◎Flying ash scattered across every inch of her remaining life’s path◎

This realization made Luo Wanqing suddenly panic.

She had made this guess more than once, but quickly dismissed it. After all, Cui Heng and Xie Heng’s temperaments were too different. If Cui Heng were Xie Heng, he would at least avoid the name to prevent such alertness.

Moreover, if the two were truly the same person, who would push themselves toward death like this?

This thought frightened her.

If the one who crawled out of this prison and would face death by a thousand cuts in the future was Xie Heng—if it were someone else, she would feel pity, regret, admiration, reverence. She would feel indignant for him, cry injustice for this young master, call it tragic.

But she wouldn’t feel heartache.

But if this was Cui Heng…

Luo Wanqing closed her eyes at the thought, feeling that person’s usual teasing like a knife cutting harshly at her heart.

This thought was too terrifying.

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare think more, yet she had to think.

“Young lady?”

Seeing her silent for so long, the elder asked puzzledly: “Why aren’t you speaking?”

“I…” Luo Wanqing hesitated, then quickly realized this was an opportunity to ask questions. She hurriedly said, “Senior, are there many in this world who can perform bone molding?”

“How could there be many?” The elder chuckled lightly. “Do you think bone molding is easy? It requires someone with extremely strong internal energy to possibly perform bone molding—otherwise, where would the true qi come from to heal tendons and bones?”

There weren’t many in the world who could perform bone molding.

“However,” the elder said leisurely, “if one has talent, it’s not difficult. Look at that boy Xie Heng—I taught him once and he learned.”

This enlightened Luo Wanqing, and she immediately understood.

Right.

Since it could be taught, Cui Heng and Xie Heng were already acquainted. With his excellent talent, couldn’t he have learned from Xie Heng?

Her heart settled somewhat. The elder asked puzzledly: “Why do you suddenly ask this?”

“To be honest with senior, I know someone who helped me with bone molding,” Luo Wanqing smiled, speaking truthfully. “I was afraid he might be the Director, which made me uneasy.”

“How can you determine whether someone is or isn’t based on whether they can perform bone molding?” The elder found it amusing, only saying: “Whether he is or isn’t, can’t you sense it? What are their temperaments like? Since you care, you must be acquainted—you should have some understanding, right?”

“You’re right.”

Luo Wanqing listened to the elder’s comfort and gradually calmed down.

The elder thought for a moment, then said: “You’ve had bone molding? Extend your hand—let me examine you. We mustn’t leave any lasting problems.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t suspect anything amiss. Upon hearing this, she came forward and respectfully extended her hand: “Thank you, senior.”

The elder extended two withered fingers, placing them on Luo Wanqing’s pulse. Immediately, Luo Wanqing felt true qi flowing through her meridians. The elder said slowly, “Tsk, what amateur performed your bone molding? Only knowing bone molding without understanding male-female differences. Women have yin constitutions—after bone molding, they need to cultivate a bone-nourishing technique, otherwise their bones will become increasingly brittle. Have you learned this technique?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was greatly alarmed and immediately said: “Never. Please instruct me, senior.”

“Very well. We’re fated to meet—I’ll help you. What’s your name?”

“This junior is Liu Xiniang. May I know the senior’s distinguished name?”

“I’ve noted your name. As for mine, you’ll know if we’re truly fated.”

He withdrew his hand and said, “Sit cross-legged in meditation. Listen to me—draw true qi from your dantian, flow through the Shaoyang meridian…”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing quickly sat cross-legged and listened to the elder’s guidance, drawing true qi throughout her body.

She closed her eyes to guide the true qi’s circulation, completely unaware of time passing.

After a long while, jailers came to bring them food.

The prison food was quite good. Luo Wanqing ate while discussing outside matters with the elder, clearly explaining her execution of the Eastern Palace Six Commands, then said: “If Lu Lingchan hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have needed such trouble. Unfortunately, there was no choice.”

“The Six Ghosts died easily,” the elder sighed upon hearing this, though his words carried some worry. “However, you alone killed the Eastern Palace Six Commands—now the great families must be outraged. Can your little life as the bird that sticks its head out still be preserved?”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. This was an outcome she didn’t know.

