Coroner's Diary

Huo Huaixin's voice carried a hint of cold mockery. Wei Yanzhi stood frozen like a statue, not turning around for a long while. Huo Huaixin took another step forward. "This letter is the key evidence to determine the murderer. Second Young Master, you stole it—could it be you wanted to know the killer's identity before we did?"

The room was stiflingly hot. Sweat poured down Wei Yanzhi's face, yet a chill crept up from his feet.

He had anticipated this. Yet after hesitating all day, he had still fallen into the trap. Only he knew—this was his only chance. Whether it was real or fake, he couldn’t afford to take the risk. Even knowing there was a ninety percent chance of exposing himself, he had to go through with it. Because once the contents of that letter were revealed, he would be cast into an abyss of eternal damnation.

Wei Yanzhi clenched his jaw and looked down at the letter in his hand. At that moment, his pupils constricted abruptly. The damp, medicine-scented letter bore not a single word—it was merely a sheet of Gilt-traced Paper smeared with medicinal liquid.

He had been tricked. This was a setup—

Huo Huaixin noticed his lowered gaze and chuckled. "Second Young Master, how could you possibly think we’d leave the real letter in the box?" Huo Huaixin narrowed his eyes, his tone dripping with sarcasm. But only Yan Chi beside him could tell—every word he spoke was measured with caution.

Sure enough, Wei Yanzhi turned around. As he did, he saw that his supposedly empty room was now filled with people.

Huo Huaixin stood at the front, with Yan Chi and Yue Qiong side by side behind him. Further back were Qi Lin, Yue Qing, and Yue Jia. Every single one of them gazed at him with mocking disdain.

Wei Yanzhi tightened his grip on the Gilt-traced Paper. Lifting his chin, he let out a cold laugh of his own. "The Prefect has gone to such lengths for my sake—even collaborating with Ninth Miss to set up such an elaborate trap."

Huo Huaixin snorted. "What do you have to say for yourself now? Ninth Miss already knew you were the murderer. This trap was only to make you admit defeat. Now that we’ve caught you red-handed, can you still claim Song Rou’s death had nothing to do with you?"

Wei Yanzhi took a deep breath, his brows furrowing. "If Ninth Miss already knew the truth, why go through all this trouble? Ah, she must still hold a grudge over that night at the Lantern Tower when she nearly lost her life."

With that, Wei Yanzhi suddenly flung the Gilt-traced Paper aside. Standing by the half-open window, the cold wind dried the sweat on his face. Straightening his back, his wildly pounding heart gradually calmed. His expression hardened, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. Huo Huaixin shook his head at the sight. "Wei Yanzhi, Song Rou cared for you. For your sake, she shifted the blame onto your elder brother. Your brother lost a leg for her. And you—you heartlessly killed Song Rou. Even now, you show no remorse?"

The corners of Wei Yanzhi’s lips curled into a bitter smile, his eyes brimming with desolation. "Elder brother? He’s the legitimate heir of the Wei family. He’s no brother of mine. Born with all the glory and affection, while I’ve slaved for him all these years. A leg? What he owes me is far more than just a leg. How can he ever repay my mother’s life?"

At this, a glimmer of moisture suddenly flickered at the corner of Wei Yanzhi’s eye."I merely met with my mother once. If he hadn't spoken out of turn, Song Jingxi wouldn't have punished my mother by making her kneel through the winter. If not for that, how could my mother have caught a chill and died so suddenly?"

Song Jingxi was the name of the Wei family matriarch. As Wei Yanzhi spat out these words through gritted teeth, his voice carried a bone-chilling hatred that made Huo Huaixin frown deeply. "You resent Madam Wei, but what does that have to do with Song Rou? Your mother's life was precious, but is Song Rou's life worthless? Moreover, she shared affection with you and even carried your child—how could you bring yourself to harm her?"

Wei Yanzhi seemed momentarily lost in thought, his gaze flickering, but soon he clenched his jaw and hissed, "I didn't want to kill her! I never wanted to kill her, but she forced my hand..."

