Coroner's Diary

"Had given birth?!"

Huo Huaixin stared in astonishment at the human-shaped skeleton laid out on the ground by Qin Guan. He had no medical knowledge, nor any expertise in corpse examination, and certainly no idea how to determine from bone markings whether someone had borne children. Yet he deeply trusted Qin Guan's words—though he found it utterly unbelievable that the Second Concubine had ever given birth.

Qin Guan’s brows were tightly knit as well. "When a woman is pregnant, by the eighth or ninth month, her pubic bones begin to separate. By the time she gives birth, the connecting ligaments between the pubic bones stretch completely open. The original ligaments are either strained or embedded into the bone. After childbirth, these ligaments disappear, leaving behind irreversible indentations on the dorsal side of the pubic bones. These indentations serve as proof of whether a woman has borne children."

As she spoke, Qin Guan picked up the pelvic bone. She carefully wiped away the mud, examining it more closely. After a moment, her frown deepened. "Perhaps... she didn’t just have one child."

Huo Huaixin’s eyes widened further. "More than one child?!"

Qin Guan shook her head. "I can’t be certain. It’s just that the scarring on her pubic bones is slightly more pronounced than usual. It could also be due to an unusual physical constitution."

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "But you just said that no one in Qin Manor even knew she was pregnant. How could she have given birth?"

Qin Guan set the pelvic bone down. "It seems her burial will have to wait." She turned to Huo Huaixin. "Prefect, have someone clean these bones thoroughly. I need to examine them further—there may be other clues."

After a pause, she added, "The bones are mostly complete. Have the men below come up now."

Qin Guan had already pieced together most of the skeleton. Since the Second Concubine had drowned in the well, her bones were intact, without fractures. Only a small pile of fragmented bones remained unassembled on the felt mat, but they were nearly complete.

Huo Huaixin nodded hastily. "Understood. I’ll have them cleaned immediately." He then walked to the edge of the well and called down, "Come up! We’ve got everything!"

Muffled replies echoed from below, and soon the constables were hauled up.

Huo Huaixin directed a few men, "Move these bones to that courtyard over there. Wash them carefully and find a clean place to store them. And be careful—don’t damage anything!"

Even for seasoned constables, handling human bones wasn’t an everyday occurrence. Swallowing their unease, the men wrapped the bones in the felt mat, ensuring not a single piece was lost, and carried them away.

Qin Guan stood, her hands covered in mud. Fuling hurried forward to wipe them clean.

Yan Chi’s gaze darkened slightly as he watched, then turned to survey the Purple Bamboo Forest. "Now that the remains have been excavated, let’s search the woods for any other clues."

Huo Huaixin acknowledged the order and personally led a team to scour the area.

Daylight made the task far easier than at night, and soon the entire forest had been thoroughly searched.

"Your Highness, nothing obvious stands out. This place is littered with dead leaves and branches—any traces would have been obscured by the wind long ago," Huo Huaixin reported, wiping a thin sheen of sweat from his brow, his tone somewhat dejected.

Yan Chi shook his head. "No matter. Let’s go take a look first."At these words, the group headed toward the western courtyard. Yan Chi added, "Since the Second Concubine didn’t give birth in Qin Manor, it’s possible she had a child elsewhere before entering the household. We’ll need to thoroughly investigate her background."

Huo Huaixin asked, "Who should we question? The Old Madam?"

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "Question Madam Lin. Have her brought here."

Qin Guan, walking behind them, glanced at Yan Chi. Compared to the shrewd and inscrutable Jiang Shi, Lin Shi was indeed more likely to talk. As she thought this, Qin Guan couldn’t help but reflect that although Yan Chi was a seasoned warrior unfamiliar with legal procedures, he possessed keenly perceptive eyes—just this alone allowed him to see things others often missed.

In the Buddhist shrine, Cai He hurried in with a male servant in tow.

"Old Madam, He Xing is here."

He Xing had once been Liu Chun’s attendant, following him around and acting as a minor steward in the household. Now that Liu Chun was gone, He Xing had been promoted and was effectively the chief steward of the outer courtyard.

