Coroner's Diary

As they spoke, Xu He walked over to the storage room nearby. Before long, he emerged carrying a bundle containing a skeleton. "Crown Prince, Lord Huo, Ninth Miss, this is the six-fingered skeleton..."

Xu He continued, "Ninth Miss has examined these remains. The deceased was around eight or nine years old at the time of death."

Qin Guan picked up another letter to read, her voice grave. "Could it be that two people went missing from their family? And by some twist of fate, both were sent to Qin Manor? What exactly happened back then?"

The remaining letters all conveyed similar information. Qin Guan read through them one by one. "Back then, this family also had an elder daughter, but unfortunately, she too perished in that fire. Who is the hidden murderer in the manor connected to?"

Thirteen skeletons—each victim might have had family or loved ones who could seek vengeance. Yet the identities and names of these thirteen remain unknown, making it impossible to investigate unless Qin An can recount the details of that year.

A heavy silence fell over them. Xu He sighed. "If that child hadn't died back then, they would be eighteen years old now."

Yan Chi turned his gaze to Bai Feng, who was standing guard outside. "Go to the front courtyard and see if Qin An can speak now."

Bai Feng acknowledged and left. Yan Chi then said, "Ninth Miss mentioned earlier that the culprit should be a strong man—after all, no woman could move the Demon-suppressing Stone. But there’s no such person in Qin Manor."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes slightly. "If this line of inquiry yields no clues, then we must explore another direction."

Huo Huaixin set down the letters in his hand. "We still need Qin An to talk. He’s the one who knows the events of that year best. If he remains silent, the murderer might harm even more people."

"Later, Lord Huo and I will make another trip to the front courtyard."

After speaking, Yan Chi frowned. "These remains are too old. Unless there were children of similar age reported missing in neighboring counties a decade ago, we won’t be able to identify them."

"It’s a pity we’ll have to wait a few days for news. Meanwhile, we have no idea what the culprit in the manor will do next."

Qin Guan added this remark, and Huo Huaixin quickly reassured her, "Ninth Miss, rest assured. The manor is now guarded inside and out. The culprit cannot escape, nor can they act recklessly within the manor. We can afford to wait a few days."

Qin Guan nodded. "With your arrangements, everything is surely well-covered."

No sooner had she spoken than Bai Feng returned from his errand. "Master, the attendants in the outer courtyard say Qin An has taken the prescription Ninth Miss prepared. His manic episode has subsided today. Though his speech is still unclear, he can now speak."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Yan Chi’s eyes. "In that case, let’s go see him."

Huo Huaixin promptly agreed, instructing Xu He to put away the skeleton while he and Yan Chi headed out. After a moment’s thought, Qin Guan followed. Noticing this, Yan Chi said, "You’ve been exhausted these past few days. There’s no need for you to come along today—go rest."

Qin Guan chuckled lightly. "Since I prescribed the medicine, I should confirm whether it can prolong his life."

Hearing this, Yan Chi had no rebuttal. Indeed, they now relied on Qin Guan to keep Qin An alive.The group of them walked in a line toward the front courtyard. Since the autumn rain two days prior, the weather had grown colder with each passing day. Qin Manor, once adorned with scenic views every ten steps, now appeared desolate and neglected due to the recent turmoil. Servants were forbidden from wandering freely, leaving the gardens untended. In just seven or eight days, weeds had sprouted along the pathways and around the flowerbeds, while withered branches and fallen petals lay unpruned. The entire estate now exuded an air of bleak decay.

Upon reaching the front courtyard, Captain Qi stepped forward to greet them. After a respectful bow, he ushered Yan Chi and the others inside. "Your Highness and esteemed officials, rest assured—guards are stationed both inside and out. As for him, he is still attended by the same two servants from Qin Manor."

Entering the courtyard gate, they indeed saw two constables standing guard before the main door. Hearing the commotion, the two elderly servants emerged from within. Yan Chi waved off their formalities and strode straight into the house.

"How is Qin An today?"

