◎I Want You, Liu Xiniang◎

“Congratulations to Inspector Liu on your promotion.”

Zhang Yiran smiled as he raised his wine bowl, offering sincere congratulations.

Luo Wanqing came to her senses and couldn’t help but smile: “When Master Zhang was promoted to the Censorate, I didn’t go to congratulate you. Now that Master Zhang has come, I owe you congratulations instead.”

Zhang Yiran chuckled and clinked his wine bowl with Luo Wanqing’s.

This time, Luo Wanqing took a large gulp, while Zhang Yiran held his bowl elegantly, drinking sip by sip until he finished all the wine in his bowl.

Everyone around cheered, and Luo Wanqing smiled as she advised him: “Master Zhang, please don’t drink too much. I’m afraid no one will be able to send you home tonight.”

“My servant is already waiting at the door,” Zhang Yiran explained earnestly. “Inspector Liu, please don’t worry.”

Hearing these words, Luo Wanqing knew he had come prepared. She simply offered a few pleasantries before continuing to drink with the others.

After toasting everyone in a circle, the atmosphere became lively. Fang Yuan then called out to Luo Wanqing, saying to everyone: “Inspector Liu, come, quickly tell everyone about yesterday—how did you fight your way into the palace!”

At the mention of this, everyone’s eyes lit up with interest. Luo Wanqing knew that all these people had come tonight for this very story.

Luo Wanqing smiled and took a sip of wine before telling everyone the prepared public version of events.

It was roughly that Zheng Biyue, driven by jealous love, had invited her to Purple Cloud Mountain, so she went to take a look, only to fall into a trap. Fortunately, she was blessed with great fortune and managed to rush back.

Luo Wanqing spoke simply, but everyone had heard about yesterday’s battle in the city, having at least witnessed the aftermath with blood covering the ground. Fang Yuan embellished the story with vivid details, and before long, he was surrounded three layers deep by people listening to Luo Wanqing recount yesterday’s events.

She wasn’t skilled at storytelling, speaking only a few sentences at first before Fang Yuan took over the spotlight. He expanded on her words, narrating like a professional storyteller with such excitement that the crowd applauded continuously.

However, he never mentioned that he and Xing Ling and others had gone to help her.

Luo Wanqing understood his intention and couldn’t help but look at him again. Feeling embarrassed listening to him boast about her so awkwardly, she simply squeezed out of the crowd and walked away.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Xing Ling sitting alone on the steps. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then carried her wine over, lifted her robe, and sat down beside Xing Ling, turning to glance at her: “Drinking alone?”

“It’s too noisy inside.”

Xing Ling smiled, then raised her bowl earnestly: “Let me toast you.”

Luo Wanqing clinked bowls with her and chuckled softly: “I should be toasting you instead.”

“Hmm?”

“For yesterday morning, thank you all.” Luo Wanqing spoke earnestly.

Xing Ling paused, then said: “It was only right. I never thought you would fight so desperately.”

“How so?”

“At first, I…” Xing Ling pondered, couldn’t help but smile, “I really thought you just wanted a promotion.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted.”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh: “Do you think now that I wasn’t doing it for promotion?”

“If it were only that, you wouldn’t have gone this far.” Xing Ling said calmly, “Now the noble families must hate you thoroughly. For the rest of your life, I’m afraid you’ll have no peaceful days.”

“Then so be it.” Luo Wanqing was unconcerned, “When I came to the Supervision Department, I never expected to live peacefully.”

Speaking of this, Luo Wanqing became curious: “I heard you used to be a female official?”

“Yes.”

Xing Ling’s eyes showed some nostalgia: “I was born in the Lateral Courts, the daughter of a criminal. Thanks to a noble person’s help, who said I had good potential, I got the chance to enter Youlan Courtyard.”

“Youlan Courtyard?”

“A place in the palace for training female officials with martial skills.” Xing Ling explained, “I grew up there.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, understanding why Xing Ling had such excellent martial arts skills.

Then she became curious again: “What crime did you actually commit in the palace back then?”

“I killed someone.”

Xing Ling clearly didn’t want to discuss this topic and turned to look at her: “Were you really brought to the Supervision Department because of salt trafficking?”

“Why do you ask?”

Luo Wanqing was puzzled.

Xing Ling thought for a moment, then said: “When you stopped me that time, did you know I was going to kill the Crown Prince’s Six Guards?”

