Coroner's Diary

Yan Chi's black robe was covered in soot, with multiple tears along the hem. Behind him, Bai Feng, who had just landed, looked even more disheveled. His white garment was stained all over, and a large hole had been burned through the back. Yet, seeing both emerge intact, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Qin Guan looked up at Yan Chi, momentarily silent and unmoving.

Yan Chi coughed lightly twice and patted his clothes, causing a cloud of black ash to rise. He quickly stepped back, swiftly finishing the dusting off. Qin Guan still hadn't moved.

Frowning, Yan Chi fixed his gaze on her. "What's wrong?"

Beside them, Xu He was drenched in sweat from anxiety. He interjected, "Your Highness suddenly rushed into the fire earlier. Ninth Miss was terribly worried outside. I've never seen her like that before."

Qin Guan snapped out of her daze, shooting a frown at Xu He before turning back—only to meet Yan Chi's smiling eyes. His grin made her inexplicably uneasy, and her expression cooled. "Your Highness, did you ever consider what would happen if you couldn't get out?" As she spoke, her eyes caught sight of a scorch mark on Yan Chi's left shoulder.

His robe was charred black, making it hard to tell if he was injured beneath. Qin Guan frowned. "Are you hurt?"

The amusement in Yan Chi's eyes remained. "It's nothing. You were worried about me."

His words made the flames around them seem hotter, her face burning even more. She wanted to retort but found herself at a loss.

His response, however, was an implicit admission of injury. Qin Guan pressed, "Even if it's minor, it should be checked."

Yan Chi shook his head, turning his attention to Bai Feng instead. Qin Guan grew uneasy and followed his gaze, but Xu He was quicker. After examining the burned tear on Bai Feng's back, he turned to Qin Guan. "Ninth Miss, it's just a bit of skin—probably grazed by the flames."

Qin Guan nodded, committing it to memory. Just as she was about to ask Yan Chi how severe his injury really was, Yao Xinlan suddenly let out a pained groan.

Lin Shi sobbed, "Xinlan, Xinlan, don't be afraid. You're safe now!"

Had it not been at the cost of Qin Chen's injury, Lin Shi would have been more than willing to save Yao Xinlan. Favored by Jiang Shi for her gentle nature, Yao Xinlan had no flaws in Lin Shi's eyes. Moreover, carrying the Qin family's firstborn great-grandson, Yao Xinlan was all the more cherished.

Yao Xinlan was laid flat on the ground by Qin Chen, with Lin Shi cradling her upper half. Both were blackened by smoke—Yao Xinlan's skirt riddled with burn holes, Qin Chen's robe half-burned away. Minor injuries were inevitable, but fortunately, nothing serious.

Mindful of Yao Xinlan's pregnancy, Qin Guan hurried to her side.

Lin Shi was wiping the soot from Yao Xinlan's face with a handkerchief when Yao Xinlan coughed softly and opened her eyes. Dazed, she looked at Lin Shi, then at Qin Chen and the others standing nearby, tears welling up and spilling over.

"Xinlan, don't be scared. Chen'er saved you," Lin Shi murmured reassuringly.

Yao Xinlan turned and grasped Qin Chen's hand. "Brother Chen..."

Qin Chen, even more soot-covered than Yan Chi and Bai Feng, squeezed her hand back, his own eyes glistening. "Lan'er, I told you I'd get you out."Yao Xinlan pressed her lips tightly together, momentarily at a loss for words. She instinctively touched her belly, as if to reassure herself of her child's well-being. Lin Shi's tears fell like rain. "Thank goodness, it's fortunate—"

Before the second "fortunate" could fully leave her lips, Qin Chen suddenly spoke, "Mother, Grandmother is still inside."

At these words, Lin Shi's face instantly paled. "No, Chen'er! You've already done your best by rescuing Xinlan—"

Qin Chen's eyes were dark with unfathomable emotions, a turbulent storm of complexity or perhaps just an abyss of emptiness. He placed Yao Xinlan's hand into Lin Shi's grasp and abruptly stood up.

"Chen'er—"

"Brother Chen—"

Lin Shi cried out in distress, while Yao Xinlan struggled to sit up, clutching desperately at the hem of Qin Chen's robe. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Brother Chen, where are you going? Who can't you let go of?"

Qin Chen didn't look at Yao Xinlan, only mustering a hidden strength as he tried to move toward the blazing inferno.

