Coroner's Diary

Qin Yan frowned deeply. "Their hands and feet were cut off?"

Xiao Lizi nodded with a pale face. "Yes... that's what Uncle Zhang said. The young master hasn't been told yet, and Uncle Zhang doesn't know what to do..."

Sun Muqing immediately said solemnly, "Lead the way!"

Xiao Lizi was so flustered he didn't know what to do. He had originally intended to let Aunt Lin handle it, but she was also frightened upon hearing about the death. Now that Sun Muqing gave the order, he immediately turned to lead the way. After all, Sun Muqing was still a member of the Sun family, so Aunt Lin silently acquiesced.

Qin Guan's expression darkened as she followed. However, Qin Yan grabbed her arm. "Ninth Sister, what are you doing?"

A murder had occurred right in this residence. Regardless of whether they were staying here for a few more days or not, she couldn't possibly stand by and do nothing. Qin Guan hesitated for a moment before whispering, "If we don't figure out what happened, aren't you afraid something might happen to us too?"

Hearing this, Qin Yan realized the gravity of the situation. Although Sun Muqing meant well and Divine Doctor Sun had a reputation as a miracle doctor, things in this world were never so simple. Now that a murder had taken place, if they were to scrutinize it, even they might not be able to avoid being implicated. Qin Yan released Qin Guan. "I'll go take a look. You all stay in the courtyard."

Qin Guan shook her head. "Third Brother, have you forgotten? I also know medicine. Someone with medical knowledge can at least discern some clues."

Not wanting to argue further with Qin Yan, Qin Guan moved forward. Sun Muqing, who was ahead, paused upon hearing her words and turned around. Seeing Qin Guan determined to follow without hesitation, he pursed his lips but said nothing.

Qin Shuang stomped her foot. "Third Brother, don't worry. When something happened at Qin Manor earlier, Ninth Sister helped the Crown Prince and the Prefect with their investigation. Both the Crown Prince and the Prefect trusted her greatly. I'm going too..."

With that, Qin Shuang followed Qin Guan forward. This left Qin Yan somewhat trailing behind. He narrowed his eyes at Qin Guan's retreating figure before catching up.

Since the masters were all going, Fuling, Wan Qing, and the others naturally followed. Meanwhile, Zhou Huai quickly approached Qin Yan and whispered, "Your Highness, this matter seems unusual. Please proceed with caution."

Qin Yan nodded. "Go ahead and check if all our people are accounted for. We must not get entangled in this."

Zhou Huai obeyed and left, while Qin Yan rejoined the group.

Xiao Lizi was practically jogging as he led the way. Sun Muqing turned to Aunt Lin. "Aunt Lin, you mentioned earlier that Xiao Songzi was missing. Was it discovered this morning?"

Aunt Lin, being older, struggled to keep up. Panting, she replied, "Yes. There aren't many servants in the residence. Usually, only this servant and another cook, Madam Xu, work in the kitchen. Xiao Songzi was a helper—just the three of us. This morning, when breakfast was almost ready and Xiao Songzi still hadn't shown up, Madam Xu and I were too busy to go to the servants' quarters to look for him, so we sent Xiao Lizi to call him. But Xiao Lizi said he wasn't there. Since time was running out, we just had Xiao Lizi help instead."

Xiao Lizi, walking ahead, quickly added, "I checked—Xiao Songzi really wasn't in his room at the time."

Sun Muqing nodded. "Let's go take a look first..."Heading eastward, they hadn't yet reached Benevolence Courtyard when they turned onto a small path, winding left and right until they arrived beneath the rear eaves of a compound. As they rounded the corner, a strong metallic scent of blood wafted through the air. Sun Muqing, walking at the front, saw something that made him raise his hand to stop those behind him.

"Wait here—don't come closer yet—"

At these words, Qin Shuang's face paled with fear. She couldn't even bear to look at a cat corpse, let alone a human one. Her eagerness to follow had been mere curiosity. Noticing this, Qin Yan said, "Young Master Sun, there's no need to worry. If you can look, so can we. Those who are afraid can stay back..."Hearing this, Sun Muqing lowered his blocking hand, and in the next moment, both Qin Yan and Qin Guan stepped forward."

As they turned the corner, Qin Yan's pupils contracted violently. Though Xiao Lizi had described the scene of death, seeing it with his own eyes still sent a shock through his heart. He had to clench his jaw hard to suppress the churning in his stomach.

