Cang Lan Dao - Chapter 43.2

Chapter 43.2 
Young Master Can Use Me or Kill Me
 
Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, and it was at this moment a flute faintly sounded. Concentration was needed to hear this flute, and it was Cui Heng’s. She immediately got up, followed the flute’s sound to the backyard window, and opened the window instantly.

Under the rain of flowers, Luo Wanqing surprisedly looked up and saw a gentleman sitting on the roof, smiling and looking at her. Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the masked young man and a flute in the morning light. 
   
They looked at each other through the flying flowers. Cui Heng looked at the beautiful girl with a surprised look and knew she was happy. He smiled gently, and with a point of his foot, he played the flute and retreated. 
   
It was only then that Luo Wanqing realized that it was a light and gentle Jiangnan tune. She did not remember anything for a moment; the bloody memory suddenly became extraordinarily distant. That person quickly disappeared into the forest, and Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes and looked at the petals on the window bars. She took one and gently placed it in her mouth. The petal was sour, but it vaguely tasted a bit sweet for some reason. 
   
Xie Heng went down the mountain and then swept into the carriage at the entrance. Qing Ya and Xuan Shan were sitting in the carriage, ready to enter the palace. Seeing him come in, the two respectfully said, “Young Master.” 
   
Xie Heng nodded and quickly changed his clothes. 
   
Qing Ya smiled as he watched Xie Heng toss and turn and softly said, “Did Young Master make it clear to Luo’s daughter?” 
   
“She doesn’t want to recognize herself as Luo Wanqing and doesn’t want to recognize me as Xie Heng.” Xie Heng calmly said, “Let’s take it that way.” 
   
“Young Master is nice to her.” Qing Ya seemed to smile.

Xie Heng’s movements paused, and then he softly laughed. “Perhaps because I watch her journey, I feel something special about her. After all, I owe her.” 
   
“Young Master has done very well already.” Xuan Shan was at his side, calmly saying, “There are so many cases of injustice in the world. How can you take care of them all?” 
   
Xie Heng remembered the fiery eyes that rushed toward him that night. He shook his head thoughtfully. “It is I who have broken my promise.” 
   
Knowing his temperament, Qing Ya and Xuan Shan looked at each other and said no more. 
   
Luo Wanqing rested for half a day. At Weishi (*), Zhu Si came to the house to invite her. “Young Master is back. He invites you to go there.” 
T/N: 1-3 pm
     
 
Luo Wanqing was mentally prepared. With Zhu Si’s help, she got up, changed her clothes, and followed her to the courtyard, where Xie Heng handled matters. Inside, Xie Heng was sitting on the verandah with papers in front of him. He wore black clothes with wide sleeves and a gold crown tied up his hair. He lowered his eyes and looked at the documents on the table. 

In the spring of April, petals fell on his clothes. He sat upright, his nose straight, his expression indifferent, and his dark eyes as calm as the sea -—a bit of a weird fusion. On his left and right sides, four envoys, Qing Ya, Xuan Shan, Bai Li, and Zhu Que, were sitting, respectively. Everyone looked at her with solemn expressions and curiosity, which made Luo Wanqing tighten her heartstrings. 
  
Xie Heng spared her life, and she was safe for the time being, but whether she could survive and stay in the Inspection Department would depend on her performance today. She felt uneasy and knelt to salute: “Greetings to Young Master and Four Envoys.” 
  
“Is your injury better?” Xie Heng looked at the documents and asked questions from the seat.

Luo Wanqing said honestly: “It’s okay for now.” 

“You will follow me into the palace in the afternoon. His Majesty will ask you about what happened last night.” 
 
“Yes.” 

“Before that,” Xie Heng raised his eyes to look at her, “Can you explain it first?” 
  
Xie Heng closed the document and said calmly: “Who are you, and what are you doing in the Inspection Department?” 
  
“I…” Luo Wanqing heard this and gritted her teeth, saying, “I’m a sinner. I pretended to be Zhang Jiuran and entered the Inspection Department to seek justice.” 
 
“You……” 

“Since it’s about redressing grievances,” Xuan Shan glanced coldly at Zhu Que, who was about to speak. He interrupted him and asked, “Why did you come in contact with Feng Yu Pavilion?” 
  
“Because Feng Yu Pavilion has something that I want,” Luo Wanqing did not dare to lie and told the truth, “So, I reached an agreement with Feng Yu Pavilion to assassinate Young Master in exchange for what I wanted. But this is just a practical measure, and I have no intention of harming Young Master.” 
  
