"The second young master of the Pang household?" Yan Chi frowned.
Wang Huaiyu gave a bitter smile. "Yes, the second young master was carrying a bundle and trying to leave the residence."
Yan Chi turned to Qin Guan, who also frowned. "Earlier, I saw two people in this room. The other figure was indistinct, but I'm certain there was definitely someone else."
Yan Chi then looked at Wang Huaiyu. "Bring the second young master here."
Wang Huaiyu acknowledged and went out to give the order, while Qin Guan stepped over the stream of blood at the threshold and entered.
She had assisted her father in many cases before, but she wasn't officially part of the government. Though she had developed an interest in murder cases, she didn't feel compelled to investigate every one she encountered. However, Pang Fuliang had died right before her eyes today. She didn't feel particularly challenged or insulted, but she was certainly irritated.
No matter how heinous Pang Fuliang's crimes were, he shouldn't have died like this. Most importantly, she had been watching this area—why hadn't she noticed anything amiss? A sense of frustration welled up in Qin Guan's heart, mingling with her irritation and fueling her courage. Without waiting for Yan Chi or Wang Huaiyu to speak, she stepped forward to examine the scene.
Her gaze swept over the study, an elegantly furnished room belonging to nobility, showing no signs of disturbance. The bronze lamp in the corner cast a dim glow, and the flint used to light it lay neatly on the lampstand. The placement of the flint suggested the person who lit it had done so casually and without haste. Qin Guan meticulously inspected the tall cabinets and the desk before finally turning her attention to Pang Fuliang.
Pang Fuliang must have suffered greatly before his death, evident from his wide, staring eyes and tightly furrowed brow. Yet, beyond the pain, there was also shock on his face—as if he hadn't expected to be killed, or perhaps hadn't expected his murderer to strike.
Could it have been Pang Yiwu? Wang Huaiyu's words had planted a seed of suspicion in Qin Guan's mind, and her thoughts naturally turned toward Pang Yiwu.
With this in mind, Qin Guan approached Pang Fuliang. A large pool of blood spread before him, so she stood to his side.
From this angle, she could see the long sword firmly embedded in the window frame. Pang Fuliang's body was a short distance away from the frame, indicating he had struggled to pull the sword free. But with his wound bleeding profusely and the sword lodged so securely, his struggles only widened the gash in his chest, hastening his death.
Qin Guan pondered this before lowering her gaze to examine Pang Fuliang's hands and the rest of his body.
Both of his hands hung at his sides, half-clenched into fists, stained with blood but uninjured. The rest of his body was similarly unscathed. Qin Guan frowned. Had Pang Fuliang been killed with a single sword strike?
Thinking this, she decided to inspect his hands more carefully. Upon closer examination, her expression darkened further.
Yan Chi stepped up behind her and also observed Pang Fuliang's palms. "Calluses on his tiger's mouth, palms, and fingertips—he must have been a trained fighter."
Yan Chi had mentioned earlier that Pang Fuliang's family ran a martial arts school, so Qin Guan wasn't surprised he knew martial arts.
"He has no external injuries or signs of poisoning. If he was a trained fighter, how could he have been killed in a single strike?" Qin Guan mused, then turned her gaze to the sword impaled in Pang Fuliang's chest. "And where did this sword come from...?"As soon as Qin Guan finished speaking, a clamor arose in the courtyard outside. Moments later, Wang Huaiyu strode to the doorway. "Your Highness, the second young master of the Pang family has been brought here."
Yan Chi glanced at Pang Fuliang. "Bring him in."
Wang Huaiyu acknowledged and turned to leave. Qin Guan and Yan Chi exchanged a look, their eyes equally profound.
"Prefect Wang, I... I just wanted to return to my hometown in Dingzhou. Father is gone, my elder brother is dead, and I'm the only one left in this household. I... I was just scared..."
Pang Yiwu's voice, accompanied by footsteps, grew louder as he approached. Soon, two figures appeared at the study's entrance.
