The once clear pond water was now filled with verdant moss and decaying lotus roots. The formerly fragrant and shallow lotus pond had turned into a murky green pool, faintly exuding the stench of rotting sludge.
Qin Guan hurried across the covered bridge, her skirt brushing against the peeling railings, leaving rust-red stains on the smoke-gray hem.
Holding her breath, her gaze fixed tightly on that retreating figure—until it soon disappeared into the Purple Bamboo Forest.
This was the second time Qin Guan had taken the western path leading to the Purple Bamboo Forest.
Beneath her feet, the desolation of autumn had seeped into every patch of withered grass. The uneven dwarf bamboos lining the path were half-yellowed, half-dark green, as if resisting the withering depths of late autumn. Though the sky was overcast with layered clouds, the moment Qin Guan had walked barely fifteen feet along the path, the surrounding air abruptly turned cold.
"A concubine once hanged herself here. It’s forbidden ground—neither masters nor servants dare approach..."
Fuling’s words echoed in Qin Guan’s mind as she walked, sending an even deeper chill through her.
After another dozen steps, the scent of bamboo suddenly filled her nostrils. Lifting her gaze, she found herself face-to-face with a dense canopy of emerald bamboo. Qin Guan clenched her jaw lightly and slowed her pace.
The secluded path was silent and dim. Though someone had clearly walked into the Purple Bamboo Forest mere moments ago, the scattered dead leaves and broken branches on the ground showed no trace of passage. She glanced back at the path she had come from—similarly, no footprints remained.
Steeling herself, Qin Guan strode forward with resolve.
Unlike her first visit, when she had only seen a broken bamboo branch retrieved from Crescent Lake, the Purple Bamboo Forest had then been merely a place shrouded in mystery. Now, she knew it concealed some secret. What unsettled her more was that someone had entered before her.
Thick clusters of bamboo flanked the path, their fallen leaves and dry branches layering over the stone slabs beneath her feet. Each step produced only a faint rustling, as Fuling had said. This grove was ancient, once carefully cultivated by artisans. Even after years of neglect, the orderly arrangement of the bamboo was evident—not haphazardly planted. The towering purple bamboo on either side, as thick as teacups, blocked the sky, their distinct purple markings clearly visible. Such a fine bamboo grove was unmatched in Jinzhou.
Yet the Qin Manor had abandoned it for nearly a decade.
As Qin Guan ventured deeper, the light around her dimmed further. Layer upon layer of bamboo leaves blocked what little sunlight there was. In broad daylight, she felt as if dusk had fallen. At one point, she paused and looked ahead—the path grew so dark beyond ten paces that she could barely see. The end of the grove seemed veiled in a haze of black mist. She didn’t know how vast this bamboo forest was, but she now stood where she had stopped during her first visit. Frowning at the shadowy depths ahead, she hesitated—should she go further?
Qin Guan cherished quiet—but not this kind of quiet.Deep within the dense bamboo forest, the silence was so profound it unsettled Qin Guan.
Yet she knew all too well that she wasn’t the only one in these woods...
Where was that person? The one who had deliberately lured her here?
Qin Guan’s brows furrowed as she peered intently into the depths of the bamboo grove. Her fingers clenched tightly around her sleeves, her palm tracing the outline of Cold Moon through the fabric—one moment, then another...
She waited quietly, but even after what felt like half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, there was no sign of movement. Instead, a faint breeze swept through the trees, rustling the leaves in the eerily silent Purple Bamboo Forest. The swaying bamboo tips cast chaotic shadows, and for a moment, the deeper recesses of the darkened grove seemed alive with countless ghouls stretching their claws. Qin Guan watched the horrifying, shifting shadows and suddenly took a step forward—
She advanced slowly, her pupils slightly contracted, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. She was even prepared to face another Qin Li, grinning at her with that eerie smile.
One step, two steps, three steps...
Nothing. No one. Not a single breath, footstep, or even a ghostly figure.
Qin Guan’s frown deepened. Where was that person?
She halted and turned to survey the area. The paths in the Purple Bamboo Forest crisscrossed endlessly, and Qin Guan had long lost sight of the figure who had led her here. She had no idea where they had gone—but what was their purpose?
