Coroner's Diary

Qin Guan was momentarily stunned as she saw Yan Chi standing by the bedside...

No wonder Baiying, who usually spoke little, had suddenly pulled Fuling aside to discuss medicinal herbs.

"You..." Qin Guan paused mid-sentence, instinctively glancing toward the window and door. Meanwhile, Yan Chi had already heard her return, his deep gaze fixed upon her.

"Why did you come to stay here?" Yan Chi's tone was heavy.

After several cautious looks outside, Qin Guan finally relaxed and stepped inside, lowering the door curtain behind her. "How did you get in here in broad daylight? What if someone saw you—"

Yan Chi remained unfazed. "Would you prefer I come at night?"

His words left Qin Guan momentarily speechless, an inexplicable warmth rising to her cheeks. Her eyes flickered as if recalling something, and she gave him a once-over.

Yan Chi found her scrutiny puzzling and glanced down at himself. "What is it?"

He was still dressed in his usual dark robes, though not the same set as yesterday. Qin Guan's gaze shifted slightly. "Where is Prince Gong's Heir, who was with you?"

Yan Chi raised a brow. "Naturally, he can't always be by my side."

Qin Guan nodded. "Third Brother mentioned that Loyal Marquis Manor has old ties with the Pang family. The Ten Directions Inn we stayed at that day also belongs to them. Knowing Third Brother was here, they invited us to stay at Qinghui Garden."

Hearing her explanation, Yan Chi understood. "When do you depart?"

At this, Qin Guan's expression dimmed slightly—clearly, things weren't proceeding as she had expected. "We may have to stay another four or five days."

Though Yan Chi's expression remained neutral, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Why?"

Qin Guan hesitated briefly. "Master Pang said he wants to arrange for Third Brother to meet someone."

"Who?" Yan Chi asked casually, his eyes steady on her.

Qin Guan nearly answered outright, but the complexities of court politics gave her pause. It wasn’t that she distrusted Yan Chi—it was simply that their allegiances hadn’t yet aligned. Nor was she the type to yield to his every request just because they had confessed their feelings. Moreover, Master Pang’s arrangement seemed laden with implications she didn’t fully grasp, making discretion the wiser choice.

Seeing her hesitation, Yan Chi’s brow arched higher. "Even from me, you’ll keep secrets?"

Qin Guan met his gaze calmly. "I’ve already told Your Highness that Third Brother is meeting someone. If you wish to know, you’ll investigate. That alone proves I’m not hiding it from you—but the full extent of the matter is beyond my knowledge, so I’ll leave it at that."

"‘Leave it at that,’ indeed." Yan Chi’s eyes narrowed slightly at her composed demeanor. She had an impeccable sense of boundaries in all things—yet this very trait unsettled him. It was as though even with him, she kept a measured distance.

"The Crown Prince wouldn’t linger for mere merchants. The one he’s meeting must be a court official. The Pang family has ties to many officials, but only someone capable of influencing court affairs would interest the Crown Prince. Having spent years in the capital, if he wished to meet a capital official, he’d have done so there. This time, it must be someone returning from outside to report duties."

Yan Chi’s tone was wry, yet eerily placid.

Qin Guan listened, then remarked, "See? Your Highness can deduce it all without my saying a word."

Yan Chi nodded. "Salt Commissioner Liu Renli, returned from the south?"Qin Guan's eyes widened slightly. She had thought Yan Chi would need to investigate further after deducing the general direction, but she never expected him to pinpoint it immediately. She was genuinely astonished.

Her expression was proof enough that his deduction was correct. Seeing her disbelief, Yan Chi explained, "The Northwest Frontier Army's military provisions pass through Yuzhou every year, sometimes directly funded by taxes from the western regions. The Pang family is a major taxpayer in the west—naturally, I’m familiar with them. They not only run inns and restaurants but also dabble in salt transport. Liu Renli has had ties with them for a long time. Moreover, Liu hasn’t returned to the capital in three years, and his position as the Lianghu Salt Transport Envoy makes him someone the Crown Prince is eager to win over."

Qin Guan closed her slightly parted lips. Yan Chi never failed to surprise her.

He studied her for a moment before suddenly stepping closer. When she continued staring at him with those clear, dark eyes, he hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. "Do you still distrust me?"

She blinked. "Well... I wouldn’t say distrust..."

The corners of his lips curled, but his smile was cold and inscrutable. "Then you think I’d oppose Qin Manor?"

