Coroner's Diary

Qin Li's eyes flickered as he turned his gaze aside. "What I know, you also know. It's just that Ninth Sister refuses to believe it."

Qin Guan frowned. "Second Brother is referring to the rumors about the cursed well? You believe in such talk?"

Qin Li turned to look at Qin Guan. "Since Ninth Sister already knows—when Second Concubine drowned herself in that well years ago, the Qin Manor remained peaceful all these years only because the Demon-suppressing Stone sealed its mouth. Now that the stone has been removed and Manager Liu also died in that well, isn't this proof enough? Ninth Sister, take my advice—don't go to the Purple Bamboo Forest anymore."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes slightly. "To be frank, Second Brother, I don't believe in ghosts and deities. The real ghosts hide in people's hearts. If you believe in such supernatural tales, does that mean you have ghosts in your heart?"

Qin Li seemed about to say something but ultimately lowered his gaze. "If Ninth Sister doesn't believe it, so be it." After a slight pause, he added, "When Liu Shi was killed and that illness was discovered, it was thanks to you covering for me. And my condition depends entirely on your treatment. I just don't want anything to happen to you."

Listening to this, Qin Guan suddenly asked, "Second Brother, do you know why Second Concubine threw herself into the well back then?"

Qin Li's already tightly knit brows furrowed deeper as he shook his head. "Eight years ago, I was just a child. Naturally, I wouldn't know such things."

Qin Guan found this hard to believe, but seeing Qin Li's grave expression and his refusal to say more, she realized she wouldn't get any answers from him. This thought made her expression grow even darker.

"Never mind. If Second Brother doesn't know, then forget it."

With that, Qin Guan rolled up her sleeves. "Second Brother, extend your arm."

Qin Li offered his wrist, and Qin Guan placed her fingers on his pulse. After a moment, her brows knitted together.

Noticing her change in expression, Qin Li immediately grew nervous. "Ninth Sister, what is it?"

Qin Guan studied his face—the purplish-red chancres on his skin had begun to fade and heal. Then her gaze shifted to his neck. Qin Li quickly explained, "After using your medicine, the chancres have started healing..."

His tone carried a note of relief, as if praising the efficacy of Qin Guan's prescription. Yet her expression only grew more solemn. "Second Brother, you may not know this, but the initial chancres of venereal disease can sometimes heal on their own without treatment. However, this isn't a sign of recovery—because once the chancres begin to heal, plum pox sores will start appearing on the body."

Qin Li's eyebrows twitched. "Ninth Sister, you mean..."

Qin Guan pressed her lips together. "Second Brother, your body suffers from excessive damp-heat. The previous days of medication showed results, but today's pulse reading indicates the damp-heat and pathogenic fire are flaring up again. When damp-heat and pathogenic fire transform into toxins, these toxins emerge from within, manifesting as plum pox sores."

A flicker of panic flashed in Qin Li's eyes. "Then... what should be done? These past few days, I've strictly followed your prescription, taking the medicine and applying the ointment without fail. Ninth Sister..."

He looked at Qin Guan with earnest hope. She withdrew her hand, her expression grave. "This illness is truly vicious. It seems the prescription was too mild. For now, Second Brother should return home. Continue with the current treatment tomorrow without slacking. Come back tomorrow evening, and I'll prepare a new prescription for you."

Qin Li's eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Ninth Sister."

Qin Guan turned away. "No need for thanks, Second Brother. Even if a stranger came seeking treatment, I would help them."Qin Li watched Qin Guan's retreating figure, hesitating as if wanting to speak, but in the end, he merely cupped his hands in salute before turning to leave.

As the sound of footsteps faded away, Qin Guan turned and sighed while gazing at the vast night outside the window.

Qin Li's illness was indeed challenging, but not entirely hopeless. However, the more peculiar his attitude toward the Purple Bamboo Forest became, the more suspicious it seemed. How exactly had the Second Concubine died? What secrets did that well hold?

After a night of light sleep, Qin Guan rose early the next morning. After breakfast, she headed to the small study.

