As winter arrived, the health of Song Huai, the Minister of Justice, deteriorated day by day. This elder minister had served in the court for forty years and was now in his sixties. When he requested sick leave, Yan Huai naturally could not allow him to overexert himself. He immediately dispatched imperial physicians to Minister Song’s residence and granted him permission to rest and recuperate. As a result, Yan Chi, the Left Vice Minister of Justice, had no choice but to take charge of the long-stalled case of Prince Jin.
On the very afternoon Yan Chi returned to the Ministry of Justice, Wang Han, the imperial guard who had been on the run, was apprehended by officers dispatched by Prince Cheng. He was immediately thrown into the prison of the Ministry of Justice.
Yan Qi had initially watched Yan Chi mope around in Prince Rui’s residence, unsure how to drag him into the mess. But now, Yan Chi had inherited his title, returned to the Ministry of Justice, and taken charge. A sinister smile crept across Yan Qi’s face—this time, Yan Chi had no way to escape. Yan Qi sent messengers to summon Li Muyun and Zheng Baishi, as well as Yan Chi and Qin Guan, to conduct a joint interrogation of Wang Han.
When Qin Guan arrived at the prison of the Ministry of Justice, she saw that all the relevant parties had gathered. Zheng Baishi’s expression was grim, while only Yan Chi and Li Muyun remained composed. Yan Chi, now a prince of equal rank to Yan Qi, was seated alongside him in the north of the interrogation room. The impostor Wang Han knelt on the floor, trembling, his hands shaking against the stone tiles.
Qin Guan felt reassured but still exchanged a subtle glance with Yan Chi.
Yan Qi looked from Yan Chi to Qin Guan, a mocking smile playing on his lips. After a moment, he slapped the gavel beside him and shouted, "Repeat what you said to them! Prefect Zheng and Minister Li are no strangers to you, and I’m sure you’re well acquainted with Prince Rui here. If you utter a single lie, not only will your life be forfeit, but your family will also suffer because of you!"
Wang Han trembled and prostrated himself on the ground. "Yes... yes, I understand..."
Yan Qi gestured for him to continue. Wang Han curled into a ball, his voice hoarse. Though there were no visible fresh wounds on his body, it was clear that his spirit was on the verge of collapse. In such a state, he would answer any question truthfully.
"After the Prince Jin case last year, around the 13th or 15th of June... I was still the captain of the Xihua Gate guards at the time. Then... my godfather, Eunuch Zhu, suddenly came to instruct me, saying the Household Affairs Department needed to transport some items out and asked me to make the necessary arrangements. I found it strange but assumed my godfather was smuggling goods out for sale, so I didn’t pay it much mind. Such things... such things are not uncommon in the palace..."
"When my godfather saw I wasn’t taking it seriously, he added that it was... Empress’s order and warned me not to be careless. Only then did I become alert. I can’t remember the exact date, but it must have been around those two days. Eunuch Kang Bowen from the Household Affairs Department, along with two others, drove a carriage out of the palace. There were several chests on the carriage. I was the one who authorized the inspection, but I didn’t look too closely... I just let them pass as per routine..."
"At the time, I had no idea what it was. I only noticed that Kang Bowen seemed uneasy. Later... later, when I was drinking with my godfather, he got drunk and mentioned that what was sent out that day wasn’t contraband—it was a person! It was Song Xiwen, Prince Jin’s personal guard...""I knew right away that things weren't simple and was terribly frightened at the time. But when the case was quickly settled, my heart gradually settled back into place. I never expected that this year would..."
Yan Qi listened leisurely, occasionally glancing at Zheng Baishi and Qin Guan.
After a moment, Yan Qi said, "Why did you flee this year? Do you know that desertion from the imperial guards is a capital offense?"
Wang Han immediately panicked, "Your Highness, it wasn't that I wanted to flee. It was the Empress... the Empress sent her palace maid to deliver a message, telling me to leave the palace immediately or face certain death... How could I dare disobey the Empress's command?! At that time, there was no way to even ask the Empress to help find an excuse, so I fled overnight..."