Last night's heavy snowfall had blanketed the entire Herb Garden in white once more, leaving only the tree-shaded areas and the spaces beneath the eaves dry. Xiao Songzi's corpse sat slumped against the wall, his head lolling to one side. Loose strands of hair matted with bloody froth clung to his face. His eyes were wide open, with traces of blood at the corners of his mouth and on his chest. But what was most horrifying were his limbs. He appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, with a slender build and long limbs...

Yet now, his right hand lay severed on the ground, while his left hung by a thread of flesh from his arm. Both legs bore multiple wounds, the mangled flesh revealing glimpses of white bone. Like his left hand, the skin and muscle barely clung together. On his chest and abdomen, dark black blood had frozen into ice spikes, forming a gruesome tableau with his tattered clothing and several gaping, crimson holes...

Qin Yan examined the scene carefully, but the more he looked, the harder it became to suppress the rising bile in his throat. After a few moments, he could bear it no longer and instinctively turned away—only to see Qin Guan standing beside him, her expression calm and composed.

Qin Yan was astonished. Qin Shuang had long since retreated outside, too frightened to look, yet not only had Qin Guan come forward, but she appeared even more at ease than he was...

"Heavens... ugh..."

Aunt Lin was the last to arrive, having fallen behind earlier due to her frailty. As soon as she rounded the corner, she let out a scream that quickly turned into dry heaves as she turned away.

Who could endure such a sight?

Sun Muqing covered his nose and mouth with his hand, then turned to the middle-aged man standing nearby, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Uncle Zhang?"

The man nodded, his eyes slightly red. "Young Master... it was I who found him."

"How did you discover this?"When Sun Muqing asked, the middle-aged man looked somewhat incredulous. "This humble servant got up this morning intending to sweep the snow around Benevolence Courtyard, but lacking a few necessary tools, I came to the storage yard to fetch them. Before I could get close, however, I spotted a black cat. Old Dong had instructed us yesterday that wild cats might appear in the courtyard these days and we must catch and drive them away if seen. When I saw that black cat, I immediately thought to chase it off. But the stray suddenly darted into this alleyway. I followed, shouting all the way, and when I turned the corner, I saw Xiao Songzi..."

As Zhang Shu spoke, his eyes filled with terror. Qin Yan imagined encountering Xiao Songzi in that state without warning and felt his chest tighten. Even he would likely be frightened into losing composure...

"Where's Dong Shu? No matter what, we must report this to the authorities. Where's the nearest government office?"

At this question, Zhang Shu quickly replied, "This area belongs to Jixian County in Yuanzhou. The county office is over seventy li east of here. Reporting this would take at least two days for the round trip."

Sun Muqing frowned. "Regardless, we must inform the authorities. Zhang Shu, go find Dong Shu immediately and have him make arrangements."

Zhang Shu nodded. Meanwhile, Aunt Lin, having finished retching, still dared not look at Xiao Songzi and sobbed, "How could this happen? Xiao Songzi was always the most obedient and well-behaved. Who would want to harm him..."

Sun Muqing frowned but stepped forward toward Xiao Songzi. The boy's death was gruesome—he sat slumped, a large pool of blood beneath him. The cold had turned the crimson puddle in the gutter beneath him into a frozen red lake.

Seeing Sun Muqing approach, Aunt Lin hurriedly said, "Young Master, what are you doing? Don't dirty your shoes."

Sun Muqing narrowed his eyes slightly. "Xiao Songzi died so brutally. The killer clearly harbored deep anger and hatred. Aunt Lin, did Xiao Songzi have any enemies?"

Aunt Lin shook her head. "No, no. Precisely because he was always so well-behaved, I once considered adopting him as my godson. With the year-end approaching, I planned to bring it up after the New Year." Wiping her tears, she clearly held great affection for Xiao Songzi.

Sun Muqing took a deep breath. "For any case, the first three days after the incident are crucial for investigation. We should examine everything we can and not just wait for the authorities."

Aunt Lin gasped, but before she could speak, Dong Shu's voice came through.

"Young Master, what if we investigate this ourselves?"

Everyone turned to see Dong Shu approaching from around the corner. He first glanced at Xiao Songzi, then lowered his eyes with visible distress before sighing. "Waiting for the authorities might take too long."