Several thick medical books lay on the desk in the study. Qin Guan instructed Fuling to grind the ink and began writing a new prescription. "Gentian root, raw rehmannia, angelica, plantago seeds, akebia... perhaps add scutellaria and licorice as well..."

She murmured the ingredients as she wrote. Fuling, watching from the side, remarked, "Miss, this prescription is quite different from the ones you wrote a few days ago."

Qin Guan replied, "The previous prescriptions were too mild. They worked for a few days but then lost their effect."

As she spoke, she added a few more herbs to the prescription before setting down the brush and carefully reviewing it. After a moment, she nodded. "This should do it. Later, you can go to the medicine storage."

But then she hesitated and stood up. "Never mind, I'll go myself. We can stop by to see Aunt Liu in the kitchen on the way."

Fuling blinked, immediately understanding Qin Guan's true intention—visiting Aunt Liu was just a pretext to inquire about the Second Concubine.

"Understood, Miss. Should we bring Wan Xing along?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "No need."

"Very well. I'll fetch your cape."

Qin Guan nodded and folded the prescription, tucking it into her sleeve.

......

Though it was only early September, the southern regions had grown unusually cold this year. Qin Guan tightened her cape and followed the small path westward through the estate, soon arriving at the servants' quarters.

Fuling pointed to a row of main rooms ahead. "Aunt Liu lives in the one at the far end."

Qin Guan nodded and walked over. Before she could reach the door, the curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged servant woman in a blue robe, slightly plump, stepped out. Spotting Qin Guan and Fuling, she paused in surprise before hurrying over.

"Greetings, Ninth Miss. What brings you here?"

Fuling stepped forward and handed two packages of pastries to Aunt Liu, smiling. "The Ninth Miss mentioned how delicious the ginseng soup has been lately and wanted to thank you for your efforts, so she came to see you."

Liu Shi was taken aback. Seeing the generous portions of pastries, she smiled faintly. "Oh, this... this is too kind..."

Fuling shook her head. "Not at all. The Miss has been weak lately and will rely on you to help restore her health."

Qin Guan added gently, "Please accept them, Auntie."

Liu Shi hesitated for a moment, then, seeing Qin Guan's gentle and harmless demeanor, clapped her hands. "Well then, I’ll gratefully accept. Thank you, Ninth Miss! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your health improves in no time!"

Fuling smiled warmly. Liu Shi glanced at the master and servant again and, noticing Qin Guan showed no intention of leaving, quickly gestured inside. "If the Ninth Miss doesn’t mind the humble quarters, please come in and rest. I’ve just made some osmanthus cakes—the freshest blooms of the season—would you like to try some?"In the autumn month of September, when the osmanthus bloomed, Qin Manor also had its share of osmanthus trees, though they were planted in somewhat secluded spots. Kitchen matrons like Aunt Liu naturally prepared seasonal delicacies for their masters during such times. Pleased masters meant rewards far surpassing what could be earned elsewhere in the manor.

Qin Guan smiled slightly. "Then we must certainly have a taste."

Following Liu Shi, Qin Guan and her maid lifted the curtain and entered the room. At a glance, the interior was indeed simple. This row of houses was reserved for the inner courtyard’s stewards. As Liu Shi held considerable standing in the kitchen, she had been allotted a room of her own. Qin Guan’s eyes swept across the space—though the furnishings were sparse, everything was neatly arranged and spotlessly clean, further improving her impression of Aunt Liu.

"Ninth Miss, please sit. I have no fine tea to offer, so I hope you won’t mind."

As she spoke, Liu Shi poured hot tea and then disappeared into the inner room for a moment. Soon, she returned with a plate of osmanthus cakes on a pristine white porcelain dish. The flawless white porcelain contrasted beautifully with the golden, soft cakes, creating a particularly pleasing sight.

"Ninth Miss, please try them. I didn’t want to harm the later blooms, so I only picked a small amount from the first flowering. I experimented twice—this is from the second batch. It finally matches the skill of previous years. Please have a taste."

