Coroner's Diary

Entering the inner chamber, Yao Xinlan on the bed had indeed opened her eyes.

Mo Shu held Yao Xinlan's hand, while the wet nurse stood by the window cradling the baby. The room was filled with maidservants, all wearing joyful expressions.

"Miss... Ninth Miss is here..."

Mo Shu whispered softly into Yao Xinlan's ear. Qin Guan quickly stepped to Yao Xinlan's side, first checking her pulse before asking Mo Shu, "Has the medicine been given?"

Mo Shu nodded hurriedly, "Yes, it was given a quarter of an hour ago."

Qin Guan gave a slight nod. "Good." Then she turned her attention to Yao Xinlan.

Yao Xinlan, who had just awakened, still had an ashen complexion and weak breathing. Qin Guan leaned closer and called gently, "Eldest Brother's Wife—"

Yao Xinlan's eyes shifted slowly toward Qin Guan.

Whether from exhaustion or extreme fatigue, Yao Xinlan's gaze moved very sluggishly, showing no reaction upon seeing Qin Guan. Qin Guan called again, "Eldest Brother's Wife, have you seen Qiqi yet?"

Yao Xinlan stared blankly at Qin Guan without speaking.

Mo Shu quickly interjected, "She has, she saw the baby right after waking—" Then, with concern, she added, "But Miss hasn't spoken or shown any reaction. Could the pain have... dulled her senses?"

Qin Guan waved her hand in front of Yao Xinlan's eyes and noticed a faint flicker in her pupils, indicating she wasn't entirely unresponsive.

Lowering her voice, Qin Guan said, "If you're uncomfortable, Eldest Brother's Wife, just close your eyes and rest more. Now that you're awake, you'll be fine. With me here, your health will recover soon, and Qiqi will be well too—the wet nurse has arrived."

Yao Xinlan's gaze shifted slightly, looking past Qin Guan toward the space behind her...

"Dawn has broken..."

Her voice was barely audible, but Qin Guan caught the words. The ethereal tone sent a pang through Qin Guan's heart. Before she could respond, Yao Xinlan seemed to heed her earlier advice and closed her eyes.

Turning to glance out the window, Qin Guan saw the ink-black night slowly fading, a sliver of pale light appearing on the horizon.

Mo Shu grew anxious at the sight. "Ninth Miss—"

"It's alright. She's just too weak and exhausted. Let her sleep."

Mo Shu relaxed slightly. Qin Guan moved to the side and wrote a new prescription. "This is a revised formula. Give it to Eldest Brother's Wife in half an hour, then every two hours—four doses a day. Her body is still weak, and the lochia hasn't fully cleared, so extra care is needed these days. When she seems a little more alert during the day, change her into fresh clothes."

Mo Shu quickly acknowledged the instructions and turned to relay them to the other maids. Noticing Qin Guan's own exhaustion, Mo Shu said, "Ninth Miss, you've been up all night too. You should rest early. I'll watch over Miss here—you mustn't wear yourself out."

Having survived a life-and-death ordeal and then stayed awake the entire night, Qin Guan was utterly drained. She didn't refuse the suggestion, only adding, "The bleeding has stopped, but if it worsens, come find me immediately."

Her eyes flickered toward the sleeping couch in the corner as she lowered her voice. "Also... Eldest Brother is gone."

Mo Shu paled and whispered back, "The young master—"

Qin Guan nodded grimly. "He went to save Old Madam but didn't make it out. I've already seen him. Don't tell Eldest Brother's Wife yet. If she asks, wait until she's stronger."Mo Shu's hands trembled slightly, but she understood Qin Guan's meaning and quickly nodded in agreement.

Qin Guan looked at Mo Shu's pale face and reddened eyes with a comforting gaze, then said softly, "From now on, Qin Manor will be like duckweed drifting in the wind. You are the most trusted person by Eldest Brother's Wife—please look out for her a little more."