"Let him speak," Jiang Shi said sternly, seated cross-legged on the long couch, prayer beads still clutched in her hand.

The door curtain lifted, and a figure slipped inside. He Xing entered and immediately kowtowed three times. "He Xing pays respects to the Old Madam and to Madam."

Jiang Shi’s eyes remained half-lidded. "Speak. What have you seen?"

He Xing straightened but kept his gaze lowered, not daring to look at Jiang Shi. "I had people watching outside. It turns out the Crown Prince had Ninth Miss accompany him not just to ask about household matters but also because she knows medicine. Just now, the yamen officers dug up the Second Concubine’s remains. Ninth Miss wasn’t afraid at all—she even deduced from the bones that the Second Concubine had once borne a child. The Crown Prince and the Prefect originally intended to check if the bones were intact before reburying them, but now they find this detail strange. They’ve ordered the bones to be cleaned, likely so Ninth Miss can examine them further."

He paused, glancing at Lin Shi. "Additionally, the Crown Prince has summoned Madam to the western courtyard, probably to question her about this matter. That’s all I’ve observed so far."

Jiang Shi frowned slightly before nodding. "Understood."

He Xing’s eyes flickered upward, and Cai He said, "You may withdraw."

He Xing hastily kowtowed once more before rising and exiting.

Once he was gone, Lin Shi turned to Jiang Shi anxiously. "Mother, what should we do? That girl Guan actually figured it out..."

Her tone held both admiration for Qin Guan’s medical skill and a trace of irritation, but mostly bewilderment. Jiang Shi remained composed. "Why panic? If they summon you, it’s only to ask when the Second Concubine—a member of Qin Manor—had a child, since no one else knew about it. Just tell them what you know, and if you don’t know something, say so. Back then, An was foolish to bring in a woman of unclear background. What could you have done about it?"

Lin Shi immediately grasped Jiang Shi’s meaning and steadied herself. "Very well. I understand."

Jiang Shi nodded. "Go then. While you’re there, ask the Prefect if they plan to continue investigating the well in the Purple Bamboo Forest. If not, we’ll seal and fill it."

Lin Shi assented, curtsied, and took her leave.Jiang Shi sighed and slowly closed her eyes. Meanwhile, Cai He poured her a cup of tea and handed it over, soothing in a low voice, "Old Madam need not worry. Madam will surely handle everything properly."

Jiang Shi opened her eyes and took the teacup, shaking her head at the words. "How could she handle everything properly? Sometimes she isn’t even as thorough as you. Fortunately, Chen'er is good—young in age but steady in temperament."

Cai He hastily shook her head. "Madam is the mistress, and this servant is but a slave. I dare not compare myself to her. The young master is indeed excellent. With him in Qin Manor, the family will surely be blessed with prosperity and flourishing fortunes."

Jiang Shi set down the teacup, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "Yes, with Chen'er in Qin Manor, this old woman can rest easy."

……

……

In another small courtyard not far from the western backyard, Qin Guan was piecing together the remains of the Second Concubine.

All the excavated bones had been cleaned, the mud washed away to reveal their natural color. Since the ancestral hall in the room currently held the bodies of Liu Shi and Liu Chun, Qin Guan decided to assemble the skeleton in the courtyard instead.

Two bailiffs carried out a long table from a nearby storage room and dusted it off. Qin Guan placed the Second Concubine’s skull on the table, followed by the shoulder blades, then the spine and ribcage. She meticulously reconstructed the human form piece by piece. Just as she was about to position the pelvis, Lin Shi suddenly appeared at the courtyard gate.

Lin Shi had only known that Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin were waiting for her in this courtyard. She never expected to see Qin Guan arranging human bones the moment she stepped inside. By then, Qin Guan had already formed the rough outline of a human skeleton. The sight made Lin Shi’s legs go weak, and she nearly lost her composure. Fortunately, a quick-witted servant behind her swiftly steadied her.