“Yes.” Luo Wanqing looked at the fireflies in the grass ahead, slowly saying, “I’d seen that look in your eyes before. I knew your next move would be to kill someone. But killing them at that moment would have cost you your own life.”

“I didn’t care.”

“But it wasn’t worth it.”

Hearing this, Xing Ling pondered, then said: “This isn’t something you’d know just from trafficking salt.”

With that, Xing Ling raised her eyes and looked seriously at Luo Wanqing: “Without having killed an enemy yourself, you wouldn’t understand these things.”

Not expecting Xing Ling to be so perceptive, Luo Wanqing fell silent. After thinking for a long time, she gave a mocking smile and said: “I won’t lie to you, so don’t ask me anymore. But you,” Luo Wanqing became curious, “why were you so desperate to kill the Crown Prince’s Six Guards?”

Xing Ling didn’t speak. After thinking, she raised her wine bowl and simply said: “I won’t lie to you either, so don’t ask me that.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh and raised her wine bowl: “Then let’s not talk about these things. Let’s drink.”

The two clinked bowls as boisterous sounds of arm-wrestling competitions came from inside.

Luo Wanqing and Xing Ling took a sip. Luo Wanqing said somewhat regretfully: “If I hadn’t been injured today, I definitely would have gone up to try.”

Hearing this, Xing Ling looked at the people arm-wrestling, thought for a moment and said: “Having gained a friend today, let me try for you.”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised, watching as Xing Ling put down her wine bowl, stood up and walked toward the crowd, pushing aside several burly men and calling out: “I’ll wrestle a round for Inspector Liu.”

“Me too!”

Zhang Yiran suddenly spoke up, rolling up his sleeves as he stepped forward. Seeing Zhang Yiran and Xing Ling, everyone around them cheered. Luo Wanqing held her wine bowl, smiling as she watched them all.

Xing Ling didn’t take Zhang Yiran seriously, beckoning with her hand. As soon as Zhang Yiran stepped forward, he was instantly pinned down by Xing Ling.

Xing Ling coughed lightly, not looking at the shocked Zhang Yiran, and turned her head: “Next.”

Zhang Yiran was helped away by others, his arm tendons twisted. Luo Wanqing found this amusing and went over, simply setting up a stall beside them to provide medical consultations and bone-setting for everyone.

While the foot of the mountain was bustling with activity, Xie Heng sat alone in his study, cleaning his wounds and applying medicine.

Li Guiyu was indeed no ordinary person. It had been a long time since he’d suffered such severe injuries. Though not particularly serious, they were certainly troublesome.

It hurt.

As his fingers touched the wound, he remembered Luo Wanqing’s words from during the day: “deliberately seeking you out for a match, intentionally holding back and getting seriously injured.” He couldn’t help but smile.

She had indeed seen at a glance that Li Guiyu was injured.

This thought made him somewhat irritated. He carelessly applied the medicine, threw the medicine bottle aside, put on a single robe, and lowered his head to continue reviewing documents.

One person, one lamp—no different from usual days. But soon he heard the commotion from down the mountain. Feeling restless, he frowned and called for Zhusi: “Zhusi.”

Hearing him, Zhusi came to the courtyard: “Young Master.”

“Why is there such noise down the mountain?”

Xie Heng dipped his brush in ink, quite displeased.

Zhusi was startled and, feeling uneasy, told the truth: “Inspector Liu is hosting a drinking party down the mountain.”

Xie Heng’s movements paused. Zhusi quickly explained: “It’s customary for inspectors to host drinks when promoted, usually outside the department. But Inspector Liu’s situation is special, so the party is being held inside the department. If Young Master dislikes it, I’ll go tell them to disperse immediately.”

“No need.” Xie Heng came to his senses and said calmly, “You may go.”

Hearing this, Zhusi sighed in relief and quickly withdrew.

Xie Heng sat alone in his room. After a while, he couldn’t help but get up, walk out of his small courtyard, and stand on the mountain looking down. Listening to the commotion below, he suddenly felt that this back mountain was too quiet, too cold.

He watched quietly for a long time, finally giving in. He turned back to his room and put on his mask.

The moment the mask was on, he felt as if his whole being had come alive, his heart lighter. He changed his sachet, looked up to see the small orange lantern he had casually made for Luo Wanqing to play with, picked up the lantern, and wanted to go down to fetch her.

