When Li Muyun entered through the Moon Cave Gate, he saw Qin Guan and Baiying searching for something in every corner. Li Muyun smiled and cupped his hands in salute, "Greetings, Your Highness—"
Qin Guan turned around, slightly surprised, "Oh, Lord Li has returned?"
Li Muyun straightened up, his expression gentle, "Yes, I just came from the palace."
Qin Guan glanced around the room and sighed, "I originally thought finding a single case file wouldn’t be difficult, but after looking around this storeroom, I realize this task truly requires time. No wonder Lord Li hasn’t found it after several days of searching."
This was indeed a failure on the part of the Court of Judicial Review, and Li Muyun understood this well. He replied, "I apologize for the embarrassment, Your Highness. These past few days, the office has been occupied with other matters, and that particular file is the only one missing, so we haven’t been able to locate it yet."
Qin Guan brushed the dust off her sleeves, "I initially wanted to help, but seeing these large chests one after another, it’s clearly not an easy task."
Li Muyun quickly responded, "How could we trouble Your Highness to assist? I’ll have them continue searching through the night."
Qin Guan smiled, "If that’s the case, wouldn’t everyone resent me for coming? Lord Li, there’s no need to rush. Let them search whenever they have time."
As she spoke, Qin Guan walked toward the exit, "I visited the prefect’s office this morning and learned that no new clues have been found there. The Prefect also mentioned that the Court of Judicial Review hasn’t sent over the case file yet, which is why I decided to come and see for myself. Now that I understand how difficult it is to find, I won’t stay any longer to avoid disrupting official duties."
The guard at the door found this amusing, thinking to himself that Her Highness had finally realized the difficulty.
Li Muyun accompanied Qin Guan outside, "My apologies for the inconvenience, Your Highness. I will definitely urge my subordinates to search for the file more quickly. You and Lord Zheng will have to devote considerable effort to this case in the coming days."
Qin Guan frowned slightly, "Oh? Does Lord Li have other duties?"
Li Muyun thought for a moment and said, "It’s no harm telling you now, as everyone will know in a couple of days. It’s a matter concerning the Ministry of War. Several transport commissioners in the northwest are suspected of embezzling military provisions. The Emperor is furious about this and has ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War to investigate jointly. Since the Court of Judicial Review has the authority to oversee the Ministry of Justice, we will also be involved."
Embezzlement of military provisions, which involves the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the northwestern border and the security of the Great Zhou, is undoubtedly more critical than a single murder case.
Qin Guan nodded, "I understand. In that case, you have your work cut out for you. With Lord Zheng and Zhan Butou overseeing the case in the city, I trust nothing will go wrong."
Li Muyun said, "To solve this case, Your Highness’s contribution cannot be overlooked."
Qin Guan smiled and exchanged a few more words with Li Muyun before taking her leave. Li Muyun escorted her to the front hall, watched her depart, and then furrowed his brow slightly.
The guard on duty remarked, "My Lord, Her Highness didn’t initially understand our hardships, but she realized it after seeing for herself."
Li Muyun narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"
The guard explained, "When Her Highness first arrived, she seemed somewhat impatient, as if we could find it with a casual search. We had no choice but to let her try herself. After trying, she understood."
Li Muyun’s brow furrowed deeper. In his impression, Qin Guan did not seem to be such a person.
After a moment’s thought, Li Muyun turned and headed back toward the storeroom. The guard, unsure why, hurriedly followed.The two returned to the storeroom. As Li Muyun stepped inside, his gaze darkened. His eyes swept around the room before he walked along the narrow path between the shelves toward the Moon Cave Gate. After circling the area once, he found nothing unusual. The clerk followed behind him, unsure what he was looking for, and mimicked his actions by glancing around.
However, after a full inspection, neither of them discovered anything.
Li Muyun shook his head. "It's fine. Go about your duties."
With that, he turned and walked out. The clerk acknowledged and followed him out a few steps. Only after Li Muyun had left did the clerk let out a sigh of relief. But as he turned around, he noticed a ladder leaning crookedly against a bookshelf not far away. The clerk raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Didn’t I set it properly just now…"
He hurried over to straighten the ladder but didn’t dwell on it further.
Once Qin Guan boarded the carriage, her brow furrowed slightly, lost in thought. Baiying wanted to ask her something but hesitated and ultimately remained silent.
Back at the Marquis’s residence, Qin Guan rested briefly in her room before rising. She hadn’t finished reviewing the Court of Judicial Review’s case files from July and August of the previous year, nor had she found any records related to Prince Jin’s case. Yet, today she had used such an ill-timed excuse to visit, which must have greatly surprised Li Muyun. How could she discreetly search for the files next time without raising suspicion?
