The autumn rain drizzled endlessly, and the dilapidated courtyard to the west looked especially desolate under the curtain of rain. Fuling stood at the door, occasionally glancing at the grayish-blue sky outside, then turning back to look at Qin Guan, who stood by the long table.
Her young mistress had been standing by the table for nearly half an hour, even meticulously arranging Second Concubine’s teeth. Every small piece of bone previously set aside had been carefully fitted into the skeleton. Now, only one bone remained before her.
Fuling turned to look again. The courtyard was in ruins, the window paper on the door long torn and tattered. Though the door was half-closed, it couldn’t keep out the cold wind. Fuling tightened her collar and finally couldn’t help but walk over to Qin Guan. "Miss, it’s getting late, and it’s freezing in here. We should head back soon."
The room was not only bitterly cold but also filled with the unbearable stench emanating from the corpses of Liu Shi and Liu Chun. Qin Guan hadn’t even brought a face covering today, standing there exposed, breathing in the foul odor. What if she got poisoned?
Qin Guan stood sideways to the door, half her face obscured in shadow, her expression unreadable. She lowered her head slightly, her entire demeanor cold and solemn as she stared at the thumb-sized bone on the table. "Are you cold? You can go back first if you’d like."
Fuling gave a wry smile. "Of course I’m not cold. I’m just worried about you, miss. You’ve been standing here for so long. Even the two constables couldn’t stand the smell, let alone you."
Among the few rooms in the courtyard, the main hall was used to hold the corpses, while the side room was temporarily furnished with tables, chairs, and tea for the constables to rest. Fuling sighed and placed a hand on Qin Guan’s shoulder. "You’re ice-cold, miss. If this goes on, you’ll surely fall ill!"
Qin Guan shook her head and turned her attention back to the skeletal outline she had arranged.
Without ligaments to connect them, most of the bones couldn’t be properly joined. Qin Guan had to loosely fit them together as a rough approximation. She scrutinized them once more, her brow furrowing.
Earlier, she had thought the fragmented bones were too small—not only difficult to fix in place but also time-consuming just to arrange the teeth in order. These details seemed useless to the case, and when it came time to bury Second Concubine, the bones would all be interred together anyway, with no need to arrange them in human form. Since it served no purpose, Qin Guan had skipped the effort—until she found this small bone...
It was a bone about the size of a thumb. Qin Guan had examined it from all angles but couldn’t identify its origin at first. After fitting the other fragmented bones into the skeleton, she still couldn’t find where this one might belong. If that was the case, didn’t that mean this bone was extra? Then, Qin Guan studied the small bone carefully. Though it was tiny, she weighed it in her hand and felt it was likely human bone...
If it was human bone, how had it ended up mixed with Second Concubine’s remains?
Qin Guan couldn’t make sense of it and began to suspect—had someone else died in that well?
With that thought, she shook her head again. Governor Huo’s constables had searched the well thoroughly and confirmed no other bones were present.
Qin Guan picked up the bone from the felt mat and held it up to her eyes, examining it closely for a few moments.
Had she misidentified it? Could it be from some animal’s remains?Qin Guan was torn between suspicion that there might be more hidden in the well and worry that she might be overthinking it, hesitating momentarily.
As she pondered, the rain in the courtyard suddenly intensified. The autumn rain was chilly, and the damp, cool wind seeped into the room, making Qin Guan shiver. She turned to see the overgrown small courtyard shrouded in a curtain of rain. Beyond the walls, the continuous rooftops and pavilions of Qin Manor were veiled in a gloomy mist. With a sigh, she turned away.
"Let's go back. We've stayed here long enough."
As soon as Qin Guan spoke, Fuling brightened and hurried to fetch an umbrella—a bamboo one with a red-lacquered handle and green paper surface, adorned with an elegant ink-wash lotus at the top.
