A beam of bright light streamed in through the tall latticed window, slightly illuminating the narrow and cramped passageway of the book repository. Even so, the room remained dimly lit. Yan Chi stood behind Qin Guan, his gaze peering over her shoulder at what lay below.
On the slightly yellowed drawing paper, one vivid spring palace painting after another came to life. The artist's skill was superb, with meticulous coloring and ingenious composition. When depicting a courtyard, one could see dewdrops on the peony stamens; when painting a stream, the smooth pebbles at the bottom were visible; when illustrating grass, the veins of the lush green blades were clear. Since the artist was so detailed and realistic, naturally, the figures in the paintings were also rendered with extreme precision. The entwined pair—both handsome in appearance—were either completely naked or half-clothed. The man's muscular lines were visible, the woman's rosy peaks apparent, and where the two connected...
Yan Chi's gaze abruptly shifted to Qin Guan's face. The faint light from the window spilled over her shoulders, casting a delicate blush across her snow-like cheeks. Watching this, Yan Chi's eyes darkened.
With a rustle, Qin Guan closed the spring palace painting in her hands. She turned to stare fixedly at Yan Chi, eagerly searching for any trace of reaction on his face. Yet, from this angle, Yan Chi's expression remained unreadable. Relieved, Qin Guan quickly turned back to roll up the scroll. "This one isn't..."
As she spoke, she quietly exhaled.
"As a physician, you shouldn't be affected by such paintings, right?"
Just as Qin Guan was about to fully relax, Yan Chi suddenly spoke again. At this question, her spine immediately stiffened—he had noticed!
Observing Qin Guan's sudden rigidity, a faint smile flickered in Yan Chi's eyes. The light on her shoulders brightened slightly, dust particles dancing within the beam like golden sugar sprinkles floating in the air, carrying an inexplicable, subtle sweetness.
Not wanting to embarrass her further, Yan Chi turned and walked toward the tall cabinet behind Qin Guan.
Hearing his footsteps retreat, Qin Guan's stiff back finally loosened slightly. "Of course not—"
Her tone was cool, but her ears burned. As a physician, she naturally knew every bone and muscle in the human body. Yet, in all her years, she had never seen anything like this!
Frowning, she shoved the scroll deep into the back of the cabinet.
Silently cursing Qin An in her heart—of course it would be Qin An, even his collected paintings were like this...
Steadying herself, Qin Guan turned her attention to the other scrolls in the cabinet. To her astonishment, the cabinet was filled with either the Twelve Spring Palace Paintings, beauties bathing, or even scenes of men and women indulging in decadent feasts. Each time she unrolled a scroll, she caught only a glimpse of the corner before hurriedly closing it again, afraid Yan Chi might approach. As she browsed, she muttered to herself—were all the paintings in this cabinet of this nature?
After reluctantly examining the last one, Qin Guan shut the cabinet door with a resigned sigh.
Listening to the rustling behind him, Yan Chi's eyes brimmed with amusement, though he didn't turn around. Moments later, when Qin Guan closed the cabinet and glanced at him, she noted his impassive expression. She thought to herself—if even a disciplined military man like Yan Chi remained unruffled, then surely it was fine...Qin Guan let out a sigh and opened another tall cabinet nearby. As soon as she did, her eyes fell upon several yellowed scrolls of calligraphy and paintings. The rolled-up edges bore small inscriptions, and judging by the style, they appeared to be the work of a renowned master from the previous dynasty. Unfurling one, she confirmed it was indeed an artifact from that era. Glancing between this cabinet and the one housing the erotic paintings, she sighed deeply. The Qin Manor was wealthy, yet it had the misfortune of having someone like Qin An as its head...
"These are all part of the Qin Manor's collection."
After examining a few more scrolls, Yan Chi, standing beside her, remarked similarly. Having gone through the cabinets at the far end of the library, Qin Guan had no choice but to step back. Yan Chi, facing her, also retreated a few paces.
