The stone mill appeared more chaotic and desolate than in previous days due to the fatal incident that had occurred there. The dilapidated entrance still bore the ashes of burnt joss paper, seemingly left by local residents who had come to make offerings.
Qin Guan, accompanied by Baiying and two attendants, cautiously stepped inside, noticing that the green grass on the ground had been trampled flat.
Knowing the crime scene wasn’t in the main hall, Qin Guan followed a desolate path toward the rear. Soon, she spotted a row of three low, narrow rooms, with the door of the middle one left open.
After glancing around, Qin Guan strode toward the middle room.
Upon entering, she saw uncleaned bloodstains on the floor. The extent of the spread indicated how much blood the victim had lost. The room was in disarray: a row of stone mills was stacked against the wall in one corner, and the millstone that had crushed the victim to death was set aside. The bottom of the stone mill was stained with blood, now dried into a dirty, dark black.
Frowning slightly, Qin Guan looked up at the beam directly above the bloodstains. Zhan Yang had mentioned that the stone mill had been suspended from this beam, but by the time they entered, it had already fallen. Qin Guan examined the beam carefully but found no suspicious marks. Since the murderer hadn’t used a flying dagger or hidden weapon to cut the rope that day, how had they managed to escape?
Apart from the main door, the room had only two high, narrow windows, too small for anyone to crawl through. The walls on both sides rose straight up to connect with the beam. Stepping back a couple of paces, Qin Guan could roughly see the gap between the walls and the beam. Even in its prime, the building had been quite rudimentary.
Just as Qin Guan was about to conclude she had found nothing noteworthy, her gaze fixed on the flagstones on the floor. The room had long been neglected, and the stones showed their age. Earlier, in the main hall, a flagstone had been smashed into a pit, and here it was the same—yet strangely, the entire indentation was uneven, with one side higher than the other.
This reminded Qin Guan of the corpse she had seen that day. By then, the body had been left overnight and was badly mangled. Recalling it now, she realized the victim’s abdomen seemed to have been crushed with exceptional force. Although half the face was destroyed, the intact areas bore numerous abrasions. What did this mean?
Had the stone mill fallen at an angle?!
With this thought, Qin Guan turned and walked out, saying, "Let’s check the back."
The place was far too remote, and Baiying, extremely uneasy, hurriedly followed close behind. When they reached the back of the building, they found a vast, overgrown patch of wild grass. The backyard appeared to have once been used for work, but now it stood empty. Qin Guan approached the high window of the room and saw it shut tight, covered in cobwebs—clearly, it hadn’t been opened recently.
Something felt off, and Qin Guan’s frown deepened.
Baiying asked, "Miss, what’s wrong? What seems amiss?"
Qin Guan picked up a stone from the ground and let it drop. It fell straight down and hit the ground. "Look at this stone—when it falls, the impact should be fairly even. There’s no reason the indentation we saw earlier would be uneven, with one side higher than the other."Baiying said, "Could it be that when it fell, the side of the millstone was used?"
If the side was used, it was indeed possible. But Qin Guan said, "However, the bloodstains on the millstone are on the entire bottom surface, which clearly shows the killer tied the millstone very carefully. He was afraid that using the rolling side might not kill the person, so he used the safest bottom surface. Let's go take another look."
Qin Guan returned to the front room. The room was very narrow, and even during the day, the light was dim. Shen Qingxi stepped over the bloodstained area and looked toward the entire right wall of the room. This time, the killer hadn't hung the millstone in the center but偏向 the right side of the room. Qin Guan stared at the wall but found nothing unusual at first. Then she looked at the very top of the wall, where it met the beam. In such a shabby room, the space above the beams was empty, so the tops of these three rooms were all connected. After watching for a while, Qin Guan suddenly went out and headed toward the room on the right.
The left and right rooms had been inspected by the constable, and upon re-entering, one could still see many fresh footprints in the dust on the floor. However, the right room was filled with discarded wood, covered in dust and cobwebs, looking extremely cluttered and chaotic. Because it was so messy, a quick glance revealed nothing useful.