Qin Guan adjusted her collar, closed the door properly, and followed Fuling out. The officers in the side hall heard the commotion and came out to see them off, bowing respectfully. After exchanging a few words with them, Qin Guan left the courtyard.
This was the first autumn rain in the southern region. Qin Guan had often traveled west and north with her father but had never been to the south before. Though it was autumn, the gardens and pavilions of Qin Manor remained lush and green, with only a few withered weeds occasionally visible along the quiet western paths. Burdened with thoughts, Qin Guan gazed into the distance. The rain and mist obscured the upturned eaves and brackets of Qin Manor, while the already bleak sky darkened further. Gray clouds gathered ominously on the horizon, as if brewing an even heavier downpour. The dampness clung to her skirt, mirroring the gloom in her heart.
As the rain grew heavier, Fuling carefully held the umbrella over Qin Guan, and the two walked slower and slower. The surroundings were deserted, leaving only the rhythmic patter of raindrops on the umbrella. The south was rainy year-round, unlike the northwest, where by this time, only the harsh, face-chapping winds would remain.
Walking leisurely back to Orchid Isle Courtyard, Qin Guan spotted Wan Tang emerging from the main hall as soon as they entered.
Noticing this, Fuling frowned, her face betraying annoyance.
Wan Tang hurried down a few steps and bowed under the eaves. Perhaps sensing Fuling's displeasure, she quickly explained, "Forgive me, Miss. I saw the rain getting heavier and noticed two windows in your Warm Chamber were left open, so I went in to close them."
Fuling couldn't tell if Wan Tang was being truthful, but she had once held her in high regard. She glanced at Qin Guan, whose expression was distant, as if tinged with the cool indifference of the autumn rain.
"I was worried the rain might get into the Warm Chamber. It's good that you closed them."
Wan Tang looked up at Qin Guan, seemingly relieved, and smiled. "The rain is getting heavier, Miss. Please take care not to catch a chill. Go inside quickly. I’ll boil some water so Fuling can brew you fresh tea."
Qin Guan nodded and ascended the steps with Fuling, her demeanor unreadable.
Uncertain of Qin Guan's thoughts, Fuling glanced at Wan Tang and smiled as usual. "Then fetch a new set of tea utensils as well..."
Wan Tang's lips curved in a pleased smile as she obediently went to do so.
Once inside, Fuling set down the umbrella and approached. "Miss, is anything amiss?"But to her surprise, after washing her hands, Qin Guan merely entered the Warm Chamber without any intention of further investigation. "Leave it be."
Fuling secretly marveled at this, thinking that since Qin Guan had indeed caught a chill earlier, she might as well prepare tea as Wan Tang had suggested. Before long, Fuling returned with freshly brewed tea. She poured a cup for Qin Guan and handed it to her, then turned around—only to gasp in shock.
"Miss, why... why did you bring this back..."
Qin Guan sat lazily on the long couch by the bed, leaning against a pillow, but in her hand lay a small bone. Fuling stared at the pale, ghastly fragment—wasn't this the very bone that had appeared inexplicably on the long table earlier?
With trembling hands, Fuling set the teacup aside and whispered, "Why did you bring this back, Miss? It's inauspicious!"
Qin Guan pinched the small bone between her fingers, even lifting it toward the light as she tilted her head slightly to examine it. "This bone density doesn't resemble that of any other animal's remains. Yet, for some reason, I can't immediately identify where it came from. Earlier, I checked several times—Second Concubine's remains were almost entirely accounted for. So where did this one come from?"
Fuling had no idea where it could have come from. Just looking at the bone and hearing Qin Guan say it was human made her break out in a cold sweat. Qin Guan might examine corpses and treat illnesses, but bringing a dead person's bone back into the room was downright eerie. Yet, seeing Qin Guan's focused expression, Fuling knew there was no persuading her otherwise.
While Fuling brewed tea nearby, Qin Guan studied the bone. This tiny fragment had stumped her—even as night fell, she still hadn't figured out its origin. Outside, the autumn rain continued its relentless drizzle.