Zheng Baishi's lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't help saying, "Wang Han, do you have any evidence for these claims?! If you're making baseless accusations, you can't slander the Empress so casually..."
Wang Han shuddered but urgently raised his head, "I wouldn't dare lie. That night, to cover for them, I actually left the palace. This can be verified by asking others who were on duty with me that night."
After speaking, Wang Han lowered his head with a fearful expression.
The truth was certainly more than this, but currently, Prince Jin's case was merely a tool in Yan Qi's hands. Yan Qi didn't care about the truth, only about how much the Empress and Crown Prince were involved in this case. Since that was the case, Yan Chi decided to give him what he wanted, while the real facts would naturally be considered separately by Qin Guan and Yan Chi.
The current court situation, with the struggle for succession, Prince Jin's case, Consort Jin's death, and this suddenly appearing corpse, had become extremely complicated. By comparison, the glutinous rice seeds that shouldn't have appeared in the royal residence's backyard were no longer so important. Or perhaps, the current situation was exactly what the person hiding in the shadows wanted. Qin Guan and Yan Chi were following that person's intentions to see what their ultimate goal really was.
"Where did you go after leaving the palace?!" Zheng Baishi asked almost urgently.
Wang Han trembled as he replied, "I only made sure they could leave the palace safely. I didn't follow them, and Kang Bowen didn't ask me to follow either. After leaving the palace that night... that night I went to the West Market for entertainment..."
Everyone present knew what this so-called "entertainment" meant. Zheng Baishi gritted his teeth and didn't ask further.
Yan Qi narrowed his eyes and said, "So, which direction did you see them heading?"
Wang Han seemed to ponder for a moment before saying, "It should be... towards the direction of Xingle District..."
The direction of Xingle District was exactly where Prince Jin Manor was located!
Yan Qi nodded, "Later, did your godfather mention why they sent Song Xiwen out?"
Wang Han pursed his lips and said, "He mentioned... mentioned once that... that Song Xiwen said at the time... that he knew Prince Jin Manor contained evidence of Prince Jin and Consort Jin's affair... The Empress wanted to investigate this matter..."
Zheng Baishi's eyelids twitched violently. Yan Qi said, "So that's how it is. The Empress privately arranged for Song Xiwen to leave the palace, but he ended up dead. Not only did he die, but he was buried in the backyard of Prince Jin Manor. This simply doesn't add up."
Wang Han shook his head, "I've told everything I know. I absolutely wouldn't dare hide anything from Your Highness."Yan Qi let out a thoughtful hum and turned to Zheng Baishi and Li Muyun. "Do either of you have any further questions?"
Zheng Baishi gritted his teeth. "Your Highness, what this man says may not necessarily be true. Even if we verify that he left the palace in June last year, Kang Bowen is already dead now. No one can challenge his claims, and he might have left the palace for other reasons..."
Yan Qi raised an eyebrow. "Then how does Lord Zheng suggest we investigate this case correctly? If he weren’t guilty, why did he flee initially? Now that I’ve finally captured him, you say his words are unreliable. Lord Zheng, if you persist like this, I might as well drop the investigation." His gaze shifted to Li Muyun. "What do you think, Lord Li?"
Li Muyun lowered his eyes briefly before speaking. "All speculations remain speculations. It would be best to verify the facts first."
As he spoke, Li Muyun looked at Wang Han. "You mentioned that Kang Bowen left with people from the Household Affairs Department. Do you remember who accompanied him that night?"
Kang Bowen was already dead, leaving no one to corroborate the story. If Wang Han could recall who went out with Kang Bowen, the case would gain another lead to pursue.
As the saying goes, one lie requires ten more to cover it up. Wang Han shook his head in confusion. "That night, the people Kang Bowen brought along were unfamiliar faces. I glanced at them a few times but didn’t recognize anyone, so I didn’t ask further. Supervisor Kang held some standing in the Household Affairs Department, and I didn’t want to say too much for fear he might slander me in front of the Empress."
