Coroner's Diary

Although the Lantern Festival palace banquet was just around the corner, for Qin Guan, this grand occasion held little relevance to her.

Early the next morning, Qin Guan went out to visit the Meng residence. When she arrived, it was still quite early, and the main gate was tightly shut. After knocking, she waited a moment before someone came to answer. The gatekeeper, recognizing Qin Guan, dared not delay and promptly went to inform Meng Yao.

After another short wait, Meng Yao finally appeared.

This time, Meng Yao showed none of the delight she had displayed during Qin Guan's previous visit. The Meng family's case had been settled—not only did the family now know the identity of the murderer, but they also faced the impending sentencing of Meng Ziyi and Xu shi. Ultimately, the homicide had exposed deeper, more sordid crimes within the Meng household, leaving Meng Yao in no mood for smiles.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to offer you proper hospitality today. Please come with me to my quarters first."

Meng Yao's face was etched with exhaustion, dark circles under her eyes clearly indicating she hadn't slept well these past two days. Qin Guan nodded and followed Meng Yao at a leisurely pace toward her courtyard.

After two consecutive nights of snowfall, the Meng estate was blanketed in silver, much like the scene depicted in that painting. Unfortunately, compared to that day, everything had changed. Due to the recent troubles, the servants who were usually visible had now disappeared, leaving the snow in the corridors and central courtyard untended. As snowflakes drifted down, Qin Guan felt chilled despite wearing her cape. Observing Meng Yao's despondent and sorrowful expression—while not exactly rude to Qin Guan—Meng Yao had guessed that the progress of this case was closely tied to Qin Guan, who had never mentioned it before.

Walking ahead, Meng Yao kept her lips pressed tightly together. Qin Guan watched her for a long moment without speaking.

After the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, they reached Meng Yao's courtyard. Upon entering the room, Qin Guan noticed it was unusually cold. When they moved to the Warm Chamber, she discovered Meng Yao had left the window wide open, though it was unclear what she had been doing earlier.

Qin Guan sighed. "Your health can't withstand this. If you catch a cold, your asthma will worsen."

As she spoke, Qin Guan closed the window. Meng Yao didn't stop her, though her expression remained heavy with defeat. Watching her, Qin Guan sighed again. A maid served a cup of hot tea before withdrawing.

"How has the household been these past two days?" Qin Guan asked.

Meng Yao shook her head. "Not well. Third Aunt fell ill upon returning, and Father isn't doing well either—he's resting today, so he won't be seeing you."

Qin Guan quickly offered, "Shall I go check on them?"

Meng Yao continued shaking her head. "No need. They're old ailments. We've already called for another physician."

Qin Guan nodded and simply took a sip of tea.

Meng Yao drifted into a daze for a while, then sighed and turned to look at Qin Guan. "Please don't take it to heart. With the case settled and us learning the truth, we're just... deeply distressed. Second Uncle and Eldest Brother are gone, and now Third Brother and his wife face an uncertain future. Taking care of Third Aunt and Father these past two days has left me exhausted..."

Qin Guan shook her head, then after a moment's thought said, "I came today to explain things to you."

Meng Yao gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "There's no need for explanations. I understand everything. What happened, happened. If these truths hadn't been uncovered now, we might never have known them. You were merely assisting Lord Zheng and the Crown Prince in solving the case. Without you, the truth wouldn't have come to light so quickly..."Qin Guan pursed her lips. "When this case first occurred, we hadn't met yet. That's why I initially kept things from you, and later it became even harder to explain. You only knew I was involved in solving the case, but not what exactly I did. Am I right?"

Meng Yao nodded. Though she didn't know the details, she wasn't particularly curious. While she didn't blame Qin Guan, it still hurt to be kept in the dark by a trusted friend.

Qin Guan continued, "My medical skills... besides treating patients, they have another use..."

She spoke slowly, deliberately building suspense, which immediately piqued Meng Yao's curiosity. Meng Yao looked up at Qin Guan. "Another use?"

