Coroner's Diary

"The only daughter of Shen Yi?" Yue Qing strode in. "I wasn't aware Shen Yi had an only daughter."

He paused mid-sentence, then turned with a smile toward the doorway. "Grandmother, Ninth Miss has arrived—"

Qin Guan clenched her teeth hard to suppress the surge of grief rising in her chest. Though nearly half a month had passed since the incident—half a month since she had possessed this body—she still couldn't remain calm whenever she heard anything about the capital or her father.

Forcing a faint smile, Qin Guan stepped forward gracefully. "Greetings to the Grand Princess, to the Marquis and his lady, and to the Prefect." She then turned toward Yan Chi, who stood by the bedside. "Greetings to the Crown Prince."

The room was filled with people of high status, so Qin Guan began by paying her respects to each in turn. The Grand Princess immediately beckoned her over. "Come here, come here. Why are you standing at the back now that you're inside?"

Qin Guan's smile remained subdued. "I wasn't sure what the Grand Princess and everyone were discussing. I didn't wish to disturb."

The Grand Princess chuckled. "There's nothing you can't hear. Qin Manor probably hasn't received the news yet, but once they do, you'll know as well. Besides, we're in Jinzhou—everyone here is family. There's no need for such formality."

Today, the Grand Princess looked much better, already sitting up properly in her robes. Qin Guan was pulled to sit beside the bed, and the Grand Princess resumed the earlier topic. "Shen Yi came from humble scholarly origins. He was an incorruptible official with an impeccable reputation. For years, he worked in criminal justice, staying clear of court factions. Even the Emperor held him in high regard as a man of integrity. Though he wasn't from an aristocratic family, his influence was immense. Many scholars from humble backgrounds looked up to him, and the Emperor trusted him deeply. When Prince Yong betrothed his daughter, it was precisely for this reason. Had Prince Yong married the daughter of a duke or general, it would have been far less advantageous."

Though unspoken, everyone present understood: Prince Yong had married Shen's daughter to demonstrate to the Emperor his virtue and lack of ambition for power. Qin Guan sat close to the Grand Princess, her gaze lowered, her eyes shadowed.

"If that's the case, why didn't Prince Yong do anything when the Shen family fell into trouble?"

Yue Qing, ever straightforward, voiced the question directly. The Grand Princess glanced at him. "The case involving Prince Jin was too vast. Prince Yong... was likely too busy distancing himself. Even if he had wanted to act, there was little he could have done."

Yue Qing raised his brows. Noticing Qin Guan's silence, he assumed she couldn't follow the conversation and said, "Now that Ninth Miss is here, she should examine Grandmother's pulse."

The Grand Princess patted Qin Guan's hand affectionately. "I've improved greatly. Guan'er is here as a guest today."

Qin Guan finally lifted her eyes. "I must still check your pulse. Only when the Grand Princess can walk again will I feel at ease."

The Grand Princess smiled warmly and extended her wrist.

After a moment, Qin Guan withdrew her hand. "Your pulse is much stronger. Continue taking the medicine as prescribed, and change the wound dressing daily."

Her words brought relief to everyone in the room.

Huo Huaixin sighed in admiration. "Ninth Miss truly lives up to the name 'Little Medicine Immortal.'"

Yue Qing quickly agreed. "Indeed, Grandmother's recovery is all thanks to Ninth Miss..."

Huo Huaixin's smile took on a paternal warmth. "Ninth Miss, you're sixteen this year, aren't you..."Yue Qing's smile faltered slightly. The Grand Princess glanced at Huo Huaixin and said, "Indeed, Guan'er is only sixteen. She can stay with this old woman for a few more years. If we wait any longer, I'm afraid it won't be possible."

Huo Huaixin's smile stiffened. His question about her age had carried ulterior motives, yet the Grand Princess had shut him down without hesitation. Though not a blood relative, the Grand Princess's declaration to keep Qin Guan for a few more years implied she intended to offer her other choices. Huo Huaixin's gaze swept the room—Yue Jia, dignified and composed; Yue Qing, bright and proud. Just within Marquis Anyang Manor alone, these two young masters far outshone Huo Ning, not to mention the Demon King's heir standing nearby. And if the Grand Princess truly wished, her influence could open doors to any noble scion in the capital.

