Coroner's Diary

"What?! Ninth Miss?!" Yan Li looked at Qin Guan in utter astonishment. "Seventh Brother wants Ninth Miss to help examine the corpse?"

As soon as Yan Li spoke, the others in the room also frowned. Today, Qin Guan wore a jade-colored pleated long skirt with a short lilac jacket embroidered with orchid branches over it. Her entire person exuded the quiet elegance of an orchid blooming in snow. To have such a young girl examine a corpse? Everyone first felt it inappropriate, then doubtful—what could a young girl like Qin Guan possibly discern?

"Naturally, I can." Just as everyone hesitated, Qin Guan suddenly stepped forward and responded.

Yan Li's gaze snapped to Qin Guan, staring intently. This was only the third time he had seen her. In his eyes, Qin Guan's most commendable traits were her grace and beauty. Beyond that, he only knew she had treated Prince Yu's illness. He had assumed she merely studied medicine—never expecting she would dare to examine a corpse.

Though skepticism still lingered in Yan Li's eyes, Yan Chi had already turned to instruct Pang Fuliang.

"Go light more lamps. Brighten the room."

Currently, the only illumination in the room came from a single wind lantern. At these words, Pang Fuliang hurriedly complied, turning to order the servants.

Fuling, standing nearby, quickly asked, "Miss, should I fetch your tools?"

Qin Guan shook her head and moved closer to where Madam Qin lay on the floor.

Since Madam Qin hadn't been dead long, and with so many people watching and waiting, Qin Guan skipped the usual protective measures. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing slender, delicate arms like tender lotus roots. Only when she reached Madam Qin's side did she pause, then turned her gaze to Yan Chi beside her. Yan Chi nodded. "Begin—"

Qin Guan inclined her head. Yan Chi looked at Wang Huaiyu. "Fetch paper and ink. Take notes."

Wang Huaiyu was still stunned. The first time Yan Chi brought Qin Guan to the opera stage, Wang Huaiyu had realized her status in Yan Chi's heart must be exceptionally high. After the second visit to the government office, he no longer dared to underestimate this Ninth Miss of the Hou residence. Yet he never imagined Yan Chi would let Qin Guan examine a corpse. Not only was Qin Guan from the Qin family, but her appearance also seemed ill-suited for such a task. Most young women would find it frightening—even grown men would consider it inauspicious. Yet here was Yan Chi, having her examine the body.

Wang Huaiyu stood dumbfounded for a long moment before Yan Chi's command snapped him back to attention. He turned to Pang Fuliang and urged, "Quickly... find paper and ink..."

Pang Fuliang hastily gave the order, and soon, the writing materials were in Wang Huaiyu's hands.

By the time Wang Huaiyu had the paper and ink, Qin Guan was already pressing her bare hands along Madam Qin's body, from her shoulders down to her calves. Then, she lifted the hem of Madam Qin's skirt and pulled down her cloud socks slightly.

"Deceased female, aged between forty-five and fifty-five."

After speaking, Qin Guan's gaze settled on Madam Qin's ankles. Madam Qin's skin was fair, but now, patches of purplish-red cadaveric spots had appeared on her feet and ankles. Qin Guan continued, "The deceased exhibits purplish-red cadaveric spots on her feet and ankles, appearing in patches and streaks. Early-stage rigor mortis is present, with limbs slightly stiffened."After saying this, Qin Guan rose and walked to Madam Qin's head. She probed through the hair bun, then tilted the head slightly to examine the back and facial features one by one, her brow furrowing slightly. Only then did she begin inspecting Madam Qin's neck. The collar of Madam Qin's garment was high and tightly fastened. Qin Guan unfastened the first four buttons, revealing the ligature marks on the neck. After a brief glance, she suddenly looked up and scanned the surroundings...

In an instant, Yan Chi brought a lamp close to her.

Qin Guan glanced at Yan Chi before lowering her head to examine the marks carefully...

With the lamp held closer, the ligature marks on Madam Qin's neck became even clearer. "The deceased's pallid complexion results from the compression of neck vessels. Additionally, there are minor hemorrhagic spots beneath the eyelids and linear dark-red congestion along the upper edge of the ligature furrow. No other external injuries or signs of poisoning have been found. Currently, the only fatal injury identified is the ligature wound on the neck."

