Coroner's Diary

In an instant, every hair on Qin Xiang's body stood on end!

She instinctively tried to stand up, but at that very moment, the cold, hard edge of a blade pressed against the small of her back.

"Don't move—"

The man's voice was hoarse and icy, like a devil lurking in the darkness, ready to devour Qin Xiang at any moment. Her spine stiffened straight, her body rigid with tension, yet she couldn't stop trembling.

Qin Xiang's chamber was divided into two sections. Seeing her storm into the inner room in a huff, Wan He didn't follow rashly. Qin Xiang often preferred solitude when angry, so Wan He remained in the outer chamber today.

"You..."

Qin Xiang's voice caught in her throat as if an invisible hand had seized it. The moment she made a sound, the blade at her back pressed harder. A shiver ran down her scalp as she could almost feel the edge slicing through the delicate pink gauze of her dress. Clenching her fists, she dared not utter another sound.

The inner room was pitch black, save for a sliver of dim light seeping through the entrance. Qin Xiang stared despairingly at that faint glow, large beads of cold sweat rolling down her forehead.

Regret flooded her—she shouldn't have come back. She should have listened to Wan He.

Though the room was dark, Qin Xiang could hear the wind whistling at the window. She had left with Wan He earlier, leaving Xiu Zhi behind in the house. When she returned, Xiu Zhi had been waiting in the outer chamber, looking surprised and puzzled at her furious expression. Qin Xiang realized the intruder must have climbed in through the rear window.

Her teeth clenched in terror, her heart pounding wildly. The thought of being alone in the inner room, coupled with Wan He's earlier mention of the two dismembered bodies found in the estate, made her nose sting with unshed tears. At this moment, silent weeping was all she could do.

"Miss?" After a brief silence, Wan He's voice suddenly echoed from the entrance. Qin Xiang's heart skipped a beat as Wan He added, "Shall I come in and light the lamp for you?"

From outside, Wan He could barely make out Qin Xiang sitting by the bed, head slightly bowed, with no visible signs of distress. Given Qin Xiang's current temper, entering without permission would only provoke her further.

When no reply came, Wan He sighed, having anticipated this. Qin Xiang's anger often manifested either in outbursts or silent treatment, something Wan He had grown accustomed to lately. Resigned, she quietly remained by the door.

Inside, Qin Xiang was drenched in cold sweat as the blade pressed more insistently against her back.

Trembling, she understood the intruder's unspoken threat. Gritting her teeth, she forced out, "Leave me alone. Get out—"

Hearing the strain in Qin Xiang's voice, Wan He assumed her anger had worsened. With another sigh, she stepped forward. "Miss, don't let anger harm your hea—"

Before she could finish, Qin Xiang suddenly shrieked hysterically, "Get out! Don't come in!"Qin Xiang's sudden shout startled Wan He greatly. As a delicate young lady, Qin Xiang rarely raised her voice even when truly furious. Having served her for years, Wan He was even more astonished now. The slightly shrill cry also instilled a hint of fear in her heart. Wan He nodded hastily and retreated two steps backward—

"Yes, yes, this servant will leave immediately."

As she spoke, Wan He's gaze instinctively lifted again. She had meant to see what was wrong with Qin Xiang, but all she saw was her sitting rigidly upright. At the same time, a glint of cold light flashed at the corner of her eye.

Though finding it strange, Wan He couldn't immediately make sense of it and quickly withdrew.

Once outside, Xiu Zhi looked at Wan He questioningly. With a bitter smile, Wan He took two steps into the hall, her puzzlement growing. Just now, Qin Xiang had seemed excessively stiff and straight—almost as if someone were holding a knife to her neck. At this thought, Wan He's footsteps suddenly halted. That glint of cold light... could it be...?

A chill crept up from Wan He's feet, and her eyes widened in disbelief. Xiu Zhi, watching nearby, also grew suspicious. "What's wrong with you—"

"Shh." Wan He abruptly made a silencing gesture, cutting Xiu Zhi off mid-sentence and freezing her in place.