Sun Muqing frowned. "We should investigate, but this is a murder case. We can't avoid reporting it."

Dong Shu pondered briefly. "Very well. I'll go inform the Young Master at once."

Sun Muqing sighed. "Good. Ask for Senior Brother's opinion."

Dong Shu looked at Xiao Songzi once more before turning to Qin Yan and Qin Guan. "Master Qin, Miss Qin, my deepest apologies for this incident in our residence. Please return to your courtyard—especially you, Miss Qin. Do not let this frighten you."Qin Yan shook his head. "Uncle Dong, in such a situation, please don’t treat us as outsiders. It’s better for everyone to get to the bottom of this together to avoid further complications."

Qin Guan also added, "Uncle Dong, there’s no need to worry. I have some medical knowledge and have seen many patients. A scene like this doesn’t frighten me much."

Uncle Dong looked at Qin Guan with surprise in his eyes, then sighed and nodded. As he left, he instructed those remaining outside, "Keep a close watch here. Don’t let anyone else enter."

Meanwhile, Sun Muqing crouched down to examine the corpse carefully. "The hands and feet were severed with a sharp blade, but the cuts are very messy. The killer seems to have acted in a fit of rage, venting their anger... The wounds on the chest and abdomen are extremely deep—likely the fatal injuries."

Hearing this, Aunt Lin quickly asked, "Does the young master truly know how to examine this?"

Sun Muqing didn’t deny it. "I only know a little. The specifics will have to wait for the coroner from the authorities. It’s best not to move the body. We should cordon off the area so the officials can investigate when they arrive."

Aunt Lin was slightly taken aback. "We’re not going to carry him inside?"

Sun Muqing shook his head. "The cold outside will help preserve the body and prevent decay."

Standing behind Sun Muqing, Qin Guan didn’t get too close but still saw the chaotic and brutal wounds. Sun Muqing’s observations were correct, though not detailed enough. Qin Guan hesitated—with no one taking charge, should she perform the corpse examination herself?

Just as she was thinking this, footsteps sounded from outside. Qin Guan turned to see Uncle Dong approaching with a grave expression. "Young Master, I’ve already informed the young lord. He agrees we should notify the county authorities. I’ve sent two men out, but it’s likely the officials won’t arrive until tomorrow evening."

Sun Muqing stood up. "Good. Uncle Dong, I’ve already discussed it with Aunt Lin—this area shouldn’t be disturbed. The officials will search for clues here when they arrive. The cold weather will help preserve the body."

Uncle Dong nodded in understanding. Sun Muqing turned and noticed Qin Guan staring intently at Xiao Songzi, her expression solemn. Even Qin Yan couldn’t bear to look at such a scene, yet Qin Guan seemed completely focused. Surprised, Sun Muqing took a step back. "Ninth Miss, aren’t you afraid?"

Uncle Dong had already instructed someone to prepare a barrier, so Qin Guan retreated further away. She shook her head. "No, I’m not."

Sun Muqing was momentarily taken aback. Meanwhile, Qin Shuang peeked out from around the corner. "Of course Ninth Sister isn’t afraid. When something happened at Qin Manor before, she even helped the officials examine human bones..."

The specifics of Qin Guan’s assistance weren’t widely known among the people of Qin Manor, but many had witnessed her examining bones. Hearing this, Sun Muqing’s eyes brightened. "Ninth Miss, do you possess the skills of a coroner?"

Qin Guan lowered her gaze slightly. "It actually stems from medicine. My parents knew some medical techniques and began teaching me as a child. Later, I happened to read some mystery novels and the writings of Shen Yi, the former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. I realized that the work of a coroner shares much with medicine—only one deals with the living, while the other gives the dead a voice."Qin Guan raised her eyes with calm composure and said, "I've always been fascinated by medicine. When I discovered that coroner's techniques share similarities with medical practices, I sought out many books to study. Naturally, after reading extensively, I've gained more knowledge than most people."

The former Shen Wan had first learned coroner's techniques before studying medicine. Now Qin Guan reversed this order, which aligned with Ninth Miss's background and prevented Sun Muqing from noticing anything unusual. Since she couldn't conceal her coroner's skills forever, she decided not to hide them at all. As expected, Sun Muqing's eyes immediately lit up with pleasant surprise. "What an incredible coincidence..."