In broad daylight, did they mean to harm her? If so, they should have made their move by now...
Or perhaps they had lured her here to show her something else?
Qin Guan held her breath, her expression calm, but her heart raced uncontrollably.
What was the reason? No one would lead her here without cause...
The breeze continued, the rustling of the bamboo leaves unceasing. A chill crept up from Qin Guan’s feet, and she realized she had been in the Purple Bamboo Forest for what felt like an entire cup of tea’s worth of time...
Too long. She had lingered here far too long.
Her grip on Cold Moon tightened as she began to retreat slowly.
She wasn’t afraid of taking risks, but throwing herself into real danger was foolish. The Ninth Miss had perished in this very forest—she couldn’t afford the same fate.
With that thought, her steps quickened.
But just as she had retreated four or five paces, the breeze abruptly stopped. The chaotic shadows on the ground vanished, and the dark mist deep within the bamboo grove dissipated. Then, the silhouette of a person slowly emerged. Qin Guan’s pupils trembled—she had followed a woman here, yet the figure before her was unmistakably a man...
How could there be a man in the Purple Bamboo Forest?!
Her spine stiffened, her palms growing clammy with sweat. She had no idea who this suddenly appearing man was, but an instinctive sense of danger gripped her. She wanted to retreat, yet her feet seemed rooted to the spot, as if held by an invisible force. Fear struck her like a blow. Desperately, she tried to move, but it was as though unseen hands had seized her legs, rendering her immobile. And at that moment, the man in the depths of the bamboo grove slowly turned around.Qin Guan's eyes slowly widened as the man first revealed his profile, then his entire face came into view. She stared in disbelief—the person standing ten zhang away was actually Liu Chun!
Liu Chun, whom the entire manor had been searching for, was here in the Purple Bamboo Forest!
Qin Guan fixed her gaze on Liu Chun, but then she noticed something eerie: Liu Chun was standing rigidly with his eyes tightly shut. Not only that, his face was deathly pale, as if he had been dead for days. Her heart pounded violently, and at that very moment, two streaks of bloody tears suddenly streamed down from Liu Chun's closed eyes!
...
With a violent shudder, Qin Guan gasped and opened her eyes.
Staring at the brush and ink laid out on the desk before her, she still hadn't fully regained her senses...
She slowly straightened up. This was her room, her desk, with a few medical books placed beside her hand. She had actually fallen asleep at her desk...
As she massaged her numb arm, the lingering fear in her heart gradually subsided.
It was just a dream... That vivid scene had only been a dream...
Qin Guan stood up and glanced out at the courtyard. It was still quiet outside. She walked to the door, pushed it open, and immediately looked toward the side gate leading to the orchid garden. Only then did she relax.
The side gate was tightly locked—no one had opened it.
The tension in her spine slowly eased as she stared blankly into the empty courtyard.
Out of nowhere, she had such a nightmare...
Because she suspected that one of the four "Wan" servants had been planted by someone else, she dreamed of being lured outside. The Purple Bamboo Forest was already a haunting place in her mind, so naturally, the dream led her there. And since the manor was searching for Liu Chun, she saw him in the forest...
Qin Guan shook her head. Daytime thoughts become nighttime dreams... But why had she dreamed of Liu Chun weeping blood?
Had something terrible happened to him?
At this thought, the tension she had just dispelled surged back.
When Fuling pushed open the courtyard gate, she saw Qin Guan standing dazedly by the door. Startled, Fuling hurried over. "Miss, why are you out here? Were you waiting anxiously?"
Qin Guan snapped out of her trance and shook her head. "It's nothing. My eyes were tired from reading, so I came out for a walk."
Fuling gave an understanding "Oh" and took the medicine package from Wan Xing's hands. Lowering her voice, she said, "Miss, when we went to the medicine storage, Physician Qian looked miserable. I heard Old Madam sent him to treat Master."
Fuling had accompanied Qin Guan yesterday and overheard some of the conversation between Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin. She knew what illness Qin An had—even Qin Guan could do nothing about venereal disease, let alone Qian Bairen!
Right now, Qian Bairen must be utterly terrified!
