Coroner's Diary

"Little child, hide and seek, giggling behind the stone..."

A soft, girlish voice suddenly rang out with an eerie chill, sending shivers down the spines of Qin Guan and her three companions. Qin Shuang grabbed Qin Guan's arm, trembling as she demanded, "Who? Who's hiding back there?!"

"Little child, hide and seek, giggling behind the stone..."

No one answered Qin Shuang, and the nursery rhyme echoed again. Qin Guan had heard this rhyme before—it was the same one Pang Jiayan had sung while teasing Pang Yiwen. But this voice didn't belong to Pang Jiayan, and there was no way Pang Jiayan would be here now. Qin Guan pressed her lips together, her gaze shifting to a narrow path nearby. Taking that path would allow them to circle around the rock formation and reach the low bamboo grove. Frowning, she asked, "Do you want to find out who's playing tricks?"

"Little child, hide and seek, giggling behind the stone..."

The child's voice continued, but this time, they could tell the speaker had moved.

Qin Shuang, her face pale, looked at Qin Guan. "Aren't you scared? Is this a person or a ghost...?"

Qin Guan frowned. "Of course it's a person. She's running away."

Qin Shuang bit her lip, glancing at Fuling and Wan Qing before hesitantly suggesting, "Should we go check behind there?"

The area was dim but not pitch black. Seeing Qin Shuang's curiosity piqued, Qin Guan took her hand and led her toward the path. As if hearing their footsteps, the figure behind the rocks retreated further.

"Little child, hide and seek, giggling behind the stone..."

The more Qin Guan and the others approached, the more it felt like they were playing hide-and-seek with the mysterious figure. The passage between the rocks was narrow, the light even dimmer. Qin Guan narrowed her eyes, tightening her grip on Cold Moon hidden in her sleeve.

Whoever was playing pranks in Qinghui Garden had to be human—and not just anyone, but someone of considerable status. A mere servant wouldn’t dare treat guests like this. But Qin Guan couldn’t think of who it might be—Pang Fuliang had no daughters, so who was this person?

Lost in thought, they soon reached the low bamboo grove. The rock formation acted like a screen separating two paths, with the bamboo no taller than a person. Yet when they arrived, no one was there—the voice had moved ahead by a dozen paces.

"Little child, hide and seek, giggling behind the stone..."

Rustling sounds filled the air as the figure weaved through the bamboo, as if truly playing hide-and-seek. From their vantage point, they could only make out a short, swaying shadow—no clear features. Qin Shuang frowned, shouting bravely, "If you're not a ghost, I'm not afraid of you! Stop running if you dare—"

With that, she tried to drag Qin Guan into the grove. Qin Guan chuckled wryly, holding her back and nodding toward the front. Sure enough, the rustling grew fainter as the shadow retreated, and soon the sounds vanished entirely.

"She ran. There's another path ahead."

Qin Shuang raised an eyebrow. "So she was just trying to scare us?"Qin Shuang exhaled and showed her palm to Qin Guan, "It scared me so much I broke out in a cold sweat. That person—whoever they are—must be a servant here, but how could they be so ill-mannered? Tomorrow I’ll definitely report this to Steward Pang!"

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes at the now-quiet grove of low bamboo ahead and shook her head. "Something feels off. Not only would most servants never dare to act like that, but even if someone wanted to scare us, they wouldn’t do it this way. It’s strange."

"And," Qin Guan paused, "that nursery rhyme—Pang Jiayan also mentioned it."

"Huh?" Only then did Qin Shuang recall. "Ah, yes. What Pang Jiayan said was quite similar."

At this thought, a flicker of doubt appeared in Qin Shuang’s eyes. "Could it have been one of Pang Jiayan’s attendants?"

Qin Guan shook her head and glanced around again. There was no one else in sight. At first, the disturbance had unsettled her too, but now it seemed the person bore no ill will. Still, who could it have been?

