Coroner's Diary

"Wow! The murderer has been caught!" Fuling exclaimed in delight, but seeing Qin Guan's somber expression, she couldn't help asking, "What's wrong, miss? Shouldn't we be happy that Young Master Wei has been captured?"

Qin Guan tightly clutched the letter, slowly turning toward the main house as she walked, her brows furrowing deeply again.

After a few steps, she suddenly halted. "No."

Fuling looked at Qin Guan with concern. "What has miss thought of? What's wrong?"

Qin Guan shook her head, a hint of determination flashing between her brows. "Go, tell the gatekeeper to prepare a carriage."

Fuling was surprised. "Miss wants to go out?"

Qin Guan nodded. "Yes, quickly."

Fuling, affected by Qin Guan's grave demeanor, nodded and ran off. Meanwhile, Wan Tao had already emerged from the orchid garden carrying a brazier, locking the courtyard gate and standing at a distance with an air of reverence. Qin Guan had no mind to pay her any attention now, merely reading the letter once more.

Soon, Fuling returned. "Miss, it's been arranged. Are we leaving now?"

Qin Guan nodded and walked straight out of the courtyard without even entering the house.

Exiting the courtyard, Qin Guan headed straight for the western side gate, where a carriage was indeed waiting outside.

After a brief hesitation, Qin Guan said, "We'll drive it ourselves."

Fuling blinked. Having learned much over the past few days, she understood Qin Guan's meaning. "Alright, this servant will drive, though I won't be as steady as Bai Feng."

Qin Guan glanced at Fuling's slight frame. Though uneasy, she had no choice but to agree.

The carriage was an ordinary lacquered one, still appearing quite new. Qin Guan boarded, while Fuling took the driver's seat. "Miss, please hold on tight. I've driven before, but I'm a bit rusty now..."

"Just go slowly," Qin Guan replied. "To the magistrate's office."

Fuling was taken aback, not expecting Qin Guan to head there. After a moment's thought, she flicked the reins.

"This servant knows where the magistrate's office is!"

The carriage began moving, indeed not as smoothly as when Bai Feng drove, and much slower. But this mattered little to Qin Guan, whose expression inside the carriage was deeply troubled.

Wei Qizhi had been captured, yet today's visit to the Marquis's residence had only deepened the unease in her heart.

Wei Yanzhi's illness, the filth on the iron clamp—everything had unfolded as expected, yet Qin Guan still felt something was amiss.

Fuling put all her effort into driving. Having learned before, she grew more adept after a shaky start, though her lack of strength meant the carriage moved far slower than under Bai Feng's hand. But with Qin Guan inside, she dared not rush.

Thus, they proceeded slowly until they reached the magistrate's office.

"Miss, we're here. What are we doing here?"

Qin Guan lifted the carriage curtain. "Go tell the bailiffs we're here to see Coroner Xu. Say we're from the Marquis's residence."

Fuling nodded, straightened her appearance, and went.

Qin Guan waited quietly in the carriage. It wasn't that she wanted to borrow the Marquis's name, but this was the magistrate's office after all—without invoking the Marquis's household, they might not see Xu He quickly.

Fuling returned swiftly. "Miss, the bailiff went to fetch Coroner Xu. He asked us to wait a moment. Miss, is there something wrong with that letter? Why are you in such a hurry to see Coroner Xu?"Fuling's question was understandable. After a moment's thought, Qin Guan replied, "There are still some doubts I have about this case. Although Young Master Wei has been captured, we can't immediately conclude he's the murderer."

Fuling's eyes widened. "What? You mean Young Master Wei might not be the killer?"

Qin Guan neither nodded nor shook her head. "It's too early to say."

Fuling pressed her lips together and said no more. Ever since the lake incident, her mistress had changed more and more. Now, she couldn't even begin to guess what thoughts occupied her mistress's mind, so perhaps it was better not to ask.

Shortly after, Xu He emerged from the government office gates.