One of the servants hunched his shoulders and replied cautiously, "The master occasionally manages to utter a few words..."

Yan Chi asked no further and proceeded directly into the inner chamber. The moment they entered, the pungent scent of medicine filled their nostrils. Yan Chi’s gaze sharpened, and his brow furrowed. The day before, Qin An had been bound after a fit of madness, but today he lay docile on the bed, his limbs freed, covered only by a thin quilt.

His eyes were weakly shut, and he groaned softly in pain. At the sound of footsteps, he opened them. Seeing Yan Chi and the others enter one after another, his gaze remained blank for a moment before flickering with faint recognition—though it seemed he didn’t truly recognize Yan Chi. He merely stretched a hand out from beneath the brocade quilt, attempting to claw at the festering sores on his face.

"Master, you mustn’t—"

One of the old servants quickly stepped forward and seized his wrist to stop him.

Qin An’s brows knitted together, his clouded eyes brimming with agony. His lips trembled as he rasped, "Pain... itch... let me... scratch..."

The servant sighed. "You mustn’t scratch, Master. It won’t heal if you do."

Qin An’s face was now marred by large patches of decay, particularly around his mouth, where the purple lesions had nearly spread to his neck. The loosely draped brocade quilt revealed similar sores on his neck—some broken open, oozing pus. The plum pox sores had even crept onto the back of his hands and fingers, presenting a grotesque and horrifying sight.

Huo Huaixin stepped forward, his tone shifting. "Brother Qin, how are you feeling now?"

A faint glimmer of awareness flickered in Qin An’s dull eyes, as if he recognized Huo Huaixin. He stared straight at him, lips quivering. "Agony... unbearable..."

Huo Huaixin heaved a long sigh. "Brother Qin, do you know—you’ve been poisoned!"

His voice boomed as though speaking to a deaf man. Qin An took a moment to process the words before a flicker of terror surfaced in his gaze. With great effort, he lifted a hand. "Poi... soned...?"

Huo Huaixin nodded gravely. "Yes. Someone wants you dead."Qin An's frown deepened, the fear in his eyes growing more pronounced. After coughing lightly twice, his gaze darted around as if searching for the poisoner's whereabouts. Huo Huaixin patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Brother Qin, don't worry. We're also looking for that person. Rest assured, I've stationed guards both inside and outside your courtyard for your protection."

Only then did Qin An's terrified expression stabilize slightly. Yet Huo Huaixin spread his hands helplessly. "However, Brother Qin, after days of searching, we still haven't found them. Though we don't know who she is, we do know her purpose..."

A flicker of doubt appeared in Qin An's eyes as he stared straight at Huo Huaixin, who suddenly spoke in a chilling tone, "Brother Qin, the relatives of those children from back then have returned. They've come for your life. After what you did to their children, they'd gladly see you suffer a thousand cuts. See these festering sores on your body? They want you to die slowly and painfully..."

A guttural wheeze escaped Qin An's throat as his eyes bulged wide with sudden realization. Deeper terror surfaced in his gaze, and his trembling hands lifted weakly, as if trying to grasp Huo Huaixin's robe. Just as his fingers nearly closed on the fabric, Huo Huaixin took a deliberate step back.

Tilting his chin slightly, Huo Huaixin continued, "Brother Qin, it's not that I don't want to help you. None of us know the full truth of what happened back then. If you could tell us where those children came from, perhaps we could find the mastermind sooner. Only by rooting them out can we truly ensure your safety. Otherwise, no matter how many precautions we take, you might still be poisoned to death. After all, that person has now become part of your Qin Manor—maybe a maid, maybe a servant. We have no way of knowing."

This mixture of concern and intimidation made Qin An shiver uncontrollably. His eyes remained wide with fear, his throat producing continuous rattling sounds. From a distance, Yan Chi and Qin Guan observed quietly until Qin An's pleading gaze finally settled on Huo Huaixin.

"Traffickers... kidnapped..." Qin An struggled to speak.

