◎Your Father Dug Up Xie Heng’s Mother’s Grave◎

Zheng Biyue was dead?

She was dead?!

After Cui Heng left, when Luo Wanqing lay down on her bed, she was still reeling from the news of Zheng Biyue’s death.

She hadn’t expected Zheng Biyue to die so easily.

Although she had harmed so many people, she hadn’t yet stood trial.

Her death wasn’t due to being convicted, but for other reasons.

Why did she die?

Luo Wanqing thought of Cui Heng’s question on the mountain: “Five years ago, on the day Madam Xie attempted assassination and committed suicide in the palace, you were there, weren’t you?” She vaguely sensed that Zheng Biyue’s death might be because of that very question.

Madam Xie’s death must have involved some hidden circumstances. This secret was extremely important—someone was worried that if Zheng Biyue fell into the Supervision Department’s hands, she might be tortured into revealing more information. Or perhaps that person knew the secret had leaked, that Cui Heng had already interrogated her, and didn’t want Zheng Biyue to someday be able to stand up and testify about Cui Heng’s questioning that night on Purple Cloud Mountain, so they ended Zheng Biyue’s life early.

A noble daughter from a prestigious family, dead so lightly—this showed that the person behind it must hold a high position and great power.

Who could it be? Zheng Pingsheng, Wang Shenfeng, or the Empress?

Even…

Luo Wanqing considered all possibilities but found no clues, feeling somewhat troubled, so she gave up.

Only then did she realize she hadn’t thought about what she had done.

Whether it was their first distant encounter on the Jiangnan boat, or that meeting in prison filled with cold and pain, or the killing intent and anger during their repeated encounters in the Eastern Capital, or her indignation when seeing Zheng Biyue kill Zheng Jinxin—it all seemed to dissipate with her death.

Her heart seemed to settle like dust, lying peacefully in her chest. Dust to dust, earth to earth—so she could analyze so calmly the impact of her death on the overall situation.

At this moment, she finally understood the meaning of revenge—it wasn’t about seeking pleasure or venting emotions, but about achieving peace.

Being able to unconsciously withdraw from that past and then move forward with composure.

Realizing that she seemed to have dissolved her hatred for Zheng Biyue, she instinctively thought of Li Guiyu.

Her mind instantly flashed to that final meeting in prison—her lying on the ground with her hands covered in his blood, gripping his knife, looking up at him.

She immediately felt as if she had returned to that moment, being pinned firmly to the ground.

Her hatred and anger hadn’t changed one bit; she could even feel the sticky sensation of blood in her palms.

She instantly opened her eyes, not daring to think further. She realized that she had to kill him.

Blood for blood, tooth for tooth.

Perhaps only then could she reach the day when she could let go.

Or perhaps she never would.

Luo Wanqing’s throat moved slightly. She turned on her side, burying her head between her arms, forcing herself not to think anymore.

Perhaps the wine was taking effect—she began to feel drowsy. In her daze, she suddenly remembered things she didn’t dare think about too deeply.

In their earlier conversation, when she first said she didn’t have feelings for only him, he was displeased.

But when she mentioned Xie Heng’s name, he had laughed.

Luo Wanqing’s fingertips curled slightly as she drifted off to sleep in confusion.

Outside the wall, Xie Heng sat on the corridor steps, gazing at the dark mountains in the distance.

The moon hung above the green mountains, revealing the undulating outlines of the peaks. Clouds moved and wind cleared, branches swayed gently—he quietly observed everything between heaven and earth, just as he had in his youth at the Dao Sect.

He hadn’t had such a state of mind for a long time—sky high, earth vast, mountains and rivers like a painting.

All because of one person.

He had intended to leave but was reluctant.

He wanted to enter the room and share a small bed with her, but feared appearing frivolous and presumptuous, so he didn’t dare.

His heart was joyful, yet he feared disturbing this mood. Considering all options, he could only sit at the door, quietly waiting for tonight’s youthful restlessness to subside.

He never expected to have such a day. Xie Heng raised his hand to his forehead, unable to suppress his urge to laugh, yet afraid of disturbing the sleeping person inside, so he could only stop silently.

He sat quietly at the door all night.

He watched the morning star rise, the sun emerge from the east, light smoke and thin mist enveloping the mountaintop, birds spreading their wings and flying.

When Qingya stood not far away, smiling as he waited for him, he knew he could no longer stay.

Feeling somewhat regretful, he rose to leave. But after taking only a few steps, he saw gardenia flowers blooming beautifully by the roadside, so he bent down to break off half a branch and inserted it into the vase by the window.

Qingya kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, watching Xie Heng approach.

After Xie Heng led him away, he spoke: “Young Master stayed outside the door all night?”

“Yes.”

Xie Heng nodded without concealment, then changed the subject: “Have the people from the Northern Fourth Army been arranged?”

“Wei Jue asks the Young Master to rest assured.”

“Mm.” Speaking of these matters, Xie Heng’s expression gradually cooled, slowly returning to his usual demeanor. He continued: “Have those people Zheng Biyue confessed about being found?”

“The others are dead. Only one female official—she escaped from the palace six years ago. Based on the direction she fled that year, it seems to be toward Jiangnan.”

Hearing “Jiangnan,” Xie Heng’s expression turned cold. After thinking, he said calmly, “When Liu Xiniang goes to Jiangnan in a few days, I’ll accompany her.”

