Coroner's Diary

"How could he suddenly go mad for no reason?" Qin Guan asked while hurrying outside.

Yan Chi walked beside her and replied in a low voice, "The reason is still unclear. Originally, there were guards stationed outside Qin An’s courtyard, but just half an hour ago, he suddenly seemed to go berserk and ran out. The two officers at the gate couldn’t hold him back. Fortunately, they caught him after chasing him down, but now he’s in critical condition..."

Qin Guan frowned slightly. "Has Qian Bairen been treating him these past two days?"

Yan Chi nodded. "Yes, Qian Bairen has been overseeing his treatment, and the medicine he took was also handled by him."

Lifting her skirt slightly, Qin Guan quickened her pace. If Qian Bairen was responsible for Qin An’s treatment and medication, he wouldn’t dare harm Qin An—so why had he suddenly gone mad?

Venereal disease, though severe, wouldn’t drive someone to madness. From Yan Chi’s description, Qin Guan suspected Qin An had either suffered a mental breakdown or been poisoned...

Moving from the inner courtyard to the outer courtyard, before they even got close, Qin Guan saw Lin Shi and Qin Chen standing in the front yard, with Jiang Shi at the forefront. Jiang Shi was being supported by Cai He, who was arguing with the officers at the gate.

"With you officers keeping watch, our Old Madam only wishes to see the master. He’s critically ill—how can she not come to see him? Please have some compassion for a mother’s love for her son."

Cai He’s voice was earnest, but the officers at the gate didn’t dare relax their guard. The orders had come not only from Huo Huaixin but also from Yan Chi, and none of the officers dared disobey.

Cai He glanced back at Lin Shi and Qin Chen before turning again. "Gentlemen, this is still Qin Manor. With all of you watching Old Madam’s every move, what trouble could possibly arise? We truly only wish to see the master. We heard he suddenly took a turn for the worse—please, show some understanding for a mother’s heart."

No matter how Cai He pleaded, the officers refused to yield. Jiang Shi, usually composed, now wore an uncharacteristically grave expression.

Qin Guan looked at Yan Chi, who frowned slightly. Most of the servants had been released, giving Jiang Shi an opportunity—and now, news of Qin An’s madness had reached her ears so quickly.

"Hurry, hurry... Grandmother is right ahead..."

Before Yan Chi could approach, voices suddenly came from behind them. Qin Guan and Yan Chi turned to see Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang being led by a servant toward them.

Qin Guan raised an eyebrow—was Qin An truly on the verge of death?

Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang had been walking hastily, but upon spotting Yan Chi and Qin Guan ahead, they immediately slowed their steps.

The two sisters exchanged a glance, lowering their heads slightly while stealing glances at Yan Chi’s back. Yan Chi’s brow furrowed briefly before he strode toward the courtyard gate. Qin Chen was the first to notice him and quickly turned to bow.

"Greetings, Crown Prince..."

Lin Shi curtsied, while Cai He nudged Jiang Shi’s arm, prompting her to turn and offer a slight bow as well.

Yan Chi arched an eyebrow. "Old Madam, what is the meaning of this?"

Jiang Shi kept her eyes downcast, dressed in a deep purple robe, her hair perfectly arranged. Despite her composed appearance, Qin Guan sensed that the old woman’s rigid facade was on the verge of crumbling."With such incidents occurring in Qin Manor, I bear no resentment towards the authorities for treating our household like a prison," Old Madam Jiang Shi spoke, then raised her eyes to glance at Yan Chi. "However, my son is gravely ill now, and I hear he's on the brink of death. I cannot possibly miss seeing my own son for the last time."

"Therefore, I beg Crown Prince to grant us passage."

Yan Chi looked at Jiang Shi, then shifted his gaze to Lin Shi and Qin Chen standing nearby. Just as everyone thought he would refuse, he said calmly, "The Old Madam's maternal devotion is truly moving. Let them pass."