Qin Guan frowned and turned back into the room. After a few steps, she asked, "Last night, when the Prefect searched Qin Manor, did they check the Purple Bamboo Forest?"
Fuling furrowed her brows slightly. "Search the Purple Bamboo Forest?"
Qin Guan nodded. "Didn't they say they searched the entire manor?"
Fuling hesitated. "I'm not sure about that. But that place is forbidden in the manor, and the Prefect has some friendship with Master. He probably wouldn't search there... Wait a moment, Miss, I'll go ask around."Fuling turned around, handed the medicine packet to Wan Xing, and walked out.
Wan Xing was still standing guard at the door. Seeing this, she simply hugged the medicine packet and bowed her head, waiting.
Qin Guan watched as Fuling left the courtyard, then turned her gaze to Wan Xing. Although Wan Xing had promptly helped her out of a tight spot last time, Qin Guan had never questioned her. Apart from having Fuling bring her along each time to fetch medicine, she had never rewarded her either. And from beginning to end, Wan Xing remained silent, like a shadow.
She had been bought from outside by Qin Manor to be raised as a household servant. Who had trained her to be like this?
As Qin Guan was pondering, Fuling returned. "Miss, I’ve asked around. They said when the Prefect conducted the search, he had the male servants lead two constables inside to look. But... those two constables seemed to know the Purple Bamboo Forest was unclean, so they went in and came out quickly. It seems the search wasn’t thorough."
Qin Guan’s heart sank slightly. She nodded and asked, "Will the Prefect and the Crown Prince enter Qin Manor again today?"
Fuling shook her head. "This servant doesn’t know. What’s wrong, Miss?"
Qin Guan pursed her lips for a moment but said nothing more. She only instructed, "Inform me as soon as the Prefect and the Crown Prince enter the manor."
Fuling nodded, then took the medicine packet from Wan Xing and followed Qin Guan into the room.
Wan Xing stood at the door for a moment before turning and heading toward the side chamber.
……
……
Since Liu Chun had not been found within the manor, Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi spent the entire day searching for him in the city. Qin Guan waited anxiously for the two to return to Qin Manor, and it wasn’t until dinnertime that Fuling hurried in and said, "Miss, the Crown Prince and the Prefect have entered the manor! They said they couldn’t find Manager Liu outside either, so they’ve come to question some matters in the manor!"
Qin Guan was having dinner when she heard this. She immediately stood up. "Where are they?"
"In the steward’s courtyard!" Fuling answered, frowning as she watched Qin Guan rinse her mouth nearby. "Miss, you should at least finish your meal. Why are you in such a hurry…"
Qin Guan smoothed her dress and shook her head as she walked out. "I won’t eat anymore. Have Wan Tang clean up. Let’s go to the steward’s courtyard to see what’s happening."
Fuling quickly grabbed the cape and instructed Wan Tang before following Qin Guan out.
She hurriedly draped the cape over Qin Guan’s shoulders. "Miss, don’t rush. The Prefect and the Crown Prince are speaking with the young master right now."
Hearing this, Qin Guan steadied herself and slowed her steps. Even so, by the time she reached the steward’s courtyard, Yan Chi and the others were still with Qin Chen. Bai Feng, seeing it was Qin Guan, didn’t hesitate to let her in.
As Qin Guan entered the courtyard, she saw the spacious main hall brightly lit.
"Ninth Miss, the young master is inside as well," Bai Feng reminded her.
Qin Guan gave a soft "Mm" in acknowledgment.
"So the Prefect believes we should question his two attendants again?"
"Exactly. There may be someone who knows his whereabouts but isn’t speaking."
The voices of Qin Chen and Huo Huaixin carried out from inside the room. Bai Feng walked to the door. "Master, Prefect, Ninth Miss is here..."
Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin’s eyes brightened. Yan Chi nodded. "Invite her in."
Bai Feng glanced back. "Ninth Miss, please come in—"
Qin Guan stepped inside under the gaze of the three men and curtsied to Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin. "I heard Your Highness and the Prefect had arrived. I came to see if there was any way I could assist."Huo Huaixin smiled upon hearing this and was about to shake his head when Yan Chi interjected, "We were just about to invite Ninth Miss over."