The elder thought for a moment and continued: “According to what you’ve said, this Xie Heng plans everything perfectly. Your current situation is probably within his calculations.” The elder smiled: “He’s probably planning to use your little life to pave his official path.”

“Perhaps.”

Luo Wanqing’s voice was flat, only saying: “People are all like chess pieces, each with their own choices. If the young master sacrifices me, it’s only because I’m useless.”

“You don’t resent him?”

The elder was curious.

Luo Wanqing smiled lightly: “The young master and I have no blood relation or close ties. Why should I resent him for sacrificing me?”

The elder fell silent. Luo Wanqing asked puzzledly: “Senior?”

“Nothing,” the elder sighed. “I just wonder if Xie Heng would be sad hearing these words.”

“Why would he be sad?”

Luo Wanqing was curious.

The elder didn’t respond.

Luo Wanqing waited a moment without hearing a sound, and asked strangely: “Senior?”

Still no response. Luo Wanqing sensed something was wrong and called softly: “Senior? What’s wrong, senior?”

Just as she finished speaking, the sound of a door creaking open came from outside. Luo Wanqing looked back in surprise to see a jailer opening the door, running to the cell front with an expression even happier than hers: “Chief Inspector Liu, someone from the Supervision Department has come to collect you. Please come with me.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing realized the matter should be concluded.

Her life was probably saved—Cui Heng hadn’t lied to her after all.

She breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed to the jailer: “You’re too kind.”

Luo Wanqing knew these people were only feigning flattery. If she acted superior with them now, the next batch would use any excuse to torment prisoners to death.

She maintained a courteous distance with everyone. Seeing this, the other smiled and led Luo Wanqing outside: “Chief Inspector Liu, the heavenly prison is in the inner palace. You must wear iron shackles until reaching the outer palace—please understand.”

“I understand.”

Luo Wanqing nodded and stepped outside. When leaving the cell, Luo Wanqing turned to thank the senior in the adjacent cell, but upon looking back, she saw the neighboring cell was empty.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the cell. Seeing her expression, the jailer sensed something amiss and turned back: “Chief Inspector Liu?”

Seeing the jailer’s reaction, Luo Wanqing realized emptiness was the normal state here. She dared not mention her earlier experience and nodded: “Nothing.”

With that, she turned and followed the jailer out.

As she walked, she pondered the earlier situation and couldn’t help asking: “Sir, are there any masters imprisoned in this heavenly prison?”

“Masters?”

The jailer smiled: “To be honest, those who can enter the heavenly prison are no ordinary people.”

“What about elderly men?”

“There are several. Why does the Chief Inspector ask?”

“Nothing.” Luo Wanqing smiled, knowing further questions would draw attention. Since the other didn’t want to appear, he didn’t want to be known. She had no intention of investigating further and said casually: “Just curious.”

They spoke no more. The jailer escorted Luo Wanqing out of the prison and handed her to two eunuchs, who led her toward the outer palace.

Luo Wanqing looked at the sky, seeing the setting sun, and knew nearly a day had passed.

She wasn’t clear why she was released from prison. Based on this morning’s court situation, she thought even if Xie Heng wanted to protect her, she would at least stay inside for a while until the Supervision Department and others sorted things out before she’d have a chance to come out. She didn’t expect to be released so quickly, which surprised her.

She had many questions, but knew the answers would have to wait until she saw people outside.

She followed the eunuchs quickly outside. Just after passing through a long corridor to a relatively deserted area, a soft call came from behind: “Chief Inspector Liu.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing alertly turned back to see Li Guiyu standing calmly at the corridor corner, seemingly having waited for her for some time.

He had changed into black robes with red patterns, appearing especially solemn. Luo Wanqing rarely saw him wear such colors and frowned warily.

The nearby eunuch saw him and immediately bowed: “Third Prince.”

Li Guiyu waved his hand, and the eunuch retreated.

