Coroner's Diary

Qin Guan walked swiftly along the path outside the Purple Bamboo Forest.

The midnight rain was cold as needles, slanting sideways beneath her umbrella to sting her skin. Her palms were icy, yet she unconsciously clenched her sleeves tighter. Her eyes were dark and heavy, brows tightly knit. Fuling, who was almost jogging to keep up behind her, had never seen Qin Guan wear such an expression before.

Before they even drew near, they could already see the Purple Bamboo Forest illuminated by countless lights.

The night rain pattered steadily. Though a cool wind blew through the bamboo grove, a misty haze of rain still lingered. The scent of bamboo mingled with the pungent odor of damp earth, assaulting Qin Guan’s senses. She walked along the forest path strewn with broken branches and half-rotted leaves, her shoes quickly soaked by the water pooled beneath the debris. But she had no time to mind such things.

Following the main path deeper in, the clamor of yamen officers grew louder the farther they went. Just from the commotion, it was clear this was no simple well-digging operation—Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin had mobilized far more men than usual.

"Your Highness, Ninth Miss has arrived!"

Bai Feng quickened his steps and announced softly.

Yan Chi, standing further ahead, turned at the sound and immediately spotted Qin Guan approaching under her umbrella. The rain continued to fall, leaving the entire forest drenched. Yan Chi’s gaze dipped slightly, taking in the damp hem of her skirt and her soaked shoes. His brow furrowed briefly before he strode forward to meet her. Qin Guan curtsied in greeting, while Fuling held the umbrella over her.

Seeing Yan Chi approach, Fuling hastily lowered her eyes, not daring to look directly at him. Yet the next moment, the umbrella handle was abruptly taken from her grasp. Before she could react, her hands were empty.

Fuling looked up in confusion at Yan Chi, only for him to say, "Go fetch a hand-warmer for your mistress."

Fuling was stunned. Qin Guan straightened, equally taken aback. "Your Highness, there’s no need—"

"Who says there’s no need?" Yan Chi’s tone brooked no argument. With utmost seriousness, he briefly clasped Qin Guan’s hands, which were folded before her. The touch was fleeting, devoid of any impropriety—yet he showed no hesitation despite the many onlookers.

"Your hands are too cold. We need you here, but we can’t let you catch a chill."

His gaze shifted back to Fuling. Though his expression held no threat, the sheer intensity of that glance sent a tremor through her. Fuling nodded rapidly. "Yes, this servant will go at once—"

With that, she turned and hurried off. Yan Chi switched the umbrella to his other hand and moved to stand beside Qin Guan, sheltering her beneath it.

For a brief moment, Qin Guan stood frozen. She was cold—especially her hands at her sides. The slanting rain had left droplets on her skin, and when Yan Chi had touched her without warning, the warmth of his palm had seeped into her. The contact had been brief, the heat dissipating almost as soon as he withdrew. Yet as she adjusted the fold of her hands, her left covering the spot he had touched, she inexplicably felt her skin was no longer quite so icy.

The idle thought vanished as quickly as it had come. Qin Guan frowned at the sight of the massive, excavated well opening not far ahead. "What’s the situation below? Bai Feng mentioned there’s more than one skeleton?"Yan Chi nodded, holding an umbrella with one hand as he stood beside Qin Guan. His hand was slightly behind, ensuring the entire canopy sheltered her head while his own shoulder remained exposed to the rain, yet he seemed unbothered by the dampness.

“They’re still digging below. In just this short time, they’ve uncovered three skulls and a pile of fragmented bones. This time, they’ve gone deeper than before. After removing the newly filled soil, they dug another two feet into the sludge beneath. Within that two feet of mud, they found a few scattered bone fragments, but the actual skeletons were all buried beneath that layer.”

Yan Chi’s voice was steady, his gaze sharp as an eagle’s. Qin Guan glanced at him, and from her angle, she could see the sharp contours of his profile and the resolute, icy determination in his eyes. Qin Guan was naturally meticulous, and Yan Chi seemed the same. She studied him for a moment before lifting her gaze to the bamboo umbrella above. Unlike Fuling, who had held the umbrella too low and unsteadily, Yan Chi kept it high and firm, tilting it slightly against the rain’s angle. Not a single drop had touched her since.