But Qin Guan's gaze fell on the top of the middle wall. When she had looked earlier, the left wall of the middle room was covered in cobwebs between the wall and the roof, but the right wall had not a single cobweb. Though it was a small detail, Qin Guan found it strange. She pointed at the beam and said, "Go up and check.The two attendants following her immediately stepped on the abandoned wood to climb up. One climbed while the other assisted, and soon the first reached the top of the wood pile. The attendant was tall, and standing there, he could easily see if there was anything unusual on the beam. Upon looking, he immediately said, "Your Highness, there's something here!"
Qin Guan's eyes lit up. "What is it?!"
The attendant reached out and felt around on the beam, soon frowning and saying, "Your Highness, it seems to be wax."
Wax?! How could there be wax on such a high beam?!
Qin Guan frowned in thought for a moment, then her eyes brightened as if she had realized something.
Qin Shuang opened her eyes to see Xue Qingshan's face close to hers. Before she could feel shy, she turned her head and saw the bright daylight outside. Startled, she sat up abruptly. Her sudden movement woke Xue Qingshan beside her. Opening his eyes, he looked at Qin Shuang and, seeing her flustered, quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Qin Shuang's face flushed, and she looked as if she were about to cry. "It's already broad daylight outside. I still have to serve tea to Father and Mother."
Xue Qingshan laughed, reaching out a long arm to pull her back down. "I already arranged for the tea to be served at lunch today. You were too tired yesterday—sleep a bit longer."Qin Shuang blinked her eyes, finding herself already pulled into Xue Qingshan's embrace. His upper body was bare, and the moment she pressed against him, her heartbeat quickened. Recalling the events of the previous night, a blush instantly spread across her cheeks. This was her first time marrying, and she had many hidden worries about this marriage. Thus, yesterday's wedding had been filled with anxiety. Yet, she never expected that Xue Qingshan, who appeared rough and sturdy on the surface, would be so gentle and attentive. Not only did he prevent anyone from causing a commotion in the bridal chamber, but he also didn't return drunk. In the evening, he helped her remove her hairpins and watched her eat before undressing himself. Afterward, his tenderness was as soft as water.
Qin Shuang's cheeks flushed a deep red as she gazed at Xue Qingshan's closed eyes, feeling utterly content. Though she had been immensely worried before, it now seemed that this life could not only be endured but lived well.
Perhaps because she had stared at him for too long, Xue Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes. Seeing her fixed gaze, he couldn't help but smile. "What are you looking at?"
Qin Shuang lowered her eyes in slight embarrassment, but Xue Qingshan held her tighter.
He closed his eyes again and asked, "What are you thinking? Tell me."
Qin Shuang was still unaccustomed to it, after all, he was still a stranger to her.
She hesitated, and Xue Qingshan said, "This marriage was originally arranged for your sister, but I had never met her. At the time, I thought any daughter of the Qin Manor would do. After that incident, I remembered there was a cousin in the Marquis' residence. You know my intentions—forming a marriage alliance with the Marquis' household would bring me many benefits."
This was something any clear-minded person could see, and Qin Shuang understood it too, but she never expected Xue Qingshan to say it outright.
"The Xue family is not a prominent clan, and I am just a man with rough skills, not as refined and delicate as other young masters. But when I later sought to marry you, I did so with utmost sincerity. Because it wasn't you initially chosen, you might have some reservations in your heart. But Shuang'er, I don't care who was originally chosen. I only care to whom my betrothal gifts were sent and whom I married with a grand procession. That day at the Marquis' residence, when I saw you staring at me in a daze, I thought then that you were the kind of girl I would like. I believed that once married, you would surely make a good wife."
As Xue Qingshan spoke, his voice carried a smile. Qin Shuang listened, feeling even more bashful. She had indeed been stunned that day, never expecting him to visit the Marquis' residence.
"Since we are now husband and wife, we should naturally be of one heart and one mind from now on. This household was previously managed by my mother, but from now on, it will be your responsibility. My parents are old and won't demand much from you. If there's anything you don't know, come and ask me. Even if you make mistakes, I will protect you. From now on, you are the mistress of the Xue family. I will do everything in my power to ensure you live a life of wealth and ease. The Xue family may be of low status and our home small, but I am not a fickle man. In the future, the inner courtyard of the Xue family will have only you. I will never let any other flirtatious women trouble you."Qin Shuang felt her heart warm as she listened. Nestled in Xue Qingshan's embrace, she couldn't yet judge his cleverness, but his physique was undoubtedly robust. Feeling his strong heartbeat and hearing these sincere yet solid promises moved her deeply. His words resolved most of her doubts, as if he could see right through her thoughts.