The Court of Judicial Review was not a place one could enter casually, and the storeroom was a restricted area within the office. Could she possibly use the same reason to enter again?
Qin Guan shook her head—it was certainly impossible.
Fuling brought in a cup of hot tea and said cheerfully, "Miss, that little sparrow has been very obedient these past few days. The remedy you suggested is truly effective. It’s been fluttering energetically in its cage all day today."
Even from inside her room, Qin Guan could hear the bird chirping in the courtyard. "In that case, continue feeding it according to that method from now on."
Fuling beamed with delight. Recently, Qin Guan had been taking Baiying along on her case investigations, leaving Fuling alone in the courtyard with little to do. Caring for the sparrow had become her greatest joy, and seeing it thrive brought her immense satisfaction.
Qin Shuang’s wedding date was approaching, and the entire household was busy preparing for her nuptials, along with Qin Chaoyu’s. Hu Shi was so occupied she barely had time to rest. Only Qin Guan, preoccupied with the case, had not participated.
Qin Guan asked, "How are the preparations for the Sixth Young Miss coming along?"
Fuling smiled. "Everything is going very well. Now that Sixth Young Miss has Wan He by her side, she’s quite helpful."
Wan He had previously been Qin Xiang’s head maid and was very capable. Now assigned to Qin Shuang’s courtyard, she worked diligently and kept to herself. After a moment’s thought, Fuling suddenly added, "Oh, by the way, a letter arrived from Jinzhou."
"A letter from Jinzhou?"
Fuling nodded. "Yes. When Fifth Young Miss’s marriage was initially settled, a letter was sent to Jinzhou. The Eldest Master thought that at least someone from Jinzhou should attend Fifth Young Miss’s wedding. But now that circumstances have changed, the Eldest Master sent an urgent letter to Jinzhou. It seems they’ve replied."
Qin Guan frowned. "I wonder how Uncle explained this change to Jinzhou."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Shuang’s voice came from the doorway. "Uncle certainly didn’t state it directly—"Qin Guan looked up as Qin Shuang lifted the curtain and entered. Fuling bowed and went to prepare tea. Qin Shuang walked over to Qin Guan and said, "Father only mentioned that the marriage arrangement had been changed, without even bringing up Qin Xiang."
Qin Guan shook her head, "Then Third Aunt must be very confused."
Qin Shuang gave a bitter smile, "Exactly, she's especially bewildered. This letter was sent to question Father, but what could he possibly say? Aunt mentioned last night that Mother might come to the capital."
Hearing this, Qin Guan felt a mix of complicated emotions. Lin Shi herself understood propriety, but given Qin Xiang's current situation, she wondered how Lin Shi would feel upon learning the truth.
"How would she come? Will Second Brother accompany her?"
Qin Shuang shook her head, "If it were just my wedding, Mother and Second Brother probably wouldn't come. But since it was originally Qin Xiang's marriage that suddenly changed, they must have doubts. The letter Aunt received was from over twenty days ago—no one knows how Mother has arranged things now."
The journey from the capital to Jinzhou spanned thousands of miles. It wouldn't be easy for Lin Shi, a woman, to travel to the capital alone. If she came, Qin Li would likely accompany her. But given the current circumstances, Qin Shu and his wife probably didn't want Lin Shi to complicate matters, and Qin Xiang was likely too afraid to face her own mother.
Yet there was nothing either of them could do about it.
Qin Guan said, "Just focus on preparing for your wedding."
Qin Shuang let out a sigh, smiling wryly, "My mother passed away early, and Father is the way he is. Now that I'm getting married, I have no close relatives by my side." As she spoke, she grabbed Qin Guan's hand, "Luckily, I still have you. It's strange, but last night I dreamed about our time in Jinzhou—I dreamed that I stopped bullying you and let you move into my courtyard, and we grew up together..."
Qin Shuang smiled bitterly again, "Looking back now, I really was awful back then."
Qin Guan couldn't help but laugh, chiding her, "Well, at least you realize it! Good thing you've changed for the better, otherwise..."
Qin Shuang half-hugged Qin Guan's arm, acting coquettishly. As the wedding date approached, she had grown closer to Qin Guan. "I know I was wrong. Everyone has a past, but you're so magnanimous. Do you know what I've been thinking about?"
Qin Guan raised an eyebrow, "What?"
Qin Shuang sat up straight, "I've been thinking about your marriage. Your status is unusual now, but because of that, it's even harder for you to find someone honest, reliable, and settled."