A faint sense of reassurance settled in Qin Guan’s heart. “Being buried two feet deep in sludge suggests it was intentionally concealed. As for the bone fragments mixed in the mud, it’s likely because the once-active well dried up over the years, causing the sludge and stones to sink while the sand and soil rose.” She paused briefly before adding, “Also, earlier I saw Third Uncle being escorted out of Qin Manor by Eldest Brother.”

Yan Chi didn’t even flicker an eyebrow at this, merely turning to her and saying, “There are people stationed around Qin Manor. You needn’t worry.” Then, unable to resist, he asked, “You went to the front courtyard earlier?”

Qin Guan pressed her lips together slightly. “I heard that Old Madam had fainted, yet Eldest Brother went to the front courtyard to fetch a physician. That seemed odd, so I went to check. That’s when I happened to see Third Uncle being escorted out.”

Yan Chi looked at her. “Even within Qin Manor, danger isn’t absent.”

This statement made Qin Guan understand his meaning immediately. It reminded her of Ninth Miss’s death. Indeed, apart from Liu Shi and Liu Chun’s deaths, there was another—one that had been concealed because of her. The hidden threats within Qin Manor ran far deeper and more complex than they appeared.

Qin Guan lowered her eyes. “Yes, I was too careless earlier…”

Because it involved Qin Chen, she hadn’t immediately associated him with danger. But now that she thought about it, the distance between the inner and outer courtyards was considerable, and an ambush along the way could have easily harmed her.

Qin Guan was usually meticulous, rarely feeling that she had overlooked something. Perhaps it was Yan Chi’s overwhelming presence, or perhaps she sensed his genuine concern, but she didn’t mind admitting her lapse in judgment. Seeing her slightly bowed head, Yan Chi felt an inexplicable warmth in his chest. Then, subtly, he shifted a step closer to her right.

Now, he was even nearer, his presence enveloping her completely. Whether it was the eerie atmosphere of the Purple Bamboo Forest or the chilling rain of the night, Yan Chi couldn’t shake the feeling that Qin Guan looked small and solitary at this moment—as if, if he didn’t stay close, the lurking demons of the bamboo grove would swallow her whole.The rain drizzled down as the yamen runners above and below the well continued shouting. Huo Huaixin stood by the well, alternately asking if anything had been discovered below and questioning why the dispatched personnel hadn't arrived yet. Amidst the clamor and bustle, Qin Guan remained unaware of Yan Chi's thoughts. She simply stared at the dark, gaping hole and suddenly asked, "How far is this well from the one beneath the flower shed?"

Caught off guard by the question, Yan Chi hadn't quite figured it out either. He turned to look behind him, estimating, "About twenty zhang or so. Why do you ask? What's the matter..."

Qin Guan frowned. "When Sixth Sister fell into the well that day, she also mentioned touching dead bones. Now I'm wondering if there really were human remains in that well. Your Highness said they've already discovered three skulls down there. I fear if they dig deeper, they'll find even more remains. How could such a small Qin Manor contain so many dead bodies?"

Yan Chi pondered briefly. "The prefectural yamen hasn't dispatched enough personnel yet. Once Qi Lin arrives, we can examine that well too. With so many remains, this case is no simple matter of homicide."

Qin Guan nodded, taking a deep breath. "No wonder Third Uncle wanted to leave earlier..."

As she spoke, Yan Chi turned to Bai Feng. "Go check outside the manor and see what's happening."

Then he called out to Huo Huaixin, who was wiping sweat nearby, "Prefect—"

At his call, Huo Huaixin hurried over. Seeing Yan Chi holding an umbrella for Qin Guan, he first gasped in surprise before stumbling his way forward.

On this cold, desolate rainy night, Qin Guan was stiff with chill, yet Huo Huaixin kept wiping sweat. Everyone, even Qin Guan, had assumed there might be one or two more sets of remains buried beneath the well at most. But three had been unearthed all at once. For Huo Huaixin, the Prefect of Jinzhou, this case had suddenly transformed from a current homicide into a major cold case spanning years. With so many lives buried in Qin Manor, if there was no explanation, if they couldn't solve it, his official position would likely be forfeit.

"Your Highness, what are your instructions?"

Qin Manor was among the nobility of Jinzhou city, and with its connection to Loyal Marquis Manor, Huo Huaixin had always sought to cultivate their acquaintance. Even now, with this incident, he had treated Jiang Shi, Lin Shi, and Qin An with considerable consideration. However, the law outweighed personal connections. At this point, Huo Huaixin knew that any misstep could affect his official career, leaving him somewhat at a loss. Only now did he feel immensely grateful that the Emperor had bestowed upon Yan Chi the title of Judicial Inspector.