Aunt Liu held out the plate to Qin Guan, who took a piece with a smile. The cake melted in her mouth, filling it with sweetness. "Truly worthy of your craftsmanship, Aunt Liu. It’s wonderfully fragrant and soft."

Aunt Liu smiled warmly in return and handed two pieces to Fuling. After glancing at Qin Guan, Fuling gestured to Aunt Liu. "Auntie, please sit as well. Actually, we came today to ask you about something."

What Qin Guan wanted to inquire about was no trivial matter. Liu Shi, realizing the true purpose of the visit, thought it better to address it directly. Showing no surprise, Liu Shi sat down on a small stool nearby.

Qin Guan smiled gently. "How many years have you been in Qin Manor, Auntie?"

Liu Shi straightened nervously. "Over ten years—fourteen or fifteen, if I count correctly."

Qin Guan’s gaze was tender, her tone considerate. "Auntie, do you know what happened last night in the Purple Bamboo Forest?"

At this question, Liu Shi grew even more tense, clasping her hands together uneasily. Still, she nodded. "Of course. The commotion last night was quite loud. By now, the whole manor must know."

Qin Guan sighed. "This incident has unsettled the manor greatly. Last night, Old Madam brought up the past about Second Concubine again. The Crown Prince and the Prefect were both present and couldn’t help but grow suspicious about Second Concubine’s history after hearing Old Madam’s words. Yet, they couldn’t very well question Old Madam directly, so the matter fell to me."

Her tone turned rueful. "Auntie, you know my position. I can’t very well question Old Madam or Third Uncle’s wife either. So I thought, since you’ve been in the manor for so long, you might know something about it."

Liu Shi’s expression shifted several times. "This matter..."

Seeing her hesitation, Qin Guan smiled reassuringly. "Auntie, there’s no need to be nervous. I don’t expect you to know the details—just share what others in the manor might have known at the time."When Qin Guan said this, Liu Shi felt a weight lift from her heart. Seeing Qin Guan's clear and bright gaze, devoid of any hint of pressure, Liu Shi actually felt more at ease. After a moment's thought, she said, "Back then, the Second Concubine was extremely favored and very beautiful. She had only been in the manor for a little over two years when she died. No one knew why she drowned herself in the well, and no one saw it happen. But later, we heard it might have had something to do with her child. Though now that I think about it, I don’t recall the Second Concubine ever being pregnant. Or perhaps she had a miscarriage—maybe she lost the child early in the pregnancy and couldn’t bear the grief, so she threw herself into the well."

Qin Guan frowned. "Aunt Liu, since you didn’t see her drown herself, who was it that later mentioned the child?"

"It was... I think it was one of the Second Concubine’s maidservants. That maid attended to her day and night and would have known best why the Second Concubine lost the will to live. After the Second Concubine’s death, the Old Madam invited a monk to perform rites, and then the well was sealed. Not long after, the maidservant fell gravely ill and soon passed away." Liu Shi sighed. "Come to think of it, the Ninth Miss in our manor probably knows about this. The master’s moods changed quickly—after that maid died, no one spoke of the Second Concubine again. Over the years, many newcomers to the manor didn’t even know about her death."

Liu Shi was no longer young, and her tone carried a hint of melancholy as she spoke.

Qin Guan pondered for a moment. "So, the Second Concubine must have been pregnant at the time?"

Liu Shi narrowed her eyes in thought, then nodded firmly. "Yes, I remember clearly. It was that maid who once said in front of everyone that the Second Concubine had taken her own life out of grief for her child. Those words seemed to upset the Old Madam, who punished the maid for it. The Qin Manor is a prominent household—us servants didn’t dare gossip or pry too much about such matters, but we weren’t surprised either. Most likely, the Second Concubine’s child had died young."

Qin Guan nodded in understanding, and Liu Shi apologized, "It’s been eight years now, and my memory isn’t what it used to be. This is all I can recall clearly. Please don’t blame me, Ninth Miss."

Knowing Liu Shi wouldn’t say more, Qin Guan stood up. "How could I blame you? You’ve already helped me understand. I should be thanking you." With that, she glanced at Fuling, who immediately took out a small sachet from her sleeve.