As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Huaiyu frowned. "So it was indeed suicide by hanging?"

Without looking up, Qin Guan replied in a cold, stern tone, "Death by hanging does not necessarily mean suicide."

Wang Huaiyu pressed his lips together and fell silent, merely jotting down Qin Guan's words. She continued examining the wounds on Madam Qin's neck meticulously. After a while, she pried open the mouth to inspect it before speaking again. "The ligature furrow is deeper at the front of the neck, shallower on the sides, and disappears thereafter. The furrow is wide, uniform, and purplish in color, matching the width and smooth texture of the belt. There is no surface damage to the furrow, which also aligns with the belt's characteristics. It can be concluded that the deceased was indeed strangled by the belt seen by everyone. The furrow is above the Adam's apple, the tongue is pressed against the teeth without protruding, and the hyoid bone shows slight damage with signs of bleeding..."

The frigid night was already chilling enough, but Qin Guan's calm, measured words made the room feel even colder. After finishing her analysis, she frowned slightly and leaned forward to examine Madam Qin's hands.

"The time of death was likely two hours ago, between the latter half of the Hour of the Sheep and the Hour of the Monkey," Qin Guan said while carefully inspecting the hands, her frown deepening.

"Between the latter half of the Hour of the Sheep and the Hour of the Monkey? That was when she had just been assigned a courtyard and was about to rest," Pang Fuliang interjected anxiously. Clearly, he was distressed—someone had died out of the blue.

Wang Huaiyu noted everything down but soon noticed Qin Guan's furrowed brow. "Ninth Miss? What is it?"

Qin Guan paused. "There are no signs of struggle or altercation in the room, and the deceased's hands and feet show no external injuries or abrasions."

Hearing this, Wang Huaiyu narrowed his eyes. "So... it's still suicide?"

After a moment of thought, Qin Guan looked at him. "Prefect Wang must have handled many cases and seen numerous suicides by hanging. Even when one is resolute about ending their life, the agony before death is never diminished by willingness. Everyone who hangs themselves suffers immensely. And suffering leads to struggle... Typically, when the neck bears the full weight of the body, the ligature furrow will show congestion, hemorrhagic spots, and even irregular skin damage. Although the deceased was strangled by a belt, if she had struggled, there would be more hemorrhagic spots and subcutaneous congestion. However, Prefect Wang, look here—"Qin Guan pointed at Madam Qin's neck and said, "The ligature mark here is remarkably clean and neat."

Wang Huaiyu walked to the other side of Madam Qin and looked down. Indeed, it was as she described. As the Prefect, he oversaw all major and minor cases in Yuzhou City. Though not a coroner, he had seen enough to know the basics. Hearing Qin Guan's words, Wang Huaiyu grew hesitant. "Then, Ninth Miss, what do you think is the reason for this?"

Qin Guan pondered briefly. "I'm not certain yet, but there are still some oddities."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the belt. The belt, smooth and supple, had already been removed and placed beside Madam Qin. Qin Guan examined the belt meticulously. Apart from some creases and wear at the knot and where it had passed over the beam, the rest of it remained as smooth as before. Her brows furrowed once more.

By now, Wang Huaiyu no longer dared to underestimate Qin Guan and quickly asked, "What do you think?"

Qin Guan glanced up at him, her expression uncertain. "Unless Madam Qin was already numb to pain and discomfort when she hanged herself, it shouldn't be like this. When ordinary people struggle in distress, they instinctively grab the ligature. But this belt shows no signs of being gripped. Here is where it passed over the beam, and here is where the knot was tied. The rest is completely undamaged. Moreover, this belt is made of Huzhou green silk, one of the fabrics most prone to creasing."

Wang Huaiyu narrowed his eyes. "That seems logical. But could it be that she was utterly determined to die?"

Qin Guan thought for a moment before shaking her head. "It's unlikely. The possibility is very small."

A very small possibility still meant it wasn't impossible. Pang Fuliang, standing nearby, interjected, "Ninth Miss, are you saying... it's still possible she committed suicide? Prefect, this happened in my home, but if you're suggesting she was murdered, I absolutely refuse to believe it. If I wanted to harm someone, why would I have her die in my own home? Wouldn't it be safer to wait until she left before acting?"

