Xu He waited anxiously at the entrance of Qin Manor, unable to resist asking the constable beside him, "Why hasn't anyone returned after all this time?"
The constable, infected by Xu He's urgency, also peered toward the end of the long street. "I don't know either, Brother Xu. What's the matter that has you so worried? Has something happened in the manor?"
Xu He couldn't speak plainly and pursed his lips. "It's just a minor matter."
The constable frowned disapprovingly. "If it's minor, why the rush? The Prefect and the Crown Prince are apprehending many people this time. The Qingyuan Pawnshop has extensive dealings and ears everywhere. One misstep, and they'll flee."
Xu He understood this well, but the affairs within Qin Manor were no trivial matter either. "Ah, if only the Crown Prince would return. We don’t need both of them back, but there’s been no word for so long."
He then added, "I recall the Qingyuan Pawnshop is in the western part of the city, right? On East Fourth Street?"
The constable nodded. "What, are you planning to go yourself?"
Xu He had promised Qin Guan. Thinking she might have already unrolled the scroll by now, his anxiety grew.
Glancing around, Xu He decided to borrow a horse from the manor's gatehouse. But just as he turned, the sound of hoofbeats echoed from the end of the street. Xu He halted and strained his eyes toward the sound.
"Is that coming our way?"
Night had fallen heavily. Though there was no moon, scattered cold stars dotted the sky, and the occasional lantern light faintly illuminated the silhouettes of several riders.
"Seems like they're heading this way—"
The constable's reply came as Xu He's eyes brightened slightly. The riders galloped swiftly, arriving at Qin Manor in mere moments. Xu He recognized Yan Chi at once.
Yan Chi, accompanied by Bai Feng and the constable sent to deliver the message, reined in sharply and dismounted at the gate. Seeing Xu He still waiting, he frowned. "What is it? Has something happened?"
Xu He clasped his fists in salute and gestured inward. "Please, Your Highness, enter the manor first—"
Yan Chi tossed the reins to the constable and strode inside with Bai Feng.
As they walked, Xu He explained, "Ninth Miss asked for your return. She just discovered who poisoned Qin Laoye. Additionally, she learned something else of great importance to the case and wished to inform you."
At this, Yan Chi quickened his pace toward the inner courtyard. "Where is she?"
"In Orchid Isle Courtyard! Oh, and Ninth Miss also found what appears to be a portrait of Second Concubine. However, it was too old to unroll at first. By now, she’s likely opened it—"
A faint gleam flashed in Yan Chi's eyes as he changed direction, heading straight for Orchid Isle Courtyard.
Xu He followed closely, struggling to keep up with Yan Chi's brisk strides. Panting, he soon arrived at the courtyard gates.
Bai Feng stepped forward to knock. After two light raps, a round-faced, wide-eyed maid opened the gate.
"Oh, it's you, Brother Guard—"
It was Wan Tao. Recognizing Bai Feng, she glanced past him at Yan Chi and Xu He standing behind, blinking in surprise. Bai Feng said, "The Crown Prince wishes to see Ninth Miss—"Wan Tao's eyes widened as she glanced back at the pitch-dark main chamber. "Our mistress hasn't returned yet."
Bai Feng frowned, also noticing the unlit main room. If Qin Guan were in the courtyard, the main chamber wouldn't be dark. Bai Feng turned to look at Yan Chi, who had overheard the conversation and now wore a deep frown.
He turned to Xu He. "Ninth Miss hasn't returned. Didn't you say she had?"
Xu He looked momentarily surprised. "I parted with Ninth Miss at the front courtyard. At that time, she said this matter should be reported to either the Crown Prince or the Prefect as soon as possible. I took on the task of delivering the message and waited at the gate. When we separated, Ninth Miss did say she was returning to Orchid Isle Courtyard, and Fuling was carrying the scroll at the time."
Hearing this, Yan Chi's eyes darkened, and an inexplicable sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
He took two steps forward and asked Wan Tao, "If your mistress hasn't returned, where is Fuling?"
At Yan Chi's questioning, Wan Tao immediately lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze, and answered respectfully, "Fuling has been attending to the mistress all along. If the mistress hasn't returned, Fuling wouldn't have returned either."
