Coroner's Diary

Qin Guan's heart skipped a beat. "A death? Someone died in Qin Manor?"

Yan Chi nodded. "Yes, so you shouldn't worry about other matters now. You should return to the manor immediately."

A chill ran up Qin Guan's spine. "Who died in Qin Manor?"

"It seems to be one of your family's concubines," Yan Chi said, pulling Qin Guan along as they continued walking out. "It was reported to the prefect's office half an hour ago. The Prefect is already on his way to Qin Manor."

Qin Guan was still processing the news. "A concubine? There are many concubines in the manor. I wonder which one it was..."

Yan Chi glanced back at her briefly. "I don't know either. We'll find out when we get there."

This sudden news left Qin Guan both shocked and suspicious, momentarily stunned. She could only continue staring at Yan Chi's profile as she asked, "How did the Crown Prince come to know about this?"

Yan Chi's voice was grave. "I had just returned to Qin Manor briefly and was about to visit the prefect's office when I heard the Prefect was heading to Qin Manor for a murder case. I intended to go directly, but upon leaving, I learned you were here, so I came to fetch you."

Qin Guan didn't understand why Yan Chi would also go after hearing that Huo Huaixin was heading to Qin Manor. Huo Huaixin was the Prefect, but what was Yan Chi's reason?

Her mind was in turmoil, and the question didn't seem important at the moment. As Prince Rui's Heir, though he had been away in the military these past few days, his status allowed him to go wherever he pleased.

Lowering her gaze, Qin Guan had no choice but to quicken her pace as Yan Chi pulled her along. After a few more steps, Yan Chi glanced back at the fluttering hem of her skirt and subtly slowed his pace. Fuling, following behind, had been jogging to keep up and heaved a sigh of relief when Yan Chi slowed down.

The group exited the East courtyard and reached the main path of the estate. Qin Guan's mind was heavy with thoughts of who might have died in Qin Manor when suddenly, Yue Ning's voice rang out.

"Qin Guan, are you returning to the manor?"

Qin Guan looked up to see Yue Ning at the front, followed by Yue Qing and the Grand Princess, with Jiang Shi accompanying them.

It seemed they had all heard about the incident at Qin Manor, their expressions grave.

Qin Guan nodded. "I don't know the details yet. I need to return and see."

Only after speaking did Qin Guan realize her hand was still clasped in Yan Chi's. She was about to pull away when Yan Chi, as if sensing her intention, released it. Yue Ning glanced at Yan Chi but said nothing.

Having come to the marquis's estate, it was only proper to pay respects to the Grand Princess first. Earlier, the Grand Princess had been absent, but now Qin Guan stepped forward to greet her. The Grand Princess took Qin Guan's hand. "Very well. We don't know what happened yet, but you should go back and see. Take care of yourself."

Qin Guan murmured an acknowledgment. "The medicine I prepared for you is in your courtyard. It's mainly for recuperation—three times a day, just as before. Please remember to take it on time."

The Grand Princess patted the back of Qin Guan's hand. "Enough of that. I'm already much better. Go back and see what's happened. You can come again tomorrow."

Qin Guan nodded, but the Grand Princess then turned to Yan Chi. "Are you going too, Xiao Qi?"

Yan Chi nodded, and the Grand Princess sighed. "Very well. Go and see if there's anything you can help with. You've just received the imperial decree and now this—you can't simply walk away."

Yan Chi nodded. "Don't worry, Aunt. I understand."Qin Guan's mind was in a haze. Though she heard the conversation between Yan Chi and the Grand Princess clearly, a faint suspicion arose in her heart. Yet she didn't dwell on it too much—matters like imperial decrees were beyond her purview. Thus, Qin Guan asked no questions, only thinking of returning to Qin Manor as soon as possible to see what had happened.

After speaking, Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan. "Let's go—"

With that, he strode off. Qin Guan curtsied to the Grand Princess and Jiang Shi before following behind Yan Chi. Yue Ning watched them and said, "A life has been lost at Qin Manor. I wonder what exactly happened. I’d like to go and see for myself."