Fuling had remarked earlier that each autumn rain brought colder weather, and by evening, the temperature had indeed dropped significantly. Qin Guan rarely ventured out anyway, so the rain hardly bothered her. On the contrary, the downpour enveloped the world in its sound, muffling all other noise. The vast silence was perfect for calligraphy or incense burning, yet by nightfall, Qin Guan still hadn't let go of that bone...
"The Crown Prince and the Prefect have returned to the government office. Since they haven't come by now, they must not have reached any conclusions," Fuling said as she tidied Qin Guan's desk. Qin Guan had already anticipated this.
Second Concubine had died eight years ago, and Qin Guan had already been in the household for two years by then. If Qin An claimed Second Concubine had been bought from traffickers, the records they needed to search would date back at least a decade.
After so much time, the government office accumulated mountains of documents daily—not just legal cases but all manner of paperwork. Even locating the relevant files in the archives would be a challenge, let alone finding a missing person's record that matched Second Concubine amidst that Sea of Mist of documents.Qin Guan understood the enormity of the task at hand. Official documents had to be passed up through layers of government offices—from county to prefecture and beyond. Cases like disappearances could easily be overlooked by lower-level county offices. Moreover, Second Concubine might not even be from Jinzhou. If her family had reported her missing, it could have been in Jianzhou, Shengzhou, or even the more distant Fengzhou. Even if she were from Jinzhou, those reviewing the records might miss the details and assume she wasn’t. Such meticulous work required extreme caution and attention to detail, which would inevitably take more time. Qin Guan wasn’t in a hurry for results within three days.
After dinner, Qin Guan finally remembered she needed to prepare the medicinal ointment for Qin Li that night. She set to work making the salve with the herbs Fuling had brought earlier that day. Just as she finished, a knock sounded at the window of the Warm Chamber.
Fuling, now accustomed to this, stepped forward and opened the window. Qin Li stood outside, his body damp with a chill mist. His usual teasing expression was absent as he looked at Fuling. Qin Guan approached with the medicine packets and ointment. "Here’s the new medicine—one for external use, the other to be taken internally. The external one is still missing one ingredient, but I’ve written it down. You can have someone find it after you return."
Qin Li nodded. Though he was ill, he still had people at his disposal.
"Ninth Sister, any leads on Liu Shi and Manager Liu’s case?"
He hadn’t asked about it all these days, but now he did. Qin Guan raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask, Second Brother?"
Qin Li’s gaze flickered. "Such matters in the household naturally warrant concern."
Qin Guan studied him for a moment. "We’re currently investigating Second Concubine’s origins."
Qin Li frowned. "Second Concubine’s origins?"
"Exactly," Qin Guan replied, her tone carrying a hint of probing. "You were old enough to remember when Second Concubine entered the household. Do you recall where she was from?"
Qin Li lowered his eyes and shook his head. "Mother forbade us from speaking to Second Concubine or going near her quarters. I don’t know." Then, as if suddenly in a hurry, he added, "It’s raining, so I won’t stay long. The weather’s turned cold—take care of yourself, Ninth Sister. I’ll be going now."
Qin Guan watched silently as Qin Li turned and left. Only when his figure had vanished from sight did she slowly close the window.
She stood still for a few more moments before finally retiring to her inner chamber to rest.
...
...
Though the rain pattered softly outside the window all night, Qin Guan slept soundly. When she awoke at dawn the next day, the rain still hadn’t stopped. With the downpour continuing, she couldn’t stroll in the courtyard, so she indulged in staying in bed a little longer.
Fuling rose as usual and carefully carried the scented washing supplies to the side chamber. Before long, she approached Qin Guan’s bedside, listening to her breathing. Sensing something amiss, she slowly drew open the bed curtains.
The moment she did, Fuling couldn’t help but gasp.
"Miss! Why are you still examining that bone?!"