"Lan'er, I can't abandon Grandmother."

Yao Xinlan shook her head frantically. "No, Brother Chen, don't go! If you go in, you won't come back! Our child is about to be born—Brother Chen, please, for the sake of our child, don't go!"

Qin Chen's resolve didn't waver. Nearby, Qin Xiang couldn't hold back either. "Eldest Brother, please don't go! I beg you!"

Qin Li and Qin Shuang also rushed over, Qin Shuang weeping as she pleaded, "Eldest Brother, don't go—"

Lin Shi looked at Qin Li. "Li'er, stop your brother! Don't let him go!"

Qin Li obeyed immediately, stepping forward to restrain Qin Chen. But Qin Chen suddenly exerted force, first breaking free from Yao Xinlan's grip, then shoving Qin Li away with a forceful push.

Qin Li, weakened by illness, staggered back several steps and nearly collapsed.

Qin Chen turned his head, casting a resolute glance at Lin Shi and Yao Xinlan before sweeping his gaze over the others. When his eyes met Qin Guan's, there seemed to be a fleeting pause, but he pressed his lips together without a word and decisively turned to sprint toward the flames.

"Chen'er! Chen'er—"

"Brother Chen—"

Yao Xinlan crawled forward in the direction Qin Chen had gone, her cries heart-wrenching. Yet no matter how desperately she screamed, Qin Chen charged into the fire without hesitation. As his figure vanished into the flames, Lin Shi's vision darkened, and she collapsed weakly to the ground. Meanwhile, Yao Xinlan tried to scramble after him, but halfway up, a sharp pain tore through her belly.

With a cry of agony, she fell heavily to the ground, still sobbing, "Brother Chen, come back! Brother Chen, come back—"

Mo Shu rushed forward in tears, embracing Yao Xinlan. A glance downward made her gasp in horror. "Miss! Miss is bleeding!"

Lin Shi, barely conscious, forced her half-closed eyes open at these words. Sure enough, a trail of stark crimson marked where Yao Xinlan had crawled. A searing pain shot through Lin Shi's chest. "Xinlan—"

Qin Guan immediately moved to Yao Xinlan's side. Seeing her, Mo Shu forgot about Qin Chen and Lin Shi in her desperation. "Ninth Miss, please save our miss! She's bleeding!"

Yao Xinlan was nearly eight months pregnant—a highly precarious stage. After enduring such torment today and being further distressed by Qin Chen's actions, the shock had inevitably affected the baby. Qin Guan knelt beside Yao Xinlan, carefully examining the traces on the ground. Her brows furrowed deeply. "This is bad—Eldest Brother's Wife's water has broken."Upon hearing this, Lin Shi naturally didn't dare take it lightly. "The water broke? But Xinlan still has over a month—"

As she spoke, the wet stains on the ground grew larger. Amniotic fluid mixed with blood spread across a wide area, making all the onlookers tremble with fear. Qin Guan checked the pulse with one hand while using the other to feel Yao Xinlan's belly. After a few thoughtful glances, she made her decision.

"Carry Eldest Brother's Wife back to Windward Courtyard. Once the water breaks, the baby must be delivered, or both mother and child will be in danger."

Lin Shi's legs were too weak to stand. "But it's only been eight months—how can she give birth?"

Qin Guan's brows furrowed deeply, yet her voice remained remarkably calm. "I have a way. First, let's get her back."

Lin Shi didn't dare delay and immediately pointed to two maids nearby. "You two, hurry—carry the young mistress back!"

Yao Xinlan was still weeping, her body rapidly weakening. The pain made her consciousness waver, and she instinctively called out, "Chen-ge..." The two maids Lin Shi had pointed to looked around, grabbed a wooden plank nearby, and placed it down. Several people worked together to move Yao Xinlan onto it before lifting her up.

Lin Shi, leaning on Qin Xiang's arm, struggled to stand on shaky legs. She instinctively followed Yao Xinlan a few steps before a deafening crash erupted behind them. Lin Shi froze mid-step and turned—only to see the entire roof of the Buddhist shrine's main hall collapse. The wreckage sent towering flames leaping into the air, their blinding glare stinging everyone's eyes. Lin Shi stood thunderstruck, managing only a single cry of "Chen'er!" before collapsing unconscious.