“Young Master will accompany her?” Qingya said with some difficulty: “How do we explain this to His Majesty?”

How could Li Zong not know if the Supervision Department Director had left the Eastern Capital for so long?

Xie Heng wasn’t worried, saying directly: “Yesterday, I already gave His Majesty the information Zheng Biyue confessed, telling him that Cui Qingping had sent something from the border to Jiangnan back then. The Wang and Zheng families, along with Li Guiyu, had long discovered this item and conspired to obtain it but failed. Now His Majesty wants me to bring that item back at any cost. There’s no problem with His Majesty—just don’t let others know.”

Hearing this, Qingya frowned: “What exactly is this item?”

“We’ll know once we find it.”

Speaking of this, Xie Heng suddenly remembered: “Have Xuanshan join me in receiving Liu Xiniang recently.”

This made Qingya somewhat surprised: “Together?”

“Liu Xiniang may have encountered Zhang Chunzi,” Xie Heng lowered his eyes, saying lightly, “she’s beginning to suspect.”

* * *

Luo Wanqing slept for a long time. When she woke up, she stretched lazily and got out of bed. Looking up, she saw gardenia flowers in the vase.

She was extremely sensitive to changes in her surroundings—this was important content in inspector training, as it was a matter of life and death.

She confirmed that the gardenia branch hadn’t existed before she slept, so she walked directly to the vase. Looking out the window, she saw a broken branch on the nearby gardenia tree and knew the source of the flower.

In the Supervision Department, only Cui Heng would do such a thing. Thinking that he had come early, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but smile. She lowered her head to smell the flower, then put it back.

Perhaps having slept well and recovered her energy, Luo Wanqing was in particularly good spirits. After simple washing, she took out the case files she had brought from the secret archive last night, reading through them page by page.

The case files contained extensive materials—all official document copies related to her father were here.

She knew that case files usually had a key summary, so she first set aside all the documents and found that summary to see the Supervision Department’s records on her father.

Luo Qushu, born in the third year of Shenglong.

In the twenty-fourth year of Shenglong, he entered the Cui residence as a wandering hero, becoming a Cui family retainer, often residing in the Eastern Capital.

On the ninth day of the fourth month in the eighth year of Changshun, he accompanied Cui Qingping in escorting the Third Prince to the border for peace negotiations.

On the twelfth day of the sixth month, the Northern Rong launched an attack.

On the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month, the Cui family surrendered, and the border fell.

On the twentieth day of the seventh month, Luo Qushu returned to the Eastern Capital.

On the fourteenth day of the eighth month, Luo Qushu left the Eastern Capital for Yangzhou.

…

Luo Wanqing tapped the table, looking at this record of dates when her father was under the Supervision Department’s attention. Just as she read that Luo Qushu left the Eastern Capital, she instantly realized something was wrong.

The dates of her father entering and leaving the Eastern Capital should have been calculated based on his city entry and exit registrations, which were unlikely to be incorrect.

Here it recorded that her father entered the Eastern Capital on the twentieth day of the seventh month, but she remembered very clearly that when her father returned home, he immediately demanded that the family move. Yao Zelan initially disagreed, and they had a big fight that night. Finally, she compromised, saying they would take her to burn incense and make offerings, settle family affairs, then leave.

Who knew that the very next day when they went to Huguo Temple, she was captured by bandits, then encountered Li Guiyu in the bamboo forest.

On the third day at dawn, after her family found her, they took almost nothing from home, bringing only essential supplies before heading south directly, saving Li Guiyu along the way.

That meant from when her father appeared at home to the fourteenth day of the eighth month when they left, it was at most three days.

But her father had arrived in the Eastern Capital on the twentieth day of the seventh month? What was he doing in the Eastern Capital? Why didn’t he return home?

Moreover, if the border had already fallen on the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month, and Luo Qushu returned to the Eastern Capital on the twentieth day of the seventh month, what happened during that month? How did he return to the Eastern Capital?

Luo Wanqing intuitively felt this was key. She closed her eyes, trying to recall what details were abnormal about the night her father returned.

She hadn’t thought carefully about it before and couldn’t remember too much now. She only recalled that when her father returned, she and her mother had just returned from making house calls. Luo Qushu wore black fitted clothing, looking somewhat tired as he smiled, standing at the door.

His eyes looked bitter. Yao Zelan saw something was wrong and hurried over: “Qushu, what’s the matter?”

Luo Qushu said nothing, only reaching out to embrace Yao Zelan. Yao Zelan laughed and pushed him: “What’s that smell on you? Go wash quickly.”

Luo Qushu still didn’t speak. Luo Wanqing stood behind her mother, smiling as she looked at her father. Her gaze swept up and down, finally settling on Luo Qushu’s feet, asking curiously: “Oh, Father, what’s that on your feet?”

On his feet was some white sand, which was extremely rare. Hearing this, Luo Qushu looked down at his feet, then smiled: “Oh, just some sand.”

Then he went back and began arguing with Yao Zelan about moving.

She heard her parents fighting and left, quietly entering to see Yao Zelan holding a hairpin, crying softly with lowered head.

That hairpin was extremely beautiful—a golden phoenix feather hairpin inlaid with red diamonds.

She had never seen it before.

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized that the night had been very unusual.

She just hadn’t been perceptive enough then, but looking back today, she found everything unusual.

First were his clothes—he had rushed back from the border, but his clothes had been washed and changed, not dusty from travel.

