Coroner's Diary

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous..."

Jiang Shi stood by the bedside of the Grand Princess, trembling with fury. As she looked at the dignified and imposing Yue Jia beside her, her eyes nearly reddened with hatred. Born into a noble family herself, she knew full well that a daughter like Song Rou was the greatest disgrace to any lineage. Though her upbringing forbade her from uttering venomous words, her resentment toward the Song family burned fiercely.

Her son was so outstanding, yet she had never sought to climb social ladders by marrying him to some highborn maiden. All she desired was a virtuous, gentle, and cultivated daughter-in-law who could harmonize with her son like paired zithers, adding fragrance to the red sleeves, ensuring domestic prosperity and perpetuating their lineage.

Her expectations had been modest. When the marriage arrangement with the Song family was decreed, she hadn't rejoiced at their status, merely assuming that as an esteemed capital family, their daughter must be properly raised.

Yet never had she imagined the Song family would inflict such unparalleled humiliation upon Marquis Anyang Manor—

"Marquis, we cannot let this matter rest!" Jiang Shi gritted her teeth, while Yue Jia beside her merely frowned, his expression relatively composed.

Yue Qiong nodded and turned to the Grand Princess. "Mother, should we immediately dispatch someone to the capital—"

The Grand Princess let out another cold laugh. "The Songs are one of the capital's noble families. But the capital—the more opulent and prosperous the place, the more unimaginable filth and depravity it conceals." Her expression hardened. "We'll handle this in two parts. Our grievance with the Songs is a private family matter, but Miss Song's death is an official affair. Public duty before private affairs."

Contrary to Yue Qiong's expectations, the Grand Princess showed no explosive anger, easing his concerns for her health. He nodded. "As you command, Mother. We'll await the conclusion of the murder case before addressing other matters."

The Grand Princess then turned to Huo Huaixin. "Proceed with your investigation. The Marquis's private affairs need not concern you."

Huo Huaixin felt a pang of nervousness. He wished he'd never learned of this private matter. Clearing his throat, he said, "Rest assured, Grand Princess. This official understands the gravity. This is no small matter. I suspect Young Master Wei must know the reason behind it. Therefore, I propose summoning him for questioning. What do you think?"

Though illness still lingered on the Grand Princess's face, a steely resolve now shone through. She nodded. "Very well. Summon him. I too would like to hear what our young nephew Wei has to say."

Huo Huaixin bowed, then glanced at Yue Qiong, who instructed a servant outside, "Bring Young Master Wei here."

Huo Huaixin's eyes flickered as he approached Yue Qiong and whispered a few words. Yue Qiong raised an eyebrow, pondered briefly, then nodded. "Very well, proceed."

Just then, Yang Xi announced from outside, "Marquis, Prefect, Captain Qi has arrived."

Huo Huaixin and Yue Qiong exchanged a glance before stepping out. They returned shortly, though no one in the room knew what arrangements Huo Huaixin had made. Yet a confident air now surrounded him. Soon, Wei Yanzhi arrived.

"Your humble nephew pays respects to Her Highness the Grand Princess, to the Marquis, to Madam, and to the Prefect!"

Wei Yanzhi bowed to each in turn, then saluted Yan Chi and Yue Jia. Huo Huaixin and Yue Qiong sat in armchairs on either side of the room. Yue Qiong remained silent as Huo Huaixin spoke first. "Young Master Wei, were you aware that the Mortuary Temple caught fire last night?"

Wei Yanzhi froze. "A fire? The Mortuary Temple burned down?"Huo Huaixin remained unruffled in the face of Wei Yanzhi's astonishment, his lips curling into a faint, enigmatic smile. "It seems Young Master Wei is unaware of this matter. If you don't know about this, then there's certainly another matter you must be aware of."

Wei Yanzhi had already sensed the hostility in Huo Huaixin's tone. He straightened his back, his expression composed. "What matter is the Prefect referring to?"

Huo Huaixin pressed his lips together, his voice lowering. "Young Master Wei must know about Miss Song's pregnancy, correct?"