The Grand Princess gave her a disapproving glance. "Their household is in turmoil—what identity would you use to follow them? You’ll find out sooner or later. There’s no need to rush, and it would be terribly impolite to intrude now."

Yue Ning nodded slightly. "I was just saying it, Grandmother. Don’t worry, I understand."

The Grand Princess shook her head. "Qin Manor... even without incidents, it’s not a good place. Now that trouble has arisen, Wan Yatou is in for a difficult time."

At this, both Yue Ning and Yue Qing wore worried expressions. Jiang Shi, however, reassured, "Mother, don’t fret. Wan’er is blessed, and besides, she has us. We won’t let her suffer too much."

Meanwhile, Qin Guan followed Yan Chi out of the marquis’ estate and saw two horses waiting outside, in addition to her carriage.

Without hesitation, Qin Guan hurried into the carriage. Yan Chi raised an eyebrow, then mounted his horse alongside Bai Feng. At Qin Guan’s command—"Hurry, back to the manor!"—the carriage curtain fell, and the driver cracked his whip.

As the carriage rolled forward, Fuling asked nervously, "Miss, how could someone have died at the manor?"

Qin Guan shook her head, her clear, spring-like eyes narrowing into deep pools of thought.

"I don’t know. We’ll find out once we return."

At this point, Qin Guan didn’t even know who had died, so she couldn’t draw any conclusions. Yet, deep down, she wasn’t entirely surprised that a life had been lost at Qin Manor. Before this, there had already been a murder case there—though the victim had miraculously come back to life, while the culprit remained hidden.

Was this new death connected to the previous incident?

The carriage wheels creaked as they turned, and the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed outside. Qin Guan lifted the curtain and glanced out. Yan Chi could have ridden ahead at full speed, but because of her carriage, he had slowed his pace. Only now did Qin Guan’s bewilderment surge forth—why was Yan Chi here? And why was he following her carriage?

She pulled the curtain aside and called out to him, "Your Highness, do you need to see the Prefect for some matter?"

Yan Chi, seated high on his horse, glanced down at her. "What of it?"

Qin Guan replied, "My carriage is too slow. If you have urgent business, please go ahead."

Yan Chi’s phoenix eyes narrowed as he swept a glance over her before turning away. Yet he made no move to quicken his pace, continuing to ride alongside her carriage. Qin Guan found his lofty demeanor almost unbearable to look upon. Frowning, she let the curtain fall. She had made her stance clear—whether he listened was up to him.

Inside the dimly lit carriage, Qin Guan decided to ignore Yan Chi and focused instead on the situation at Qin Manor.Yesterday, Qin Shuang had just fallen into that well. Liu Chun said the well was usable again, but by evening, Old Madam had ordered it sealed. Who was the deceased? Could it be related to that well?

The more Qin Guan thought about it, the graver her expression became. She wished the carriage could fly back to Qin Manor at once.

Since Qin Guan had given the order, the coachman didn’t dare delay, cracking the whip urgently. The speed was indeed much faster than usual. In less than half an hour, the carriage stopped outside Qin Manor.

As soon as Qin Guan stepped out, she noticed that besides the Qin family’s own gatekeeper at the side entrance, there were also two yamen constables standing guard. The two seemed to be waiting for someone. When they saw Qin Guan’s carriage stop, they immediately strode over.

Qin Guan was taken aback, but the two constables turned their attention to Yan Chi. “Greetings, Crown Prince. Your Highness, the Prefect has already entered Qin Manor. Please come with us.”

Qin Guan’s brows furrowed tightly. So Yan Chi really did have urgent business with the Prefect.

As she was thinking this, Yan Chi glanced at her and said, “Aren’t you coming?”

Qin Guan had initially intended to maintain propriety and let Yan Chi, given his status, go first. But since he had spoken, she naturally wanted to follow immediately. The two constables walked swiftly, and Yan Chi was no slower. Qin Guan lifted her skirts and hurried after them. As soon as she entered the manor, she saw the gatekeeper’s grave expression. Moving further inside, she noticed a few servants still coming and going in the outer courtyard, but the deeper they went toward the inner quarters, the quieter it became. The two constables clearly knew their way, striding ahead confidently. Qin Guan saw they were heading east!

