Early on the morning of the third day of the twelfth lunar month, just as Qin Guan was preparing to enter the palace, she hadn't even stepped out of Pine Breeze Courtyard's gate when Fuling came in and said, "Miss, Brocade Embroidery Workshop has delivered another new jewelry set. They're with the madam now, asking you to come try on the wedding dress and accessories. This time they've brought the complete wedding apparel, both inner and outer layers..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Guan had no choice but to head to the front courtyard first. Arriving there, she indeed saw several unfamiliar middle-aged women standing in the main courtyard. Though these women were advanced in years, their clothing and accessories were quite exquisite. Though they quickly bowed upon seeing Qin Guan, their demeanor wasn't that of ordinary inner household women. Qin Guan knew these were the master embroiderers from Brocade Embroidery Workshop.
Entering the main hall, she saw Hu Shi leaning weakly on the daybed by the window, who pointed to two chests on the floor and said, "One contains a set of wedding apparel, the other holds the jewelry set for the wedding day. These two embroiderers are not only skilled at sewing wedding dresses but are also experts at dressing. Shall we have them help you try them on?"
Qin Guan disliked complicated matters and replied, "No need for the jewelry, let's just see if the wedding apparel fits properly."
Hu Shi, being ill, didn't insist and nodded, "Very well, have Fuling and Baiying help you try it on."
Fuling opened the chest and accompanied Qin Guan into Hu Shi's inner chamber. After changing into the wedding apparel, both Fuling and Baiying couldn't help but brighten visibly.
Qin Guan normally disliked wearing bright colors, but now suddenly dressed in vibrant red wedding robes, her fair skin and delicate bones were accentuated, making her appear radiant and dazzling. Fuling couldn't resist saying, "Young miss should wear bright-colored clothes more often. You look absolutely stunning in this outfit, miss. Shall we go show madam?"
Qin Guan herself was somewhat dazed looking at her reflection in the mirror - not for any particular reason, but because she truly hadn't worn bright red dresses in so many years. Now that she had changed clothes, even her temperament and natural elegance seemed transformed, which surprised even her momentarily. After a few glances, Qin Guan turned and went out to show Hu Shi. Before the incident occurred, Hu Shi had been quite attentive to her wedding arrangements. The wedding apparel used the best embroiderers and finest fabrics from Brocade Embroidery Workshop, otherwise it wouldn't have such an effect.
The moment Qin Guan emerged, Hu Shi looked over. Despite being ill, Hu Shi's eyes lit up at the sight of Qin Guan in wedding dress. "Beautiful... truly beautiful..." Hu Shi sat up straight and examined Qin Guan carefully from head to toe. Though reluctant to admit it in her heart, she still felt that compared to Qin Chaoyu wearing the same wedding dress, Qin Guan indeed looked more stunning. Hu Shi nodded with satisfaction, "Excellent, no alterations needed. Just like this, when you marry into Prince Rui's royal residence, Prince Rui will probably be so dazzled his eyes might pop out, cough cough..."
As Hu Shi spoke, she began coughing lightly. Qin Guan's face flushed slightly, "If it fits well, I'll go change out of it."
After changing out of the wedding dress, Qin Guan checked Hu Shi's pulse. Hu Shi had developed a cough due to deep worries and having caught a chill. Qin Guan prescribed a formula and kept Hu Shi company for a while before leaving the residence. The snow from previous days had stopped, but today was overcast. Just as Qin Guan stepped out of the main courtyard gate, snowflakes began falling again from the sky. Seeing this, Baiying hurried back to fetch an umbrella. Qin Guan waited under the corridor for a while until Baiying returned before proceeding out the residence gate.
Before Qin Guan could reach the carriage, a horse suddenly came galloping toward her with a rider. Squinting to see clearly, it turned out to be Zhan Yang!"Why has Constable Zhan come?"
Zhan Yang arrived on horseback, his shoulders already dusted with snow. After days apart, he appeared somewhat haggard.
Without dismounting, Zhan Yang said, "Could Your Ladyship spare a moment for a private word?"
Qin Guan immediately understood he had news for her. Without hesitation, she nodded, "Let's find a teahouse on the adjacent street."
Qin Guan didn't invite Zhan Yang into the Marquis' residence, as the estate was currently closed to visitors. His entry might actually disadvantage him.
Qin Guan boarded her carriage and traveled south for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before arriving at a teahouse. During winter, tea drinkers were scarce, and with midday yet to arrive, the establishment felt particularly desolate. A waiter hurried over upon seeing distinguished guests. The two secured a quiet private room and settled in.