Everyone present was aware of the intricate dynamics among the palace servants. Li Muyun frowned. "The Household Affairs Department’s procurement team should have a fixed roster. This is another line of inquiry we can pursue."
Since Kang Bowen had died not long ago, Qin Guan spoke up. "Where is Kang Bowen’s body now?"
Qin Guan was the most concerned about the corpse among those present. She could make the dead speak, while others believed that death severed all clues. Yan Qi frowned. His body is stored in the Yeting. His death was ruled an accident, and since no one accused him of any crime at the time, no one bothered with his remains. A Corpse Examination was out of the question."
Qin Guan said, "If Your Highness requires my assistance, I am willing to perform a Corpse Examination."
Her proactive attitude caught Yan Qi’s attention. He raised an eyebrow, glanced at Yan Chi beside him, and suddenly smiled. "Very well, then let Yan Chi accompany you. That place is rather unpleasant; having him with you will put your mind at ease."
Everyone knew that Yan Chi and Qin Guan had been betrothed, with the wedding date already set. Yan Qi’s remark was clearly meant in jest.
Yan Chi showed no reaction. "In that case, shall we split up?"
Yan Qi nodded. "Agreed. I’ll handle the investigation into the imperial guards and the Household Affairs Department." He then grinned at Zheng Baishi. "Lord Zheng, you should come with me. That way, if we uncover anything, you won’t be able to claim the information is unreliable."
Zheng Baishi broke into a cold sweat and forced a dry laugh. "I wouldn’t dare."
After leaving the Ministry of Justice prison, Yan Chi helped Qin Guan into the carriage, and they headed toward the palace together.
Inside the dimly lit carriage, Qin Guan felt somewhat reassured as she looked at Yan Chi in his Ceremonial Robe. Though he had always favored black attire, the four-clawed coiling dragon patterns on his Ceremonial Robe now symbolized a more exalted status, further accentuating his inherently imposing presence. Qin Guan had to admit that, given her temperament, she was all the more captivated by those who exuded strength and power."He... Wang Han... might he be in danger?"
Qin Guan asked this question. The fake Wang Han had performed well enough just now, not arousing anyone's suspicion. But since he was one of their own, Qin Guan still felt somewhat worried.
Yan Chi shook his head, "Don't worry, this isn't his first time facing such situations—he can handle it. Yan Qi finally has a living person in his grasp, and one who's very cooperative at that. He definitely won't let him die easily. On the contrary, he'll protect him."
Qin Guan nodded. She had considered this possibility herself, but only felt reassured after hearing Yan Chi say it.
After a brief pause, Yan Chi said, "Yan Qi met with Li Muyun privately."
Qin Guan's pupils trembled, clearly showing great concern about this person named Li Muyun.
"Two days ago, Li Muyun submitted a memorial. You should know about this—he has many doubts about this case. It seems he plans to listen to Yan Qi, at the very least he won't remain detached anymore."
Qin Guan frowned, "So he was coerced by Prince Cheng?"
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, "That's possible—"
Qin Guan's gaze darkened. Li Muyun had even fewer attachments than her own father. Although he appeared more tactful than her father on the surface, over these past two years he hadn't aligned with any faction. Yet now he was being coerced by Yan Qi—what was Yan Qi using to pressure him?
"Last year, it was Li Muyun who exposed Lord Shen, but outsiders don't know exactly what he told the Emperor."
Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat, "He falsely accused Lord Shen. Could Yan Qi have obtained some leverage over him?"
Qin Guan was clearly becoming agitated. Yan Chi grabbed her hand, gripping it firmly, "It probably isn't that serious. Li Muyun's attitude is quite ambiguous. Although he seems to advocate for thoroughly investigating this case, he hasn't completely sided with Yan Qi. From his behavior, it appears he'll just do what he can. And if even this case can't be clarified, then last year's case has no possibility of being overturned."