Fuling smiled as she pressed it into Liu Shi’s hands. "The young lady’s health depends on your care, Aunt Liu."

Liu Shi hesitated, but Fuling insisted, placing it firmly in her palm.

Seeing this, Qin Guan turned and left the room, with Fuling following close behind. The two headed straight for the southeast.

Only after leaving the servants’ quarters did Fuling speak up. "Young lady, it seems the Second Concubine was likely pregnant back then but miscarried soon after. Unable to bear the grief, she drowned herself."

Qin Guan nodded, having reached the same conclusion. A miscarriage was no small matter—it wounded both body and soul. If, on top of that, the Second Concubine’s child had been lost not naturally but due to foul play, her resentment would have been even greater. And if Qin An couldn’t stand up for her at the time, it was no surprise she might have despaired and chosen death.

Qin Guan sighed. As Aunt Liu had said, such tragedies were all too common in noble households.

"Young lady, shall we go to the medicine storage now?"Qin Guan nodded and glanced toward the manor gates. "At this hour, the Crown Prince and the Prefect will likely arrive soon. We must hurry."

With that, she quickened her pace. Fuling followed closely as they took a shortcut to the medicine storage. After retrieving the herbs, they hurried back to Orchid Isle Courtyard. Before they reached it, Fuling gasped softly, "Miss..."

Qin Guan looked up to see Bai Feng standing at the courtyard entrance—Yan Chi had arrived!

She hastened her steps. Bai Feng bowed upon seeing her. "Greetings, Ninth Miss."

Qin Guan glanced around. "Has the Crown Prince arrived?"

Bai Feng nodded. "Yes. His Highness and the Prefect have gone to the Purple Bamboo Forest. Today, they plan to excavate the remains buried in the well. His Highness came by earlier, but when the servants said you weren't here, he ordered me to wait while he went ahead to the forest."

Qin Guan acknowledged this. "Wait a moment. I'll be right out."

She hurried into the courtyard, set down the herbs, and emerged again with Fuling. The three of them headed straight for the Purple Bamboo Forest. Once a forbidden area of Qin Manor, the forest now buzzed with activity. Even from outside, Qin Guan could see figures moving among the bamboo, their vitality diluting the forest's usual eerie atmosphere. She strode in briskly.

"Your Highness, Prefect..."

Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin, who had been examining the well, turned at her voice.

Before them, Qin Guan curtsied gracefully. Sunlight filtering through the bamboo cast dappled patterns on her shoulders, brightening Yan Chi's eyes. "Rise. Come take a look..."

Qin Guan stood and stepped forward, immediately spotting a light gray human bone laid out on a cloth by the well. Yan Chi explained, "We unearthed this moments ago. The Old Madam spoke true—the remains weren't buried deep. Likely, after the Second Concubine drowned herself, they sealed the well directly with the Demon-suppressing Stone."

Qin Guan nodded. "This is a woman's tibia."

A glimmer of admiration flashed in Yan Chi's expression. Qin Guan then quietly recounted her visit to Aunt Liu. Both Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin frowned. Huo Huaixin asked, "So she drowned herself after losing the child?"

Qin Guan nodded. "That's highly possible..."

Huo Huaixin's lips twitched. "Then... this complicates matters. After eight years, even if it was a miscarriage, we can't determine the cause. Ninth Miss, can you discern anything from the bones?"

Qin Guan's gaze darkened as she shook her head. "No. After eight years, we can only analyze the bone structure. If the pregnancy was brief, it wouldn't have altered the skeletal shape."

Huo Huaixin sighed. "In that case, we may have to proceed with burial."

Qin Guan and Yan Chi exchanged a glance. After a moment's thought, Yan Chi said, "That's acceptable. Without evidence, our priority is finding Liu Shi and Liu Chun's killer. The culprit remains hidden in the manor—perhaps hoping we'll focus on the Second Concubine's case. Or... there might be some connection between these crimes."

"Everything will become clear once the killer is caught," Qin Guan added solemnly, her eyes fixed on the well's dark mouth.