Wei Yanzhi's brows twitched, his gaze flickering involuntarily. "Pregnancy...?"

Huo Huaixin fixed him with an unrelenting stare, as did everyone else in the room. Trapped under their scrutiny, Wei Yanzhi finally revealed a pained expression. "Prefect, this matter... this nephew knows nothing about it... I..."

"You know nothing? The Duke's residence and your Wei family are closely connected—otherwise, they wouldn't have sent you to escort the bride." Huo Huaixin leaned forward, his gaze and tone turning oppressive. "Before Miss Song's marriage, was she seriously ill? You don’t even know this? If Miss Song was pregnant, who was the father? She was raised in seclusion, so those who could have had contact with her must have been close to the Duke's residence—your Wei family being one of them. Could it have been you, Young Master Wei...?"

The accusation struck directly at Wei Yanzhi, whose expression instantly turned icy. "No!"

Wei Yanzhi clenched his fists tightly inside his sleeves, standing as rigid as a dead tree. "Not me, of course not me. How could a mere illegitimate son like me ever catch the eye of the Duke's legitimate daughter...?"

As he spoke, he lowered his head, his voice tinged with anguish. "This matter... this nephew truly knows nothing about it. However... however, before Xiao Rou was married, she was indeed bedridden for half a month—about a month before the wedding escort. At the time, she was confined under the pretext of preparing for marriage, but I heard she was seeing a physician and taking medicine..."

He paused briefly before continuing, "It was also around that time that my elder brother broke his leg. At first, I only had some doubts—my brother was an expert horseman, so how could he have fallen? When I went to visit him, I saw people from the Duke's residence there as well, but their expressions were hostile. At the time, I didn’t understand why. After my brother broke his leg, he was imprisoned, and then the duty of escorting the bride fell to me instead..."

Huo Huaixin frowned. "So, you're saying the one who had an affair with Miss Song was your elder brother?"

Wei Yanzhi shook his head. "This nephew isn’t certain. But since the Prefect has asked, the only person I can think of is my elder brother. He grew up with Xiao Rou and always cared for her deeply. Some in the family even joked that the Wei and Duke's residences might become further entwined through marriage. However... the Wei family has declined, and though the Duke's residence doted on their granddaughter, they had no intention of arranging such a match."

"Ah!" Wei Yanzhi suddenly looked up. "My elder brother is left-handed."

At these words, Huo Huaixin's eyes widened. "What did you say?!"Wei Yanzhi gave a bitter smile. "Actually, when Your Honor first mentioned the left-handedness that night, I wanted to speak up. But... but the wedding procession had already departed southward, while my elder brother remained in the capital. So... so I didn't bring it up."

Huo Huaixin and Yue Qiong exchanged glances. Huo Huaixin asked incredulously, "Your elder brother is truly left-handed?"

Wei Yanzhi nodded. "Many among the Song family guards know this. Some people are naturally left-handed from birth, though they're often seen as oddities due to their rarity. Later, my brother learned to write with his right hand—it was something he trained himself to do."

Huo Huaixin fell silent. They had been searching for a left-handed person for so long, even suspecting Yan Chi at one point. Yet Wei Yanzhi suddenly revealed that his elder brother was left-handed. Could it be that his brother, deeply attached to Song Rou, had followed her in unwillingness after learning of her distant marriage, then killed her out of love-turned-hatred?

Jinzhou was thousands of miles from the capital. This could be verified simply by sending someone to check whether Wei Yanzhi's elder brother was indeed in the capital. Huo Huaixin's brows knitted tightly. The distance between Jinzhou and the capital was too great—making the round trip would take considerable time. Moreover, this involved two powerful families, making the situation particularly difficult for him.

"What did Young Master Wei do after returning last night?" Huo Huaixin suddenly asked.

Wei Yanzhi frowned. "I returned very late last night and went straight to the East Courtyard to wash up and sleep. I did nothing else. The others in the East Courtyard can vouch for me."

