Coroner's Diary

"She is my person, Fourth Brother, you've misunderstood."

A deep and resonant voice suddenly came from behind. Yan Qi was taken aback, immediately turning around. Almost simultaneously, everyone lifted their gaze toward the entrance of the back hall—

Within their line of sight, a strikingly handsome figure appeared before the crowd.

Yan Chi was dressed in a black robe embroidered with golden python patterns, his frame as solid as forged iron, his brows and eyes as cool as jade. He strode in with long, purposeful steps.

His appearance left Yan Qi momentarily stunned, while Zheng Baishi and Qin Shu widened their eyes in disbelief. Who would have thought that Prince Rui's heir would also arrive at such a critical moment?

Yan Qi narrowed his eyes, studying Yan Chi for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile. "Well, well, if it isn’t Seventh Brother, back already! This Mortuary Temple is certainly lively today."

Yan Chi’s phoenix eyes swept briefly over Qin Guan. This was the first time he had seen her dressed in men’s attire. The corners of his lips curved slightly, and his phoenix eyes sparkled as if filled with stars. He looked directly at Yan Qi and asked, "What brings Fourth Brother here?" Then, glancing at Qin Shu and the others kneeling on the floor, he added, "Why are Lord Zheng and the Marquis kneeling on the ground?"

As he spoke, the curtain behind him was lifted, and Zhan Yang entered, carrying the lamp oil bowl. Taking in the tense atmosphere in the room and noticing Yan Qi’s presence, he immediately sensed something amiss and promptly knelt to pay his respects.

Yan Qi was of similar stature to Yan Chi, with equally refined features. Unlike Yan Chi, however, he possessed a pair of menacing peach-blossom eyes, their upturned corners not conveying romance but rather an air of arrogance and intimidation. Standing there, he seemed to command fear and reverence from all. In response to Yan Chi’s question, he swept his gaze across the room and scoffed, "What a coincidence. A thief broke into my residence today, and I chased him all the way to this Mortuary Temple. I came in to apprehend the culprit, only to find so many people gathered here."

He then glanced at Yan Chi and asked, "What brings you here?"

A faint smile played on Yan Chi’s lips. "I returned late last night. Just now, I reported two matters to the palace. Fourth Brother must already know—earlier, I went to Jinzhou on The Emperor’s behalf and took on duties at the Judicial Bureau. As soon as I returned to the capital, I learned that a case had also emerged here."

His gaze lingered on Qin Guan for a moment. "This case is of great importance. I happen to have a skilled individual by my side, so I lent her to Lord Zheng. Since I had to enter the palace this morning, I asked Qin Shizi to bring her to the Mortuary Temple."

Yan Qi frowned deeply. "Your person? You’ve only just returned to the capital, and you’re already so invested in this case?"

Yan Chi’s smile remained faint. "I encountered several cases along the way and have developed something of an interest in judicial matters." He paused briefly before adding, "Oh, and by the way, during my audience today, The Emperor expressed his intention to assign me to the Ministry of Justice. It seems I’ll be taking up the post after the New Year. As for this case, The Emperor also instructed me to discuss it with Lord Zheng and solve it as soon as possible, which aligns perfectly with my own thoughts."

Yan Qi was slightly taken aback. "The Ministry of Justice? You’re not returning to the western frontier?"

Yan Chi’s smile deepened. "Whether I return or not depends on The Emperor’s wishes. Even if I do, there’s no hurry—it won’t be for another year or two."

A shadow of calculation flickered in Yan Qi’s eyes. Compared to his earlier aggressive demeanor, he seemed to relax noticeably upon hearing this news. He chuckled lightly and said, "I see." Then, his gaze drifted once more to Qin Guan, who stood with her head bowed.The back hall was dimly lit, and Qin Guan stood by the small doorway, her face silhouetted against the light behind her. At a glance, Yan Qi thought she appeared slender and delicate. Though he sensed an air of dignified composure about her, she soon lowered her gaze and bowed, making her seem unremarkable among the crowd—at most, a capable young person. Moreover, she didn’t look like someone who would be framed for a crime. After turning it over in his mind, Yan Qi relaxed.