Spotting Fuling, Xu He immediately knew Qin Guan had come. He jogged over, "Why has Ninth Miss come today?"

He bowed toward the carriage before stepping closer, "Did Ninth Miss receive my letter?"

Qin Guan had already lifted the carriage window curtain. She nodded, "I received it, which is why I'm here." She glanced toward the main gate, "How was Young Master Wei captured?"

At this question, Xu He's eyes brightened, "Exactly as Ninth Miss predicted! Yesterday, this humble one and the Prefect went to the Mortuary Temple. We didn't actually perform a corpse examination, just pretended to for a short while before leaving. At the time, we didn't notice anyone following us. But just now, when I left the office with my case to eat noodles at that same street stall, sure enough, someone tried to steal it! The Prefect had already sent Captain Lin to follow me, so we caught him immediately."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes, "Was he injured in the legs?"

Xu He nodded, "Exactly! His left calf was broken and still bandaged. Though he's trained in martial arts, he was no match for Captain Lin's men. We subdued him instantly. He's now in the prison cells, and the Prefect is interrogating him!"

Pausing, Xu He studied Qin Guan, "Did Ninth Miss come just to learn about this?"

Qin Guan's gaze darkened as she looked at Xu He, hesitating before finally asking, "If Young Master Wei doesn't confess, will the Prefect resort to torture? Also, did he come alone or with others?"

Xu He considered this, "Normally we wouldn't use severe methods, but this is a capital case of great importance. If... if Young Master Wei refuses to cooperate, torture might be employed. I'm not sure whether he came alone or with others, but he looked utterly exhausted, wearing clothes that seemed unchanged for days. Even if he brought people, it couldn't have been many. The Prefect is questioning him now—we'll know more details later."

Qin Guan understood official procedures—no outsiders could be present during interrogation of such an important case.

She nodded. Xu He then asked hesitantly, "Does Ninth Miss have some thoughts she finds difficult to voice? Do you suspect there might still be unresolved issues with this case?"

Qin Guan trusted Xu He enough to admit, "There are indeed some unanswered questions, but we can wait until after the Prefect's interrogation. Though we've caught someone, concluding the case won't happen immediately. We can discuss it later."

Xu He nodded, "Once the investigation concludes, the Prefect will certainly report all testimony to the Marquis's household and to Ninth Miss."Qin Guan nodded, "Alright, there's nothing else. You may go about your business."

Xu He clasped his hands in salute once more before turning to leave.

Fuling watched Xu He depart, then cast a doubtful glance at Qin Guan. "Miss, where shall we go now?"

Qin Guan lowered her gaze, her entire being shrouded in a heavy, despondent gloom. She murmured softly, "Let's return to the manor."

Fuling acknowledged and drove the carriage back at a leisurely pace.

Inside the carriage, Qin Guan wore a weary expression. She couldn’t quite explain why she had rushed over in such haste. Wei Qizhi had just been apprehended, and his confession had yet to be extracted. Yet, she vaguely felt she had overlooked something—though she couldn’t recall what. For now, she had no direction. With Wei Qizhi’s confession still pending, all she could do was wait.

Though this case had nothing to do with her, many of the clues from the corpse examination had been provided by her. It was her findings that had pointed the finger at Wei Qizhi. With unresolved doubts lingering, she felt uneasy. Moreover, her father had never presided over an unjust case, and she didn’t want any miscarriage of justice in the cases she handled. If it wasn’t Wei Qizhi, then could it be him?

Qin Guan remained lost in thought the entire journey. By the time the carriage arrived at Qin Manor, even the gatekeepers were surprised.

Qin Guan had left in a hurry and returned just as swiftly. She had departed with urgency but now seemed listless. Given her changed status, the gatekeepers dared not even breathe loudly as she entered.

Once inside, she headed straight for Orchid Isle Courtyard. Wan Tao and the others in the courtyard hadn’t expected her return so soon. Qin Guan went directly to the study in the main house, grinding ink and copying calligraphy without a word. Seeing this, Fuling didn’t dare ask questions, merely brewing tea and standing by in silence.