After a brief silence, Qin Guan said, "We’ll ask about it tomorrow if we get the chance. For now, let’s head back."

The night was bitterly cold. Once Qin Guan finished speaking, the group retreated from behind the rockery and returned to the main path, heading toward their guest quarters. By then, it was already late. The two sisters retired to their respective rooms and soon settled in for the night.

After a restful sleep, the next morning, Qin Shuang arrived at Qin Guan’s room before she had even risen.

"Don’t sleep in—get up! The Double Purity Troupe has returned."

Qin Guan sat up, still slightly groggy. "All of them?"

Qin Shuang shook her head. "Qinglan didn’t come back. They’ve confirmed it—she was the one who harmed Master Qingli..."

Hearing this, Qin Guan instantly sobered up. It was already decided?

Noticing Qin Guan’s grave expression, Qin Shuang blinked and added, "The Double Purity Troupe is leaving soon. I wonder when we’ll go... Earlier, I saw them packing up their belongings. They’re departing tomorrow. Without Qingli and now Qinglan, the troupe only has Qing Xian left. They might as well rename themselves the 'Single Purity Troupe.'"

Qin Guan got out of bed, dressed, and tied up her hair while washing up. "What does Third Brother say about this?"

Qin Shuang shook her head again. "Haven’t seen him yet. He came back very late last night." She then added, "Originally, they were supposed to introduce someone to Third Brother and have the troupe perform here for a couple of days. But now that this happened, surely they won’t still perform? Though I wonder how Third Brother’s meeting went."

Qin Yan had been planning to meet Liu Yuntong. If he had stayed late, it must have been to speak with him.

Qin Guan shook her head. "No idea yet. We’ll ask Third Brother when we see him."

As they spoke, Zhou Huai arrived shortly after to escort the three sisters to Qin Yan’s courtyard for breakfast.

By the time they arrived, the meal was already laid out—far more elaborate than what they had in the Herb Garden.

"When does Third Brother plan to leave?" Qin Guan asked as they began eating.

Qin Yan smiled. "In a hurry, Ninth Sister? We’ll stick to the original plan and stay a few more days."

Qin Guan pressed her lips together. "How did your talk with Liu Yuntong go?"

A glimmer of interest flashed in Qin Yan’s eyes—Qin Guan was clearly more perceptive than Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang. After a brief consideration, he replied simply, "Liu Yuntong has served as an official for many years and has keen insights on salt transport. We had a very productive discussion."Qin Guan nodded. "Has Liu Yuntong always been in the salt transport administration?"

At this, Qin Yan sighed. "Liu Yuntong is already in his forties, but his official career hasn't been smooth. He only managed to purchase a minor county magistrate position in his twenties. Later, he served as a county magistrate, a prefectural governor, then as deputy commissioner of the Maritime Trade Office before finally entering salt transport. It's been quite a struggle for him to reach his current position. Moreover, in recent years, both the court and the public have been closely monitoring salt transport affairs. Although Salt Commissioners hold significant authority, their work is far from easy. Last year alone, several corrupt Salt Commissioners in the eastern regions were punished—some for accepting bribes from salt merchants, others for embezzling salt taxes out of personal greed..."

Qin Yan's tone was reflective, revealing his deep understanding of court affairs. Qin Guan nodded thoughtfully. "Is the Double Purity Troupe leaving?"

Qin Yan gave an affirmative hum. "After the incident, Master Pang can't very well keep them here anymore."

Qin Guan fell silent, but Qin Shuang spoke up. "Third Brother, without Master Qingli and having lost one of the troupe leader's disciples, will the Double Purity Troupe still be able to continue?"

Qin Yan sighed regretfully. "Most likely not. It's difficult for one person to sustain it alone, and they've lost the essence of the Double Purity name."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Qin Yan asked, "Do you know the origin of the Double Purity Troupe?"