"I thought some idler was disrupting official duties here, but it turns out to be Seventh Brother’s people. It’s good that Seventh Brother is concerned about the capital’s murder case, though I hadn’t realized he was so close to the Loyal Marquis Manor."

His words carried subtle implications. The Loyal Marquis Manor sided with the Crown Prince, so if Yan Chi was close to them, did it mean he had made his choice? Yan Qi studied Yan Chi, who curved his lips into a smile. "On the way back from Jinzhou, I traveled with the heir apparent. His men happened to recognize mine. Since the heir apparent is reliable, I entrusted this matter to him."

Yan Qi gave a hollow smile as he glanced at Qin Shu and his son. "So you’re here to inquire about the case too?"

"Exactly. The case is quite complex, so I came to see for myself."

Yan Qi shrugged. "In that case, it’s sure to be solved soon." He then made a show of scanning the room. "It seems the thief I’m after isn’t here either. Seventh Brother, Fourth Brother will take his leave now. Since you’ve returned, visit my residence another day—it’s been years since we brothers properly gathered."

Yan Chi nodded. "Rest assured, Fourth Brother, I’ll certainly impose on you soon."

Yan Qi turned breezily. "Let’s go—we’ll search elsewhere—"

With that, he and his retinue withdrew like a receding tide. Only after Yan Qi had completely left did Yan Chi turn to Zheng Baishi and the others. "Lord Zheng, Marquis, please rise—"

"How is it that the Crown Prince has returned?"

Zheng Baishi expressed surprise, then hurriedly bowed. "I pay my respects to the Crown Prince."

Yan Chi’s lips curved slightly. "I did return late last night. Please rise."

Zheng Baishi and Qin Shu then stood up. Zheng Baishi didn’t know that Qin Yan had traveled back with Yan Chi, but Qin Shu was aware—not only that, he also knew Qin Yan had failed to win Yan Chi over. Yet now, Yan Chi had come to their aid!

Zheng Baishi stepped forward. "Thank you for helping us out of this predicament today, Crown Prince." He glanced back at Qin Shu, then at Qin Guan. "How did you know we were being harassed by Prince Cheng? Unless…"

Qin Yan finally smiled. "The Crown Prince is acquainted with her." He then asked curiously, "But how did you know we were here?"

Yan Chi’s assistance didn’t surprise Qin Yan, but his timing was almost too coincidental.

Yan Chi smiled. "What I said earlier wasn’t entirely false. This morning, the Emperor did indeed intend for me to oversee this case. I left the palace heading for the magistrate’s office, but halfway there, I learned Lord Zheng had come to the Mortuary Temple, so I changed course. I didn’t expect to run into you here."

Zheng Baishi’s eyes lit up. "Ah, so His Majesty truly wishes for you and this official to jointly preside over the case?"

Yan Chi replied casually, "Not exactly presiding. I’ve just returned to the capital with no immediate duties, so the Emperor gave me this assignment."Zheng Baishi hastily waved his hand. "Your Highness is too modest. You took up the post of Judicial Commissioner in the Criminal Investigation Bureau and have already handled several major cases for His Majesty. Now that you've returned, there's hope for solving this capital case."

Yan Chi remained noncommittal. Qin Shu also cupped his hands and said, "Since Your Highness has returned with the Emperor's decree, it's only fitting that you preside over this case alongside Lord Zheng. With Your Highness's assistance, this case will surely be resolved soon."

Yan Chi's gaze fell upon Qin Guan once more. As he was surrounded by Zheng Baishi and the others, Qin Guan had become the person farthest from him. Yan Chi remarked, "Whether this case can be solved or not—you've already found the best help."

At his glance, Zheng Baishi and Qin Shu finally turned around. Meanwhile, Zhan Yang and two bailiffs were also looking at Qin Guan.