Huo Huaixin's frown deepened. Wei Yanzhi looked at him. "Does the Prefect suspect me?"

Huo Huaixin relaxed his expression, a faint smile curving his lips. "Of course not. I was merely asking." He stretched slightly. "Well, that's all for now. I appreciate your thorough answers, Young Master Wei."

Wei Yanzhi hastily bowed. "I don't deserve such thanks. It's only right." After a pause, he added with difficulty, "Prefect, this matter... I'm not entirely certain about it. I beg Your Honor to..."

"Rest assured. We will investigate these matters ourselves and know what should or shouldn't be disclosed." Huo Huaixin exhaled. "That's all for now. You may go back. We already have many leads in this case and will soon reach a conclusion."

Wei Yanzhi nodded, then turned to Yue Qiong. "Marquis, in this matter, the Duke's household has wronged Marquis Anyang Manor. I... I feel ashamed before your household. Perhaps I should take the Song family guards and move out, lest..."

Yue Qiong's gaze toward Wei Yanzhi no longer held its former warmth. However, this matter had nothing to do with Wei Yanzhi—he wasn't part of the Duke's household and couldn't make any decisions. Yue Qiong shook his head. "These words shouldn't come from you. This matter doesn't concern you. Just tell the Prefect what you know, then go rest."

Wei Yanzhi hesitated, wanting to say more, but faced with the cold expressions of the Grand Princess and Yue Qiong, he dared not speak further. After another bow, he turned and left. The moment he was gone, the Grand Princess trembled with fury, her chest heaving!Huo Huaixin turned to Yan Chi, who had been standing silently nearby. "Your Highness Yan Chi, previously the Marquis requested you to send someone back to the capital. Do you know when the news from the capital will reach Jinzhou?"

Yan Chi replied solemnly, "It will arrive by tomorrow at the latest."

Huo Huaixin nodded and turned to the Grand Princess. "As you've heard, the left-handed person we've been investigating—could it be Young Master Wei's elder brother? And could the one involved with Miss Song also be his elder brother?"

The Grand Princess exhaled deeply. "These matters are not for an old woman like me to interfere with. You are the Prefect—go and investigate. I only need to know the results." She waved her hand wearily. "You may leave now. I wish to speak with Jing Shu and Qiong'er for a moment."

At these words, everyone understood that she intended to instruct Yue Qiong and Jiang Shi on how to proceed.

Since this matter concerned the Marquis Anyang Manor's secrets, Huo Huaixin immediately rose to take his leave. Qin Guan also withdrew with Yan Chi.

Once outside, they found Yue Qing and Yue Ning already waiting. They had received news of the Mortuary Temple fire that morning and initially thought the corpse examination had been abandoned. To their surprise, Qin Guan had still gone to the temple. Yue Ning grabbed Qin Guan's hand and pulled her aside. "Well? What were the results of the examination? Why was Young Master Wei summoned for questioning? He looked extremely upset earlier. When I asked what happened, he even apologized to me. What exactly did you find?"

Qin Guan pressed her lips together, hesitating in front of Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin. Yue Jia then said to Huo Huaixin, Yan Chi, and the others, "Prefect, Your Highness Yan Chi, Qing'er, let us adjourn to the front hall for a moment."

Yue Jia's straightforward manner showed he had no issue with Yue Ning knowing. Matters like these, typically considered private family scandals, would usually be kept from younger generations in ordinary households. However, the Marquis Anyang Manor had different customs and lacked such rigid rules.

Once Yan Chi and the others had left, Qin Guan briefly summarized what she had learned and heard that day.

Yue Ning's eyes widened, and she was momentarily speechless. "This... the Duke's household has truly overstepped..."

She clenched her teeth in anger but refrained from harsh words, merely balling her fists in frustration. Qin Guan tugged her sleeve. "This matter will be handled by the Grand Princess and the Marquis's wife. It's enough for you to know—don't speak of it further."

Yue Ning smacked a nearby pillar. "No wonder Young Master Wei apologized earlier. I couldn't understand why he would, but in truth, Song Shi and he are the ones most aggrieved..."