He took a step back, his eyes reddening, yet his voice grew even harsher. "She was born a noble young lady—she had no idea what I sacrificed to get where I am today. She had such a good marriage lined up, yet she remained unsatisfied. But being unsatisfied wasn't enough—she had to drag me down with her. I didn't want her to die, but she left me no choice—"

As Wei Yanzhi spoke, his eyes widening with fervor, his words suddenly cut off. He gave Huo Huaixin a strange look, then glanced at Yan Chi and the others before breaking into an eerie smile. "You're lying to me—"

Huo Huaixin's brow twitched. "Lying about what?"

Wei Yanzhi straightened, exhaling softly as if relieved, and declared with certainty, "You don't have that letter."

Huo Huaixin narrowed his eyes. "If we didn't have the letter, how could we have set this trap for you?"

Wei Yanzhi shook his head and laughed. "No... You don't have the letter—that's why you set this trap. If you had it, the Prefect wouldn't have needed to go through such lengths to lure me in. The letter was just a pretense—you wanted to trick me into confessing the truth of that day."

His gaze swept over the discarded Gilt-traced Paper on the ground. "In the end, you still have no evidence."

Chin raised arrogantly, Wei Yanzhi stood defiant. Even if he had fallen for their scheme, without concrete proof, how could Huo Huaixin convict him as the murderer? At worst, he had stolen a letter that never existed...

Huo Huaixin let out a cold laugh. "The words you just spoke are evidence enough, Wei Yanzhi. You hated Wei Qizhi and Madam Wei, so you manipulated Song Rou into framing Wei Qizhi. You personally attended her wedding, but perhaps she still wanted to cling to you over past entanglements. Fearing exposure, you killed her in a fit of rage!"

Wei Yanzhi tilted his chin higher, now completely unafraid of Huo Huaixin.

"Go ahead and speculate, Prefect. You still won't find any proof."

Infuriated by Wei Yanzhi's contempt, Huo Huaixin waved a hand dismissively. "Take him back. Let him experience the taste of the prefectural prison cells—we'll see if his mouth is harder than the jailer's whip!"

Qi Lin acknowledged the order and stepped forward to seize Wei Yanzhi. The latter stood rigidly, a cold smirk on his face, utterly fearless. Qi Lin produced the shackles he had prepared earlier, intending to use force, but Wei Yanzhi, seeing him approach, voluntarily extended his hands—his expression still mocking, as if daring them to do their worst.

Angered by his defiance, Qi Lin snapped the shackles onto Wei Yanzhi's wrists with a loud click , then shoved him forward. "Move!"Wei Yanzhi was shoved by Qi Lin, stumbling before steadying himself. With a composed expression, he walked past Huo Huaixin and the others. Outside, the brazier in the hearth still blazed fiercely. As Wei Yanzhi reached the doorway, Qi Lin flung the door open, revealing Qin Guan and Yue Ning standing outside. The Grand Princess, supported by Jiang Shi, was also present.

It seemed everyone had come together to set this trap. Wei Yanzhi glanced at Yue Ning before locking eyes with Qin Guan. His gaze was dark and inscrutable. Another push from Qi Lin forced him to avert his eyes, and he walked past Qin Guan’s group. Outside the East Courtyard, constables were already waiting. Seeing Qi Lin escorting him out, they immediately stepped forward to seize him.

In the courtyard, the Grand Princess sighed. "Greed is the ruin of men!"

No sooner had she spoken than Huo Huaixin and the others emerged from the room, shouting, "Search! Search everywhere! I refuse to believe we’ll find nothing—" He then pointed to the side chamber. "Go, take everyone inside away as well."

Qin Guan stepped forward. The door was wide open, and the heat from the room spilled out. Frowning, she said, "Sir, examine this brazier. Wei Yanzhi has been burning something for days—there must be something unusual about it."

Huo Huaixin nodded. Just then, Qi Lin returned, and Huo Huaixin ordered, "Inspect this brazier."

Qi Lin acknowledged and led a few constables into the room. Meanwhile, Wei Yanzhi’s guards were dragged from their sleep, bewildered as they were hauled outside. The sight of the assembled crowd in the courtyard made their legs buckle; they didn’t even cry out their innocence before being dragged from the East Courtyard. Huo Huaixin crossed his arms and sighed.

"If Wei Yanzhi is stubborn, even torture might not break him."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. "There’s no doubt he’s the murderer. But we still need his confession about the weapon, and Song Rou’s head remains missing. The details of the crime can’t be overlooked. If he refuses to speak, it’ll be troublesome."

