Coroner's Diary

Lanzhou, located in the southwest of the Great Zhou, was renowned for its fresh, aromatic, and exquisite cuisine. Xun Niang was exceptionally enthusiastic toward Qin Guan, attending to her while stealing frequent glances. Qin Guan couldn't help but blush faintly under the scrutiny.

Yan Chi watched with mild exasperation. "Alright, Xun Niang, we'll manage on our own. You may attend to your duties."

Understanding Yan Chi's protective intent, Xun Niang covered her mouth with a chuckle. "Very well, very well. I hope the princess won't take offense—I'm just a coarse woman. If I've been too forward, please don't hold it against me."

It wasn't that Qin Guan felt offended, but Xun Niang's gaze was so intense it made her slightly uncomfortable.

"Not at all. The dishes are exceptionally delicious. Thank you, Xun Niang."

Xun Niang repeatedly demurred before finally withdrawing.

Once she left, Yan Chi leaned back against the daybed cushion, watching Qin Guan eat with leisurely ease. Qin Guan gave him a helpless look. "Aren't you eating anymore?"

A faint smile touched Yan Chi's lips. "Though the dishes are delightful, they pale in comparison to you. Watching you is sustenance enough."

Qin Guan's eyebrows rose in surprise—she never took Yan Chi for one to spout sweet nothings. His smile deepened as he sat up to serve her more food. "When Zheng Baishi came to fetch me, I was dining with the Minister."

Qin Guan understood immediately. "That was nearly a full day ago."

Yan Chi explained, "I brought you here entirely for your sake. Eat more. Xun Niang's husband is surnamed Yuan—Master Yuan particularly enjoys seeing his dishes polished clean."

Qin Guan glanced at the table laden with food and laughed softly—that was a mission impossible for her.

While serving her, Yan Chi nibbled occasionally. Qin Guan asked, "Will they remain in the capital to care for you indefinitely?"

Yan Chi replied plainly, "I'd prefer they return to Lanzhou. As the Lu family's ancestral home, life there is more tranquil than in the capital. But it's their decision—they aren't my servants."

Qin Guan asked no further and focused on her meal. Yan Chi, intimately familiar with these dishes, shared two amusing childhood anecdotes. Qin Guan listened while eating, her expression warm with smiles. By the time she finished, she felt thoroughly content and relaxed.

After they entered, three windows of the waterside pavilion had been closed, leaving only the front facing the lotus pond open. Yan Chi walked to the window and stood there, beckoning. "Come here—"

Qin Guan rose and joined him. Yan Chi held her loosely, pointing at the lotus leaves and elegant buds outside. "These are the Lanzhou water lilies my mother loved most. The ones at Prince Rui's royal residence have long withered—only here do they thrive."

The evening breeze stirred, carrying the lotus fragrance to Qin Guan's senses. She inhaled lightly, her eyes narrowing slightly. They had entered through the back gate, unaware of the front courtyard's purpose. The entire compound was profoundly quiet. Watching the lotus leaves sway in the wind, she felt as if only she and Yan Chi existed in this space.

Yan Chi simply wrapped his arms around her from behind. In his embrace, the evening chill dissipated into his warmth. Qin Guan relaxed, leaning against his chest.

For a while, neither spoke. The day's cases and deaths suddenly felt distant. This moment was serene and peaceful, filled with drifting lotus fragrance—utterly tranquil and carefree...

Had Yan Chi not brought her here, she could never have stolen this half-day of respite from life's bustle.

"Now that you've returned, why not replant the withered water lilies?"Qin Guan spoke softly, her entire being having shed the daytime armor. Yan Chi said calmly, "In the past, my mother liked them—that pond of water lilies was personally tended by her. After she passed away, Father invited many people to care for those water lilies, but they seemed to have developed a spirit, ultimately withering away with Mother. Now that I've returned, though I have the time, I no longer have the heart for it. I only come here occasionally to look."

Qin Guan placed her hand on the back of Yan Chi's, wanting to comfort him. Yan Chi smiled, "It's been many years since Mother passed; I've long grown accustomed to it."

Yan Chi turned his hand to hold Qin Guan's and continued, "It's a pity there's no moonlight tonight, otherwise the scenery of this lotus pond would be even more enchanting."

Qin Guan looked up at the sky, seeing only a pitch-black expanse with no stars or moon. It had been clear during the day, yet by evening it was like this. As she thought this, she suddenly said, "Last night seemed to be a starless and moonless night too?"

Yan Chi hummed in agreement, "Indeed it was, why do you ask?"

