Coroner's Diary

"The marks on the steps aren't very clear, but there's dark brown mud from the steps on the heels of the deceased's shoes. It's certain he was dragged down from above. The victim's tongue isn't in his mouth, but we don't know where the murderer threw it."

While speaking with Yan Chi, Qin Guan glanced over and saw the woman not far away crying herself hoarse, too weak to stand. At that moment, two constables were supporting her as they helped her up the bank.

The corpse couldn't remain there indefinitely. Now that the surrounding area had been thoroughly examined, the body needed to be transported to the Mortuary Temple, and Qin Guan would have to perform the Corpse Examination there. The woman staggered as she was helped up the steps.

Zheng Baishi directed several constables to move the body, then approached Qin Guan. "Your Highness, shall we depart for the Mortuary Temple now? We've mostly finished inspecting this area. We'll leave some people here to conduct inquiries while we proceed to the Mortuary Temple."

Qin Guan nodded and was about to step forward when her eyes caught something where the body had lain. Frowning, she quickly walked over.

Yan Chi and Zheng Baishi followed her. As they approached, they simultaneously noticed the gray marks on the ground. The deceased had been lying on his back covering them, but now that the constables had moved the body, the ground was exposed.

The earth consisted of dry, hard mud with some bloodstains, and the gray marks were quite distinct.

Qin Guan crouched down, pinched the substance between her fingertips, and frowned. "It's ash. Not much of it—likely from burning a few sheets of paper..."

While examining the ash, she suddenly noticed a faint vermilion mark beneath it. The trace was so subtle that one might mistake it for blood or the natural color of the soil if not looking carefully. Qin Guan took a handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully brushed away the ash, revealing a somewhat blurred pattern on the ground.

She shifted slightly to the side. "Take a look at this. What is it?"

Both Yan Chi and Zheng Baishi stepped forward to examine it. Upon seeing it, they frowned.

Zheng Baishi said, "What is this drawing? It somewhat resembles... some kind of character, but it's neither clerical script nor seal script. Could it be some ancient writing?"

Yan Chi, however, said thoughtfully, "It looks more like a sacrificial talisman."

Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat, and she nodded in agreement. "His Highness's interpretation seems more accurate."

Zheng Baishi looked around. "There's nothing like this elsewhere here. Why was it hidden under the victim's body?"

Qin Guan stood up. "Could you please have this pattern traced, my lord? Let's leave the ash for now. What a pity—it was likely drawn with cinnabar, but it's become blurred because of the ash."

Zheng Baishi nodded. "Very well, I'll have someone do it right away."

Yan Chi then remarked, "The case from six years ago involved killings based on religious doctrine. Since this involves a sect, could these talismans be related to the Moon Worship Sect or the Daoist Path?"

Qin Guan strongly agreed. "That's highly possible." She then turned to Zheng Baishi. "Lord Zheng, were such talismans and ash found at the scene of Wu Qian's death?"

Zheng Baishi looked surprised. "No, there weren't. At that time, there was a lot of blood under Wu Qian's body. By the time we arrived, the blood on the ground had already dried. The alley was quite filthy and disorderly, so we didn't notice anything like that."The ashes were already sparse, mixed with bloodstains, and compounded by the poor conditions at the time. Now that so many days had passed, even if they went to search, traces were unlikely to be found. Qin Guan said, "I suspect this was deliberately left by the killer. Zhang Daoshi mentioned that the Moon Worship Sect's doctrine holds that punishing evil can atone for sins. Perhaps this person has some special purpose, hence the burning of the talisman."

Zheng Baishi nodded. "I'll send someone to check the place where Wu Qian died again."

Qin Guan agreed and carefully surveyed the surroundings once more. Finding no unusual traces, she finally left. The surrounding commoners still crowded around in a massive throng. Upon reaching the riverbank, Yan Chi, knowing Qin Guan wouldn't ride with him, gave up his horse and walked alongside her instead. Bai Feng led Yan Chi's guards to clear the way ahead, and this time, the commoners dared not act recklessly.

After exiting the street where the incident occurred, Qin Guan boarded her carriage. Bai Feng brought over the horse, and Yan Chi mounted it, accompanying Qin Guan's carriage. Qin Guan lifted the carriage curtain and asked, "Do you think the people of the Weiyuan Earl's residence knew the deceased?"