Her brows then lifted slightly. "Could it be that Young Master Wei's elder brother really came to Jinzhou?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "I don't know. It's not impossible. And if it truly was him, then the earlier events would make sense."

"If it was him, how did he commit the murder? Was he also the one pretending to be a ghost?"

Qin Guan tilted her head. "The eldest son of the Wei family is also highly skilled in martial arts. It's possible he scaled walls and entered homes. Moreover, he might have planted trusted informants among the guards to relay messages to him."

Yue Ning frowned deeply. "This matter is becoming more and more complicated."

Qin Guan also felt a heavy weight in her heart. Indeed, the situation was growing more convoluted. But just as the darkest hour comes before dawn, the more complex the case, the closer they might be to the truth.

"Ah, Captain Qi—"Yue Ning suddenly spoke up, and Qin Guan looked up to see Captain Qi approaching from the eastern direction. After asking a maid outside, he headed straight for the flower hall.

Exchanging a glance with Yue Ning, Qin Guan hurried after him.

Just as they reached the entrance of the hall, they heard Captain Qi say, "Last night, he was indeed in the East Courtyard. He spent half the night writing—many people saw his shadow cast on the window as he wrote. This morning, he rose at his usual hour..."

Qin Guan's mind cleared—Huo Huaixin had sent Qi Lin to investigate Wei Yanzhi.

It seemed he had also begun to suspect Wei Yanzhi.

......

After chatting with Yue Ning for a while, Qin Guan waited until Jiang Shi and Yue Qiong emerged from the inner chamber before entering to check the Grand Princess's pulse once more. The Grand Princess had been deeply angered by the incident and was still unsettled. Qin Guan adjusted the prescription before taking her leave. The Grand Princess, pitying Qin Guan for her early morning corpse examination, allowed her to depart. Yue Ning escorted her to the gate, watching as Bai Feng drove the carriage away before returning to the residence. Yan Chi, however, did not appear.

"Miss, are you tired? You should rest..."

Qin Guan was indeed weary and leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes. Fuling adjusted her cape and sat quietly beside her, careful not to disturb her rest. Bai Feng drove with such steadiness that Qin Guan soon drifted into a drowsy haze. Just as she was on the verge of sleep, the carriage jolted to an abrupt halt.

Qin Guan swayed, her back bumping against the wall, jolting her awake. Outside, Bai Feng's sharp cry as he reined in the horse was piercing, and the street erupted into chaotic noise, mingled with shouts of anger.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Qin Guan shook her head. "What happened? Why did we stop?"

Before she could finish, she heard someone outside shouting—

"Stop! You there—stop! Thief! Someone catch that thief—!"

It was a man's voice, strained from exertion, cracking from the effort. Yet, Qin Guan found it oddly familiar. Just then, Bai Feng called from outside, "Ninth Miss, someone up ahead had their belongings stolen. A few people are chasing the thief, and the street is in chaos."

Qin Guan hummed in acknowledgment. "It's fine. We can wait a while before moving on."

Bai Feng agreed, and Qin Guan stretched her stiff neck. In that brief moment, the shouting resumed—"That's the one! Stop! Thief—!"

The voice was now breathless and weaker, the tone tinged with frustration, as if the thief had already escaped beyond reach. With the urgency gone, the man's voice returned to normal, and Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat. She flung the carriage curtain open.

About fifteen feet ahead on the street, a man in a brown robe was bent over, hands on his knees, panting heavily. Though Qin Guan only saw his back, she recognized him instantly—she had just seen him that morning.

"Bai Feng, is that... Coroner Xu who had his things stolen?"

"It seems... yes, it's Coroner Xu." Bai Feng must have taken a closer look, recognizing Xu He as well. He had seen Xu He very few times, so he hadn't identified him at first glance.Qin Guan then said, "Drive the carriage ahead—"

Bai Feng obeyed the order immediately, and the carriage began moving slowly. Soon, it pulled up beside Xu He.