Mo Shu gazed at Qin Guan, her heart full of gratitude. "Yes, thank you, Ninth Miss, thank you—"

Qin Guan said nothing, then suddenly remembered something else and asked, "Has Madam still not sent anyone over?"

Mo Shu shook her head, a trace of disappointment in her eyes. "Not yet..."

Qin Guan didn’t know what to say and could only reply, "Perhaps she’s only just received news of Eldest Brother."

Mo Shu’s heart felt heavy. "This servant understands. Ninth Miss needn’t worry. Please go back and rest—let me see you out. Ninth Miss, I truly don’t know how to thank you enough..."

"It’s nothing. Right now, taking care of Eldest Brother's Wife is what matters..."

As Qin Guan spoke, she and Mo Shu had just stepped out of the inner chamber when they saw Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang walking in, both with reddened eyes. At the sight of Qin Guan, the two froze momentarily, but with so much upheaval in Qin Manor tonight, they didn’t dwell on past grievances and instead hurried toward Mo Shu.

"How is Eldest Brother's Wife?" Qin Xiang asked anxiously. "The servants just reported that she gave birth to a daughter?"

Mo Shu, thinking the two young ladies had come out of concern for her mistress, felt a slight easing of the weight in her heart. "Fifth Miss, don’t worry. Ninth Miss saved Young Mistress. The child has been born, and now Young Mistress is resting to recover."

Qin Guan had intended to leave directly, but something about Qin Xiang’s tone struck her as odd. Sure enough, upon hearing Mo Shu’s words, Qin Xiang’s disappointment was unmistakable. "So it really is a girl..."

With that, Qin Xiang wiped the corner of her eye and sighed. "Eldest Brother is already gone. If only it had been a boy—at least Eldest Brother would have left an heir. Qin Manor’s estate must be inherited by the legitimate son and grandson. But now..."

Mo Shu could only force a bitter smile. "Fifth Miss, a daughter is still the bloodline of the eldest young master."

Qin Xiang’s eyes reddened further. "But a daughter can’t inherit the family estate." Then she added, "Let Eldest Brother's Wife rest well. Mother is still bedridden after receiving the news from over there. I must return to attend to her."

With that, Qin Xiang turned and left, leaving only Qin Shuang behind.

Mo Shu’s face paled and flushed alternately at Qin Xiang’s words and reaction. Though Qin Xiang hadn’t spoken harshly, she had always followed Lin Shi’s lead—her attitude was enough to represent Lin Shi’s stance. Moreover, her mistress had just given birth, yet Qin Xiang hadn’t even thought to see Yao Xinlan or the child, simply dropping those words before leaving.

Mo Shu clenched her sleeves tightly, her chest tight with suffocating frustration.

Yao Xinlan was still barely clinging to life, and the little miss couldn’t even speak—yet she was already being scorned...

Qin Shuang’s mood was also somber, but the usually brash and simple-minded girl seemed suddenly enlightened. Frowning, she watched Qin Xiang’s retreating figure and muttered, "She just left like that? Really..."

Her tone carried reproach, and she quickly turned to grasp Mo Shu’s hand. "Never mind her. Take me to see Eldest Brother's Wife and my little niece."

Mo Shu’s heart eased slightly at this. Noticing Qin Guan still standing there, she looked at her first. Seeing that Qin Shuang had finally grasped some sense of propriety, Qin Guan relaxed a little and nodded before turning to leave.Qin Shuang watched Qin Guan leave and curled her lips in disdain. "What a temper! Do we have to leave just because she's going?"

Mo Shu quickly interjected, "No, no, Sixth Miss, you don’t understand. Ninth Miss spent the entire night trying to save our lady. If not for her, our lady might not have survived, let alone the little miss... Everyone in the room witnessed it. Ninth Miss truly is the savior of our lady and the little miss..."

