cabinet, took out the wooden hairpin Li Guiyu had given her, and personally went down the mountain to deliver it.

The servant took the wooden hairpin. Luo Wanqing said calmly, “Tell her to bring this. Tell her that if the woman doesn’t recognize it, the man will recognize it.”

She wasn’t sure how much this servant knew, but Zheng Jinxin would surely understand these words.

Zheng Jinxin received Luo Wanqing’s token before dinner.

She took the wooden hairpin from the box, felt it, and began to contemplate.

She and her sister had been at odds for a long time, but noble families emphasized clan harmony. No matter how much they disagreed, they were still sisters. Though there were small frictions in daily life, they were ultimately not serious matters.

But now that it involved her future, she had to make a decision.

With her status, if Lu Lingchan revealed her harboring of him, her possibility of marrying into a first-tier noble family would be gone. In the future, she could only choose from second or third-tier families, forever one level below her sister.

She might have accepted her fate before, but now that the Supervision Department’s Chief Inspector had given her such a great gift, how could she not treasure it well?

Looking up at the courtyard where she lived, remembering the insults and beatings her mother had suffered in the past, Zheng Jinxin closed her eyes to collect herself, then opened them, inserted the wooden hairpin into her hair, and stood up to go to the main hall for dinner.

Dinner was when all the Zheng family members ate together. Zheng Jinxin arrived early at the corner but didn’t appear. She waited until lanterns were lit at night and family members gradually arrived. Only when Zheng Jinxin saw Zheng Biyue appear in her line of sight did she emerge from the corner.

She watched Zheng Biyue’s steps, and when Zheng Biyue reached the door, they happened to meet. Zheng Jinxin bowed to Zheng Biyue, lowering her head to expose the wooden hairpin as much as possible, saying respectfully: “Sister.”

Zheng Biyue was about to step forward when she suddenly paused. She looked up keenly and saw the wooden hairpin in Zheng Jinxin’s hair.

Although Zheng Jinxin wasn’t favored in the Zheng family, she was still from a noble family background and rarely used such wooden hairpins.

But upon closer inspection, this wooden hairpin was made of extremely precious red sandalwood, decorated with white jade in the center. The jade was pure and obviously expensive. It looked simple, but this hairpin was more expensive than most of the jewelry in her jewelry box.

Most importantly, she had seen this carving style before.

Zheng Biyue coldly surveyed Zheng Jinxin, who couldn’t help but tremble.

Zheng Biyue thought for a moment, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

After the banquet ended, Zheng Jinxin walked slowly back to her small courtyard. Halfway there, she heard Zheng Biyue’s voice behind her: “Second sister.”

Zheng Jinxin turned around in surprise and saw Zheng Biyue approaching with a lantern. She walked up to Zheng Jinxin, smiled, and said: “Second sister’s hairpin looks particularly beautiful today. Did you buy it while praying at the temple today?”

Hearing this, Zheng Jinxin immediately showed fear and quickly said: “Yes…”

“Where did the second sister get the money to buy red sandalwood?” Zheng Biyue reached out and pulled away the wooden hairpin. Zheng Jinxin looked up in shock and heard Zheng Biyue say coldly: “Where did it come from?!”

“It’s…” Zheng Jinxin turned her head away, not daring to look at her, and said with difficulty, “I picked it up.”

“Picked it up?” Zheng Biyue raised the wooden hairpin and pressed it against Zheng Jinxin’s face, saying calmly: “If I accidentally scratch your face, how do you think Father would punish me?”

Hearing this, Zheng Jinxin’s face instantly turned pale.

“Sister,” Zheng Jinxin reminded, “harming your sister would damage your reputation.”

“How would family matters spread outside?” Zheng Biyue chuckled. “I’m going to be a prince’s consort, crown prince’s consort, or even empress in the future. Do you think we’re sisters? Think clearly—”

The hairpin tip pressed down on Zheng Jinxin’s face. Zheng Biyue spoke icily: “Your mother was a slave; my mother was the master. Between you and me, you are also a slave. Where did the hairpin come from?”

As she spoke, sharp pain came from her skin. Zheng Jinxin was so frightened she closed her eyes and screamed: “Someone gave it to me!”

Zheng Biyue paused her movements. Zheng Jinxin trembled and gasped: “Today… today I met a woman on the road. She gave me this wooden hairpin and asked me to take care of her.”

“Oh?” Zheng Biyue didn’t believe it. “You’re so kind-hearted?”

“Really,” Zheng Jinxin quickly said, “it was a woman I saved who gave it to me…”

“What’s her name?” Zheng Biyue questioned the root. Zheng Jinxin paused. Zheng Biyue showed a cold smile: “Do you take me for a fool? When did you get involved with Li Guiyu? You dare to steal your sister’s things – do you not want to live?”

As Zheng Biyue spoke, she suddenly used force. Zheng Jinxin screamed and backed away, urgently saying: “It’s Luo Wanqing!”

“What did you say?!” Zheng Biyue suddenly looked up. “Who did you say?!”

