The murderer wasn’t Yue Qing?!
Madam Jiang didn’t look at the bloody mess that made her uncomfortable, but excitedly gripped the window sill. “Wan’er? What did you say? Are you certain? Certain that Qing’er didn’t kill that person?”
Before she finished speaking, her voice had already become choked with emotion.
Outside the window, everyone stared intently at Qin Wan. Even though Lin Daxing’s disemboweled body was shocking, at this moment everyone’s attention was focused on whether Yue Qing was guilty of murder.
Qin Wan turned around, placing the object back inside Lin Daxing’s chest, and said solemnly, “Lin Daxing’s third and fourth ribs on the right side beneath the ribcage are fractured, but they didn’t pierce the nearby liver and spleen. Instead, his heart was shattered.”
As she spoke, Qin Wan began arranging Lin Daxing’s remains. “Lin Daxing’s shattered heart led to his death by coughing up blood, which matches perfectly with the deep purple bruises that appeared on his corpse.”
After a brief pause, Qin Wan turned to look at Magistrate Huo and said, “The murder weapon can be determined as a round hammer-like object. The killer struck Lin Daxing’s chest with it, directly causing his heart to rupture, leading to death by blood loss.”
“Moreover, because the heart was damaged, Lin Daxing would have died within an extremely short time.”
Qin Wan’s gaze turned stern as she looked at Huo Huaixin. “Who was the first to discover Lin Daxing’s death?”
Huo Huaixin was sweating profusely, while Madam Jiang and Yue Qiong’s group wore mixed joy and disbelief expressions.
Yue Qing stood stunned for a moment. “I didn’t beat him to death… I said I knew my strength. Though I was angry, I didn’t want to take his life… Father, Mother… I didn’t kill him…”
Yue Qiong pressed his lips together, his eyes slightly moist, and heavily patted his son’s shoulder without speaking.
Madam Jiang’s tears fell. “Qing’er, this is wonderful, this is wonderful…”
“Second Brother! I knew you wouldn’t kill anyone!”
“Second Brother, Grandmother will surely be overjoyed!”
The Yue family members were all extremely excited. Yue Qiong turned to face Huo Huaixin, “Brother Huo…”
Huo Huaixin’s face turned pale white. He was momentarily flustered, having not expected Qin Wan actually to discover such crucial evidence. This had severely damaged his reputation, and he had nearly created a wrongful conviction.
“Your Lordship, I… I…”
As Huo Huaixin stumbled over his words, Qin Wan spoke from the side room, “Even sages make mistakes, let alone ordinary people like us. Magistrate Huo is only human like the rest of us. Although this case nearly became a wrongful conviction, ultimately the Magistrate didn’t stubbornly persist but made this wager with me. Now that the truth is clear, Magistrate Huo need only take this as a lesson and find the real killer. There’s no need to lose composure over this.”
Huo Huaixin’s eyes widened, completely disbelieving that Qin Wan could be so generous as to speak these words to comfort him actively.
“I…” Huo Huaixin opened his mouth, then looked toward Yue Qiong again, “Your Lordship…”
Yue Qiong shook his head, “Brother Huo, though Young Miss Nine is of tender years, her words are very reasonable. You indeed oversaw this matter, but everyone sometimes makes mistakes. The Marquis’s mansion won’t pursue this matter, only hoping that Brother Huo will be more careful and strict in the future, and must be meticulous in criminal justice matters. Otherwise, incidents will eventually occur.”
Huo Huaixin hurriedly stepped back, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply to Yue Qiong. Then turning, he performed another deep bow to Qin Wan. “This time, thanks to Young Miss Nine’s help, Huo is deeply ashamed and grateful beyond words. In the future, I will certainly keep this lesson in mind and dare not be careless. I also thank Your Lordship and Madam for your generous understanding, and Second Young Master…”
Though Yue Qing had been wrongly accused, it wasn’t Huo Huaixin’s intention, and he had indeed beaten Lin Daxing quite severely. Yue Qing dared not accept the bow. “Magistrate Huo, there’s no need for such a ceremony. Right now, we should find the real killer quickly to seek justice for the deceased. I should also be held accountable for beating someone. Magistrate Huo needn’t blame yourself too much.”
Only then did Huo Huaixin straighten up, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
In the side room, Qin Wan spoke again, “In this case, first there’s the murder weapon, and second, Wei Wu’s partial testimony seems suspicious. Magistrate Huo can investigate based on these two points. I believe the truth won’t be difficult to uncover.”
