“Master and Madam were both well-read scholars. Madam particularly enjoyed making fragrant medicine pills. In the past, there were never any mosquitoes or flies in summer, all thanks to Madam’s insect-repelling pills. I never imagined Young Miss had remembered everything they taught her…”
“Young Miss should have revealed your skills earlier. With such impressive medical knowledge, we wouldn’t have been looked down upon.”
Two days had passed since they left the manor, and Fuling was still marveling at Qin Wan’s medical skills.
Qin Wan’s parents died when she was nine, and she then traveled from Beijing to Jinzhou. Given her pitiful circumstances during that time, she had no opportunity to study medicine. The only possibility was that Qin Wan had learned medicine before she was nine. After much consideration, Qin Wan attributed it to the late Mr. and Mrs. Qin Yi.
Fuling had mentioned before that Mr. and Mrs. Qin Yi were both highly educated. Therefore, it seemed natural that they had read medical texts and taught everything to young Qin Wan. Fuling trusted Qin Wan completely—even if something seemed amiss, she still believed this explanation.
In the morning breeze, Qin Wan and Fuling walked along the small path in front of the western rear courtyard, arriving at the lotus pond.
Fuling glanced toward the front courtyard. “It’s been two days, why hasn’t Old Madam made any move?”
The family masters must know they had left the manor, yet after two days, there had been no reaction.
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. “Since Old Madam doesn’t care about us, she truly doesn’t mind. As long as we don’t do anything to damage the Qin family’s reputation, why would she spare us a glance?”
This was Qin Wan’s speculation—Madam Jiang likely just didn’t want to waste energy on her.
Hearing this, Fuling also found it reasonable. “That’s good then, we can enjoy our peace. However, Young Miss hasn’t fully recovered yet. Coming to this lotus pond every day isn’t good—it’s damp and cold near the water.”
Qin Wan shook her head and looked toward the northeast.
That day, Ninth Young Miss had arrived at the lotus pond first—how did she get to the Purple Bamboo Grove?
Though the lotus pond was secluded, servants might still pass by shortly after nightfall. Ninth Young Miss couldn’t have been forcibly taken there. The only explanation was that she went there herself.
But Ninth Young Miss was timid—knowing the Purple Bamboo Grove was haunted, why would she go there?
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed deeply. Suddenly, Fuling pointed across the pond, “Young Miss, look—”
Qin Wan turned to see several servants carrying two large boxes toward the front courtyard, partially hidden by artificial hills. The boxes were draped with red cloth, looking very festive.
Fuling murmured, “Looks like they’re preparing gifts for someone’s celebration.”
Although this was just the Qin Manor’s third branch of the Zhongyong Marquis family, the name alone made them one of Jinzhou’s top families. Whose celebration would require such lavish gifts from them?
This thought flashed by, and Qin Wan casually patted Fuling’s arm. “Go get a blanket.”
It was indeed chilly by the water. Hearing this, Fuling turned to leave. After a few steps, she looked back anxiously, “Young Miss, wait here for Fuling, don’t wander off.”
Qin Wan’s lips curved slightly. “Alright, and check if the morning medicinal tea is ready.”
Fuling agreed and hurried away. The smile faded from Qin Wan’s lips.
She hadn’t prepared any medicinal tea. Unable to find it, Fuling would be delayed for some time.
Qin Wan took a shallow breath and followed the lakeside path northeast.
The entire northern side of the Qin Manor was quite overgrown. Qin Wan left the lotus pond, following a small path covered with dead leaves. Soon, she caught the fresh scent of bamboo. Her eyes brightened, and she quickened her pace.
She had observed for two days—as Fuling said, the Purple Bamboo Grove was indeed forbidden ground. The path in this direction showed no signs of traffic all day. If so, she would investigate during daylight.
Shortly after, Qin Wan reached the entrance to the Purple Bamboo Grove.
In early autumn, the purple bamboo remained lush. But since becoming forbidden ground, the path through the grove was untended, covered with a thick layer of dead leaves. As Qin Wan stepped on them, they made soft crackling sounds.
Following the path inward, the warm sun was blocked by dense bamboo tops. A penetrating chill rose from beneath Qin Wan’s feet. The grove was quiet, without even birdsong. Combined with the years of decaying leaves, the entire Purple Bamboo Grove carried a damp, eerie atmosphere.
It was unsettling even in daylight, let alone at night.
What had lured Ninth Young Miss here?
Or had she seen something strange—someone or something—and followed?
Thinking this, Qin Wan looked back. On the leaf-covered path, her footprints were very faint. After the heavy rain on the twenty-first of July and so much time passed, finding footprints would be too difficult.
She had scrapes on her calves and thighs, finger marks on her ankles, and strangulation marks on her neck. Later, they discovered bleeding points on her scalp. Qin Wan reached the center of the bamboo grove, stopped, and slowly closed her eyes.
If Ninth Young Miss had been grabbed by the ankles and dragged while unconscious, the wounds would have been uniform. But her injuries weren’t entirely so. Though they were scrapes, the wounds were irregular—Ninth Young Miss must have struggled violently while being dragged.
And the scrapes were all on the front of her legs—Ninth Young Miss had been dragged face down.
Under what circumstances would Ninth Young Miss be grabbed by the ankles while face down?
Qin Wan took a step forward, suddenly stepping on a dead bamboo branch. The cylindrical branch could easily cause someone to slip. Qin Wan held her breath—Ninth Young Miss must have fallen, then been grabbed. So she must have been running away at first…
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed as she vividly reconstructed a murder in her mind.
Running away, falling, being grabbed, dragged into the depths of the bamboo grove, hair seized to turn her over, then, hands violently squeezing her neck—
Qin Wan’s eyebrows trembled violently—Ninth Young Miss’s killer was a man!
Only a man would have such strength!
Ninth Young Miss was a family master. Even if people disliked and hated her, no one would truly want to kill her, otherwise, how could she have lived peacefully in the Qin Manor for four years? And from entering the Purple Bamboo Grove to fleeing and then being killed…
Qin Wan’s eyes suddenly flew open—she must have seen something she shouldn’t have!
As this thought struck, Qin Wan’s heart began racing wildly. She instinctively turned around, scanning for more evidence. But as she turned, there in the deep grove of emerald bamboo, a man stood silently—she didn’t know when he had appeared.
In the gloomy light, the man’s eyes held a smile as he watched her.