Qin Guan looked at Sun Muqing. "What do you mean, Young Master Sun? What coincidence?"

Sun Muqing took a deep breath. "I mentioned earlier that Ninth Miss shares the character 'Guan' in her name with my junior sister. But I never expected the even greater coincidence that you're also knowledgeable about coroner's techniques."

Qin Guan arched an eyebrow modestly. "I wouldn't say knowledgeable—just that after reading those books and studying medicine, I've gained more understanding than most people in this field..."

"No, no, it's still quite remarkable. How many young women in this world would take an interest in coroner's techniques?" Sun Muqing's chest heaved slightly as he gazed at Qin Guan with bright eyes. "Ninth Miss, you may not know this, but my junior sister was also—"

Sun Muqing abruptly stopped himself. The Shen Yi family had now been branded as criminals, and he wasn't sure if he should bring them up. With a silent sigh, he changed his words. "My junior sister was also skilled in coroner's techniques. Since someone in her family worked in this field, she learned them before studying medicine—the exact opposite of you, Ninth Miss."

Qin Guan's lips curved slightly. "What a strange coincidence indeed. Though... what a pity."

She trailed off meaningfully, and Sun Muqing's expression darkened. "Yes... a pity. Otherwise, she would have loved to befriend you, Ninth Miss." Changing the subject, he turned to Xiao Songzi's body. "What do you make of this, Ninth Miss?"

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "The killer's methods were brutal. The fatal wounds were likely the stab wounds to the chest. Judging by the width and angle of the injuries, the weapon was probably a short blade like a firewood knife."

Her gaze shifted to the large bloodstain on the wall above Xiao Songzi's head. Apart from the blood on his chest, abdomen, and beneath his body, the wall behind him was also heavily stained, with an especially dark patch directly above his head. Qin Guan continued, "He was likely pinned against the wall and stabbed to death first. Only after his body collapsed to the ground were his limbs hacked off. Given these wounds, if the killer wasn't a deranged maniac who took pleasure in mutilation, then he must have harbored deep hatred for Xiao Songzi."

Sun Muqing's eyes brightened at her analysis. He had been examining the wounds but hadn't noticed the bloodstains on the wall. Nodding, he agreed, "Exactly. After killing him, the murderer didn't flee immediately but chose to continue hacking at the body. This suggests intense hatred. But... Aunt Lin mentioned earlier that Xiao Songzi never had conflicts with anyone."

Qin Guan shook her head. "I wouldn't know about that. But we can search for the murder weapon now. If we find it, tracking down the killer will be much simpler."

Dong Shu, who had been listening nearby, quickly interjected, "Ninth Miss, you think the weapon might be a firewood knife?"

Qin Guan nodded. "Uncle Dong, you might check whether the usual firewood knives are still accounted for."Upon hearing this, Dong Shu was about to instruct the servants to inquire when Aunt Lin spoke up, "The firewood knife... Xiao Songzi was the one in charge of chopping firewood in the kitchen. The firewood bought from outside was all chopped by him before being carried into the kitchen. I remember... I remember he had an axe and a firewood knife there..."

Dong Shu frowned. "Xiao Lizi, go check Xiao Songzi's room and the woodshed to see if the knife is still there."

Xiao Lizi acknowledged and left immediately. Two male servants brought over a railing to cordon off Xiao Songzi's corpse. Soon, Xiao Lizi returned, "Dong Shu, it's not there. We couldn't find it in his room or the woodshed."

Everyone was slightly stunned, but Sun Muqing quickly realized, "Did the murderer take Xiao Songzi's firewood knife?"

Qin Guan nodded. "That's highly possible."

As she spoke, Qin Guan looked around the back eaves. Surveying the area, she saw only snow-covered ground with no footprints other than those left by their own arrival. She then turned to Zhang Shu, the first to arrive. "Zhang Shu, when you first discovered Xiao Songzi, did you notice any obvious footprints on the ground?"

Zhang Shu shook his head. "No, if there were any, they would have been the cat's."

Mention of the cat reminded Qin Guan of the cat corpse. Her voice grew somber. "This will be difficult to investigate. The murderer left no footprints, which suggests they left before at least the hour of the rabbit. Dong Shu, for now, you can only ask if anyone went out late last night. Anyone with suspicious movements would be the first suspect. With such heavy snow, even if the murderer left other clues, they would be buried. As for that knife, it could be hidden in any pile of snow, making it extremely hard to find."