Mo Shu spoke with heartfelt sincerity. Qin Shuang glanced once more toward the courtyard gate where Qin Guan had already departed. The pale light of dawn was growing clearer in the sky, marking the end of this long night. Qin Shuang pressed her lips together and said, "Alright, alright, I get it."

With that, she headed toward the inner chamber, muttering under her breath, "As if anyone doesn’t know she’s the Little Medicine Immortal..."

Meanwhile, Qin Guan left Windward Courtyard and returned straight to her own residence. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Wan Xing and the other three maids still waiting in the yard. Upon her return, they stepped forward to greet her.

Qin Guan waved her hand dismissively. "You’ve all waited all night. Go and rest now."

Without waiting to see if they moved, she strode directly into the main room and closed the door behind her. She first checked on Fuling, who remained motionless after all this time, though her breathing was steady and calm.

Qin Guan sat by Fuling’s bedside for a moment, feeling the exhaustion of the night weighing heavily on her, a dull ache throbbing at her temples. Finally, she moved to her own sleeping quarters. After a quick wash, she lay down, and as soon as her head touched the pillow, sleep overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

......

......

At the first light of dawn, Huo Huaixin entered Qin Manor in a flustered sweat. Led by the constables at the gate, he hurried straight to the Buddhist shrine. When he arrived, all he saw was a stretch of charred ruins—blackened walls and debris. Qin Li and Yan Chi stood nearby while other officials and constables worked to extinguish the last of the embers.

"Crown Prince—" Huo Huaixin called out loudly, rushing over to Yan Chi. "Crown Prince, I’ve arrived too late! Last night, I was chasing suspects all the way out of the city. It was only an hour ago that I learned about the fire at Qin Manor!"

He clasped his hands in a deferential bow. Yan Chi replied, "Governor Huo, there’s no need for self-reproach. You were occupied with official duties. Your absence here is of no consequence. Tell me, did you make any progress last night?"

Huo Huaixin nodded. "Yes! Both owners of the pawnshop were apprehended! They’ve already been taken to the prefectural office."

Yan Chi gave an approving nod. Huo Huaixin then glanced at the bodies covered with a tattered felt cloth, beneath which the charred limbs of the victims were faintly visible. He frowned, unable to bear the sight, and lowered his voice. "Crown Prince, last night’s events were so sudden. What exactly happened? The reports from my subordinates were vague... How did the fire start so abruptly?"

Yan Chi took a few steps to the side, and Huo Huaixin quickly followed.

In a cool tone, Yan Chi explained, "We never discovered who poisoned Qin An. But last night, Ninth Miss uncovered the truth. The poison was administered through the medicine jar Qin An used, and the person who did it was one of the maids from this Buddhist shrine. Last night, I had someone interrogate her. Seeing that Jiang Shi and Cai He were already dead, the maid confessed. It was this Cai He who instructed her to do it. At the time, she didn’t know what it was, but because Cai He had once saved her, she obeyed without question."

Huo Huaixin blinked in surprise. "Cai He? The maid who served Old Madam?"Yan Chi nodded, "Indeed. Previously, Ninth Miss had been searching for Second Concubine’s portrait, thinking that finding it might reveal some clues. Last night, she succeeded. I’ve already ordered the portrait to be kept safely, as it can serve as evidence later. Additionally, this Cai He seems to suffer from an eye ailment, just like Second Concubine’s former husband. This strongly suggests that Cai He is most likely Second Concubine’s eldest daughter. As for why she didn’t perish in that fire years ago, we still don’t know. However, back then, she was just a young girl—how she escaped the flames and later entered Qin Manor remains a mystery. These questions can only be answered by investigating Cai He’s past."

Huo Huaixin nodded. "We’ve been searching for the mastermind for so long, yet she revealed herself in the end..."

Yan Chi shook his head. "Not willingly. Rather, she likely realized Ninth Miss had uncovered all possible clues and didn’t want to be captured. So, she resorted to this desperate act of vengeance."

