◎What’s Liu Xiniang’s Background?◎

These words shocked Sun Cui, and everyone present felt a chill in their hearts.

But after all, they were all foxes who had been in officialdom for a long time. Even if they sensed something was wrong, they didn’t show it on their faces.

Luo Wanqing smiled as she raised her wine cup in a toast, then drank it empty.

Sun Cui’s expression wasn’t pleasant, but she still forced out a smile and raised her cup in return.

After both finished drinking, Sun Cui hurriedly asked: “Inspector Liu came from Yangzhou prison? Could it be you passed the death row examination to get your position?”

“Exactly.” Luo Wanqing nodded, smiling: “It’s just that there were many prisoners at the time, and Master Sun didn’t pay much attention to me, so you have no impression.”

“It’s my fault,” Sun Cui understood that this Supervision Department Inspector intended to settle old scores, smiling as she raised her cup: “Inspector Liu is a dragon among people. This humble official failed to recognize it at the time—my eyes were blind. Now that Inspector Liu holds a high position and naturally has great magnanimity, I’ll punish myself with three cups and hope you’ll forgive my past rashness.”

With that, Sun Cui picked up her wine cup and quickly drank three cups herself.

Luo Wanqing watched her self-punishment with a smile, saying nothing. After Sun Cui finished drinking and saw she wasn’t given any face-saving exit, she sat down with a stiff smile, no longer looking at Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing didn’t say more either. After making them uneasy with just enough, she quietly ate her meal.

After finishing the meal, with Luo Wanqing’s performance plus Zhang Yiran’s stern face presiding, the local officials couldn’t continue accompanying them and quickly left.

As soon as Zhou Chun and Sun Cui left, they got into a carriage alone. Once inside, Zhou Chun immediately said, “What’s Liu Xiniang’s background? Did you have such a person in your prison?”

“I’ll investigate immediately.”

Sun Cui’s expression was also extremely ugly as she said at once: “Please rest assured, Master.”

Sun Cui returned to the prison and quickly found “Liu Xiniang’s” name in the records, then hurried to find Zhou Chun.

“She indeed shared a prison with Luo Wanqing. According to the guards, the two even fought together and were put in the water dungeon together—they indeed had some friendship. Previously, both the Supervision Department and the Third Prince sent people to investigate her background. She’s probably not simple in the Eastern Capital.”

Zhou Chun listened without speaking. He closed his eyes, leaning back in his rocking chair, tapping his thigh with his finger, slowly saying: “Originally thought the most troublesome of this group would be Zhang Yiran, so we asked Master Zheng to help stop them, but failed. We thought we’d have to deal with Zhang Yiran this time, but now it seems the most difficult to handle is probably Liu Xiniang.”

Sun Cui said nothing. Zhou Chun frowned, full of worry: “We’ve done too many things, especially regarding the Luo family.”

“Since that’s the case,” Sun Cui pondered, “Master Zheng already said if necessary to eliminate all threats, so why not…”

Sun Cui looked up at Zhou Chun. Though she didn’t voice it, both understood each other’s thoughts.

Zhou Chun tapped his chair slowly: “Supervision Department Inspectors are mostly skilled in martial arts. Xing Ling is said to be a female official from the palace’s Youlan Court, not easy to deal with. What about Liu Xiniang’s abilities?”

“When she was arrested in Yangzhou, supposedly ordinary.”

Sun Cui described “Liu Xiniang’s” identity: “She was just a small helmsman of a Salt Syndicate branch. Some martial arts, but still inferior to real martial arts masters.”

“If her martial arts aren’t good, how did she become a Rank 5 Inspector?”

Zhou Chun was puzzled, but soon both thought of that face that had stunned Yangzhou.

Sun Cui laughed, slowly saying: “A young girl, change her face, change her fate.”

Zhou Chun nodded in agreement, couldn’t help saying: “If we could keep her alive…”

“Master,” Sun Cui sensed Zhou Chun’s meaning and reminded: “Beauty is a double-edged sword—better to eliminate all threats.”

Zhou Chun paused, then could only nod: “Alright, I’ll have Registrar Ji handle it. Strike tonight.”

After their discussion, the matter was decided.

Meanwhile, on Luo Wanqing’s side, after seeing off the Yangzhou officials, the four went upstairs. Xing Ling checked the surroundings, closed the doors and windows, then turned directly to look at Luo Wanqing sitting on her cot, asking directly: “You have a grudge against that Sun Cui?”