Sun Muqing sighed. "Dong Shu, please do your best to search first. We don’t know what the murderer’s motive was. If we don’t figure it out, none of us will have peace. By the way, what did Senior Brother say?"

Dong Shu hurriedly replied, "The young master said to leave this matter to me and that he wouldn’t intervene. Once the county officials arrive, we’ll hand it over to them."

Hearing this, Sun Muqing understood that Sun Haoyue had no interest in the matter. Even a death was less important to him than treating Bai Feiyan. Sun Muqing nodded. "Alright, then we’ll trouble you, Dong Shu. There aren’t many servants in the residence. If you need anything from me, just say the word."

Qin Yan also said, "Dong Shu, you may command the Qin Manor guards as you see fit."

Dong Shu waved his hand and sighed. "No, no, I couldn’t possibly trouble the young master and our guests. I’ll gather everyone and have them search. If we find anything, that’s good. If not, we’ll have to wait for the county officials."

Qin Yan said a few more words, but Dong Shu still hesitated to mobilize the Qin Manor guards. Seeing this, Qin Yan said no more. Dong Shu then urged Qin Yan and the others to return and rest, promising to inform them once there were results. Thus, Qin Yan had no choice but to lead Qin Guan and Qin Shuang back to their courtyard. Sun Muqing, being a member of the Sun family, stayed behind to help.

On the way back, Qin Yan asked quietly, "Ninth Sister, what do you think of this matter?"

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes slightly. "It seems like revenge, but Aunt Lin said Xiao Songzi was very well-behaved. Ordinary disputes wouldn’t escalate to murder, let alone such a brutal method."Fuling had seen Xiao Songzi's state of death. Having followed Qin Guan for so long, she had witnessed Song Rou's headless corpse, Liu Shi and Manager Liu, and piles of bleached human bones. Yet even so, the sight of Xiao Songzi nearly made her vomit. As she approached the courtyard gate, a chill still ran down her spine. She couldn't fathom the depth of hatred the murderer must have harbored to stab Xiao Songzi so many times...

"Could it be that someone wants revenge against the Herb Garden?"

Qin Yan paused mid-step and suddenly voiced this thought. Qin Guan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Revenge against the Herb Garden?"

Qin Yan hesitated when questioned. "It's just a guess. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense."

Qin Guan sighed softly. What reason was there to seek revenge against the Herb Garden? Sun Haoyue had established it to treat his wife's illness and had even saved many people in the vicinity. If someone wanted revenge against the Herb Garden, why target Xiao Songzi?

"We still don't know enough about this place. It's too soon to jump to conclusions."

Qin Yan nodded, "Indeed, it's not for us to speculate or interfere. You two should go back first. Once inside the courtyard, don't go anywhere—it's best to lock the gate too."

Qin Shuang paled slightly upon hearing this, "Even the courtyard gate needs to be locked?"

Qin Yan gave an affirmative hum, "What if the killer intends to strike again..."

Fear filled Qin Shuang's eyes. Upon returning to the courtyard, she adamantly refused to go back to her room alone, dragging Wan Qing and Xiu Yun to squeeze into Qin Guan's quarters. Having skipped breakfast that morning, they could only nibble on some pastries brought over the previous day. Besides, staying alone in broad daylight was rather dull; huddling together provided comfort and someone to talk to.

While Qin Shuang chattered away as usual, Qin Guan could only wait anxiously for news from Sun Muqing. After about an hour, the courtyard gate finally rattled with knocking. "Ninth Miss... please open the door."

Recognizing Sun Muqing's voice, Fuling hurried to unbolt the gate. Sun Muqing entered with fresh meals, saying, "Eat first. You must have your meal." Noticing Qin Guan's eager gaze, he added straightforwardly, "Let’s eat while I talk."

Only then did Qin Guan and the others sit down. As they ate, Sun Muqing relayed, "The murder weapon hasn’t been found. There are only twenty-three servants in the residence in total. With Xiao Songzi dead, that leaves twenty-two. Earlier, Dong Shu and Aunt Lin gathered everyone for questioning. All claimed they hadn’t gone out last night, and the two sent to the county office even had alibis. Ironically, Xiao Songzi lived alone in a side room. Two people saw when he went to bed, mentioning his lamp was lit. By the time they retired, his light was already out. But no one knows when he left his room..."

