Coroner's Diary

"Governor Huo has brought over a dozen constables, along with Captain Qi and Coroner Xu. They've already entered the East Courtyard."

Lü Qi followed closely behind Yue Ning and Qin Guan, speaking rapidly. The case of Song Rou's death was like a dark cloud hanging over the Marquis's residence. Now that Huo Huaixin had stormed in with such force, all the servants in the residence were in a state of panic.

Qin Guan and Yue Ning quickened their pace. As soon as they left Yue Ning's courtyard, they saw several servants gathered outside, whispering among themselves while looking toward the East Courtyard. The moment Yue Ning appeared, they immediately fell silent, their expressions turning serious.

Yue Ning shot them a warning glance before turning toward the East Courtyard.

"Coming this early in the morning, they must have figured out both leads," Yue Ning said gravely.

Lü Qi added, "Yesterday, everyone from the second young master's courtyard was questioned. Only then did we learn that a robe had indeed gone missing, but the servants had kept it secret."

Yue Ning's eyes darkened. "It seems the evidence is conclusive."

As they spoke, the two took a shortcut through the residence and soon neared the East Courtyard. From a distance, they could see Yue Qiong and Jiang Shi already present, with Yue Qing and Yue Jia standing together nearby. Further ahead, the Grand Princess leaned on Yan Chi's arm at the forefront. Everyone had gathered from inside the East Courtyard to outside, with numerous servants from the residence watching on.

Qin Guan's expression turned solemn. "It seems Governor Huo has run into trouble."

Yue Ning frowned and strode forward. Yue Qing was the first to notice their arrival and quickly turned to greet them. "You're finally here. Governor Huo has brought people to arrest the second young master of the Wei family. What's going on?"

Yue Qing had been busy with military affairs these past few days and was unaware of the new developments in Song Rou's case. He continued, "Wasn't it said that the eldest young master of the Wei family had already been captured? Why is the second young master suddenly being accused?"

Yue Ning lowered her voice. "Second Brother, it's a long story. In short, it wasn't the eldest young master of the Wei family who was involved with Miss Song, and he didn't know who the man was. Many things wouldn't make sense if the eldest young master were the culprit."

Yue Qing glanced at Qin Guan and, seeing no surprise on her face, realized she already knew about this. He nodded. "Alright, I understand. Come quickly and listen—"

The three of them stepped forward, moving closer. The Grand Princess and Yan Chi turned around, and Qin Guan hurriedly bowed in greeting.

The Grand Princess beckoned Qin Guan and Yue Ning over, tilting her chin toward the scene ahead. "You two clever girls, did you already know about this?" She then gave Yan Chi a reproachful look. "You knew too!"

Yue Ning quickly hugged the Grand Princess's other arm. "We didn't want to trouble you, Grandmother."

The Grand Princess shook her head helplessly. Meanwhile, Qin Guan took in the scene unfolding in the courtyard.Huo Huaixin and Qi Lin stood in the middle of the courtyard, with the yamen runners stationed to the side. Apart from the runners, there was also a middle-aged man dressed in plain clothes trailing behind. Meanwhile, Wei Yanzhi, wrapped in an outer cloak, stood weakly outside the main gate, his face a mix of shock and grievance. His gaze flickered as he noticed Yue Ning and Qin Guan arriving, then turned back to Huo Huaixin. "Prefect, are you saying that I am the one who harmed Xiao Rou? Prefect, how... how could you even suggest such a thing...?"

Wei Yanzhi wore an expression of helplessness, even bordering on amusement, as if Huo Huaixin's grand display was nothing more than a joke.

Huo Huaixin, clad in his official robes today, clearly meant business. He lifted his chin slightly, and despite his short, stout stature, he exuded the authority of a prefect. "Wei Yanzhi, do you deny it?"

Wei Yanzhi could only laugh bitterly. "Prefect, what exactly do you want me to admit? I was lying ill in bed when I heard you had stormed into the courtyard with your runners. I thought perhaps there had been a new development in the case and you needed to question the guards again. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine you were here to arrest me." His voice cracked slightly. "Prefect, out of the blue, what is this all about?"