She blinked again. "Hmm... not exactly..."

He brushed his fingers lightly over her cheek, noticing how cool her skin was, and lingered for another stroke. "Right now, you’re returning to Qin Manor. I wouldn’t want to put them in a difficult position. The fact that I can uncover things on my own is one thing, but you telling me is another. If you only reveal half the truth, isn’t that guarding against me?"

Qin Guan paused in thought. "Even if I said nothing, Your Highness would still find out when you return."

"Your Highness?" Yan Chi pinched her waist. "That’s not the same."

Meeting his faintly reproachful gaze, she sighed. "These are court matters. I haven’t grasped the full situation yet—how would I know what to say or not? Besides, I don’t want to risk influencing you or Qin Manor with uncertain or unclear information. Or rather... I don’t want to get involved."

Yan Chi studied her with deep intensity. "But the Marquis’s household is already involved."

"Court affairs are still somewhat distant from me. The Marquis’s household is one thing, but I haven’t even returned to the capital yet."

He held her gaze. "You dislike the scheming within and outside the court?"

She tilted her head in thought. "It’s not that I dislike it. Once I return to the capital and truly see the Marquis’s stance and the turmoil there, I won’t be able to avoid it. But right now, I genuinely don’t know what Third Brother intends to discuss with that Lord Liu."

Yan Chi smoothed a strand of her dark hair over her shoulder. "Good—"

Then, bundling her cape around her, he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I left people behind yesterday and later learned you went to Ten Directions Inn. But when I went there today, you weren’t there. It was only after further inquiries that I found you here."

Her heart stirred slightly. "Even if you hadn’t come, we’d still meet at the birthday banquet tomorrow."

He tightened his arms. "How is that the same?"

She also felt it wasn’t the same but didn’t say so. A hint of sternness surfaced in Yan Chi’s eyes. Though she neither shied away nor resisted his affections, her attitude still fell short of his expectations.

"If someone were to see—"Qin Guan whispered something, and Yan Chi responded, "It's nothing more than your servant girl..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of footsteps and voices approached.

"Sister Fuling! Don't leave yet—"

Baiying's voice was so loud it was practically a shout. Qin Guan had never heard her speak so loudly before. Soon, Fuling's footsteps and voice drew nearer. "The young lady hasn't made a sound for so long. I'll go check on her."

The door curtain was lifted, and Fuling looked up to see Qin Guan sitting on the edge of the bed, still wearing her cape. At the same time, the rear window had somehow been opened. Fuling couldn't help but say, "What are you daydreaming about, miss? And why is the window open?"

Fuling walked over to the back and, with a "click," firmly locked the window from the inside.

When she turned back, she saw Qin Guan staring at the window as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Fuling glanced back. "Miss, you mustn't let in the cold wind. This room isn't warm enough as it is. I was thinking of adding another charcoal brazier tonight."

Currently, there was one charcoal brazier each in this room and the Warm Chamber, but because the window had been opened, the room didn't feel particularly warm.

Hearing this, Qin Guan shook her head and seemed to snap out of her daze, standing up to remove her cape.

"It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired from walking, and I was thinking about that little boy earlier."

Fuling chuckled. "That little boy was just a bit mischievous, but he's fine. He's probably gone back by now. Don't dwell on it, miss. Baiying is actually looking at those medicine names. Why don't you go over and explain them to her?"

Fuling felt that Qin Guan's behavior was somewhat odd and didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone. At her words, Qin Guan instinctively glanced at the rear window and stood up. "Alright, let's go."

The mistress and servant left, but moments later, the sound of fluttering fabric seemed to come from outside the rear window. However, it lasted only a moment before fading into the soft rustle of falling snow.

By the time they reached Qinghui Garden, it was already late. Pang Fuliang had kept Qin Yan talking for quite some time, and when Qin Yan finally returned, it was already dusk. Seeing that the sky had darkened, Qin Yan declined Pang's invitation for another evening banquet, opting instead to have dinner delivered. After the meal, the siblings each retired to their rooms.

Qin Xiang, who had been left behind at the estate the next day, was extremely displeased and threw a tantrum before finally going to sleep. Qin Guan and Qin Shuang, however, turned in early. Although the birthday banquet didn't require an early arrival, it wouldn't do to sleep in while staying at someone else's home.

