Coroner's Diary

Qin Guan wore a mask, holding an Orchid lamp in one hand while lightly lifting her skirt with the other as she swiftly stepped into a dark alley.

Four or five people were heading toward the Double Purity Troupe Stage from the alley. Squinting, Qin Guan saw a figure at the front whose back looked strikingly like Yue Qing’s, walking without pause. She didn’t know where he was going.

She stopped in her tracks. The alley stretched long, growing darker the deeper it went. Alone, she truly didn’t dare follow further. Hesitating, she noticed the "Yue Qing" ahead had also halted. Qin Guan raised a brow and took three more steps forward. The moment she moved, "Yue Qing" resumed walking.

Astonished, Qin Guan immediately stopped again—and sure enough, so did the other person. Narrowing her eyes, she realized this person knew she was following him and seemed intent on luring her deeper into the alley.

They stood about twenty paces apart. Qin Guan’s frown deepened as she studied his back. She vividly remembered Yue Qing wearing an identical robe today. But if it really was him, why not approach her directly instead of leading her forward in such a strange manner? And if it wasn’t Yue Qing, then who could it be?

Lost in thought, she unconsciously took a step—prompting the figure to move as well. Qin Guan arched an eyebrow. How odd. If this person meant her harm, why keep his distance?

The thought eased her fear slightly. Holding the lamp in one hand, she quietly reached into her sleeve with the other, grasping Cold Moon. She walked in small, cautious steps while the figure ahead strode briskly. Observing the growing gap between them, she finally quickened her pace to catch up.

Past experiences had given Qin Guan a sharper curiosity than most. The bizarre cases her father had solved were only unraveled through his meticulous pursuit of truth. She had witnessed the deepest suffering and the cruelest facets of humanity. She knew the figure ahead was suspicious—yet now, she seemed to have no other choice.

When she walked slowly, he walked fast. When she sped up, he moved even faster. Soon, Qin Guan was nearly running, hindered by her long skirt. With one hand holding the lamp and the other gripping Cold Moon—which she absolutely couldn’t drop—she watched helplessly as the figure neared the alley’s end. In desperation, she tossed the lamp aside, hiked up her skirt, and sprinted after him!

As if emerging from the deepest darkness into light, after another ten paces, she saw the alley open onto a brightly lit street. The figure paused at the exit, as if waiting for her. Just as she drew near, he darted to the right and vanished.

Breathless and with a sheen of sweat on her brow, Qin Guan burst onto the street—only to find it lined with towering Lantern Towers. The usual bustling crowd had flocked to the Double Purity Troupe’s street, leaving this one nearly deserted. A few stragglers still hurried toward the commotion. Qin Guan scanned to the right but saw only two young women approaching her. The man who had looked so much like Yue Qing was long gone.Qin Guan felt momentarily bewildered. Had that person lured her here just to see the Lantern Tower on the street?

She took two steps forward. The Lantern Tower was indeed beautiful, but she had seen far more magnificent and grander light displays before. Though pleasing to the eye now, it hardly warranted traversing such a long, dark alley just to view it. If that person knew her, they would have spoken to her face-to-face. If not, what reason could they have for leading her here?

Frowning slightly, Qin Guan glanced at the taverns and teahouses lining the right side of the street. Should she go inside and search?

It was the Autumn Festival, and every shop along the street was packed with customers. Even from a distance, she could hear the raucous sounds of drinking games inside. These places were crowded and chaotic—if the person intended to conceal their identity, they would likely be impossible to find.

But why had they led her here?

After walking silently a few more steps, Qin Guan halted.

There had to be a reason. They had even deliberately maintained a great distance. That person might be someone she had met or knew—but who?

She lifted her gaze to survey the street ahead. Two young women brushed past her, recoiling in distaste at the sight of her Xiezhi mask and sidestepping to avoid her. Beyond them, the right side of the street was now deserted.

Qin Guan stood still for another moment before turning to look at the left side of the street. A few figures were walking ahead, undoubtedly also heading toward the Double Purity Troupe Stage. A flicker of tension rose in her chest—the person had vanished, meaning their objective had essentially been achieved. But what was the purpose? The only thing of note on this street was the Lantern Tower...

