The long table had been newly brought out, with all the white bones placed upon it cleaned thoroughly, free of any mud. Qin Guan walked behind the table and immediately noticed the few bones in Xu He's hands.
Xu He added, "Ninth Miss, these bones were arranged randomly by me based on their sizes. I’m not sure if there are any mistakes. Please take a look. But here—these bones are roughly the same size, yet I noticed there seems to be an extra finger bone. Did I arrange them incorrectly?"
Xu He had been imitating Qin Guan’s method of piecing the bones together. At a glance, Qin Guan could see that Xu He learned extremely quickly—aside from some minor misplacements of fragmented bones, there were no major issues.
Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "Let me see..."
She examined them carefully, then glanced at the piles of bones on the table. Soon, her expression darkened. "This seems to be... a sixth finger."
Xu He was momentarily stunned. "A sixth finger?"
In some places, people with six fingers were considered blessed, while others saw it as an ill omen. But Qin Guan knew it was simply a medical condition. She picked up a few nearby finger bones for comparison and nodded firmly. "It is indeed a sixth finger. The extra one grew beside the thumb. Look, the epiphyseal trace here is still visible."
Xu He peered closely and indeed saw a connecting mark. He sighed. "So, a little girl with six fingers was taken. With so many children’s remains, who knows what this was all for..."
As they spoke, Yan Chi emerged from the Purple Bamboo Forest. Qin Guan quickly stepped forward to bow. "Crown Prince."
Yan Chi nodded. "No need to come so early."
Qin Guan shook her head. "It’s fine." She glanced around but didn’t see Huo Huaixin. "Where is the Prefect? Did last night’s questioning yield anything?"
Yan Chi shook his head. "I haven’t reviewed the case files yet, but it seems nothing was uncovered."
"And Third Uncle..." Qin Guan truly disliked addressing him as such, but to avoid suspicion, she had no choice. As the words left her lips, Yan Chi’s expression darkened slightly. "Not yet. It’s said Qin Laoye was in a daze last night, causing a commotion before fainting. Lord Huo checked on him just moments ago—he still hasn’t woken up."
Qin Guan frowned deeply. "It seems we can only wait. What about the others?"
Yan Chi walked toward the long table as he spoke. "The young masters and misses of the manor are unrelated to the events of that year. After questioning last night, they were allowed to return to their quarters but are forbidden from wandering. The Old Madam and the madam must know the truth behind the incident. Lord Huo has already stationed people outside their courtyards to keep watch."
The Qin Manor’s third branch had a simple household structure. Given that this was a decade-old matter, only the elders would know the details. Yet, recalling Qin Li’s strange behavior earlier, Qin Guan suddenly felt he must know something as well.
Keeping this in mind, she quietly resumed piecing together the skeleton with Xu He.After washing away the mud, it became easier to spot the marks on the skeleton. Though Qin Guan hadn't discovered anything yet, she remained cautious. As Fuling had mentioned, beneath the flower shed, not only the well opening but also the surrounding area had been extensively dug up. The entire courtyard was now marred by a deep trench, with occasional white bones emerging from the mud below.
"We've found the skeletons of nine young girls so far. It's impossible that all of them were homeless children..." Xu He muttered to himself as he helped clean the bones...
Hearing this, Qin Guan's thoughts settled, and she quickly turned to Yan Chi. "Crown Prince, I recall a case file in the Jinzhou Prefecture records mentioning the disappearance of a twelve-year-old girl ten years ago?"
Yan Chi nodded. Qin Guan glanced at the long table. "With so many missing girls, it's unlikely no one reported their disappearances. If the numbers don't add up in Jinzhou, they might be from neighboring prefectures."
Yan Chi frowned. "The neighboring prefectures are Jianzhou and Huzhou. I'll send someone to inquire immediately."
Qin Guan gave an affirmative hum. As Yan Chi walked away to instruct Bai Feng, she turned back to assembling the skeletons. With so many white bones, she needed to roughly determine how many individuals they belonged to. While counting the skulls would suffice, Qin Guan remained meticulous, unsure if any bones had been missed in the mud.
After working diligently for nearly half an hour, another constable arrived from the direction of the Purple Bamboo Forest.
"Crown Prince, we've found another skull..."
Qin Guan's brow furrowed slightly, and Xu He's voice trembled. "Ten people... The Jinzhou Prefecture hasn't seen a case this large in years. This will likely need to be reported to the Ministry of Justice."