Yan Chi, struck by an idea, gave an order to an attendant, who turned and galloped swiftly toward Zheng Baishi.

At the Mortuary Temple, the victim's body arrived shortly afterward and was placed in the back hall. Soon after, Zheng Baishi arrived with the wailing woman. Since it was inappropriate to conduct the Corpse Examination in front of the woman, Qin Guan performed it in the back hall while Zheng Baishi took the woman to the front hall.

Zheng Baishi sighed at the woman's grief and asked, "Your husband was murdered. Tell us what he did for a living and whether he had any conflicts with others. The more you share, the better we can find his killer."

The woman, exhausted from crying, leaned weakly on a lounge chair. As soon as she opened her mouth, tears streamed down again. After a dazed moment of thought, she suddenly straightened her back. "It was He Wencai who killed my husband! It must be He Wencai! He envied my husband. Your Honor, I beg you to avenge my husband—"

She slid from the chair and knelt before Zheng Baishi.

Zheng Baishi instructed two bailiffs to help her up, but she refused to rise. He sighed and took a seat in the main chair. "First, tell me about yourself and your husband, then explain who He Wencai is. Be as clear as possible."

Once seated, Zheng Baishi assumed an official demeanor, and the woman dared not act out. Sobbing softly, she slowly began, "Your Honor, this humble woman is Zhao Yu Shi. My husband was Zhao Jiaxu, thirty-five years old. He was a teacher, serving as a tutor at the Wei family's clan school in Mao'er Hutong. My husband was learned, skilled in the eight-legged essay, calligraphy, and painting. That He Wencai was also a teacher at the Wei family's school. About two months ago, He Wencai stole paper, ink, and silver from the school. My husband couldn't stand it and reported it to Master Wei, who then expelled He Wencai. Because of this, He Wencai grew to hate my husband. He came to our door several times to cause trouble, always claiming my husband had wronged him..."Zhao Yu Shi wiped away her tears. "It must be him. He threatened to kill my husband several times. But my husband always conducted himself with integrity and wasn't afraid of him. My husband treated everyone extremely well in daily life and never made enemies with anyone—only He Wencai. So this humble woman can't think of anyone else who would harm my husband..."

Zheng Baishi listened with growing alarm. The Tongue-Pulling Hell was specifically for punishing those who committed sins of speech. If the murderer hadn't made a mistake, then this Zhao Jiaxu had likely committed such verbal offenses. Could it be that Zhao Jiaxu had wronged He Wencai? Zheng Baishi glanced at Zhan Yang beside him, who immediately went out to instruct the constables—one team to Magistrate Wei's residence and another to find He Wencai.

Zheng Baishi nodded, his tone grave. "Rest assured, I understand now. I'll have someone summon He Wencai for confrontation immediately. The authorities will thoroughly investigate your husband's death."

Zhao Yu Shi repeatedly kowtowed to Zheng Baishi, then broke down crying again at the thought of her husband becoming a corpse.

In the back hall, Yan Chi accompanied Qin Guan during the Corpse Examination. Thinking of the grieving woman in the front hall, Qin Guan worked faster. By the time the front hall interrogation concluded, her examination was nearly complete. She said quietly, "There's also a swollen wound on the back of his head. He was likely attacked by the murderer first, then dragged below the riverbank to be killed. The cause of death was asphyxiation from blood entering the airway after his tongue was pulled out. Beyond this, there are no other external injuries on his body. As for his ten fingers—they appear to have been severed with a sharp blade. Judging by the wounds and bone wear patterns, the blade was likely quite thin."

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "Though he was thin, he wouldn't have been easily knocked unconscious by a random ambush..."

Qin Guan also found this puzzling. Meanwhile, in the front hall, Zheng Baishi continued questioning, "You said your husband didn't return home last night. When did he go out? And for what purpose?"

Zhao Yu Shi sobbed, "My husband naturally went to teach. Our home isn't far from Magistrate Wei's clan school—just three streets away. He would go at noon and return by evening every day. But yesterday he never came back. On rare occasions, Magistrate Wei would keep him at his residence for scholarly discussions, sometimes overnight. But he would always return the next morning. Today, I waited until broad daylight without seeing him. Just as I grew anxious, the officers came to my door."

