Coroner's Diary

"Lured here?" Yan Li frowned slightly.

Qin Guan nodded, stepping around Yan Li to examine where the oil lamp had fallen. The lamp's base lay on the ground, its oil completely spilled, though the lampshade remained intact. As Qin Guan moved closer, her foot unexpectedly caught on a protruding stone edge. She slipped, her body tilting precariously, but just as she was about to stumble, a hand steadied her waist.

Regaining her balance, Qin Guan turned to find Yan Chi standing behind her, having appeared unnoticed.

The dim light in the passageway concealed Yan Chi's action from others. Meanwhile, Yan Li stood nearby, seemingly intent on moving further ahead. Once Qin Guan steadied herself, Yan Chi withdrew his hand. At that moment, Wang Huaiyu's voice echoed from outside the passageway.

"Found anything? The search hasn't started over here yet..."

With a soft click , Wang Huaiyu entered, holding a lit firestarter. Seeing Qin Guan, Yan Chi, and Yan Li inside, his expression immediately turned respectful. Yan Chi tilted his chin slightly. "Liu Yuntong's bag carried the scent of lamp oil. We traced it here and found this lamp. Later, we'll confirm with the servants whether it belonged to his room. What about your side? Any discoveries?"

Wang Huaiyu shook his head. "We searched but found nothing. The bag was discarded near the corner outside the courtyard wall, but there were no unusual traces. Additionally, Master Pang rested in the east wing of Hui Garden last night. According to the servants, he slept soundly and was only awakened at dawn when the incident occurred in the estate."

Yan Li raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by the east wing...?"

Wang Huaiyu cleared his throat. "Master Pang and Madam Pang did not share quarters."

Qin Guan frowned. "There were no signs of struggle in Liu Yuntong's room, and the courtyard appeared normal. This suggests he left voluntarily, likely carrying the lamp. If he intended to leave Qinghui Garden, why would he bring it?"

Wang Huaiyu narrowed his eyes. "So Liu Yuntong had a reason for bringing the lamp here?"

Qin Guan nodded. "If the lamp indeed came from his room, it would strongly support that."

Yan Li mused, "If Liu Yuntong left on his own, what prompted him? Late at night, even if he noticed someone or something, it's unlikely he'd follow them this far."

Glancing between Yan Chi and Qin Guan, Yan Li posed a question no one could yet answer.

As a long-serving imperial official, Liu Yuntong was cautious by nature. In the dead of night, only something extraordinary could have drawn him all the way to the lotus pond. The person who lured Liu Renli likely intended for him to drown there. Qin Guan pressed, "Is this the only lotus pond in the estate? Are there any inner lakes?"

Wang Huaiyu shook his head. "No inner lakes—just two lotus ponds and a few stream pavilions. This pond is the deepest; the others are merely decorative."

Qin Guan pieced it together. "Perhaps the killer planned for Liu Yuntong to die this way from the start."

After a moment of thought, Wang Huaiyu added, "The killer must undoubtedly be someone from Qinghui Garden." Suddenly, he speculated, "Could the killer be someone Liu Yuntong knew? Or... did the killer do something to force him out?"

Was the killer someone Liu Yuntong knew? Beside them, Yan Chi pondered briefly, "That's certainly possible. However, Liu Yuntong has been in the residence for many days. If he recognized someone, he should have done so earlier. There's no reason he'd only recognize them now..."

Both Wang Huaiyu and Qin Guan knew which old case Yan Chi was referring to. With this analysis, they increasingly felt the current situation was intricately connected to that past case. Wang Huaiyu frowned worriedly, "If it's someone from within the residence, it might be difficult to find them. The crime occurred late last night when everyone was asleep. If it was indeed an insider, they would naturally know how to avoid detection."

Wang Huaiyu's words held truth. He then furrowed his brows and asked, "I wonder if there are any more clues on the body?"

Earlier, Qin Guan had only determined the cause of death and hadn't conducted a detailed corpse examination, let alone an autopsy. Hearing this, she said, "Alright, I'll go back and take another look. If necessary, I'll perform an autopsy."

Wang Huaiyu was full of gratitude. The coroner from the prefectural office hadn't returned yet, and without Qin Guan, these cases would be hard to solve.

