Su Feizhang let out a disdainful snort. “So Military Advisor Hua also believes it was someone from outside the Scattering Blossoms Tower who killed Minina?”

Hua Yitang did not answer this question directly. Instead, he tapped the wooden fake knife in the figure’s belly with his fan. “The murder weapon used to kill Minina was Military Advisor Wu’s cavalry saber. According to Military Advisor Wu, he had intended to visit Minina for old times’ sake, but unexpectedly found Duan Hongning collapsed here, and shortly afterward he also lost consciousness himself.”

Everyone’s gazes snapped to Wu Zhengli and Duan Hongning at once.

Wu Zhengli shifted his gaze away uncomfortably. Duan Hongning kept her head bowed in silence.

“And this is where it becomes interesting,” Hua Yitang said, pacing toward the entrance of the concealed chamber and pointing at it. “When we broke down the door, we found only Minina’s body — there was no sign of Military Advisor Wu or Duan Hongning. We only discovered the two of them afterward in the concealed chamber, along with the bloody footprints left by the killer. Based on the footprint trail, we determined that the killer had escaped through the concealed passageway in the chamber, with the exit on the fourth floor.”

Su Yiyun gave a disdainful sniff. “What is the point of all this rambling? Can you catch the killer or not?”

Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow. “Why did Duan Hongning and Military Advisor Wu lose consciousness? Why did they end up in the concealed chamber? Why was the murder weapon Military Advisor Wu’s personal saber? Clarifying these points is the key to solving the case.”

At these words, not only was everyone else thoroughly bewildered — even Lin Sui’an was groping in the dark. Truthfully, the most baffling part of the entire case was precisely this section. On the surface it seemed as though there were many clues, but in reality they were a tangled mess.

Prefect Chi said, “What is Military Advisor Hua’s brilliant insight?”

Hua Yitang swayed his fan and shook his head with a satisfied air. “When we broke down the door, we detected a strange, acrid-sweet scent. Upon investigation, we found the source of the smell was several candles.”

Hua Yitang flicked his fan and pointed. Fang Ke stepped forward and arranged the four candles that had been previously identified as abnormal. Hua Yitang tapped his palm with the fan again, and Wu Da came striding in quickly, carrying a cage that contained four small mice squeaking and rustling about. Mu Xia followed behind him, cradling a brocade-wrapped bundle — inside was a square jade glass tank, roughly one chi on each side. The lamplight caught it and it gleamed a translucent green. Lin Sui’an recognized it — it appeared to be one of the decorative pieces that had previously been displayed in the main hall of the Hua Family’s Ninety-Nine-Residence Estate, said to be worth a hundred gold.

Everyone was even more puzzled. What was this good-for-nothing up to — showing off the Hua Family’s wealth?

Hua Yitang gestured to Fang Ke. “Master Coroner Fang, you may begin.”

Fang Ke put on gloves, lit each of the four candles one by one, held them with long tweezers, and carefully placed them at the four corners of the jade glass tank’s floor. After they had burned for a moment, he dropped two small mice inside, covered the opening with a white cloth, and thus created a small, transparent experimental chamber in which everything within could be clearly seen. The two mice scurried around inside for a few circles, then their heads lolled to one side and they collapsed.

Fang Ke said, “Of the four candles, two contain sedative incense — which disperses the fastest. So the mice placed inside first will quickly be rendered unconscious.”

“This is the reason Military Advisor Wu and Duan Hongning fell unconscious,” Hua Yitang said. “Afterward, Minina returned and also fell unconscious. At this point, the killer had completed the first step of his plan.”

Fang Ke placed the third mouse inside. Sure enough, it too toppled over at the bottom of the tank.

Su Feizhang gave a cold laugh. “From the sound of it, Military Advisor Hua already knows the killer’s entire plan?”