"Prefect Wang, I don’t know anything, I only—"
Pang Yiwu clutched a bundle to his chest, his fine robes replaced by a plain gray cloth garment. His appearance clearly suggested an attempt to flee amidst the chaos. Led in by Wang Huaiyu, he looked timid and hesitant. But as soon as he reached the doorway, his words abruptly stopped—he saw Pang Fuliang nailed to the window.
Pang Yiwu froze like a statue, his eyes wide with horror and shock. Moments later, his voice trembling, he took a step forward. "Father—Father—"
His steps faltered, and he failed to notice the pool of blood on the ground, stepping right into it.
Yet he dared not approach further. After entering the doorway, he stood motionless, his expression a mix of shock and grief.
Pang Yiwu stared wide-eyed at Qin Guan, then at Yan Chi, before turning back to Wang Huaiyu. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "You... How did my father... Who... Who did this?!"
His eyes reddened. Yan Chi narrowed his gaze slightly, observing the bundle on Pang Yiwu’s back. "Where were you headed, Second Young Master?"
Pang Yiwu avoided Yan Chi’s eyes, glancing down at the blood on the floor. But he couldn’t bear the sight for long and quickly looked away. "Crown Prince... I... I was scared and wanted to leave Qinghui Garden."
"Oh? And what’s in your bundle?"
Yan Chi’s quiet question made Pang Yiwu flinch again.
"Just some travel expenses..."
Pang Yiwu indeed seemed like he was trying to escape. Yet even if the Pang family was entangled in several murder cases, there was no reason for him to flee unless he was the killer. Moreover, how could Pang Fuliang’s presence in the estate be explained?
Yan Chi glanced at Pang Fuliang’s corpse. "Before leaving, didn’t you come to see Master Pang?"
Pang Yiwu took a deep breath and shook his head. "No, I didn’t..."
He lifted his gaze briefly to Yan Chi before lowering it again. Yan Chi let out a cold laugh. "You’ve been here for a while now, Second Young Master, yet you haven’t expressed any surprise at Master Pang’s return."
Pang Yiwu hunched his shoulders. Yan Chi turned to Wang Huaiyu. "Prefect Wang, you may recall it was the Second Young Master who revealed Master Pang’s absence from the estate. That led us all to leave Qinghui Garden in pursuit. Yet he waited until nightfall to prepare his own departure. And Master Pang—his attire also suggests an intent to flee."
Yan Chi’s words made Qin Guan realize something she hadn’t considered before. Pang Fuliang was also dressed in a gray martial outfit, even more streamlined than Pang Yiwu’s. First, he had used a diversionary tactic—what else had he been planning?Qin Guan glanced at the tall cabinets in the room. Where had Pang Fuliang been hiding during the day?
"I... I don't know... I was really just scared..."
Pang Yiwu still hunched his shoulders, his voice growing quieter. Yan Chi observed him for a moment before saying, "Prefect Wang, let's see what the second young master brought with him..."
As soon as the words were spoken, Pang Yiwu immediately clutched his bundle tighter. Wang Huaiyu, noticing something amiss, stepped forward and seized the bundle. Pang Yiwu was slender and not particularly tall, while Wang Huaiyu was notably large and strong. With a single tug, he wrenched the bundle from Pang Yiwu's grasp. Pang Yiwu stared desperately at his bundle, but against Wang Huaiyu, he was utterly powerless. Watching his bloodless lips, Yan Chi narrowed his eyes slightly.
Pang Yiwu's bundle wasn't large. Wang Huaiyu carried it to a nearby desk, set it down, and opened it. Inside were some travel funds like silver notes. Frowning, Wang Huaiyu then spotted a small set of keys in the bundle. He picked them up and turned to look at Pang Yiwu. "Second Young Master, where did these keys come from?"
Pang Yiwu quickly glanced at the keys in Wang Huaiyu's hand before lowering his eyes again. "They're... they're the keys to my room..."