Honest and reliable? Settled?
Qin Guan thought of Yan Chi but didn't find him particularly honest. As for a settled life, that seemed even less likely—he had suffered such severe injuries back in Jinzhou, and there was still no explanation for that.
Qin Guan sighed, "Don't worry about me. Just focus on living peacefully after you're married. That Young Master Xue is surely ambitious—he'll likely achieve high rank and wealth in the future."
Qin Shuang scoffed, "I don't care about high rank or wealth. Haven't you seen those prominent families? Every one of them has a house full of women. I don't want that. I'd rather live a simpler, quieter life, even in a modest household."
Qin Guan hadn't given much thought to when her own marriage would be arranged, let alone these matters. But now, with a love-struck sister about to marry beside her, she couldn't help but think of Yan Chi.
When it came to taking concubines, it was common even among ordinary families, let alone in a royal residence like Prince Rui's.
She wondered if Prince Rui had any concubines...Prince Rui's princess consort passed away many years ago, and all these years Prince Rui had been stationed at the frontier. It seemed unlikely he would take a concubine, so Yan Chi probably followed the same principle. Yan Chi didn't seem like someone who would frequent pleasure quarters either...
"Hey, what are you smiling about?!"
Qin Shuang gave Qin Guan a push, snapping her out of her reverie. "What? I wasn't smiling."
Qin Shuang frowned. "I clearly saw it. You were spacing out, then suddenly smiled. What were you thinking about? Who came to mind?"
Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat. Why had Qin Shuang suddenly become so perceptive?
"I... I was just happy thinking about your upcoming marriage."
Qin Shuang's frown deepened. "No, you were definitely thinking about someone you like. That smile was unconscious, not for my happiness. Tell me, do you have someone in mind?"
This was the first time Qin Guan realized Qin Shuang could be so clever. She didn't know that Qin Shuang, currently excited about marriage herself, would often giggle uncontrollably and thus recognized the same in Qin Guan.
"I don't! How could I? There's no way..."
Qin Guan quickly composed herself. Qin Shuang scrutinized her, suspicion still evident in her eyes. "Really, you don't?"
Qin Guan nodded firmly. "Of course not..."
Qin Shuang snorted. "You often enter the Inner Palace. If you meet someone pleasing, it's fine to like them. Are you waiting for the Empress Dowager to arrange your marriage? What if she matches you with someone you've never even seen?"
Qin Guan shook her head and changed the subject. The two chatted all afternoon until dusk when they parted. Remembering she hadn't entered the palace for two days nor visited the Grand Princess, Qin Guan retired early, planning to go to Marquis Anyang Manor first thing in the morning before heading to the palace.
That night, Qin Guan had the same dream as before.
She dreamed of her past self speaking with her father again, but this time the setting shifted to the Court of Judicial Review.
Like a ghost, Qin Guan watched her former self and father, feeling both sorrow and bitterness. She wanted to speak but couldn't form words, unable to ask her father anything. Her past self appeared serene and determined, with a spirited demeanor uncommon for women confined to inner chambers. Her father gazed at her adoringly, and after she said something, he suddenly laughed joyfully...
Qin Guan woke up panting heavily once more.
She didn't know what these recurring dreams of the past signified, only that she was growing increasingly anxious.
Outside, dawn hadn't yet broken. Qin Guan lay in bed a while longer before rising.
Fuling and Baiying hurried to assist her with washing. After freshening up, Qin Guan walked alone in the courtyard.
Her father's case had now become taboo. The one who exposed him was Li Muyun—what evidence had he used to make the emperor issue an execution order? Besides Li Muyun, who else had been involved?
Consort Jin was assassinated in the Inner Palace. Although Prince Jin wasn't the legitimate heir, he was known for his virtue—was he involved in factional struggles?
If it involved factional struggles, was the mastermind the Crown Prince? Or Prince Cheng?
As Qin Guan walked and pondered, her thoughts still tangled, rapid footsteps suddenly sounded from outside. Turning, she saw the servant leading Zhan Yang. Her heart leaped, and she hurried toward the courtyard gate. "Zhan Butou?! Has something happened again?"Zhan Yang walked to the courtyard gate and bowed, getting straight to the point, "Your Highness, someone has died again."
Qin Guan knew that if Zhan Yang came looking for her, something must have happened again. She wasn't the least bit surprised, but thinking of the case from six years ago, she quickly asked, "How did the third person die?"
Zhan Yang's eyes darkened as he replied, "Frozen to death."
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