A foul stench instantly permeated the back hall. Though two days had passed, the corpse, stripped of its skin, had decayed rapidly both externally and internally. Qin Guan’s expression was cold and stern, each cut of her blade precise. Beside her, Zheng Baishi and the others watched, struggling to suppress the rising bile in their stomachs.
This was not the first time the group had witnessed Qin Guan’s autopsy, yet each viewing left them equally astounded. Zheng Baishi knew Qin Guan had been enfeoffed as a county princess and had requested a nominal position in the Ministry of Justice—a move he, having remained in Lin’an City, never anticipated. As the hunting party returned, tales of Qin Guan’s deeds at the Mount Wei Military Camp spread through Lin’an. Some criticized her involvement in criminal investigations, while others hailed her as an extraordinary woman. Thanks to the favor of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, detractors were few, and most dared not speak recklessly.
Watching Qin Guan maintain her posture, head bowed, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, Zheng Baishi felt not only admiration but also a paternal ache. At an age like a blooming flower, while her three elder sisters busied themselves with marriage prospects, she stood alone, poised and composed, dissecting a decaying corpse in the Mortuary Temple.
Zheng Baishi sighed once, then again. But when he saw Qin Guan retrieve a dark mass from the deceased’s abdomen, his sighs turned to dry heaves, and he turned away, retching twice—
The dark mass was extracted from the stomach. After careful examination, Qin Guan straightened her long-bent back. Instinctively, she raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her brow but paused midway, realizing her hands were too soiled. Collecting herself, she announced, "No foreign objects were found in the chest, abdomen, nasal cavity, or trachea. Currently, it appears the victim was rendered unconscious by a blow to the back of the head before being skinned. The stomach contained partially digested food, though its nature is unclear. However, the deceased had consumed significant alcohol before the injury."
Qin Guan continued studying the mass, now a pulpy mess after two days. After prolonged scrutiny, she identified a tiny fragment of hard shell and deduced, "The deceased ate crab before death."
Zheng Baishi frowned slightly. "At this time of year, it’s not crab season."
Qin Guan nodded, tidying the incision as she replied, "Indeed. That makes the investigation easier."
A faint smile touched Zheng Baishi’s lips. "With the County Princess here, we have direction. Zhan Yang—"
At his call, Zhan Yang promptly bowed. "Understood. I will lead the investigation immediately."
As Zhan Yang departed with his team, Qin Guan finished tending to the corpse and stepped away from the corpse table. Baiying hurried to fetch water and assist her in washing up. Once everything was in order, Qin Guan emerged to find Zheng Baishi conversing with Yan Chi.
"That person has been imprisoned for years. Does Your Highness think it necessary to interrogate him?"
Yan Chi pondered briefly before nodding. "I will discuss this with the Minister. I assume Lord Li has no objections?"
Standing nearby, Li Muyun smiled. "Naturally not."
As he spoke, Li Muyun glanced up and saw Qin Guan entering from the inner hall. A gentle smile graced his lips. "County Princess, your efforts are appreciated."Qin Guan shook her head and stepped forward to speak with Zheng Baishi. "The findings from the corpse examination are still limited. We must rely on Zhan Butou to follow the clues." She paused briefly before continuing, "Ordinary people cannot afford crab, especially in this season. This person is quite young, so I suspect his identity may be unusual—at the very least, he must be from a wealthy family."
Zheng Baishi hadn't considered this yet and replied, "But in the past two days, no one has reported a missing person to the authorities."
Qin Guan frowned slightly. "It's just my speculation. It may not be accurate."
Li Muyun chimed in, "I was thinking the same—"
Qin Guan looked at Li Muyun, but a chill began to settle in her heart. "Lord Li thinks so too?"
Li Muyun nodded. "Not only is the Crown Prince skilled in corpse examination, but your deductive abilities are also beyond ordinary. Watching you conduct the examination just now reminded me of an old acquaintance."
Qin Guan’s heart skipped a beat, though her expression remained calm. "Oh? An old acquaintance? Who might that be?"
Li Muyun smiled faintly. "That person is no longer with us. Let’s not dwell on it." With that, he seemed unwilling to say more and turned to Zheng Baishi. "Lord Zheng, when do you plan to interrogate the Taoist from six years ago? Hearing what you said earlier, I’ve grown quite interested in that person as well."
Zheng Baishi quickly responded, "We’ll have to wait until the Crown Prince consults with the Minister before we receive further instructions. It would be excellent if Lord Li could join the interrogation."
