Zhu Yucheng's adopted son within the imperial guards was named Wang Han. By the time Yan Qi's men went to investigate the imperial guards, they discovered Wang Han had vanished two days prior. Yan Qi knew he had arrived a step too late, yet at this point, if anyone claimed this matter had no connection to Zhu Yucheng, even ghosts wouldn't believe it. Since Zhu Yucheng was linked to Kunning Palace, both Zheng Baishi and Li Muyun understood exactly who should be suspected.
When Qin Guan arrived at Prince Rui's royal residence, she noticed that within just three days, all funeral arrangements had been dismantled, restoring the residence to its usual emptiness. Only the lingering scent of incense from the recent funeral rites remained in the air.
Upon reaching the waterside pavilion, Qin Guan saw Yan Chi frowning deeply before several opened envelopes with broken wax seals, remaining silent. She furrowed her brow as well and approached, asking, "What happened?"
Yan Chi extended his hand, and Qin Guan walked behind the desk. He pulled her into his embrace, seating her on his lap as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "Matters concerning the Northwest Frontier," he said.
Though Qin Guan hadn't seen the letters' contents, she knew the Northwest Frontier must be in chaos. Yan Chi's visible anxiety spoke volumes about his inner turmoil. She sighed, "What do you plan to do?"
"Wait." Despite his agitation, Yan Chi's tone remained composed. His mere utterance could calm those around him—a strength and resilience forged in battle and steel that Qin Guan found utterly captivating.
"Currently, I cannot act. We can only rescue who we can in the Northwest Frontier and plan for what follows." Yan Chi clearly understood each subsequent step; the difficulty lay in the flood of messages arriving while he remained temporarily powerless—a torment in itself.
"What does Master Qi say?" Qin Guan had met Qi Yu before.
Yan Chi sighed. "His mind is settled now, and he understands what's most crucial at present."
As Yan Chi spoke, Qin Guan's gaze fell upon a folded map. Its ink lines traced rugged contours, clearly not a map of the capital. Yan Chi snatched it up and unfolded it—revealing the defense layout of the Northwest Frontier camp.
He continued, "I plan to send Master Qi and Yu Qi back to the Northwest Frontier first. Yesterday's news reported that several of my late father's trusted deputy generals have been imprisoned. Lin Xugui is being extremely cautious this time. If we want to rescue them, we must seize the opportunity and have capable people overseeing things there."
Qin Guan felt a chill of dread, imagining the sweeping purge within the Northwest Frontier Army. With Yan Chi a thousand miles away, strategizing from a distance was no easy task. "Fan Xin has recovered significantly and can move about now. In a few more days, he should be fully healed."
Yan Chi shook his head. "We won't bring Fan Xin this time. Let him stay in the capital."
Qin Guan nodded. "That might be for the best."
The modest-sized map's edges were already worn and curled—evidence of Yan Chi's constant handling over recent days. As a peerless physician, Qin Guan understood the weight of patients' expectations during critical moments. How much heavier must be Yan Chi's burden, bearing the safety of the entire Northwest Frontier Army? Being trusted was a blessing, but when you became the faith of countless others, it meant standing alone between heaven and earth in boundless isolation.
Yan Chi put away the map and changed the subject. "Master Qi will handle the rescues, while Yu Qi investigates my father's affairs. Do you have any instructions for him?"Qin Guan's expression immediately turned solemn. Yan Chi intended to send someone to Liangzhou to investigate Prince Rui's death. After a brief contemplation, she said, "That courier station is the key. The area around the station couldn't have been completely deserted, and the original staff must have gone somewhere. Who knew about the prince's departure from the Northwest Frontier Army at that time? Only after obtaining the information could preparations begin, and once ready, they waited for the prince to arrive."
After a moment's thought, Qin Guan added, "Fan Xin must know many details. I need to question him again, preferably with Yu Qi accompanying me."
Once Yu Qi left, it would be impossible to hear anything more from Fan Xin. Yan Chi promptly nodded, "Alright, we'll go today."
At this point, Yan Chi asked again, "How are things in the palace?"
Qin Guan recounted the events of the past two days: "Kunning Palace is tightly sealed, and Wang Han has disappeared again. Currently, there's no evidence or witnesses to be found. Prince Cheng is furious."
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, "The angrier he gets, the more relieved Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace become. As for Wang Han..." He looked at Qin Guan, "Perhaps I can find this Wang Han."