A sense of unease surged in Qin Guan’s chest. Following the corridor straight ahead, she realized the constables didn’t stop even when they passed the medicine storage. She understood then—the deceased was a concubine, and they were likely heading to the concubines’ quarters.

Sure enough, the two constables slowed their pace as they reached the concubines’ courtyard. However, the concubines’ residences were lined up in a row, and Qin Guan didn’t know which one they were heading to. She glanced back at Fuling, who was also watching the constables’ path with great tension. Suddenly, the two constables turned and entered one of the courtyards.

Qin Guan’s brows knitted together, and Fuling gasped sharply.

The constables had entered the courtyard of Eighth Concubine Liu Shi!

Qin Guan’s hands clenched her sleeves tightly. Liu Shi was dead?!

Liu Shi had been to the Purple Bamboo Forest. Was her death connected to Ninth Miss’s?

Qin Guan’s heart pounded like a drum. Yan Chi, walking ahead, glanced back at her, his gaze deep and heavy.

“Crown Prince—greetings, Your Highness!”

As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, Huo Huaixin came out to meet them, followed by Qin Chen and Old Madam Jiang Shi, both looking grim. Standing beside Jiang Shi were Cai He and Lin Shi.

Huo Huaixin bowed deeply, and the rest of the Qin family followed suit. When they noticed Qin Guan trailing behind Yan Chi, Jiang Shi and the others’ expressions shifted slightly. Yan Chi lifted his chin slightly. “Rise. No need for formalities.”

Jiang Shi was helped up by Lin Shi and Cai He. Yan Chi then turned to Huo Huaixin. “What’s the situation?”

Huo Huaixin wiped a thin layer of sweat from his brow and shook his head. “Preliminary findings suggest homicide—death by strangulation. The inner courtyard servants have all been gathered in the steward’s hall for questioning. Xu He is inside examining the body.”

Qin Guan’s brow twitched. Yan Chi looked at Qin Chen and Jiang Shi, frowning. “Where is Qin Laoye?”Now that a murder case had occurred in Qin Manor, it should have been Qin Laoye presiding over matters. But why was he nowhere to be seen?

Huo Huaixin gave a bitter smile. "Qin Laoye is ill—gravely ill, in fact. So now, the eldest young master Qin Chen and Old Madam are handling affairs together. If the Crown Prince has any questions, they can provide answers."

As he spoke, Qin Chen stepped forward and said, "Your Highness may direct any inquiries to me."

Yan Chi nodded slowly, his brow carrying an imposing air. He remained silent, and Huo Huaixin wiped a thin layer of sweat from his forehead. Qin Chen and the others also grew tense, unsure of what to say. Glancing around, Qin Chen spotted Qin Guan and said, "Ninth Miss, since you've just returned, you should go back to Orchid Isle Courtyard. This matter surely has nothing to do with you, and staying here would be inauspicious."

Qin Guan had left Qin Manor early in the morning and appeared alongside Yan Chi, likely because they had both been at the marquis's residence. Meanwhile, Qin Xiang, Qin Shuang, and others were absent—clearly, Jiang Shi and Lin Shi didn’t want the younger generation involved in such affairs. Qin Chen’s suggestion was reasonable, but as soon as he finished speaking, Yan Chi interjected, "I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble Ninth Miss a little."

Qin Chen froze, as did Qin Guan and Huo Huaixin standing nearby.

Yan Chi swept his gaze over Qin Chen and the others. "This case concerns Qin Manor’s reputation. Governor Huo and I are unfamiliar with your household, but Ninth Miss enjoys Grand Princess’s deep trust. She will accompany us and clarify any uncertainties we encounter."

Then, he looked at Qin Guan. "What do you say?"

Qin Guan met his eyes, understanding that Yan Chi intended for her to participate in the case. Yet she still couldn’t fathom why he was suddenly taking charge—he hadn’t shown such interest in Song Rou’s case.

"Of course, I will comply with Your Highness’s orders..."