Only then did the constables step aside. Yan Chi strode forward, entering the courtyard first. Qin Guan curtsied to Jiang Shi and Lin Shi before quickly following him inside. Behind them, Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang exchanged bewildered glances. Jiang Shi, leaning on her cane, slowly turned around. The faces of the grandmother and granddaughters were all grave—except for Qin Shuang, whose large eyes darted around without a trace of sorrow.

Aside from Qin Chen and Lin Shi, even Jiang Shi rarely visited the front courtyard, let alone Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang. Qin Shuang looked around and suddenly whispered, "Should we call Second Brother here?"

Qin Xiang glanced at Jiang Shi's back. "Grandmother didn't mention it, so it probably doesn't matter either way."

Qin Shuang sighed. "Then let's not call him. Second Brother is also ill."

"Ah—Let go of me—!"

As soon as Qin Shuang finished speaking, a shrill scream came from the direction of the main house.

Qin Shuang paled in fright and instinctively grabbed Qin Xiang's arm. Though she had been at odds with Qin Xiang, at this moment, Qin Xiang was the only one she could cling to. Qin Xiang, startled herself, frowned in irritation at being seized.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!"

Qin Shuang refused to release her, her chubby fingers gripping Qin Xiang's arm tightly. After a moment, Qin Shuang suddenly asked, "Was that Father just now? Was that Father screaming?"

Qin Xiang nodded with distaste. "Who else could it be…"

Qin Shuang looked bewildered. "What's wrong with Father…"

Before she could finish, she saw Yan Chi and Qin Guan stop at the entrance of the main house. The door was wide open, and inside, Qin An was being restrained by two servants who struggled to hold him down. Despite their efforts, Qin An's strength was immense, and he seemed on the verge of breaking free.

In another corner, Huo Huaixin and Xu He stood by the wall. Huo Huaixin's collar was disheveled, perhaps from being tugged by Qin An, as he wiped sweat from his brow and said, "Brother Qin, stop this. There's no way out of this matter."

"Let go… Let go of me…"

"I… Why are you locking me up? Do you know who I am?!"

"I'll tell my elder brother—he'll deal with you!"

Qin An's shouts grew hoarse, his clothes in disarray. His hairpin had fallen out during his struggles, leaving his hair wild and unkempt. Combined with his frenzied, incoherent words, he appeared utterly deranged.

Huo Huaixin gave Yan Chi a wry smile. Seeing the cold indifference in Yan Chi's eyes, he sighed inwardly. Yan Chi had come from the Northwest Frontier Army—he had no patience for dealing with madmen like Qin An. If he intervened, Qin An would likely lose half his life. With this in mind, Huo Huaixin made one last attempt out of duty. "Brother Qin, stop this. Your feigned death and madness are just attempts to cover up the past. But the remains of those children have already been..."Huo Huaixin was earnestly trying to persuade when suddenly, Qin An's eyes lit up. "Children?"

It seemed he hadn't heard the word "remains" at all. Instead, he abruptly stopped struggling, his gaze turning greedy as he frantically searched around. In an instant, his eyes landed on Qin Guan, who stood at the forefront.

Yan Chi frowned and took a step to the left, shielding Qin Guan from view. Qin An's eyes lifted to meet Yan Chi's, and the moment their gazes locked, Qin An staggered back as if frightened.

Yet, as if possessed, he tore his gaze away and continued scanning the room. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of a pale purple skirt, and his expression brightened. To everyone's shock, he violently broke free from the two servants restraining him and lunged toward Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang, who stood at the very back.

The two servants had been struggling to hold Qin An for so long that they were already exhausted. When he suddenly stopped resisting, they relaxed—only for him to abruptly break free before they could react.

As Qin An charged forward, Qin Chen, being a man, reacted swiftly. He stepped forward to block Qin An's path, shielding Qin Shuang behind him. But Qin An, as if truly deranged, twisted his body with eerie agility and slipped past Qin Chen.