As they moved outward, the paintings on the shelves appeared newer. Qin Guan could tell they weren’t from seven or eight years ago, yet she couldn’t resist searching through them. Midway through, Yan Chi suddenly paused. "Come look at this..."
Hearing this, Qin Guan’s eyes brightened slightly, and she turned to join Yan Chi. He was unfurling a painting about two feet long, halfway revealing it. The artwork wasn’t by any famous artist—it depicted the back of a woman in red.
The painter’s technique wasn’t masterful, but the composition was breathtaking. Even from just the back view, Qin Guan could sense the woman’s ethereal beauty. Her graceful silhouette, with cascading ink-black hair, walked amidst the swaying willows of spring. The folds of her skirt fluttered with her movements, surrounded by fluttering butterflies—a vivid portrayal of a spirited beauty.
"This painting..."
The artwork didn’t show the woman’s face, so even the Second Concubine from back then would have been of no help. Qin Guan felt something was off about it. Yan Chi added, "The paper isn’t old enough. It must have been done within the last year."
Qin Guan nodded, running her fingers over the paper. "Exactly. But..."
She continued unrolling the scroll to the very end. The painter seemed reluctant to leave any inscription or even a date. However, upon closer inspection, Qin Guan noticed a faint, barely legible seal in the lower left corner. She squinted, barely making out two characters: "Min Yu."
"Who is this?" Qin Guan wondered aloud. "It looks like someone’s courtesy name..."
Yan Chi’s gaze sharpened. "Both 'Min' and 'Yu' describe fine jade. In the Qin Manor, only the eldest young master’s name carries the meaning of precious jade. If I’m not mistaken, this must be Qin Chen’s courtesy name."
Qin Guan’s eyelids twitched. Yao Xinlan had once mentioned dreaming of Qin Chen painting a woman amidst a sea of red beans symbolizing longing. Though this painting lacked the red beans, the artist had poured the vibrancy of spring onto the paper, as if offering the season’s beauty to the woman depicted.
Pressing her lips together, Qin Guan murmured, "It must be Eldest Brother’s work..."
Unaware of the issues between Yao Xinlan and Qin Chen, Yan Chi instinctively asked, "Did he paint the Young Mistress of the manor?"
Qin Guan didn’t answer immediately. Yan Chi glanced at her, likely noticing her solemn expression, and raised an eyebrow. "Not the Young Mistress? Rumor has it they married less than a year ago. Why would he paint someone else?"Yan Chi also noticed the painter's affection for the woman in the portrait, instantly discerning Qin Chen's feelings.
Qin Guan shook her head, reluctant to elaborate on what she knew, yet trusting Yan Chi implicitly. She simply said, "I'm not sure. Eldest Brother and Eldest Brother's Wife aren't as loving as the rumors suggest."
Yan Chi frowned in thought for a moment, unable to connect this matter to the deaths of Liu Shi and Liu Chun. He dismissed it as an internal secret of Qin Manor and refrained from further questioning, rolling up the scroll. However, Qin Guan suddenly felt a chill run through her limbs—Qin Manor concealed a third murder case. She still couldn't fathom why Ninth Miss had entered the Purple Bamboo Forest back then. The most plausible explanation was that she had stumbled upon something she shouldn’t have, leading to her demise.
For Qin Chen, could falling for someone else be a fatal mistake?
"What's wrong?" Yan Chi asked abruptly when Qin Guan remained silent for too long. From his angle, her expression was unusually grave. He guessed she was either shocked by Qin Chen's behavior or displeased with him due to her closeness to the young mistress. He placed the scroll back in its original spot. "Should we inform the young mistress about this?"
Qin Guan snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head after a pause. "I haven’t figured it out yet."
Yan Chi's gaze darkened. "As I said before, your eldest brother is not simple. You must be cautious."