Zheng Baishi frowned. "Which route did he normally take to the clan school?"

Zhao Yu Shi replied, "He always took the street near the moat, then turned into the alley leading to the school. It was a straight Path—the main road. My husband walked that way every time..."

"Was your husband acquainted with anyone from the Weiyuan Earl's household?"

At this question, Zhao Yu Shi looked confused, clearly unfamiliar with the Weiyuan Earl's family.

"Your Honor, we're common folk. We don't know any earl's households."

Zheng Baishi understood and pressed further, "Aside from He Wencai, there's no one else who held grudges against him? Had he been acting unusually these past few days?"

Zhao Yu Shi shook her head. "No, Your Honor. Only He Wencai. As for unusual behavior..." She thought for a moment before shaking her head again. "Nothing. These past few days he'd been returning later because more children joined the clan school. Those falling behind needed his individual instruction. My husband was a very dedicated tutor..."Zhao Yu Shi intermittently spoke many good words about Zhao Jiaxu, showing her deep affection for him.

Unfortunately, the couple had only one daughter, who had died of illness a few years prior. They had been troubled by this matter ever since, and despite Yu Shi's inability to conceive again, Zhao Jiaxu never once considered taking a concubine. For this reason alone, Yu Shi remained utterly devoted to him. Though Yu Shi, now thirty, dressed plainly and appeared somewhat aged with less refined manners, one could tell she had been quite beautiful in her youth. She answered Zheng Baishi's questions cooperatively, revealing she was also an educated woman.

"This matter requires thorough investigation by the authorities. Please accept our condolences. Your husband's remains must temporarily stay at the Mortuary Temple. Don't worry—we have dedicated personnel guarding them. You likely have other family members; perhaps you should return home first to arrange the funeral preparations. We will notify you when you can claim the body."

Despite being a third-rank official, Zheng Baishi treated Zhao Yu Shi with gentle courtesy. Though reluctant and heartbroken, she knew better than to oppose the authorities. After making a request to Zheng Baishi, she went to the back hall to see Zhao Jiaxu. Qin Guan had cleaned the blood from Zhao Jiaxu's face, making him less terrifying to behold. Yu Shi wept bitterly once more before being escorted home by constables dispatched by Zheng Baishi.

After Zhao Yu Shi left, Zheng Baishi asked Qin Guan about the Corpse Examination results. Qin Guan recounted the findings, prompting Zheng Baishi to ask, "Can we confirm these two cases were committed by the same person?"

Qin Guan replied, "Zhao Jiaxu's ten fingers were severed. Judging by the cuts, the killer is skilled with a blade. Ash and cinnabar patterns were found at Zhao Jiaxu's death scene, but we have no news yet from Wu Qian's death site. Based solely on the blade technique, we cannot fully confirm it's the same perpetrator. However, connecting this to the six-year-old cold case gives us ninety percent certainty. At the very least, both murder methods are uncommon and can be linked to religious sects."

Zheng Baishi shared this view. In the six-year-old case, the first victim was skinned, the second had their tongue torn out—exactly like the current ones. The thought made his head throb painfully. "If we don't find the killer soon, a third person will die. How does the killer track these people down one by one? The first committed sins, the second too..."

Yan Chi remarked, "The killer has likely been in the capital for many years. Over time, they've met many people and inevitably learned secrets about various families. Eventually, they'd identify those whose actions align with the sins described in the doctrine."

Zheng Baishi smiled wryly. "Then we're searching for a needle in a haystack. In the previous case, the killer only struck in the southern city, but now they're active in both the southern and western districts. We can't even pinpoint their residence."

This Corpse Examination yielded no critical clues, and the victims' identities were straightforward. Zheng Baishi invited Qin Guan and Yan Chi to the front hall and revisited the connection between this case and the previous one. "Typically, revenge killings don't involve methods like these—flaying, tongue extraction. Who would even think of such things? This killer knows about the affairs of the Weiyuan Earl's household, an aristocratic family, while Zhao Jiaxu, though a commoner, worked as a tutor in a prominent family. Could the killer be someone who interacts with both these families, or these social circles?"

