Coroner's Diary

"How could there be... so many..."

Fuling's face turned deathly pale, while Qin Shuang vomited until only bile remained. Qin Guan stared at the snarling black cat, then at the scattered cat corpses littering the ground, her brow tightly furrowed. After a moment, she took two steps forward.

The pungent stench of decay mixed with the icy wind as she tightened her cape and began examining the cat corpses up close. Some were fresh, still dripping with blood, while others had already decomposed and discolored. Qin Guan focused on the fresher ones and noticed something startling—their wounds were unnaturally neat, as if made by a blade...

Her eyes darkened. Looking closer, she saw the most recent corpse had its belly slit open, revealing mangled internal organs. The cats appeared to have been dragged here from elsewhere, their flesh and entrails mixed with filth in a horrifying spectacle.

"Miss, what should we do? There must be at least ten cat corpses here..."

Fuling approached, wanting to pull Qin Guan away. Meanwhile, Qin Shuang, unsteady from retching, staggered toward the alley entrance supported by Wan Qing and Xiu Yun. Wan Qing glanced back worriedly, seeing only Qin Guan's rigid silhouette.

As Qin Guan moved closer, the already hostile black cat grew more aggressive, hissing protectively. With its ears flattened and claws digging into the ground, it seemed ready to pounce. Fuling and Wan Xing quickly shielded Qin Guan, but before she could reassure them, the cat suddenly retreated and vanished into the maze of alleys.

Fuling exhaled shakily. "That terrified me! I thought it would attack."

"Miss, what now?" Fuling asked. The pile of corpses clearly hadn't accumulated overnight, yet the household staff seemed unaware. Should they inform Dong Shu?

Qin Guan took a step back. "Let's leave first," she said, turning toward the alley exit.

At the entrance, Qin Shuang gasped for breath, her face ashen. "Why... why so many cat corpses? Why were they piled there?"

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "Likely brought by that black cat from elsewhere."

"Elsewhere? Where?" Qin Shuang's eyelids twitched.

"I don't know. The snow has erased all traces," Qin Guan admitted. "But it must still be within this estate."

Qin Shuang's eyes widened. "Here? Does someone in this household enjoy torturing kittens?" Though she disliked pets, the scene had shaken her. Regardless of preference, anyone capable of such cruelty must be deranged.

"Not necessarily. There might be another reason." Qin Guan's gaze grew distant, but she offered no explanation.

"So what do we do?" Qin Shuang asked, fear lingering in her eyes. "Should we tell Dong Shu?"

Qin Guan nodded. "Of course. But Sixth Sister, don't worry—I'll handle it. You should rest now, and keep this quiet..."

Relieved, Qin Shuang agreed weakly, "Alright... I'll go lie down."Qin Shuang finished speaking and left, with Wan Qing and Xiu Yun naturally following her. Once she was gone, Fuling anxiously looked at Qin Guan, "Miss, what should we do now?"

Qin Guan glanced toward the eastern direction, "Let's go around and take a look—"

Fuling blinked, unsure of Qin Guan's intentions, but still obediently followed. The three of them deliberately headed east, and before long, they encountered two male servants sweeping snow. While other parts of the estate didn’t require cleaning, the eastern side, where the master resided, couldn’t be neglected. The two men immediately stopped their work and bowed respectfully upon seeing Qin Guan.

Qin Guan nodded slightly without engaging further and continued eastward. Before she had gone far, Dong Shu approached. Upon seeing Qin Guan, he smiled warmly, "Miss Qin, what brings you here? Are you looking for the young master?"

Qin Guan quickly waved her hand, smiling, "No, no, I just finished eating and wanted to take a stroll to aid digestion. I originally intended to go to the area we walked through this morning, but just now, I caught a strange smell—I’m not sure what it was."

Dong Shu frowned slightly, "A smell? What kind of smell?"

Qin Guan replied with an innocent expression, "It seemed like the scent of a small animal. This morning, you mentioned that dogs were kept in that courtyard, but I hadn’t even reached there yet. Could there be something else kept in another courtyard?"

A flicker of confusion passed through Dong Shu’s eyes but vanished quickly. "Ah, I’ll send someone to check right away."

Qin Guan nodded, "It’s possible I was mistaken." She then glanced ahead, "We’re almost at Benevolence Courtyard now. I wouldn’t want to disturb the Miracle doctor, so we’ll head back. Dong Shu, please carry on with your duties."