Hearing the commotion, Qin Guan turned around, holding a white bone in her hand, and curtsied. "Third Aunt—"

Lin Shi stared at Qin Guan, then glanced at the skeleton behind her, pressing her lips together. "Guan'er, why are you doing this...?"

Qin Guan looked back at the bones. "Oh, while studying medicine, I learned about human skeletal structures from medical texts. Now it’s coming in handy. There’s no harm in helping the Crown Prince and the Prefect. It might even help solve the case sooner."

Lin Shi wanted to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. Meanwhile, Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin emerged from the main hall. They had been examining Liu Chun’s corpse and only realized Lin Shi had arrived upon hearing voices. At the sight of Yan Chi, Lin Shi immediately bowed.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince, greetings to the Prefect..."

Yan Chi’s expression remained indifferent. "No need for formalities, Madam Qin."

With that, he walked toward the long table in the courtyard and continued calmly, "These are the remains of the Second Concubine."

Lin Shi’s face paled slightly at his words. She cautiously glanced at the table but quickly averted her gaze. Yan Chi went on, "Ninth Miss is skilled in medicine. Based on the marks on these bones, the Second Concubine once gave birth to a child. Is this true?"

Lin Shi pressed her lips together. "This humble woman knows nothing of that matter."Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, his gaze instantly turning cold. Lin Shi hurriedly explained, "This is not an excuse on my part, but back then... when the master brought her back from outside, we didn't even know her name. She was extremely beautiful, and the master adored her for that. Later, we only knew her surname was Yang. The master doted on her so much that even though I was the mistress of the house, she never paid me the proper respects. Because of this, the master even quarreled with his mother. Afterward, Yang Shi lived separately from us. Her courtyard had its own kitchen, and she rarely came out. We never heard of her being pregnant or giving birth."

After a slight pause, Lin Shi continued, "However... when she entered the household, she wasn’t a young girl in her teens. Though beautiful, she appeared to be at least twenty years old. We asked the master about her background, but he refused to say. Later, Mother and I speculated that perhaps she was a widow from somewhere. In the end, when she threw herself into the well, she still hadn’t paid me the proper respects."

Yan Chi frowned. "So, the only way to learn about this Second Concubine’s origins is to ask Qin Laoye himself?"

Lin Shi lowered her eyes with a bitter expression. "The master is gravely ill. If the Crown Prince can get any answers from him, that would be good."

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. Qin An was gravely ill? With this thought, he glanced at Huo Huaixin, who sighed and nodded. "When I entered the manor this morning, I went to see him. Qin Laoye seemed disoriented, almost as if he had become dull-witted."

Qin Guan, who had been assembling bones nearby, paused in surprise. Venereal disease could indeed lead to mental deterioration, but that usually occurred after Plum Pox Sores appeared—meaning it would take at least two months. Why had Qin An deteriorated so quickly?

Qin Guan had already pieced together the major bones, leaving only smaller fragments like finger bones and teeth. She examined them carefully but found no traces of injury. Straightening up, she reflected that once a corpse turned to white bones, unless there were signs of poisoning or obvious trauma left on the bones, determining the cause of death was nearly impossible.

With no new injuries discovered, they had no choice but to accept the explanation that the Second Concubine had drowned herself in the well.

"Has Qin Laoye not consulted a physician?" Yan Chi asked, his tone skeptical.

Lin Shi sighed. "Of course we have, but this illness is difficult to treat. We even planned to invite Divine Doctor Huang to the manor, but he hasn’t been in Jinzhou these past few days. Mother and I are anxious, but there’s nothing we can do."

Her voice carried sorrow and grief. Yan Chi frowned, casting a glance at Qin Guan. She was right there in the manor, yet the people from the Qin Mansion hadn’t considered asking her to treat Qin An. Were they simply going to let him waste away?

"In that case, we’ll wait until Qin Laoye recovers somewhat," Yan Chi said, his tone easing slightly.