Whenever Qin Guan was troubled, she would practice calligraphy to calm her mind. She had visited the marquis’s residence in the morning and returned close to afternoon, only to leave again shortly after. By the time she finished copying, night had already fallen outside.

"Miss, it’s dark now. You should have your evening meal first."

Fuling’s voice was full of concern. After a moment’s thought, Qin Guan set down her brush.

The meal was simple. As Fuling served the dishes, she asked, "What’s troubling you, Miss? I’ve never seen you write for so long before."

Qin Guan ate slowly and deliberately before finally replying, "There are still many unanswered questions in this case, and I can’t make sense of them right now. For now, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if we can obtain Young Master Wei’s confession."

"But Young Master Wei said it was him who had an affair with Miss Song, and he’s the only left-handed one among them," Fuling said, thinking carefully, her face filled with confusion as she looked at Qin Guan.

After rinsing her mouth, Qin Guan walked to the Warm Chamber. "What if Young Master Wei was lying?"

Fuling gasped. "Young Master Wei lying? He didn’t seem the type..."

Qin Guan took a seat and picked up a book. "There are countless kinds of people in this world. Some are exceptionally skilled at concealment and deception—so much so that their lies are undetectable to others. Of course, I’m merely giving an example. This case still holds variables. Unless Young Master Wei can account for every detail, what I can’t figure out now doesn’t mean others can’t. Perhaps he employed a very clever method.""As for the left-handedness you mentioned..." Qin Guan's words immediately brought Yan Chi's figure to mind. "There are indeed people in this world who can use both hands equally well. Such individuals tend to be more intelligent than ordinary people. It's possible that among Song Shi's guards, someone who could use their left hand deliberately used their right hand, but during the crime, they switched to their left hand to conceal their identity."

Fuling listened with growing alarm. "Miss, hearing you say this makes me feel like anyone around us could be the culprit."

Qin Guan neither confirmed nor denied it. "This possibility has always existed. However, we should still believe there are more good people in the world."

Fuling nodded. Qin Guan handed her a booklet. "Take a look at these medicinal herbs first. Some you may already recognize. You'll need to memorize their properties and characteristics."

Fuling's eyes brightened—she knew Qin Guan was starting to teach her!

......

With these thoughts weighing on her mind, Qin Guan had a restless night. The next morning, as usual, she rose early and took a walk in the courtyard. She planned to visit the Marquis's residence after breakfast, but halfway through her meal, Yue Ning arrived unexpectedly.

"You're still having breakfast? Did you know Wei Qizhi has been captured?"

Having visited twice before, Yue Ning was already familiar with Qin Guan's small courtyard. Their close relationship made her feel at ease as she casually took a seat, accepted the tea Fuling handed her, and addressed Qin Guan.

Qin Guan nodded. "I know. Coroner Xu came to tell me."

Yue Ning nodded back. "I only found out about it last night. I figured you'd also be curious about how Wei Qizhi killed Song Rou, so I came early to take you to the prefectural office!"

Qin Guan set down her chopsticks and wiped her lips. "The prefectural office?"

Yue Ning affirmed, "Yes, the prefectural office. The news came last night—Wei Qizhi hasn't given his confession yet. If we go today, we’ll surely hear the key details."

Qin Guan blinked. Although the prefectural office was a heavily guarded place, Yue Ning's status as a noblewoman made entry easy for her. Indeed, having status made things simpler!

Qin Guan had wanted to know the details but hadn’t considered visiting the office herself—her position didn’t allow it. But since Yue Ning had come to fetch her, she was more than willing to go. The thought excited her, and she quickly changed clothes to leave with Yue Ning. As they walked, Qin Guan mused, "It seems there was an issue during the interrogation."

Yue Ning glanced at her. "Hmm? Why do you say that?"