“Some old resentment.”

“Is there a problem with that Luo family case?” Zhang Yiran had already read these people’s expressions and asked directly.

Cui Heng lifted his robes and sat in a chair, saying leisurely, “Obviously,” then looked at Luo Wanqing, “Zhou Chun’s doing?”

“Can’t escape involvement.”

Seeing everyone understood, Luo Wanqing didn’t hide it.

Zhang Yiran frowned: “If there is a problem, directly bringing it up today was too rash. We should first retrieve the case files…”

“You can’t retrieve them.” Cui Heng interrupted Zhang Yiran, leaning back in his chair with tea, chuckling: “These officialdom foxes—how could they possibly give you anything truly useful?”

“Whether we can retrieve them or not, we’ll know after trying.”

Xing Ling said, looking up at Zhang Yiran: “Does Master Zhang want to go now or rest first?”

“Why don’t you ask me?” Cui Heng seemed somewhat aggrieved, “Isn’t my opinion important?”

“Go now,” everyone directly bypassed Cui Heng, with Zhang Yiran considering, “to avoid complications from delay.”

With that, Luo Wanqing stood up, thinking: “Then Xing Ling will protect you two to retrieve case files and accounts. I trouble Master Zhang to pay attention to the registry of where all items from Luo Qushu’s household went after the house raid.”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s specific request, Zhang Yiran hurried to respond: “Good.”

“Where is Inspector Liu going?” Cui Heng was puzzled by Luo Wanqing’s arrangement.

Luo Wanqing took a cloak from her bundle and draped it over herself, explaining: “I’ll first visit the local Supervision Department office.”

With that arranged, the four split up. Luo Wanqing put on a mask, took her Supervision Department token, and left the inn alone.

The Supervision Department had branch offices in all regions at the county level and above. Local Inspectors reported directly to the Eastern Capital Supervision Department, with authority to inspect and review local officials’ cases, similar to local censors’ duties, but the Supervision Department reported directly to the emperor with different case focus points. Generally, they didn’t conflict much with local authorities, nor did local authorities dare to conflict.

She didn’t trust these Yangzhou officials and feared fighting alone, so she wanted to find the Supervision Department to gauge the situation and see if the local office had ulterior motives.

Luo Wanqing left the inn and headed toward the Supervision Department.

She had walked Yangzhou’s streets countless times and knew the Supervision Department’s location.

Walking familiar roads, she couldn’t help observing her surroundings.

Returning to Yangzhou after a year, it hadn’t changed much, but seeing the coming and going crowds, her mindset was completely different.

She dared not show her face. Luo Wanqing had been quite famous in Yangzhou back then. She feared meeting old acquaintances who might recognize her, not knowing how to respond, so she wore a mask, scanning those familiar faces one by one.

Passing her mother’s old medical clinic, seeing it tightly closed but still bearing the old signboard, she couldn’t help but stop.

A nearby young man selling osmanthus cakes saw her stop and smiled at her with a familiar accent: “Miss, want some osmanthus cakes?”

Luo Wanqing was speechless for a moment, feeling her heart churn. After a while, she turned away and left.

The more she walked old paths, the more sorrowful she became—better to keep her head down and move forward.

She hurried to the Supervision Department entrance, showed her token, and after reporting, soon a woman quickly came out with people, bowing to Luo Wanqing: “Yangzhou Supervision Department County Director Qin Huaiyu greets Inspector Liu.”

Luo Wanqing looked up at this middle-aged woman and respectfully said: “Greetings, Director Qin.”

“Inspector Liu has come from afar, but I didn’t know and failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me.” Qin Huaiyu invited Luo Wanqing inside.

Luo Wanqing smiled and made small talk: “Our arrival was meant to be secret—no need for such formalities. I came to ask Director Qin about Yangzhou’s situation. I don’t trust those local officials.”

“Understood.”

Qin Huaiyu led Luo Wanqing inside. After they sat down, Qin Huaiyu had tea served and said directly, “Whatever the Inspector wants to know, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Do you have materials on these Yangzhou officials here?” Luo Wanqing asked.

Qin Huaiyu immediately said, “Yes, I’ll have someone bring them.”

With that, Qin Huaiyu called for someone to fetch the materials. Luo Wanqing took the tea, half-covered by her sleeve, sniffed to confirm nothing was amiss, then took a sip before saying: “I’ve just come from the Eastern Capital and am not familiar with local Supervision Department operations. How many reliable people are in the Yangzhou Supervision Department?”