After exchanging a few more words with Zheng Baishi, Li Muyun took his leave. As the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he was not directly involved in trying key capital cases. His participation now was only due to the gravity of the old case requiring oversight.
After Li Muyun left, Zheng Baishi sighed. "What Lord Li said just now also reminded me of someone."
Qin Guan remained composed as she met Zheng Baishi’s gaze. "Who did Lord Zheng think of?"
Zheng Baishi glanced outside, ensuring his guards were at the door, and lowered his voice. "Are you aware of the former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"
Qin Guan’s heart raced, but after a moment, she smiled and nodded. "Naturally, I know of him."
Zheng Baishi continued in a hushed tone, "To be honest, I had some acquaintance with the former Minister, Lord Shen. Although he rose to the position of Minister, he still assisted the Lin’an Prefecture in solving several cases after arriving in the capital. I once witnessed him perform an autopsy. How should I put it... the solemnity in your expression during the examination bears a striking resemblance to Lord Shen’s."
Qin Guan’s face remained unperturbed. "What a coincidence." After a pause, she added, "To be honest, I have studied Lord Shen’s writings."
Zheng Baishi smiled in understanding. "No wonder, then. Perhaps there is some fate at work here."
He paused again and whispered, "However... Lord Shen encountered trouble before your return to the capital. You must be aware of this. He was implicated in Prince Jin’s case and has since become a taboo subject in the capital. Let’s keep this conversation between us, and I urge you to be cautious to avoid attracting trouble."
A flicker of gratitude appeared in Qin Guan’s eyes. "Rest assured, Lord Zheng, I understand. But... do you believe Lord Shen was truly guilty of misconduct?"
The question left Zheng Baishi momentarily speechless. He pursed his lips for a long moment before replying, "Entanglements in the official world are always shrouded in mist. I cannot answer that question."Qin Guan smiled, "There's no need to be nervous, my lord. I was just asking casually." As she spoke, she glanced back at the main hall. "Although this person's murder method resembles that of the old case, it could also be someone who knew about the previous case and is imitating its methods. Lord Zheng, was the old case widely known in the capital back then?"
Zheng Baishi shook his head, "Not at all. The incident occurred outside the capital's vicinity. Because the murderer's methods were brutal and involved Daoism, Buddhism, and the Moon Worship Sect, the case was suppressed by the Lin'an Magistrate and the Ministry of Justice. In the capital, only those who handled the case knew about it. The general public was largely unaware. Additionally, the people of Guanyin Town knew, as the incident caused quite a stir there. However, Guanyin Town is a rather remote and isolated place, and few of its young people come to the capital for work. So even if the news reached the capital, it was fleeting and quickly faded away."
Qin Guan frowned, "In that case, if someone is imitating the old case, it's highly likely to be someone from Guanyin Town or someone who learned about the case through other channels back then."
Zheng Baishi sighed with admiration. As the Lin'an Prefect, he had many responsibilities beyond the prefecture's criminal cases. Even if he intended to investigate thoroughly, his thoughts didn't move as quickly as Qin Guan's. With just a few words, she had pointed out another direction for the case. "County Princess, rest assured, I will have people investigate along this line."
Qin Guan nodded with a smile but said no more. Holding a nominal position was merely for the convenience of conducting corpse examinations; it didn't mean she could actually dictate the deployment of the case.
With the corpse examination completed, Yan Chi, who had been standing nearby, said, "It's getting late. Let me take you back first."
The sun was already setting in the west. The Grand Princess and Qin Chaoyu had likely left the palace by then, so Qin Guan nodded. Zheng Baishi said, "Then I'll trouble you, Crown Prince. You always have to escort the County Princess."
"No trouble at all—" Yan Chi added, "Later, after I receive Minister Shang's confirmation, I'll come to the prefectural office to find you, my lord."
Zheng Baishi agreed with a smile and escorted them to the main gate. When he saw Yan Chi and Qin Guan boarding the carriage together, a strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart. Yan Chi's reputation had long since reached the capital; he had even beaten Feng Zhang before. For someone with such a temperament to treat Yongci County Princess with such exceptional care and consideration, could it be...?
A faint light gleamed in Zheng Baishi's eyes, and with a deeper smile, he turned and re-entered the Mortuary Temple.
Once inside the carriage, Yan Chi pulled Qin Guan into his embrace. As a man who commanded thousands of troops, he had felt a sense of helplessness earlier when he saw that Qin Guan couldn't wipe her own sweat.