That night, Qin Guan stayed in the north wing, while Fuling slept with Baiying. As soon as Qin Guan lay down, she thought of Yan Chi's sudden visit earlier that day. At the time, she hadn't had the chance to ask him anything—or perhaps she felt that asking would imply she was asserting some kind of claim, which she didn't want to do. But now, her heart was unsettled. Qin Guan naturally trusted Yan Chi's character—he was loyal, responsible, and thorough in his actions, all of which were excellent qualities. But she didn't know much else about him, such as his views on love or women.

Prince Gong's Heir was the type to stir up trouble in the capital, and in Yuzhou, he was likely even more unrestrained. When he was with Yan Chi, was it Yan Chi who dragged him off to train and practice martial arts, or was it the Heir who pulled Yan Chi into a life of debauchery?Qin Guan didn't need to think to know the answer was undoubtedly the latter. In this world, how many men could remain devoted to one woman? Even if a man had only one wife at home, he could still enjoy all the privileges that came with his status—power, wealth, territory, and naturally, women. Taking a step back, even if a man was steadfast in his principles, he might still play along in certain situations. And if he couldn't be bothered to put up a front, fulfilling his desires seemed like a reasonable excuse.

The more Qin Guan thought about it, the more restless her heart became. She truly didn't know much about Yan Chi.

While she was tossing and turning, Yan Chi was likely embracing a beauty. Qin Guan frowned deeply. Tormenting—this was truly tormenting!

She huffed inwardly, taking several deep breaths to expel the knot in her chest. She knew she was losing her usual composure, but calming herself down was just a matter of a few deep breaths.

After a few long inhales and exhales, the agitation in her heart did lessen considerably. Just as she resolved to cast aside these troubling thoughts and fall asleep, a faint, distant singing suddenly drifted in.

The wind and snow outside the window seemed to have eased somewhat, and a woman's ethereal singing was slowly carried over by the night breeze. Had it been daytime, it wouldn’t have mattered, but it was nearly midnight now. For some reason, Qin Guan found the singing eerily unsettling. Who in the world would be humming and singing in the courtyard at this hour?!

As this thought crossed her mind, Qin Guan suddenly frowned. Wait—there might actually be someone.

The Double Purity Troupe was staying in this very courtyard!

That made perfect sense. Qin Guan held her breath and listened intently for a while, but she couldn’t identify which opera the singing belonged to. Just as she focused harder, trying to discern it more carefully, the woman’s humming abruptly shifted in tone. The previously melodious tune suddenly turned low and sinister, growing increasingly unstable, as if the singer had begun convulsing. Qin Guan felt a chill crawl up her spine... On this bitterly cold, snowy night, who could be deliberately trying to scare people?

Already unable to sleep, Qin Guan found herself even more awake upon hearing this. She listened for a few more moments, but the singing only grew lower and more somber, now resembling a woman’s quiet sobbing. Just as Qin Guan, startled, was about to get up, the wind suddenly howled fiercely, drowning out the woman’s cries. Only intermittent whimpers could be heard. A shiver ran down Qin Guan’s spine. By now, she was certain this couldn’t possibly be the Double Purity Troupe rehearsing. But she couldn’t fathom who in this luxurious courtyard would be acting so strangely in the dead of night...

Unease settled in Qin Guan’s heart, but the wind outside grew louder, eventually completely masking the woman’s weeping. Qin Guan tugged the blankets tighter around herself. Staying in a completely unfamiliar place, even someone as strong-willed as Qin Guan felt a twinge of doubt and tension. Yet, on a night like this, there was no way she would get up to investigate. So she could only breathe deeply again to steady herself. With this incident, it took Qin Guan quite some time to finally drift into sleep.

Early the next morning, Qin Guan was roused by Fuling’s footsteps. Pushing aside the bed curtains, she saw Fuling preparing the dress she would wear that day. Qin Guan immediately propped herself up on the bed.

Fuling turned to look at her. "You're awake, Miss? Will this outfit do for today?"Qin Guan glanced casually and responded with an "Mm," sitting in a daze as if she hadn't fully woken up yet.

But in truth, she was recalling the sound of a woman singing that she had heard the night before...

"Did you hear someone singing behind us last night?"

Fuling turned her head. "Singing? Didn't we go to bed early?"

"It was after we fell asleep—a woman, singing, and then it sounded like she started crying."

Fuling rubbed her arms. "Miss, you're not trying to scare me, are you? I was asleep and didn't hear anything."