This was an extremely complex situation—the Crown Prince and Empress, Yan Qi, the Emperor, Li Muyun, herself and Yan Chi—each stood in different positions. Looking at it now, no two people had completely aligned objectives. This also involved Consort Jin's death, Prince Jin being framed, Shen Yi being wrongfully accused, and this corpse case at Prince Jin Manor. The intricate case clues and unfathomable human hearts made even someone as calm and rational as Qin Guan feel overwhelmed.
What was more distressing was that the situation was constantly changing, everyone's intentions were shifting. How this case would develop, neither Yan Chi nor Qin Guan could predict. It seemed as if an invisible hand was guiding the case's progression, and all of them were merely drops in the ocean of this torrent—no one could control the direction it was heading.
"The Empress killed Song Xiwen—she probably wanted to eliminate any possibility of Prince Jin's rehabilitation. But at that time, Shen Yi was the Crown Prince's future father-in-law, yet Li Muyun exposed Shen Yi. This sufficiently proves that Li Muyun isn't aligned with the Crown Prince."
Yan Chi gently squeezed Qin Guan's palm as he spoke slowly.
But Qin Guan looked up and asked, "After Shen Yi's incident, was the Crown Prince affected?"
Yan Chi thought for a moment, "It seems not, because at that time the Crown Prince joined with court officials in advocating that Prince Jin was guilty."Qin Guan nodded calmly. "That makes sense. Given the Crown Prince and the Empress's temperaments, if Shen Yi stood in their way, even being a future father-in-law wouldn't protect him. Initially, choosing Shen Yi's daughter... was merely to win over the common-born officials. But the Crown Prince likely realized that even after marrying Shen Yi's daughter, given Shen Yi's character, he wouldn't truly pledge unwavering loyalty. So, it's not beyond him to target Shen Yi."
Her words were delivered with extreme composure and restraint. Yan Chi took her hand and asked softly, "Do you dislike the Crown Prince?"
Though Qin Guan's reasoning was sound, she rarely made such definitive negative speculations without evidence. Moreover, Yan Chi could sense a distinct indifference in her tone, as if she were certain the Crown Prince was a ruthless and cunning man.
After a pause, Qin Guan continued, "Earlier this year, shortly after I returned, my third brother took me to Drunken Immortal Pavilion for a meal. There, we encountered Zhao Jing and Feng Zhang fighting. One person died that day. I was present and, without overthinking, tried to save him. With my medical skills, I was confident I could..."
"But in the end, that person still died," Yan Chi interjected, already knowing the outcome.
Qin Guan nodded, her eyes darkening.
Yan Chi sighed. "I am aware of this incident. Because of it, Yan Qi suffered a minor setback. If that person hadn't died, the outcome would have been different. This is how succession struggles unfold—both the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng are cautious men, unlikely to commit fatal blunders. Yet, it is these minor incidents, accumulating one by one, that sway the hearts of court officials and make the Emperor's intentions increasingly unpredictable. At some point, they may even alter his original stance."
Qin Guan understood these intricacies, but she remained distant from the court's power struggles. From an outsider's perspective, the cruelty and ruthlessness were starkly visible, striking deeply into one's conscience.
She sighed. "At first, I didn't understand why. Later, I realized I could never have saved him."
"You gave him one more day to live. That is enough." Though his words were meant to comfort, they did little to dispel the chill in Qin Guan's heart. Seeing the shadow in her dark eyes, Yan Chi suddenly asked, "What if... one day I, too, must use others' lives as bargaining chips..."
Yan Chi was not speaking lightly. In the struggle for power, sacrifice was inevitable—without it, the entire affair would be a farce. When compelled by circumstances, one might have to sacrifice those deemed expendable. In his view, the Crown Prince's actions fell within the bounds of normality. He was neither surprised nor critical, though he felt some pity for the Northern Garrison Army officer.
Understanding his meaning, Qin Guan raised her hand to gently stroke his face. "Would you send your own soldiers to their deaths?"
Yan Chi was taken aback for a moment, then covered her hand with his and smiled. "Of course not."