Huo Huaixin sighed. "In the end, this tragedy stems from the sins of Qin Manor." After a pause, he added, "One more thing—was Ninth Miss injured last night? And I heard many people say that Qin Manor’s eldest young master once tried to kill her but failed?"

Yan Chi’s eyes darkened slightly. "That’s correct. After being harmed by them, Ninth Miss forgot the incident entirely, believing she had slipped and fallen into the lake on a rainy day. If not for recent events, even she wouldn’t have known the truth."

With a few words, Yan Chi explained Qin Guan’s ordeal. Though Huo Huaixin widened his eyes in disbelief, he didn’t press further. "So that’s how it was... I never imagined Qin Manor’s eldest young master could be so ruthless..."

Huo Huaixin then glanced at the three corpses on the ground. "This Cai He is no ordinary person either. Her method has saved the authorities a great deal of trouble..."

His tone was bitter, laced with helplessness and a hint of mockery—though whether it was directed at Cai He or Qin Manor remained unclear.

The pale light of dawn gradually brightened, a golden glow piercing through the clouds and spreading across the horizon. The day had broken, and it promised to be a clear one. Yan Chi surveyed the wreckage behind him—the last embers had been extinguished, leaving not even a wisp of smoke. Under the crisp morning light, what was once the most prestigious area of Qin Manor now looked utterly desolate.

"Prefect, I must urge you to thoroughly investigate the pawnshop connection. Now that this matter has come to light, you must ensure nothing like this ever happens again in Jinzhou." After a brief pause, Yan Chi turned to Qin Li. "The culprit took her own life. As for Qin Chen, his attempt to murder Ninth Miss last night makes him equally guilty. His body, along with Cai He’s, will first be examined by the authorities before being returned to the Qin family. Since they are criminals, no funeral rites should be held. As for Old Madam of Qin Manor, let the family arrange the ceremonies."

Huo Huaixin nodded. "That’s only fair. Your Highness, should the yamen officers withdraw now? And regarding Qin An—I suggest taking him directly to the yamen."

Yan Chi frowned slightly. "That will do."

Qin Manor had suffered a great calamity, but when all was said and done, it was Qin An who had brought this disaster upon them. Though Qin Guan had spared his life, he deserved no further leniency.Huo Huaixin sighed, then slowly turned to glance around before sighing again. The Qin Manor was once considered a noble household in Jinzhou, and even he had approached the Qin family with caution and goodwill. Who could have imagined that beneath its refined and dignified exterior, the Qin Manor concealed such disgraceful affairs? The once-honored clan had now completely fallen from grace—all within less than half a month. The more Huo Huaixin thought about it, the more he lamented, "Truly, wealth and glory vanish in the blink of an eye..."

......

......

Qin Guan was half-asleep, faintly aware of soft footsteps nearby. She opened her eyes, momentarily blinded by the bright light. Gathering her senses, she pushed aside the bed curtains.

As the curtains parted, Qin Guan immediately spotted Fuling’s back. Her eyes brightened. "Fuling—"

Fuling had been tidying up the clothes Qin Guan wore the day before. Hearing her voice, she turned around and hurried over, her face full of concern. "Young mistress, how are you feeling?"

Qin Guan rubbed her temples and sat up. "What do you mean, how am I? I should be asking how you are."

Fuling touched the bump on the back of her head. "This servant is perfectly fine. I just slept through the night and couldn’t attend to you. Feel it—the swelling has already gone down."

She lowered her head, and Qin Guan reached out to check.

Qin Guan sighed in relief. "You were asleep last night, so I couldn’t apply any medicine. Though it’s not a serious injury, you should still use some ointment later to help with the bruising."

Fuling quickly nodded. Seeing Qin Guan about to rise, she moved to assist her. "Young mistress, what happened last night? Why did the eldest young master knock me out? I was standing by the door and never expected him to suddenly attack. I didn’t even have time to cry out before everything went black... And was it the Crown Prince who saved us? Also, why are people saying it was the eldest young master who harmed you back then?"