Huo Huaixin snorted. "I don’t believe—"

Qin Guan and Yue Ning exchanged glances but said nothing. They had seen the prison cells. The torture inflicted on Wei Qizhi might not be severe enough for Huo Huaixin’s standards. The real concern was whether Wei Yanzhi could endure it.

"Sir, we’ve searched the brazier. Aside from charcoal, there’s nothing unusual!"

As they pondered, Qi Lin emerged with the report. At this, Huo Huaixin frowned, while Qin Guan and Yue Ning immediately entered the room. Inside, the outer chamber was in disarray. The fire had been doused, and all the charcoal had been removed, leaving the brazier empty. Qi Lin had even sifted through the ashes below but found nothing. Qin Guan’s dark eyes tightened, her brow deeply furrowed.

Wei Yanzhi’s illness was suspicious, and then this brazier had appeared. If the brazier held no secrets, where else lay the anomaly?

Qin Guan turned and strode into the inner chamber, where constables were inspecting the contents. Her gaze swept the room before settling on two swords hanging on the wall—one long, one short, both bearing distinctive markings.Yue Ning followed in from behind. "This is Wei Yanzhi's weapon. When he fought me earlier, he used this very longsword. It's a renowned blade—though not ranked among the top, it was forged by the Liang clan of Shuoxi."

"The Liang clan? That legendary swordsmith family?" Qin Guan reacted swiftly.

Yue Ning hadn't expected Qin Guan to know even this and nodded. "Exactly. This sword comes from the Liang clan, which was exterminated in the previous dynasty. Fewer than a hundred of their blades remain in circulation today. This one is named Chengying and is recorded in the Liang clan's sword registry. Wei Yanzhi once mentioned it was a gift from the Duke's residence."

Qin Guan stepped forward and lifted Chengying from its place. With a metallic hiss, she drew the blade, its cold gleam making her pupils contract. Yue Ning approached. "Well? Does its edge intimidate?"

Qin Guan nodded and slowly unsheathed the sword further. As it fully left the scabbard, a faint hum resonated from the steel.

Narrowing her eyes, Qin Guan examined the blade's edge. Yue Ning explained, "This sword has a three-inch blunt tip, a rare design among Liang blades. Its point curves like a crescent moon—seemingly dull, yet concealing immense power within."

A spark of understanding lit Qin Guan's eyes. "If... this blade left wounds on a body, identifying a three-inch blunt-tip sword could trace it back to its specific make?"

Yue Ning instantly grasped her meaning, her own eyes brightening. "Precisely. While the Liang clan forged more than one three-inch blunt-tip sword, few remain today. Chengying is one; the others are also famous blades with known owners. A simple investigation would reveal their current whereabouts."

The corner of Qin Guan's mouth curved. "So this was Wei Yanzhi's reasoning..."

With that, she carried Chengying outside where Huo Huaixin was conversing with Yue Qiong. Seeing Qin Guan emerge with the sword, they turned their attention to her. After hearing her explanation, Huo Huaixin's eyes gleamed. "That makes perfect sense!"

Qin Guan handed him the sword. "This evidence is yours now. Pity we couldn't find more conclusive proof."

Accepting Chengying, Huo Huaixin understood Qin Guan's unspoken regret about Song Rou's missing head. Yet tonight's discoveries represented significant progress. Though anxious, he felt satisfied overall. With Wei Yanzhi confirmed as the murderer, he had methods to extract a confession—in his experience, no one truly resisted speaking when faced with death.

"Ninth Miss needn't worry," Huo Huaixin assured. "I haven't begun interrogating yet. Once we start, Wei Yanzhi will talk. Tonight's operation confirmed his guilt—that alone brings me peace of mind. As long as we've got the right man, extracting a confession is guaranteed. It's late now—you and the County Princess should escort the Grand Princess back. We'll inform you of any developments."

Turning to the Grand Princess, he added respectfully, "The night deepens, Your Highness. Your health takes precedence."

The Grand Princess hadn't needed to attend, but drawn by the unusual circumstances after years of quiet, she'd come on impulse. With temporary resolution reached, she saw no need to linger. "Very well," she nodded. "You and Yue Qiong handle the aftermath. I shall retire."