On the bed, Qin Guan leaned against the headboard, the bone still clutched in her hand.
Fuling had initially found it inauspicious, but by now she was used to it. Qin Guan sighed. "I still can’t figure out which part of the body this is from. Could I have misremembered?"
As she spoke, her eyes suddenly brightened. "Does the household library have any medical texts?"This question stumped Fuling. "This servant doesn't know, but the young master would certainly know. Why doesn't the young lady ask him?"
Qin Guan had previously read about skeletal structures in medical texts. At the time, she had memorized it thoroughly, believing her memory would never fail her. Yet now, there was actually a bone she couldn't identify!
Qin Guan immediately threw off the covers and got out of bed. "Quick, help me dress. We're going to find Eldest Brother."
Fuling was well acquainted with Qin Guan's temperament. Even so, she couldn't help but chuckle wryly. "At least have breakfast first, young lady." Despite saying this, she efficiently helped Qin Guan wash and dress.
After freshening up, Qin Guan merely drank a bowl of soup from the breakfast that had been delivered before declaring herself done. The rain outside showed no signs of stopping or easing, continuing its steady descent like a curtain of transparent threads. Fuling fetched the same green bamboo umbrella and accompanied Qin Guan to Windward Courtyard. Just as they reached the entrance, they saw Qin Shuang entering the courtyard ahead of them.
Noticing this, Fuling whispered, "Perhaps the young lady hasn't heard—Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss had a falling out. Last night, the madam summoned Sixth Miss and said something to her. Sixth Miss came out in tears and later told the servants that Fifth Miss had slandered her."
Qin Guan shook her head. The conflict between Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang undoubtedly stemmed from yesterday's incident outside Purple Bamboo Forest. Qin Xiang had defended their mother, while Qin Shuang, unwilling to accept it, had naturally led to an argument. "No need to concern ourselves with such matters."
After this remark, Qin Guan continued forward. Fuling added quietly, "Indeed, we needn't involve ourselves. The young lady's standing is quite high now—we needn't fear any of them."
Qin Guan couldn't help but laugh at this and strode straight into Windward Courtyard. The servants, spotting their arrival, promptly went inside to announce them. Before long, Mo Shu emerged to greet them. "It's been days since Ninth Miss last visited. Please, come in..."
Mo Shu was as warm and welcoming as ever. As Qin Guan stepped inside, she caught sight of Qin Shuang, her eyes slightly red, speaking in hushed tones. Upon noticing Qin Guan, Qin Shuang quickly wiped her eyes and fell silent.
Qin Guan smiled. "Eldest Brother's Wife, I've come to trouble you."
Yao Xinlan reclined on the daybed. "I'd be delighted if you came every day! Is it because the Crown Prince and the Prefect aren't visiting the estate today that you finally have time to drop by?"
Qin Guan sighed. "I wasn't aware of that. Actually, I came to ask for your help. I was looking for Eldest Brother, but he seems to be absent."
Yao Xinlan looked at Qin Guan in surprise—she had never before actively sought their assistance.
"Ninth Sister, do tell—what's the matter?"
Qin Guan got straight to the point. "I was hoping to find a couple of medical books. I'm not sure if the estate's library has them. Since I saw Young Master Huo borrowing books before, I thought it might be convenient if the library here has what I need, saving me the trouble of searching elsewhere."
"Is that all?" Yao Xinlan laughed. "Borrowing books is hardly any trouble. Your eldest brother went to see Father—we heard this morning that he isn't doing well. But I can certainly handle the library matters. The keys are here in our courtyard. Shall I have Mo Shu fetch them and take you there? I'm afraid I don't know what books you're looking for, but you can browse them yourself?"
That would be perfect. Qin Guan hurriedly expressed her gratitude. "Thank you, Eldest Brother's Wife."
Yao Xinlan waved her hand dismissively and promptly instructed Mo Shu. In no time, Mo Shu returned with the keys and escorted them to the library.Leaving Windward Courtyard, Qin Guan remarked, "Eldest Brother's Wife looks much better in complexion."