Though she didn't know why Qin Xiang was angry or why Wan He was acting this way, Xiu Zhi instinctively sensed danger and unease from the usually composed Wan He's behavior. Wan He slowly turned, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the silent inner chamber. After watching for about ten breaths, she suddenly clenched her teeth.

Glancing around with a mix of fear and panic, she forced herself to stay calm and called toward the inner chamber, "Miss, please don't be angry. This servant will go fetch some food from the young master's place so you won't go hungry later."

Her sudden, seemingly nonsensical words made Xiu Zhi raise an eyebrow. Xiu Zhi looked at her, wanting to speak but hesitating. Wan He pulled Xiu Zhi a few steps toward the door before whispering urgently, "Don't go in. Wait here."

Xiu Zhi stiffened, a chill running down her spine at Wan He's words. But Wan He couldn't wait for her nod and hurried outside.

Night had fallen heavily, the winter air bitingly cold. Wan He trudged through the half-melted snow, forgetting even to take a lantern. She pressed on regardless, relying on the faintest glimmers of light as she stumbled toward Qin Yan's courtyard. The short distance felt like hours, and she broke into a cold sweat without realizing it. The icy wind outside made the chill seep into her bones. By the time she entered Qin Yan's courtyard, whether from fear or cold, her teeth had begun chattering uncontrollably...

"Wan He? Why are you back so soon?"

Zhou Huai stood at the main room's entrance, sounding slightly surprised. Earlier, he had been guarding the Warm Chamber's door when he turned to find Qin Xiang and her maid gone. By the time he chased after them, they were already at the courtyard gate. Zhou Huai quickly returned to report to Qin Yan, who merely remarked calmly that it was fine for Qin Xiang to retire without bidding farewell.

Thus, Zhou Huai hadn't pursued them. Yet less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed—why was Wan He back already?

"Steward Zhou—"Wan He hurried toward the main house entrance, her voice trembling as she spoke. Zhou Huai noticed her strange expression immediately and frowned. "What's wrong?"

Wan He's eyes were slightly red. "Steward Zhou, please inform the heir at once. There... there seems to be someone in our courtyard."

Her words came out rapidly. Just as she finished speaking, Song Li and Qin Yan emerged together from the Warm Chamber. Song Li's eyes lit up. "What? Someone's in your courtyard?!"

Wan He ignored Song Li, focusing only on Qin Yan. "Heir, after the young lady returned to her inner chamber, she began acting strangely and wouldn't let this servant enter. From the doorway, I thought I saw her being held captive. I made an excuse to run out—please hurry to rescue her..." As she spoke, silent tears streamed down her face.

Song Li gave a fierce laugh. "No wonder we couldn't find them anywhere—they were hiding in an occupied residence! Let's go! We'll rescue Miss Qin right away—"

Song Li's sudden enthusiasm did nothing to reassure Wan He. On the contrary, it only deepened her unease. Qin Yan exchanged a glance with Zhou Huai before striding toward the courtyard gate. Seeing this, Wan He quickly followed. Qin Yan turned to her. "Are you certain? Was there truly someone in your young lady's chamber?"

The question momentarily left Wan He without a definite answer. "This servant... didn't see clearly... But the young lady was behaving very strangely, and I vaguely glimpsed a blade held against her back."

Qin Yan and Zhou Huai exchanged another look, their expressions darkening instantly. Meanwhile, Qin Guan and Sun Muqing also stepped out from the Warm Chamber, though they hadn't caught Wan He's words clearly. Seeing everyone heading out, they followed suit. Qin Shuang lagged behind but quickly caught up. "What's she up to now? I don't believe for a second there's someone in her room!"

......

......

As Wan He mentioned going out to fetch food, Qin Xiang's heart turned to ice. She wanted to cry out and stop Wan He from leaving, but the blade pressed against her lower back had already begun to hurt, leaving her too terrified to make a sound.