Qin Guan also saw the commotion. She paused only briefly before sharply reprimanding the two stunned maids. "Why are you standing there? The young mistress can't afford delays!"

The two snapped out of their daze and hurried forward. Qin Guan glanced at Yan Chi, who understood her silent plea. "Go ahead. I'll handle things here. If they can be saved, I will."

Qin Guan nodded and quickly followed Yao Xinlan. Mo Shu wept silently, not daring to look back. She tightly gripped Yao Xinlan's hand, but the delirious woman, mistaking Mo Shu for Qin Chen, squeezed back with painful force.

Qin Xiang and her sister burst into loud sobs. Two maids helped lift the unconscious Lin Shi, wiping their own tears as they did. Yan Chi surveyed the group and ordered firmly, "Take the mistress back. The rest of you, keep fighting the fire."

The two maids moved to obey, but Qin Xiang refused to leave. "I want to see my brother come out! I want to see him come out!"

Qin Shuang stood crying, unmoving, while Qin Li stood nearby, his expression grief-stricken.

Yan Chi stared at the fire-ravaged building, his gaze dark and unreadable. He didn't know what had driven Qin Chen to rush inside to save Jiang Shi, but given the situation, he knew it was unlikely Qin Chen—or anyone else in the inferno—would survive.

"Young mistress, don't be afraid. Ninth Miss is here!"

The two maids carried Yao Xinlan toward Windward Courtyard, with Mo Shu following closely, still clutching her hand and murmuring reassurances. But Yao Xinlan's breathing grew shallow, and she mumbled weakly, "Chen-ge... don't go..."

Mo Shu glanced back at the Buddhist shrine, where the flames showed no sign of abating, and tears streamed down her face.

"Young mistress, the young master didn't go. Please, don't worry."Yao Xinlan continued to babble incoherently, prompting Mo Shu to repeat herself several times. Only then did Yao Xinlan seem to hear her and obediently lay down. Yet soon after, her brows furrowed again as she whimpered, "It hurts... so much..."

Mo Shu's heart ached unbearably. "Don't be afraid, Miss. Ninth Miss is here. Ninth Miss will heal you."

Yao Xinlan's face was smeared with soot, now streaked with sweat that mixed into grimy streaks clinging to her skin. Mo Shu wiped her face tenderly, but the grip of Yao Xinlan's hand around hers gradually weakened.

"Ninth Miss, what should we do? Miss has lost all strength in her hand..."

Qin Guan, hurrying behind them, immediately instructed, "Stay calm. First, return to Windward Courtyard and prepare the medicinal ingredients at once."

Tears streamed down Mo Shu's face, yet seeing Yao Xinlan in such a state, she forced herself to remain composed. Fortunately, the two servant women carried the palanquin steadily, and they arrived at Windward Courtyard without incident. The moment they entered the courtyard gates, the remaining servants gasped in shock.

The fire at the Buddhist shrine had already thrown Qin Manor into chaos. Half the servants from Windward Courtyard had rushed to help, while the other half stayed behind, anxiously aware that Yao Xinlan had gone to the shrine. Their worst fears had now materialized.

"Lay the young mistress on the bed and remove her outer garments," Qin Guan ordered. "Two of you—fetch hot water, strong liquor, and cotton cloth."

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Qin Guan issued these commands. Two maidservants hurried off to prepare the hot water and other supplies while Qin Guan and Mo Shu escorted Yao Xinlan inside. She was carried straight to the inner chamber and placed on the bed. Qin Guan shut the windows around them and instructed Mo Shu, "Leave only her undergarments. Cover her with the brocade quilt to keep her warm, and wipe her body clean."

Mo Shu obeyed tearfully as Qin Guan stepped outside. Several servant women stood in the corridor awaiting further orders. Qin Guan addressed them firmly, "Your young mistress is going into labor. Everyone must stay alert—no carelessness is permitted."

The women murmured their assent, and Qin Guan continued, "Prepare ginseng broth, then fetch anemarrhena rhizome and honey."

These were medicinal tonics. Two of the women nodded and turned to leave, but before they could take more than a few steps, Qin Guan added, "Also, go to the apothecary. Bring four qian each of henbane, aconite root, angelica dahurica, Chinese angelica, and Sichuan lovage, plus two qian of arisaema rhizome—all ground into powder. Hurry!"