Yan Chi's heart sank further. He glanced at the dark and silent courtyard before turning his gaze elsewhere in the estate. Night had already fallen, and it was getting late. Where could Qin Guan have gone?
Yan Chi walked a few steps forward as Bai Feng said to Wan Tao, "If Ninth Miss returns later, tell her His Highness came looking for her."
Wan Tao hurriedly nodded in acknowledgment. Bai Feng then gave a slight nod before leaving. Wan Tao watched the retreating figures of Bai Feng and Yan Chi for a moment before gently closing the courtyard gate.
Meanwhile, Xu He anxiously asked, "Could Ninth Miss have gone back to the front courtyard?"
At this question, Yan Chi also considered the possibility and immediately headed in the direction of the front courtyard. "Earlier, you said Ninth Miss discovered who poisoned Qin An?"
Xu He's eyes brightened at this. "Exactly. At dusk, I had gathered the official documents and the letters and files His Highness brought back from Yang County, intending to take them to the government office. But His Highness said to ask Ninth Miss first, so I waited for her at the gate. Not long after, I saw Ninth Miss approaching from the east..."
"After exchanging a few words with me, Ninth Miss suddenly noticed something written on one of the letters—that the Second Concubine's husband suffered from color blindness. His Highness and the Prefect might not have noticed this detail before. At that moment, Ninth Miss seemed to have an epiphany and suspected a servant girl in the estate named Cai He..."
Hearing the name "Cai He," Yan Chi abruptly stopped. "Cai He?"
Xu He nodded. "Yes. It seemed Ninth Miss had noticed something earlier, but she said this condition alone wasn't conclusive. She then suggested finding a portrait to confirm, so we went to the front courtyard to ask the two elderly servants if they had any paintings of the Second Concubine. While there, we noticed a young boy hadn't properly cleaned a medicine jar. Ninth Miss found this suspicious and went to inspect it. That's when she realized the poisoner had taken advantage of the boy cleaning the jar to administer the poison."
Yan Chi quickened his pace. "Did Ninth Miss say she would apprehend the culprit immediately?"Xu He quickly shook his head. "No, no. Ninth Miss was afraid of alerting the enemy and wanted to gather more evidence. When we went to the front courtyard, the old servant took her to another study there. She discovered an old painting buried at the very bottom, but the paper had stuck together over time and couldn't be opened directly. At that time, Ninth Miss told me she would take the painting back to unroll it, then wait for either the Crown Prince or the Prefect to return before making any arrests."
Yan Chi's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. Qin Guan naturally considered things more thoroughly than others. With neither him nor Huo Huaixin present, she lacked the authority to make arrests. Moreover, rash actions would indeed alert the enemy. She wouldn't go to the Buddhist shrine alone. But on such a late night, if nothing unusual had happened, why wouldn't she return to Orchid Isle Courtyard as agreed and instead go elsewhere?
Qin Manor was already embroiled in turbulent times, and now under the cover of night, the sprawling estate was enveloped in ink-dark shadows. Though cold stars shimmered in the sky, their faint glow only deepened the eerie heaviness in one's heart.
No matter what, Qin Guan must not come to harm—
With this thought, Yan Chi quickened his pace. Soon, the front courtyard came into view, where two constables still stood guard at the entrance. Having kept watch for so long, they appeared weary and didn't immediately react to Yan Chi's approach.
Only when he was right before them did they hastily bow.
"Greetings, Crown Prince—"
Yan Chi asked tersely, "Has Ninth Miss come by here?"
They blinked in surprise. One replied, "Didn't Ninth Miss leave the front courtyard not long ago? We haven't seen her return."
Yan Chi's heart sank. Meeting their puzzled gazes, he offered no explanation and turned back toward the inner quarters. Xu He, struggling to keep up, called out, "Your Highness, where are you going?"
"To Windward Courtyard—"
Xu He blinked. Yan Chi then turned to Bai Feng. "You go contact her and question the constables stationed throughout the manor."
Bai Feng nodded and vanished into the night. Though Xu He didn't fully grasp the order, he dared not ask more and followed Yan Chi toward Windward Courtyard.