Lin Shi’s tense posture relaxed as well. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, "By the way, now that the remains have been retrieved from the well, does the Crown Prince or the Prefect need to examine anything else? If not... that well is rather ominous. Mother insists it should be filled in."

Huo Huaixin looked at Yan Chi, who asked, "Lord Huo, has every corner been thoroughly searched below?"

Huo Huaixin nodded. "Yes, every inch has been checked."

"Very well. The Qin Manor may dispose of it as they see fit."Hearing Yan Chi's words, Lin Shi curved her lips slightly, "Yes, thank you, Crown Prince. Prefect, you've worked hard as well."

Huo Huaixin waved his hand dismissively, "It's my duty as an official."

Lin Shi glanced at the two of them for a moment, "If there's nothing else, Crown Prince and Prefect, this humble woman will take her leave."

Huo Huaixin gave an acknowledging hum, and Lin Shi bowed before turning to exit.

Yan Chi walked over to Qin Guan's side, "Any discoveries?"

Though Qin Guan had her suspicions, without evidence, she could only answer honestly, "No, nothing beyond what we already know. We can confirm Second Concubine had given birth, but can't determine if she truly drowned herself in the well. For now, we have to assume she did."

Huo Huaixin also approached, "It's unfortunate Qin Laoye is in such a confused state, otherwise we could have asked about Second Concubine's background. Also, whoever moved the Demon-suppressing Stone and killed Liu Chun must be an exceptionally strong man. Perhaps we should investigate the male servants in the manor?"

Yan Chi nodded, "That's feasible. In any case, the killer of Liu Shi and Liu Chun must be someone from Qin Manor."

Since they were about to start investigating the male servants, it meant the case's progress would slow down. Qin Guan sighed inwardly and turned toward the room. Though an Ice Basin had been placed inside, the bodies of Liu Shi and Liu Chun had already begun emitting a putrid odor. Qin Guan carefully examined their corpses once more, when suddenly her gaze sharpened as she noticed something on Liu Chun's hand.

Another day had passed, and the injured area on Liu Chun's fingers had begun to dry and peel. What Qin Guan focused on now were the tiny fragments lodged beneath his nails. Under the torchlight last night, they had appeared to be bits of dried leaves or dirt, but now, upon closer inspection, they looked different.

Frowning, Qin Guan glanced around and spotted scattered white funeral paper money on the floor nearby. She walked over, picked up a piece, and returned to Liu Chun's side. From her sleeve, she retrieved her needle kit, selected the finest needle, and carefully scraped out the fragments from beneath Liu Chun's nails. After working on several fingers, a small pile of debris had gathered on the paper money. Qin Guan carried it to the doorway where the daylight was brighter and used the needle to spread the fragments out meticulously.

Seeing her cautious movements, Yan Chi dared not disturb her and asked softly, "What is it?"

Qin Guan frowned, "Last night, I thought it was just dirt, but now it looks different..."

"What is it then?" Yan Chi took a step closer, still careful not to make sudden movements.

The paper money was small, and the fragments were so fine they could be blown away by a mere breath. Qin Guan held it up to her eyes and suddenly said, "It looks like... some kind of pastry..."

Having just eaten Aunt Liu's osmanthus cake that morning, Qin Guan now found the fragments increasingly resembling it.

Yan Chi reacted swiftly, "Could Liu Chun have eaten something before he died?"

Qin Guan frowned, "Very likely. But even if he was hiding in the manor, he wouldn't have dared to move around freely. Would he have been bold enough to sneak into the kitchen for food?"

"That seems unlikely," Yan Chi shook his head. "He was probably hiding in the Purple Bamboo Forest that day. The manor was heavily guarded by constables, and later the Prefect even conducted a search. There's no way he would have risked wandering around."

Narrowing his phoenix eyes, Yan Chi's tone turned grave, "So... could someone have brought him food?""The murderer?" Qin Guan reacted swiftly, turning her gaze to Yan Chi. Their eyes met, and a spark of realization lit up in Yan Chi's eyes. Without him uttering a word, Qin Guan knew he agreed with her deduction. Her expression brightened with excitement. "Liu Chun hid after learning of Liu Shi's murder this morning. Perhaps the person who helped him hide was the murderer, who then took the opportunity to kill him while delivering food!"