But when he walked down the mountain to the dining hall, he saw a sea of people.

Luo Wanqing sat alone behind a table like a doctor providing free consultations, with many people taking turns coming forward for her to examine.

When she saw Zhang Yiran, her gaze fell on his scraped arm. She touched it with her finger, and Zhang Yiran seemed somewhat embarrassed, his face turning red.

Luo Wanqing then smiled brilliantly.

She had never shown such a relaxed smile in front of him. With him, she was always compassionate, careful, ingratiating, and nervous.

He suddenly felt it inappropriate for him to stand there. He was just a lonely ghost who had entered the mortal world—not only would this be disruptive, but it would also frighten people.

Thinking this, he found it somewhat meaningless and carried his lantern back.

Coming and going, no one knew.

After playing with everyone for a while, Luo Wanqing remembered she still had to meet Cui Heng that night. She waved goodbye to everyone and returned up the mountain, carrying the scent of alcohol.

She had intended to wash up before waiting for Cui Heng, but unexpectedly, as soon as she returned to the mountain, she saw Cui Heng sitting with a wine bottle, reclining on her steps.

He wore only a pure white single robe, his hair half-bound with a ribbon, looking as if he were preparing for sleep.

Hearing her approach and seeing her arrive, he glanced at her, then averted his gaze as if he hadn’t seen her.

Luo Wanqing was amused by his behavior. She walked in front of him, smoothly took the wine bottle from his hands, sat on the steps, and said: “You’re not sleeping yet?”

“The entire department is nearly turned upside down by your group’s noise. Who could sleep?”

Cui Heng spoke with sarcasm. Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and reminded him: “It’s not even the end of the Hour of the Pig yet. The department doesn’t sleep this early.”

“I sleep early.”

Cui Heng looked into the distance, being stubborn with her.

Luo Wanqing laughed: “What’s wrong with you today?”

Cui Heng glanced at her without speaking. Luo Wanqing thought about it and reflected: “Is it because I praised Li Guiyu?”

Cui Heng gave a mocking smile without saying more.

Luo Wanqing said hesitantly: “But what I said was also the truth.”

“Fool!”

Cui Heng couldn’t help but scold quietly, then flicked his sleeve and stood up: “Come on, I’ll take you to the secret archive.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing became excited and quickly followed him.

The back mountain had few people, completely different from down the mountain. Luo Wanqing followed him toward Xie Heng’s small courtyard, curiously asking: “Did you hear all the commotion from down the mountain earlier?”

“I’m not deaf. Inspector Liu was beating gongs and drums down the mountain—how could I not know?”

Cui Heng cleared branches for her. Luo Wanqing pursed her lips and smiled lightly: “Then why didn’t you come down the mountain for a drink?”

“I’m not interested in the revelries of common folk.”

“Then what are you interested in?” Luo Wanqing found this version of Cui Heng particularly interesting and couldn’t help asking more questions.

Cui Heng stopped walking, turned around, and looked her up and down, then turned his head and continued walking: “In the middle of the night, finding a beauty…”

As Cui Heng spoke, he drew out his tone, looked back at Luo Wanqing again, his ambiguous tone carrying some gritted teeth: “To devour.”

Luo Wanqing was amused by him and walked with him to Xie Heng’s small courtyard.

At night with no one working, Xie Heng’s small courtyard was particularly deserted, like a man-eating grave standing quietly in the mountains.

Cui Heng pushed open the door and led her forward: “Follow me.”

Luo Wanqing looked around once and said hesitantly: “The Young Master isn’t…”

“He told me to bring you here.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing felt reassured and stepped forward, removing her shoes to step onto the long corridor.

Cui Heng raised his hand to untie his hair ribbon, his ink-black hair cascading down like a waterfall. Luo Wanqing was startled to see him raise his hand and cover her eyes with the hair ribbon.

Cui Heng explained: “You cannot see the entrance.”

Luo Wanqing responded: “Oh.”

The surroundings darkened, instantly reminding her of that night’s scene.

He had used a hair ribbon to cover her eyes just like this.

Luo Wanqing involuntarily became nervous. Cui Heng noticed, his voice lowering a few degrees as he chuckled and asked: “What are you afraid of?”

“Let’s go.”

Luo Wanqing pretended to be calm and changed the subject.