Meanwhile, Qin Chen hesitated before speaking again. "But... a death is involved, and Ninth Miss is still young. She might be frightened. If Your Highness doesn’t mind, I could—"

Yan Chi frowned. "It’s not that I find the eldest young master unsuitable, but since this case occurred in Qin Manor, it would be best for you to avoid any appearance of impropriety."

Qin Chen paled slightly. Yan Chi then turned his cold gaze toward Jiang Shi and the others. "The crime took place in Qin Manor, and all of you are members of the household. I don’t wish to suspect any of you, but by protocol, you should all step aside."

After all, Qin Manor was still an aristocratic family in Jinzhou—even Huo Huaixin couldn’t be so blunt. But Yan Chi had no such reservations. With his words, Qin Chen and Jiang Shi had no room for negotiation.

Qin Chen could only nod. "Yes, the Crown Prince speaks wisely."

Yan Chi gave a slight nod, seeming somewhat satisfied, then turned to Huo Huaixin. "Escort Old Madam and the eldest young master to rest elsewhere. You can brief me on the case details. Now, take me to see the victim’s body."

Huo Huaixin wiped his sweat again and quickly directed a nearby constable. "Go, take Old Madam to the side hall to rest." Then, he smiled at Jiang Shi. "Old Madam, please go and rest for now. We’ll call upon you if we have further questions."

Jiang Shi, clutching a string of prayer beads, pressed her palms together in a Buddhist salute. "Amitabha. This matter is in your hands, Prefect." She then bowed slightly to Yan Chi before leading Qin Chen and the others away.

Once they had left, Yan Chi asked, "Where is the body?"Huo Huaixin raised his hand to gesture inside, "Inside, please, Crown Prince—"

Yan Chi took a few steps forward before turning back, only to see Qin Guan still standing in place, unmoving. Yan Chi frowned, "What? Don’t you want to see what happened to the body?"

Qin Guan straightened her back. Of course she did! Even if it weren’t happening in Qin Manor, her years of experience assisting her father in investigations would drive her to look into any suspicious case she encountered on the street. But...

She frowned at Yan Chi, "Is the Crown Prince taking charge of this case?"

It wasn’t that Qin Guan was overstepping, but Yan Chi should have been at the Yue family’s military camp—why was he here at Qin Manor? She had assumed he sought Governor Huo for other matters, but now it seemed he had come specifically for the case at Qin Manor.

Something felt off. There must be something she didn’t know.

Though her question was vague, both Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin understood her meaning. Huo Huaixin even grinned, "Ninth Miss is surprised His Highness is handling the case? Haha, you must not know yet—His Highness has now been entrusted with the weighty responsibility of the Criminal Investigation Commissioner of the Ministry of Justice, equivalent in rank to the Left Vice Minister of Justice. Since he is currently in Jinzhou, all homicide cases here naturally fall under his jurisdiction."

Qin Guan’s eyes widened. "Criminal Investigation Commissioner?"

The position of Criminal Investigation Commissioner was not a permanent one, but any title bearing the words "Investigation Commissioner" was typically appointed directly by the Emperor and the Central Secretariat, carrying imperial authority to oversee and supervise local governance, with powers extending to official evaluations and administrative supervision. As the Criminal Investigation Commissioner, Yan Chi might not interfere in other matters, but all criminal investigations and litigation cases in Jinzhou were now his responsibility. With him here, Huo Huaixin and the prefectural judicial office effectively became his subordinates. Whatever he said regarding Qin Manor’s case would carry the most weight. But why had Yan Chi suddenly been given the title of Criminal Investigation Commissioner?

"Indeed, the Criminal Investigation Commissioner," Huo Huaixin sighed. Seeing no outsiders nearby, he added, "Miss Song’s case was reported back to the capital. Given its connection to Marquis Anyang Manor and Duke Song’s household, and considering Grand Princess’s likely fury, His Majesty likely pushed His Highness forward. This case was extremely delicate, and His Majesty had no idea how long it would take to solve, so he wanted His Highness to lead it—both to preserve the dignity of the involved families and to ensure the perpetrator was brought to justice."

