Coroner's Diary

"It was discovered early this morning by the servants responsible for sweeping. The lotus pond had frozen over and was covered with snow. Remember when we last visited? The pond was a vast expanse of white. But this morning, a hole had been smashed into the ice, and Liu Yuntong was found floating in the icy water."

Qin Shuang spoke rapidly, and Qin Guan's frown deepened as they hurried toward the lotus pond. Before they even reached it, they could hear voices coming from that direction.

"Pull him up, quickly—"

"Be careful not to fall in—"

Qin Guan quickened her pace, her brow furrowed as she approached the pond.

It was the same lotus pond she and Qin Shuang had visited before. Now, a crowd of Qinghui Garden's masters and servants had gathered by the pond near the rockery. Pang Fuliang stood to the side with a grim expression, while Pang Youde directed the servants in retrieving Liu Renli's body. Qin Yan and Zhou Huai also stood nearby, their expressions equally somber.

"Third Brother—" Qin Guan called out to Qin Yan as she joined him.

Her frown deepened. "Now we really can't leave."

The previous death had been Qing Yun's—a human life lost, but not one of great consequence. This time, however, the victim was a government official.

This case would undoubtedly have to be reported to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. It might even reach the Emperor himself. Qin Yan knew his family had no connection to the case, but once his name appeared in the official report, the Marquis's household would inevitably be linked to it in some way. And no one could predict how the Emperor would interpret that.

Though Qin Guan wasn't well-versed in the intricacies of court politics, she understood the delicate balance of officialdom and the dangers of being implicated. Her father had handled many cases involving the deaths of officials, and such matters were always treated with the utmost gravity.

In this world, the lives of those who served in court were indeed far more valued than those of common folk.

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes and glanced at Pang Youde and the male servants nearby. Using long hooks and ropes, they had already pulled Liu Renli from the pond. His body was soaked, his clothes and hair frozen with ice spikes. The lake-blue robe he wore was one Qin Guan recognized—Liu Renli had worn it just days before. Seeing his neatly arranged clothing, she found it hard to believe that a forty-year-old man could have accidentally fallen into the pond and drowned.

Though no corpse examination had been conducted yet, given Qing Yun's recent death, everyone harbored deep suspicions about Liu Renli's sudden demise.

Even from a logical standpoint, Qin Guan couldn't accept this as an accident or suicide.

Her gaze dropped to the pond below. Unlike the one at Qin Manor, which had a wooden bridge and shallow water where withered lotus leaves could still be seen, Qinghui Garden's pond was deep, with a two-foot drop from the bank. The edges were lined with stone walls, and railings surrounded the perimeter. It was unthinkable that Liu Renli could have climbed over the railing and drowned on his own.

Of course, drowning might not have been the cause of death.In the northern winter, the snow remained unyielding. Perhaps because all the withered leaves and lotus roots from the autumn had been dredged from the lotus pond, the last time Qin Guan visited, she saw only a pristine, even blanket of snow covering the pond’s surface, like a flawless swath of pure white velvet. Now, however, this immaculate velvet had been torn open, revealing a gaping hole where the frigid, muddy water beneath had surged up, staining the edges of the dark, ragged breach.

Qin Guan noticed that the rupture was located in the northernmost part of the pond.

Pang Fuliang stood to the northwest. Seeing Liu Renli being pulled from the water, he hurried over to his side. Pang Youde shook his head. "Master, he's gone..."

Pang Fuliang frowned, as if struck by a thought. "When will the Prefect arrive?"

Pang Youde replied hastily, "He should be here soon. Our messenger left over half an hour ago."

This time, Pang Fuliang had reported the incident to the authorities swiftly. The deceased was Liu Renli, a court-appointed official—naturally, he dared not delay even a moment.

"Good. We’ll do nothing else but wait—wait for Prefect Wang to arrive..."

Pang Fuliang’s expression was unusually grave. His gaze flickered toward Qin Yan, who stepped forward at the right moment. Glancing at Liu Renli’s ashen face, Qin Yan’s eyes darkened. "There’s something sinister about your estate, Lord Pang."

