It was an extremely blurry figure, darting out from behind the pitch-black window frame. The indistinct outline even made Qin Guan feel a tingling sensation on her scalp, yet she was certain it was a person.
Hui Garden was already empty, so how could there suddenly be a figure in Pang Fuliang's study?!
Qin Guan frowned deeply, her first thought being Qing Niang.
But why would Qing Niang go to Pang Fuliang's study?
As she pondered this, she tried to see more clearly but couldn't. The room was unlit, and no matter how hard she looked, she could only make out a vague silhouette—not even the person's height or build. Frustrated, Qin Guan wished her Thousand-mile Eye could be even more powerful...
"Miss, what do you see?"
Fuling, noticing Qin Guan's furrowed brows and anxious expression, grew worried as well.
Qin Guan whispered, "There's someone in the main room ahead..."
"Someone? The garden is empty today."
After Fuling spoke, Baiying immediately asked, "Miss, should I go take a look?"
Qin Guan shook her head. "No need—"
As soon as she uttered these words, another figure flickered into view through the slightly trembling lens of the Thousand-mile Eye. Qin Guan's frown deepened. Holding her breath, she focused intently on the window.
She had assumed the first figure was Qing Niang, but if that were the case, why would there be a second one?
Qin Guan stared unblinkingly through the small circular frame of the Thousand-mile Eye. When the second figure appeared, the first showed no sign of surprise. Clearly, the first person knew the second was coming, and the second knew the first was already there. Why had these two sneaked into Pang Fuliang's study one after another?
"Where is Pang Youde now?"
Qin Guan quickly asked. Having been in the courtyard all day, she wasn't aware of the arrangements outside.
Baiying, however, knew. "Steward Pang was released this morning, but when Master Pang went missing at noon, he was locked up again. He's now in the northern courtyard, guarded by the yamen runners."
Qin Guan frowned. In the entire Pang household, Pang Youde was likely the only one bold enough to enter Pang Fuliang's study. But since he was also imprisoned, who else would dare?
Her suspicions grew heavier. Suddenly, the tightly shut window swung open.
With the window open, the blurry outline inside became slightly clearer. To her astonishment, Qin Guan realized the person in the room was nearly six feet tall and slightly plump. Her heart raced—it was a man! Definitely not Qing Niang!
The figure seemed to peer outside cautiously before quickly closing the window again.
Qin Guan's frown deepened. She abruptly lowered the Thousand-mile Eye and turned to Baiying.
"Baiying, can you find the Crown Prince?"
Baiying was momentarily taken aback, unsure why Qin Guan seemed so urgent. "We can send a Signal Flare, but it might not reach him quickly. It only works if His Highness is within a ten-mile radius."
Qin Guan nodded. "Good. Send it immediately."Baiying responded with a soft "Mm," then turned and headed toward the north-facing window. A faint "whoosh" sounded as a streak of white light, like a shooting star, arced across the sky and vanished. Fuling, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp why Qin Guan had asked Baiying to find Yan Chi. Meanwhile, Qin Guan had already raised the Thousand-mile Eye to her eye once more.
When she looked through it again, Qin Guan was surprised to find that a dim lamp had been lit in Pang Fuliang's study in just those few moments. With the lamp now glowing, the previously indistinct outlines in the darkness became clearer. Two figures were distinctly silhouetted against the window—one standing tall and straight by the window, while the other, after exchanging words with the first, soon exited the study.
Qin Guan frowned. Who would dare enter Pang Fuliang's study and even light a lamp?
The lighting of that lamp immediately overturned her earlier suspicions. She had initially thought the furtive figure in the study might have been Pang Fuliang himself, either never having left Qinghui Garden or having returned midway. But now, if it were Pang Fuliang, why would he dare to light a lamp? And who was the other person?
"Baiying, let's go take a look—"
"Miss, wait a little longer."
Qin Guan lowered the Thousand-mile Eye and was about to descend the stairs when Baiying suddenly approached from the north window, hesitantly blocking her path.
Qin Guan frowned. Baiying glanced toward the north window and said, "His Highness is within a ten-li radius. He’ll surely return within two quarters of an hour—he just responded with a Signal Flare."
Two quarters of an hour? That wasn’t too long...
With this thought, Qin Guan raised the Thousand-mile Eye again to observe Pang Fuliang's small study. The lamplight remained unchanged, and the tall figure still stood motionless by the window, as if waiting for someone or lost in thought. The figure hadn’t moved at all in all this time.
Qin Guan relaxed slightly. Whoever was in Pang Fuliang’s study at this hour was certainly unusual, but as long as they weren’t planning to leave, there was no need for her to take risks now. Baiying had only just recovered from her injuries and couldn’t fully eliminate all dangers.
"Alright, we’ll wait then."