Qin Guan was indeed somewhat tired and leaned against Yan Chi's shoulder, closing her eyes and whispering softly, "Whether this case is imitating the methods of the past or someone is using religious beliefs to stir trouble again, it's not simple. I'm afraid we might not have enough time."
Though Qin Guan's words were brief, Yan Chi understood that "not enough time" meant they might not be able to stop the murderer in time, and it was highly likely another victim would appear. Hearing this, Yan Chi squeezed her hand and suddenly asked, "Are you joining the Ministry of Justice because of Shen Yi?"
Qin Guan stiffened, momentarily unsure how Yan Chi had come to ask such a question.Yan Chi saw her surprise and said, "I don't know Shen Yi, nor have I met him, but I have seen Zheng Baishi and Li Muyun. Li Muyun didn't explicitly say so, but the person he referred to must be Shen Yi. You hold Shen Yi in high esteem—do you believe he was wronged and wish to carry forward his Corpse Examination techniques?"
Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, she had feared Yan Chi had seen through everything. But now, thinking it over, she smiled wryly. Indeed, who could imagine that a dead person could be reborn by possessing another's body? No matter how perceptive Yan Chi was, he would never guess such a thing!
"Lord Zheng said your manner during Corpse Examination closely resembles Shen Yi's. You've never met him, yet there's such an inexplicable connection. It shows your admiration for him is far from ordinary."
Having followed Shen Yi since childhood, Qin Guan had not only absorbed his medical knowledge and Corpse Examination skills but also inherited his focus and solemnity during examinations. As a result, her demeanor during Corpse Examination was almost a replica of Shen Yi's. Those unfamiliar with Shen Yi might not notice, but Li Muyun, once Shen Yi's assistant, and Zheng Baishi, who had some personal ties with him, had watched Qin Guan perform examinations multiple times and felt the resemblance keenly.
Qin Guan smiled bitterly. "In that case, it truly seems like a predestined bond. Perhaps Lord Shen, from beyond, saw my deep reverence and granted me this talent and determination..."
Yan Chi squeezed her palm firmly. "And you claim not to believe in ghosts and gods?"
Qin Guan turned to him, her eyes clear and direct. "I don't believe in ghosts and gods, but I do believe there are mysterious wonders in this world. Many things seem to be guided by fate..."
Her words were both a confession of her inner thoughts and a subtle hint to Yan Chi, born of guilt. She couldn't reveal her true circumstances, so she used seemingly mystical language to convey something to him.
Gazing into Qin Guan's stream-clear eyes, Yan Chi felt a slight tremor in his heart. Her words, though straightforward and mysterious, seemed to carry deeper meaning. He couldn't quite grasp it but sensed complexity. Resolved not to press her, he gently squeezed her palm again. "Then, are you and I fated?"
Qin Guan blinked. "Perhaps... yes?"
Yan Chi leaned down and gave her lips a firm peck. "No 'perhaps'—"
By the time Qin Guan returned to the Marquis Anyang Manor, dusk had fallen, and the entire estate was brightly lit. Granny Yu was waiting for her outside the main courtyard and hurriedly said upon seeing her, "You're back, Princess." The Lady is waiting for you in the main hall."
Qin Guan raised an eyebrow slightly. Why would Hu Shi be waiting for her?
Thinking of this, she recalled Qin Chaoyu. Had Qin Chaoyu said something?
Composing herself, Qin Guan headed straight to the main courtyard. There, she found only Hu Shi in the hall. Seeing Qin Guan, Hu Shi warmly took her hand and said, "Guan'er, it's like this: we visited the Marquis Anyang Manor and would like to invite the Grand Princess to our estate as well. I sent the invitation this afternoon, but for tomorrow's menu, I'd like your input as well."The Grand Princess held an exceptionally esteemed position. Not only had Hu Shi and Qin Shu specially paid her a visit, but they also wished to invite her to the manor again. Qin Guan found this entirely understandable and readily agreed. She was most familiar with the members of the Marquis Anyang Manor. Though not intimately acquainted, she understood them better than Hu Shi and the others, especially regarding the Grand Princess's dietary restrictions due to her health. Qin Guan's advice on this matter was naturally correct.
As their conversation neared its end, Qin Shu arrived at the main hall. He had just returned from outside and asked as soon as he entered, "Wan Yatou, did you go to the mortuary temple this afternoon?"
Qin Guan nodded. "Yes. Are you aware of the new case?"
Qin Shu nodded, his brow furrowed. "The capital has been rather unsettled around the New Year. What did you find when you went to see it?"