There was some logic to his words. Wang Huaiyu's eyes flickered as he said, "Could it have been someone else?"

Pang Fuliang gave a bitter smile. "How could that be? There are only so many people in my household. If someone really intended to kill her, who could it be? She was merely an old acquaintance of mine. My eldest and second sons barely knew her, and as for my wife and third son, even less so. As for the servants, who would dare to kill someone in their master's home?"

"If everything could be deduced by common sense, there would be no mysteries in this world," Yan Chi suddenly spoke up. His gaze swept across the room before settling on the small table by the window. "The teacup on the table is full. She asked for tea before her death, yet didn't drink a single drop?" He then glanced at the belt on the floor. "This lady appears to have been well-dressed and cultured. Would someone like her really tear off her own belt to hang herself? This belt... seems more like something used in desperation."

Yan Chi's words made Qin Guan's eyes light up, as did Qin Yan and Qin Shuang's. His words echoed exactly what Qin Guan had said earlier.

"The Crown Prince makes a valid point," Wang Huaiyu said, standing up and walking over to the teacup. He examined it, then lifted the teapot on the table and frowned. "The teapot is also nearly full. It seems she truly didn't drink a drop."Wang Huaiyu finished speaking and turned to Pang Fuliang, "Master Pang, who exactly is this person? What did she do after entering your residence today?"

Upon hearing this, Pang Fuliang wore a bitter smile and glanced at Liu Renli before replying, "Ah, I didn’t want to mention this initially, as it’s not a pleasant matter... But given the current circumstances, I must speak the truth."

At Pang Fuliang’s words, Qin Guan also stood up. Pang Fuliang looked around the room with a pained expression and said, "I beg the forgiveness of both Your Highnesses, the Prefect, and Qin Shizi. Earlier, I withheld the truth from you all. This lady... this lady is actually Qing Yun, the former master of the Double Purity Troupe and the teacher of Qing Li, the current troupe leader."

This revelation startled not only Qin Shuang but even Yan Chi.

Pang Fuliang continued with a wry smile, "As you all know, the Pang family is in business. Many years ago, by chance, I met Qing Yun, who was then the troupe leader. At that time, the Double Purity Troupe had just begun making a name for itself in the north. One year, I spent a considerable sum to book the troupe exclusively, which helped me secure two business deals. The old troupe leader was aware of this. Back then, I attributed much of my business success to the Double Purity Troupe and naturally rewarded them handsomely. The troupe was pleased with the payment, and I was delighted with the business outcomes. Later, on several occasions, the troupe declined other engagements and traveled to Yuzhou specifically for me. Over time, our relationship evolved from a business arrangement to a friendship. Eventually, it became a tradition for me to invite the Double Purity Troupe to Yuzhou during the New Year festivities. Whether for socializing or networking, the troupe always added great prestige to the occasion. When the troupe passed into Qing Li’s hands, I maintained the same practice, including this year. But who could have foreseen that Qing Li would meet such a tragic fate..."

Here, Pang Fuliang sighed deeply, his eyes reflecting sorrow.

"When Qing Li passed away, I expected the old troupe leader Qing Yun to come. Yet, I didn’t anticipate her arrival to be so swift, nor her immediate demand for an explanation. I did my best to clarify the situation. Though the age difference between her and her disciple wasn’t great, their bond was profound. I patiently explained multiple times out of sympathy. However... later, Qing Yun mentioned that with Qing Li gone, the Double Purity Troupe had fallen into disarray. Moreover, with the Prefect having detained two of its lead performers, the troupe’s future was uncertain. I understood her implication and assured her that the Pang family would support the troupe if needed. She didn’t hesitate—she made a request on the spot. Had it been anything else, I might have agreed, but she demanded the Ten Directions Inn here in Yuzhou..."

Wang Huaiyu was stunned. Pang Fuliang, torn between grief and helplessness, added, "Money would have been one thing, but how could I part with the Ten Directions Inn? And of all places, the one in Yuzhou... Yuzhou is our ancestral home, and this inn was one I painstakingly built from the ground up in my early days. How could I possibly agree? At the time, suppressing my anger, I declined and instead arranged accommodations for her, suggesting she reconsider her request while the investigation into the Double Purity Troupe’s matter was ongoing. But to my shock..."