Pang Fuliang wore a bitter expression. "It was always peaceful before, but this time..."

He continued, "Last night, I spoke with Brother Liu. He returned to his courtyard first, and after seeing Prefect Wang off, I retired as well. Who would have thought..."

Qin Yan sighed. "Let Prefect Wang investigate thoroughly. If this isn’t resolved, you won’t feel safe living here yourself..."

"Exactly. Brother Liu was perfectly fine..."

Pang Fuliang’s voice was thick with emotion, as if he truly didn’t know what to say. Qing Yun had died inexplicably, and afterward, Qinghui Garden had drawn the scrutiny of the prefect’s office. Such incidents inevitably tarnished one’s reputation, let alone the death of a court official on one’s own property.

Pang Fuliang stared at Liu Renli’s closed eyes, his own gaze shadowed and inscrutable.

Qin Guan followed Qin Yan a few steps forward. From a distance, she could see Liu Renli’s deathly pallor, clearly the result of prolonged immersion in cold water. Without a corpse examination, she couldn’t determine the exact time of death, but the wrinkled state of his skin suggested it likely occurred late at night.

Had Liu Renli wandered out alone in the dead of night, only to stumble into the pond?

Qin Guan shook her head, more convinced than ever that something was amiss. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly noticed a few timid figures at the edge of the crowd—young women of similar age, each around twenty years old. One of them looked strikingly familiar. After a moment’s thought, realization dawned.

Resolved, Qin Guan approached her.

"Miss Qinglan?"

At the soft call, Qinglan, who had been staring in Liu Renli’s direction, turned her head.

Recognizing Qin Guan, Qinglan paused briefly before recalling something and curtsying. "Miss Qin."

Qin Guan was surprised. That day behind the opera stage, Yan Chi hadn’t introduced her identity. How did Qinglan know her surname?

As if reading her thoughts, Qinglan smiled slightly. "Everyone knows the estate is hosting several siblings from the Zhongyong Marquis’s household in the capital."Qin Guan nodded, then gave her a once-over. "You seem to be doing alright. That day, seeing your resolute expression, I thought Master Qingli's matter might not be connected to you. But the evidence at the time was irrefutable."

Qinglan smiled bitterly. "I'm stubborn by nature—I'd never admit to something I didn't do. Thankfully, the Prefect was discerning in the end."

Naturally, Qinglan didn’t know that Wang Huaiyu’s discernment had come from Qin Guan, and Qin Guan had no intention of telling her. She simply looked at Qinglan and asked, "Are you aware that another senior troupe leader from your troupe has met with misfortune in the prefectural residence?"

Qinglan nodded. "Of course. Our troupe members live in the back and usually don’t dare to come forward. It’s just that we heard something happened again today, so curiosity got the better of us."

After a pause, Qinglan added, "The senior troupe leader you mentioned—I’d call her grandmaster. When I was first taken in by my master, the grandmaster was about to retire, so I didn’t see her often. Later, I only met her twice in Yuzhou."

Perhaps finding Qin Guan approachable, Qinglan couldn’t help but share more.

Qin Guan raised her brows slightly. "Yuzhou? Did you often meet there?"

Hoping to learn more, Qin Guan took a few steps to the side, and Qinglan followed. "Not often, just once a year—at Qinghui Garden. Master Pang has always been a great patron of the Double Purity Troupe. I heard the friendship dates back to the grandmaster’s time. Every year at the end of the year, Master Pang would book the entire venue for us. Sometimes, the grandmaster would come too, bringing my master along to meet with Master Pang and Liu Yuntong for a small gathering."

"Does Liu Yuntong come every year?"

Qinglan shook her head. "Not every year, but he’s come three or four times."

Qin Guan frowned. "Has he come in the last three years?"

Qinglan thought for a moment. "No, the last time was over three years ago."

It made sense that Liu Renli hadn’t returned to the capital in three years while serving as Salt Commissioner in the two Hu regions. But before that, Liu Renli had also held posts in the east. Why would he travel all the way to Yuzhou every year-end?

