I Am Called Jiang Shaoyan in Jiangnan

Luo Wanqing woke up with a headache.

She shook her head and got up to wash her face. As soon as she reached the washbasin, she saw in the mirror the flame pattern on her forehead, and instantly remembered everything that had happened the night before. Her entire body froze in place.

Then she realized that the lip balm Xie Heng had carried with him last night was something he had intended to give to someone else. He had only used it on her and then given it to her, which meant his actions last night were merely impromptu, and he had someone else specifically in mind as the intended recipient.

This thought brought her some relief, yet also stirred an acidic self-mockery she hadn’t even realized she felt.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was because she had been too presumptuous these past days, not maintaining proper decorum.

She secretly warned herself not to drink recklessly and overstep boundaries in front of Xie Heng again, then quickly washed her face clean.

When she had nearly finished her morning ablutions, she heard people coming and going outside her door. Xie Heng seemed to be speaking with some people. She opened the door and went out, just in time to see Zhuque carrying documents as she walked out.

The documents were stacked extremely high. When Zhuque saw Luo Wanqing, she said happily, “Oh my, Inspector Liu, you’re up?”

Luo Wanqing nodded and bowed: “Zhuque Envoy.”

“Liu Xiniang.”

Xie Heng’s voice came from inside. Luo Wanqing immediately stepped forward. She unconsciously knelt to bow at a greater distance than usual. Xie Heng glanced at her but paid no attention, saying coldly, “Today, prepare the things needed for entering Liufeng Island. Prepare extra portions of hidden weapons and medicines. Once we’re inside, we don’t know how long we’ll stay.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing responded, “Yes.”

“You may go.”

Xie Heng waved his hand, but Luo Wanqing didn’t move. Sensing she had something to say, Xie Heng looked up at her: “What is it?”

“Young Master,” Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, then voiced her concern, “This subordinate believes that if possible, it would be more appropriate for Cui Heng to accompany me instead.”

Xie Heng looked at her without speaking, waiting for her explanation.

Luo Wanqing continued, “Young Master’s status is noble. If you travel with this subordinate, there will likely be many who covet you. This subordinate is worried about Young Master’s safety.”

“Ordinary people cannot enter Liufeng Island. There won’t be too many who would assassinate me.”

“But…”

“Xie Minsheng is a member of the Xie clan. Although he has been separated from the family for a long time, it is more appropriate for me to go.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing understood that Xie Heng had his considerations.

She didn’t try to persuade him further, only saying, “Yes, then this subordinate will go prepare.”

Xie Heng acknowledged with a sound, and Luo Wanqing rose and left.

Only after she had walked far away did Xie Heng raise his eyes. After thinking for a moment, he chuckled softly, understanding all the various reasons.

The lip balm had caused trouble.

If he had known, he should have had Zhusi deliver it instead.

Luo Wanqing prepared supplies according to Xie Heng’s requirements. After a day of purchasing, she prepared her pack and went to sleep early.

The next day was August 13th.

In the light morning rain, after checking the schedule for the coming days with Xing Ling, she put on her rain cape, called Wang Hu, and together they went to the gate.

Three fine horses stood at the gate, held by attendants.

Xie Heng was already waiting at the door, spreading his arms as servants helped him put on his outer gauze robe. Zhuque stood on her tiptoes to help Xie Heng put on his rain cape, while Elder Ming carefully told him about the climate, fruits, and crops of Wenyun Mountain.

Luo Wanqing arrived with Wang Hu just in time to see this somewhat overly grand farewell scene. She was startled at first, then bowed to Xie Heng: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng had just put on his rain cape. Hearing her, he turned his head, nodded to her, then walked toward the horses. He mounted with fluid grace and said calmly, “Let’s go.”

Luo Wanqing and Wang Hu quickly followed, mounting their horses.

Today Xie Heng wore a white robe dyed with azure, with a tight waist sash and a jade pendant hanging at his waist. His appearance was not much different from his usual attire as a young master of a noble family.

But he wore a rain cape and carried a sword on his back, which made him appear particularly capable and refreshing, like a wandering swordsman setting out on a journey.

What caught Luo Wanqing’s attention most was the outer robe he had just put on. That outer robe had excellent water-repelling properties – raindrops fell on it and slid right off. The Supervision Department’s clothes also had water-repelling effects, but compared to what Xie Heng wore, they seemed much inferior.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but look at Xie Heng’s clothes a few more times. Xie Heng noticed her gaze and glanced over coolly, saying, “It’s shark silk from the Eastern Sea. When we get back with our prize, I’ll have someone make one for you.”

