As soon as Qin Wan finished speaking, Huo Huaixin and the others instantly widened their eyes.
Qin Wan wanted to examine the corpse. Although she practiced medicine, she was just a young girl who had probably rarely seen dead bodies. How could she perform an autopsy?
Not only Huo Huaixin but also Madam Jiang and Yue Qiong stared with wide eyes.
They had only questioned her earlier because they recognized her meticulous thinking and superior medical skills, but no one expected her to propose examining the corpse herself. Madam Jiang stepped forward, “Wan’er, you don’t need to do this. How could a young lady like you…”
“Madam need not worry,” Qin Wan’s voice softened. “This matter concerns whether Second Young Master has been wrongly accused. Besides, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about the truth of the matter.”
As Madam Jiang was about to speak again, Qin Wan said, “Please help prepare one Su He Xiang pill, three qian of musk, two liang each of Xi Xin, Gan Song, and Chuan Xiong, one liang each of Cang Zhu, Bai Zhu, and Gan Cao, along with some salt and vinegar.”
Qin Wan gave instructions with a composed expression and confident demeanor. Seeing her manner, Madam Jiang’s eyes reddened. Qin Wan wasn’t acting impulsively—she had made up her mind to help Yue Qing!
“Wan’er, you…”
Qin Wan reassuringly held Madam Jiang’s hand, then turned to look at Yue Qiong. “Marquis, please keep Wei Wu and the others calm, then have the body moved elsewhere—any clean and well-lit place will do.”
Yue Qiong wanted to speak but held back. Seeing Qin Wan’s determined gaze, he finally nodded.
Nearby, Yue Qing already knew that Qin Wan was the one who had saved the Imperial Princess. Though he hadn’t yet processed why she was helping him, gratitude filled his eyes. Following Qin Wan’s instructions, could there still be hope in his case?
Yue Jia and Yue Ning looked at Qin Wan with heavy gazes. Yue Ning stepped forward, “What else do you need?”
Qin Wan’s eyes shifted thoughtfully. “I need someone to help record.”
Upon hearing this, Yue Ning immediately lifted her chin. “I’ll do it!”
Qin Wan hesitated for a moment. “Princess, I’m afraid—”
Hearing the distrust in Qin Wan’s tone, Yue Ning immediately frowned. “What? Am I not capable?”
Yue Ning had practiced martial arts since childhood and had a bold personality with strong self-esteem. She wasn’t like ordinary young ladies—what was there to fear about a dead body? Though she had never been on a battlefield, she wasn’t afraid of corpses. What couldn’t she do?
Qin Wan’s lips curved slightly. “Very well then, I’ll trouble the Princess.”
After speaking, Qin Wan glanced at the still-dubious Huo Huaixin. She walked straight past him to Xu He’s side. “Master Xu, may I borrow your toolbox?”
Xu He was still kneeling on the ground. He stared at the autumn orchid-like Qin Wan in shock, taking a while to recover. “Miss… Miss intends to perform an autopsy? Miss, do you know that an autopsy requires cutting open—”
“I know,” Qin Wan said, looking at the wooden box he carried. “May I borrow it?”
“Of course, of course—” Xu He hurriedly handed over the box.
Qin Wan took it and opened it, slightly frowning. Though the Jinzhou Prefecture Governor’s Office was the highest official office in Jinzhou Prefecture, and Xu He’s box contained complete tools, all items were bright and new, clearly rarely used.
Qin Wan scanned the contents and nodded slightly, but frowned upon seeing a pair of cotton protective gloves.
“What’s wrong? Is something unsuitable?” Hearing a voice, Qin Wan turned to see Yan Chi standing beside her, looking down at her with concern in his eyes.
Qin Wan shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
Yan Chi frowned. “The protective cloth doesn’t meet your requirements?”
Qin Wan hadn’t expected Yan Chi to notice. After pressing her lips together briefly, she said, “These aren’t waterproof. During the autopsy, they won’t protect against the corpse’s fluids.”
Yan Chi’s brows furrowed deeply as he gazed at Qin Wan without speaking.
As Qin Wan stood to pick up Xu He’s box, Yan Chi lifted it first. He raised his chin, gesturing for Qin Wan to go ahead. Qin Wan looked at him, slightly surprised.
A woman dealing with criminal matters and personally dissecting a decomposing corpse—yet this Crown Prince of the Rui Prince showed no surprise or disgust?
Qin Wan didn’t dwell on it. Meanwhile, Yue Qiong had moved the body to the side room where weapons were stored.
The side room was about fifty square zhang, brightly lit. When Qin Wan arrived, all the medicinal materials had been prepared.
Qin Wan first asked Yan Chi to set down the box, then lit the musk, Gan Song, and Chuan Xiong. She soaked the Cang Zhu, Bai Zhu, and Gan Cao in water, called Yue Ning to take them together, then had them both take a Su He Xiang pill and a pinch of fine salt before walking to the center of the room, to the long table where the corpse lay.
At the doorway, not only had the Yue family followed, but Huo Huaixin and Xu He had come as well. Huo Huaixin still didn’t believe such a delicate young lady could perform an autopsy. He asked Xu He, “Why is she doing all this?”
Xu He watched Qin Wan’s every move with bright eyes. “Ninth Miss is an expert. Burning Gan Song and the others is to ward off foul qi. Taking the fragrant pills and Cang Zhu water prevents corpse odor and poisoning.”
Just as he finished speaking, Qin Wan lifted the cloth covering Lin Daxing’s face.
Her expression was focused and serious. A silent, solemn sanctity spread through the room.
“Please wait outside, everyone. Princess, please help record.”
Though the night was deep and the room brightly lit, there was still a dead body. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare approach, yet Qin Wan not only approached but intended to perform an autopsy, and now asked everyone to leave.
Madam Jiang hesitated for several moments before leading Yue Jia and Yue Qing outside. Yue Qiong also walked out, but Huo Huaixin and Xu He didn’t move. Their eyes shifting, they retreated to the window. To ensure airflow in the room, the window lattice was half-open. From here, Huo Huaixin could see Qin Wan’s every move. Seeing this, the Yue family members also gathered around.
Madam Jiang and the others had never seen an autopsy performed, let alone by a young lady like Qin Wan!
The surroundings were so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the occasional crack of the corner lanterns. Qin Wan knew Huo Huaixin and the others were watching, but understanding their curiosity and doubts, she simply let them be.
She only looked once at Yue Ning. “Is the Princess ready? Every word I say must be recorded.”
Yue Ning nodded solemnly. Qin Wan lowered her gaze to Lin Daxing’s pale face.
“The deceased is Lin Daxing, male, approximately five chi six cun in height…”