Huo Huaixin, having handled numerous cases before, had once held Wei Yanzhi in high regard and even suspected Wei Qizhi as the culprit. But now, with further investigation, as the magistrate of Jinzhou Prefecture, he was unwilling to let his reputation be tarnished by a wrongful conviction. His brows furrowed, and his tone turned icy. "It was you who told us that Song Rou's death was connected to Wei Qizhi—clearly an attempt to frame him. As the leader of the bridal procession, you had full authority over the entire escort. You were the one with the most opportunity to harm Song Rou. Moreover, 'The Egret Forgets Its Cunning' was Song Rou's favorite piece, yet you claimed you heard it from Wei Qizhi. Wei Yanzhi, did you think your cover was so flawless that we'd never suspect you? But every action leaves traces. You were careless in the end!"

Wei Yanzhi's eyes widened as he looked from Huo Huaixin to the Grand Princess and the others at the gate, his face a picture of disbelief and bitter amusement. "Prefect, your words are truly... The information I shared with you is common knowledge among everyone in the Duke's household. You need only ask my uncle and aunt, or even my grandfather—they all know about this. If not for the sake of assisting your investigation, why would I have disclosed such a scandal involving both the Duke's and the Wei households? I would never willingly tarnish their reputations..."

After a brief pause, he continued, "As for your claim that I, as the leader of the bridal procession, could freely command the escort—if Xiao Rou died, the blame would naturally fall on me. Why would I bring such trouble upon myself? And regarding the qin piece, many years ago, it was indeed my elder brother's favorite. He was proud and disdained officialdom, preferring a life of freedom. 'The Egret Forgets Its Cunning' tells of a couple retreating to the mountains—fitting for my brother's desire to escape worldly affairs. I don’t know which piece Xiao Rou loved most, but even if she also favored 'The Egret Forgets Its Cunning,' it was likely because she heard my brother play it."Wei Yanzhi gritted his teeth. "Prefect, have I ever been uncooperative since this incident began? Haven’t I given my utmost effort every single time? Now that Your Honor is about to close the case, why suddenly turn the accusation toward me? If I were the one who harmed Xiao Rou, why would I... why would I have worked so hard to assist Your Honor?"

Huo Huaixin was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this, as if recalling that Wei Yanzhi had indeed never deliberately refused to cooperate. Yet, thinking of what he had uncovered the day before, Huo Huaixin let out a cold laugh. "Fine. Then tell me, do any of you recognize this man?"

A flicker of doubt passed through Wei Yanzhi’s eyes at these words. Huo Huaixin turned and glanced at the group of constables, who promptly stepped aside, revealing a middle-aged man standing at the back. The man was of ordinary appearance, dressed plainly, and as he stepped forward, the sheer scale of the situation seemed to unsettle him, his face betraying unease.

Huo Huaixin pointed toward Wei Yanzhi and asked the man, "Take a look. Which one of them came to buy tung oil from you that night?"

The middle-aged man lifted his head, scanning the direction Huo Huaixin indicated, then firmly pointed at Wei Yanzhi and the blue-robed attendant beside him. "Yes, it was these two. It was already the third watch, and I had closed my shop and was about to extinguish the lamp to rest when someone knocked. I opened the door and saw that young man—" He pointed at the blue-robed attendant beside Wei Yanzhi. "That young man was the one who knocked, but through the crack in the door, I caught sight of this gentleman standing by the roadside, half-turned toward me. I found it odd and made a mental note, which is why I remembered his face. The young man asked to buy tung oil. At the time, I had only thrown on an outer robe, and the storeroom had long been locked—I had no intention of selling. But the young man immediately offered ten taels of silver. I—"

"Ten taels is more than I might earn in a month. So I went to the oil storeroom and fetched two barrels of tung oil. As I carried them out, I glanced again at the roadside. This gentleman turned and urged the young man to hurry, and I got another look at his face. I’m certain—there’s no mistake."

When the middle-aged man first appeared, Wei Yanzhi’s expression remained utterly composed. But the blue-robed attendant frowned, and by the time the man finished speaking, the attendant’s fists were clenched tightly. Unlike Wei Yanzhi, he lacked the same level of composure, and his nervousness was palpable even to the constables.