"The aristocracy and wealthy families in the capital have many interactions, so that wouldn't be surprising."Yan Chi spoke thus, and after pondering for a moment, Zheng Baishi had a clear idea in his heart.

The group sat for a while longer, and the person sent to fetch He Wencai returned!

He Wencai was a short man in his forties with graying temples, dressed in a blue silk robe. His back was hunched, his expression wooden, and he appeared particularly aged. Upon being brought into the hall, he first bowed deeply to Zheng Baishi before looking blankly at Yan Chi and Qin Guan. Yan Chi waved his hand, so Zheng Baishi did not introduce them and instead asked directly, "Are you He Wencai, the tutor who was dismissed from Master Wei’s residence?"

He Wencai knelt on the floor, nodded, and added, "Your Honor, the constable said that I was summoned because Zhao Jiaxu was murdered?"

Zheng Baishi nodded. "Correct. We’ve discovered that you recently had a dispute with Zhao Jiaxu, so we brought you here for questioning. Where were you last night around the hour of the rat?"

He Wencai was momentarily stunned, then a trace of satisfaction actually appeared on his face. "Zhao Jiaxu finally got what he deserved!"

Zheng Baishi frowned, and only then did He Wencai continue, "Your Honor, I was at home all last night. My elderly wife is seriously ill, and I was tending to her the entire time. My son can vouch for this."

He Wencai remained calm and composed. Aside from the satisfaction he showed upon hearing of Zhao Jiaxu’s death, he appeared entirely normal. Zheng Baishi glanced at Zhan Yang, who understood and went to verify the alibi. Zheng Baishi then continued, "Two months ago, Zhao Jiaxu told Master Wei that you had stolen the calligraphy and ink funds from the clan school. Is this true?"

At this question, He Wencai laughed in anger. "That scoundrel Zhao Jiaxu! I never touched a single coin of that money, yet he insisted I took it. It was all because of the competition for the tutoring position. Some of the Wei family’s children will no longer be studying at the clan school next year, so they won’t need as many tutors. Both he and I excel at the eight-legged essay, calligraphy, and painting. One of us had to stay, and the other had to leave. He didn’t want to go, so naturally, he found a way to drive me out. He’s just a young provincial scholar, while I am a metropolitan graduate. My qualifications are also superior to his. If he hadn’t used such a method, he would have been the one dismissed. Unfortunately, he was always ingratiating himself, and Master Wei trusted him blindly..."

Zheng Baishi was only a few years younger than He Wencai, yet He Wencai appeared much older. Zheng Baishi observed him for a moment and saw that his eyes were clear and fearless, his words firm and without a hint of guilt. He sighed, feeling his speculation was correct: Zhao Jiaxu had framed He Wencai, and the killer, aware of this, had targeted Zhao Jiaxu. But how did the killer know about this?

"You claim Zhao Jiaxu framed you. Do you have any evidence?"

He Wencai smiled bitterly. "The money was found right in my bag, and I was caught red-handed. What could I possibly say in my defense? But I didn’t do it, and I would never admit to this crime."

Zheng Baishi frowned slightly. If He Wencai put it this way, it meant everyone believed he had indeed stolen the money. So how did the killer know that Zhao Jiaxu had deliberately framed him?

Could the killer be someone familiar with He Wencai?

Zheng Baishi then asked, "Did you tell anyone around you about this? Did they believe you?"He Wencai smiled bitterly, "My family naturally told me everything. Whether others truly believed it or not, I didn't care. I went to confront him before, but when I realized it was useless, I stopped. He committed wrongdoings and will face retribution eventually. I couldn't ruin my own life just to harass him. And now, see—he was murdered, surely it's his comeuppance."

If he were the murderer, how would he dare curse the deceased like this in front of the Prefect?!

After listening to this, Zheng Baishi asked He Wencai about the duration of his acquaintance with Zhao Jiaxu and Zhao's usual character, then temporarily dismissed him. Once He Wencai left, Zheng Baishi turned to Yan Chi and Qin Guan, "Your Highness, Your Grace, I believe He Wencai isn't lying. What do you two think?"

Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan, who said, "I also think he's telling the truth."

Zheng Baishi then said, "Good. I'll send some men to investigate further. Since he claims there are many witnesses, we'll know the truth of both their statements when the team returns from the Wei residence."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhan Yang returned from outside. Surprised, Zheng Baishi asked, "Why are you back so soon? You should personally verify He Wencai's account to ensure it's true."