A sudden chill ran down her spine, and Qin Guan stiffened. The Lantern Tower...

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard an almost imperceptible snap —like a rope breaking or bamboo splintering. Then, an overwhelming force, like a collapsing mountain, came crashing down toward her. Her scalp prickled with dread as she whirled around—only to see the three-story-tall Lantern Tower behind her toppling like a landslide...

Her grip on Cold Moon tightened instinctively, and she squeezed her eyes shut. The Lantern Tower's frame was built from thick wooden beams, reinforced with bamboo to form rows of small compartments where the lanterns were densely hung. Now, those massive beams—each as thick as a sea bowl—were collapsing toward her. The structure was already heavy, but with hundreds of lanterns still dangling from the top, Qin Guan could almost imagine the agony of being crushed beneath them. No—perhaps she wouldn’t even feel it, because her skull would be shattered first.

She knew escape was impossible. The paralyzing dread of imminent danger left her frozen in place. Eyes clenched shut, she braced for impact—but just as she expected the crushing weight to strike, a fierce gust of wind swept in from the side. Before she could react, a large hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a powerful embrace.

The newcomer moved like lightning, tackling her at an impossible angle. The world spun as they rolled twice across the ground. Then, with a deafening boom , the Lantern Tower crashed down. Qin Guan felt the man atop her grunt in pain. Her eyes flew open—and met the slightly pale face of Yan Chi.With another glance, she saw the enormous lantern stand, as tall as a two-story building, lying shattered on the ground. The lanterns were either broken or ablaze. Yan Chi had carried her away from the rolling wooden frame at the bottom, but the bamboo latticework holding the lanterns from the top had crashed onto his back. Even so, Qin Guan could imagine the pain of such a fall from that height. Her lips pressed tightly together, she hadn’t expected Yan Chi to appear at all...

“Your Highness, how—” Her words cut off abruptly as Qin Guan suddenly felt warmth on her hand. Lifting her right hand, she saw her palm covered in crimson. Her heart lurched, and she immediately tried to crawl out from under the wreckage, but Yan Chi held her firmly in place. She watched as his brow furrowed, then his weight—pressing heavily upon her—shifted as he pushed himself up, lifting the massive bamboo frame with him. Seizing the chance, Qin Guan scrambled free!

Once Qin Guan was out, Yan Chi had an easier time. With a surge of strength, veins bulging on the back of his hand, he raised the wooden frame, rising to one knee before finally freeing himself from beneath it.

Though his expression remained calm and composed, Qin Guan couldn’t forget the blood on her palm.

Without stopping to ask how Yan Chi had appeared, she hurried around to check his back. But she had barely taken a step when Yan Chi grabbed her, pulling her two steps back. He looked up at the beam of the tavern where the Lantern Tower had been anchored—only to find a rope as thick as a bowl’s rim inexplicably severed, its frayed end still dangling from the beam...

By now, the tavern and teahouse patrons and staff had spilled into the street. No one had expected the towering Lantern Tower to collapse. The crowd stared at Yan Chi and Qin Guan, while a few who had witnessed the incident animatedly recounted the scene.

“It was this handsome young lord—otherwise, the lady would’ve surely lost her life.”

“A Lantern Tower that big could’ve crushed even an ox! I saw it hit the young lord too, yet he looks completely unharmed...”

“Must be some kind of master, protected by divine skill or something...”

As the onlookers buzzed with speculation, cold sweat poured down Qin Guan’s back. She realized the culprit’s true target—the Lantern Tower itself. She nearly rushed into the tavern to investigate, but thoughts of Yan Chi’s injury held her back. “Your Highness, you’re bleeding—your wound must have reopened. We must return to the carriage at once to treat it.”

Yan Chi’s brow remained tightly furrowed, as if he hadn’t heard her. “Why did you come here?”

Qin Guan’s own frown deepened. “Your Highness, your injury comes first!”

