◎ May My Beloved Have All Her Wishes Fulfilled ◎

Luo Wanqing knew this thought of hers was subjective.

Wang Hu might have been deliberately placed there by someone, but that person wasn’t necessarily Li Guiyu. She couldn’t assume it was Li Guiyu orchestrating things behind the scenes based on just those walls of traces. After all, that was a place for holding special prisoners – anyone specially detained would be held there, and she would inevitably see that cell.

Li Guiyu wasn’t more special than anyone else. She couldn’t immediately attribute everything to Li Guiyu.

Luo Wanqing suppressed her speculation and continued questioning: “When those people who captured you tortured you, what did they ask?”

“About that hairpin.”

Wang Hu recalled: “Shortly after I bought it, someone was watching me. That hairpin was too valuable – they thought I didn’t have the money to buy it, so they kept asking who bought the hairpin and what it was for. But my benefactor had already warned me that I couldn’t reveal even the slightest detail about the hairpin, so I said nothing.”

“Then why are you telling us now?”

Luo Wanqing found it strange. Wang Hu smiled bitterly and only said: “But my benefactor said that if someone investigated the boss’s matter and I trusted them, then I could speak. Since it’s the young master asking now, naturally, I have no reason not to trust.”

If he could speak when the investigation reached Zhang Qiuzhi, it proved that the person was on the same side as Zhang Qiuzhi, meaning his stance was at least consistent with Cui Qingping’s.

Luo Wanqing nodded, then asked the final question: “Did the person who took the hairpin have any distinguishing features?”

“I never saw his complete face – he always wore a veil when he appeared.” Wang Hu recalled, “But he should be quite handsome, in his thirties, with a red mole on his forehead.”

In his thirties, with a red mole on his forehead.

With this description, everyone present simultaneously thought of one person.

Luo Wanqing’s heart stirred slightly as she quickly asked: “You can’t contact this person now?”

“For me to contact him, it was always him finding me. The only way I could reach him was to send a message through Liufeng Island.”

Wang Hu mentioned Liufeng Island several times. Luo Wanqing realized this person had close ties to Liufeng Island and couldn’t help asking: “What’s his relationship with Liufeng Island?”

“He seems to have a good relationship with the island master.”

Wang Hu thought and said: “He helped arrange for my family to stay on Liufeng Island, and he returns to Liufeng Island once every year. Oh,” Wang Hu remembered, “when he took the hairpin, he told me he couldn’t stay outside much longer – after finishing this matter, he would return.”

“So he might have returned to Liufeng Island now?”

Luo Wanqing understood and overturned her previous speculation.

Xiang Sizi had been killed by her hand at Fangfei Pavilion – how could he return to Liufeng Island?

Or perhaps… this person was indeed Xiang Sizi, and he died in the Eastern Capital without returning to Liufeng Island?

Luo Wanqing considered all possibilities. Wang Hu nodded: “That’s right, he might have returned to Liufeng Island.”

Having finished her questions, Luo Wanqing knew she had asked enough. Seeing Wang Hu’s weary expression, she asked the most crucial question: “Where exactly is Liufeng Island located?”

Liufeng Island had always been a legend – no one knew where it was.

The legendary Liufeng Island was guarded by Xie Minsheng, one of the Eight Grandmasters, surrounded by numerous traps. Few knew its location. Every year, Liufeng Island would open once to accept a group of people who passed their screening.

After entering and staying on the island, they would no longer concern themselves with worldly affairs, and past grievances would be wiped clean. Therefore, Liufeng Island was mostly populated by people bearing deep hatred and vengeance, seeking refuge on the island.

Wang Hu shook his head upon hearing this, only saying: “I’m not clear either. I only know that at the foot of Wenyun Mountain, there’s a cave. Every year, I take the orchid token, pass through the cave, open an iron door, exit the cave entrance, blindfold myself, and ring the orchid token – then someone comes to escort me.”

With that, Wang Hu took out the orchid token and placed it on the table: “This is the orchid token.”

Luo Wanqing picked up the orchid token and found it was exquisitely made in the shape of an orchid, with a hollow-carved small bell hanging in the center. When the bell was shaken, it chimed softly.

Luo Wanqing guessed this was a special sound transmission device like the Supervision Department’s short flute. After observing for a moment, she looked up at Wang Hu: “Could we borrow this…”

“Yes.”

Wang Hu nodded without hesitation. Luo Wanqing was startled and was about to ask why Wang Hu gave it so easily when she heard him say: “Every year, we Liufeng Island people living outside can choose to give out our orchid tokens. When an orchid token is given out, it represents that we believe you are qualified to participate in the island entry selection.”