These people didn’t seem to have an ordinary relationship.

"Have you heard anything about your grandmaster’s junior sister?"

As soon as the question was asked, Qinglan’s expression turned hesitant, as if there was something she couldn’t easily share.

Qin Guan smiled. "It’s alright if it’s inconvenient to say."

Qinglan quickly shook her head. "No, it’s not that—it’s just that my master seems to dislike that grandmaster’s junior sister..."

Qin Guan raised her brows, and Qinglan lowered her voice. "Don’t laugh, Miss Qin, but in the Double Purity Troupe, only the first two troupe leaders were truly like sisters. After that, factions and conflicts inevitably arose. Our younger generation wasn’t familiar with that grandmaster’s junior sister, but she was the first in the troupe to give up her position as leader to marry outside. Naturally, people talked about it. But my master disliked her, calling her a traitor to the troupe and forbidding us from mentioning her."

Qinglan’s explanation made sense. If Qingli truly saw the Double Purity Troupe as her faith, she would likely resent Qingxi for leaving to marry. Qin Guan nodded. "Do you know that your grandmaster’s junior sister has met with misfortune?"

Qinglan hesitated before nodding. "Yes..."

Noticing her hesitation, Qin Guan asked, "What’s wrong?"Qinglan thought for a moment. "A long time ago, I overheard Master and Grandmaster mention it. I didn’t catch much, but I remember Grandmaster forbidding Master from speaking about the incident involving Grandmaster’s junior sister. It seemed neither of them liked that grandmaster junior sister."

Qin Guan took note of Qinglan’s words and asked further, "Do you know if your grandmaster had any other old acquaintances?"

Qinglan looked slightly surprised. "Prefect asked the same question last night."

Qin Guan smiled faintly, and Qinglan continued, "I don’t know. After all, I’m a generation removed from Grandmaster. Besides, those who join opera troupes usually come from difficult backgrounds. Even my own family is gone now. From Grandmaster’s generation, apart from that grandmaster junior sister, the only one who might have known Grandmaster was her disciple. But back then, when Grandmaster’s junior sister left the troupe, she took her disciple with her. After that, there was no news until we heard about the tragedy that befell Grandmaster’s junior sister’s family."

Qin Guan felt a flicker of doubt. Yesterday, Yan Chi had only mentioned the tragedy involving Qingxi’s family but hadn’t said anything about Qingxi’s disciple. She made a mental note to ask Yan Chi about it when he arrived.

Just as she was thinking this, a commotion broke out. Qin Guan turned and saw Wang Huaiyu striding over from the southern path with a group of yamen runners. Behind them, Yan Chi and Yan Li walked one after the other. Yan Li seemed to be saying something, and Yan Chi slowed his pace slightly as he listened.

"Prefect, you’ve finally arrived."

Pang Fuliang hurried forward to greet him. "What should we do about this?"

Wang Huaiyu had already known about Liu Renli’s death, but seeing it with his own eyes still sent a tremor through him. Liu Renli was dead—killed in the Pang residence, within the city of Yuzhou under his jurisdiction.

"How was he discovered?" Wang Huaiyu clenched his fists.

Pang Fuliang glanced at Pang Youde, who quickly stepped forward. "Servants passing by this morning while cleaning found him."

Wang Huaiyu approached to examine Liu Renli’s corpse, then turned to look at the lotus pond.

"What condition was he in when discovered?"

"He was facedown, nearly frozen solid. After calling for help and notifying the master, we used hooks and ropes to pull him out. He was already dead by then."

Wang Huaiyu frowned. "Were there any suspicious individuals nearby?"

"None. It wasn’t fully light yet."

Wang Huaiyu took a deep breath, torn between urgency and frustration. The case involving Qing Yun was still unresolved, and now Liu Renli was dead. While Qing Yun’s case could wait, Liu Renli’s death would draw the attention of the court. If it remained unsolved for long, his annual performance review would suffer greatly.

