Cang Lan Dao - Chapter 40.3

Chapter 40.3 

Luo Wanqing is a doctor; what are you? 

This person was full of blood debts and had reached this point. How could she still be so calm and peaceful, without guilt, as if everything had nothing to do with her and she had not made any mistakes? 

Indignant and annoyed, he spoke coldly: “Liu Xiniang.” 

Luo Wanqing paused in her steps. Xie Heng put his hand on the armrest, rubbing his fingertips, and faintly said, “Didn’t you say that you and Miss Luo were on good terms? You heard that she died, and for her sake, you risked your life to go up the mountain to listen to my conversation with the Third Highness. Such a deep sisterly bond, but when she’s gone, you don’t even give her a tablet and let her be a lonely ghost. It’s not right, is it?” 

Luo Wanqing paused. 

Xie Heng lowered his eyes, “In the future, don’t think you can just take advantage of people’s hearts. I’m not Qin Jue. If you do evil again after I let you live,” Xie Heng raised his eyes coldly, “I’ll kill you.” 

Luo Wanqing listened to his words and calmly stared back, “Did I take advantage of Young Master’s heart?” 

Not expecting Luo Wanqing to be so sharp, Xie Heng did not reply. 

Luo Wanqing continued to pursue, “What have I lied to Young Master about? Could it be that Young Master has moved his heart towards me?” 

“Don’t humiliate yourself.” Xie Heng raised his eyes and explained coldly, “I’m saying that you took advantage of my guilty heart toward Miss Luo.” 

These words slightly stunned Luo Wanqing, and for a moment, she suddenly felt that there was no need to argue with Xie Heng. After thinking about it, she couldn’t help but ask, “Young Master is so harsh on me. If I were Miss Luo, how would your Excellency treat me?” 

“You’re Miss Luo?” Hearing this, Xie Heng propped his forehead with his hand and closed his eyes, “Don’t be delusional.” 

Without waiting for Luo Wanqing to speak, Xie Heng said, “She has a gentle and soft character with a pure heart. She would rather go to Lingnan to simmer in exile until she dies than go to the Inspection Department to kill someone. She is a doctor; what are you?” 

Hearing these words, Luo Wanqing didn’t know why, but a sudden pain suddenly surged up, sharply permeating her heart. She recalled her parents’ teachings when she was young and her grandfather’s reminder when he brought her to flip through the medical books for the first time. 

People’s lives are at stake. She used to believe this all the time. In fact, Xie Heng was right. If not for her dream, she would have stayed in Lingnan for ten years. Even if she knew that Jiang Shaoyan had killed his family, she wouldn’t have taken this path to take revenge. It was those ten years in Lingnan that rubbed out her goodness; she waited and suffered for those ten years, and after experiencing the pain of having her family and friends die, she forgot everything she had ever learned and became an executioner. Now, she was ashamed to see her parents and grandfather. She had killed so many people, so what was she? 

She bowed in response and said muffled, “Young Master is right. I will retire.” With that, she turned to leave. 

Xie Heng slowly opened his eyes as he listened to the door closing sound. He didn’t know why, but when she said that last sentence, he felt it was bitter even though she said it calmly. He sat in silence, and after a while, Qing Ya walked into the room holding the dossier and glanced at Xie Heng, smiling, “Young Master doesn’t seem very happy?” 

“Have you checked the Crown Prince’s movements in the next ten days?” Xie Heng raised his eyes.

Qing Ya smiled slightly. “Young Master really anticipates things like God. Although there is no confirmed news, I heard that the Crown Prince made appointments ten days later and took a leave of absence from His Majesty. He should be planning to go out on a secret night outing.” 

“I say, how is an Xiang Sizi worth Li Guiyu’s fanfare? It turns out to be the Crown Prince.” 

Xie Heng responded flatly. 

Qing Ya shook his head, “This pair of brothers, ah. Back then, the Crown Prince and Empress stepped on the Third Highness’s life to climb up, and now, it seems that the Third Highness intends to kill the Crown Prince and make himself the Empress’ only son, and at that time, even if she knows that he killed the Crown Prince, the Empress will have to rely on him.” 

“Hmm.” Xie Heng tapped on the desktop, seemingly thinking about something. 

Qing Ya raised his eyes, “What is Young Master thinking about?” 

“I’m wondering if my train of thought is wrong.” 

Qing Ya was puzzled, and Xie Heng looked at Qing Ya: “Tell me, if Liu Xiniang is not someone from the Feng Yu Pavilion, who might she be? Why would she want to get involved with someone from the Feng Yu Pavilion/ What are her purposes?” 

If she wasn’t from the Feng Yu Pavilion, then who could she be in such a big world? 

These words instantly stunned Qing Ya. He thought momentarily and reminded, “Young Master, it’s better not to make too optimistic fantasies.” 

These words caused Xie Heng to pause, and he suddenly realized he seemed to let her confuse him again. He always tried to speculate on her from a better place. Xie Heng was silent momentarily before remembering, “How long before the people sent to Yangzhou return?” 

“Still on their way,” Qing Ya reported solemnly, “Liu Xiniang’s case is too small to be under the jurisdiction of the Inspection Department, and a lot of information is in the Ministry of Criminal Affairs’s hand, so they need to check up on it.” 

“What about Old Zhong?” Xie Heng frowned, “He’s back?” 

“Travelling.” Qing Ya was confused, “What are Young Master’s intentions?” 

“Find a painter and ask Old Zhong to draw Liu Xiniang’s original appearance to me.” Xie Heng raised his hand. 

Qing Ya was stunned and hesitantly said, “This, Young Master, is not necessary.” 

Xie Heng turned his eyes to look over. Qing Ya explained, “Previously, we asked Old Zhong to draw a disfigured prisoner’s face, and the result completely differs from the original appearance. Because the criminal had different sizes on each eye and was fat when he committed the crime, so when the witnesses looked at the portrait to identify it, they said it was not him. Hence, we released the person and tracked it down before realizing it was that person. The bone phase is only a basic frame, and the skin phase combination has countless possibilities.” 

“Then send him thirty painters,” Xie Heng coldly glanced. “There are just two eyes and a few pieces of flesh on a person’s face. Draw all the possibilities for me. I’ll be waiting for him.” 

“Yes.” Qing Ya saw that Xie Heng had decided and bowed his head in response. After thinking for a while, he finally said, “Young Master.” 

Xie Heng raised his eyes to look at him. Qing Ya pursed his lips and thoughtfully said, “The Inspection Department can’t afford to lose. You can’t be the second Qin Jue.” 

Xie Heng paused, then laughed softly, “What are you thinking? I only don’t want to accuse innocent people wrongly.” 

“When the cost is too great, one would rather kill a hundred by mistake.”  Qing Ya looked calm.

Xie Heng raised his eyes to look at him for a long time before nodding, “I know, but I want to do my best.” Saying this, he turned away toward Zhang Qiuzhi’s dossier, which was glowing yellow under the candlelight. He hadn’t taken this path to become that kind of person. 

“Then,” Qing Ya looked at Xie Heng seriously, “Is this the last time?” 

Xie Heng did not make a sound, so Qing Ya calmly spoke, “If this woman betrays again, I will kill her. Will Young Master agree?” 

Xie Heng’s fingertips trembled slightly. He raised his eyes to meet Qing Ya’s gaze, and for some reason, he felt that this word was a bit tough. 

“Yes.”