“Selection?”

Luo Wanqing found it strange. Xie Heng explained: “After obtaining an orchid token, you can open the mountain gate to enter Liufeng Island. After that, Liufeng Island will set up some checkpoints, and only those who remain at the end can ascend to Liufeng Island.”

He lightly tapped the armrest and looked up at Wang Hu: “How many people can one orchid token let in?”

“There’s no limit.”

Wang Hu shook his head and only said: “After the orchid token opens Liufeng Island’s main gate, all followers can enter. After entering the mountain gate, there will be a dense forest. Once you exit the forest, you’ll see a lake, and Liufeng Island’s boats will be waiting at the lakeside to ferry you across. But it’s said that very few people reach the lakeside each year.”

“Why?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand. Wang Hu shook his head: “I don’t know. My benefactor personally brought me to the island, so I’m not clear about their specific selection methods.”

“When does Liufeng Island open?”

“August thirteenth.”

After Wang Hu finished speaking, everyone looked at each other. Calculating the time, it was the day after tomorrow.

Wang Hu thought and said: “Every year on August thirteenth is Liufeng Island’s opening day. Each person with an orchid token has different routes to enter the island, but all must pass through that dense forest.”

“Understood.” Xie Heng nodded, then looked up: “One last question – what is your benefactor’s name?”

“Cui Zisi.”

When Wang Hu spoke, Xie Heng was startled.

He pondered for a long time, then nodded: “Good.”

With that, Xie Heng stood up and nodded: “It’s getting late. We won’t disturb you further.”

Hearing this, Wang Hu also stood up, saying respectfully and anxiously: “Respectfully seeing off Lord Xie.”

Xie Heng said no more and led everyone out of the room.

Zhang Yiran said a few more words to Wang Hu, then followed.

The group returned to the main hall. Cui Heng found a table with pastries, sat down, grabbed a pastry, and said while eating: “Just now he mentioned that person with the veil and red mole on his forehead – I remember someone like that.”

“I might know this person, too.” Zhang Yiran interjected. Everyone looked over as Zhang Yiran thought and said, “The person who arranged for me and my mother to go to the Eastern Capital to change our identities, saying my sister had joined a famous sect, was this very person.”

“Perhaps everyone is talking about the same person.”

Luo Wanqing glanced at everyone, then heard Xie Heng say the name: “Xiang Sizi.”

“That’s right,” Zhang Yiran nodded and thought: “I heard others call that person Xiang Sizi. Now he’s gone to Liufeng Island…”

“I killed him at Fengyu Pavilion.”

Luo Wanqing spoke, and Zhang Yiran was startled. Luo Wanqing thought and said, “Whether it was him, can’t be determined yet, but we need to make a trip to Liufeng Island. This journey is dangerous – Xing Ling should stay to protect Lords Zhang and Cui while I go to Liufeng Island to gather information.”

“Absolutely not.”

Upon hearing this, Xing Ling immediately frowned, looking at Luo Wanqing with some worry in her eyes: “I’m not comfortable with you going alone.”

These words warmed Luo Wanqing’s heart. She thought of someone and turned to look at Xie Heng: “Young Master…”

“I’ll go with you.”

Before Luo Wanqing could ask about Cui Heng’s whereabouts, Xie Heng directly spoke.

Luo Wanqing was startled, feeling somewhat disappointed, but she still respectfully said: “Yes.”

Xie Heng glanced at her slightly disappointed expression, then turned to look at the map hanging behind him: “Where is Wenyun Mountain?”

Luo Wanqing searched the map and spotted Wenyun Mountain’s location.

Wenyun Mountain was some distance from Yangzhou, in what seemed to be an uninhabited area with many blank spaces. After a stretch of blank area, beyond Wenyun Mountain was Xueling Mountain.

Seeing how close the two mountains were, Luo Wanqing’s heart trembled. Then she saw Xie Heng stand up, looking at the map: “Then let’s go back and prepare. On August thirteenth, Liu Xiniang and I will set out for Wenyun Mountain.”

With Xie Heng’s words, everyone could only agree.

It was getting late, so Cui Heng stretched and stood up, actively suggesting: “Everyone’s been busy all day and hasn’t eaten, right? Let’s go eat.”

“Good.” Zhang Yiran nodded.

Cui Heng smiled and called to Xing Ling and Luo Wanqing: “Inspector Xing Ling, Inspector Liu, shall we go together?”

Luo Wanqing nodded, then turned to look at Xie Heng, who had his back to them, and asked carefully: “Young Master, would you like to join…”

“No need.”

Xie Heng interrupted her question. Luo Wanqing steadied herself and bowed with Xing Ling: “Then we subordinates will take our leave first.”