Yan Chi turned his gaze to her, his deep eyes like a swirling vortex threatening to pull her in. Suddenly, he released her hand and strode toward the wreckage. Qin Guan wondered what he intended—until he straightened, holding an Orchid lamp in his hand. She was momentarily speechless. “Your Highness—”

“Were you chasing someone? In such a hurry you even dropped your lantern?”Qin Guan met Yan Chi's deep gaze, her heart stirring slightly. "Yes, I got separated from the young lady earlier. On the way, I saw someone who looked very much like the second young master of the Marquis Anyang Manor. That person seemed to be leading me here—he walked when I walked and stopped when I stopped. I didn’t know who he was, so I followed him all the way. This lantern—"

"We found the young lady, and she said you were lost. I came to look for you. This lantern was picked up in the alley." As he spoke, Yan Chi handed the Orchid lamp to her.

Qin Guan felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at the nearly intact Orchid lamp. She had thrown it away once, and it had fallen, yet he had picked it up. Just now, when he saved her, it had fallen again, yet it remained unbroken.

Taking the lamp, Qin Guan was about to speak when urgent shouts came from the street market to the left of the alley. Turning, she saw Yue Jia and Yue Ning approaching with their companions. They hurried over, glancing between Qin Guan and Yan Chi, then at the collapsed Lantern Tower on the ground, their faces filled with shock and confusion. Yue Ning was the first to speak, "Are you alright? Were you hurt?"

Qin Guan quickly shook her head. "I’m fine, but His Highness Chi is injured. Please arrange a place where I can treat his wounds."

Yue Ning and the others were no ordinary people—the distinct scent of blood in the air deepened the worry in their eyes.

......

After helping the Grand Princess onto the boat, Yue Qing had wanted to slip away to find Qin Guan. Unexpectedly, once aboard, the Grand Princess engaged him in conversation. Her health had improved slightly, and he couldn’t bear to refuse, so he stayed with her.

Though he knew he should fulfill his filial duty, the thought of Qin Guan and the others enjoying themselves at the Lantern Market left him restless. Just as he felt he couldn’t bear it any longer and was about to sneak away, a servant announced Qin Guan’s return.

"Oh? Why are they back so soon?" Yue Qing’s delight was evident.

The Grand Princess glanced at him teasingly. "If they hadn’t returned, you wouldn’t have been able to sit still either. And now you’re complaining they came back too early?"

Yue Qing smiled sheepishly. "Grandmother, you misunderstand. Naturally, I’d rather stay with you."

Even as he spoke, he stood up and looked toward the cabin door. There, he saw Yue Ning lift the curtain and enter. The solemn expression on her face made his heart sink—what had happened?

"Grandmother, His Highness Chi is injured. We need a clean room to treat him."

"Little Seven is hurt?" The Grand Princess stood up abruptly. Yue Qing quickly steadied her as she trembled toward the exit. "How did he get injured? The side cabin is prepared—it’s the best place for treatment!"

The Grand Princess hurried out and, at a glance, noticed Qin Guan with slightly disheveled hair, holding a lantern and a mask, standing beside the pale-faced Yan Chi. A faint sniff revealed the pungent scent of blood.

Qin Guan curtsied to the Grand Princess but had no time for pleasantries or explanations. She gestured to the side cabin. "Your Highness, quickly—"

By the Li River, the best place for treatment was naturally aboard the Marquis Anyang Manor’s Lantern Boat.

Yue Jia stayed behind with Wei Yanzhi to investigate the collapsed Lantern Tower, while Yue Ning and Qin Guan accompanied Yan Chi to the Marquis’s Lantern Boat. As soon as they entered the cabin, Qin Guan said, "Your Highness, please remove your clothes."The compartment wasn't very large, and with those words spoken, the Grand Princess and the others stepped outside. Once out the door, the Grand Princess immediately pulled Yue Ning aside to inquire. After Yue Ning solemnly explained the situation, a glint of lethal intent flashed in the Grand Princess's eyes.

"Qing'er has been by my side the whole time and naturally wouldn't have gone over there. But Guan'er wouldn't mistake something like this—that person must have done it deliberately, intending to lure Guan'er over to harm her... Whose family owns that Lantern Tower? And which shop was it built outside of?"