After speaking, Qin Guan didn't linger. Yan Chi said, "I'll go with you."

Wang Huaiyu glanced at Yan Chi in slight surprise. Although he hadn't known Yan Chi for long, he seemed to notice Yan Chi's care for Qin Guan. He had initially intended to go along as well, but for some reason, he hesitated and swallowed his words. "Very well, then I'll trouble Your Highness. I'll have someone investigate this area further."

Yan Chi nodded. Just as he accompanied Qin Guan out of the passageway through the rockery, Bai Feng, who had left earlier, approached.

"Master, Ninth Miss..."

Bai Feng first bowed before speaking, "Earlier, I questioned the servants in the residence. They said that since the case involving Qing Yun arose in the residence these past few days, Liu Yuntong's room often had a bright lamp burning late into the night. Additionally, the attendant responsible for that guest courtyard mentioned that the candles in Liu Yuntong's room were indeed replaced daily and that besides candles, there was also an oil lamp in his room."

Qin Guan and Yan Chi exchanged a glance. Yan Chi nodded without saying anything.

Seeing that Qin Guan was about to examine the corpse again, Qin Shuang hesitated, unsure whether to follow or not. Noticing that Qin Yan also remained still, Qin Shuang moved closer to him. "Third Brother, she's quite impressive..."

Qin Shuang's tone was complex, a mix of admiration and faint envy. "A young girl, how can she investigate cases like a man? And she repeatedly examines corpses without fear of being tainted by unclean things."

Qin Yan stood still, watching as Qin Guan and Yan Chi walked side by side toward the empty room where Liu Renli's body was kept.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Qin Yan remarked, "The Crown Prince treats her quite well."

Qin Shuang blinked. "Of course. After all, she's the granddaughter recognized by the Grand Princess. Besides, back in Jinzhou, she helped His Highness with cases..."

Qin Yan watched as Qin Guan and Yan Chi walked further away, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Meanwhile, Qin Guan said, "I still remember how strongly Liu Yuntong reacted when Qing Yun died—almost abnormally grief-stricken. These past few nights, he couldn't sleep, likely due to Qing Yun's death."

"I've already had people thoroughly investigate their backgrounds to see if there's any connection to the Gold Heist Case from back then."

Qin Guan hummed in agreement. Raising her head, she saw they had arrived at the empty room where Liu Renli's body lay. The constables at the door immediately bowed upon seeing Yan Chi. Yan Chi nodded and pushed the door open. Inside, Liu Renli's body was covered with his own clothes.Qin Guan rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward to pick up Liu Renli's robe first. She examined it meticulously twice before finally spotting a tiny stain of a slightly darker hue at the hem of the garment.

Liu Renli's robe was a lake-blue color, which turned ink-blue when soaked in water. Moreover, once drenched, any lingering scent on the robe would be undetectable. The stain Qin Guan had noticed appeared to be traces of lamp oil.

"There's no smell left, but this looks like a mark left by lamp oil."

As she spoke, Qin Guan discovered several more marks on Liu Renli's robe. These marks were scattered across the chest and back of the garment. Though now distorted, it was still evident that they had originally formed circular patterns.

Frowning slightly, Qin Guan carefully traced the imprints on Liu Renli's robe with her fingers...

"What is it?" Yan Chi had been inspecting an old scar on Liu Renli's shoulder blade but turned when he noticed Qin Guan's solemn expression.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Qin Guan suddenly asked, "Your Highness, have you ever seen a trick for escaping underwater?"

Yan Chi raised a brow and shook his head. "No, I haven't."

Having spent most of his years on the battlefield, Yan Chi rarely indulged in leisurely entertainment. Qin Guan explained, "I remember seeing it once as a child, probably at some festival. It was performed by an opera troupe from the north. Aside from making people disappear, they also performed death-defying escape tricks—tying a person up with hemp ropes strong enough to pull a carriage, then throwing them into a large vat of water to see if they could break free from the tightly knotted bonds. If they failed, they would drown."

Yan Chi's gaze sharpened. "What was the trick?"

The corner of Qin Guan's lips curved slightly—Yan Chi had caught on quickly.