With that, Qin Guan turned back inside. The moment she entered, Mo Shu looked up at her desperately. "Ninth Miss, Miss is still bleeding..."

Qin Guan stepped forward and lifted Yao Xinlan's undergarment to examine her. Yao Xinlan was only eight months along, her pubic bones still closed. Though her waters had broken, there was no sign of cervical dilation. Qin Guan took a steadying breath. "First, we must stop the bleeding. Eldest Brother's Wife likely cannot deliver naturally in this state. We'll try, but if it proves impossible, we'll have to perform a cesarean to extract the child."

Mo Shu paled. "A... cesarean? Ninth Miss—"

Her voice trembled, but Qin Guan suddenly fixed her with a resolute gaze. "Do you trust me?"

Mo Shu was stunned by Qin Guan's calm authority. After a dazed moment, she nodded through her tears. "Yes... This servant trusts Ninth Miss. Miss trusts Ninth Miss too... Ninth Miss, we leave her in your hands."

Qin Guan nodded. "Good. Assist me then."

Mo Shu nodded repeatedly. Meanwhile, Yao Xinlan, barely conscious, moved her lips weakly. "It hurts... Brother Chen... I'm in so much pain..."Qin Guan felt a pang in her heart upon hearing these words. She stepped forward to check Yao Xinlan's pulse, then took out a silver needle from her sleeve and inserted it into Yao Xinlan's shoulder well acupoint. Soon after, the maids outside brought what Qin Guan had requested earlier.

"Ninth Miss, the water is boiled, and the wine has been heated too."

Cold Moon was still in Qin Guan's sleeve, stained with Qin Chen's blood. Qin Guan washed her hands and cleaned Cold Moon with strong liquor, then instructed the servants, "Wash all the cotton cloth with wine and let it dry, then go find some nettles."

Qin Guan's orders were like imperial decrees to them. The maids dared not delay and hurried to obey.

Having previously saved the Grand Princess, even though Qin Guan had never delivered a baby alone before, she now felt more confident. "Talk to your mistress and keep her from falling asleep."

Mo Shu immediately leaned close to Yao Xinlan's ear and whispered, "Mistress, mistress, don't sleep. Do you remember what the master wrote in his letter today? He sent someone to visit you..."

Mo Shu kept talking, but Yao Xinlan's breathing grew weaker. Panicked, Mo Shu turned to Qin Guan. "Ninth Miss, what should we do? Mistress is barely breathing now..."

Qin Guan remained calm and composed, though her eyes darkened. "Ginseng soup. Go hurry them with the ginseng soup."

Mo Shu, already flustered, could only follow Qin Guan's instructions. Hearing this, she rushed out. Meanwhile, Qin Guan used cotton cloth soaked in boiled wine to clean Yao Xinlan's lower abdomen. Soon, Mo Shu returned with the ginseng soup.

"Feed it to her."

Mo Shu carefully spooned the soup into Yao Xinlan's mouth. Just then, the maids brought the anemarrhena, honey, and other medicinal powders Qin Guan had requested. With her cleaned hands, Qin Guan crushed the anemarrhena into powder, mixed it with honey, and rolled it into pills. Once Mo Shu finished feeding the soup, Qin Guan gave Yao Xinlan the honeyed pills. After a while, seeing the bleeding had lessened, she removed the silver needle.

As soon as the needle was withdrawn, Yao Xinlan's half-closed eyes fluttered open.

Mo Shu rejoiced, while Qin Guan declared firmly, "It's time to begin."

Her words sent a jolt through Mo Shu's heart. Before she could comfort Yao Xinlan, the latter let out a pained cry, drenched in sweat. Qin Guan urged, "Eldest Brother's Wife, try to push. If you can deliver naturally, do it."

Mo Shu quickly encouraged, "Mistress, mistress, don't fear the pain. Hold on!"

Qin Guan parted Yao Xinlan's legs and examined her briefly. "Eldest Brother's Wife, the baby is coming. Push!"

Tears welled in Yao Xinlan's eyes, but at Qin Guan's words, she instinctively strained—only to be met with excruciating pain. Despairingly, she shook her head. "I... I can't... I'm dying..."

"Mistress won't die! Hold on a little longer!"

Yao Xinlan shook her head weakly, her legs going limp. Qin Guan called to two older maids, "Help the Young Mistress."