Luo Wanqing currently wore iron shackles; her weapons had long been confiscated—she’d only get them back after leaving the inner palace. She had no chance against Li Guiyu normally, and even fewer means of self-defense now.

Though she knew Li Guiyu was unlikely to attack her within the palace, she didn’t dare relax her vigilance. She nervously gripped the iron shackles, ready to strike at any moment.

Li Guiyu saw her tensed muscles and immediately detected her intention, smiling mockingly: “What is the Chief Inspector afraid of?”

Luo Wanqing’s expression didn’t change as she said calmly, “Afraid Your Highness will kill me.”

“How could I kill you here?”

Li Guiyu walked before Luo Wanqing, looking down at the iron shackles in her hands, saying flatly: “This scene seems familiar.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing knew Li Guiyu was referring to Luo Wanqing’s final meeting with him in that prison cell.

She didn’t respond, pretending not to understand.

Li Guiyu stood before her at close distance. Luo Wanqing easily smelled the scent of blood from him, though faint, she detected it.

She frowned, her gaze falling on his abdomen: “You’re injured?”

Li Guiyu’s skills were excellent. In the past, she didn’t understand how good, but after learning martial arts, she knew what kind of master he was.

In those years in Jiangnan, it was always he who injured others. This was the first time since their initial meeting that she’d seen him so severely wounded.

Hearing this, Li Guiyu’s eyes couldn’t help but warm slightly, only saying: “Your Shadow Envoy has some ability.”

“Then he…”

“When you go out, they’ll remove your iron shackles. I can’t remove them here.” Li Guiyu interrupted her, his tone cooling.

“I won’t trouble Your Highness.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t want to speak with him anymore. She’d learn about Cui Heng’s condition once outside. She raised her hand in farewell: “If there’s nothing else, I take my leave.”

“I waited for you for a long time.”

As soon as she spoke, Li Guiyu reached out to grab her.

Luo Wanqing looked back, tensely watching him: “What does Your Highness want to do?”

“This is the only path out of the heavenly prison. I’ve been waiting here since court ended,” Li Guiyu looked up. “I thought if you didn’t come out, I’d ask Father Emperor for you. Unfortunately, you came out.”

“What exactly does Your Highness want to say?” Luo Wanqing couldn’t fathom his meaning.

Looking at her expression, Li Guiyu smiled mockingly, taking a wooden hairpin from his sleeve and offering it to her: “Something I gave you that you lost—I specially found it back. Take it home.”

Luo Wanqing glanced down at the hairpin in Li Guiyu’s hand, understanding his meaning, and said calmly: “I didn’t lose this. I gave it to someone.”

“Young lady wouldn’t give away my things to others.” Li Guiyu spoke stubbornly.

Luo Wanqing paused.

Previously, whenever he emphasized her identity as Luo Wanqing, she felt annoyed. She didn’t understand why, if he was now willing to find Luo Wanqing at any cost, he had harmed her back then.

However, after hearing Zheng Biyue’s words and hearing this again, she realized he wasn’t stubbornly asking about Luo Wanqing.

What he cared about was Jiang Shaoyan.

Those five years when the world abandoned him, but one person saved him.

He couldn’t tolerate others denying it, couldn’t tolerate others abandoning it. Even if he abandoned it first, he wanted Luo Wanqing to forever guard Jiang Shaoyan’s existence.

Thinking of those past events she’d heard about, she dared not look directly into his eyes and turned away: “I’m not Luo Wanqing.”

“You…”

“From when I came from Yangzhou,” Luo Wanqing no longer argued with him, hinting: “I’ve only been Liu Xiniang.”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu paused, realizing what she was saying. He gripped the wooden hairpin, trembling slightly.

She didn’t continue denying.

But she didn’t acknowledge either.

At this moment, Luo Wanqing seemed to become the past, a code name. She spoke calmly yet gently: “Luo Wanqing no longer exists, just like Jiang Shaoyan. Third Prince,” Luo Wanqing’s eyes carried some compassion. “What you’re obsessed with is merely the past when someone came to your rescue in that bamboo forest night rain. Everyone came to Eastern Capital with their pursuits—don’t be obsessed with the past.”