Xu He was still bent over, hands braced on his knees. His earlier loud shouts had drawn the attention of many nearby. A couple of people had even chased after the thief for a few steps, but the scoundrel was too fast, darting away in the blink of an eye. In the end, the crowd could only offer him sympathetic glances. Xu He stared miserably at the bustling street ahead—the thief was gone, and so was his case. Never mind the rest, but that case had contained two taels of silver, nearly half a year’s worth of his living expenses!

Lost in the grief of having his entire livelihood stolen, Xu He didn’t even notice the carriage stopping beside him. He took a few more gasping breaths, straightening up only when he’d somewhat recovered. It was then that a clear, gentle voice called out to him.

"Coroner Xu—"

Xu He froze, turning to see Qin Guan’s face through the carriage window. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he hastily bowed. "Ninth Miss—"

As he spoke, it dawned on him that Qin Guan must have witnessed his earlier plight, and his face flushed crimson.

Seeing his awkwardness, Qin Guan’s lips curved slightly. "Bai Feng, take the carriage to the street corner. I’d like a word with Coroner Xu."

Bai Feng complied, and Xu He followed.

Xu He had left the Mortuary Temple that morning without accompanying Qin Guan to the Marquis’s residence. After her visit, she hadn’t expected to run into him here. "Coroner Xu, did you lose something?"

Xu He’s expression soured, but he didn’t hide it. "Yes, Ninth Miss. My case was stolen—no, snatched, really. I was eating noodles at a stall just ahead, hadn’t even finished my bowl of plain noodles, when someone yanked the case right from beside me. I reacted as fast as I could, but the thief ran like a hare. I chased him halfway down the street but couldn’t catch up."

Qin Guan watched him, torn between sympathy and amusement at his furrowed brows and near-tearful expression. "Was it your corpse examination tools inside?"

"Yes!" Xu He hesitated to mention the silver, so he continued, "That set is how I make my living. It’s not worth much, but it’s been with me for years. Now that it’s gone, I don’t know what to do. Thankfully, the yamen doesn’t need me for any examinations right now, or the Prefect might’ve told me to pack up and leave."

"Only the one set of tools?"

Xu He shook his head. "No, there was also Aversion Incense, examination report paper and brushes, and... a bit of my savings. Some yamen documents too, miscellaneous things. Nothing valuable, but it still pains me. I’ll have to rewrite those documents and today’s examination report from memory. At least my memory isn’t bad."

Qin Guan sighed and glanced at Fuling, who promptly took out three taels of silver and handed them over.

Xu He waved his hands frantically. "No, no, I didn’t mean—I wasn’t hinting—"

"Take it. I know you weren’t. If it makes you uncomfortable, consider it a loan. You can repay me once you receive your salary." Qin Guan’s voice was so gentle that Xu He found it impossible to refuse."Ninth Miss is truly as kind-hearted as a Bodhisattva... Then... then this humble one will accept it. Once I receive my salary, I will surely repay you." Xu He took the three taels of silver, his eyes filled with genuine gratitude.

Qin Guan nodded. "There's no hurry. Just be more careful next time when eating on the street."

Xu He nodded vigorously. "Ninth Miss can rest assured, this humble one will be extra careful from now on." He then gave a bitter smile. "To tell the truth, I must be having a streak of bad luck lately. Just four or five days ago I lost a package, and today I lost my entire trunk. I can't help but think those petty thieves really can't judge people - I don't exactly look like someone with money..."

Xu He teased himself, and Qin Guan couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated. "How did you manage to lose things consecutively?"

"Indeed. That time, the lost package was the one I usually carry for official documents from the yamen. It happened on my way to the yamen when I stopped to buy some medicine. Fortunately, it only contained two official documents and an examination report—no money was inside."

"Buying medicine?" Qin Guan caught onto Xu He's words.

Xu He shook his head. "Not for me. The old man who rents me the courtyard fell ill, but he's recovered now."