Qin Guan explained seriously, "Wei Qizhi was captured yesterday afternoon. From then until last night, there were two hours for him to confess. If he had, the message the Marquis's residence received last night wouldn’t have been so vague."

"So Wei Qizhi must have refused to confess?" Yue Ning's tone was questioning but carried a hint of certainty.

Qin Guan shook her head. "We don’t know yet. Let’s see when we get there."

They left together, boarding the Marquis's carriage Yue Ning had arrived in. As the carriage moved, Yue Ning said, "You had many doubts before. I thought about them after returning, and they are indeed hard to explain. For instance, how did he disguise himself as a ghost to scare you? With the Marquis's residence heavily guarded, how did he get in? And how did he get Song Rou's wedding gown?"Yue Ning sighed, "I'm afraid only he himself can tell us that."

Qin Guan didn't respond. There was another possibility—that the person who pretended to be a ghost to scare her wasn't Wei Qizhi at all...

The carriage was driven by a coachman from the Marquis Anyang Manor, naturally faster than when Fuling was at the reins. Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the prefectural office. Yue Ning and Qin Guan alighted one after another, with Yue Ning striding toward the entrance. At the door, the on-duty bailiffs stepped forward and raised their hands to block their way. Lü Qi, who followed Yue Ning, frowned. "How dare you stop the young lady of Marquis Anyang Manor?"

The bailiffs froze, exchanged glances, and hastily lowered their hands, kneeling in greeting. One of them said, "Please wait a moment, my lady. This humble servant will inform the Prefect at once!"

Yue Ning nodded with an "Mm." In front of unfamiliar people, Yue Ning was stern and unsmiling, exuding an aloof and imposing air befitting her status as a noble lady. Qin Guan, watching from behind, couldn't help but curve her lips slightly.

Soon, Huo Huaixin hurried out to greet them. "I was unaware of your arrival, my lady. My apologies for not welcoming you properly..."

Though Yue Ning was younger, her status demanded respect, and Huo Huaixin had no choice but to defer.

Yue Ning, however, showed some courtesy toward Huo Huaixin. "Forgive the intrusion, Prefect. I heard you've apprehended Young Master Wei. Today, I've brought Ninth Miss with me to hear how far the case has progressed. This matter concerns the Marquis Manor, and Ninth Miss has contributed greatly to the investigation. I trust you won't object?"

Huo Huaixin, having stayed up most of the night, sported a stubbled chin and dark circles under his eyes. Hearing this, he dared not protest. Besides, given the circumstances, Qin Guan's presence might actually be helpful. With a hearty laugh, he stepped aside and gestured. "Of course, of course. Please come in, my lady—Ninth Miss as well."

Once inside the prefectural office, Huo Huaixin led Yue Ning and Qin Guan down a side corridor. As they walked, he sighed wryly. "Even if you hadn't come, my lady, I would have sent someone to the Marquis Manor. I thought capturing Wei Qizhi would bring clarity to this case, but... who knew he'd be so stubborn!"

Huo Huaixin exhaled heavily. "After interrogating him half the night, I couldn't get a single word out of him!"

Yue Ning frowned, while Qin Guan's eyes darkened with intensity. "Prefect, what did Wei Qizhi say?"

As they spoke, the group passed the main hall and entered the inner offices behind it. Stopping outside the door to a side reception room, Huo Huaixin paused. "Given your noble status, my lady and Ninth Miss, there's no need to visit the prison. I'll have the case records and confessions brought here shortly. Please, wait here for a moment."

Yue Ning and Qin Guan nodded. Once inside, Huo Huaixin continued, "Wei Qizhi claims he did follow Song Rou to Jinzhou, but because he was injured, he also traveled by carriage and wasn't much faster than her. Moreover, he departed three days later and couldn't catch up despite hurrying. When he reached Shili Temple, Song Rou and her group were indeed there, but he insists he never met her."

Huo Huaixin scoffed. "Do you believe that, my lady and Ninth Miss? He thinks this clears him of suspicion, but it actually exposes a glaring flaw. He was at Shili Temple at the same time—if not him, then who else could be the murderer?"Qin Guan frowned. "Then what weapon did he use? And where did he hide Song Rou's head?"