Qin Guan nodded. "I can also use my medical skills... to examine corpses."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yao's expression changed dramatically. First her eyebrows shot up, then confusion clouded her eyes. "Examine corpses? You mean... like what the coroners do in the magistrate's office?!"

Meng Yao knew Qin Guan's medical skills were extraordinary. But medicine was medicine - it treated illnesses and saved lives. Though it was a technical skill, it commanded respect and admiration. It could relieve pain and heal wounds on a small scale, and even bring people back from death's door on a larger scale. Exceptional medical practitioners were revered as masters! But examining corpses? That was something only coroners did - men from lowly backgrounds. As far as Meng Yao knew, whether in previous dynasties or the current Great Zhou, she had never heard of a woman examining corpses!

Meng Yao was utterly shocked. The shock was so great that her previous despondency vanished. She studied Qin Guan carefully for a moment, confirming she wasn't joking before her gaze steadied. "You... you can examine corpses..." At this point, her eyes suddenly widened with realization. "So... so it was you who examined Second Uncle and Elder Brother's bodies?"

Qin Guan inclined her head. "Yes. When your family's case first emerged, I only knew about it through rumors. I still didn't know the details when you first came to the Marquis residence for treatment. But after two days, with no progress in the case, Lord Zheng and the Crown Prince asked me to take a look. On the fourth day, I came to your residence to examine your Second Uncle's body. That was when I first learned the details of the Meng family case."

Seeing Meng Yao's solemn expression, clearly wanting to know the whole process, Qin Guan continued, "During the first examination, since your family didn't consent to an autopsy, I could only determine that your Second Uncle didn't die from an accidental fall - it was most likely murder. That's why the authorities continued investigating. A few days later, the magistrate suspected your Fourth Uncle, but just then your Elder Brother died. His death was also staged to look like suicide, but when I examined him, I found injuries on his body indicating he was murdered. Only then did your family consent to an autopsy. After the autopsy, we indeed obtained several crucial clues."

Meng Yao's pupils contracted as she listened. As a proper young lady from a respectable family, she only knew poetry, literature, and etiquette. She had only heard about coroners' work, but now Qin Guan was talking about autopsies. She couldn't believe that Qin Guan's flawless, delicate hands could actually perform autopsies on corpses...

"When you say autopsy," Meng Yao asked hesitantly, "do you mean... cutting open dead people with a knife?"

Her voice was strained. By now, completely captivated by Qin Guan's account, she had forgotten all about the worries brought by her family's case.Qin Guan nodded, "That's correct. After a person dies, clues remain in their abdomen and orifices. If someone drowned, their stomach would contain evidence indicating where the drowning occurred..."

Since the deceased was Meng Jin, Qin Guan couldn't speak too explicitly. However, Meng Yao had heard Zhan Yang's account that day—about finding rose seeds in Meng Jin's stomach, and later discovering the long-unused bathtub and rose petals for bathing at Xu Shi's residence. Meng Yao's hands clenched softly at her sides, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"You... how did you manage this? How dare you..."

Meng Yao couldn't fathom how someone with Qin Guan's delicate features and ethereal, serene demeanor could bear to face corpses—let alone dare to perform autopsies...

This wasn't the first time Qin Guan had been asked this question. Her expression remained steady, her eyes solemn. "Most people consider the coroner's path a lowly profession. They see contact with corpses as dirty and unlucky. But consider this: if the deceased have souls, how desperately they must wish for someone to speak for them—to voice the injustices they suffered after death, enabling the authorities to catch the killer... Coroners are their advocates..."

Meng Yao's gaze shifted several times as Qin Guan continued firmly, "Though the coroner's path may seem humble, I view it as a noble skill. Physicians relieve the living from suffering, but what about the dead? While society reveres the deceased, only coroners can speak for them. I don't consider this work dirty or degrading. Moreover, the coroner's craft shares much with medical arts. By chance, I began assisting the authorities..."