At this, Qin Guan and Yue Ning immediately supported the Grand Princess. Meanwhile, Wei Yanzhi approached Yan Chi to express gratitude. "We owe tonight's success to Your Highness's guards. Had those incompetent yamen runners been stationed here, they'd likely have ruined everything."Qin Guan walked out while glancing back. In the brightly lit East Courtyard, Yan Chi stood beside Bai Feng. Though silent, his presence was impossible to ignore. As she withdrew her gaze, Qin Guan couldn't help but reflect on Yan Chi's actions over these past days. While his imposing demeanor naturally drew attention, his methods were subtle and meticulous. Such a person would be an invaluable ally, but to accidentally become his enemy would spell disaster.

After leaving the East Courtyard, the Grand Princess sighed. "Those in high positions are never simple. Though Wei Yanzhi doesn't hold a lofty rank, given his background, his current standing must have been earned through a lifetime of caution and calculated deference. Whether his affection for Song Rou was genuine or merely a tactic no longer matters. What matters is that Song Rou ultimately became an obstacle to him."

With another melancholic sigh, the Grand Princess continued, "The deepest desires always breed the deepest hatred—even toward those once closest to you... Truly, desire is mankind's downfall."

Desire is mankind's downfall. The Grand Princess had uttered these words earlier, and hearing them again, Qin Guan felt profound respect. Humans naturally experience emotions and desires, but to be consumed by any single desire inevitably warps one's character.

"The Wei boy's mother was killed by Madam Wei. From that moment, he understood that in her eyes, those who stood in her way were expendable. When it came to Song Rou, whether he acted in a moment of rage or harbored long-held resentment, she became an obstacle—and thus, her life became equally insignificant. Those who lead smooth lives seldom turn to malice; it is often those who endure great suffering in ordinary days who become perpetrators. Such is the cruelty of fate."

The Grand Princess spoke as they walked, her weathered voice tinged with the autumn night's chill. Qin Guan felt a pang of sorrow. All things in this world have their causes and effects—Wei Yanzhi's crimes were not born overnight.

Qin Guan had witnessed many cases before, but the Grand Princess had not. Yet, drawing from a lifetime of experience, she had pierced straight to the heart of Wei Yanzhi's motives. Listening silently, Qin Guan felt deeply enlightened.

Yue Ning's expression grew solemn as she asked softly, "But Grandmother, everyone has a choice..."

The Grand Princess smiled and squeezed Yue Ning's hand. "Indeed, everyone has a choice. Had Wei Yanzhi stood by Song Rou when her pregnancy was discovered, his later years might have been wretched—or perhaps things would have turned out differently. Or if he hadn't harmed her at Shili Temple, the outcome would have changed. The same circumstances yield different choices: some choose virtue, others vice. Such is the complexity of human nature. Remember, no matter what you face in life, never lose your innate goodness."

"Yes, Grandmother. Ning'er understands."

"Rest assured, Grand Princess. Guan'er understands."

By then, they had reached the Grand Princess's courtyard. Holding Qin Guan and Yue Ning's hands, she smiled. "I have every confidence in both of you. Now, go and rest."

Qin Guan and Yue Ning bid the Grand Princess farewell before turning to leave.Qin Guan smiled and said, "No wonder Marquis Anyang Manor has prospered for generations without decline. The old marquis who chose the Grand Princess as his daughter-in-law was a renowned minister whose name will be remembered for centuries. Later, from the Grand Princess to the current marquis, the family's traditions have remained unbroken."

Yue Ning's lips curved upward. "Hearing you say that, I can't help but boast a little. Back then, it was Grandmother's idea to leave the capital. The Yue army had just won a great victory, and our influence was at its peak. Grandfather and Father had already received all possible honors—any further would have meant being enfeoffed as a prince. It was then that Grandmother decided to leave the capital for Jinzhou. Because of this, the Emperor has never doubted our family all these years."

At this point, Yue Ning snorted. "But as for this marriage, the Emperor listened to that Song Shi, the Consort Ru, and actually used such a disgraceful matter to humiliate our manor. Grandmother will certainly not let this go lightly!"