Qin Chen, standing nearby, watched with a faint smile. "It's good that Ninth Sister is here."
Qin Guan nodded and walked over to take a seat beside Qin Chen. Huo Huaixin then turned to Qin Chen and asked, "Young Master, does Liu Chun have any old acquaintances? Could he be hiding with former friends now?"
As he posed this question, Huo Huaixin was puzzled as to why Yan Chi had insisted on Qin Guan's presence. For instance, regarding whether Liu Chun had old friends, Qin Guan naturally wouldn’t know as much as Qin Chen.
Qin Chen replied, "Liu Chun was born into servitude at Qin Manor. His family has served the Qin family for three generations. He grew up by his father's side and later became the steward. I’m not sure if he had any friends outside the manor, but the Prefect and the Crown Prince are aware of everyone within the household. Logically, he wouldn’t have many close friends outside."
Huo Huaixin frowned and turned to Yan Chi. "What does the Crown Prince think?"
Yan Chi glanced at Qin Guan and said, "Since we haven’t found him outside, there might still be places within the manor we’ve overlooked. Search Liu Chun’s quarters again—perhaps we’ll find clues about other acquaintances or properties."
Huo Huaixin nodded. "Very well. I’ll take my men there now."
Huo Huaixin stood and left with the constables waiting outside. Yan Chi also rose, and Qin Guan and Qin Chen followed suit. As they walked out together, Yan Chi asked, "Can either of you think of any places we might have missed in the manor?"
Qin Chen frowned, pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing comes to mind immediately. With servants coming and going, it’s unlikely Liu Chun could hide anywhere for a full day and night without being noticed."
Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan. Her eyes flickered slightly. "I can’t think of anything either, but..."
Yan Chi had been waiting for her "but." He focused on her intently as Qin Guan continued, "But the Prefect might not have searched thoroughly enough."
A sudden clarity dawned on Yan Chi. He turned to Qin Chen. "I’ve heard there’s a Purple Bamboo Forest in the manor?"
Qin Chen instinctively straightened, though his expression remained composed. "Indeed, but the Prefect already searched there yesterday. Besides, there’s nothing in that grove. Without food or water, Liu Chun wouldn’t hide there."
Yan Chi gave a noncommittal nod. "Very well. That’s all for now. You may attend to your duties, Young Master."
Qin Chen glanced at Qin Guan and nodded. "Then I shall take my leave."
Yan Chi acknowledged him, and Qin Guan curtsied slightly. Only then did Qin Chen depart.
Once Qin Chen was gone, Yan Chi looked at Qin Guan. "Why were you waiting for us to arrive?"
Qin Guan frowned. "Waiting for you?"
Yan Chi’s expression deepened imperceptibly, though he smiled casually. "You came shortly after we arrived—clearly, you were expecting us. Have you thought of something new?"
Qin Guan hesitated, then shook her head. "Not exactly..."
She had merely had a dream and harbored suspicions about the Purple Bamboo Forest. But could she share this with Yan Chi? Even if she did, would he believe her?
Seeing her hesitation, Yan Chi said, "Speak your mind if you’ve thought of something."Qin Guan glanced to the side and then said, "The Prefect has gone to search Liu Chun's courtyard. Wouldn't the Crown Prince like to see for himself? Last night, the Prefect searched some places thoroughly and others not—asking him will clarify which areas need revisiting."
Yan Chi gave her another inscrutable look before nodding. "Very well."
With that, he strode out, Qin Guan following close behind, her mind already made up.
Huo Huaixin's search of the Purple Bamboo Forest the previous night had been cursory. A simple inquiry would allow them to search it again, and she could accompany them. Even if nothing was found, she could at least see what the Purple Bamboo Forest looked like. That way, it wouldn’t seem like she was using Yan Chi to investigate Ninth Miss's case.
With this thought, Qin Guan followed Yan Chi straight to Liu Chun's residence. As the estate's manager, Liu Chun not only had his own attendants but also his own courtyard. Though not as refined as those of the young masters and misses, it was still lavishly and tastefully decorated. As Qin Guan and Yan Chi approached the gate, they saw the courtyard brightly lit, with numerous yamen officers guarding the entrance. Nearby, male servants from the outer courtyard were watching curiously.