A spark of hope lit Qin Guan's eyes, followed by hesitation. Yan Chi said, "The Marquis Manor is now tied to the Eastern Palace. You must consider carefully—if they learn you've helped Prince Cheng, they will likely be displeased."
Qin Guan wasn't helping Prince Cheng; she was helping herself. She wasn't the Ninth Miss, and she had little affection for the Loyal Marquis Manor initially. Yet, after nearly a year, it was impossible to view the manor as entirely unrelated. However, when it came to her father's case, Qin Guan felt profound regret that they stood on opposing sides.
"This person might be the breakthrough in Prince Jin's case. Help me find him first."
Despite her hesitation, Qin Guan ultimately decided that if Wang Han were found and delivered to Yan Qi, his role would be more significant. Yet she suddenly resolved to keep Wang Han under her own watch.
"Once found, don't announce it immediately. I want to understand what truly happened first."
Understanding Qin Guan's plan, Yan Chi nodded in agreement. "Given the Empress's nature, she would indeed try to eliminate anyone who might threaten the Crown Prince. Prince Jin was one of them, but Consort Jin's death remains a mystery."
Suddenly, there were two cases. In Prince Jin's case, he was framed, and the mastermind behind the false accusation might have fabricated his suicide. Consort Jin's death, however, became a possibly unrelated case—the killer might have nothing to do with the princes' struggle for the throne.
Yet these were only speculations; both cases remained shrouded in layers of mist.
Soon, Yan Chi summoned Yu Qi, and the group left through a side gate, heading straight to Xun Niang's place to find Fan Xin.
Yu Qi had anticipated meeting Fan Xin once more before leaving, but he hadn't expected Qin Guan to accompany them.
When Yu Qi first returned to the capital, he might not have known of Qin Guan's reputation, but in the past few days, he had learned all about her deeds—after all, she was the future wife of the heir apparent.After learning all this, Yu Qi felt their future heir apparent's consort could truly be described as "legendary." When he first heard the title "Little Medicine Immortal," Yu Qi thought it fitting enough. Later, upon discovering Qin Guan performed corpse examinations and even helped solve the Gold Heist Case, he was so shocked he nearly dropped his jaw.
Their future heir apparent's consort could no longer be described merely as formidable and powerful!
Thinking of Qin Guan's appearance, Yu Qi could only marvel that she must be some celestial being...
Pondering this all the way, when they finally met Fan Xin, this celestial being had already begun her serious questioning.
"Before leaving the Northwest Frontier Army, who did the prince inform about this trip to Liangzhou? From whom did he receive letters?"
"During the journey, did the prince mention any changes in the situation?"
"Staying at the relay station—was that the original plan or a last-minute decision?"
"Were there anything suspicious about the people at the relay station? Think carefully—what did the leader look like? Describe it in detail."
"Tell us everything about the situation inside and outside the station when the incident occurred, including every word spoken by anyone present, without missing a single detail."
After Qin Guan asked her final question and Fan Xin finished speaking, she looked toward Yan Chi. Yan Chi said, "They clearly planned this long in advance. The ambushers both inside and outside struck with precision. They not only understood my father well but also knew every guard around him intimately. They separated my father from his guards—those outside were slaughtered without exception, while they took special measures with my father himself. These people were ruthless, efficient, and meticulous. Just this detail alone doesn't match the habits of the Rong people. They were highly trained, coordinated seamlessly, and every one of them was elite—no weaklings or cowards... It somewhat resembles the methods of the Divine Strategy Battalion of the Northwest Frontier Army."
Seeing a flicker of doubt in Qin Guan's eyes, Yan Chi explained, "The Divine Strategy Battalion has only a hundred members, specializing in wartime intelligence, infiltration, and assassination. They specifically target enemy commanders and eliminate the most impregnable strongholds—they are the most unexpected blade of the Northwest Frontier Army—"
At this point, Yan Chi suddenly narrowed his phoenix eyes. "I've remembered someone."
Qin Guan, Yu Qi, and Fan Xin immediately sharpened their gazes. Yan Chi's voice turned icy as he said, "Seven years ago, Jiang Heying, then the General of the Left Camp of the Northwest Frontier Army, tortured and killed two suspected deserters. Later, my father expelled him from the Northwest Frontier Army. That man was ostensibly promoted but secretly demoted to become the Regional Commander of Qianzhou—"
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