Coroner's Diary

"This is Miss Song's wedding gown!"

Yue Ning's voice was filled with astonishment. That day, she had stood very close and seen everything clearly.

Yue Qing glanced at the bright red wedding gown in her hands and couldn't suppress a shudder. Yet, in front of Qin Guan, she couldn't bring herself to throw it away. She stiffened her neck and asked, "Why would her wedding gown appear here?"

As Yue Qing finished speaking, her gaze fell on Qin Guan.

Everyone was staring at the wedding gown in her hands, but Qin Guan had already moved to the edge of the flower bed. She had lit a lantern herself and was carefully searching for something, her head bowed low.

However, with her long skirt trailing and one hand holding the lantern while the other lifted her hem, moving around was quite inconvenient.

Suddenly, the lantern in Qin Guan's hand was snatched away by someone—

Qin Guan turned her head and met Yan Chi's deep, phoenix eyes.

Their gazes locked. Yan Chi stood as immovable as a mountain, while Qin Guan pressed her lips together without saying a word. With one hand lifting her skirt and the other parting the rose bushes, her eyes burned with intensity...

"Could it be that her spirit has possessed the wedding gown?" Jiang Shi, after all, was a woman of the inner household, still devout in her beliefs in Buddhism and the supernatural. "I've heard that after death, if one wishes to return to the living world, their spirit often attaches itself to a personal object. Miss Song died wearing this wedding gown. Perhaps... perhaps she blames our Marquis's household..."

"Madam, there's no such thing as ghosts and spirits. Didn't you hear Ninth Miss say it was likely a person?"

At Yue Qiong's words, Jiang Shi's expression steadied slightly. She then turned to Fuling, who looked terrified, and asked, "Child, tell us, what exactly happened?"

Fuling's eyes were slightly red, her voice trembling as she spoke, "Shortly after you left, Madam, my lady and I were talking when I suddenly saw Miss Song standing outside the window. It was pitch black outside, but her bright red wedding gown was horrifyingly vivid. She stood there, perfectly dressed, her hands folded in front of her, poised as if she were alive. But... but just like that day in the sedan chair, she had... no head..."

As Fuling spoke, fear flickered in her eyes again. Jiang Shi and Yue Ning couldn't help but feel a chill down their spines at the described scene. Just as they were about to speak further, Qin Guan turned around from a corner of the flower bed. "Marquis, please look here—"

Yue Qiong hurried forward and saw Qin Guan pointing at the flower bed before her. "Whoever it was, they were very careful—almost no footprints were left. But Marquis, look, these clusters of roses have withered entirely, and the petals have all fallen in one direction. They must have been brushed aside in haste. And here—"

Qin Guan pointed to the top tiles of the rear wall. "There are two marks on the moss here, as if someone stepped on them."

The roses in the flower bed were at the end of their blooming season, their colors at their most vibrant. Many buds hung heavily on the branches, on the verge of wilting. Yet, at a glance, none had fully fallen—except for the clusters Qin Guan had pointed out, which were bare, stripped down to their cores as if someone had plucked them off. Strangely, the fallen petals were all scattered in one direction.

Before her was the rear wall of Plum Garden, usually untended daily, so the moss-covered tiles showed two clear signs of being stepped on.

But where there is an occurrence, traces will inevitably be left. After finishing her explanation, Qin Guan turned to Yan Chi. "Crown Prince, can you discern how these marks were made?"Yan Chi didn't expect Qin Guan to ask him. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a faint glimmer shimmering in his pupils. "This wall isn't high. Anyone with martial skills could leap up and climb over easily. Any ordinary practitioner could do it."

Qin Guan turned her gaze to Yue Qiong. "Marquis, this must be the work of a person. Regardless of why someone would dress like this to come here, this matter is undoubtedly connected to Miss Song's case."

After a brief pause, she looked at Yue Qing. "Second Young Master, may I take a look at the wedding gown?"

Yue Qing was more than willing. He quickly stepped forward and spread the wedding gown across his hands. Concerned that Qin Guan might be afraid, he didn't hand it directly to her but held it out for her to examine. Qin Guan found this arrangement quite convenient and began inspecting it while it rested in his hands.

Beside them, Yan Chi, holding the lantern, narrowed his phoenix eyes, his gaze deepening.

After examining it, Qin Guan noted the wedding gown was brand new, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood, clearly having been perfumed but never worn. As she turned it over, she suddenly spotted a tiny, faint dark mark on the left sleeve.

The wedding gown was a vibrant red, luxurious and made of the finest material. Why would there be such a flaw on the left sleeve?

Looking closer, she was even more surprised to find a half-inch-long pulled thread near the flaw. Both the flaw and the thread were barely noticeable—only visible upon close inspection.

"Ninth Miss, what is it?" Yue Qing, standing closest, couldn't help but ask.

Qin Guan couldn't yet make sense of this minor imperfection. She checked other parts of the gown but found no other issues. Shaking her head, she turned to Yue Qiong. "May I ask, Marquis, where was Miss Song taken after the incident? And where is her wedding gown?"

Yue Qiong frowned. "Miss Song was taken to the mortuary temple. Her wedding gown was still on her."

The wedding gown was still on Song Rou? Then where did this one come from?