Qin Guan scanned the surroundings and was about to enter with Yan Chi when Huo Huaixin emerged from the courtyard in long strides.
Spotting Yan Chi and Qin Guan, his eyes brightened. "Crown Prince! Ninth Miss! Your timing is perfect! Look at this—"
As he spoke, Liu Chun held up a handkerchief in his hand.
Qin Guan and Yan Chi saw that the handkerchief was snow-white, with a willow leaf embroidered in one corner—the same one they had glimpsed in Liu Shi's sleeve that day. Yan Chi and Qin Guan exchanged a glance, their suspicions confirmed.
Huo Huaixin exclaimed excitedly, "Your Highness, Ninth Miss, it seems we haven’t been mistaken! Liu Chun had three such handkerchiefs hidden deep in his wardrobe. I suspect they were all gifts from Consort Liu—perhaps tokens of their affair. This confirms that Manager Liu is the one who had improper relations with Consort Liu!"
Qin Guan felt reassured. If their suspicions were correct, things would proceed smoothly.
Yan Chi nodded. "Good. That makes Liu Chun an even stronger suspect."
Huo Huaixin grinned broadly. "This is excellent! With this, the case can be solved. As expected, with Your Highness involved, the culprit is found in just two days—"
Qin Guan's lips twitched at this, and Yan Chi raised a skeptical brow. Seeing his reaction, Huo Huaixin realized his flattery had fallen flat and awkwardly chuckled. "Then I’ll continue searching to see if there are any other clues!"
Yan Chi gave a slight nod, then suddenly asked as Huo Huaixin turned to leave, "By the way, were there any areas you didn’t search thoroughly last night, Lord Huo? Liu Chun couldn’t have vanished without a trace in half a day—he might still be in the estate."
Huo Huaixin paused, frowning in thought. "Still in the estate..."
He pondered for a moment. "I don’t think—"
Before he could finish, a figure came running down the path northwest of Liu Chun's courtyard. A young maidservant grabbed a male servant who had been watching the commotion and cried out, "Quick, go and see! Something’s happened in the Purple Bamboo Forest—there’s some kind of ghost fire! Mama Zhao has already fainted from fright!"
The maidservant’s face was pale with terror, her voice shrill with panic.Because of this, Yan Chi and the other two heard every word clearly...
Qin Guan frowned slightly, but the male servant said, "What do you mean scared unconscious? It's not like it's the Ninth Young..."
The following words became indistinct to Qin Guan as the male servant deliberately lowered his voice. Yet even without hearing clearly, she knew exactly what he meant. When she had returned from death, it had given everyone in the household quite a fright.
No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than the young maid sobbed again, "Ghost fire! Mama Zhao said she saw ghost fire in the Purple Bamboo Forest..."
Ghost fire—those two words instantly seized Qin Guan's full attention!
"What ghost fire? Don't talk nonsense... Where is she? I'll go see..."
The male servant kept his voice hushed, seemingly unwilling to alert the yamen runners. But Qin Guan abruptly turned toward the direction of the conversation between the servant and the maid. Her movement was noticeable, and Yan Chi immediately frowned. "What's wrong?"
"There's no reason for ghost fire to appear out of nowhere..."
Qin Guan's voice was steady. Yan Chi frowned. "Isn't ghost fire just a rumor?"
Qin Guan shook her head, meeting Yan Chi's piercing gaze. "No." Realizing her tone was too certain, she added, "I once read in one of Lord Shen Yi's writings that ghost fire often appears near graves. It's caused by corpse gas produced during decomposition, which can ignite in dry conditions, creating what people call ghost fire."
Huo Huaixin, listening nearby, widened his eyes. "So... you mean where there's ghost fire, there must be a decomposing body?"
For the first time, Qin Guan thought Huo Huaixin remarkably perceptive. She nodded. "Exactly."
Yan Chi's eyes darkened, and he immediately glanced at Bai Feng.
Bai Feng stepped forward, stopping the maid who was about to leave. "Hey, you—wait a moment. Who did you say fainted from seeing ghost fire?"