The smell on him—thinking back now, it wasn’t the sweat smell from traveling, but the rotting smell of corpses left for many days.

And the white sand under his feet—that white sand was unusually fine, not sand that could be found in northern dry lands, more likely from elsewhere.

And that hairpin was completely different from her mother’s living habits. Before this, she had never seen her mother with that hairpin.

This meant that the hairpin was brought back by her father.

Whose hairpin was it?

As Luo Wanqing pondered, voices suddenly came from outside: “Inspector Liu.”

Hearing the voice, Luo Wanqing looked up to see Xing Ling standing at the door.

She quickly put away the case files. Xing Ling sensibly remained at the door without moving. After Luo Wanqing sealed away the files properly, she invited Xing Ling to sit, asking curiously: “Why did you come?”

Xing Ling led her to sit down, placed a stack of documents and a paper package on the table, explaining: “Since you’re injured and it’s inconvenient to go down the mountain, I brought the documents that need your review.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded: “Thank you.”

She then looked at the paper package on the table, asking somewhat curiously: “And this?”

“This is breakfast,” Xing Ling picked up the tea she had brewed, “Fang Yuan asked me to bring it.”

Although Xing Ling said this, Luo Wanqing could tell from the package that this was the breakfast Xing Ling usually ate.

Xing Ling liked eating steamed buns in the morning, while Fang Yuan preferred saucy meat. Every time they met in the dining hall in the morning, it was like this.

But Luo Wanqing didn’t expose her, only saying: “Thank you.”

“Fang Yuan said,” Xing Ling replied with a cold face, “since you’re injured, rest properly. Don’t worry about strenuous work. I’ll write daily reports on documents that need review and execution status. You don’t need to worry.”

“Thank you all for the trouble.”

Luo Wanqing took a steamed bun, glanced at Xing Ling, sensing she seemed to be waiting for something. She coughed lightly and commented: “This steamed bun is really delicious.”

“Mm,” only then was Xing Ling satisfied, her tone hiding some satisfaction, “then I’ll bring more in the future.”

That’s not necessary…

But Luo Wanqing didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm. She lowered her head to eat the steamed bun, chatting casually: “Everyone’s been arrested?”

“The most difficult ones—the Crown Prince’s Six Guards and Lu Lingchan—have been dealt with. The small fry below aren’t struggling anymore.” Speaking of this, Xing Ling glanced curiously at the table: “A new case?”

“That’s right.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, suddenly remembering that Xing Ling had grown up in the Eastern Capital and had been a female official with extensive knowledge. She quickly said, “Let me ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you know where there’s white sand in the Eastern Capital?”

At these words, Xing Ling paused, then looked up: “How white and fine is the sand?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing carefully recalled, then gestured: “Have you been to the sea? Like sand at the seaside, but particularly white, almost as white as gardenia flowers, fine like ash…”

“Madam Xie’s tomb.”

Xing Ling decisively answered.

Luo Wanqing was startled, somewhat surprised: “Madam Xie’s tomb?”

“There aren’t many places with white sand in the Eastern Capital, but Madam Xie loved sea sand during her lifetime. Master Xie once went to great lengths to select the finest sea sand from the south and transport it to the Eastern Capital, spreading it in the Xie family courtyard. After Madam Xie’s death, this sea sand was also spread around her tomb.”

Madam Xie…

Luo Wanqing remembered Cui Heng’s questioning on Purple Cloud Mountain and the old man in the heavenly prison mentioning Xie Heng’s efforts to save his mother. She couldn’t help thinking it was indeed too coincidental—it was Madam Xie again.

“How much do you know about Madam Xie’s affairs?”

Luo Wanqing decided to get to the bottom of it. Xing Ling was a palace female official and might know something.

However, hearing this, Xing Ling frowned: “Your case is related to her?”

“Somewhat.”

Luo Wanqing spoke truthfully.

Xing Ling hesitated, thought for a moment, but still said: “I can tell you some things, but you must never mention them to others in the future.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded quickly: “Please tell me.”

Xing Ling thought for a moment, seeming unsure where to begin. She organized her thoughts and slowly said: “Madam Xie is Director Xie’s mother, named Cui Muhua. She and the Director’s father were extremely loving, known in their early years as a famous immortal couple in the Eastern Capital. But later, six years ago, when I was still a low-ranking female official serving in the Empress Dowager’s palace, I wasn’t very clear about other palace affairs. I only know that on the day of the Grand Music Festival, she suddenly entered the palace, and news of her death came at the Hour of the Monkey. At the same time, the inner palace began searching for the Empress and Crown Prince.”

“Searching for the Empress and Crown Prince?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat shocked, not expecting this development: “The Empress and Crown Prince had disappeared then?”

“Yes.”

Xing Ling nodded, saying in a low voice: “Very few people know about this. It’s just that I was part of the search team then, so you cannot spread this information.”

“I understand.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, frowning: “What happened after?”

“Later, Director Xie rushed into the palace to save his mother and was imprisoned. Soon after, news came of the Cui family’s betrayal of the country. His Majesty was furious and arrested all Cui family members. Two months after Madam Xie’s death, the Director provided clues, and the palace captured the Crown Prince and Empress. The Director was released from prison for his merit. On the day he was released,” Xing Ling smiled, with some mockery in her eyes, “the Empress was given poisoned wine and died in the palace. The Crown Prince was also imprisoned, confined together with the Cui clan.”