Yue Ning quickly replied, "The Lantern Tower belongs to the Sun family in the eastern part of the city, built outside a tavern. Elder Brother and Young Master Wei stayed behind to investigate. His Highness Yan Chi was injured, so we came back first."

After a slight pause, Yue Ning asked, "Does Grandmother rule out the possibility of an accident?"

The Grand Princess nodded, slamming her hand forcefully against the boat's railing. "How outrageous! To think someone would dare plot against Guan'er's life. These people truly..."

Her voice trembled with anger, and Yue Ning hurriedly patted her back to soothe her.

Meanwhile, Yue Qing frowned deeply as he stared at the half-open compartment door. Qin Guan had nearly been harmed, yet he had been on the Lantern Boat, completely unaware. He had utterly failed in his duty to protect her. And if only he had been the one to save Qin Guan!

"Thank goodness for Xiao Qi, otherwise I would have—"

Before she could finish, Jiang Shi and Yue Qiong, who had gone to distribute relief supplies, returned to the boat. Jiang Shi rushed over. "Mother, what happened? Was it Guan'er or His Highness Yan Chi who was injured?"

Yue Ning answered promptly, "His Highness Yan Chi was injured while saving Qin Guan."

Jiang Shi glanced toward the compartment door, though it was unclear what she saw. Her face filled with distress as she walked over.

Yue Qiong had already begun speaking with the Grand Princess. "Mother, do you think we should report this to the authorities?"

The Grand Princess asked, "Where is Governor Huo?"

Yue Qiong shook his head. "Governor Huo didn't come today. I only saw some servants on his family's Lantern Boat."

The Grand Princess then shook her head. "Let's hold off for now. Once Guan'er has treated Xiao Qi's injuries, we'll hear her thoughts on the matter."

Yue Qiong nodded, turning his gaze toward the compartment. "Let's hope the injury isn't serious."

......

Inside the compartment, Yan Chi removed his bloodstained outer robe. As he took off his inner garment, he noticed Qin Guan freeze. The lamplight in the cabin shone brightly, illuminating the defined muscles of Yan Chi's back—along with the wound, now painfully clear.

Yan Chi's old injury had yet to heal, and now a fresh wound marred his shoulder. The wooden lattice that had fallen from above had left a square-shaped bruise across his back. The bleeding came from a protruding nail on the frame, which had pierced the flesh beside his old wound. When he lifted the frame, the nail had torn the wound wider—just looking at it made Qin Guan wince in sympathy.

"What's wrong? Just a minor injury. Don’t know how to proceed?" Yan Chi's tone was light and indifferent, but Qin Guan felt her throat tighten. She stepped forward, pulling out her silk handkerchief to carefully clean the wound left by the nail. "Thank you for saving my life, Your Highness."

The corner of Yan Chi's lips curled slightly. "How will you thank me?"

Qin Guan thought for a moment before replying, "From now on, if you ever need my services, I won’t charge you a single coin in consultation fees."

Yan Chi chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly, causing more blood to seep from the wound. "In that case, I’ve come out ahead. After all, Ninth Miss's consultation fees don’t come cheap."Qin Guan didn't speak further, first cleaning the new wound before changing the dressing on the old injury. After Yan Chi's exertion from rushing to save her, the wound had already split open. Qin Guan worked with meticulous care, not daring to be distracted. Only when she sensed Qin Guan exhale—as if having finished the most difficult part of the cleaning—did Yan Chi speak up, "Have you thought of who that person today might be?"

"Naturally, someone who doesn't want me involved in Miss Song's case."

After a pause, Qin Guan's voice lowered slightly, "If not the murderer, then at least an accomplice."

"First, they disguised themselves as a headless female corpse to frighten you, then spread malicious rumors to slander you, and now they're directly trying to kill you. It seems this person knows about your repeated corpse examinations and even that you went to the Mortuary Temple to examine the body. They fear you'll uncover the most crucial clue, so they want you dead." Yan Chi's voice turned cold, mirroring the sternness Qin Guan displayed during corpse examinations.

Qin Guan had also considered this. "The first examination was at the marquis manor, where there were many eyes and ears. The second was at the Mortuary Temple, known to very few—the marquis and his wife, the Grand Princess, the three Yue siblings, Governor Huo, and Huo Ning. None of them would have reason to reveal it."