Qin Guan lowered her gaze for a moment before suddenly speaking. "How many members of the Song family who came for the wedding are staying at the Marquis's residence? I suspect they likely prepared two wedding gowns for Song Rou. This one was probably brought along with the dowry chests."

The Song family was a noble house from the capital, and Song Rou was marrying far from home. Preparing a spare wedding gown in case of mishaps during the journey wouldn't be unusual.

Seeing Qin Guan step back from Yue Qing after releasing the gown, Yan Chi finally withdrew his gaze and looked toward the courtyard wall. "What's behind this wall?"

Yue Qing quickly answered, "Behind it is the western garden of the residence, not far from the Mirror Lake within the estate."

Hearing this, Qin Guan knew it was a place where people in the residence could come and go freely. Understanding Yan Chi's implication, she pondered briefly before addressing Yue Qiong. "I don't know the details of Miss Song's case, but since this wedding gown is here, it's likely connected to someone from Duke Song's household. I heard the wedding entourage is staying in the residence. Among them, those with martial skills are especially suspicious. Also, Marquis, you might want to ask whether they prepared a second wedding gown. If they did, check if it's still there..."

Yue Qiong's expression darkened. "The prefect has yet to make progress on Miss Song's case, but we never expected such an incident to occur within the residence. I'll send word immediately for the prefect to come. This might aid his investigation."

Qin Guan agreed. Yue Qiong then asked, "Ninth Miss, you must have been frightened earlier. Are you feeling unwell?"Qin Guan quickly shook her head, glancing at Fuling not far away. "Only Fuling was a bit frightened. I'm fine, Marquis. There's no need to worry." She paused, then added with a bitter smile, "I just don't understand why someone would come to the Plum Garden."

Yue Qiong's expression darkened as well. Song Rou's death had nothing to do with Qin Guan—what was the perpetrator's intention?

Unable to dwell on it further, Yue Qiong turned and instructed Yue Jia, "Send word to the Prefect immediately and ask him to come here. Also, have people search the manor for any suspicious individuals."

Yue Jia acknowledged and left. Yue Qiong then looked apologetically at Qin Guan. "We invited Ninth Miss here for my mother's illness, yet you've been subjected to such a fright. I truly feel at fault..."

Qin Guan bowed slightly. "You flatter me, Marquis." She glanced at Fuling, whose eyes were still red. "However, it might not be safe to stay in the Plum Garden tonight. Are there other accommodations in the manor?"

While Qin Guan remained composed, Fuling had been deeply shaken. Worried that Fuling might fall ill from the shock and considering the Plum Garden unsafe, Qin Guan thought it best to change lodgings for the night. As soon as she finished speaking, Yue Ning strode over. "Stay with me!"

Jiang Shi also approached. "Ning'er has a Warm Chamber where you can rest, though I fear it might be too cramped for you, Guan'er..."

Meeting Yue Ning's bright gaze, Qin Guan smiled. "Not at all. Then I’ll trouble the young mistress."

Yue Ning shook her head. "It's only right."

Yue Qiong nodded in satisfaction before turning sternly to Yue Qing. "Have guards secure the Plum Garden. After Ninth Miss leaves, search the courtyard thoroughly for any other anomalies. Take the Wedding Gown and wait for the Prefect to arrive."

Yue Qing acknowledged. Yue Qiong then addressed Qin Guan and Yan Chi. "It's late. His Highness is injured and shouldn't be troubled further, and Ninth Miss should rest. Rest assured, we won’t involve you in this matter. Once the Prefect reaches a conclusion, we’ll give you a proper explanation."

After all, it was a case involving a life—and such a horrifying one at that. Rumors of supernatural occurrences would inevitably spread if word got out. While gossip about Marquis Anyang Manor was unavoidable, it wouldn’t do to drag Qin Guan into it.

Understanding Yue Qiong's goodwill, Qin Guan curtsied. "The Marquis is most considerate. Thank you."

Since Qin Guan had been inadvertently implicated by the Marquis's household, Yue Qiong couldn't possibly accept her thanks. He quickly instructed Yue Ning to escort Qin Guan back to her quarters to rest. Qin Guan bowed and returned to her room with Fuling.

Since they wouldn’t be staying, Qin Guan needed to gather the items she had used over the past two days, along with the gifts from Jiang Shi. As Fuling packed, Qin Guan stared thoughtfully at the rear window.

Yue Ning, waiting by the door, noticed her expression and stepped inside. "What is it?"

Frowning, Qin Guan gestured toward the window. "This is where Fuling and I stood when we saw it. The figure we saw had no head. I’m wondering how the perpetrator managed that..."

As she spoke, Yue Qing suddenly appeared outside the window.

He was directing servants to search the flowerbeds behind the house, the bright red Wedding Gown still in his hands. Perhaps having held it long enough, his initial discomfort had faded, and he mimicked Qin Guan by lifting the gown to examine it closely.

Yue Ning had an idea. "Second Brother—"

At her call, Yue Qing instinctively turned around—but he hadn’t yet lowered the Wedding Gown, which now obscured his head and face. Qin Guan's eyes widened. "The figure was six feet tall—a man!"After a slight pause, Qin Guan said in a deep voice, "And he's a left-handed man."