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes at Huo Huaixin's flustered state. "Given the circumstances, Qin Manor must temporarily be treated as a criminal household. All masters and servants within must be detained—not a single one may escape. Once the excavation here is nearly complete, they must be rigorously interrogated. These numerous remains signify a matter of grave importance."

Huo Huaixin wiped his sweat again. "Yes, yes... This humble official understands... I will issue the orders immediately."Huo Huaixin nodded repeatedly, then turned to summon a bailiff and whispered instructions. The bailiff immediately left the Purple Bamboo Forest. Huo Huaixin's heart was filled with bitterness. Earlier, he had solved Song Rou's case—though it had taken some time, at least he hadn't made any mistakes. By year's end, it could be included in his performance review as a political achievement. But who would have thought that before the evaluation even began, the Qin Manor would be embroiled in chaos again? Initially, he had assumed it was just internal scheming or a crime of passion—nothing major. Yet he never expected that what seemed like an ordinary homicide would uncover such a shocking secret tied to the Qin Manor's forbidden grounds...

"Sir, we've dug up another skull down here..."

Before Huo Huaixin could steady his emotions, the bailiff by the well suddenly called out. At these words, his bitterness deepened, and cold sweat beaded even more heavily on his forehead.

Yan Chi and Qin Guan also heard it, their expressions darkening.

The well's interior was poorly lit, and the bailiffs had no medical expertise. For now, they could only estimate the number of deaths based on the skulls. This fourth skull meant at least four people were buried down there. How had they died?

The bailiff's words also unsettled the other officers above the well. Although the Jinzhou Prefectural Office often handled cases, most were minor, like Lin Daxing's. The successive deaths of Liu Shi and Liu Chun had already been somewhat tricky murder cases. But they never expected Liu Chun and Liu Shi's deaths were just the beginning—not only had two people died in succession, but Second Concubine's remains had also been unearthed. Before her bones could even be buried, they discovered the well was a mass grave...

If not for the crowd present, even these burly bailiffs would have felt their scalps prickle.

"Light a few more torches and clear some of the sludge from here."

Several officers lit additional torches, instantly brightening the well's surroundings like daylight. The area had already been excavated once before, filled back in by the people from the Qin Mansion, and now dug up again, leaving it a complete mess. Dry soil and mud mixed together, forming small hills around the well. Some bailiffs worked at the well's mouth, while others carried out the excavated sludge. The comings and goings, shouts, and clamor, combined with the rustling bamboo and chilly wind and rain, momentarily dispelled the eerie atmosphere.

Before long, Fuling arrived, holding an umbrella and carrying a hand warmer.

"Young Lady, take this quickly..."

Fuling held a small blue-and-white hand warmer with agate-green patterns, filled with agarwood and a piece of silver-veined charcoal, providing just the right warmth. As she handed it over, she accidentally brushed Qin Guan's hand and was startled to find it as cold as ice. She glanced up at Yan Chi, surprised that he had been even more attentive and thoughtful than she was.Fuling held her own umbrella, casting another glance at Yan Chi, who showed no intention of returning hers. She had no choice but to step back and stand aside, holding the umbrella herself. Once she moved behind them, she was out of Yan Chi’s line of sight, and she inexplicably felt a sense of relief. From her vantage point, she saw Yan Chi sheltering Qin Guan entirely under his umbrella, and warmth stirred in her heart. Looking again, she noticed Yan Chi’s tall, imposing figure, exuding an aura of authority, while Qin Guan, draped in a cape, stood gracefully and elegantly beneath his umbrella. The two of them sharing one umbrella truly resembled a painting. Fuling blinked. Compared to Yue Qing, Prince Rui’s Heir indeed seemed a far better match for her young mistress...

Qin Guan, standing ahead, was oblivious to Fuling’s musings. Her attention was fixed on the bustling activity around the well, and she couldn’t resist the urge to step forward and see how the constables were working below. But the moment she took a step, Yan Chi pressed a hand against her arm to stop her.

“The ground ahead is covered in mud. Just watch from here.”

Qin Guan halted and glanced down, only to notice Yan Chi’s own boots splattered with mud.

Seeing her reaction, the corners of Yan Chi’s lips curled slightly. “During campaigns with the Northwest Frontier Army, I’ve marched a hundred miles across frozen plains at night and even slept in snow wolf dens. My uniform went unwashed for a month—how could you compare?”