Now exposed, Qin Xiang had no time to react. Qin An let out a lewd chuckle, arms outstretched, and threw himself at her—

"Ah—!"

Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang had been standing far back, only vaguely aware of Qin An's earlier struggles with the servants. Never had they imagined he would suddenly rush at them.

In the past, though Qin An had indulged in pleasure and ignored household affairs, he had at least appeared dignified whenever they saw him. But today, they had first encountered him disheveled, then heard his nonsensical ramblings. Already shaken and terrified, they were now faced with Qin An lunging at them like some vulgar rogue from the streets.

Qin Xiang caught sight of his face—covered in festering purple-red sores—just before a tremendous force slammed into her shoulder, sending her flying backward.

Terror surged through her limbs as she crashed to the ground, Qin An tumbling down with her. Qin Xiang shrieked and burst into tears. Meanwhile, Qin An tried to crawl toward her, but Qin Chen seized him by the scruff of his neck and hauled him upright.

As Qin An continued to thrash, the stunned servants finally snapped out of their daze and restrained him again.

Jiang Shi and Lin Shi both paled. Lin Shi rushed to Qin Xiang's side, her eyes filled with heartache and fury as she helped her up. Jiang Shi, meanwhile, struck her cane against the ground in outrage. "Wretched beast! You wretched beast! In this state, you'd be better off dead!"

Jiang Shi was so furious her vision darkened, and she nearly collapsed. Lin Shi pulled Qin Xiang into her arms as the girl sobbed, "Mother, what is Father trying to do...?"

Lin Shi held her tightly, her voice trembling. "Your father is ill—he's lost his mind. Don't be afraid."Qin Xiang sobbed while lost in thought, then suddenly came to a realization. Her eyes widened in shock, "Father... does Father like children... those remains in the well were Father's..."

Before she could finish, Lin Shi covered her mouth.

Beside them, Qin Shuang's eyes were red as she asked, "Were those children Father's kept... playthings?"

Qin Shuang was also terrified. Though Qin Chen had saved her, her fear in that moment had been no less than Qin Xiang's. Seeing Qin Xiang cry uncontrollably now, she couldn't help but shed tears too.

"Outrageous! What nonsense are you spouting..." Jiang Shi, trembling so violently she could barely stand, shouted coldly again, "Where would a young girl learn such words? This is truly outrageous..."

Yan Chi's gaze darkened as he stepped forward, "At this point, Old Madam still wishes to conceal the truth?"

Jiang Shi clung tightly to Cai He's arm, half her weight leaning on the maid. She was on the verge of collapse, crushed by this naked truth. When news of Qin An's madness had reached the Buddhist shrine earlier, she had thought he was truly dying. That was why she had rushed out without regard for decorum, summoning the other children, thinking only of familial bonds. But who could have imagined that Qin An was not just mad—he had mistaken Qin Xiang for one of those children from years ago...

Jiang Shi's hand holding the cane trembled, but her lips were pressed tightly together, "What does the Crown Prince mean? My son is ill, his mind long disturbed. He's mad—how can the words of a madman be taken seriously?"

Qin An was restrained by servants. One servant seemed to understand something and suddenly stuffed a handkerchief into Qin An's mouth, silencing his cries. Yet his greedy eyes remained fixed on Qin Xiang, who trembled in Lin Shi's embrace, wishing Qin An would die right then.

At this moment, even Jiang Shi no longer cared for maternal affection, let alone Qin Xiang and her sister, who had never received Qin An's care. The family values and propriety Jiang Shi had upheld all her life crumbled to nothing. She knew she was being unreasonable, deceiving herself, but now she had no choice but to cast aside all dignity and delay the case day by day.

"Old Madam, you and your daughter-in-law should just speak the truth. What exactly happened?" Huo Huaixin sighed at the scene. "Even the younger generation understands now—there's no way you don't. With Qin An in this state, you must teach them right from wrong."