Cui Heng laughed once, seeming to be in a better mood. He raised his hand to tuck the corner of his robe into her hand, turning around: “Hold tight.”

Luo Wanqing gripped the corner of his robe, her heartbeat suddenly quickening.

In this moment, they both seemed to forget that she was a martial artist who could follow him just by listening to sounds and determining positions, even if blindfolded.

She held the corner of his robe, following him completely. She heard the sound of mechanisms moving ahead, then seemed to enter a long passage. She didn’t know how long she followed him—it seemed very long, but because he was there, it also seemed very short.

She followed Cui Heng through the secret passage into a spacious great hall.

Cui Heng untied the eye cloth for her. After Luo Wanqing adjusted to the light and turned to look around, she discovered that this great hall was densely packed with various case files and books.

Cui Heng carried the lamp and led her to a row of walls at the far edge.

Wooden plaques hung on the walls. Cui Heng raised the lamp and said leisurely, “The secret archive is a place only the Young Master’s trusted associates can enter. These are tasks that only those with secret archive access can take on.”

Luo Wanqing raised her head, scanning the names on the wooden plaques one by one. Cui Heng looked for a moment, took down a wooden plaque, and handed it to Luo Wanqing: “This is your father’s case.”

Luo Wanqing took it in her hand and saw that the front of the wooden plaque had a number written on it, while the back had the three characters “Luo Qushu.”

Luo Wanqing was startled and couldn’t help but exclaim: “Why is my father’s name here?”

“You should know that he was once a retainer of the Cui family, extremely skilled at long-range archery, and was considered one of the notable talents among the Cui family’s three thousand retainers.”

Cui Heng carried the lamp and led her, following the number on the wooden plaque, to find a drawer. He pulled open the drawer and took out a wooden box.

“These are all the existing document copies in the world related to Luo Qushu. You can take them back.”

Luo Wanqing took the documents, feeling somewhat excited.

Cui Heng saw her expression and chuckled softly in the night, turning his head: “Let’s go. I’ll talk as we walk.”

“Alright.”

Luo Wanqing held the wooden box in her arms, pretending to be calm as she followed Cui Heng.

Cui Heng carried the lamp walking ahead, talking as he walked: “In those days, the Eastern Capital’s noble families were Cui, Xie, Wang, and Zheng, with the Cui family as the leader. Cui Qingping was the eldest legitimate son of the Cui family at that time, who grew up with the current emperor and was as close as brothers with His Majesty. The Cui family supported His Majesty’s ascension to the throne. His Majesty married the Cui family’s second daughter, Cui Lianyi, as empress. Their eldest son, Li Shengzhao, became the crown prince. He was of similar age to the Director and grew up together with him, their relationship quite good.”

“How good?”

Luo Wanqing was curious. Cui Heng thought for a moment: “They often fought as children. The crown prince was once kicked into a lake by the Director for touching the Director’s Persian cat, developed a high fever for two days, and when he woke up, his first words were to find the Director.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded, getting an idea: “That relationship was indeed good…”

“He said he wanted to behead him.”

Cui Heng spoke, and Luo Wanqing’s voice stopped abruptly. She suddenly couldn’t quite grasp the nature of these cousins’ relationship.

She realized that asking about these things now was unnecessary, so she said: “What happened after?”

“After His Majesty ascended the throne, he had grand ambitions, and Cui Qingping also had soaring aspirations. Later, inspired by Xie Heng, Cui Qingping gathered talented people from across the land and compiled a book called ‘The Great Xia Code.’ The first edition of this book alone took five years to complete, tracing ancient and modern sources. Building upon existing laws, they created a more complete and systematic compilation, covering everyone from nobles to commoners, striving to ensure that all legal judgments and punishments would have laws to follow. But essentially, this was stripping away the power of various officials and even His Majesty. Having laws to follow meant that when they engaged in favoritism and corruption, they would need reasonable justification to circumvent existing laws.”

“Those who abuse power for personal gain would not agree.”

Luo Wanqing stated with certainty.

Cui Heng nodded, then continued: “But with Cui Qingping and His Majesty’s insistence, ‘The Great Xia Code’ was still tentatively implemented for three years. When this law emerged, there were many opponents, but the Cui family was at the height of their power, so no one dared speak much. Until six years ago.”

Cui Heng’s voice paused slightly. Luo Wanqing repeated: “Six years ago?”