Mo Shu also let out a relieved sigh. "Indeed, these past few days, the young mistress has been in good spirits, moving about more, and her energy has improved greatly compared to before. The eldest young master accompanies her daily, so this servant can finally rest easy."
The rain drizzled steadily, and a thin mist gathered among the lush flowers and trees nearby. Qin Guan felt somewhat reassured by Mo Shu's words, yet the incidents of Yao Xinlan being drugged and her nightmares still lingered in her mind like the misty rain—a hazy layer that couldn't be seen from afar nor grasped up close, yet undeniably present.
Mo Shu walked ahead, holding an umbrella by herself, while Fuling followed behind, shielding Qin Guan with another. The three of them made their way straight to the library. After all, Qin Manor was a wealthy household with its own cultural heritage. Upon entering the library, Qin Guan was surprised by the sheer number of books, exceeding her expectations. Mo Shu stood at the doorway and said, "Ninth Miss, please go in and look for yourself. There should be medical books, though I’m not sure if they include what you need."
Qin Guan nodded and entered the library alone. Though not particularly large, every shelf was packed to the brim. After just a few steps, she spotted the section on medical books. However, medical texts were a niche category, and all the books within her line of sight were ones she had already read, mostly focusing on pharmacology. None covered the theories of bones and meridians she sought. She walked further along the narrow aisles, finding increasingly rare and valuable ancient texts and paintings, some even locked away. Qin Guan couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
Fortunately, she hadn’t held absolute hope. Seeing that she couldn’t find what she wanted, she stepped out empty-handed. Mo Shu and Fuling, noticing her lack of findings, looked apologetic. Mo Shu asked, "What book were you looking for, Ninth Miss? Perhaps we could send someone to purchase it?"
Medical books were often secretively passed down, and the ones she sought were likely rare surviving copies. Qin Guan shook her head. "No need to trouble yourself. It’s not absolutely necessary. If I come across it someday, that’ll be fine."
Hearing her sincerity, Mo Shu sighed. "Very well. Would Ninth Miss like to return to Windward Courtyard now?"
The library was also located in the eastern part of the manor. Qin Guan glanced westward instead. "I’m afraid I still need to go over there."
Mo Shu understood she was assisting Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin with the case and nodded. "Understood. Then this servant will take her leave."
With that, Mo Shu departed first. Qin Guan and Fuling watched her leave before heading west themselves. Taking a shortcut through the flower beds, they soon spotted several osmanthus trees.
The lingering fragrance of the osmanthus cakes they had enjoyed the day before still teased her senses. Qin Guan’s heart ached slightly at the sight of the delicate yellow buds, dampened by the rain and now teetering on the branches. Since her only plan was to examine Consort Liu’s remains and Yan Chi hadn’t arrived yet, she was in no hurry. Pausing, she said, "These buds are about to fall. Let’s pick some to make wine or incense."
Fuling laughed cheerfully. "Hold the umbrella, young miss. This servant will pick them."Qin Guan took the umbrella, and Fuling bounded out cheerfully. It was clear she had a lively nature and loved such amusements, though she had been severely restrained before while serving Ninth Miss. The raindrops fell gently, and the fragile flower buds tumbled down at the slightest touch from Fuling. She pulled out a sachet and a handkerchief from her sleeve, first filling the sachet, then catching the petals with the handkerchief. Neither of them had brought any proper containers, but watching Fuling handle everything so delicately amused Qin Guan, reminding her of days gone by.
She hadn’t always been this gentle and composed. As a child, moving from place to place with her father’s official postings, she never had a proper governess to teach her the refined arts expected of young ladies. Unlike other daughters of noble families, she hadn’t mastered music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. She only took to chess and books because her father enjoyed them—her calligraphy and chess skills were learned from him. Her mother loved the qin, but due to her frail health, she rarely played it herself, let alone taught Qin Guan. As for painting, she was truly an utter novice.
