◎Thinking of Me as Xie Heng is Fine Too◎

Cui Heng’s words were expected. Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together and lowered her head, suppressing her racing heartbeat, saying calmly: “How do you want to have me?”

This question made Cui Heng stiffen. He realized what she wanted to say and felt somewhat irritated as he let go: “Forget it, let’s not talk about this.”

“My entire being was shaped by you, belongs to you,” Luo Wanqing forced herself to continue, “I’ll give you whatever you want. But if what you want is romantic love, I can’t give that to you right now.”

“Why?”

Cui Heng hadn’t wanted to bring this up again, but since she had spoken, he couldn’t help but look up coldly, his penetrating gaze staring straight at her: “Do you dare say you have no feelings for me?”

“I…”

Luo Wanqing trembled, finally only saying: “Right now I only want to seek revenge first. I can’t think about these things for the time being.”

“Am I hindering your revenge?” Cui Heng watched her make excuses, giving her no room: “If you’re only seeking revenge, I should be beneficial to you.”

“That’s exactly why I can’t agree to you in confusion.” Luo Wanqing looked up at him, “Cui Heng, I can’t use you.”

Anyone else in the world could be used, but not him alone.

Hearing this, Cui Heng only looked at her without speaking.

After a long time, he chuckled softly, pulled up his robe, rose from the ground, and walked in front of her.

His shadow enveloped her entire form in darkness, carrying invisible pressure. He stared at her and said in a low voice: “You’re afraid of hurting me.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare look at him, turning her head to look at the wall, searching for reasons: “You’ve shown me kindness.”

Cui Heng stepped forward. She couldn’t help but retreat. Cui Heng continued: “You’re afraid of leaving me.”

“This is just dependence.”

“What about desire?”

Cui Heng swept his arm around her waist, holding her in his embrace. Luo Wanqing was startled and tensed her body sharply. Cui Heng stared into her eyes, saying with certainty: “You desire me.”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t answer. Cui Heng moved closer to her: “Human romantic feelings begin with emotion, start with love, and end with desire. You desire me—is this also because of gratitude?”

Luo Wanqing gripped his arm tightly, stopping him from advancing further, gritting her teeth: “Having desire doesn’t mean having feelings.”

Cui Heng gave a mocking smile: “Oh? Do you also feel such a desire for others?”

Cui Heng asked, but Luo Wanqing didn’t respond.

Cui Heng’s heart tightened, suddenly regretting asking this question, but he still pretended to be nonchalant: “Li Guiyu?”

“The Young Master.”

At these words, Cui Heng was shocked into stillness.

Luo Wanqing seemed to have made a great decision. Not daring to raise her head, she clenched her fists and spoke truthfully, trying to dissuade him: “Cui Heng, look, I have no feelings for the Young Master, but…”

Luo Wanqing pressed her lips tightly, saying with some embarrassment: “I don’t know why, Cui Heng, I don’t only react to you alone. So…”

Before she could finish, Cui Heng suddenly burst into laughter.

Luo Wanqing was stunned, looking in shock at the young man beside her who was laughing softly.

He couldn’t control his laughter, yet felt it was improper, so he could only raise his hand to cover his forehead, hiding half his face, and turn his head away.

Luo Wanqing stared at him blankly: “What are you laughing at?”

“Sorry…” Cui Heng couldn’t stop laughing, stepping back a few paces, only saying: “Xie Heng… you…”

“What exactly are you laughing at?”

For some reason, Cui Heng’s reaction made her inexplicably feel that her rejection just now was like a farce, something he didn’t take to heart at all.

Luo Wanqing frowned: “I’m speaking seriously with you!”

“My apologies.”

Seeing that she was truly getting angry, Cui Heng quickly tried his best to suppress the joy exploding in his heart, forcing himself to be more serious, waving his hand: “Forget it, let’s not talk about this matter anymore. It’s unclear.”

“Why did you laugh?”

Luo Wanqing was dissatisfied. Cui Heng knew she was really angry and didn’t dare keep joking, hurriedly explaining seriously: “I grew up with Xie Heng, and our relationship is quite close. Hearing this… I was quite shocked.”

Luo Wanqing stared at him coldly, not accepting this explanation.