Recognizing the source of her amusement, Yan Chi remarked, "Such tricks always have a gimmick."

Qin Guan nodded. "The ropes they used were different. If an ordinary hemp rope bound someone, how could they possibly break free? But if they used a rope that weakened in water, it would be a different story."

Yan Chi watched her intently, so Qin Guan continued, "During the performance, they would first demonstrate the rope's strength by using it to pull a carriage or a heavy stone, proving how sturdy it was. They’d even let the audience tie the person up themselves and inspect them for hidden tools before proceeding. But what the audience didn’t know was that the rope wasn’t actually hemp..."

"Not hemp?" Yan Chi was surprised.

Qin Guan confirmed, "It was made of paper—not the kind used for writing, but a specially crafted rough yellow paper mixed with fine hemp fibers. Unless someone cut the rope open to examine it closely, it looked identical to the naked eye. Hemp ropes don’t weaken in water and take a long time to rot, but paper is different. Once soaked, it swells and loosens, making the rope far less durable. As long as the person could hold their breath and had enough strength, breaking free from such a rope would be much easier."

Yan Chi glanced at Liu Renli. "So..."Qin Guan handed over the garment before her and said, "Look, earlier I found ligature marks on his hands and neck but couldn't make sense of them. Now seeing these traces on his robe, I've realized the possibility. If someone used hemp rope to bind and throw him in, it would be too obvious. But with the type of rope I mentioned, it could easily go unnoticed. I suspect if we dredge the bottom of that lotus pond now, we might find something, though it may be too late later."

As she spoke, Qin Guan frowned. "This is something usually only known by opera troupes."

"The Double Purity Troupe?" Yan Chi raised an eyebrow.

But Qin Guan shook her head. "If it were the Double Purity Troupe, how would you explain Qing Yun's death?"

"So you mean someone in this household comes from an opera troupe?"

Qin Guan nodded. "Even if not directly from a troupe, they must be closely connected. Otherwise, they wouldn't know this."

Yan Chi nodded and stepped out to give some orders. When he returned, he saw Qin Guan deep in thought. "What are you thinking about?"

Qin Guan looked up at Yan Chi. "On our first night at Qinghui Garden, I heard someone singing opera in the middle of the night."

Yan Chi frowned. "The first night? The Double Purity Troupe?"

Qin Guan shook her head again. "It didn't sound like them. The singing had a mournful, eerie quality—almost as if it wasn't sung by a normal person. At the time, I found it strange and asked Baiying and Fuling, but they both said they hadn't heard anything."

Neither had heard it...

Yan Chi glanced at Liu Renli's robe. "You think it was that person?"

Qin Guan shook her head and walked back to Liu Renli's body. "I'm not sure. I only heard the voice. But I have a feeling there must be someone else in this estate who knows a lot about opera troupes. If nothing else, Master Pang invites the Double Purity Troupe every year, which would make many servants familiar with them."

Qin Guan then examined the old wounds on Liu Renli's body. "These injuries are at least ten years old."

"What kind of wounds are they?" The scars on Liu Renli's shoulder were no longer gruesome, but they weren't the typical linear healed marks. Instead, they were irregular, oval-shaped scars.

Qin Guan studied them carefully. "They resemble arrow wounds, but the area is larger. It looks... more like a wound from a spear thrust."

At the mention of a spear, Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. After a moment, he said, "It does seem like it."

Yan Chi also used a spear, so he understood what Qin Guan meant. However, Liu Renli's scars had healed long ago, and as he wasn't a physician, he couldn't visualize the original wounds. During the first corpse examination, Qin Guan had noticed the old scars but hadn't examined them closely. Now, as they pieced things together, both Qin Guan and Yan Chi were reminded of the old case.

"It seems we'll have to investigate whether Liu Yuntong encountered any dangers in his early years."

Though they intended to investigate, the events were so far in the past that Yan Chi wasn't confident they'd find answers.