When deducing cases, Qin Guan was usually focused and solemn. But now, having uncovered a new lead, her eyes shimmered with exhilaration. They were clear and bright, like a deer's—dark and luminous, captivating Yan Chi's gaze.

"If that's the case, the murderer never intended to frame someone from the start. They knew Liu Shi's death would inevitably implicate Manager Liu, but that wasn't enough. They wanted Manager Liu dead as well. The murderer either harbored extreme hatred for Manager Liu or sought to use his death to expose something."

As Yan Chi spoke, his eyes gleamed intensely. At the same moment, Qin Guan's eyes widened in realization.

"Second Concubine—"

"Second Concubine—"

They spoke in unison. Qin Guan looked up at Yan Chi, her lips curling into an unconscious smile. "This is the second hypothesis, but currently, it seems the most plausible. Liu Chun had been the household manager for years, secure in his position. Though he often acted arrogantly, he never harmed anyone. Moreover, the Prefect confirmed no one in the household held a deep grudge against him, making a crime of passion unlikely. The most reprehensible thing he did was his affair with Consort Liu..."

Yan Chi continued, "But Qin An didn’t know about Manager Liu’s affair with Consort Liu. When the Prefect informed Qin Laoye about it the other day, he was so furious he nearly fainted. The Prefect said his reaction seemed genuine."

Qin Guan nodded. "If Third Uncle had known, given his authority as the family head, he could have easily found a hundred ways to kill Consort Liu and Liu Chun. Besides, Liu Chun was a bonded servant—Third Uncle could have simply punished him under household rules."

"Though Liu Shi was quite domineering in the household, she never made any real enemies. The person who should have disliked her the most was Madam Qin, but according to the servants, despite her arrogance, Liu Shi knew how to act respectfully in front of Madam Qin. At least on the surface, no one had a grudge against her severe enough to warrant murder."

Yan Chi picked up where Qin Guan left off. She nodded and added, "Moreover, the murderer killed both Liu Shi and Manager Liu in succession. If it were just out of hatred, that wouldn’t make much sense."

At this, Qin Guan's eyes suddenly brightened. "Liu Shi was first killed beneath the flower shed, and there used to be a well there too. Could it be that the murderer wanted to draw attention to that well from the very beginning?"

Yan Chi frowned in thought. Indeed, both Liu Shi and Liu Chun had died near wells. Was the murderer truly trying to implicate the cursed well?

"That’s possible. Dying near the well might prompt the older servants to recall the legend of the cursed well, thereby reviving the story of Second Concubine..."

After speaking, Qin Guan carefully wrapped the fragments in the paper offering and handed them to a nearby constable. Yan Chi followed her and said, "Now we must wait for Qin Laoye to regain his senses so we can ask about Second Concubine’s origins."Qin Guan paused in her steps, then said softly, "Venereal disease can indeed cause dementia, but not right from the start. At the very least, such symptoms would only appear after two months. Even if Third Uncle had a naturally weak constitution, it would still take at least a month for this condition to manifest. There's no reason for him to be acting foolish now..."

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "Are you suggesting he's pretending to be mad?"

Qin Guan pressed her lips together. "From a medical perspective, that does seem to be the case."

The corners of Yan Chi's mouth curved slightly into a faint, cold smile.

The moment that cold laugh escaped, Qin Guan immediately felt the surrounding air chill for an instant. Then Yan Chi looked at her and said, "You go back first. I'll personally pay a visit to Qin Laoye."

Qin Guan blinked. Though Yan Chi's gaze at her was still warm, she hadn't forgotten his earlier cold smile.

"Crown Prince... you..."

Yan Chi gave her a reassuring glance. "Don't worry, I know my limits."

With that, he called for Bai Feng and a few constables before turning and striding out of the courtyard.

Watching Yan Chi's retreating figure as he walked away with decisive steps, Qin Guan found herself inexplicably worried for Qin An.

