Coroner's Diary

"What?! Prince Rui..."

Hu Shi's eyes widened as she suddenly recalled Qin Shu's earlier words!

She instantly understood—the Crown Prince's warning wasn't about the Northwest military provisions case. His opposition to Qin Guan and Yan Chi's marriage was likely because he had already learned of this matter.

Hu Shi's lips trembled slightly, momentarily stunned beyond words. "How could this happen? How could Prince Rui be assassinated by the Rong barbarians?"

Qin Shu sighed heavily. "With Prince Rui commanding the Northwest Frontier Army, the Rong barbarians couldn't take a single step into Great Zhou. They've been trying to eliminate him for years, with constant covert operations. I heard the incident occurred on his way to Liangzhou. The military provisions case kept expanding, implicating several Northwest Frontier Army generals. Prince Rui had no choice but to leave the camp for Liangzhou, but tragedy struck during the journey. Not only was Prince Rui lost, but all his personal guards perished with him."

"Local villagers discovered the scene and reported it to the Liangzhou authorities. By the time they found Prince Rui, his body had already stiffened." Qin Shu spoke with a heavy gaze toward Qin Guan. "With Prince Rui gone, the Northwest Frontier Army will face major upheaval. The Emperor has ordered Prince Rui's remains transported back to the capital—even by fast horse, it will take over half a month."

After finishing, Qin Shu sighed deeply. "What a pity the Empress Dowager's decree has already been issued."

Not only had the decree been issued, but the Empress Dowager had also been enthusiastically arranging Yan Chi and Qin Guan's wedding. Though Prince Rui's tragedy had occurred, as long as the Empress Dowager didn't relent, the marriage could only be postponed. When postponement became impossible, no one would be able to stop it.

Qin Guan pressed her lips tightly together. "How is the heir apparent holding up?"

Qin Shu sighed at this question. "His Highness turned pale upon hearing the news and immediately requested permission to retrieve Prince Rui's remains from the Northwest. But the Emperor considered and ultimately denied his plea."

Before Qin Shu could continue, steward Wu Yang hurried in from outside. "Marquis, Madam, Lady Jun—messengers from the palace have arrived."

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Prince Rui's matter had nothing to do with the Marquis household—why would the palace send messengers now?

Wu Yang explained, "They're from the Longevity and Health Palace. The Empress Dowager has taken ill."

Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat. As they spoke, Mammy Chen entered with an anxious expression. "Lady Jun! Please come to the palace immediately. Her Majesty has fallen ill after learning about Prince Rui."

A sense of foreboding rose in Qin Guan's heart as she promptly nodded. "Very well, I'll go at once!"

Though concerned about Fan Xin's injuries, Qin Guan couldn't refuse when the Empress Dowager had fallen ill.

Qin Shu and Hu Shi grew tense upon hearing this and hurriedly saw Qin Guan out.

Upon entering the palace, Qin Guan went straight to the Longevity and Health Palace. Approaching the gates, she found the entire compound shrouded in gloom. Striding inside, she saw Imperial Physician He and others waiting anxiously in the main hall. Their faces lit up at her arrival as if seeing a lifeline. Just then, the door curtain lifted to reveal Crown Prince Yan Che emerging from the inner chamber.

Spotting Qin Guan, Yan Che paused briefly. Anxious, Qin Guan curtsied and asked urgently, "Your Highness, how is Her Majesty?"

Yan Che studied her for two breaths. "Not well. Everyone's waiting for you—go on in."

Without another word to Yan Che, Qin Guan hurried past him into the chamber.The room was crowded with maids from the Longevity and Health Palace, and Yan Sui stood by the door. Further inside, Empress Zhao Shuhua and Crown Princess Qin Chaoyu were keeping watch by the Empress Dowager’s bedside. As soon as Qin Guan arrived, Zhao Shuhua urged, “Quickly, Qin Guan, Her Highness is in your hands now.”