Jiang Shi took a deep breath to steady herself, though her face was pale. "Let the Prefect continue his investigation. Best to have him confess himself—use whatever means necessary, even torture. If he admits guilt, then convict him."

With another sigh, she added, "This old woman is also guilty. If the Prefect wishes to imprison me, so be it. Beyond that, I know nothing more."

As she turned to leave, she paused after a few steps and looked back. "In that case, the Crown Prince and the Prefect may deal with this as you see fit. The guilt lies with him alone—the younger generation bears no blame."

Her gaze swept over Qin Chen and the others. "Go. There's no need for you to come here again."After Jiang Shi finished speaking and left, Lin Shi embraced Qin Xiang and walked out. Qin Shuang, afraid to stay in the courtyard alone, hurriedly followed. Qin Chen sighed, bowed to Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin, and then departed as well.

With their departure, the courtyard fell quiet. Huo Huaixin stepped forward and said, "Crown Prince, what should we do? In his current state, the statements he makes may not hold up under the scrutiny of the judicial office."

Yan Chi turned his gaze to Qin An. "Wasn't it said he was dying?"

Yan Chi hadn’t seen Qin An’s earlier condition, but it seemed he wouldn’t die anytime soon.

Huo Huaixin made a puzzled sound. "No one said he was dying. It was only mentioned that he had gone mad—perhaps the message was miscommunicated. But he was indeed quite terrifying at first, and this sudden outburst is baffling."

At that moment, Qin Guan stepped forward from beside Yan Chi. As soon as she appeared, Qin An’s eyes fixed on her with an unmistakable, greedy intensity. Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin grew concerned and were about to order Qin An to be dragged away, but Qin Guan walked right up to him. The closer she got, the more frenzied Qin An became, as if he wanted to lunge at her immediately.

Qin Guan remained composed, her gaze sharp as a blade. After staring at Qin An for a moment, the feverish glint in his eyes actually dimmed somewhat. Suddenly, she raised her hand and swiftly inserted a silver needle into the center of Qin An’s forehead.

Qin An stiffened as if paralyzed, then quickly slumped to the ground.

The two servants exhaled in relief, glancing at Qin Guan with admiration. It seemed her medical skills were genuine, and her fearless demeanor in standing before Qin An was truly impressive.

Once Qin An had collapsed and his eyes slowly closed, Qin Guan knelt to examine him.

Compared to Qin Li, Qin An’s face, neck, and exposed wrists and hands were already covered in Plum Pox Sores. Qin Guan frowned deeply, while the two servants supporting Qin An struggled to suppress their discomfort. Had they not served Qin An for many years, no amount of money would have convinced them to care for such a master.

"The Plum Pox Sores have already appeared, and the venereal disease is quite advanced," Qin Guan said slowly. "If this continues, the flesh on his hands will soon rot to the bone, and his internal organs will deteriorate as well."

Huo Huaixin frowned. "Could that be why he went mad?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "No. Plum Pox Sores don’t inherently cause madness, though other triggers might. If he had just discovered his body rotting, the shock could have driven him to hysteria—but he’s not a child. It’s unlikely he’d react so severely, especially since these sores didn’t appear overnight."

As she spoke, Qin Guan examined Qin An’s exposed hand more closely. Her brow furrowed slightly.

The color of Qin An’s nails was unusually dark, and the white half-moons at their bases had a blackish tint. After a brief pause, Qin Guan asked, "Who has been prescribing his medicine lately? Qian Bairen?"

Yan Chi stepped forward. "Yes, it was him..."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "We may need to bring him in for questioning."

Huo Huaixin nodded and immediately instructed the bailiffs outside the courtyard. As they left, Qin Guan carefully checked Qin An’s other hand and parted his hair to inspect further.