“Six years ago, on the day of the Grand Music Festival, Madam Xie, Cui Muhua, entered the palace alone, and was subsequently shot and killed in the palace on charges of rebellion. That same day, the empress and crown prince disappeared from the inner palace, and Director Xie was imprisoned for trying to save his mother.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but widen her eyes: “The empress and crown prince disappeared?”

“Correct.”

Cui Heng nodded and continued: “Not long after, news came of the northwest’s defeat and the Cui family’s surrender. His Majesty was furious and imprisoned the Cui clan members. Two months later, ten border cities had already fallen, and iron cavalry advanced directly to Heyu Pass. The Wang family defended Heyu Pass to the death, giving the Eastern Capital and the Northern Rong a chance to negotiate peace. Among the fallen ten border cities were strategic fortress locations that were extremely difficult to attack. Under internal and external pressures, the court decided to cede the ten border cities.”

“At this time, Xie Heng provided clues for tracking down the empress and crown prince, using this to secure his release from prison. On the day he was released, the empress was ordered to die in the palace. Two days later, Cui Qingping appeared in the Eastern Capital.”

This was the first time Luo Wanqing had heard someone explain the past so clearly. She found it somewhat difficult to process.

Everyone knew that the Cui family had betrayed the country and surrendered, but from the timeline, the crown prince and empress had already met with misfortune before the Cui family’s betrayal.

If she had heard this in the past, she wouldn’t have had any conspiratorial thoughts, but now her intuition told her something was wrong.

She recalled all the past information, thinking: “I know. The day he returned… I happened to be leaving the Eastern Capital, and I saw him.”

“He knocked on the palace gates at dawn, demanding that troops be sent out. The palace gates opened, he entered the palace, and never came out again.”

Luo Wanqing was startled and couldn’t help saying, “No one saw him?”

“He was ordered to die in the palace; no one saw him. After his death, the Cui clan members escaped from prison. The Director led former Cui retainers at Qingyun Ferry to kill the escaped descendants, then established the Supervision Department, judging and executing the remaining Cui clan members. After that, ‘The Great Xia Code’ was abolished and became a forbidden book. Great Xia ceded the ten border cities, and the Wang family rose to great prominence from then on.”

Cui Heng spoke calmly, yet somehow, Luo Wanqing, looking at the young man carrying a lantern through the night ahead, sensed a deep-seated sorrow emanating from his very bones.

She wanted to step forward to comfort him, but feared being presumptuous.

She restrained her impulse to move closer, following not far behind him, lowering her eyes: “What connection do these events have with my father?”

“On Purple Cloud Mountain, didn’t you hear what Zheng Biyue said?”

Cui Heng stepped forward, leading her to the door, putting the eye cloth back on her, having her grab his clothing corner, and guiding her out of the secret chamber amid the sound of mechanisms, saying calmly: “Before the great battle, Cui Qingping had sent a trusted subordinate to escort an important item from the border, disguised as ordinary goods, with Zhang Qiuzhi escorting it to Yangzhou. Such an item escorted by an ordinary escort guard alarmed Fengyu Pavilion into action. In the past, the Supervision Department has always been searching for this item.”

Hearing this, she suddenly connected the dots and couldn’t help but grip Cui Heng’s sleeve tightly.

She gripped so tightly that her palm hurt. She restrained herself and said calmly, “Li Guiyu is also searching for this item, so he lurked beside me for five years, all for this matter, and also for this item, driving my father to death.”

“Perhaps.”

When the night wind blew, warm palms calmly grasped her hands at the same time.

Luo Wanqing trembled slightly, feeling warmth transmitted from Cui Heng’s hands. She couldn’t bear to withdraw her hand, comforting herself that this was because she couldn’t see.

She let him pull and guide her along the path, his voice steady: “When you reported the case in Yangzhou, the Director sensed something was wrong and filed Luo Qushu’s case separately, which is why he focused on Li Guiyu. Later, the night Li Guiyu entered the Supervision Department for interrogation, we understood that the item was ultimately handed over to Luo Qushu by Zhang Qiuzhi, and in Li Guiyu’s eyes, it was evidence. This shows that Li Guiyu knew something on the battlefield back then—there was something suspicious about the Cui family’s betrayal. This evidence also concerns the Wang and Zheng families, which is why they’ve been searching for it.”