Qin Guan stepped forward and curtsied to Yan Chi. Zheng Baishi said beside them, "Your Highness has come at an opportune time—we've just completed the Corpse Examination." He then turned to Qin Guan. "Young master, have you discovered anything?"

Yan Chi watched Qin Guan leisurely, while she herself seemed somewhat distracted.

Yan Chi had returned—he had finally returned. She just hadn't expected their reunion to occur under such circumstances.

Thinking this, Qin Guan lowered her gaze and quickly composed herself. "The latter two victims also died from suffocation, with very similar marks on their necks. Moreover, the wounds on the second and third bodies indicate they were both violated by the killer after death. The second body lacks the bruising found on the first, while the third body shows similar bruises again. I suspect the killer hid the bodies in a room with stairs and, to conceal them better, dragged them across the steps."

"Additionally, the first and second bodies show no signs of struggle or fighting, but the third body has clear bruises on the arms and shoulders. Also, I found something resembling grime under the third victim's fingernails. However, both her fingernails were neatly trimmed—there was grime in the right hand but not the left. Therefore, I speculate that the substance under her nails was likely picked up somewhere, and most probably during the attack by the killer. If it had been there earlier, she would have tried to wash it off."

Zheng Baishi and the others nodded in agreement. Qin Guan then asked, "Are the victims' clothing available?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Baishi smiled wryly. "To be frank, young master, the clothing was originally with the bodies. But when transporting them here, the third victim's garments were accidentally lost. Now we only have the clothes of the first and second victims." He turned and said, "Zhan Yang, go fetch them—"

Zhan Yang, still holding the lamp oil bowl, stepped forward and placed it on a wooden board nearby. He then turned and walked toward another small chamber. Shortly after, he returned carrying a bamboo basket.The bamboo basket contained several women's dresses. Qin Guan took the basket and carefully removed each garment one by one, then examined the two pairs of shoes placed at the very bottom. Seeing her meticulous inspection, Zheng Baishi explained, "The first victim was found by the river, with her legs and feet submerged in water. Any traces on the shoes were washed away. The second was discovered in an abandoned house, with only dust on the shoes and nothing else noteworthy..."

Qin Guan examined each item thoroughly and found nothing unusual, just as Zheng Baishi had described.

"Why were the third victim's clothes lost?" Qin Guan sighed in frustration. The third case was the most recent, and any clues on the garments would have been the easiest to trace—yet, the clothes had gone missing.

Hearing this, Zhan Yang stepped forward, lowering his gaze. "It was my negligence—"

His tone was grave, but Qin Guan shook her head. "I am not blaming Zhan Butou."

Zheng Baishi sighed and waved a hand at Zhan Yang. "Enough, now is not the time for this. Many officers were on duty that day. The body was first sent to the government office for a preliminary examination. After confirming it was the work of the same killer, it was transferred to the Mortuary Temple. The clothes were lost during the transfer—how it happened remains unclear."

Zheng Baishi sighed again. "If the clothes can't be found, is there no other way?"

Qin Guan frowned slightly. "The first and second victims' cases are too old. Even if there were traces, they might have been obscured by decomposition. The third victim was our best lead, especially with the grime under her fingernails—something the others didn't have. Losing the clothes might mean missing crucial clues."

Her eyes then shifted thoughtfully. "For now, we must rely on other evidence."

Qin Guan picked up the lamp oil bowl. The previously unidentified black substance had now reduced to mere residue at the bottom. Removing her gauntlet, she used her fingers to sift through the remnants. After a moment, she frowned. "The third victim ate tangerines and fish before her death. There are undigested tangerine seeds and fish bones in her stomach."

"She ate tangerines? And fish?" Zheng Baishi's expression turned serious.

Qin Guan nodded, a faint glimmer of insight in her eyes. "Her home is outside the city. That day, she came into town—did she bring her own provisions, or did she have lunch in the city?"

Zheng Baishi quickly looked to Zhan Yang, who was well-versed in such details. Zhan Yang stepped forward promptly. "She only brought silver with her that day. Though her family lives outside the city, they are not poor. When she left, she told her family she was going to the West Market to shop—"

Qin Guan raised the lamp oil bowl. "Then start by investigating the West Market. Trace the origin of the tangerines and fish. Tangerines might be common, but fish isn't typically sold by small street vendors."