Li Guiyu said nothing, only gripping the wooden hairpin, staring at her intently.

Luo Wanqing didn’t want to converse with Li Guiyu like this. She’d rather he be as he usually was—more ruthless, more mad, more vicious.

That would at least let her forget his former identity, forget he was once called Jiang Shaoyan.

She didn’t want to confront him and nodded to turn away.

The moment they passed each other, Li Guiyu inexplicably felt panic.

This fear was greater than countless times he’d faced life and death. He grabbed her and pulled her before him. Luo Wanqing instinctively fought back, but the iron shackles limited her. Li Guiyu easily pressed her against the door, restraining her entirely.

He stared at her intently, his slightly red eyes misty: “By what right?”

Luo Wanqing was startled. She felt his abdominal blood seeping into her palm as she heard Li Guiyu demand through gritted teeth: “You say they don’t exist and they don’t exist? You say Don’t be obsessed and we shouldn’t be obsessed? By what right do you say Luo Wanqing and Jiang Shaoyan don’t exist? By what right do you say they’re history?! If you’re Luo Wanqing, you must acknowledge it!”

“Li Guiyu…”

“Do you only remember Li Guiyu now?!”

This question left Luo Wanqing speechless. Li Guiyu controlled his emotions, raised his hand, and with the solemnity of a wedding ceremony, slowly inserted the wooden hairpin into her hair.

Luo Wanqing stared at him blankly. In those eyes, she seemed to see the dead Jiang Shaoyan returning.

This Jiang Shaoyan was somewhat strange compared to the past, but those focused and devoted eyes were no different.

“Remember well,” those eyes so like Jiang Shaoyan’s stared at her as Li Guiyu spoke hoarsely yet firmly: “You are Luo Wanqing.”

“I’m not.” Luo Wanqing understood his intention—he wanted to bind her to the past. She straightened her spine and said seriously, “I am Liu Xiniang.”

From the moment she and Zhang Jiuran passed each other in the Yangzhou prison medical room, she was Liu Xiniang.

Hearing this, Li Guiyu smiled.

His lips trembled slightly, his eyes carrying some madness, yet he still said: “It doesn’t matter.” He lowered his head, whispering in her ear: “You’ll acknowledge it sooner or later.”

With that, he released her.

“Someone come!” Li Guiyu called someone over, casually pointing at a eunuch and saying coldly: “Take her out. If the hairpin on her head falls, you die.”

As soon as he spoke, the eunuch knelt, frantically kowtowing: “Your Highness, spare me! This slave will watch the hairpin carefully.”

Luo Wanqing looked up in surprise and anger: “Li Guiyu!”

“Go.”

Li Guiyu ignored her, turning to walk toward the inner palace.

Luo Wanqing pursed her lips, staring hard at Li Guiyu’s retreating figure.

Staring at this utterly strange person.

After Li Guiyu walked away, the nearby eunuch said anxiously: “Chief Inspector Liu, shall we go?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing raised her hand to pull out the hairpin. Seeing her movement, all the eunuchs fell to their knees in terror: “Chief Inspector Liu, spare us!”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s movement paused. She endured it and finally said, “Let’s go.”

Seeing this, the eunuch sighed in relief, stood up, and led Luo Wanqing out.

Luo Wanqing walked out of the inner palace with suppressed anger. The eunuch apologetically removed her shackles.

Noticing her displeasure, he quickly smiled apologetically: “Chief Inspector, the Supervision Department people are waiting at the gate. Look, right there.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned back to see a young man waiting in the distance.

The midday sunlight was perfect. He had changed into moon-white brocade robes and wore a gold-inlaid mask, standing with his back to the great hall on the steps, gazing into the distance.

Seeing that person, Luo Wanqing’s anger dissipated considerably.

Li Guiyu was insane—why should she be angry with him?

She closed her eyes to calm herself, suppressing her emotions.

After the nearby eunuch removed Luo Wanqing’s shackles and she calmed down, she walked around the corner toward the hall front and called out: “Cui Heng.”