“Did he obtain that item?”

“I don’t think he did.”

“Why?”

Cui Heng smiled and said, “His Majesty has always been searching for that item. From what I learned from Zheng Biyue, I roughly deduced what His Majesty thinks it is. Very interesting,”

Luo Wanqing followed Cui Heng, feeling him pull her onto the corridor steps, helping her put on her shoes, then leading her outside.

He didn’t remove her eye cloth. She didn’t know his intention and didn’t dare speak, only following him in the darkness, feeling the gentle night breeze as she heard him continue: “From Zheng Biyue and Li Guiyu’s confessions, it’s evidence. But in His Majesty’s eyes, it seems to be a treasure. But whatever this is, if Li Guiyu had obtained it and was willing to present it to His Majesty, the crown prince position would undoubtedly be his. But he made no moves. His only related action concerned your father. After your father died, he never involved himself with this matter again. He seems certain that as long as your father was dead, this item would never appear again.”

“If he had obtained the item, he should have done something at least. So now, he probably hasn’t obtained it.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood. Remembering Fengyu Pavilion’s file on her father, she said hesitantly: “Then my father was just a Cui family retainer, with no other identity?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng astutely asked back: “What other identity would he have?”

Luo Wanqing stiffened. She didn’t know whether she should tell Cui Heng what she had seen.

If her father were truly a death warrior of Fengyu Pavilion, it would mean he might have been a spy planted within the Cui family. Speaking these words would inevitably create a barrier between her and Cui Heng.

For a moment, she didn’t dare speak, only saying: “I’ll tell you once I’ve investigated clearly.”

Cui Heng responded with acknowledgment, not pressing further, only saying: “Luo Qushu’s case is now entirely your responsibility. What the Young Master wants is for that item to be sent to Jiangnan. As for the rest, you can investigate whatever you like incidentally. During the investigation, the Supervision Department will provide all resources, but remember,” Cui Heng removed her eye cloth and said calmly, ‘You’d better not let anyone discover you’re investigating this matter.”

Light entered her eyes. Luo Wanqing looked up to find herself already at her corridor entrance. She looked up at the young man before her, somewhat puzzled: “Why?”

“Too many people are watching this item. Moreover, the crime of treason,” Cui Heng spoke seriously, “without absolute certainty, you cannot let people know you intend to uncover it.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded and responded: “I understand.”

After thinking, she asked again: “What exactly happened to Li Guiyu on the battlefield? Does the Supervision Department know?”

At these words, Cui Heng didn’t respond. He looked at her quietly for a long time, then lowered his eyes, bowing his head to wind the hair ribbon around his wrist, saying calmly: “First get a good night’s sleep and think about where to start investigating.”

Luo Wanqing followed Cui Heng’s suggestion to think further. Considering everything that had happened, it all seemed to revolve around Xie Heng’s crimes from his previous life.

Assassinating the crown prince, framing the Crown Prince’s Six Guards, and now searching for the item given to her father—all currently known clues ended in Yangzhou.

The item was sent to Yangzhou, her father died in Yangzhou, and Li Guiyu never searched for this item again after returning from Yangzhou.

And in his previous life, Xie Heng’s third crime had also occurred in Jiangnan.

With this thought, Luo Wanqing had a lead and said directly: “I want to return to Yangzhou.”

“I think so too.” Cui Heng nodded, then said, “Tomorrow I’ll speak to the Young Master for you. Once your injuries heal, I’ll arrange for you to go to Yangzhou.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, then thought of him and couldn’t help asking: “What about you? Will you come with me?”

Cui Heng’s voice stopped.

His heart was like the orange lantern in his hand, swaying gently back and forth in the lonely night.

He remained quiet for a long time, finally finishing the last knot of the hair ribbon, only saying: “We’ll see.”

With that, he urged: “Go sleep.”

“You should sleep early too.”

Luo Wanqing nodded and walked into her room, thinking about the case. But after taking only two steps, she turned back to see Cui Heng still standing by the door.

He stood there alone, his whole body bathed in frost-like moonlight.

The small orange lantern in his hand gave only dim light in the night, providing him with just a weak, warm glow.

Luo Wanqing stared at him blankly, suddenly remembering tonight’s scene of lights blazing brightly down the mountain.

She suddenly realized that he seemed to always be alone—walking alone through the night, without a name, without a future, without a destination.