Qin Guan frowned slightly, got out of bed, and changed her clothes. After washing up, she went to Baiying and repeated the same question she had asked Fuling. Baiying knew martial arts, so her hearing was likely even better than Qin Guan's. If Qin Guan had heard it, Baiying should have too.

Yet after she asked, Baiying looked at her in confusion. "Crying? I didn't hear anything. I went to bed early last night. Why? Does Miss find something amiss?"

Qin Guan hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. Even if Baiying had sharp hearing, she had been asleep, and she lived in the south wing, separated by a room from where the sound had come from—the north side. Qin Guan even considered asking Qin Xiang about it but ultimately decided against it.

By mid-morning, Qin Yan came to fetch them to depart. Since Qin Xiang had been left behind, she didn’t even step out of her room.

Qin Yan didn’t ask further and simply led Qin Shuang and Qin Guan outside. After a few steps, he glanced back at Qin Shuang before his gaze settled on Qin Guan. After a moment, he nodded. "Good."

Qin Shuang shot Qin Guan a look and snorted softly, muttering under her breath, "Why dress so finely…"

Both Qin Guan and Fuling heard it but only smiled without comment. Qin Shuang still had her little temper, but compared to before, it was a world of difference. Neither Fuling nor Qin Guan bothered to take it to heart.

Following the corridor of the manor, they arrived at the entrance of Qinghui Garden. As soon as they looked up, they saw Pang Fuliang standing at the gate with his three sons.

Pang Fuliang and his sons Pang Yiwen and Pang Yiwu each had a personal attendant, while Pang Jiayan stood beside Qing Niang. The moment Qin Guan turned the corner, several gazes swept over her—naturally, two lingered a little longer.

"Lord Pang, apologies for the wait. We can set off now."

Standing beside Pang Fuliang was Pang Youde, the steward of Qinghui Garden whom Qin Guan had met earlier. Pang Youde stepped forward with a smile. "No need to hurry, Young Master. It’s just across the street—turn the corner and walk straight, and we’ll be there."

Qin Yan nodded, and Pang Fuliang took Pang Jiayan’s hand as they headed toward the carriage.

Qin Guan glanced over and saw Pang Jiayan still holding that exquisite little carriage. Its wheels were finely crafted, trembling and spinning as he walked, likely the reason for his fascination.

The Qin Manor had only prepared two carriages for the day, so Qin Guan naturally shared one with Qin Shuang.

Once inside, Qin Shuang smoothed her skirt and said, "I’ll definitely stay far away from you later."

Fuling stifled a laugh. "Sixth Miss, you’d better keep your word..."

Qin Shuang’s eyes widened at that. Ever since leaving Jinzhou, she had indeed been following Qin Guan’s lead—especially after arriving in an unfamiliar place. And now, heading to Prince Yu’s residence, which she had never visited before, she felt a bit nervous. Though she said otherwise, deep down, she planned to stick close to Qin Guan and mimic whatever she did."Hmph, you and your maid only know how to bully me."

"Sixth Sister is the elder one, how would I dare to bully you? When we arrive at the prince's residence later, I'll need to rely on your guidance."

Qin Guan spoke gently, but Qin Shuang just snorted again.

The carriage moved slowly in the direction Pang Youde had pointed earlier. As soon as they left Qinghui Garden's street, the atmosphere outside changed dramatically. This residential area was usually quiet, but now Qin Guan could hear the sounds of numerous carriages and horses.

Unable to resist, Qin Shuang lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. She saw one carriage after another, all heading toward Prince Yu's residence.

"What a grand spectacle! Even bigger than when the Anyang Marquis's heir got married."

Yue Jia's wedding had already broadened Qin Shuang's horizons, but this time there were even more people...

"After all, a marquis's residence is just a marquis's residence. This Prince Yu is the current emperor's own brother, and it's his fiftieth birthday celebration—naturally, it's different," Qin Guan explained softly. Qin Shuang nodded repeatedly while peeking through the gap.

Because of the crowd, the carriage moved even slower. However, the distance wasn't far, and after the time it took to drink two cups of tea, they finally arrived in front of Prince Yu's residence. As soon as the carriage stopped, Qin Yan's voice rang out, "Sixth Sister, Ninth Sister, we're here. Come on down."

Hearing the lively commotion outside, Qin Shuang nudged Qin Guan's arm. "You go first."