Qin Guan frowned deeply, "That’s impossible."

She barely touched her food and set down her chopsticks after hearing Sun Muqing’s report. "It’s impossible for everyone to have an alibi. Either someone is lying, or something was overlooked. The murder happened right inside the estate—there’s no way it could be flawless. Were the servants’ quarters searched?"

Sun Muqing nodded, "Dong Shu had them search each other. Nothing unusual was found."

Qin Guan’s eyes darkened, "So we can only wait for the county officials?"

Mutual searches among servants could still miss details, and without impartial oversight, only the authorities could scrutinize the scene objectively. But the county officials wouldn’t arrive until the following evening. At the very least, the intervening night filled everyone with unease.

After lingering a while longer, Sun Muqing left. Qin Shuang fretted, "This is terrible. Even if we can leave, we’ll have to wait until the case is solved. What are we supposed to do?"

Qin Guan shared the same concern, but for now, she could only hope the county officials would hurry.

......

The sudden murder not only unsettled the Qin household but also cast a shadow over the Herb Garden. The previous night’s snowstorm had tapered into a fine drizzle by day, but as dusk approached, the flakes grew heavier again. Before night fully fell, Qin Shuang, clutching a brocade quilt, hurried into Qin Guan’s room."Wan Qing, Xiu Yun, go and move that sleeping couch over here. Tonight, you two will sleep outside with Fuling and the others," Qin Shuang instructed as she entered the inner chamber and placed her brocade quilt on Qin Guan's bed.

Qin Guan frowned. "What do you mean by this?"

Qin Shuang cleared her throat lightly. "The murder weapon hasn't been found yet, and the killer hasn't left the slightest trace. I think Third Brother made a good point—the murderer might strike again. So, I figured it'd be safer if we stayed together."

Qin Guan studied Qin Shuang expressionlessly. After a few moments, Qin Shuang finally admitted with a pained look, "Please let me stay here. I'm really scared sleeping alone. Even if the courtyard gate is locked, what if the killer climbs over the wall?"

Fuling and the others paled slightly at Qin Shuang's words. Qin Guan observed Qin Shuang for another moment, and just when Qin Shuang thought she would refuse, Qin Guan said instead, "Bring an extra quilt. It's cold tonight."

After all the fuss, Qin Shuang finally got her wish and squeezed into bed with Qin Guan. Before sleeping, however, she grew uneasy about Qin Xiang and took Wan Qing and Xiu Yun to check on her. Fuling and the others thought she would stay awhile, but Qin Shuang returned shortly, fuming. "What a waste of kindness! Why did I even bother going to see her?"

Fuling looked at Qin Shuang in surprise as she sat beside Qin Guan and asked softly, "What happened, Sixth Miss?"

Wan Qing, who had just closed the courtyard gate and brushed snowflakes off her clothes, shook her head helplessly. Qin Shuang snorted. "I went to warn her to be careful and even offered her my room since we're in the same courtyard. But not only did she refuse, she scolded me, saying—"

She cut herself off, glancing briefly at Qin Guan before changing the subject. "Anyway! She’s truly ungrateful. Let her stay alone over there. When I went, I even saw her still holding that pair of jade butterflies."

Fuling smiled faintly. "Don't be angry, Sixth Miss. Fifth Miss has her own ideas."

Qin Shuang huffed. "Of course she does—big ones at that. I can't control her. Fine, let’s wash up and rest early. I just hope the snow stops soon tonight..."

Fuling glanced at Qin Guan, who nodded slightly before helping her prepare for bed. Soon, the lights went out, and everyone settled in together. Strangely enough, with more people in the room, the earlier unease faded.

Even so, the night passed in restless sleep. Early the next morning, Qin Guan woke up first.

She wasn’t used to sharing a bed, but when she turned, she saw Qin Shuang sleeping soundly on the inner side, even snoring lightly. Qin Guan got up quietly, only to find Fuling and the others already awake outside.

"Was it quiet last night?"

At Qin Guan's question, Fuling quickly nodded. "Not a sound. And the snow has stopped!"

Qin Guan walked to the window to check—sure enough, the snow outside had ceased.

Relieved, she had just finished washing when the courtyard gate was knocked again. Zhou Huai’s warm, deep voice called from outside, "Ninth Miss... it's time for breakfast..."