"Alright! Haul it up—"A muffled shout came from the well, and the constable standing by immediately began pulling up the rope. As more and more rope was drawn, a bamboo basket emerged. The constable hauled up the hat, revealing grayish-white bone joints stained with mud. As she looked at them, Qin Guan's mind conjured up the scene of the Second Concubine throwing herself into the well eight years ago.

"What are you suspecting?"

Lost in thought, Qin Guan suddenly found Yan Chi standing beside her.

She glanced at him briefly. "I was thinking about the Second Concubine's suicide in the well, and whether the killer behind Liu Shi and Manager Liu's cases might have some connection to it."

"You suspect someone is seeking revenge for the Second Concubine?"

Yan Chi immediately considered this possibility, but Qin Guan shook her head. "Not exactly. Liu Shi entered the manor four years ago, long after the Second Concubine's death. If it were revenge, Manager Liu might have been involved back then..."

"Yet the first to die was Liu Shi," Yan Chi remarked grimly. Before he could finish, several figures appeared outside the Purple Bamboo Forest. Yan Chi turned his gaze outward, and Qin Guan followed suit. Her brows lifted slightly—it was Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang, with Yao Xinlan standing between them.

"Crown Prince, I should go see what's happening."

While Yan Chi didn't recognize the Qin Manor women, Qin Guan couldn't pretend not to see them. Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang were one thing, but Yao Xinlan—whom she had worked hard to heal—had no reason to be here!

Stepping out of the forest, Qin Guan was met with a cold snort from Qin Shuang. Qin Xiang swept an indifferent glance over her, expressionless. Only Yao Xinlan approached, reaching out to take Qin Guan's hand. "I heard the Crown Prince and the Prefect had Ninth Sister assisting them. So it's true! No wonder you haven't visited me these past two days."

Qin Guan scrutinized Yao Xinlan, relieved to see her complexion was still healthy. "Eldest Brother's Wife, why are you here? This is an official investigation, and if Old Madam finds out—"

Yao Xinlan, carrying the Qin family's firstborn grandson, was dearly cherished by Jiang Shi. The Purple Bamboo Forest, now the site of two deaths, was considered highly inauspicious in Jiang Shi's eyes. If she learned Yao Xinlan had come here, she would be displeased.

Yao Xinlan shook her head, glancing back at Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang. "With such events in the manor, Shuang'er, Xiang'er, and I have been confined these past days—told not to look or ask. But forbidding something only makes one more curious. Seeing the fine weather today, I decided to stroll outside. The three of us meant to visit the chrysanthemum garden, but somehow ended up here. Since this place isn't forbidden anymore, we thought we'd just look from the outside. It shouldn't matter."

With Yao Xinlan's explanation, Qin Guan could hardly object. Meanwhile, Qin Shuang stepped forward. "If you can come, why can't we?" She peered into the forest, barely making out silhouettes in the dim light. "Is that Prince Rui's heir over there?"

Yan Chi stood deep within the bamboo grove, where the shadows were much darker. While Qin Guan could see outside clearly, the reverse was impossible—Qin Shuang could hardly discern anything. Which figure was she even referring to?Qin Guan didn't respond, only saying to Yao Xinlan, "Eldest Brother's Wife, you should head back after walking a while. This place isn't really suitable after all."

Yao Xinlan patted Qin Guan's hand. "I know, you don't need to worry. And don't think of me as some timid, delicate thing. If I weren't pregnant, I'd actually like to go take a look in the woods."

Qin Guan felt somewhat helpless, but Yao Xinlan lowered her voice and asked, "Did Liu Chun really die in the well? How deep was it? I had no idea there was a well in this forest..."

"She did die in the well. I don't know how deep it was—probably the usual depth for a well. I didn't know about it either before this incident happened." Yao Xinlan spoke softly, so Qin Guan also replied in a hushed tone.

Qin Shuang frowned. "What are Eldest Brother's Wife and her whispering about?"

Qin Shuang's earlier tantrum had indeed forced Lin Shi to lift her house arrest once she recovered. However, it seemed the harrowing experience of falling into the well hadn't tempered her temperament much.