A bitter taste rose in Huo Huaixin's heart—Huo Ning was simply too disappointing...

Meanwhile, the Grand Princess turned back to Qin Guan. "Jing Shu mentioned you'll be celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with Ning'er and the others in a couple of days?"

Jing Shu was Jiang Shi's maiden name. Qin Guan nodded promptly. "Yes. I couldn't possibly decline Madam's kind invitation."

"Splendid. This year has been turbulent for the manor. It'll do you youngsters good to enjoy yourselves together."

No sooner had the Grand Princess spoken than Lü Yun entered from outside. "Prefect, Captain Qi requests an audience."

This being the Grand Princess's inner chambers, Captain Qi couldn't simply stride in. Hearing this, Huo Huaixin immediately rose to his feet, but before he could speak, the Grand Princess cut in, "Let him come in and speak."

Huo Huaixin hesitated. The Grand Princess arched a brow. "What? Is this old woman unworthy of hearing about the case?"

Though ill, her tone carried undeniable authority. Huo Huaixin forced a wry smile. "I wouldn't dare. I merely feared such matters might distress you, given your health—"

The Grand Princess snorted. "Enough. Summon Qi Lin."

Having served in Jinzhou for years, Marquis Anyang Manor was familiar with Huo Huaixin and naturally recognized Captain Qi Lin. At her command, Lü Yun hurried out to fetch him. Moments later, a tall, square-jawed man in constable's attire entered.

Qi Lin was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, his dark face marked by piercing, bell-like eyes and stern brows that lent him an air of unyielding severity. A long saber hung at his side as he strode in with vigorous steps and bowed.

Huo Huaixin waved him up briskly. "What's the update on the interrogation?"

Qi Lin straightened, his expression grave. "Sir, the maidservants attending Miss Song have been lying."

The room tensed instantly. The Grand Princess pressed urgently, "How so?"

Qi Lin inclined his head toward her. "During initial questioning, all four maids claimed they accompanied Song Rou's bridal sedan the entire day of the wedding procession. They said they'd even asked if she wanted food or drink during the noon rest stop, and she responded, declining. We took their word for it, believing Song Rou was still alive at that point—meaning the murder must have occurred between the noon stop and their evening arrival in Jinzhou. Since she never left the sedan during the journey, the only possibility is that she was killed inside it—"After a slight pause, Qi Lin continued, "But yesterday, after Ninth Miss assisted with the corpse examination, she deduced that Miss Song was not killed inside the bridal sedan. Moreover, Song Rou wasn’t even wearing her Wedding Gown when she was murdered. This inconsistency led us to reopen the case today. During the first interrogation, out of sympathy for their recent loss, we questioned them very politely. They likely lacked any sense of reverence and gave false testimonies. Today’s questioning indeed revealed flaws..."

"Song Rou’s four maidservants didn’t check on her at all that entire day. In other words, her four personal attendants didn’t speak to her that day..."

The Grand Princess frowned. "How could that be? Is this how they serve their mistress?"

Qi Lin went on, "Your Highness may not know, but that day we didn’t suspect these maidservants at all. It was my oversight to neglect asking for more details. Only today did we learn that these personal attendants were newly purchased just before Miss Song’s wedding. They hadn’t served her for years. Moreover, Miss Song disliked them intensely—not only disliked but often beat, scolded, and berated them. Without her orders, they weren’t allowed near her."

"The four claimed that since Song Rou didn’t summon them all day, they didn’t check on her. Because the journey was long, Song Rou found the midday meals too coarse and often refused to eat at rest stops, so they didn’t find it strange and even felt relieved..."

The distance from the capital to Jinzhou spanned thousands of miles. Not every day of the journey passed through bustling towns, and to save time, hot meals were usually served only in the mornings and evenings, with dry rations at noon. Given Song Rou’s delicate nature, her aversion to dry food was understandable.