Hearing her voice, Cui Heng turned back, looked her up and down, and after confirming she was unharmed, spread his arms wide and tilted his head with a smile.

The afternoon sunlight was perfect. His whole person was bathed in light, the brocade flowing with brilliant colors, looking radiant and flamboyant.

Looking at this person before her, the chaotic feelings gradually calmed. She smiled and descended the steps, walking to the person before her, then heard him seemingly joke: “No hug to celebrate your release?”

“Stop joking.” Luo Wanqing looked him up and down, seeing he wasn’t injured, and raised her chin: “Shall we leave first?”

“Wait.”

Cui Heng grasped her hand, raised his other hand to remove the hairpin from her hair, and looked down at it: “This hairpin looks somewhat familiar.”

“Oh…”

Luo Wanqing felt somewhat guilty for some reason, touched her nose, and explained: “I used his wooden hairpin to set a trap for Zheng Biyue. He returned it to me.”

Not mentioning any names, but both knew who it was.

“I see.” Cui Heng looked up at Luo Wanqing, asking gently: “Since this hairpin has served its purpose, shall I help Xiniang return it?”

“That’s fine.”

Luo Wanqing nodded.

With that, she watched Cui Heng take out a silk handkerchief, grip the wooden hairpin and crush it. The hairpin was ground to fine ash in his hand, falling into the handkerchief.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at this scene, watching Cui Heng methodically wrap the handkerchief, then call over a nearby eunuch and hand over the package containing the wood ash, saying flatly: “Send this to the Third Prince.”

Hearing this, the eunuch nervously accepted Cui Heng’s handkerchief, forcing a smile: “Yes.”

After doing this, Cui Heng turned to look at Luo Wanqing. Only then did Luo Wanqing react, hesitantly saying: “You…”

“Mm?” Cui Heng looked over: “What’s wrong?”

He smiled, but Luo Wanqing instinctively sensed trouble and swallowed all her words, only saying: “Let’s go back.”

Cui Heng nodded and followed Luo Wanqing outside.

As the two walked toward the palace exterior, Li Guiyu stood on a high tower, receiving the wood ash the eunuch brought back. He opened the silk cloth, chuckled softly, then raised his hand to scatter the ash, letting the wood ash disperse throughout the world.

The past turned to flying ash and smoke, but he would scatter this flying ash across every inch of her remaining life’s path.

Coming out of the palace, Luo Wanqing boarded the carriage Cui Heng had prepared. Inside were medicine, bandages, and clean clothes. After both got in the carriage, Cui Heng sat with his back to her at the carriage entrance, closed his eyes in meditation, and said: “First treat the wounds you can handle. I’ll come help with the ones you can’t reach later.”

Luo Wanqing wasn’t pretentious. She decisively removed her outer garment and began cleaning and medicating her wounds.

She did this skillfully. While cleaning her wounds, she asked: “What was the result in court today?”

“What are you asking about?” Cui Heng said leisurely.

“How were the Eastern Palace Six Command’s positions arranged? And how did I get out?”

Luo Wanqing asked directly, pouring alcohol on her wound and gasping.

Hearing the sound behind him, Cui Heng clasped his hands in meditation mudra, closed his eyes, and said slowly: “Today, on the Third Prince’s proposal, it was decided to incorporate the Eastern Palace Six Commands army into the North Fourth Army.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately looked up in shock: “Li Guiyu said to incorporate the Six Commands army into the North Fourth Army?!”

“Correct.”

Cui Heng’s tone was flat, revealing no joy or anger.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly while applying medicine to herself, murmuring: “He’s truly clever.”

“Oh?” Cui Heng opened his eyes, still facing away from her: “Clever, how?”

“Now that the Eastern Palace Six Commands are dead, the young master came prepared, and His Majesty seemed very supportive today. Continuing the standoff, the Six Commands’ army would ultimately fall into the young master’s hands. Li Guiyu’s proposal to incorporate the Six Commands army into the North Fourth Army at this time would surely delight His Majesty. In His Majesty’s heart, Li Guiyu would be one step closer to being crown prince.”