Huo Huaixin lifted his chin. "In the dead of night, you went to buy tung oil—and coincidentally, the Mortuary Temple caught fire that very night. Wei Yanzhi, what do you have to say for yourself? The night before last, on the boat, only a few of us knew that Ninth Miss would be performing a Corpse Examination early the next morning. You set fire to the Mortuary Temple in the middle of the night precisely to stop her, didn’t you? You were afraid she would uncover evidence linking you to the crime—you wanted to destroy the evidence. Isn’t that right?!"

Wei Yanzhi remained standing straight, his brow unmoving from start to finish.Huo Huaixin continued, "On the same day of the trip to Lishui Lake, the second young master of the household lost a blue robe. From that morning until after leaving the residence, only you, the guard, went to the second young master’s courtyard to borrow a brush. Then, that very night, Ninth Miss was nearly crushed by a collapsing Lantern Tower. Fearing she might uncover more evidence, you attempted to harm her life!" As he spoke, Huo Huaixin glared at the trembling blue-robed guard. "The one who impersonated the second young master that day was him, wasn’t it…?"

Wei Yanzhi narrowed his eyes slightly but remained silent.

"Not speaking?" Huo Huaixin’s expression darkened, and he barked sharply, "Guards! Take this master and servant back to the yamen prison for thorough interrogation! Refusing to talk? We’ll see if you can stay silent in the cells!"

Huo Huaixin’s words were swift and forceful. Wei Yanzhi frowned but remained unshaken, while his blue-robed guard suddenly stepped forward and dropped to his knees with a loud thud. "Prefect! My young master acted with the purest intentions—he never meant to destroy evidence! My young master… he only wished to spare his cousin’s posthumous reputation from disgrace. He didn’t want Ninth Miss to discover that his cousin had been pregnant…" The guard’s eyes reddened as he crawled forward on his knees. "The two noble houses in the capital place great importance on their reputations. This matter was already suppressed in the capital. If it were exposed in this case, Your Honor would surely document it in the report to the Ministry of Justice. Then… then the entire capital would know! My young master resorted to such measures only to protect the Marquis’s household’s honor—he would never have harmed his cousin!"

The guard’s face was earnest, his voice growing louder and more desperate. He kowtowed violently. "Prefect, please see the truth! My young master would never dare to harm his cousin’s life! The Mortuary Temple… it was indeed us who burned it. As for Ninth Miss… that was indeed my doing. My young master instructed me only to inflict minor injuries on Ninth Miss—never to take her life!"

Lifting his head, the guard pleaded, "Your Honor, I swear every word I’ve said is true…"

The onlookers gasped softly. When they turned to Wei Yanzhi, they saw him close his eyes in sorrow.

Huo Huaixin frowned. "So, you admit to burning the Mortuary Temple and attempting to harm Ninth Miss—but you deny killing Miss Song? What about pretending to be a ghost to frighten Ninth Miss?"

At this, the blue-robed guard hurriedly replied, "No! Impossible! It wasn’t the young master! That night, after returning from His Highness Chi’s place, my young master spent the entire time copying calligraphy. We guards were stationed outside the entire time—he never left the East Courtyard!"

The guard alternated between confessions and testimonies, his words fervent and nearly tearful. Huo Huaixin listened, his brow furrowing.

Meanwhile, Yue Ning whispered to Qin Guan, "This guard’s words don’t seem false. And Wei Yanzhi—why isn’t he defending himself? Does this mean he admits to these deeds?"

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes slightly. "It appears he truly acted for the sake of the two households’ reputations."

Yue Ning raised an eyebrow. Qin Guan had been the most suspicious of Wei Yanzhi earlier—why was she now shifting her stance?

Though puzzled, Yue Ning didn’t press further and instead watched how the situation unfolded.

"Wei Yanzhi, do you acknowledge what your guard has said?"Wei Yanzhi opened his eyes, a resolute glint emerging in their depths. He took a deep breath before speaking hoarsely, "Xiao Rou's matter is indeed a disgrace to the Duke's residence and the Wei family. Initially, I thought that with Xiao Rou's passing, this incident would be buried forever. But I never imagined Ninth Miss's corpse examination skills would be so exceptional. I feared that one day she might uncover the truth, so... in a moment of weakness, I committed this dishonorable act."