Qin Shuang's eyes sparkled with realization. "Are you referring to the two Southern Opera performers who swore sisterhood and formed the troupe together?"

Qin Yan nodded. "Exactly. The two of them were co-leaders. Later, they took on disciples, and their two disciples also became co-leaders. This tradition was passed down through generations."

Qin Shuang blinked. "Then why was there only Master Qingli in charge by her generation?"

Qin Yan smiled. "I'm not entirely sure about the details, but I know that by Master Qingli's master's generation, there was only one troupe leader left. It seems Master Qingli's martial aunt left the Double Purity Troupe to get married, so that lineage was cut off."

"I see. That makes sense. If it's called the Double Purity Troupe, there should naturally be two 'purities.'"

As Qin Shuang mused to herself, Qin Yan added, "Although the performers of the Double Purity Troupe are highly sought after, they're still just entertainers at the end of the day. Nobles may shower them with riches when they're pleased, but the moment they do something displeasing, they're cast aside like worthless objects. Those who disobey may lose their livelihoods at best, or even their lives at worst. It's ultimately a lowly profession."

In the Great Zhou dynasty, performers held low social status, which was why they had no choice but to travel south from the capital at the invitation of certain influential figures. The monetary reward was secondary—if they offended these patrons, the Double Purity Troupe would lose its means of survival.

"How tragic. Qingli was almost at the point where she could retire, only to be killed by her own disciple." Qin Shuang clicked her tongue in disdain. "A teacher for a day is a mother for life. How utterly heartless."

Qin Yan's eyes darkened. "Such is human nature. You'll encounter more of this in the future. It's wise to be wary of others."

Seizing the opportunity, Qin Yan imparted a few words of caution, and all three sisters nodded in agreement.

As the meal concluded, Qin Guan suddenly asked as if remembering something, "Third Brother, does Master Pang have a daughter?"

Qin Yan's expression shifted slightly at the question. "Why do you ask?"

Qin Guan keenly noticed his reaction. "Does Master Pang have a daughter, then?"

Meeting Qin Guan's firm and earnest gaze, Qin Yan gave a wry smile. "Why are you concerned about this...?""I was just asking Third Brother. Also, Madam Pang doesn't seem old enough to have given birth to the Pang family's eldest and second young masters. Is there something I don't know about?" After a pause, Qin Guan added, "I won't speak carelessly."

If it had been Qin Shuang asking, Qin Yan would have likely refused outright. But since it was Qin Guan inquiring, he couldn't simply dismiss her. Thus, he lowered his voice and said, "Madam Pang is Master Pang's second wife. She married into the family eleven years ago, bringing along a daughter from her previous marriage. She had been married before, but her husband passed away after just a few years of marriage."

Qin Guan was surprised. In the Great Zhou dynasty, widows remarrying wasn't uncommon, but thinking of Pang Fuliang, she couldn't imagine him as someone who would willingly marry a widow. She asked, "What is Madam Pang's background?"

Qin Yan's eyes brightened—this was precisely why he treated Qin Guan differently. His ninth sister, after years apart, had not only developed remarkable medical skills but also possessed an intelligence and sharpness that even his own sister, raised in the marquis's household since childhood, could hardly match.

"This Madam Chang comes from the Chang family of Dingzhou, the wealthiest family in the region. Their business spanned inns, restaurants, and tea trade. At the time, they were among the most prominent families not just in Dingzhou but throughout the western regions. She was the only sister in the family. Master Pang likely married her for business considerations and didn't mind her status as a widow."

Dingzhou lay northwest of Yuzhou, just a few days' journey by fast horse.

Qin Guan was inwardly startled. A decade ago, when her father served as an official in Yuzhou, Pang Fuliang was far from being called "Lord Pang"—he was merely an ordinary innkeeper. Yet even she, as a child, had heard of the Chang family of Dingzhou. From what she knew, the family had gradually declined in the following years.