Yao Xinlan straightened up. "I was asking Ninth Sister how deep the well in the forest is."

At this, Qin Shuang's expression shifted slightly. She turned and instinctively glanced toward the flower shed not far away. Although the well had been filled in, the terror of falling into it hadn't completely faded. Moreover, she knew that on the very night she was rescued from the well, someone had died beneath that flower shed—none other than Eighth Concubine, whom she despised the most.

A chill ran down Qin Shuang's spine. "How deep...? Naturally, it was as deep as any other well... Falling in wouldn't kill you."

Then, suddenly, her face paled. "Wait—back then, I said I touched human bones at the bottom of the well, and I saw Mother's expression change several times. Thinking about it now, it must have been because Mother remembered the well in the Purple Bamboo Forest. Didn't one of the concubines jump into that well?"

Qin Shuang's face was full of fright, but Qin Xiang frowned. "Don't talk nonsense, Sixth Sister. Mother was worried about you back then. She had no idea about any human bones."

Qin Xiang's tone was cold and carried a condescending air, which only angered Qin Shuang. That day, she had been cornered—otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen in. Despite her desperate cries for help, no one came to her aid, and this Fifth Sister, who usually treated her so kindly in front of others, had remained silent. Of course, she was protecting her mother—but it was her mother who had confined Qin Shuang in the first place. From this, it was clear that the concern of this mother-daughter pair wasn't genuine!

Qin Shuang snorted. "How could Mother not know? Even Grandmother knew! When that concubine entered the household, Fifth Sister and I were just children. But now that I think about it, Mother didn't like that concubine very much back then..."

Qin Xiang shot a glance at Qin Guan, her expression growing even more furious.

"Qin Shuang! How dare you spout such nonsense! You're slandering Mother!"

Qin Shuang's eyes widened, her already chubby cheeks puffing out further. "Slandering?! I only said Mother didn't like that concubine! What's wrong with that?! Father doted on her so much back then—it's only natural Mother wouldn't like her. I never said Mother harmed her, so why are you so nervous? Where exactly am I slandering Mother?!"

Qin Xiang grew frantic, glaring at Qin Shuang's moving lips as if she wanted to tear them apart. "Qin Shuang! Shut your mouth! How dare you! And you still claim you're not slandering Mother?!"

"I'm not! I absolutely am not! You're the one with a guilty conscience!"Qin Shuang stood with her hands on her hips, no longer trailing behind Qin Xiang as she used to. Moreover, when she argued with Qin Xiang, her voice grew louder and fiercer. Qin Xiang, who had always maintained the graceful demeanor of a noble lady, found herself momentarily at a loss against her!

Qin Guan supported Yao Xinlan as they took a few steps back. Yao Xinlan sighed and said, "Alright, alright... Fifth Sister, Sixth Sister, stop quarreling. There are servants around, and officers in the woods. It’s too improper to make such a scene."

Qin Shuang’s chest heaved with anger, still fuming. At these words, Qin Xiang’s eyes reddened, and she stamped her foot. "Eldest Brother's Wife, you should scold Qin Shuang! With so many people here, the things she said—what would others think? They’d assume Mother actually did something wrong!"

Yao Xinlan sighed and was about to speak when Qin Shuang puffed out her chest again. "What did I say? I clearly said nothing of the sort, yet you accuse me of slandering Mother! How dare I slander Mother? It’s you who misunderstood my words!"

Qin Xiang had always thought Qin Shuang was hot-tempered, explosive, and rather foolish—easy to manipulate. That’s why she had repeatedly egged her on, making her a pawn in her schemes. But she never imagined that one day, Qin Shuang would shout at her like this. What was even more infuriating was that Qin Shuang didn’t seem the least bit foolish now. On the contrary, she reacted swiftly, turning every word back on Qin Xiang, leaving her without a leg to stand on.

A stifled rage burned in Qin Xiang’s chest—she couldn’t shout back, nor could she hit anyone. Seeing Yao Xinlan holding her waist, utterly helpless, she stamped her foot furiously and turned to leave. "I’m going to tell Mother! Just you wait!"