"Windward Courtyard is where her eldest brother and his wife reside. Her sister-in-law is with child and relies on her for medical care."
At Yan Chi's explanation, Xu He immediately understood and smiled slightly. "That must be it. On a night like this, Ninth Miss was likely summoned for medical aid. Where else would she go?"
Xu He hadn't been particularly worried initially, but seeing Yan Chi's demeanor, an inexplicable unease crept over him. His words seemed meant to reassure both himself and Yan Chi, yet after speaking, his disquiet only grew.
Yan Chi had been to Windward Courtyard before and arrived at its gates within half the time it takes to drink tea.
The maidservant at the entrance didn't recognize Yan Chi but was struck by his imposing presence. Remembering that a noble guest was overseeing the investigation at Qin Manor these days, she quickly knelt without daring to be negligent. Yan Chi asked directly, "Is the Ninth Miss here?"
The maidservant shook her head. "No, she hasn't been here since this afternoon..."
Yan Chi knew Qin Guan had visited that afternoon—he'd accompanied her himself. But if she wasn't at Windward Courtyard, where could she be?
Without another word, Yan Chi turned to leave. The maidservant only dared to lift her head after he'd gone.
"Your Highness, could Ninth Miss have gone to the manor gates and missed us?"Yan Chi shook his head, his steps slowing abruptly. "No, the path we're taking is already the shortest."
As his pace slowed, his mind raced. Qin Guan was not one to act recklessly. Holding the scroll—which might contain the portrait of the Second Concubine—her first instinct would have been to open it. So why hadn't she returned to her courtyard? Scanning the surroundings, Yan Chi noted the deep night. With the manor guarded by constables and Fuling accompanying her, there was no reason she could have been abducted without a trace.
His expression darkened, yet the more urgent the situation, the calmer and more rational his thoughts became.
Suddenly, Yan Chi frowned. Qin Guan had taken the scroll to uncover the most crucial clue in the case. Whatever made her leave must be related to the investigation. Her priority was to find the Second Concubine’s portrait—had she opened the scroll midway, realized it wasn’t the right one, and gone elsewhere to search?
This seemed highly plausible. He turned back toward Orchid Isle Courtyard. After walking for another short while, Bai Feng suddenly appeared from the east. "Master, we couldn’t reach her. Half the constables in the manor have been withdrawn. The others say they haven’t seen Ninth Miss—"
"She’s not at Orchid Isle Courtyard?!" Yan Chi’s voice was low and grim.
Bai Feng nodded. "No."
Yan Chi’s brow furrowed tightly. If even his most covert arrangements were useless now, it was possible Qin Guan hadn’t left of her own accord...
The thought sent a chill down his spine.
"Your Highness, where could Ninth Miss have gone?" Xu He, too, broke into a cold sweat at Bai Feng’s words.
Yan Chi’s gaze was heavy. Just as he was about to speak, a faint star slowly rose in the eastern sky. His eyes sharpened, and Bai Feng gasped, "Your Highness—"
......
......
As the door closed, a wave of cold crept up Qin Guan’s spine.
Qin Chen stood sternly by the entrance, advancing step by step toward her. Qin Guan retreated, only to find her back pressed against the tall cabinet filled with scrolls. With nowhere to go, she forced herself to stay calm.
"Elder Brother, what are you doing...?"
The warmth in Qin Chen’s eyes had vanished, replaced by an icy stare as if he were looking at something lifeless.
"Ninth Sister still hasn’t answered me. What were you asking at the gatehouse?"
Qin Guan’s frown deepened. Her gaze flickered to Fuling, who lay pale and unconscious on the floor. "What did you do to Fuling? What is this about? Did you deliberately bring me here tonight?"
Qin Chen halted five or six steps away. The storeroom was secluded, and with most constables withdrawn, Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi absent, he had ample time.
"Ninth Sister remembered that night?"
Qin Guan’s heart tightened, but her expression remained composed, feigning confusion. "What are you talking about, Elder Brother? Which night?"
Qin Chen narrowed his eyes, his refined face darkening slightly. "Why play dumb, Ninth Sister? The night you fell into the lake—what really happened? You’ve remembered, haven’t you?"