A spark of understanding lit Zhan Yang's eyes, and Zheng Baishi also brightened. After the incident, they had questioned people in the West Market but lacked a specific direction, mostly focusing on New Year's goods stalls, which yielded no leads.

"Good, Zhan Yang, investigate immediately. Take the girl's portrait and make inquiries."

Zhan Yang nodded. Zheng Baishi then turned to Qin Guan. "Young master, is there anything else?"

Qin Guan set down the lamp oil bowl and glanced back at the bamboo basket. After a pause, her voice cooled slightly. "Are these all the deceased's garments?"Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang nodded in unison, but Qin Guan frowned, "However, I did not find the undergarments of the two deceased inside."

Zheng Baishi was taken aback, and Zhan Yang also looked startled. Zhan Yang even spoke with a strained tone, "There's absolutely no mistake about these two individuals' clothing—they were missing from the very beginning. Are you implying... the killer took them?"

Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang, including Yan Chi and Qin Shu, were all men who likely didn't understand what undergarments meant to women. Qin Guan pointed at the bamboo basket, "These two were from households in Lin'an City. Though not wealthy, they were not impoverished either. On that day, one went out to buy vinegar, the other to deliver a meal to her brother—both tasks requiring them to appear in public. Therefore, their attire was neat and the fabric was of decent quality. This shows they certainly paid attention to their clothing and appearance. Families like these would not fail to provide undergarments for their daughters. Since they are missing now, it must be that the killer took them."

Zhan Yang quickly added, "But when we discovered the bodies that day, all the victims' clothing was neatly worn..."

A cold glint flashed in Qin Guan's eyes, "If the killer could commit violence after the victims were dead, why would he be afraid of dressing them? The fact that the undergarments of both victims are missing clearly indicates the killer has a fetish for women's undergarments. Combined with his pattern of harming lives before assaulting them, this person is undoubtedly deranged. I suspect if the third victim's clothing is found, her undergarments will also be missing."

Zhan Yang and Zheng Baishi exchanged glances, their expressions turning grave.

Qin Guan then removed the gauntlet from her other hand, "This is all I've deduced from the corpse examination this time. I believe Fang Bo has also uncovered many clues. The rest is up to Lord Zheng and Zhan Butou."

Zheng Baishi promptly nodded, "Young master, you've worked hard—"

Qin Guan shook her head, and Qin Yan hurriedly led her to wash her hands. Meanwhile, Zheng Baishi gestured to Zhan Yang, "Explain once more in detail to the Crown Prince how the three cases were discovered—"

Yan Chi had come here partly for Qin Guan and partly because of the case. Seeing Zheng Baishi's instruction, he had no objection. Zhan Yang's expression turned serious, and he began explaining to Yan Chi with great detail. After washing her hands, Qin Guan returned just in time to hear Zhan Yang describing the two locations where the bodies were found in the west and east of the city.

Noticing Qin Guan's entrance, Zhan Yang instinctively looked at her. Qin Guan stepped forward, "It occurs to me now that my earlier assumption might have been biased. The places where the murders occurred, where the assaults took place, and where the bodies were dumped could all be different. However, the two affected families are located in the east and west respectively, and the dumping sites are also vastly different. It makes me wonder, who would be so familiar with both areas? There is a curfew in the capital, so dumping bodies at night carries a high risk of being seen, yet he left no traces."

Qin Guan glanced around, walked over to the Guanyin statue, and picked up a bundle of incense, "For instance, one family is here, another family is here, with such a great distance between them. The Yu Shui Bridge is here, the abandoned old residence is here, and the dark alley is here. Most perpetrators would choose environments they are familiar with, but the current scope is simply too broad..."Qin Guan held the incense sticks, marking one spot for each stick. Once she finished placing them, the area covered was indeed vast. "One possibility is that before the crime, the killer deliberately searched for a dumping site. If that's the case, then this person likely planned the murder timing in advance. If they could plan the timing, they must have been very familiar with the victim—knowing their activity range and schedule, thus knowing when they could kill them. But according to Zhan Butou, none of the three victims were engaged in their daily routines when they went missing. In other words, the killer couldn't have predicted that the victims would be out at those times—"

Yan Chi's lips curved slightly. "So you think it's more likely the killer acted randomly?"