Qin Guan nodded, pushing aside the tangled thoughts in her mind, and turned to the bookshelf. "Let’s keep looking—"
Her tone was somber, her movements decisive. Seeing her like this, Yan Chi also resumed searching. Yet, the cabinets they opened one after another contained only ancient texts and old collections, with no recent paintings. Qin Guan shut the last cabinet door, her expression tense. "It seems they’re not here either—"
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "Could the paintings be stored elsewhere in the manor?"
Qin Guan shook her head. "All the books and paintings are kept here. I don’t know about other places—I’ll have to ask around."
She glanced around. "Since they’re not here, let’s leave for now."
Yan Chi naturally agreed, and the two exited the library, heading toward Windward Courtyard.
Having seen Qin Chen’s painting, Yan Chi, though uninterested in Qin Manor’s secrets, couldn’t help but worry for Qin Guan’s sake. "Earlier, when Qin Chen left, he seemed unsettled..."
At his words, Qin Guan understood his unspoken question. "He and his wife had an argument."
Yan Chi showed no surprise, only fixing her with a serious look. "Though this has nothing to do with the case, you should avoid getting involved in their affairs. Given Qin Manor’s current state, Qin Chen will likely take charge in the future."
As someone living under their roof, Qin Guan would need to stay on good terms with Qin Chen if he became the head of the household.
She understood this reasoning and felt a flicker of warmth at Yan Chi’s concern.
"Don’t worry, Crown Prince. I know what to do."
Just then, Bai Feng approached from the front courtyard, clearly with news to deliver. Qin Guan took a few steps forward, and sure enough, Bai Feng whispered something to Yan Chi.
Yan Chi’s expression shifted slightly. He turned to Qin Guan. "Governor Huo has apprehended someone—one of them was brought back to Qin Manor. I’ll go take a look. Bai Feng will stay with you."Qin Guan nodded, then shook her head. "No need. The Crown Prince should have someone by his side. I'll just return the key to Windward Courtyard and then go back to my own quarters. There's no need for Your Highness to worry."
Yan Chi pondered briefly. "Very well. If I obtain any useful information, I'll come find you."
Qin Guan acknowledged, and without further delay, Yan Chi departed. Watching his figure disappear, Qin Guan then headed toward Windward Courtyard. After walking a short distance, she saw Fuling hurrying toward her.
She had previously instructed Fuling to meet her at the library, but Fuling seemed to have arrived late.
"Miss, I'm late..."
Qin Guan frowned. "What happened?"
Fuling caught her breath. "A maid from Second Young Master's courtyard came earlier..."
Qin Guan blinked, and Fuling continued, "The maid said that since you've been assisting the Crown Prince these past few days, Second Young Master didn't want to disturb you. But today, his condition worsened, and he hopes you can go see him. I kept her for a few words before sending her back, saying you'd visit once you finished your tasks."
"I should go see him. Given the current state of Qin Manor, there's no need to be overly cautious." Qin Guan's heart sank slightly as she hurried toward Windward Courtyard. She had already been thinking of preparing medicine for Qin Li, but his people had come to fetch her first.
Qin Guan went straight to Windward Courtyard, feeling somewhat uneasy, fearing Qin Chen might have returned. But upon arrival, Qin Chen was still absent. She handed the key to Mo Shu, whose previously reddened eyes had now cleared.
"Ninth Miss, please go see our lady. A letter arrived from Jianzhou, and she's calmed down a bit now."
Hearing Mo Shu's words, Qin Guan couldn't leave immediately. She quickly went to the inner chamber, where Yao Xinlan was indeed more composed, sitting on the edge of the bed with a piece of paper in her hand, still lost in thought.
Hearing the movement, Yao Xinlan turned her head. At the sight of Qin Guan, her eyes reddened slightly again.
"Eldest Brother's Wife, you received a letter from Jianzhou?"
Yao Xinlan nodded, pulling Qin Guan to sit beside her. "Over ten days ago, some clansmen happened to come to Jinzhou to handle business matters. At first, it was just deaths in the manor, but then so many white bones were unearthed, and the situation changed. The clansmen sent word back to Jianzhou, and my father, upon learning of it, wrote this letter."