Pausing, Huo Huaixin gave a wry smile. "But who would’ve thought? Before the imperial decree even arrived from the capital, the case was solved with Ninth Miss’s help. The decree came yesterday afternoon, and at the time, I remarked that it was too late—that His Highness’s role as Investigation Commissioner had turned into a sinecure. Yet no sooner had those words left my mouth than Qin Manor encountered trouble today..."

Huo Huaixin laughed helplessly, and Qin Guan blinked in response. Miss Song’s case had indeed been highly sensitive, and the Emperor, knowing Yan Chi’s close ties to Marquis Anyang Manor, had made a shrewd move by appointing him. Moreover, given Yan Chi’s status and decisiveness, he wouldn’t hesitate in handling the case, ensuring swift resolution. Still, the Emperor likely hadn’t anticipated the case being solved so quickly. But was the imperial decree specifically assigning Yan Chi to oversee Miss Song’s case, or had it formally confirmed his position as Criminal Investigation Commissioner? If the former, it was one thing—but if the latter, the situation would become far more complicated."However, it seems His Majesty also intends to use this opportunity to test and temper the Crown Prince. This case happens to be the perfect chance for His Highness to demonstrate his abilities." Huo Huaixin added another flattering remark, "With His Highness here, it's like taking a calming pill for me. The direction of this investigation will be entirely up to His Highness, and I will certainly serve as his vanguard."

Though Huo Huaixin's words were tinged with flattery, Qin Guan's heart sank slightly.

Yan Chi had returned from the Northwest Frontier Army—was he not going back to the military but instead entering the court?

If the Emperor truly intended for Yan Chi to gain experience in the role of Judicial Commissioner, did that mean he planned to keep him in the Ministry of Justice? Once such arrangements were made, it would be extremely difficult for Yan Chi to return to the army!

In that fleeting moment, Qin Guan's thoughts raced, yet Yan Chi's expression remained unreadable. He glanced at Qin Guan before turning to enter the courtyard. "Prefect, tell me what you've learned from the moment you received the news until now."

Yan Chi slowed his steps slightly, and Huo Huaixin hurried to keep up. "This official received the report from a servant of Qin Manor at the yamen an hour and a half ago. The servant only mentioned a death in the manor and nothing else. Upon hearing it involved Qin Manor, I immediately sent someone to inform the Crown Prince while heading over myself. By the time I arrived, the inner courtyard of Qin Manor had already been secured, with all servants kept at a distance. The strict discipline of Qin Manor's household is evident—having no unnecessary people around made things much easier. When I entered with my men, the maids in this courtyard said that when they opened the door this morning, they found the concubine dead in her room. They were so frightened they reported it to Madam Liu, who then sent someone to inform the authorities."

After a brief pause, Huo Huaixin continued, "The deceased is the Eighth Concubine of the manor, much favored by the master. However, since Qin Laoye fell ill recently, he rarely visited the inner quarters, and the concubine herself had also fallen ill these past few days, still taking medicine. She died in her own bed. Only two personal maids attended to her in this courtyard. They said that after the concubine retired early last night, they closed the courtyard gate and went to sleep. It wasn't until this morning when they opened the door that they discovered her dead."

Yan Chi frowned. "The door wasn't locked?"

Huo Huaixin nodded. "The door wasn't locked."

As they spoke, Yan Chi looked toward the main room ahead. "Is this her quarters?"

Huo Huaixin confirmed, "Yes, Xu He is inside examining the body."

Yan Chi strode toward the main room, while Qin Guan, visiting Liu Shi's courtyard for the first time, surveyed the surroundings with curiosity. The concubine's courtyard was not as large as those of the young masters or misses, but Qin Manor had always been known for its refined elegance. Liu Shi's courtyard seemed designed to reflect her name, with weeping willows planted along the walls and peonies blooming beneath them—perhaps hinting at her charm. A miniature mountain and flowing water adorned the central courtyard. In spring, though small, this courtyard would undoubtedly be a picturesque and pleasant retreat.