But Zhan Yang turned and said, "Sir, someone from the Wei residence has come—someone you, Your Highness, and Your Grace all know—"

Upon hearing this, Yan Chi and Qin Guan exchanged glances, both simultaneously thinking of a certain person surnamed Wei. At that moment, a figure flashed through the doorway—Wei Qizhi walked in wearing a sapphire-blue patterned silk robe!

Qin Guan and Yan Chi showed no surprise, but they hadn't expected that the Wei residence Yu Shi mentioned was indeed Wei Qizhi's family.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince, greetings to Your Grace, greetings to the Prefect—"

Wei Qizhi entered with a cheerful smile, bowing respectfully to the three. Zheng Baishi smiled, "Young Master Wei! Why are you here? So, Zhao Jiaxu taught at your residence?"

Wei Qizhi straightened up and replied, "Not exactly—it's my uncle's residence. His business is the largest in our clan, and the clan school is there too. I happened to be at my uncle's today and heard about the tutor's incident, so I inquired. When I learned that Your Highness and Your Grace were investigating this case, I decided to come personally. I knew this tutor as well."

Qin Guan hadn't expected Wei Qizhi to appear, nor that the two Wei residences were the same. Hearing this, Zheng Baishi said, "You knew him? Then, in the dispute between him and He Wencai, who was in the right?"

Wei Qizhi's smile remained, "I wasn't aware when that incident happened, but my uncle said that Zhao Jiaxu was quite learned and somewhat shrewd. He was very surprised when it occurred because Mr. He is usually very honest and steady. Mr. He has a seriously ill wife at home, yet he never asked for extra money all these years. That stationery fund was only ten taels, kept in the clan study for occasional purchases when supplies ran low—he had no reason to steal it."

Qin Guan said, "But Yu Shi claimed that Zhao Jiaxu treated her extremely well over the years, had excellent character, never made enemies, and even though she never bore him a son, he never took a concubine."Qin Guan was a woman, and this fact left a deep impression on her. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, if a wife failed to bear a son for a long time, her husband would often take concubines, and many would even divorce their wives and remarry.

Wei Qizhi then said, "Then the Princess is unaware. This Zhao Jiaxu’s family was once extremely poor. If not for Zhao Yu Shi, he wouldn’t have been able to afford an education, let alone become a provincial scholar. He once swore an oath in the Yu clan, vowing that after marrying Zhao Yu Shi, he would never take a concubine in his lifetime. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened."

Everyone was slightly startled. Based on Zhao Yu Shi’s account, they had all assumed Zhao Jiaxu was a good man. No one had expected there to be such a backstory. With this context, Zhao Jiaxu’s tolerance toward Zhao Yu Shi seemed less pure.

"So, Young Master Wei believes that He Wen was framed?"

Wei Qizhi shook his head. "I didn't witness this matter myself, so I dare not make rash judgments. I'm only speaking of their usual conduct. However, if you ask me, I don't believe Mr. He would commit murder over this matter. He's already teaching other students now."

As Wei Qizhi was essentially He Wencai's employer, his words naturally carried significant weight in evaluating He Wencai. The others hadn't harbored much suspicion toward He Wencai to begin with, and now they were even more convinced he wasn't the murderer.

"Young Master Wei, since you know Zhao Jiaxu, do you know if he had any other enemies?"

Wei Qizhi thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Zhao Jiaxu wasn't the type to easily make enemies, but he wasn't necessarily kind to everyone either. He simply knew when to show restraint and had his own principles for dealing with people."

From Wei Qizhi's explanation, everyone understood that such a person had his own shrewd way of navigating social interactions.

Noticing the grim expressions on Zheng Baishi and Qin Guan's faces, Wei Qizhi instinctively asked, "What's wrong? Is this case particularly difficult?"

Being somewhat acquainted with the three of them, Zheng Baishi explained, "This is already the second death. If we don't find the killer soon, there will likely be a third victim. The pressure on the magistrate's office is immense."