These maids, though elderly, had some experience. One supported each of Yao Xinlan's legs while gently pressing on her abdomen. One of them urged, "Young Mistress, push! If you don't, the baby will suffocate!"Yao Xinlan, upon hearing these words, immediately struggled with renewed effort. Her hands clenched the brocade quilt beneath her, sweat drenching her clothes, but no matter how hard she tried, the baby's head remained out of sight. Meanwhile, the bleeding, which had been somewhat controlled earlier, started again. Two maids were tasked with cleaning the blood, their faces pale as they carried out basin after basin of bloody water.

"Ninth Miss, the Young Mistress might not be able to deliver," one of them said with a trembling voice.

Qin Guan's expression remained steady. "Go open the medicine packet on the table. Mix the powders of the six herbs with strong liquor and have the Young Mistress drink it."

Mo Shu immediately went to prepare it. Qin Guan had clearly come prepared, as the liquor was already heated. Mo Shu, accustomed to such tasks, quickly concocted the medicinal brew. However, this mixture was different from the usual medicines—it was blended with liquor, emitting a peculiar smell. As she fed it to Yao Xinlan, Mo Shu asked, "Ninth Miss, what is this?"

"Mafeisan," Qin Guan replied, picking up Cold Moon from the side.

The sight of Qin Guan holding a knife made the two maids exchange uneasy glances. Then, Qin Guan lifted Yao Xinlan's undergarment, releasing a faint scent of liquor mixed with blood in the room. Once Yao Xinlan swallowed the Mafeisan, Qin Guan waited, tracing something over Yao Xinlan's swollen belly. The two maids watched with growing dread. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they suddenly stared in disbelief as Qin Guan made a cut on Yao Xinlan's belly with the knife.

"Ninth Miss, you mustn't!"

Their faces turned ghostly pale. One cried out while the other collapsed to the floor, legs giving way. Cold Moon's sharp blade sliced through Yao Xinlan's skin, revealing layers of flesh and blood that horrified the maids.

The two women cleaning the blood were also terrified, their faces drained of color. Mo Shu's heart clenched in fear. Yet amid the shock filling the room, Qin Guan's expression remained unchanged. She focused intently on the knife and every inch of Yao Xinlan's flesh, her calm and unwavering confidence steadying Mo Shu's frightened heart.

"Don't scream. Ninth Miss is a divine healer of our time—only she can save the Young Mistress," Mo Shu admonished in a hushed tone. Though the maids were still visibly terrified, none dared make another sound to disturb Qin Guan.

Qin Guan rolled up her sleeves, her hands covered in blood, while large beads of cold sweat dripped from her forehead.

"Mo Shu."

At Qin Guan's call, Mo Shu immediately brought a cloth to wipe her sweat. Once done, Qin Guan continued working on Yao Xinlan's lower abdomen. The overwhelming metallic scent of blood filled the room. Mo Shu couldn't bear to look, gripping Yao Xinlan's hand tightly—but soon, she noticed Yao Xinlan's fingers growing cold.

"Ninth Miss... her hand is turning cold."

Mo Shu fought back her fear, but a sliver of terror still crept into her heart. In all her life, she had only seen people injured in fights—never had she witnessed someone's belly being deliberately cut open like this.Qin Guan's expression remained calm and stern, as if she hadn't heard Mo Shu's words at all. The maids in the room exchanged glances. Though none spoke, their eyes were filled with sorrow. The young mistress had gone into premature labor and suffered massive bleeding first—it was likely both mother and child would be lost. Moreover, Ninth Miss's method was so terrifying. Childbirth was already like walking through the gates of hell, and cutting open a pregnant woman's belly would only cause her more excruciating pain.

These maids were all close attendants Yao Xinlan had brought from Jianzhou. At this thought, their eyes reddened. They had watched Yao Xinlan grow up. If both mother and child were to pass tonight, not only would their futures as servants be ruined, but their hearts would also be heavy with guilt.

"Ninth Miss, she—"

Mo Shu called out softly once more, but Qin Guan remained unmoved, her brows unflinching. Yao Xinlan's face was drenched in cold sweat, yet her eyes remained closed. Worse still, when Mo Shu checked Yao Xinlan's breath, she could barely detect any sign of life. A chill crept up from Mo Shu's feet, but she didn’t blame Qin Guan—her heart was simply filled with grief. Yao Xinlan had suffered too much these past days. Suffering was one thing, but now she might even lose her life. Suddenly, Mo Shu felt a surge of resentment toward Qin Chen.