Huo Huaixin clenched his fist. "Excellent! I knew someone among them was lying! Now it’s clear! Song Rou might have been dead long before, but no one noticed until the sedan curtain was lifted at the marquis’s estate gate."

Qi Lin nodded. "Yes. During rest stops, all of Song Manor’s guards stayed together. Normally, Song Rou wouldn’t leave the sedan, so when her maids didn’t check on her, no one else found it unusual."

"What about in the morning?" Yue Qing suddenly interjected. "Surely the four maids attended to Song Rou when she woke and dressed?"

Qi Lin’s expression darkened. "That’s the strangest part. Exhausted from the journey, everyone slept deeply. The four attendants had served Song Rou the previous night but were scolded and driven out halfway. Used to such treatment, they waited outside her room. The next morning, they found Song Rou already dressed and seated properly in the bridal sedan. One maid said she even lifted the curtain to ask something, but Song Rou, veiled and silent, didn’t respond. Fearing her temper, they didn’t dare ask again. Once the journey resumed, they paid no further attention to the sedan."

"By then, Song Rou was already dead."Qin Guan suddenly spoke up, and Qi Lin nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's what I thought too. But it's very strange. At the time, the people who saw Song Rou said she was wearing a bridal veil and had her head. Later, the wedding sedan was surrounded by people the entire way, yet somehow, when the sedan curtain was lifted at the Marquis's gate, Song Rou had become a headless bride..."

The Grand Princess's eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling the scene she had witnessed that night. "So that's how it was. How odd. All four of Miss Song's personal maids were newly purchased... Didn't you say someone was sent to Shili Temple?"

Qi Lin nodded. "Yes, we've already sent people there, but they haven't returned yet."

The Grand Princess nodded, then turned her gaze to Qin Guan, who wore a solemn expression. "Guan'er, what do you make of this?"

Qin Guan looked up, meeting the Grand Princess's gentle and trusting eyes. After a brief hesitation, she said, "I suspect the killer used some method to create an illusion. It's highly likely that Song Rou was already dead in the morning—perhaps even decapitated by then. After deceiving the maids, the killer took her head midway. Alternatively, what the maids thought was Song Rou's head might have been some kind of trickery by the killer..."

"You mean... the killer was among the Song family's escorts?"

According to Qin Guan's reasoning, the killer had taken Song Rou's head along the way. But since the wedding sedan was surrounded by people the entire time, the only ones who could have done it would have been from the Song family.

Qin Guan nodded. "That's the only plausible explanation."

Huo Huaixin looked at Qi Lin. "So only the maids are suspicious? What about the others? What about her governesses?"

Qi Lin sighed in frustration. "That's another strange thing. None of Song Rou's governesses were the ones who raised her from childhood. Though they were all from Duke Song's household, they had previously worked elsewhere."

Jiang Shi and the Grand Princess exchanged glances, already sensing something amiss.

They were well-versed in wedding customs. When a woman married, her closest attendants were usually those who had served her for years—trusted and loyal, capable of handling important tasks. Yet, none of the maids or governesses accompanying the bride had served her for long...

The same question arose in Jiang Shi and the Grand Princess's minds: Where had Song Rou's original attendants gone?

Huo Huaixin's eyelids twitched as he recalled Qin Guan's mention of the "bite mark." He pressed further, "What about the escorts?"

Qi Lin shook his head. "The escorts had rarely seen Miss Song before. We questioned them thoroughly but found no flaws for now. We can set them aside temporarily."

Huo Huaixin took a shallow breath. "Miss Song's many anomalies suggest there's more to this than we know—perhaps directly related to her murder. For now, we have three tasks: First, interrogate the maids and governesses again to uncover any hidden details. Second, wait for the team sent to Shili Temple to return, hopefully with concrete leads. Third, question the escorts in detail about their actions that night—every single thing. Though the maids' testimonies are unreliable and the governesses are suspicious, we mustn't forget that the killer was a man, and the one who frightened people that night while wearing the Wedding Gown was also a man."

Qi Lin quickly nodded in acknowledgment, bowed, and then turned to leave.Grand Princess nodded as she listened; Huo Huaixin was indeed quite methodical...