Huo Huaixin gave a bitter smile. "Naturally, he wouldn't say. I haven't been able to figure it out either. The only one who came with him was a servant named Wu Shu. They arrived in Jinzhou a day later, but they already knew about Song Rou's murder before reaching the city. After arriving, they stayed at the Fulai Inn in the eastern part of town. Wu Shu has been apprehended, but he refuses to talk as well. We searched the inn and found nothing. I suspect they must have erased all evidence before entering Jinzhou."

Yue Ning quickly asked, "What about pretending to be a ghost to scare people in the Marquis's residence? And the fire at the Mortuary Temple?"

Huo Huaixin shook his head. "He denies everything! We even resorted to torture late last night, but he still wouldn't confess."

No wonder Huo Huaixin didn't want them to visit the prison. Aside from the fact that the prison wasn't a suitable place for them, he probably didn't want them to see Wei Qizhi's condition after being tortured. Qin Guan knew that interrogating suspects in the yamen often involved various methods. Her father disapproved of using severe torture to extract confessions, but when dealing with particularly vicious criminals, sometimes violence was the only way.

"Did he say why, if they came to Jinzhou, they didn't go to see Wei Yanzhi?" Qin Guan's tone was cold and stern.

Huo Huaixin perked up at her question. "He did. He said he didn't go because he was afraid of damaging Song Rou's reputation. I questioned him about the incident Wei Yanzhi mentioned, and he admitted to it. Also, he was indeed left-handed in the past, and now he can use both hands equally well. As for his leg, it really was broken by Duke Song and his uncle..."

Qin Guan's brows furrowed even tighter. "Then did he explain his purpose for coming to Jinzhou this time?"

Huo Huaixin also frowned, unconsciously stroking his chin. "This is what puzzles me the most. He said he followed them just to see what kind of family Song Rou was marrying into and whether they would mistreat her. He also claimed he genuinely wanted to see Song Rou but couldn't find an opportunity—there were too many escorts in the wedding procession, and as the bride, Song Rou was heavily guarded in the center. He said it was impossible for him to get close."

"That's obviously a lie. If he couldn't even see her, then killing her and taking her head would have been even more impossible," Yue Ning said, crossing her arms. "Wei Qizhi is a trained fighter, so his mental fortitude must be stronger than most. The Prefect will have to put in some effort, but relying solely on torture always carries the risk of forcing a false confession."

Huo Huaixin sighed twice. "Indeed. But he has no witnesses. Wu Shu is his servant, so naturally, he would side with him. Wu Shu's testimony can't be trusted."

Qin Guan thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Prefect, could you let us meet Wei Qizhi and Wu Shu?"

Huo Huaixin's lips twitched. "Ahem, Ninth Miss, the prison is filthy. How could I let two delicate young ladies like you go in there? If the Marquis were to hold me accountable, I wouldn't be able to bear the consequences..."

Qin Guan frowned and turned to Yue Ning. Catching her gaze, Yue Ning immediately lifted her chin. "Do you think my father is the kind of man who can't tell right from wrong? I'm the one who wants to go in—it has nothing to do with you, Prefect. You're just worried we'll see Wei Qizhi after he's been tortured, but I've trained in martial arts since childhood and understand the rules of the yamen. I certainly wouldn't blame you for anything."Huo Huaixin wore a forced smile on his face when Xu He walked in carrying a case file. "Sir, the case file you requested is here!"

With an inward sigh, Huo Huaixin said, "Hold onto it for now. The Princess and Ninth Miss wish to visit the prison cells."

Xu He was taken aback. "But the prison is such a place—"

He stopped mid-sentence. Yue Ning was naturally bold, and Qin Guan wasn't even afraid of Corpse Examination—why would she fear the filth and gore of the prison cells?