In the past, as a concubine-born daughter, she had to curry favor with Qin Xiang and Lin Shi to live comfortably. Later in the capital, though Qin Guan protected her, it was never the same as having a husband. Every word Xue Qingshan spoke struck a chord in her heart. When he declared that she would be the only woman in his household's inner courtyard, Qin Shuang couldn't help but tear up.
Pursing her lips, Qin Shuang mustered her courage and embraced Xue Qingshan in return. "I... I understand. From now on, you just focus on building your career outside. I'll take good care of your parents so you have no worries at home. I may not be learned, but I want us to live well. There's much I don't know how to do - please be patient with me."
Xue Qingshan laughed heartily and tightened his embrace. "I'm rather rough and straightforward myself - it's you who'll need to bear with me." No sooner had he spoken than his hands began wandering mischievously. With a soft murmur, Qin Shuang half-resisted, half-yielded as they frolicked together. It wasn't until the sun was high that they rose, freshened up, had some snacks, and Xue Qingshan began showing Qin Shuang around the Xue residence.
Though not as grand and spacious as a marquis manor, the Xue home was tidy and elegant. As they walked, Qin Shuang pointed out where she'd plant flowers and where to add more potted landscapes. To every suggestion, Xue Qingshan nodded approvingly.
Having been raised as a noble daughter after all - even if Lin Shi hadn't properly educated her - Qin Shuang had absorbed the ways of wealthy households through daily exposure in Qin Manor. While she might struggle with truly elite aristocratic affairs, she was thoroughly familiar with everything concerning a residence like the Xue family's. Xue Qingshan's father being a military officer and Xue Qingshan himself a martial practitioner, with his mother not particularly versed in poetry and refinement, even Qin Shuang's superficial knowledge appeared quite accomplished - unlike Qin Xiang's haughty, highbrow manner.
Xue Qingshan, masculine and straightforward, paired perfectly with Qin Shuang's charming vivacity. Though newly married, they already demonstrated remarkable harmony and affection.
By noon, Xue Qingshan brought Qin Shuang to pay respects to his parents. Being after all a cousin from the marquis household, the elder Xues had no reason to make things difficult for her. After simple ceremonies and generous gifts from the elders, the formalities were completed. In the afternoon, Madame Xue presented all household servants to Qin Shuang, thus formally establishing her as the new mistress of the Xue family.
Meanwhile, Qin Guan returned from the southern city and went directly to the magistrate's office.
Having left the magistrate's office that morning, she now found neither Zheng Baishi nor Zhan Yang present.
But Qin Guan hadn't come for them. She went straight to find Zhang Daoshi, speaking with him in the duty room for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Then she left for Marquis Anyang Manor to find Yue Ning.Upon seeing Yue Ning, Qin Guan immediately pulled her aside for a private conversation in the storeroom near the stables without a word of explanation. She then instructed servants to fetch ropes and carry several sacks of horse fodder inside. Shortly after, Yue Ning had candles brought in and ordered the sacks to be hoisted high. Qin Guan shooed everyone out, and the two spent a long while tinkering with something until a loud "bang" echoed from the storeroom. Moments later, they emerged with solemn expressions.
Yue Ning directed servants to clean up the storeroom while she returned to the small study with Qin Guan.
Qin Guan dismissed Baiying and other attendants, whispering with Yue Ning in the study until sunset. When Yue Ning finally stepped out, her expression was peculiarly strained. Qin Guan tugged her sleeve and said, "You can still back out. If you don’t regret it now, there’s no turning back later."
Yue Ning raised her chin resolutely. "I won’t!"
She beckoned a servant and instructed, "Go summon Young Master Wei Qizhi from the Wei residence. If he cannot come today, have him visit tomorrow."
The servant departed to carry out the order. Qin Guan remarked, "I truly hope this time he can help me acquire two fine paintings—one for the Grand Princess and one for the Empress Dowager."