Luo Wanqing listened quietly: “Did you see him then?”

“I did.”

Xing Ling curled her fingers into her sleeves, saying slowly: “The day he left the palace, I happened to be near the palace gates. I watched him. That was the most disheveled I’d ever seen him—white robes stained gray, hair disheveled, holding a qin as he walked out hunched over. Outside the palace gates were all Cui family retainers, distant relatives, and common people who had received their kindness. Empress Cui was quite prestigious and much beloved. Even though the Cui family had betrayed the country, when news of her impending execution spread, the palace gates were still filled with people pleading for her. When they saw the Director come out, they approached to beg him, first kneeling to plead. When he didn’t respond, they pulled at him. The Director seemed unable to push these strangers away despite his martial arts skills. He was escorted forward by guards, not speaking, not fighting back. Finally, when the qin was knocked to the ground by someone and its frame broke, he said one sentence: he couldn’t do it.”

The young man who had once amazed the Eastern Capital finally admitted in that despairing dawn when he betrayed his relatives to survive, his qin broken and his spirit shattered, hunched over as he went to embrace that qin that could no longer make music, hoarsely acknowledging: “I cannot do it.”

His youthful spirit, his pride and arrogance, his sharp edges and qin frame—all were broken inch by inch in suffering.

Making him hunch his body and lower his head to say those words: “I cannot do it.”

For a moment, Luo Wanqing didn’t know what to say. She didn’t dare let emotions interfere too much, suppressing herself from thinking further, only saying calmly: “What happened after?”

“After that was what everyone knows. After he left, which was the day after the Empress’s death, Cui Qingping returned and then died in the palace. After that, the Cui family fell. Xie Heng requested to be expelled from the Xie family genealogy, breaking ties with the Xie family and taking refuge with His Majesty. To prove his ability to His Majesty, he led former Cui retainers at Qingyun Ferry to surround and kill the Cui family descendants who had finally escaped from prison, sentenced the remaining descendants to execution, established the Supervision Department, and from then on was deeply favored by His Majesty—below one person, above ten thousand.”

Speaking of this, Xing Ling took a sip of tea, saying carelessly: “Old news.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard it.”

Luo Wanqing’s chest felt tight and stuffy, speaking quite seriously.

She calculated the timing of all these events, asking: “What date was the Grand Music Festival that year?”

“The tenth day of the sixth month.”

“When were the Cui clan imprisoned?”

“The twenty-fifth day of the sixth month.”

Xing Ling answered quickly. Luo Wanqing pondered, combining the heavenly prison elder’s words, her materials, and Xing Ling’s account.

The tenth day of the sixth month: Grand Music Festival, Madam Xie died, Xie Heng was broken and imprisoned, and met the elder in prison.

The twelfth day of the sixth month: Northern Rong launched their attack.

The twentieth day of the seventh month: Luo Qushu returned to the Eastern Capital.

The thirteenth day of the eighth month: The Empress was given death.

The fourteenth day of the eighth month: Luo Qushu left the Eastern Capital for Yangzhou, Cui Qingping returned.

Her father returned to the Eastern Capital before Cui Qingping. How did he return? What did her father do in the Eastern Capital during the nearly one month from the twentieth day of the seventh month to the fourteenth day of the eighth month?

All this was unknown. The only thing almost certain was that the night her father saw her, he had gone to Madam Xie’s tomb.

“Has Madam Xie’s tomb ever been robbed?”

Luo Wanqing suddenly spoke. Xing Ling was startled, then shook her head: “I don’t know about that. Even if someone robbed it, the Xie family or Cui family wouldn’t say so.”

Luo Wanqing thought this made sense, too. Such secrets shouldn’t be something Xing Ling would know.

Xing Ling had already told her a great deal. She nodded seriously: “Thank you very much for today.”

“Don’t ask others about these things casually,” Xing Ling warned, saying seriously, “others will think you want to overturn the Cui family’s case.”

“How can you overturn a case without injustice?” Luo Wanqing smiled, her expression clear and serious. “If there is injustice, why shouldn’t it be overturned?”

Xing Ling was silent for a moment, then said only, “I’m doing this for your good.”

“I understand.”

Luo Wanqing smiled: “But I know what I’m doing. Thank you.”

“Mm.”

Xing Ling nodded, then stood up: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go first. Tomorrow I’ll come get the documents you’ve reviewed.”

“Alright.”

Luo Wanqing stood to see her off. Xing Ling waved her hand: “You’re injured, don’t see me off.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t insist on courtesy. After bidding farewell to Xing Ling, she finished the last bite of her steamed bun, went to the water basin to clean her hands, and then sat back at her desk.

She digested the information she had obtained from Xing Ling, then continued reading the documents she hadn’t finished.

After her father left the Eastern Capital, on the fifteenth day of the tenth month, he settled in Yangzhou and engaged in business locally.

After that, it jumped to the thirteenth year of Changshun.

On the twenty-seventh day of the ninth month in the thirteenth year of Changshun, Luo Qushu was imprisoned for trafficking private salt.

On the seventh day of the twelfth month, he committed suicide in prison, aged forty-eight.

Reading these two sentences, Luo Wanqing gripped her hands, unable to make a sound.

She felt something rising from her throat. She controlled herself, just as she had controlled herself when hearing about Xie Heng’s past, and calmly continued reading.

After this brief biography, there were all the records related to Luo Qushu. The Supervision Department had visited people who had seen him at different times, recording his entire life.