As they spoke, Yan Chi and Yan Li approached. The onlookers bowed in unison, but Yan Chi waved them off and walked to Liu Renli’s side. His expression was unusually grave. After a moment of observation, he said, "A corpse examination is necessary. He might not have drowned. We won’t know until after the examination."

Wang Huaiyu replied anxiously, "But the coroner from the prefecture hasn’t returned yet."

Yan Chi turned, his gaze unerringly finding Qin Guan in the crowd.

Following his line of sight, Wang Huaiyu smiled wryly. "We’ll have to ask Ninth Miss for help again."

Qin Guan walked toward Yan Chi, who said gently, "The prefecture’s coroner hasn’t returned yet. I’m afraid we’ll need your assistance once more."Qin Guan nodded, "It's my duty. Where shall we conduct the examination?"

The surrounding onlookers immediately regarded Qin Guan with astonishment upon hearing this. Wang Huaiyu cast an impatient glance at the crowd. "Take everyone here away for questioning later," he ordered.

Then, softening his tone, he asked, "Shall we find an empty room for Ninth Miss?"

Qin Guan gave a slight nod, prompting Wang Huaiyu to swiftly turn to Pang Youde. "Find an empty room and move the body there."

Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan and asked, "Will an autopsy be necessary?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "Not if we're only determining the cause of death."

After this brief exchange, an empty room was quickly prepared, and Liu Renli's body was carried inside. The constables went to question the servants, while Yan Chi and Wang Huaiyu followed into the room. Yan Li hesitated eagerly at the doorway, but Yan Chi gave him a glance and shut the door without a word.

Yan Li whined a few complaints outside but lacked the courage to push the door open. The last time he had caught a whiff of that putrid stench, he had nearly vomited, let alone standing beside Qin Guan to watch her examine the corpse. If anything beyond his comprehension appeared again, he might lose his composure...

Inside the room, Qin Guan rolled up her sleeves and began undressing Liu Renli.

The previous examination had been on a woman, but this time it was a man—not only a male corpse but a fresh one at that. Due to the cold water immersion, Liu Renli's body appeared pale with only slight discoloration, and there were few cadaveric spots. Once his clothes were removed, it almost looked like the body of a normal man...

Wang Huaiyu had never seen a female coroner at work and was somewhat concerned about Qin Guan handling a male corpse. But when she swiftly stripped Liu Renli bare, he couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise. While he himself felt no discomfort looking at Liu Renli's body, Qin Guan's presence made him inexplicably uneasy. Yet Qin Guan herself remained composed and solemn, her expression unwavering. Watching her, Wang Huaiyu marveled inwardly once more.

During the previous autopsy on Qing Yun, Qin Guan had not only opened the body but even examined the stomach contents—a scene that was undeniably gruesome. This time, examining a male corpse was no less awkward, yet Qin Guan's gaze was as meticulous and detached as if she were inspecting an object. As far as he knew, Qin Guan had just turned seventeen this year. How could someone so young remain so unflappable?

Liu Renli was laid out on a long table. Qin Guan first removed his clothes, then checked for external injuries. As she conducted her careful examination, Yan Chi spoke up from the side, "Magistrate Wang, have you found any leads on Qing Yun's senior sister?"

Wang Huaiyu snapped back to attention. "Her senior sister? Ah, yes, yes! I was planning to report to Your Highness today. Unfortunately, I have bad news—Qing Yun's senior sister died fifteen years ago, and... it was related to a major case. Have you heard of the Gold Heist Case in Meng County out west fifteen years ago? At that time, the western frontier was preparing for war, and that gold was meant for military pay. The Northwest Frontier Army and the Northern Garrison Army were stationed there then, with Prince Rui commanding the Northwest Frontier Army!"

Yan Chi nodded. "What else?"

Wang Huaiyu blinked in surprise. "That's all. Qing Yun's senior sister is dead, so this lead is a dead end."

"Magistrate Wang, did you find out how Qing Yun's senior sister died?"Yan Chi's question immediately stumped Wang Huaiyu, who looked troubled. "This subordinate hasn't had time to investigate that yet, but I vaguely recall there was a great fire..."