Seeing her expression, Cui Heng couldn’t help but step forward to embrace her. Luo Wanqing pushed him away, but he pulled her back like a rogue, coaxing her: “Good Xiniang, good Inspector, good girl, good sister…”

“Don’t call me randomly.”

Luo Wanqing was finally held in his arms, turning her head away: “I wasn’t joking with you.”

“I know.”

Cui Heng’s words became more serious. Holding the person in his arms, he said gently: “But Qingqing, I’m not joking with you either. Let’s not think about it.”

“I…”

“I know what you’re worrying about. I’m the same as you—I have things I must do, and I don’t require you to respond to anything in particular. What I seek has always been simple—”

Cui Heng closed his eyes: “While alive, only I alone; after death, erect a grave for me. If I leave, whether people know of Cui Heng’s existence or not, it’s all fine, as long as there’s a memorial tablet erected for me, proving that I was here.”

Luo Wanqing listened to his words in a daze, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Cui Heng held her for a while before slowly releasing her.

He looked down at her expression, raising his hand to brush away the stray hair on her cheek, finally speaking: “Qingqing, there was no Cui Heng in this world originally. Because of you, I have a name; because of you, I have Cui Heng’s life. If you don’t want me, Cui Heng has nowhere to go.”

“I’m not unwilling to have you…”

Luo Wanqing’s heart felt tight and sore.

Cui Heng smiled, starlight falling in his eyes: “Then just follow your heart, don’t think too much. If you don’t like me touching you, then I won’t. But if not,” Cui Heng lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, his fingers sliding tenderly down her spine, “you just need to enjoy it, don’t think about anything.”

Luo Wanqing stiffened without speaking. Cui Heng, thinking of her earlier words, couldn’t help teasing: “Thinking of me as Xie Heng is fine too.”

“Don’t speak nonsense!”

Luo Wanqing was so startled that she suddenly became alert, pushing him away and turning her head: “Don’t mention this again in the future.”

Cui Heng laughed and followed her.

Luo Wanqing walked to the table, drank two mouthfuls of water, calmed down somewhat, then turned back to see him still leaning against a nearby pillar, smiling as he watched her. She couldn’t help becoming vigilant: “You’re not leaving yet?”

“When I returned to the department yesterday, I originally had some matters to discuss with you, but when you got angry at me, I forgot.”

“What matters?”

Hearing his tone, Luo Wanqing knew it was serious business and calmed down.

Cui Heng crossed his arms in front of him, his fingers lightly tapping his arm, slowly saying: “Li Guiyu’s proposal to incorporate the Crown Prince’s Six Guards into the Northern Fourth Army was part of the Director’s plan all along.”

This made Luo Wanqing turn around in surprise: “The Young Master doesn’t want the Crown Prince’s Six Guards?”

“Naturally.”

Cui Heng nodded: “The Supervision Department already has nearly two thousand inspectors in the Eastern Capital, plus shadow envoys, miscellaneous workers, clerks, and others, approximately five thousand people. Inspectors are different from ordinary soldiers—they’re all masters capable of fighting ten or even a hundred men. The Young Master controlling such a group already makes many people unable to sleep peacefully. If he still wanted to reach for the Crown Prince’s military power, in His Majesty’s eyes, do you think he could tolerate the Young Master?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing slowly came to understand.

“So,” Luo Wanqing looked at Cui Heng, tentatively asking, “the Crown Prince’s Six Guards are what His Majesty wants?”

“Yes.” Cui Heng nodded, patiently explaining: “How could His Majesty be at ease with the Six Guards in the Wang family’s hands? So, taking advantage of Li Shangwen’s current troubles, the Director suggested that he openly compete for the position of the Crown Prince’s Six Guards. When the noble families and the Supervision Department compete, Li Guiyu, for his own sake, will most likely try to appease the Wang family and make them give up military power. This way, His Majesty can go with the flow and incorporate the Crown Prince’s Six Guards into the Northern Fourth Army.”

“So,” Luo Wanqing pondered, understanding, “everything was actually within the Young Master’s expectations. With the Young Master’s arrangement, even if Li Guiyu actively proposed incorporating the Six Guards into the Northern Fourth Army, in His Majesty’s heart, this achievement still belongs to the Young Master.”