Qin Guan shook her head. "I only performed the corpse examination. I haven't figured out anything else yet. The killer's methods are particularly brutal. If we can't uncover crucial clues, I fear there will be a second victim."
Qin Shu grew extremely anxious. "The matter was reported to the Emperor this afternoon. The capital falls under the Crown Prince's jurisdiction, and with one case after another, the Emperor is quite displeased. Wan Yatou, you must also devote your efforts to this case."
Qin Guan naturally nodded in agreement. Hu Shi smiled and said, "Guan'er isn't an official in the court. Don't make her nervous."
Qin Shu shook his head. "You don't understand—Prince Cheng is up to his tricks again!"
Hu Shi avoided discussing court affairs with Qin Shu, but upon hearing this, she said, "Do you know about Xiang'er..."
At the mention of Qin Xiang's name, Qin Shu frowned. "Why ask about her? She's doing just fine now!"
Hu Shi gave a wry smile and glanced at Qin Guan. Qin Shu, likely mindful of Qin Guan's presence, though annoyed, continued, "I sent someone to inquire. Although she was expelled from the Qin family, I know you still care. That night, she entered Prince Cheng's royal residence and has been staying there. I heard Prince Cheng is treating her quite well at the moment. Even that Feng girl went to the royal residence but was turned away by Prince Cheng."
Everyone had assumed Qin Xiang would become a pawn upon entering Prince Cheng's residence, so it was unexpected that Prince Cheng would block Feng Chenbi for her sake. Hu Shi then asked, "So, does Prince Cheng truly care for Xiang'er?"
Qin Shu sneered. "What sincerity does Prince Cheng have? I only told you to set your minds at ease. From now on, I won't concern myself with her anymore..."
As Qin Guan left the main courtyard, she pondered Hu Shi's words. If Prince Cheng was sincere toward Qin Xiang, then perhaps her bold actions and even her betrayal of the Qin family to enter his residence were not in vain.
Upon returning to Pine Breeze Courtyard, Qin Shuang came over with embroidery patterns. These days, she had been quietly preparing for her wedding, diligently sewing her wedding gown and other items for the ceremony. Though Hu Shi had prepared many things for her, Qin Shuang preferred to keep busy.
"Granny Yu said you went to perform a corpse examination? Eighth Sister returned long ago."
Qin Guan nodded and briefly explained. Qin Shuang was afraid of dead bodies, so Qin Guan naturally omitted the gruesome details of the corpse.
After a moment's thought, Qin Guan relayed what Qin Shu had reported. Upon hearing that Qin Xiang was favored by Prince Cheng, Qin Shuang was momentarily surprised, then smiled and said, "Well, she got what she wanted! If she's doing well, I won't feel like I took something from her. But for now, Feng Chenbi hasn't entered the residence yet. In the future..."
Knowing Qin Shuang still worried about Qin Xiang, Qin Guan shook her head without further comment. Qin Shuang suddenly asked, "It's been several days now. Do you think she knows the Xue family's marriage proposal has been switched to me?"Qin Guan was taken aback—this was something she truly couldn't be certain about.
……
……
In the Water Moon Residence of Prince Cheng's manor, Xiu Zhi was attending to Qin Xiang's bath.
When she had first followed Qin Xiang here and noticed Wan He hadn't come along, Xiu Zhi had been extremely anxious. Although she had served the mistress and wasn't entirely inexperienced, they were entering a royal residence this time!
A royal residence wasn't a place one could just casually enter!
Seeing how furious Qin Shu had been, even she began to wonder if Prince Cheng was merely using Qin Xiang.
But Xiu Zhi never expected that Prince Cheng would genuinely treat Qin Xiang well. On the very night Qin Xiang entered the royal residence, she stayed in Yan Qi's main courtyard. It wasn't until the next day that she was assigned her own residence—the current Water Moon Residence.
Along with the residence came Mommas and servants. Though there were already several concubines in the royal residence, none could compare to her young lady. Rumor had it that Prince Cheng hadn't visited them in many days. Those women were either gifts from others or of lowly birth; forget about becoming a secondary consort, they wouldn't even qualify as noble concubines.
As Qin Xiang's most trusted maid, Xiu Zhi instantly became the head maid of the residence. Even the Mommas dared not show her any disrespect. Xiu Zhi was immensely grateful she had followed Qin Xiang here! Otherwise, how would she ever have had the chance to witness such luxury?