Qin Guan glanced at Wan Qing. "Go wake your mistress."With that, she went out to respond. Fuling opened the courtyard gate, and Qin Guan headed toward Qin Yan's courtyard. Upon arriving, she didn't see Sun Muqing anywhere. Just as she was hesitating, Qin Yan seemed to read her thoughts. "Young Master Sun went to Divine Doctor Sun's place and won't be having breakfast with us this morning..."

Qin Guan had only wanted to see Sun Muqing to inquire about the current situation in the estate. Hearing this, she nodded in acknowledgment. Not long after, Qin Shuang arrived in the courtyard, and everyone had breakfast together. Due to the heavy snow delaying their journey and the murder case in the Herb Garden, Qin Yan, Qin Guan, and Qin Shuang all wore somber expressions. Only Qin Xiang seemed in high spirits, appearing completely unhurried to leave and even feeling fortunate for not having witnessed the dead body, leisurely enjoying herself. After the meal, Qin Xiang returned alone to her own courtyard.

Qin Guan and Qin Shuang also went back to their respective quarters. By noon, Sun Muqing arrived at Qin Guan's courtyard.

"Senior Brother Haoyue went to see Xiao Songzi yesterday evening and instructed the servants to stay together in one place. This way, any suspicious behavior could be noticed by others. Nothing happened last night—perhaps because of this arrangement."

"Staying together is indeed a good way to keep watch over each other."

Sun Muqing sighed. "I also asked Dong Shu and Senior Brother about the origins of the servants in the estate. Dong Shu said half of them were purchased from outside when the family settled here six months ago. Dong Shu personally handled the purchases—he was the estate steward back in Yizhou and made sure to investigate thoroughly. Xiao Lizi and Xiao Songzi were both bought at that time. Xiao Songzi had no parents and served diligently in the estate. Since Aunt Lin wanted to adopt him as her foster son, he was also very filial toward her. Last night, Aunt Lin cried herself ill and could only get up this morning after taking medicine. Truly... who could have imagined such a thing would happen?"

Qin Guan's heart sank slightly. "I was worried something might happen last night, but thankfully, all was quiet. Once the county yamen's constables arrive tonight, things should improve. Young Master Sun, there’s no need to worry for now. Does Madam Sun know about this?"

Qin Guan felt that Bai Feiyan, being ill, shouldn’t be troubled with such matters. But Sun Muqing shook his head. "Sister-in-law has been unconscious these past few days, so naturally, she doesn’t know. Although nothing happened last night, the killer’s methods were so brutal. Until he’s found, we can’t let our guard down..."

As Qin Guan listened, a sudden thought flashed through her mind. "Wait! That person..."

Sun Muqing was taken aback, and Qin Shuang, who was also in the room, didn’t understand what Qin Guan meant. Qin Guan looked at Qin Shuang. "Do you remember? That person we met that night—Dong Shu said he was mentally unstable..."

Qin Shuang’s eyes lit up with realization. "Yes, yes! Of course, I remember! The one who suddenly appeared and startled us!"

Qin Guan nodded and turned back to Sun Muqing. "I recall telling Young Master Sun about this. On our first night here, when we went out to fetch something, we encountered a mentally unstable person. Dong Shu said he was a patient confined in the estate."

Sun Muqing also remembered immediately. "Ah, yes! Ninth Miss mentioned that!"

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "Dong Shu questioned the servants, but did he also question the patients in the estate? The killer’s methods were so vicious. Besides deep hatred toward Xiao Songzi, if the perpetrator was mentally unstable, it could also explain such brutality."A glimmer of light flashed in Sun Muqing's eyes. "I actually forgot to ask about this!"

With those words, Sun Muqing immediately stood up. "I'll go ask Dong Shu right now..."

Qin Guan nodded. Sun Muqing turned and ran out of the courtyard. Qin Guan's heart lifted slightly—if only things were as simple as she had guessed...

Not only was Qin Guan anxiously waiting, but Qin Shuang and Fuling were also on edge. After what felt like two cups of tea had passed, Sun Muqing finally reappeared at the courtyard gate. His expression was somber as he strode in and sighed. "Ninth Miss, it's unrelated to the patients. Dong Shu said the sick people in the residence were sent away the day before yesterday."