“One hundred fifty-three people.”

Qin Huaiyu answered earnestly: “Seventy Inspectors, seventy Shadow Envoys, and thirteen clerical staff.”

“What about the entire Jiangnan Circuit?”

“About three thousand.”

Luo Wanqing nodded. With her authority, she could at most mobilize all the Inspectors from the entire Jiangnan Circuit.

“If I wanted to gather all Jiangnan Circuit Inspectors, how long would it take?”

This question startled Qin Huaiyu. Seeing her expression, Luo Wanqing quickly smiled reassuringly: “I’m just curious, not planning anything. Director Qin needn’t panic.”

“Oh.”

Qin Huaiyu steadied herself and nodded: “I thought something major had happened. To summon all Jiangnan Circuit Inspectors to gather in Yangzhou at the fastest speed would take about two to three days.”

Luo Wanqing smiled without speaking.

Qin Huaiyu hadn’t guessed wrong—she was indeed worried about major trouble.

She had discovered that since entering the Supervision Department, everything she did seemed to follow the path of Xie Heng’s fate from her dream’s previous life.

Xie Heng’s first crime in the previous life was assassinating the crown prince, then she assassinated the crown prince, and Xie Heng covered for her.

The second was falsely accusing the Eastern Palace Six Commands. Though she wanted to avoid it, she ultimately had no choice but to use herself as bait to draw out the Six Commands, ambushing and killing them. For unknown reasons, Xie Heng recorded them in case files under charges of assisting Lu Lingchan in corruption and murder without evidence, as if they were executed for crimes. The case files never mentioned she killed them, but the result, viewed from the future, was his false accusation.

If she was following the trajectory of Xie Heng’s crimes step by step, then coming to Jiangnan, she should encounter Xie Heng’s third crime—the event that once shocked the world and made everyone think him too brutal—

The massacre of five hundred people at Xueling Mountain.

There were harsh officials in this world, but an official who slaughtered five hundred people in one night without restraint was a blade without a sheath.

Perhaps it was from this crime that Xie Heng became everyone’s mortal enemy.

Luo Wanqing wasn’t sure if this would happen, since Xie Heng hadn’t even come to Jiangnan.

But knowing this possibility, she had to prepare early. They might face a situation requiring the killing of at least five hundred soldiers—something she and Xing Ling alone couldn’t handle.

Luo Wanqing lowered her head to drink tea. Soon, the officials’ materials were brought over. Qin Huaiyu went to receive them and handed them to Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing opened Zhou Chun’s file and continued: “Director Qin, would you have records of how the government handles criminals’ property?”

“We don’t have that.”

Qin Huaiyu shook her head: “We focus on monitoring officials, trying cases, and handling the Supervision Department’s direct affairs. Such matters are government routine business—we don’t participate.”

Luo Wanqing wasn’t surprised, nodding as she looked at Zhou Chun’s materials, frowning: “Master Zhou only became Yangzhou Prefect in Changshun year thirteen?”

“Yes.”

Qin Huaiyu explained: “Previously, Jiangnan region officials mostly came from the Qin family line. Master Zhou is the Zheng family’s son-in-law, originally just a registrar. But in Changshun year twelve, the Qin family was accused of treason. Many officials from the Qin family were implicated. The original Yangzhou Prefect lost his position, so Zhou Chun got the appointment.”

Listening, Luo Wanqing understood. After Qin Wenyan was imprisoned, not only was the Crown Prince Consort’s maternal Jiang family taking advantage to devour Qin family lands, but other major families were also taking advantage of the chaos to nibble at the Qin family.

Speaking of this, Luo Wanqing realized the surname of the person before her and asked curiously: “Are you from…”

“I’m a distant branch of the Qin family.”

Qin Huaiyu understood Luo Wanqing’s question and smiled: “So distant that there’s hardly any family connection.”

Then Qin Huaiyu added: “But recently, Master Qin’s son Qin Jue returned from the Eastern Capital after clearing the Qin family name. With the family having a backbone, clan members are now active everywhere, having rescued many people and restored them to office. If nothing unexpected happens, this young master will enter officialdom before next year—his future is limitless.”

Listening, Luo Wanqing understood this was the struggle between the Jiangnan local noble families.