Qin Guan blinked. "That night, I slipped and fell in by accident. What do you mean by asking this?"Qin Chen raised his hand, his slender fingers brushing past the landscape screen beside him before leisurely straightening his robe. "Since Ninth Miss thinks this way, why bother asking the gatekeeper? You want to know if I left Qin Manor that night, don't you?"
Qin Guan watched Qin Chen's demeanor and knew he had resolved to confront her openly. This meant he had decided to kill her. Instinctively, she clenched her sleeve, the Cold Moon hidden within pressing painfully into her palm.
"How did Eldest Brother know?" Qin Guan realized she could no longer pretend. Qin Chen had knocked Fuling unconscious—once he started acting, he wouldn't stop. A dangerous aura closed in around her, and she inwardly cursed her carelessness.
From where she stood to the door was twenty paces, but with Qin Chen blocking the way, escape was impossible.
Hearing her words, Qin Chen sighed softly. "Why did you have to remember, Ninth Miss?" His tone carried deep regret, as though she had ruined something beautiful. "If only you had remembered nothing at all."
Qin Guan lowered her gaze briefly, feigning fear. "I... I only recalled the Purple Bamboo Forest..."
The corners of Qin Chen's lips curved slightly. "No wonder... no wonder you kept going east."
Qin Guan stared straight at him, her eyes soon filling with pain. "So... that night, the person I met was you?"
Seeing her shock and sorrow, Qin Chen relaxed his tone. "It was me."
Those two words sent a tremor through Qin Guan's heart. He had admitted it—before she could even question the gatekeeper, Qin Chen confessed! That night, it had been him. He was the one who killed Ninth Miss, and the other person involved could only be Cai He.
Qin Guan had long wondered why Ninth Miss was murdered, speculating that she must have stumbled upon something that provoked a killer. She had once suspected Liu Chun and Liu Shi, but now, the truth was Qin Chen.
Qin Chen—the pride of Qin Manor, the refined and gentle eldest young master—had killed for the sake of Cai He. A flicker of disbelief crossed Qin Guan's brow as she looked at him with a bitter smile. "How could Eldest Brother bring yourself to do it?"
Her face was etched with anguish and disappointment, as though she couldn't accept that Qin Chen had harmed her. A trace of regret flashed in his eyes. "I pitied your loneliness, but you followed me into the Purple Bamboo Forest. Ninth Miss, you can't blame me."
Qin Guan instinctively leaned back, appearing even more fragile and afraid. "Does Second Brother love Cai He that much?"
For a brief moment, Qin Chen seemed taken aback, but his expression quickly returned to icy detachment. "You wouldn't understand. But you've learned what you shouldn't have. Ninth Miss, don't hold it against me."As he spoke, Qin Chen suddenly stepped forward slowly. Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat, and the scroll she was holding fell to the ground with a "thud." As the scroll hit the floor, the rolled-up painting unfurled slightly, revealing a stunning young woman in green attire. The woman appeared to be in her twenties, with picturesque features, lively eyes, exquisite facial features, and ink-black hair like clouds. She stood gracefully by the lakeside, resembling a lotus fairy emerging from the water. Though the figure was still, the painter's exceptional skill made her flowing hair seem to ripple with the wind, as if it could move at any moment. Anyone who saw it would be captivated.
Qin Guan held her breath. The woman in the painting had an ethereal aura, but her beautiful eyes looked strangely familiar, as did the contours of her face. Qin Guan's eyes widened slightly—Cai He... it really was another Cai He...
The Second Concubine wore elegant robes and delicate gauze, her delicate features exuding both grace and charm. In contrast, Cai He, perhaps accustomed to being a meek servant, dressed simply, making her seem far less refined than the Second Concubine. Yet, looking at the woman in the painting, it wasn't hard to imagine that in a few years, Cai He would blossom into an equally striking beauty.
Cai He... was Cai He truly the Second Concubine's daughter?!
The daughter from the Second Concubine's family hadn't died in that fire after all?!