Yue Ning shook her head with a wry smile and led Qin Guan to see the Grand Princess. Soon, the servant returned to report that Wei Qizhi was indeed not at the Wei residence but had left word that he might visit the next day.
Unable to wait for Wei Qizhi that day, Qin Guan had no choice but to return the following day.
Qin Guan first went back to the Marquis Anyang Manor and arrived early the next morning to wait. It was the Dragon Boat Festival, and Qin Guan had brought gifts to celebrate with the Grand Princess, who was delighted. Just past noon, Wei Qizhi indeed appeared. Having become a royal merchant, it was unclear how much wealth he had amassed, but he arrived laden with presents again, each one perfectly suited to Yue Ning’s tastes. Qin Guan couldn’t help but scrutinize him for a few moments.
However, since Yue Ning had declared their accounts settled after Wei Qizhi’s previous gift of the Cheng Ying Sword, she refused to accept anything now. Unexpectedly, Wei Qizhi insisted, "It’s a festival today. Visiting the manor empty-handed would be improper—it’s a matter of etiquette. If you feel uneasy, perhaps the Marquis has some military strategy books he no longer needs and could spare me a couple."
Yue Ning found his reasoning somewhat valid. Besides, they were the ones seeking his help this time, so it wouldn’t do to be too rigid. She reluctantly agreed.
Wei Qizhi was unaware of why Yue Ning had summoned him. When Qin Guan explained their purpose, he confidently declared, "What’s so difficult about that? I accompanied the Yongning County Princess on her first visit to the painting gallery. As far as I know, Master Ning still has two treasured pieces in hand. For anything else, I can inquire further for Ninth Miss."
Qin Guan then said, "The Empress Dowager’s birthday is after the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I’d like to gift her Xu Daozi’s 'Longevity Pine of Mount Zhongnan.' As for the Grand Princess, I’m undecided. What does Master Ning have available?"Wei Qizhi was truly well-acquainted with the paintings in his possession, immediately listing them off: "Among these are genuine works, imitations, and even some from the previous dynasty. I'm not sure if Master Ning would be willing to part with the authentic pieces, but I can inquire about others for Ninth Miss to provide more options. As for the 'Ten-Thousand-Year Pine' piece, I recall it's currently in Master Ning's collection."
Qin Guan promptly nodded. "Then I'll entrust this matter to you."
While they were conversing, Yue Ning went to inform the Grand Princess of Wei Qizhi's arrival and incidentally fetch the military texts he requested. Once Yue Ning left, Qin Guan looked at Wei Qizhi and remarked, "Young Master Wei seems to know exactly what Yue Ning likes."
Wei Qizhi smiled candidly. "What is Ninth Miss implying?"
Qin Guan studied him for a moment before lowering her voice slightly.
When Yue Ning returned, she noticed Wei Qizhi and Qin Guan had just finished speaking, with Wei Qizhi looking somewhat peculiar. Pretending not to notice, Yue Ning took her seat, and Wei Qizhi resumed discussing paintings and calligraphy.
After some time, the Grand Princess summoned Wei Qizhi, so Qin Guan and Yue Ning accompanied him. This time, the Grand Princess invited Wei Qizhi to stay for dinner. By the time the meal ended, the sun had already begun to set. Wei Qizhi took his leave from Marquis Anyang Manor and headed straight to Ink-Stained Painting House. Upon entering, he immediately asked for Ning Buyi. The attendant who greeted him had just said, "Master Ning is resting in the rear courtyard," when Wei Qizhi rushed toward the back without hesitation.
Though Wei Qizhi and Ning Buyi were indeed acquainted, his abruptness flustered the attendant. Knowing where Ning Buyi resided in the rear courtyard, Wei Qizhi went directly to his personal quarters.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Wei Qizhi caught a whiff of medicine. "What's wrong? Is Master Ning ill?"
The attendant grimaced. "Master Ning was invited to Zhongguo Duke Manor to paint last night. Heir Apparent Feng deliberately made things difficult, insisting he paint by the lake and forcing him to stand there all night. He returned after midnight and hasn't been well since."
Though it was already early summer, the nights remained chilly. Making someone stand by the lake for most of the night was nothing short of torment! Despite being taught a lesson by Yue Ning last time, Feng Zhang clearly hadn't let it go.