Wei Qizhi was aware of the rumors circulating in the capital, but as this was official business, he couldn't say much. "Then you have your work cut out for you. If you need to ask anything else from the Wei residence, feel free to come by." He paused briefly before adding, "Oh, that's right. After my uncle heard about what happened to Zhao Jiaxu, he summoned the manager of the clan school. The manager said Zhao Jiaxu left very early that night, probably before complete darkness fell..."

Qin Guan and the other two immediately frowned. Zheng Baishi continued, "Zhao Jiaxu was killed at midnight, not in the evening. So where did he go during the half-night after leaving the Wei residence?"

Wei Qizhi shook his head. "I don't know that."

Yan Chi quickly asked, "Has Zhao Jiaxu been particularly busy recently?"

Wei Qizhi thought for a moment. "Not really. Several younger members of the Wei family are preparing to study at the Imperial College, so the tutors have been quite relaxed. When I visited my uncle's residence five days ago, I ran into Zhao Jiaxu. It was also evening, and he was just preparing to leave the Wei residence. If you need confirmation, I can ask my uncle's manager again when I return."

Hearing this, the expressions of Qin Guan and the others grew even more troubled.

Wei Qizhi sensed something was wrong. "What's the matter? Is there a problem?"

Qin Guan then explained, "Just now, Yu Shi said that Zhao Jiaxu had been very busy these days and often returned home very late. Zhao Jiaxu told her that several new students had joined the Wei clan school who were struggling to keep up, so he had to stay behind to tutor them individually."

Wei Qizhi laughed. "That's impossible. I know all the younger members of the Wei family. It's true that several are preparing to enter the Imperial College recently, but the other younger members haven't reached school age yet."

Wei Qizhi's statement matched what He Wencai had said, while Yu Shi's account was full of inconsistencies. Clearly, Zhao Jiaxu had been deceiving Yu Shi, and she had believed everything he said. This raised the question: where had Zhao Jiaxu been going after leaving the Wei residence early these days? If they could uncover this, they might make new discoveries.

"Thank you for coming, Young Master Wei. Your information has given us much greater understanding."Zheng Baishi expressed his thanks. Knowing this wasn't the right time for extended conversation with the group, Wei Qizhi exchanged a few more pleasantries before taking his leave. Qin Guan pondered for a moment, "I'll conduct another examination. There must be traces left on his body."

Corpse Examination was an extremely meticulous task where overlooking the slightest detail could mean missing crucial information. Qin Guan turned and entered the back hall, carefully inspecting Zhao Jiaxu's body once more. Just as she was hesitating whether to perform an autopsy, she discovered some marks on Zhao Jiaxu's clothing.

"Here are newly sewn stitches—"

Nothing seemed unusual about the exterior of Zhao Jiaxu's silk gown, but when Qin Guan turned it inside out, she found evidence of recent mending at the shoulder area of the sleeves. The original thread had been white but had grayed with age, while the newly used white thread appeared fresh and new. Staring at these stitches, Qin Guan felt something was amiss.

Zheng Baishi remarked, "He had a wife. It's quite normal for someone to mend his clothes."

No sooner had he spoken than Zheng Baishi contradicted himself.

Yu Shi had claimed Zhao Jiaxu had no other vices, yet Zhao Jiaxu had begun lying to her. If he were truly visiting friends for literary gatherings, why wouldn't he tell Yu Shi? The only explanation was that his undisclosed destination was somewhere Yu Shi would disapprove of or find unacceptable. This inevitably led to thoughts of involvement with women.

Zheng Baishi immediately declared, "I'll send someone to investigate."

With that, Zheng Baishi turned and left the inner hall. Qin Guan nodded and continued meticulously examining Zhao Jiaxu's clothing. When she reached the trousers, she suddenly noticed white stains on the inner thigh area. Frowning at first, her eyes soon revealed understanding. "This is male—"

Her gaze lifted and met Yan Chi's eyes, making the words "seminal fluid" stick in her throat. While such findings were normal in corpse examination, being alone in the chamber with Yan Chi made these ordinarily professional observations suddenly feel awkward. Her hesitation made Yan Chi wonder what was wrong. Leaning in, he also saw the white stains. As a twenty-two-year-old man, he immediately recognized what they were, his expression turning grave.

Qin Guan averted Yan Chi's gaze, clearing her throat lightly. "It seems Zhao Jiaxu wasn't quite the man Yu Shi thought he was."