Dong Shu smiled and nodded, and Qin Guan turned to leave with Fuling and Wan Xing.

This time, Qin Guan didn’t wander elsewhere and returned directly to her own courtyard. As soon as she entered, she turned to Wan Xing and said, "Wan Xing, go out and find a way to observe how they handle it."

Wan Xing nodded without asking further questions and slipped away again.

Fuling looked at Qin Guan in surprise, "Miss, what are you having Wan Xing observe?"

Qin Guan sighed, "I want to know who is behind this."

Fuling’s expression turned thoughtful. "Miss said those cat corpses were likely carried there by the black cat. That means there might be even more elsewhere. Who in this estate would have such a... preference?"

Qin Guan pressed her lips together and remained silent for a moment. Seeing her somber expression, Fuling didn’t press further.

The two entered the room and sat down. After roughly the time it took to drink two cups of tea, Wan Xing returned with light footsteps. "Miss, it was Dong Shu who went with two male servants. They shoveled up all the cat corpses and took them out of the estate. Where exactly they were taken is unclear, but most likely, they were buried outside. From what I saw, Dong Shu didn’t seem surprised—he just wanted to cover it up."

Hearing this, Qin Guan’s heart sank further. "I see..."

Fuling glanced at Wan Xing, then at Qin Guan, who said nothing more, and also refrained from asking further.

Qin Guan stood up and walked to the window. The sky was gradually darkening—night was approaching. Yet, in just one day, aside from the medicine thief, they had first discovered a courtyard with strange noises, then stumbled upon a ground littered with cat corpses. Dong Shu had mentioned that the dogs in the courtyard had been drugged mute. If so, would those dogs end up like the cats?Qin Guan narrowed her eyes, suddenly recalling the few mice she had raised in the past. Unsure whether the proportions in her medicinal formula were correct or if they had inadvertently activated toxicity, she had tested the medicine on the mice. Later, those mice indeed died from the medicine. From then on, she rarely touched those sinister formulas and never again used any living creatures for testing. Using small pets for testing wasn’t illegal, but so many cats...

A chill crept up Qin Guan’s heart in waves...

“Miss?” Fuling noticed the cold aura around Qin Guan and couldn’t help but worry, calling out softly.

Qin Guan sighed lightly. “This matter... let’s leave it at that for now...”

Fuling hesitated, as if wanting to say more. “This doesn’t seem like you, Miss.”

Qin Guan smiled bitterly. “What should I be like? Sometimes, I’m powerless too.”

The sky gradually darkened. Though it hadn’t snowed during the day, neither had the sun appeared. By evening, a cold wind suddenly picked up, growing stronger and rustling the ancient willows in the courtyard. Before long, Fuling exclaimed in surprise, “Miss, it’s snowing again outside...”

Qin Guan’s heart sank. They had only needed to wait one more day for the snow to melt a little before leaving, but now it was snowing again. This snowfall would only add another layer to the already thick snow, further delaying their departure!

Just as she thought this, the door of the opposite wing room opened. Qin Shuang, wrapped in a cape, hurried over to Qin Guan’s side and pushed the door open. “It’s snowing again—what are we going to do? Does this mean we’ll have to stay even longer?”

Fuling poured tea for Qin Shuang as she said, “Didn’t Sixth Miss like the snow? Why are you worried now?”

Qin Shuang gave Fuling a resentful look and huffed. “I just want to leave sooner. I’ve been scared ever since that Sanyuan Village. I thought things would be better once we arrived at this estate, but... well, I still think this place is strange. I want to leave as soon as possible.”

Qin Shuang was naturally referring to the cat corpses they had seen that afternoon. She turned to Qin Guan. “What happened with that matter?”

Qin Guan walked over to her. “I mentioned it to Dong Shu. He’s already taken people to clean it up.”

“That’s it?” Qin Shuang stood up abruptly. “You’ve been following the Crown Prince and the Prefect all this time. I thought you were someone who hated evil. How can we just let this go? We need to investigate—find out who in this estate is so cruel!”

“And then what?” Qin Guan looked at Qin Shuang. “Report it to the authorities?”

Qin Shuang froze. “Would the authorities even care about something like this...?”