"What symptoms has he shown recently?"Qin Guan's question was directed at the two servants before her. They exchanged glances, and one quickly replied, "The master has been irritable lately, even vomiting twice. He couldn't sleep at night, and his temper has been worse than usual. But with such an illness, who could remain calm? The master was accustomed to a life of pleasure, and now with this sudden change, Old Madam forbids him from leaving the house or getting close to the concubines. He's been stifled, so his temper flaring up didn’t seem unusual to us."

As soon as he finished, the other added, "Oh, and the master often complained of headaches and sometimes blurred vision. Naturally, we called Physician Qian to examine him, but he seemed afraid of the master's symptoms. Each time he came, he was timid, and the medicine he prescribed didn’t seem to help much, though we made sure the master took it."

The first servant sighed bitterly, "Before, the master pretended to be ill once or twice, exaggerating his condition. Later, we couldn’t tell whether he was serious or not..."

Qin Guan frowned slightly. "When did the headaches and blurred vision start? And the vomiting?"

The two servants thought for a moment, and the first one answered, "It seems to have started after Consort Liu's death. The vomiting and diarrhea came together, and the headaches began two days later. The master also complained of chest tightness and stomach pain. He listed so many symptoms, each time different, so sometimes we thought he was just trying to deceive us. Besides, Physician Qian couldn’t find anything wrong."

Qin Guan listened quietly. Soon, Qian Bairen was brought over by the constables.

It had been days since Qin Guan last saw Qian Bairen, and he seemed to have lost some weight. Yet, he still had a plump appearance. Nervous at being summoned, he knelt before Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin as soon as he entered the courtyard.

"This humble one pays respects to the Prefect and the Crown Prince..."

Qin Bairen trembled as he spoke, prostrating on the ground, not daring to lift his head.

Knowing Yan Chi disliked interrogating prisoners like in a courtroom, Huo Huaixin stepped forward. "Raise your head. Since when have you been treating your master?"

Qin Bairen obediently lifted his head and thought for a moment. "It was... after Consort Liu's death. Only then did I learn that she had earlier sought medicine to treat herself. Later, the master also fell ill—it must have been Liu Shi who infected him."

Huo Huaixin frowned at this. "Bring all the prescriptions you’ve written."

Qin Bairen seemed to have anticipated this request and immediately pulled several prescriptions from his sleeve. "Here, here... they're all here. I’ve changed the prescription three times these past few days, all recorded here..."

Huo Huaixin took the prescriptions and handed them directly to Qin Guan. She glanced over them briefly before looking up at Qian Bairen. "The prescriptions aren’t problematic, but... he’s been poisoned. How did this happen?"

"Poisoned?!" Qian Bairen exclaimed in shock. "I... I didn’t know... How could he be poisoned?"

Qin Guan frowned. "He complained of headaches, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Didn’t you find that strange?"Qian Bairen's eyes flickered. He had no intention of treating Qin An and knew he couldn't cure him anyway. Those prescriptions were merely copied from medical books to fulfill his duty. He had attributed all of Qin An's symptoms to venereal disease, though truth be told, he still had no idea what the actual symptoms of venereal disease were...

"But... aren't those the symptoms of venereal disease?"

Qin Guan's eyes sharpened, but seeing Qian Bairen's cowering demeanor, she found herself at a loss for words. Qian Bairen was a quack, and Jiang Shi couldn’t possibly be unaware of it—yet she had been the one to summon him.

Folding the prescription, Qin Guan handed it to Huo Huaixin and continued, "His symptoms suggest poisoning."

"Poisoning?" Huo Huaixin gave a bitter laugh. "But he's the suspect—who would poison him? Ninth Miss, can you determine what kind of poison it is?"

Qin Guan glanced back at Qin An. "Most likely a metallic toxin."

Huo Huaixin frowned, puzzled, then looked at Yan Chi. Yan Chi seemed to have realized something, so Qin Guan explained, "In the capital, there were those who dabbled in alchemy, claiming that refining elixirs could grant immortality. Your Highness must be aware..."