With these thoughts, Xiu Zhi glanced around. The side room for bathing alone was as large as her young lady's former bedroom. The room featured carved beams with phoenix motifs and intricate draperies. Every piece, from the large furniture to the small ornaments, exuded opulence. Gazing at the richly embroidered ceremonial fabric on the floor, Xiu Zhi couldn't bear to step on it.
This was the royal residence—this was the grandeur of royalty!
In the past, her young lady had always envied Ninth Miss for entering the palace and becoming a princess. Now, her young lady could enjoy such splendor too. As long as her young lady remained favored and later bore Prince Cheng a child, she would live a life of luxury and honor forever!
Thinking this, Xiu Zhi reached for flower petals to sprinkle into the water, then applied fragrant balm to Qin Xiang's shoulders. During the bath, the ambiguous marks on Qin Xiang's shoulders became even more apparent—Prince Cheng had stayed in the Water Moon Residence for two consecutive nights!
Xiu Zhi's cheeks flushed slightly, but she couldn't help stealing glances at Qin Xiang's shoulders. After a moment, Qin Xiang, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them. Having experienced intimacy, Qin Xiang's beauty appeared even more radiant and captivating, her eyes glistening and pitiable. Having soaked for a while, she thought Prince Cheng might arrive soon and hurried to rise.
Xiu Zhi helped Qin Xiang dress and dried her hair, after which Qin Xiang seated herself before the dressing table.
The reflection in the mirror revealed features like a painting—lips naturally red without rouge, eyebrows dark without pencil. A slight curve touched her lips as she practiced a pitiable expression in the mirror, stunning even herself. Leaving the Qin family had severed her last retreat, but fortunately, she was clever. Back in the marquis' mansion, she had upheld her status as the legitimate daughter of the third branch. Now, in Prince Cheng's residence, she had only one goal: to win Prince Cheng's heart. No matter why he had treated her that way before, she had to reclaim his affection.
Feng Chenbi would enter the residence in three months. Before that, she had to ensure Prince Cheng held her in his heart.
With this in mind, Qin Xiang picked up lip paper to tint her lips, then took an ink brush to define her eyebrows. At all times, she had to ensure Prince Cheng saw her at her most beautiful and tender…Seeing Qin Xiang applying eyebrow makeup, Xiu Zhi knew she was waiting for Prince Cheng. She immediately led the young maids to empty the bath chamber of water. After completing this task, Qin Xiang commanded, "Go wait outside. If His Highness arrives, report to me immediately."
Xiu Zhi acknowledged the order and hurried out to wait by the moon gate. No sooner had she taken her position than she overheard two Mommas speaking in hushed tones outside—
"So you see, this Miss Qin certainly knows how to scheme for herself."
"Indeed. She ran away, leaving her younger sister to take her place."
"I heard that family was just ordinary commoners—how could they compare to the royal residence?"
"But it's different. Her sister married over there as the legitimate wife, while this Miss Qin has no official status here..."
Xiu Zhi's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Having been at the royal residence for several days, they hadn't paid attention to outside news. According to these two people's words, was the Marquis Manor planning to marry the Sixth Young Miss to the Xue family?
Xiu Zhi pondered for a moment, then quickly turned back toward the room. When she reached the doorway, Qin Xiang heard the movement and hurried out to meet her, only to see Xiu Zhi entering alone. Qin Xiang frowned, "Has Prince Cheng not come?"
Xiu Zhi shook her head, "Young Miss, this servant overheard something..."
Qin Xiang raised her eyebrows slightly, "What is it?"
Xiu Zhi quietly relayed what she had just heard. Qin Xiang frowned and froze for a moment, but soon let out a light laugh, "This might be for the best. If we were specifically looking for a match for Qin Shuang, we might not even find one as good as the Xue family. Now that the marriage alliance between the Marquis Manor and the Xue family remains intact, and Qin Shuang has found her home, I've actually done a good deed."
Xiu Zhi whispered, "Young Miss, since Miss Feng hasn't entered the residence, your status remains unsettled..."
Qin Xiang shot Xiu Zhi a sharp glance, "I know all this. No need to say more. I have my plans."
Xiu Zhi hesitated to speak further, but seeing Qin Xiang's unpleasant expression, ultimately said nothing more. Qin Xiang impatiently said, "Go wait outside again..."
Xiu Zhi nodded and turned to leave. However, after waiting for over an hour that night, Yan Qi still hadn't come. When Xiu Zhi returned to inform Qin Xiang, who was also growing anxious from waiting, she instructed, "Go out and see if you can find out whether His Highness has returned. I'm afraid he probably hasn't come back yet..."