Wang Huaiyu chuckled lightly. "Is that so? Think carefully, Second Young Master. I'll have someone test them shortly. If you're lying, you'll be charged with deceiving the authorities."
At this, sweat beaded on Pang Yiwu's forehead.
Seeing this, Wang Huaiyu exchanged a glance with Yan Chi before continuing, "Someone—"
Before he could finish calling out, Pang Yiwu immediately looked up. "Prefect Wang... those... those aren't my keys. They're..."
His gaze flickered toward Pang Fuliang's corpse nearby. "They're... they were given to me by my father."
Wang Huaiyu frowned. "When did your father give them to you?"
Pang Yiwu's face was drenched in sweat, his complexion ghostly pale. His hands fidgeted helplessly at his sides, torn between fear of punishment and the terror of Pang Fuliang's wide, unblinking dead eyes.
"I... I... just..."
Pang Yiwu stammered, one hand trembling as he wiped his sweat.
Wang Huaiyu softened his tone slightly. "Second Young Master, you don't handle affairs in the household. Even if something happened, it might not have been your intention. As long as you tell the truth, I won't wrongfully accuse you."
He added, "Your father is already dead. Right now, you're closely linked to his death. If you don't clarify, you might even be implicated in his murder..."
Pang Yiwu, already on edge, shuddered as if his courage had shattered. He hurriedly said, "No, no! When I arrived, Father had just come out of the secret chamber. We had an agreement."He spoke at an extremely fast pace, first nervously glancing at Wang Huaiyu and Yan Chi before resigning himself with a sigh. "Steward Pang was released this morning. He came to speak with my father for a while. After he left, my father called me in. He... he said that many years ago, the Pang family had been involved in an unrighteous business deal. Though they had escaped consequences back then, now... because people have died, that matter might be uncovered. He said the Pang family was at a critical juncture of life and death and asked me to act out a play with him. I went to fetch a physician, then deliberately left a few clues to make it seem as though my father had disguised himself as the physician and escaped. But in truth... my father was only hiding in the secret chamber..."
"During the day, there were too many constables in the residence—not even a fly could slip out. We had to wait until they were withdrawn at night before he could leave. My father arranged to meet me here again in the evening, so I changed clothes beforehand and came at the appointed time."
After a pause, Pang Yiwu looked at the key in Wang Huaiyu's hand. "When I arrived, my father had already been waiting here for a long time. As soon as I came, he gave me this key and told me that there were several chests of the Pang family's savings in the old estate in Dingzhou. He said that once this matter came to light, the family's fortune would likely be lost, and those savings were for me. He told me to take them to Liangzhou, and that he would also be waiting for me there..."
Yan Chi and Qin Guan exchanged a glance, their eyes brightening.
Wang Huaiyu also keenly noted the term "savings." "Did your father say what these savings were?"
Pang Yiwu shook his head. "No, but I assume they're mostly gold, silver, and jewels."
Wang Huaiyu nodded. "And then?"
Pang Yiwu continued, "My father told me to leave through the west gate. He said he would follow me after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. If I were caught, I was to claim ignorance and say I was just too afraid to stay here."
Pang Yiwu had indeed said as much earlier. Yan Chi studied Pang Yiwu for a moment before looking at Qin Guan, who gave him a slight nod—she believed Pang Yiwu was telling the truth.
"Did your father open the window to check the situation outside?" Qin Guan suddenly asked.
Pang Yiwu looked at her in surprise. "How did you know?"
Qin Guan didn't answer, but she understood now—the person who had opened the window to check outside before the room was lit had been Pang Fuliang. "After that, you left?"
Pang Yiwu nodded again. "Yes, my father told me to go first."
Qin Guan frowned. "Was the room lit before you left?"
Pang Yiwu shook his head once more. "No, my father was hiding in the residence secretly. Why would he light a lamp?"
Qin Guan clenched her delicate fists—this was the crux of the problem!