Qin Guan’s heart stirred at his words. She knew soldiers often went long stretches without changing uniforms during battles and ambushes, but this was the first time she’d heard of someone sleeping in a snow wolf’s den. Snow wolves were fierce and lived in packs. To take over their den—regardless of how filthy it was—wouldn’t he have had to fight them off first?

She pondered for a moment. Praising his bravery would likely be redundant, as he must have heard such praise countless times. And to simply call it hardship would hardly do justice to the Northwest Frontier Army’s sacrifices. After a brief pause, she nodded and said, “The Crown Prince truly lives up to his reputation.”

Yan Chi raised a brow, about to respond, when Bai Feng’s figure suddenly emerged from the bamboo grove. He had left swiftly and returned just as quickly—so fast that Qin Guan hadn’t even seen him approach before he was standing beside Yan Chi.

“Master, Qin Laoye was apprehended the moment he stepped out. He couldn’t escape and has been taken back to the front courtyard. The guards at the manor gate have withdrawn to surround his quarters, but our men remain stationed outside. Everything is proceeding smoothly.”

Yan Chi gave a slight nod, his gaze shifting as Qi Lin entered the Purple Bamboo Forest with over a dozen constables in tow.

Seeing Qi Lin’s arrival, Huo Huaixin immediately stepped forward to issue orders. Qi Lin nodded and led his men toward the front courtyard of Qin Manor.

As they departed, Qi Lin instructed, “Gather all the servants in the steward’s courtyard. Find Madam Qin and assemble the young masters and misses in one place. Where is the Old Madam?”

A constable stepped forward. “In the Buddhist shrine to the east.”

Qi Lin’s expression darkened. “Good. You two, go and guard there. Later, the Prefect and the Crown Prince will personally visit. Make sure no one moves around—the Qin Manor must be sealed tight!”

The constables acknowledged in unison, and Qi Lin strode straight toward the front courtyard—Over at the Qin Manor, just as the yamen runners reached the entrance of the Buddhist shrine, Cai He rushed in frantically from outside. "Old Madam, it's terrible! The yamen has sent guards to surround our Buddhist shrine. They say it's by the Prefect's order—no one in the household, master or servant, is allowed to leave or move about from now on. They also said they'll be coming to question you shortly."

Cai He then turned to Lin Shi beside her. "Madam, the yamen runners outside said you must gather all the young masters and misses together, as they'll be questioned collectively later."

Jiang Shi, who had been reclining on the long couch, trembled at these words, nearly dropping her prayer beads.

Her face paled, her brows twitched as she closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. "So be it, so be it..."

Lin Shi beside her had already reddened her eyes. "Mother, what are we to do now?"

Jiang Shi pressed her lips tightly together. "What can we do? All these years... I've often dreamed of this moment. Now, what was meant to come has finally arrived... What else can we do..."

Lin Shi gritted her teeth. "Mother, it's fine if it's just us, but Lord... Lord is even more... Yet Chen'er is still so young! He's the only hope left for our Qin Manor. If this matter comes to light, it will surely affect Chen'er. Could his entire future be ruined because of this? Mother, please think of something—save Chen'er!"

Jiang Shi's hand holding the prayer beads shook violently. When she spoke again, her voice trembled uncontrollably. "This matter has reached a point beyond redemption. Perhaps it's heaven's will—there's no covering it up anymore..."

As Lin Shi sobbed quietly, Jiang Shi suddenly propped herself up from the couch. "No! There is still a way!"

Lin Shi's eyes brightened with hope. Jiang Shi looked at her and said, "Send a letter to the capital. No matter what, Chen'er is still a descendant of the Qin family. The Loyal Marquis Manor still needs Qin descendants to serve them. Quickly, I'll write the letter myself..."

Jiang Shi rose to get up, extending her hand. Cai He hurried over to support her. Breathing heavily with agitation, Jiang Shi shakily made her way to the nearby writing desk. After helping her sit, Cai He quickly fetched paper and brush, arranging them on the desk before bringing over a lamp.

Jiang Shi composed herself before picking up the brush.

The room was silent except for Lin Shi's muffled sobs. Jiang Shi wrote stroke by stroke, her brows tightly knitted into deep furrows. She wrote extremely slowly, as if each character held the fate of Qin Manor in its balance. Only after the time it takes to drink two cups of tea did she finally finish the letter.