Shock flooded Qin Guan's heart. She turned her gaze, only to find Qin Chen now standing right before her. Her pulse quickened, and she hastily pointed at the painting on the floor. "Eldest Brother... look... you must have seen the Second Concubine before. Is this her portrait? But look closely—doesn't the person in this painting bear an uncanny resemblance to someone in the household?"
Her tone was urgent, but Qin Chen seemed unwilling to engage further. He took another step forward, his foot callously stepping on the scroll. Ignoring his indifference, Qin Guan pressed on, "Eldest Brother, it's Cai He! Cai He is the Second Concubine's daughter! Look—"
At this, Qin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Seeing that he had registered her words, Qin Guan continued, "Eldest Brother, wake up! Cai He entered the household with ulterior motives. Liu Chun and Liu Shi's deaths are likely connected to her—even you, Eldest Brother, were just a pawn in her schemes. Someone tampered with Eldest Brother's Wife's pregnancy medicine—it was Cai He who did it..."
A storm of emotions churned in Qin Chen's eyes. "What nonsense are you spouting, Ninth Miss? At a time like this, you still want to spout such lies to sway me?"
As he spoke, Qin Chen clenched his fists. Watching his growing hostility, Qin Guan had no intention of fighting him. She frantically pointed at the painting. "I'm not lying, Eldest Brother! Look at this portrait! After what happened to the Second Concubine back then, how could Cai He possibly love you sincerely? She's using you—"
"Shut up—"
Just two steps away, Qin Chen let out a low snarl. His body suddenly lunged forward, his clenched fist shooting toward Qin Guan, transforming into a claw that clamped around her throat.
Qin Guan felt a sharp pain in her neck. The next instant, her body was pinned firmly against a tall cabinet by Qin Chen. His fingers tightened, sending waves of agony through her until her vision darkened. In that moment, Qin Guan seemed to experience the terror Ninth Miss had felt on the night of July 21st—the sheer dread of facing a murderer head-on, with her life entirely in his grasp.Cold sweat beaded on Qin Guan's forehead as she struggled, her hands clawing at Qin Chen's grip. "Cough... why would I... lie to you, brother... Liu Shi... Liu Chun's death... was meant... to expose the past..."
Qin Guan's throat burned with pain, her face flushed crimson from suffocation, yet she still strained to speak. As their eyes met, the fury in Qin Chen's gaze was replaced by hesitation. His eyes traveled downward to the painting on the floor.
At the same moment, Qin Chen's grip loosened slightly. Seizing the opportunity, Qin Guan continued with difficulty, "She... came for... revenge... brother... you've been... deceived by her..."
Qin Chen's brows knitted tightly together. While maintaining his chokehold, he stared fixedly at the painting on the floor, torn between shock and inner conflict. In that instant, Qin Guan tightened her grip on Cold Moon hidden in her sleeve and suddenly thrust it toward Qin Chen's wrist...
Qin Chen was tall and lanky, with considerable strength. With one hand gripping Qin Guan, he rendered her powerless to struggle. As he intently studied the portrait, his mind was busy discerning whether Qin Guan's words were true or false. Never did he expect that Qin Guan, who had been feigning weakness and struggling all along, would suddenly attack him. With a sharp "rip," his robe was torn, and a searing pain shot through his wrist. In an instant, his right hand went numb and limp, reflexively retracting. In that split second, Qin Guan slipped away like a fish. Qin Chen tried to grab her with his injured hand, but it was useless—Qin Guan had already darted toward the door.
Though one hand was wounded, Qin Chen had no intention of stopping. Seeing Qin Guan flee toward the exit, he grabbed a nearby scroll with his uninjured hand and hurled it at her. Qin Guan, still weak from being choked, was caught off guard as the scroll struck the back of her knee, sending her sprawling forward. With a loud "clang," she crashed to the ground, her knees throbbing in agony. Worse still, Cold Moon slipped from her grasp.
She scrambled to rise, but her cumbersome skirts and the excruciating pain in her knees slowed her down. In that fleeting moment, a hand seized her ankle and yanked her backward. Qin Guan fell hard once more, and before she could react, Qin Chen leaped in front of her. When she looked up again, Cold Moon was in his grip.
"Ninth Sister, you carry such a sharp blade with you?"