Qin Guan relented, keeping the Thousand-mile Eye trained on the main house as she stood by the window.
Baiying also exhaled in relief. Qin Guan was her mistress—if she had insisted on going out, Baiying wouldn’t have been able to stop her.
Waiting always felt interminable. Qin Guan’s arm grew sore from holding up the Thousand-mile Eye, yet strangely, the figure in the main house remained standing motionless. Her frown deepened. Who was that person?
Outside, the cold wind howled, and the sky was pitch-black as if splashed with ink. Just as Qin Guan’s patience was wearing thin, another streak of white light rose into the sky from the north. Baiying quickly said, "Miss, His Highness will be here any moment!"
Qin Guan’s heart eased. Sure enough, after a short wait, two figures landed outside the small red pavilion. Without another thought, Qin Guan lifted her skirts and hurried downstairs, nearly slipping on the steps in her haste. But she paid no mind—by the time she reached the first floor, the door was just being opened.The door opened, and the daylight outside was indeed brighter than inside. Qin Guan focused her gaze and saw Yan Chi's tall, imposing figure standing at the entrance. Her heart eased, and she quickly rushed to his side. Before she could speak, Yan Chi grasped her hand firmly. "What happened? Why are you here?"
Though Yan Chi's tone remained composed, there was a barely detectable urgency in his voice. Qin Guan noticed it immediately, and her heart softened. She hurriedly replied, "I followed Qing Niang here."
"Qing Niang?" Yan Chi was slightly surprised, unaware of anything unusual about her.
Qin Guan nodded and then asked, "Have you found Pang Fuliang?"
Yan Chi shook his head, shifting slightly to block the cold wind from outside. In doing so, he also blocked the daylight, so when Fuling saw the two standing together, she didn’t notice Yan Chi holding Qin Guan’s hand.
"No, we’ve searched everywhere outside—no trace of him."
Yan Chi’s answer was exactly as Qin Guan had expected. She raised her hand and pointed toward the main house.
"Pang Fuliang might never have left. Someone just entered his study."
Yan Chi’s breath stilled. "The main house?"
As he spoke, he turned around. In front of the small red building was a decorative wall that obstructed the view, but Yan Chi’s height allowed him to see over it. Combined with his sharp eyesight and the fact that the lit room stood out starkly in the darkness, he immediately spotted the illuminated study and the shadowy figure cast on the window.
Though he couldn’t make out the figure clearly, he knew someone was standing behind the window.
"There really is someone. Is it Pang Fuliang?"
"Uncertain. But at this hour, no one else would dare enter his study without permission. Earlier, I saw another person, but they’ve already left."
Yan Chi pondered briefly before calling out, "Bai Feng—"
"Yes, Master. What are your orders?"
Yan Chi summoned Bai Feng. "Go check the guards stationed around the residence tonight. See if anyone left. Report back as soon as Prefect Wang returns..."
Bai Feng crisply acknowledged the order and swiftly departed. Yan Chi then explained to Qin Guan, "The yamen officers are stationed throughout the residence to prevent Pang Fuliang from returning. If someone entered and left just now, as long as they haven’t left the residence, it’s fine. Prefect Wang is also rushing back with his men—I just arrived ahead of him. We’ll wait for his return."
Qin Guan nodded. "You were already planning to return?"
Yan Chi nodded. "No results outside. I suspect we overlooked something."
Qin Guan hummed in agreement. "That’s very possible."
Yan Chi studied her intently before suddenly asking, "You said you followed Qing Niang here? Then where is she?"
Qin Guan didn’t know the answer, nor could she explain it easily. "I don’t know. We followed her and saw her enter the building. After that, no lights were lit inside, and we didn’t see her leave. We thought something had happened to her, but when we came up to check, there was no one inside. She vanished."
Yan Chi’s brow furrowed deeply. "Why were you following Qing Niang? Do you suspect her?"Yan Chi quickly grasped the key point. After a brief pause, Qin Guan nodded with a soft "Mm." Lowering her voice, she meticulously shared her suspicions about Qing Niang with Yan Chi—from her initial doubts to her later conversation with Qinglan, and finally to Qing Niang's strange movements earlier. When Qin Guan finished, Yan Chi said, "This afternoon, I received news that Qingxi's disciple was named Qinghuan. She indeed disappeared after the incident with Qingxi's family. Later, the authorities concluded that Qinghuan was counted among those lost in the fire. But the number of bodies didn't match. However, with no leads, the case remained unsolved all these years..."
Qin Guan silently repeated the name "Qinghuan" before solemnly stating, "It's highly possible she survived that disaster."
"Earlier, I hadn't noticed this person. Without your insight, we might never have connected her to this. Now that you mention it, everything makes sense." Yan Chi glanced toward the study as he spoke. From this angle, the upright figure was still standing there. Frowning, he asked, "Don't you feel something's off?"