Qin Guan nodded. Seeing Bai Feng driving the carriage and heading eastward, Xu He realized Qin Guan was returning to Qin Manor. He immediately stepped back and said, "Ninth Miss must be returning home. I wouldn’t dare delay you. Your generosity is deeply appreciated, and I will remember it always. Please go ahead—I respectfully see you off."

Qin Guan found his gratitude heartwarming and responded with a smile before lowering the carriage curtain. Bai Feng flicked the reins, and the carriage slowly pulled away from the street, heading toward Qin Manor in the eastern part of the city.

......

Today, Qin Manor had been freshly decorated, yet Qin Guan’s return was not met with the expected fanfare. Unconcerned, she first went to Windward Courtyard to check on Yao Xinlan’s pulse. Surprisingly, Yao Xinlan seemed in much better spirits.

"Did you attend the Mid-Autumn Festival lantern fair last night, sister?"

Yao Xinlan leaned against the pillow behind her. Though still visibly frail, her delicate, pitiable features softened Qin Guan’s voice unconsciously as she replied.

"Yes, I did. It was truly lively." Qin Guan glossed over the details. While the festivities had been bustling, she had also narrowly escaped death—hardly a cheerful topic.

"What a pity I couldn’t partake. I’ve heard the Mid-Autumn celebrations in Jinzhou are the most vibrant, far surpassing those in Jianzhou. I wonder if I’ll ever have the fortune to see them."

"Eldest Brother’s Wife, why say such things? Of course you will. Once the child is born, you can go next year."

Yao Xinlan’s lips curved slightly. "I hope so. The baby kicked me this morning—surely a sign of good health?"

When Qin Guan nodded, Yao Xinlan stroked her belly contentedly. "As long as the child is healthy, I’ll be satisfied. Truly, the world operates on karma. I’ve arranged for fifty dan of relief grain to be donated—all to pray for this child’s well-being. Ninth Sister, my baby will be born safely, won’t it?"

"Absolutely." Qin Guan studied Yao Xinlan’s expression closely, finding no trace of the confusion she had displayed before. It seemed as though her repeated questioning that day had been an illusion. "Eldest Brother’s Wife, your health has improved greatly. The birth will go smoothly. In a couple of days, you should start moving around more. The weather is turning cold, and prolonged bedrest can let chill seep into the body. Moderate activity will help circulate your qi and blood."

Yao Xinlan nodded. "I’ll follow your advice without fail, Ninth Sister. You needn’t worry."

Qin Guan agreed. "No need to change the prescription for now. If you run low on the pills, I’ll make more for you."

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Yao Xinlan hurriedly had Mo Shu fetch two jade hairpins. "It’s the festival—a small token from me. Please don’t refuse them, Ninth Sister. You must accept."

Qin Guan initially tried to decline, but Yao Xinlan’s eyes instantly welled up. "Do you dislike them, Ninth Sister?"Seeing this, Qin Guan could say no more and nodded in acceptance. After exchanging a few more words, she left Windward Courtyard to return to Orchid Isle Courtyard. Before she had gone far, Fuling whispered, "Miss, there's been some unrest in the manor."

"Oh? Unrest?"

Fuling nodded. "Yes. For this year's Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, Qin Manor had chartered a boat as usual. The family was supposed to go lantern-viewing and lake-touring together, but yesterday neither the master nor the mistress went out. What's more, last night the mistress invited monks from Lingyin Temple outside the city to perform a ritual, saying there were fox spirits causing trouble in the manor and making the master fall ill."

While Qin Guan had been speaking with Yao Xinlan, Fuling had chatted with the maids in Windward Courtyard. Now that Qin Guan's status had changed, the maids dared not show disrespect to Fuling and even sought to curry favor with her.

"The master is ill? Has a physician been called to the manor?"

Fuling shook her head. "No. Right now the master's courtyard has been sealed off with strict guards. Only Physician Qian was allowed in briefly last night before the ritual was performed. It seems Old Madam and the mistress believe the master's illness is caused by fox spirits."