Like her, he carried the burden of the past, hidden beneath this sunless darkness, unable even to show his true face.

Cui—a surname of treason.

Looking at him, Luo Wanqing felt an inexplicable aching pain in her heart.

She thought the night wind was too cold, the moonlight too harsh, and Cui Heng was too lonely all by himself.

She stood motionless. Cui Heng seemed to notice and slowly raised his eyes.

The two of them stood one in light, one in shadow, one inside, one outside.

Cui Heng’s gaze flickered slightly. As the night wind struck, his robes fluttered lightly. Luo Wanqing’s gaze traveled down from his open collar, finally settling on the end of the wound on his chest.

His wound wasn’t bandaged. Luo Wanqing quietly looked at that red mark. Cui Heng noticed her gaze and seemed to feel somewhat embarrassed. He turned away and said lightly: “I’ll go first.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing suddenly came to her senses and instinctively called after him: “Wait, your wound…”

This voice was like a sudden straw to a drowning person, shocking Cui Heng’s rational defenses into instant collapse.

As she came toward him, the moment she touched the corner of his robe, Cui Heng suddenly turned around, pulled her into his arms, pressed her against the door and kissed her!

The orange lantern in his hand fell with a sound. Luo Wanqing’s eyes widened in shock.

Cui Heng pressed forward, holding her entire body in his arms, his breathing urgent and heavy, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

Everything happened too quickly. By the time Luo Wanqing reacted, his soft tongue had already driven deep inside. She instinctively tried to retreat, but he immediately followed, even more aggressively raising his hand to intertwine their fingers, pressing her firmly against the door without leaving any gap.

He couldn’t control himself.

Hearing her trembling voice calling his name in an attempt to refuse, he only took it as a plea, becoming even more aggressive in entangling with her.

He had waited all day.

All day he had been waiting for her—waiting for her to see through his layers of defense, waiting for her to see his wounds and pain at a glance like she had with Li Guiyu, waiting for her to notice his vulnerability, waiting for her to show kindness.

He waited for her at the palace gates, in the carriage, at Xie Heng’s courtyard, and among their celebratory toasts and thousands of lights, lighting a small orange lantern to wait for her.

Actually, he had been unable to wait much longer.

So he came down the mountain as Cui Heng, carrying a lantern to fetch her, but saw her surrounded and embraced by crowds. She examined everyone, bandaged Zhang Yiran’s insignificant scrape, made friends with others. She was so vibrant and brilliant, already belonging to another world.

Cui Heng was her guide, leading Liu Xiniang from Yangzhou to the Supervision Department. He had once been her only support, once so important.

But standing outside the door, watching her smile gently with lowered brows surrounded by others, he suddenly realized—

Actually, she no longer needed Cui Heng.

Cui Guanlan existed for her, but she no longer needed him.

This thought filled him with panic. He couldn’t help but use force, entangling her tongue with his.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but cry out softly, trying to resist him.

But he only pressed her tighter.

He wished he could use everything to possess her.

Surround her with his breath.

Burn her with his temperature.

Devour all her space with his voice, his body, his everything.

She breathed rapidly in the overly intense intimacy, finally losing all ability to think, passively accepting everything he brought, only able to submit to his will.

Though it was merely simple kissing and touching, he could use an extremely dominant posture to make it feel like heart-trembling lovemaking.

This isn’t Cui Heng…

Luo Wanqing breathed lightly, suppressing the panic and trembling in her heart.

She remembered Cui Heng’s kisses—gentle and restrained, even somewhat careful, not like this.

Seeming to sense her unease, Cui Heng’s kisses slowed down, becoming fine and dense like spring rain nourishing all things.

He smoothed her emotions bit by bit, like the conclusion of a great battle with beginning and end. After waiting a long time, when Luo Wanqing felt her lips and tongue were entangled to the point of pain, his lips finally left hers.

Reluctant to move too far from her, he only slightly curved his spine, pressing his forehead against hers.

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare look at him. Her whole body trembled, uncontrollable moisture in her eyes. The overly intense reaction made her feel somewhat ashamed. She forcibly suppressed it with reason, pretending to be calm as she turned her head away, saying hoarsely: “What… what are you doing?”

Hearing the question, Cui Heng only laughed lowly, then withdrew his hands and turned around, laughing brightly: “I’ll accompany you to Jiangnan.”