As he spoke, Wei Yanzhi cast an apologetic glance toward Qin Guan. Qin Guan frowned slightly but showed no outward sign of blame. Wei Yanzhi continued, "Yet I didn't expect that even after the mortuary temple fire reduced Xiao Rou's remains to ashes, Ninth Miss still managed to uncover the truth. When the Prefect summoned me for questioning, I knew immediately that things had taken a turn for the worse. That's why I confessed the truth with a heart full of despair. The veracity of my words can be confirmed by sending someone to investigate in the capital."

Wei Yanzhi lowered his gaze, his face filled with remorse and guilt. The Marquis's residence had treated him with utmost sincerity, and Qin Guan had even treated his illness. Yet now, everyone would learn that the night Qin Guan was nearly harmed was his doing.

Qin Guan observed Wei Yanzhi, feeling as though he stood alone before the main hall, enveloped in an inexplicable aura of desolation and sorrow. He was merely a man concerned for his family's reputation, not someone who sought to take another's life. In the capital, scandals like Song Rou's would indeed become the subject of ridicule. His actions were not without reason.

Qin Guan sighed inwardly, unable to help but acknowledge Wei Yanzhi's predicament.

Meanwhile, Huo Huaixin was momentarily taken aback by Wei Yanzhi's demeanor before frowning and asking, "You admit to this? Then what about Song Rou's death?"

Wei Yanzhi looked up sharply. "Prefect, these are two entirely different matters. Xiao Rou's death was also an imperfection for the Duke's residence and the Wei family. If I value my family's reputation so highly, why wouldn't I let her marry into the Marquis's residence peacefully to forge a harmonious alliance between our families? Why would I kill her? What evidence does the Prefect have to accuse me of her murder?"

Huo Huaixin was momentarily speechless. He seemed to lack concrete evidence to prove this claim. Qin Guan's mention of the Gilt-traced Paper had only ruled out Wei Qizhi's involvement. While Wei Yanzhi remained a prime suspect, there was no definitive proof of his guilt. Frowning in frustration, Huo Huaixin said, "Though there's no direct evidence now, further investigation may uncover it. Your claim that you burned the mortuary temple to protect the Wei family and the Duke's residence's reputation is still questionable."

Wei Yanzhi sighed. "I am guilty, but Xiao Rou's death has nothing to do with me. If the Prefect doesn't believe me, you may as well take me to prison and continue your investigation."

Huo Huaixin was inclined to do just that and snorted, "Guards, take Wei Yanzhi—"

"Prefect, Qin Guan has something to say..."

Just as Huo Huaixin was about to order the arrest, Qin Guan unexpectedly interrupted. Huo Huaixin turned to her. "What is it, Ninth Miss?"Qin Guan took a step forward and glanced at Wei Yanzhi. "Family honor is indeed important, so the second young master's actions are understandable. As for that night... I wasn't actually injured in the end, and the second young master had no intention of killing me. Considering that the escort retinue from the Duke's residence is still at the Marquis's manor, arresting Young Master Wei might cause unrest among them."

Huo Huaixin raised an eyebrow, sharing Yue Ning's surprise—why was Qin Guan seemingly defending Wei Yanzhi?

"What does Ninth Miss mean by this?"

Qin Guan lifted her chin slightly. "I believe the second young master is only guilty of burning down the Mortuary Temple. While arson is wrong, considering it's his first offense, he should simply compensate with additional funds. Since he isn't the murderer, there's no need to imprison him."

She continued clearly, "I understand the Prefect is eager to solve this case. In fact, I have a shortcut. Do you remember what I retrieved from Song Rou's stomach that day?"

Huo Huaixin blinked. "Of course I remember." Not only did he remember, but they had already identified it, hadn't they?