Qin Guan shook her head. Qin Shuang’s eyes widened slightly, as if she too realized the truth—if this matter held no legal standing, what right did they, as temporary guests in someone else’s estate, have to interfere?

“Then... are we really just going to let it go?”

Qin Guan frowned slightly. “We don’t know the full story behind this. Even if we wanted to intervene, we wouldn’t know how.”

With that, Qin Guan lowered her gaze. Others might not see it, but she could tell—the wounds on those fresh cat corpses were clean cuts, made by a blade, and their internal organs were still faintly visible. Who in this estate could have such skill?

This wasn’t absolute proof, but even this suspicion alone made Qin Guan realize she couldn’t do anything about it.Upon hearing this, Qin Shuang also hung her head. "I'll go tell Third Brother. We should think of a way to leave early."

With that, Qin Shuang turned and ran out the door. Fuling sighed as she watched her retreating figure. "The Sixth Young Miss must be terribly frightened."

Fuling naturally knew Qin Guan wasn't afraid—her mistress was skilled in autopsy and bone examination, so a few cat corpses were nothing to her.

She had thought Qin Shuang wouldn't return after leaving, but before long, the girl came stomping back in a huff. As soon as she entered, she exclaimed, "Heavens! Do you know what I just saw at Fifth Sister's place?"

Qin Guan played along, looking at her. "What did you see?"

Qin Shuang frowned. "She has a new pair of Jade butterflies—"

Qin Guan didn't quite understand at first. "What Jade butterflies?"

Taking a deep breath, Qin Shuang explained, "A pair of butterflies made of jade, exquisitely crafted—the kind any young lady would adore. She didn't have them before—someone gave them to her. Guess who?"

This piqued Qin Guan's curiosity. There weren't any friends Qin Xiang knew in this household. Her eyes flickered. "Third Brother?"

Qin Shuang stomped her foot. "Not Third Brother! It was the Young Master of the Bai family!"

Qin Guan took a moment to process this before understanding dawned. She chuckled lightly. "The Young Master of the Bai family, huh..."

She merely sighed and said no more, much to Qin Shuang's dissatisfaction. Qin Shuang huffed, "You know what? They were delivered to her this afternoon. They said the Young Master had gone out but instructed someone to send them to her before leaving. The way Fifth Sister looked—she was over the moon! Her eyes practically sparkled when she mentioned the Young Master!"

Qin Guan understood now. Qin Xiang had met the Bai family's young master earlier that day, and later, he had sent her a gift, which naturally delighted her. Qin Guan found this perfectly normal. Qin Yan had said the Bai family's young master was exceptional, and at Qin Xiang's age, it was only natural for her to develop feelings upon meeting such an outstanding man—especially when he showed interest in return.

"Fifth Sister has taken a liking to the Bai family's young master? There's nothing wrong with that."

Qin Guan wasn't particularly concerned, but Qin Shuang insisted, "But think about it—the Bai family! That's the Bai family! So many noble families are on good terms with them—how could Fifth Sister possibly stand a chance? Besides, he only sent her a pair of Jade butterflies, yet she's acting as if he already holds her in high regard. Maybe he was just being polite—giving a small gift to a young lady upon their first meeting..."

Qin Guan wasn't deeply invested in the personal affairs of the Qin sisters, but seeing Qin Shuang's concern, she thought for a moment and said, "Your worry makes sense. If you think she's taking it too seriously, you could gently remind her. It'd be a shame if she became too attached while the young master's intentions were merely casual, leaving her heartbroken later. If she truly believes the young master is a good match, she could take some time to observe and understand him better."

Qin Shuang stomped her foot again. "I did say that! I told her just now, but she wouldn't listen!"

Qin Guan hesitated. She could tell Qin Xiang wasn't particularly friendly toward her, so she shifted her gaze. "Then perhaps you could speak to Third Brother and have him offer some advice."

Qin Shuang hesitated in turn. "Is it appropriate to bring this up with Third Brother? She made me promise not to tell anyone..."A young girl's delicate thoughts were indeed not suitable to discuss with men, but Qin Guan couldn't very well go and remind Qin Xiang either. Doing so would likely anger Qin Xiang. Qin Guan sighed, "It's only just begun. She's taken a liking to the young master Bai, so it's normal she wouldn't listen to you. We're only staying here for a few days—just make sure she doesn't do anything improper. Of course, if the young master Bai truly takes a fancy to her and it leads to a marriage alliance, wouldn't that be even better?"