"Fetch my seal," Jiang Shi instructed.

Cai He acknowledged and set down the lamp before heading to the inner chamber. Soon she returned carrying Jiang Shi's seal.

Jiang Shi carefully stamped the seal at the end, waiting for the ink to dry slightly before folding the letter. Once folded, she immediately handed it to Lin Shi. "Have someone deliver this letter to the capital at once!"

Understanding this letter was her son's lifeline, Lin Shi quickly accepted it. "Yes, Mother. Rest assured, I'll see to it immediately."

Jiang Shi nodded. "Go now, before the lockdown becomes too strict."

Lin Shi acknowledged and turned to leave.After Lin Shi left, Jiang Shi sat in a daze, lost in thought. Cai He watched with a pang of heartache. "Old Madam, don't worry. All these years of fasting and chanting prayers have surely accumulated blessings for Qin Manor. This crisis will surely pass safely."

Jiang Shi slowly turned her prayer beads but shook her head bitterly. "It's no use. The sins are too great—even the Buddha cannot forgive. This time, our third branch is truly finished. I can only pray... pray that the capital acts swiftly. The sins belong to the elders, not the younger generation in the manor."

Cai He pressed her lips together and frowned. "It hasn't come to that yet, Old Madam. Don't assume the worst."

But Jiang Shi continued shaking her head. "You don't understand. There's no way out of this."

A flicker of confusion crossed Cai He's eyes. "Old Madam, back then—"

At this, Jiang Shi closed her eyes, clearly unwilling to speak further. Realizing she had overstepped, Cai He fell silent and busied herself by brightening the dim lamp. As the light flared, she noticed something startling—Jiang Shi, usually so composed, now had a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead.

With a sigh, Cai He lowered her gaze.

......

......

Qin Chen stood despondently on the corridor. Though Qin Guan had long since departed, he remained there, tall and motionless. The icy wind, laced with rain, lashed at him mercilessly, and soon the hem of his robe was soaked through.

The usual elegance and dignified charm had completely dissipated. Qin Chen's gaze was somewhat unfocused as he stared into the ink-like darkness of the night. The secrets of Qin Manor had been discovered, and the scandal concealed for years was about to be exposed. At this moment, Qin Manor was like a sinking ship. No matter how unwilling he was, what could he do? With his strength alone, how could he turn the tide?

If Qin Manor sank, everyone aboard would sink with it—so many people. Qin An deserved his fate, but what about the others? His younger sisters were yet to be married, and he himself had ambitions yet to be realized. But he knew that in a few days, all his aspirations and ambitions would no longer matter. Qin Manor would be branded a criminal clan, perhaps even implicating others in the household.

A surge of hatred and anger suddenly welled up in Qin Chen's eyes. Never before had he resented being born into Qin Manor as much as he did now. It was a night filled with bitter winds and sorrowful rain. Qin Chen's back bent slightly, as if crushed by an invisible mountain.

"Master, Master, we servants have no choice..."

"Qin Laoye is gravely ill. It's best he stays in his own courtyard."

"Indeed. If anything were to happen outside the manor, there wouldn't even be a physician to be found on the streets."

The voices grew closer. Qin Chen stood frozen for a moment before turning around. A chill had already spread throughout his body, and as he turned, he realized his legs had stiffened from standing too long. Squinting his eyes, Qin Chen saw two government officers in official uniforms following behind the servant carrying Qin An. Qin Chen swayed slightly—it was true, there was no escape.

"Young Master, why are you still here? We..."

The leading servant was startled to see Qin Chen. Coming back to his senses, Qin Chen quickly stepped forward. "I understand. It's nothing. Take the master back."

The servant nodded, and Qin Chen followed them inside. The two officers exchanged glances and stood guard at the courtyard gate. As Qin Chen walked, he glanced back and caught sight of this scene. His eyes darkened. They hurriedly brought Qin An into the room, where only a cape had been draped over him. Once inside, the cape was removed, revealing Qin An's face under the lamplight. Qin Chen immediately noticed the purplish-red chancres on his father's face.

A wave of discomfort rose in his heart. Suppressing the nausea, Qin Chen stepped forward. "Father, we can't leave..."

Qin An was severely ill. For days, he hadn't taken any effective medicine, and now, frightened and weakened, his mind was somewhat delirious. "Can't leave? Why? Why?"