Qin Guan stepped forward, steadied herself, and leaned in to check the Empress Dowager’s pulse. Her expression remained calm and composed. After taking the pulse, she promptly said, “I’ll write a prescription. Have the medicine decocted immediately. Her Highness’s old illness has flared up due to excessive shock, and it’s quite critical. I’ll begin the needle therapy first.”

Familiar with the inner chambers of the Longevity and Health Palace, Qin Guan found paper and brush herself. Once the prescription was written, she took out the Plain Questions Nine Needles that Yan Chi had forged for her. Zhao Shuhua ordered the servants outside to withdraw and personally observed Qin Guan performing the needle therapy. Though Qin Guan’s brow was furrowed, her hands were precise and steady, earning a quiet admiration from Zhao Shuhua.

Beside them, Qin Chaoyu also felt a hint of admiration for Qin Guan, but her eyes dimmed slightly as she thought of Yan Che, who had just left.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Halfway through the needle therapy, the Empress Dowager coughed twice and slowly regained consciousness.

As soon as she opened her eyes, they were red-rimmed. Spotting Qin Guan, she immediately grasped her hand.

Qin Guan quickly pressed the Empress Dowager’s shoulder, where a needle was still inserted near her neck. “Your Highness, please don’t move. You fainted earlier, and I’m administering needle therapy.”

The Empress and Crown Princess approached the bedside. The Empress Dowager let out a few ragged breaths before murmuring, “Yan Lin… he…”

Zhao Shuhua’s face showed pain. “Mother, please don’t grieve too much. You must take care of yourself. The Emperor has already decreed that this debt will be repaid to the Rong enemies. Your health is what matters most.”

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes for a long moment before reopening them. “Yan Chi… where is Yan Chi?”

Zhao Shuhua hurriedly replied, “Yan Chi is with the Emperor. He was also overwhelmed earlier and insisted on going to the northwest, but the Emperor has already calmed him down.”

The Empress Dowager stared intently at Zhao Shuhua for a moment. “Tell the Emperor not to let Yan Chi go to the northwest for revenge. Do not let him go!”

Zhao Shuhua nodded hastily. The Empress Dowager added, “Go now, go now.”

Zhao Shuhua glanced at Qin Chaoyu, who nodded and said, “This humble one will go and relay the order immediately.”

After Qin Chaoyu left, the Empress Dowager turned to Qin Guan. Meeting her gaze, Qin Guan said, “Your Highness, please don’t worry. Your health is the most important. Matters concerning the prince will be handled by the court.”

A trace of regret seemed to flicker in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. After a long pause, she sighed and closed her eyes again.

Speaking was already difficult for her in her current state, and those few words had drained much of her strength.

When Qin Guan finished the needle therapy, the Empress Dowager opened her eyes once more. By then, the medicinal soup had been prepared. Mammy Chen and a few other maids helped the Empress Dowager lean against a soft cushion before feeding her the medicine. After she finished the soup, her face remained pale and bloodless for a long while.

Holding Qin Guan’s hand, the Empress Dowager rested with her eyes lightly closed. Zhao Shuhua and Qin Chaoyu attended to her, wanting to offer comfort but afraid to disturb her. Finally, the Empress Dowager spoke in a weary tone, “Very well, all of you may return. Check on what Yan Chi is doing. Once the court has finished deliberating, have Yan Chi come to me.”

Zhao Shuhua nodded and withdrew with Qin Chaoyu.

With their departure, the inner chamber felt empty. Mammy Chen led the remaining maids out as well.

Only then did the Empress Dowager open her eyes and look at Qin Guan. “Wan Yatou, do you regret it?”

Qin Guan gave a slight smile and shook her head. “Of course not.”Seeing Qin Guan's expression held no trace of pretense, the Empress Dowager's lips curved slightly. "I knew you were a good one."

The Empress Dowager coughed lightly twice, her eyes no longer as bright as before. She had been critically ill since the beginning of the year and was barely saved by Qin Guan. Now that she had suddenly fallen ill again, though there was some danger, she felt she had already lived an extra year.