Hua Yitang opened his fan with a smile. “Hua studied under the Maoshan Sect’s Golden Light Cave under the Daoist Master Shi Ye — the family specialty is reading faces and casting fortunes. One need only pinch the fingers to calculate, and the killer’s petty little schemes are laid bare!”

Everyone: “……”

All the boasting in the world must have been killed by your mouth, Fourth Young Master Hua!

“The origin of the killer’s plan was this very evening banquet,” Hua Yitang said. “Wang Jinlu had long coveted Minina. Taking advantage of the occasion, he had Manager Lu secretly place arousal incense in Minina’s room. This matter happened to be discovered by chance by the killer. A scheme sprang to the killer’s mind — to use the opportunity of Wang Jinlu’s private rendezvous with Minina to render both of them unconscious, murder Minina in the process, and frame Wang Jinlu for the crime.”

Su Yiyun let out a dismissive “tch.” “This is all something you’ve made up and invented yourself, isn’t it?”

Hua Yitang paid Su Yiyun’s sniping absolutely no attention and continued, “To carry out the killer’s plan, one essential step was required: after committing the murder, the killer had to be able to make a clean escape. If he encountered anyone on the way to or from the Swallow Hairpin Chamber, he had to ensure that any witness would see Wang Jinlu. And so the killer made thorough preparations — he also arranged, inside the Cherry Blossom Chamber on the fourth floor, a set of robes and boots identical to Wang Jinlu’s.”

Chief Historian Xia said, “Why the Cherry Blossom Chamber?”

“Because the Cherry Blossom Chamber’s concealed passageway is closest to the staircase — coming down from the sixth floor, it is the least likely to be noticed.” Hua Yitang said, “After the banquet began, the killer found an opportunity to leave the sixth-floor pavilion, slipped quietly into the Cherry Blossom Chamber’s concealed room, changed into robes identical to Wang Jinlu’s, left through the Cherry Blossom Chamber’s main door, climbed the staircase, and arrived at the Swallow Hairpin Chamber. He had expected that someone would surely notice such a brazen appearance and become a witness to Wang Jinlu committing murder — but as fate would have it, Hua happened to have gotten into an argument with the tenth son of the Su Family at that very moment, drawing everyone away to watch the spectacle, and not a single person noticed him.”

“Of course, at the time the killer did not know what was happening on the sixth floor, and continued to carry out his plan calmly and methodically. When he arrived at the Swallow Hairpin Chamber, he unexpectedly found Military Advisor Wu, Duan Hongning, and Minina had all lost consciousness in the room.” Hua Yitang’s fan tapped his palm — tap, tap, tap. “This situation was far beyond what he had anticipated. But the killer quickly steadied himself and decided to proceed with his original plan — he dragged Military Advisor Wu and Duan Hongning into the concealed chamber, then used leather cords to hang Minina up, staging the scene to look as if Wang Jinlu had been there.”

At this point, Hua Yitang paused, and then suddenly laughed again. “Perhaps at that moment the killer even felt that heaven was helping him. He thought to himself: after he completed his work and left, Military Advisor Wu and young Lady Duan would wake up in the concealed chamber and find the murder scene — they would be heaven-sent witnesses. And when the killer saw Military Advisor Wu’s cavalry saber —” Hua Yitang paused here for effect — “it was simply too perfect. The killer’s original plan had probably been to strangle Minina to death with the leather cords, but now he reconsidered: if he killed Minina with Military Advisor Wu’s own saber, it would certainly enrage Military Advisor Wu, and an enraged Military Advisor Wu would naturally move swiftly to convict Wang Jinlu — and his plan would be complete!”

“The killer had taken the antidote to the sedative incense beforehand, so he was unaffected by it. He suspended Minina, arranged the scene, and his plan was essentially: wait for Wang Jinlu to enter the Swallow Hairpin Chamber and fall unconscious, then kill Minina, leave, and perfectly complete the framing. Unfortunately, there is never a perfect plan in this world. The killer expected Wang Jinlu to come to the Swallow Hairpin Chamber — but in reality, Wang Jinlu had gone to the washroom on the sixth floor.” At this, Hua Yitang sighed. “Since Wang Jinlu never appeared in the Swallow Hairpin Chamber, the prerequisite condition of the plan could not be met. Logically, if the killer had stopped at this point, nothing would have happened. But this is where the killer’s plan went off course —”

Hua Yitang tapped the jade glass tank with his fan. “Master Coroner Fang, the timing should be about right?”

