Heading north from outside Xilin City, after traveling for over half an hour, they approached the Northern Camp. Qin Guan lifted the carriage curtain along the way, treating the journey as an extension of their spring outing.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the Northern Camp, soldiers were already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Yan Chi galloping over on horseback, they immediately knelt in salute. Yan Chi nodded from his saddle, dismounted, and turned to assist Qin Guan. When she emerged from the carriage, the soldiers couldn't help but widen their eyes slightly. Many had never seen Qin Guan before, and now they understood why the princess consort was renowned for her peerless beauty. Witnessing Yan Chi's gentle and attentive care toward her, they found it even more unbelievable.
Yan Chi turned to help Qin Guan down from the carriage and, noticing her cape was slightly loose, retied its strings. His eyes were filled with tenderness—a far cry from the stern, unsmiling young general known as the Demon King. The soldiers stared in astonishment until Yan Chi led Qin Guan into the camp, at which point they guiltily lowered their heads, not daring to look further.
Gu Ling, following behind them, reported, "The bodies were discovered in a snowy valley to the north. There's still snow in that area. They were frozen stiff when found, but as the weather warmed during transport, the corpses have decomposed and are now quite gruesome."
Seeing that Yan Chi intended to bring Qin Guan along, Gu Ling added this explanation as a reminder, hoping Yan Chi would not take her to witness such a horrifying scene.
To his surprise, Yan Chi merely responded with an "Mm," continuing to lead Qin Guan forward.
Gu Ling had no choice but to step forward and press, "Your Highness, the two corpses are terrifying. Should we invite the princess consort to wait in the command tent for a while?"
Unaware of Yan Chi's purpose in bringing Qin Guan—or his earlier remark that she might be of assistance—Gu Ling assumed Yan Chi was indulging her whims out of affection. He thought that even battle-hardened soldiers who had seen bloodshed would pale at the sight, let alone a woman.
Though well-intentioned, Gu Ling's words drew a light laugh from Yan Chi, who turned to Qin Guan to gauge her reaction.
Qin Guan naturally shook her head, so Yan Chi said, "No need. Take us directly."
Gu Ling sighed inwardly, thinking he must have understated the severity of the situation. Once the princess consort saw the bodies, she would understand the gravity.
Soon, the group arrived before a large tent. This military tent was relatively secluded, originally an armory but now temporarily housing the two corpses.
As they approached the entrance, Qin Guan was hit by an overwhelming stench of decay. She took out a handkerchief and covered her nose and mouth.
Seeing this, Gu Ling sighed again, convinced that a noble lady like Qin Guan would be unable to endure it.
The soldier at the front opened the door, releasing an even more pungent odor. Yan Chi waved a hand in front of his nose and entered the room. Gu Ling expected Qin Guan to retreat upon smelling the foul air, but she followed without hesitation.
Inside, Qin Guan's gaze immediately fell upon the two corpses laid on a felt rug.
They were bodies that had first been frozen, then thawed, rapidly covered in greenish decay, and were now rotting beyond recognition.Both deceased were men, standing five feet tall with robust builds. They wore Zhou-style garments, with empty sword belts at their waists—evidently, their weapons had already been removed by Gu Ling. Now, moldy cotton robes clung tightly to their bodies, and all exposed areas of the corpses were covered in purplish-green cadaveric spots. Their heads, swollen from decay, were unrecognizable, with yellowish-brown pus oozing from all seven orifices, creating a nauseating sight. Beneath the felt rug, bodily fluids had converged into a thin, winding stream. The room reeked of a stench ten times more putrid than at the doorway.
Qin Guan still covered her nose and mouth, yet her expression remained remarkably composed. Unlike onlookers who glanced at the corpses and turned away in fright, she meticulously examined every detail. Soon, she instructed, "Open the windows to air out the smell. The cadaveric odor is toxic; prolonged exposure is harmful."
Hearing this, Gu Ling was taken aback. He waved for the soldiers to open the windows, his gaze fixed on Qin Guan. The more he observed her, the more astonished he became. Qin Guan’s calm demeanor, steady tone, and piercingly sharp eyes revealed not only a lack of fear but also a deep investigation into the corpses’ secrets.
Gu Ling was inwardly shaken but managed to keep his composure. Meanwhile, Yan Chi spoke as usual, "Were the weapons retrieved?"
Gu Ling nodded and issued an order. Soon, a soldier brought two long swords wrapped in cloth. "Your Highness, be careful. The blades are poisoned. Earlier, the subordinate who handled them developed blisters on his hands."
Qin Guan shook her head at the yellowish-brown stains on the scabbards. "It’s not poison on the blades—it’s cadaveric toxin. These two have been dead for at least a month. During transport, their decomposing bodily fluids leaked out, turning toxic. Have the soldier with blisters wash his hands with water boiled with atractylodes. He’ll recover in three days."
Gu Ling stared wide-eyed at Qin Guan, pausing briefly before acknowledging.
Yan Chi took the weapons through the cloth, drew the scabbard outward, and frowned slightly. "This is high-quality refined iron."