With a grim expression, Yan Chi followed the constable toward the Purple Bamboo Forest. Another half-hour passed before two constables emerged carrying a basket filled with white bones. The rain had gradually lightened, nearly stopping by noon. With all the constables at Qin Manor, Huo Huaixin arranged for the manor's kitchen to prepare lunch, allowing everyone a brief respite. It was then that Qin Guan returned to Orchid Isle Courtyard to eat.
"Miss, a servant who delivered food to the main courtyard earlier said Third Master seems to be losing his mind..."
Qin Guan, mid-bite, raised an eyebrow. "Losing his mind? Could it be an act?"
Recalling Yan Chi's previous treatment of Qin An's feigned stupidity, Qin Guan suspected this might be another ruse. Fuling also frowned. "Perhaps. Maybe Third Master has no other way to cover his crimes now that they've been exposed and is resorting to playing mad? Miss, I've heard some wealthy families not only take many concubines but also indulge in other... entertainments. Could it be..."
Fuling's voice trembled, as if afraid to continue.
Qin Guan lost her appetite and set down her chopsticks after a final sip of soup.
Gazing out the window, she noticed the rain that had persisted for days had finally ceased. Just as she prepared to step out, a clear voice rang out...
"How strange, the rain stopped just as I reached the gate!"
Hearing this, Qin Guan's spirits lifted, and she couldn't suppress a hint of joy in her eyes. She turned and hurried outside, where a striking figure strode into the courtyard. "Princess, what brings you here..."Qin Guan curtsied slightly, but Yue Ning merely snorted and walked past her straight through the door.
"I had intended to visit after the incident at your manor, but thought it might be improper at the time. These past few days, news of Qin Manor has spread throughout Jinzhou City. Since you haven't been to the marquis's residence, Grandmother and Mother grew concerned and sent me to check on you." Yue Ning spoke as she took a seat by the bed, then looked Qin Guan up and down for a moment. "You seem to have lost weight."
Qin Guan smiled as she entered the room. "Not at all. Please convey my gratitude to the Grand Princess and the Madam for their concern."
Having not seen Yue Ning for days, Qin Guan was genuinely pleased and personally poured tea for her. Fuling stood to the side, watching with visible joy—after everything that had happened, it truly warmed her heart to see someone visiting her young mistress.
After a pause, Qin Guan's faint smile faded slightly. "Has it really spread throughout Jinzhou City?"
Yue Ning sighed. Now that they were discussing Qin Manor's affairs, it was no time for jokes. "Yes. No one knows how the rumors started. Some say numerous children's remains were dug up from an abandoned well in Qin Manor. Others claim the master of Qin Manor practiced dark arts, or that the manor harbors fox spirits that devour people. There are even those who say the Qin family's descendants have been dying young due to their lack of blessings..."
Qin Guan handed Yue Ning a cup of tea, her heart unperturbed. With so many servants in Qin Manor and the comings and goings of yamen runners, it was impossible to keep such a matter concealed. In this small city of Jinzhou where little out of the ordinary ever happened, this incident would likely become the talk of the town for a long time to come.
"This is no small matter—it couldn't be hidden." Qin Guan sighed with a bitter smile. "At this point, Qin Manor's reputation is already beyond salvaging. Having committed such heinous acts, it's only right that people are talking."
Yue Ning's expression hardened. "Just how many remains were found..."
"Ten so far, and they're still digging. There may be more."
Yue Ning's grip on her teacup tightened slightly. "This... truly deserves death."
Qin Guan nodded. "The interrogation hasn't begun yet, so the exact reasons remain unknown. But just the sight of so many children's remains is enough to make one's scalp crawl. Whoever is involved, anyone who knew about this cannot escape responsibility."
"No wonder you haven't been to the marquis's residence. Grandmother also said this Qin Manor affair is no small matter."
Qin Guan quickly asked, "How is the Grand Princess's health? And how is Young Master Wei's leg? The prescriptions I brought last time should last at least ten days to half a month. With all the turmoil in the manor these past few days, I haven't had the chance to visit."
Yue Ning set down her teacup reassuringly. "All is well. Grandmother's health improves daily, and Young Master Wei's leg injury has nearly healed. As you instructed, he's been very well-behaved lately."