In the second year of her father's appointment as the Chief Inspector of Liangzhou Circuit in the north, two osmanthus trees were planted in his small residence. That year, during the ninth and tenth months, the trees were laden with tiny golden osmanthus blossoms. The delicate buds, fragrant and vibrant, stood out as the most striking sight of autumn in the far harsher and more desolate north compared to the south. At that time, she was just a child. When the old family servant wanted to pick the blossoms to make cakes for her, she stopped them. The little girl stood under the tree with a handkerchief, eagerly waiting for the blossoms to fall. Her mother laughed at her foolishness, but her father lifted her up to touch the osmanthus branches.
Her small, pale hands—one cupped beneath, the other gently tapping the branch—caused the golden blossoms to flutter into her palm. The contrast of her white hands against the golden flowers was enchanting. She buried her face in her palms, inhaling deeply, nearly intoxicated by the warm, sweet fragrance at such a tender age...
"Miss, miss! Let’s go back and fetch a big tray to collect more!"
Fuling’s cheerful voice, like a magpie’s call, snapped Qin Guan out of her reverie. She blinked and saw that Fuling’s sachet was already full, and her own handkerchief was overflowing with blossoms, now requiring both hands to hold them.
Qin Guan smiled slightly. "Alright, we’ll have Wan Tang and the others come pick some later!"
Fuling grinned, closing her eyes to savor the scent. "It smells so wonderful! I’d love to have Aunt Liu’s osmanthus cakes!"
Qin Guan chuckled. Seeing Fuling still standing under the tree in the rain, she stepped forward to shield her with an umbrella. "If you want some, we’ll visit her later and ask her to make them for you tomorrow. Don’t forget to bring some pastries too..."
As Qin Guan spoke, the umbrella reached Fuling’s shoulder when suddenly— rip .
Both mistress and maid froze, looking up in unison. The elegant green bamboo umbrella had been torn by a stray branch. Qin Guan frowned, while Fuling pouted. "Oh no... this was the prettiest umbrella in our courtyard! I always carried it because it suited you so well..."
Qin Guan sighed regretfully. "My fault—I didn’t see it."
"No, no! It’s my fault for standing under the tree..."
As they bickered, a group approached from the path beside the osmanthus trees. The leader, spotting Qin Guan and Fuling, hurried over. "Greetings, Ninth Miss..."
Qin Guan turned, surprised to see Cai He. "What brings you here?"
Cai He glanced back at the male servants standing a short distance away. "Ninth Miss, haven’t you heard? Yesterday, the Prefect and the Crown Prince declared the Purple Bamboo Forest no longer needed investigation. But the Old Madam is still uneasy about the well, so she ordered it filled."
Qin Guan eyed the mud-stained boots of the workers. "Is it done?"
Cai He nodded. "Nearly finished. The bricks from the old flower shed have been relaid too. Now the Old Madam should rest easier. You wouldn’t believe how poorly she’s slept these past two days."
A strange feeling settled in Qin Guan’s heart. Had Jiang Shi’s superstitions truly reached such extremes?Cai He was speaking when she noticed the odd way Qin Guan and Cai He were standing. Raising her gaze, she saw the umbrella in Qin Guan's hand had been pierced. "Ah, the umbrella is damaged. Ninth Miss, shall this servant fetch you a new one? This one can be discarded."
Qin Guan stepped forward, examining the tear, and shook her head. "It's fine, just a small hole."
Cai He sensed Qin Guan's fondness for the umbrella. "This umbrella is truly elegant and beautiful. Later, this servant will have someone bring you some paper umbrellas from the storeroom?"
This was more than satisfactory. Qin Guan suddenly realized that Cai He's favor with Jiang Shi at such a young age was not unfounded.
"That would be wonderful. Thank you for your trouble."
