"Ninth Miss, are you implying that neither the disappearance of the sachet nor the clothing was a coincidence?"
Zheng Baishi's expression darkened slightly, his eyes filled with gravity.
Upon hearing this, Qin Guan looked at Zhan Yang. "Zhan Butou, has anything like this ever happened before?"
Zhan Yang focused his gaze in thought, then shook his head. "No. While there aren't many pieces of evidence in a case, they are crucial. The yamen staff takes great care in preserving them. Since I joined the Lin'an Prefecture yamen, there has never been an instance of evidence going missing."
Qin Guan nodded. "If that's the case, then this matter indeed requires careful consideration by Lord Zheng and Zhan Butou. Everyone has moments of carelessness, and losing things in haste isn't strange. But now, two items have gone missing in succession..."
She continued, "When I previously heard Zhan Butou mention that the third victim's clothing had been lost, I found it odd. A victim's clothing isn't a small item like a sachet—if it were truly dropped, someone would likely have seen it. Yet it still disappeared. I didn't inquire about the details at the time, thinking perhaps the situation was more urgent than I imagined, so I didn't question it further. However, this time, judging by Zhan Butou's reaction, even the loss of the sachet seems unbelievable. Therefore, we must connect this with the previous incident."
At this point, Zhan Yang frowned. "If it wasn't lost due to carelessness, could it be that someone intentionally disposed of it? Those are all belongings of the deceased—what use could they have?"
Qin Shu and Zheng Baishi exchanged glances, their expressions turning grim.
Zheng Baishi said, "Those pieces of evidence may not be valuable in terms of money, but they can leave us at a dead end."
Qin Yan narrowed his eyes as well. "As Ninth Sister said, the victim's clothing likely contained crucial clues and evidence of the crime, yet it conveniently went missing. This time, we finally found something related to the victim, only for it to vanish so quickly. If we attribute it to carelessness by the subordinates, I find that hard to believe."
Hearing this, Zhan Yang understood Qin Shu and Zheng Baishi's implication. "So, there's a mole in our yamen? Trying to obstruct our investigation? But what benefit would they gain if this case remains unsolved?"
At this, Qin Guan gave Zhan Yang a profound look. Zhan Yang was typically stern and somewhat rigid in demeanor, yet he seemed unaware of court politics. Zheng Baishi was, after all, affiliated with the Eastern Palace. Zhan Yang should clearly understand that if this case went unsolved, The Emperor would first blame the Crown Prince, and second, Zheng Baishi, the Lin'an Prefecture Magistrate. This move would not only disgrace the Crown Prince but also draw The Emperor's dissatisfaction toward his key supporter—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Zheng Baishi sighed and glanced at Zhan Yang. "His Majesty has privately set a deadline for the Crown Prince. If this case isn't solved soon, His Majesty will be deeply displeased with both the Crown Prince and our Lin'an Prefecture yamen."
Zhan Yang's eyes widened momentarily before his face also took on a grave expression.
Though unfamiliar with the covert struggles of the court, Zhan Yang was, after all, the chief constable of Lin'an Prefecture. After pondering a few steps further, he grasped the crux of the matter, his expression turning stern and his gaze cold.Qin Guan sat quietly. At this point, there was no room for her to speak, and she hadn’t expected that such a straightforward prison case would become a bargaining chip in the struggle between the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng. No wonder Prince Cheng had arrived so opportunely that day with such a grand display. A chill ran down Qin Guan’s spine. The lofty Prince Cheng did not want this case solved, nor did he care whether the killer, if not apprehended, would strike again or if more women would fall victim. As long as the case remained unresolved and the Eastern Palace faced the Emperor’s reprimand, it would suit him perfectly.
"Brother Zheng, the investigation must continue. The mole in the yamen is the key. Also, can the clothing of the third victim be recovered? If so, we’d have another piece of evidence. Otherwise, it’s still too difficult."
Qin Shu’s tone had turned grave. Meanwhile, Zheng Baishi stood up. "Understood, Marquis. I’ll return to the yamen with Zhan Yang to look into this immediately—"
Qin Shu also rose. "Tomorrow is the final day, Brother Zheng. It’s up to you now."