Yan Chi nodded, and Qin Guan went on, "The so-called elixirs are refined from metals and minerals. Most of these concoctions are harmful to the human body—far from granting eternal life, they cause poisoning. Victims may suffer from gastric disorders, dizziness, hair loss, irritability, or worse, organ failure, tumor growth, and even death."

Qin Guan swept her gaze over Qin An and then the servants. "Did the master have a habit of taking elixirs?"

The two servants exchanged glances and shook their heads.

Qin Guan frowned. "Where is his medicine bowl? And where was the medicine usually prepared?"

"Over there... I'll fetch it right away..."

In Qin An’s courtyard, everything was readily available. Soon, a servant returned with a medicine bowl and a pot from the side hall. "Ninth Miss, here are the bowl and pot. Usually, one of us fetches the herbs, brews them in the courtyard, and then we bring it to the master."

Qin Guan took the bowl, inspecting it first. Finding nothing unusual, she turned to the pot. The remnants of herbs inside were indistinct, so she poured them into the bowl. The servant looked regretful, but Qin Guan, without looking up, remarked, "This prescription is useless—whether he drinks it or not makes little difference..."

The servant appeared sheepish, but Qin Guan suddenly said, "No, it’s not harmless at all."

She raised her head, her eyes darkening. "There’s a layer of black powder settled at the bottom—likely residue from a dissolved elixir. This ingredient isn’t in the prescription. Who added it? Did any of you notice during the brewing?"

At this, both Qian Bairen and the servants panicked.

Qin Bairen cried, "I’m innocent! If it wasn’t in the prescription, I wouldn’t have added it! It really wasn’t me—if I had, someone would’ve noticed. I’d never dare..."

The two servants exchanged glances. One shook his head. "We didn’t pay attention. We just dumped everything into the pot. We don’t recognize these herbs—even if they were right in front of us, we’d probably mistake them for tonics." With that, they both glared at Qian Bairen.

Qin Bairen paled, sweat beading on his forehead as he frantically clasped his hands toward Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin. "My lords, I swear it wasn’t me! As the household physician, if anything happens to the master, the first suspicion falls on me. I’ve always been extremely cautious—how could I dare to poison anyone?"Huo Huaixin was relatively polite to Jiang Shi and the others, but he showed no such courtesy to a mere servant like Qian Bairen. Seeing Qian Bairen's reaction, he snorted coldly, "The medicine was prescribed by you, and you still dare to deny it?!"

Qian Bairen grew even more frantic upon hearing this, kowtowing repeatedly. "Please, Your Honor, see the truth! It truly wasn’t me, it wasn’t me! I wouldn’t dare even with ten thousand lives at stake. Please, Your Honor, be just—"

Huo Huaixin remained unmoved, his gaze shifting to Qin Guan. Qin Guan watched as Qian Bairen kowtowed incessantly, his forehead on the verge of swelling. Finally, she shook her head. "Physician Qian truly has no motive."

Hearing this, Qian Bairen’s heart leaped with hope, and he hastily kowtowed toward Qin Guan. "Ninth Miss, you see the truth! It really wasn’t me—"

Huo Huaixin gave a light humph. "Since Ninth Miss has spoken for you, I’ll spare you for now. Stay confined to your courtyard these next few days—no leaving. You’ll be summoned for questioning at any time!"

Qian Bairen wiped the sweat from his face, kowtowed a few more times, then rose and retreated. As he turned to leave the courtyard, his legs trembled so badly he could barely walk. Fuling, who had accompanied Qin Guan and waited by the door, felt immense satisfaction seeing Qian Bairen in such a state.

"If Qian Bairen had no motive, then who could it be?" Huo Huaixin shook his head, feeling overwhelmed by one case entangling another. "And why would someone want to kill Qin An?"