Panic flashed across Qin An's face as he instinctively looked out the window. "Go, we must leave now. We can't stay..."

As he spoke, Qin An tried to stand, but before he could rise, he collapsed in pain. A servant rushed to help him up, urging, "Master, we can't leave. The manor is surrounded by government officials. Weren't we just stopped? There's truly no way out..."

Qin An waved his hand angrily. "Useless! Find Governor Huo! He will surely make an exception..."

Qin An's face twisted with fury. Watching this, Qin Chen felt a pang of pain in his heart, and hatred surged once more. Unwilling to say more, he turned to the servants. "Keep Father here. Don't let him leave this courtyard!"Several servants could see that Qin An was now somewhat out of his mind and quickly nodded. Qin Chen didn’t spare Qin An another glance before turning and striding away. Seeing this, Qin An flew into an even greater rage and began shouting curses.

“Ungrateful son! You ungrateful wretch! Come back here—”

Qin Chen walked briskly, deaf to the insults hurled behind him. Once he passed through the courtyard gate, he glanced at the two bailiffs but said nothing, heading straight for the inner courtyard. As soon as he entered, he noticed far more bailiffs than usual. Before he had taken more than a few steps, his gaze landed on Qi Lin. Qin Chen paused mid-step, while Qi Lin slowly approached.

“Young Master has returned from the outer courtyard? How is Qin Laoye faring?”

Qi Lin’s tone was laced with sarcasm, and Qin Chen’s face flushed with alternating shades of red and green. “He’s fine.”

Qi Lin nodded with a smile. “Good. I was just about to check on Qin Laoye myself. Given his grave illness, more people should be assigned to care for him. By the way, where is Young Master headed?”

Qin Chen replied in an eerily calm voice, “To see Grandmother…”

Qi Lin smirked faintly. “Best not visit Old Madam just yet. Young Master should return to his own courtyard first. Once the questioning is over, you may visit her then. The Prefect and Crown Prince have issued an order—no one in Qin Manor is to wander about freely from this moment onward.”

Qin Chen’s lips pressed into a tight line. He felt as though his entire body had frozen over, his face so stiff he couldn’t even muster an expression of displeasure or anger. Nodding silently, he stepped around Qi Lin and walked expressionlessly toward his own courtyard.

Qi Lin turned to watch Qin Chen’s retreating figure and instructed his men, “Send two to escort the Young Master.”

Two bailiffs acknowledged the order and hurried after him.

Qi Lin sighed and shook his head before turning toward the front courtyard. The bailiffs around him exchanged uneasy glances, and one stepped forward to ask, “Captain, is this the end for Qin Manor?”

Qi Lin scoffed coldly. “Didn’t you see the white bones in the well? Qin Manor has concealed so many lives—what do you think?”

The bailiffs shrank back, not daring to ask further.

……

……

Qin Manor had once been like a grand, opulent official vessel sailing smoothly down the river, carrying the wealth and status of many. Everyone aboard this ship, bearing the Qin name, was bound to its fate—including Qin Guan.

In the Purple Bamboo Forest, Yan Chi had been holding an umbrella over Qin Guan for nearly half an hour. As the mud dredged from the well piled higher, he turned to her and said, “This incident will have a significant impact on Qin Manor—and it won’t leave you untouched. What are your plans?”

Qin Guan seemed surprised by the question. She glanced at him before smiling faintly. “What if I said I have no plans at all—would Crown Prince believe me?”

Yan Chi fell silent for a moment before pressing his lips together and saying nothing more.

Qin Guan withdrew her gaze and turned back toward the well. “I don’t know what will become of Qin Manor—that depends on what’s unearthed from this well. Right now, my fate is indeed tied to it. But this matter clearly has nothing to do with me. And I firmly believe that the laws of Great Zhou are just. Those involved will be punished, and those uninvolved will ultimately remain unharmed.”After a brief pause, Qin Guan continued, "As for wealth and honor... When the Qin Manor was prosperous, those with the surname Qin enjoyed noble status and wealth beyond ordinary people. Since they enjoyed these privileges, they should also bear the consequences when the Qin Manor falls. So, I truly haven't made any plans. Let’s wait until the truth of this case comes to light and a conclusion is reached before discussing further."

Yan Chi narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly. "Ninth Miss is quite carefree..."