Pang Fuliang heaved a long sigh. "She ended up hanging herself!"

Yan Chi suddenly interjected, "When did the old troupe leader leave the Double Purity Troupe?"No one present recognized Qing Yun, which proved she hadn't left in recent years. Pang Fuliang thought for a moment and said, "It should have been eight or nine years ago. Once past forty, it becomes impossible to master those acrobatic feats anymore. Even Qing Li was preparing to retire. Back then, Qing Yun retired due to an accidental injury during a performance..."

Years ago, Qin Yan, Yan Li, and the others were still half-grown children who wouldn't spend their days loitering in entertainment quarters, while Yan Chi had long been on the battlefield, far removed from the decadent pleasures of the capital.

"Did you keep in touch after the old troupe leader left the Double Purity Troupe?" Yan Chi asked again.

Pang Fuliang nodded. "In the early years, we developed some camaraderie through interactions. You could say we became old friends. She was from Dingzhou, which isn't far from here, so we'd meet once or twice a year. In previous years when I invited the Double Purity Troupe, I'd invite her too. Sometimes she'd come, sometimes not. This year she initially said she wouldn't..."

"She showed up at your door the day after the incident, so she must not have been far from Yuzhou City," Yan Li suddenly interjected. Though the matter was serious, Yan Li leaned casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his perpetually smiling face giving off an air of carefree nonchalance rather than seeming abrupt...

Pang Fuliang gave another bitter smile. "When she came today, I wondered about that too. She didn't offer any explanation."

Wang Huaiyu frowned. "Did she blame Qing Li's death on you? And tried to extort money from you? What did she do after entering your residence today?"

Pang Fuliang replied, "She arrived before si hour (9-11 AM). Since she knew Liu Yuntong from back then, after our discussion reached an impasse, I invited Liu Yuntong to join us for lunch. After the meal and some casual conversation, it was already past noon. With Liu Yuntong present, she couldn't continue arguing with me, so she went to the courtyard I arranged for her. I never saw her again after that."

"Did she come alone? Without any maids?" Wang Huaiyu suddenly asked.

Pang Fuliang nodded. "Coming from an opera troupe, though older now—as you all can see—she still looks younger than her actual age. In her youth, she was skilled in martial arts. Though no longer capable now, she remains quite robust. She always comes and goes alone, unlike others who travel with entourages of servants."

As he spoke, Pang Fuliang glanced at Qing Yun's body on the floor. "After retiring, she changed her surname to Qin. Having saved considerable silver in her earlier years, she lived comfortably. This sudden demand must have been for the sake of the Double Purity Troupe..."

Though Qing Yun's outrageous demand was infuriating, Pang Fuliang still found kind words for her, moving those listening. Wang Huaiyu said, "So that's how it was. We've clarified some matters about the Double Purity Troupe. It was likely an accident, not the senior apprentice harming the master."

Pang Fuliang looked surprised, then exhaled in relief. "That's good. An apprentice harming their master would have been truly disheartening."

Wang Huaiyu nodded and looked back at Qing Yun's body. "Ninth Miss, if we truly can't find evidence of murder, we'll have to rule it as suicide. As things stand now, there's no way to investigate further. As we discussed earlier, if she was knocked unconscious before being hanged, there should be external injuries, but none are visible..."Qin Guan's expression turned grave. The Great Zhou Dynasty upheld the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." Without evidence, a murder verdict couldn't be reached. The government office had limited manpower and couldn't investigate based on mere suspicions alone—even if Yan Chi shared the same doubts.

For a moment, Qin Guan remained silent, scanning the room. There was no trace of knockout incense. The tea... She walked to the teapot, lifted a cup to her nose, and sniffed carefully before setting it down. Just ordinary tea. Besides, Qing Yun hadn't drunk any. What else could it be? Qin Guan found herself stumped. Could it truly be suicide without any signs of struggle?

But how could a living person being strangled to death show no reaction at all?

Unless... she lost consciousness the moment the stool was kicked away...