"So, this wasn't your first time?"

Meng Yao ventured the question, and Qin Guan nodded confirmation.

Meng Yao stared blankly at Qin Guan, her emotions in turmoil. Days earlier, they had conversed joyfully—though newly acquainted, they'd felt like kindred spirits. She didn't oppose Qin Guan's involvement in the investigation, but wondered: despite their closeness, Qin Guan had known of her anxiety yet withheld information. She didn't blame her, yet felt unsettled. Qin Guan was rational, composed—perhaps their bond hadn't warranted full transparency...

The mansion's case had weighed heavily on her, and Qin Guan's secrecy added to her distress. Thus, meeting today lacked their usual warmth. But seeing Qin Guan's earnest gaze, she suddenly understood: before their friendship blossomed, Qin Guan had already approached the case with professional gravity. How could she casually share details?

"What else did you discover?"

Qin Guan continued, "My corpse examination could only reveal so much. The rest relied on the authorities' investigation—until you showed me those paintings..."

"Paintings?" Meng Yao started slightly. "You mean the ones by Master Ning?"Qin Guan nodded, "It's about those paintings. When I first saw them, I didn't notice anything unusual. But on the eighth day of the month, when I visited the Yong'an Marquis residence as a guest, they had also hired a painter to create portraits of us. At that time, we were watching people in the west from the upper floor of the small building, but the painter was working from the eastern side. He included both us and the plum grove in his painting, yet he couldn't see the people in the west."

Meng Yao looked puzzled upon hearing this. Qin Guan continued, "Because his line of sight was blocked by the plum grove. At that moment, I suddenly remembered the paintings you showed me. You mentioned that those works were created by three different painters from separate locations. Then I recalled the portrait of your father and his two brothers - your second uncle was looking down toward the lower floor, seemingly captivated by something he saw..."

Being clever, Meng Yao immediately understood, "So you suspect Second Uncle's death might not have been due to inheritance disputes?"

"Exactly. So I shared this theory with the Crown Prince..."

"And then the Crown Prince brought people to examine the paintings at my home?"

Qin Guan nodded, "Yes. Later evidence confirmed my suspicion. That day, your second uncle was actually watching the Young mistress."

At these words, Meng Yao's eyes darkened. This was hardly honorable news - rather, such an incident brought great shame to the Meng household. She lowered her gaze for a moment, exhaling softly before saying, "Because of this, suspicion fell on the third branch?" Then she recalled how Yan Chi and Zheng Baishi had subsequently investigated the third branch, "But nothing conclusive was found in the end."

Qin Guan murmured in agreement, "That day when you and your brother visited the Marquis residence, Zichen mentioned he'd previously seen the Third Young Master behaving strangely. He even said he witnessed him snap a thick wolf-hair brush with one hand. I was quite surprised at the time. After you left, I experimented with numerous brushes myself and determined that breaking a thick wolf-hair brush would require at least the strength of a normal grown man. Yet the Third Young Master supposedly couldn't do this. Later when I visited your residence to verify this personally, after observing him, I confirmed his arm was perfectly functional - no joint or tendon damage whatsoever."

"If the Third Young Master were pretending, he wouldn't have maintained the act for so many years. That's when I realized he hadn't been deceiving anyone - rather, the trauma of his broken arm had created a psychological barrier. Even after his arm fully recovered, he never regained confidence in it. Combined with his naturally gentle disposition, he could only exert strength through that arm when he mentally believed he was his older brother."

By this point, Meng Yao understood the entire case, "So that led to the final scheme?"

Qin Guan nodded, "Yes... which resulted in the final outcome."

Having heard the whole story, Meng Yao gazed into Qin Guan's calm eyes, momentarily unsure how to respond. She had long known of Qin Guan's capabilities, but never imagined her mental fortitude had reached such heights. Awe flickered in her eyes, yet this sudden revelation of Qin Guan's other dimension left her somewhat disoriented and uncertain.

"Without you, this case might never have been solved."