Qin Guan nodded in agreement. "Even the poorest household, as long as it has an upright, intelligent, diligent, and unyielding mistress, will never completely fall. Moreover, the Marquis's household has strict and proper traditions, and the Grand Princess's wisdom is unparalleled. Naturally, the manor will flourish for generations to come. In my opinion, for at least five more generations, it will only grow stronger."

Yue Ning laughed. "Then I'll take your auspicious words as a blessing—"

As they chatted and walked, they soon arrived at Yue Ning's courtyard gate. Before they could enter, a young maid hurried out, nearly bumping into Qin Guan and Yue Ning in her haste.

"Lü Jing, what's the matter with you?!" Lü Qi scolded lightly.

The girl named Lü Jing immediately knelt on the ground. "Please forgive me, Miss and Ninth Miss. This servant deserves death."

Yue Ning frowned. "Enough, enough. Stop saying 'deserves death' all the time. What happened to make you rush out like this?"

Lü Jing stood up, her eyes red. "The jade pendant Miss rewarded me with last time is missing."

Yue Ning raised an eyebrow. "Did you lose it yourself, or was it stolen?"

Lü Jing quickly replied, "I must have carelessly misplaced it. I took it off when changing clothes today, then took the clothes to wash. When I returned, the pendant was gone. I think it might have fallen by the well, wrapped in the clothes. I was just about to go look for it."

Hearing this, Yue Ning chuckled. "Alright, no need for tears. Go look for it first. If you can't find it, I'll give you another one when you return."

Overjoyed, Lü Jing thanked her profusely and hurried off to the laundry courtyard.

Qin Guan remarked, "The Junzhu treats her servants so well—"

Yue Ning smiled. "They're all young girls who left their mothers at a tender age to serve here. It's pitiful when you think about it. Usually, they work very diligently in my courtyard, so naturally, I treat them well."

At this, Lü Qi added from behind, "Ninth Miss may not know, but the Junzhu is the most considerate mistress I've ever seen. See, even if Lü Jing can't find her pendant, it's no trouble. The Junzhu is truly the kindest master."

Hearing this, Fuling couldn't help but interject, "My mistress is also very good. She even teaches me medicine."

Lü Qi was genuinely surprised. Most masters showed kindness through food, clothing, or monetary rewards, but Qin Guan's approach was different—teaching medicine was, at the very least, a skill that could allow one to become self-sufficient...

Yue Ning was the first to laugh. "Then I can't compare to your mistress..."Fuling wore a proud expression, but Qin Guan, walking beside her, suddenly stopped with a solemn face.

Yue Ning was startled. "What's wrong?"

Qin Guan raised her eyes. "That maid just now—where did she say she was going to look for the jade pendant?"

Yue Ning and Lüqi exchanged glances. Yue Ning replied, "She said she was going to the well near the laundry courtyard..."

Qin Guan narrowed her eyes and murmured, "The jade pendant was wrapped in the clothes, the clothes were taken to the well to be washed, and the pendant fell near the well..." As she spoke, she suddenly lifted her head. "I've got it!"

"Got what?!" Yue Ning hurriedly asked.

But Qin Guan was already striding toward the East courtyard, lifting the hem of her skirt.

"I know why we couldn't find anything unusual about the stove."

Yue Ning was taken aback. "What do you mean the stove's peculiarity wasn't found? Didn't we just check it?"

Qin Guan was walking hurriedly, with Yue Ning following behind. Lüqi and Fuling also scrambled to keep up when they heard Qin Guan say anxiously, "Because the jade pendant was in the clothes, and the clothes were by the well..."

Yue Ning didn't understand at first and turned to look, only to see Fuling and Lüqi equally confused.

Qin Guan knew the three of them didn't grasp her meaning, but there was no time to explain further. She was practically jogging toward the East Courtyard. From a distance, she saw the constables outside the courtyard heading their way, with Huo Huaixin and Yue Qiong bringing up the rear of the group.

"Prefect, Lord Marquis—"

Huo Huaixin was in the middle of speaking with Yue Qiong when Qin Guan suddenly appeared. Frowning, Huo Huaixin asked, "Ninth Miss? Didn't you go back to rest? Why are you here again?"

Qin Guan ran up to Huo Huaixin, panting. "Prefect, I know the stove's peculiarity now! The ashes—go check the ashes..."

Huo Huaixin blinked. "We already checked the ashes."