"Ninth Miss?" Wang Huaiyu called out.

Turning, Qin Guan saw everyone in the room watching her. She pressed her lips together. "The current evidence isn't sufficient to determine murder. If we must confirm whether this was suicide or homicide, there's only one method."

Wang Huaiyu immediately asked, "What method?"

"Corpse dissection." Qin Guan met their gazes, her voice cool and steady.

A pin-drop silence filled the room. Wang Huaiyu hesitated, "D-dissection? Ninth Miss, the government coroner is currently in Yong County. There's no one who can perform—"

Before he finished, Fuling couldn't hold back. "We don't need the government coroner. Our young mistress can conduct the examination herself."

Wang Huaiyu glanced at Fuling—he recognized her as Qin Guan's maid—but still seemed doubtful. "Ninth Miss can perform an autopsy? But that requires..." He made a cutting gesture across his torso.

Qin Guan nodded. "I know."

Wang Huaiyu stared wide-eyed. The others, seeing Qin Guan's composed demeanor, felt their astonishment reach unprecedented heights. Not fearing corpses was surprising enough, but daring to cut one open? The mere thought made even Wang Huaiyu wince.

Qin Shuang hadn't known Qin Guan could perform autopsies either. But after days of companionship, she'd unconsciously aligned herself with Qin Guan and now instinctively spoke up in her defense. "Magistrate Wang, don't doubt her. She's the most famous Little Medicine Immortal in Jinzhou! She cured the Grand Princess of Marquis Anyang Manor's chronic illness! She'd dare to operate on living people, let alone corpses!"

Her impulsive words carried some exaggeration. Immediately after speaking, Qin Shuang felt a pang of guilt—she didn't actually know if Qin Guan could discover anything through dissection. What if something went wrong?

Nevertheless, when Wang Huaiyu looked over, Qin Shuang held her breath, maintaining a calm facade.

"Little Medicine Immortal?" Wang Huaiyu studied Qin Guan. "Ninth Miss truly dares to perform an autopsy?"

Qin Guan nodded again. After another stunned pause, Wang Huaiyu turned to Yan Chi, whose eyes sparkled with faint amusement. "I trust Ninth Miss. Let the dissection proceed. A definitive result will set our minds at ease."

Wang Huaiyu immediately agreed. "Very well. What preparations does Ninth Miss require?"

Qin Guan surveyed the room. "Move the body outside, screen off the surrounding area, and light lamps within."Qing Yun had just passed away not long ago. Conducting an autopsy in the room might leave lingering traces of blood, which would be hard to dispel. Wang Huaiyu also thought of this issue and couldn't help but admire Qin Guan's thoughtfulness and thoroughness. He then turned to Pang Fuliang, naturally expecting him to make the necessary preparations.

Having reached this point, Pang Fuliang had no choice but to proceed despite his reluctance. He glanced at Qin Guan, and an inexplicable unease surged within him once more. Over the years in business, aside from his quick wits, he had rarely misjudged people with his sharp eyes. This time, he was certain he hadn’t erred—this Ninth Miss from Qin Manor, who was not of Marquis Anyang Manor, was anything but ordinary.

"Please wait a moment, my lord. I’ll have someone make the preparations," Pang Fuliang said before turning to issue instructions. Meanwhile, Qin Guan instructed Fuling to fetch some items. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Fuling returned to the courtyard, panting heavily.

The small courtyard was now illuminated by numerous torches, casting bright light across the entire space. The body had been moved onto a felt mat outside, surrounded by four folding screens to shield onlookers from the unsettling sight.

Once everything was ready, Qin Guan donned the gauntlets Fuling had brought, had her sleeves rolled up by Fuling, and then revealed Cold Moon in her palm. The moment the blade appeared, Yan Li, who had been standing silently nearby, narrowed his eyes.

"Magistrate Wang, please accompany me as a witness."

Yan Chi had initially intended to follow Qin Guan inside, but the space was cramped, and Wang Huaiyu, as the prefect of Yuzhou, was the most suitable in status. After a brief hesitation, Yan Chi stayed outside. Once Qin Guan and Wang Huaiyu entered, the screens were closed, leaving only glimpses of Qin Guan crouching beside the corpse through the gaps.