"Was it to kill him, or was there another purpose?"

Qin Guan glanced at Yan Chi, as if seeking his opinion. Yan Chi shook his head. "I don’t think so. If the poison was meant to kill Qin An quietly, this toxin’s effects are far too severe—its symptoms would be noticed immediately. There are faster, subtler poisons that would leave no trace."

Qin Guan’s eyes brightened slightly—clearly, she had thought the same.

"The Crown Prince’s reasoning is most plausible. The killer must have had another goal."

Qin Guan studied Qin An’s disheveled state, her gaze sharpening. "This poison induces impulsiveness, irritability, and mental confusion. Could the perpetrator have anticipated that, under its influence, he would behave exactly as he did today?"

Huo Huaixin immediately saw the logic. "Exactly! Without the poison, we wouldn’t have witnessed such blatant misconduct. Though he spoke in a deranged state today, it confirmed his involvement in the events of the past!"

Qin Guan nodded. Huo Huaixin turned to the two servants. "Take him inside."

The two obeyed, hauling Qin An away. Once they were gone, Huo Huaixin lowered his voice. "If this was the killer’s goal, could it be the same person who earlier murdered Liu Shi and Liu Chun?"

Yan Chi and Qin Guan exchanged a glance. Yan Chi nodded. "That is indeed possible."

Huo Huaixin’s eyes gleamed. "Hmph. I thought after killing two people, they’d lie low. But it seems they had another move planned. This time, only a handful could have accessed the poison—it should be easy to uncover the truth!"

Clenching his fist, he declared, "I’ll investigate immediately. Crown Prince, Ninth Miss, await good news from me."

Yan Chi nodded, and Huo Huaixin strode out of the courtyard to instruct the constables. Once he left, only Qin Guan and Yan Chi remained in the center of the courtyard. Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan. "You haven’t eaten breakfast yet. Go back and rest."Qin Guan asked, "Should we not prolong Qin An's life anymore?"

Yan Chi focused his gaze. "What do you mean?"

Qin Guan glanced toward the house. "Without the medicine, he will suffer unbearable pain. The heavy metal toxins will likely accelerate the deterioration of his condition. At this rate, he doesn't have much time left—perhaps not even enough to see his sentencing."

Given the multiple lives involved, this case would inevitably be reported to the Ministry of Justice. Once that happened, it was uncertain how long the verdict would take. Qin An would certainly be escorted to the capital, but the lengthy process might outlast him.

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "In that case, let's prepare a new prescription for him."

Qin Guan nodded, and Yan Chi followed her into the house. After a few steps, Yan Chi suddenly asked, "For someone like him, in his current state—does he wish to live or die?"

"Most likely to die," Qin Guan replied coolly.

A cold glint flashed in Yan Chi's eyes. "Good. Then we'll make sure he lives."

Meanwhile, Cai He and Lin Shi supported Jiang Shi on either side as they made their way to the Buddhist shrine. Jiang Shi's face was deathly pale, her steps unsteady. Lin Shi, her eyes slightly reddened, asked, "Mother, are you all right? Should we ask Guan'er to examine you?"

Jiang Shi coughed lightly and shook her head. "No need, no need. This old bones won't last much longer anyway. I just feel sorry for Chen'er and Xiang'er—Qin An has ruined everything!"

Lin Shi's nose stung with emotion as she glanced back at Qin Chen, who followed behind with his head bowed.

Once, Qin Chen had been a radiant young man—a beautiful wife, a family background that, while not illustrious, offered some support. With diligence, the third branch of Qin Manor could have had a limitless future. But now, once Qin An's case was settled, the third branch would be branded as a criminal family, and Qin Chen's life would be effectively ruined.

The thought filled Lin Shi with hatred for Qin An. Today, he had exposed all his ugliness before the younger generation. Even she felt as if her skin had been stripped away, let alone Jiang Shi.

