Yan Qing did not rush to give Long Yunxiao an answer. She continued her analysis with the same steady composure. “First, we have already ruled out the first possibility — that is, an accident caused by the onset of the seizure itself, such as a collision or a fall from a height. In the course of the autopsy, I was also able to rule out the second possibility — sudden death. Miss Shu had no underlying conditions beyond her epilepsy, and no signs consistent with sudden cardiac death. That leaves only one remaining possibility: status epilepticus. Based on what Mr. Long has described, Miss Shu’s condition at the time does bear a resemblance to status epilepticus — but for such an episode to prove fatal would require at least ten hours of continuous duration. Yet according to the account, Miss Shu’s maidservant had her transported to the hospital shortly after the seizure began. The timing simply does not fit.”

Long Yunxiao said, “After I received Tian Lan’s call, I instructed her to take Banxue to the hospital immediately. Uneasy as I was, I also sent two of my men to assist. According to them, Banxue was at the hospital within fifteen minutes of the incident.”

Yan Qing nodded.

“Now that all three possibilities have been ruled out — Banxue, she…”

“I said just now,” Yan Qing went on, “that epilepsy kills through oxygen deprivation and ischemic brain damage leading to generalized organ failure. Yet in the course of the autopsy, I found no damage whatsoever to Miss Shu’s brain. In other words, Miss Shu did not die from an epileptic seizure.”

Long Yunxiao was profoundly shaken. His imposing frame even swayed slightly. “What?”

“The deceased showed clear signs of asphyxia. The lungs, kidneys, liver, and spleen were all congested. The gastric mucosa and pancreatic capsule bore punctate and patchy hemorrhages. All of these findings point to a single cause of death — poisoning.”

“Banxue was poisoned?”

“Many substances could produce these post-mortem findings. Though I already have several theories in mind, an accurate answer will require toxicological testing.” Yan Qing placed a small vial of extracted blood and tissue samples into her case. “I will give Mr. Long a definitive answer in three days’ time.”

Long Yunxiao seemed to deflate slightly. What had begun as nothing but suspicion — without a shred of evidence — had now been confirmed. Shu Banxue had not died of an epileptic episode; she had been poisoned. She could not possibly have ingested a toxin of her own accord, which meant someone had administered it to her. But who — and to what end?

“Mr. Long.” Shi Ting looked at him. “If you wish to know who is responsible, it would be best to start with those closest to you and to Shu Banxue. Whoever poisoned her knew of her epilepsy — the poison they chose produced symptoms that mimicked an epileptic seizure almost exactly, which is precisely what led you to believe she had died of the condition.”

Long Yunxiao’s expression grew heavy. After a long pause, he said simply, “Thank you.”

As they left Long Yunxiao’s residence, Yan Qing could not help but reflect, “I never would have thought someone like Long Yunxiao could be so entangled by feeling.”

“Yan Qing, I want to ask you something.” Shi Ting’s expression suddenly turned serious.

His sudden gravity made Yan Qing uneasy as well. “What is it?”

“Are you your father’s biological child?”

Yan Qing blinked, then burst out laughing and gave him a light punch in the side. “What are you letting your imagination run away with?”

“I’m simply taking precautions.”

After her laughter subsided, she asked, “Who do you think killed Shu Banxue?”

“We can start by ruling out Long Yunxiao’s enemies. If this were the work of an enemy, the purpose of killing Shu Banxue would be to cause Long Yunxiao pain — and to achieve that, the method would not have been this subtle. Nor would they have allowed Long Yunxiao to believe she died of natural causes.”

“That makes sense. I agree.”

“Beyond enemies, the only other category of people who would want Shu Banxue dead would be those with feelings for Long Yunxiao. But while there are many who admire him, not a single one has ever been truly close to him — a reflection of how carefully Long Yunxiao has kept to himself. Without someone genuinely close to him, there is no one with both the motive and the opportunity to kill for him.”