Qin Guan shook her head. "No, the ashes outside! In the courtyard!"

Huo Huaixin was momentarily stunned, but Qin Guan had already rushed toward the courtyard gate. Huo Huaixin quickly turned to follow. As soon as he reached the gate, he saw Qin Guan had already run to the pile of ashes in the corner of the yard.

Behind them, Yue Qiong and Yue Ning caught up, both startled by the scene.

Meanwhile, Qin Guan had rolled up her sleeves. Her gaze swept the area, landing on a pair of iron tongs discarded beside the ash pile. Without hesitation, she picked them up, ignoring the grime, and began sifting through the ashes. Fuling, watching from outside, hurried in.

"Miss, let me handle this—"

Qin Guan shook her head. "Just wait here."

Fuling looked anxious, but Qin Guan was determined to do it herself. Huo Huaixin strode forward. "Ninth Miss, what are you—"

"Found it!"

Before Huo Huaixin could finish his question, Qin Guan's voice rang out—calm yet tinged with excitement.

Everyone turned to see that Qin Guan had unearthed a white lump from the ashes. The lump was ash-gray and about half the size of a palm. Yue Ning felt inexplicably unsettled looking at it and asked, "What is that thing...?"

Qin Guan set the lump aside, her voice icy. "If I'm not mistaken, it's Song Rou's skull."

"What?!" Huo Huaixin's eyes widened. "Song Rou's skull?!"

Qin Guan nodded as she continued digging through the ashes. "Yes! I always thought Wei Yanzhi suddenly lighting the stove was suspicious. Earlier, when we checked the stove and found nothing, I was puzzled. Then it occurred to me—Wei Yanzhi wouldn't leave such an obvious clue in the stove. He must have disposed of it, which led me to think of the ash pile in the courtyard!"

She paused briefly before adding, "These ashes would have been cleared away first thing tomorrow morning. By then, there would have been no trace left. Wei Yanzhi would have disposed of Song Rou's skull without anyone knowing, and we would never have found it."

Huo Huaixin's lips twitched, but no words came out. Beside him, Yue Ning and Yue Qiong wore equally complicated expressions.

Wei Yanzhi was a clever man, but he hadn't anticipated Qin Guan digging through the ash pile. Just a little longer, and Song Rou's skull would have vanished from the world without a trace.

Huo Huaixin's chest heaved a few times before he suddenly barked at the constables outside, "What are you standing around for? Start digging through that ash pile!"At the command, Qi Lin immediately led his men forward, while Fuling hurriedly helped Qin Guan to her feet. Qin Guan looked at the pile of ashes before her and asked, "Where do the ashes from this courtyard usually get dumped?"

Yue Ning quickly replied, "They're taken to the flowerbeds in the north! The gardeners there mix the ashes with soil for the plants. All the ashes from the kitchens and water-heating rooms in the estate are sent there..."

Qin Guan then turned to Huo Huaixin, "Marquis, it seems we won't be resting tonight."

Just how much ash would all the kitchens and water-heating rooms in the Marquis's estate produce in a day? The amount sent from the East courtyard was only a small portion. With Song Rou's skull already shattered, searching for cranial fragments in a mountain of ashes would be like finding a needle in a haystack—a laborious task indeed. Yet at this moment, Huo Huaixin wouldn't dream of complaining about overworking his men; he himself was ready to dig through the ash piles!

"Captain Qi, take your men to the flowerbeds. Marquis, we'll likely need help from your household staff as well. Let's try to find all the necessary bones tonight..."

Yue Qiong naturally couldn't refuse. Qin Guan added, "Wei Yanzhi's furnace has been burning for nearly six days. To completely burn away the flesh and reduce the bones to fragments would take at least three days. We need to search through the ashes from the past three days."

Yue Qiong nodded and went out to instruct Yang Xi.

The commotion that night was considerable. Yue Qing and others had initially retired for the night but rose again upon hearing the activity in the estate. Before long, even Yan Chi arrived at the flowerbeds. At a glance, he saw Qin Guan and Yue Ning standing at the edge, while servants rummaged through several ash piles in the flowerbeds nearby, with Huo Huaixin standing by, occasionally urging them on.

"Search carefully! Don't overlook even the smallest fragments!"