Only after Yan Chi had left did Fuling approach. "Miss, shall we return?"

Qin Guan glanced at the skeleton on the long table and thought of the medicine she needed to prepare for Qin Li tonight before nodding. "Let's go back and wait for news from the Crown Prince..."

......

......

If Qin Guan could treat Qin Li, naturally she could treat Qin An as well. But given her precarious position in Qin Manor, she wouldn't rush to offer her medical services. That Jiang Shi and Lin Shi knew of her presence yet didn't speak up—she understood the implications well enough.

Qin An was an elder, and his illness was of the shameful sort that people hesitated to mention. It was easy to imagine why. If Jiang Shi could cast aside her pride, it would mean nothing to Qin Guan. But Jiang Shi couldn't bring herself to do so. Since the patient's closest kin valued face more than anything, Qin Guan, who only wished to heal, wasn't about to interfere in family matters or lecture others about how life was more important than reputation.

Back at Orchid Isle Courtyard, Qin Guan carefully reviewed the pulse diagnosis she had performed on Qin Li the previous night. Before long, she drafted another external treatment prescription. "Fuling, make another trip to the medicine storage... fetch more of these herbs..."

Once Fuling left on her errand, Qin Guan began grinding white apricot kernels with a mortar.

For venereal disease, the most crucial steps were to reduce fever, eliminate dampness, and suppress toxins. Yet the toxins of this illness were particularly stubborn and virulent—one of the incurable diseases she had known since beginning her medical practice. If she could cure Qin Li this time, it would mark significant progress in her medical skills.

Qin Guan had always enjoyed delving into medical studies, and with this thought in mind, she became even more meticulous. Whether it was internal or external medicine, she prepared everything herself. But among the ingredients for today's external treatment, one particular adjuvant gave her pause.

"Human milk..." Qin Guan frowned at her prescription. Where was she supposed to find human milk for Qin Li? She could write the prescription, but this ingredient would have to be procured by the patient himself.

With this in mind, she carefully noted the preparation method at the bottom of the prescription: Take one cup of human milk, boil until reduced to half a cup, add the aforementioned herbs and continue boiling until dry, then grind into paste for application.

After writing these instructions, Qin Guan glanced toward the door. Fuling had been gone for the time it took to drink two cups of tea—normally she should have returned by now. Could something have happened?

The thought unsettled Qin Guan. Qin Manor was in troubled times, and though it was broad daylight, Fuling wasn't the type to dawdle. Had she encountered some trouble that delayed her?

Folding the prescription, Qin Guan was about to get up and investigate when the courtyard gate swung open!

Hurried footsteps approached, and as the door opened, Fuling slipped inside clutching two packages of herbs.

"Miss, Third Master has recovered..."

Fuling was panting from her rush, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. Hearing this, Qin Guan raised an eyebrow. "Has the Crown Prince arrived?"Fuling shook her head, set down the medicine package, and smiled. "The Crown Prince hasn't arrived yet. On my way back, I ran into two young servants from the front courtyard who were assigned to guard Third Master's compound. They said something had happened there and they were going to fetch the Old Madam. I stopped them to ask, and that's when I learned the Crown Prince had gone over..."

Seeing Fuling barely suppressing her laughter, Qin Guan grew curious. "What happened?"

Fuling took a breath before continuing, "As soon as the Crown Prince arrived, he first asked Qin Laoye about the Second Concubine's background. Qin Laoye was lying in bed—unable to speak or move, just rolling his eyes and gasping for breath. The servant attending to him said Third Master had been like this for two days already, that his illness was too severe and he probably couldn't answer."

"Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince said, 'Perfect, I'm here to cure him!'"

Fuling's eyes sparkled as she recounted the story with great animation. "The steward in charge of attending to him was from the front courtyard. At first, he didn't understand what was happening. Then the Crown Prince explained that while in Shuoxi, he'd learned a barbarian method specifically for treating the ailments of the mentally impaired. He said all it took was inserting an iron needle as thick as a little finger into the person's skull and leaving it there for seven days without removal. Once the stagnant blood in the brain drained, the person's mental impairment would be cured."