At his question, Qin Guan also looked toward the study window. Soon, her expression changed slightly.
"He seems to have been standing there the entire time."
"In the time I've been here, his posture hasn't changed at all."
Even if lost in thought, standing motionless for so long would make anyone's legs go numb.
Yan Chi frowned. "Something's wrong. We can't wait for Prefect Wang—I'm going to check."
As Yan Chi turned to leave, Bai Feng returned. "Master, the Prefect has entered the estate."
"Tell him to come to Hui Garden immediately—"
Without stopping, Yan Chi strode forward, and Qin Guan quickly followed. He glanced back at her, about to suggest she stay behind, but seeing her resolute expression, he held his tongue.
As Bai Feng left, Yan Chi led Qin Guan, with Fuling and Baiying close behind, swiftly heading toward the main house.
Soon, the four reached the study outside the main residence. Yan Chi signaled for Qin Guan to wait outside while he entered alone. Unaware of the situation inside, Qin Guan remained at the door, motionless.
Yan Chi's figure vanished behind the door. Qin Guan warily scanned her surroundings, her hands tightly clasped together.
Moments later, Yan Chi emerged—his expression darker than before. Qin Guan's heart tightened. "What happened?"
Yan Chi gave her a deep look, hesitation flickering across his face. "Pang Fuliang is dead."
Qin Guan froze. The person in the room was really Pang Fuliang?!
But how could Pang Fuliang be dead? She peered inside. "He's truly dead?!"
Yan Chi replied, "The scene is rather... Do you want to see?"
Finally understanding his hesitation—death scenes were never pleasant—Qin Guan nodded without hesitation. Yan Chi turned. "Come with me."
Qin Guan followed him inside, while Fuling and Baiying exchanged a glance before trailing behind.Entering the main hall and turning left, Qin Guan was immediately hit by a strong metallic scent of blood as she approached the doorway. Her gaze swept across the scene, catching sight of a winding crimson rivulet flowing out from inside the room—bright red and horrifyingly arresting. Fuling and Baiying, who had followed behind, gasped sharply at the sight. Qin Guan, observing the blood that had already reached the threshold, stepped forward slowly.
As she drew nearer to the door, more of the scene unfolded before her. This was Pang Fuliang’s study, exquisitely decorated with refined luxury. Now, the dim glow of a single lamp illuminated the room, while the blood trail thickened into a pool the further inside it went. When Qin Guan finally stopped at the doorway, she saw Pang Fuliang at the far end of the bloodbath.
Clad in a gray martial outfit, Pang Fuliang stood rigidly by the window, a gleaming three-foot-long sword piercing through his chest, leaving a gaping wound. Even from a distance, Qin Guan could tell the blade must have been firmly embedded in the window frame—only that could have kept his body upright. His face was deathly pale, eyes wide open, hands half-clenched in spasmodic fists. An expression of lingering agony was frozen on his face, and from his chest, blood still dripped steadily downward...
The torment etched on Pang Fuliang’s face sent a chill down Qin Guan’s spine. This wasn’t just murder—it was prolonged, excruciating torture. The sword in his chest hadn’t struck his heart directly; he had watched himself bleed out slowly before succumbing. His gray robes were soaked dark red from the wound downward, now dried into a macabre hue. Beneath him, the blood had pooled at his feet before snaking its way to the door like a serpent.
This hadn’t happened in an instant. By the time she had seen his rigid figure against the window, the process had already begun.
Qin Guan’s frown deepened, her hands clenching tightly.
She had been watching this room the entire time—so who had killed Pang Fuliang?
Another figure had appeared in the room, but Qin Guan clearly remembered that when the second person arrived, neither of the two inside had shown any signs of disturbance. She refused to believe Pang Fuliang wouldn’t have resisted or struggled if someone had attacked him.
But if not that second person, then who?
The gruesome scene didn’t frighten Qin Guan—what unsettled her was that someone had committed murder right under her nose.
With this thought, her eyes narrowed. Though she hadn’t yet pieced together how the killer had done it, she had followed Qing Niang here. Was there a connection between Qing Niang’s mysterious disappearance and Pang Fuliang’s death?
As countless questions swirled in Qin Guan’s mind, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed in the courtyard, quickly approaching before barging into the room. Wang Huaiyu’s voice came rapidly, “Your Highness, what happe—”
The word “happened” died on his lips as Wang Huaiyu, stopping behind Qin Guan and the others, froze at the sight of Pang Fuliang pinned to the window. It took him a long moment to regain his voice. “This… what is this…?”
Yan Chi glanced at him. “He was already dead when we arrived.”
Wang Huaiyu still seemed dazed before murmuring, “I… I was just about to report to Your Highness… When I returned earlier, the second young master of the Pang family was caught trying to sneak out from the west side.”
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