Wei Qizhi frowned upon hearing this. "In that case, I shouldn't disturb him."
The attendant sighed in relief, but just as Wei Qizhi turned to leave, the door creaked open. Ning Buyi, draped in a robe, stood at the doorway and smiled wryly. "Since you're already here, come in."
Wei Qizhi chuckled. "I was just about to leave!"
Ning Buyi looked pale, with dark circles under his eyes and purplish lips, appearing gravely ill. Wei Qizhi's playful mood vanished, replaced by concern. "You look seriously ill! How could Feng Zhang bully someone like this?!"
Ning Buyi sighed bitterly. "When Zhongguo Duke Manor summons, I dare not refuse."
Wei Qizhi frowned, equally displeased by the duke manor's reputation. "Ah, I heard from Yongci County Princess that she encountered Feng Zhang harassing you here last time?!"
Ning Buyi's expression grew even more pained. "Yes, I was fortunate to have the county princess and the others assist me."
He then added, "Are you familiar with Yongci County Princess?"Wei Qizhi nodded, "I've known them since my time in Jinzhou—both Yongci County Princess and Yongning County Princess. Speaking of which, last time I brought Yongning County Princess here to buy a painting from you. She ended up purchasing that 'Ancient Pine' scroll, right?"
Ning Buyi had heard about this from his servant. However, when Yue Ning later came to buy paintings, she hadn’t brought Wei Qizhi along. Yet Wei Qizhi still knew about it, which clearly indicated frequent private interactions between him and Yue Ning. "It was indeed that painting."
A slight smile touched Wei Qizhi’s lips. "I saw it at the Marquis residence and later confirmed she bought it from you. Really, she didn’t ask me to accompany her this time—but purchasing from you is always reliable."
Wei Qizhi studied Ning Buyi’s complexion with concern. "Are you truly alright? Today I’ve come to buy another painting—this time for Yongci County Princess, as gifts for the Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess. They must be authentic works."
Ning Buyi coughed lightly. "Wait for me to change clothes, then I’ll accompany you to view the paintings. If I don’t have what you need here, I can inquire with other collectors for you."
With that, Ning Buyi entered the inner chamber to change. Wei Qizhi paced around the outer room, his gaze sweeping until it landed on a newly carved seal bearing Ning Buyi’s name on the desk by the window.
After a brief glance, Ning Buyi soon emerged from the room, and the two proceeded together toward the storeroom where Ning Buyi kept his paintings.
As night fell, Zhan Yang led the yamen constables and soldiers from the Nine Gates Garrison to rush toward the three locations where murders were likely to occur. No matter how cunning the murderer might be, with sufficient official manpower, they would be unable to carry out their crimes—especially since their altar could only be activated through live sacrifices at these specific sites.
Previously, Zhan Yang had hoped to capture the murderer but feared that deploying too many troops would cause greater panic among the capital’s residents. However, after several failed attempts, he realized that small forces were utterly inadequate to stop the killer. The murderer had clearly planned long in advance, meticulously rehearsing each murder location—places they knew far better than the authorities. Sending a few dozen people for temporary surveillance could never expose the murderer’s weaknesses. Thus, this time, Zhan Yang called upon the Garrison Battalion.
At any of the three sites, the combined forces of yamen constables and the Garrison Battalion were enough to halt the murderer’s progress. Although this approach also scared off the killer, eliminating any chance of capture, the murderer’s rigid requirements for the altar—specific times and locations—meant Zhan Yang only needed to prevent further killings while gradually investigating the case.
Five people had already died. With each death, Zhan Yang had to reinvestigate the victim’s background, but the murderer gave him no time. As his urgency grew, the useful clues he uncovered dwindled.
Now, this was the only method left to obstruct the murderer.
The Garrison Battalion dispatched three hundred troops, assigning one hundred to each location. Not only were the potential crime scenes tightly sealed off, but patrols also covered surrounding streets and alleys. This naturally stirred fear among the populace, yet the serial murders had already shaken the capital. The authorities had no choice but to confront the killer directly.
The night deepened. Despite thorough preparations, Zhan Yang and Qin Ye, hidden in ink-black shadows, remained uncertain whether they could thwart the murderer’s plans tonight.
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