Qin Guan then turned to face him, leaning against the windowsill behind her. "Was the night Wu Qian died also a starless and moonless night? I remember it was the day after Qin Xiang went to Prince Cheng's residence. I went to Marquis Anyang Manor early in the morning, and the next day, my uncle and aunt went to the palace and the Xue family respectively. They arrived at Marquis Anyang Manor by noon. We returned quite early that day, and indeed there was no moon visible at night."

Yan Chi thought for a moment, "Now that you mention it, I recall too—it was the day after you accompanied the Grand Princess into the palace. That night was indeed starless and moonless."

After a moment's thought, Qin Guan said, "Do you think the killer specifically chooses such nights to commit murder?"

"Looking at these two incidents both occurring on starless and moonless nights, that's certainly possible. But with only two occurrences, it might just be coincidence."

Qin Guan nodded, "To verify, we'd have to wait for the next incident. But once something happens, another person dies—the cost is too great. I wonder if the Prefect has any other information."

Speaking of the case, both lost their leisurely mood. After exchanging a few more words, Yan Chi prepared to see Qin Guan home. The sky had completely darkened by now; if they were any later with the city under curfew, Qin Shu and others would likely worry.

When leaving the waterside pavilion, they saw Xun Niang standing with a middle-aged man of average height and very ordinary appearance. Upon seeing Yan Chi emerge, the man immediately bowed, "Yuan Yan pays respects to the Crown Prince, pays respects to the Princess."

Xun Niang said, "He's covered in kitchen smells but insisted on coming to pay respects to Your Highness. You haven't visited many times since returning, and who knows when you'll come next. If the Princess also enjoys the food here, please bring her more often in the future."

The couple was very simple and sincere. Yan Chi responded gently before taking Qin Guan out and helping her into the carriage.

They traveled along the alley until reaching the main street, then the carriage headed straight northwest. After another half hour, they arrived at Xingle District. Soon enough, the carriage stopped in front of the Marquis Manor.

Qin Guan bid farewell to Yan Chi, entered the manor, and retired for the night.Though Qin Guan held only a nominal position, her mind remained preoccupied with the case. When she fell asleep that night, she unexpectedly dreamed of her father, Shen Yi. The surroundings resembled those of the Shen residence—her father was writing case files in his study, while she occasionally glanced at the contents. Gradually, she recognized which case it was and began discussing it with her father. Watching this scene, Qin Guan felt a wave of dizziness seeing her dream-self. That was when she was fifteen, shortly after they had arrived in the capital and reunited with her father. She longed to ask him about the mysteries behind Prince Jin’s case, or at least inquire about the crux of the current case. But in the dream, she couldn’t speak at all. She floated like a ghost in the air, watching her father chat and laugh with her former self, who still went by the name Shen Wan.

Qin Guan grew frantic. Could it be that her changed appearance made her father fail to recognize her?

Yet, seeing her father and her past self so vividly alive, it seemed as though they were still living—just in a world unknown to her—

Qin Guan woke up drenched in cold sweat.

Outside the window, the sky was faintly bright, the last traces of deep blue slowly fading from the horizon.

After steadying herself, Qin Guan rose. Fuling entered and noticed her pale complexion and the thin layer of sweat on her forehead. "Miss? Did you have a nightmare? Let me fetch a damp cloth to wipe your face."

Fuling quickly brought a cloth, wiping Qin Guan’s sweat as she asked, "What did you dream about, Miss?"

Qin Guan lowered her gaze. "I dreamed of Father."

Fuling sighed. "Was it because of the grave visit a few days ago? The heavens know of your filial piety and sent you this dream. Did the master say anything?"

Qin Guan shook her head with a bitter smile. Her father and mother had died without proper burials—where would there be a grave to visit?

After comforting Qin Guan a few more words, Fuling helped her dress. Though it was already late April and the weather was gradually warming, the early morning still carried a chill. Fuling draped a cape over Qin Guan’s shoulders. "Even though you are highly skilled in medicine, Miss, it wouldn’t do to catch a chill. Are you worried about the case? I noticed you’ve been frowning since you woke up."

Indeed, Qin Guan was troubled—by the serial murder case and her father’s case as well.

Even if she could enter the Celestial Prison and legitimately conduct corpse examinations and investigations, her father’s case remained nearly impossible to touch. It was just too difficult. Qin Guan sighed deeply. "Have breakfast brought in. We’ll go to the magistrate’s office later."

She needed to take action—to actively seek opportunities.

…

…

When Qin Guan arrived at the magistrate’s office, Zheng Baishi was somewhat surprised. "Why has the County Princess come so early?"

Zheng Baishi invited Qin Guan to sit and had tea served. Qin Guan said, "Last night, it suddenly occurred to me—on the night Zhao Jiaxu died, which was the night before last, there were no stars or moon. And on the night Wu Qian died, it seemed the same. I’m wondering if the killer specifically chooses such nights to commit murder."