Gu Ling nodded. "Yes, which is why I suspect they’re imperial spies. Where else would such fine iron come from? Ordinary garrison offices aren’t equipped with blades like these!"
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "We received word just the day before yesterday that the emperor intends to launch a western campaign, but his ministers oppose it. Moreover, they haven’t gathered enough provisions yet, so they won’t mobilize for now. Could it be that while the emperor hasn’t openly dispatched troops, he’s already planning to start from Mengzhou?"
Gu Ling pondered gravely. "I share that suspicion. If the court sends troops, advancing through Dingzhou isn’t as strategic as Mengzhou. Though Dingzhou is closer, the route from there to Shuoxi is treacherous—easy to defend, hard to attack. Taking Mengzhou, while slightly longer, offers fewer natural barriers."
Yan Chi handed the weapons to a nearby soldier and ordered, "Dispatch a small team to Mengzhou. Find out where the garrison troops are stationed now."
Gu Ling acknowledged. As Yan Chi prepared to leave, Qin Guan remained still. Yan Chi looked at her and asked, "What’s wrong?"Qin Guan frowned and said, "Although these two individuals' facial features are indistinguishable, I feel they somewhat resemble barbarian features. Do you remember the corpse we discovered in the backyard of Prince Jin Manor?"
Yan Chi nodded, "Of course I remember. What about it?"
Qin Guan continued, "During my Corpse Examination of that body, I noticed that barbarians typically have particularly prominent brow bones and deeper nasal root depressions compared to Zhou people. Looking closely at these two corpses, they seem to share these characteristics. Is it possible they are barbarians?"
Yan Chi furrowed his brow, "Are you referring to the Rong people?"
Qin Guan hummed in affirmation, "Previously, you mentioned that the Rong people might approach from the northeast, which is why you ordered the establishment of sentry camps. If that's the case, could these be Rong people disguised as Zhou people acting as spies?"
At these words, both Yan Chi and Gu Ling felt their hearts tighten!
The corpses had swollen to an unrecognizable state, and neither Yan Chi nor Gu Ling had noticed anything unusual about their appearances. But now that Qin Guan mentioned it, Yan Chi also frowned. While he couldn't discern bone structure, both bodies were exceptionally tall, consistent with the Rong people's naturally large stature.
Yan Chi suddenly grew alert. The Rong had been quiet throughout the entire winter, and recent reports from White Wolf Pass indicated peace beyond the frontier. Could it be... that the Rong weren't inactive, but rather planning an invasion from the north?
Yan Chi's expression instantly turned serious, "Wanwan, you might be right. I'll immediately dispatch scouts to investigate the northern regions."
However, Qin Guan calmly responded, "This is just my observation—it might not be accurate. Given the current state of the bodies, visual inspection alone can't determine whether they're Zhou or Rong people. I'll know for certain after performing a Corpse Examination."
Yan Chi hesitated briefly, reluctant to let Qin Guan undertake such labor. Meanwhile, Gu Ling stared in astonishment, his eyes wide.
Corpse Examination? Had he heard correctly?!
Knowing Yan Chi's concern for her wellbeing, Qin Guan smiled, "It won't be tiring. This is my expertise. Wait until I've examined the bodies before issuing orders."
Yan Chi grasped Qin Guan's hand, "If that's the case, then proceed with the examination. Just tell us what you need prepared."
Qin Guan nodded and turned to the stunned Gu Ling. Seeing the typically composed and reticent general staring at her with wide eyes, she couldn't help but chuckle, "General Gu, could you please fetch a set of surgical tools from the camp medic, along with atractylodes, soapbeans, ginger, and some clean water? Also bring two jars of white liquor. If you can find protective gloves, that would be even better. Thank you, General Gu—"
Gu Ling, processing the request belatedly, quickly responded, "Understood. This humble general will make the arrangements immediately. Please, Princess Consort and Your Highness, wait in the strategy tent."
Qin Guan nodded and left the main tent with Yan Chi. Once they reached the strategy tent, Yan Chi fell into deep thought.
Noticing this, Qin Guan said, "It was just a sudden thought—I'm not certain yet."
Yan Chi gave a faint smile while holding her hand, "You reminded me. Both Gu Ling and I were preconceived. With frequent messages arriving from the court lately, we've been waiting for imperial troops to mobilize, while overlooking that the Rong have been silent all winter. Now that spring has arrived, the Rong are bound to become restless. Even if these two turn out not to be Rong people, I still need to send patrols to thoroughly scout the northern regions."Qin Guan felt slightly reassured. The two of them waited in the strategy tent for about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea before Gu Ling returned hurriedly. Qin Guan inquired if everything she had requested had been found. The gauntlet he brought back, though not as exquisite as the one Yan Chi had given her, was still functional. Gu Ling explained, "This item belongs to an old blacksmith from the military workshop. It's usually worn for forging to protect against fire and heat. It's a bit worn and doesn't fit perfectly, so please bear with it, Princess Consort."
Qin Guan needed the gauntlet to protect against corpse poison. Seeing that the old blacksmith's gauntlet was also made of stitched leather, she felt relieved.