"Mother, you must take care of yourself. The entire Qin Manor now depends on you."

Jiang Shi sighed. "I, too, am a sinner. I just... don't want to face her father in the afterlife with shame. At this point, let this old woman bear all the wickedness. Let the Prefect investigate as he pleases. Qin An is so ill—who knows how many days he has left? Now... now I feel his death would be no loss..."

After speaking these words, Jiang Shi was visibly exhausted, a thin layer of sweat forming at her temples. Lin Shi sighed. "I've already sent the letter as you instructed, but who knows when we'll receive a reply? Though the falcon is swift, the journey from the capital is slow. I don't know if Father can hold on. If he confesses everything, the case will be settled, and then..."

Jiang Shi sighed deeply. "This case will undoubtedly be reported to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. After all the reviews and inspections, the final verdict won't come for at least half a year. By then, he will have to be escorted to the capital. As for his fate... perhaps in the capital, we might still leverage the Marquis's influence. But who knows if his illness will..."Jiang Shi's voice trailed off. No matter how flawed Qin An was, he was still flesh of her flesh. At this point, she had to consider the reputation of Qin Manor and the future of the younger generation, leaving her no choice but to abandon him. Besides, given the magnitude of his crimes, even if she wanted to save him, she was powerless. Unconsciously, Jiang Shi pulled out the prayer beads from her sleeve, but she lacked even the strength to rotate them. Supported by Cai He and another servant, she was helped into the Buddhist shrine. The moment she sat down, all her strength seemed to drain away, and her vision darkened as she collapsed.

The people in the room immediately panicked. Cai He quickly said, "Madam, please don't worry..."

She then hurried into the inner chamber and retrieved a small vial. Holding it under Jiang Shi's nose to let her inhale its contents, she also fed her a few pills. Within a quarter of an hour, Jiang Shi slowly regained consciousness.

Lin Shi sighed and said to Cai He, "Old Madam hasn't doted on you in vain."

Cai He hastily replied, "I dare not take credit. This is merely my duty."

Upon waking, Jiang Shi understood that Qin Manor was doomed this time. She reached out directly to Qin Chen, calling, "Chen'er..."

Qin Chen stepped forward, and Jiang Shi grasped his hand tightly. "Chen'er, this time even your grandmother can do nothing. Your father turned out this way because I failed to raise him properly. Chen'er, remember—never become like your father. Soon, Qin Manor will no longer be able to stay in Jinzhou City. If people from the capital come, let them arrange for a new residence. You may go to the capital or Jianzhou. Xinlan is a good girl, and now she carries your child. You must treat her well."

Qin Chen's eyes reddened slightly, feeling as though Jiang Shi was delivering her final words. "Grandmother, save these words for later. Tell me when the time comes..."

Jiang Shi shook her head with closed eyes. "I may only last a few more days. I'm telling you now so you can prepare yourself. It doesn't matter what happens to me or your mother. Xinlan, carrying your child, is the most important. And your younger sisters, and your second brother. As long as the third branch has all of you, it won't fall. Chen'er, I've watched you grow up and know you're kind and upright. You must uphold the third branch in the future. No matter how hard it gets, never stray onto the wrong path. No matter how glorious, never forget the lesson of your father's downfall."

Qin Chen nodded repeatedly, while Lin Shi couldn't hold back her sobs. Having spoken so much, Jiang Shi was utterly exhausted and merely waved her hand. "Enough. All of you, leave now. Wait, delay, and then... leave it to fate."

Qin Chen bowed deeply to Jiang Shi, and Lin Shi curtsied before allowing Qin Chen to support her as they left.

The room was dimly lit. Cai He watched Jiang Shi, whose eyes were closed as if she were about to sleep, yet she did not nod off. Cai He stood quietly by her side. Before long, Jiang Shi's breathing gradually slowed until it was inaudible. To the observer, it seemed as though her life had already slipped away.