Zhou Chun, the Jiang family, and such families were still too small compared to established century-old families like the Qins, who had voluntarily withdrawn from the Eastern Capital. Though they could gain some benefits by clinging to major clans like the Wang and Zheng families when the Qin family was down, when the Qin family seriously took action, they were still hard to resist.

These struggles between noble families, from local to the Eastern Capital, continued endlessly.

Having been an ordinary citizen before, Luo Wanqing never paid attention. Now hearing about it, it seemed like another world.

Luo Wanqing sipped her tea and chatted with Qin Huaiyu about other officials’ backgrounds. After roughly understanding all Yangzhou officials and arranging some matters, seeing it was getting late, she rose to leave.

Qin Huaiyu escorted her out of the Supervision Department. They had just reached the courtyard gate when Luo Wanqing was about to tell her not to see her off further, when suddenly a signal flare lit up the sky.

This was a Supervision Department special signal flare, standardized across all of Great Xia’s Supervision Department. Qin Huaiyu and Luo Wanqing exchanged glances. Luo Wanqing immediately said, “I’ll rush over first.”

With that, Luo Wanqing touched her toes and leaped onto the rooftops. Qin Huaiyu quickly summoned people and charged toward where the signal flare was fired.

Luo Wanqing rushed along, hearing sounds of fighting from afar. She charged toward the fighting and saw it was in the county government compound.

The county office was full of people. Xing Ling stood in the courtyard with her sword, while Cui Heng and Zhang Yiran stood behind her in a corner, each holding wooden boards, trying to protect themselves.

The walls were lined with archers. A blood-covered man lay on the ground. Zhou Chun crouched beside him, calling out in panic: “Little Sun, Little Sun, wake up! Wake up!”

Seeing this, Luo Wanqing first kicked a series of archers off the wall from behind, then occupied the archers’ position on the wall.

Just as she finished kicking people off, she heard Zhou Chun exclaim in shock: “Inspector Liu? How are you also…”

“Master Zhou.”

Luo Wanqing crouched on the wall. After confirming no one could directly threaten Cui Heng and Zhang Yiran’s safety, she glanced at the blood-covered man on the ground and asked strangely: “What’s happening here?”

“This is the clerk who guards the archives,” Xing Ling answered Luo Wanqing’s question. “He said he’d lead me to get the account books, then I heard some noise. When I rushed over, he was already stabbed to death on the ground.”

“Nonsense!”

A man stepped forward, tears covering his face: “He was killed by you. I saw you stab the dagger into his chest with my own eyes. Do you dare say it wasn’t you?”

“Who is this?”

Luo Wanqing looked at the speaker. Zhou Chun stood up, suppressing anger: “This is Registrar Ji. The dead clerk was his personally raised young apprentice. Inspector Xing Ling, I know Supervision Department Inspectors have high status and a clerk is just a lowly life, but even a lowly life is still a life…”

“I didn’t kill him.”

Xing Ling frowned, speaking with certainty.

Hearing this, Registrar Ji beside them suddenly drew his blade, instantly exploding toward Xing Ling: “I’ll kill you!”

“Old Ji!”

Zhou Chun quickly grabbed Registrar Ji, shouting: “Calm down, this is the Supervision Department!”

Registrar Ji froze, his hand holding the blade trembling. Zhou Chun held his waist, gritting his teeth: “Even if you don’t think of yourself, think of your family.”

With these words, Registrar Ji finally slowly lowered his blade, then began wailing, crawling to his apprentice’s corpse, and crying in anguish.

The cries carried far. Many civilians gathered outside the county office. The soldiers watched the weeping old man and couldn’t help gripping their blades tightly.

Xing Ling finally became somewhat panicked, and couldn’t help raising her voice: “I truly didn’t kill him.”

“I saw it! Everyone saw it!”

Registrar Ji raised his voice, turning to look at a nearby guard: “Tell me, when you came in, was there anyone else here?!”

“No… no one.”

“No one else. If not you, who killed him?” Registrar Ji looked up, staring at Xing Ling. “You people from the Eastern Capital think you’re so great? Can you kill without paying with your life?!”

“Yes.” Seeing the situation going wrong, if this Registrar Ji continued cursing, everyone from soldiers to civilians would think Xing Ling was the killer and the Supervision Department was covering for criminals.