"Constable Zhan's sudden visit today—does it mean you have news?"
The last time Zhan Yang sought out Qin Guan, he had informed her that Li Muyun had reviewed the case files of Ning Buyi. She wondered what brought him this time.
Zhan Yang nodded, "It's about the previous matter. Since you mentioned Ning Buyi's case might conceal some hidden truth, I've been discreetly continuing the investigation. After Ning Buyi was captured and confessed without denial, we didn't re-examine the old case. But this was Ning Buyi's second offense. You said his motives might be complex, so I went to Guanyin Town."
"Six years ago, when Ning Buyi committed the crime in Guanyin Town, it was likely his first attempt. He ultimately framed Zhang Daoshi. Guanyin Town isn't large, and with no other leads at the time, Zhang Daoshi—who had preached the Moon Worship Sect's doctrines—became the sole suspect. Now that Ning Buyi has confessed, I took his portrait to Guanyin Town and indeed uncovered some anomalies..."
At this point, Qin Guan's eyes lit up!
Indeed, after Ning Buyi's case was closed, Zhang Daoshi's suspicion was lifted, but no one revisited the six-year-old case. Guanyin Town lies between Luozhou and the capital, not particularly close. Once the capital's magistrate office concluded the case, they simply merged the old case with the new one. As for many details, Ning Buyi was already dead, and a trip to Guanyin Town couldn't reconstruct the original crime. Thus, the capital's office had no such procedure. Qin Guan hadn't expected Zhan Yang to personally journey to Guanyin Town.
"You actually went yourself? What did you find?"
Zhan Yang continued, "The office had no cases recently, but I couldn't let it go, so I made the trip. I just returned from Guanyin Town yesterday."
He paused, then said, "In Guanyin Town, after six years, many people couldn't clearly remember Ning Buyi. But I spent three days canvassing the entire town and surrounding villages, and finally located where Ning Buyi had stayed during his time there."
For Ning Buyi to commit murder, he wouldn't have drawn attention to himself. Yet, to spend so much time in Guanyin Town observing potential victims and planning the killing, he must have had a base. Unless he lived deep in the mountains, his residence would have inevitably involved some interaction with others.Qin Guan stared intently at Zhan Yang, who said, "I found an elderly woman using the portrait. Her son and daughter-in-law both died of the plague, leaving only a young granddaughter. The grandmother and granddaughter owned two village houses—one they lived in, and one that was vacant. The granddaughter, now about sixteen or seventeen, recognized Ning Buyi. Back then, Ning Buyi had given her a set of the Four Treasures of the Study and taught her to write and paint because she was so young, so she remembered him vividly. Both houses were not far from the town but somewhat secluded. Ning Buyi rented one for three months, starting two months before the incident six years ago. After the incident, he quietly left. At the time, Ning Buyi was young and looked like a frail, delicate scholar, so the grandmother and granddaughter likely never imagined he had committed murder..."
"So back then in Guanyin Town, only these two knew of Ning Buyi's existence?"
As soon as Qin Guan asked, Zhan Yang nodded. "Yes, only those two. They prepared his daily meals and supplies. It was said he went to Guanyin Town to focus on painting, but they didn't understand much, only thinking he was highly learned and perhaps a reclusive great scholar, so they didn't dare ask more. Ning Buyi paid them well, so they naturally avoided disturbing him. However, the granddaughter mentioned that she remembered someone visiting Ning Buyi once."
Qin Guan frowned. "Someone visited Ning Buyi?"
Zhan Yang nodded again. "When we captured Ning Buyi, his friends and servants were few, and no one knew his true nature. Back then, he went to Guanyin Town alone, yet someone visited him. I suspect this person knew about his murderous actions—likely someone behind the scenes, either his master or an accomplice."
Qin Guan was deeply shaken. Zhan Yang's analysis was spot on; at that time, Ning Buyi would never have met unrelated individuals.
"Do they remember what that person looked like?" Qin Guan asked urgently.
Zhan Yang smiled wryly. "It's been too long. The granddaughter was only ten at the time and only caught a glimpse of the person when she went to borrow drawing paper from Ning Buyi. She can't recall the face, only that he was also quite young. The odd thing was, despite his youth, he used a walking stick, and though he heard her voice, he didn't even glance at her—yet he wasn't lame..."
Qin Guan listened intently, and as Zhan Yang finished, a chill flashed through her heart.
The person described by the granddaughter clearly suffered from...
Qin Guan felt a cold shiver down her spine, her eyes flickering with disbelief.
OpenNovel