"I see. So Master Pang has a stepdaughter—why haven't we seen her?"

Qin Yan continued in a hushed tone, "She's ill. No one in this estate is allowed to mention her."

Qin Guan was momentarily stunned. Qin Yan cautioned, "Just keep it to yourself. Never bring it up in front of the Pang family."

Qin Guan nodded. Meanwhile, Qin Shuang tugged at her sleeve, exclaiming, "Quick, it's snowing again! Let's go see..."

After barely a day of clear skies, snow had returned. Qin Shuang's love for snow remained undiminished. As she pulled Qin Guan outside, she asked, "What were you talking about with Third Brother?"

Qin Guan glanced at her briefly before murmuring, "Madam Chang is Master Pang's second wife, and he has a stepdaughter."

Qin Shuang gasped, her eyes widening. Nearby, Qin Xiang stood at the doorway, about to return to her own courtyard, when she overheard and immediately turned to look. Qin Shuang quickly smiled and called out, "Fifth Sister, would you like to join us to admire the snow?"

Qin Xiang gave a faint, mocking smile at the sight of Qin Shuang and Qin Guan's closeness. "No, I'm not feeling well." With that, she left with Wan He for her own quarters.

Qin Shuang snorted at Qin Xiang's retreating figure. Only after they had left Qin Yan's courtyard did she whisper, "Master Pang actually married a widow?"

Qin Guan frowned slightly. "What's wrong with widows? Besides, Master Pang was also remarrying."

Qin Shuang tilted her head in thought. "You're right! Both had been married before—neither can judge the other..."Qin Guan reminded Qin Shuang once more not to speak carelessly before feeling at ease. Qin Shuang readily agreed and pulled Qin Guan toward the east. "When we came back yesterday, I saw a pavilion over there with untouched snow outside. Let's go take a look. Speaking of which, was that person we met last night Master Pang's stepdaughter?"

No sooner had Qin Guan warned Qin Shuang not to speak recklessly than Qin Shuang asked her loudly. Qin Guan anxiously glanced around, relieved to see only Fuling and Wan Qing following behind them, each holding an umbrella. "Keep your voice down. I think it's possible too."

Qin Shuang frowned slightly. "Then she must be quite bold to play hide-and-seek late at night, and it was very rude of her to scare us."

Qin Guan, however, didn't mention that the Pang girl might be ill, instead wondering to herself what kind of illness she had...

"Ah... someone's already there! Really, we should have come earlier."

Qin Shuang suddenly complained. Hearing this, Qin Guan looked up and saw Madam Pang, Chang Shi, and Pang Jiayan sitting together at the stone table in the distant pavilion. Qing Niang stood nearby with two maidservants, and everyone was watching Pang Jiayan build a snowman on the table. The snowman was already half-finished, and Pang Jiayan was shaping its head.

Seeing Chang Shi and her son there, Qin Guan naturally didn't want to disturb them and was about to pull Qin Shuang away when Chang Shi noticed them. She stood up and said gently, "Miss Qin—"

If they hadn't been seen, they could have left quietly, but now that they had been noticed, leaving would be impolite.

Qin Guan had no choice but to approach with Qin Shuang and curtsy. "Madam."

Chang Shi, who had seemed somewhat reserved the day before, appeared different today. Slender and graceful, she stood in the pavilion in a lavender dress, poised and elegant, exuding a gentle and pleasing demeanor—save for the habitual frown on her brow. Qin Guan studied her briefly. "We didn't expect you to be here. We apologize for disturbing you."

Qin Guan offered an apologetic smile, but Chang Shi shook her head. "It's no trouble at all. Did you come to see the snow?"

She gestured to the stone benches beside the table, and the two maidservants quickly brought out cushions to place on them. Chang Shi then turned to Pang Jiayan. "Jiayan, invite the two sisters to sit."

Pang Jiayan, who had been absorbed in playing with the snow, stood up and said, "Please sit, sisters."