Turning away, she resumed examining Zhao Jiaxu's body.

Noticing Qin Guan's somewhat flustered retreat, Yan Chi's lips curved into a faint smile.

When Zheng Baishi returned, he sensed the unusual atmosphere. Qin Guan was nearby documenting her findings. Though she hadn't verbalized it, she still recorded this detail in the Examination Report. Meanwhile, Zheng Baishi had dispatched someone to question Yu Shi about the mending, hoping to gain some insights. Once Qin Guan finished writing, today's Corpse Examination concluded.

Outside, daylight was fading. Feeling hungry, Qin Guan washed her hands and freshened up briefly. As there wasn't much more she could contribute to the remaining matters, she prepared to take her leave. Zheng Baishi, who had been summarizing witness statements with Yan Chi, said upon hearing this, "Your Highness, I'm afraid we must trouble you to escort the Lady back. I had sent Zhan Yang to fetch her earlier, but he has since stepped out."Yan Chi would never find it unsatisfactory. After exchanging a few more words with Zheng Baishi, he took Qin Guan and left.

Qin Guan boarded the carriage, and Yan Chi followed, lifting the curtain to enter. Seeing the sun slanting westward, Yan Chi asked, "Are you hungry?"

Qin Guan instinctively wanted to shake her head, but as soon as Yan Chi finished speaking, a loud rumble came from her stomach. The sound was so pronounced that even Qin Guan herself was startled. When she noticed the amusement in Yan Chi’s eyes, she frowned and looked down at her belly, her cheeks flushing slightly. Yan Chi couldn’t hold back at the sight and burst into laughter. With a long arm, he pulled Qin Guan into his embrace. Qin Guan let out a soft humph. "What’s so funny? I’ve been hungry for a long time!"

Resting his chin on Qin Guan’s shoulder, Yan Chi laughed so hard his chest rumbled. "You were called over so early, and Lord Zheng wouldn’t have thought of such things. It must have been hard on you. I’ll take you to a nice place and fill you up."

Qin Guan turned to look at Yan Chi. "Where are we going? Zuixiang Tower?"

Zuixiang Tower was the most renowned establishment in the capital, and it was the first place that came to Qin Guan’s mind.

Yan Chi chuckled. "Your third brother took you to Zuixiang Tower as soon as you returned. Today, I’ll take you somewhere else. Zuixiang Tower is crowded and full of prying eyes. If you’d like to go, I’d be happy to take you."

Qin Guan had no desire to go! And how did Yan Chi know that Qin Yan had taken her to Zuixiang Tower? He hadn’t even returned at that time!

Qin Guan sighed, then figured it out when she thought of Baiying outside.

The carriage was no longer an official one. At Yan Chi’s command, it quickly turned onto the eastern side road and headed straight toward the eastern part of the city. Qin Guan had never been very familiar with the capital, and seeing the direction they were heading, she had no idea where Yan Chi was taking her. Nevertheless, any place Yan Chi mentioned was one she could trust.

The carriage continued eastward, soon leaving the bustling city center behind. The eastern part of the city was home to aristocratic residences, but the farthest eastern edge was more marginalized. Scattered dwellings stood there, with the occasional tavern or teahouse in between. The residents were mostly descendants of fallen noble families. Though their fortunes had declined, most still upheld their dignity and rules. As they traveled, the gates they passed were orderly and imposing, and few pedestrians were seen along the way. Soon, the carriage entered a very narrow alley, winding its way to the end before gradually coming to a stop.

As soon as the carriage halted, Qin Guan curiously lifted the curtain to look outside. She saw low-rise houses with pink walls and gray tiles all around, and the entrance before them appeared to be a back door. Qin Guan had no idea what lay inside, but Bai Feng had already stepped forward to knock. The door opened, and a clever-looking servant glanced out, then respectfully bowed toward the carriage before turning and running off. Qin Guan was puzzled and still curious when hurried footsteps approached from inside. Soon, she saw a plump and charming figure emerge—it was a woman around forty years old with an exceptionally graceful appearance.

Qin Guan quickly lowered the carriage curtain.