As soon as Luo Wanqing heard this, she knew it was a reward Xie Heng was promising. She instinctively wanted to respond happily, but suddenly remembered she shouldn’t be too presumptuous in front of Xie Heng anymore.

She forcibly suppressed her emotions and said respectfully, “Thank you, Young Master.”

Xie Heng glanced at her, as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t say more.

Wenyun Mountain was some distance from Yangzhou. After the three left the city, Zhang Yiran thought for a moment and decided to go with Cui Heng to the prison to interrogate Zhou Chun and Sun Cui.

Xing Ling and Zhuque escorted the two of them there. When the rain lessened, the four arrived at the prison, led by Lu Jiu, to where Zhou Chun and Sun Cui were being held.

They hadn’t walked far when Zhuque felt something was wrong. She said cautiously, “Wait a moment.”

Everyone immediately became alert. Zhuque went forward alone and kicked open the large door.

The moment the door opened, the smell of blood wafted from the room. Inside the prison, the jailers’ bodies lay scattered everywhere, and the places where Zhou Chun, Sun Cui, and the others had been imprisoned were already empty.

Zhuque’s expression changed. Xing Ling immediately said, “Zhuque Envoy, protect the two officials and notify the department. I’ll go after the Director and Inspector Liu!”

With that, Xing Ling turned and rushed out. After she mounted her horse and looked back, having run for a while, she heard the sound of hoofbeats behind her.

She looked back and saw Cui Heng following closely behind her, smiling as he said, “Inspector Xing Ling, I’ll go with you.”

“Nonsense!” Xing Ling shouted, “What are you going to do?”

“Wherever Inspector Xing Ling is, that’s where Cui Heng will be buried,” Cui Heng said with particular sincerity, “I can’t rest easy with the Inspector going alone.”

“Get lost!” Xing Ling increased her speed, trying to shake him off, “This isn’t a place for your jokes.”

“I’m being serious.”

Cui Heng’s horsemanship was surprisingly excellent. He stayed close to Xing Ling’s side, observing as he said, “Inspector, how about we make a deal? I’ll go with you, and if nothing happens to me, I’ll call you Xing Ling from now on, how about that?”

Xing Ling was too lazy to talk to him, keeping her head down and charging forward, wanting only to shake him off.

Cui Heng moved to the other side to look at her profile, smiling as he said, “And if I help you too, you won’t call me Master Cui anymore – call me Junye, how about that? You remember my courtesy name, right? I’m called Cui Heng, courtesy name Junye.”

While Xing Ling and Cui Heng raced toward Wenyun Mountain, Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng followed Wang Hu to the foot of Wenyun Mountain.

Wenyun Mountain looked no different from an ordinary mountain. Its peculiarity lay in the mountain range behind it – behind it were endless peaks stretching as far as the eye could see, as if they continued without end.

The three tied up their horses. Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng followed Wang Hu up the mountain. As Wang Hu walked, he introduced them: “Behind this Wenyun Mountain is the entire Xueling Mountain range. The terrain is treacherous, and I’ve heard there are ghost walls inside – once you go in, it’s very difficult to find your way out. You must follow the path I tell you. Look at that cave,” Wang Hu raised his hand to point at a cave halfway up the mountain. Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng both looked up. Wang Hu led the way, saying, “That cave is a tunnel that goes through the entire mountain, but halfway through you’ll be blocked by a door. This door cannot be opened unless you use the Orchid Token.”

“Will you go in later?”

Remembering Wang Hu’s arrangement, Luo Wanqing asked. Wang Hu waved his hand: “Since you’re participating in the trial, I won’t go. When you come out, just return the Orchid Token to me.”

“What if we can’t get out?”

“Then I’ll wait for my wife and children to come out and find me. There’s always a way.” Wang Hu smiled, then said, “Besides, how could you not get out? Inspector Liu, don’t say such unlucky things before setting out.”

Luo Wanqing knew that escort workers were very particular about fortune, so she said no more.

Wang Hu escorted the two to the entrance, then took his leave.

Xie Heng watched his retreating figure and suddenly said, “He has signal flares on him, right?”

“Yes.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand Xie Heng’s meaning, but still answered, “This subordinate gave them to him before leaving today, in case of emergency.”

Xie Heng nodded, still watching Wang Hu’s retreating figure, and continued, “Did you bring Fengxun fragrance?”

“I brought it.”

Luo Wanqing nodded. Xie Heng instructed, “Use it. If we get separated, call the Fengxun bird to follow.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s face stiffened.

She had always been the one being tracked and found; she had never thought about how to find someone else. She could only say reluctantly, “Young Master, I forgot to bring the Fengxun bird. Should we go back and get it?”