Fang Ke nodded, then pried open the fourth mouse’s mouth and inserted a pill. “This is the antidote to the sedative incense.” He then placed the fourth mouse into the jade glass tank.

This mouse’s behavior was very strange. After entering the tank, it first ran around cheerfully for a few turns, looking perfectly normal — then, very abruptly, it stood bolt upright and froze, as if turned to stone.

Everyone was astonished.

“Two of the remaining candles — one mixed with arousal incense, and one mixed with a particular drug,” Fang Ke said. “These two substances disperse more slowly than the sedative incense. At first, the four substances worked against each other, mutually canceling each other out so that all effects were weakened together. Combined with the killer having taken the sedative antidote beforehand, he felt no abnormality upon entering. But as time passed, the effects of the latter two substances gradually intensified, producing this effect.”

“The effect is to cause the body to stiffen?” Chief Historian Xia asked.

Fang Ke did not answer. He simply fixed his gaze on the jade glass tank.

The rigidly frozen mouse’s body gradually softened. Its four paws returned to the floor, and it wandered about with a swaying, staggering gait, like a person who had drunk too much. It squeaked several times, and then — suddenly flung itself upon one of the other mice, biting and tearing ferociously. In an instant, the entire jade glass tank was a scene of flying flesh and blood.

Everyone let out a collective gasp and backed away.

Fang Ke, expressionless, poured a basin of water inside. The candles went out. The mouse’s tearing stopped. Water, blood, and torn flesh mingled together into clumps of sticky matter that clung to the inner walls of the jade glass tank. Fang Ke used tweezers to retrieve the four candles, and Mu Xia swiftly wrapped the entire jade glass tank tightly and retreated quickly to the outskirts of the crowd.

“The combined effect of sedative incense, sedative antidote, arousal incense, and Longshen Fruit is precisely what you just witnessed.” Fang Ke carefully wrapped the four candles in cloth. “It can cause a person’s emotions to become agitated, their behavior to become uncontrolled — violent, bloodthirsty — and may even produce hallucinations.”

Everyone drew a sharp collective breath.

Lin Sui’an’s heart pounded frantically: agitated, uncontrolled, violent, and bloodthirsty — string those words together and they were nearly equivalent to a failed “Breaking Star” state. She had been just one step away from becoming that frenzied mouse.

Everyone looked at each other. No one spoke. Not a sound could be heard in the Swallow Hairpin Chamber.

“The killer had mapped out in his mind, day and night, exactly how he would kill Minina and frame Wang Jinlu. When the drug effects hit, he lost his reason — and even hallucinated that Wang Jinlu had already entered the Swallow Hairpin Chamber. And so he raised Military Advisor Wu’s cavalry saber and killed Minina with savage brutality.”

Hua Yitang’s tone was very calm, but everyone, calling to mind the state of that mouse just now, felt a chill run through them.

“After committing the murder, the killer believed he had succeeded. Half-dreaming, half-waking, he fled the concealed chamber, leaving a great quantity of footprints and blood traces throughout the chamber and the passageway. Whether by luck or misfortune, he encountered not a single witness the entire way. Returning to the concealed room in the Cherry Blossom Chamber, he stripped off the blood-soaked robes and bloodstained boots, washed away the blood — and perhaps at this point, some clarity returned to him. Looking back on the murder he had just committed, he could recall only a blurred haze…”

