"In short... this case is just too bizarre. Prince Cheng has seized upon it and will surely use it against the Empress and the Crown Prince. The Empress was panicking, and seeing that Eunuch Zhu had been exposed, she ordered me to leave the capital. I was originally... but because I still have relatives in the capital, I turned back halfway. I had no intention of causing trouble, yet the Empress wouldn’t let it go. It turns out she had planned all along to have me killed once I reached Luozhou. When she saw me return, she immediately sent people to capture me. Last night, they tried to bury me alive in that grave mound!"
Wang Han finished speaking in one breath, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
He gasped for air, then glanced up at Yan Chi, whose expression was as cold and still as deep water.
"Wang Han." Suddenly, Yan Chi spoke.
The moment he spoke, he accurately called out his name. Wang Han trembled, unable to believe it.
He had never revealed his name, yet Yan Chi had spoken it without a single mistake. It was clear that Yan Chi had already known his identity—evidently, he had sent someone to investigate him last night! This was perfect!
"Yes, I am Wang Han, Your Highness. I haven’t spoken a single lie! I wouldn’t dare deceive you! Last year, the Empress executed Song Xiwen, and I was the one who transported his body out. At the time, I was accompanied by a eunuch from the palace."
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, watching Wang Han, who hurriedly added, "That eunuch was in charge of procurement for the Household Affairs Department’s storeroom. They used the excuse of a procurement run to smuggle the body out. His name was... Kang Yuanbo... yes, that’s the one..."
Yan Chi glanced at Bai Feng, who understood and immediately turned to leave.
"What condition was Song Xiwen’s body in when you saw it?"
Yan Chi’s voice was calm and low, and Wang Han didn’t dare be careless. "He... he was transported out in a procurement cart. By then, his body was already stiff. His clothes were somewhat torn and stained with a little blood, but not much. There were no visible wounds on his face, and he looked quite peaceful. At the time, I couldn’t tell how he died, but it’s easy to guess—the Imperial Punishment Office has many ways to make a person die without a sound..."
"Did the Empress personally interrogate him?"
Wang Han shook his head. "I don’t know about that, but Eunuch Zhu said it was the Empress’s order."
"Where did you bury the body? Do you still remember?"
Wang Han frowned, hesitating for a moment. "That... it was nighttime. I only remember the carriage leaving the capital and heading toward Qiwu Mountain. Then we followed a mountain gully deeper inside. I can’t recall how long we walked. It was pitch black, and we were a bit scared, so we dug a pit and buried him..."
Thinking of burying the body, Wang Han shuddered. Last night, he had almost been buried himself.
"Did the Empress have you do anything else?"
Wang Han shook his head. "Usually, it was just reporting news from within the imperial guards. The only truly secret matter was this one. After that, there was nothing else."
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. This matter was indeed strange.
He didn’t believe Qin Guan had misidentified the body, but how had it ended up in the backyard of Prince Jin Manor?
"Guards—"At Yan Chi's call, Bai Feng immediately reentered from outside. Lifting his chin slightly, Yan Chi's eyes flickered with an intimidating gleam. "Send a few men to take him to the foot of Qiwu Mountain after dark. See if they can find Song Xiwen's body."
Bai Feng understood the meaning at once and promptly acknowledged the order.
Yan Chi nodded. "Dismissed. For now, stay quietly in the royal residence."
Wang Han wiped the thin sweat from his forehead, bowed deeply to kowtow once more, and only then rose to withdraw.
After Wang Han left, several questions surfaced in Yan Chi's mind.
Song Xiwen had been Prince Jin's personal guard. With this man dead, the only witness testifying for Prince Jin was gone. Originally, this person had vanished from the Imperial Punishment Office. Because he was a prince's guard and the incident occurred within the palace, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review simply assumed he had died under torture, never investigating further. Had the Empress been implicated back then, the subsequent events would have unfolded quite differently.
If the Empress killed Song Xiwen, was Prince Jin's death also her doing?
Yet at that time, although Prince Jin had some supporters, he didn't pose a substantial threat to the Crown Prince!
Or was it that the Empress, to eliminate all possibilities, seized this opportunity to thoroughly eradicate Prince Jin?!
After all, Prince Jin had "killed" Consort Jin in full view of everyone.
……
……
By the time Qin Guan received the news, it was already rather late in the day. Nevertheless, she headed toward the main gate without hesitation. Just as she reached the central courtyard, she ran into Qin Yan returning from outside. Qin Yan raised an eyebrow. "What? Going out?"
Qin Guan nodded. "Yes, I plan to check on the shops."