Soon, the sound of footsteps and the door opening signaled Wan He's departure.

Listening as Wan He's footsteps faded into the distance, Qin Xiang couldn't hold back her tears.

Though Xiu Zhi had been assigned to her by Lin Shi, Qin Xiang had always trusted Wan He the most. With Wan He gone, even her last shred of hope vanished. Qin Xiang wept uncontrollably, feeling as though she were already a dead woman with severed limbs.

Gritting her teeth, Qin Xiang struggled to breathe, as if suffocating. The entire estate was being searched—who would have imagined the fugitive was hiding in her own chamber? Through blurred vision, she mustered her final shred of hope and whispered, "If... if you don't leave now... you won't... get another chance..."

Her voice was hushed, mingling with her sobs, making her sound utterly pitiful.

The person behind her remained silent. But a moment later, a faint rustling sound came from behind, and the blade at her back loosened slightly. Qin Xiang's tension eased a fraction. "My maid... will return soon. If you stay, they'll grow suspicious. Sooner or later, they'll come in."Seeing that her words had taken effect, Qin Xiang couldn't help but continue speaking. The knife at her back still pressed against her waist, yet for the moment, the man made no move. Qin Xiang's throat felt as if blocked by a lump of iron, and seeing the man remain still, she dared not speak further. The man behind her was listening intently to the commotion outside.

Before long, the man suddenly shoved Qin Xiang. Her expression changed instantly as she slowly rose to her feet. Her legs had gone numb in that short time, but seeing the man finally take action, she felt both excitement and fear. She could only hope that the man would spare her since she wasn't part of the household. As for where he intended to flee, Qin Xiang couldn't concern herself with that—though she feared he might kill her in his bloodlust before leaving.

Qin Xiang kept her head slightly lowered, her steps stiff as the man prodded her toward the rear window with his knife. The previously shut window now stood wide open, the remnants of snow outside having melted into muddy slush on the sill.

Step by step, Qin Xiang approached the window frame, her tension mounting with each movement. She had no idea what the man would decide—if he chose to kill her, it would be over in an instant. Her fists clenched tightly, her footsteps growing heavier. The man seemed to be checking for ambushes outside, momentarily not urging her forward. A few moments later, she was just steps away from the window when the deathly silence in the room was shattered by the rough sound of the door being flung open.

Song Li pushed the door open forcefully. "Where is your mistress?"

The sudden voice startled Qin Xiang and made the man, who had relaxed slightly, tense up again. Especially when he heard the heavy, numerous footsteps that followed, the man abruptly shoved Qin Xiang toward the nearby window frame. The unexpected voice had already unsettled Qin Xiang, and the sudden push caught her completely off guard. Instinctively, she let out a cry—just the clue Song Li needed to locate her.

"Constable Song, don't act rashly—"

Qin Yan also heard Qin Xiang's scream. He was now almost certain that Wan He's words were true. If Qin Xiang was indeed being held hostage, barging in recklessly might lead to her immediate death. So Qin Yan urgently warned.

Song Li had intended to charge straight into the inner chamber, but Qin Yan's words made him hesitate. Instead of rushing in, he loudly ordered, "Quickly inform Dong Shu! Have him gather the others and surround this place! Don't let the murderer escape!"

After searching the estate all day, Song Li was exhausted and irritable. Coming here in the evening had merely been an excuse to vent his frustration by questioning Qin Guan and the others. Yet he never expected to stumble upon the murderer's trail this way.

After giving his orders, Song Li exchanged a glance with the constables who had followed him in. They immediately moved toward the doorway. The inner chamber was unlit, so Song Li grabbed the oil lamp from the table. Meanwhile, Wan He and Xiu Zhi stood together by the entrance, both now understanding the gravity of Wan He's earlier words. Fear brought tears to their eyes.Qin Xiang was still in the inner chamber. When Qin Yan and Song Li entered together, they saw a man dressed in servant's clothing holding a sharp firewood knife against Qin Xiang's throat beneath the rear window at the far end.