Blood dripped from Qin Chen’s right hand, staining his blue brocade robe in deep, spreading darkness. His left hand held Cold Moon, while his right hung limp at his side. A mocking smile curled his lips as his unblinking gaze bore into Qin Guan.
"That night, Ninth Sister could only scream and cry. But today is different."
Feigning ignorance had failed. Playing weak had failed. Faced with Qin Chen, who was several times stronger and now wielded a blade, Qin Guan’s heart sank, though her expression remained composed. Qin Chen continued to scrutinize her, then narrowed his eyes in puzzlement.
"That night, Ninth Sister was clearly dead. I even guarded the corpse for so long. Later, when the body sank into the lake, even if she wasn’t dead, she should have drowned. Yet afterward, Ninth Sister... returned from death."
He tightened his grip on Cold Moon and slowly approached Qin Guan, who still lay sprawled on the ground. The blade came to rest against her neck. Her counterattack had been futile—now, having lost her best weapon, Qin Chen was certain she had no more tricks left. So he was in no hurry to kill her.
"Ninth Sister? You’ve changed too much..."
The dagger pressed against her throat, yet she merely lowered her gaze slightly—no tears, no screams, not even a tremble. Apart from her slightly tense breathing, her calmness was unexpected.
He studied her deeply, voicing the doubts that had plagued him for so long.
"Even if you were injured and lost your memory, your temperament shouldn’t have changed so drastically. Sometimes, I even wonder if you’re the same Ninth Sister at all. The old you was weak and easy to bully, pitiful to look at. But now, you’ve somehow mastered extraordinary medical skills, and you possess such steady composure. Ninth Sister... who are you, really?"
Qin Guan’s heart skipped a beat, but her tone remained indifferent. "What do you think, Eldest Brother?"Qin Guan avoided Qin Chen's gaze as she answered, hoping to pique his interest and buy herself some time. Yet, she couldn't fathom what good delaying would do. Still, a faint glimmer of hope lingered in her heart.
Qin Chen narrowed his eyes. "You really aren't Ninth Sister—"
Perhaps because he no longer needed to hide, his voice carried a trace of manic obsession. He stared at Qin Guan, momentarily forgetting that killing her was his primary goal, and pressed on, "If you're not Ninth Sister, then who are you?"
This was indeed a shocking and perplexing matter. Qin Chen edged the dagger closer. "Who are you?!"
Qin Guan lifted her head, her clear, stream-like eyes meeting his. She truly wasn’t afraid. If Qin Chen drove the dagger into her neck, she would simply regard these past days as a fleeting dream. She was already someone who should have died. Borrowing Ninth Miss’s body to live a little longer had brought her no regrets—except for being unable to clear her father’s name.
Their gazes locked, and Qin Chen was momentarily unsettled by the icy detachment in Qin Guan’s eyes. For an instant, he felt as though the person before him, though wearing the same face, was a stranger. No longer concealing her true self, Qin Guan regarded him like a common criminal, her tone chillingly indifferent. "Even if you kill me today, will you truly escape? Cai He wants to drag Qin Manor into ruin. As a member of the Qin family, how could you possibly evade it? Every incident in this manor is her doing. She won’t kill you—she only needs to destroy you."
Qin Chen’s hand trembled slightly, and the crescent-shaped tip of Cold Moon pierced Qin Guan’s skin. A streak of crimson bloomed against her snow-white neck, vivid as a red plum against snow. Though he heard her words, they only confirmed his suspicions. If this were truly Ninth Sister, she would have dismissed his accusations as delusional. But she didn’t. Stripped of her usual gentle facade, her demeanor and tone now belonged to a complete stranger.
Qin Chen felt as though Qin Guan’s piercing gaze had stabbed into him. Suddenly, the realization that Ninth Sister might not be Ninth Sister at all struck him as far more horrifying than Cai He’s vengeful infiltration of Qin Manor. He pressed the dagger closer, nearly breaking skin again, and demanded in a low, sinister voice, "Who are you? Who are you really? You’re not Ninth Sister—so how did you become her?!"
A faint, cool smile curved Qin Guan’s lips, tinged with resignation.