A faint smile touched Qin Guan's lips. "Then that is enough. If it were you, you would never end someone's life merely to cause a minor setback for your opponent. Both Zhao Jing and the Crown Prince knew that one death would not completely strip Prince Cheng of the Emperor's favor, yet they were still willing to trade a life for a single reprimand or moment of disappointment from the Emperor. In their eyes, human life is far too cheap."Yan Chi's heart burned with warmth. Qin Guan was compassionate, yet she saw things clearly and never demanded or reproached him—this was truly rare. He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a firm kiss upon it.
"Rest assured, soldiers from the Northwest Frontier Army would never send their own brothers to their deaths."
These words seemed to carry the fierce gales of the frontier, roaring past Qin Guan's ears and trembling the very core of her heart. This was the pledge of the Northwest Frontier Army's young marshal—light as a tender kiss, yet solemn enough to grant hope to thousands of troops. Gazing into Yan Chi's dark, bright eyes, a sudden voice echoed within her: This is the man she loved—
Qin Guan's eyes shone. This was Yan Chi, unafraid of sinister schemes and possessing countermeasures that struck fear into his foes. More importantly, his sense of responsibility and integrity were vast enough to encompass mountains and rivers, majestic enough to stand firm between heaven and earth.
"Looking at me like this—are you testing me?"
Yan Chi suddenly closed the distance. Qin Guan blinked but did not retreat. "I'm happy."
"Hmm?" Yan Chi pecked her lips. "Happy about what?"
Qin Guan's eyes sparkled. "Happy that you're different from everyone else..."
The words struck Yan Chi like an arrow, heating his chest and darkening his gaze. Watching her utterly trusting eyes, he thought inwardly: In truth, he wasn't so different. What Yan Che had done didn't seem so wicked to him; if necessary, he wouldn't mind employing such tricks himself—only the dead would never be frontline soldiers. But if she disliked it, he could rise above it all, for he would never allow the shadow he cast to dim the light in her eyes.
"It's because of you," Yan Chi's voice grew husky as he lowered his head to capture her lips.
One hand pressed against her back, the other encircled her waist—the kiss was lingering yet not overly passionate. He seemed to be soothing her patiently while also giving her a solemn promise. Within that tenderness lay a raw devotion that laid bare his soul to her. He felt increasingly that heaven had not been unfair to him.
Only when the carriage reached the palace gates did Yan Chi release Qin Guan. Though he held a princely title, bringing Qin Guan on official business made it improper to drive the carriage inside. Qin Guan took a few hurried breaths to calm herself, straightened her collar, and shot Yan Chi a reproachful glance before alighting. The guards saw nothing amiss and respectfully let them pass.
After entering Zhengyang Gate, a faint pink tinge crept into the tips of Qin Guan's ears. Yan Chi, walking half a step ahead, glanced back just in time to catch it, his gaze growing increasingly intense. Qin Guan frowned and slanted a disapproving look at him.
Yan Chi was in such high spirits that even the lax attitude of the palace servants in the Lateral Courts failed to anger him. The servants never expected anyone to inquire about Kang Bowen's corpse—by palace regulations, bodies of those who died unexpectedly were to be swiftly removed from the palace. Yet Kang Bowen's remains still lingered there. Qin Guan thought briefly, then lifted her eyes to meet Yan Chi's gaze.
Noticing her look, Yan Chi asked, "What is it?"Qin Guan said, "Kang Bowen died early, so it's unlikely his body would remain until now. When he died, Yan Qi didn't yet know he was connected to last year's incident. There's no explanation other than you having arranged this."
Yan Chi sighed, following the palace attendant toward where the body was kept while saying, "I can't hide anything from you."
Qin Guan smiled, her face revealing a rare trace of maidenly pride.
Yan Chi walked ahead, arriving first at a deserted side courtyard in the Ye Ting.