If he had returned, why wouldn't he come to her?
Xiu Zhi acknowledged and went out, but soon returned with a pale face, "Young Miss, I can't reach the main courtyard. There are guards stationed between our area and the main courtyard who won't let us pass. The guards also refuse to say whether the Prince has returned."
Qin Xiang's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. Yan Qi was Prince Cheng, a royal prince, so security in his residence was naturally strict. The first night she had rested in the main courtyard, and the second and third nights Yan Qi had come to see her. He had been so gentle and considerate toward her that she had become somewhat presumptuous. Yan Qi was definitely not someone who could be easily tied down by a woman.
Qin Xiang waved her hand and sat down with a furrowed brow. She needed to keep her composure, she must keep her composure!
"Stop waiting. No need to ask anymore either. Let's retire for the night."
Qin Xiang quickly made her decision. Xiu Zhi was somewhat astonished - she had thought Qin Xiang would definitely wait for Prince Cheng to come!
...
...
The next day, the Grand Princess indeed brought the entire Anyang Marquis family to the Loyal Marquis Manor.
Hu Shi came out to welcome them with Qin Chaoyu and her two sisters. When Qin Chaoyu saw Qin Guan, her expression remained normal, showing neither joy nor anger.
The Grand Princess rarely went out since returning to the capital, so her visit to the Marquis Manor naturally showed respect to the household. To entertain the Grand Princess, Qin Shu had kept both Qin Yan and Qin Ye at the manor.
Neither Qin Ye nor Qin Yan had accompanied them during the previous visit to the Anyang Marquis Manor. Today Yue Qing had also come, so the three could properly become friends. As soon as they entered the manor, Yue Ning pulled Qin Guan aside saying, "His Highness the Ninth Prince asked me to bring this to you. You left in such a hurry yesterday that you forgot to take it."
Qin Guan looked and saw it was the golden bird with the damaged wing!
Qin Guan immediately broke into a smile, "I really had forgotten. He actually had you bring it out for me."Yue Ning also smiled, "The Ninth Prince was rather reluctant, yet very stubborn, so I had to make this trip. I originally planned to deliver it to you today, but when I returned to the residence, I saw the invitation from the Marquis Manor. Perfect timing—I’ll bring both together."
Hu Shi and Jiang Shi accompanied the Grand Princess in conversation, while Yue Ning and Qin Guan went to Pine Breeze Courtyard. Qin Shuang, a frequent visitor to the courtyard, followed without hesitation, but Qin Chaoyu would not join them.
Entering the courtyard, Qin Guan looked around and said, "This cage doesn’t seem to fit well anywhere..."
Yue Ning, who had never kept birds before, suggested, "How about hanging it under the eaves?"
The bird in the cage had grown somewhat listless after being carried all the way. Seeing this, Qin Guan called for Fuling to prepare water and bird food. Although the Marquis Manor kept birds, when Fuling hurried to fetch food from the servants, the bird refused to eat.
Qin Shuang remarked, "Could it be that the Ninth Prince fed it too well?"
Qin Guan shook her head, "No, the Ninth Prince just caught it recently. It had no previous owner, so it shouldn’t be picky."
Fuling thought for a moment, "Does it need live insects? Should I go dig in the flowerbeds?"
Fuling volunteered eagerly, even growing excited at the idea of searching for insects in the garden, her playful nature surfacing. Qin Guan chuckled and had someone hang the cage under the eaves anyway. As for whether to dig for insects or buy new bird food, she left it to Fuling, who had never kept a pet before and was thrilled by the little sparrow.
Yue Ning, however, was very interested in the new cases in the capital. "I’ve been idle since returning to the capital. Next time you go to investigate a case, why not take me along?Qin Guan remembered Yue Ning's embarrassing state the first time she watched her perform a corpse examination. "I’ll be conducting a corpse examination, you know."
Yue Ning snorted, "Do you think I don’t know that? I’m not afraid anymore—" She lifted her chin proudly as she spoke, but when she saw Qin Guan’s teasing gaze, she couldn’t help laughing. "Thinking back to that time, it feels like it was just yesterday, but it’s already been over half a year."
Qin Guan sighed in agreement, "Yes, if it weren’t for the coincidence of saving the Grand Princess back then, who knows what my situation would be like now."
Yue Ning shook her head, "Your medical skills aren’t dependent on Grandmother. Even if you hadn’t saved her, once you returned to the capital, you would still have shone brightly. Now you’re the Little Medicine Immortal..."