“Are you done yet?”

Cui Heng asked impatiently. Luo Wanqing came to her senses, quickly finished bandaging her front wounds, lay on the small couch in the carriage, and called: “Done.”

Cui Heng stood up, sat beside the couch, washed his hands, and began cleaning Luo Wanqing’s wounds.

Luo Wanqing lay on the couch, continuing her analysis: “As long as Li Guiyu doesn’t intend rebellion, the most important thing for becoming crown prince is gaining His Majesty’s approval. Now he’s using the Six Commands army to pledge loyalty to the emperor. As long as the emperor no longer worries about him being a prince from the Wang clan, among all the princes, who can compete with him?”

The Sixth Prince Li Suran’s mother was of palace maid origin. The remaining Ninth Prince Li Zhenqi, Tenth Prince Li Changrong, and Eleventh Prince Li Juecheng were at most fifteen years old. Li Zong wouldn’t live two more years. If not for the burden of his Wang clan prince identity, Li Guiyu could have directly become crown prince the day Li Shangwen died.

And now, he directly offered the Eastern Palace army to Li Zong—what greater sincerity was there?

“Moreover!”

Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered, turning back to look at Cui Heng urgently: “That day when he escorted me back, he told me he knew Lu Lingchan was already dead, that I released false information, and that the Empress wouldn’t believe him. This means he might have warned the Wang family early, but they didn’t listen to him. They sent the Eastern Palace Six Commands to assassinate me, creating this mess, and he came to clean it up today. He also deliberately competed with you, intentionally losing and getting severely injured… Ah!”

Luo Wanqing felt pain in her back wound. Cui Heng said flatly, “There was some pus and blood. I squeezed it out for you.”

“Couldn’t you warn me first?”

“Next time.” Cui Heng washed his hands in water and began applying medicine to Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing forgot the pain and continued: “Seeing him severely injured, the Wang family must regret not listening to him. Perhaps they had conflicts before, but now they should have reconciled considerably. With this matter, he proposed using the Six Commands’ army to exchange for the emperor’s trust. Since the Wang family couldn’t compete with the young master anyway, they might as well do a favor. Now he’s truly killed three birds with one stone—stealing the young master’s Six Commands army, gaining His Majesty’s trust, and easing relations with the Wang clan. He did this intentionally…”

Luo Wanqing suddenly understood.

“Forcing Lu Lingchan into the Zheng mansion, allowing the Eastern Palace Six Commands to kill me—he planned this from the very beginning. He was already prepared to incorporate the Sixth Command’s army into the North Fourth Army. As long as he becomes emperor in the future, the North Fourth Army will be his army. What does he have to regret?”

As Luo Wanqing spoke, she couldn’t help getting angry: “I made wedding clothes for him…”

“Are you finished?” Cui Heng’s voice came from behind, handing over a cup of water: “You’ve talked so long—thirsty, aren’t you?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned back to see the cup pressed before her. The cup came so eagerly that Luo Wanqing couldn’t refuse his kindness and lowered her head to drink.

She wore no upper garment, her skin white as snow. After bandaging, her wounds faintly showed blood color, like plum blossoms blooming on snowy branches.

Cui Heng looked down at her, sipping water, remembering that night when she held his wrist and drank.

His anger dissipated somewhat, replaced by other romantic thoughts.

However, thinking that at this moment her heart and mind were on something else while he was having improper thoughts about her, he couldn’t help feeling disgusted with himself.

He simply threw clothes over her, sat far away, closed his eyes, and said coldly: “I’m tired. Sleep.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater 1]

Cui Heng: “Find someone who wants to kill Zhang Yiran.”

Zhang Yiran: “Probably can’t find anyone. I’m a very good person.”

Xie Heng: “I’ll do it, I’ll come immediately!”

[Mini Theater 2]

Xie Heng: “My wife doesn’t like me being this hexagonal warrior type. She likes fools. I’m finished—I can’t compete. What should I do?”

Passerby: “Women’s words are lies. She says she likes fools, but look at what she likes. Her taste is very consistent.”