Qin Shuang snorted lightly and glanced at Qin Guan. "I don't think the young master Bai would take a liking to her so easily. She doesn't possess peerless beauty, and her temperament and demeanor are quite ordinary. If the young master Bai is truly a noble and upright scion of an aristocratic family, how could he so casually take a liking to her and show favor?"

Qin Guan had always thought Qin Shuang was impulsive, often speaking illogically and acting unreasonably. But these words of hers made Qin Guan somewhat agree. Frowning slightly, Qin Guan said, "You're right. To send gifts immediately after the first meeting—if it's truly meant to show favor, it does seem somewhat frivolous."

"Exactly!" Qin Shuang huffed. "Besides, Fifth Sister thinks too highly of herself. Right now, she's not thinking clearly at all. If the young master Bai is a philanderer, she'll only end up with her heart broken for nothing."

"In that case, keep an eye on her. Fortunately, the young master Bai isn't in the residence right now. Even if she gets ideas, she won't be able to act on them immediately..."

Qin Shuang nodded. "That's true. There are still some boundaries of propriety."

Qin Shuang was placated by Qin Guan, and after a few more words, she returned to her own room as it was getting late. In just that short while, the night outside had turned into a howling blizzard, the cold biting. Qin Guan worried about the weather. Fuling, adding charcoal to the brazier, remarked, "The sixth young lady has changed so much recently. Who would have thought we'd hear the word 'propriety' from her mouth?"

Qin Guan chuckled at this. "Yes, the change is indeed quite remarkable."

As she spoke, Qin Guan found it hard to connect the current Qin Shuang—who, despite her mocking tone, was still concerned about Qin Xiang—with the Qin Shuang who had ordered her maids to push her into Crescent Lake and laughed heartily.

In just three short months, Qin Shuang seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

Fuling said a few more things, mostly recounting how "viciously" Qin Shuang had bullied them in the past. Qin Guan only smiled without responding. Seeing how late it was, she prepared to sleep. Having slept poorly the previous night, this night was no different.

The window was tightly shut, yet it couldn't block out the howling wind and snow outside. Qin Guan felt that the snowfall this night was even heavier than the one at the Changfu Inn, and the sound of the wind in the vast darkness unsettled her.

Not just Qin Guan—even Fuling and Wan Xing found it hard to sleep. The three of them tossed and turned for half the night before finally drifting into a shallow slumber. Early the next morning, Qin Guan was startled awake by frantic knocking at the door.

"Ninth Sister—"

"Ninth Sister, open the door quickly!"

"Ninth Sister! Something terrible has happened!"Qin Guan suddenly opened her eyes, listening intently for a moment before confirming it was indeed Qin Shuang knocking at the door. Outside, Wan Xing had already risen to open it. As the door swung open, Qin Shuang saw Fuling rubbing her sleepy eyes inside, while Qin Guan hadn’t even gotten up yet. Without hesitation, Qin Shuang rushed in. Their chamber was divided into inner and outer sections, and Qin Shuang charged straight into the inner room, exclaiming, “Something’s happened! That thief has escaped!”

Qin Guan had just sat up when these words jolted her fully awake. “Escaped?”

Qin Shuang nodded vigorously. “Yes! Young Master Sun went to check on him after waking up and found the room empty. Their courtyard gate was open too. This estate is so vast, and we don’t even know the thief’s name. Third Brother said we should stay in the courtyard and not go out alone to avoid trouble…”

Qin Guan hurriedly dressed and got up. Qin Shuang frowned and muttered, “I never knew you were such a heavy sleeper…”

Qin Guan gave a wry smile but said no more. After dressing and a quick wash, she followed Qin Shuang out the door.

Outside, fine snowflakes fell densely, adding another thick layer to the ground. The ancient willow trees in the corner of the courtyard bore heavy snow on their branches, with two withered limbs having snapped under the weight and fallen.

Without even asking Qin Yan, Qin Guan knew they wouldn’t be leaving today…

She hurried along the path and upon reaching Sun Muqing’s courtyard, found Qin Yan and Qin Xiang already there, with Dong Shu speaking—

“The west back gate was open. It seems the thief, realizing he’d been caught stealing medicine, pretended to still be unconscious yesterday after waking. Afraid of punishment, he must have fled in the middle of the night after regaining consciousness.”