Then Yue Ning added, "When I first met you, I thought you were just an ordinary young lady from a boudoir! Who would have thought that such a lady could perform corpse examinations... even cutting people open to inspect them..."
And then Yue Ning had ended up vomiting from watching the examination—
Amid the vibrant spring scenery, Yue Ning walked with Qin Guan through the flowerbeds, chatting. Qin Shuang followed behind them. As Yue Ning spoke of the past, Qin Shuang also reflected on the events of over half a year ago. Back then, she had looked down on Qin Guan and even pushed her into the lake. Later, after misspeaking and being punished by Yue Ning, she began to feel a hint of fear.
Listening to Yue Ning and Qin Guan reminisce, she didn’t interrupt, instead pondering how she had gradually changed.
Afterward, she felt grateful that she no longer followed Qin Xiang. If she had come to the capital with her former temperament and no one to guide her, she would have died a hundred times over.Previously, Qin Xiang had been the legitimate daughter of the household, the most beloved and revered. Indeed, Qin Xiang excelled in every way compared to her, so she could only see Qin Xiang in her eyes, following her lead without even realizing she was being used as a pawn. Later, a series of incidents shattered the relationship between her and Qin Xiang, allowing her to see the true intentions of Qin Xiang and her mother.
To outsiders, they were sisters, but within the family, she was merely a green leaf meant to set off Qin Xiang—always and forever.
Qin Shuang watched Qin Guan’s retreating figure, feeling strangely perplexed. With Qin Guan’s appearance and temperament, it would be most fitting for her to befriend people like Yue Ning and Meng Yao. Yet now, even she found herself drawn to Qin Guan. As a child, she had wanted to become like Qin Xiang—perfect in every way, cherished and adored by everyone. But now, she wished she could possess even a fraction of Qin Guan’s character. Just a fraction would be enough to face all the challenges ahead. How could there be such an inspiring person in the world?
"You’re far too bold, daring to ask for an official position in the court. Even if it’s just a nominal title, many people are unwilling. Fortunately, it was at that critical moment, or else those old pedants in the court would have torn you apart with their writings—the kind of criticism that leaves no trace of vulgarity but remains in the history books. Yet now, with your great achievements, they can’t criticize you too harshly."
Qin Guan smiled. "I’m aware of that, which is why I made the request at that precise moment."
Yue Ning tilted her head to look at Qin Guan. Qin Guan had already astonished everyone in Jinzhou, and now, in the capital, she was thriving even more. She had attained the title of Junzhu and, as a woman, was even involved in judicial matters.
Yue Ning sighed. "I truly envy you. When my elder brother was going to Shuoxi, I wanted to go with him, but Mother and Grandmother wouldn’t allow it—"
"You’re the apple of Mother’s eye. Not just Mother—even I wouldn’t want you to go to the battlefield."
Yue Ning gazed at the sky. "Then am I doomed to spend my entire life confined to the inner chambers? Speaking of which, when I met the Northern Wei Princess the other day, I felt envious. I heard she rarely stays in the palace and roams around freely."
Qin Guan replied, "You might not know this, but she lost her mother at a young age and has witnessed the fickleness of human relationships in the palace. That’s why she developed such a temperament. If her mother were still alive, she wouldn’t be allowed to wander outside for years. She’s also someone brave enough to go to the battlefield."
Not only was she brave enough to go to the battlefield, but she also fell for Yan Chi there.
"Ah, she lost her mother?" Yue Ning hadn’t known this. "In that case, I was thinking too simplistically. Indeed, no one is as glorious as they appear on the surface."
After strolling around the flower garden, everyone returned to the main courtyard, where the Grand Princess was still chatting with Hu Shi and Jiang Shi. Qin Chaoyu sat obediently beside them, her back straight but with a hint of loneliness.
After talking through the noon and having lunch, the Grand Princess felt somewhat tired and took her leave first with Yue Ning and the others. Qin Shu and Hu Shi escorted them to the gate, waiting until the Grand Princess’s carriage had departed before returning.
With the Grand Princess’s visit concluded, Qin Shu and Hu Shi felt a weight lifted from their hearts. Qin Shuang then returned to the courtyard with Qin Guan to check on the newly arrived goldfinch. Fuling had actually taken the young maids to dig for small insects, but the goldfinch still refused to eat.