The Ye Ting was where low-ranking servants of the Inner Palace lived. Besides the regular palace staff, most residents were those who had been demoted due to offenses. Therefore, when Yan Chi and Qin Guan arrived, everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
An elderly eunuch led the way, pushing open the slightly ajar door. As it swung open, a faint odor of decay wafted out. The eunuch bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, Princess, the body is inside. We’ve done our best to preserve it these past few days despite the cold weather, but still..."
He cast a sympathetic glance at Qin Guan, likely thinking it a great sin to expose a noblewoman of her status and beauty to such a decomposed corpse.
Yan Chi waved his hand dismissively and entered the room with Qin Guan.
The Ye Ting was a remote place, and the body had been placed in a side room of this abandoned courtyard. The room was dimly lit, barely revealing a human form lying on a felt rug on the floor. Yan Chi ordered, "Bring a lamp."
The eunuch promptly hurried off to comply. Yan Chi personally opened the doors and windows to let in more light. By the time the eunuch returned with the lamp, Qin Guan was already crouched beside the corpse, gently pressing on its scalp.
Kang Bowen had been dead for seven or eight days. Having drowned, his skin was bloated from soaking in water, and after being retrieved, his body had been left as it was, now swollen from decay. His wrists and ankles were covered with cadaveric spots, his face pale and eyes bulging. Even the eunuch found it difficult to look directly, yet Qin Guan remained perfectly composed.
"Could you prepare some white vinegar—"
The eunuch naturally dared not refuse and hurried out to fetch it.
Yan Chi approached Qin Guan and, noticing she hadn’t worn gauntlets while touching the corpse, felt it was improper. He grasped her hand and said, "Let me—"
Qin Guan immediately understood his concern and stepped back with a light smile.
Yan Chi looked at her, waiting for instructions. Qin Guan said, "I’ve already checked the back of the head—no injuries. Now, remove the clothing to see if there are any external wounds... There’s a noticeable impact wound on the forehead, likely from hitting the well when he fell."
Yan Chi followed her orders and removed the foul-smelling cloth robe from the corpse. Once the clothing was off, the chest and lungs appeared distended, and the abdomen showed signs of greenish discoloration from decomposition. Though the body was covered in cadaveric spots, no visible external injuries were apparent. Yan Chi then turned the body over and found a few purplish-red abrasions near the shoulders, but no other wounds. Doubt flickered in Qin Guan’s eyes as the eunuch returned with the white vinegar.
Knowing the purpose of the vinegar, Yan Chi didn’t delay and evenly applied it to the corpse. Qin Guan instructed, "Apply more to the wrists and arms. If he was coerced, there might be signs of binding."
Yan Chi complied, and soon the vinegar was fully applied. Qin Guan and Yan Chi waited together for any marks to appear. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, only the abrasions on Kang Bowen’s back became visible. Qin Guan studied them carefully, her brow slightly furrowed. "Unless he was drugged with intoxicating incense, it doesn’t seem like he was coerced."
She crouched down again and briefly examined Kang Bowen’s mouth and nose. Though traces of mud and debris were visible inside, there was no way to detect any residue of intoxicating incense. After a moment of thought, Qin Guan asked, "Where is the abandoned well where he died?"
Yan Chi stood up and called the eunuch back inside. "Where did Kang Bowen die?"
The eunuch replied promptly, "In the North Garden, the abandoned well in the northwest corner."Yan Chi and Qin Guan washed their hands and followed the old eunuch to the abandoned well in the North Garden.
It was only today that Qin Guan realized how vast the Inner Palace was. The Ye Ting was already quite remote, but the North Garden was even more secluded. As they walked, Yan Chi explained, "The Inner Palace has undergone several expansions, especially during the reign of Emperor Wen a century ago. Emperor Wen had a penchant for luxury, so the palace kept expanding northward. However, after the decline of the Great Zhou imperial family and several internal conflicts, the population dwindled, and many buildings were left vacant. Over time, large sections of the northern palaces became cold, deserted quarters."
The further north they went, the more desolate and silent it became. The palaces were grand and towering, yet covered in layers of dust and cobwebs. After walking for about the time it takes two incense sticks to burn, a neglected flower bed appeared before Qin Guan's eyes. The old eunuch guiding them pointed to a distant corner. "That’s the abandoned well. It’s where Eunuch Kang was fished out."