Qin Guan took this in but said nothing. Qin An's lustful nature had long damaged his health. Whatever illness he had now was surely his own doing. If it were indeed an ailment stemming from debauchery, he would likely be too ashamed to let a junior like her examine him. Just as well—she had no desire to be drawn into the murky waters of Qin Manor's affairs. Yao Xinlan alone was trouble enough.

"And the second young master is also ill," Fuling suddenly added.

Qin Guan stiffened. "What happened there?"

Fuling sighed. "The maids in the manor used to envy those serving the second young master the most. Though he's a flirt, he treats servants very well. The girls around him are all pretty, and he never shortchanges them—they live almost like half-mistresses. But yesterday, he suddenly sent two of them away..."

Qin Guan frowned. Could her suspicions be confirmed?

"The maids have been gloating over this, saying those two failed in their duties and caused the second young master's illness. His courtyard gates were shut yesterday, and they say his condition is quite serious."

Qin Guan's thoughts raced as she recalled what she had seen that day, growing more certain of her conjecture. "Was a physician summoned?"

"No." Fuling shook her head. "With the master ill, Old Madam and the mistress are preoccupied with him. The second young master has never been favored by Old Madam, and the mistress isn't his birth mother. Now that he's shut himself in, no one else will interfere."

Understanding the dynamics perfectly, Qin Guan instructed Wan Tang to close Orchid Isle Courtyard's gates upon their return.

After exchanging greetings with the four "Wan" maids outside, Qin Guan entered her quarters with only Fuling in tow. As Fuling removed her cape, Qin Guan turned toward the Warm Chamber but froze after two steps.

Fuling, having hung up the cape, turned and asked urgently, "Miss, what's wrong?"

"Someone's been in here—"

Fuling frowned. "What?!"

At this realization, Fuling immediately looked toward the door, but Qin Guan raised a hand. "Don't make a sound."With that, she walked leisurely toward the Warm Chamber. Upon entering, Qin Guan swept her gaze across the room, a faint smile curving her lips before she turned and headed toward the inner chamber. As she walked, she cast casual glances around, while Fuling hurried toward the ebony box on the tall cabinet. Inside the box were the sapphire headpiece gifted by Qin Chen and two sets of jade jewelry from Jiang Shi—currently Qin Guan’s most valuable possessions. When the box was opened, Fuling let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank goodness they're still here."

Qin Guan, however, paid no attention to the ebony box and instead walked to the writing desk nearby.

She didn’t have a study—only a moon-shaped archway set to one side of the inner chamber, leading to a small annex where a desk, ink, brushes, paper, and inkstone were placed, along with a modest bookshelf. She wasn’t Qin Chen, after all. To the people of Qin Manor, these furnishings were more than sufficient for a young lady’s boudoir. She examined the writing tools on the desk, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Miss, did the intruder come here?"

Qin Guan nodded slowly. "They wouldn’t dare steal anything. If they stole something and I found out, an investigation would follow. And if I were displeased, all four of them could be dismissed."

"Then why did they come in?" Fuling tilted her head, looking around. "How did you notice they’d been here, Miss? I don’t see anything out of place."

Qin Guan stepped forward. "The practice calligraphy sheets I left were weighed down by a paperweight. My habit is to place the weight right at the top edge of the stack, flush against the border. But now, though it’s still on top, the edge is exposed."

She then pointed to the bookshelf. "I arrange my books meticulously—the spines must form a perfect straight line, neither protruding nor recessed. Can you see what’s wrong now?"

Fuling looked but didn’t notice anything at first. Rubbing her eyes, she took another glance and finally spotted it. "The top left—those three books are pushed in too far!"

Qin Guan nodded. "Most people would consider books roughly aligned as tidy enough, but my standards are strict. A straight line must be exactly that. The intruder likely noticed my books were neatly arranged and, fearing those three would stand out if they stuck out, pushed them in further. But she overlooked the details—even a slight recess is obvious to me."

With that, Qin Guan walked to the bed. When she reached it, she couldn’t help but scoff.

"Miss, what is it? Was this area disturbed too?" Fuling asked, looking over. The brocade quilt and pillow on the bed were arranged neatly, showing no signs of being touched.