"Fifth Sister..." Yao Xinlan called out, but Qin Xiang only ran faster, clearly ignoring her.

Yao Xinlan shook her head helplessly. With Qin Xiang gone, Qin Shuang grew a little fearful and grabbed Yao Xinlan’s sleeve. "Eldest Brother's Wife, save me! Will Mother lock me up again...?"

Yao Xinlan rubbed her temples. "Now you’re scared? After all that shouting earlier?"

Qin Shuang snorted softly, muttering under her breath, "I’ve been holding a grudge for a long time, but Fifth Sister slapped me with the label of slandering Mother. I never did such a thing... She’s just guilty and defensive!"

"My dear sister, please, say no more." Yao Xinlan forced a pained smile. "You mustn’t speak like that again. As a junior, such words are deeply disrespectful. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have brought you both here. Xiang'er will surely report this to Mother. Come back with me first. Later, I’ll try to smooth things over for you, but you must also apologize to Xiang'er."

"I won’t... Why should I apologize...?" Qin Shuang’s eyes flashed with defiance, her reluctance plain.

"Because what you said was indeed disrespectful. Or would you rather be confined again?"

Yao Xinlan’s tone remained patient and gentle. At the mention of "confinement," Qin Shuang pressed her lips tightly together. Yao Xinlan tugged her along. "Alright, if you want to get through this, do as I say. No disobedience."

She then turned to Qin Guan. "Ninth Sister, this has turned into quite the mess. I must return now."

Qin Guan nodded. "Take care of yourself, Eldest Brother's Wife."

Yao Xinlan hummed in acknowledgment and led Qin Shuang away. As they walked, Qin Shuang muttered under her breath, "I used to obey her in everything, but now that I don’t, she’s found a new trick—running to Mother to tattle..."Qin Guan stood in place as Qin Shuang's complaints gradually faded. Beside them, Yao Xinlan continued speaking to her in a soft voice. Watching Yao Xinlan's retreating figure, Qin Guan thought to herself how well her eldest brother's wife fulfilled her role, and that she would undoubtedly make a good mother in the future.

Qin Guan remained standing for a while longer, waiting until Yao Xinlan and Qin Shuang had walked further away before turning around. As she did, she saw Yan Chi approaching the entrance of the bamboo grove, his gaze fixed on her. Qin Guan quickly walked over and said with a wry smile, "I apologize for the unseemly display, Crown Prince."

Yan Chi didn't respond, merely glancing in the direction where Yao Xinlan and the others had departed. "They say Qin Manor upholds strict family discipline, but it seems the reputation doesn't quite match reality."

Qin Guan's bitter smile deepened. "After all, they're just younger members of the family..."

Yan Chi showed no agreement with Qin Guan's explanation. Instead, he turned and gestured toward the depths of the forest with his chin.

Understanding his meaning, Qin Guan stepped forward, and the two of them walked deeper into the Purple Bamboo Forest together. "If the younger generation is like this, the elders might not be much better. What that Sixth Miss said earlier aligns with our deductions."

"We're only making inferences based on common circumstances, but in reality, nothing is certain." Qin Guan's tone was detached. While societal norms could serve as reference, many cases defied logic. The truth would depend on the evidence.

"Naturally." Yan Chi nodded, then suddenly asked, "Where did you live before?"

Qin Guan paused mid-step at this unexpected shift in topic. "I lived in the western rear courtyard, not far from Liu Shi and Manager Liu's quarters. Why do you ask, Crown Prince?"

Yan Chi couldn't very well say he already knew she had lived in the western rear courtyard, but only after seeing the desolate state of that area yesterday had he felt even more unsettled. "Why were you made to live there?"

Qin Guan lowered her gaze, her faint smile devoid of bitterness, her tone indifferent. "Alone and of no use to anyone, having even a single roof over my head to shelter from the wind and rain was already a blessing."

"Then why did you fall into Crescent Lake?"