Xie Heng faced away from them without turning around, standing alone before the map, and faintly responded: “Mm.”

Everyone bowed and headed out. Before leaving, Luo Wanqing looked back at Xie Heng’s silhouette. He stood alone in the darkness, just like at the back mountain of the Supervision Department – seemingly no different.

She turned and went out with everyone. Cui Heng was somewhat excited and said happily: “Inspector Liu, you’re most familiar with Yangzhou. Take us to find a good restaurant for a proper meal?”

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and took several people to her favorite restaurant.

Cui Heng had a lively personality. Everyone ate, drank, and played around until nightfall. Luo Wanqing returned with the smell of alcohol all over her.

When she returned, Xie Heng was sitting in his room reviewing documents. His door was wide open, and as Luo Wanqing passed by, seeing Xie Heng sitting inside as if waiting for her, she instantly sobered up and hurriedly bowed: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng glanced at her lightly, then lowered his head: “Mm.”

Luo Wanqing bowed and left, returning to her room. After washing, she lay on the bed wanting to sleep.

But whether from the alcohol or finally having quiet time to think in the deep night, her mind began to surface with many things she had deliberately suppressed during the day.

She thought of Jiang Shaoyan.

The names in the prison began to flow in the night. She closed her eyes but could no longer fall asleep.

She recalled every step she had walked on the street today, every corner where she could remember Jiang Shaoyan’s shadow.

She tossed and turned in bed, finally unable to bear it. Taking a deep breath, she put on her clothes and went outside.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Xie Heng in a single robe with his long hair loose, standing at the front of the corridor steps.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but pause and bow: “Young Master.”

“Can’t sleep?”

Xie Heng turned to look at her. Only then did Luo Wanqing realize that with Xie Heng’s hearing, her tossing and turning in the room might have disturbed him.

She couldn’t help saying: “Did I disturb Young Master?”

“The moonlight is quite beautiful tonight.”

Xie Heng looked up at the sky. Only then did Luo Wanqing notice that tonight was clear with a bright moon and few stars.

She also looked up at the bright moon in the sky, hearing Xie Heng ask: “What keeps you awake?”

Normally, she wouldn’t dare say, after all, this was Xie Heng.

But for some reason, perhaps from the alcohol tonight, she became bolder and couldn’t help saying: “Jiang Shaoyan and I spent five years in Jiangnan. Thinking of the past makes my heart restless.”

“What past?” Xie Heng was rarely patient.

Luo Wanqing didn’t notice anything unusual. Hearing his question, she looked at the moon and spoke truthfully: “Actually, Young Master was right. When I carved his name, it wasn’t because I was bored.”

Once Luo Wanqing started speaking, she couldn’t stop: “I had just been imprisoned and was held in solitary confinement. There was no one else in that cell but me, and I was very afraid. I didn’t know what I would face or what had happened. I only knew how to cry that I was wronged, but no one paid attention. Only my voice echoed again and again in the cell.”

As Luo Wanqing spoke, she recalled many details: “That cell was very cold. At night, there would be sounds of people crying and begging for mercy. It was dirty and smelly. One night while I was sleeping, I felt something crawl over my feet. When I woke up, I found it was a rat – it was chewing on my shoe.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng turned to look at her.

Luo Wanqing smiled: “I screamed in terror. I was most afraid of rats before. I called for Jiang Shaoyan, and when I called his name, I suddenly felt less afraid. So I kept calling him. When my voice became hoarse, I started carving his name. Whenever I was scared, I would carve. I thought he would come save me – that was my only hope.”

“I just…”

Luo Wanqing choked up and said with difficulty, “Stroke by stroke, I carved him into my heart. When I saw my mother again, she praised me, saying I was braver than she had imagined. But I wasn’t. I just turned all my fear and despair into the name Jiang Shaoyan, carving him into my bones, into my life. Sometimes I wonder – why, when it was Zheng Pingsheng who did it, Zheng Biyue who instigated it, and Li Guiyu might have only given them a motive or plan – why is Li Guiyu the person I hate most… When I think about why, I feel afraid. When I saw his name today, I thought, am I destined for this lifetime…”

Luo Wanqing suddenly couldn’t continue. She realized what she was saying and said in panic: “I’m sorry, Young Master, I… I had some alcohol. I’ll go to sleep now.”

With that, Luo Wanqing hurriedly turned to leave, but just as she took a step, she heard Xie Heng’s voice asking: “Destined for what this lifetime?”

His tone was calm and cold, like a detached observer looking down from above.