"Your habit is to place the lotus side of the pillow facing up, and it still is now. You also leave a three-finger gap between the quilt and the pillow, which is still there."

Fuling hadn’t previously noticed these small habits of Qin Guan’s, nor had Qin Guan mentioned them. She had only picked up on them while attending to her daily needs, having observed that Qin Guan would often readjust the bedding after she had tidied it. Over time, she learned exactly how Qin Guan preferred things. In contrast, since Qin Guan usually arranged her desk and bookshelf herself, Fuling was less familiar with those habits.

Qin Guan didn’t answer Fuling’s question. Instead, she leaned over and flipped the pillow up in one swift motion.With that lift, Fuling immediately saw the creases in the brocade bedding beneath the pillow—

Fuling gasped, "I distinctly remember smoothing it out perfectly!"

Qin Guan reached out and gently stroked the creases, quickly restoring the bedding to its pristine smoothness. She set the pillow back down. "This person must be extremely skilled at making beds and is undoubtedly very meticulous in such matters. But she entered secretly, in a hurry. In her haste, oversights were inevitable—these hidden spots were simply overlooked."

"Miss, who do you think it was? She didn’t steal anything, only went to the Warm Chamber, rummaged through the bedding, and then checked your study. What was she after?"

Qin Guan turned and walked out, this time heading straight for the Warm Chamber. "Perhaps it was curiosity. The Warm Chamber holds traces of my daily interests, the bed might conceal some secret, and the study contains my thoughts, knowledge, calligraphy, and favorite literary works—all reflections of me. She merely wanted to investigate."

Fuling exhaled in relief. "That’s good then. At least she meant no harm. Even if we don’t find out who it is for now, it’s fine. Otherwise, I’d be terrified..."

Qin Guan’s hand, just lifting the teacup, paused slightly.

Fuling was wrong. Investigating her was the greatest malice of all.

In all of Qin Manor, the one most eager to investigate her now was the very person who had murdered Ninth Miss.

Qin Guan didn’t voice this thought, as she wasn’t entirely certain who had entered her chambers. She simply feigned normalcy, keeping to herself. That evening, she laid out the residue she had brought from the Mortuary Temple to dry and instructed Fuling to reward the four night attendants with some silver. She was sure that when Fuling approached the side room, that person would have been tense—but upon hearing the reason for the visit, they would have sighed in relief. And then, at some point in the future, they would sneak into her study again...

Qin Guan remained calm and composed, while Fuling seemed to grasp her intentions faintly. After a peaceful night’s sleep, the next morning, Qin Guan left the manor as usual after breakfast.

Bai Feng was indeed waiting outside. Qin Guan boarded the carriage and headed straight for Marquis Anyang Manor.

Today was the day Yan Chi’s men were to deliver news from the capital. Though not directly involved in the case, Qin Guan was somewhat curious about its developments. Upon arriving at the manor, Lu Xiu personally greeted her, and Qin Guan proceeded directly to the Grand Princess’s courtyard.

She was still wondering when the news would arrive when, just as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw Huo Huaixin striding out with Qi Lin. Spotting Qin Guan, Huo Huaixin halted.

Qin Guan curtsied. "Greetings, Prefect."

Huo Huaixin waved a hand. "No need for formalities, Ninth Miss. The case is about to be solved!"

Qin Guan raised a brow. "How so?"

Huo Huaixin puffed out his chest. "His Highness Yan Chi’s men sent word—Young Master Wei’s leg wasn’t broken in a riding accident. It was broken by someone from the Duke’s household. He’s the one who had an affair with Song Rou. Moreover, while the Wei family claims their eldest son is recuperating, His Highness’s men investigated and found no trace of him in the Wei residence! Even the Wei family is secretly searching for him!"

After a brief pause, Huo Huaixin declared triumphantly, "So now I have reason to believe—Young Master Wei has likely already arrived in Jinzhou Prefecture! He’s the one who killed Song Rou!"