Zheng Baishi nodded firmly and cupped his hands toward Qin Guan and Qin Yan. Qin Guan had already stood up and performed a curtsy. Qin Shu personally escorted Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang out before returning. His expression now seemed somewhat relieved. "It was indeed right to call Wan Yatou here. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have known the sachet was missing."
Qin Guan could only reply, "It’s possible I overthought it. The yamen’s affairs are complex, and carelessness leading to loss isn’t out of the question."
Qin Shu shook his head. "Brother Zheng’s temperament aside, you may not know Zhan Yang well. He’s only twenty-five but has been a constable in Lin’an Prefecture for three years. During that time, many cold cases have been resolved. Though he’s usually reserved and unsmiling, his dedication to solving cases is rare among the young. As he said himself, in all his years as constable, evidence has never gone missing. So I’m certain your speculation is correct."
A faint gleam appeared in Qin Shu’s eyes. "Do you know why Prince Cheng showed up so suddenly this morning when we accompanied you to the Mortuary Temple for the Corpse Examination?"
Before Qin Guan could answer, Qin Shu continued directly, "Because Prince Cheng doesn’t want this case solved. The fact that evidence has gone missing twice speaks volumes. In other cases, evidence never disappears, yet in this one, it’s happened twice in a row… Without your reminder, we wouldn’t have realized Prince Cheng had gone this far…"
This laid bare the conflict between the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng before Qin Guan. She lowered her gaze slightly, unsure of Qin Shu’s intent, when he looked at her for a moment and said gently, "Don’t be alarmed by what I’ve said. These matters aren’t for you to concern yourself with, but seeing your extraordinary composure, I thought it best to be straightforward to clear your doubts."
Qin Guan nodded. "Yes, I understand, Uncle."
Qin Shu nodded in return and smiled. "It’s unclear how long Brother Zheng’s investigation will take, and it’s getting late. You should rest now. Though this case weighs on us, tomorrow is New Year’s Eve—your first in the capital. It ought to be celebrated properly—""Yes, then I shall take my leave first, niece."
Qin Shu's expression was extremely gentle. "Very well, let your third brother escort you back."
Qin Yan acknowledged and accompanied Qin Guan out the door. Fuling held up an umbrella, and the three of them headed back toward Pine Breeze Courtyard.
After walking a short distance, Qin Guan suddenly asked, "Third Brother, if this case remains unsolved, what will happen to the Eastern Palace? And what about Prince Cheng?"
Qin Yan hadn't expected Qin Guan to take the initiative to ask, so he spoke frankly, "It's hard to say exactly what will happen. If His Majesty becomes furious, he'll likely punish the Crown Prince with minor disciplinary measures at most. However, since these are all assignments delegated by His Majesty, if the Crown Prince fails to handle them properly, it will disappoint His Majesty. And when His Majesty is disappointed with the Crown Prince, there will naturally be others eager to step forward and gain His Majesty's favor."
As he spoke, Qin Yan lowered his voice slightly, "These matters aren't really something we should be discussing."
Qin Guan nodded, her tone cooling somewhat, "I know. It's just that this case has been delayed until now, the murderer remains at large, and the three victims' souls cannot rest in peace..."
Qin Yan seemed to understand Qin Guan's meaning and hesitated a moment before saying, "Ninth Sister, that's how things are at the top - a single move affects the whole situation, which naturally impacts those below. You'll witness more of this in the future."
Qin Guan let out a breath, "Don't worry, Third Brother, I understand."
Qin Yan sighed softly, "With your extraordinary intelligence, you should be able to comprehend this. Even in ordinary households, there are struggles between senior and junior maids, let alone in the palace. The higher the status, the greater the implications. Those below, even like Father, are powerless. With the current court situation unstable and people's hearts unpredictable, we can only seek to protect ourselves."
Qin Guan was well aware of everything Qin Yan said. She was merely sighing over the powerlessness of those at the bottom.
"Father values you, so he doesn't hide these things from you, but it's fine if you don't want to think about these matters."