This section was too extensive. Luo Wanqing temporarily set it aside, then picked up some documents related to him.

These document copies included the identity papers Luo Qushu had submitted to the Cui family, all related documents from his imprisonment in Yangzhou, and records of his death and autopsy.

She carefully examined these documents, especially the autopsy report.

From the autopsy report, her father had suffered extensive torture before death, but the ultimate fatal cause was a wound from a ceramic shard across his neck.

Massive blood loss—compared to the tortures he had endured, it wasn’t particularly painful.

Luo Wanqing searched through the list of officials responsible for his confession and saw the name of the chief examiner.

Zhou Chun.

The prefect that Zheng Biyue had mentioned.

Prison Warden Sun Cui, Prefect Zhou Chun.

Luo Wanqing raised her hand to trace over their two names, her emotions stirring.

She memorized the two names and continued reading. After this were all documents related to her father’s case—every confession, every document working to condemn her father to death.

Finally, she saw an arrest warrant.

This warrant came from the Central Imperial Office five years ago, clearly stating: “Arrest Cui clan remnant, Luo Qushu.”

At the end of this document, in Xie Heng’s handwriting, were the words:

“Denied.”

These two characters were somewhat different from Xie Heng’s current handwriting—they seemed more flamboyant, more sharp-edged, and more frivolous.

But the structural framework and stroke habits were still consistent with his current writing.

She stared blankly at those two words, “Denied”—the only two characters in all these documents that had tried to save her father.

She suddenly understood why, five years ago, when the Cui clan was destroyed, her father, as a Cui family retainer, seemed to have suffered no consequences.

It was because someone had early on rejected this arrest warrant earlier.

Thinking of his age, he seemed to have been only eighteen then.

She was fourteen.

The day she sat confused in the carriage, looking at blue skies and white clouds, taking Jiang Shaoyan away from the Eastern Capital.

It was exactly when Xie Heng was expelled from the Xie family, becoming the emperor’s lone blade, facing bloody storms alone, writing that “Denied” for her family.

She went south to see the willows and mists of Jiangnan.

He went north, alone, ascending the high tower.

With one person’s strength, he exchanged for the peaceful lives of countless people for these five years, and perhaps their entire futures.

She had known before that Xie Heng had done much, but that was all in the future.

Only now did she understand that this young master had done so much in the past.

She quietly looked at those two characters. The despair and anger brought by reading through the case files of her father’s death slowly dissipated between these two words.

That person was like someone carrying a lantern through the night, suddenly bringing light to this world.

Gratitude burst through the dams of all emotions, and feelings she had been suppressing suddenly came flooding out.

She looked at his handwriting, her fingers gently brushing over it.

Young Master.

Thinking of his fate, she couldn’t help but murmur between her lips and teeth.

Xie Heng.

“Thank you…”

She whispered, then suddenly heard a laughing question from above: “Thank whom?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up in surprise to see a young man standing behind her, lowering his head and bending down to look at her.

Black hair fell beside her face like a curtain separating the surroundings. For a moment, her eyes contained only this person’s smiling face.

Beneath the mask, a pair of black-gold eyes were beautiful and brilliant, shining like gems.

“How is it,” Cui Heng chuckled, raising his hand to flick her forehead, “stunned?”

“Guanlan?”

Only then did Luo Wanqing react, her eyes brightening as she turned around. Cui Heng smiled and stood up. Luo Wanqing’s gaze followed him, watching him sit at the table edge, turn to pour himself tea, cup it in his hands, lean against the table edge, and look at her with smiling eyes: “You were so focused just now, what were you doing?”

“Oh,” Luo Wanqing came to her senses, realizing she hadn’t answered Cui Heng’s question. She smiled and said, “I was looking at my father’s case files from before.”

“Any discoveries?”

Cui Heng asked carelessly.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and said directly: “Guanlan, has Madam Xie’s tomb ever been robbed?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng paused, then looked up: “How do you know?”

“It was robbed?”

Luo Wanqing immediately confirmed her suspicion. The smell on her father was indeed from opening a coffin.

Cui Heng nodded, not hiding anything, telling the truth: “Not long after she was buried, it was robbed once. The person had extremely high martial arts skills—the guards Master Xie sent to watch were all knocked unconscious. When they woke up, the person had already left. But this thief was quite proper—although they dug open the grave, they covered it back up when they left.”

“When was Madam Xie buried, and when was it robbed?”

“Buried on the eighth day of the sixth month, robbed on the twelfth day of the eighth month.”

Cui Heng answered very clearly. He frowned: “Why do you ask this?”

“I suspect,” Luo Wanqing pondered, speaking seriously, “it was my father who robbed Madam Xie’s tomb.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng was stunned. Before he could speak, Luo Wanqing immediately turned back to warn him seriously: “But you must never tell the Young Master about this.”

“Why?” Cui Heng was somewhat puzzled.

Luo Wanqing pressed her lips together, saying guiltily: “The matter of my father robbing the Young Master’s mother’s tomb,” Luo Wanqing steeled herself, “if we can avoid letting the Young Master know, he shouldn’t know.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng held his teacup momentarily at a loss. After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded: “Alright, I understand.”

Getting Cui Heng’s promise, Luo Wanqing sighed in relief.

Her father digging up Xie Heng’s mother’s grave—it would be best to tell Xie Heng about this just before she died, otherwise, she didn’t know how to face him.