Qin Yi's shops were now all under Qin Guan's management, which was perfectly normal. Qin Yan initially nodded in agreement, but as Qin Guan stepped forward, he suddenly said, "Ninth Sister—"
His tone made it clear he had something to say.
Qin Guan looked at him quizzically. Qin Yan pursed his lips and lifted his chin, gesturing for her to speak with him under the nearby corridor.
Qin Guan moved accordingly. "What did Third Brother wish to say?"
Qin Yan first gave a wry smile. "I heard Father spoke with you?"
Qin Guan also smiled helplessly. "Yes. I suppose Third Brother knows what Uncle said."
Qin Yan sighed. "Ninth Sister, can you understand it?"
"Understanding it is one thing," Qin Guan nodded. "The family estate of the Marquis didn't come from nothing. Besides, Eighth Sister is now the Crown Princess. I'm aware of the stakes involved—"
Qin Yan's eyes grew increasingly bright, but then Qin Guan's tone shifted. "However, I'm merely a weak woman. There are many things beyond my control, and I don't understand the court's struggles. Within my capabilities, I hope to see justice and righteousness prevail."
"Justice and righteousness... If anyone else said that, I'd laugh. But coming from you, I find it quite moving. Ever since I saw you turn back for Qin Xiang and witnessed you assisting in investigating the Gold Heist Case in Yuzhou, I knew you were different from other women. You call yourself a weak woman, but in your heart, you uphold the principle of establishing a moral heart for heaven and earth and securing a livelihood for the people. Many men in the court can't compare to you..."
Qin Guan chuckled. "Such praise from Third Brother—are you setting me up for a criticism?"Qin Yan shook his head, "No, our positions differ, our responsibilities differ, and naturally our choices differ too." He gazed steadily at Qin Guan for a moment, "I only hope Ninth Sister understands that if matters ever reach an irreparable point, within the Marquis household—whether it's Father or me—we will have to make certain choices. When that time comes, I hope Ninth Sister won't hold it against us."
Qin Yan spoke with such calmness that his words carried no hint of threat.
Qin Guan looked at Qin Yan, her heart as placid as still water. Qin Shu and Hu Shi had raised Qin Yan well, but why did he have to choose the Crown Prince's side?
"Does Third Brother believe his choice is correct?"
Qin Yan was taken aback, not expecting Qin Guan to respond this way. His words hadn't been particularly polite—he'd intended them as a warning, yet they could have easily provoked her anger. Instead, she showed no irritation and posed such a question.
Qin Yan chuckled wryly, "Does Ninth Sister believe Prince Cheng is more suitable to be the Heir Apparent?"
Qin Guan shook her head, "Until the final moment, anyone could become the Heir Apparent. Third Brother believes His Highness the Crown Prince is the most suitable candidate, but has Third Brother ever considered that the imperial throne was never meant for whoever appears most suitable?"
Qin Yan's expression shifted abruptly, "Ninth Sister, your words..."
Qin Guan smiled, her face blooming like a radiant flower, "Third Brother gave me a warning, so naturally I should return the favor. Third Brother may take it as you will."
Qin Yan pressed his lips together, hesitating to speak further, as if Qin Guan's words had struck a nerve, stirring hidden anxieties within him. In contrast, his own words had far less impact on Qin Guan. With a light laugh, she said, "Then I shall take my leave from the residence first."
Qin Yan nodded distractedly, watching Qin Guan's retreating figure with renewed astonishment. He even began to doubt himself—how could his twenty years of experience as the Marquis heir apparent pale in comparison to this young woman who had endured such hardship?
And Qin Guan's earlier words...
Qin Yan shook his head, forcibly driving her words from his mind.
They had already made their choice. They had no right to regret it, nor would they ever regret it!
......
......
Qin Guan boarded the carriage and headed straight for the western residence.
Her identity remained somewhat conspicuous, making it impossible for her to visit Prince Rui's royal residence every time.
The carriage traveled westward under the pale golden glow of the setting sun, passing through bustling streets before winding through the lanes of Eternal Joy Quarter for a while, eventually arriving at the residence where Han Laobo lived.
Qin Guan had just knocked when the gate swung open. Erbao's small head peeked out from behind, his eyes lighting up slightly at the sight of Qin Guan before he shyly lowered his head, "Miss, the guest has been waiting for some time."
Qin Guan smiled, taking out two silver fruits for Erbao before quickly walking toward the main hall.
Han Laobo was just emerging from the side courtyard with a tea tray. Seeing Qin Guan, he hurried to bow. Qin Guan took the tray from him, "I'll handle it. You may rest, Han Bo—"
Han Laobo glanced toward the room, "Very well, Miss. Call for this old servant if you need anything."