This dream had been long—not just long, but harrowing. She had even inherited her father’s legacy, taking up the work of a coroner to solve cases. But now, would she even be able to see her parents again in the afterlife?
Still slumped on the ground, her knees and elbows bruised, Qin Guan pushed herself up with one hand, her gaze drifting absently toward the window behind her. Outside lay an expanse of inky darkness. She was like a drifting weed, tossed in this vast ocean. If she died here, she would owe nothing to anyone. With that thought, she glanced back at Fuling, lying motionless by the door.
A pang of sorrow flickered in her eyes. Qin Guan knew—if she died, Qin Chen would likely not spare Fuling either.
Her heart ached. If there was anyone she owed, it was Fuling—"Speak or not—" Qin Chen suddenly grew anxious as he stared at Qin Guan's unnervingly calm face. The more composed she appeared, the more unsettled he became. This person who had returned from death, this individual with extraordinary medical skills—what was her origin? What were her motives?
The unknown filled Qin Chen with dread. Resolve hardened in his heart. "Since you refuse to speak, don't blame me for what comes next!"
Gritting his teeth, Qin Chen declared, "No matter who you are, knowing what you shouldn't means only one fate—death—"
As he spoke, Qin Chen tightened his grip on Cold Moon and slashed horizontally—
Qin Guan instinctively closed her eyes. She could almost visualize it—the angle of Qin Chen's strike would send Cold Moon slicing across her throat, severing both her windpipe and the arteries in her neck. Given the blade's razor edge, it might even cleave through her cervical spine. As for her cause of death, it would either be suffocation or massive blood loss... Perhaps she'd performed too many corpse examinations lately, for here she was diagnosing her own demise.
This thought flashed through her mind alongside another shadow—
These reflections lasted but an instant. Just as Cold Moon was about to bite into her flesh, a faint whistling sound cut through the air. A muffled grunt followed, then the metallic clang of something hitting the floor. A powerful gust swept into the room with lightning speed. Qin Guan's eyes flew open as a dark figure blurred past—the next moment, strong arms hauled her up from the ground, enfolding her in a protective embrace. When she regained her footing, Qin Chen stood seven or eight paces away, Cold Moon lying at his feet, while she found herself steadied near the doorway...
Turning her head, Qin Guan's gaze met Yan Chi's—his phoenix eyes dark and stormy, yet glinting like cold stars on a winter's night.
Yan Chi...
Qin Guan stared into those eyes, momentarily stunned.
Yan Chi's firm grip remained at her waist as his attention shifted to the equally stunned Qin Chen. The latter's face drained of color upon recognizing Yan Chi. Looking down at his empty hand, Qin Chen gave a bitter smile before raising eyes brimming with unconcealed resentment...
"Using my blade to commit murder, Young Master Qin—did you think to seek my permission?" Yan Chi's voice carried an arctic edge, the words chilling the autumn air into midwinter frost.
Qin Chen glanced down at Cold Moon, then at the osmanthus branch—its golden stamens still quivering—embedded in the wooden cabinet behind him. "So this is the Crown Prince's blade," he acknowledged with another humorless smile.
His gaze then traveled to Qin Guan sheltered in Yan Chi's arms, complex emotions warring with lingering confusion.
Yan Chi's lips curled in a cold smirk. "With Qin Manor crumbling around you, instead of salvaging the wreckage, you choose to kill your own sister here. Could it be Ninth Miss has uncovered some secret of yours?"
His eyes caught the painting behind Qin Chen. Following his glance, Qin Guan explained, "Cai He... was likely Second Concubine's daughter. She probably ordered Qin An's poisoning."
Then, turning back to Qin Chen, she added, "He... was involved with Cai He. That painting we saw in the archive—the subject was Cai He..."Yan Chi's eyes showed a hint of realization. As his gaze lowered, his expression suddenly changed. In his haste to rush in earlier, he hadn't noticed the blood on Qin Guan's neck. "You're injured."
Qin Guan raised her hand to touch the side of her neck, about to say it was nothing, but Yan Chi had already called out, "Someone—"
As soon as he spoke, Bai Feng entered from outside. Without even glancing at Qin Chen, Yan Chi ordered, "Take him out! Confine him in the front courtyard and await further orders!"