Qin Guan swept her gaze around briefly before stepping through the main door. The moment she entered, a pungent medicinal odor made her frown. The scent was a mix of herbs, but Qin Guan immediately identified several familiar ingredients. Calculating quickly, she realized the prescription was one she knew well...

"Xu He, the Crown Prince and Ninth Miss are here. What have you found so far?"

Huo Huaixin turned right from the main hall and entered the chambers of the Eighth Concubine. Here, a pungent mix of heavy cosmetics and medicinal odors assaulted the senses. Qin Guan discreetly surveyed the concubine’s quarters and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. While the courtyard outside appeared somewhat scenic, it wasn’t markedly superior to other compounds. Yet the interior was a different story—every decorative item was crafted from jade, the porcelain exquisite and of the highest quality. Even the calligraphy and paintings adorning the walls included several masterpieces from renowned artists of previous dynasties. Qin Guan sighed inwardly: this Eighth Concubine was indeed extraordinarily favored!

"Greetings to the Crown Prince and Ninth Miss—"

The inner chamber was even more opulent. Xu He, clad in white robes, stood inside. Despite the days that had passed, his scholarly demeanor remained unchanged. He bowed to Yan Chi and Qin Guan before frowning and saying, "My lord, please come see—"

At this, Huo Huaixin hurried over. Qin Guan followed Yan Chi to the bedside.

In the past, Huo Huaixin and Xu He might have worried about frightening Qin Guan, but now the three men deliberately made space for her to examine the scene. Qin Guan stepped forward without hesitation and immediately saw the long-deceased Eighth Concubine, Liu Shi.

Perhaps due to Liu Shi’s love for red, the bed curtains were a vibrant shade of water-red. Now fully drawn back, the brocade quilt had been set aside, transforming the once-luxurious bed into a temporary bier for Liu Shi.

Liu Shi still wore her thin, water-red gauze dress. Xu He had only conducted the most basic examination and hadn’t removed her clothing. Beneath the gauze, her figure remained shapely and alluring. But when Qin Guan saw Liu Shi’s face, a wave of discomfort surged within her.

Liu Shi’s eyes were closed, her deathly pallor smothered under a thick layer of white powder—even thicker than when Qin Guan had first seen her. Despite this, her face appeared bluish-purple and swollen. Combined with the ashen hue of death, her closed eyes gave her the terrifying visage of a vengeful ghost, enough to chill the blood. The greasy powder coated her face and seemed to extend down her neck, making the purple ligature marks starkly visible against the stark white backdrop. No wonder Huo Huaixin said Xu He had concluded Liu Shi was strangled.

Qin Guan didn’t doubt this conclusion, but her brow soon furrowed.

"My lord, Crown Prince, Ninth Miss—look here. This purple ligature mark is below the victim’s throat. I’ve already checked—there are no other injuries on the body, only this single mark. The ligature crosses at the back of the neck, and the mark is both deep and narrow. Now observe..."

As he spoke, Xu He tilted Liu Shi’s head slightly, making the ligature marks on the side of her neck even more pronounced. "See these tiny blood spots above and below the mark? This confirms the victim was strangled while alive. Additionally, her bluish-purple, swollen complexion and slightly bulging eyes further support death by strangulation."

Yan Chi nodded but turned to Qin Guan. "What do you think?"Qin Guan pursed her lips slightly. Truthfully, she didn’t necessarily need to involve herself in this case. Yet Yan Chi seemed to have seen through her thoughts—from the very beginning, he had used the excuse of having her assist by answering questions to keep her by his side. With this justification, he then invoked the Grand Princess, making everything appear perfectly reasonable. As someone acquainted with him, it was only natural for him to trust Qin Guan and seek her insights when in doubt. The people of Qin Manor would have no reason to suspect anything.

And Qin Guan herself had no intention of standing aside. Even if she hadn’t witnessed Liu Shi entering the Purple Bamboo Forest, she wouldn’t let any suspicious case in Qin Manor slip by. Moreover, she had a vague intuition that Liu Shi’s death and the Ninth Miss’s demise were not entirely unrelated. As for what connected them, perhaps uncovering the truth behind Liu Shi’s death would reveal the truth about the Ninth Miss’s!