Qin Guan smiled, smoothed her skirt, and bent slightly to step out. Fuling had already jumped down from the carriage and now held up the curtain. As soon as the curtain was lifted, the lively sounds outside became even clearer to Qin Guan's ears. With a quick glance, she saw the carriage parked before the grand gates of Prince Yu's residence. Several other carriages were already lined up outside, and over a dozen servants from the prince's household stood at the entrance, greeting arriving guests. Some familiar guests even paused to exchange pleasantries at the gate. As a result, dozens of people were either just alighting from carriages, chatting, or exchanging greetings. Qin Guan took in the scene with a single glance before stepping out gracefully.

"Oh, who is that young lady?"

Someone in the crowd spoke just loudly enough for everyone to hear, their tone not overly forward but still drawing attention. Following the speaker's gaze, all eyes turned toward Qin Guan, who had just stepped down from the carriage. For a moment, the bustling entrance of the prince's residence fell silent.

Today, the snow and wind had ceased. Though the sun was hidden, the sky stretched vast and blue overhead. Qin Guan wore a smoke-blue pleated dress embroidered with lilies and vines, her dark hair styled in a mid-height Crescent Moon Hairbun adorned only with a single white jade hairpin. Over it, she wore a lake-blue cape with a subtle lotus pattern, its collar lined with white fox fur. The ensemble framed her unpainted face, making her delicate features appear as if painted by a master's brush.Her skin was like congealed fat, her brows dark and eyes bright. Beyond her delicate features, what truly captivated was her composed and serene demeanor. From the moment she stepped off the carriage to when she reached Qin Yan's side, it was merely five or six steps, yet the noble grace in her bearing surpassed that of any other noble lady present. The gentle breeze lifted the hem of her skirt in soft, fluttering waves, making her appear ethereal and divine—exquisitely elegant to the utmost, yet also vividly spirited and transcendent.

Qin Shuang suddenly regretted letting Qin Guan step down first. Had she been the first to descend from the carriage, she might have drawn some attention. But now, as the second to step down, the gazes remained fixed on Qin Guan without so much as a flicker. Even those that did shift only lingered briefly before returning. Qin Shuang huffed twice in displeasure before reluctantly taking her place beside Qin Guan.

Qin Yan also noticed the reactions of those around them. He took a couple of steps forward to shield Qin Guan slightly and said in a low voice, "Stay close to me once we're inside. There are many guests today, and it wouldn't do to get separated."

Both Qin Guan and Qin Shuang nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Pang Yiwen approached and added, "Indeed, you two must stick close to us. With so many people here, all eyes are on you both."

Though he said this, his gaze lingered only on Qin Guan. Qin Shuang huffed inwardly, directing her frustration at Pang Yiwen, though she dared not show it openly—she merely made a mental note of his behavior.

Qin Guan gave a slight nod without meeting Pang Yiwen's eyes. At that moment, Pang Fuliang arrived, leading Pang Jiayan by the hand. "Let's go in together," he said. "His Highness must be receiving guests now. We should pay our respects first."

Qin Yan agreed and gestured for Pang Fuliang to lead the way, then followed with Qin Guan and Qin Shuang in tow. Pang Yiwen and Pang Yiwu brought up the rear. As they reached the manor gates, two figures came forward to greet them. The foremost was a composed young man in his twenties, who immediately said, "Lord Pang—"

Pang Fuliang, being a resident of Yuzhou, was naturally acquainted with Prince Yu's household. With a genial smile, he clasped his hands in greeting. "Greetings to the Crown Prince..." He then turned to Qin Yan and introduced, "This is the heir of Loyal Marquis Manor, Young Master Qin Yan."

Yan Zhi appeared to be in his late twenties, a few years older than Qin Yan. Having grown up in Yuzhou after Prince Yu's early assignment there, he was less familiar with the young nobles of the capital. Nevertheless, upon hearing Qin Yan's background, Yan Zhi greeted him warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Yan introduced Qin Guan and Qin Shuang. Yan Zhi's gaze lingered on Qin Guan for a moment longer before instructing the servants to escort them inside.

Once past the gates, they were met with the imposing grandeur unique to a prince's residence.

While Qinghui Garden was once a princely estate known for its refined beauty, Prince Yu's manor matched the grand scale of the capital's mansions—only more expansive and majestic. The buildings stood tall, their halls vast, exuding not just the nobility of royalty but also a bold, untamed spirit reminiscent of the northwest.