Bai Feng complied immediately and moved to Qin Chen's side. By this point, Qin Chen knew he had no means of resistance. With a bitter laugh, he dragged his injured hand and stumbled out, looking utterly defeated.
"Your Highness needn't worry, I'm fine—"
Qin Guan took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped the wound herself. Yan Chi watched her, his expression grave. Before he could speak, Qin Chen, who had reached their side, suddenly stared at Qin Guan and asked, "Who are you really?"
At this, Yan Chi turned his gaze. Qin Chen's face bore a trace of madness as he continued walking out, unwilling to let go of his suspicion. "I killed Ninth Miss long ago. Who are you... pretending to be her and deceiving us all... You're not her!"
Qin Guan wiped her neck calmly and replied indifferently, "Eldest Brother has lost his mind—"
Bai Feng pushed Qin Chen, who staggered out the door. Qin Guan pressed the handkerchief to her wound and glanced at Yan Chi before turning her attention to Fuling on the floor. A small bump had formed on the back of Fuling's head, but her breathing remained steady. After checking a few times, Qin Guan relaxed slightly. Yan Chi, however, stepped behind her and asked, "How are you?"
"She's fine, just knocked unconscious. She'll recover after some rest."
"I was asking about you," Yan Chi said, his tone slightly displeased.
Qin Guan steadied herself before turning to face him. "Thank you for saving me, Crown Prince. It's just a scratch—I'm fine."
Yan Chi looked at her with a complicated expression, about to speak when Xu He came panting up to them. "What happened? Why was the young master of Qin Manor... Ah, Ninth Miss is here! How did you get hurt...?"
Xu He was startled, then noticed Fuling. "Heavens, what happened to Miss Fuling!"
Without taking his eyes off Qin Guan, Yan Chi addressed Xu He. "Coroner Xu, take Fuling back."
Xu He hesitated briefly before nodding. He bent down and lifted Fuling in his arms. Qin Guan watched, then went to pick up Cold Moon, which had fallen to the floor. Throughout it all, Yan Chi's gaze remained fixed on her.
"You should go back too. Even a minor injury shouldn't be taken lightly."
After a moment, Yan Chi gave the order. Qin Guan acknowledged it, and Xu He, carrying Fuling, led the way out. As they walked, he muttered, "Thank goodness Ninth Miss is unharmed. Why did you come here? And what about the young master...?"
They followed the path back toward Orchid Isle Courtyard, but after a few steps, they spotted a figure ahead. Xu He called out sharply, "Who's there—"
The figure froze at the shout. When they turned around, Qin Guan was surprised to see it was Mo Shu.
Mo Shu immediately recognized Qin Guan and hurried over to greet her. She first noticed the unconscious Fuling, then the blood on Qin Guan's neck, and asked in astonishment, "Ninth Miss, what happened...? Fuling, she...?"
Qin Guan sighed. "It's nothing. Why are you here?"At this question, Mo Shu replied helplessly, "I don't know what's going on. Old Madam wanted the young mistress to accompany her for a chat tonight. I escorted her there, but Old Madam sent me back, insisting the young mistress stay alone."
Qin Guan's expression changed slightly. "Old Madam asked your young mistress to go for a talk? How did Old Madam speak to you?"
Mo Shu herself seemed puzzled. "It was a little maid who delivered the message. When we arrived, we only saw Sister Cai He..."
Qin Guan had already found it strange that Jiang Shi would summon Yao Xinlan to the Buddhist shrine so late at night. Hearing this, she immediately sensed something was wrong. "You only saw Cai He?! Cai He is the second... Your young mistress is in danger—"
In her urgency, Qin Guan didn't know how to explain properly and could only emphasize this final point with certainty. Mo Shu paled at these words. "What? How could there be danger? I only left after seeing her to the door..."
Not wanting to waste time on explanations, Qin Guan grabbed Mo Shu's arm and started pulling her toward the Buddhist shrine. But as she turned, Qin Guan froze in place.
Under the pitch-black night sky, from the direction of Jiang Shi's Buddhist shrine, a glaring blaze now flickered against billowing black smoke, staining half the heavens crimson...
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