Qin Guan looked up at Yan Chi. Given his temperament, he wouldn't normally take interest in others' past experiences. Had he noticed something? "It was raining that night, and I slipped and fell into the lake." Her gaze was steady, her voice calm—utterly convincing.

Yan Chi, however, pressed further. "Was someone trying to push you in?"

Qin Guan felt as if a needle had pricked her heart. After all this time, Yan Chi was the first to suspect her fall might have been an attempted murder. The former Ninth Miss had been utterly alone, and later, Qin Guan herself had been equally helpless. Whether it was the Ninth Miss or her, life or death had mattered little to anyone. She hadn't expected Yan Chi to consider this possibility.

Shaking her head, Qin Guan maintained a composed expression. "No, Your Highness is overthinking it."

With that, she looked toward the depths of the bamboo forest. "They should be nearly done digging. Let's go take a look."

Having said this, Qin Guan strode purposefully toward the well. Yan Chi watched her for a moment before following.

"Nothing left? Look again. Since we're bringing them out, we can't miss anything." Huo Huaixin peered into the dark well opening, instructing the constables below to check once more. A muffled voice from the well responded—the constable answering from below.

Straightening up, Huo Huaixin turned and saw Yan Chi walking behind Qin Guan as they approached. His eyes darkened immediately."Your Highness the Crown Prince, Ninth Miss, the men below say they've dug almost everything up. There's nothing more to be found further down. I told them to check once more to confirm before coming up."

At Huo Huaixin's feet, a large pile of mud-covered bones lay stacked on a felt cloth. Qin Guan glanced over them, stepped forward, and crouched down. "Let me see if anything's missing. I'll know at a glance."

The white bones had been buried in the well for eight years, most still coated with thick, foul-smelling sludge. Even Huo Huaixin said, "Ninth Miss, there's no need to trouble yourself. Let them take a closer look."

Qin Guan shook her head and began rolling up her sleeves. "It's no trouble. I might as well check for anything unusual."

Huo Huaixin glanced at Yan Chi, who was silently watching Qin Guan without objection, so he didn't press further. "Very well, Ninth Miss. If you find any broken bones or signs of injury, this case won't be as simple as it seems."

This was precisely Qin Guan's thought. Although Second Concubine's remains were found in the well, it didn't necessarily mean she had drowned herself. The servant who witnessed the event had died, so they couldn't rely solely on Jiang Shi's testimony.

With this in mind, Qin Guan set to work. She first roughly cleaned the sludge off the bones, identified their positions, and began arranging them into a human shape on the ground—skull, thoracic vertebrae, leg bones...

Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi had seen Qin Guan reconstruct a human skull before, so they weren't surprised when she assembled the skeleton. Qin Guan remained utterly focused. This gentle, beautiful young woman handled the bones—terrifying to most men—with such ease that the nearby constables were half-scared to death.

Huo Huaixin chuckled and said, "Ninth Miss truly lives up to her title as the Little Medicine Immortal. Your knowledge of human bones is remarkable."

His words were meant to reassure the constables. Qin Guan, undisturbed, quickly laid out the skull, upper body, lower body, and hands. Soon, she picked up the pelvic bone and connected the upper and lower halves. As she filled in the remaining bones, she remarked, "No injuries. The bones are intact."

Huo Huaixin exhaled in relief. If the concubine had also met a violent end, they'd have an eight-year-old murder case to solve. Just the thought gave him a headache.

As she spoke, Qin Guan picked up two ribs to fit into place. Her hand accidentally nudged the pelvic bone out of position. She quickly set the ribs aside to readjust it. Then, her brow suddenly furrowed.

An adult woman's pelvis is broad and shallow, with lighter bone density. The sludge had obscured the pubic bone's features earlier, but now, her accidental touch had dislodged the mud, revealing it clearly. Qin Guan's pupils contracted sharply.

"We were wrong," she said abruptly.

Yan Chi, who had been watching her, immediately stepped forward. "What's wrong?"

Qin Guan stared fixedly at the marks on the pubic bone. "Not only was Second Concubine pregnant... she also gave birth."