Qin Guan smiled faintly. "To be honest, I've discovered it was a letter, written on Gilt-traced Paper. As for its contents... due to the passage of time, I haven't been able to decipher it fully. However, the night before last, I used a medicinal solution that restores faded ink. After soaking for two full days, the vanished writing will reappear. I suspect this letter was written by Song Rou's killer. Since she swallowed it, the contents must be incriminating. If the Prefect waits just one more night, the words on the letter will reveal the murderer!"

Huo Huaixin's eyes widened in astonishment, while Xu He stood dumbfounded. Both stared at Qin Guan's solemn expression, struggling to process her words. They already knew the item was Gilt-traced Paper, and calling it a letter was mere speculation—there was no hidden writing that would magically reappear. So why was she saying this now...?

Huo Huaixin and Xu He both gasped in realization—it was a trap!

Suppressing his doubts, Huo Huaixin quickly played along. "Is this truly the case?!"

Qin Guan nodded. "I wouldn't dare deceive you, Prefect."

Huo Huaixin's eyes sparkled with excitement, nearly speechless. "This... this is incredible! With that letter, the murderer's identity will be obvious, and today's misunderstanding would never have happened."

He then turned to Wei Yanzhi. "Second Young Master, burning the Mortuary Temple is indeed a crime, though it cannot compare to murder. For now, I'll heed Ninth Miss's suggestion and allow you to remain at the Marquis's manor. However, these next few days, you should stay in your courtyard to recuperate and avoid going out."

Wei Yanzhi lowered his gaze, his voice strained. "Thank you, Prefect. I will take full responsibility for the fire."

Huo Huaixin nodded eagerly and approached Qin Guan. "Ninth Miss, shall we retrieve that letter now?"

Qin Guan tilted her head thoughtfully. "The writing isn't visible yet—it won't appear until tomorrow morning. Moreover, the letter's medicinal treatment requires extreme cold. I've placed it in an Ice Basin at Qin Manor. If we move it now..."Huo Huaixin looked at Yue Qiong, who immediately said, "The Marquis's residence also has an ice storage. There's an empty room in Ning'er's courtyard where we can place the Ice Basin and the letter."

Huo Huaixin clapped his hands. "That's perfect! Ninth Miss will go fetch the letter now, and tomorrow morning, all of us—including the Second Young Master—will gather to read the contents of the letter together and see who the real culprit behind Song Rou's murder is."

As he spoke, Huo Huaixin added with deep gratitude, "Ninth Miss, we owe you a great deal this time!"

Qin Guan shook her head. "I'm honored to have contributed to solving this case."

Huo Huaixin's joy was evident as he turned and waved his hand. "Alright, alright, everyone disperse for now. I'll wait at the Marquis's residence for Ninth Miss to bring the letter. The rest of you, return to the yamen first!"

With that, he walked out with the others. After leaving the East courtyard, the group followed the main path to the Grand Princess's quarters. Upon entering the courtyard, the Grand Princess instructed Lu Xiu, "Stand guard here."

Understanding her mistress's intention, Lu Xiu quickly complied.

Qin Guan then entered the main hall with the Grand Princess, Huo Huaixin, and the others. As soon as they stepped inside, Huo Huaixin asked urgently, "Ninth Miss, are you suggesting we set a trap for Wei Yanzhi?"

Qin Guan nodded. Yue Ning, who had just entered from outside, remarked, "I thought you had actually been fooled by him."

Qin Guan shook her head with a wry smile. "How could that be? The Lantern Tower collapsing was enough to kill someone, not just injure me. There are many ways to cause injury, yet he went through such elaborate lengths to lure me far away precisely to prevent anyone from saving me. Clearly, his intent was to kill me. Moreover, the Prefect didn't mention anything about left-handedness earlier, and Wei Yanzhi also denied the ghost disguise. He knows that once he admits to that act, the left-handedness angle falls apart, and Wei Qizhi's suspicion would naturally lessen by half. But if the Prefect throws him in jail, wouldn't that eliminate any chance of him entering the game?"

Huo Huaixin exhaled. "What's the plan for today?"

Qin Guan replied, "As I said earlier, I'll return to Qin Manor. Please have Madam prepare Ice Basins in the young mistress's courtyard, and everything else should proceed as usual. None of us here should reveal any cracks in our act."

