“Fire in the East Market?!” Captain Zhan’s heart skipped a beat. “Not good! The killer struck in the East Market! Quick, let’s go!”

At Captain Zhan’s command, everyone’s hearts tightened. They had waited here so long without seeing anything, yet the killer chose to act in the more exposed East Market. Was this fire an accident or murder?

“Give me your horse—”

The runner dismounted and handed over his horse. Captain Zhan spurred it forward, leading the way to the East Market. After riding for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he saw billowing smoke and flames rising from the western part of the East Market. On this starless, moonless night, the fire stood out starkly against the ink-black sky.

Captain Zhan whipped his horse harder, making it gallop faster. Reaching the main street of the East Market, he discovered the fire was exactly where Daoist Zhang had stood earlier that day. Daoist Zhang had positioned himself in the middle of the market street, surrounded by taverns, teahouses, and shops. Now, a two-story building was ablaze. As Captain Zhan reined in his horse, a nearby runner rushed forward. “Boss! Something’s happened!”

Dismounting, Captain Zhan saw the burning building was a shop called Shu Yu House. Though well past the Hour of Zi, with the market street usually deserted, the fire had been burning for some time. It had drawn out the servants and workers staying late in nearby establishments. With shops packed tightly together along the street, one fire could easily spread to others, so no one dared take it lightly!

Between the yamen runners and those who had rushed over, twenty to thirty people were fighting the fire with buckets and basins from their shops. They managed to contain the flames from spreading sideways, but Shu Yu House was badly damaged. The fire had started from the back, with intense flames there while the storefront still stood.

Captain Zhan frowned. “What happened? Weren’t you supposed to be watching?”

The stationed runner looked miserable. “Boss, we waited until the Hour of Zi with no movement. We thought the killer must have gone to your location. While we were discussing whether to find you, this shop suddenly caught fire. Our view was blocked from where we stood, and we only saw it after the flames rose. By the time we got here, it was too late. The front door was locked…”

Captain Zhan’s brow furrowed. “So we still don’t know if anyone was inside?”

The runner nodded. “Right, we don’t know yet. Others said this jade shop usually has a manager staying overnight to prevent theft. When we broke down the door, we didn’t find anyone, but we couldn’t check the back courtyard—it was already engulfed in flames.”

Captain Zhan waved his hand. “Never mind that now, fight the fire! Organize everyone to fight the fire!”

Captain Zhan had arrived first, but other runners soon joined him. They all fought the fire together until dawn when it was finally extinguished.

The East Market fire caused quite a stir. Early the next morning, shop owners, managers, and workers gathered to look. After all the embers were completely extinguished, suddenly a runner burst out from inside!

“Boss, someone burned to death…”

Captain Zhan’s heart sank. He hurried inside. The back of the shop was mostly destroyed, with jade display shelves reduced to ashes and pieces of jade scattered everywhere. Several roof beams in the back courtyard had collapsed, with the entire roof caved in from the middle. In the corner of the side wing, they found a burned body curled up. After burning all night in the hottest part of the fire, the corpse was unrecognizable—charred black with limbs burned down to bone. The runners exchanged glances—had the killer set the fire right under their noses?

“Ask outside if anyone knows the shop owner. Send someone to inform the Magistrate.”

The runners complied and soon brought back two dressed youths around seventeen or eighteen. “Boss, these are the shop’s apprentices. The shop mainly sells jade ornaments. They say the manager was watching the shop last night—they left at the Hour of Xu. The manager lives nearby in An Le District, and we’ve sent someone to notify his family.”

Captain Zhan nodded. “Did your shop store any flammable materials?”

The apprentices looked at each other and shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know.

Captain Zhan asked further, “Did your manager have any enemies?”

They exchanged another look and shook their heads again.

Seeing they seemed frightened, Captain Zhan waved his hand and instructed a runner, “Take them outside and question them.”

As the runner led the apprentices away, Captain Zhan looked at the charred shop with a headache.