Qin Guan nodded. "What did Lord Yao say?"
A warmth flickered in Yao Xinlan's eyes. "Father said the matters of Qin Manor have nothing to do with Chen-ge. But with this incident, it's no longer suitable for us to stay in Jinzhou. Father suggested Jianzhou, as it's the Yao family's ancestral home. Since I'm close to giving birth, and though Loyal Marquis Manor in the capital would offer support, the journey there is too long for my condition. Father said he's already sent people here. Once the case is concluded, they'll take Chen-ge and me to Jianzhou immediately. After the new year, he'll return to the capital to resume his official duties and do his best to arrange a future for Chen-ge. With the support of Loyal Marquis Manor, at least Chen-ge can still secure a decent path. Jinzhou is a place of trouble, and neither Chen-ge nor I should stay here longer than necessary."
Even Qin Guan felt a warmth in her heart. Yao Xinlan's father was wise and fair-minded. While Lin Shi and Jiang Shi were filled with despair over Qin Manor's misfortunes, Lord Yao was doing his utmost to consider Qin Chen's future. The authorities had yet to deliver a final verdict, but once they did, Qin Manor in Jinzhou would likely become a target of public scorn. If reported to the imperial court, the descendants of Qin Manor would naturally face bleak prospects.At this moment, countless people wished to sever ties with Qin Manor. Although Lord Yao acted for his own daughter's sake, his efforts were still commendable. Qin Guan curved her lips slightly, "Lord Yao cares deeply for Eldest Brother's Wife and Eldest Brother. This arrangement couldn't be better."
A trace of confusion appeared on Yao Xinlan's delicate face, "But I haven't made up my mind yet."
Hearing this, Qin Guan immediately recalled the painting she had seen earlier in the library. Gazing into Yao Xinlan's bewildered eyes, she nearly blurted it out but managed to hold back at the last moment. Instead, she asked, "What does Eldest Brother's Wife wish to do? Once you've decided, just send someone to call for me. I'll help however I can."
Yao Xinlan looked grateful but shook her head, "I haven't figured it out yet. My mind is too chaotic."
With a bitter smile, she added, "I'm too weak, not as resolute as Ninth Sister. I need more time to think... Ninth Sister should attend to your own affairs. When I've decided, I'll have Mo Shu summon you."
Thinking of Qin Li's medical condition, Qin Guan nodded, "Very well, I'll take my leave first."
After bidding farewell to Yao Xinlan, Qin Guan hurried back to Orchid Isle Courtyard with Fuling.
"Miss, shall we go to Second Young Master's quarters now?"
Fuling asked as soon as they entered the room. However, Qin Guan slowed her steps with a solemn expression. The door was slightly ajar, and she frowned slightly, "Fuling, on the night I fell into the lake, where was Eldest Brother?"
Fuling was momentarily taken aback, tilting her head in thought before replying, "That night... I believe Eldest Young Master was preparing to depart for Jianzhou that afternoon. At least, that's what I heard from the manor servants."
Qin Guan turned to look at Fuling, "Are you certain?"
Under Qin Guan's serious gaze, Fuling instinctively shrank her neck, "Now that you ask, I dare not say for sure. But we could ask the gatekeepers—they would know!"
"Shall we go ask now, Miss?"
Qin Guan shook her head. Though suspicions arose in her heart, she hesitated to act rashly, fearing it might alert someone.
After steadying herself, she finally said, "Let's visit Second Brother first."
No sooner had she spoken than a faint "crunch" sounded outside the door. Qin Guan frowned sharply, "Who's there?"
Hearing this, Fuling rushed to the door and opened it, but the corridor outside and even the courtyard beyond were completely empty. Puzzled, Fuling said, "How strange? I definitely heard something too—like someone suddenly stepping heavily."
Qin Guan also walked to the doorway, scanning the surroundings before shaking her head, "Perhaps it was just a bird. Never mind. Quickly fetch the medicine—we'll go check on him and return soon—"
Fuling hurried off to comply. Left alone at the doorway, Qin Guan stared blankly at the empty courtyard for a long moment.