Supported by Fuling, Qin Guan dressed as she spoke. "The Crown Prince arrived just in time. As for Qin Chen... I didn’t jump into the lake myself back then. He was the one who harmed me, but when I woke up, I couldn’t remember anything, so I assumed I’d slipped and fallen in."

Fuling’s eyes widened. Qin Guan, being honest with her, continued, "Though the details are still unclear, it’s likely I saw Qin Chen heading to the Purple Bamboo Forest and followed him out of curiosity. Once inside, I discovered him and Cai He in an affair."

Fuling froze. "So... Cai He is Second Concubine’s daughter? And she was behind everything?"

Qin Guan nodded, fastening the buttons on her collar one by one before moving to wash her face. "Exactly. But I still don’t know exactly what happened back then."

Fuling was stunned. "Heavens, it’s true... And the eldest young master—how could he bring himself to harm you? Not only was he unfaithful to the young mistress, but he also dared to hurt you?!"

As if suddenly realizing the gravity of it, Fuling grew furious. "All this time, I thought he was a good man, always so kind to us. But to think... Young mistress, did I almost get you killed?"Qin Guan wiped her face and smiled helplessly, "How could that be... I'd forgotten too, hadn't I? Perhaps knowing I'd lost my memory of those events, he later abandoned his murderous intent. As for what followed, he thought we were going to question the gatekeeper and investigate, believing I'd remembered, so in his panic, he tried to kill me..."

Fuling was still angry, her brows furrowed. "Evil begets evil! When I woke up earlier, I'd already heard about last night's events. At the time, I just thought it unexpected how things had turned out, but now it seems he got what he deserved!"

With Qin Chen dead and the truth of the past exposed, Qin Guan felt she had given Ninth Miss some closure. "Indeed, though I don't believe in ghosts or spirits, I do believe in karma. Every single event has its cause and effect."

Qin Guan comforted Fuling with a reassuring look. "This matter is over now, so don't worry about it anymore. People in this world wear a thousand different masks—it's only natural we can't always see through them."

Fuling nodded. "No wonder you wanted to go to the Purple Bamboo Forest. You must have noticed something. I never would have thought of it back then..."

"Who would think of such things normally? Let's not dwell on it anymore." Qin Guan patted Fuling's shoulder and asked, "Has anyone come from Windward Courtyard?"

Concerned about Yao Xinlan, Qin Guan posed the question. Fuling shook her head. "No, Wan Tang and the others have been in the courtyard the whole time. They probably haven't come over."

Qin Guan sighed in relief. No visitors meant Yao Xinlan's bleeding had stopped. "That's good. Eldest Brother's Wife gave birth to a daughter. We'll go see them later."

Fuling's lips curved slightly. "If there's one good thing to come out of all this, it's this!"

Qin Guan's expression softened a little, but thinking of Yao Xinlan still pained her. Lin Shi, having lost Qin Chen, was naturally grief-stricken, but it seemed she had also lost her affection for Yao Xinlan—even worse, she resented her for not bearing Qin Chen a son to inherit the family estate.

"Oh, right..." Fuling suddenly remembered something. "Miss, Third Master was taken to the yamen by the Prefect. All the constables have withdrawn from the manor. Those involved in the case were taken for questioning, and now Second Young Master is preparing Old Madam's funeral arrangements. The remains of Eldest Young Master and Cai He were also taken away..."

Hearing this, Qin Guan walked to the window and opened it. A gentle breeze immediately drifted in.

Judging by the sun's height, it seemed to be afternoon already. Standing by the window, Qin Guan looked out. Her small courtyard appeared unchanged from usual, yet she knew all too well that beyond it, Qin Manor had been turned upside down. If even Qin Manor itself was unstable, what about her?

This thought crossed Qin Guan's mind as she asked, "What about the Crown Prince?"