“Her name is Luo Wanqing.” Zheng Jinxin covered her face, saying frantically, “She saw the Zheng family carriage on the road and stopped me. When she heard I was Second Miss Zheng, she entrusted me to give this wooden hairpin… to… to the Third Prince. I… I couldn’t possibly see His Highness, so I thought I’d use it myself…”

Zheng Jinxin spoke haltingly, not daring to look at Zheng Biyue at all.

Zheng Biyue gripped the wooden hairpin, thought for a long time, then looked up at her: “You’re not lying to me?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Zheng Jinxin quickly shook her head. Zheng Biyue thought for a moment, then looked up at her: “Where is she? She asked you to give this hairpin to the Third Prince – didn’t she tell you where she’s staying?”

“She’s very weak,” Zheng Jinxin lied, “I’ve settled her in the suburbs.”

Zheng Biyue said nothing. After a moment, she said calmly: “Don’t mention this to anyone.”

“Yes.” Zheng Jinxin quickly nodded. “I absolutely won’t tell anyone.”

“Wait for me. I’ll prepare,” Zheng Biyue contemplated, gritting her teeth: “Find time to take me to see her.”

“Yes…” Zheng Jinxin was reluctant. Zheng Biyue took the wooden hairpin and said coldly, “This thing doesn’t belong to you. I’m taking it.”

With that, she turned and left.

Zheng Jinxin pressed her lips together and said nothing. She watched Zheng Biyue leave, her expression gradually becoming calm.

Liu Xiniang hadn’t lied to her – Zheng Biyue had taken the bait.

And Zheng Biyue, holding the wooden hairpin, thought about Zheng Jinxin’s words just now.

Fool.

She sneered. She could tell with her toes how Zheng Jinxin could suddenly be kind-hearted enough to take in a woman? If she did this, it could only be because she wanted to harbor Luo Wanqing to compete with her for Li Guiyu.

But exposing it so early, she must want to lure her over.

How did she know about Luo Wanqing’s existence?

Zheng Biyue closed her eyes and thought, then remembered Liu Xiniang playing the pipa yesterday.

So this was where she was waiting for her.

Very good.

Zheng Biyue gripped the wooden hairpin, immediately knowing that it must have been given to Liu Xiniang by Li Guiyu.

Men are only peaceful when they’re dead-alive; they cause trouble.

But if Luo Wanqing is alive…

Then she’ll have to die again.

Before that, she absolutely cannot alert the enemy.

As for Zheng Jinxin, this fool… since she has no sisterly affection, don’t blame her for being ruthless.

Zheng Biyue calculated, then turned to look at Zhou Ying behind her, instructing: “Go watch Liu Xiniang and see what she’s doing.”

What Luo Wanqing was doing was quite simple. Every day, she went to the streets, creating opportunities for others to assassinate her, then strolled back to the dungeon for interrogations, sorting out cases one by one.

Originally, they had already processed all the relevant information about the downstream black market operations, just waiting for these officials’ confessions. These officials were even less tolerant of torture than the small fry roaming the jianghu. Anyone brought back would confess within a few hours. Following the leads, they had arrested all the remaining major officials and servants involved in the Eastern Palace.

The entire Eastern Palace trembled with fear. Memorials impeaching her in court came like an avalanche. Luo Wanqing handled cases during the day and waited for Cui Heng to come at night to help her write verdicts.

Except for the Eastern Palace’s Six Commands, the other Eastern Palace cases were mostly handled. She needed to make judgments according to the “Code,” corresponding one by one, and following the verdict format, sort through each case and write down verdicts.

She wrote every stroke carefully because she knew that every stroke represented someone’s life, death, fortune, or misfortune.

If she were alone, she probably wouldn’t dare write these verdicts because she couldn’t be sure if she was right.

She couldn’t bear the responsibility of deciding so many people’s fates.

But fortunately, Cui Heng would help her sort things out, and Xie Heng would do the final review. If she made mistakes, Xie Heng would correct them.

This gave her tremendous courage, feeling like there was a mountain behind her, overlooking all her actions and guiding her path forward.

But how did Xie Heng manage it?

She couldn’t help wondering.

Every day, the cases in his hands involved countless lives. With one stroke, it meant the life of one person, or even a family, or an entire clan.

How did he put pen to paper?

Would he fear making wrong judgments? How could he be certain he wouldn’t be wrong?

Thinking this way, she couldn’t help but feel even more admiration for this person.

Although Xie Heng’s temperament was unpredictable, thinking of his ending, his choices, he was someone she looked up to with great respect.

Meeting such a person, it was hard not to respect and aspire to be like him.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “Using my identity to trick my wife into working for you – do you want to die?”

Cui Heng: “Junior brother, you overestimate me. I don’t have that kind of courage. I don’t, I don’t.”

Xie Heng: “Then why would my wife risk her life to save you? Are you kidding me? My wife would only risk her life to save me!”

Cui Heng: “Um… what if I said yes?”

Xie Heng: “???”

Cui Heng: “What if I said she risked her life to save me, and it has nothing to do with you?”

Xie Heng: “You do want to die.”