The maid paled when suddenly addressed by someone from the yamen. She glanced over, then lowered her eyes. "It's Mama Zhao. She was in charge of arranging Consort Liu's ancestral hall. Just now, after leaving the courtyard, she saw fire in the Purple Bamboo Forest. Mama Zhao said... it was ghost fire... There aren't many people in the inner courtyard, so I thought to ask them to check. If it really is ghost fire..."
"Where is the ghost fire? Lead the way."
Before the maid could finish, a cold, authoritative voice cut in. She instinctively looked up and met a pair of deep, intense eyes. Recognizing Yan Chi, she froze.
Bai Feng frowned. "Answer the question."
The maid flinched and quickly lowered her head again. "In... the Purple Bamboo Forest... It's..."
Flustered, she turned to lead the way. Yan Chi glanced back and saw Qin Guan following closely behind, her urgency palpable. Though he sensed something unusual about her eagerness, his expression remained neutral. Behind them, Huo Huaixin called over seven or eight yamen runners. "Come, let's all go see. Ghost fire—I don't believe it..."
Yan Chi and the others set off immediately. The male servant hesitated for a moment before shoving the person beside him. "Go inform the young master! They're heading to the Purple Bamboo Forest!"
The other man snapped out of his daze and ran off.
Meanwhile, the maid leading the way walked swiftly. Huo Huaixin caught up and asked, "How was it seen? Who saw it?"Yan Chi did not believe in ghosts and spirits, so naturally he didn't believe in ghost fire either. However, Huo Huaixin thought ghost fire was something extremely sinister and felt slightly apprehensive. When he asked about it, the maidservant immediately replied, "It was Mama Zhao who saw it. She came out to fetch the funeral banners for setting up the ancestral hall and looked up to see it..."
Huo Huaixin frowned slightly. "Your Highness, this... could it be... Ah, right! No wonder they said yesterday that the Purple Bamboo Forest is a forbidden area in Qin Manor. Could there really be..."
Yan Chi glanced at Huo Huaixin. "Does Lord Huo believe in ghosts and spirits?"
Hearing this, Huo Huaixin straightened his expression. "Of course not... The Master spoke not of uncanny forces and chaos... It's just..."
"If you don't believe, and Lord Huo has done nothing to feel guilty about, then what is there to fear?"
Yan Chi left no room for doubt. Huo Huaixin hesitated for a moment but could only put on a resolute expression.
The night had already descended heavily. The maidservant had come from the west, so she naturally led the way westward. Qin Guan looked at the winding corridors before her and couldn't help but recall the strange dream she had during the day. In the dream, someone had also led her toward the Purple Bamboo Forest, where she saw Liu Chun with blood streaming from his eyes...
Qin Guan's breath grew faint as a sense of eeriness crept into her heart.
The maidservant led Qin Guan and the others, along with the yamen runners, a group of over ten people, marching in a grand procession toward the northwest. Before long, they arrived before the small lotus pond. By the light of the torches held by the runners, Qin Guan looked at the small lotus pond in the darkness. At a glance, she saw that the pond was withered and desolate, almost identical to what she had seen in her dream.
Qin Guan tightened her grip on her sleeve, her heart pounding slightly.
"There, Consort Liu's ancestral hall is set up over there..."
Following the direction the maidservant pointed, Qin Guan saw that Consort Liu's ancestral hall was set up near the western rear courtyard where she and Fuling resided. However, the location of Consort Liu's ancestral hall was even more secluded than the western rear courtyard, bringing it closer to the Purple Bamboo Forest!
"Where is Mama Zhao?"
At Huo Huaixin's question, the maidservant hurriedly replied, "At the courtyard gate. At the time, we only heard the nanny scream. When we came out to look, she said a few words before fainting..."
Seeing the maidservant's vivid description, Huo Huaixin frowned. "Take us to see her."
The maidservant nodded. After passing the small lotus pond, they headed north again. Soon, they came upon a small courtyard. At the gate, Mama Zhao was slumped on the ground, while another young girl, terrified, was pinching her philtrum.
The footsteps of the group startled the young girl, who shrank back into the courtyard. Only when she saw that the newcomers were from the yamen did she remember to kneel and bow. Mama Zhao had regained some consciousness by then and also prostrated herself on the ground.
"Greetings to the elder master, greetings to the great master..."