At this, Fuling's eyes brightened slightly. "The Crown Prince came by an hour ago. Knowing you were resting, he left without saying much. It seems he returned to the yamen with the Prefect. I heard the Prefect arrested quite a few people from the pawnshops—they'll likely be busy for a while."

A hollow, bitter feeling rose in Qin Guan's chest. Suddenly, her heart fluttered with an unfamiliar panic.

......

When they arrived at Windward Courtyard again, Qin Shuang was still there.

Her slightly plump fingers gently held Qiqi's tiny hand as she softly cooed at the baby. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and, seeing Qin Guan, showed none of her usual disdain, merely lowering her head again calmly to speak to the child."Ninth Miss is here—" Mo Shu came out to greet her. "Don't worry, Ninth Miss, our young lady hasn't had any recurrence of bleeding."

Qin Guan nodded. "Has Eldest Brother's Wife woken up?"

Mo Shu nodded in return. "She's awake. She took her medicine and has gone back to sleep now."

Qin Guan followed Mo Shu into the inner chamber. Indeed, Yao Xinlan was still asleep with her eyes tightly closed. Qin Guan checked her pulse again and only relaxed when she found it much stronger. "The prescription remains unchanged. Though Eldest Brother's Wife has come through this ordeal safely, her body is still weak. Once her wounds heal, she must be properly nourished and recuperated."

Mo Shu nodded quickly, but there was a hint of hesitation on her face. Noticing this, Qin Guan asked directly, "What's the matter?"

Mo Shu sighed. "This servant doesn't know if I'm overthinking it, but the young mistress woke up twice today. She drank the medicine but didn't speak at all. She only glanced at the little miss twice and didn't hold her either."

Qin Guan frowned, looking at Yao Xinlan's peaceful sleeping face with concern. Yao Xinlan hadn't spoken, nor had she asked about Qin Chen. Since waking up, she seemed to have only uttered three words—"It's daylight."

"Bring Qiqi to her side more often."

Yao Xinlan had loved Qin Chen. Having confirmed that his heart belonged to another—or perhaps guessed that he was already dead—she was now a mother, and her child should be most important to her. Qin Guan could heal physical wounds, but she couldn't mend the wounds in someone's heart. Apart from having Mo Shu bring Qiqi to Yao Xinlan's side, she couldn't think of any other solution at the moment.

"Understood... this servant will do so." Mo Shu nodded repeatedly. When Qin Chen was alive, Yao Xinlan hadn't been happy, but at least she had been the undisputed young mistress of the manor. Now that Qin Chen was gone, her status had subtly changed—not to mention that Qin Manor itself was now in dire straits.

Qin Guan stood up and walked out. In the Warm Chamber outside, Qin Shuang was still playing with the baby. Approaching, Qin Guan saw that after just one night, Qiqi's wrinkled face had softened into delicate sweetness, her fine features already hinting at Yao Xinlan's elegance. Qin Guan leaned down and touched Qiqi's little face, prompting the baby to curl her lips slightly.

"The little miss is smiling at Ninth Miss!" Mo Shu exclaimed cheerfully.

Qin Shuang snorted lightly, sounding displeased. "Auntie stayed with you all night, yet you won't smile for me? You little rascal..."

Mo Shu hurriedly said, "Sixth Miss, that's not true—the little miss smiled at you earlier too."

Qin Shuang snorted again. "Fine, fine. After all, you're the lifesaver who delivered her. Let her smile at you then."

Mo Shu sighed in relief. Qin Guan curved her lips and straightened up. "I'll go check on Second Brother."

Naturally, Qin Guan hadn't forgotten about Qin Li's illness. Since she had started treating him, she wouldn't abandon the task halfway. Hearing this, Mo Shu quickly said, "This servant will escort you out. Second Young Master is probably at the steward's courtyard, making arrangements for Old Madam's funeral."