"Make sure not to mix in other debris!"

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow and walked toward Qin Guan and the others.

Meanwhile, Yue Qing was asking, "So, Ninth Miss, are you going to reconstruct the bones later?"

As he spoke, he glanced at the tray beside them containing scattered bone fragments. "The bones are shattered like this—how will you reconstruct them?"

If a complete skull were placed before everyone, it would likely terrify them all. But now that the entire head had been burned and shattered by Wei Yanzhi, the sight of fragmented bones no longer inspired fear.

Yan Chi, approaching, slowed his steps upon hearing the question—he too wanted to know how Qin Guan planned to reconstruct the bones.

Qin Guan replied, "These bones belong to different parts. The most fragmented pieces probably can't be reassembled, but the general structure can still be reconstructed." She then looked at Yue Qing and added, "Could I trouble the Second Young Master to fetch some fish glue?"

Yue Qing frowned at first, seeming hesitant, but soon his eyes brightened slightly. "Alright, it's almost dawn. I'll go to the Baoqin Zhai in the city. I'll bring back the fish glue within an hour—"

With that, Yue Qing left. Yue Ning watched his swiftly disappearing figure with confusion. "Fish glue? Isn't that used in carpentry? What's Second Brother going to Baoqin Zhai for?"Upon hearing this, Qin Guan smiled and said, "Fish glue is made from fish bladders and has excellent adhesive properties. It's quite rare and not only serves as a glue but also has medicinal benefits, such as replenishing essence, nourishing blood, strengthening the kidneys, and fortifying the body's foundation. Typically, it's only used when crafting extremely fine furniture. Additionally, fish glue is the best choice for making musical instruments like qin, xiao, drums, and sheng. 'Bao Qin Zhai' sounds like a shop that sells qin instruments, so it’s likely they have luthiers there—and naturally, fish glue as well."

Yue Ning looked at Qin Guan with admiration. "Just how many books have you read? How do you know so many obscure things?"

Qin Guan smiled faintly but didn’t respond. Just then, Yan Chi stepped forward.

"Ninth Miss's breadth of knowledge is remarkable. Some of the books you’ve read, even I haven’t heard of," Yan Chi remarked.

At these words, Qin Guan’s heart skipped a beat. Yet when she turned her gaze, she met Yan Chi’s shimmering eyes.

It was already the latter half of the night. The layers of dark clouds in the sky had dispersed, revealing a crescent moon hanging obliquely at the horizon. The moonlight was serene, and though no stars were visible, it cast a clear glow over the autumn dawn. Yan Chi’s eyes seemed tinged with the moon’s radiance, reflecting both the bright lanterns around the flower beds and Qin Guan herself.

"I’ve merely skimmed a few miscellaneous books. Your Highness flatters me," Qin Guan replied lightly, lowering her eyes. Yan Chi was a man of deep and reserved thoughts—she couldn’t discern the meaning behind his earlier words.

Yan Chi curved his lips and instead turned his attention to the bone fragments that had been sorted on the tray. He casually picked up a piece, showing no aversion to handling human remains. "Do you know where each of these bones comes from in the human body?"

Qin Guan glanced at the bone, about the size of half a tea saucer, in Yan Chi’s hand and narrowed her eyes slightly. "The one Your Highness holds is a mandible."

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow and examined the unremarkable bone in his hand. Broken and jagged at the edges, it bore no obvious resemblance to a human jaw. Beside him, Yue Ning instinctively touched her own chin, suddenly feeling a chill run down her spine.

Yan Chi set the bone down with a soft chuckle. "Whether in medicine or Corpse Examination, Ninth Miss ranks among the top three I’ve ever encountered. The other two are both in their sixties, and neither excels in both fields as you do. The title of 'Divine Physician' is well-deserved. I am deeply impressed."

This effusive praise only deepened Qin Guan’s suspicion. Was Yan Chi testing her or genuinely complimenting her?

Expecting further probing, Qin Guan was surprised when Yan Chi simply stepped aside after setting down the bone. Her heart pounding, she murmured another modest refusal and excused herself to inspect the bone-searching efforts by the ash pile.

Once Qin Guan had walked away, Yue Ning lifted her chin and looked at Yan Chi. "What are your intentions toward her?"