Huo Huaixin snorted and asked directly, "Did you see ghost fire just now?"
At this question, Mama Zhao trembled. "Y-yes, it was this old servant who saw it..."
"Where? What did it look like?"
Sweat beaded on Mama Zhao's forehead as she pointed haphazardly toward the Purple Bamboo Forest. "J-just... in those woods. It was... blue... no, green, flickering, a small cluster..."
Huo Huaixin's frown deepened. "Where exactly did you see it? Get up and lead the way."Upon hearing this, Mama Zhao immediately collapsed to the ground in terror. "Spare me, my lord! This old servant wouldn't dare... wouldn't dare... That's a forbidden area of the manor, and there have long been rumors of hauntings. This old servant wouldn't dare go..."
As she spoke, Mama Zhao began weeping.
Just as Huo Huaixin was about to speak again, Yan Chi interjected, "Enough. There are enough of us—we'll conduct the search ourselves. Prefect, was your search thorough last night?"
Huo Huaixin faltered. "Last night... last night's search was rushed, so perhaps..."
Before he could finish, Yan Chi understood his meaning. Without further comment or reproach, he led the constables toward the Purple Bamboo Forest. After a few steps, he noticed Qin Guan still following and frowned. "Stay outside."
Qin Guan wouldn't miss such an opportunity. Quickly, she said, "I don't believe in ghosts or spirits, Your Highness. There's no need for concern."
Her expression was calm, her tone composed. After a moment's gaze, Yan Chi finally withdrew his objection, though his pace slowed noticeably thereafter. Naturally, Fuling had no desire to enter the Purple Bamboo Forest, but since Qin Guan was going, she had no choice but to follow. Clutching Qin Guan's arm, she trembled more fearfully than her mistress. Qin Guan turned and patted her hand reassuringly.
Following the western path toward the Purple Bamboo Forest, the scene mirrored her dream—except in her dream, it had been daylight, whereas now darkness had fallen. At night, the Purple Bamboo Forest appeared even more eerie and sinister.
Proceeding along the main path, Yan Chi soon entered the forest first. Glancing back at Qin Guan, he stayed on the main trail until they reached a fork. Surveying the surroundings, he was about to order a search when several lanterns suddenly illuminated the forest's edge. Narrowing his eyes, Yan Chi saw Qin Chen supporting Jiang Shi as they strode forward.
Both Yan Chi and Qin Guan frowned simultaneously.
"Prefect, did Old Madam come here last night as well?"
Huo Huaixin shook his head. "No, only the eldest young master accompanied us..."
Yan Chi gave a quiet "Hmm" before addressing the constables. "Form pairs and search the interior. See what this bamboo forest truly holds."
Night had fully descended, and the long-abandoned Purple Bamboo Forest would have been frightening even without rumors of ghost fire—let alone after recent sightings. Fortunately, Yan Chi had ordered them to work in pairs. The constables quickly divided into four groups and ventured deeper into the forest. At that moment, Qin Chen and Jiang Shi entered.
Spotting Jiang Shi, Huo Huaixin forced a smile. "Such a late hour—this is merely routine. Why has Old Madam troubled herself?"
Jiang Shi maintained her aloof demeanor, offering Yan Chi a slight bow. "This area was searched last night. Might I ask why the Prefect has returned today?"
Huo Huaixin glanced at Yan Chi and cleared his throat. "Last night's search was... hasty. Moreover, someone just reported seeing ghost fire here..."
Jiang Shi narrowed her eyes. "Ghost fire is mere superstition. How could the Prefect lend it credence?"
Huo Huaixin brushed his sleeves. "No need for concern, Old Madam. This is purely routine. We'll depart once finished—just ensuring nothing threatens Qin Manor's safety..."
The hand clutching her prayer beads trembled slightly. Jiang Shi coughed twice and fell silent. Meanwhile, Qin Chen's gaze followed the constables' torches into the forest's depths.Yan Chi glanced at the expressions of the two and quietly waited for news from the depths of the bamboo grove. Before long, a group of men came running back in haste.
"Crown Prince, we found a well at the very end."
A well? Qin Guan frowned, and Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi also knitted their brows.