Zheng Baishi looked slightly taken aback. "To conceal their actions under the cover of darkness?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "Have you forgotten, Sir? When Zhao Jiaxu died, there were ashes and a pattern drawn in cinnabar beneath him. By the way, have you identified what that pattern represents?"

Zheng Baishi shook his head with a wry smile. "Not yet. We inquired with Taoist priests from the Path and monks from Buddhist temples, but no one recognized it."Qin Guan's heart sank. "It might have been damaged, so it's unrecognizable."

As she spoke, Qin Guan asked again, "Has the matter regarding Zhao Jiaxu and He Wencai been clarified?"

Zheng Baishi felt it was quite remarkable. Qin Guan was a young woman, yet she took such an interest in the case. Thinking this, Zheng Baishi couldn't help but feel that it would be better if Qin Guan were a man. "We investigated Zhao Jiaxu's side. Zhao Yu Shi said she never mended clothes for Zhao Jiaxu, but we also found no evidence of him having a lover outside. Moreover, yesterday afternoon, Zhan Yang took people to question Zhao Yu Shi again, and she insisted that her husband was not that kind of person and would never keep a mistress."

Qin Guan frowned. "How is that possible? It couldn't be that he mended the clothes himself." Besides, she had found traces of male essence on Zhao Jiaxu's trousers. If he had been intimate at home, why would he go out wearing soiled pants?

Zheng Baishi was also quite helpless. "We're still investigating. Zhao Jiaxu once vowed not to take a concubine. Even if there was a woman, he must have hidden her well. Unfortunately, he had no attendants. Although there were maids and servants at home, he never brought them when he went to teach. It's unclear whether this was intentional or just his habit."

"This is indeed a significant point of suspicion. Even if he wasn't keeping a mistress, he likely had a favored girl in a brothel or pleasure house. His social circle is limited—it's unlikely that the children he taught could be responsible for harming anyone."

Zheng Baishi then said, "We also inquired at the Wei residence. Zhao Jiaxu taught at the Wei family school for over a year, not as long as He Wencai. The Wei master rated him as above average, saying he was very eager to showcase his knowledge and had some genuine talent, but privately, he wasn't well understood—"

"As for He Wencai, he already has new students. Some of his old patrons still trust him, and his sons have testified for him. On the night of the incident, he was at home caring for his elderly wife and indeed did not go out. Additionally, his health is poor, and he lacks strength. Ambushing Wu Qian and then Zhao Jiaxu doesn't seem like something he could do."

Unless He Wencai, like Meng Ziyi, had contracted some madness that granted him immense strength during episodes.

"The murderer is deeply hidden. By the way, has the Prefect reviewed the Court of Judicial Review's files?"

Zheng Baishi replied, "The Court of Judicial Review's files have been sorted out. They're old cases, and it took Magistrate Li some time to retrieve them from the archives. Today, I planned to wait for Zhan Yang to return from his investigation before inviting the Crown Prince to review them together. Since you're here, would you like to join us? You are exceptionally observant—you might discover something."

Qin Guan naturally agreed happily. After waiting another half-hour, Zhan Yang indeed returned from outside. He was not only investigating Zhao Jiaxu but also the Weiyuan Earl's residence. However, after his inquiries, it turned out the two families had no intersection at all. How, then, did the murderer know about both families' affairs?Qin Guan pondered for a moment and said, "These two families appear to be worlds apart in status, so naturally they wouldn't have any intersection." Yet they might buy rice from the same shop, entertain guests at the same restaurant, or purchase clothes from the same silk merchant. These coincidences could have unknowingly allowed the murderer to learn about both families' affairs. The murderer would never show their murderous nature openly—they would simply be an ordinary person, unconnected to either family's social circle but linked to some aspect of their daily lives."

Qin Guan's words were too truthful and too frightening. The murderer could be utterly unremarkable—perhaps a clerk at the rice shop, a waiter in the restaurant, or the manager of the silk merchant. These people interact with numerous customers daily and might have become quite familiar with certain servants from both families. Through repeated interactions, they could have learned many intimate details about the two households.

After waiting a while longer, Yan Chi arrived from the Ministry of Justice. He had already learned on his way that Qin Guan had reached the prefectural magistrate's office, which surprised him slightly. Since accepting a nominal position at the Ministry of Justice, Qin Guan had become even more dedicated to these cases.

Setting out from the magistrate's office, the group headed together toward the Court of Judicial Review. In the past, Qin Guan had only visited the Court of Judicial Review a handful of times. Although her father had been the chief official there, he rarely brought family members inside. Now, in this life, Qin Guan was going to the Court of Judicial Review again—the place where her father had served before his death. It was certain to be filled with his presence everywhere. And what secrets might those case files contain?