“You really want to assassinate Young Master?” Zhu Que opened his eyes wide.

Xie Heng twisted his hands and said, “Why did you go up the mountain privately?” 
  
“To eavesdrop on the conversation between Young Master and Li Guiyu,” Luo Wanqing replied calmly, “Feng Yu Pavilion informed me that Young Master has allied with Li Guiyu. If Young Master allies with Li Guiyu, he will be my enemy. They wanted to entice me, so they informed me, and I secretly went up the mountain. ” 

“Do you have a grudge against Li Guiyu?” 

“Death hatred.” 
  
Xie Heng nodded and asked, “What next?” 
  
“But Young Master refused to ally with Li Guiyu, so I gave up my murderous intention, got rid of the control of Feng Yu Pavilion, and began to deal with them. They wanted to prove their abilities, so they lured Young Master up the mountain. But I’m confident that they dare not take action rashly. If they did, I would die to protect Young Master.” 
  
After hearing this, Xie Heng glanced at Luo Wanqing and said, “Why did you distract Zhu Que last night?” 
  
“One person is powerless to fight against Feng Yu Pavilion, so last night, I covered up the Feng Xun Incense on your body and placed it where I wanted Zhu Que to go. After he helped clean the people from Feng Yu Pavilion, my people sent a signal to me. I achieved my purpose and let Zhu Que return to help immediately. ” 
  
“That way, he won’t have time to look for your important things, right?” 
Xie Heng revealed her plan with one word, and Luo Wanqing lowered her eyes: “Yes.” 
  
Xie Heng stared at her as if to identify the authenticity of her words. After a long time, he chuckled lightly and said, “Borrowing my person to do your thing. You are very smart.” 

Luo Wanqing knew she was wrong and said calmly: “Young Master can punish me.” 
 
“I won’t pursue the past matters.” Xie Heng raised his hand and waved. The four envoys got up and retreated. 

Only two people remained in the courtyard. Xie Heng glanced at her kneeling on the ground, raised his hand, and said, “Come up and grind the ink for me.” 
 
Luo Wanqing got up with deliberation and came to Xie Heng’s desk. 
 
Xie Heng placed the futon beside his desk, and Luo Wanqing, kneeling on the side, raised her for grinding ink. Her heart was apprehensive; she did not know what Xie Heng meant. 
 
However, Xie Heng did not have an expression, looking forward steadily as if he did not see this person. He raised his hand from the side to take the dossier and said lightly, “I said before, since you entered the Inspection Department, I’ll shelter you. No need to engage in these crooked ways by yourself.” 

“Yes ……” Luo Wanqing was embarrassed.

“Since you live, live well and help me do things.” 

Luo Wanqing immediately got solemn and respectfully said, “I will listen to Young Master’s command.” 
  
“Today, His Majesty wants to summon you to ask about last night. Listen well.” Xie Heng emphasized.

Luo Wanqing immediately stared. Xie Heng lowered his head and approved the dossier, writing on one side, “Last night, I met with a mysterious person at Fang Fei Pavilion to exchange you for Bai Li, and during the process, your veil fell off, and the Crown Prince saw you. So the Crown Prince approached the other party to ask for you, and the two clashed.” 

“But,” Xie Heng raised his eyes, staring at her intently, “You did not know that this was the Crown Prince.” 
  
When Luo Wanqing heard this, she understood that Xie Heng was explaining why she took the Crown Prince as a hostage. One who didn’t know was innocent; it was much better than if she knew he was the Crown Prince.
 
Seeing her understand, Xie Heng retracted his gaze and continued, “Many killers suddenly appeared to kill him, and out of benevolence and justice, you saved his life. It just so happened you heard that I was attacked. You broke the window with the Crown Prince and entered to save me. You find that these killers are extremely nervous about the Crown Prince, and you intend to try their attitude; that is why you put the knife on the Crown Prince’s neck. Later, I told you that he’s the Crown Prince, and you realize that you have made a big mistake. I asked you to protect him with your life while I was injured and looked for reinforcements, and you complied with my meaning and protected the Crown Prince until the last moment. Do you understand?” 
  
Xie Heng’s speech speed was not urgent or slow. Luo Wanqing followed his every word, and soon after digesting it, she did not understand it and could not help but frown. 

Xie Heng glanced at her ink-grinding hand and asked directly, “What do you want to ask?”