“With enemies and admirers both ruled out — who else could want Shu Banxue’s life?”

“While you were conducting the autopsy, I had a brief conversation with Long Yunxiao. He told me that Shu Banxue’s social world was extremely simple. She almost never left the apartment — her days consisted of sleeping, eating, and painting. It was only when Long Yunxiao came to visit her that the two of them would go out for a walk together.”

“So Shu Banxue had no enemies, and the killer may not be found within her personal circle of acquaintances?”

Shi Ting nodded.

“That is strange indeed. After all this elimination, there seems to be no discernible motive at all — could the killer have killed simply for the pleasure of it?”

Shi Ting said nothing. He gazed quietly into the distance for a long moment, then spoke with measured deliberation. “The most difficult thing in this world to see through is the human heart.”

“Does that mean you already know who the killer is?”

“It’s only a guess — that doesn’t count.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“Give me a kiss.”

“Absolutely not… don’t you dare… I said no… Shi Ting!!!”

—

Yan Qing was working on a scarf, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Shi Ting. On the day they left Long Manor, she had pressed him for the name of the killer — and not only had he refused to answer, but he had taken advantage of the moment to steal a kiss from her.

“What an utterly faithless man.” Yan Qing smiled with her lips, while her eyes overflowed with warmth and delight. She was scolding him in words, yet her whole face was lit with happiness.

“You’re thinking about Director Shi again, aren’t you, Miss.” Jing Zhi suddenly pressed her face forward.

Yan Qing was startled, and deliberately put on a stern expression. “You cheeky girl — you’re getting more brazen by the day.”

Jing Zhi grinned and picked up the section of scarf Yan Qing had already finished, examining it with an appraising eye. “Miss, you truly are gifted — this bobble stitch of yours is looking more and more impressive.”

“Do you think so? Would it be too embarrassing to give as a gift?”

“Of course not.” Jing Zhi smiled. “Whatever you give him, even if it were knitted into a shapeless lump, Director Shi would wear it around his neck every single day.”

“It’s not quite that extreme.” Yan Qing pressed her lips together in a smile. “Tell me honestly — if it’s not good enough, I’ll just unravel it and start over.”

“Miss, please — you’ve already unraveled it countless times. This time, it’s genuinely lovely.”

“Sixth Sister has always had such clever hands — of course it’s lovely.” With these words and the swish of a curtain, Yan Ling walked in.

“Fourth Sister.” Yan Qing set her scarf aside.

Yan Ling took a seat nearby, accepted a food box from her maidservant, and offered it forward. “I just made some butter tea and tsampa — please try some, Sixth Sister, if you don’t mind.”

“How could I mind.” Yan Qing said, “Father has praised Fourth Sister’s butter tea.”

Er Yitai Guo Yanrong had come from the far northwest, where butter tea and tsampa were staples of daily life. Yan Ling had learned the art of making butter tea from her mother, and frequently prepared it to share with the different courtyards of the estate.

Yan Ling poured a cup for Yan Qing. “Is this scarf you’re knitting for the Seventh Young Master of the Shi Family?”

Yan Qing smiled. “Just practicing my needlework, nothing more. Everyone in this household knows my embroidery is poor — please don’t laugh at me, Fourth Sister.”

“How could I?” Yan Ling picked it up and examined it carefully for a moment. “This is not the work of a beginner at all — Sixth Sister, please stop selling yourself short.”

“Fourth Sister’s tea is truly delicious.” Yan Qing said approvingly. “And this tsampa is wonderful too.”

“If Sixth Sister likes it, I’ll come and bring it to you often.” Then Yan Ling changed the subject. “A few days from now, the matriarch of the Shi Family has invited a master to give a dharma lecture. All the ladies and young misses of any standing in Shun Cheng are vying to attend and be graced by the teachings. I wonder whether Sixth Sister has any interest in going?”