After a pause, she turned to Yan Chi. "Just in case, I'd like to trouble Your Highness to station a few highly skilled guards outside the East courtyard. Once Wei Yanzhi makes his move tonight, we'll catch him red-handed, leaving him no room for excuses. Additionally, I suspect Song Rou's head was likely brought into Jinzhou City—perhaps even into the Marquis's residence. Yesterday when I asked him where he would hide Song Rou's head if he were Wei Qizhi, he said he didn't know, then added that Wei Qizhi was clever enough to hide it somewhere we'd never think of."

Qin Guan chuckled. "I think in his mind, he's the cleverest one. He'd hide Song Rou's head somewhere unimaginable to us. Previously, we assumed it was hidden in the birch forest or somewhere along the route from Shili Temple to Jinzhou City. But we never considered whether he might have brought it into Jinzhou Prefecture. He's been staying at the Marquis's residence all this time—perhaps he's even taken the head inside?"

The thought of carrying around a dead person's head made everyone shudder.

Jiang Shi nodded. "It's possible. The wedding procession had many trunks and cases, some of which belonged to the escorts themselves. I recall Wei Yanzhi had a large personal bundle with him."

Huo Huaixin smiled. "Good. Then we'll proceed separately and wait for tonight."

In the room, Yue Ning and Yan Chi were already in the know. Yue Qiong, his wife, Yue Qing, and Yue Jia later caught on as well. The Grand Princess observed the solemn expressions around her, her eyes gleaming with interest. At her age, she was joining these youngsters in their tense scheme—quite an amusing twist.

......

In the East courtyard, Wei Yanzhi sat silently on the low couch by the window, not speaking a word for half an hour.

Before long, a blue-robed guard entered. "Young Master, Ninth Miss has returned to Qin Manor accompanied by the young mistress. It seems what she said was true—this case will soon be resolved."

Wei Yanzhi remained expressionless, his brow shadowed with a chilling gloom.

The guard quickly added, "Young Master needn't worry too much. Burning down the Mortuary Temple is a minor matter. Ninth Miss said it can be settled with compensation—it won't affect your career."Wei Yanzhi's brow twitched slightly as he turned his gaze toward the roaring furnace, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

The guard pondered for a moment, thinking that Wei Yanzhi was likely brooding over Huo Huaixin's baseless accusations, so he tried to console him. "The Prefect is probably just desperate to solve the case. Since the eldest young master refused to yield, he turned his accusations toward you. And with the burning of the Mortuary Temple being uncovered, it all led to this mess."

With firm conviction, the guard added, "Young Master, once they read that letter tomorrow, they’ll know you were wronged."

Wei Yanzhi glanced up at his guard, noting the man’s relaxed and confident expression, then lowered his eyes again. The room was stiflingly hot, yet he was still wrapped in his cloak. Suddenly, he removed it and tugged at the buttons on his collar.

The guard blinked in surprise. "Young Master, aren’t you cold anymore? Be careful not to worsen your illness!"

Wei Yanzhi shook his head but said nothing. He remained motionless, his head hanging low as if crushed by some unseen weight—his spirit drained, his whole demeanor gloomy and defeated.

The guard frowned, sensing something odd about Wei Yanzhi but unable to pinpoint what. He sighed and muttered to himself, "When we acted that day, I suspected it might be discovered. And sure enough, it was. But thankfully, the Prefect is wise enough, and with Ninth Miss speaking up for us, otherwise, you and I would surely be in prison by now."

After speaking, the guard exhaled deeply. He had served Wei Yanzhi for many years. Due to Wei Yanzhi’s status, life in the Wei household hadn’t been easy, but at least they never lacked food or clothing. And ever since Wei Yanzhi joined the patrol battalion and took on official duties, he had gradually gained the favor of the Wei patriarch, improving their circumstances. The thought of being thrown into prison had terrified him to the core—but fortunately, the matter could now be smoothed over.

"Was what Ninth Miss said… true?"

Abruptly, Wei Yanzhi spoke. His voice was calm, yet it carried a heavy, oppressive weight. The guard felt an inexplicable chill and answered without hesitation, "Of course it’s true! Don’t you know Ninth Miss’s abilities? Honestly, she’s incredible—a young girl who can do the work of a Coroner!"