“Correct.”

Cui Heng nodded, continuing: “In this matter, you are a key contributor. His Majesty currently has exceptional praise for you. On this trip to Jiangnan, if you can bring that item back to the Supervision Department, His Majesty promises,” Cui Heng revealed a brilliant smile, “additional rewards.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing stared blankly at Cui Heng. Seeing that this didn’t seem to move her, Cui Heng’s expression became slightly cooler, but he still said: “Li Guiyu also wants that item. If you seize it, you’ll also be blocking Li Guiyu.”

“So…”

But Luo Wanqing hadn’t absorbed any of this, only belatedly becoming happy: “Then I didn’t lose?”

Not expecting her to care about this, Cui Heng was somewhat surprised but couldn’t help smiling.

He looked at her warmly, his words carrying some irrepressible youthful pride: “How could I let you lose?”

“What about you?”

Luo Wanqing suddenly remembered, her gaze sweeping over his wound, curiously asking: “Who won between you and Li Guiyu?”

This question made Cui Heng pause. He turned his head somewhat uncomfortably, explaining: “We only bet on three sword moves. Three moves are too few to show any real skill.”

“But he was injured more severely.”

Luo Wanqing remembered Li Guiyu’s wound. She could distinguish the severity of their injuries.

Cui Heng didn’t try to claim credit, only saying: “He failed to stop you from entering the palace. To dispel Wang Shenfeng’s suspicions, he naturally had to be more severely injured.”

Luo Wanqing understood. After Cui Heng finished speaking, he straightened up: “Alright, I’ll go first. Rest well.”

As Cui Heng was about to leave, Luo Wanqing called out: “Guanlan.”

“If you keep me again this time, I’ll…”

Cui Heng turned back quite happily, but before he could finish speaking, he heard Luo Wanqing ask: “Who did you learn bone manipulation from?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng paused. He looked up to meet Luo Wanqing’s serious gaze, understanding somewhat in his heart.

His expression remained unchanged as he smiled brilliantly: “The Director, of course.”

This was indeed an answer Luo Wanqing had considered.

Seeing that she hadn’t learned anything new, Luo Wanqing nodded without saying more.

Cui Heng raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat dissatisfied: “You only ask me this?”

“What else is there to ask?” Luo Wanqing knew he was joking again. She lowered her head to wet a cloth and wash her face, saying casually, “Why don’t you confess and let me hear?”

“The Inspector interrogates criminals during the day and interrogates Cui Heng at night. She’s addicted to interrogation.” Cui Heng sighed, flicking his sleeve, “Guanlan’s heart trembles with fear. I’d better go back to sleep.”

Luo Wanqing smiled and ignored him, lowering her head to rub the cloth as she instructed: “Find time in the next few days to arrange something. I want to file Zheng Jinxin’s case and arrest Zheng Biyue.”

Cui Heng looked at her. Luo Wanqing said calmly, “I have the dagger she used to kill Zheng Jinxin. I should be able to file a case, right? She knows many things. If we could bring her back to the department for interrogation…”

“No need.”

Cui Heng shook his head.

Luo Wanqing frowned: “She’s useful…”

“She’s dead.”

Cui Heng spoke, and Luo Wanqing was stunned.

Cui Heng turned and walked outside, saying lightly: “Go to sleep. From the moment she fell into our hands alone, she couldn’t live.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater 1]

Cui Heng: “Do you dare say you don’t have feelings for me?!”

Luo Wanqing: “I don’t.”

Cui Heng: “You want to sleep with me!”

Luo Wanqing: “I want to sleep with someone else too!”

Cui Heng: “Who? I’ll kill him.”

Luo Wanqing: “The Young Master. I’m a scumbag woman—I want to sleep with two people at the same time.”

Cui Heng: “…This… isn’t your problem.”

[Mini Theater 2]

Cui Heng: “Wow, both my personas are liked. This is hilarious.”

Luo Wanqing: “Stop laughing.”

Cui Heng: “Hahaha, you haven’t noticed my happiness.”

Luo Wanqing: “Explain what’s going on with the bone manipulation?”

Cui Heng: “!!! Joy turns to sorrow—I need to quickly cover this up.”