Qin Guan then checked Liu Renli's entire body again. This time, she noticed minor abrasions on his heels and calves. She noted each one and instructed Fuling to fetch the Aversion Incense before preparing for the autopsy.Since Qin Guan had determined that Liu Renli died from drowning, she didn't perform a full autopsy but focused only on the chest and abdomen. Half an hour later, while washing blood from her hands, she said, "There are white frothy residues in both the trachea and nasal passages, along with what appears to be a trace of sludge in the trachea. The lungs are enlarged, with moist surfaces and blood spots—definite signs of drowning. No traces of poison or aphrodisiacs were found. The stomach mainly contained fluid, confirming he was thrown into the lotus pond and drowned alive."

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "It seems this case is connected to the opera troupe."

Qin Guan nodded. Fuling brought in another basin of water from outside, and Qin Guan washed her hands several times before they were clean. However, a small stain of blood remained on her sleeve. Yan Chi frowned slightly. "You've dirtied it again."

Qin Guan smiled faintly. "It's fine—just a little. I'll wash it off when I get back."

Yan Chi said nothing more, noticing her reddened earlobes from the cold. "Alright, I'll take you back first. It's too cold outside. I'll come find you once Prefect Wang has any updates."

With Qin Shuang and Qin Yan both absent, Qin Guan thought for a moment before nodding. "No need to escort me. I can go back on my own."

Yan Chi's lips tightened slightly, as if displeased, but meeting Qin Guan's clear gaze, he ultimately held his tongue.

"Very well, go ahead."

He saw her to the door but went no further, watching until she was out of sight before turning back toward the lotus pond.

Meanwhile, Fuling sighed. "Miss, you used to hide it, but now everyone knows you perform corpse examinations."

Qin Guan gave a wry smile. When she first woke in Jinzhou, her status had been lowly, and Jiang Shi of Qin Manor was deeply superstitious—concealing her skills had been necessary to avoid complications. But here, circumstances left her no choice but to reveal them. Moreover, she no longer felt the same confusion and helplessness that had once driven her to self-preservation. Whether it was medicine or forensic examination, the former could save lives, and the latter could bring peace to the dead. When necessary, why hide?

Third—and most importantly—Yan Chi was by her side this time. She sensed that not only did he not disapprove of her autopsy skills, but he trusted her implicitly. More than that, he seemed to want her to showcase her expertise, as if proud of her mastery in a field uncommon for women. To Qin Guan, this carried an indescribable sense of indulgence and affection.

So she seized the opportunity to step into the spotlight. If others considered her inauspicious for performing autopsies or looked down on her for engaging in what they deemed a lowly profession despite being a Qin daughter, then so be it. There was no reasoning with those who couldn’t understand.

"What does it matter if they know? I can do what others cannot, master what others haven’t. I harm no one, uncover the truth, and bring solace to the dead. Why shouldn’t they know?"

Her voice was steady, but Fuling sighed again. "That may be so, but this servant worries you’ll never marry..."

"That..." Qin Guan’s smile faded briefly. "Don’t worry about it."

Fuling still looked troubled. Just then, Qin Guan glanced up and saw Chang Shi standing at the crossroads ahead with Pang Jiayan. Startled, she noticed the wound at the corner of Chang Shi’s eye had healed. Today, with powder applied, it was barely visible.

"Madam." Qin Guan stepped forward and curtsied.

Chang Shi returned the gesture with a smile. "Ninth Miss, you assisted with another corpse examination today?"Chang Shi spoke while glancing at the bloodstains on Qin Guan's sleeve. Qin Guan nodded, "Yes, Liu Yuntong met with an accident."

Chang Shi gave a slight nod. "I know. I wasn't planning to come out today, but something else happened in the household..."

Qin Guan comforted her, "Madam needn't worry. Prefect Wang will investigate thoroughly."

"It's not that I'm worried about this." Chang Shi's tone was calm, showing none of the solemn urgency Pang Fuliang had displayed. Though Liu Renli was Pang Fuliang's old friend, Chang Shi didn't seem the least bit sympathetic or regretful about his death.

"Sooner or later, something was bound to happen in this household."

Chang Shi said this with a faint smile. Qin Guan was taken aback. "What do you mean, Madam?"

Chang Shi didn't answer directly, instead asking, "Has Ninth Miss met Jiayun?"

Qin Guan was startled, immediately recalling the prank from that night. She shook her head, "I might have encountered Miss Pang one evening, but we didn't actually meet face-to-face."

The smile faded from Chang Shi's face, her clear eyes reflecting deep sorrow.