The servant guiding them led the Pang and Qin entourage straight to the front courtyard. Within moments, Qin Guan caught sight of a dazzling array of finely dressed figures. Since the Great Zhou dynasty did not enforce strict gender segregation, clusters of men conversing in the courtyard were accompanied by elegantly attired noblewomen, and here and there, young ladies like Qin Guan could be seen.

Though Qin Guan took in her surroundings with a glance, to others, she appeared poised and graceful, her demeanor extraordinary. Observing this, Qin Shuang straightened her posture as well, enduring the discomfort with clenched teeth.

"Lord Pang, Crown Prince Qin, His Highness is inside," the attendant announced, halting their progress. The arrival of new guests drew the attention of those gathered in the courtyard, and once again, the scene from earlier repeated itself. Qin Shuang felt wave after wave of admiring glances—directed not at her, but at her side. She turned to Qin Guan and found her composure so serene and unshaken that even she couldn't help but admire it.

"Your Highness, Lord Pang and the heir of Loyal Marquis Manor have arrived, along with two young ladies from Qin Manor."The steward-like figure at the entrance announced in a loud voice. Though the words were simple, they carried subtle implications. Upon hearing them, Prince Yu immediately understood that Qin Guan and the others were not from the Marquis's residence...

Prince Yu, Yan Yan, was over fifty years old, his once jet-black hair now streaked with white. Seemingly in poor health, his steps were somewhat unsteady as he walked. Though dressed in splendid robes, he had long lost the dignified bearing of his younger years. Were it not for the servant supporting him, he looked as though he might collapse at any moment. With just one glance as she entered the hall, Qin Guan could tell that this Prince Yu also suffered from the malignant wind ailment.

"How dare we trouble Your Highness to greet us personally... We pay our respects to the Prince."

As a prince of the blood, Prince Yu naturally deserved the kneeling obeisance of all present. Qin Guan followed Qin Yan's lead in performing the ritual. Then Qin Yan spoke up clearly, "This junior Qin Yan comes at my father's behest to offer birthday felicitations to Your Highness. May Your Highness enjoy boundless happiness and longevity like the Eastern Sea and Southern Mountains."

Prince Yu's eyesight seemed poor as he squinted at Qin Yan for several moments before nodding. "Good, good, good. Rise quickly. I used to hold you in my arms when you were little. The last time I saw you, you were only this tall..." He gestured to about waist height before smiling. "And now in the blink of an eye, you're old enough to establish your own household."

Then he asked, "Have you married yet?"

Qin Yan lowered his gaze slightly. "Not yet."

Prince Yu took Qin Yan's hand and said, "It's better to marry early. Look at Zhi'er—his son is already about the same age as the Pang family's third young master."

Pang Fuliang, standing nearby, chimed in with a few teasing remarks, to which Qin Yan responded with a bitter smile and repeated nods.

Turning his gaze, Prince Yu then looked at Qin Guan and Qin Shuang. "These two young ladies haven't been betrothed yet either, have they?"

Qin Yan looked somewhat embarrassed. "Not yet..."

Prince Yu spoke with earnest concern, "You must find good matches for them. These two nieces appear to have both beauty and virtue—you must take great care in selecting..."

Qin Yan kept agreeing until new guests arrived and Prince Yu finally released him. Qin Yan heaved a great sigh of relief. As they exited, he said to Pang Fuliang, "The old prince is truly good-natured."

Pang Fuliang smiled. "He's grown accustomed to being a leisurely prince."

Though this was a commonplace remark, it gave Qin Guan behind them an inexplicable sense of unease. Beyond the inherent shrewdness of a merchant, there seemed to be some calculation in his words. Qin Guan suddenly wondered—was Pang Fuliang planning to have his son enter officialdom? As this thought occurred to her, she glanced at Pang Fuliang and noticed something odd: his seemingly poised walking posture actually revealed a slight limp, one leg subtly shorter than the other. In her memory, Pang Fuliang had always walked with steady, measured steps.

Qin Guan shook her head and temporarily set the matter aside.

"Well, the birthday banquet won't begin for another hour or so. Let's find somewhere to sit, and I'll introduce you to some local officials from Yuzhou. I imagine you're acquainted with the Yuzhou prefect..."

Pang Fuliang spoke as they walked. For Qin Yan, this arrangement was naturally excellent—since he'd come, he shouldn't leave empty-handed. Yuzhou wasn't too far from the capital, and it was always useful to know more people who might be of assistance later.