Early the next morning, Princess Qin Wan had risen, knowing Captain Zhan and his men were planning to catch someone the night before. Her first action was to send a guard to the yamen. The guard returned before she finished breakfast.

“Miss, there was a fire in the East Market last night. All the yamen personnel spent the night fighting it. There’s no word of the killer being caught, and Captain Zhan hasn’t returned to the yamen…”

Princess Qin Wan’s heart jumped. “Did anyone die in the East Market fire?”

The guard quickly replied, “We don’t know yet. When I went to the yamen, Magistrate Zheng had already left for the East Market. Only a few clerks remained; everyone else was gone.”

Princess Qin Wan nodded and dismissed the guard, her heart racing. If Magistrate Zheng had gone himself, someone must have died.

She hurriedly finished breakfast, changed clothes, and left the Marquis’s mansion. At the East Market, she easily found the fire site. Upon leaving her carriage, she saw Daoist Zhang standing before the burned shop, sighing.

Princess Qin Wan approached. “What is Master Daoist looking at?”

Daoist Zhang turned, quickly bowing to her before answering, “I’m looking at this shop. When I came yesterday, something felt wrong. I had suspicions but didn’t expect this to happen.”

Princess Qin Wan looked at the shop, wondering what could have been seen yesterday.

While she pondered Daoist Zhang’s cryptic words, he offered no further explanation. Soon, Magistrate Zheng and Captain Zhan emerged from the building, both quickly bowing to her. She asked, “I heard there was an incident here and came to look. Have you found anything? Who was the victim?”

Magistrate Zheng glanced at Captain Zhan, who immediately reported, “The victim was Wang Shou Chang, the shop manager. It appears to be arson—we found pine oil in the back alley. The fire started from the rear courtyard, which connects to a small alley. Last night our men were watching the front but not the back alley. The killer likely entered from behind to set the fire.”

Captain Zhan continued with clear self-reproach, “I thought the killer would strike at the other location and take men to watch there, but… their target was here instead… It’s my fault.”

Princess Qin Wan shook her head. “A killer intent on murder has many methods, as does one trying to avoid detection. They surely knew the yamen was investigating thoroughly and would naturally try unexpected approaches.”

She turned to Daoist Zhang. “Master Daoist, if this killing was also for the ritual array, then being burned alive represents…”

“The Hell of Burning Flames.” Daoist Zhang understood her question. “The Hell of Burning Flames is the fourth level of the Moon Worship Sect’s seven hells, specifically punishing those who commit arson.”

Princess Qin Wan looked to Captain Zhan, who quickly said, “We haven’t investigated that aspect yet. Wang’s family hasn’t arrived, and we’re still searching the scene for evidence.”

Princess Qin Wan asked, “Where is the body?”

Captain Zhan showed slight reluctance. “Princess, the body can’t be examined—it’s burned down to the skeleton. You shouldn’t see it.”

Captain Zhan felt protective of Princess Qin Wan, who was, after all, just a young lady.

Princess Qin Wan smiled. “It’s fine, I’m not afraid. Let me look—even if we can’t find many clues, at least I can verify if the body matches the description of the manager.”

Magistrate Zheng said, “Captain Zhan, escort the Princess inside.”

As he spoke, Magistrate Zheng greatly admired Princess Qin Wan, though he regretted she was born a woman.

She had always been meticulous when examining bodies, and even with her now-elevated status, she remained conscientious about such matters—far surpassing many officials in this regard.

The body had been moved from the corner to an open space in the back courtyard. Upon entering, Princess Qin Wan saw the horrifically burned corpse, blackened with limbs burned down to joints. She approached step by step, examining it carefully. “Indeed a male, five Chi tall, likely over forty years old.”

Captain Zhan nodded. “Yes, we’ve confirmed this already.”

Princess Qin Wan looked around. The building was mostly wooden, and in early summer, everything was quite dry. Not just pine oil, even a spark could have ignited it.