“When the killer returned to the sixth floor, he found Wang Jingfu absent. Afterward, Manager Lu came to report that something was amiss in the Swallow Hairpin Chamber. The killer became increasingly certain his plan had succeeded and was feeling rather pleased with himself — when Wang Jingfu returned, completely unharmed. At that moment the killer was greatly shocked. But seeing Wang Jingfu obstruct the officers at every turn, seemingly desperate to make his escape, the killer grew more and more uncertain. Right at that moment, Hua returned to the sixth floor and identified Wang Jinlu as the killer. The real culprit must have breathed a great sigh of relief — so when Hua asked what should be done with Wang Jinlu, he jumped eagerly into the trap Hua had laid —”

Hua Yitang turned his swaying fan toward Wang Jingfu. Wang Jingfu’s complexion had gone a ghastly white, the muscles of his face twitching wildly. “All of this is nothing but Military Advisor Hua’s conjecture! Do you have solid evidence?!”

Hua Yitang smiled. “I have three pieces of evidence. Shall we go through them one by one?”

Wang Jingfu’s face changed color.

Prefect Chi said, “Please speak plainly, Military Advisor Hua!”

Hua Yitang gestured for Ling Zhiyan to bring Manager Lu to the front. “In Manager Lu’s testimony just now, he said that Wang Jinlu had him secretly place a candle mixed with arousal incense in Minina’s room. But in fact, Wang Jinlu delivered two candles — not one.”

Everyone was stunned.

Manager Lu said, “Th— that’s right. A day later, someone from the Wang Family delivered another candle, saying it was a different kind of arousal incense and asking me to put it in Minina’s room as well. I thought — one or two candles made no difference — so I put both in together…”

“Utter nonsense — I only had you make one delivery. Where did a second one come from?” Wang Jinlu said furiously.

Manager Lu looked aggrieved. “The servant who delivered the second candle — I had seen him several times before, and he was indeed from the Wang Family, so I did not ask too many questions…”

Hua Yitang said, “The truth, however, is that the second candle was not arousal incense at all — it was the sedative incense prepared by the killer.”

Ling Zhiyan said, “Therefore, one need only summon all the Wang Family servants, have Manager Lu identify them one by one, find the servant who delivered the second candle, and question him carefully — and the identity of the mastermind behind it all will come to light. And this person is the real killer.”

Wang Jinlu gave several cold laughs. “Does that even need asking? The only person besides me who can order the Wang Family servants around is none other than our esteemed Family Head.”

Wang Jingfu’s expression turned grim and dark. Thin beads of sweat lined his forehead. “Perhaps this servant was originally dispatched by Wang Jinlu, and Wang Jinlu is trying to cover his own tracks…”

“Lord Wang Jingfu need not be in such a rush to deny it — there is a second piece of evidence.” Hua Yitang let out a short laugh. “Jin Ruo!”

“Coming!” Jin Ruo ran out through the door and, after a moment, came trotting back in, handing the bundle in his arms to Lin Sui’an. The two of them together unfolded the garments from the bundle and held them up for everyone to see — there were more than twenty pieces in all.

“These were found in the concealed room of the Cherry Blossom Chamber on the fourth floor. In addition to the blood-stained garments, many other pieces of clothing were also prepared — these must all have been candidates.” Jin Ruo said.

Hua Yitang glanced toward Wang Jinlu. “Do any of these garments look familiar to you?”

Wang Jinlu’s face had gone greenish. “These are all garments I had newly made in the past half year —” He went forward and examined several pieces. “No — wait. These are all unworn pieces. They are not mine — someone has had them recreated according to the style of my own robes!”

Hua Yitang said, “The killer had no way of knowing which garment Wang Jinlu would wear to the banquet, so he had an entire replica set made of every new robe Wang Jinlu had commissioned in the past half year. To be this intimately familiar with the styles of Wang Jinlu’s wardrobe, this person must be someone extremely close to Wang Jinlu.”

Ling Zhiyan said, “These garments are made of expensive materials with exquisite embroidery — no ordinary tailor’s shop could produce them. One need only take these finished pieces to the major tailor’s shops in Yi Du and inquire — the person who commissioned them will naturally be found.”