Walking beside Qin Guan, Qin Yan worried that a young girl like her might feel uncomfortable suddenly discovering she was involved in court struggles, so he offered some comfort. However, Qin Guan wasn't weak-willed after all, and quickly cast aside her sighing. As they approached the gate of Pine Breeze Courtyard, Qin Guan suddenly seemed to remember something, "Third Brother, are there only Prince Cheng and the Crown Prince's factions in court now?"
Qin Yan paused in his steps, facing the fine snow still falling from the sky, "Not exactly. There are other princes too. And His Majesty is currently in his prime years - what will happen in the future is actually still unknown. It's just that the current master of the Eastern Palace is the most secure for now."
His Majesty was indeed in his prime. Although he had established a Crown Prince, it was mainly to stabilize the court situation. But what did being Crown Prince matter? Before ascending to that position, others had countless opportunities to pull him down.
Qin Guan pressed her lips together tightly. After a long moment, she suddenly asked in a low voice, "What about Prince Jin?"
At these words, Qin Yan's relaxed expression immediately changed. Frowning, he said in an extremely low tone, "Why does Ninth Sister ask about this?""
Qin Guan replied calmly, "When I went for the corpse examination today and Prince Cheng arrived, I didn't know what was happening. It wasn't until Uncle mentioned it tonight that I realized the capital is such deep waters. I'm not familiar with other princes, but I know Prince Jin's reputation, so it suddenly came to mind. I was just asking. If I encounter matters related to Prince Jin in the future, I'll know how to act."Qin Yan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "Ninth Sister is right to think this way. However, the name 'Prince Jin' has now become taboo both in the palace and outside. So you needn't worry—no one will dare stir up trouble regarding Prince Jin's affairs anymore. Even if someone is reckless enough to try, just ignore them. Also, from now on, do not mention Prince Jin to anyone."
Qin Guan's face was filled with confusion. "Why is that?"
Qin Yan took a step closer. "Prince Jin's case has been conclusively settled. Everyone is avoiding the matter, and even I don't know the details—nor does Father. So don't ask any more questions. In the future, if you have questions about Prince Cheng, the Crown Prince, or other imperial princes, you can come to me. It's indeed better to know more when navigating the capital."
He added with a hint of gravity, "Ninth Sister, truly, do not ask anyone about Prince Jin's affairs."
Seeing Qin Yan's repeated warnings, Qin Guan realized the matter was indeed serious. She couldn't refuse in front of him, so she nodded. "Yes, I understand..."
Qin Yan then pressed his lips together. "Alright, don't overthink it. Go inside and rest."
Qin Guan nodded again and turned to enter Pine Breeze Courtyard.
From the gate to the main hall was only about twenty steps across the central courtyard, but Qin Guan suddenly walked extremely slowly.
Her brow was tightly furrowed, her gaze unusually heavy.
She could tell that Zheng Baishi and Qin Shu were extremely cautious regarding her father's affairs, and from Qin Yan's attitude just now, Prince Jin's case was utterly untouchable. Yet Qin Guan knew deeply that her father's case must be tied to Prince Jin's. Li Muyun had accused her father of shielding Prince Jin and attempting to exonerate him. So, was Prince Jin guilty or innocent?
"Young lady, what's wrong? Aren't you cold? Please come inside quickly."
Fuling urged her, and the main hall's door opened as Baiying stepped out. "Young lady, come in quickly."
Qin Guan snapped out of her thoughts and hurried into the room. Baiying poured her a cup of hot tea and, noticing Qin Guan's dazed expression, glanced questioningly at Fuling. Fuling asked, "Young lady, is the elder master asking you to perform another Corpse Examination?"
Qin Guan shook her head. "No, it's just that the case isn't making much progress."
She added wearily, "Let's wash up and rest."
Fuling wanted to advise Qin Guan not to dwell on things, but seeing her state, she hurried to prepare hot water. After Qin Guan finished washing and lay down, Zheng Baishi's pained expression when mentioning her father surfaced in her mind. Zheng Baishi was a third-rank official, and Qin Shu held a noble title, yet neither dared speak her father's name openly. How could a mere orphan like her even approach the edges of Prince Jin's case?