Hearing this, Qin Guan merely curved her lips without saying more. It wasn’t that she was carefree—she simply didn’t have deep feelings for the Qin Manor. Although she still didn’t know how many remains lay at the bottom of the well, she could already foresee the Qin Manor’s fate. Its downfall would undoubtedly affect her, but what did it matter? When she was first born, her father was merely a low-ranking official in the judicial court. Life had been hard back then, yet they had managed. Compared to Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang, enduring hardship would pose no difficulty for her. Besides, she had medical skills and knew corpse examination—she needn’t worry about livelihood no matter what.

Qin Guan had thought everything through clearly. With a solution for every situation, she naturally remained calm and composed.

Time passed bit by bit. The torches above the well were replaced several times before shouts soon rose from below. Huo Huaixin stepped forward to listen, then turned and said, "Crown Prince, another skull has been found. Should we bring the remains up?"

Yan Chi’s expression turned serious as he nodded. "Pull them up first."

At Huo Huaixin’s command, the surrounding officers quickly laid out a felt blanket, just like the previous time, intending to pile the skeleton on it for Qin Guan to examine.

The well’s interior was cramped. Soon, a bamboo basket was lowered down. After some time below, the basket was hauled up, revealing the white bones inside more clearly as it ascended. At the very top of the basket was a skull coated in sludge.

The well-digging had already encountered sludge earlier, let alone now, after digging two more feet down. Seeing that all the bones were obscured by the sludge, Huo Huaixin immediately ordered, "Fetch two buckets of water."

The officers hurried off to comply. Meanwhile, the basket was lifted out, and an officer carried it over, dumping the bones onto the felt blanket with a clatter. As they spilled out, several more skulls were exposed. At the sight of them, both Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi frowned. Before Qin Guan could speak, they sensed something amiss.

Huo Huaixin was the first to step forward. Not daring to touch them directly, he picked up a branch to poke at the bones, then frowned. "Strange... these skulls seem somewhat... somewhat..."

"Small!"

After struggling to find the word, Huo Huaixin was interrupted by an officer who blurted it out first. His eyes lit up. "Right! They’re small... somewhat small..."

Yan Chi glanced at Qin Guan, who then walked over to the felt blanket. With a frown, Yan Chi said, "Your guess was correct."Qin Guan had guessed right. Beneath the well were indeed the bones of a child, much smaller than those of an adult, just like the bone she had picked up earlier. She handed the hand warmer to Fuling behind her and crouched down to examine the pile of white bones coated in mud. The details were obscured by the dirt, but the general size of the bones was still discernible.

After scrutinizing them for a moment, Qin Guan said solemnly, "Judging by the size of the bones and the degree of joint connections, the owner of this skeleton was around ten years old." She picked up a dry twig from the ground and prodded the bones lightly. "Around ten, maybe eleven or twelve at most—definitely not older than twelve..."

Her voice trailed off heavily, and silence fell over the surroundings.

If the victims had been adults, one might have speculated they were killed due to some personal vendetta. But these were all young children—what grudge could the vast Qin Manor possibly hold against innocent little ones?

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes, her expression darker than ever before. Having traveled extensively with her father in the past, she had encountered cases involving children before—and such cases were always the most oppressive and harrowing.

"Can you only determine the age? Can you tell how they died?" Huo Huaixin asked impatiently.

Qin Guan shook her head. "We'll have to wait until the mud is cleaned off..."

Just then, the constables sent to fetch water returned, placing four wooden buckets nearby. Several officers began washing the bones in the buckets, placing the cleaned ones to the side. Qin Guan waited until bones of varying sizes had been cleaned before stepping forward to examine them closely. Yan Chi didn't ask any questions but continued holding the umbrella over her.

Rolling up her sleeves, Qin Guan picked up each bone one by one—skull, femur, ribs, even finger bones—inspecting them carefully. Huo Huaixin moved closer, holding a torch to illuminate her work.

Under the torch's bright light, Qin Guan's eyes were cold and focused as she examined each bone. Gradually, her brows furrowed deeply. The officers around them didn't dare make a sound, and even the wind in the bamboo grove seemed to still. The only sound left was the soft patter of rain. Bone after bone, Qin Guan worked until the pile beside her formed a small mound. Only then did she finally pause.

Looking at the mound of bones, Yan Chi noticed with sharp eyes that Qin Guan's fingers were trembling slightly.

His breath hitched, and a sense of foreboding rose in his chest. "What is it?" he asked urgently.

Qin Guan pressed her lips together, swallowing hard before answering hoarsely, "Girls... all of them were young girls..."