Sun Muqing sighed. “With such heavy snow last night, it’s dangerous for him to have run away.”

Dong Shu also lamented, “If he really was just stealing herbs, a little medicine wouldn’t have warranted severe punishment—just a scolding at most. Now that he’s fled, who knows how far his home is? If he collapses on the way, it could be perilous.”

Sun Muqing nodded, pondering briefly before adding, “When I noticed something amiss, I checked carefully. He didn’t disturb much in the room or take anything, just put on his original clothes. When I stepped out, there weren’t any footprints in the courtyard—the fresh snow had already covered his tracks. So I estimate he left before dawn.”

A glimmer of admiration flashed in Dong Shu’s eyes. “Young Master Sun is unexpectedly meticulous?!”

Qin Yan chuckled too. “Indeed. Most people wouldn’t think to check for footprints…”

Sun Muqing grinned sheepishly. “I wouldn’t have before either. But someone taught me many tricks. She’s naturally very observant and sharp—noticing details I’d overlook and reacting swiftly with accurate judgments. She also loves reading mystery and crime stories. If she were here, she’d probably spot even more than I did, maybe even trace the escape route. Being around her so long, I’ve picked up some habits.”

Qin Yan’s eyes brightened. “Oh? The person Young Master Sun describes sounds like she’d be perfect for solving cases and catching thieves…”Sun Muqing's smile deepened. "Young Master Qin, I've said the same thing before. She once had such aspirations too, but alas, as a woman, she couldn't join the government office to become a constable or official. I used to feel quite regretful about this. However, her meticulous nature and quick reflexes are immensely useful in everyday life. To name just one example, she learns medicine faster than others and considers things more thoroughly. When she delves into a difficult medical case, she can put in more effort than even I can."

Sun Muqing spoke at length, clearly demonstrating his deep familiarity and admiration for the person in question. Qin Shuang immediately asked, "Young Master Sun, is this person you're speaking of the junior sister you mentioned before?"

Sun Muqing's smile faded slightly, but he still nodded. "Indeed. I didn't expect you to recognize her, Miss Qin."

Qin Shuang then said, "I guessed it, because Young Master Sun's expression and gaze when mentioning this young lady were exactly the same as when he spoke of his junior sister last time. So I figured this person must be your junior sister..."

Sun Muqing replied, "Miss Liu is quite observant..."

Seemingly unwilling to dwell on this topic, Sun Muqing turned to Dong Shu and said, "Since that person has fled, let it be. Perhaps send someone to check the surroundings, though I doubt he'd linger after escaping. If he truly froze to death on the road, there's nothing we could have done..."

Dong Shu nodded in agreement, "Exactly so, young master needn't worry. I've already given the orders."

Sun Muqing nodded, glancing at the still-falling snow with a sigh. "With this fresh layer of snow, I'm afraid Young Master Qin will have to stay a few more days. I wonder if you have urgent business in the capital?"

Qin Guan quickly shook his head, "Nothing urgent at all. Please don't worry, Young Master Sun. We're perfectly comfortable staying here, though we're deeply ashamed to impose on Divine Doctor Sun for several more days..."

Dong Shu hunched slightly and coughed lightly, "Not at all. The manor feels more lively with Young Master Qin and your sisters here. Though with this heavy snow, our food stores are running low. The meals these days might be rather simple—we hope you won't mind. The Bai family heir has gone down the mountain, and supplies won't improve until he returns from Yuanzhou."

Qin Yan immediately responded, "How could we mind? These meals are far better than what we had on the road. We're deeply grateful and certainly not picky. My sisters and I aren't delicate—please don't stand on ceremony, Dong Shu."

After exchanging a few more words, Dong Shu took his leave. Noticing everyone gathered in the side chamber, Sun Muqing invited them to the warmer main hall. Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang trailed behind, and after a few steps, Qin Xiang murmured, "I wonder if Young Master Bai is safe traveling in this heavy snow, and how far he's gotten by now. The village roads below must be treacherous too."

Qin Shuang couldn't help remarking, "Fifth Sister, he merely gifted you a pair of jade butterflies—why are you so preoccupied! It was likely just a polite gesture. Don't read too much into it and end up heartbroken."