Lin Sui’an stroked her chin. “If we send the Pure Gate to investigate, how long would it take?”

Jin Ruo said smugly, “No more than six hours.”

Wang Jingfu’s face was as white as paper. He squeezed his eyes shut.

Hua Yitang said, “And there is one final piece of evidence — inside the real killer’s own body!”

Everyone: “What?!”

“When the killer committed the murder, he inhaled the four types of drug vapors from the candles —”

“Fourth Young Master Hua, don’t think we know nothing of pharmacology and will believe whatever you say.” Su Yiyun said sharply. “By now, more than two hours have passed since the murder. The effects of the sedative and arousal incense would have long since dissipated — there is no way to test for them.”

Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow. “It is not for nothing that you are the tenth son of the Su Family — you are clearly very well versed in these disreputable bedroom secret drugs!”

“Hua Yitang, you —!”

Hua Yitang’s expression sharpened abruptly, and he raised his voice. “What Hua is referring to is not the sedative or the arousal incense — it is the fourth substance. Or rather, it should be called a poison. This poison is the very culprit responsible for causing the real killer’s emotions and behavior to spiral out of control and for inducing hallucinations.”

Prefect Chi and Chief Historian Xia’s expressions changed slightly. “Is Military Advisor Hua speaking of —”

“Precisely the Longshen Fruit that Hua helped to eradicate in Cheng County, Qing Prefecture! If there is anyone in this world who knows more about Longshen Fruit, besides Master Coroner Fang, there is no second candidate. Therefore, Master Coroner Fang is naturally also capable of detecting the Longshen Fruit toxin within the real killer’s body.”

Fang Ke shot Hua Yitang a cold sidelong glance, forcefully suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, and reached into his robes to produce a small white porcelain vial, which he shook twice.

Hua Yitang paced over to stand before Wang Jingfu and flicked his fan open with a snap. “All it takes is a single drop of blood and the truth will be plain. Wang Jingfu — do you dare submit to this test?”

Wang Jingfu’s throat worked several times. He opened his eyes, and his expression was strangely calm. “There is no need to test. Minina was killed by me.”

“Wang Jingfu, have you lost your mind?! You are, at the very least, something like a brother to me! Why would you harm me?!” Wang Jinlu erupted in fury, lunging at Wang Jingfu and scrabbling at him. “You are already the Wang Family Head — you have kept me under your heel at every turn. What more could you possibly want?!”

Wang Jingfu gave as good as he got, flipping Wang Jinlu over and pinning him to the ground, seizing Wang Jinlu’s hair and slamming his head against the floor with a rhythmic thud. “Don’t play the fool with me. The family elders have long been dissatisfied with me, a son born of a concubine, serving as Family Head. They have been intent on supporting you, a son born of the principal wife, to take the position. As long as you live for one day, my seat as Family Head will never be secure.”

Wang Jinlu struggled and grabbed Wang Jingfu’s collar, clawing at him wildly. “The elders are right — you, a son of a concubine, are petty and vindictive, prone to nursing every grudge! You are not fit for great use! The position of Family Head should have been yielded to me long ago!”

“A useless wine-sack and rice-bag like you — if you were made Wang Family Head, the Wang Family would be finished!” Wang Jingfu sank his teeth into Wang Jinlu’s ear. Wang Jinlu let out a screech fit to slaughter a pig.

“Noisy enough to split my head,” Hua Yitang said, rolling his eyes. “No one wants to hear about your sordid family miseries!”

Ling Zhiyan shook his head and sighed. Jin Ruo and Lin Sui’an crossed their arms and watched the spectacle from a distance, clucking their tongues.

“Quickly, pull them apart!” Prefect Chi hopped up and down in agitation. “What is the meaning of this! What is the meaning of this!”

Wu Da and several officers from the Night Watch rushed forward, and between them all managed to wrench the two apart.