“No need.”

Xie Heng seemed to have known this already. With laughter suppressed in his eyes, he took a ball of fluff from his sleeve and opened his palm.

A small bird with fluffy, colorful feathers was hopping in his palm, looking quite adorable.

“Its name is Lianqing.”

As Xie Heng spoke, he placed the Fengxun bird on her shoulder. The moment his fingertip touched her shoulder, Luo Wanqing instinctively stepped back.

Her movement was rather large, but fortunately, the bird was clever and quickly grabbed onto her clothes, managing to stand steady.

Such obvious rejection made Xie Heng pause. Luo Wanqing also felt she had acted inappropriately and stood frozen without moving.

Xie Heng slowly raised his eyes, looking into hers. After pondering for a moment, he pretended nothing had happened, withdrew his hand, and turned around: “Let’s go.”

Luo Wanqing’s heart was slightly disturbed. Not understanding what she had just done, she followed Xie Heng into the cave. After calming her emotions, she pretended nothing had happened and said, “Young Master, you’ve given me the Fengxun bird. If we’re separated, how will you find me?”

Xie Heng didn’t turn back, only saying, “I have my ways.”

As they spoke, they walked deeper into the cave.

There was no light in the cave. Xie Heng took out a fire starter and lit it, then took an extinguished torch from the side, lit it, and illuminated the long tunnel path.

This path seemed to have no end. It was only now that Luo Wanqing finally completely calmed down. She looked up at Xie Heng’s figure standing ahead and realized something was wrong.

How could she let Xie Heng lead the way?

She quickly reached out to take the torch: “Young Master, let me lead.”

However, Xie Heng paid no attention to her and stepped forward directly.

Her hand brushed across the back of Xie Heng’s white-gloved hand. Realizing her impropriety, she quickly stepped back.

Understanding that Xie Heng didn’t intend to let her lead, she followed behind him, thinking as she said, “Young Master, when you asked Wang Hu about the signal flares earlier, were you worried he might be in danger?”

Xie Heng observed their surroundings without answering her directly. As he walked, he said, “After your father died, the Luo family was put up for public auction. At first, not many people bid. After the first round of auction was complete, Li Guiyu suddenly appeared and bought all the remaining items.”

Luo Wanqing listened to Xie Heng speak. These were all things that had appeared in the registry. She didn’t understand what this had to do with Wang Hu, and asked in confusion, “So?”

“So this round of auction was Li Guiyu’s way of putting things out to find clues. After your father died, the trail went cold. He didn’t know what in the Luo family was worth suspecting, so he simply auctioned everything off, then watched. He must have investigated all the items sold in the first round, and this phoenix feather hairpin was bought by Wang Hu in the first round. Wang Hu’s living conditions were so poor, yet he could afford to buy such an expensive item, so he was quickly targeted and captured in March.”

Luo Wanqing listened and understood: “Li Guiyu captured him?”

“He captured him but couldn’t get anything out of him. This time, knowing you were going to Jiangnan, especially bringing Zhang Yiran to Jiangnan, he deliberately sent Wang Hu to you for interrogation.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately understood. Some rustling sounds began to appear around them. Luo Wanqing alertly gripped the handle of her knife at her waist: “He knows we can get clues and is following us?”

“Correct. The Third Prince must be waiting for—” The sound of arrows breaking through the air suddenly came from both sides. Xie Heng raised his hand and swept his wide sleeve in a circle. Luo Wanqing simultaneously turned her back to him, drew her knife, and spun it. The two simultaneously intercepted the rain of arrows shot from both sides of the tunnel. Xie Heng looked up, and in the moment the tunnel lit up, he opened his mouth with a smile, “The mantis stalks the cicada.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Heng moved like a ghost, already striking forward with his sword!

Xie Heng’s sword momentum was like a mountain crashing down. With a thunderous sound, he smashed the shield-bearing soldier at the front. Only then did Luo Wanqing finally see clearly the scene in the tunnel.

There were dense crowds of people front and back, but unexpectedly, those intercepting them were not martial arts masters – ahead were only ordinary soldiers, and behind them was a ground full of kneeling common people!

Behind each common person stood a soldier. There were three rows of kneeling people in total. Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but cry out, speaking at the same time as Sun Cui, who stood in front of everyone: “Young Master!”

“Stop!”

Hearing both of them speak at once, Xie Heng stopped his sword amid the chaos, raised his sword, and turned around, only to see Sun Cui holding a group of common people in three rows at the tunnel entrance.