Jiang Shi spoke up, "It's just an abandoned well in the manor..."
Hearing this, Qin Guan inexplicably recalled the well beneath the flower shed.
When Qin Shuang had fallen in, she had mentioned feeling the bones of a dead person inside...
Qin Guan's expression darkened as she turned to look at Yan Chi. With Jiang Shi and Qin Chen present, their gazes met briefly before parting. Yan Chi suddenly spoke, "Let's go take a look. Perhaps something at the bottom of the well caught fire."
With Yan Chi's order given, Qin Chen opened his mouth to speak but was immediately restrained by Jiang Shi.
Without another word, Yan Chi led everyone deeper into the bamboo grove. Qin Guan hurried to follow, while Jiang Shi's gaze remained fixed intently on Qin Guan's back...
"Crown Prince, it's right over here..."
The constable led the group another thirty feet forward. As they walked, the Purple Bamboo Forest grew denser along the path, and the layer of dried leaves on the ground thickened. The well mentioned by the constable lay at the very heart of the grove.
It was a dilapidated well, its stone rim collapsed and abandoned. A massive stone slab lay askew beside the well's mouth, the only indication of its existence being a dark, square opening in the ground.
Qin Guan studied the well and the stone slab, finding them both unsettling.
Having reached the depths of the grove, the fresh scent of bamboo mingled with the damp, decaying odor of years of accumulated dead leaves, filling everyone's nostrils with a pungent stench. Yet even so, Qin Guan detected the unmistakable scent of death.
Recalling her dream, a chill ran down her spine. She stared fixedly at the well, her heart pounding rapidly.
Following Qin Guan's gaze, Yan Chi commanded, "Bai Feng, go down and take a look."
At these words, there was a soft clatter—Jiang Shi's prayer beads had fallen to the ground.
Huo Huaixin gave Jiang Shi a puzzled glance, but Yan Chi and Qin Guan paid no attention to the expressions of Jiang Shi or Qin Chen. Bai Feng looked around, took a dim lantern from one of the Qin Manor servants, waved it over the well's mouth, and then fearlessly leaped down...
Watching this, Jiang Shi sighed slowly. "Amitabha... all the sins of Qin Manor..."
Yan Chi remained focused on the well, while Huo Huaixin asked Jiang Shi, "Old Madam, what do you mean by that?"
Qin Chen picked up the prayer beads and handed them back to Jiang Shi, who clasped them in her palm. As she turned the beads, her eyes narrowed slightly, as if lost in memory. After murmuring an indistinct scripture, she spoke again, her voice heavy with sorrow. "This well conceals the remains of someone from the manor's past. For many years, the Purple Bamboo Forest has been forbidden ground for this very reason."
Huo Huaixin's eyes widened in shock. "Someone from the manor's past?"
Yan Chi ignored Jiang Shi's words, stepping forward to listen for sounds from the well.
Meanwhile, Jiang Shi continued, "Many years ago, a concubine of the manor drowned herself in this well. At the time, we summoned a monk, who declared this well a cursed well and the spirit within an evil spirit. Only by sealing it with the Demon-suppressing Stone could Qin Manor remain at peace. Since then, the well was closed off, and the Purple Bamboo Forest was forbidden to all."No sooner had the words been spoken than Bai Feng leaped out from the well's mouth. He didn't speak immediately, but instead walked to Yan Chi's side and whispered something in his ear.
Meanwhile, Jiang Shi continued calmly, with a hint of compassion in her voice, "This matter happened many years ago, and it's not exactly honorable. We had hoped to let it fade into the past, but it seems the Prefect has come to know of it after all..."
Huo Huaixin's mouth fell open in shock, at a loss for words, just as Yan Chi approached from the other side.
With a grave expression, he fixed his gaze on Jiang Shi and said, "It seems the Old Madam was right. This well is indeed a cursed well."
Huo Huaixin was taken aback. "Did you truly see that departed soul?"
Yan Chi's sharp eyes never left Jiang Shi as he replied, "Not just one departed soul, but now there's a new addition. If I'm not mistaken, it should be your steward, Liu Chun—"
Jiang Shi's narrow eyes suddenly widened. "Liu Chun?!"
OpenNovel