Cai He curtsied. "How could this servant dare accept such gratitude? Please wait a moment, Ninth Miss."
Qin Guan nodded, and Cai He left with a few male servants. Watching her depart, Fuling whispered, "Sister Cai He is so adept at handling people. She knew exactly what you were thinking at a glance."
Qin Guan smiled. "That's why she can serve as Old Madam's personal attendant. Let's hurry back. Fortunately, the umbrella is only slightly torn and can still cover us..."
Her tone was light, her smile genuine. Fuling, clutching a handkerchief full of osmanthus flowers, ducked under the umbrella, her mood unprecedentedly joyful. "Miss, do you remember? In the past, the master and mistress would have people pick osmanthus flowers in autumn. Back then, this servant picked the most and was even rewarded by the master for it."
Qin Guan made a sound of acknowledgment. "What did you get?"
Fuling pouted. "Ah, this servant knew you wouldn’t remember. But it was so long ago. The master gave this servant a pendant! I wore it all the time, but last year when you fell ill, that Qian Bairen took it from me."
Qin Guan frowned. "Such a thing happened?"
Fuling snorted. "Indeed! That’s why he’s no good!"
Qin Guan sighed. "Next time, I’ll buy you something even better..."
"This servant doesn’t want it. This servant only wishes for your well-being!" Fuling straightened her posture. "If a pendant could cure your illness, this servant thinks it was well worth it!"
Qin Guan said no more but silently noted the matter. Earlier, reminiscing about the past had stirred some melancholy, but seeing Fuling lightened her heart. Yet, it also reminded her of the distant capital.
Over a month had passed since that incident. Prince Yong had ascended to the position of Crown Prince, so presumably, everything had concluded. Yet here she remained, adrift in Jinzhou. When would she ever have the chance to return to the capital?
The mistress and servant returned to the courtyard. Fuling first set down the gathered osmanthus flowers, then called for Wan Tang and the others. After a few instructions, Wan Tang led Wan Xing and Wan Tao to pick more flowers. Inside the room, Qin Guan placed the fresh osmanthus atop the incense burner, letting the fragrance of agarwood and osmanthus blend and fill the entire space.
"Miss, are you making incense like this?"
Fuling widened her eyes in curiosity. Qin Guan explained, "In the past, people burned pine and tangerine peel as incense. Though there are proper methods for making incense, our way also perfumes the room. Isn’t that achieving the same end through different means?"
Fuling gazed at Qin Guan with sparkling eyes. "How do you know so much..."
Before she could finish, the courtyard gate creaked softly. Fuling stood up. "That must be the paper umbrellas being delivered!"As she spoke, Fuling quickly walked out. Qin Guan only heard her exchange a few words with someone before Fuling returned shortly after, carrying a stack of umbrella paper. However, as soon as she entered, Fuling sighed with a wry smile, "Miss, this is really... We asked for green umbrella paper, but the servant brought us pink instead. What should we do now?"
Qin Guan glanced over and, sure enough, the umbrella paper in Fuling's arms was a soft pink hue.
Fuling sighed. "Cai He must not have specified the color we wanted. Or perhaps the servant in the storeroom did it on purpose. Miss, should we go back and ask for new ones?"
Qin Guan studied the paper for a moment, then curved her lips slightly. "No need."
Fuling made a surprised sound, and Qin Guan stood up. "Go fetch the scissors and bring the leftover White Apricot Cream from yesterday."
Though unsure of Qin Guan's intentions, Fuling obeyed. Qin Guan took the pink umbrella paper and swiftly cut it into shape. Then, she instructed Fuling to bring in the bamboo umbrella, which had dried by then. Fuling opened the umbrella, and Qin Guan leaned over, carefully attaching the pink paper. Moments later, she straightened up. "Take a look..."
Fuling immediately lifted the umbrella and gasped. The originally plain ink-washed lotus design now featured a delicate pink lotus, its petals faintly visible amidst the ink strokes. The elegant monochrome painting suddenly gained color and vibrancy. Fuling beamed. "Miss, you're... truly amazing!"