Xu He stepped aside with a gesture. "Ninth Miss and the Commandery Princess, this way please—"

Huo Huaixin also said, "If you wish to see, please go ahead and take a look..."

Qin Guan and Yue Ning stood up and walked out together.

Huo Huaixin and Xu He led the way, while Yue Ning tilted her head and whispered to Qin Guan, "Why do you suddenly want to visit the prison? Interrogating prisoners is their expertise—we probably won’t be much help."

They had already resorted to torture on Wei Qizhi. Were the two of them really going to watch someone being tortured?

Qin Guan shook her head slightly. "We’ll know once we see."

A person with strong mental fortitude, knowing that confessing would mean certain death, might indeed endure severe torture and refuse to admit guilt. But what if Wei Qizhi wasn’t lying?

Qin Guan wasn’t familiar with the conditions in the prison, so she wanted to see for herself.

They walked from the side hall deeper into the government office, soon arriving at a dimly lit corridor. In the distance, a yamen runner hurried forward but froze upon seeing Huo Huaixin leading two young women. Huo Huaixin waved his hand. "Have everyone inside step aside."

With this order, the runner immediately understood that Yue Ning and Qin Guan were of high status and promptly turned back.

By the time Qin Guan and Yue Ning reached the prison entrance, not a single yamen runner was in sight.

The prison of Jinzhou Prefecture was naturally far more secure and solid than those of ordinary county offices. Located underground, Yue Ning and Qin Guan descended a sloping corridor and soon saw the interior. As Huo Huaixin had said, it was indeed an unsuitable place for the two of them. Yue Ning covered her nose, but when she glanced at Qin Guan, she saw her walking as calmly as if she were strolling through her own backyard.

Turning left at a fork, they soon arrived at a Windowless Dark Room specifically used for interrogations.

Lamps were lit in the four corners of the dark room, and against the far wall stood a large wooden frame. Currently, a shirtless man was hanging from the frame. His bare upper body was covered in crimson whip marks, and below his left shoulder was a distinct square scar from a burn. His head hung low, as if he had already passed out, his disheveled black hair obscuring his face. Yet the faint glimpse of his features vaguely reminded Qin Guan of Wei Yanzhi—the two brothers bore a slight resemblance.

Huo Huaixin coughed uncomfortably. "We didn’t use excessive torture, but he couldn’t endure it and fainted."

Yue Ning frowned. "Torture is your business. We won’t interfere."

Huo Huaixin sighed in relief. If Yue Ning and Qin Guan had been unable to stomach the scene and later accused him of extracting confessions under duress, it would have been troublesome. Fortunately, the two were very reasonable.

Qin Guan examined Wei Qizhi’s wounds. Though they hadn’t used extreme methods, the dozens—if not hundreds—of whip marks alone were enough to wear down a person’s will over time. When someone is mentally sharp, they might have the defensive awareness to withhold the truth, but when worn down by pain and exhaustion to the point of delirium, they might blurt out anything they’re asked, revealing flaws even if not the whole truth.

Was Wei Qizhi truly so unshakably strong-willed, or was it possible that he really hadn’t killed Song Rou?Lowering her gaze, Qin Guan noticed Wei Qizhi's leg. Even in unconsciousness, his left leg remained bent at an awkward angle. If she wasn't mistaken, Huo Huaixin must have deliberately aggravated his leg injury during the torture.

Qin Guan examined carefully. Seeing she was merely observing without further action, Huo Huaixin chuckled, "This place reeks of filth and is hardly suitable for Your Highness and Ninth Miss to linger. Once you've seen enough, let's leave."

Naturally, Qin Guan had no real intention of interrogating Wei Qizhi—this was official government business after all, and her presence here already overstepped boundaries. She nodded in agreement. Yue Ning, noting her stance, gave an acknowledging hum.

Huo Huaixin sighed in relief. But just then, the unconscious Wei Qizhi suddenly stirred.

His drooping head lifted slightly, his eyes fluttering half-open as he mumbled something indistinct.