Wei Yanzhi sat silently, his back drenched in sweat from the heat, yet his heart was icy cold. He knew he was standing at the edge of a cliff—one misstep, and he would fall. But he wasn’t sure whether Qin Guan’s words were true.

"Think about that night—we were all fast asleep, yet the young mistress ran off alone to the birch forest. Someone must have sent her a letter, otherwise, why would she go there for no reason?" The guard smacked his fist into his palm. "That letter came at just the right time! The killer never expected the letter he sent would be eaten by the young mistress—not only eaten but also retrieved from her stomach as evidence. Ninth Miss is truly remarkable!"

Wei Yanzhi’s head slowly drooped. After a long pause, he swept his gaze around the room. When his eyes landed on the coal basket in the corner, he suddenly ordered, "Throw all the coal inside into the fire."The guard was taken aback. "Ah, but if we do that, the fire might become too strong. The heat inside the room will surely become unbearable."

Wei Yanzhi replied expressionlessly, "Add it in."

Seeing this, the guard dared not say more. He lifted the lid of the brazier and dumped the entire basket of charcoal inside, stuffing it full. Since the brazier had a hollow base, the charcoal quickly ignited.

The exterior of the brazier turned red-hot, and the guard felt the room grow stifling. He hurriedly opened a window, but Wei Yanzhi remained seated in his spot, unmoving. The guard noticed sweat dampening Wei Yanzhi's temples and was about to voice his concern when he caught sight of Wei Yanzhi's eyes, glowing red in the firelight. For some reason, he suddenly sensed a hint of ferocity emanating from his usually gentle and courteous master.

Pursing his lips, the guard swallowed his words.

The room fell silent, save for the roaring of the flames and the occasional crackle of burning charcoal. After sitting for a while longer, Wei Yanzhi abruptly stood up. As usual, he went to the small study in the inner chamber to practice calligraphy.

The brush he used was a Huzhou Wolf Hair Brush borrowed from Yue Qing, and the paper was Gilt-traced Paper bought from outside. Gilt-traced Paper was renowned as a lesser version of Gold-flecked Paper, and he still remembered the feeling of writing on Gold-flecked Paper for the first time as a child. As the brush glided smoothly over the shimmering surface, he seemed to see power and wealth bleeding from the ink. Just when he thought he was so, so close to attaining that power and wealth, a beating with the rod taught him that power did not belong to him, and wealth was something he had to trade his dignity for.

Unable to use Gold-flecked Paper, he had to settle for Gilt-traced Paper. The latter was scented, a fragrance he quite liked—but Wei Qizhi was the opposite. Not only did he dislike the scent, prolonged use of this paper would cause unsightly red rashes on his hands. Others thought it was a curse, but only Wei Yanzhi had discovered this secret. As these thoughts swirled in his mind, his writing grew faster and faster, the once-neat and elegant regular script gradually transforming into wild, aggressive cursive...

At some point, Wei Yanzhi finally stopped. A plop sounded as a drop of sweat fell onto the paper, instantly ruining the entire page of cursive with an ugly blotch of ink. Staring at it, Wei Yanzhi suddenly crumpled the sheet into a ball!

After tossing the paper ball aside, he took a few deep breaths and walked over to the blazing brazier. The guard waiting outside asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

Wei Yanzhi shook his head. "Is lunch almost here?"

The guard nodded. "Are you hungry, Young Master? I'll go wait outside."

Wei Yanzhi nodded, and the guard left.

With no one else in the room, Wei Yanzhi lifted the lid of the brazier...

When the guard returned with lunch, he saw that Wei Yanzhi had already cleared the accumulated ashes from beneath the brazier. Hurriedly setting down the meal, the guard said, "Young Master, please eat. Leave this to me."

Wei Yanzhi dusted off his hands. "Take it out."

Nodding, the guard carried the ashes away.

Wei Yanzhi spent the entire afternoon after lunch practicing calligraphy, not stopping until dusk had fallen. The guard, who had gone out for a while, returned with dinner and reported, "Young Master, Ninth Miss is indeed staying at the Marquis's residence tonight. The kitchen servants say the Madam dotes on her as if she were a princess. Speaking of which, Young Master, shouldn’t we apologize to Ninth Miss?"Wei Yanzhi ate his meal in silence, nodding slightly with a quiet "Mm."