An unprecedented sense of powerlessness washed over Qin Guan. Before arriving in the capital, all she had thought about was how to get there. After setting out, she focused solely on her father's role in Prince Jin's case and how to present his unjust treatment to the Court of Judicial Review. But now in the capital, she realized she had been too naive. Under the Emperor's feet, matters conclusively decided by the Son of Heaven were weighed down by the entire imperial city. She couldn't even shake the Marquis's residence—how could she challenge the supreme authority of the imperial palace?She was not unaware of the covert strife within the court. After her father assumed the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he occasionally vented his frustrations about court disputes. Even from his fragmented remarks, she understood the hidden daggers and clashing blades in the imperial court.
Precisely because she knew how treacherous and complex those struggles were, she instinctively avoided touching or dwelling on them. Yet now it seemed that once she stepped into Lin'an City, once she became entangled with the powerful, no one could escape this contest for authority. She sought self-preservation and plotted to clear her father's name, but it appeared she still did not fully comprehend court rivalries. Her father's case, Prince Jin's case—perhaps both were casualties in the struggle for power. And if she wished to pierce through the mist and seek the truth, how could she succeed without influence or connections?
While still in Jinzhou, Qin Guan had considered that upon reaching the capital, she would need to rely on the Marquis's estate for some convenience. But nine days in the capital had taught her that merely borrowing the Marquis's influence was insufficient. The Marquis's estate would not exhaust all its resources for her, and she would never reveal her true identity to Qin Shu and others. Since the Marquis's estate dared not touch her father's or Prince Jin's cases, who in the entire realm would dare?
Yan Chi's face flashed through Qin Guan's mind, but she instinctively shook her head in her heart.
"My heart is not a stone, it cannot be rolled away"—these were the words she had spoken to Yan Chi. Yet if she placed her hopes in him, those words would become laughable. Qin Guan stared wide-eyed at the pitch-black canopy above her bed. She would not choose Yan Chi, nor did she know whom to choose. Since she could not decide whose influence to borrow, why not gain power for herself?
Outside the window, snowflakes pattered softly. Inside the room, Qin Guan's heart seemed tinged with a chill.
She could not linger idly in Pine Breeze Courtyard every day. She needed an opportunity.
In the darkness, Qin Guan clarified her resolve. Unbeknownst to her, as she made this decision, her opportunity was about to arrive...
...
On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month in the 239th year of the Great Zhou calendar, Qin Guan celebrated her fourth New Year in the capital. This year was different from all previous ones. Early in the morning, she had already written sacrificial texts to honor her ancestors. The careless Fuling did not notice that Qin Guan had prepared two copies—one for the Qin couple, and the other bearing a small character "Shen" in the signature space. Baiying moved a charcoal basin to a corner of the courtyard, where Qin Guan conducted a simple yet solemn ceremony for her father and mother.
Just as the sacrificial texts and spirit money in the brazier turned to ash, Qin Yan arrived at the gate of Pine Breeze Courtyard. His steps were brisk, his eyes sparkling with barely concealed delight, though his expression remained restrained. He urged quickly, "Ninth Sister, come with me to the main courtyard. Hurry!"
The urgency in his "hurry" left no room for questions. Fuling deftly straightened Qin Guan's skirts, and she followed Qin Yan toward the main courtyard.
"Third Brother, what is the matter?"
Qin Yan's smile deepened. "You'll know when we get there!"
Qin Guan pressed her lips together and asked no more. Soon, the main courtyard loomed before them.
Upon entering, Qin Guan immediately sensed an unusual atmosphere. Granny Yu and others waited outside with bowed heads, holding their breath in silence. The main hall's doors stood wide open, and Qin Guan glimpsed several figures clad in black robes. Taking a few steps closer, her eyebrows suddenly lifted—these were no ordinary black garments, but palace-made attire...
Before this thought fully formed, a rather shrill male voice suddenly rang out.
"Ah, this must be the esteemed Ninth Miss of your household—"
OpenNovel