Cang Lan Dao - Chapter 43.1

Please note that the author heavily revised the novel from chapter 43 onward, and I took my raw source from JJWXC, in case you find differences between my translation and raw from aggregator sites. As far as I know, aggregator sites have yet to revise their stolen chapters.

Chapter 43.1 
Young Master Can Use Me or Kill Me

Just like when they came, Cui Heng carried her back to the Inspection Department. He hid it exceptionally well and put her on the bed to lie down. The Inspection Department did not find anyone in and out. After being tense for a long time, Luo Wanqing finally relaxed after sending her family away. Although she expected to send her family on the final journey herself, not bringing Cui Heng, she let them follow the water, so she herself didn’t know their destination. She also instructed them to change their names after settling down. In the future, if they don’t take the initiative to look for her, she won’t be able to find them unless Cui Heng intends to start monitoring. Otherwise, Cui Heng wouldn’t be able to find them. Human resources have limitations. After this, she couldn’t do more. She would rather believe Cui Heng will not send people to track and monitor her family. 
   
Luo Wanqing didn’t have the energy to think about anything else. She drank porridge and medicine with Cui Heng, who sat on the bedside and said gently, “Rest well. His Majesty may summon you in the afternoon. What else do you need me to do?” 
   
Luo Wanqing pursed her lips. She wanted to beg him not to disclose today’s matter to the public but also felt that she had already troubled him too much. 
   
Cui Heng saw that she did not say anything, so he knew what she was thinking. He pondered, “I won’t say anything about today’s matter, and I won’t care about the person you met today, so don’t worry.” 
   
“You won’t ask me who I am?” Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but grip the quilt tightly.

Cui Heng saw her movements and hesitantly said, “If you will feel more comfortable if you don’t say anything, then I won’t ask.” 
   
“I am not Zhang Jiuran.” Luo Wanqing emphasized.

Cui Heng raised his eyes, “I know.” 
   
Luo Wanqing froze and spoke out in confusion, “How do you know?” 
   
“Master said it last night.” Cui Heng turned his eyes to look out the window; the courtyard was full of spring light. Softly said, “He knew when you gave him the mother parasite. The woman in Qin Jue’s courtyard, it’s Zhang Jiuran, right?” 
   
Not expecting Xie Heng to be so sharp, Luo Wanqing’s heart tightened and didn’t make a sound. Cui Heng saw her nervousness, so he smiled and comforted her, “You don’t have to be nervous. Young Master won’t do anything to her.” 
   
“Young Master doesn’t like her.” Luo Wanqing shook her head. 
   
Cui Heng thought momentarily and patiently explained, “Young Master dislikes her because she lied to Qin Jue. Qin Jue and Young Master aren’t considered acquaintances, but he’s his senior brother. Qin Jue is good-natured, and Zhang Jiuran lies to him. His methods are indeed a bit too much.” 
   
“I know ……” Luo Wanqing’s mouth was bitter. How could she not know? Anyone could blame Zhang Jiuran, but not her, who had received Zhang Jiuran’s favor.
   
“But now, since Qin Jue doesn’t care and is still willing to help her, I think there must be something that Young Master doesn’t know.” Cui Heng glanced at her, thinking of what may have happened between her and Zhang Jiuran. His voice couldn’t help but soften as he said, “He hasn’t come into contact with Zhang Jiuran. Jumping to conclusions is his fault.” 
   
“Young Master is not at fault.” Luo Wanqing shook her head, “He is in the Inspection Department, so he should be like this.” 
   
“You don’t blame him?” Cui Heng asked seriously.

Luo Wanqing smiled and said softly, “He was kind to me. It was me who repeatedly lied to him. What is there to blame?” 
   
“He almost killed you last night.” Cui Heng emphasized. 
   
Luo Wanqing’s eyes showed disbelief, “The one who harmed me was Li Guiyu. What does it have to do with Young Master?” 
   