Qin Xiang, her face streaked with tears, was being held hostage by the man. Her pink dress was disheveled and wrinkled, her makeup smeared, making her appear especially wretched and pitiful at this moment. Qin Yan's pupils contracted slightly, while Song Li's eyes gleamed with excitement. A smug smile spread across his fleshy face as he pointed at the man and said, "We've been searching everywhere for you. So you've been hiding here."

As Song Li stepped forward to continue speaking, Qin Yan moved past him to the front.

"The person you're holding hostage doesn't live here. What will it take for you to release her?"

Qin Yan's voice was cold and aristocratic, exuding the full authority of the Marquis's heir. Seeing this, Song Li dared not speak further and could only retreat temporarily. The man wore a gray cotton-padded jacket, his hair messily tied atop his head, his features barely discernible in the dim light. Yet the knife he held against Qin Xiang's throat gleamed with a sharp, chilling edge.

"Make the miracle doctor in this mansion die before my eyes..."

The man's icy tone matched the gruesome deaths of Xiao Songzi and Da Cheng.

Qin Yan narrowed his eyes, recalling Sun Haoyue's words from earlier that day. "Your enemy is Divine Doctor Sun, not my sister. My sister is the same age as your daughter. If you think your daughter died unjustly, so did my sister."

"Make him come here. Bring him to me."

The man took a step back, pressing himself against the wall, the knife tightening against Qin Xiang's throat. Qin Xiang was forced to step back as well, but not quickly enough—her neck brushed against the blade, drawing blood instantly. Tears rolled down her cheeks like jade beads, but she pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes pleading as she looked at Qin Yan.

Qin Xiang knew that only Qin Yan could save her now.

"Fine. I'll have someone send for him immediately."

After speaking, Qin Yan turned and shot a warning glance at Song Li, who, seeing Qin Xiang's injury, didn't dare act recklessly and hastily retreated another step. Qin Yan left the inner chamber, where Qin Guan and the others had already caught a glimpse of the assailant.

She took a step back with Qin Yan, her expression grave. "It's the man we rescued!"

Qin Guan's breathing was slightly uneven as she spoke. She hadn't thought of him earlier that day and had nearly forgotten about him in recent days. But when she stood at the doorway, illuminated by the faint glow of Song Li's lantern, she recognized him instantly. She vaguely remembered his dark, weathered face—the look of a laborer who had toiled for years. He had been nearly frozen when they rescued him, and though he had regained consciousness, he had remained silent before disappearing.

He had seemed too ordinary, too unremarkable—just a petty thief who had fled in fear of punishment. The western gate had been left open, and no one had expected him not only to stay but also to commit murder.

Qin Guan pressed her lips together tightly, a faint sense of guilt gnawing at her. She should have realized sooner! That scrap of black cotton fabric—wasn't he wearing that same black cotton-padded jacket when they rescued him?!The first time he killed, he hadn't yet changed into the servant's clothes of the estate. Because of the death, everyone in the estate became vigilant, which was why he thought of changing his attire. Even when she had run into him the previous night, she hadn’t recognized him at first. Qin Guan didn’t believe this was a coincidence. This seemingly simple and honest farmer, whose features were indistinct, actually possessed a cunning mind. Or perhaps, when someone intends to commit evil—especially premeditated evil—they instinctively become deceitful.

“Yes! It’s him—” Sun Muqing reacted even slower than Qin Guan, but having tended to the man for most of the day, he finally remembered. The realization struck him, and he staggered back a couple of steps. That day, it was he who had taken Qin Guan and the others to see the herb garden. Later, it was also he who had treated the man and allowed him to recover. And it was his negligence in supervision that had led to this...

“How could it be him? He was clearly here to steal herbs! And—and he nearly froze to death!” Sun Muqing shook his head. “Did he plan to kill from the start, or did he only do it because he stumbled into the estate by accident?”