Meng Yao sighed, "You... you actually managed to... If it were me, I truly..."

A gentle expression softened Qin Guan's eyes, "Having grown up in the Meng household, you'd probably be frightened just hearing about someone's death. How could you possibly handle such matters as I do?"Qin Guan spoke lightly, but Meng Yao suddenly remembered that after Qin Guan lost both parents, she had grown up in Jinzhou.

Suddenly, Meng Yao asked, "While you were in Jinzhou, were they good to you?"

This question stumped Qin Guan. After thinking for a moment, she answered truthfully, "Just barely. At least I grew up fine, don't you think I'm doing well now?"

Though she said this, Meng Yao noticed Qin Guan's hesitation and couldn't help but feel pity for her. The Meng family's case was indeed significant, but it wasn't a matter of life and death. Yet she had become so distressed and despondent over it. Looking at Qin Guan, who had lost both parents and drifted from place to place for over a decade, she had now grown into someone so admirable.

With this thought, Meng Yao suddenly felt she had been too weak and petty, even harboring suspicions about Qin Guan that added to her troubles. Straightening her back, she forced a smile and asked, "Does anyone else know about this?"

Qin Guan nodded, "Yes, but not many people know..."

Meng Yao breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good. You know how society is these days—they still don't accept such things. Besides, you're a woman, so you must be extra careful in these matters." Then she asked again, "Who exactly knows?"

Qin Guan thought for a moment and said, "The Crown Prince, Lord Zheng, my eldest uncle, my third brother. As for others, my sixth sister, two close maids of mine. In the palace, the Emperor also knows..."

Meng Yao was shocked, "What?! The Emperor knows too?!"

Qin Guan nodded and recounted what had happened previously in Yuanzhou. Hearing this, Meng Yao was even more astonished. Having grown up sheltered in the Meng residence, how could she know about the outside world? Qin Guan's stories made her seem like a character from a storybook—her experiences felt so distant yet so thrilling and vivid!

"No wonder! So you contributed to solving that major case too!" Meng Yao's tone was no longer as dejected as when Qin Guan first arrived. Her eyes sparkled, "Now I understand! What you said before about maybe opening a clinic someday—that wasn't just empty words. It's real. With you, what isn't possible?"

Seeing Meng Yao like this, Qin Guan's lips curved slightly, "When that day truly comes, I'll finally be at ease."

She then added, "I've told you everything now. Do you resent me for being gloomy with you before?"

Meng Yao's face flushed slightly, and she quickly said apologetically, "How could I? I did have some unkind suspicions before, but now I understand everything..."

Qin Guan then asked further, "You don't think I'm unlucky either?"

What noble young lady would want to be friends with someone who had dealt with corpses?

Upon hearing this, Meng Yao slapped the table, "Of course not! There have been deaths in my residence too, and you weren't afraid either?" Her tone then turned admiring, "Without you telling me these things, I only saw you as the Medicine Immortal. But after hearing your stories, I see you as a heroine from those tales—healing people, saving lives, even helping seek justice for others. I wouldn't dare dream of doing what you've accomplished, let alone actually do it."

Hearing Meng Yao's words, Qin Guan felt relieved. She had few friends before and wasn't naturally sociable. After her return from death, she didn't want to let down those who treated her sincerely—this was true with Yue Ning, later with Qin Shuang, and now with Meng Yao."It's not that remarkable. I simply apply what I've learned where it can help others."

Hearing this, Meng Yao's smile deepened as she let out a long exhale, as if expelling all the pent-up frustrations of recent days. Then she pushed open the window lattice again. "You've helped me once more today. These past few days, whenever I thought of Second Uncle and Eldest Brother, I kept wondering - these are people I've lived with since childhood, how could they be so deeply sinful? Then I'd think of Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law, both such pitiful souls, yet now we don't even know if they're alive or dead... In less than half a month, during what should be festive New Year celebrations, our household has been thrown into complete chaos. Father's official position will certainly be demoted, and when this matter spreads, who knows what rumors will circulate about our family..."