Qin Guan nodded, and Mo Shu accompanied her out. Once they passed the main gate, Mo Shu lowered her voice with a smile. "Ninth Miss, please don't blame Sixth Miss. She truly stayed here all night and only slept a little in the morning. Earlier, she even tried talking to the young mistress but couldn't get her to speak. As for Madam and Fifth Miss, they haven't sent anyone over since. Sixth Miss seems to have matured a lot, but with Old Madam gone, she has no one to rely on anymore and can only learn to be more understanding."

As she finished speaking, Mo Shu's eyes dimmed—undoubtedly chilled by Lin Shi's behavior.Qin Guan sighed, "The most urgent matter now is your mistress's health. This postpartum confinement must be handled carefully, otherwise it will leave many lingering ailments. As for the mistress's mother, don't concern yourself with her for now."

Mo Shu nodded hastily, "This servant understands. Everything will prioritize the young mistress's health."

Qin Guan nodded, "Exactly so."

After bidding farewell to Mo Shu, Qin Guan headed straight for the front courtyard. With Qin An taken away and last night's chaos, Qin Manor was in complete disarray. However, upon reaching the front courtyard, the situation was better than she had imagined.

Though the servants wore solemn expressions, there was no outright chaos. Everyone had their assigned tasks and went about their business. Before long, Qin Guan spotted a courtyard where mourning banners were being hung—this must be the place.

Fuling immediately went to inquire, and soon Qin Li emerged from the courtyard.

"Ninth Sister, what brings you here?" Qin Li was still wearing the same clothes from the previous night, clearly having not rested at all. He straightened his robes as he approached, his complexion noticeably poor.

Qin Guan studied him for a moment. "Second Brother, have you taken your medicine amidst all this busyness?"

Qin Li's eyes darkened slightly as he smiled bitterly. "No. Last night was spent putting out the fire, and early this morning, Father was taken away. Then there were arrangements for Grandmother's funeral, the Buddhist shrine to oversee, and some others summoned to the magistrate's office. It's been too hectic—taking medicine had to be set aside for now."

"Have you seen Third Uncle?" Qin Guan asked.

A flicker of dread passed through Qin Li's eyes. "I have..."

Having seen Qin An, Qin Li now knew that if his condition worsened, he would end up the same way.

Qin Guan sighed. "That's why I came to check on the progress of your illness. With you managing Qin Manor now, you can't afford to collapse. No matter how busy you are, you mustn't forget to take your medicine."

Hearing this, warmth surfaced in Qin Li's eyes. "Ninth Sister..."

Qin Guan's words didn't imply any particular closeness between them. Ignoring his moved expression, she examined the sores on his neck and had him extend his hand for a pulse check. Her frown deepened. "The spread of the Plum Pox Sores seems to have slowed, even without regular doses of medicine. But complete suppression still isn't possible."

As she spoke, hope lit Qin Li's eyes. "That means Ninth Sister's medicine is working!"

Qin Guan composed herself. "Second Brother, go attend to your duties. I'll return and think further on this."

With that, she left, heading straight for Orchid Isle Courtyard. In recent days, with Qin Manor's scandals exposed, Qin Guan had been assisting with the investigation and bone examinations. Last night's fire had brought closure to both past events and the cases involving Liu Shi and Liu Chun. Now that the magistrate's men had withdrawn, Qin Guan suddenly found herself idle. The disappearance of tension left her feeling strangely empty and unaccustomed. Under these circumstances, she was determined to cure Qin Li's illness properly!

Back in Orchid Isle Courtyard, Qin Guan took out her previous prescriptions to study them anew. The previous night's fire hadn't disturbed her peace of mind. Having spent these days in Qin Manor, she hadn't fully become its Ninth Miss—without emotional ties, she naturally wasn't overly concerned. By comparison, fulfilling her duties as a physician felt far more meaningful.

Fuling had initially worried about Qin Guan being affected, but seeing her like this, she finally set her mind at ease.As Qin Guan flipped through the book and wrote prescriptions, Fuling ground ink beside her. Suddenly, Qin Guan looked up abruptly.