Qin Yan had already instructed Zhou Huai to fetch Dong Shu. Hearing this, he turned and said, “This isn’t the time for such questions. A wicked person with evil intentions is wicked regardless of circumstance. If not this opportunity, there would have been another. Right now, we must save Fifth Sister.”

Qin Yan’s expression turned stern, and Qin Guan’s eyes darkened with gravity. No matter what, no one wanted to see another tragedy in the estate, especially not involving Qin Xiang. Qin Guan stepped forward, moving to the doorway of the inner chamber, while Qin Yan returned inside.

“The order has been given. He’ll be here soon.” As he spoke, Qin Yan frowned slightly. “You hid in the estate for so many days just to take revenge on Divine Doctor Sun?”

Qin Yan’s tone was detached, not showing any particular closeness to Sun Haoyue. The man’s gaze shifted to Qin Yan, and after a moment, he replied indifferently, “He’s no miracle doctor. He harms people.”

Naturally, Qin Yan didn’t believe this. He studied the man in the dim light, barely able to make out his features, only vaguely recalling how ordinary he had looked the day they rescued him. Though the man was looking at him now, his stare held no intensity. Qin Yan sensed no anger or hatred—it was as if those eyes were just two dark, hollow pits. Yet this was the same man who had so brutally killed Xiao Songzi and Da Cheng.

“Divine Doctor Sun has saved many lives,” Qin Yan said coolly. An ordinary murderer harboring hatred for Sun Haoyue might have been provoked by such words, but the man showed no reaction.

For a moment, Qin Yan couldn’t tell whether the man was exceptionally strong-willed or if he had already become like a walking corpse.

Qin Guan and Sun Muqing stood watching from behind, their hearts tightening slightly. Others might have forgotten, but the two of them hadn’t. The look in the man’s eyes when he woke up that day was almost identical to now. Back then, they had assumed he was still lifeless and hadn’t fully recovered. Now, Qin Guan understood—it wasn’t that the man hadn’t regained his spirit. He had always been like this."My daughter was born unable to walk. Everyone called her a monster, but she was the flesh of my wife and me. All these years, I've worked myself sick just to keep her fed and clothed. She just couldn't use her limbs—she wasn't supposed to die. But after leaving this place, she died."

The man's voice was flat and cold, only trembling slightly when speaking of his beloved daughter.

After a brief pause, he continued, "Her mother cried for days after returning home, then drowned herself in the Chishui River. Raising our daughter was hard—she brought our family so much suffering. But we never wanted her to die. The moment she died, neither her mother nor I wanted to live anymore."

Qin Yan's brows were slightly furrowed, and Song Li also appeared somewhat stunned. The man spoke in a calm tone, but his explanations were incomprehensible to those from normal, wealthy families like them. Only Qin Guan felt a subtle pang in her heart. Raising a monstrous daughter—someone of Qin Yan's background might never understand what an immense hardship that was for an already impoverished family. Yet they had never thought of abandoning this daughter who had dragged the entire family into the abyss.

Qin Guan gazed at the man's indistinct face, unable to discern whether he was speaking out of the madness of Qi deviation after losing his beloved daughter or if he was uttering these words with extreme rationality and restraint. A hidden thought arose in Qin Guan's heart—what exactly had afflicted his daughter?

Qin Guan had encountered many vicious criminals—ruthless and cruel in their acts, who, once caught, either wept in remorse or railed against the world. But someone like this man was exceedingly rare to her. She could never sympathize with someone who had brutally taken two innocent lives, yet she couldn't help but entertain further conjectures. A father who refused to abandon his monstrous daughter and a demon who killed on sight—such contradictions were extreme. Amidst this paradox, it was because of the former that Qin Guan carefully sifted through the man's words, searching for what might be credible.

Qin Yan knew nothing of the depths of suffering in the impoverished world. He only knew that once these rough, unruly rioters turned vicious, they would cling stubbornly to their twisted logic and commit the most heinous acts. Though Qin Xiang had been with him for less than a month, because she bore the Qin name, he absolutely could not let anything happen to her. If he couldn't even protect someone of his own family, what face would he have left as the heir of the Marquis's household?