Xie Heng looked at Sun Cui calmly. Though it was just an emotionless, ordinary gaze, it still gave everyone an invisible sense of intimidation, and no one dared to step forward.

Sun Cui endured Xie Heng’s gaze and stood trembling at the front.

She couldn’t run. She and Zhou Chun now faced a do-or-die situation; they had no other choice.

“Director Xie,” Sun Cui gritted her teeth, her jaw chattering, and reached out her hand, saying with difficulty, “Give me the Orchid Token.”

“Li Guiyu sent you here?”

Xie Heng was completely unconcerned, lowering his head and casually running his hand along his sword blade.

As soon as he moved, everyone stepped back. Sun Cui hurriedly said, “These are all hostages!”

Hearing this, Xie Heng looked up, puzzled: “So what?”

“Most of these are villagers from the mountain village,” Sun Cui suppressed her panic, pressing her sword against the throat of a trembling old man, saying urgently, “If you don’t give me the Orchid Token, I’ll kill them!”

“Fine.” Xie Heng nodded calmly, speaking quite seriously, “I will avenge them and seek justice for them.”

This statement shocked everyone present. Sun Cui finally became panicked, saying urgently, “Xie Heng, you are the Director of the Supervision Department! Are human lives so worthless in your eyes?!”

“It’s you who would kill them, not me.” Xie Heng’s expression was calm, his logic clear. “My seeking justice for them is already my benevolence. If you want to use them to threaten me, that’s your foolishness.”

With that, Xie Heng led Luo Wanqing to turn around: “Let’s go.”

“Xie Heng!”

Hearing this, Sun Cui became desperate and viciously slashed toward the old man’s neck. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing cried out urgently, “Wait!”

Xie Heng stopped and turned to look. Everyone’s eyes focused on Luo Wanqing. Luo Wanqing gritted her teeth and said hesitantly, “The Orchid Token is in my hands.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng’s expression suddenly turned cold: “Liu Xiniang.”

“I’ll give it to you.”

Luo Wanqing looked around. There were four torches here.

Extinguish four torches in an instant and rescue the people.

Luo Wanqing gripped her knife tightly and nervously glanced at Xie Heng.

Xie Heng immediately understood her meaning, stepped toward her, and raised his hand: “Give me the Orchid Token.”

“Give it to me!”

Sun Cui shouted excitedly. Luo Wanqing raised her hand to grip the Orchid Token and retreated toward Sun Cui. Xie Heng followed her approach.

In that instant, the sound of swords suddenly came from afar. Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng moved simultaneously. Xie Heng spun and extinguished the torches. As they plunged into darkness, Luo Wanqing struck with her knife toward the heads of Sun Cui and the soldiers in the first row who were holding the common people hostage. Xie Heng immediately followed up, and the third row was simultaneously swept flat by their blades and swords.

Blood sprayed up, screams exploded in the darkness, and swords came at them from all sides. Luo Wanqing listened to the sounds and defended against the surroundings, standing back-to-back with Xie Heng, saying calmly, “Young Master, it seems someone has come.”

“It’s us.”

Cui Heng’s voice came from not far away. A torch suddenly shone from nearby. Luo Wanqing glanced at Xing Ling charging over and Cui Heng leisurely holding the torch, and immediately said, “Xing Ling, get the common people out!”

Hearing this, Xing Ling kicked away a soldier and helped up an old man on the ground who was crying and couldn’t stand. She threw him toward Cui Heng and shouted, “Master Cui, get to work!”

Cui Heng stepped forward to catch the old man who was thrown to him, frowning: “Didn’t we agree you’d call me Brother Junye?”

“Get lost!”

Xing Ling picked up the common people one by one and threw them toward Cui Heng. All the soldiers surged toward Luo Wanqing and Xie Heng.

Luo Wanqing kicked away a soldier and discovered that these people were just ordinary soldiers.

Xie Heng raised his hand to strike, but Luo Wanqing looked at the bodies covering the ground, and her mind flashed to his crimes from the previous life.

The massacre of five hundred people at Xueling Mountain.

She instinctively grabbed Xie Heng’s sleeve, used her knife hilt to knock away the person in front of Xie Heng, grabbed his wrist, and ran forward, saying urgently as she ran, “Young Master, these are all soldiers. We can’t kill them like this.”

Xie Heng looked down at her hand gripping his wrist, following her as they ran madly forward. Hearing her words, he stopped his sword: “So what?”

“Young Master, can you promise me one thing?”

Luo Wanqing sensed someone leaping at them from behind. She pulled Xie Heng aside and kicked the attacking person back, shielding Xie Heng in front of her. She began using the back of her knife to strike the soldiers charging at them, gripping her knife calmly as she said, “In this place, if you can avoid killing, please don’t kill.”