"Miss, I'm ready. I've brought all the medicine."
Qin Guan nodded and stepped out first. Fuling closed the door behind them as usual and followed Qin Guan with single-minded focus.
As they passed through the courtyard gate, Qin Guan glanced back. Through the half-open gate, a corner of the tranquil courtyard was visible, appearing as serene and deserted as before. Qin Guan withdrew her gaze and quickened her pace toward Qin Li's quarters.Qin Li's courtyard was also located behind the front yard, but it was much more secluded than the Windward Courtyard. Qin Guan had never been there before. Following the general direction Fuling had described, she arrived at the gate, only to find it locked from the inside. Fuling stepped forward and knocked, and the gate was finally opened. As soon as it swung open, Qin Guan saw a layout much smaller than that of the Windward Courtyard.
Qin Li had once been fond of a lavish lifestyle, so despite the courtyard's modest size, it was elegantly arranged. The maid who opened the door was delicate and pretty, and upon seeing Qin Guan, she quickly bowed in greeting. "Greetings, Ninth Miss. Our young master has been waiting for you."
Qin Guan nodded and walked inside. After a few steps, she saw another servant waiting at the entrance.
This second servant was also strikingly beautiful. Fuling couldn't help but glance at her a few more times and whispered to Qin Guan, "Miss, the sisters here in Second Young Master's residence are indeed all very lovely..."
Qin Guan neither agreed nor disagreed. The second servant lifted the curtain and respectfully invited Qin Guan inside.
A faint medicinal scent filled the room. To Qin Guan's surprise, the interior was arranged with refined simplicity, quite unlike Qin Li's usual temperament. Without lingering on the details, Qin Guan was led by the servant into the Warm Chamber.
"Ninth Sister—"
As soon as she entered the Warm Chamber, she saw Qin Li lying on a long couch by the window. After not seeing him for several days, he had grown even thinner. The chancre at the corner of his lips had gradually improved, but Qin Guan immediately noticed the Plum Pox Sores on his neck.
Qin Guan hurried over and sat on the small stool beside Qin Li.
"Give me your hand—"
Without any pleasantries, Qin Guan spoke as if she were a physician here solely for a consultation.
Qin Li extended his wrist, and Qin Guan placed her fingertips on it...
"I took the medicine you gave me and applied the ointment as well, but..."
As he spoke, Qin Li instinctively reached to touch the sores on his neck. Qin Guan's sharp gaze fell on his hand, and perhaps because her look was too piercing, Qin Li's movement abruptly halted.
"It seems the chancre has healed, but in reality, the toxic damp-heat has only now begun to manifest. How many sores have erupted on your neck? Where else are they located?"
Qin Guan's tone was calm, but the question made Qin Li lower his eyes, as if ashamed. "Not many. One on the neck, two on the lower abdomen, and some on the thighs and..."
Qin Li trailed off, but Qin Guan understood. She nodded, withdrew her fingers, and turned to take the medicine pouch Fuling was holding. "This is the decoction. Take it four times a day—three doses during the day and one at night. Here is the White Apricot Cream, but it's missing two ingredients. Grind this packet into a fine powder and mix it in before use. The application method remains the same as before."
After speaking, Qin Guan's brow remained slightly furrowed. Unable to resist, Qin Li asked, "How is Father?"
Qin Guan shook her head. "A few days ago, someone poisoned him with a metallic toxin, which accelerated his illness. His condition has worsened significantly these past two days. You're only at the beginning, but for him, there's no hope left..."
Qin Li's eyelids twitched, as if envisioning his own future. A look of tension and despair flashed across his face, but he forced himself to ask, "Poisoned? Who would poison him?"
Qin Guan shook her head again, then narrowed her eyes at Qin Li. "Second Brother, weren't you unwilling to speak before? Why ask now?"