Qin Guan frowned. "This place is so remote. Who discovered him?"
The old eunuch gave a bitter smile. "It was one of Eunuch Kang’s apprentices who found him."
Eunuch Kang’s apprentice was also part of the Household Affairs Department and, moreover, responsible for procurement. Among the eunuchs in the department, those in charge of procurement had the most lucrative positions and held high status. Such individuals would never casually wander to this area. The flower beds and palaces here required no maintenance, and even the lowest-ranking servants avoided this place. What was his apprentice doing here?
Yan Chi immediately ordered, "Bring Eunuch Kang Bowen’s apprentice here."
The old eunuch acknowledged the command and instructed a young eunuch behind him to fetch the person. Meanwhile, Qin Guan approached the abandoned well.
As soon as she saw the mouth of the well, Qin Guan’s brow furrowed.
The opening of the well was unusually small, barely large enough to accommodate an adult man’s frame. Due to disuse, the well platform was overgrown with moss, which now bore numerous marks, likely left behind when the body was discovered and retrieved. Qin Guan’s sharp eyes scrutinized the area around the well before she stepped to the edge of the platform. After a moment of contemplation, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. She bent down, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, and gently wiped it across the moss on the well’s edge.
Instantly, the handkerchief was stained with a dark green smudge. Qin Guan rubbed it with her fingers, noticing that the moss stain seemed ingrained and not easily removed. Her brow tightened deeply.
"If it were an accidental death, what do you think might have happened?"
Yan Chi frowned. "The well opening is small, so the likelihood of an accident isn’t high to begin with. If we must speculate, there’s only one possibility: he might have slipped on the moss-covered platform and fallen straight in."
As he spoke, doubt flickered in Yan Chi’s eyes. Eunuch Kang Bowen was neither young nor particularly small in stature. If an ordinary person slipped, their limbs and body would instinctively react—it was impossible to fall straight down without resistance. Yet, there were no signs of restraint or binding on Eunuch Kang’s body. Could it be that he wasn’t thrown in?
Soon, a pale-faced young eunuch approached.
"Greetings, Prince, greetings, Princess… This humble one is Kang Ming, Eunuch Kang’s apprentice…"
The young eunuch appeared somewhat flustered but not overly fearful. Yan Chi studied him for a moment, noting his pallid face and sweat-beaded forehead—clearly, he was intimidated by Yan Chi. Yan Chi spoke slowly, "Was it you who discovered your master had fallen into the well and died that day?"Kang Ming nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, it was I who discovered it."
Yan Chi then asked, "This place is so remote. How did you find it?"
Kang Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly replied, "Because that day... my master said he had business at the North Garden... When he hadn't returned by evening, and the Household Affairs Department had two orders waiting for his review, I grew concerned and went to the North Garden to look for him. There, by the abandoned well, I found the beads my master usually wore on his hand. That’s when I realized he had fallen into the well."
As Kang Ming spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, clearly still struggling to accept his master’s death.
Qin Guan frowned. "He said he was coming to the North Garden? Do you know why?"
Kang Ming shook his head. "I don’t know. In those days, my master seemed preoccupied, even neglecting his duties in the Household Affairs Department. I helped him with his work but didn’t dare ask. That day, he went out alone, and I happened to run into him. I asked where he was going. He looked somewhat lost and said he was going to the north to take a look, then left. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking back, his expression seemed strange..."
Qin Guan and Yan Chi exchanged a glance. Qin Guan pressed further, "Did your master meet anyone in those days?"
Kang Ming shook his head again. "I’m not his only disciple, and I have my own tasks to attend to. I don’t know everywhere he went. In those days, I didn’t see him meeting anyone unusual—it was all as usual. But he himself seemed off, though I can’t quite explain it..."
"What did the beads on your master’s hand look like?"
Kang Ming promptly replied, "They were a string of small-leaved sandalwood..."