Once Qi Lin left, Grand Princess didn't hide her thoughts from Huo Huaixin and asked directly, "All of Miss Song's personal maids were replaced before her wedding. Jing Shu, what do you think this means?"

Jiang Shi's expression darkened. "Usually, when personal maids are replaced, it's mostly because they've committed some fault." After a pause, she added gravely, "But if all of Miss Song's attendants were replaced, then the issue likely isn't with the maids—it's with the mistress herself."

Yue Qiong frowned. "The capital is too far. Sending someone to investigate now would take too much time."

Though unspoken, everyone in the room had reached the same conclusion: Miss Song must be hiding some secret. And whether or not this secret was related to the case, it was undoubtedly significant. For Marquis Anyang Manor, if Duke Song's household had knowingly married off a daughter with hidden flaws, it would imply a grave and deliberate malice.

"What does the Marquis wish to investigate? I might be able to help."

Unexpectedly, Yan Chi spoke up. Yue Qiong glanced at him. "Your people are meant for—"

"It's no trouble. Just tell me what you need to know."

Yue Qiong looked at Grand Princess, who said with a stern expression, "Very well. Let Xiao Qi assist us. I want to see just how bold Duke Song's household dares to be in slighting us like this!"

Yan Chi's expression turned serious. "Aunt, you need only wait. At most seven days, at least five."

Grand Princess nodded. "Find out everything about why Miss Song replaced her attendants. I want detailed information. There's no need to rush within five or seven days—attend to your own matters first."

Yan Chi smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Aunt. I know my limits."

With that, Yan Chi turned and left, presumably to make arrangements.

Grand Princess's frown remained. What had started as a simple investigation had now unearthed these strange hidden truths. It seemed her initial reluctance to accept this marriage had been justified. "The Song family's daughter must be thriving in the palace..."

Though Grand Princess's voice was still weak, Qin Guan felt an inexplicable tension at her words.

She suddenly realized that this silver-haired elder before her was no ordinary old woman. She was a royal princess of the Great Zhou, the current emperor's own aunt—far from an average elderly lady.

At the mention of the palace, the room fell silent.

Even in Jinzhou, even someone like Huo Huaixin dared not casually discuss the imperial family or the inner court. As for Qin Guan, the thought of that once-nearby world of opulence now sent chills down her spine. Her father's case had begun in that extravagant palace—a place that outwardly brimmed with power and splendor but was, in truth, a den of wolves that devoured people without spitting out bones. To this day, Qin Guan still couldn't fathom which hidden hand within that gilded cage of demons had pushed her family into hell.

After a moment of silence, Yue Qiong stepped forward. "Mother, don't dwell on this for now. Let's wait until His Highness Yan Chi brings news. The Song family is a reputable clan in the capital—they wouldn't act recklessly."

Though Yue Qiong spoke these words, Grand Princess and Jiang Shi, well-versed in the intrigues of noble households, were already certain the Song family was hiding something. Now, the only question was whether this hidden matter was minor or grave.The Grand Princess nodded before turning to speak with Qin Guan, easing the atmosphere somewhat. Before long, Huo Huaixin took his leave first, and Yue Qiong followed him to observe the interrogation of the Hou Manor servants. Shortly after they left, Yue Ning appeared in her martial attire, her face flushed from exertion. Qin Guan could tell at a glance that she must have been practicing martial arts.

The Grand Princess said with concern, "Why didn’t you wear an extra cloak? It’s autumn now, and the chill is sharper. Sweating like this makes you prone to catching a cold."

"Don’t worry, Grandmother. Ning'er knows."

In front of the Grand Princess, Yue Ning acted even more like a young girl.

"I saw Young Master Wei practicing with his blade on the Martial Arts Field earlier and couldn’t resist sparring with him a couple of times. That’s why I worked up a sweat. It’s fine—Ning'er is very healthy."

The Grand Princess affectionately touched her face. "Silly child, why compete with that Wei boy? He’s from the Capital Patrol Battalion—his martial arts are naturally strong. Be careful not to hurt yourself."

Yue Ning sighed helplessly. "Grandmother, Ning'er’s martial arts aren’t weak either..."