"If possible, I'd truly like Ninth Miss to examine Jiayun."

Moved by Chang Shi's grief, Qin Guan quickly responded, "Of course—"

Chang Shi seemed grateful, but her eyes reddened as if remembering something. She shook her head, tightly gripping Pang Jiayan's hand. "Not now. Ninth Miss doesn't know... since marrying into this family, I've been left with nothing but this empty shell. I can't do as I wish. I'm powerless, unable to protect my own daughter..."

Her voice choked with emotion. Pang Jiayan tugged at her sleeve, "Mother..."

His voice was soft and sweet, laced with concern.

Chang Shi stopped speaking. "Fortunately, Qing Niang helped. When I married in, Jiayun was only three. In truth, both siblings were raised with Qing Niang's help."

Qin Guan thought of the doll Qing Niang had made for Pang Jiayan that day and instinctively asked, "Does Qing Niang perform in operas?"

Chang Shi looked surprised but replied, "Qing Niang doesn't perform, but she enjoys watching. Every time the Double Purity Troupe comes, she watches with us."

Qin Guan made an understanding sound, inexplicably relieved. Seeing the lingering sorrow in Chang Shi's eyes, she hesitantly asked, "What exactly is Miss Pang's illness...?"

That Pang Jiayun had gone mad was already confirmed by Yan Chi's account. Qin Guan had been curious, and since Chang Shi had expressed a wish for her to examine Jiayun, she wanted to ask more.

At this question, Chang Shi lowered her gaze. This time her silence lasted longer, as if something rose and fell within her. Just as Qin Guan began to regret asking something inappropriate and assumed Chang Shi wouldn't answer, Chang Shi suddenly looked up. "Ninth Miss will know when the time comes."

Then she glanced again at Qin Guan's sleeve. "Ninth Miss should go change your clothes. Someone like you really shouldn't be involved in such bloody affairs."

Qin Guan looked at her sleeve. "As a physician, I can't avoid such things. It's fine."

She curtsied slightly. "Then I'll take my leave."

Chang Shi stepped aside with Pang Jiayan. Qin Guan gave her a long look before heading back to her guest quarters with Fuling.Chang Shi and Pang Jiayan stood watching Qin Guan walk away. After a long while, Pang Jiayan finally whispered, "Mother, will things get better?"

Chang Shi nodded and replied softly, "Yes, of course they will."

......

"Miss, what did Madam Pang mean? What did she mean by saying she couldn't protect her own daughter?"

Fuling's question echoed Qin Guan's own thoughts. After frowning for a long moment, Qin Guan shook her head. "I don't know, but Pang Jiayun's madness must have a reason... there must be a cause behind it..."

Fuling rubbed her arms. "This household is full of strange happenings. It's a pity we can't leave now."

Qin Guan's expression turned grave. "Three people have already died. I believe this will be over soon."

As Qin Guan spoke these words, Fuling felt another chill run down her spine and quickly pulled Qin Guan back to their courtyard.

Upon returning to the courtyard, Qin Guan naturally freshened up and changed her clothes first. Yet as she did so, the image of Chang Shi lingered persistently in her mind—her slightly reddened eyes, her sorrowful and despairing gaze. It made Qin Guan feel that within Pang Manor, there was more than one secret hidden. Beyond the frequent beatings Chang Shi endured from Pang Fuliang, there must be other secrets.

After changing, Qin Guan stayed in the courtyard for a while without venturing out. As Yan Chi had mentioned, he would come to her once there were results from the investigation outside. She waited like this, but by afternoon, Yan Chi still hadn’t arrived. Undoubtedly, the investigation must have encountered difficulties again.

Solving a case wasn’t something that could be done overnight, so Qin Guan wasn’t in a hurry. However, as dusk fell and after dinner, she began to feel restless. It was impossible that nothing had been uncovered the entire day, and whatever had been discovered, she wanted to know sooner rather than later.

Sitting by the window, Qin Guan felt uneasy when suddenly, Fuling pointed outside and said, "Miss, look—what’s that…"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Qin Guan followed Fuling’s gaze and saw a blaze of firelight rising from the northwest direction of Qinghui Garden, accompanied by thick black smoke.