Gazing out the window with a sorrowful expression, the Empress Dowager said, "Yan Lin wouldn't listen to me. If he had, how could it have come to this..."

Closing her eyes, she didn't intend to say more, only holding Qin Guan's hand as she spoke, "Wan Yatou, Yan Chi is having a difficult time. Now I can only trouble you. I can see Yan Chi has genuine feelings for you. If you stand by his side, his heart will at least find some comfort."

"Your Majesty need not worry, I understand everything."

A look of relief appeared on the Empress Dowager's face as she leaned back against the soft cushions and closed her eyes without another word.

The inner chamber was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Only the Empress Dowager's slightly heavier than usual breathing could be heard, while the scent of medicine still lingered in the room, making Qin Guan's heart feel bitterly sorrowful. She sighed inwardly, her gaze unconsciously drifting toward the direction of the outer hall.

After what felt like an eternity, Qin Guan finally heard the sounds of salutes from outside. Soon, a figure flashed through the doorway as Yan Chi entered. The moment he stepped inside, their eyes met.

Today, Yan Chi's face was pale, his expression grief-stricken. The sorrow he had suppressed for days finally showed, but when their eyes met, what Qin Guan saw more clearly was the calmness and restraint in Yan Chi's gaze.

Within these high walls and deep palaces, even grief served as a cover.

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes and, seeing it was Yan Chi, immediately reached out her hand. "Yan Chi, come here..."

Yan Chi walked to the Empress Dowager's bedside, lifted his robe and knelt down. "Imperial Grandmother, please grant Yan Chi permission to go northwest to bring Father's coffin back to the capital."

Yan Chi's eyes were bloodshot, his appearance particularly heartbreaking. The Empress Dowager reached out and took his hand. "Yan Chi, what did your father usually teach you? Are you going to the northwest just to retrieve his coffin?! You want to seek revenge, don't you?"

Yan Chi pressed his lips together without speaking. Though no tears were visible, his expression was stubborn and pained. The Empress Dowager's eyes instantly reddened again as she tightly grasped Yan Chi's hand. "Now that I've received news of your father's passing—a white-haired person seeing off a black-haired one—do you want me to someday... Yan Chi, listen to your grandmother. Don't go, don't go there, cough cough cough..."

The Empress Dowager had spoken too urgently and began coughing violently. Qin Guan quickly gently patted her back.

Seeing the Empress Dowager in such a state, Yan Chi bowed his head in struggle, pressing his forehead against the back of her hand. His back slightly bent, his shoulders actually trembling. Though Qin Guan knew it was three parts genuine and seven parts performance, her eyes still reddened in an instant.

With moist eyes, the Empress Dowager stroked Yan Chi's hair. "Listen to me, Yan Chi. Your imperial grandmother is old and can't withstand these matters anymore. I only want to see you stay safely in the capital. After your grandmother dies, you can do as you wish—I won't be able to control you then. Cough cough. The Emperor will surely send reliable people to bring your father back. Stay by your grandmother's side and wait, alright?"

The Empress Dowager's voice was hoarse, faintly carrying hope and entreaty.

Yan Chi took a deep breath, raised his head and nodded. "Yes... I... I'll listen to Imperial Grandmother..."The Empress Dowager let out a long sigh of relief, pulling Yan Chi to his feet. Gazing at his expression, she found herself speechless. Soon, she called out, "Someone! Go to the front and inquire about the arrangements so I can set my mind at ease."

Mammy Chen outside acknowledged the order and hurried off to relay it. Before long, she returned and reported, "The Emperor has made arrangements. Prince Yi is to lead a thousand Imperial Guards to retrieve Prince Rui’s coffin. Once it returns to the capital, he will be buried with the rites of a prince. The posthumous honors are already being deliberated by the Ministry of Rites. The Emperor has also ordered Ge Yang, the Minister of War, to depart immediately for the northwest to handle the aftermath. With the Northwest Frontier Army having lost its commander, the barbarian enemies are likely to take advantage. The Emperor is currently unable to appoint a new commander and is summoning his ministers for discussion."

