Coroner's Diary

On the carriage ride back, Qin Guan was still pondering what she had just witnessed.

She couldn't have been mistaken—the festering swelling on Qin Li's neck did resemble that particular illness. But how could Qin Li, the esteemed second young master of the manor, possibly...?

Qin Guan's brows furrowed deeply as her thoughts drifted back to the Purple Bamboo Forest. After Liu Chun, even the Eighth Concubine had gone there. Could there be some connection between Liu Chun and the Eighth Concubine?

Qin Guan was utterly perplexed. Qin Li, Liu Chun, the Eighth Concubine, Yao Xinlan, Qin Chen... all these people within Qin Manor were highly suspicious. Yet, a thick fog still clouded Qin Guan's vision, making it impossible to see or grasp the truth clearly. She felt like someone walking along the edge of a cliff, never knowing when she might misstep and plunge into the abyss.

By the time they returned to Qin Manor, it was already late. When Qin Guan arrived at Orchid Isle Courtyard, the four "Wan" maids were waiting for her at the doorway.

"Greetings, Young Miss—"

Qin Guan's gaze swept over each of them, pausing slightly when it landed on Wan Xing.

She nodded. "There's little to do in my courtyard. You may all retire for the night."

The others curtsied, but Wan Tang spoke up, "Young Miss, we've collected all the festive decorations for our courtyard. When would you like us to begin setting them up?"

A faint smile touched Qin Guan's lips. "Tomorrow." After a brief pause, she added, "I'll leave this task to you and Wan Tao."

Wan Tang was steady and reliable, while Wan Tao was lively and quick-witted—the two complemented each other well.

Wan Tang's eyes brightened slightly, and Wan Tao's face lit up with joy. Among the four maids, only these two had been given instructions, a clear sign of Qin Guan's trust in them. "Understood. Please rest assured, Young Miss. We'll see to it properly."

Qin Guan nodded before entering the main chamber.

Fuling helped her out of her outer robe and remarked, "Wan Tang does seem quite dependable. Will you be relying on her more in the future, Young Miss?"

Qin Guan glanced at her. "If I rely on her, what will become of you?"

Fuling froze, as if only now considering this question. She smiled sheepishly. "Even if you do rely on her, she doesn't share the same bond with you as I do. Besides, I know my own limits. It's good for you to have more capable people by your side."

Fuling had served Qin Guan for many years. Unlike the other servants born into Qin Manor, she had no family ties here. Without Qin Guan, she would have no support whatsoever. Yet, she didn't seem the least bit worried about her position.

"It's not about reliance. It's just good to have people handle these matters."

As Qin Guan walked further inside, she asked casually, "You mentioned Wan Li's background earlier. What about the others?"

Fuling hurried forward. "Wan Tang was trained long ago. Originally, she was meant to serve the Sixth Young Miss but was pushed aside later. Though she's also a homeborn servant, her parents never rose to managerial positions, so she wasn't even qualified to serve a concubine-born young miss. As for Wan Tao, her situation is similar to Wan Tang's. I heard both her parents are gone, and she only has a brother working as an errand boy in the outer courtyard. As for Wan Xing... Wan Tang said she doesn't recognize her. It's possible she was bought from outside and trained as a homeborn servant..."

She sighed. "Those bought from outside have no support within the manor and don't understand its ways. The one advantage is that you, Young Miss, would be her sole reliance. Perhaps she'll be more loyal because of it."

Qin Guan settled onto the daybed. Was Wan Xing's behavior this afternoon a display of loyalty?Among the group, Wan Xing was the most inconspicuous. Yet beneath her dull and clumsy exterior must lie a cunning mind—otherwise, how could she have helped her that afternoon, even knowing Physician Huang had gone to the outer courtyard when she herself hadn't been aware?

In such a short time, Wan Xing had known this detail.

"Miss, which gown should you wear to Lishui Lake tomorrow?"

Qin Guan was pulled from her thoughts by Fuling's voice. Turning, she saw Fuling holding two exquisitely crafted dresses—one previously gifted by Jiang Shi, the other sent over by Lin Shi's people.

Qin Guan shook her head. "Either will do."

Fuling sighed at her mistress's indifference. Her young lady clearly had no mind for dressing up now. Tomorrow's garden party would be attended by two young masters from the marquis's household, along with other noble sons. Any other young lady would have been racking her brains to stand out amidst tomorrow's floral competition.

Sighing repeatedly, Fuling went aside to plan Qin Guan's outfit for the next day.

Each lost in their own thoughts, it wasn't until late at night when they retired that Qin Guan remembered to instruct Fuling, "Tomorrow, remind me to bring the medicine for His Highness Chi. This second batch is quite different."

Fuling promptly responded, "Understood, miss. You've invested so much effort in these medicines recently—this servant wouldn't dare forget."

Only then did Qin Guan settle her mind, exhaling as she closed her eyes.

Her dream was of lush greenery in the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Holding up her skirts, Qin Guan ran until she was gasping for breath. Looking back, the dark figure was gaining ground. Gritting her teeth, she forced back the tears welling in her eyes.

Summoning all her strength, she suddenly tripped over something and went sprawling forward.