Huo Huaixin understood but frowned, unwilling to take Qin An's words at face value. "Just traffickers? How did you know them? Where were the children taken from?"

Qin An's throat seemed blocked, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Seeing this, the elderly servant hurried forward to rub his chest soothingly. After several moments, Qin An finally managed, "I... I... under the pretense of buying slave girls... purchased two... Later feared... feared their families might come looking... so sought out traffickers..."

For someone like Qin An, the head of a prominent household, purchasing slave girls wasn't unusual. However, most slaves on the market were sold by their own parents. Though once entering Qin Manor they became household servants, their families might still track them down, risking exposure of his depraved preferences. Rather than buying legitimate slaves, it was safer to acquire rootless children from traffickers—once inside Qin Manor, they'd be completely at his mercy.

Huo Huaixin immediately grasped Qin An's implication. Turning to see Yan Chi and Qin Guan watching, he quickly straightened his posture.Having spent so many years in officialdom, he naturally knew that many wealthy families harbored unspeakable dark secrets. Since he had previously been on friendly terms with Qin An, he was now terrified that Yan Chi might mistake him for being complicit in Qin An's misdeeds.

Huo Huaixin's voice turned stern. "What's the name of the trafficker? Where is he now?"

"Qing... Yuan... Pawnshop... owner..."

Qin An spoke each word with excruciating slowness. Huo Huaixin's brows immediately furrowed. Turning to see the confusion on Yan Chi and Qin Guan's faces, he hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, the Qingyuan Pawnshop is one of the largest pawnshops in Jinzhou Prefecture. I've heard they've even expanded their business to the capital. On the surface, they deal in pawnbroking, but secretly, they engage in these transactions with other wealthy officials. I'll send men to arrest them for investigation shortly..."

Qin Guan frowned deeply, while Yan Chi showed no surprise. Among scholarly and aristocratic families, whether for reputation or future prospects, no one would openly flaunt such disgraceful affairs. Yet in the underworld, there were those who catered to the whims of the nobility with all manner of entertainments. While such practices were relatively rare in Jinzhou, in the capital, many businesses that appeared legitimate on the surface were secretly involved in these heinous acts.

Yan Chi gave a noncommittal "Hmm." "We'll discuss this later. Continue the questioning."

Huo Huaixin nodded emphatically and turned back to Qin An. "Did you personally kill all those children back then?"

Qin An's pupils contracted. His lips pressed together slightly, and his breathing became unsteady. It was clear he was struggling—whether to speak, and how to phrase it, given that this involved over a dozen lives.

"Yes... I ordered... Liu Chun... to administer the poison..."

Liu Chun! A cold glint immediately flashed in Yan Chi's eyes. Liu Chun was also a man who deserved death!

As Qin An uttered these words, his eyes inexplicably moistened. He seemed to realize his fate, yet trapped in his torment, he couldn't bring himself to die and could only strive for better treatment.

Huo Huaixin's eyes burned with anger, his tone turning icy. "What about the Second Concubine?"

At the mention of the Second Concubine, Qin An's eyes regained a flicker of vitality. His lips moved several times, but no words came out, as if lost in some memory. Huo Huaixin snapped impatiently, "I'm asking you! If you won't speak—"

"It was... the trafficker... couldn't gather enough people in time... so they searched within Jinzhou Prefecture..."

"They took a child... but the child's mother... chased after them..."

"Originally planned to kill... but saw her... exceptional beauty..."

Huo Huaixin's eyes widened. "So you took both mother and daughter?! They didn’t just abduct children but also kidnapped other women?"

Qin An's throat seemed to seize again, rendering him speechless, his eyes rolling back. An elderly servant hurried forward to soothe him. Furious, Huo Huaixin turned to Yan Chi. "Your Highness may not know, but there are indeed traffickers who abduct girls aged thirteen or fourteen to their early twenties, drug them, and sell them to brothels or wealthy households. It's a lucrative trade!"