Cui Heng froze, and Luo Wanqing laughed softly. “This is between me and Li Guiyu. It should not have involved Young Master, an outsider, in the game. He did his calculations well, and why should he save me?” 
   
Cui Heng couldn’t say anything. He didn’t know why, but listening to these words made his heart uncomfortable. He couldn’t tell whether it was pity for her traveling alone or something else. He only felt that the word ‘outsider’ stood out. Thinking of the confrontation between Luo Wanqing and Li Guiyu last night, even if they were enemies, they only had each other in their eyes and nothing else. This matter was between them, and he had nothing to do with it. That was a fact, but an unfamiliar concern made him silent, unwilling to say more. However, so much unwillingness made him speak, “What if it’s me?” 
   
Luo Wanqing puzzledly turned her head. Cui Heng calmly looked at her, “If last night I was there, would you think I’m a bad person? Do you care?” 
   
“But, you take orders from Young Master ……” 
   
“What if I am Young Master?” Cui Heng interrupted her, and Luo Wanqing’s movements froze. 
 
She seemed to avoid: “But you are not.” 
 
Cui Heng’s questions instantly stopped. He saw Luo Wanqing in an uneasy posture and perceived that she did not want him to be Xie Heng. Cui Heng was baffled and smiled bitterly, “You seem very afraid of Young Master?” 

Luo Wanqing didn’t say anything. Unsure what she remembered, but her face was slightly pale. 

Cui Heng instantly remembered what Xie Heng had done:
The human skin he had peeled was still hanging in the torture room;
He let her change her face without knowing her identity and used her to exchange Bai Li;
He suspected that she was Zhang Jiuran, so he tortured her, frightened her, and humiliated her; 
He regarded her as a pawn, using her life to plan a game —
  
How could she ? not be afraid of such a person? Everyone in the world is fearful of him. How can he ask her not to? 
  
He would like to explain, but the words stopped at his lips. The ‘Great Laws’ scroll instantly appeared in his mind. What’s there to be explained and why?
  
If Luo Wanqing wants Cui Guanlan, he’ll become Cui Guanlan. Xie Heng’s road should only have him alone to walk, unrelated to others. 
 
Cui Heng lowered his head and laughed. Luo Wanqing turned her eyes to look at him and saw that the youth seemed to remember something funny; he said, “He is indeed an annoying one.” 
  
“No.” Luo Wanqing shook her head and raised her eyes to look at him seriously, “It’s just that you’re too good.” 
  
“I also feel that way. I’m more pleasing than him.” Cui Heng nodded his head, seemingly accepting Luo Wanqing’s praise. 
  
Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile, only thinking that he was Xie Heng’s relative who had grown up with him since childhood. 
  
Seeing Cui Heng laugh, she felt relaxed a lot. Remembering those complicated things last night, she asked: “How was the result last night? Did Li Guiyu get caught?” 
  
“No.” Cui Heng shook his head, and mockery darkened his eyes: “Last night, the Emperor ordered the Imperial Household to mobilize all the troops of Dongdu to search him all night. They finally found him in the Ministry of Criminal Affairs’s house. Zheng Pingsheng said that he and Li Guiyu played chess all night.” 

“Then ……” Luo Wanqing frowned, “this time, is he considered to have escaped?” 

“Probably.” Cui Heng’s tone was faint.  
  
Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but feel some regret, “It’s a pity.” 
  
“What’s there to be pity about?” Cui Heng laughed, “If you were to take revenge, isn’t it a pity to end him so hastily now?” 
 
Luo Wanqing froze. Cui Heng sat on the edge of the bed, leaning down close to her, examining her complexion, “Do you think that by letting him die, he will repent for what he did in the past ? , leaving this world in pain?” 
  
Luo Wanqing couldn’t say anything.

Cui Heng smiled. He gently said: “Xiniang, death is simple. There is no netherworld in this world. If he dies, then he dies. He didn’t even feel the pain, so how could it be worth the suffering of Luo Wanqing?” 
  