Lost in these thoughts, Mo Shu froze—how was Qin Chen doing?

"Wah—"

Mo Shu had been intently watching Yao Xinlan’s face when, abruptly, the faint cry of a baby pierced the silence. Startled, she whipped her head toward Qin Guan and saw that the latter was now holding a tiny, blood-smeared infant no bigger than a kitten. The child’s sparse hair clung to its scalp, and its features were obscured by the grime.

Mo Shu felt her blood surge with exhilaration. "Ninth Miss!" she cried joyfully.

"Bring the clean cotton cloth—you take it!"

The two midwives stood dumbfounded, prompting Mo Shu to snap, "What are you doing? Hurry!"

Qin Guan, drenched in sweat, cradled the newborn. The prolonged focus had left her too exhausted to smile, yet as she felt the tiny life squirming in her palms, a wave of relief washed over her. Then, an overwhelming warmth filled her chest. This little child shared no blood with her, yet she could swear she felt its heartbeat pulsing against her skin.

"It’s a girl," Qin Guan announced, her voice already hoarse.

Tears streamed down Mo Shu’s cheeks, though her lips curled upward uncontrollably. The midwives took the child, now wrapped in clean cloth, while Qin Guan cut the umbilical cord and began stitching Yao Xinlan’s wound.

"Fetch the needle—and bring the nettles too!"

As the midwives tended to the baby, Mo Shu steadied herself and quickly obeyed Qin Guan’s orders. Soon, both the needle and nettles were brought over. Qin Guan swiftly cleaned them, then miraculously transformed the alcohol-softened nettle stalks into thread. Mo Shu didn’t dare approach but watched in awe as Qin Guan stitched Yao Xinlan’s wound as though mending a garment.

"Mo Shu, fetch the medicine. I need powdered pseudoginseng, then three qian each of licorice, mugwort, cinnamon bark, donkey-hide gelatin, and dried rehmannia. Boil them in cold water—quickly."

Qin Guan spoke rapidly, though her hands moved with deliberate care. Mo Shu hurried to comply, but as she turned to leave, she noticed the midwives had already swaddled the baby and wiped its face clean. Seeing the tiny, wrinkled features twitch slightly, Mo Shu’s eyes welled up again. The child was born—her mistress couldn’t afford to die now.

Qin Guan continued stitching with painstaking slowness. By the time she finished and cleaned up, Mo Shu had already prepared the decoction. As Qin Guan bandaged Yao Xinlan’s abdomen, she instructed, "Feed Eldest Brother’s Wife the medicine. Give it to her every half-hour until she wakes."

Mo Shu immediately tried to administer the medicine, but Yao Xinlan vomited it back up. Panicked, Mo Shu cried, "Ninth Miss, she can’t keep it down!"

"Force it down," Qin Guan commanded sternly, leaving no room for argument.

After a brief hesitation, Mo Shu took a sip herself, pinched Yao Xinlan’s nose, and poured the medicine directly into her mouth. Only when she saw Yao Xinlan’s throat move did Qin Guan finally relax."Half a bowl at a time is enough."

After Qin Guan finished speaking, she had already bandaged Yao Xinlan's abdomen. Over in the corner, the two maids holding the newborn were whimpering softly. Qin Guan watched as Mo Shu fed the baby half a bowl before finally exhaling in relief. "Cover her with a clean brocade quilt and place two warming bottles nearby. Only the outermost window can be left open."

Mo Shu acknowledged each instruction before stepping over to check on the baby held by the maids.

"Ninth Miss, Ninth Miss, you truly are miraculous!"

The maid's eyes were brimming with tears. Qin Guan asked, "Has a wet nurse been arranged for the household?"

The maid sighed. "One was selected earlier, but she hasn't been brought into the residence yet. The young mistress wasn't due for another month or so."

Qin Guan nodded. "This is a joyous occasion. Go inform the mistress."

As the words left her mouth, Qin Guan suddenly remembered that Lin Shi had fainted earlier. Unsure how to proceed, she added, "A wet nurse is absolutely necessary. Does anyone know the original arrangements? Go fetch her now. In the young mistress's condition, she won't be able to nurse the child."

One of the maids hurried forward. "Thank you, Ninth Miss. I know what to do. I'll go immediately, but... but there are guards at the gate..."