Listening as she listed them, Yan Chi frowned. "Could it be you suspect me... Ouch..."

Qin Guan was removing the cotton cloth from Yan Chi's back, where the medicine had adhered to his wound, making the process unavoidably painful. Yet her hands remained steady. "Of course not. Your Highness wouldn't save me if you wished me harm."

Yan Chi raised a brow, his temper easing slightly. Qin Guan reapplied the medicine to the cloth and rewrapped his wound. Though a thin sheen of sweat formed at his temples, his expression remained composed. "Have you ever slipped up and mentioned it somewhere?"

Qin Guan paused. "Of course not—"

Before she could finish, she suddenly froze, a scene flashing through her mind.

That day at Marquis Anyang Manor, she and Yue Ning had encountered Wei Yanzhi. At the time, she thought she had concealed things well—could it have been him?

The thought sent a chill down her spine. If so, Wei Yanzhi had also been present during the first corpse examination. He knew she conducted examinations, hence the later act of disguising as a headless female corpse to frighten her?

Qin Guan frowned deeply. But what motive would he have?

"What are you thinking of?"

Yan Chi turned to face her, immediately noticing her pensive expression.

Qin Guan snapped out of it and shook her head. "Nothing..."

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark and intimidating, carrying a dangerous edge. "You're lying to me."

His tone left no room for doubt. Qin Guan pressed her lips together before replying, "I just remembered—that day, the young princess and I ran into Young Master Wei. He mentioned he didn't know how Miss Song was doing at the Mortuary Temple. I replied that Miss Song was fine, and his first reaction was to ask if I'd been to the Mortuary Temple. I brushed it off at the time, and he didn't press further."

Yan Chi's brows knitted together. "Governor Huo investigated—he's not left-handed."

Qin Guan smiled wryly. "So no one suspected him. Maybe I'm overthinking it."

Yan Chi shook his head but said nothing. Once Qin Guan finished dressing his wound, she tossed the bloodstained robe aside. "This can't be worn anymore. Your Highness should put on your undergarments first."Yan Chi carefully pulled up his inner garment and fastened the collar buttons. Qin Guan sighed, "Your Highness's wound on the back has reopened. I'm afraid the seven-day agreement can't be fulfilled. When does Your Highness plan to leave?"

Yan Chi glanced at Qin Guan, "That's none of your concern. As long as I stay one more day, you'll treat me for one more day."

Qin Guan nodded. Remembering everyone was waiting outside, she walked to the door and opened it. Sure enough, the Grand Princess and others looked over with concern. "Wan'er, how is Little Seven?"

With an apologetic expression, Qin Guan replied, "The wound has reopened. It's not looking good."

Yue Qiong's eyes darkened slightly upon hearing this. Just as Qin Guan was about to apologize, a voice sounded from behind, "It's nothing serious. The injuries I suffered on the battlefield before were much worse than this. It's no big deal."

Qin Guan turned her head and saw Yan Chi already standing behind her. She looked up at him, his face shadowed against the light, making his expression hard to discern. Yet, for the first time, Qin Guan felt how tall and resilient he was.

Noticing Qin Guan's gaze, Yan Chi looked down at her from his height. From this angle, he could see the graceful curve of her slender neck, like that of a swan, while her eyes, bright and clear under the light, reflected his own image. Even his usually cold and indifferent expression seemed softened by the warm glow in her eyes.

"This time, we owe it all to Little Seven. Jia'er and nephew Wei haven't returned yet, and we don't know if they've found out anything. Who would have thought that on such a festive occasion like the Mid-Autumn Festival, there would be villains daring to cause trouble!"

With that, the Grand Princess instructed Yue Qiong, "Find an outer robe for Little Seven."

Yue Qiong complied and soon returned with a jade-white robe. "This is Jia'er's clothing. Please make do with it for now, Your Highness."

Yan Chi took it and quickly put it on. His stature was similar to Yue Jia's, so the robe fit him perfectly. Usually dressed in black, the white robe now made him appear elegant and refined, like a noble scholar, his imposing aura softened slightly. Beside him, Yue Ning widened her eyes in surprise.