After relaxing, Luo Wanqing told him all of today’s speculations, thinking aloud: “So I’ve decided that when I go to Jiangnan, the first thing I need to find is that phoenix feather hairpin. My father had no relationship with Madam Xie, and as Cui Qingping’s designated recipient, his sudden grave-robbing to retrieve the hairpin was probably at Cui Qingping’s request. I remember that hairpin—it should still be at the Luo residence.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng pressed his lips, thinking: “By convention, the Luo residence should have been confiscated and sold long ago. Who knows where that hairpin ended up?”

“Before confiscation, the authorities would make an inventory. When selling, they would record the buyers. We just need to find the inventory list to know where that hairpin went.” Luo Wanqing had already thought of how to investigate.

Cui Heng smiled, put down his cup, and said with a laugh: “It seems the Inspector is confident?”

“We’ll take it step by step.”

Luo Wanqing was helpless.

“Having a direction is good. Write up a transfer request to Jiangnan now, and I’ll take you to explain to the Director.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing nodded and quickly went to write the transfer order.

She hurriedly finished writing, and Cui Heng stood up, leading her together toward the small courtyard.

Only then did Luo Wanqing realize this seemed to be the first time they had both seen Xie Heng together. She couldn’t help but ask curiously: “You’ve never seen the Young Master with me before?”

“Hmm?”

Cui Heng looked back at her strangely: “I can’t see him with you?”

Luo Wanqing was startled and quickly said: “It’s not that, it’s just that it’s never happened before…”

As she spoke, her voice grew quieter, even she feeling this statement was somewhat strange.

Cui Heng’s time with her had been limited before, and he hardly appeared during the day, always executing his missions. There had never been the necessity or time to see Xie Heng together. Recently, both Cui Heng and she had been injured and were staying in the department more, so a meeting was natural.

Her sensitivity was nothing more than her baseless speculation.

“You don’t think…” Cui Heng seemed to realize something, drawing out his voice, “that I am him…”

“No, no.” Luo Wanqing quickly shook her head: “I never dared think that.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng raised an eyebrow and said: “Good that you haven’t thought so, otherwise, if I’m not as handsome as him, wouldn’t you be disappointed?”

“Whether you’re handsome or not has nothing to do with me…”

Luo Wanqing retorted unwillingly, yet felt somewhat guilty.

A vague happiness and relief arose, making her unable to suppress a smile.

Cui Heng chuckled softly but said no more, leading Luo Wanqing into the courtyard, bowing in greeting: “Cui Heng greets the Director.”

Cui Heng’s status was much higher than hers—he didn’t kneel when seeing Xie Heng.

But Luo Wanqing didn’t dare. She knelt on one knee in greeting, respectfully saying: “This subordinate greets the Young Master.”

“You’ve come?”

“Xie Heng” above spoke, his voice no different from usual, but sounding much colder.

Cui Heng raised his hand to take the transfer request from her, stepped forward to hand it to “Xie Heng,” and said calmly: “Inspector Liu now has clues about ‘that item’ and wishes to transfer to Jiangnan. Please grant permission, Director.”

“Xie Heng” said nothing, only opening the document Luo Wanqing had written. After carefully scanning it, he nodded: “Good. Do you need personnel?”

“Xie Heng” was asking her. Luo Wanqing immediately replied: “This subordinate plans to take Xing Ling along.”

Xing Ling was knowledgeable, skilled in martial arts, and currently on good terms with her—she was her best choice.

Hearing this choice, “Xie Heng” wasn’t surprised either, nodding: “This matter is confidential. It’s best not to let people discover you’re investigating. I’ll have Qingya arrange a suitable identity for you. You’re injured—rest for a few days, and leave when you’re healed.”

“Yes.”

“You may go. I’ll process the paperwork and return it to you.”

“Xie Heng” said, placing the “transfer request” aside. Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn’t dare say more, only responding: “Yes.”

Cui Heng also bowed and withdrew.

After leaving the courtyard, they returned to the small room together. Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised that Cui Heng had followed her back, asking puzzledly: “Why did you follow me back?”

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” Cui Heng leaned against the door, smiling at her, “may I sleep for a few hours at the Inspector’s place?”

“Of course,” Luo Wanqing glanced at him and sat at the table, saying casually, “Go to my bed. There’s a bed curtain on the bed—lower it to block the light so you can sleep more peacefully.”

Cui Heng had originally planned to just close his eyes and rest at the table. Hearing Luo Wanqing’s words, he couldn’t help but pause for a moment, then burst into laughter: “You’re letting me sleep in your bed?”

“I’m not particular about such things.”

Luo Wanqing knew he was joking again. She opened the documents for the Crown Prince’s case and dipped her brush in ink: “If you mind, shall I change the bedding?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Cui Heng turned toward the bed, removed his outer robe, lay down on her bed without ceremony, crossed his legs, fanned himself with a fan, and smiled at Luo Wanqing: “To receive the Inspector’s bed is my utmost honor.”

Luo Wanqing glanced back at him without saying more, walked to the bedside to lower the heavy bed curtains for him, saying gently: “Take off your mask and sleep well. I won’t disturb you.”

Cui Heng knew she was saying she wouldn’t open the bed curtains to look at him while he slept.

He looked up at her, seeing the woman raise her hand to lower the bed curtains for him. She slowly disappeared from his view, leaving behind darkness and lingering fragrance.