Yan Chi turned his gaze to Yue Ning. "What do you mean, Princess?"

Yue Ning scoffed. "In your recent letter to the capital, you wrote that your return date was uncertain. Is someone urging you to return to the capital soon? You have no business in Jinzhou—what reason do you have to stay?"

Yan Chi withdrew his gaze and instead looked toward Qin Guan in the distance. "There is a reason, of course."Yue Ning glanced at Yan Chi, then followed his gaze to Qin Guan, her brows furrowing in displeasure. She felt a surge of irritation, convinced that Yan Chi had some sinister nature and harbored improper intentions toward Qin Guan. Yet, seeing his expression, the words died on her lips. Moreover, given their respective statuses, she couldn’t very well reprimand him.

Qin Guan remained oblivious to the tension between the two, focusing instead on the growing pile of fragmented bones in the tray. As the crescent moon dipped lower and the sky brightened, the bones had nearly formed a small hill.

By dawn, Qin Guan counted the bones in the tray and said, "Prefect, we’re missing five teeth, but the rest are mostly accounted for. The overly fragmented pieces won’t hinder us if they can’t be found. Let’s proceed to the front courtyard."

Huo Huaixin, dark circles under his eyes from the sleepless night, nodded hastily. He instructed Qi Lin to stay behind and continue searching before following Qin Guan and the others to the front courtyard. Qin Guan carried the tray of fragmented bones herself, but before she had taken more than a few steps, a large hand reached from behind and took the tray from her. She turned to see it was Yan Chi.

Raising an eyebrow, Qin Guan felt her suspicion rise once more.

In the faint morning light, the tumultuous two days of Song Rou’s case were coming to an end. Everyone was eager to see how Qin Guan would piece these fragmented bones into a human skull. Shortly after Qin Guan entered the front courtyard, Yue Qing returned with fish glue.

In the main hall of the front courtyard, the bones had been cleaned and laid out piece by piece on the table.

Watching from the side, Yue Qing couldn’t help but ask, "Ninth Miss, how do you plan to assemble them?"

"First the cranial vault, then the facial bones."

Qin Guan’s expression was solemn as she spoke, already picking out the two largest bone fragments. She applied fish glue to the sides and carefully fitted them together. The adhesive held firmly, joining the pieces seamlessly. Lowering her head, she searched for the next piece, and soon another fragment was added. One by one, the bones came together, and before long, the dome-like shape of the cranial vault began to take form. Yan Chi and Yue Qiong watched with admiration, while Huo Huaixin’s eyes widened in amazement. Yue Ning could only marvel in silent awe.

Once the cranial vault was assembled, Qin Guan moved on to the frontal and occipital bones, her meticulous focus unwavering. Though the room was crowded, no one dared disturb her—the silence was so profound one could hear a pin drop. Next came the sphenoid, temporal, and ethmoid bones, and gradually, the basic structure of the skull, including the cranial cavity, took shape. Qin Guan didn’t relax for a moment, carefully identifying and fitting even the tiniest fragments. After a little over half an hour, the facial bones began to resemble a human face.

Qin Guan worked steadily, unhurried, yet no one in the room dared to speak or rush her. She connected the cranial and facial bones, then methodically filled in the remaining gaps with the leftover fragments. Another half-hour passed, and only a few fingernail-sized bone pieces remained unused. Qin Guan straightened up and exhaled softly.

"The hyoid bone and inferior nasal concha are only half present, so we’ll leave them out for now. As for the remaining teeth, they aren’t crucial to the case..." Qin Guan spoke calmly, her gaze sweeping carefully over the reconstructed skull before her.Due to the absence of many fragmented bones, there were still small gaps on this skull that couldn't be fully reconstructed. To others, the entire skull appeared riddled with scars. However, Qin Guan paused and said, "A crescent-shaped wound one inch long can be seen below the occipital bone of the deceased, likely inflicted by a blade with a one-inch-wide edge. Since the injury is on the bone, the murder weapon can be directly compared. It's tentatively concluded to have been caused by Wei Yanzhi's Chengying sword."

"This injury would have immediately rendered the victim paralyzed but wouldn't have been fatal." After a brief pause, Qin Guan frowned and continued, "This means the assailant first attacked the victim from behind, then decapitated them while they were still conscious."