“Absolutely lawless — outrageous beyond measure!” Prefect Chi bellowed furiously. “Immediately take Wang Jingfu into custody in the prefecture’s jail, to await sentencing!”

Wu Da and two officers escorted Wang Jingfu out.

Everyone let out a collective breath. Wang Jinlu’s hair was disheveled, one hand pressed to his bleeding ear, his mouth still a stream of curses that spoke of grinding Wang Jingfu to dust.

“We owe much to Military Advisor Hua’s keen perception and meticulous judgment this time — otherwise, we might all have been deceived by the cunning Wang Jingfu!” Chief Historian Xia wiped his brow. “With Military Advisor Hua presiding over Yi Du, this is truly a blessing for all the people of Yi Du!”

“Chief Historian Xia speaks too highly of me — this is merely Hua’s duty.” Hua Yitang cupped his fists in salute, then raised his eyes to look at the assembled crowd. “In truth, the Longshen Fruit toxin that Hua mentioned just now has also been discovered in other parts of Yi Du.”

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Su Yiyun let out a snort. “Longshen Fruit, Phoenix Fruit — I have never heard of any such things.”

“You may not have heard of Longshen Fruit, but all of you must be very familiar with its other name —” Hua Yitang said with deliberate gravity. “Qing Prefecture Embroidery!”

At these words, the faces of everyone present underwent a dramatic change.

“Wh— what Qing Prefecture Embroidery! We have never heard of that either!” Su Yiyun shrieked, and the other noble family scions all rushed to echo him in a panic.

“The Wu Family’s cloth shop and embroidery establishment have been sealed. Hua has retrieved the client roster of those who purchased Qing Prefecture Embroidery — you are all welcome to guess who Hua found among the names,” Hua Yitang said. “And do not blame Hua for not warning you: taken in small amounts over a short period, this poison can stimulate the body’s potential — those who take it feel as though they are free of all illness and ailments, full of energy, vigorous and comfortable. But this poison induces a compulsive craving and cannot be given up. Long-term use causes it to corrode the five viscera and six bowels, bringing a person to the brink of death without their knowing it — heart palpitations and sudden cardiac death are possible. Most terrifying of all, it will cause a person to lose control of their emotions, becoming irritable and bloodthirsty, gradually losing all five senses, and ultimately becoming no different from a walking corpse!”

The faces of all the noble family scions had gone completely ashen.

“Is Military Advisor Hua’s word to be trusted?!” someone cried out in alarm.

Hua Yitang’s expression grew somber. He nodded.

Lin Sui’an said, “I once witnessed this with my own eyes in Cheng County, Qing Prefecture. The elder brother of Qiu County Magistrate Pei was transformed into a walking corpse by Longshen Fruit consumption and died in a state of madness. I and former County Officer Hua personally burned down the Longshen Fruit production base, where we saw many embroidered items soaked in concentrated Longshen Fruit toxin — identical to the embroidery found in the Wu Family’s cloth shop.”

In an instant, the entire room was gripped by shock and horror.

Su Feizhang quickly glanced at Su Yiyun. The veins at his temple bulged. Su Yiyun’s expression was one of terror, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

“There is no need for everyone to panic too greatly — this toxin is not without an antidote,” Hua Yitang said. “Master Coroner Fang has already developed an antidote formula during our time in Qing Prefecture. The medicinal ingredients and catalysts required are not difficult to find. Everyone is welcome to come to Master Coroner Fang afterward to obtain the formula.”

Everyone immediately burst into joy, and felt that this unreliable good-for-nothing standing before them had suddenly grown rather tall and rather handsome. They thanked Hua Yitang effusively, and then, under the escort of the Night Watch officers, departed.

Wu Zhengli’s name was cleared of suspicion, and he transformed back into the picture of polished propriety in an instant. Seizing the opportunity, he lavished flattery upon Prefect Chi and Chief Historian Xia, offering to personally escort the two officials back to their residences. Hua Yitang raised no objection, but simply watched the retreating figure of Wu Zhengli in silence, the color of his eyes growing deep and complex.