"Alright, alright, our Ning'er is a heroine who rivals any man..."

Qin Guan, however, sided with the Grand Princess. "Your Highness, you really shouldn’t take it lightly. Autumn weather is unpredictable, shifting between cold and warm, making it easy to fall ill."

The Grand Princess laughed. "See? Guan'er is highly skilled in medicine—you should listen to her."

Yue Ning shot Qin Guan a sidelong glance. "Fine, fine, I’ll listen. If Grandmother says so, I’ll listen."

The three of them—grandmother, granddaughter, and Qin Guan—chatted and laughed freely, creating a lively atmosphere. Meanwhile, Yue Qing, watching from the side, kept his gaze fixed more often on Qin Guan. Jiang Shi observed this, her eyes darkening slightly.

After a while longer, the Grand Princess grew tired. Jiang Shi and Lu Xiu attended to her as she rested, while Yue Ning led Qin Guan out of the courtyard. Just as they stepped outside, Yue Qing caught up to them.

Yue Ning turned and glared. "Second Brother, why are you following us?"

Yue Qing smiled brightly. "What are you two up to? I’m free—I’ll keep you company."

Yue Ning gave him a knowing look. "Why are you always so eager to accompany us girls? Don’t you have your own affairs to attend to? Aren’t you supposed to be at the military camp today?"

Yue Qing faltered under her questioning, his cheeks coloring slightly. He coughed lightly. "Of course, I’ll go now." Pausing, he added, "Take good care of Ninth Miss."

With that, he left. Yue Ning watched his retreating figure thoughtfully before turning her gaze to Qin Guan.

Qin Guan blinked in confusion. "Your Highness, what are you looking at?"

Yue Ning raised an eyebrow, then asked seriously, "What do you think of my second brother?"

Qin Guan was taken aback. "Second Young Master? He’s... naturally very admirable."

Yue Ning studied Qin Guan for a moment before sighing regretfully. Fuling, standing behind Qin Guan, felt anxious for her mistress. Even she understood Yue Ning’s implication—why couldn’t her lady see it?

Yue Ning exhaled. "Never mind. The Mid-Autumn Festival is the day after tomorrow. Prepare yourself—I’ll come fetch you at half past six in the evening."

Qin Guan nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness."

Yue Ning pursed her lips, then suddenly asked, "What’s that in your hand?"Qin Guan looked down and saw she was indeed holding the ointment she had made for Yan Chi. She quickly said, "I wonder where His Highness Chi is now? This is the ointment for him..."

Yue Ning's brows rose again, seemingly puzzled.

Qin Guan pursed her lips slightly. "His Highness Chi's injuries are quite severe. It will take at least half a month to heal. Moreover, after the last time, he gave me generous consultation fees, so I just..."

Of course, Yue Ning didn't know about the Suwen Nine Needles and only asked in surprise, "Consultation fees? What did he give you?"

Qin Guan replied directly, "He gave me a set of medical needles."

Yue Ning's eyes flickered. "He should be in Pine Garden right now. Come, I'll accompany you there."

Qin Guan nodded and followed Yue Ning straight to Pine Garden. Yue Ning had been frowning the entire way, lost in thought, when she suddenly said, "The Prefect came to the estate today for a re-examination. I suspect he already has a lead. I think the person who pretended to be a ghost to scare you and the one who killed Miss Song must be the same person. And that person is likely among the Song family guards in the estate."

Qin Guan looked at Yue Ning. "Did you investigate something on your own, Princess?"

Yue Ning shook her head. "Not really. I just asked Young Master Wei a few questions during the drill earlier. Even he believes the killer must be someone from the Song family. He said only the Song family knew she had a second Wedding Gown and roughly where it was kept. He also mentioned that Miss Song had a spoiled temperament and often treated the servants and guards poorly, so it's possible she made enemies among them..."

Qin Guan paused, lost in thought. "What was Young Master Wei doing on the day of the wedding procession?"

"Young Master Wei said he was with the guards the entire day. Although they were cousins, they hadn’t interacted much in the capital before. Knowing her temper and with everyone around, he didn’t pay much attention to Song Rou."