Qin Guan immediately stepped forward, and Yue Ning followed suit.

"It... wasn't me who killed..."

"I didn't... it wasn't me..."

Yue Ning frowned. "Hey, if you claim innocence, where were you that night at Shili Temple? Produce a witness—your servant's testimony doesn't count..."

Yue Ning pressed further, but Wei Qizhi fell silent again.

Leaning closer, Yue Ning called, "Hey, Wei Qizhi?"

Qin Guan pulled her back. "No need. He's still unconscious—those were just unconscious ramblings."

Yue Ning made a disappointed sound, while a pensive shadow crossed Qin Guan's eyes. Tugging Yue Ning along, she headed for the door. Only then did Huo Huaixin truly relax. "He keeps saying that—it's unreliable..."

Qin Guan paused mid-step. "Unconscious words are more credible than conscious ones."

Huo Huaixin blinked in surprise, but Qin Guan offered no further explanation, releasing Yue Ning's arm and walking out alone.

"Wronged... I'm wronged... wronged..."

Qin Guan had taken two steps when a feeble cry echoed through the narrow prison corridor.

She halted, turning toward the source.

Huo Huaixin laughed awkwardly. "Ah, Ninth Miss, pay it no mind. Prisoners often cry injustice—"

Yue Ning arched a brow. "When someone claims wrongful conviction, does that mean Lord Huo has wronged them?"

Huo Huaixin waved his hands hastily. "Not at all! Your Highness misunderstands. That's Wei Qizhi's servant—he's been shouting for ages. His words carry no weight..."

This only piqued Yue Ning's interest further. "I'll go see."

"Wronged... wronged..."

Following the voice deeper into the prison, Yue Ning soon spotted a disheveled young man slumped against the bars of a left-side cell, weakly proclaiming his innocence.

His tattered robes bore whip marks, his face bruised—clear signs of Huo Huaixin's torture. Around twenty-three or twenty-four, the same age as Wei Qizhi, he'd suffered less severe injuries. Not strung up like his master, he'd managed to catch his breath, remaining conscious enough to cry out—unlike Wei Qizhi who'd collapsed unconscious.Qin Guan caught up from behind, staring at him for a moment before her gaze shifted to another robe in the corner of the cell. The robe was also stained with blood, but Qin Guan could clearly see it had originally been a deep blue color—identical to the robe worn by the person who had been spying on her and Yue Ning that day!

Her brows furrowed. "Are you Wu Shu?!"

Her voice was sharp and cold. Wu Shu had been leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, moaning in pain, but at the sound of her voice, he immediately turned around. Seeing two young women suddenly appear in the cell, he was momentarily stunned.

"Did your master secretly spy on Qin Manor?" Qin Guan's tone was icy and commanding, yet with an inexplicable persuasive force.

Wu Shu blurted out, "Yes—"

The moment the word left his lips, Wu Shu snapped back to his senses. As a servant of the Wei household, he had encountered many nobles in the capital. Taking in Qin Guan and Yue Ning's dignified bearing, along with Huo Huaixin accompanying them, he instantly realized their status was anything but ordinary. Wu Shu scrambled to his knees, kowtowing frantically before them.

"Young mistresses, merciful bodhisattvas, please save my master! He's innocent, I beg you, save him—" Though young, Wu Shu was already of age, yet his voice cracked with sobs, his eyes reddening.

Unmoved by his pleas, Qin Guan pressed on, "Did your master secretly spy on Qin Manor?"

Wu Shu lifted his tear-streaked face, meeting Qin Guan's dark, penetrating gaze. After a brief hesitation, he nodded, sniffling. "Yes... My master said he saw a young lady following the yamen officers to the Mortuary Temple... He wanted to know how Miss Song died, so he followed her to Qin Manor in the eastern quarter..."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "Why do you claim your master is innocent?"