Qin Guan and Qin Shuang exchanged a glance before taking their seats.

Pang Jiayan said nothing more and resumed shaping his snowball. Chang Shi also sat down. "He loves playing in the snow and doesn't seem to feel the cold."

Having just learned of Chang Shi's background, Qin Guan couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy. Chang Shi's delicate features and refined beauty made her appear youthful, but up close, Qin Guan noticed the deep wrinkles on her face, making her look several years older than she had from a distance.

Qin Shuang watched Pang Jiayan mold the snowman and smiled. "The young master is so quiet—it's quite lovely."

Qin Guan had always thought Pang Jiayan was naturally reserved, but she had also seen him teasing Pang Yiwen before.

Chang Shi smiled faintly. "I wish he were more lively, like other children..."Qin Guan noticed a hint of bitterness in Chang Shi's smile. Meanwhile, two maids brought a pot of hot tea from a small stove outside the pavilion and set out four cups. The table was already crowded with a snowman and the teapot. Seeing the maid struggling to pour the tea, Chang Shi said, "Let me..."

She then poured tea for Qin Guan and the others. "This is brewed with snow water from the plum grove. Do try it."

Qin Guan and the others accepted the tea with thanks. Qin Guan was about to express her gratitude when she noticed Chang Shi's arm stiffen as she held the teapot, her brow furrowing slightly. Qin Guan quickly asked, "Madam, are you unwell?"

Chang Shi shook her head. "No, I just bumped my arm this morning."

"Is there any bruising? I have some ointment for that."

Chang Shi smiled and declined. "Ninth Miss is truly kind-hearted. Don’t worry, I’ve already applied some medicine."

Reassured, Qin Guan relaxed. Chang Shi then said, "It’s a pity. I had planned to invite you to enjoy an opera, but now it’s not possible."

Qin Shuang quickly replied, "It’s no trouble at all, Madam. This garden is so peaceful and pleasant—staying here for a few days would be delightful."

Qin Shuang was becoming increasingly adept at pleasantries. Chang Shi smiled and said, "Well, if there’s a chance next year at this time, you can come again..."

Qin Shuang was surprised. "Next year?"

Chang Shi nodded. "Yes. Our master is particularly fond of the Double Purity Troupe’s performances. Every year at this time, he invites them, except for two years when they weren’t available. Otherwise, it’s a regular tradition."

No wonder the Double Purity Troupe, despite receiving an invitation from the Prince of Yu’s residence, stayed at Qinghui Garden—they were old patrons.

Qin Shuang sighed. "With Master Qingli gone, in the future... if the Double Purity Troupe declines and can no longer hold the stage, Master Pang might find another favorite."

"That won’t happen. There’s still Miss Qing Xian," Chang Shi said gently. "Master Qingli learned all her skills from the previous troupe leader and passed them on to her two disciples. Qinglan this time... well, Qing Xian is also quite talented."

Qin Guan and Qin Shuang recalled the two acts they had heard the previous day. Indeed, both performers were quite skilled.

"How awful that Qinglan would repay her master’s kindness with betrayal."

Qin Shuang’s sense of justice flared up again. Chang Shi, however, seemed hesitant. "Miss Qinglan..."

"Hmm? What were you going to say, Madam?" Qin Shuang asked.

"Miss Qinglan has always been straightforward and filial in the past. It’s hard to understand why she would act this way now."

Chang Shi sighed. She had naturally seen the Double Purity Troupe’s master and disciples many times before. Hearing her words, Qin Guan felt a stir in her heart. "The case has just been settled with the culprit identified. What will they do with Master Qingli’s remains? Why are they in such a hurry to leave?"

Chang Shi was well-informed about the household arrangements. "The coffin was ordered by our master. For now, Qingli’s body remains at the magistrate’s office. Early tomorrow, the rest of the troupe will return to the Double Purity Troupe’s rented venue in the capital. Qing Xian, along with a few close attendants, will go to the magistrate’s office to collect Qingli’s body and escort the coffin back to her hometown for burial."