Qin Guan nodded. "They might not have had a specific target, but simply encountered the victims by chance. If that's the case, then the three dumping sites warrant deeper consideration. These three sites are in different directions and not particularly close to one another. The fact that they disposed of the bodies three times without being seen suggests they must be very familiar with this entire residential area."

As Yan Chi listened to Qin Guan's words, a thought suddenly struck him. He drew a circle on the wooden board, first enclosing the entire area, then drew another circle, this time only enclosing the first victim's home and the dumping site. Immediately after, he drew a second circle, enclosing the second victim's home and where the body was found. Then, he swiftly drew a third circle, enclosing the West Market and the dark alley. Though these circles were not solid lines, Qin Guan and Zhan Yang, standing nearby, understood Yan Chi's meaning. Zhan Yang raised his hand and drew a small circle in the air—precisely where the three larger circles overlapped.

Qin Yan's eyes lit up. "Exactly!"

On the other side, Zhan Yang's expression relaxed. "I understand now! I know how to conduct the search."

Zheng Baishi and the others were also watching but hadn't grasped what Yan Chi was drawing. Zhan Yang turned and said, "Sir, I'll go out now to gather evidence and see if I can uncover any crucial leads."

Zheng Baishi nodded. "Go ahead, and be quick."

Zhan Yang naturally knew time was running short. He acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

With Zhan Yang dispatched, Qin Guan's task for the day was effectively complete. Though no definitive evidence had been found, the government office now had a new direction. Zheng Baishi repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Noting the late hour, Qin Yan proposed taking their leave. But before the group could exit the rear hall, the guard stationed at the door entered again.

"Sir, Prince Cheng's men are still waiting outside."

Zheng Baishi was taken aback. Qin Shu and Qin Yan exchanged glances. Earlier, Yan Chi had helped them out of a tight spot by claiming Qin Guan was under his protection. If they were seen now with Qin Guan returning to the Marquis residence alongside Qin Yan, it would be difficult to explain.

Yan Chi remained calm. "It seems we have to see this lie through to the end. Let her come with me."

Qin Guan stood to the side, pursing her lips without speaking. Qin Shu and Qin Yan hesitated slightly. Yan Chi said, "She'll come with me for now. I'll make sure she gets back later—"

Zheng Baishi sighed. "It seems that's the only way. My apologies for the trouble, Your Highness. And... young master, you'll have to endure some inconvenience as well."

Qin Guan offered a faint smile. "Not at all, you flatter me, sir."Seeing this, Qin Shu and Qin Yan had no choice but to agree. Yan Chi then said, "My carriage is outside. I'll take her away—"

Qin Shu hesitated, still looking at Qin Guan, and finally said, "Alright, then go with His Highness."

Qin Guan nodded. She initially intended to perform a curtsy but then remembered she was dressed in men's clothing, so she simply cupped her hands and followed Yan Chi out. Watching the two of them leave the back hall one after the other, Qin Shu turned to Qin Yan with a questioning look. Qin Yan explained, "Father, have you forgotten her identity? It's only natural that the Crown Prince shows her some consideration."

Zheng Baishi looked at Qin Yan in confusion—what identity could this young lady possibly have?

A faint smile touched Qin Yan's lips. "Jinzhou, the Grand Princess—"

With just these few words, Zheng Baishi suddenly understood. He thought for a moment, and his eyes immediately lit up.

He had always admired Qin Guan greatly, and rumors about the Grand Princess adopting a granddaughter had been circulating in the capital. Now, Qin Guan's status in Zheng Baishi's eyes rose even higher. "So it's her! In that case, she ranks ninth among the Qin clan?"