Luo Wanqing gradually calmed down in his voice. She lowered her eyes, not daring to respond, but Xie Heng stubbornly pressed: “This lifetime, what?”

“I’m afraid,” Luo Wanqing said with difficulty, “that this lifetime, I’ll never escape that cell carved full of Jiang Shaoyan’s name.”

“There’s no cell that can’t be escaped.”

“What if it’s a curse?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but retort: “His name is like a curse to me. Young Master, some curses can follow through lifetime after lifetime.”

Xie Heng didn’t speak. Luo Wanqing felt she had misspoken, but since Xie Heng didn’t speak, she didn’t dare move either.

After a long silence, Xie Heng suddenly said: “When I was at the Dao Sect, my master would sometimes go down the mountain to pray for blessings and disasters for the people, to remove misfortune and break curses. My skills are lacking, but I can try.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned back in surprise to see Xie Heng take out a box of lip rouge from his sleeve. He looked at her and dipped his finger in the rouge, raising his hand to apply it to her forehead.

His fingertip was somewhat cool, like lustrous jade in the moonlight. She looked at him in disbelief, feeling his finger trace patterns on her forehead stroke by stroke.

“Nine Heavens Gods and Buddhas, hear my prayer and command.”

“Remove misfortune and evil spirits, break curses and eliminate malice.”

“Transform fortune and destiny, bring prosperity and peace.”

“May my beloved,” his finger had warmed, moving down past her brow to make the final stroke, “have all her wishes fulfilled.”

As his words ended, his fingertip didn’t withdraw. The wind lifted his hair, gently brushing against her cheek. He raised his eyelids, and his usually cold gaze carried some gentleness, like a deity taking pity on mortals, rippling with ocean-like magnanimity and tenderness.

Her heart in her chest seemed to feel time freeze, becoming slow and heavy. She could hear each heartbeat.

Xie Heng looked at her expression and chuckled softly, placing the lip rouge in her hand as he turned: “Follow your heart in all searches, and you’ll always find answers. Sleep now.”

“Young Master!”

Seeing him turn away, Luo Wanqing suddenly reacted, suppressed her chaotic heartbeat, and hurriedly offered the lip rouge back: “The lip rouge…”

Xie Heng looked her up and down and only said: “Once used, it can’t be given to others. I’ll give it to you.”

Having said this, Xie Heng turned and entered his room, closing the door.

Luo Wanqing held the lip rouge he had given her like holding a ball of fire, at a complete loss.

She didn’t dare keep it, but didn’t dare throw it away either. She could only take it inside and place it on the table. But seeing Cui Heng’s gifts on the table, she hesitated for a moment, then quickly pulled out a drawer and locked the lip rouge inside.

After doing all this, she looked up at herself in the mirror. The woman in the mirror had gained a flame-like rune pattern on her forehead, making her entire features appear much more alluring.

She couldn’t help but gently touch that flame pattern, remembering Xie Heng’s voice.

May my beloved have all her wishes fulfilled.

She closed her eyes, and this time, she truly didn’t think of Jiang Shaoyan.

Xie Heng was right – follow your heart in all searches, and you’ll always find answers.

What she doubted, she would ask about. What she wanted, she would fight for. What she wanted to kill, she would kill. When all the dust settled, she would always find her way out.

If she couldn’t get out, she would cut through the iron and split open the walls.

She would always find her way out.

She took a deep breath and returned to bed, her state of mind much calmer.

Only then did she belatedly realize that Xie Heng hadn’t been wearing gloves earlier, and she hadn’t paid attention to look.

But what was there to see?

With that thought, she closed her eyes and stopped thinking.

When Luo Wanqing fell asleep, in Yangzhou prison, the person guarding Zhou Chun was drinking with his head down.

After one gulp of alcohol, within moments, all the drinkers had collapsed. Only the jailer guarding the door remained conscious. After quickly checking that all his colleagues had fallen, he immediately stepped forward to open the door, saying respectfully: “Miss Wang.”

As he spoke, a group of people followed a young woman in a black cloak into the prison. They quickly entered and came before Zhou Chun.

“Zhou Chun.”

The young woman’s voice came from under the cloak, saying coldly: “Have you thought about what I said?”

Hearing this, Zhou Chun’s lips trembled slightly.

“Xie Heng brought Liu Xiniang here, and the things you and Zheng Pingsheng did can’t be hidden. He’ll only use you as a scapegoat. Act, and if you succeed, no one will investigate these matters anymore – I guarantee you’ll rise through the ranks. Don’t act, and wait here to die. Have you decided?”

The young woman’s voice was emotionless. Zhou Chun’s thin lips trembled. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and kowtowed: “This subordinate is willing to take the gamble!”