“Could this be… venereal disease?!”
Magistrate Huo Huai Xin had been in officialdom for many years and was naturally well-versed in such matters. Though such diseases were most common among lower-class prostitutes in brothels, he had personally seen subordinates contract it before. He was quite shocked at this discovery.
Qin Wan’s tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed. After a long moment, she finally found her voice, “Yes, it’s venereal disease.”
Doctor Xu He beside her let out a breath, “I also deduced it was this illness, but considering that Madam Liu was a concubine of the Marquis’s household, she shouldn’t have contracted such a disease…”
Qin Wan slightly narrowed her eyes, her expression unusually dark.
Seeing that Qin Wan didn’t respond, Xu He suspected he had misspoken and quickly added, “Ahem, I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that with this kind of illness… she could have contracted it herself…”
Qin Wan suddenly stepped forward to carefully examine the blisters on Madam Liu’s body. Huo Huai Xin also stepped forward and asked, “Ninth Miss, as a physician, you understand these conditions best. What do you think?”
Qin Wan pressed her lips together slightly, “Looking at the condition, it’s been at least a month and a half since onset.”
Huo Huai Xin blinked, “Does this have any connection to her death?”
Qin Wan still held the white handkerchief. She glanced at it, then looked at Madam Liu with a grave expression, “Perhaps there is, perhaps… the Old Madam’s suspicions were correct. Her illness was certainly unusual.”
Yan Chi spoke from the side, “Master Qin also fell ill. Do you know what illness he contracted?”
Qin Wan’s brow twitched. Meanwhile, Huo Huai Xin frowned and said, “Could it be… but this morning, the eldest young master mentioned that Master Qin only fell ill about ten days ago, while Madam Liu’s illness has been present for much longer.”
As Huo Huai Xin spoke, he looked toward Qin Wan. She responded, “The manifestation of this disease depends on individual constitution. Regarding this point, the Magistrate should inquire further before concluding. For now, this handkerchief is crucial.”
Qin Wan handed the handkerchief to Huo Huai Xin, who nodded, “Indeed.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes and said, “This handkerchief belongs to a man. It seems that besides Master Qin, there is indeed someone in this household who had an intimate relationship with her. Her illness might have been contracted from that person.”
With this revelation, the waters of the Qin household became even murkier and deeper. Huo Huai Xin shook his head with some resignation, “It seems we have many more questions to ask the Old Madam and the Second Young Master.”
Yan Chi then looked toward Xu He, “After examining the body, did you discover anything else?”
Xu He shook his head, “Nothing for now, except discovering she had this disease.” After a slight pause, he continued, “Given her condition with this disease, it seems unlikely she could have engaged in any improper relations. When she went out last night, she was probably intending to meet someone.”
Indeed, with Madam Liu’s body covered in blisters and ulcers, forget about improper relations – even looking at her condition made people fearful. Qin Wan’s nostrils flared slightly, and she suddenly turned to walk into the outer room.
The outer room was filled with the smell of medicine. Qin Wan’s gaze swept around, discovering a medicine bowl under the window table.
Without hesitation, Qin Wan walked forward, first picking up the bowl with residue and smelling it. Then she went out toward the side room. Madam Liu’s courtyard had no small kitchen, but brewing medicine was something that needed to be done within one’s quarters. Qin Wan pushed open the side room door and entered, immediately spotting the medicinal stove and herb packages.
Qin Wan’s eyes brightened slightly, and she hurriedly went forward to open the herb packages.
“What is this medicine for?”
Qin Wan turned around to see Yan Chi standing in the doorway. She replied, “On the surface, it appears to treat persistent lochia, but in reality, several herbs in here can treat her venereal disease.”
Qin Wan suddenly remembered the scene of getting medicine from the pharmacy that day. Xiu Qin had gone to get medicine for Madam Liu, and this prescription, like Qin Wan’s, had a misleading purpose. Qin Wan had split her prescription into two parts, while Madam Liu had increased the dosage of certain herbs in a single prescription. However, compared to Qin Wan’s prescription, although Madam Liu’s was also for treating venereal disease, it wasn’t as effective as Qin Wan’s. Where did Madam Liu get this prescription from?
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, medical prescriptions were extremely precious, and prescriptions for treating venereal disease were even rarer. Madam Liu rarely left her quarters – who had found this prescription for her? It couldn’t have been Qian Bai Ren!
“Did she find this prescription herself, or did someone else find it for her?”
Yan Chi asked exactly what Qin Wan was thinking. She put down the herb package, “We need to ask Xiu Qin who got the medicine for her, and the household doctor Qian Bai Ren. However, the last time Xiu Qin got medicine, I happened to encounter her. I suspect Qian Bai Ren didn’t know about this, and he probably didn’t notice the hidden purpose in Madam Liu’s prescription. Moreover, this is no small matter – Qian Bai Ren wouldn’t have the courage to help Madam Liu conceal it. Perhaps this prescription was given to her by the person she met last night.”