"As long as it works, nothing else matters."
Once everything was prepared, Qin Guan returned to the corpse tent. She first ignited atractylodes and soapbeans, fumigating the room for half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Then, she splashed white liquor over both corpses. She handled all these tasks personally, while Gu Ling watched with an extremely complicated expression.
After splashing the liquor, Qin Guan placed a slice of ginger in her mouth, put on the gauntlet, and approached the corpses. With a swift motion, she tore away the cotton clothing stuck to the bodies.
The flesh beneath the clothing was far more decomposed than elsewhere. As Qin Guan removed the garments, the rotting skin and flesh were exposed. Decay alone was one thing, but now the corpses were teeming with maggots, and cadaveric spots looked gruesome. At this sight, even Gu Ling couldn't help turning away to retch.
Yan Chi frowned sharply, but Qin Guan remained calm beside the corpses. She used the white liquor to wash away the maggots, then rinsed the bodies clean with fresh water she had fetched. Only then did she pick up her tools and begin her work. Meanwhile, Gu Ling, though he hadn't actually vomited, was utterly distressed. When he turned back, he saw Qin Guan making an incision along the corpse's brow ridge. The rotten flesh split open easily, revealing the bone beneath. Gu Ling had taken countless lives himself, but witnessing this scene, he finally lost his composure and rushed out of the tent. Outside, he dry-heaved for a long while before gradually recovering, though he remained somewhat dazed.
He had always thought that his lord had married a noblewoman of equal status as his princess consort and doted on her excessively. But now, Gu Ling finally understood the formidable nature of this princess consort. Dead bodies weren't frightening; decomposed corpses weren't frightening either. What unsettled him inexplicably was the sight of Qin Guan leaning close to the rotting corpse, meticulously scraping away putrid flesh with her knife. Perhaps it was because Qin Guan's beauty was so striking that it made the decomposing corpse seem all the more grotesque and repulsive...
Gu Ling lingered outside for a long time before lowering his head and approaching the tent entrance. He stared at the flap, wanting to enter but unable to move his feet. As he hesitated, Yan Chi's voice came from inside, "If you can't handle it, stay outside. This scene is far more unsettling than anything on the battlefield."
Yan Chi's tone carried a note of helpless resentment, indicating that even he found the situation unbearable. But since Qin Guan was still inside, he had no choice but to stay with her.
Gu Ling's face flushed with shame, and he remained outside the tent in dejection.
He, a fourth-rank Xuanwu General of the Northwest Frontier Army, was now outperformed by a woman. This feeling was worse than suffering a defeat in battle!
Inside the tent, Qin Guan had already cut open the left ribcage of the corpse. She conducted a thorough examination from head to toe and ultimately decided to perform an autopsy. Yan Chi had been watching Qin Guan the entire time. Noticing a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead again, he quickly took out a handkerchief and stepped forward to wipe it for her.Qin Guan completed the autopsy of the first corpse and cleaned the second one, though she did not perform an autopsy on it, instead conducting a thorough examination from head to toe.
Before long, Qin Guan straightened up. "Done."
She spat out the ginger slice, removed her gauntlets, and then stepped out. Once outside, she exhaled deeply, glanced at Gu Ling, who was pale-faced, and realizing it was inappropriate to speak outside the tent, said, "Let's discuss this in the strategy tent."
Upon reaching the strategy tent, Qin Guan stated directly, "These two individuals died over a month ago, meaning the incident occurred in early March. External injuries are no longer visible, but both show signs of fractures. The cause of death was freezing—they likely fell into a snow valley, lost consciousness, and froze to death. Earlier, I speculated they might be Rong people, and after the corpse examination, I'm even more convinced. Not only do they have prominent brow bones and lower nasal bridges, but their hip bones are also sturdier than those of Zhou people. Even if they aren't Rong people, they must be from other Western tribes." After a pause, she added, "This time, the two were returned with only weapons and no other belongings. I suggest we search the snow valley where they were found further—we might locate their horses or personal items, which could reveal their identities and purpose!"
After hearing this, Gu Ling found it even more bewildering, but Yan Chi remained composed. "That's the right approach. Gu Ling, send people north immediately."
Gu Ling nodded and turned to issue the orders. In the tent, Qin Guan felt a slight ache in her back and was about to massage it herself when Yan Chi pulled her into his embrace. Startled, she asked, "What's wrong?"
Yan Chi didn't respond, simply holding her close. Qin Guan blinked, then chuckled, "To me, this is no different from treating patients. It's really not that taxing."
Yan Chi sighed, his large hand gently kneading her lower back. The warmth from his palm felt both soothing and oddly embarrassing to Qin Guan. In their intimate moments, Yan Chi often caressed her waist like this, and though the context was entirely different now, her body seemed to remember. As he continued, she trembled slightly. Glancing outside and noticing the late hour, she quickly grabbed his hand and said, "Hurry and finish discussing with General Gu so we can return. It'll be dark soon."
Noticing the faint blush on Qin Guan's cheeks, Yan Chi smiled, kissed her twice, and then called Gu Ling back in to continue their discussion.
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