"These thoughts kept coming one after another. I haven't slept properly for two nights, and this morning I only managed a brief nap before waking unable to sleep again. Thinking of Third Aunt's and Father's illnesses, I felt like I was the only one left to hold everything together in this household, until I thought I might collapse entirely. But hearing you speak like this makes me realize that a woman can be truly formidable too!"

Perhaps emerging from her suppressed state, Meng Yao's words carried newfound boldness. Glancing at the snowscape outside, she added, "I'll have some wine and dishes prepared. I want to share a drink with you. You've no idea how stifled I've felt these past two days."

Qin Guan couldn't help but chuckle at this. Just then, a figure came running into the Warm Chamber. "Sister, I want some too..."

Both Qin Guan and Meng Yao started in surprise, noticing Meng Zichen who had apparently been hiding outside the door unnoticed. It was unclear how much he had overheard, but now his eyes shone brightly as he gazed at Qin Guan. Meng Yao waved her hand. "Very well, we'll indulge you today too!"

She promptly ordered preparations made. Meng Zichen moved closer to Qin Guan. "Ninth Sister, I always knew you were extraordinary..."

Soon, wine and dishes were brought to the Warm Chamber. A pot of Plum Wine warmed over a small red-clay stove. Qin Guan initially hesitated to let the Meng siblings drink, but seeing how oppressed Meng Yao had been, and considering it was just Plum Wine, she allowed them two cups each. Meng Zichen contented himself with one cup, while Qin Guan, being a light drinker, merely sipped twice before setting her cup aside.

"Earlier I couldn't speak plainly to you, but now I can share a few things. While we don't know what sentence Third Young Master and Young Mistress will receive, there's still hope. Yesterday, Lord Zheng reported the matter to the Emperor..."

Qin Guan recounted how Zheng Baishi had informed Yan Huai the previous day, omitting only the dispute between Prince Cheng and the Crown Prince. Upon hearing this, Meng Yao's spirits visibly lifted, her eyes even reddening slightly. "So... so it might not necessarily be a death sentence, right?"

Qin Guan nodded. "I can't guarantee it, but there is hope."

Meng Yao sighed deeply. "Second Uncle and Eldest Brother were just given their ritual and buried yesterday. Given the circumstances, we couldn't arrange elaborate funerals. Last night, Father summoned me and said we should make preparations for Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law too. Though the outcome isn't final, everyone knows two lives were taken - it's hard to escape the death penalty..."

Meng Zichen's eyes also reddened. "Father has taken ill. Sister was managing household affairs until midnight yesterday. With such troubles in our household, even the servants have become disobedient. Sister has never handled these matters before, yet she faced down the servants' challenges."Upon hearing this, Meng Yao had no intention of complaining to Qin Guan. "Forget it, forget it. Compared to the hope that the matter of the three third sisters-in-law has been resolved, these are nothing. It's true that the third brother and sisters-in-law committed crimes, but they are all pitiful people. I absolutely don't want to see them executed."

Qin Guan sighed as she listened to Meng Yao's words. Though Meng Yao spoke lightly, the burden of the entire Meng household truly rested on her shoulders alone. Not knowing what she could do to help, Qin Guan said, "Drink one less cup of wine. Later, I'll change your dressings. For now, both of you must take good care of yourselves. If there's any news from the magistrate's office, I'll come tell you immediately."

Meng Yao repeatedly agreed and indeed drank no more. After the meal, Qin Guan added several calming herbs to Meng Yao's prescription, then went to check on Meng Zhou's condition before taking her leave.

Upon leaving the Meng residence, Qin Guan directed the carriage straight to the Qin residence in Copper Coin Lane.

Though she had only taken two sips, Qin Guan felt warmth in her chest—she was never good with alcohol. As the carriage moved slowly, snowflakes danced outside the window, and the city of Lin'an was draped in silver. Qin Guan lifted the curtain, watching the passing street scenes with a bitter ache in her heart. She had comforted Meng Yao, but her own sorrow surfaced. Meng Yao could speak of the Meng family's troubles, but her own? Those were unspeakable, not a single word could be uttered.