“With so many people wishing to attend, I’m afraid the Shi Family’s courtyard may not hold them all.” Yan Qing did not answer the question directly.

“That’s true enough — last year when the master came to lecture, invitations were sent in advance. This year will likely be the same. If fate wills it, I shall certainly go and listen.”

The two of them chatted idly for a while longer. Once Yan Ling had seen Yan Qing finish a full bowl of tea and sample some of the tsampa, she rose and took her leave.

After she was gone, Jing Zhi began to murmur to herself: “I don’t know what’s gotten into Fourth Miss lately — she keeps wandering over to our courtyard every two or three days.”

Yan Qing wiped the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief. “When Yan Qin was still here, Yan Ling kept very close to her. But now she has suddenly started coming to visit me so frequently — that is indeed a little strange.”

Yet each time Yan Ling came, she only stayed briefly — sometimes bringing a treat, sometimes exchanging nothing more than a few words of light conversation.

“Could it be that Er Yitai is sending her over to win your favor, Miss? When you marry Director Shi, you’ll become the Seventh Young Madam of the Shi Family — someone whose word carries weight among the distinguished families of Shun Cheng. With a word from you, it would be so much easier to arrange a good match for Fourth Miss.”

Guo Yanrong presently oversaw the inner household, and she applied herself to the matter of Yan Ling’s marriage prospects with particular zeal — everything, large or small, handled by her own hand. On the one hand, she was performing her devotion to Master Yan; on the other, she was working to ingratiate herself with Yan Qing. The reasoning behind it all was perfectly clear to Yan Qing.

“Personally, I prefer Seventh Sister — she’s pure and sweet, without so many calculations.” Jing Zhi made a slight face. “Not like these other young misses — not one of them a simple soul.”

“No matter what her intentions are, we simply keep our guard up. That’s all.”

Several days passed, and Yan Qing finally finished the scarf. She carefully folded it into a bag and set it aside.

“Miss, something has arrived from Director Shi.” Jing Zhi came through the door, arms around a paper bag.

“Did he come in person, this late in the evening?”

“Jin Shan brought it.” At the mention of Jin Shan, Jing Zhi let out a dismissive hum. “That insufferable flatterer — he loves nothing more than sweet-talking people.”

Yan Qing smiled. “I do think he reserves his sweet-talking especially for you.”

Jing Zhi’s face went pink. “Miss, please don’t say things like that.”

“All right, all right — why are you blushing.” Yan Qing opened the bag, and inside found a scarf. Her heart gave a small jump of surprise — had Shi Ting sent her a scarf as well?

She drew it out and spread it open gently.

By a curious coincidence, this scarf was also grey — though the style was unmistakably a man’s.

As she shook it out, a folded note fell from within. She recognized Shi Ting’s handwriting.

The note read: Received from an outside party. Forwarded to my future wife for her handling.

Yan Qing burst out laughing.

She had heard that Yan Qin had been punished with kneeling at the Citang precisely because she had tried to send Shi Ting a scarf — the scarf had never reached him, and instead she found herself confined for a period of reflection. Yet if Yan Qin’s attempt had failed at the time, how had this scarf come to exist? Had Yan Qin, still unrelenting, found another way to send it through?

Yan Qing had to admit she found Yan Qin’s persistence rather impressive.

She picked up a piece of paper and quickly wrote a single line: The guilty party has shown admirable remorse and is hereby permitted to make amends through service.

With the note written, she still wasn’t sure what to do with the scarf itself, so she had Jing Zhi put it away for now.

“Miss, Fourth Miss has sent someone over — she wants to play cards and would like you to join them.” Murong’s clear voice came as she walked in.

Yan Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. Though Yan Ling had been visiting frequently of late, she had done little more than chat. Yet taken together with the strange behavior of Yan Qin and Shi Guang, she could not afford to be careless.

With that thought in mind, she called Jing Zhi over and gave her quiet instructions.

—