Fuling was extremely troubled. "Who knows how well it was fed before? The bird food in our household is certainly not inferior."Qin Guan knew nothing about birds. She considered sending the bird to the craftsmen in the mansion to care for it, but felt it inappropriate to pass on a gift from Yan Sui. So she had Fuling summon the craftsmen to the courtyard instead. After all this commotion until dusk, the goldfinch finally began to eat, perhaps out of hunger or for some other reason. Only then did Qin Guan and the others feel relieved.
Early the next morning, Bai Feng came to take Qin Guan to the Lin'an Prefectural Office.
Given Qin Guan's now extraordinary status, no one would dare stop her even if she entered through the main gate of the prefectural office. However, to avoid unnecessary trouble, she still entered through the usual back corner gate and went straight to the main hall where cases were heard.
In the main hall, Yan Chi, Zheng Baishi, and Li Muyun were all present. Upon seeing Qin Guan, Zheng Baishi immediately said, "Your Highness, the identity of the deceased has been confirmed—"
"Who is it?" Qin Guan asked urgently.
Zheng Baishi gave a bitter smile. "He is the fourth son of the House of Marquis Weiyuan."
Marquis Weiyuan? Qin Guan raised an eyebrow, a vague impression forming in her mind. However, in her previous life, she had been unfamiliar with the noble families of the capital, so she couldn't immediately place the name.
Zheng Baishi explained, "The House of Marquis Weiyuan was considered a founding merit, but by now, it has long declined. Even the title of Marquis is in its final generation. The family has four sons. The eldest left home a few years ago and never returned. The second and fourth sons are both good-for-nothings, while only the third son is somewhat presentable."
"Regarding the wine and crab Your Highness identified during the autopsy, we searched all the renowned restaurants in the city. Only two places served them: the first was Dengyun Tower in the northern part of the city, and the second was Phoenix Perch Tower in the west. Both use crab paste in their dishes. Based on height, build, and age, we found only two people who had eaten crab paste dishes before the night of the incident—one at Dengyun Tower and one at Phoenix Perch Tower. The one at Dengyun Tower was a student of the Imperial College, while the one at Phoenix Perch Tower was the fourth son of the House of Marquis Weiyuan. We immediately went to the Marquis's residence to investigate, and sure enough, this fourth son had not returned home for two days..."
"Marquis Weiyuan is critically ill and no longer manages affairs. The Marchioness wanted to search for her fourth son, but the third son, who is now in charge, showed no concern for his brother's well-being. According to him, it was common for this brother to be away from home for five or six days at a time, so two days meant nothing. However, when he heard that the deceased might be his brother, he was still startled."
Qin Guan frowned deeply. "The body was in such a state that identification was impossible."
"Exactly. So the third son couldn't confirm it was his brother. However, he mentioned that the fourth son of Marquis Weiyuan's house frequented Phoenix Perch Tower the most, so he had a fair idea. He has now returned home and sent people to search everywhere. If they don't find him, then the deceased is undoubtedly the fourth son of Marquis Weiyuan."
Yan Chi then asked, "According to the beliefs of the Moon Worship Sect, such a manner of death indicates the deceased committed sins in life. Has this been verified?"
Zheng Baishi replied, "We looked into it. This fourth son was the youngest in the House of Marquis Weiyuan but was neglected due to his lack of accomplishment. Earlier this year, he incited the Marchioness to sell several shops, accusing the third son, who was in charge, of embezzling family assets. This caused a restless household in the Weiyuan family and worsened the Marquis's illness."
The Iron Tree Hell, also known as the Skin-Peeling Hell in the Moon Worship Sect, punishes those who sow discord between brothers, fathers and sons, mothers and children, and other familial bonds. The fourth son of Marquis Weiyuan fit this description perfectly.Qin Guan and Yan Chi exchanged a glance. It was almost certain now that the killer's methods closely resembled those of the old case, though it remained unclear whether this was an imitation or the original perpetrator resurfacing.
Zheng Baishi’s expression was equally grave. "If the details align, it suggests the killer is likely acting according to the teachings of the Path. I’ve already sent Zhan Yang to investigate. Those aware of this Fourth Young Master’s vile deeds should be few, but screening them one by one won’t be easy."
Yan Chi then said to Qin Guan, "That’s why I’ve decided to interrogate the old Taoist priest from six years ago first. You’ll come with us."
A faint spark lit Qin Guan’s eyes—Yan Chi must have known she wanted to go, which was why he sent for her!
Eagerly, she asked, "When do we leave?"
Seeing her urgency, Yan Chi knew she was pleased. A smile tugged at his lips as he replied, "Right now—"
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