Yan Chi's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. Though he had grown up on the battlefield, he was no stranger to such vile and depraved affairs—in fact, he knew far more than most. "Continue questioning."

Huo Huaixin was determined to present himself as the epitome of righteousness and moral fortitude at this moment. Jinzhou City was only so large; it was impossible that the Qin Manor was the sole location for such transactions. Huo Huaixin didn’t want Yan Chi suspecting him of involvement.After much effort from the old servant, Qin An finally caught his breath. Huo Huaixin then asked, "What happened next? How did you bring that mother and daughter into the mansion?"

Gasping for air, Qin An's face turned deathly pale. "I went to choose... saw... her..."

"At first... I didn't know..."

"Only later... she... drowned herself in a well..."

Qin Guan's gaze grew distant, as if imagining how delicate and beautiful the Second Concubine must have been when she threw herself into the well.

Huo Huaixin glared angrily. "What about the fire in Yang County? The fire at that family's home?!"

Qin Guan trembled at Huo Huaixin's roar, the light in his eyes dimming instantly. After coughing lightly twice, he spoke flatly, "She begged me... to let her go... I... took the chance to ask... about her family..."

At this point, everything became clear. Huo Huaixin gritted his teeth. "You... She thought you would really let her go, but instead, you sent people to set the fire and kill them?!"

By the end, Qin An's voice held not a shred of remorse. When Huo Huaixin pressed further, Qin An turned to stare at him instead. "Now... can... can you find... him..."

Huo Huaixin was so furious he nearly laughed. After all this, it was truly just to uncover the mastermind behind the scenes. Huo Huaixin sneered, "Even if we search, it will take time. Brother Qin had better pray—pray that the heavens protect you."

Qin An, feeling deceived, glared at Huo Huaixin in rage. His breath caught again, his throat constricting as his eyes rolled back and his body convulsed. The old servant hurried to assist. Seeing Qin An in such a state, Huo Huaixin shook his head and walked over to Yan Chi. "He's in no condition to be thrown into prison. Once Ninth Miss's prescription is finished, he can be directly imprisoned to await trial. Now that Qingyuan Pawnshop has been implicated, I’ll go arrest the culprits immediately!"

As Huo Huaixin spoke, Qin Guan approached the bedside, examined Qin An's complexion, and instructed the old servant, "Continue with this prescription. One dose per day, four times a day. Change the medicine daily. The leftover dregs can be boiled into a wash for the wounds."

The old servant hastily acknowledged the orders. Only then did Qin Guan leave. Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin followed suit, walking out together. Yan Chi remarked, "We don’t yet know how far this case extends. If it’s just Qingyuan Pawnshop, fine. But if there’s more, Prefect, you may investigate thoroughly."

Huo Huaixin gave a firm "Mm," his face stern with determination. "Your Highness, rest assured. I never imagined such dealings existed under my jurisdiction in Jinzhou. This time, I will leave no stone unturned!"

Clenching his fist, his resolve was unmistakable.

Yan Chi seemed somewhat satisfied. "Lord Huo, go ahead. I’ll handle matters here."

Huo Huaixin, brimming with vigor, bowed to Qin Guan and Yan Chi before striding out.

Watching Huo Huaixin depart with large strides, Fuling outside the door couldn’t help but sigh. "Lord Huo acts swiftly. Having such a good official is truly a blessing for the people of Jinzhou..."

Yan Chi and Qin Guan instinctively exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting faint amusement.

Huo Huaixin was indeed decisive now, but his earlier performance had still carried a hint of pretense. Had Yan Chi not been present, he might not have acted this way.

Qin Guan looked at Yan Chi, and Yan Chi looked back. Yan Chi’s eyes sparkled, while Qin Guan was momentarily stunned.

Their shared moment of silent understanding surprised her.Qin Guan was the first to withdraw her gaze and walk toward the door. Yan Chi followed with a slight lift of his chin, speaking softly, "Given the hidden truths of this case, Ninth Miss, do you find the ways of the world treacherous?"