The guard scratched his head and continued, "Speaking of which, that day at the Lantern Tower was truly dangerous. We thought no one would be crushed to death, but if His Highness hadn’t arrived in time, Ninth Miss might have—"

Wei Yanzhi said nothing, silently finishing his bowl of rice.

After dinner, Wei Yanzhi sat by the stove, still silent. Seeing this, the guard asked, "Are you still unwell, Young Master? Won’t you take your medicine today?"

Wei Yanzhi shook his head. "Go and rest."

The guard, who had been on edge all day due to Wei Yanzhi’s strange behavior, immediately retreated upon hearing this. The main room belonged to Wei Yanzhi, while the guard stayed in a side chamber nearby. Once the guard left and the door closed, the entire East Courtyard fell into silence. Wei Yanzhi sat quietly before the stove, his eyes still reflecting the fiery glow.

Time passed slowly. Just after the third watch, Wei Yanzhi suddenly stood up.

He strode into the inner chamber, retrieving a dark blue close-fitting martial outfit from a bundle atop the high cabinet by the bed. He swiftly put it on, extinguished the lamps in the room, and stood by the door, listening intently for a moment. Then he bolted the door and turned to the rear window of the inner chamber, leaping out through the half-open frame.

Marquis Anyang Manor was vast, but its layout followed that of a typical noble residence. Wei Yanzhi knew where Yue Qing’s courtyard was and had a general idea of Yue Ning’s location. Soon, he reached the rear of Yue Ning’s courtyard.

The late autumn night was chilly and crisp. Wei Yanzhi covered his face with a handkerchief and listened carefully—the courtyard was utterly silent, without even a flicker of light. Steeling himself, he gathered his inner strength and vaulted onto the wall.

The room containing the letter was an unused one. Scanning the area, Wei Yanzhi began searching from the side chambers. Soon, he found a room locked from the outside. Creeping along the base of the wall, he listened intently for a few moments, confirming no one was inside. Relieved, he drew a thin iron needle from his sleeve and effortlessly picked the lock.

Slipping inside, a wave of cold air greeted him, making him shiver.

Yet his heart leaped with joy—he had found the right place!

If the room was correct, the letter must be here too. Straining his eyes, Wei Yanzhi scanned the surroundings and soon spotted a small wooden box on the desk by the window. The box was delicate and compact, just large enough to hold a single letter.

Wei Yanzhi approached, opened the box, and was immediately met with the pungent scent of medicine. He pulled out a slightly damp piece of paper. Clenching his jaw, a mix of triumph and relief made his lips curl unconsciously. He tucked the letter into his sleeve, replaced the box, and crept out silently, clicking the lock back into place.

With the letter secured, Wei Yanzhi’s heart settled. Glancing back, the courtyard remained shrouded in darkness—Qin Guan and Yue Ning must still be fast asleep. All he had to do now was return and dispose of the letter, and everything would be resolved!With this thought, Wei Yanzhi's steps lightened. Following the same path, he leaped over the rear wall, channeling his inner energy as he dashed swiftly through the pitch-dark marquis' estate as if it were unguarded. The night wind was biting, but the corners of his lips curled high. His face radiated exhilaration, his chest swelled with fervor, and the mirth in his eyes nearly overflowed.

A nearly imperceptible sound—he landed silently behind his own quarters.

The window remained slightly ajar, and the entire East Courtyard was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Pushing open the window lattice, he leaped in lightly, relaxing the moment his feet touched the floor inside. He removed his face covering and eagerly pulled out the slightly damp paper, instinctively moving toward the corner to light a lamp. But just as he had taken four or five steps, the faint hiss of a fire striker sounded behind him.

At the same time, bright lamplight, along with six or seven tall shadows, fell before his eyes.

Wei Yanzhi halted mid-step, frozen as if struck by lightning.

Behind him, Huo Huaixin took a step forward. "What is the Second Young Master holding in his hand?"