The Lantern Festival approached, marking the end of the new year celebrations. Using what she learned from her father, she had helped solve a case, but what about her father's own case? How had her parents spent this new year?

Qin Guan leaned weakly against the carriage wall, eyes closed, overwhelmed by heartache. She claimed not to believe in ghosts, yet often wondered where her parents' spirits had gone. Wrongfully executed, would they find no peace in the underworld? And how could she find an opportunity, even just to touch the edges of their case?

"Miss, we've arrived—"

After what felt like an eternity, Fuling's soft call roused her. Qin Guan opened her eyes to find they had indeed reached the Qin residence. It was already afternoon, and the lane was so quiet not a soul was in sight. Continuous snowfall had blanketed the entire alley in thick white. Looking outside the carriage, Qin Guan suddenly said, "Let's walk for a bit."

Fuling was slightly taken aback. "Miss, it's bitterly cold outside."

Qin Guan shook her head. "It's fine—"

Noticing something unusual in Qin Guan's expression, Fuling didn't dare question further. She had the carriage wait at the Qin residence entrance and accompanied Qin Guan with an umbrella along the deserted street.

The Eternal Joy Quarter was where western nobility resided, with mansions lining the streets and inhabitants all wealthy or distinguished. Thus, the surrounding lanes remained exceptionally tranquil. As they walked forward, old footprints were buried under fresh snow, leaving only faint traces. Qin Guan remained silent until Fuling, after several glances at her mistress's face, couldn't hold back any longer.

"Miss, what's troubling you?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "Just remembering some old matters."

Assuming she was thinking of Ninth Miss's parents, Fuling said, "Now that you've returned to the capital, you're bound to encounter many old acquaintances. Listening to Miss Meng, were you reminded of when your lord and lady were still here?"

Though she asked, Fuling found it puzzling. Meng Yao's current situation differed greatly from the Qin residence's past. When Qin Yi and his wife were alive, Qin Guan had been the noble young lady many children envied—though everything was different now.Qin Guan walked extremely slowly, shaking her head at the question without saying more. Fuling sighed and stopped asking, simply accompanying Qin Guan from the entrance of the Qin residence to the end of the street. Seeing they had walked so far, Fuling instinctively said, "Are you tired, Miss? Let's go back. I wonder if Han Bo and Erbao have prepared anything delicious today..."

Qin Guan shook her head. "Let's walk a bit more—"

As she spoke, they were about to turn the corner. Fuling had no choice but to continue following. After turning onto another street, Fuling no longer recognized the area. Seeing Qin Guan had no intention of speaking, she could only trail along. The neighboring alley was no different from Tongqian Lane—equally deserted, with only an occasional servant woman emerging from a side gate, casting a brief glance at Qin Guan before hurrying away. On such a bitterly cold day, no one would linger long on the empty streets. Soon, Qin Guan reached the corner of another street.

After walking two consecutive streets, even Fuling felt somewhat tired, let alone Qin Guan. Yet, judging by Qin Guan’s demeanor, she intended to walk yet another street. This time, Fuling simply remained silent, for she sensed an increasingly sorrowful aura emanating from Qin Guan.

Fuling was certain Qin Guan must be thinking of her deceased parents, and a shadow of grief crossed her own face. After walking for another half an hour, Qin Guan suddenly halted.

This pause surprised Fuling, who thought Qin Guan was finally ready to return. But when she looked up, she saw only a rather dilapidated mansion. Though the surrounding mansions were not as grand and imposing as the Loyal Marquis Manor, they at least had white walls, gray tiles, and an air of serene elegance. The residence Qin Guan was staring at, however, was exceptionally shabby.