Qin An's confession, though lacking in detail, had at least exposed a transaction involving the taking of lives. That Qingyuan Pawnshop had likely harmed many more people. For a young woman raised in the sheltered confines of a noble household, such revelations must have been unimaginable at first.

Hearing this, Qin Guan turned to look at Yan Chi. "I am no delicate flower raised in a secluded boudoir. The treachery of the world—I’ve long known it."

Yan Chi felt a stir in his heart. Qin Guan had lost her parents in childhood and lived under others' roofs, moving from the capital to Jinzhou. She must have witnessed much of life's harshness and was indeed no stranger to the world's cruelty.

Noticing the complexity in Yan Chi's gaze, Qin Guan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Still, this Qingyuan Pawnshop did surprise me. I thought it was merely Qin An’s wickedness at play, never imagining it had become a transaction—seemingly a well-organized, underground operation. Thinking deeper, it’s chilling."

Yan Chi felt a weight lift. Yes, this was more like it. If Qin Guan had shown no fear at all, that would have been strange.

"All of this was uncovered step by step by the mastermind behind the scenes. Otherwise, the Prefect would never have known—nor would we." Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan. "Do you think she is ultimately good or evil?"

The question left Qin Guan momentarily speechless, circling back to the dilemma she had pondered before.

"Your Highness, what do you believe is the law? What is justice?"

Yan Chi had intended to question her but found himself on the receiving end. He considered her intent before smiling wryly. "The law is black and white on paper. In today’s world, it often sides with those in power rather than justice. As for justice—right and wrong will be judged by public opinion. It may be delayed, but it never fails to arrive."

The first half of Yan Chi’s words were disheartening, yet Qin Guan knew all too well that this was the way of the world. Gazing at the desolate gloom hanging over Qin Manor, she murmured, "The Great Zhou upholds propriety, righteousness, benevolence, wisdom, and trust. If the law cannot uphold justice, it is the failure of those in power. If those in power turn a blind eye, they drive people toward evil—commoners, court officials, even those who command armies. And what is the end result? The collapse of this realm, the fall of the supreme throne—"

She stopped abruptly, realizing she had spoken too freely, her indignation laid bare. Turning, she met Yan Chi’s profound gaze and gave a bitter smile before lowering her head with a sigh. "I merely grieve for those thirteen children. You’re right—justice was not absent. Their remains were finally unearthed, and Qin An will face punishment. Yet their deaths, their families—all were innocent victims with no recompense."

Qin Guan shook her head. "It’s still unjust... unjust..."Qin Guan was enveloped in sorrow, as if mourning for those thirteen children. Yet Yan Chi continued to watch her. In that fleeting moment, he suddenly sensed a raging fire of hatred and fury burning within her heart, as though the grievances of those thirteen children had been inflicted upon her own self. Qin Guan was kind-hearted, compassionate, and empathetic—even sharing the pain of those children—but Yan Chi still felt something was amiss. Was it the sharp edge in her words just now? Or was it her audacity to discuss matters of the throne and the empire?

Yan Chi couldn’t settle on a conclusion, but seeing Qin Guan’s dejected and crestfallen expression pained him. Over these past days, she had toiled tirelessly, whether in dissecting corpses or examining bones, all with unwavering diligence. In Yan Chi’s eyes, she was unlike any ordinary person—radiant and peerless in her brilliance. To suddenly see her weighed down by grief and despair pressed a heavy stone upon his own heart.

“The world may be as it is, but there are always more who lean toward goodness than evil. Even in the imperial court, there are upright and capable officials like the former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Shen Yi. Ninth Miss, you must not lose hope in the ways of the world.”

“Shen Yi?” Qin Guan repeated the name, then let out a faint laugh.

Yan Chi's gaze deepened slightly, sensing both mockery and sorrow in Qin Guan's smile. His expression shifted as he suddenly remembered that Shen Yi was now a disgraced official, his body and head separated. With this realization, Yan Chi understood Qin Guan better. The books she read mostly came from Shen Yi, clearly indicating her deep admiration for the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Yet now...