With this thought settled, Qin Guan said, “She was indeed strangled. Aside from what Coroner Xu mentioned, her tongue would certainly have protruded beyond her teeth, and there should be other clues on her hands and feet. We should also examine the conjunctiva of her eyes…”

Xu He raised an eyebrow and quickly turned to pry open Liu Shi’s mouth. Sure enough, he saw her tongue wedged between her teeth, slightly bitten with traces of blood. He then lifted her eyelids and noticed scattered petechial hemorrhages on her bulging eyeballs. Xu He silently noted these details before asking, “Ninth Miss, are you suggesting that all victims of strangulation exhibit these signs?”

Qin Guan nodded, then shook her head. “Not necessarily. It depends on the circumstances. For instance, whether the tongue protrudes depends on the position of the ligature.” She leaned forward, pointing to a spot just below Liu Shi’s larynx. “If the ligature is below this point, the tongue will protrude. But if it’s higher, the tongue won’t extend. So the folk belief that hanged ghosts always have long tongues is incorrect—sometimes, even after hanging, the tongue doesn’t protrude. The principle is the same: it depends on whether the rope is positioned higher or lower.”

Xu He nodded, committing this to memory.

Meanwhile, Huo Huaixin remarked, “So, hanging and strangulation appear quite similar.”

Qin Guan hadn’t intended to elaborate, but since Huo Huaixin brought it up, she continued, “The ligature marks from hanging show less hemorrhage, whereas strangulation leaves marks both above and below. The conjunctiva of a strangled victim will have more pronounced and numerous petechiae. In hanging, the ligature mark only appears on the lower part, fading toward the sides, but in strangulation, deep furrows also form on the sides and back of the neck. Additionally, if you dissect the victim’s head, you’ll find more subcutaneous hemorrhaging in cases of strangulation, whereas hanging leaves almost none.”

Dissect the head… Huo Huaixin’s eyelid twitched, and he cleared his throat. “I see, I see. Ninth Miss is truly knowledgeable. Ahem. Now that the cause of death is confirmed, can we determine the murder weapon? Was it a very thin rope?” He scanned the room. “Could the weapon still be here somewhere?”

Liu Shi’s bedchamber was exquisitely decorated, with an unfinished embroidered handkerchief near the window. Yet, if they were searching for a thin but sturdy rope, none was immediately visible."Was the room like this when you entered?"

Suddenly, Yan Chi spoke up, startling Huo Huaixin, who replied, "Yes, it was exactly like this when we came in."

Yan Chi frowned and looked at Huo Huaixin. "Lord Huo, don’t you find anything unusual?"

Huo Huaixin glanced around the room in confusion. "Unusual... what’s unusual..." He scanned the room again and again before murmuring, "This room... doesn’t seem like a place where a murder would occur..."

As he said this, his eyes widened. "That’s right! If she were killed in her own room, there should be signs of struggle. But this room is too tidy. Could it be that she was drugged with an aphrodisiac?"

With that, Huo Huaixin turned to examine the medicine bowl Liu Shi had been drinking from.

Qin Guan said nothing but stepped forward, pressing her fingers against Liu Shi’s body before reaching for her neck. Her brow furrowed. Xu He, who had been closely watching Qin Guan’s expression, immediately asked, "Ninth Miss, what have you discovered?"

Qin Guan glanced at Liu Shi’s neatly arranged dress and suddenly began unbuttoning the front of her garment. She worked swiftly but did not fully remove the clothing, only pulling it down to just below the shoulders. There, on Liu Shi’s shoulder, were several distinct purple spots. Qin Guan narrowed her eyes and then rolled up the sleeve of Liu Shi’s left arm, revealing more purple spots on the inner side. She pressed her finger against them and released, watching as the color faded briefly before darkening again. Slowly, she lowered Liu Shi’s arm, her expression grave.

"The body has been moved..." Qin Guan said, her gaze sweeping the room. "And we haven’t seen the shoes Liu Shi wore yesterday. It’s highly likely she didn’t die here."