Wu Shu wailed even more pitifully. "Of course he's innocent! My master may have a temper, but he'd never kill anyone! He and Miss Song grew up together as childhood sweethearts—he even broke his leg for her once! He came here fearing something might happen to her, and when it did, he was heartbroken and wanted to uncover the truth. But—young mistresses, I swear he's been framed! We've done nothing since arriving in Jinzhou, never set foot in Marquis Anyang Manor, and as for the Wedding Gown, we've never even seen it—"

Qin Guan arched a brow. "That night at Shili Temple—do you have anyone who can vouch for your whereabouts?"

Wu Shu nodded, then shook his head as if remembering something. "We stayed at a small inn. My master's leg was injured, so we retired early that night. How could we have gone out to kill anyone? But the Prefect said that wasn't enough—we'd need someone who could confirm we never left the inn all night. But how? Everyone was asleep by then..."

Qin Guan sighed. Huo Huaixin was right—they'd need conclusive proof they hadn't left the inn.

Huo Huaixin stepped forward. "As Your Highness and Ninth Miss have heard, they lack an alibi, were present at Shili Temple, their master is left-handed, and he was the one involved with Miss Song. The suspicions are overwhelming!"

"What kind of paper does your master use for correspondence?"Qin Guan suddenly asked another question, and Wu Shu was taken aback before answering, "We used... Huzhou Bamboo Paper, Taizhou Xuan Paper..."

Frowning, Qin Guan pressed, "What about during your journey south? Did your master not write anything?"

Wu Shu hesitated again, "We just bought the most ordinary Yellow Hemp Paper..."

Yue Ning, who was familiar with Gilt-traced Paper, furrowed her brows and asked, "Did your master not use Gilt-traced Paper?"

Wu Shu wiped his tears, "My master didn’t have such preferences. We were in a hurry on the road—why would we go out of our way to buy special paper?"

Qin Guan frowned, and Yue Ning also looked troubled. Meanwhile, Huo Huaixin, standing nearby, was puzzled about how paper had become relevant. Qin Guan then said, "Prefect, do you remember the clump of filth we took from the Mortuary Temple?"

A glimmer of realization flashed in Huo Huaixin’s eyes, "So it was... paper?"

Qin Guan nodded, and Huo Huaixin said, "Please explain in detail later, Ninth Miss. You and the princess need not stay here to listen to him further. All the testimonies are recorded in the case files—you can review them outside."

Huo Huaixin’s words made sense to Qin Guan, so she turned toward the exit. Seeing this, Yue Ning followed.

As their group prepared to leave, Wu Shu clung to the prison bars and wailed desperately, "Two merciful ladies, my master is truly innocent! He came here with good intentions—how could he have killed Miss Song?!"

"Miss Song’s death was strange, and my master was also investigating the cause..."

Wu Shu’s cries tugged at Yue Ning’s heart, but Qin Guan remained unmoved. Seeing their steps unhesitating, Wu Shu grew even more frantic, "My master did have affection for Miss Song—why would he kill her?!"

Yue Ning curled her lip. Affection? They had even conceived a child together!

"Prefect! My master is truly wronged—"

Wu Shu’s wails echoed through the prison corridor, grating on Huo Huaixin’s ears. Impatiently, he snapped, "You’ve said this a thousand times! Of course your master had affection for Miss Song—otherwise, why would he have acted so outrageously? Your master broke his leg because of it. Whether out of resentment or a desire to rekindle their relationship, he had motive to kill Miss Song!"

After delivering this harsh rebuke, Huo Huaixin strode after Qin Guan and the others.

Wu Shu watched them grow farther away, despair gripping his heart. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "What if it wasn’t my master who was involved with Miss Song? What if my master willingly took the blame for her?!"

Qin Guan seemed to have been waiting for this moment. She was the first to halt, though she didn’t turn around.

Overwhelmed by grief, Wu Shu collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, "My master not only bore the disgrace for Miss Song but also lost a leg... and traveled thousands of miles to come here... Why... why must he also be falsely accused of murder? Why must he suffer like this? Heaven is unjust! Heaven is unjust!"