For Yan Chi, Prince Rui’s death was a family matter, but for the Emperor, it was a matter of state.

Hearing that Prince Yi would be the one to retrieve Yan Lin’s coffin, the Empress Dowager felt a slight easing in her heart. She tightly grasped Yan Chi’s hand and said, "Did you hear that? Set your mind at ease and wait properly in the capital. The funeral arrangements must also be prepared in advance."

Yan Chi nodded. Seeing him like this, the Empress Dowager inexplicably felt that his figure seemed somewhat frail.

After a few more words, an announcement came from outside: the Grand Princess had arrived with Yue Ning!

The Grand Princess and Yue Ning had come both because of Prince Rui’s death and the Empress Dowager’s illness. Upon entering the inner chamber, the two elderly sisters’ eyes were red-rimmed. The Grand Princess said, "Jia'er is currently in the northwest, and we don’t yet know how chaotic the situation has become there. I’ve already sent someone to inquire, and I believe Jia'er’s letter in a few days will provide details. At least the troops were all trained by Yan Lin, so there shouldn’t be any major issues."

She then looked at Yan Chi and said, "Yan Chi, your father is gone, and we are all grieving. But you are a man. Your father was a pillar of strength in his lifetime, and now that this has happened, you must remain steady. Do not go to the northwest. For now, you only need to wait, properly bury your father, and let him rest in peace."

Yan Chi lowered his head. "Yes, I understand."

The Grand Princess’s eyes were also filled with pain. She hesitated for a moment, wanting to say more, but ultimately remained silent.

The Empress Dowager’s arranged marriage had been an excellent matter, but this incident had cast Qin Guan’s situation into uncertainty. The Grand Princess offered Qin Guan a few more words of advice. Knowing Qin Guan’s temperament, she did not elaborate further. As they spoke, Yan Li also arrived. At the sight of Yan Chi, Yan Li’s eyes reddened slightly, but he did not know what to say. He stepped forward, embraced Yan Chi, and then stood by his side.

The room was filled with an air of sorrow. Before long, officials from the Household Affairs Department came to find Yan Chi, stating that the funeral preparations must begin immediately and that an obituary must be issued to announce the news to the world. As Prince Rui was, after all, a prince, the procedures involved were exceedingly complex.

The Empress Dowager, uneasy, instructed Mammy Chen to accompany Yan Chi in handling these matters. Yan Li also went along.

Qin Guan stayed with the two elderly women for a long while and did not leave the palace until the afternoon. Once outside, she did not go to the royal residence of Prince Rui but instead headed east to find Fan Xin. Fan Xin was the sole survivor of Prince Rui’s party, and she had vowed to save his life—a promise she intended to keep. Along the way, even if she could not clearly make out the clamor outside, Qin Guan knew that the news of Prince Rui’s death had already spread throughout the capital. Sure enough, when she arrived at her destination and met Xun Niang, she saw that Xun Niang’s eyes were red.

Xun Niang, however, asked no questions and led Qin Guan to Fan Xin."He woke at dawn with a slight fever. After taking medicine, he slept again. The low-grade fever persisted, but it didn't seem serious, so I didn't bother Your Highness. At noon... when I received the news, Brother Fan happened to wake up. I asked him a few questions, and he responded. After taking more medicine, he went back to sleep and has been resting since."

As Xun Niang spoke, Qin Guan replied, "I intended to come first thing in the morning, but was delayed by a trip to the palace."

Feeling Fan Xin's forehead, Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief - it wasn't feverish to the touch. The medicine appeared to be working.

Just as this thought crossed Qin Guan's mind, Fan Xin seemed to vaguely register visitors through his drowsiness and slowly opened his eyes.