Qin Guan nodded, then suddenly remembered something else. "By the way, what about the people from Duke Song's residence in the capital?"Yue Ning snorted coldly upon hearing this. "Song Rou's father came, bringing many rare treasures as gifts of apology, but Grand Princess refused every single one and sent them all back. Master Song stayed at the manor for two days, attempting to see Grand Princess several times without success. He could only plead with my father, who responded vaguely, saying the matter would be decided by the Emperor. Just yesterday, it was His Highness the Crown Prince's people who brought news that in the capital, the Emperor has reduced the hereditary privileges of Duke Song's household, changing the hereditary title to only three generations and demoting it to a marquisate. There have also been movements in the palace. Though the Emperor hasn't said anything yet, people are already making trouble for that young lady from the Song family who entered the palace."
The Duke Song's household, due to its hereditary ducal status, ranked among the foremost of the capital's nobility. Now, with the dukedom reduced to a marquisate lasting only three generations, it meant that after Song Rou's father inherited the title, it would only pass down one more generation before disappearing entirely. Unless future descendants of the household performed great deeds to have the hereditary privilege restored, the Duke Song's household would soon become simply the Song household, no different from the Wei household.
"His Majesty feels guilty in his heart and dares not fail to give Grand Princess an explanation."
Yue Ning gave a light snort. "Grandmother is still angry and didn't want Song Rou's father to stay long. Out of consideration for his recent loss of his daughter, she didn't make things difficult for him and let him return to the capital early."
Qin Guan sighed slightly. "So this matter is finally settled."
Yue Ning narrowed her eyes. "I'm afraid it's far from settled. On the surface, this appears to be a matter between the Duke Song's household and Marquis Anyang Manor, but now that it involves the Duke's hereditary title and that person in the palace, things have become complicated. I don't know the specifics, but yesterday I overheard Grandmother and Father discussing how the court struggles are intensifying, and someone intends to use this incident to their advantage."
Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "Court struggles intensifying? Hasn't the Crown Prince's position already been decided?"
"Yes, it's decided, but... His Majesty is still in his prime. Who can say what might happen in the future? At court, arguments can be made for appointing the legitimate heir, the eldest son, or the most virtuous—there's always room for manipulation. Once they find fault with the Crown Prince, the political climate in the capital could shift again. You've read many books and spent your childhood in the capital, so you must understand how alluring that position is. As long as the Crown Prince hasn't ascended the throne, others will always have opportunities."
Yue Ning's tone carried a solemnity. Watching her, Qin Guan faintly saw traces of Yue Qiong in her demeanor. Though Yue Ning resembled Jiang Shi in appearance, her temperament took more after Grand Princess and Yue Qiong. Qin Guan nodded. "I understand. Grand Princess may be angry, but she likely doesn't want this incident to be exploited for political gain."
A light flashed in Yue Ning's eyes. "You truly have keen insight! That's exactly what Grandmother thinks. Though we're in Jinzhou, court affairs—especially those concerning the imperial succession—always have far-reaching implications. Grandmother has no wish to get entangled in them!"
A heaviness settled in Qin Guan's heart. Though she had only been to the palace three times—each occasion being during New Year's banquets when she accompanied her mother to pay respects and receive gifts—those brief visits alone had allowed her to sense both the grandeur and the undercurrents of the palace. Combined with her father's occasional remarks and the bloodstained records of history, she needed no further explanation to understand how terrifying struggles for power could be.
"Grand Princess has far-sighted wisdom and naturally knows what course is best."
Yue Ning nodded, then suddenly stood up. "I came to the manor not just to see you but also to help. Come, take me to see where I can be of assistance..."Qin Guan focused her gaze. "I'm afraid there's nothing for the princess to do. Surely you can't join everyone in digging up dirt? The Prefect has sent enough constables—there's no need for your help..."
"Then what are you doing?"
Yue Ning turned to ask Qin Guan, who hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'm helping to sort through the bones that have been dug up."
Yue Ning lifted her chin. "Then that settles it. I can do that too. Come on, take me to see..."
As she spoke, Yue Ning moved to pull Qin Guan along. Qin Guan gave a wry smile. "But those are all ghastly white human bones. Are you truly sure, Princess? I fear you might be frightened out of your wits... Xu He and I can handle it over there. There's no need—"
Yue Ning's frown deepened. "If Xu He can do it, why can't I? Hurry up and lead the way..."
Qin Guan felt helpless, but seeing Yue Ning's determined stance, she had no choice but to guide her toward the Purple Bamboo Forest. Yue Ning wore a serious expression, her steps measured and proper, as if she were a constable on official duty. Yet just as they were about to reach the flower shed, her footsteps suddenly halted. "Wait... that on the table over there—it couldn't be..."
Qin Guan nodded calmly. "Those are indeed the excavated skeletons."
After a pause, she added, "And there are many more that haven't been cleaned yet..."
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