"The body was moved?" Xu He’s eyes widened in shock. "Ninth Miss, could you explain why?"

Though Xu He had entered the coroner’s profession, his skills were still lacking. Having witnessed Qin Guan’s expertise several times, he had long harbored a desire to learn from her—first covertly, but after observing her temperament, he now asked outright.

Qin Guan glanced at him and, true to her nature, did not withhold her knowledge. "When you arrived, was she like this?"

Xu He nodded. "Yes, exactly like this."

Qin Guan continued, "You see, she was strangled. When you arrived and saw her like this, your first assumption was that she was killed in her own room. But look at her face..."

Xu He hurriedly turned his gaze to Liu Shi’s face. Qin Guan explained, "The two maids said they watched her retire to bed last night before leaving. That means Liu Shi died after going to bed. Based on her body temperature and the state of the cadaveric spots, she likely died between midnight and 2 a.m. But if she had already gone to bed, why would she be wearing such heavy makeup? And look at her clothes—they’re so neatly arranged. Does this look like someone who was asleep?"Xu He stared unblinkingly at Qin Guan, who continued, "That's the first point. Secondly, there are no shoes in the room. Even if she had gone to bed, the servants wouldn't have taken her shoes away. Could the killer have taken them? Of course, that's possible. But what could a pair of shoes reveal? Shoes are worn on the feet and would only expose where she had been. If she hadn't left the room that night, why would the killer go to the trouble of taking the shoes? Thirdly, look at her nails..."

Xu He quickly responded, "I noticed that too. Her nails are broken."

"Not just broken," Qin Guan said. "The nails on her left ring finger and index finger, and the right ring finger, index finger, and middle finger are completely snapped off. There are also injuries on her fingertips and palms, indicating she struggled violently. She wasn't unconscious from being drugged before being strangled. Now look at how tidy this room is—the teacups on the table, the brocade quilt on the bed, the jade ornaments by the bedside—nothing is broken or damaged. How is that possible? She couldn't have been killed here."

Taking a deep breath, Qin Guan added, "The most crucial point is the cadaveric spots on her body. Cadaveric spots usually appear after death when the heart stops beating, causing blood to pool naturally in the lower parts of the body. But look—if she had been lying on her back like this the whole time, why would the spots appear on her shoulders and the inner sides of her arms? If I'm not mistaken, there would also be spots on the sides of her thighs and waist. This proves that after death, she must have been lying on her side, perhaps even curled up. Look at her legs—they're slightly bent in an unnatural way. If we want to know exactly how she looked when she died, we just need to investigate further."

Xu He listened intently, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Qin Guan's face.

Whenever it came to corpse examination, Qin Guan's demeanor took on a focus entirely different from her usual self—a kind of mesmerizing intensity that compelled one to keep watching. The certainty and composure in her eyes gave the impression that she could uncover all truths, that no clue would escape her, and that the killer would ultimately have nowhere to hide.

Because of this aura, even the most arrogant individuals had no choice but to listen carefully when she spoke.

Perhaps noticing Xu He's intense stare, Qin Guan mistook it for confusion and added, "Do you know about rigor mortis?"

Xu He snapped out of his thoughts and nodded quickly. Qin Guan explained, "Rigor mortis sets in about an hour after death, starting from the parts of the body most frequently used. After three hours, the entire body stiffens. Six or seven hours later, the body becomes completely rigid. After a day, the stiffness begins to fade, and by three or four days, the body softens entirely. That's why her legs appear slightly deformed—she retained the posture she was in at the time of death for a while."

Xu He nodded eagerly. "Right, noted. I've got it."

Though not as fervently curious as Xu He, Huo Huaixin had also been listening carefully. At this point, he interjected, "So, Ninth Miss, are you saying the killer murdered Liu Shi elsewhere and then moved her here?"

Qin Guan looked at Huo Huaixin and shook her head. "The one who moved the body wasn't the killer."Huo Huaixin was stunned and turned to Yan Chi in bewilderment, only to see a glint of coldness in his eyes. "It seems we'll have to invite the masters of Qin Manor over for questioning..."