Qin Guan stiffened, her dark pupils trembling violently.

Fire! The fourth method of death!

In an instant, she stood up. "Let’s go, take a look!"

Her heart clenched as she rushed out, forgetting even to grab her cape in her haste. Seeing this, Fuling snatched the cape and followed Qin Guan, with Baiying close behind. The commotion alerted Qin Shuang, who stepped out and immediately spotted the fire. Without hesitation, she hurried after Qin Guan.

"How could a fire break out for no reason?!"

Qin Shuang was afraid of fire, her voice trembling as she spoke. The last great fire in Qin Manor had claimed the lives of Jiang Shi and Qin Chen, and even now, the memory filled her with lingering fear.

Qin Guan didn’t answer Qin Shuang’s question. Her heart pounded violently—Yan Chi was right. The case in Pang Manor must be connected to the Gold Heist Case from years ago. There had already been three coincidences, and now this fourth one further corroborated Yan Chi’s theory. So, who had set the fire?

Catching the arsonist would mean catching the murderer!

Qin Guan’s heart thundered in her chest. Both Wang Huaiyu and Yan Chi were in the manor, and Yan Chi had instructed Wang Huaiyu to stay vigilant. Under such precautions, the murderer setting a fire was akin to walking straight into a trap!

Shortly after Qin Guan left the courtyard, Qin Yan caught up from behind. Meanwhile, the servants in the manor were clearly alarmed by the fire, all heading toward the northwest. Soon, Qin Guan spotted a three-story building in that direction. Located in a slightly secluded part of Qinghui Garden, it was relatively close to the guest quarters where they were staying. As she had anticipated, Wang Huaiyu had indeed taken precautions—by the time she reached the vicinity of the building, she saw a crowd gathered outside.

Yan Chi, Yan Li, Wang Huaiyu, along with the yamen officers and Qinghui Garden’s servants, were all there.

The officers and servants had already begun organizing firefighting efforts, while Yan Chi and Wang Huaiyu stared grimly into the building. Qin Guan rushed straight to Yan Chi’s side. "What happened? Is the arsonist still inside?"Yan Chi instinctively took a step back when he saw Qin Guan running toward him, keeping her at a distance before nodding. "Inside—"

Qin Guan's dark pupils contracted as she immediately turned her gaze toward the fire. The flames were spreading from the bottom up, with the first floor already engulfed in raging fire and tongues of flame licking at the second-floor windows. Straining her eyes through the thick smoke, she caught sight of a petite figure.

Qin Guan frowned. "That's—"

Wang Huaiyu's voice was heavy with complexity. "It's the Pang family's eldest daughter. Half an hour ago, someone said she had run out, so I had the constables keep an eye out for her. Not long after, this fire broke out. We just arrived." He sighed in frustration. "Why would it be her? She's mentally unstable and so young—how could she...?"

Qin Guan's eyes widened slightly. She never expected the arsonist to be Pang Jiayun?!

According to their deductions, if the killer was connected to the old case, there would inevitably be a fourth murder method—arson. Now that arson had indeed occurred, but the one setting the fire was Pang Jiayun... Was she the murderer?!

Qin Guan's frown deepened. If Pang Jiayun was the murderer, then who was the victim?

"Where is Master Pang?" she asked urgently.

No sooner had she spoken than footsteps sounded behind the crowd. Qin Guan turned, expecting someone else, only to see Pang Youde following Pang Fuliang as they approached. Her suspicions grew even stronger. Based on Yan Chi's and her own reasoning, the past incident should have involved Qing Yun, Liu Renli, and Pang Fuliang. Yet now, with the fire raging, Pang Fuliang was outside?

Could Pang Jiayun's arson be just a coincidence?!

The thought had barely formed when a blood-curdling scream suddenly pierced the air above them.

Startled, Qin Guan instinctively looked up—just in time to see a shadow plummeting from the third floor of the building. Everyone who witnessed it reflexively stepped back, followed by a thunderous "boom" as something heavy crashed onto the steps right in front of them.

The turn of events was so sudden that even Yan Chi couldn't react in time.

Under the blinding glare of the flames, Qin Guan saw Pang Yiwen's face clearly—drenched in blood.