"Greetings, Crown Prince—"

The middle-aged woman bowed outside the carriage. Only then did Yan Chi smile and say, "Let’s get off."Yan Chi was the first to step down from the carriage. The middle-aged woman was overjoyed to see him, but as soon as he steadied himself, he turned and lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a graceful and elegant figure emerging. The woman froze momentarily, seemingly astonished. When she saw Yan Chi assisting Qin Guan down, her eyes widened even further, yet soon her delight became uncontrollable.

"Your Highness, who is this—"

Yan Chi glanced at the woman, his tone gentle. "Xun Niang, this is Yongci County Princess."

Upon hearing this, Xun Niang’s surprise deepened. She gazed at Qin Guan with warm curiosity, scrutinizing her from head to toe three times before breaking into an unreserved grin. "This... is actually Yongci County Princess! Please forgive my rudeness, Your Highness... I never expected the Crown Prince... Ah, please come in, come in quickly..."

Watching the ecstatic Xun Niang, Qin Guan felt momentarily bewildered.

Yan Chi gently tugged Qin Guan’s sleeve, prompting her to step inside. Upon entering, she was greeted by a pond lush with lotus leaves, and beyond it, a waterside pavilion built over a lotus pond. With all its windows open, the pavilion’s elegantly refined interior was visible at a glance. Xun Niang chattered cheerfully as they walked, "Truly, just as I was hoping for Your Highness’s arrival, here you are—and with the County Princess, no less! These days, the entire city is talking about Yongci County Princess. I never imagined... truly never imagined..."

Qin Guan sensed that Xun Niang’s words went beyond merely acknowledging her medical skills and corpse examination expertise. Moreover, Yan Chi had brought her here without hesitation, indicating his deep trust in Xun Niang. The woman was around the same age as her mother—who was she?

"This pavilion is cleaned daily. Your Highness and the County Princess may enter right away. However, the dishes aren’t prepared yet, so you’ll need to wait a moment. My husband will start cooking for you immediately."

Yan Chi replied calmly, "No rush. I didn’t inform you in advance, so take your time."

Xun Niang cheerfully acknowledged and took a few steps before turning back to glance at Qin Guan, her face beaming with satisfaction as if she couldn’t be more pleased. Her steps were as light as a young girl’s as she led Yan Chi and Qin Guan into the pavilion. She personally fetched tea utensils and brewed tea for them, pouring the tea before saying, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness and County Princess. I’ll go hurry my husband along."

Yan Chi nodded, and Xun Niang departed, still radiating joy.

Though Xun Niang had a plump figure, she was well-maintained, with a round, moon-like face and delicate features. Her amiable demeanor was evident from near or far, and her enthusiastic warmth toward Qin Guan was palpable.

Once she left, Qin Guan couldn’t help but smile and ask, "Who is she?"

Seeing Qin Guan so relaxed and comfortable, Yan Chi explained, "She served my mother. After my mother passed away, most of her attendants returned to Lanzhou, but Xun Niang and her husband stayed in the capital. Initially, it was because they were worried about me, but now they’ve grown accustomed to it. Xun Niang’s husband is the finest chef from the Lu Family of Lanzhou. When I was young and had no appetite, my father would bring me here."

Qin Guan was astonished. Xun Niang had actually been an attendant of Prince Rui’s princess consort—meaning she was from the Lu Family of Lanzhou.

Not only had they remained in the capital, but they also lived in such a secluded place...

Qin Guan instinctively felt there was more to this than met the eye.Yan Chi smiled when he saw her lost in thought. "The Lu Family of Lanzhou is at odds with Father. Their servants are fiercely loyal too. When Father brought me here before, Xun Niang would only prepare my favorite dishes and completely ignore Father’s preferences."

Qin Guan found this both amusing and bewildering. The thought of the lofty and formidable Prince Rui being slighted by Xun Niang over meals was rather comical. Yet, remembering this was all tied to the death of the princess consort, her smile faded.

Wait—that look in Xun Niang’s eyes earlier...

Qin Guan suddenly flushed. "Hold on, so when you brought me here, Xun Niang already knew that we..."

Yan Chi chuckled warmly again, amused that hunger seemed to slow Qin Guan’s reactions. Gazing at her tenderly, he replied matter-of-factly, "She’s probably going to burn incense for my mother soon to announce that I’ve found my heir apparent."