The courtyard walls were scorched black, the gate collapsed on the ground. Undeterred by the filth, she walked through to the back. As expected, there was a very narrow alley that, despite its width, connected to various streets and lanes of the East Market. Even if Captain Zhan had stationed men here, the killer likely would have found a way. Princess Qin Wan, accompanied by Bai Ying, followed the alley east until they reached another main street, now bustling with ordinary citizens in common dress.

The killer had continued killing despite knowing officials were investigating, and even with runners nearby. This person must have reached the heights of madness and fearlessness.

After circling the area and finding nothing unusual, Princess Qin Wan returned to find an elderly lady with two women and several attendants wailing outside the shop. Daoist Zhang stood watching while Magistrate Zheng and Captain Zhan tried to console them. Seeing this, Bai Ying pulled at Princess Qin Wan. “Miss, perhaps we shouldn’t approach yet.”

Princess Qin Wan paused. The elderly woman wasn’t just crying on the ground but clutching Captain Zhan’s robe, demanding justice from the officials in a rather uncouth manner. Princess Qin Wan sighed, and Bai Ying suggested, “Miss, perhaps we should wait until Magistrate Zheng and Captain Zhan finish questioning them.”

Princess Qin Wan nodded, though unsure where to wait, knowing that investigating the victim’s circumstances wouldn’t be quick—

Bai Ying suggested, “Miss, shall we look around the area?”

Princess Qin Wan smiled wryly. “I’m not in the mood right now.”

“Qin Wan—” Suddenly, someone called out from the crowd.

Princess Qin Wan turned to see Yue Ning had appeared. She hurried over as Yue Ning jumped down from her carriage and looked at the burned shop. “So something did happen?”

Princess Qin Wan nodded. “Why are you here?”

Yue Ning sighed. “I went to the Marquis’s mansion looking for you, but they said you’d left. I heard about the incident in the East Market, so I came to find you. Are those the victim’s family?”

Though distant, Yue Ning could see the women crying on the ground. Princess Qin Wan nodded. “The victim was the shop’s manager, burned to death…”

Yue Ning sighed. “There’s nothing you can do here. Come with me to the Ran Mo Gallery.”

Yue Ning had previously visited the gallery to buy paintings but encountered Feng Zhang, which delayed her plans. She continued, “My father is leaving soon. I need to get the paintings quickly.”

Princess Qin Wan immediately perked up. “Foster Father is returning to Jin Zhou?”

Yue Ning nodded. “Yes, he leaves the day after tomorrow.”

Princess Qin Wan sighed. “I hadn’t visited these past days and didn’t know. In that case, I’ll accompany you and pick out a gift for Foster Father…”

Leaving her carriage, Princess Qin Wan joined Yue Ning in hers. They hadn’t gone far when Princess Qin Wan glimpsed a familiar figure through the curtain gap. She frowned and lifted the curtain for a better look, but could only see a back view in the crowd.

“What is it? Did you see someone you know?”

The carriage had already passed the person, leaving Princess Qin Wan with only a back view. “It looked like the Third Young Master of the Wei Yuan Baron’s family, but I might be mistaken…”

Though Wu Qian had been dead for days and she’d only visited the Wei Yuan Baron’s mansion once, she hadn’t expected to encounter him on the street. What was the Third Young Master doing here?! Princess Qin Wan felt puzzled but couldn’t turn back to ask, so she pushed the thought aside.

The carriage left the East Market for the Ran Mo Gallery. Upon arrival, a servant immediately came to greet them. “Greetings to both Princesses. Master Ning is upstairs. Please wait in the private room while I inform him of your arrival.”

Princess Qin Wan and Yue Ning, familiar with the place, headed upstairs. As they walked toward the private room, Yue Ning’s sharp eyes caught sight of the inner courtyard through a corridor window. The gallery had two sections—the front shop and a rear courtyard. Under the courtyard’s corridor, Ning Bu Yi stood with a beautiful young woman.

Though Ning Bu Yi was in his twenties and might naturally have romantic interests, at this moment, whatever he had said had caused the woman to weep, her tears falling like petals from a pear tree.