Qin Li lowered his gaze and smiled bitterly. "Ninth Sister, I've told you everything I could...""Second Brother only told me not to go near that well or the Purple Bamboo Forest," Qin Guan sneered.
"I stopped you from going to that well because Grandmother said it was a cursed well. I didn’t know so many remains were hidden beneath it—only Second Concubine’s..."
"Then why did Second Brother forbid me from entering the Purple Bamboo Forest?"
Qin Guan fixed Qin Li with a piercing gaze. Qin Li’s lips moved several times, but no words came out.
Qin Guan's tone grew increasingly pressing, "At this point, Second Brother isn't even afraid of others knowing about his illness. What else is there to hide? Could there be other secrets in the Purple Bamboo Forest?"
Qin Li's face showed clear distress. Qin Guan immediately frowned, "What other secrets are in the Purple Bamboo Forest?!"
Qin Li gave a bitter smile, "Don't ask anymore. The Qin Manor has reached such a state—we can't afford more turmoil. Though I'm not the legitimate heir, I know the Qin family can't withstand any upheaval now. We juniors must understand this..."
As Qin Li spoke on his own, Qin Guan pondered the meaning behind his words—legitimate heir... juniors...
Her breath tightened. Coldly, she said, "Could it be related to Eldest Brother?!"
Qin Li's eyelids twitched, his hand at his side suddenly gripping a corner of his robe, his gaze dropping even lower to avoid Qin Guan's eyes. Seeing these subtle reactions, Qin Guan narrowed her eyes, "What secrets does Eldest Brother have?"
Qin Li simply turned his head away, saying, "Eldest Brother has no secrets. He and Eldest Brother's Wife are deeply in love, and his scholarship is excellent—he's the future pillar of the Qin family. What secrets could he possibly have?"
Qin Guan looked at Qin Li and gave a cold laugh, "Then why would he paint another woman?"
Qin Li started, turning to stare at Qin Guan in disbelief, "How does Ninth Sister know about this?!"
Qin Guan wore an expression of calm, knowing indifference, "If you don't want others to know, don't do it in the first place. Everyone thinks he treats Eldest Brother's Wife extremely well, but after spending much time with her recently, I've realized he doesn't truly cherish her! What's more, I found paintings he made for that woman in the library. How outrageous—to be so brazen!"
It was merely a silhouette—Qin Guan hadn't recognized who it was. But she hadn't forgotten Yao Xinlan's jade pendant. Since she'd personally witnessed Qin Chen meeting someone in secret, that person was likely from the Qin Manor...
If they were from the Qin Manor, wasn't that the height of audacity?
As she spoke, Qin Guan's voice grew even more indignant, "Eldest Brother's Wife is the future Head of the Qin Family, and they dare to... She once told me she saw them meeting in secret. That woman actually dared to seduce Eldest Brother..."
Listening to Qin Guan's words, Qin Li assumed she already knew the full story. With a bitter smile, he shook his head, "Who could stop it when Grandmother dotes on and relies on her? Everyone in the inner courtyard knows she's Grandmother's favorite."
Qin Guan's pupils contracted violently. If not for her self-control, her eyes would have widened in shock.
Cai He... The one Jiang Shi doted on and relied upon—who else could it be but Cai He?!
Qin Guan's heart pounded fiercely twice—Qin Chen... Cai He... It was them...
Gritting her teeth, she finally managed to speak, "If Eldest Brother likes her, why hasn't he taken her as a concubine?"
Qin Li's bitter smile deepened, "Eldest Brother married Eldest Brother's Wife primarily because her father is the Prefect of Jianzhou. With the third branch of the Qin family in decline, the capital hasn't paid much attention to Eldest Brother's future prospects. That's why Grandmother conceived this plan—fortunately, Eldest Brother's Wife also liked him, so it seemed perfect. But Lord Yao had one condition for Eldest Brother: no concubines. Grandmother agreed to this."