Outside, the others waited with varied expressions. Soon, the pungent smell of blood wafted out.

Qin Shuang held her breath tightly and tugged at Fuling’s sleeve. "Has... has your young lady done this before?"

Fuling’s eyes darted left and right before she grinned. "Hehe, this servant wouldn’t know. Didn’t Sixth Miss just say that my lady dares to dissect even living people?"

"I only said that to—" Qin Shuang’s voice rose before she glanced at Pang Fuliang and Liu Renli and abruptly lowered it. "I only said that to defend her! Are you stupid? I knew she practiced medicine and could examine bones, but I had no idea she could do this. Most young girls wouldn’t dare kill a chicken, yet she dares to dissect a person..."

Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Beside her, Qin Yan asked, "What else did Ninth Sister do in Jinzhou?"

Qin Yan’s tone was stern as he looked at Fuling. While Fuling might evade Qin Shuang’s questions, she felt intimidated by Qin Yan. Lowering her head, she whispered, "She... she just helped His Highness Chi and Governor Huo with their case..."

Qin Yan frowned immediately. Before he had gone to Jinzhou, the case involving Marquis Anyang Manor and Duke Song’s household had already reached the capital. Though the incident occurred far away in Jinzhou, it had caused a massive stir in the capital at the time.The Marquis Anyang Manor was undoubtedly a family with generations of outstanding military achievements, and it was also anchored by the presence of the Grand Princess. As for the Duke Song Manor, it was one of the foremost noble households in the capital. Beyond the duke’s title, the Song family had a daughter serving as an imperial consort in the palace. Not only did she hold an honorary title, but she had also borne the Emperor his fifth son, Yan Yun. Not only did her status rise with her son’s birth, but the future of the Great Zhou’s throne was still uncertain as to which prince would inherit it. Given that the case involved these two families, many in the capital at the time held their breath for Prefect Huo Huaixin. Handling this case well was expected, but any misstep would be a grave offense. Moreover, typical homicide cases required considerable time to solve. If the investigation dragged on too long, neither the Marquis Anyang Manor nor the Duke Song Manor would let him off easily—

Yet, it seemed Huo Huaixin had identified the culprit in less than half a month?

When the news spread, many in the capital speculated that Huo Huaixin’s performance review this year would undoubtedly be outstanding, paving the way for future promotions!

At the time, Qin Yan had been unaware, but now, judging by Fuling’s implication, it seemed Qin Guan had also contributed to solving the case.

With this thought, Qin Yan’s gaze toward the slender figure behind the screen grew noticeably more solemn.

His father often remarked that her discernment of character was remarkable for someone so young. Yet this time, it seemed he had still been somewhat slow. He had observed Qin Guan’s grace and demeanor, comparing her only to his own younger sister. But he had underestimated her resolve and skills—her medical expertise, her ability to examine corpses. Qin Yan realized he could no longer view Qin Guan as just another sheltered young lady.

The wait was long, yet no one dared to rush. Pang Fuliang and Pang Youde stood to the side, doing their best to maintain composure. Liu Renli also stood nearby; as a proper court official, he was even more cautious about revealing any undue emotions. The most at ease were Yan Chi and Yan Li. The corpse examination took place on the stone-paved courtyard below the steps. Yan Chi stood atop the steps, his gaze lingering on the screen with serene confidence. He was certain Qin Guan would not make the slightest mistake in her examination.

“Cold Moon, oh, Seventh Brother—” Suddenly, Yan Li drifted to Yan Chi’s side like a ghost.

“Cold Moon was given to Seventh Brother by our imperial grandmother, yet you gave it to Ninth Miss…”

Just as Yan Chi was about to explain, Yan Li continued, “Hmm… So I misunderstood Seventh Brother…”

Unsure what mischief Yan Li was up to now, Yan Chi simply ignored him. Yan Li went on, “Last time, I noticed Seventh Brother paying extra attention to Ninth Miss, even taking her to observe Prefect Wang’s investigation. At the time, I thought Seventh Brother was merely taken by her grace and unflappable demeanor—I even suspected he had feelings for her…”

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow, sensing something amiss.