"What evidence do you have that the Miracle doctor failed in his treatment?" Qin Yan asked slowly.

The man shook his head. "None. By the time I returned from the mines, her mother and her corpse had already rotted. But I know my daughter—she survived in misery for over a decade. She wouldn't have died just like that."

This answer left Qin Yan deeply dissatisfied. The man clearly had never attended school and knew nothing of the world's principles. To commit murder based on mere conjecture only confirmed Qin Yan's belief that he was nothing but a violent rioter. "If you believed Divine Doctor Sun was your enemy, why kill those two young men? They were barely older than your daughter."

"They supported him. They deserved to die." The man's voice grew even colder, as if his words had infected the frigid wind outside.

Qin Yan looked at the man, his gaze suddenly flickering toward the space behind him.

Behind the man was an open window, where the boundless night stretched like an ink-dark sea, capable of concealing any lethal intent.

As Qin Guan listened to the man's words, the faint trace of pity in her heart instantly dissipated. There was hatred in this man's heart—but it was a hatred so extreme that it no longer manifested in furious outbursts. He buried his deepest grudges within, unleashing them only when his blade pierced flesh, even if those before him were innocent.

"When is he coming—" As if sensing that Qin Yan's conversation was diverting his attention, the man suddenly grew alert.

He tightened his grip on the knife, and Qin Xiang let out another low whimper of pain.

"The Young Master has arrived—"Before Qin Yan could speak, suddenly, Uncle Dong's voice rang out. This slightly aged voice immediately drew the man's full attention, and at the same time, he nervously tightened his grip on Qin Xiang. Qin Yan turned around, while Qin Guan and the others looked toward the doorway, only to see Uncle Dong entering alone.

Qin Guan blinked as Uncle Dong walked slowly but steadily to the entrance of the inner chamber.

He stopped, glanced at the man at the far end, then turned to look back at the doorway as if waiting for Sun Haoyue to approach. Those inside—Qin Yan and Song Li—couldn’t see, but Qin Guan, Sun Muqing, and the others standing outside could clearly see that the outer room was empty. There was no sign of Sun Haoyue. Qin Yan was waiting for Sun Haoyue, Song Li was waiting for Sun Haoyue, and the man was waiting even more intently.

His eyes fixed unwaveringly on the entrance to the inner chamber. The enemy he had been stalking in this house for days was finally about to appear before him. The man tightened his grip on the firewood knife.

Qin Guan’s frown deepened, puzzled by Uncle Dong’s actions. But suddenly, she faintly heard the sound of something cutting through the air. Her heart skipped a beat—the sound was all too familiar, instantly stirring the deepest fear in her heart. The next moment, a sharp metallic clang as something hit the floor jolted her back to reality.

"Third Brother—"

"Fifth Sister—"

"Whose archery is so precise?! That was amazing!"

"Young Master Bai must have returned. It must be him."

Qin Xiang’s cries, Qin Yan’s reassurances, Qin Shuang’s astonishment, and Uncle Dong’s relieved explanation.

Qin Guan stood frozen in place. When she turned, she saw the man with an arrow embedded in the back of his head. He had already collapsed to the ground, blood flowing from his wound, just like Xiao Songzi and Da Cheng’s, meandering along the gaps between the floor tiles like a tiny stream. Wan He and Xiu Zhi rushed in, helping Qin Xiang up while comforting her. Qin Yan stood by the window, seemingly exchanging a few words with someone outside before Zhou Huai leaped in through the window. Several constables dragged the man’s body away.

Qin Guan’s heartbeat slowed abruptly, yet the scene before her seemed to shift rapidly. Only when the man’s corpse passed by her did the scent of blood snap her back to awareness.

Meanwhile, Qin Shuang grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, her voice trembling with tears. "Even though she’s usually unbearable, she still suffered this time. It was terrifying. You’re usually the bravest—how could you be so stunned?"