"Her hometown? Where was Master Qingli from?" Qin Guan asked quickly.

Chang Shi replied calmly, "Master Qingli was from Dingzhou."

Qin Guan understood. Dingzhou wasn’t far. After Qingli’s burial, Qing Xian could still return to the capital in time for the New Year celebrations.Qin Shuang then said, "From now on, Qing Xian will be the only one left in the Double Purity Troupe. I wonder if she can manage it alone. She's just a young girl, delicate and gentle—if the troupe members cause trouble, she might not be able to handle them..."

"Troupe Leader Yang."

As soon as Qin Shuang finished speaking, Pang Jiayan, who had just finished shaping the snowman, suddenly spoke up.

Qin Guan was surprised, and even Chang Shi turned to look at Pang Jiayan. "Jiayan, what did you say?"

Pang Jiayan looked at Chang Shi earnestly and replied, "Troupe Leader Yang will help Qing Xian."

Chang Shi frowned. "Where did you hear that? How do you know?"

Pang Jiayan tilted his head in thought. "On their first day here, I was playing in the cave of the rockery and saw Troupe Leader Yang coaxing Qing Xian... just like... just like how Mother coaxes me..."

At these words, the expressions of Chang Shi and the others changed instantly.

Like how Chang Shi coaxed Pang Jiayan? Chang Shi was Pang Jiayan's mother, so it was natural for her to dote on him. If Pang Jiayan was troubled, she would naturally cradle him in her hands to comfort him. But if Yang Ying had coaxed Qing Xian in the same manner, then it was undoubtedly an intimate relationship...

Could Yang Ying and Qing Xian actually be involved in an affair?!

Qin Guan suddenly recalled what she had seen that day. The mechanism had been inspected by Qing Xian, and the key had been provided by Yang Ying. The two of them had acted in concert, and the evidence later found pointed directly to Qinglan. Could it be that the two of them had conspired to harm Qinglan?

Qin Guan felt this was entirely possible...

Her heart pounded incessantly. Meanwhile, Chang Shi, somewhat awkwardly, said, "Don't talk nonsense."

She then looked at Qin Guan and the others. "Children's words shouldn't be taken seriously. The Double Purity Troupe forbids any private engagements. If anyone is found to have pledged their love in secret, they would be expelled."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes slightly, her suspicion and unease growing stronger by the moment.

She had originally been reluctant to meddle further in the affairs of the Double Purity Troupe, but now a huge question loomed before her—should she intervene or not?

Qin Guan smiled and said, "Young Master might have mistaken someone else for her."

Pang Jiayan looked at her with dissatisfaction. "No, I wouldn’t mistake her. They’ve been coming to our house for many years, always at the end of the year. I’ve seen Qinglan many times..."

Qin Guan quickly replied, "Alright, alright, Young Master didn’t mistake her." She then changed the subject. "Who taught you to build snowmen, Young Master?"

Pang Jiayan glanced at Chang Shi. "Mother taught me."

Chang Shi also smiled. "He loves fiddling with little things, and his father indulges him. As soon as it snows, he begs to build snowmen. Every winter, he eagerly waits for snow. Such a tiny person, yet he doesn’t seem to mind the cold at all."

With doubts in her heart, Qin Guan no longer wished to linger. After sitting for another cup of tea, she claimed she felt cold. Seeing that Pang Jiayan showed no intention of leaving, she took the initiative to bid farewell, taking Qin Shuang with her.

Noticing her grave expression, Qin Shuang asked, "What’s wrong? Do you think there’s something between Qing Xian and Yang Ying? It’s not impossible. Qing Xian is a young girl, after all—it’s natural for her to have budding feelings, especially since she must have interacted with Yang Ying frequently."