Qin Guan raised an eyebrow. "Song Rou had a bad temper with the servants, but was she also unpleasant to him?"

Yue Ning nodded. "Yes." She sighed and added, "Young Master Wei is a concubine-born son in the Wei family. His birth mother passed away, and he was raised under the main wife, who is a daughter of Duke Song’s household. Although his stepmother treated him well, there was still a distance. While he could freely visit Duke Song’s residence, the people there didn’t think much of him. Originally, his legitimate elder brother was supposed to lead the wedding procession, but a month ago, his brother broke his leg in a riding accident, so he was sent as a last-minute replacement."

Qin Guan was slightly surprised. "I didn’t know there was such a backstory..."

Yue Ning nodded. "Exactly. We’re too far from the capital, so we wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t mentioned it. That’s why he’s both guilty and worried about Song Rou’s death. When he returns, the Duke’s household will likely blame him."

Qin Guan understood. The Duke’s family had entrusted him with escorting the bride, yet Song Rou had died a tragic death. Naturally, they would hold the leader of the procession accountable. Moreover, given his status as a concubine-born son raised by the main wife, his future would undoubtedly be difficult.

"His position as Patrol Camp Swift Cavalry Vice Commandant was earned through his own hard work. After this, he might be stuck in this role forever. It’s truly lamentable."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "In noble families, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is stark. His position is indeed awkward, but he’s a self-made man. Once the truth of this matter is uncovered, surely there will be reasonable people in Duke Song’s household who see things clearly."

Yue Ning sighed. "Let’s hope so. His martial skills are exceptional—it would be a shame if they were wasted because of this."

Qin Guan’s heart grew heavy. Before this, she had even entertained a terrible suspicion. After all, there wasn’t enough evidence to rule out Wei Yanzhi’s involvement, so he had naturally been within her scope of suspicion. But since Yue Ning said Wei Yanzhi hadn’t interacted much with Song Rou before, that suspicion could now be reduced by a third.

Pausing in her steps, Qin Guan asked, "Why did Young Master Wei tell you so much?"Yue Ning knew her words carried a hint of suspicion, so she explained, "No, it's not like that. When I sparred with him, I had the intention to test him. We agreed that a casual fight would be meaningless, and the loser would have to answer a question from the winner."

Qin Guan was slightly surprised. "The princess won every time? Didn't you say his martial arts were exceptional?"

Yue Ning coughed lightly. "Last time, my second brother injured Prince Yan Chi, and he witnessed it firsthand. This time, my moves were extremely fierce, and he was overly cautious, afraid of hurting me. As a result, he was constrained, and I won three rounds in a row."

It was a clever trick, and Yue Ning felt somewhat embarrassed to admit it so bluntly.

Qin Guan covered her lips with her hand. "Ah, I see. That makes more sense..."

Yue Ning lifted her chin. "Otherwise? Wouldn't it be strange if he suddenly told me all this out of the blue? I'm not so easily fooled—I'm much tougher than you!"

Qin Guan couldn't help but laugh repeatedly. When she looked up, they had already arrived at Plum Garden.

At the entrance, there were no guards in sight. Qin Guan and Yue Ning exchanged glances before stepping into the courtyard together. The garden was eerily quiet. Just as Qin Guan hesitated, she caught sight of Yan Chi's figure through the open window.

The window was wide open, revealing Yan Chi seated behind a desk inside, with Bai Feng standing before him. The master and servant seemed to be discussing something, while Yan Chi held a brush in his hand, writing something.

The scene itself was perfectly ordinary, yet both Qin Guan and Yue Ning frowned simultaneously.

Something felt off...

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the scene. After a moment, her expression darkened abruptly.

She had found the anomaly—Yan Chi was holding the brush in his left hand!

Yue Ning's brows knitted tightly as well. Suddenly, she spoke rapidly, "That night, after you left Plum Garden, we waited outside the whole time. No one knew what was happening inside. Later, a maid from Plum Garden came to report, and just as we were about to leave together, he emerged from inside. The entire episode lasted no longer than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea—precisely when you were frightened—"

"Princess—" Qin Guan interrupted her in a hushed voice.

