Tinglan Court lay east of Half Moon Lake, an elegant two-courtyard residence named for its proximity to the mansion’s orchid garden.
Fu Ling’s eyes moistened as she looked at the room with its brocade carpets and ornate curtains, “Finally, servant and Miss have moved out of the West Back Court. Miss saved Young Madam and the young master, and Old Madam has finally shown gratitude to Miss.”
Despite moving to more luxurious and refined quarters, Qin Wan’s emotions remained largely unchanged.
Her gaze fell on the ink-dark night outside the window. The evening breeze carried a faint orchid fragrance. In the past, at the Shen Mansion in the capital, her courtyard had also been filled with orchids, as both her father and mother were orchid lovers.
“Miss, what’s wrong?” Fu Ling draped a cloak over Qin Wan’s shoulders, “Are you missing Master and Madam? Or thinking about the Anyang Marquis Manor?”
Qin Wan suddenly snapped back to reality.
In the quiet of night, she often found herself unwittingly immersed in memories of the past.
Grief, helplessness, despair… hatred, yet uncertainty about who deserved that hatred. However, she knew she couldn’t let these emotions overwhelm her. She had to remain clear-headed and rational, had to resolve the current troubles, and then step by-step approach her father’s wrongful case.
Half a month had passed since the incident. What was the situation in the capital now?
Would anyone speak up about her father’s innocence? Had Imperial Consort Jin’s case been settled?
Qin Wan bit her lip and nodded, “I miss Father and Mother somewhat.”
Fu Ling’s voice grew hoarse, “Master and Madam would surely be happy to see Miss’s situation improving day by day.”
Qin Wan exhaled and pushed open the window. She narrowed her eyes, looking toward the northeastern part of the mansion.
The change in residence had taken her farther from the bamboo grove. After encountering Qin Li there last time, she’d had no further opportunities. Qin Wan remained convinced that evidence must remain in the bamboo grove.
The murderer had to be someone from the Qin family, perhaps someone she saw daily, perhaps someone who traveled in the same carriages.
Until this threat was eliminated, she remained in danger of losing her life again.
“Miss, what are you looking at? Would you like to see the orchid garden outside?”
Qin Wan withdrew her gaze, “I would, but it’s too late now. Tomorrow, we can bring some orchids inside. Then we won’t need to burn incense.”
Fu Ling’s lips curved into a smile, “Why wait until tomorrow? I’ll go get some for Miss now.” She headed for the door, “Did Miss know? We have a side door here that leads directly to the orchid garden!”
The night was deep, and Qin Wan wanted to stop Fu Ling, but seeing her excitement, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Tightening her cloak, Qin Wan followed her out.
Standing under the corridor eaves, Qin Wan watched Fu Ling walk toward the orchid garden with a lantern.
Fu Ling followed the covered walkway straight ahead, quickly reaching the side door. Seeing her happily enter the orchid garden, Qin Wan finally withdrew her gaze.
This small courtyard was elegant and tranquil, with orchids already growing in the central courtyard, along with roses blooming in the corners and an ancient willow with gnarled branches, giving the courtyard an artistic air.
Qin Wan surveyed it carefully, her heart gradually settling.
“Ah—”
Just as Qin Wan was about to descend the steps, a terrifying scream suddenly rang out!
The sound came from the direction of the orchid garden – it was Fu Ling. Qin Wan’s brows furrowed deeply as she ran toward the garden!
“Fu Ling— Fu Ling, what’s wrong—”
Just as Qin Wan reached the side door, Fu Ling crashed into her arms, panic-stricken.
“Miss! Someone! There’s someone in the orchid garden—”
Fu Ling’s lantern was gone, and her face showed pure terror. Qin Wan held her tight, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Was it the mansion’s gardener? Or other servants?”
Fu Ling was nearly crying from fright, shaking her head frantically, “No, no, not a worker. I was just getting flowers for Miss, and that person was standing behind the flower rack. Miss, I was terrified…”
Qin Wan’s brows instantly knitted together. She quickly turned back, grabbed the wind lamp from under the eaves, scanned the area, and seized an iron spade from beside the side door, then turned to enter the orchid garden!
“Miss, what are you doing?”
Qin Wan’s heart was pounding, but her hand holding the lamp remained steady.
“Going to take a look—”
Fu Ling grabbed Qin Wan, “Miss, don’t go! Someone hiding in the orchid garden this late at night can’t be good. Maybe, they’re here to steal from us. I’m scared—”
Qin Wan steadied herself, “I’ll go first, you follow me. We’re not on the west side anymore; if we shout, someone will hear. Don’t be afraid, let’s see who it is—”
Though still shaken, Fu Ling was encouraged by Qin Wan’s composure.
She nodded, grabbed a broom herself, and followed Qin Wan into the garden.
The orchid garden was vast, with over a dozen flower beds arranged like a chessboard on the ground, containing newly sprouted orchid seedlings and common varieties. The well-cultivated, superior orchids were arranged in pots on flower racks on all four sides. The racks were taller than a person; if someone were hiding behind them, they couldn’t be seen unless the orchid pots were moved.
“Miss, it was there—”
Fu Ling pointed, nervously gripping her broom.
Qin Wan scanned the area. The orchid garden was fragrant but so quiet a falling pin could be heard.
Step by step, Qin Wan approached the flower rack Fu Ling had indicated.
Upon getting closer, Qin Wan first saw the fallen lantern on the ground, extinguished from the fall. Beside it lay a broken orchid pot, with two other pots that had been placed on the ground.
“I was just here, had put two pots on the ground, and when I went to get a third, I suddenly saw the edge of a robe. Something felt wrong, and when I looked closer, someone was standing behind the flower rack.”
Fu Ling’s words sent a chill down Qin Wan’s spine. She steadied herself and walked behind the flower rack.
“I was so frightened I screamed, dropping both the lantern and the flower pot. I didn’t think about anything else, just turned and ran toward you—”
The space behind the flower rack was empty; the person had naturally fled.
“Could you see their face?”
“No.”
“What about their clothes?”
Fu Ling’s face was bitter, “Couldn’t see clearly. It was too dark behind the rack, only felt they were wearing dark clothes…”
Qin Wan’s eyes darkened.
The night was deep – if someone had come to look at flowers, they wouldn’t have come at this hour. Moreover, the person had no lantern, and though they saw Fu Ling, they remained silent. When discovered, they fled without explanation.
A thief?
Qin Wan turned to look at the side door of Tinglan Court twenty paces away and shook her head.
They had just moved in tonight, and the entire household knew this. If someone meant to steal, they wouldn’t have chosen tonight.
And around this orchid garden, Tinglan Court was the only residence.
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes – this strange shadow was here to monitor them!
Since discovering that the Ninth Miss had been murdered, Qin Wan had felt the killer must be watching their movements from the shadows. Could the person who had stood here be the one who killed the Ninth Miss?
The night was cool as water, and as the evening breeze brushed Qin Wan’s cheeks, she unconsciously tightened her collar.
As she had thought, the killer was right beside her!
“What are you doing?!”
As Qin Wan was deep in thought, a voice suddenly rang out. Her eyes trembled as she looked toward its source, and saw the Qin family’s eldest son, Qin Chen, standing at the side door.
He still wore that embroidered bamboo-blue robe, refined and handsome, his bearing commanding.