Qin Yan nodded, while Zheng Baishi chuckled heartily, "Well done, well done!"

...

...

As soon as they boarded the carriage, Yan Chi took Qin Guan's hand in his palm.

Qin Guan was still holding the freshly washed gauntlets Yan Chi had gifted her. Though made of deerskin, they were damp and chilling to the touch. Yan Chi tossed them aside and asked, "Why did you assist with the corpse examination?"

Qin Guan studied Yan Chi with clear, bright eyes. She hadn't noticed it earlier, but now that they were close, the faint weariness on his face became more apparent. "The case has been stagnant, and Third Brother wanted my help."

A cold glint flashed in Yan Chi's eyes. "They're truly sparing no effort to aid the Crown Prince."

Noticing Qin Guan's hand was still icy, he lifted his robe and tucked her hand against his chest. Qin Guan's eyes widened slightly, and Yan Chi wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her into an embrace.

Qin Guan instinctively felt it was improper and tried to move, but Yan Chi's hand settled firmly on her waist. "Don't move."

His voice was low and tinged with satisfaction. Hearing this, Qin Guan obediently stilled.

Yan Chi gently stroked her back, his voice rumbling near the crown of her head. "Do you understand how significant this case is?"

Qin Guan hummed in acknowledgment. "I have a general idea. It involves the Crown Prince."

"If this case isn't solved before New Year's Eve, the Emperor will surely be furious with the Crown Prince. The Marquis estate enlisted your help entirely out of loyalty to the Crown Prince. Prince Cheng must have received word and didn't want anyone to aid the Crown Prince in resolving this predicament in the final two days, which is why he barged in today."

As he spoke, Yan Chi continued to lightly caress her back. "The capital isn't like Jinzhou."

His admonition brought a faint smile to Qin Guan's lips. "I know."

Yan Chi pulled back slightly to look at her. "Do you truly know?"

Qin Guan nodded. "Truly, I do. But since I'm residing in Qin Manor, I must stand with them through thick and thin. Besides, conducting the corpse examination can help uncover the truth sooner. I had no other choice."

Hearing this, Yan Chi brushed his fingers against her cheek. "As long as you're aware. You must remain vigilant at all times."

He then glanced at her attire for the day. "Dressed like this, how could you possibly go unnoticed?"

Qin Guan looked down at herself and laughed. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Among those present today, aside from the young constable and the two bailiffs, I suspect Prefect Zheng and the old coroner both recognized you. It's not that Qin Yan shouldn't have sought your help, but the arrangements were rather careless."

Warmth spread in Qin Guan's heart. Qin Yan had acted in haste, and he hadn't seen any flaw in the plan. But Yan Chi, who prioritized her above all else, deemed it inadequate.

"There wasn't enough time. Besides, if Prince Cheng hadn't shown up, it would've been fine."

As she spoke, Qin Guan tried to withdraw her hand. Yan Chi loosened his grip and let her go, but the next moment, he couldn't resist cupping her face. He studied her intently, as if checking whether she had changed in their days apart. Qin Guan's eyes darted away, slightly flustered. "Where... where are we going?"

Yan Chi's expression remained unchanged. "Upon seeing me, you show no delight?"

Qin Guan's smile turned wry at his words. "How could I not—"

"Hmm?" Yan Chi suddenly leaned closer, as if to scrutinize her eyes. "Then why don't I see it?"Qin Guan blinked her eyes, feeling Yan Chi's breath scaldingly hot. Just as she was about to step back, his lips pressed down upon hers.

Her eyes flew wide open as Yan Chi pulled her tightly into his embrace. Qin Guan blinked, then finally closed her eyes and clutched the front of Yan Chi's robe. Satisfied, Yan Chi began his tender yet relentless conquest. It was only after a long while that Qin Guan broke away, gasping for breath. Before she could recover, the carriage showed signs of coming to a stop. With mild surprise, she lifted the curtain to look out, and her eyes immediately fell upon four gilded characters: "Prince Gong's Royal Residence."