Qin Guan wasn’t stunned out of fear. It was just that this scene, for some reason, had dredged up the memory of that night—the blood, the fire, the cold arrow. It was the deepest, most hidden, and only fear in her heart.

Though both were moments of crisis, neither the time she was nearly killed by Qin Chen in Qin Manor nor when she almost died beneath the collapsing Lantern Tower by the Lishui River had filled her with such dread...

Her hands and feet felt cold, and as she looked at Qin Xiang, now a weeping mess, a pang of sorrow rose in her heart. Though she hadn’t been the one facing death this time, she still felt a strange melancholy. With this thought, a figure flashed through her mind—yes, during the last two times, Yan Chi had been by her side.Qin Guan's heart suddenly felt as if pricked by something, an uncontrollable wave of sour melancholy welling up within her. Throughout this journey, she had spent far more time reminiscing about the Marquis's household and worrying over Yao Xinlan than recalling her moments with Yan Chi. Yet now, his figure filled her mind entirely. Qin Guan shook her head, the clamor around her ears roaring, her breath growing labored.

"Alright, alright, it's over now. While you were speaking with him, Dong Shu and Zhou Huai had already arranged things outside. Of course, they were certain to save you—it's just that he was still holding a knife, so they couldn’t act recklessly..."

"Yes, who would have thought Young Master Bai's archery skills were so exceptional?"

Qin Yan's voice mingled with Qin Xiang's barely audible sobs. Qin Guan stood to the side, lost in thought, when suddenly a figure clad in silver robes entered from the inner chamber doorway. Glancing over, she saw a tall, lean man with an air of sharp efficiency, his features strikingly handsome. Qin Guan steadied herself, first looking behind him to confirm no one else followed, realizing this must indeed be the Bai family's young master.

"Look, that's the Bai family's young master. Not bad-looking, is he?"

Qin Shuang, standing beside Qin Guan, pointed him out, but Qin Guan had no mind to look at the moment.

This terrifying case had concluded, and she didn’t even know the man’s name. A faint relief washed over her, yet at this very moment, Yan Chi surfaced in her thoughts. Her emotions tangled in complexity, leaving her momentarily dazed.

This was unprecedented. What was happening to her?

While Qin Guan remained lost in thought, Qin Shuang quickly nudged her arm. "Look, look—see Fifth Sister's expression..."

The room was crowded, leaving Qin Guan and Qin Shuang to observe from the sidelines. Qin Xiang, still teary-eyed, had her gaze instantly fixed on Bai Feiyu the moment he entered, her spirits visibly lifting. When Bai Feiyu greeted her softly, the light in her eyes shifted subtly. Though Qin Guan was inexperienced in matters of the heart, she was skilled at observing details—and as a woman herself, she could discern a young lady’s feelings well enough. Qin Xiang had likely truly fallen for Bai Feiyu.

"See that? See that? With her acting like this, how could Young Master Bai not notice?" Qin Shuang exclaimed. Then, upon hearing something Qin Xiang said, she sucked in a sharp breath as if her teeth ached. "Did you hear that? She even said she was just thinking about when Young Master Bai would return—during such danger! Truly, as the saying goes... in life-and-death moments, one thinks only of their beloved..." As she spoke, Qin Shuang made a gagging motion. "So nauseating..."

Hearing this, Qin Guan’s thoughts drifted again. "A life-and-death moment?"

Qin Shuang scoffed lightly. "She really dares to say such things. Come on, we can’t stay in this room anymore. Let’s go outside."

Qin Xiang’s wound had been temporarily treated, and Qin Guan overheard Qin Yan instructing her to change rooms. Wan He and Xiu Zhi were already tidying up. Pulled along by Qin Shuang, Qin Guan followed her out.

As they walked, Qin Shuang continued, "What else? When facing death, of course, one thinks of the person they care about most. Fifth Sister, oh Fifth Sister..."Qin Guan listened to Qin Shuang's words, and a ripple of emotion stirred in her heart once more. Subconsciously, she reached into her sleeve pocket and felt Cold Moon lying quietly within. She gripped it tightly, finding a sliver of comfort in its presence.