Luo Wanqing leaped down from the wall. After glancing at the knife handle in the corpse’s stomach and confirming her thoughts, she bowed to Zhou Chun, then said seriously, “Master Zhou, human life is paramount. The Supervision Department absolutely will not let any innocent citizen die unjustly. If Inspector Xing Ling truly killed someone today, naturally, she should pay with her life. I’ll personally execute her and definitely won’t disappoint the people. But investigating cases requires conclusive evidence. This young man says he only saw Inspector Xing Ling upon entering—may I ask, did you see Registrar Ji?”

This question made the soldier who had answered hesitate.

Luo Wanqing knew he dared not speak up at this time and didn’t make it difficult for him, only saying: “If you didn’t see Registrar Ji, where was Registrar Ji standing when he saw Inspector Xing Ling? If you did see Registrar Ji, how can you be certain that whoever appeared at the scene was the killer? After all, Registrar Ji is this clerk’s master,” Luo Wanqing looked at the shocked and angry Registrar Ji on the ground with a smile, “he couldn’t possibly kill him, right?”

“How is that possible?!”

“Exactly.” Luo Wanqing nodded, then looked at Zhou Chun seriously: “The charge of murder is too serious. Please investigate carefully before speaking, Master Zhou.”

Luo Wanqing’s words were extremely logical. Zhou Chun couldn’t say much. He nodded seriously: “Inspector Liu is right. But currently, Inspector Xing Ling is the most likely suspect—we can’t just let her go, can we?”

“What does Master Zhou suggest?”

“At least detain her first,” Zhou Chun thought, then said seriously, “wait for the case to be clarified. If Inspector Xing Ling is indeed innocent, I’ll personally visit to apologize.”

“Fair enough.”

Luo Wanqing agreed immediately, surprising Zhou Chun. Luo Wanqing looked at him seriously: “The Supervision Department handles everything by the rules, no exceptions. Detaining suspects is reasonable. But Inspector Xing Ling is accompanying the Censorate and Personnel Ministry for inspection—we don’t have much time for Inspector Xing Ling to recuperate. Before evidence emerges, I hope Master Zhou won’t use torture. If Inspector Xing Ling is wrongly tortured, it would delay the Jiangnan inspection, which wouldn’t be good.”

This string of official language left Zhou Chun speechless. He could only nod: “Inspector Liu, rest assured. As long as Inspector Xing Ling is truly innocent, I guarantee she won’t lose a single hair.”

“Good.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, turned to look at Xing Ling, and gave her a meaningful look: “Xing Ling, go with Master Zhou.”

Xing Ling nodded: “Yes.”

With that, soldiers came to shackle Xing Ling. When they reached for her sword, Xing Ling immediately looked up coldly: “Don’t touch my sword.”

“Come, come,” hearing this, Cui Heng quickly stepped forward to take Xing Ling’s sword: “I’ll hold Inspector Xing Ling’s sword for her.”

Xing Ling instinctively wanted to dodge, but somehow felt her hand go numb and the sword ended up in Cui Heng’s hands. Xing Ling looked up angrily: “You!”

“We’re all so familiar,” Cui Heng held Xing Ling’s sword with a grin, “just helping you keep your sword safe—don’t be angry.”

“Xing Ling.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t want to get entangled with them. Seeing the soldiers had shackled Xing Ling, she stepped forward and patted Xing Ling’s shoulder, smiling: “Wait for me.”

Xing Ling understood her mission—to stay safe in jail for now.

She nodded seriously: “Understood.”

Xing Ling didn’t resist and was led away by the soldiers.

Everything was resolved extremely smoothly. Zhou Chun couldn’t help feeling apprehensive. Luo Wanqing watched Xing Ling leave, then turned back to Zhou Chun, saying gently: “Master Zhou, will you investigate this case, or shall I?”

“The Inspector must protect the two masters,” Zhou Chun forced a smile, “I dare not trouble the Inspector. How about this—I’ll investigate here and report all results to the Inspector. If the Inspector finds problems, you can personally review it. If no problems, I’ll handle the case. How about it?”

“Then I’ll trouble Master.”

Luo Wanqing smiled, then turned to look at Zhang Yiran and Cui Heng behind her, saying respectfully: “You two masters have been frightened. Please return to the inn with me to rest.”

**Author’s Note:**

The beginning of the Jiangnan arc will have several chapters of plot development—many characters, weak emotions, complex plot. Please bear with it for a bit. It’ll get better once Xie Heng and Li Guiyu arrive at the battlefield.