Qin Xiang frowned. "If it were mere courtesy, he could have chosen any other gift. Why a pair of jade butterflies? A matching pair at that. And the jade quality was superior—better than what Mother gave me. It would be too extravagant if he meant nothing by it."

Pursing her lips, Qin Shuang wanted to respond more harshly, but old habits from following Qin Xiang's lead held her back. She only said, "Fifth Sister, be sensible. Even if he did mean something by it, you should maintain some reserve, lest people say the Qin Manor daughters lack propriety..."

With that, Qin Shuang walked ahead. Qin Xiang halted, her expression darkening. Wan He, who had overheard everything, quietly consoled, "Don't be upset, Miss. Sixth Young Miss means well.""Kindness?! What kindness?!" Qin Xiang was furious, her fingers clutching her sleeves so tightly they nearly tore through the fabric. "Look at her—she's always been disrespectful to me in the manor, and now she spends every day with Qin Guan, daring to speak to me like this! She's just jealous—jealous that the young master of the Bai family showed me favor while she hasn’t even met him! And that Qin Guan—she can’t stand to see me doing well. I was always above her before, but then she got close to the Grand Princess's family and thought she could surpass me in everything. Now, the young master of the Bai family is beyond her reach, and she can’t accept it!"

Wan He wanted to console her further, but seeing Qin Xiang’s rage, she didn’t dare say another word. Qin Xiang watched as everyone else entered the house, ignoring her, and turned sharply to storm back to her own courtyard.

"Let the snow fall harder—I’ll wait for the young master Bai to return!"

Inside the house, Qin Yan was gazing at the sky outside. Though anxious, he said calmly, "We only intended to stay for a couple of days, but who knew the snow would last this long? We’ve imposed on you for far too long. Divine Doctor Sun came here seeking peace to tend to his wife’s illness, yet we’ve disrupted your tranquility. We truly apologize..."

Sun Muqing waved it off. "There’s no need for concern, Young Master Qin. You’ve all stayed in the western wing and haven’t disturbed the eastern side at all—how could you be an imposition? At most, Dong Shu and the others have had to put in a little extra effort. If anything, I was worried my senior brother’s reserved nature might have made you and the young ladies feel neglected—"

"Not at all, not at all," Qin Yan replied graciously. "Divine Doctor Sun lives up to his reputation as a miracle doctor—aloofness is only fitting. And Young Master Sun has been of immense help to us. Without you, we truly wouldn’t have known what to do."

While Qin Yan and Sun Muqing exchanged polite reassurances, Qin Guan and Qin Shuang listened quietly. Before long, Aunt Lin’s voice sounded at the courtyard gate. "Young Master Sun? Is Young Master Qin here?"

They hurried out to see Aunt Lin standing at the entrance with a food box. "Are you all gathered here? Should I serve breakfast in this courtyard?"

Sun Muqing glanced at Qin Yan, who smiled. "Anywhere is fine."

With that, Aunt Lin cheerfully stepped inside. Her round face radiated warmth, and after delivering meals several times over the past two days, she had grown familiar with Qin Guan and the others. Qin Shuang approached her with a grin. "Aunt Lin, do you have more tea cakes today? Yours are unmatched—even the finest teahouses in the south can’t compare!"

Aunt Lin beamed. "Of course, of course! As many as you’d like, Sixth Miss. We harvested plenty of fresh tea leaves earlier, but the young master doesn’t care for them, so I saved them all for tea cakes. Truth be told, the young master rarely eats them, and the mistress is often resting, so most of my tea cakes end up going to Old Dong and the others. It’s a good thing you’ve come!"

This drew laughter from everyone. Aunt Lin carried the food box inside and opened it to reveal several exquisitely prepared dishes. She added, "The manor stocks fresh ingredients every half-month, but the snow has delayed things. The meals these past few days have been rather simple—I hope you and the guests won’t mind, Young Master Sun."Dong Shu had just said the same thing, so Qin Yan repeated his earlier explanation. Aunt Lin had already set out the side dishes, but there was still no sign of the main meal. She then said, "The congee is still with Xiao Lizi. I was afraid the young master and our guests would have to wait too long, so I came ahead. He must still be on his way with the congee."