These words came out of nowhere. Luo Wanqing only saw his sleeves flutter like butterflies about to take flight. She grabbed his sleeve, and with his movement, perfectly pulled his robe down from his shoulder.

Cui Heng looked back at her, his gaze sweeping her up and down, making a meaningful: “Hmm?”

Luo Wanqing’s mind was in chaos with too many things she wanted to ask and say. But finally, her gaze still fell on the more obvious wound on his chest, temporarily suppressing all questions to say quietly: “Let me bandage your wound first.”

Cui Heng didn’t speak, seeming to hesitate. His gaze swept across her lips, knowing she wanted to ask questions. Finally, he averted his eyes, pulled up his robe, walked into the room, saying helplessly: “Then I’ll endure it.”

For a moment, Luo Wanqing couldn’t quite understand what he was saying. She paused, then finally walked in.

She went to get medicine. Cui Heng sat down and reminded her: “I’ve already applied medicine. Just bring gauze.”

“Oh.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing came back to her senses, bringing gauze over. Cui Heng sat properly. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing was startled: “Not taking off your clothes?”

Cui Heng said nothing, only spread his arms and looked up at her, hinting: “This wound doesn’t necessarily need bandaging.”

Luo Wanqing knew he was giving her a choice. She didn’t dare think about the deeper meaning of these words, only stepping forward: “It’s better to treat it.”

Speaking thus, she treated him like an unfamiliar patient. Under Cui Heng’s lowered gaze, she properly helped him remove his single robe, revealing his clean upper body.

He was fair-skinned but with firm, smooth, beautiful muscle lines and several intersecting scars. Luo Wanqing glanced quickly, not daring to look more, only focusing on the most obvious new wound.

It was an extremely shallow sword mark running from his chest all the way to his waist and abdomen. At first glance, Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together and couldn’t help scolding: “Why didn’t you treat such a serious wound?”

“Serious?” Cui Heng smiled carelessly, “It probably isn’t as serious as Li Guiyu’s wound.”

Luo Wanqing was startled and looked up to see Cui Heng watching her, saying gently: “The Inspector saw Li Guiyu’s injury at a glance, didn’t she?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t know how to respond. Seeing her rendered speechless by his pressure, Cui Heng didn’t want to disturb the mood from earlier, sighed and said: “Forget it, his wound is indeed more serious. I did treat it, but the Inspector couldn’t see it, so I let the Inspector see it clearly.”

“I know.”

Luo Wanqing spoke. Cui Heng was puzzled: “Hmm?”

“I smelled blood in the carriage,” Luo Wanqing applied gauze for him, saying calmly, “But since you didn’t want people to discover it, I pretended not to know.”

Cui Heng paused. Luo Wanqing raised her eyes to look at the mask on his face, speaking meaningfully: “If you don’t want people to know, then I don’t know. Cui Heng,” she said seriously, “Whatever you want, just ask. I’ll give you anything I have. Don’t use self-harm as a method.”

Cui Heng fell silent, feeling embarrassed under this verbal rebuke.

She was too calm, too rational, too frank, knowing exactly how best to handle the relationship between them.

When he came and went unpredictably, she only waited without asking.

When he hid his wounds, she pretended not to know.

She never inquired about the person under the mask, nor probed into his identity.

She was so considerate of him, yet so distant from him.

He felt somewhat unwilling. Seeing him silent for so long, Luo Wanqing got up to put away the bandaging tools.

As they passed each other, he suddenly grabbed her hand.

Luo Wanqing’s movements stopped, her heart trembling slightly. She felt this person gripping her wrist with force, then heard the calm voice beside her: “What if I want you?”

Her heart was like boiling water pressing against ice—the ice melting and dissolving bit by bit on the surface while boiling and clamoring beneath.

She didn’t dare respond. Cui Heng raised his eyes, seeing the woman’s delicate, gentle profile in the moonlight, her eyelashes trembling lightly as if brushing against his heart.

His gaze fixed on her, his hand tightening around hers, like clutching a kite destined to fly away, the string cutting his hands bloody yet still refusing to let go.

He stared at her, speaking with certainty: “I want you, Liu Xiniang.”

There was no Cui Guanlan in this world originally. He came for her, seeking only her.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Cui Heng: “Love develops through mutual bandaging.”

Warrior: “That’s called comradeship, damn it!”