Yan Chi nodded. A concubine contracting venereal disease not only brought shame to the Qin household’s reputation, but if she infected Qin An, it would have been extremely inappropriate. Among the Qin household servants, who would dare help Madam Liu keep this secret? Even Madam Liu herself probably wouldn’t dare let anyone she didn’t trust know…
“I understand. These points will be investigated.”
Seeing Yan Chi respond this way, a deep darkness flashed through Qin Wan’s eyes. If Madam Liu truly had an improper relationship with another man in the household, considering she had contracted venereal disease over a month ago, that person must have also contracted it. If Qin Wan didn’t know better, it would be one thing, but she happened to know that Qin Li had contracted this disease!
Qin Wan felt intense hesitation. Should she tell Yan Chi about whether there was a connection between Madam Liu and Qin Li?
“What’s wrong? Do you have other concerns?”
Qin Wan looked up and immediately met Yan Chi’s penetrating gaze.
Yan Chi’s eyes were profoundly deep, yet within his rippling pupils was a particularly bright light, like moonlight breaking through from the depths of an abyss. Qin Wan pressed her lips together and shook her head, “No, the only key clue from the body is the venereal disease. Everything else needs investigation.”
Yan Chi gave her another deep look before turning toward the main room. He gave some instructions to Huo Huai Xin, who then left Madam Liu’s courtyard with two yamen runners. Qin Wan stood in place as Yan Chi walked over and said, “Do you want to return to your courtyard? You’ve been back at the mansion for some time but haven’t gone back yet.”
Qin Wan replied, “Does His Highness not need me to answer questions anymore?”
Yan Chi looked her up and down for a moment, “I see you seem quite troubled. Go rest first.”
Qin Wan glanced in the direction of the bedroom, nodded, and walked out two steps before suddenly stopping to say, “I’ll be in Ting Lan Court. If His Highness needs me to answer questions, just send someone to find me.”
Yan Chi nodded with a light “Mm,” and only then did Qin Wan step out.
Yan Chi stood in place watching Qin Wan leave. As soon as she left, Bai Feng walked up behind Yan Chi and said softly, “Your Highness, since you’ve come to the Qin mansion, would you like to see Bai Ying?”
Yan Chi raised his chin slightly, his gaze fixed on where Qin Wan’s figure had disappeared at the courtyard gate.
After pondering for a moment, Yan Chi finally shook his head, “No need. The Qin household is in chaos. Let her focus on her affairs.”
Bai Feng hurriedly agreed from behind, not daring to mention it again.
The weather in early September was already quite cool. Qin Wan emerged from Madam Liu’s courtyard and looked up at the sky, where dark yellow clouds piled up at the distant horizon, infusing the entire sky with desolation and severity. Taking a deep breath, Qin Wan felt boundless anger rise in her heart. If Madam Liu’s venereal disease had nothing to do with Qin An, then where did she contract it from?
If she didn’t know, it would be fine, but now she happened to know of another person in the Qin household who had contracted venereal disease. It would be strange not to be suspicious. Qin Wan frowned. Given Qin Li’s frivolous and unrestrained nature, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to have seduced Madam Liu. Moreover, he had warned her multiple times not to go to the bamboo grove or near the well, clearly knowing what secrets lay in the bamboo grove. Could the secrets of the bamboo grove be related to him and Madam Liu?
Thinking this way, Qin Wan clenched her fists. The Ninth Miss had been killed in the bamboo grove. Her previous deduction was that something had lured her into the bamboo grove, where she saw something she shouldn’t have, thus bringing about her demise. Before this, Qin Wan had no leads, vaguely feeling that there were many strange things in the Qin household, but if asked what exactly was strange, she couldn’t pinpoint it. However, Madam Liu was dead, Madam Liu had contracted venereal disease, and coincidentally, the other person who had contracted venereal disease was the household’s Second Young Master. Could the affair between the Second Young Master and the concubine be the reason for the Ninth Miss’s murder?
As Qin Wan walked toward Ting Lan Court thinking about these matters, she soon arrived at its entrance. The courtyard gate was open, but no one was inside. Fu Ling caught up and said, “They were probably all called for questioning…”
Qin Wan, deep in thought, nodded immediately, “It’s fine, they’ll return once the questioning is done.”
Qin Wan entered the room with a heavy heart. Seeing her expression, Fu Ling didn’t dare disturb her and even served tea with extreme caution. As she placed the teacup beside Qin Wan, Fu Ling finally couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, how could the Eighth Madam be killed so suddenly? Is there such a vicious person in the Qin household?”
Qin Wan picked up the teacup and took a sip, “Once there are conflicts of interest, those with slightly darker hearts might develop murderous intentions. Such people might normally be just greedy servants, jealous attendants, or lazy cooks. In ordinary circumstances, they only commit minor offenses and are far from being truly vicious. But many times it’s proven that they end up being the ones who commit murder.”
Fu Ling pressed her lips together, “But what grudge could the Eighth Madam have had with them?”