The vermilion lacquer on the main gate was peeling, the lintel was covered in cobwebs, and the plaque that should have borne the family name was missing, leaving the bare beam looking desolate. Peering past the lintel, Fuling caught sight of a charred black roof beam. When looking over the walls of other mansions, one would typically see upturned eaves, ornate brackets, pavilion roofs, or lush groves of bamboo. But what was this scorched beam she saw? Not only could she see the blackened beam, but also half-collapsed walls. Frowning, Fuling instinctively felt the place was inauspicious.

"Miss, it seems this residence suffered a great fire. Look, the interior is in such a state." As she spoke, Fuling moved closer to Qin Guan. "I wonder if anyone died here. Miss, this place feels ill-omened. Let’s go."

After Fuling finished, Qin Guan didn’t move. Not only did she remain still, but a tumult of emotions suddenly welled up in her eyes, and she even took two steps forward. Startled, Fuling asked, "Miss, what are you doing?"

Qin Guan’s footsteps halted abruptly, and she suddenly lowered her gaze. As if struck by a thought, she turned quickly and headed back the way they came.

"Nothing. Let’s return."

Fuling was puzzled but hurried to catch up, holding the umbrella. When they reached the street corner, she couldn’t resist glancing back at the abandoned mansion. "In such a fine location, how could there be a derelict house? I wonder who it belonged to."

Fuling murmured to herself, but Qin Guan was walking extremely fast, as if she felt no fatigue at all.

Following behind Qin Guan, Fuling worked up a sweat. When they finally reached the carriage, Qin Guan climbed directly inside. "We won’t go in. It’s getting late; we need to return early."Fuling was slightly surprised. She glanced at the Qin residence gate just steps away and, feeling quite puzzled, followed her mistress into the carriage.

As the carriage began moving, Fuling couldn't resist lifting the curtain to look toward the abandoned house. Her young lady had been acting very strangely today—making this detour without even entering the Qin residence, as if her sole purpose had been to visit that derelict property.

......

......

Once inside the carriage, Qin Guan closed her eyes to rest. By the time they entered the Marquis manor gates, all traces of her earlier peculiar behavior had vanished. She went straight to the main courtyard, her expression calm with a faint smile as she entered, making the previous strangeness seem like nothing more than Fuling's imagination.

"Wan'er, you're back. Come look at these—they're the outfits prepared for your palace entry."

Hu Shi led Qin Guan toward several small chests in the room. "See which set you prefer..."

Not only was Hu Shi present, but Qin Chaoyu was there too, along with Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang. Though Qin Xiang had been angry previously, today she stood cheerfully beside Qin Shuang with Qin Shuang. Though she still held her chin high with an air of aloof pride, her voluntary appearance itself marked significant progress. Qin Guan showed little interest in the clothing and accessories, casually selecting just two sets.

Hu Shi nodded with a smile, then added, "The Lantern Festival is just two days away. The palace banquet will be in the afternoon, and in the evening, your two elder brothers will take you all to visit the Lantern Market."

At this news, Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang immediately brightened up. Since they couldn't attend the palace banquet, the lantern market outing was their only anticipated event.

Qin Guan naturally expressed agreement. While they were speaking, Qin Shu suddenly strode in from outside. Unlike the smiling faces in the room, his brows were tightly furrowed, clearly indicating something amiss. Moreover, his first glance upon entering fell momentarily on Qin Guan. Though she noticed, she didn't immediately question it, letting Hu Shi step forward instead.

"Marquis, where have you returned from? Has something happened?"

Qin Shu shook his head, walking to the main seat and sitting down. After a servant served tea, he took a sip while glancing at Qin Guan again. Though his gaze shifted quickly, Qin Guan had already grown suspicious and didn't miss this detail.

Setting down his teacup with a sigh, Qin Shu said, "About the Lantern Festival Banquet... perhaps it's better if Wan Yatou doesn't attend."

Hu Shi stared in astonishment at these words, while Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang also showed surprise. Qin Chaoyu stepped forward immediately. "Father, what's wrong? Why shouldn't Ninth Sister attend?"