"Not a fire," Yan Chi said in a low voice, then glanced at Qin Guan. "Let's wait until Ninth Miss finishes the corpse examination first."

Qin Guan was conducting the examination, and Yan Chi clearly wanted to wait until she finished before sharing the information he had obtained.

Meanwhile, Qin Guan had already swiftly gathered the most crucial details. "Liu Yuntong's abdomen is distended, with sand particles in his mouth, teeth, and throat. There are no other fatal wounds, so we can conclude he drowned."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Chi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Qin Guan continued, "There's a dark bruise on his abdomen, likely from falling onto the frozen surface of the lotus pond. Additionally, there are extremely fine ligature marks on his neck and both wrists. While not fatal, they're rather peculiar—yet don't appear to be from being bound. I'm unsure how these injuries were treated. Time of death was between the hours of Yin and Mao last night. Beyond this, I've found nothing else, except for two old scars on his body. They're very old, so I won't draw conclusions about them yet."

With the cause of death and time established, Wang Huaiyu nodded at Yan Chi. Having overheard Yan Chi's earlier remark, Qin Guan also looked at him. "Your Highness, what clues have you uncovered?"

Yan Chi's expression turned grave. "This morning, I received word that during the Gold Heist Case back then, aside from the fifty thousand taels of gold that vanished without a trace, General Zhang's entire family was brutally murdered..."

Qin Guan gasped in shock, while Wang Huaiyu also stared at Yan Chi in astonishment.

Aside from the shocking nature of the news itself, Wang Huaiyu was even more surprised that Yan Chi had already investigated the old case. Yan Chi had obtained the information faster than he had and had even thought of Qingxi's disciple beforehand, making Wang Huaiyu feel somewhat ashamed.

"Brutally murdered?!" Qin Guan had assumed Qingxi's entire family perished in a fire.

Yan Chi nodded. "The case records are stored in Yunzhou, north of Yuzhou. The message was sent by carrier pigeon and isn't detailed, but the gist is clear. When Qingxi left back then, she took her disciple with her. After marrying General Zhang, she bore a son and a daughter. Although their bodies were eventually found in the fire, they weren't completely charred. Qingxi was strangled to death, the children drowned, and General Zhang died from an arrow wound. As for Qingxi's disciple, the records don't specify—most likely, she burned to death in the fire."

Qin Guan had been about to ask Yan Chi about the fate of Qingxi's disciple, only to receive this grim answer.

If it was a robbery, why resort to such brutality?

As this thought crossed her mind, a sudden realization struck Qin Guan. "Wait—you said one was strangled, two drowned, and one died from an arrow wound?!"

Standing beside Liu Renli's corpse, Qin Guan felt no fear from the body itself, but Yan Chi's revelation sent chills down her spine. "Qing Yun hanged herself—equivalent to being strangled. Liu Yuntong drowned, and Qing Li... didn't Qing Li die from an arrow wound?"

Yan Chi's expression darkened, unsurprised—he must have made the same connection when he received the news. In contrast, Wang Huaiyu looked utterly bewildered. "Ninth Miss, are you suggesting... that these two cases are connected?"

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes and turned to Yan Chi. "I recall Your Highness mentioning that before the Gold Heist Case, the general escorting the military payroll used a diversionary tactic. At the time, I asked if someone had leaked the information. But now, another possibility occurs to me—could someone have exploited a familial or personal connection with the escorts to learn about the diversion? Then used that very connection to commit murder for profit when they were off guard? The soldiers disguised as servants accompanying them all died at the relay station. If bandits had attacked en masse, they couldn’t have left without a trace."

A dark glint flickered in Yan Chi's eyes—clearly, he was thinking the same thing.

Wang Huaiyu looked from Qin Guan to Yan Chi, his eyes wide as saucers...

First, Qing Yun died, then Liu Renli, a court-appointed official. Now, even an unsolved case from fifteen years ago was involved? An invisible weight seemed to press down on Wang Huaiyu’s shoulders. If what Ninth Miss said was true, this case was monumental. If he could solve the Gold Heist Case, wouldn’t that...