He fanned himself, lying in the darkness, the scent floating at his nose. He opened his eyes to adjust to the light, looking at the bed canopy, saying carelessly: “Good.”

Hearing this “good,” Luo Wanqing didn’t concern herself with him further, lowering her head to begin reviewing the documents Xing Ling had brought.

Outside was the rustling sound of brush on paper.

Cui Heng lay quietly on the bed, listening to the sounds. He had originally been fanning himself, but gradually stopped when no one was watching.

His nose was filled with her scent—a very light floral fragrance, like orchids mixed with some grass smell.

This scent made him somewhat restless, yet he found it intoxicating.

Though his temperament was unrestrained, he had read sage teachings and didn’t dare offend in her bed.

After thinking, he raised his hand to remove his mask, closed his eyes, and chatted with her to divert his attention: “Speaking of which, why did you suddenly ask about my bone manipulation after coming out of the palace?”

“I met someone in the palace.”

Luo Wanqing lowered her head, writing, no longer hiding anything: “He said he taught the Young Master bone manipulation, so I was curious where you learned it.”

“Naturally, the Young Master learned it and shared it for everyone’s benefit.”

Cui Heng spoke jokingly.

Luo Wanqing thought this made sense and asked curiously: “Who is this person exactly?”

“Zhang Chunzi.”

Cui Heng spoke a name that Luo Wanqing wasn’t very familiar with. She had a vague impression but couldn’t remember immediately, only asking instinctively: “Who?”

“One of the Eight Grandmasters, Zhang Chunzi.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing reacted.

She had memorized Jianghu affairs while following Liu Xiniang’s identity.

In terms of the strongest sects in Jianghu, they were respectively the Central Plains Dao Sect, Western Region Kunlun Palace, and Southwest Sacred Sect.

In the Central Plains, though talented people emerged constantly, only eight were truly recognized by all, called the Eight Grandmasters.

These eight were originally Zhang Chunzi, Wang Qingfeng, Zheng Daochu, Cui Qingping, Jiang Fengwan, Yang Chun, Ji Ruifang, and Xie Minsheng.

Later, Cui Qingping died. Two years later, Xie Heng gained fame by killing Zheng Daochu in battle, becoming the youngest of the Eight Grandmasters.

Later, when Li Guiyu returned to the Eastern Capital, he also defeated Wang Qingfeng in battle, taking Jiang Fengwan’s position and achieving fame throughout the world.

Most of the Eight Grandmasters served noble families and the court, except Zhang Chunzi, Ji Ruifang, and Xie Minsheng, who disdained court struggles and remained independent.

Among them, Xie Minsheng established Flowing Wind Island to shelter reformed people. Anyone who reached the island would not be questioned about their past, but the island’s location was extremely secretive, opening to outsiders only once a year. Only those holding orchid tokens issued by Flowing Wind Island could reach the island.

Ji Ruifang established Netherworld Valley, which also ignored worldly affairs, with only one command: “Cui clan members and dogs, kill without mercy.”

Only Zhang Chunzi remained, neither serving noble families nor the imperial family, nor establishing sects. He wandered alone, reportedly searching for his son throughout the world, and eventually disappeared without a trace.

“How could I see him in prison?”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised.

Cui Heng laughed, explaining: “Ten years ago, he attempted to assassinate His Majesty and was captured by Cui Qingping. He was persuaded by Cui Qingping that he was guilty, so he voluntarily stayed in the heavenly prison, asking Cui Qingping to help find his son, continuing until now.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing found it incredible and couldn’t help saying: “So, the mental method he taught me is something good?”

“What did he teach you?”

Cui Heng inquired, and Luo Wanqing explained the technique Zhang Chunzi had taught her and its uses.

Hearing this, Cui Heng thought through her technique, then said: “He’s right. Just learn as he taught.”

“Good.”

Knowing she had received something valuable, Luo Wanqing was quite happy.

Cui Heng heard her joy and fanned himself with a smile: “What else do you plan to do before leaving?”

“Go see Zheng Biyue.”

Luo Wanqing’s tone grew heavy: “Send her off.”

Not expecting this answer, but thinking it fit her temperament, Cui Heng slowly fanned himself: “While you’re at it, visit Madam Xie too?”

Luo Wanqing was startled, not quite understanding: “Why would I visit Madam Xie?”

“She’s my elder,” Cui Heng’s tone carried laughter, “your father dug up her grave—aren’t you going to apologize?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s face reddened slightly as she quickly nodded: “You’re right, I should go apologize.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng couldn’t help but laugh.

“Just joking,” Cui Heng felt drowsiness coming, saying lightly, “she never believed in ghosts and spirits while alive, and even wanted people to burn her up after death. Since it was at Cui Qingping’s command to retrieve something, how could she mind? I just…”

Cui Heng’s voice gradually grew softer: “I want to take you to meet her.”

Hearing Cui Heng’s words, Luo Wanqing held her brush, somewhat at a loss.

She could tell this should be an elder Cui Heng deeply respected and was familiar with. He was taking her to meet her…

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare think too much, simply pretending not to understand the possible meanings behind these things, lowering her head to review documents.

He slept straight through until evening. When Cui Heng woke up, he was somewhat confused.

He had never slept so peacefully with his guard down, and for so long.

He lay on the bed in a daze for a long time before finally getting up.