After Pang Fuliang closed the window, she had Baiying send the Signal Flare to Yan Chi. Then, in the time it took to exchange a few words with Baiying, the lamp in the room had been lit. Once the light was on, Pang Fuliang stopped moving. Yet Qin Guan had clearly seen two figures in the illuminated room.
The other person at that time was the murderer?!
Qin Guan's breath hitched. The murder had already occurred by then. The shadow before and after the lamp was lit belonged to two different people. That meant the killer had slipped in after Pang Yiwu left, striking in the darkness while Pang Fuliang was completely unprepared—This explains why Pang Fuliang offered no resistance—he likely thought the person entering was Pang Yiwu at that moment.
But how did the murderer time their entry so precisely in such a short span?
At this thought, Qin Guan immediately recalled the mysteriously missing Qing Niang. If Qing Niang truly was Qinghuan, she must have possessed exceptional lightness skills and agility. When Qin Guan had gone up to the second floor of the small red pavilion, both the front and rear windows had been open. It was highly possible that Qing Niang had already slipped out through the rear window and infiltrated the main quarters. Having been in the residence for years, her deliberate infiltration of Qinghui Garden spoke volumes about her motives. Naturally, she would be intimately familiar with the layout of the main quarters, and with her agility, hiding unnoticed outside would have been effortless.
Qing Niang—she was the most likely suspect.
This would align perfectly with all of Qin Guan’s previous deductions.
Yet as she considered this, a chill ran down her spine. These were merely her inferences—without concrete evidence, what then?
The second figure hadn’t stood by the window. She only knew someone was inside but couldn’t discern whether they were male or female, tall or short. Testifying like this would only direct suspicion toward Pang Yiwu, who had already admitted to entering the room…
“What’s wrong?” Yan Chi suddenly asked, noticing Qin Guan’s pale complexion.
Qin Guan looked up at him for a moment, her heart clenched tight. Having pieced everything together, the most crucial question now surfaced: Qing Niang had orchestrated all of this, and every move had been witnessed by Qin Guan herself. Yet, with a magician’s sleight of hand, Qing Niang had employed a diversion—one meant specifically for Qin Guan. She had known from the very beginning that they were following her!
Qin Guan’s spine stiffened, her palms damp with cold sweat—
She had always been the one unraveling mysteries thread by thread, yet today, she had unwittingly become someone else’s pawn.
Shaking her head, Qin Guan mouthed two words: “Qing Niang.”
Yan Chi nodded in understanding, then turned to Wang Huaiyu. “Prefect Wang, take the second young master out first. I need to speak with you.”
Wang Huaiyu immediately sensed there was more to the matter and quickly complied, instructing the yamen officers to escort Pang Yiwu away.
Once Pang Yiwu was gone, Yan Chi methodically relayed Qin Guan’s findings and suspicions to Wang Huaiyu. By the time he finished, Wang Huaiyu stood gaping in shock. “Qing Niang? You mean… Qingxi’s disciple from back then?”
Even Yan Chi had been taken aback by this revelation, so no one faulted Wang Huaiyu for his stunned reaction. Clamping his mouth shut with effort, Wang Huaiyu added, “Most of the younger generation in Qinglan wouldn’t recognize Qinghuan’s peers, but Qing Yun and Qing Li should have known her. How did no one recognize Qing Niang?”
Qin Guan’s expression turned grave. “Qinglan mentioned she had visited Qinghui Garden many times but never had any impression of Qing Niang. Moreover, when Qing Yun came this time, the third young master overheard the conversation between Pang Fuliang and Qing Yun, but Qing Niang didn’t. As you know, Prefect Wang, Qing Niang was always by the third young master’s side, attending to him without fail. When I questioned her, she claimed she hadn’t been feeling well that day and wasn’t with him. I suspect Qing Niang deliberately avoided being present whenever Qing Yun or Qing Li visited. Otherwise, Qinglan wouldn’t be so familiar with the third young master yet have no memory of his nursemaid…”
Wang Huaiyu stood frozen, processing the information for a moment before straightening his posture. “Very well. I’ll go arrest her at once!”
OpenNovel