As he spoke, Kang Ming showed the beads on his own hand. "Similar to mine, but of better quality. My master liked small-leaved sandalwood, and each of his disciples has a string. When I arrived, I saw his bead string lying by the well and knew something was wrong..."
Qin Guan immediately asked, "Was the string broken?"
Kang Ming shook his head. "No, no, it was intact. I don’t know how it fell off."
By this point, both Qin Guan and Yan Chi had a rough idea. Yan Chi dismissed Kang Ming. Qin Guan then said, "Kang Bowen committed suicide. No one forced him. His shoes were stained with mud but showed no traces of moss, indicating it wasn’t an accidental slip. He didn’t even step on the well ledge but stepped directly in. The injuries on his forehead and back were minor, likely from hitting the well wall as he fell. His mouth and nose were filled with mud, his chest and abdomen were swollen, and there were hemorrhages under his eyelids—clear signs of drowning. As for his bead string, it couldn’t have fallen off by itself near the well. If there had been a murderer nearby, whether pushing him in or throwing him in, they would have cleaned up the scene."
After hearing Kang Ming’s account, Yan Chi understood as well, his expression darkening. "In just half a month, Zhu Yucheng took his own life, and Kang Bowen jumped into a well. It’s obvious who pressured them."
They had pieced together the key points but still lacked evidence.
Zhu Yucheng was dead, Kang Bowen was dead, and with only Wang Han to rely on, and Yan Qi counting on Li Muyun to lead the investigation, how much truth could they uncover? Yan Qi felt uncertain. After inspecting the area once more, he instructed the old eunuch, "Take the body away."The old eunuch nodded, and with another wave from Yan Chi, he led the others away.
Qin Guan took one last look at the desolate North Garden before walking out with Yan Chi.
At the same time, in Kunning Palace, Yun Yan whispered, "Nothing was found. The body has already been taken away."
Zhao Shuhua frowned slightly. "Was it Prince Cheng's people or Yan Chi's who left the body behind?"
Yun Yan hesitated for a moment. "It's still uncertain. The personnel in the imperial household are quite complex, but given their ability to reach into the palace, I suspect it's mostly Prince Cheng's people."
Zhao Shuhua narrowed her eyes. "Kang Wenbo died by his own hand, so there's nothing to fear from their investigation. After this, I wonder what other moves Prince Cheng has in store..."
Yun Yan smiled faintly. "Prince Cheng is being overly simplistic. Even if Eunuch Kang were still alive, how could a eunuch's accusations threaten you? It's too naive."
Zhao Shuhua remained silent. "Prince Cheng may not be able to touch me, but the Emperor can."
As they spoke, a young eunuch hurried to the entrance of the hall. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Zhao Shuhua raised an eyebrow and soon saw Yan Che striding into the hall. His face was grim, and just from his expression, Zhao Shuhua knew something was wrong. Sure enough, Yan Che walked straight up to her and, as soon as he stopped, said in a low voice, "Mother, Wang Han has been found by Prince Cheng..."
Zhao Shuhua's expression changed sharply. "What?!"
Yan Che spoke quickly and gravely, "The news came from Zheng Baishi. This morning, Prince Cheng summoned them all to the Ministry of Justice prison. Wang Han is currently there and has confessed everything. Now, Prince Cheng is taking Zheng Baishi and others to question the imperial guards at Xihua Gate, and some have been sent to the procurement office of the Household Affairs Department, likely due to Wang Han's testimony!"
Zhao Shuhua slammed her hand on the arm of her chair. "Bastard! How could he have been captured?!"
Yan Che said anxiously, "Mother, it's useless to dwell on that now. With him in Yan Qi's hands, he's bound to make a big issue of it. Mother, what should we do now?"
Zhao Shuhua quickly regained her composure and suddenly asked, "Has Yan Qi sent anyone out of the city?"
Yan Che was taken aback and shook his head. "No, he hasn't."
Zhao Shuhua narrowed her eyes. "Something's not right... He should have sent someone out of the city..."
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