“Now I understand! So Ninth Miss cured Grand Aunt’s chronic illness? And not only is her medical skill extraordinary, but she can also use it to examine corpses? Seventh Brother must be grateful to her for healing Grand Aunt, and on top of that—he admires her talent! Seventh Brother has always had a reputation for valuing talent in the army, and it seems he hasn’t changed since returning!”

Yan Chi’s frown deepened, realizing Yan Li had completely veered off track.

“Seventh Brother, what do you think Ninth Miss will find?” Yan Li asked eagerly.

Yan Chi replied coldly, “No idea. We’ll know when she’s done.”"Then, Seventh Brother, do you think Qing Yun was murdered or committed suicide?"

Yan Li asked again. Yan Chi lifted his chin slightly, "We'll know once the examination is done."

Yan Li glanced sideways at Yan Chi, "Seventh Brother, do you really trust Ninth Miss that much?"

Yan Chi remained silent for a moment before replying, "The two cases I handled in Jinzhou were both solved with her help—"

Yan Li was taken aback, gaining a deeper understanding of Qin Guan. After a long pause, he nodded, "Indeed, indeed, she is truly different from other women confined to boudoirs..."

His tone was full of admiration. Yan Chi turned his head and gave him a cold look.

Yan Li suddenly felt a chill run down his neck and shrank back, saying, "I, too, appreciate talent."

Yan Chi's expression grew colder, unwilling to engage further. Just then, amidst the thick scent of blood in the courtyard, a faint but nauseatingly sour stench began to mix in. Yan Li sniffed, and in the next instant, he froze in place as if struck by a paralysis spell, holding his breath. "What... what kind of trick is this..."

Before he could finish, he covered his nose and mouth and bolted toward the courtyard gate like a rabbit.

Having grown up in the Prince's residence in the capital, Yan Li might seem unruly, but he was accustomed to luxury and had never encountered such a smell. Standing at the courtyard gate, he leaned against the door, panting heavily. "How is this even worse than a latrine! Where is this stench coming from?! Cough, cough—"

Wasn't Qin Guan supposed to be examining the corpse? How did this smell appear?!

Confused but unwilling to step back into the courtyard, Yan Li watched from outside. From a distance, behind the screen, Qin Guan's figure was crouched, her hands moving slightly. He had already seen her maintain this posture for nearly half an hour. Not only was her stamina remarkable, but her composure was something even few men could match.

Yan Li narrowed his eyes, a smile curling at the corners of his lips. When he looked up, he saw his Seventh Brother standing motionless in place. Just as Yan Li hesitated whether to go back in, the screen was suddenly pulled open.

It was Wang Huaiyu who emerged.

Wang Huaiyu, a native of the northwest, was tall and imposing. Having served as an official for many years, he carried an authoritative air. Though he was deferential in front of Yan Chi and Yan Li, even in Qin Yan's presence, his formidable stature commanded respect.

The Wang Huaiyu who had entered earlier had been vigorous and spirited, but the one who came out now was pale, drenched in cold sweat, and even his steps seemed unsteady. As he walked out, he pushed the screen aside, perhaps weakened by the ordeal, leaving it slightly ajar. Through the gap, those outside could clearly see Qin Guan dressing the bloodied Qing Yun. Her jade-colored gown was stained with flecks of blood, her hands covered in crimson. In contrast, her calm expression was strikingly composed—so much so that it sent a chill down Qin Yan's spine.

"Prefect, what's the situation?!" Pang Fuliang was the first to step forward.

Wang Huaiyu took a slow, deep breath before speaking in a low voice, "Today... when you all had your meal, what did you eat? What did you drink?"Pang Fuliang was taken aback. "Eat... just some home-cooked dishes. Since there were only three of us, it was more like old friends gathering, so we didn’t prepare anything elaborate—just what the kitchen made. As for drinking, we had a bit of Yuzhou Xinghuachun."

Xinghuachun was an extremely famous wine from Yuzhou, mellow and fragrant, not harsh on the throat, but with a considerable aftereffect.

Wang Huaiyu gave Pang Fuliang a strange look. "Let’s wait until Ninth Miss comes out."

Pang Fuliang felt a chill run down his spine under Wang Huaiyu’s gaze—it was clearly a look of suspicion...