Fuling laughed. "Miss, doesn't that sound terrifying? The old servant was scared half to death and immediately dropped to his knees, begging for mercy, but he didn't dare defy the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince said he was there to heal, not harm, and then ordered Guard Bai to fetch a needle. Would you believe it? Guard Bai actually brought back an iron nail!"

Qin Guan couldn't help but chuckle. Fuling went on, "The old servant turned deathly pale, insisting it would kill him. The Crown Prince replied that since Third Master couldn't speak or move his limbs, he was practically dead already. Besides, the case in the household required his testimony. Though the method seemed frightening, it was worth a try. With that, he told Guard Bai to proceed with piercing the skull. Just then—Third Master suddenly regained movement! Not only that, he sat right up in bed..."

Qin Guan's smile widened as she shook her head in amusement. This wasn't Shuoxi. Though Yan Chi had been aloof these past few days, he hadn't done anything outrageous. Even Qin Guan had momentarily forgotten his reputation as the "Demon King"! Qin An had been feigning madness, and while others wouldn't dare act against him, Yan Chi had no such reservations. With just this scare, he'd "cured" Qin An's stupor!

If Qin An had dared to keep pretending, Qin Guan had no doubt Yan Chi would have actually driven that nail into his skull. He might have even brought out those barbarian interrogation methods from Shuoxi to test on him!

"Miss! The Crown Prince is truly incredible! Third Master thought pretending to be mad would let him escape, but he never expected the Crown Prince would resort to force. The servant said Third Master was badly frightened. His illness is real, after all—after sitting up, he was interrogated by the Crown Prince, and now he's in a rather poor state..."

Qin Guan shook her head. "Though venereal disease is stubborn and vile, it progresses slowly. Sudden death is nearly impossible. Watching oneself gradually become disfigured and rot away—that's the true horror of this illness."Fuling nodded. "That servant said the Crown Prince hadn't left when they came out, so he must have gotten some answers."

Qin Guan felt slightly relieved. "Of course he would get answers. When the Crown Prince was in Shuoxi, even barbarians would tell him everything without reservation, let alone Third Uncle."

As she finished speaking, Qin Guan reached for the medicine packets on the table and began grinding the herbs.

After another two cups of tea's time, there was a light knock at the courtyard gate. Soon Wan Tang's voice came from outside, "Miss, we have a visitor."

Qin Guan's spirits lifted immediately. She stood up and walked out. Outside the gate stood Bai Feng. Qin Guan quickened her pace, and upon exiting, she saw Yan Chi standing not far away. "Your Highness—"

Qin Guan approached and curtsied. "What did Your Highness find out?"

Yan Chi replied, "Your third uncle couldn't handle much. Though his dementia has improved, he genuinely fainted earlier. He admitted that Second Concubine was originally someone he bought from human traffickers. He kept her in an outside residence for a few days first, then brought her into the manor as a concubine after seeing her beauty and gentle temperament. He also said he knew she'd been married before when he bought her, but didn't mind because of her looks. Any children she might have had would have been from before—she never became pregnant after entering Qin Manor."

Qin Guan frowned slightly. "Could Second Concubine have thrown herself into the well out of longing for her child after being taken into Qin Manor? Third Uncle knew she'd been abducted but didn't let her go back? And he didn't know her family or background either?"

Yan Chi sighed. "Most likely he didn't let her go. He said he truly didn't know Second Concubine's origins—he was just captivated by her appearance and wanted to keep her by his side..."

"I've seen many cases of people forcibly taking others out of lust for their beauty. Could someone in the manor have sympathized with Eighth Concubine's plight and used murder to expose this?"

Qin Guan's eyes held doubt. Yan Chi continued, "The Prefect's investigation of the manor's male servants has yielded no results so far. Beyond them, there are only the two young masters and Qin An himself. Qin An is seriously ill, as is Qin Li. Though Qin Chen is an adult, he's not skilled in martial arts and has only average strength—likely not our suspect. This is indeed a difficult point."