Qin Guan nodded and carried the tea tray into the room. Yan Chi stood by the window in black robes, arms crossed as he watched the doorway, a faint smile playing on his lips. Seeing him like this eased Qin Guan's heart—the funeral matters were settled, and he had recovered somewhat, his complexion much improved. She raised the tray, "Han Bo brewed you his finest tea!"
Yan Chi stepped forward to take the tray, but before he could speak, Qin Guan asked, "Has Wang Han confessed everything?"Yan Chi nodded and said directly, "It's all clear now. Song Xiwen died in the palace on the Empress's orders. After his death, the Empress ordered Zhu Yucheng to transport the body out of the palace. Zhu Yucheng then enlisted Wang Han and a eunuch named Kang Wenbo to take the body out under the pretext of making purchases. Wang Han and the others buried the corpse in a ravine on the northwest side of Qiwu Mountain."
Qin Guan's hand, which was pouring tea, visibly paused. Yan Chi saw it clearly, narrowing his eyes as he scanned her calm face.
"You already knew?"
Qin Guan was surprised, but not entirely so.
His words seemed to confirm something...
Qin Guan handed him a cup of fragrant, clear tea. "During the Corpse Examination, I found some things that shouldn't have been present at Prince Jin Manor. I suspected the body had been moved."
Yan Chi's eyes darkened slightly. Qin Guan had conducted the examination days ago, yet she had never mentioned this to him.
Qin Guan said, "I didn't tell anyone about this. Once revealed, the matter would become complicated. I only wanted to confirm this person's identity..."
Yan Chi replied, "I sent men with Wang Han to search for the body."
If they found the corpse, then this person wasn't Song Xiwen—perhaps it was just a coincidence, someone who merely resembled him.
If so, the nature of this case would change again.
Qin Guan's expression grew colder. "I didn't share this clue with Lord Zheng because I wanted to confirm the deceased was Song Xiwen. If Wang Han finds the body, it wouldn't contradict that."
Yan Chi took a sip of tea, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He knew Qin Guan all too well!
To investigate the case at Prince Jin Manor, she had begun concealing and falsifying details in her Corpse Examination.
Yan Chi wasn't one to uphold absolute justice; he merely realized once again that Qin Guan regarded the Prince Jin case as far more important than he had imagined. Unconsciously, he started pondering her motives.
Setting down the teacup, Yan Chi pushed aside these distracting thoughts. "Let's set that aside for now. With Song Xiwen's identity confirmed, the most panicked is the Empress. The body was clearly disposed of elsewhere, yet it appeared at Prince Jin Manor."
"This explains why Zhu Yucheng died and why Wang Han left the imperial guards."
Suddenly, Qin Guan asked, "What was that eunuch's name? Kang..."
"Kang Wenbo." Yan Chi's voice deepened. "I already sent someone to investigate. Three days ago, he fell into a deserted well in the palace grounds and drowned."
Qin Guan's spirits sank. She had guessed it in that instant.
Wang Han was an imperial guard—unless there was a palace uprising, a guard in good standing couldn't just die accidentally. Poisoning would be easily detected, so the best method was to make him disappear silently. Though still suspicious, it wouldn't be classified as a definite crime. But Kang Wenbo was different. In the eyes of the nobility, eunuchs were like livestock—taking his life would be effortless.
Qin Guan pressed her lips together. "With Kang Wenbo dead, only Wang Han remains."
Yan Chi watched her. "What do you intend to do?"
A flicker of resolve passed through Qin Guan's eyes. She hesitated, her delicate fist tightening on the armrest. Taking a deep breath, she seemed to firm her resolve. "I want to... hand him over to Prince Cheng."
Yan Chi gazed steadily at her, then nodded after a moment. "Very well."Countless thoughts and possibilities flashed through Qin Guan's mind. Prince Cheng was a restless leopard with only one target—the Empress and the Eastern Palace. Wang Han's appearance was like handing him a sharp sword just when he needed a suitable weapon. This blade might very well pierce through the hearts of the Empress and the Eastern Palace.
Especially now, when the Empress was already surrounded by endless gossip...
Yet after much contemplation, Qin Guan still couldn't find a reason to abandon this opportunity.
"Are you worried about the Marquis' estate?" Yan Chi grasped Qin Guan's clenched fist.
Qin Guan smiled bitterly, "My uncle will likely want me dead..."
Yan Chi pondered and said, "Leave it to me to handle."
Qin Guan raised an eyebrow, and Yan Chi continued, "Coincidentally, I need Prince Cheng's help with something."
Though Qin Guan didn't understand Yan Chi's meaning, she nodded with complete trust.
Facing Yan Chi, she couldn't help but trust him instinctively—even the deepest secrets in her heart seemed ready to surface...
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