The two of them stepped outside, and soon Qin Yan came to meet them. "Fifth Sister had quite a fright tonight. It wouldn’t be safe for her to stay in her own courtyard. How about we move her to Sixth Sister’s old room later?"

Qin Yan looked at Qin Shuang, who didn’t mind such trivial matters and nodded in agreement.

After speaking, Qin Yan went back inside. Shortly after, Qin Xiang was helped out. Seeing that they were relocating, Qin Shuang took Qin Guan’s hand and led the way to her own courtyard. Qin Xiang, meanwhile, was busy talking to Qin Yan, and when Bai Feiyu arrived, she barely noticed anyone else. Though Qin Shuang had been worried earlier, now that the danger had passed, she didn’t want to stand around awkwardly, so she turned and pulled Qin Guan back to their room. Once inside, Qin Shuang looked at Qin Guan and asked, "Why do you look so down? Are you really not just scared stiff?"

Qin Guan gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "It’s nothing. Don’t worry about me."

Qin Guan sat by the window, lost in thought, while Qin Shuang scoffed and left her alone. Qin Guan sat there for who knows how long, listening to the commotion in the courtyard until it finally quieted down after Qin Xiang was settled in the opposite wing. Then, there was another knock at the door.

Fuling opened it to find Qin Yan standing outside. He stepped in and said, "Sixth Sister, Ninth Sister, let’s set off the morning after tomorrow. With this case resolved, Constable Song and his men will leave tomorrow. We’ll wait for more of the snow to melt and depart the day after."

Qin Shuang, eager to leave, agreed immediately, and Qin Guan also nodded in assent.

As they spoke, Qin Shuang noticed two people entering the courtyard, carrying a small chest toward Qin Xiang’s room. She frowned in surprise. "Who are they...?"

Qin Yan turned and saw them as well. His expression darkened slightly. "They’re from Young Master Bai’s household. We’re leaving the day after tomorrow, and Young Master Bai is setting off early that morning—probably even before us. He said he’s returning to Yizhou."

Qin Shuang let out a mocking laugh. "What a shame. We won’t be traveling together."

Qin Yan understood her implication but didn’t reprimand her. The two servants reached the wing, knocked on the door, set the chest down, exchanged a few words with Wan He, who answered, and then left.

Only after they had gone did Qin Yan leave the courtyard. Qin Shuang snorted and shut the door. "No matter how you look at it, it’s improper to pledge affection on the road. Fifth Sister’s hopes are likely in vain."

Qin Guan didn’t comment, but in the opposite wing, Qin Xiang was clutching her neck, wrapped in a white bandage, and fretting. "What should I do? We’re leaving the day after tomorrow, and Young Master Bai is returning to Yizhou. Doesn’t that mean...?"

Wan He quickly reassured her. "Don’t dwell on it now, Miss. You’re injured—rest well tomorrow so you can travel the day after. If Young Master Bai truly has feelings for you, he’ll surely come to the capital to seek you out after reporting to the Bai family head in Yizhou."

Qin Xiang stood and walked over to the newly delivered chest, instructing Wan He to open it. When the lid was lifted, her eyes lit up—inside was a dazzling red jeweled headdress, and beside it, a pair of Mandarin duck pendants.Qin Xiang's eyes lit up, her face flushing crimson in an instant, while Wan He frowned. "This... this gift is far too extravagant. Young Master Bai isn't that familiar with us yet, and this jade pendant..."

Wan He stamped her foot and turned to leave. "I'll call them back and return the chest."

Qin Xiang grabbed Wan He's arm. "No... don't send it back. I understand his meaning now..."

Qin Xiang seemed to have forgotten the night's heart-stopping events, her expression filled with contentment and joy. Her demeanor suggested the position of Young Mistress Bai was already within her grasp...