Huo Huaixin clasped his hands again, “With Young Miss Nine’s help, I will go arrest people right away. The deceased will also be immediately sent back to the yamen. Everyone please rest assured, I will certainly find the real killer as soon as possible and apologize to everyone.”
Inside the room, Qin Wan had already sewn up Lin Daxing’s abdomen. After another round of cleaning and dressing him in clothes, he looked no different from any ordinary deceased person. Huo Huaixin was true to his word – while having Wei Wu and the others arrested in the front courtyard, he also had people carry away Lin Daxing’s body. After the yamen officials had all left, the Marquis’s mansion finally quieted down.
“Young Miss Nine, thank you so much for helping clear Yue Qing’s name. Please accept Yue Qing’s bow!”
Yue Qing knelt on one knee and bowed to Qin Wan. Qin Wan stepped aside with a slight smile curving her lips.
Her actions were merely following her heart due to her father’s deep influence. Clearing Yue Qing’s name was secondary – if she hadn’t seen Wei Wu lying, she wouldn’t have been so suspicious that this case held hidden truths.
“Second Young Master must not do this. Qin Wan has read some books about criminal cases in her chambers, and always deeply admires those who uphold justice and protect the truth. Being able to clear Young Master’s false charges is also a great honor for Qin Wan.”
Having just completed the autopsy, though Qin Wan had washed her hands, there was still an odor about her. Faced with the Yue family’s gratitude, after listening for a few moments, Qin Wan made her excuses, “It’s already late, and Second Young Master’s matter is settled. What’s important now is the Princess Supreme. Taking care of the Princess Supreme is urgent, Madam need not trouble herself about me. I just wonder if the mansion has any suitable clothes for me?”
There were several spots of blood on the hem of Qin Wan’s skirt, making the clothes unwearable.
This was a small matter. Madam Jiang quickly agreed, and Qin Wan continued, “Then I’ll trouble Madam to have one of the sisters help bring them over. I’ll go to the Plum Garden to freshen up.”
By now, Qin Wan was not just a guest of the Marquis’s mansion, but their benefactor. Madam Jiang’s gaze toward Qin Wan was both grateful and tender, treating her completely as one of their own. “I’ll have Lu Yun escort you over. You must be exhausted. Go freshen up and rest first. I’ll personally pick out some clothes for you. You don’t know this, but Ning’er doesn’t like bright feminine dresses. She leaves untouched all the ones we prepare for her each year. This is perfect – from now on, I can finally dress up my daughter like other madams do.”
These words implied she was treating Qin Wan as her daughter. Qin Wan hurriedly curtseyed in thanks before following Lu Yun to the Plum Garden.
After Qin Wan left, Madam Jiang’s voice was still excited and animated, “This is wonderful! Who could have imagined we’d meet a little bodhisattva like Wan’er? When Mother recovers, I must go to the temple to burn incense. Jia’er, Qing’er, from now on you must treat Wan’er like a sister and take care of her. She has done us an enormous favor. Ning’er, you too must treat Wan’er like a close sister from now on…”
After giving instructions all around, Madam Jiang turned to see Wei Yan Zhi still standing at the edge of the crowd and felt somewhat embarrassed. “Look at me, getting carried away with joy. I hope nephew won’t laugh at me.”
Wei Yan Zhi’s spirits were low, but he had witnessed all of Qin Wan’s actions earlier, and his heart was also full of admiration and respect.
“Your nephew wouldn’t dare. Young Miss Nine’s skilled hands and compassionate heart command even your nephew’s deep admiration.”
Madam Jiang smiled, then said to Yue Qiong, “My Lord, you should take the young ones to see Mother. Wan’er hasn’t had dinner yet. She was busy all day and is now busy all evening too. She must be hungry. I’ll pick out some clothes and check the kitchen to have some food prepared to send to her, then come over later.”
Yue Qiong nodded happily, and only then did Madam Jiang leave with her people.
After Madam Jiang left, Wei Yan Zhi also took his leave. Yan Chi had been standing to the side the whole time, and now followed along with Yue Qiong’s group to see the Princess Supreme. Gradually, Yan Chi slowed his pace to walk at the back.
“Bai Feng, what character is used to write Young Miss Nine’s name?”
A figure emerged from the darkness, and Bai Feng took out a white slip of paper from his sleeve.
“Your Highness, this is the Qin family’s second branch genealogy that someone was ordered to investigate.”
Yan Chi took it, and his eyes brightened after just a glance. He laughed once in his rich, magnificent voice, then folded the genealogy and tucked it into his sleeve. “Qin Wan – ‘Wan’ as in a gentle smile, a smile without bounds—”