Luo Wanqing’s heart trembled. Cui Heng stared into her eyes and seriously said, “Remember, the best revenge is never a blood splash; that is so stupid. Preferably, you live well, and he went on the desperate road. Trade your life for him,” Cui Heng’s tone was slightly cold. “Is he worthy?”
  
Luo Wanqing didn’t say anything. She thought momentarily, skirted around the topic, raised her eyes, and said, “How does Young Master intend to do with me?” 

“Not doing anything.” Seeing that she wanted to understand, Cui Heng straightened up and told her truthfully, “Since you are not Zhang Jiuran, you only need to explain to Young Master why you have lied to him again and again, what your intentions are towards the Inspection Department, and if you speak properly in the palace today, you will continue to be Agent.” 
   
“What does Young Master want me to say?” When Luo Wanqing heard this, she understood that Xie Heng was giving her conditions, using today’s obedience in the palace in exchange for her future. 
   
“After today’s court meeting, His Majesty will summon Young Master to enter the palace. What exactly will be said, Young Master will tell you.” Cui Heng pondered and instructed, “You can refuse anything you don’t want to say. Just tell Young Master directly that you don’t want to say it. He won’t force it.” 
   
Luo Wanqing raised her eyes, and Cui Heng smiled, “He will find out for himself what he wants to know. There is no need for you to say. As long as you are harmless and useful to the Inspection Department, Young Master can tolerate it.” 
   
“I understand.” Luo Wanqing understood Cui Heng’s statement. 
   
To Xie Heng, her words were not a confession at all. Just like when Xie Heng was trying to get words out of Li Guiyu’s mouth, all he wanted was information, and he could discern the truth. So what she said, whether she said it or not, Xie Heng did not care. The focus was only on whether she had ill intentions toward the Inspection Department and whether she was useful. 
   
Seeing her heart at ease, Cui Heng was also relieved and nodded his head, “Rest well, if there is nothing else, I will leave.” 
   
“En.” Luo Wanqing answered.

Cui Heng saw that she had a heavy heart, so he raised his hand and knocked on the flute on his waist, “I also have a flute. If you need anything, you can call me. If I call you, you also must come.” 
   
“What about its tone……” 
   
“I’ll try it later, then you will know its tone.” Cui Heng stood and looked down at her, “I’m leaving?” 
   
“Okay.” Luo Wanqing nodded her head. Cui Heng didn’t linger, lifting his steps to leave. 
   
Luo Wanqing listened to the sound of his footsteps walking away. Finally having the time to remember the scene of last night’s confrontation with Li Guiyu, she raised her hand and looked at it in the air. 
   
Three arrows; the limit of how many of his arrows she could receive now. 
   
Five arrows; this was their gap. She couldn’t take them, but last night, he was close. Luo Wanqing remembered the flying arrows and suddenly realized he was still hesitant. Maybe it was because this face, or something else, had caused his arrows to deflect. But if he had been a little more firm, she might have gone to the underworld by now, and last night, he wouldn’t have been able to run out. This face of hers was pretty valuable. Unsure why, but noticing his hesitation, she actually felt funny. There was some affection, but not much. Otherwise, how can he reach today? 
   
Last night, the Feng Yu Pavilion was present, and the Crown Prince also brought experts, but Li Guiyu could restrain them. If not for the Inspection Department, perhaps the Crown Prince would die. He had just returned to Dongdu and had only climbed the Zheng Clan; how could he get so many subordinates? Did he indeed lose his memory during those five years in Jiangnan? Did he become a minor guard only to stay at her side? 
   
The result was obvious; he was lying to her from the beginning. 
 
Luo Wanqing felt a sourness in her heart, but she was used to it. She never expected too much from this person. Thinking back on those years together, remembering him handing out that grasshopper behind the bamboo screen, Luo Wanqing feels sad. 
   
He was once such a good person, ah —