Then he called out to someone else. “Lady Duan, please stay a moment.”

Duan Hongning turned gracefully. “Military Advisor Hua has further business?”

“One of the sedative incense candles was sent in by Wang Jingfu — but the other one was brought in by you, was it not?”

Lin Sui’an, Ling Zhiyan, and Jin Ruo all went wide-eyed simultaneously.

Only Fang Ke showed not the slightest trace of surprise. “Both Lady Duan and Military Advisor Wu were rendered unconscious by the sedative incense. Military Advisor Wu’s constitution is more robust, so logically his resistance to the drug should have been greater. Yet it was Lady Duan who struggled out of the concealed chamber and seized Military Advisor Hua’s ankle. And it was Lady Duan who regained consciousness first. There is only one possible explanation: Lady Duan had previously taken the antidote to one of the sedative incenses.”

Duan Hongning lifted her long lashes. Her eyes shimmered like water, unmoving as she gazed at Hua Yitang. “Does any of this still matter now?”

Hua Yitang frowned. “Why did you do this?”

Duan Hongning’s lips moved slightly. “I have my reasons.”

“What reasons?!”

Duan Hongning lowered her eyes. “This is a private matter for Hongning, unrelated to this case.” She gave a graceful bow. “Hongning thanks Military Advisor Hua on Minina’s behalf for capturing the true culprit. If Military Advisor Hua has no further pressing business, Hongning will take her leave.”

Hua Yitang let out a sigh. “Was the Longshen Fruit candle also brought in by you?”

Duan Hongning’s body stilled for a moment. “Before tonight, Hongning had never heard of Longshen Fruit.”

“Then just who placed the Longshen Fruit candle in the Swallow Hairpin Chamber?” asked Mu Xia, who was driving the carriage.

“I’ll wager one string of coins — it was Wu Zhengli!” Jin Ruo lounged against the carriage door, lazily flicking the reins. “The Wu Family’s cloth shop was peddling Qing Prefecture Embroidery on a massive scale, so Wu Zhengli must have had stock on hand. He must have also conceived a desire for Minina, and planned to use Longshen Fruit to bring her under his control — the effects of Longshen Fruit are far more potent than arousal incense. As for his claim that he and Minina were old acquaintances — that was probably eight parts fabrication. Master, would you say I’m right?”

“My disciple’s analysis this time is quite well-reasoned.” Inside the carriage, Lin Sui’an noticed Fang Ke give a yawn, and she could not help but yawn as well. “What does Judicial Inspector Ling think?”

Ling Zhiyan nodded. “There is one remaining mystery — who branded Minina with the peach blossom mark?”

“Master Coroner Fang said it was applied to her body a few hours before she died,” Lin Sui’an said, scratching her forehead. “Going by the timing, Minina would have been on her way to the Scattering Blossoms Tower at that point. It makes no sense — she should have been fully conscious at the time… And even if someone had rendered her unconscious first, surely she would have noticed something wrong with her body after waking?”

Fang Ke said, “A burn wound causes pain to the marrow of the bones — it is impossible not to feel anything.”

Lin Sui’an and Ling Zhiyan looked at each other, and both said at once, “Could it be that she branded herself?”

Fang Ke neither confirmed nor denied this.

The group discussed it at length, but Hua Yitang showed no sign of joining in.

From the moment they had left the Scattering Blossoms Tower, Hua Yitang’s state had been somewhat strange. He was not leaning against the soft cushion as usual, not waving his fan, just staring fixedly at the dense darkness beyond the window — wordless, motionless.

The carriage rocked gently onward. The lights of the night market flashed past his jade-like face like drifting fireflies, making him look somewhat desolate.

Ling Zhiyan mouthed silently: What is wrong with Yitang?