But after just a few steps, Qin Yan paused again. If he left, what would become of Qin Guan and the other?Moreover, the people Pang Fuliang was taking him to meet now were undoubtedly all men. If Qin Guan and the other lady were to follow, not only would they feel uncomfortable, but others—including himself—would also find it awkward to speak freely. Pang Fuliang seemed to notice his concern and said, "Yiwu, take your third brother and escort the two young ladies to the western flower hall. The female guests are likely gathered there."

It seemed Pang Fuliang intended to introduce Pang Yiwen to others today, hence assigning the task to Pang Yiwu.

Pang Yiwu immediately complied, though compared to Pang Yiwen, he appeared somewhat hesitant to even glance at Qin Guan and her companion.

"Young ladies, this way please. Qing Niang, bring the third brother along."

……

……

On the third floor of the Moon Viewing Pavilion in the western part of the prince's residence, Yan Chi stood by the window, gazing downward.

Across the lake from the pavilion, the flower hall was bustling with activity. The sight of colorful robes and ostentatious adornments irritated Yan Chi, yet the person he was waiting for had yet to arrive.

Behind him, Yan Li, still clad in his striking red attire, approached the window and pushed the half-closed shutters wide open. Suddenly, Yan Li exclaimed theatrically, "Ah, my dear Seventh Brother! Who would’ve thought you fancied this sort of thing... I never expected this place, yet here you are... Seventh Brother, oh Seventh Brother, are you planning to pick a seventh sister-in-law today?"

Before Yan Chi could respond, Yan Li flicked his dark hair and shook his head. "No, no, these ladies are far too plain. Ten layers of powder couldn’t salvage their looks, and the way they flaunt all that jewelry—gold, no less—how utterly vulgar... Look, some are even peering this way..."

Yan Li’s face twisted in disdain, then abruptly shifted. "None can compare to my Hua Tong."

Mentioning Hua Tong, Yan Li lifted his chin smugly at Yan Chi. "Seventh Brother, I had hoped to show you Hua Tong’s skills, but you insisted on staying cooped up here. How did you endure being interrogated by Uncle Prince Yu for an entire hour last night?"

As if recalling something amusing, Yan Li perched on the windowsill and mimicked Prince Yu’s tone, "Ah, Lao Qi, now that you’re back from the battlefield, don’t go rushing off again. Settle down, take a wife, have a few children—and don’t let your sons go to war either. Your father’s stubborn, but you’ve always been the obedient one. So, Lao Qi, when’s the wedding? Any ladies caught your eye? Out west, you probably didn’t meet many fine maidens, did you? Shall your uncle arrange something for you...?"

Yan Li’s imitation was vivid, yet Yan Chi didn’t so much as blink, rendering the performance pointless. But suddenly, Yan Chi’s eyes brightened—

"Lao Qi—"

Before Yan Li could finish, Yan Chi pushed the window open even wider. Already leaning precariously backward, Yan Li felt a chilling draft and nearly toppled out. He hastily jumped down, landing on his feet, and followed Yan Chi’s gaze. At the sight, Yan Li let out a soft gasp.

"Isn’t that... the young lady of the Qin family?"

Yan Li’s eyes fixed on Qin Guan. Though the distance was considerable, it was nothing to him and Yan Chi."Her attire today is different, and her aura seems even more captivating than the other day. In this crowded room, though she's squeezed into the farthest corner, she stands out the most. Qin Yan is going to fetch his uncle's daughter this time, right? Can a place like Jinzhou really raise such a young lady?" Yan Li spoke slowly, the upturned corners of his eyes revealing a hint of interest.

"Interesting. If this girl returns to the capital, that would be—"

Before he could finish the word "unbelievable," Yan Li turned his head and noticed Yan Chi's expression. He paused slightly, glancing between Yan Chi and Qin Guan, then back again. After a long moment, he said, "Seventh Brother, be honest—did you delay so long in Jinzhou, and take so much time on the road, because of her..."

Yan Chi's lips pressed together, and though his face showed no smile, Yan Li could tell his mood was rather pleasant.

Yan Li's mouth hung open for a moment, realizing he didn’t even need Yan Chi to answer to know the truth...

As if startled, Yan Li's gaze darted between Yan Chi and Qin Guan, but for a long while, he couldn’t muster any teasing remarks. However, he soon noticed Yan Chi's eyes darken. Yan Li quickly focused on Qin Guan again, only to see a man in a lake-green robe standing beside her.

Yan Li's brows shot up. "Who’s that turtle-green-clad man?!"