"I need to leave the manor for a while," Qin Guan suddenly said, pausing in her steps.

Qin Shuang was taken aback. "Where are you going?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "Tell Third Brother for me. I’ll take our carriage out. Just say... just say I’m going out for a stroll..."

"Why wouldn’t you take me for a stroll?" Qin Shuang demanded, indignant.

Qin Guan gave a bitter smile. "The place I’m going is probably somewhere you wouldn’t want to visit."

With that, she turned and left with Fuling. They had already donned their capes and brought umbrellas when they came out, so no further preparation was needed. Qin Guan led Fuling straight to the outer courtyard’s side room, found the Qin Manor’s coachman, and left the manor gate.

As the Qin Manor’s carriage departed from Qinghui Garden, Qin Guan instructed from inside, "Head to Prince Yu’s residence."

The coachman had never been there before, so Fuling had to give directions. Inside the carriage, Fuling asked in confusion, "Miss, are you going to see the Crown Prince? What for?"

Qin Guan nodded. "I think there’s something wrong with Qing Li’s case."Fuling let out an "Ah," "Does the young lady think Qinglan isn't the murderer?"

Qin Guan shook her head, then nodded, "I'm not certain yet, but at least the Crown Prince and the Prefect might not know the full truth. If they knew about the affair between Yang Ying and Qing Xian, the entire case might change."

Fuling sighed, "So that's how it is. The young lady only met Qinglan by chance, yet she's willing to make this trip for her."

"It's a matter of life and death. It's just a trip—I can't let an innocent person be wronged."

Qin Guan's voice was solemn. Seeing her like this, Fuling couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. She was just an ordinary servant girl, but her mistress had such noble resolve, and for a moment, she felt honored to be associated with her.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of Prince Yu's residence. The birthday banquet had already ended, and there weren't many carriages at the gate today. Once the carriage halted, Fuling quickly walked up to the entrance. Sure enough, she was stopped by the guards. Fuling said, "Please inform them that the heir of Loyal Marquis Manor has urgent business with Prince Rui's heir and requests his presence."

The guard hesitated, looking at Fuling and then at the Qin Manor carriage before nodding and turning to enter the residence.

Fuling hurried back to the carriage and said, "Young lady, I've relayed the message. I don't know if His Highness is in the residence."

Qin Guan wasn't sure either, but this matter could only be brought to Yan Chi.

The master and servant waited silently. Soon, Yan Chi strode out from the residence. Fuling happily tapped the carriage window, and Qin Guan lifted the curtain to look, her lips curling into a smile.

The moment Yan Chi saw Fuling, he knew it was Qin Guan. He walked briskly to the carriage, his expression already serious. "What's wrong?"

If it weren't urgent, Qin Guan wouldn't have come to find him...

"Do you have anything to do right now?" Qin Guan asked from inside the carriage.

Yan Chi focused his gaze. "No, go ahead."

"Then get in the carriage—"

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow and lifted the curtain to step inside. Qin Guan ordered, "To the Yuzhou Prefect's office!"

Yan Chi was even more surprised inside the carriage, while Fuling sat on the outer carriage bench.

Soon, the carriage began moving.

"What's wrong? Did something go wrong with Qing Li's case?"

Yan Chi asked keenly. Qin Guan nodded but then said, "Actually, I'm not sure, but there's something I just found out... I heard from the young master of the Pang family that there might have been an affair between Deputy Troupe Leader Yang Ying and Qing Xian. Do you remember? That day, Qing Xian inspected the mechanism first, then Yang Ying mentioned that Qinglan hadn't left her room, and finally, the key was found in Qinglan's possession. At the time, it didn't seem significant, but now that we know about their affair, it feels like it might have been planned."

Qin Guan spoke rapidly, and Yan Chi's expression grew solemn after listening.

"Indeed, we didn't know about this."

Qin Guan looked at him earnestly. "So this matter requires your intervention..."