Qin Shu pressed his lips tightly together. "Though having Wan Yatou attend would be beneficial, but..." As he spoke, his eyes shifted slightly, "I need her to help me with something important that day, so she'd better not go."

Hu Shi glanced at Qin Guan, then back at Qin Shu. Naturally, she wouldn't contradict him, but since everything had been arranged, suddenly preventing Qin Guan from attending seemed unreasonable. With Qin Guan currently favored by the Emperor and Empress Dowager, her absence would be difficult to explain. "Marquis, what do you need Wan Yatou to help you with?"

Qin Shu showed impatience. "A matter of great importance—don't ask for now."

Even Hu Shi's inquiry went unanswered, and seeing Qin Shu's expression, the others dared not speak further. Qin Shu looked at Qin Guan and said, "Wan Yatou, what do you think? Your uncle needs your help with something. There will be plenty of opportunities to attend palace banquets in the future."

Since Qin Guan had never been particularly concerned about the palace banquet anyway, she voiced no objection. "That's fine. I'll follow Uncle's arrangements."Upon hearing this, Qin Shu revealed a satisfied smile. After a pause, he added, "For the next two days, don't enter the palace either. Just wait at the residence..."

There were only two days left until the Lantern Festival, and according to schedule, she was supposed to enter the palace tomorrow to treat the Empress Dowager. Yet now, Qin Shu wasn't even allowing her to enter the palace? Qin Guan frowned slightly, sensing that something major had happened.

Hu Shi, however, felt this was inappropriate. "Marquis, what about Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's illness?"

Qin Shu waved his hand. "Don't worry. Just say that Wan Yatou is unwell and fears passing her illness to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Qin Chaoyu and Hu Shi exchanged glances, both sensing that the situation was unusual.

First, asking for her assistance, then feigning illness—this was clearly intentionally preventing Qin Guan from entering the palace. But why?

"That's settled then, Wan Yatou. Don't worry, I'll make proper arrangements for you."

After saying this, Qin Shu set down his teacup and stood up, heading toward his study. Although he had left, he left everyone in the room wide-eyed and bewildered. Hu Shi forced a smile and said, "Wan Yatou, it's alright. There will be plenty of opportunities to enter the palace in the future..."

Qin Guan wasn't worried about missing chances to enter the palace. Hearing this, she nodded calmly, taking it in stride.

Hu Shi then added an extra set of clothes for Qin Guan and chatted with her for a while longer before dismissing Qin Guan and the others. On the way back to Pine Breeze Courtyard, Qin Shuang remarked with confusion, "What's going on? Uncle was acting so strangely just now? He actually wants you to feign illness and not go to treat Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. On the day of the palace banquet, he asked for your help, but it's not like he needs your help tomorrow."

Qin Guan curved her lips slightly. "It's fine. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is already much better. Even if I miss one day of not entering the palace, it won't matter."

Qin Shuang shook her head. "I still find it strange... It's as if he's deliberately keeping you from entering the palace."

Qin Xiang chimed in, analyzing, "Could it be that something bad will happen if you enter the palace? Did you offend anyone in the palace before?"

Qin Guan chuckled. "How could I have offended anyone..."

Though she said this, Qin Guan suddenly remembered—yesterday, when she entered the palace, she had encountered someone!

Prince Cheng—she had met Prince Cheng. But what she said yesterday shouldn't have offended him, right?

Yet if it wasn't Prince Cheng, then who could it be?

Qin Shu was not only preventing her from entering the palace but also seemed deeply worried. It definitely wasn't a simple matter. Could it be that someone had set a trap in the palace, intending to harm her? Or perhaps, someone wanted to use her to harm the Marquis' residence?

Qin Guan couldn't figure out Qin Shu's reasoning, but she instinctively felt uneasy. Her intuition told her that something was about to happen, and it definitely involved her.

If it really was as she suspected, would Qin Shu's method of hiding her in the residence truly be effective?