"Last night, how did the Crown Prince find us?"

Fuling was taken aback. "Miss, weren't you writing prescriptions? Why are you thinking about the Crown Prince again..."

Qin Guan turned her gaze to Fuling. "No, that's not it. I'm just wondering how it happened. I actually forgot to ask him—last night, the archive we were in was quite remote. How did he know where to find us?"

Fuling blinked and smiled. "The Crown Prince has his own divine ways! You can just ask him next time, won't you?"

Hearing this, Qin Guan lowered her eyes. When she resumed flipping through the book, her movements were noticeably slower. Seeing her absent-mindedness, Fuling sighed. "Once again, it was the Crown Prince who saved you. When I woke up today, even before I went out to ask what happened last night, I just knew it had to be him."

Qin Guan gave Fuling a skeptical look. "Weren't you afraid of him? Why do you suddenly see him as a heroic savior now?"

Fuling shrank her neck slightly. "I'm still afraid, but... the Crown Prince is the most formidable person I've ever met. And he treats you very well, Miss..."

Qin Guan usually had a ready response to such remarks, but this time, she found herself at a loss. A faint unease stirred in her heart, and she instinctively turned back to the medical book. Though she recognized every character, their meanings now eluded her.

No man in this world treats a woman well without reason.

Qin Chen was guilty and cruel, but Qin Guan remembered his words. Reflecting on this, she couldn't help but recall past events. The first case involved Huo Huaixin seeking her help, but for the second case, Yan Chi, aware of her abilities, had opened doors for her from the start. Not only did he not mind her performing the duties of a coroner as a woman, he even supported and indulged her...

"Let's go! We're heading to the medicine storage—" Qin Guan grabbed the prescriptions she had just written and suddenly stood up.

Fuling was startled. "Miss... why so sudden...?"

Qin Guan didn't answer, simply throwing on her cape and leaving. For no particular reason—she just didn't want to stay cooped up indoors, lost in thought.

When Qin Guan decided to leave, Fuling naturally followed. The two arrived at the medicine storage, only to find its door tightly locked. Fuling was surprised. "What's going on? Where's Physician Qian?"

After a brief thought, Qin Guan said, "Didn't they say everyone related to the case was being taken to the prefecture for questioning?"

Fuling realized. "That must be it. What should we do, Miss...?"

Qin Guan glanced at the prescriptions in her hand and lifted her chin slightly. "We'll go out and buy them. Let's go."

Qin Guan hadn't left the residence for several days. Taking advantage of the clear weather, it wouldn't hurt to go out now. The two immediately headed for the western side gate. Fortunately, the gatekeepers were present, and soon Qin Guan boarded a small blue-canopied carriage, heading straight for the nearest pharmacy.

The nearest pharmacy was at a street corner. When the carriage stopped, Qin Guan and Fuling went straight inside. Though the pharmacy was large, there were few customers in the afternoon. As soon as they entered, a clerk approached them. "Ladies, are you here for a consultation or to purchase medicine?"

"To purchase medicine..." Qin Guan replied, handing over the prescriptions directly.The shop assistant was very efficient. Taking the prescription, he said, "Please wait a moment," and went behind the medicine counter to gather the herbs. Qin Guan walked over to the counter and watched as the assistant placed each herb one by one on the yellow paper. The bundles of medicinal ingredients were neatly arranged, making it easy for Qin Guan to see everything clearly. Suddenly, a new prescription formed in her mind.

Qin Guan frowned slightly, hesitating. "Should I use Smilax glabra or Polygala tenuifolia?"

"Of course, Smilax glabra—"

Qin Guan had been muttering to herself, unsure about the prescription, but as soon as she spoke, someone nearby answered.

Surprised, she turned her gaze toward the source of the voice and saw a young man in white robes and a feathered crown standing beside her. His jade-like, handsome face made her heart skip a beat.

Qin Guan had never expected to run into an old acquaintance here in Jinzhou City.