Wang Huaiyu’s expression wavered between hesitation and excitement. He took a deep breath. "Ninth Miss makes a valid point. Initially, we thought Qing Li’s death might have been accidental. But now, with three deaths mirroring the methods from that case fifteen years ago, it seems more like someone has returned for revenge."

The more he spoke, the more convinced he became. "It must be! It has to be! Otherwise, why would Qing Yun die the moment she arrived? And earlier, I found the relationships between Master Pang, Qing Yun, and Liu Yuntong somewhat peculiar. Now it occurs to me—could any of them be connected to what happened back then?"

Yan Chi looked at Wang Huaiyu. "Qing Yun, Pang Fuliang, and Liu Renli—all three are from Dingzhou."

Wang Huaiyu was startled again. "Your Highness has already uncovered this? I truly pale in comparison... If they’re all from Dingzhou, that’s even closer to Mengzhou. Though the military payroll escort was supposed to be secret, by the time it reached Dingzhou from the capital, word had already spread. That makes this theory even more plausible."

Yan Chi’s voice was steady. "This is one lead. Continue your investigation as before, Prefect Wang, and don’t reveal our suspicions about the old case yet. If this truly is connected, it’s likely someone privy to the past has returned for vengeance. Meanwhile, we must anticipate the killer’s next move."

Wang Huaiyu quickly agreed, this time reacting swiftly. "The case fifteen years ago involved four methods of killing. We’ve seen three so far—the last one was arson. Could the killer’s next step be to set a fire?"

He glanced between Yan Chi and Qin Guan, who exchanged a look. Yan Chi nodded. "That’s entirely possible. And if there’s a connection, it likely involves Pang Fuliang. He may very well be the killer’s next target."Wang Huaiyu initially thought this case was extremely complicated and difficult, but seeing Qin Guan and Yan Chi present, he inexplicably felt a surge of determination. His eyes flickered as he said, "By the way, if Pang Fuliang is truly connected to the previous cases, wouldn't he have noticed something amiss by now? Might he already be taking precautions?"

Yan Chi's expression relaxed slightly. "Prefect Wang, you could test that theory."

After a moment's thought, Wang Huaiyu nodded. "Very well, I understand what to do..."

......

......

The door swung open, and Wang Huaiyu strode out. As soon as he emerged, Yan Li stepped forward and asked, "Prefect Wang, what's the verdict?"

Outside the room, Pang Fuliang, Pang Youde, and Qin Yan were also waiting. At Yan Li's question, all three turned their attention to Wang Huaiyu, whose face was grave. "Liu Yuntong was indeed drowned. Now we need to investigate whether he fell in accidentally, was pushed, or met his end by some other means. However, it's unlikely he would have just fallen in for no reason."

Wang Huaiyu wasn't the only one who thought so—everyone agreed this was likely a murder case.

"This is bizarre. Qing Yun's death could be explained as someone holding a grudge against her, but why Liu Yuntong? Who would have a reason to kill him? The Pang household only has so many people..." Yan Li mused aloud, then glanced at Pang Fuliang. As the master of the estate, Pang Fuliang would logically have the easiest access to commit such acts unnoticed. But then again, why would he kill people in his own home?

Noticing Yan Li's suspicious gaze, Pang Fuliang could only offer a bitter smile. "Your Highness, I truly don’t know what’s happening. This residence was always peaceful before—how could such things suddenly occur?"

Wang Huaiyu stepped closer. "Once this case is solved, Master Pang, you really ought to invite a priest to cleanse the house of ill fortune. Three deaths in a row, each by different means—it’s truly..."

Pang Fuliang froze. "Three deaths?"

"Qing Li," Wang Huaiyu said with a frown. "We initially thought her death might have been accidental, but new evidence surfaced last night suggesting she was likely murdered." He gave Pang Fuliang a pointed look. "Though she didn’t die in Qinghui Garden, she did live there. You might want to reflect on that, Master Pang."

Pang Fuliang seemed stunned into silence.

After studying him for a moment, Wang Huaiyu said, "Let’s go examine Liu Yuntong’s quarters."