A rare glimmer of pride flickered in Qin Guan's eyes, though she remained composed. A soft smile reached her usually cool and distant gaze, brightening her expression. She glanced out the window. "Has no one from the yamen come today?"
Fuling replied, "No, the Crown Prince hasn't arrived yet."
Qin Guan turned to Fuling briefly. "I meant the yamen..."
Fuling, busy folding the umbrella, continued absentmindedly, "Oh, I thought you meant the Crown Prince. These days, you've been talking to him much more than before."
At this remark, Qin Guan seemed to realize it too. Ever since discovering Yan Chi's true identity, he had officially taken charge of investigating the case. Unlike before, when he merely observed, he now led the inquiry, deepening their interactions. Yan Chi was sharp-witted and resourceful—despite it being his first time handling a case, he always grasped her deductions without needing further explanation. Though they had never been close before, they now shared an unexpected synergy.
Since Yan Chi hadn't arrived yet and much time had already passed, Qin Guan decided not to go to the western courtyard for now. Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open again, accompanied by cheerful laughter. Qin Guan knew it was Wan Tang and the others returning, so she stood and went out to greet them.
In the courtyard, Wan Tang and the others each carried a small bamboo basket and held an umbrella. Even standing quietly in the drizzle, they made for a delightful sight. Wan Tang stepped forward first upon seeing Qin Guan. "Miss, we followed your instructions and didn’t gather too much."
Qin Guan nodded, and Wan Tang and the others closed their umbrellas, handing over their baskets.
Fuling scanned them one by one, then suddenly spotted a few small white daisies in one of the baskets. Her eyes lit up. "You even picked some 'Fragrant Snow Sea'..." She paused, uncertain. "Ah, are these 'Fragrant Snow Sea' or 'Jade Phoenix on the Terrace'?"Both Xiangxuehai and Yaotai Yufeng were highly prized white chrysanthemum varieties in the Great Zhou Dynasty. At the peak of their bloom, their frost-defying, snow-rivaling blossoms were as large as bowls, making them must-have varieties for wealthy families to admire. Fuling examined the flower buds, momentarily unsure which variety they were, as the differences between these two white chrysanthemums were minimal, especially when the buds had yet to open.
Wan Tao stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's Xiangxuehai. Look, Sister Fuling, these are unopened Xiangxuehai buds. If you part the center, you'll see yellow pistils, though they're not visible yet. I cut them with the stems, so we can place them on Miss's desk. They'll bloom in a few days!"
Fuling peered closely at the spot Wan Tao indicated. "Oh, you're right..."
Just as Fuling was about to praise Wan Tao, who was clearly waiting for approval, Qin Guan suddenly turned and hurried into the house. Her abrupt movement startled the others, and Wan Tao blinked, her excitement fading into unease. "Did... did I say or do something wrong...?"
Fuling set down the bamboo basket. "I'll go check. Wait here—it's fine."
She followed Qin Guan inside, finding her in the inner chamber, standing with her back turned, head slightly bowed as if studying something. Puzzled, Fuling approached and glanced over—only to stifle a laugh.
Qin Guan was still holding the bone fragment. Her sudden departure had been to examine it further!
Fuling sighed inwardly, convinced her mistress was utterly bewitched. She was about to speak when Qin Guan looked up, her eyes alight with realization.
"How could I have missed it... So that's how it is..."
Qin Guan's eyes gleamed like moonlight, her face radiant with sudden understanding. Yet her words made no sense to Fuling.
Bewildered, Fuling asked, "What's wrong, Miss? What did you miss?"
Qin Guan glanced down at the bone again, as if confirming something, then met Fuling's gaze. "I didn't realize... I always assumed these were adult bones, so I didn't recognize them... But who said they had to be an adult's? They could very well belong to a young girl whose bones hadn't fully developed..."
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