The dull pain in her knees left her momentarily unable to rise. In that instant, large hands seized her ankle. As Qin Guan whimpered, the hands dragged her relentlessly deeper into the bamboo grove. Her body left a long trail through the scattered bamboo leaves and branches. Flailing helplessly, her hands grasped only dead leaves and twigs.

Terrified, cold sweat dripped down her cheeks. She wanted to scream, but when she opened her mouth, no sound came. Soon, her assailant grabbed her hair and flipped her over.

The blinding pain made Qin Guan's vision darken. Then hands closed around her throat. Choking, she thrashed like a fish, but the grip was ironclad.

Tears clinging to her lashes, Qin Guan could only stare wide-eyed at the face above her.

Through the watery haze, she could only make out the blurred outline of a man's features. Straining her eyes, she desperately tried to see his face before suffocating. Gradually, his chin became visible, then his features slowly clarified—mouth, nose, ears, eyebrows... All but the eyes remained indistinct...

Frantically anxious, suddenly the contours of his eyes also appeared...

"Miss! Wake up..."

Qin Guan's eyes flew open, staring wildly at the canopy as Fuling's worried voice reached her ears.

Gasping for breath, Qin Guan clutched the brocade quilt beneath her with white-knuckled hands."Miss, did you have a nightmare?"

Fuling's voice softened, as if afraid of startling Qin Guan. Qin Guan took a few more gasping breaths before blinking and turning her gaze. Fuling's eyes were already brimming with anxious tears. Qin Guan's tense back relaxed slightly as she exhaled.

"Yes, it was a nightmare."

Her voice was hoarse. Fuling hurried to pour her some water.

"Miss usually wakes at dawn, but today you slept late. When I came in, I heard what sounded like soft sobbing. When I drew the bed curtains, I saw you clutching the blankets as if trapped in a nightmare."

Fuling helped Qin Guan sit up and handed her the cup. "I've heard nightmares can steal a person's soul. I was so afraid yours might be gone..."

The half-dreamt tension in Qin Guan's heart dissipated somewhat at Fuling's words. After sipping some water, she gradually calmed. She must have dreamed this because she'd been dwelling too much on the case lately. But whose face had appeared at the end?

Qin Guan wiped the sweat from her face and touched her neck. Thankfully, it was just a dream.

If merely dreaming left her so terrified, how much more frightened must Ninth Miss have been when she died?

The prolonged torment of being strangled seemed even more agonizing than her own death by arrow.

Qin Guan's eyes darkened as she glanced outside—the sky was already bright.

"Let's get up. We have to go out today."

Qin Guan was adept at steadying her emotions. She rose, washed, and ate what might have been breakfast or lunch, then sat by the window to practice calligraphy. She had barely written half a page when noise from the courtyard drew her gaze. Wan Tang and Wan Tao were decorating the yard. Previously uninhabited, the veranda had only two wind lanterns. Now, with the Autumn Festival approaching, Wan Tang had brought new lanterns. Their glow instantly lent the courtyard a lively warmth.

Outside, Wan Tang directed while Wan Tao climbed a ladder they'd brought over. Finding themselves short-handed, Wan Tao ducked into the side hall and soon emerged with the taciturn, dull-witted Wan Xing in tow. Qin Guan smiled faintly—apparently, Wan Li couldn't be persuaded to help.

With an extra pair of hands, Wan Tao worked even more energetically, leaving Wan Tang and herself to supervise while the heavy lifting fell to Wan Xing. Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. Even here, there were hierarchies at play.

She watched with interest until, at one point, her brows lifted slightly.

Wan Xing appeared frail, yet she handled the heavy objects the other girls struggled with effortlessly. Even precarious tasks like climbing ladders she performed with smooth precision. As Wan Xing reached the ladder's top and leaned out in a supple arc to remove a wind lantern, Qin Guan's gaze deepened.

She had thought Wan Xing merely played the fool, but now it seemed there was more to her.

Aside from her wooden expression, she not only possessed sharp wits but also remarkably agile movements. Her posture and methods suddenly reminded Qin Guan of Yue Ning.

Past experiences had attuned Qin Guan to details. Without deliberate scrutiny, she could memorize people's habits and mannerisms—many of Yue Ning's traits stemmed from her martial training, lending her a brisk efficiency that lacked delicate grace.

Yue Ning... Wan Xing... Two such different people, yet they gave Qin Guan a similar impression.Qin Guan's pupils contracted—could it be...that Wan Xing knew martial arts?!

The moment this thought arose, Qin Guan couldn't help but scrutinize Wan Xing carefully.

Just as she was observing, knocking sounds came from the courtyard gate. Wan Tang hurried to the entrance and soon returned toward the main house.

Fuling was outside. Wan Tang whispered something to her, and Fuling immediately turned to enter the room. "Miss, someone from the Marquis's residence has come to fetch you. We must leave now..."

Qin Guan glanced at the sky outside. Why had Yue Ning arrived half an hour early?

Though puzzled, Qin Guan still instructed Fuling to prepare everything for their departure. Half a cup of tea's time later, Qin Guan and Fuling arrived at the western gate of Qin Manor. Before they could get close, Qin Guan spotted Yan Chi standing outside the manor gates, clad in a striking black embroidered robe.