Lin Sui’an shrugged: She was not a tapeworm in Hua Yitang’s belly — asking her was useless. Perhaps this good-for-nothing had simply overtaxed his brain tonight and crashed.

After a long while, Hua Yitang let out a quiet sigh, his body relaxing, and he leaned back against the soft cushion. “Something feels off.”

Lin Sui’an and Ling Zhiyan: “Hm?”

Fang Ke said, “Speak plainly.”

“I mean Duan Hongning,” Hua Yitang said, brow furrowed. “The way she looked at Hua — three parts probing, three parts wariness, three parts bewilderment, and one part hatred hidden very deep.”

Fang Ke rolled his eyes and simply closed them to sleep.

Lin Sui’an scratched her forehead: Lady Duan had barely spared Hua Yitang a straight look from beginning to end — she honestly could not see how there was so much layered meaning to be found.

Ling Zhiyan said, “…Are you overthinking things, Yitang?”

Hua Yitang held up his fan solemnly. “Hua’s intuition has never been wrong. The mysteries surrounding Duan Hongning will certainly lead to a major case.”

Lin Sui’an was thoroughly at a loss. She thought to herself — even if a major case did materialize, it would not be because of Duan Hongning but because of this man’s constitution, which seemed to draw death wherever he went.

“Ahem —” Ling Zhiyan turned to look out the window, changing the subject. “The Jingjiang Night Market is as lively as its reputation — quite a spectacle — Oh? Is that —”

Hua Yitang and Lin Sui’an both leaned over to look. There, amid the fading lamplight, a figure stood and bowed toward their carriage from a distance — it was Zhou Gan.

Lin Sui’an suddenly understood. “He is expressing his gratitude to us — could it be because —”

Hua Yitang let out a sigh and sat back. In a quiet voice, he said, “One of the main reasons Wang Jinlu was so close to the Suizhou Su Family was because they had similar tastes —”

Hua Yitang did not say what came next, but everyone understood.

The so-called “similar taste” was most likely an attraction toward men.

Wang Jinlu was an extremely lecherous person. The only thing that could have made him give up going to the Swallow Hairpin Chamber was finding new prey — and that was Zhou Gan. Judging by Zhou Gan’s reaction, there was a nine-in-ten chance that it had been forced upon him.

Had Hua Yitang continued to press the questioning at the time, what Wang Jinlu had done to Zhou Gan would have been exposed to everyone. At least this way, Zhou Gan was left with a shred of dignity.

“Wang Jingfu is a murderer, and Wang Jinlu is no good thing either,” Hua Yitang said angrily. “A pair of birds of the same corrupt feather — worthless creatures fit only to eat dog excrement!”

Ling Zhiyan shook his head. “Yi Du’s noble families — tumors rife throughout. They are truly in need of a thorough cleansing.”

Lin Sui’an sighed, leaned against the carriage window, and watched the Scattering Blossoms Tower recede into the distance — still blazing with lights, shimmering and translucent, standing tall beneath the vast black dome of the sky.

On the night breeze came the faint sound of music — a pipa, she thought — weeping and lamenting, melodious and mournful, as if mourning the life that had been lost tonight. That woman who had blazed like a flame had vanished forever into the brilliant blaze of light.

Skit

Before leaving the Scattering Blossoms Tower.

Mu Xia: “Yitang, what should we do with this jade glass tank?”

Hua Yitang backed away: “It’s been dirtied — can’t keep it. Throw it away.”

Lin Sui’an: “……”

Something worth a hundred gold, discarded without a second thought — this fellow really was a —

“Wasteful idiot!” Jin Ruo said, pinching his nose shut.

Ling Zhiyan: “Surely you could just wash it and still use it?”

Hua Yitang: “How about I give it to you?”

Ling Zhiyan: “…Never mind.”

Fang Ke snatched it away. “I’ll take it.”

Everyone simultaneously gave a thumbs-up: Master Coroner Fang is truly a formidable individual!