Hearing this, Qin Guan was momentarily stunned. Hadn't Yao Xinlan said that Qin Chen had vowed to marry only her because he loved her and was tired of Qin An's philandering?Thinking of Yao Xinlan's faintly sweet expression when she said those words, Qin Guan couldn't help but feel pity for her.
Lord Yao, out of love for his daughter, had made this request. Qin Chen had seized the opportunity to turn it into something he willingly did, thereby winning Yao Xinlan's heart—yet he still harbored feelings for someone else...
A chill ran down Qin Guan's spine. Qin Chen had deceived Yao Xinlan...
This thought deepened her suspicions of Qin Chen.
Qin Guan lowered her eyes to conceal the sharpness in her gaze. "Old Madam surely doesn't know about this. What would happen if she and Eldest Brother's Wife found out?"
Qin Li narrowed his eyes and shook his head mockingly. "What would happen? If this were discovered, what chance would Cai He have to live? No matter how favored or cherished she is, she's still just a servant. Even if Eldest Brother's Wife endured the humiliation, her father wouldn't. Grandmother would undoubtedly sacrifice Cai He for the sake of Qin Manor's future."
With a sneer, Qin Li added, "Everyone thinks Eldest Brother is heaven's chosen one, but in this matter, he's truly foolish."
Qin Guan pressed her lips together tightly. Qin Li was right—this matter absolutely couldn't be exposed.
From Qin Chen's perspective, if this were discovered and he truly loved Cai He, it wouldn't be impossible for him to kill others to protect her. As Qin Guan pondered this, a creeping coldness slowly crawled up her spine.
"Ninth Sister, let Eldest Brother handle this himself. Right now, Qin Manor cannot afford to lose the support of Eldest Brother's Wife's father. Causing discord now would bring nothing but harm to our family."
Qin Guan suddenly raised her head, her gaze icy and unsettling as she looked at Qin Li.
"If Qin Manor treated Eldest Brother's Wife well, accepting Lord Yao's support would be understandable. But now, they're treating another family's daughter as a fool while shamelessly benefiting from their resources?"
Qin Li was taken aback by her words. Qin Guan continued, "Second Brother mocks Eldest Brother, but are you any better?"
With that, she stood up. "With Third Uncle above and Eldest Brother and Second Brother below, how could Qin Manor not fall into ruin? Second Brother, take care of yourself..."
Qin Guan turned to leave. Qin Li hastily sat up straight. "Ninth Sister!"
He called out urgently, but Qin Guan didn't stop. In moments, she had left with Fuling.
Qin Li sat in stunned silence for a while before weakly lying back down.
As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, Fuling whispered in disbelief, "Miss, did I hear correctly... or did I misunderstand... Does the young master have feelings for someone else? And that person... is... is Cai He?"
Qin Guan walked briskly ahead, only stopping after putting considerable distance between them. She steadied her breathing, forcing herself to remain calm.
"It's Cai He... I never even considered it..."
As she spoke, her heart pounded violently. She had been wondering who had harmed Yao Xinlan that time. Both Jiang Shi and Qin Chen had access to musk, but neither seemed likely culprits. But what if Cai He was added to the equation?
If Cai He and Qin Chen were involved, she would have had the perfect opportunity to tamper with Yao Xinlan's medicine. Could she have added musk and angelica to induce a miscarriage?
The more Qin Guan thought about it, the more certain she became—it was entirely possible!
Though Qin Guan had never experienced such things herself, she had heard plenty of rumors among noble families—wives and concubines fighting, internal strife, poisoning, and covert schemes were commonplace. Adding two medicinal ingredients was nothing in comparison."Miss, how could it be Cai He? So... so what Young Mistress saw was real?"
Fuling hadn't fully processed it yet when Qin Guan nodded, "The Jade Token we found last time already proved it. Eldest Brother's Wife did go to Crescent Lake, she just forgot herself. And when Eldest Brother saw her in such a daze, he simply said she was dreaming."
Qin Guan walked very slowly, thinking as she moved. She had originally been investigating the deaths of Liu Shi and Liu Chun, but unexpectedly uncovered such a secret. And this matter—did it have any connection with Ninth Miss's death?