"Ninth Miss, do you not believe in Shen Yi's guilt?"

A sudden insight struck Yan Chi as he looked at Qin Guan.

Qin Guan abruptly raised her head, meeting his gaze. She pressed her lips together, her eyes flickering momentarily. "Shen Yi's guilt... has already been decided. Qin Guan... dare not disbelieve..."

Though she spoke these words, her voice was strained. Yan Chi studied her for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.

Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice. "Ninth Miss, you dared to speak of the empire's impending collapse, yet you hesitate to say Shen Yi was wronged?"

Qin Guan blinked. "Then what does the Crown Prince think of this matter?"

Her response was almost an admission. Yan Chi smiled faintly. "When this incident occurred, I was still on my way back to the capital. Upon learning of it later, I too found it hard to believe initially. Moreover... the capital is a complex place, rife with factional strife. Ninth Miss may not know, but such conflicts often claim innocent victims. Lord Shen's case is indeed unusually strange."

Qin Guan blinked again, her earlier indignation subsiding. Yan Chi's words moved her somewhat.

"However..." Yan Chi's eyes soon turned calm again. "As Ninth Miss said, this matter has been concluded, and it was decreed by the Emperor himself, implicating many. Henceforth, such words should only be spoken to me."

The faint light in Qin Guan's eyes dimmed as she truly calmed down. This was an imperial decree, involving a prince and a favored consort. Naturally, it had become a taboo in the capital. Who in the world would dare question it now?

To question it lightly would be to scorn the Emperor; to do so gravely would be akin to rebellion...

Qin Guan had always known her father's case was no trivial matter. Yan Chi's confirmation merely reinforced this. Given his royal lineage, his attitude was already remarkably rare. Qin Guan exhaled, feeling grateful nonetheless.

"Yes, Qin Guan will remember..."

Her voice softened. Yan Chi then remarked, "Having read many of Lord Shen's writings these past few days, I can't help but feel regret. Had it not been for recent events, the Great Zhou would have been fortunate to have such a Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

"Thus... I can understand Ninth Miss's admiration and defense of Lord Shen."

Yan Chi watched her, but Qin Guan could only manage a bitter smile. Her feelings for Shen Yi went far beyond mere admiration and defense.

Not wishing to dwell on the topic further—knowing the more she spoke, the more she might reveal—Qin Guan straightened her spirits and suggested, "Your Highness, shall we visit the Purple Bamboo Forest again?"

Yan Chi looked puzzled. Qin Guan added, "Though we can almost be certain that the mastermind's schemes were meant to expose the past's dark deeds, they have still committed evil. The truth must be uncovered."

Yan Chi nodded at once. "Very well, let us go and see again..."

Qin Guan nodded in return, lifting her skirts slightly as she strode ahead.

Yan Chi slowed his steps, watching her. The Qin Guan before him now seemed like the familiar one he was accustomed to, yet the anomaly from earlier lingered vividly in his mind...The current Purple Bamboo Forest was no longer the eerie and desolate place it once was. When Qin Guan stepped in again, all she saw was the mess left behind from digging up the remains. Beneath the layers of withered branches and fallen leaves were puddles from the recent rain, while scattered clumps of dirt and mud lay above, along with the footprints of constables who had been searching back and forth. This once-frightening forest no longer held any fear for Qin Guan.

The autumn wind rustled, creating a whispering sound as it swept through the bamboo. After taking only a few steps, Qin Guan suddenly said, "Your Highness, do you remember? That day, Mama Zhao saw the ghost fire deep in the forest. But this well is so deep—if a fire started inside, how could it be seen from the outside?"

Yan Chi, who had been surveying the surroundings, frowned at her words. "You're right. Are you suggesting someone deliberately lit a fire?"

"If it was deliberate, sprinkling some phosphorus powder would be enough to create the illusion of ghost fire..."