The Grand Princess nodded approvingly. "Young people should wear brighter colors more often."

She then headed toward the cabin where she had been speaking with Yue Qing earlier. Though injured, Yan Chi could still walk and followed along. Before the group could enter the cabin, Yue Jia and Wei Yanzhi returned. They bowed to the Grand Princess, who immediately asked, "Well? Did you find out anything?"

Yue Jia shook his head. "The Lantern Tower belongs to the Sun family in the east of the city and was built two days ago. The tavern nearby has been operating for over a decade—it's the property of the young master of Ruifeng Tower, as you know. Neither the Lantern Tower nor the tavern is at fault. The issue lies in the lack of supervision after the tower was built. When we inspected it just now, we found that the main supporting rope had been cut. The rope was as thick as a bowl, and the cut was clearly made by a sharp tool. We also checked the tavern. Many young gentlemen were there today, and quite a few resembled Second Brother, as Ninth Miss mentioned. However, everyone had witnesses to confirm they had been drinking the whole time."

Pausing, Yue Jia added helplessly, "I believe the culprit must have taken advantage of the crowd to escape."

The Grand Princess looked at Yue Qiong, who narrowed his eyes. "The person who lured Ninth Miss away when she was alone must have known her whereabouts. He might have been following her all along." He then turned to Yue Ning. "Did you notice anything suspicious when you were shopping earlier?"

Yue Ning shook her head. "There were too many people, and it was crowded. I didn't notice anyone particularly suspicious."

Yue Qiong sighed, his brow furrowed with concern. If that was the case, it would be difficult to draw any conclusions, and Qin Guan and Yan Chi would have suffered this ordeal for nothing. "Mother, perhaps we should summon the Prefect?"Grand Princess sighed, "We can only—"

Before she could finish the word "so," Yang Xi, who had been guarding below the boat, suddenly came up. "Lord Marquis, the Prefect is here!"

Yue Qiong's eyes lit up. "We were just about to look for him, and here he comes on his own! Quickly, invite him in—"

At the command, Grand Princess led everyone toward the main cabin. Qin Guan followed behind the group and noticed that the Lantern Boat was adorned with the same lanterns inscribed with Buddhist scriptures she had seen in Grand Princess's courtyard that day. Now, the Lantern Boat was brilliantly lit, resembling a floating jade palace on the sea, while the shimmering reflections of lights on Lishui Lake grew increasingly mesmerizing. The night scene was so beautiful, yet when Qin Guan heard of Huo Huaixin's arrival, an ominous premonition welled up in her heart.

"Greetings to Her Highness Grand Princess, greetings to the Lord Marquis—"

Huo Huaixin had only brought Captain Qi with him. He strode forward, a thin sheen of sweat glistening on his temples. Grand Princess waved her hand. "Rise. Weren’t you supposed to be unavailable today? Why have you come?"

Huo Huaixin looked somewhat tense. Hearing this, he glanced around the room. Qin Guan noticed his gaze lingered a moment longer on Yan Chi. Huo Huaixin rubbed his hands together. "Your Highness, this official originally had no time to come. However, an hour ago, the men I sent to Shili Temple returned. They brought back news that compelled me to make this trip."

At these words, Grand Princess perked up. "What did your men report?"

Huo Huaixin hesitated, as if struggling to voice something unpleasant. Grand Princess frowned. "You’re already here, and there are no outsiders present. Whatever news you have, speak plainly."

Huo Huaixin straightened his back. "The men we sent have traced the wedding procession’s stop at the Shili Temple relay station. Just as Ninth Miss suspected, there is indeed a birch forest nearby. Our officers searched the forest and found traces of blood in one corner, though Miss Song’s head was not recovered. However..."

He stole another glance at Yan Chi, then seemed to steel himself. "However, our men also discovered that on the same night the wedding party rested there, His Highness Yan Chi and his retinue also camped at Shili Temple. Their campsite was on the opposite side of the birch forest. Therefore... therefore, His Highness Yan Chi has also become a suspect in this case..."