Since no one was in a hurry, Qin Shuang took the opportunity to ask Aunt Lin about the recipe for the Tea Cake. Delighted that Qin Shuang appreciated her cooking so much, Aunt Lin shared everything she knew. Qin Shuang urged Wan Qing to quickly take notes, and after listening, she asked, "Aunt Lin, how did you learn to make this Tea Cake? I thought you were from Yizhou—is this a local specialty there?"

Aunt Lin chuckled. "No, it's not common in Yizhou. It's actually quite strange—I only started making it after recovering from a serious illness. At the time, I just tried it on a whim, but everyone said it tasted good."

"That’s truly remarkable! It must be because of your exceptional skill!"

Qin Shuang, who had never been one for flattery, now delivered it effortlessly. Aunt Lin beamed with pleasure. However, after waiting for a while, there was still no sign of Xiao Lizi with the congee. Frowning, Aunt Lin muttered, "What’s taking that child so long? Did he spill it on the way?"

Sun Muqing quickly reassured her, "Don’t worry, Aunt Lin. The snow is heavy today, and the kitchen is quite far. It’s possible the congee spilled."

Aunt Lin sighed. "It’s been a strange day. Normally, the kitchen helper is Xiao Songzi, who’s about Xiao Lizi’s age, but he’s been missing since this morning. No one knows where he went. Xiao Lizi isn’t familiar with kitchen errands like delivering meals, so I was worried and gave him careful instructions before I left."

Standing by the door, Aunt Lin grew increasingly anxious despite Sun Muqing’s reassurances. Sun Muqing was family, but Qin Yan and the others were guests—it wouldn’t do to keep them waiting too long.

After another long wait with no sign of Xiao Lizi, Aunt Lin sighed. "That boy must have messed up. Please wait a moment—I’ll go check. We really need Xiao Songzi for this..."

With that, she stepped out of the room and headed toward the courtyard gate. Sun Muqing considered stopping her but held back, seeing how genuinely concerned she was. Just as Aunt Lin was about to exit the courtyard, a figure suddenly appeared at the gate. Everyone in the room relaxed—Xiao Lizi had finally arrived.

But as Aunt Lin reached the gate, she scolded, "What took you so long?!"

Before she could finish, she noticed Xiao Lizi’s empty hands. Her frown deepened. "Why are you empty-handed? Where’s the congee? What happened to the congee you were supposed to bring?!"

Xiao Lizi, panting heavily from his sprint, leaned against the gate to catch his breath. Only after Aunt Lin’s reprimand did he hoarsely reply, "S-something’s happened, Aunt Lin..."

Aunt Lin’s frown deepened. "What happened? Did you spill the congee?"

Xiao Lizi shook his head frantically. "No... it’s... it’s Xiao Songzi! He’s dead!"

"What?!" Aunt Lin gasped. In an instant, Qin Yan and the others in the room widened their eyes in shock.

Xiao Songzi was dead?! They couldn’t have heard wrong—

Qin Guan and Sun Muqing immediately stood and rushed outside, with Qin Yan and Qin Shuang close behind!At the courtyard gate, Aunt Lin was barely able to stand, naturally no longer asking about the porridge. "What happened?! How could Xiao Songzi die just like that?! Where is he?! Where did you see him..."

Xiao Lizi's face was pale and covered in sweat. "It wasn't me who found him, it was Uncle Zhang. Uncle Zhang wanted to find Dong Shu, but Dong Shu had taken people to chase the medicine thief, so he went to the kitchen to look for you. By then you'd already left, so Uncle Zhang told me to inform you—Xiao Songzi... Xiao Songzi was found dead in a drainage ditch behind a storage yard not far from Benevolence Courtyard!"

Aunt Lin's face turned deathly pale upon hearing this. Her lips trembled several times, but no words came out. She stood there with slightly reddened eyes, at a complete loss. Sun Muqing stepped forward. "Where is he?! Take us there!"

Aunt Lin snapped back to reality at his call and hurriedly said, "Young Master! Young Master shouldn't see such things. This servant will go, this servant will..."

Sun Muqing grabbed Aunt Lin's trembling arm. "A death is no small matter—it can't be handled carelessly. I know some methods for examining corpses. Let me take a look. There's no way Xiao Songzi could have killed himself!"

"It wasn't suicide, it wasn't suicide..." Xiao Lizi, standing to the side, widened his eyes in terror. "Uncle Zhang said... Xiao Songzi's limbs had all been chopped off..."