Yan Chi stared intently at Qin Guan, who had leaned toward him in her urgency. She had rushed here in such a hurry—all for Qinglan's case. His heart stirred, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to gently brush her cheek. "Alright."This was supposed to be a very serious matter, yet communication between them seemed remarkably effortless. With just a simple "good" from him, Qin Guan found herself momentarily at a loss for words. His warm palm pressed against her slightly cold cheek, his rough fingertips gently caressing her skin, making her heart skip a beat as a faint blush spread across her face.

"What's wrong?" Qin Guan met Yan Chi's gaze and was about to lean back when he suddenly pulled her from the seat into his embrace.

The carriage was spacious, and Yan Chi settled her sideways on his lap.

"What's wrong?" Qin Guan turned to look at him again.

Yan Chi held her waist with one hand while lightly stroking her cheek with the other. "Do you know? There isn't another woman in this world who would go to such lengths for a complete stranger."

Qin Guan pursed her lips slightly. "A disciple murdering their master is a grave crime both morally and legally. It's wrong to let someone suffer unjust accusations."

"There are countless people wronged every day in this world. To others, as long as it doesn't concern them, they need not intervene. The court doesn't pay you a salary, nor are you family or friends of the accused. You... you..."

Yan Chi cupped her face and leaned in, pressing a fleeting kiss to her lips.

Though this kiss lacked the fiery passion of the previous day, Qin Guan could sense his tenderness toward her—even a hint of admiration and indulgence. Her heart softened slightly. "If helping her meant walking through fire or climbing mountains of blades, I wouldn't be willing. If speaking up would endanger myself or those around me, I'd have to think carefully. But this was just a simple trip—I lost nothing. It wasn't a big deal."

"What fire or mountains of blades? You're saying you'd do it again if this happened in the future." Yan Chi continued stroking her cheek. "If you were a man, you'd surely become the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

A pang of sorrow struck Qin Guan's heart. She lowered her gaze. "I don't have such grand ambitions. I know turning a blind eye wouldn't harm me, and speaking up wouldn't benefit me. But if I didn't act, I'd always feel like something was missing inside me—not guilt, just a sense that I shouldn't have become that kind of person."

"Silly." Yan Chi pinched her cheek lightly. When Qin Guan looked up, she saw his warm, smiling eyes. "Of course I understand you. Next time, and the time after that, do what you feel is right..."

He leaned closer and murmured, "What you consider a trivial effort requires courage and careful consideration in others' eyes. You always surprise me, and I admire you more each day. Just watching you gives me strength." He kissed her lips again. "You're utterly lethal!"

Qin Guan's cheeks flushed deeper. "I..."

Seeing her hesitate, Yan Chi said softly, "Only the best father and mother in the world could have raised you like this."

She had expected sweet words, but his sudden remark caught her off guard. The best father and mother—yes, hers truly were the finest in the world.

A wave of grief washed over her. Suddenly, she threw her arms around Yan Chi and buried her face against his shoulder.Yan Chi was momentarily taken aback, then immediately pulled Qin Guan into a tight embrace. Gently stroking her back, he asked apologetically, "Did my careless words just now upset you?"

Qin Guan shook her head silently, but felt a sudden warmth in her eyes. She shut them tightly, taking several moments to suppress the rising emotion. Yan Chi whispered soothingly, "It's alright, it's alright. I'll protect you for them."

The barely contained emotions surged again at his words, making Qin Guan cling to Yan Chi even tighter. She feared meeting his gaze would make her tears fall, and didn't want him to see her vulnerable state. Yan Chi's eyes filled with tenderness, but he remained silent, simply letting her lean against him. After what seemed like ages, Qin Guan finally shifted slightly against his shoulder.

In a muffled voice, she asked, "Am I really that special?"

Yan Chi chuckled softly. "Yes. The most remarkable woman across all four seas of the Middle Kingdom."