Qin Guan thought for a moment. "I'll write a note to vouch for you. Take it and try. If it doesn't work, we'll figure something else out."

She walked to a nearby desk, took out writing materials, and quickly penned the note. Soon, the maid left with Qin Guan's handwritten guarantee. Though Lin Shi had fainted earlier, Qin Guan didn't know her current state. After some consideration, she sent another maid to check on Lin Shi. Before long, the maid returned with a report.

"Ninth Miss, the mistress has regained consciousness and heard the news. However... she seems somewhat disappointed and is too weak to rise from bed. Also... word came from the Buddhist shrine—the fire has been partially contained, but the eldest young master hasn't emerged yet."

Qin Guan's heart sank. If Qin Chen hadn't come out by now... even if he possessed peerless martial arts—which he didn't—not even Yan Chi could withstand prolonged exposure to the flames, let alone him.

Qin Guan nodded. "Understood. Just focus on taking good care of the young mistress then."

The maid sighed. "Yes, we'll do our utmost."

As she spoke, Qin Guan walked to the window. She had broken into a cold sweat earlier, and now that it had cooled, she felt a chill. The fire at the Buddhist shrine was indeed less intense than before, but it still illuminated the eastern night sky brightly. Qin Guan wanted to go see for herself but hesitated, concerned about Yao Xinlan's condition, so she remained in Windward Courtyard.

"Ninth Miss, the little miss is so well-behaved."

Qin Guan turned to look. After feeding Yao Xinlan, Mo Shu had picked up the baby girl. Remembering what Yao Xinlan had mentioned earlier, Qin Guan said, "Qiqi. Eldest Brother's Wife mentioned that if she had a daughter, she would name her Qiqi."

"Would Ninth Miss like to hold her?" Grateful to Qin Guan, Mo Shu offered the baby.

Though Qin Guan had delivered the child from Yao Xinlan's womb, she had never actually held an infant before. She accepted the tiny bundle carefully. Qiqi's slightly closed eyes suddenly opened—her face was still wrinkled, but her pupils were strikingly dark. Qin Guan instantly fell in love with those eyes and softly called, "Qiqi..."

The baby seemed to hear her, lips parting slightly.

Mo Shu exclaimed, "Ah! The little miss likes Ninth Miss!"

Qin Guan's lips curved into a smile, and a faint warmth finally dispelled the lingering chill from her body.The newborn was delicate, and Qin Guan held her for only a short while before handing her to Mo Shu. Although the wet nurse had yet to arrive at the manor, all the necessary items for the baby were prepared. Qin Guan instructed the maids to watch over the infant while she and Mo Shu stayed by Yao Xinlan's side.

After this series of upheavals, it was already the dead of night. The darkness outside the window was thick as ink, and the room was equally silent. Mo Shu administered medicine to Yao Xinlan twice more, but she still showed no signs of waking.

"Ninth Miss, why hasn't my mistress awakened yet?"

Qin Guan also felt a weight in her heart. "Let's wait a little longer."

The scent of blood in the room hadn’t fully dissipated. Qin Guan opened the outermost window briefly, allowing the air to freshen slightly. Time passed minute by minute. At the break of dawn, the maid sent to fetch a wet nurse returned to Windward Courtyard with a woman in her thirties. Seeing the wet nurse arrive, Qin Guan felt somewhat relieved, but she sighed as she looked at Yao Xinlan, whose eyes remained tightly shut.

"Ninth Miss, someone is asking for you outside the courtyard."

A maid stationed outside came to report. Qin Guan’s spirits lifted immediately. She glanced toward the eastern sky and noticed the glaring flames had diminished considerably. Hurriedly, she stepped outside. At the courtyard gate, Bai Feng was indeed accompanying Yan Chi, who stood waiting. Qin Guan approached and bowed. "Greetings, Crown Prin—"

Before she could finish the word "Prince," Yan Chi suddenly grabbed her arm. "You have blood on you."

Qin Guan looked down and saw faint speckles of blood staining her smoke-blue skirt. She smiled faintly. "It’s not mine—it’s Eldest Brother's Wife’s." Her voice softened. "She gave birth—a daughter."

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow and released her hand. "You saved her."

Exhaustion was evident in Qin Guan’s expression as she shook her head. "Though she delivered the child, Eldest Brother's Wife hasn’t woken yet. Last night, she lost too much blood and suffered severe shock. The method I used was also risky—I don’t know if she’ll wake."