If there was a connection, Cai He must have known that her affair with Qin Chen had been discovered. Yet Qin Guan recalled that every time Cai He saw her, there hadn't been the slightest hint of malice—in fact, there had even been a trace of warning in her demeanor.
Or perhaps Qin Chen and Cai He were indeed involved, but it had nothing to do with Ninth Miss's death?
In that case, who was the one who killed Ninth Miss in the Purple Bamboo Forest back then...
Qin Guan steadied her thoughts. "Come, let's go check the gatehouse now!"
To determine whether Qin Chen was connected to Ninth Miss's death, they first needed to confirm whether he had been in the residence that day. If he had, his suspicion would increase significantly...
Qin Guan quickened her pace toward the western gate with Fuling following closely behind. Fuling asked anxiously, "Miss, now that we know, should we tell Young Mistress?"
Qin Guan composed herself. "Let her figure it out on her own. If she comes to me, I'll tell her."
Fuling let out a long sigh, her lips pursed in frustration. In her heart, Qin Chen had been the very model of a husband—she had even believed his learning, character, and appearance were all exemplary. Yet who could have imagined... who could have imagined Qin Chen was like this!
Fuling seethed with indignation, and thinking of Yao Xinlan, her heart ached with pity. She couldn't help but mutter bitterly, "A gentleman must keep his word. He clearly promised Young Mistress's father, yet he couldn't uphold it."
Qin Guan gave a bitter smile at this. "He did uphold it—he didn't take a concubine. He just deceived Eldest Brother's Wife with a hypocritical method. He wanted both a promising future and the woman he loved. Men in this world..."
Qin Guan sighed deeply. From Qin Li's courtyard all the way west, they had to pass Orchid Isle Courtyard along the way. Qin Guan took the most familiar route, and though they were nearing Orchid Isle Courtyard, she had no intention of entering. Yet from a distance, she spotted Xu He waiting at the courtyard gate with a bundle in hand. Qin Guan paused, then had no choice but to approach him.
Xu He had been left in the western rear courtyard by Huo Huaixin. If he was waiting at Orchid Isle Courtyard now, he must have come looking for her.
"Coroner Xu—"
At Qin Guan's call, Xu He, who had been looking down, immediately turned. "Ninth Miss!"
Qin Guan took a few steps closer. "What are you waiting here for, Coroner Xu?"
Xu He smiled slightly and waved a stack of case files in his hand. "These were retrieved from Yang County by order of the Crown Prince. Today, the remains and records from there are to be delivered to the prefectural office. I wasn't sure whether to take these along, so I sent someone to ask His Excellency. He said to consult Ninth Miss."
Qin Guan considered it. The deaths of Liu Shi and Liu Chun were ultimately the killer's means of exposing the past events, which showed these two cases were already entangled. "Keep them for now. This matter isn't settled yet—there might still be clues in these."Xu He nodded, "Alright, I understand..." As he spoke, he began packing the case files and letters into the bag at his side, then asked, "Where is Ninth Miss going in such a hurry?"
Qin Guan had no intention of elaborating. "I’m going to the gatehouse to ask about something."
Just then, Xu He accidentally let two letters slip from his grasp and fall to the ground.
Standing nearby, Qin Guan quickly bent down to pick them up. Xu He reached out sheepishly to take them back, but Qin Guan’s gaze lingered on the words written on the letters. Her brows furrowed, and for a moment, she didn’t hand them back.
"What’s wrong, Ninth Miss—?"
Xu He questioned, but Qin Guan remained fixated on the line of small characters on the letter. The note contained accounts gathered by Yan Chi’s men from local villagers. What caught Qin Guan’s attention was one person’s description of how the male head of a certain household sold silk fabrics. Everything else seemed ordinary, but she noticed one peculiar detail—the man often confused colors.
Mistaking dark blue for crimson, and grayish-blue for deep black.
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