Xie Heng paused slightly, looking at the woman in front of him who was using the back of her knife to strike people. Remembering how she had gripped his wrist moments before, he only said, “Then you promise me one thing too?”

This made Luo Wanqing somewhat surprised. She instinctively turned back. Xie Heng pulled her back and struck the person lunging at her with his palm, saying calmly, “We’ll talk about it later.”

However, just as he threw Luo Wanqing backward, arrows shot out rapidly from both sides of the walls. Luo Wanqing instinctively stepped back, immediately lost her footing, and fell straight down.

Rumbling sounds came from around them, and when Xie Heng turned back, the ground had already begun to change.

Xie Heng’s pupils contracted sharply. He quickly swept over and landed where Luo Wanqing had disappeared, but the ground had already become solid.

He struck down with his sword, smashing the ground half a zhang deep, but could only see bricks and tiles. The surrounding walls rotated, soldiers rushed at him like madmen, and everything spun around.

Xie Heng knew this was the operation of mechanisms and coldly surveyed the surroundings, trying to find the pattern.

Fengxun fragrance was useless in this kind of place. To find Luo Wanqing fastest, he needed to get out of here first, then call Zhusi to find her.

After all, if Li Guiyu were here.

He wouldn’t kill her.

Thinking of this, Xie Heng felt irritation rising in his heart. His eyes turned cold, and he grabbed a person’s throat. Just as he was about to break it instinctively, he suddenly smashed forward instead.

Only disabling without killing was more troublesome—

Blood splattered on his face. He surveyed the people around him who were both afraid and still had to charge forward, thinking of the promise he had just made to Luo Wanqing, and said coldly, “Get out of the way!”

When Luo Wanqing fell straight down from the height, she immediately adjusted her posture and, at the moment of landing, rolled and knelt on one knee, cushioning all the impact.

She landed steadily and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, then immediately discovered that the surroundings were completely empty, much more spacious than the previous tunnel.

This space, like the belly of a mountain, was exceptionally vast. She could hear the sound of dripping water inside. The surroundings were pitch black, with only some faint light ahead.

Light?

Luo Wanqing instinctively looked up. The moment her gaze touched the flower lantern, her breathing stopped, and she instinctively drew her knife and retreated!

Anyone who could stand here so silently must be far stronger than her.

However, the moment she landed, a voice came that was cold but tinged with warmth: “Don’t be afraid.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was stunned. She looked up in confusion and finally saw the appearance of a person before her.

The young man wore black robes with a black cloak, holding a flower lantern in his hand. His scholarly face showed no excess expression as he looked at her calmly, watching her every movement.

She hadn’t seen him wear black in a long time, but she quickly realized that while it was the same black color, it was different from the past.

In the past, when he wore black, it was always plain cotton training clothes, with a simple high ponytail bound by a hair crown, everything kept simple.

Like a sword ready to be unsheathed at any moment, always waiting to fight to the death for his young miss.

However, at this moment, the black fabric on his body was lustrous brocade that was expensive, with wide sleeves woven with gold and a golden crown binding his hair. His entire person silently exuded wealth and nobility, carrying an imperial air.

The two stared at each other quietly. Luo Wanqing finally reacted and calmly called out his name: “Li Guiyu?”

Li Guiyu’s eyelashes trembled. His hand holding the flower lantern couldn’t help but tighten. He lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, “Actually, I have another name. Does the Inspector remember?”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. Li Guiyu looked at the flower lantern in his hand and said hoarsely, “In Jiangnan, I am called Jiang Shaoyan.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Last night, Xie Heng: “Today I’m personally delivering lipstick to my wife, no need for Zhusi to do it for me. So happy!!”

Luo Wanqing: “Why is he carrying women’s lipstick with him? Oh, I know—the Director has a girlfriend! I need to keep my distance.”

The next day—

Luo Wanqing: “Director, I’m someone with a boyfriend. You called my boyfriend over, so you, who has a girlfriend, should stay away from me. It’s best if we two maintain distance and don’t create unnecessary misunderstandings or developments.”

Xie Heng: “Well… this… I can explain… but it’s not easy to explain…”

Luo Wanqing: “Please maintain distance.”

Xie Heng: “…”

Then:

Luo Wanqing: “I’m pulling you along—can you promise me one thing?”

Xie Heng: “Waaaah, you’re talking to me?! I’ll give you my life!!!”

Luo Wanqing: “…There’s no need for such dramatic life-giving literature.”