As she spoke, Qin Guan unconsciously walked toward the well. To fully excavate the remains, a trench had been dug horizontally through the forest. She circled the well, pondering how a fire could have been set near its opening.

Perhaps too absorbed in thought, she didn’t notice when she brushed against a cluster of bamboo. She meant to step around it, but as she retreated, she spotted a faint mark on one of the stalks—a shallow indentation, as if scraped by a blunt blade.

Frowning, she lightly traced it with her fingertips.

"What is it?" Yan Chi noticed her expression and immediately approached.

Qin Guan pointed to the mark on the bamboo. "Here, there's a slight trace—as if something rubbed or struck it..."

Yan Chi studied it intently, but Qin Guan sighed. "Still... the constables have been moving back and forth in this forest these past few days. It wouldn’t be strange if they accidentally bumped into things..."

Yan Chi, however, didn’t dismiss the observation so quickly. After a moment, he suddenly moved to inspect another nearby bamboo. Qin Guan was touched but also slightly uneasy. She wasn’t always right, and if Yan Chi spent so much effort investigating just because of her offhand remark, she’d feel a little embarrassed.

"Crown Prince—"

She hesitated, but Yan Chi suddenly said, "There’s another one here. Come and see."

Her eyes brightened. If one mark could be a coincidence, finding a second greatly reduced the likelihood of chance. Lifting her skirt slightly, she hurried to Yan Chi’s side.

The bamboo cluster he stood by was only a few steps away. When Qin Guan examined it, sure enough, there was the same shallow indentation as before. Yan Chi pointed to another spot. "Look, this one has it too."

As he stepped aside, Qin Guan moved closer—so close she nearly stood between him and the bamboo, though in her eagerness, she didn’t realize it. "There really is... On that cluster over there, only the outermost stalk had a mark, but here, two of them do. Why is that? If it’s a coincidence, it seems too unlikely..."

Absorbed in her thoughts, she instinctively turned to look at Yan Chi.

Only then did she realize she had practically stepped into his embrace. They were so close that if she leaned forward even slightly, her forehead would touch his chin. Her breath hitched, and she quickly pulled back.

After a pause, Yan Chi calmly stepped aside and nodded. "Indeed. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence."Qin Guan felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest. She quickly turned around and continued searching elsewhere. "These clusters of bamboo are closest to the well. Let me check the others..."

Hoping for the best, Qin Guan moved to the next cluster. But after circling it, she found no traces. "Nothing here... Was it really just a coincidence earlier?" she murmured.

Still unwilling to give up, she walked to the next cluster. "Nothing here either..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Yan Chi called out, "There's something here."

Earlier, Qin Guan had instinctively chosen the opposite direction from Yan Chi. Now, he stood across from her. With a curious "Huh," Qin Guan didn’t approach him directly but continued walking around the well, examining two more clusters of purple bamboo. After crossing the groove, just as she thought the next cluster would also yield nothing, she spotted the marks again!

"There are marks here! How strange—why do only the bamboo clusters east of the well have them, while the west side doesn’t?" Qin Guan gently traced the marks on the bamboo, then looked up. She noticed the tops of the bamboo leaned slightly toward the well. Glancing at the other marked bamboo clusters, she confirmed they all tilted in the same direction.

Qin Guan moved toward Yan Chi’s position, checking each cluster one by one. Sure enough, every cluster east of the well bore scratches. Frowning, she observed, "Not every bamboo stalk has them—only the outermost one or two in each cluster."

"Wait, here, three stalks all have marks..."

Yan Chi stood before a cluster of purple bamboo. Watching him, a sudden realization flashed through Qin Guan’s mind. She immediately walked over and positioned herself behind the bamboo to look toward the well. Meanwhile, Yan Chi mused, "Could something have been tied to these bamboo stalks?"

Peering through the bamboo at the well, Qin Guan’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Your Highness is right! Something was indeed tied here!"

Yan Chi turned his gaze toward her. Qin Guan’s face brightened with excitement. "Your Highness, I’ve figured it out!"