Just as he was thinking this, the screen was pushed open again, and Qin Guan emerged holding a bowl. It was the same bowl that had earlier held the burning Aversion Incense. Now, it contained half a bowl of an unidentifiable blackish-brown substance.

A faint sheen of sweat glistened on Qin Guan’s forehead, but compared to Wang Huaiyu, she appeared much calmer. The gauntlet on her hand was smeared with blood, a sight that was somewhat horrifying, while the bloodstains on her skirt resembled red plum blossoms against snow—both alluring and eerie. Pang Fuliang looked at Qin Guan, then at the still-pale and shaken Wang Huaiyu beside her, feeling as though Qin Guan’s composed demeanor was almost otherworldly. Trembling, he asked, "Ninth Miss, what is this...?"

Qin Guan took a few steps forward, and Yan Chi, who had been standing on the steps behind her, descended as well.

"This was taken from the deceased’s stomach..."

At these words, Yan Li, who had been about to step into the courtyard, froze in his tracks.

Apart from Yan Chi, everyone else in the courtyard paled.

Qin Guan continued, "During the corpse examination just now, I discovered bleeding in the deceased’s throat. The base of the tongue was pressed against the windpipe, causing death by asphyxiation due to hanging. This further confirms the cause of death."

As Qin Guan spoke, Qin Shuang, standing nearby, felt a chill run down her neck. Did Qin Guan mean she had cut open Qing Yun’s neck? Just the thought made Qin Shuang instinctively take a step back.

Meanwhile, Qin Guan went on, "However, this only further confirms the cause of death. To determine whether the deceased hanged herself or was murdered, we rely on this bowl. The food the deceased consumed before noon hasn’t fully digested yet. There’s still a trace of alcohol in this." As she spoke, she extended the bowl slightly. The sour stench intensified, but at the same time, the unmistakable scent of alcohol wafted out.

Pang Fuliang instinctively recoiled. "We drank during the morning meal—what’s strange about that?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "What’s strange isn’t the alcohol, but the datura poison mixed with it."

Her words stunned everyone. Datura poison? What was that?

"Datura is what everyone knows as mandrake."

Qin Guan added this clarification, and only then did the others understand, frowning immediately. Mandrake was a highly toxic substance. It was said that those poisoned by it would turn purplish with blackened nails, yet Qing Yun hadn’t shown such symptoms...

This was precisely what Qin Guan was about to explain. "In high doses, mandrake poison can be fatal, but in small amounts, it has an anesthetic effect. Normally, a very light dose would only cause dizziness and irritability, with the symptoms fading within a day. However, if mixed with white liquor, its toxicity changes. Just three qian more than the usual anesthetic dose would cause the poison to take effect as the alcohol kicks in. The victim would easily mistake it for drunken dizziness, but in the end, they would most likely fall into a deep, unwakeable sleep."As she spoke, Qin Guan glanced back, "There's tea in the room, likely requested by Qing Yun to sober up after drinking. But before she could drink it, she passed out. The killer entered at this moment, staging the scene to make it look like Qing Yun hanged herself. That's why we saw almost no signs of struggle on the deceased."

After a brief pause, Qin Guan's voice turned firm, "The victim was murdered. The killer is within Qinghui Garden."

--- Off-topic Note ---

10K update today! Dear readers, please keep voting for monthly tickets! It's the end of the month—don't forget to use any evaluation tickets you have! Love you all!

Also, recommending a lovely novel for those experiencing a reading drought—don't hesitate to check it out!

Recommending a friend's work—Xiaoxiang Baby's "Rebirth in the 1970s: The Military Wife is Also Alluring."

[This story features one-on-one romance, a satisfying plot, revenge on scum, wealth-building, and zero angst!]

The usually cold and aloof military officer reveals his true beastly nature behind closed doors.

"Daddy, Daddy, why am I called Liu'er, and my sister is Jiu'er?"

"Because you're the products of 69."

"Daddy, what's 69?"

The typically reserved Han Feishen smiled gently and whispered, "Good children, that's your mommy's favorite... position—no, I mean knowledge!"

The twins: "(⊙o⊙)"

Song Xiangsi from afar: "...Damn!"