Almost simultaneously, Yan Chi's gaze shifted from inside the window toward them.

Even from a distance of seven or eight zhang, Yan Chi's dark, penetrating stare was unnerving. Yue Ning instinctively grabbed Qin Guan's wrist, and Qin Guan, already startled, felt her heart pound wildly at the sudden contact.

Yet, upon further reflection, Song Rou and Yan Chi... there was simply no connection between them!

Qin Guan's mind was instantly torn between two thoughts—one insisting this was impossible, while the other recalled the countless bizarre and eerie case files she had seen while accompanying her father in the past. In those cases, the culprits were often the least suspected individuals at first glance!

With this in mind, Qin Guan suddenly detected a hint of a murderer's aura in Yan Chi. He was lofty and imposing, a seasoned warrior who had taken countless lives on the battlefield. With a mere flick of his blade, he could end a life. More importantly, he was the only left-handed person discovered in the entire residence so far. Even if no motive had been uncovered yet, this alone made him highly suspicious...

A chill ran down Qin Guan's spine as she watched Yan Chi rise and walk toward them.

"What brings you here?" Yan Chi strode out, frowning at the two women who seemed visibly tense. His sharp, discerning gaze carried an intimidating force that sent shivers down their spines."Your Highness's medicine." Qin Guan said, handing over the ointment in her hand. "Use this for the next dressing change. The prescription remains the same as before."

Though Qin Guan tried her best to keep her tone steady, Yue Ning's tight grip on her hand made it impossible to remain composed. When Yan Chi's gaze swept over them, she instinctively took on a defensive air.

"Oh?" Yan Chi took the ointment, turned to hand it to Bai Feng, then turned back to observe Yue Ning and Qin Guan with leisurely interest.

"What's the matter with you two?"

Yue Ning took a step back. "Now that the medicine is delivered, we'll take our leave."

With that, she pulled Qin Guan out. Qin Guan had no choice but to be dragged along.

Yan Chi watched their retreating figures disappear, his brow tightly furrowed.

Bai Feng also found it strange. "What's wrong with the young lady and Ninth Miss?"

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of danger. "The way they looked at me... as if guarding against some heinous villain..."

Outside Song Garden, Yue Ning pulled Qin Guan swiftly toward the front courtyard. "The Prefect is still here. We must tell him immediately!"

Qin Guan's mind was in turmoil again. As they drew closer to the front courtyard, she suddenly exerted force and stopped Yue Ning. "My lady, we mustn't act rashly..."

Yue Ning said urgently, "The entire household is searching for a left-handed person. Now that we've found one, shouldn't we inform the Prefect? In terms of timing, his matches perfectly. As for stature and features, there's no question!"

Qin Guan took a deep breath. "But my lady, there's no motive! His Highness Yan Chi returned from the west—he likely never even met Song Rou before. What enmity could there be between them? Besides, that night, His Highness arrived at the marquis's residence first."

Yue Ning narrowed her eyes. "They traveled posthaste, of course they could outpace the bridal procession. And how do you know he didn’t know Song Rou?" She paused. "No, we don’t need to discuss this. We just need to tell the Prefect and let him investigate."

Qin Guan smiled bitterly. "My lady, have you considered His Highness's status? How could the Prefect investigate him?"

At this, Yue Ning calmed down somewhat.

She wasn’t entirely sure of Huo Huaixin’s temperament. What if he truly feared authority and suppressed the matter?

Yue Ning released Qin Guan. "Then what should we do?"

Qin Guan’s eyes darted, momentarily at a loss. Yet she quickly recalled all the previous details, especially Yan Chi’s demeanor during Song Rou’s corpse examination—there had been not the slightest hint of abnormality. Moreover, he was a military man from the battlefield. Though Qin Guan didn’t doubt his ability to take a life, would he really kill a young girl?

Qin Guan swallowed hard. "Perhaps... we should observe a little longer?"

Seeing the usually composed Qin Guan hesitate with such difficulty, Yue Ning crossed her arms and spoke sternly, "Qin Guan, have you developed some feelings for His Highness Yan Chi?"