Yan Chi glanced between Qin Guan and the bamboo, then surveyed their surroundings. It seemed he, too, had pieced something together. "You’ve discovered how the culprit moved the Demon-suppressing Stone?!"

Qin Guan’s eyes sparkled as she pointed at the purple bamboo. "Using the bamboo!"

Yan Chi’s lips curved slightly, though he feigned doubt. "Using the bamboo?"

Encouraged, Qin Guan’s expression grew confident. "Yes! The bamboo! I was mistaken earlier—moving the Demon-suppressing Stone does require great force, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a strong man. With these purple bamboo stalks, even a woman could do it!"

Yan Chi smiled without comment, but Fuling, who had just caught up, looked puzzled. "What is the young lady saying? Bamboo moving a stone?"

Qin Guan turned to Fuling. "Exactly! The bamboo moved the stone!"

Seeing Fuling still didn’t understand, Qin Guan suddenly grabbed a bamboo stalk and bent it downward.

Alarmed, Fuling exclaimed, "What are you doing, young lady? Let me handle it—be careful not to hurt your hands..."Fuling was walking forward when Qin Guan suddenly let go of her hand. The moment she released her grip, the bent bamboo immediately straightened, causing the tip to sway vigorously. "Look, this is the force of bamboo. I exerted all my strength to bend it, but the bamboo also pulls back. A single bent bamboo has little force, but what about many bamboos? If we tie one end of a rope to the bent bamboo and the other to the Demon-suppressing Stone, adding human effort, wouldn’t it be equivalent to the strength of a strong man?"

Qin Guan turned her gaze to the Demon-suppressing Stone. "This stone has been moved, so it’s now north of the well. But Your Highness must remember—when we first came here, the stone was east of the well!"

"And these grooves on the bamboo were made to secure the ropes so they wouldn’t slip off when the bamboo bent. The bamboo grove is sparse in some places and dense in others. She couldn’t have tied all the bamboo in a cluster, and even if she could, it wouldn’t have been enough. So, she chose the outermost and most pliable bamboo. That’s why several clusters of bamboo east of the well have these grooves!"

Fuling widened her eyes in disbelief. "This method… this method is truly ingenious!"

Qin Guan felt a surge of excitement. The method was indeed brilliant. Without noticing these marks, how could she have guessed the culprit would use such a technique? Bamboo is lifeless, yet flexible. By borrowing the force of inanimate objects, the killer made it seem as though the stone had been moved by several people or an extraordinarily strong man—thus evading suspicion from the very beginning.

"Liu Chun had pastry residue under his nails. He had eaten something and was likely drugged with an aphrodisiac when he was killed. As for Liu Shi, she was probably caught off guard, and as a woman, she lacked the strength to resist."

Qin Guan looked at Yan Chi with frustration. "I guessed wrong from the start. The killer must be a woman. With so many bamboos involved, the person’s strength couldn’t have been great."

Yan Chi stepped closer. "Someone used misdirection, and none of us saw through it. Now that you’ve deciphered the method of moving the Demon-suppressing Stone, we can investigate in other directions. Don’t be upset."

Qin Guan sighed. "If it’s a woman, she’s likely someone of status in the inner courtyard. Among the inner courtyard staff, it could be one of the stewards—or perhaps an old-timer who knew about the incident back then and had some connection with Liu Chun, which is why he trusted her."

At this thought, Qin Guan suddenly remembered Aunt Liu.

Her eyes brightened. "I know someone. Last time, during the Second Concubine’s incident, she was the one who told me. The matter wasn’t exposed then, so she didn’t say much. I always felt she knew more. If we ask her now, she might reveal additional details—Aunt Liu, the one in charge of the kitchen."

Yan Chi nodded. "Good. You go find her, and I’ll question the others. A few days ago, Governor Huo provided a list of people who had been in Qin Manor for over eight years. There are several female attendants on it."

Qin Guan nodded eagerly and hurried off with Fuling toward the servants’ quarters in the west.