After a brief pause, Yan Chi said, "I plan to visit the prefectural office to check if there were any recorded missing persons in Jinzhou ten years ago. If so, we might confirm Second Concubine's true identity."

Qin Guan had just thought of the same thing and nodded slightly. "Your Highness is very thorough."

Suddenly her brow furrowed as if remembering something urgent. "Your Highness, please wait a moment—"

With that, she turned and hurried back into the courtyard. Yan Chi watched her retreating figure disappear behind the gate, unsure of her purpose. Soon Qin Guan reappeared.

In her hand was a letter. "Here's the book list you requested."

Qin Guan approached Yan Chi and handed him the letter. Yan Chi glanced down, and his already striking eyes seemed to shimmer with an even more brilliant light, like a river of stars on a cold night, radiating a brilliance that took Qin Guan's breath away.

Yan Chi reached out to take it. "This time, you didn't forget."

Qin Guan looked at Yan Chi without speaking. He tucked the letter into his sleeve. "Go back inside now."Qin Guan glanced at Yan Chi for another moment before turning to enter the courtyard. Though her back was to him, she could feel Yan Chi's gaze lingering on her spine. Only after she stepped past the gate did that gaze finally fade away.

Qin Guan paused mid-step and suddenly turned to look back. In her line of sight, Yan Chi was striding away with long, swift steps, the hem of his robe fluttering wildly around his legs as if stirred by the wind of his movements...

She stood there a while longer before turning back, but before she could reach the doorway, a cold gust of wind swept in from outside the courtyard.

Frowning, Qin Guan watched the wind lantern swaying incessantly under the eaves, then turned her gaze to the overcast sky. Was it about to rain?

Fuling urged Qin Guan inside, "Miss, hurry in. It looks like rain is coming. Each autumn shower brings another layer of chill—the weather is bound to get colder."

Qin Guan took two steps forward before suddenly stopping, her expression sharpening. "The bones in the courtyard haven't been collected yet."

No sooner had she spoken than she turned to head back out. "Bring an umbrella. Let's go check on them."

Fuling gave a wry smile. "Oh, Miss, how can you still be thinking about that pile of bones..."

Despite her words, Fuling went back inside to fetch an umbrella, then jogged to catch up with Qin Guan. The two hurried along, but autumn weather was notoriously fickle—before they were halfway there, a cold drizzle began to fall.

Holding the umbrella, Fuling and Qin Guan arrived at the courtyard gate where the bodies were kept just in time to see two constables gathering the bones from the long table. Fuling sighed in relief. "See, Miss? The constables here will take care of it. You nearly got caught in the rain!"

Qin Guan shook her head. Since they were already here, she might as well help. The constables recognized Qin Guan, and seeing how respectfully Huo Huaixin treated her, they dared not slight her. "Ninth Miss, there's no need for you to trouble yourself. Just watch from the side..."

As they spoke, the two constables lifted the long table to carry it into the ancestral hall. One was tall, the other short, and as they adjusted their grip, the table tilted slightly. Several bones of varying sizes wobbled unsteadily before rolling off and scattering across the ground. Qin Guan chuckled and stepped forward. "I'll pick these up. You two take the table inside."

The constables hastily repositioned themselves and carefully carried the remaining bones into the hall. Once the table was set down inside, Qin Guan's skeletal arrangement remained mostly intact. Meanwhile, Qin Guan walked in holding a femur and four or five smaller bone fragments. Just as she was about to place them on the table, her gaze froze.

The femur was straightforward, but the four or five small bones in her palm were all joint fragments from the human body—too small to fix into the skeletal structure, so she had left them aside. Now, however, she stared intently at the tiniest fragment, her eyes filled with doubt.

The other bones she could immediately identify as belonging to specific parts of Second Concubine's body—but this one small piece? She couldn't place its origin. Could it be... that this fragment didn't belong to Second Concubine at all?