Then she added, "How is the Buddhist shrine?"

Yan Chi’s gaze darkened. "Most of the fire has been extinguished, but the people inside..."

Qin Guan froze for a moment, her face betraying no emotion. After a long pause, she lowered her eyes and sighed.

Yan Chi, worried she might dwell on Qin Chen’s death, said, "He chose this himself. His past misdeeds were exposed, and I caught him red-handed. His future was already bleak. He’d been inside the fire once before—he knew how dangerous it was."

Qin Guan gave a bitter smile. "Your Highness need not console me. I won’t grieve for someone who tried to kill me. But after all, lives were lost. After tonight’s turmoil, Qin Manor is truly ruined."

Yan Chi tilted his chin slightly. "Even without tonight, Qin Manor’s downfall was inevitable."

As they spoke, a constable hurried over from the east and reported to Yan Chi, "Crown Prince, we’ve found the remains inside. So far, only two bodies have been recovered, both in the main hall. The fire in the Buddhist shrine isn’t fully extinguished yet—the third set of remains must still be inside. We’re continuing to put out the flames..."

Yan Chi nodded, and the constable bowed before leaving.

Qin Guan frowned. "Two sets of remains in the main hall?"

Earlier, Qin Chen had claimed he was going to rescue Jiang Shi, while Cai He had also entered the Buddhist shrine. If two bodies were found in the main hall, did that mean Qin Chen had indeed brought someone out? But who had he saved?Yan Chi understood Qin Guan's thoughts and glanced inside the Windward Courtyard. "If you want to know who those two remains belong to, we can go take a look."

Qin Guan thought the same and found it feasible. Since Yao Xinlan hadn't woken up yet, waiting here would be pointless.

"Alright, let's go see."

With that, Qin Guan and Yan Chi headed toward the Buddhist shrine together. It was just before dawn, the darkest hour of the night, and the wind was bitingly cold. As they walked, Qin Guan glanced at Yan Chi's shoulder for a moment. "Your Highness, come with me to the courtyard later to apply medicine to your wound."

A faint smile flickered in Yan Chi's eyes as he nodded and gave a soft "Mm."

The two walked side by side, with Bai Feng trailing far behind. Under the cover of night, it seemed as though only the two of them were walking together. Qin Guan momentarily didn't know what to say, and Yan Chi remained silent as well.

This had been an unbearably long night—so long that Qin Guan had faced life and death, and Yan Chi had nearly been trapped in the sea of flames. Now, walking side by side, the bloodshed in the Windward Courtyard and the chaos of the fire scene faded into the distance. It felt as though the world had narrowed to just the two of them. Though no words were spoken, Qin Guan felt an inexplicable sense of peace.

After a few more steps, Qin Guan finally spoke. "Thank you for saving me tonight, Crown Prince. You had warned me earlier, but I still let my guard down. Fortunately, I didn’t end up dragging you into danger—otherwise, I would never forgive myself."

Yan Chi looked at her for a moment. "Do you think I’d fear being dragged into trouble by you?"

Qin Guan was taken aback, unsure what he meant. Then Yan Chi averted his gaze and continued, "When I warned you, I already knew you wouldn’t follow my words to the letter. Tonight, you followed Qin Chen to retrieve the painting. You have your own judgment and sense of justice. If you avoided all risks just because of my warning, you wouldn’t be you."

He exhaled softly. "I’m just glad I arrived in time."

Qin Guan pressed her lips together, feeling her newly settled heart stirred into disarray again by his words. Her thoughts were in turmoil, but when she lifted her gaze, they had already reached the Buddhist shrine. The fire in the main hall had been extinguished, and two charred bodies lay in the courtyard. Qin Li knelt numbly before them, while Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang were nowhere to be seen.

Seeing Qin Guan and Yan Chi approach, Qin Li slowly rose to his feet.

Qin Guan had come to identify the bodies. She walked straight to the two blackened remains. One, noticeably taller, was clearly Qin Chen. The other, with no distinguishable features or clothing, could only be identified by the bones.

Having died in the fire, both bodies were slightly curled. Qin Guan crouched down and examined the joints of the remains, soon furrowing her brows. Qin Li and Yan Chi watched her intently. Standing up, Qin Guan said, "It’s the Old Madam."