Hearing movement from within the bed curtains, Luo Wanqing knew he was awake. Without turning around, she said gently, “Qingya came looking for you earlier. He said if you woke up, to go find him.”

Cui Heng sat on the bed inside, listening to these words in silence. He suddenly felt resistant, not wanting to leave this bed curtain area.

Seeing he didn’t respond, Luo Wanqing asked puzzledly: “Cui Heng?”

“Mm.”

Hearing her voice, Cui Heng finally responded.

He composed himself, dismissing that reluctance, then put on his mask and emerged from the bed curtains, smiling: “I know, I’ll go right away.”

As he put on his outer coat, he joked: “Thank you for lending me your bed today, Inspector.” He walked to Luo Wanqing’s side, looking at the stack of documents on her table, scanning them up and down, hinting: “I wonder if there’s anything I can help the Inspector with today?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing wasn’t indirect either. She directly pushed over a stack of memorials, saying simply: “These are documents from the Censorate criticizing me before, requiring written responses. I’m not good with words—help me scold them back?”

Hearing this, Cui Heng took the memorials, weighing them, and sighed: “If I’d known sleeping once would require writing so many memorials, I wouldn’t have dared sleep.”

“Then add a medicine packet.”

Luo Wanqing placed a medicine packet on top of the memorials, saying peacefully, “If you still can’t sleep well, I’ll adjust the prescription for you.”

Hearing this, Cui Heng chuckled softly: “No need to adjust it. Last night I didn’t have a headache.”

Luo Wanqing looked up worriedly: “What was wrong then?”

Cui Heng only looked at her and smiled without speaking.

Luo Wanqing belatedly remembered what had happened last night, momentarily at a loss.

Seeing her reaction, Cui Heng laughed aloud, gathered up the memorials and medicine packet, and walked out smiling.

After sleeping at her place once, Cui Heng seemed to become addicted to sleeping there, coming again the next day. Every day at noon, he would come to rest for an hour, only leaving reluctantly when Qingya came to fetch him.

She didn’t mind letting him come.

After some days, when her body improved, she would find time to learn killing and disguise techniques from Baili.

Baili was a top-tier spy and assassin. Though her health was poor now, her experience was extensive. When Luo Wanqing sparred with her, especially in close combat, she could almost always be grabbed by the throat.

When Baili’s stamina ran out each day, Luo Wanqing would sit with her, listening to stories about Xie Heng’s past.

Perhaps because she had watched Xie Heng grow up as an elder, for some reason, she particularly enjoyed talking about Xie Heng with her.

“The Young Master’s parents were childhood sweethearts. His mother was the Cui family’s eldest daughter, his father the Xie family’s legitimate eldest son. Though it was called a marriage alliance between noble families, they were rarely loving. After having the Young Master, Master Xie was unwilling to let his wife take risks again, keeping only the Young Master as their child.”

Speaking of the former Xie Heng, Baili’s face showed a smile: “From birth, he was the Eastern Capital’s brilliant pearl. In his youth, he loved joining festivities—flowing wine gatherings, elegant discussions—the Young Master was never absent. Every year during the Shangsi Festival, when the Young Master went out, there were always cartloads of melons and fruits, quite lively.”

Hearing Baili’s words, Luo Wanqing had trouble imagining it, only smiling: “The Young Master had such times?”

“He did.” Baili smiled, her eyes full of memories. “And don’t look at how composed he is now—his temper was terrible. He’s been possessive and protective since childhood. When he was five, he brought his cat into the palace. When he saw the First Prince throwing his cat around, the Young Master went over, took his cat back into his arms, turned around, and directly kicked the person into the lake, then walked away holding his cat. The commotion that caused…”

Baili spoke while shaking her head and sighing: “Later, the Dao Sect said the Young Master had exceptional talent and wanted to take him up the mountain. He spent most of his time on the mountain. Everyone thought that going to a place like the Dao Sect would temper his character, right? But unexpectedly, when he returned, his temper seemed much better. Everyone who saw him would say he was a refined young master of a noble family. But then at a literary gathering, when someone said something disagreeable, he kicked the Second Prince into the lake again. When His Majesty asked what rules he had learned on the mountain, he said what he learned was ‘the highest good is like water, the heart has no fixed form, follow one’s heart’s desire, return to true nature. Where interest leads, thus I kick.’ If the Young Master hadn’t become Director, and if the Third Prince hadn’t disappeared later,” Baili felt lingering fear as she sighed, “the Third Prince would probably have ended up in the lake too.”

At this, Luo Wanqing felt somewhat regretful.

She suddenly very much wanted to see Xie Heng kick Li Guiyu into a lake.

But just thinking about it, she remembered Zhang Chunzi’s words.

“Breaking his tendons and meridians, destroying his root bones, crushing his will, extinguishing his spirit.”

Having experienced all this, the bone-restructured and reborn Xie Heng could never be the Xie Heng of the past.

Luo Wanqing gave a mocking smile, hearing behind her Cui Heng being dragged away by Qingya, sighing and pleading: “Xiniang, just assassinate Qingya for me. I don’t want to go.”

She and Baili turned back together, looking at the displeased Cui Heng and the smiling Qingya, unable to suppress their smiles as she urged: “Go on, you still have to serve the Young Master.”

Cui Heng sighed deeply and resignedly followed Qingya away.

Luo Wanqing turned back to look at the distant mountains.

She thought that Xie Heng would never return to his youth.

Just as Liu Xiniang could never again be Luo Wanqing.