Yan Chi, who had overheard everything, found himself developing a newfound respect for the burly prefect. Qin Guan, washing her hands in a basin at the corner, remarked softly, "Prefect Wang is quite clever."

Yan Chi chuckled. "At his rank, he’d have to be."

The door remained wide open, and Yan Li could barge in at any moment, so Yan Chi could only watch Qin Guan from where he stood. As she finished drying her hands and turned around, she met his deep, smoldering gaze. Her heart skipped a beat. Just as their eyes locked, a shadow flickered at the doorway—Qin Yan had entered.

"Ninth Sister, is something wrong?"

Qin Guan calmly smoothed her sleeves. "I just finished washing my hands."Yan Chi subtly turned and walked toward the door, with Qin Guan following closely behind. Once outside, Yan Li immediately approached, scrutinizing Qin Guan up and down with an intense gaze. Puzzled by his behavior, Qin Guan asked, "What is it, Your Highness?"

Yan Li let out a long sigh. "Ninth Miss, you truly leave one in awe."

Qin Guan chuckled lightly. "You flatter me, Your Highness."

"Not at all, not at all," Yan Li replied, looking as though he wanted to circle around her in fascination. "I'm just curious—how did you cultivate such extraordinary medical skills? Even to the point of assisting in corpse examinations?"

Qin Guan smiled faintly. "Does Your Highness wish to study medicine?"

Yan Li's eyes gleamed mischievously. "You know, I might just consider it. Would Ninth Miss take on a disciple?"

Qin Guan merely wanted to divert Yan Li's curiosity, especially since the closer they got to the capital, the more taboo the name "Shen Yi" became. Yet, hearing Yan Li mention apprenticeship, she could only smile wryly. "This commoner wouldn't dare presume..."

Yan Li, now thoroughly intrigued, was about to tease her further when he suddenly felt the weight of a sharp gaze upon him. Clearing his throat, he hastily changed the subject. "Prefect Wang has gone to investigate Liu Yuntong's residence. Would you all like to join us?"

By "you all," Yan Li naturally meant Qin Guan, Qin Yan, and Qin Shuang.

Qin Yan nodded. "Very well. We don’t yet know if Prefect Wang has any questions for us."

With that, Yan Chi instructed the yamen officers to guard Liu Renli's corpse and led Qin Guan and the others toward Liu Renli's courtyard. Wang Huaiyu had gone ahead and was already inside Liu Renli's quarters when Yan Chi and Qin Guan arrived. They overheard Wang Huaiyu questioning Pang Fuliang.

"Liu Yuntong was preparing to leave, yet Master Pang was unaware?"

Pang Fuliang gave a bitter smile. "Brother Liu did mention his intention to depart, but he never specified a date..."

Wang Huaiyu frowned. "He was about to leave, yet he ended up dead in the lotus pond? And how do you explain this bundle found outside your courtyard?"

Hearing footsteps, Wang Huaiyu turned and saw Yan Chi entering. He pointed to a bundle in the room. "Your Highness, look—Magistrate Liu had already packed his belongings, seemingly planning to leave within a day or two. However, this bundle was found just outside Master Pang's courtyard earlier... Upon inspection, it contains Magistrate Liu's official seal and other personal effects. It’s undoubtedly his."

Pang Fuliang sighed helplessly. "Prefect, I stayed in my own courtyard all last night and only came out this morning. I never saw Brother Liu. I truly know nothing about this bundle."

Wang Huaiyu smirked faintly. "So, was he trying to sneak away secretly? And then carelessly dropped his bundle along the way?"

As Wang Huaiyu spoke, Yan Li suddenly exclaimed, "What’s this?"

Having spotted the bundle upon entering, Yan Li was the first to examine its contents. After rummaging through it, he discovered a cylindrical scroll—or what appeared to be a bamboo tube. He held it up for everyone to see, and then, accidentally pressing something, the lid suddenly popped open. With a rustle, a stack of papers spilled out.

Everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment.

What had tumbled out of the tube was a thick wad of banknotes...