Qin Wan put down the teacup and stood up, “That remains unknown. It could be minor grievances, revenge, or perhaps an accidental killing in a moment of impulse. We’ll have to wait for His Highness and the Magistrate to investigate further.”
Fu Ling nodded, then suddenly said, “His Highness Yan Chi has started investigating cases. The Criminal Division’s Surveillance Commissioner… sounds quite impressive. Could His Highness be planning to join the Ministry of Justice?”
At this thought, Qin Wan’s gaze deepened. If even Fu Ling could understand this issue, others must understand it too. When she saw the Imperial Princess at the Marquis’s mansion this morning, was her heavy tone because she had understood the Emperor’s intention to use this opportunity to place Yan Chi in the Ministry of Justice? Joining the Ministry of Justice might be an excellent arrangement for other noble family’s sons, but for Yan Chi, it meant he would soon leave the Northwestern Army. Did this mean that the Emperor was beginning to distrust Prince Rui’s household?
Qin Wan shook her head; these weren’t her concerns. The most pressing matter now was whether Qin Li’s illness was related to Madam Liu’s. If Qin Li was the person Madam Liu had arranged to meet last night, then he could very likely be her killer!
Just as she was thinking, sudden noises came from the courtyard outside. Fu Ling went to the door to look and came back saying, “Miss, Wan Tang and the others have returned…”
Qin Wan turned around, “Tell them to come in…”
Fu Ling responded and went out. Qin Wan sat down on the low couch by the window. Shortly after, Fu Ling led Wan Tang and four others inside.
“Greetings, Miss…”
The four maids bowed respectfully. Qin Wan swept her gaze over them – Wan Tang and Wan Tao were extremely respectful but showed signs of fear on their faces. Wan Li maintained her usual cool demeanor with her chin slightly raised, though her brows were slightly furrowed. Only Wan Xing, despite the day’s major events, maintained her usual wooden expression without showing any emotional change.
“Were you all just called for questioning?”
Qin Wan’s voice was calm. As soon as she finished speaking, Wan Tang quickly replied, “Yes, Miss. The yamen runners from the magistrate’s office asked questions. They only asked where we were last night, if we saw anything unusual this morning, and about Eighth Madam’s general conduct in the household, whether she had conflicts with anyone. We servants haven’t been in the household long, so we don’t know much, and we were quickly dismissed.”
Wan Tang had answered so thoroughly to Qin Wan’s single question that there was no need to ask further. Qin Wan pondered briefly, “What are others in the household saying?”
Wan Tang glanced at Wan Tao, who then said, “Others say the Eighth Madam has been seen less around the mansion lately, and they haven’t noticed her having grudges with anyone. However, the Eighth Madam used to be rather flamboyant and wasn’t particularly kind to servants. Now that this has happened, few people are grieving for her. They’re just shocked that she was killed in the mansion, and everyone is somewhat frightened.”
Based on her first encounter with Madam Liu, Qin Wan knew she wasn’t a reserved or composed person. Such a personality was most likely to offend others, but killing someone over a few verbal disputes seemed unlikely. Moreover, Madam Liu wouldn’t go out at midnight to meet someone she had quarreled with. Someone she’d meet at night would only be someone she trusted intimately, and if she were being threatened, she certainly wouldn’t have changed into new clothes and applied perfume before going out.
Qin Wan nodded, “The household is going through troubled times. Unless necessary, don’t leave the courtyard. Wait until this matter is resolved.”
“Yes, we’ll follow Miss’s instructions.”
Qin Wan made a sound of acknowledgment, “Stay in, avoid discussions. You may leave.”
Wan Tang and the others bowed in unison before departing.
After they left, Fu Ling said, “This matter shouldn’t have anything to do with us, right? Will Miss continue helping His Highness investigate?”
Qin Wan pondered briefly, “We’ve investigated what we could today. For now, we’ll wait for His Highness’s instructions.”
Fu Ling sighed, “It’s just that since learning about the incident in the household, Miss’s expression has been particularly heavy. I worry that too much concern will affect Miss’s health.”
Qin Wan couldn’t help but think deeply unless they quickly found the murderer of the Ninth Miss.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
……
……
“Miss, His Highness is outside requesting your presence.”
At dusk, just when Qin Wan thought Yan Chi wouldn’t seek her out today, Fu Ling suddenly came in to announce. Qin Wan smoothed her skirts and hurriedly walked out of the courtyard.
At the intersection outside the courtyard, Yan Chi stood imposingly in his black robe. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.
By now, the Qin mansion’s lanterns were beginning to light up. After a full day of questioning, most people’s suspicions had been cleared. Occasionally, servants could be seen coming and going in the inner courtyard, but because of Madam Liu’s incident, the Qin mansion suddenly became quiet. With yamen runners stationed in the mansion, even the servants dared not walk too loudly.
“Your Highness…” Qin Wan approached and curtsied.
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan, frowning as he said, “The night is cold, why didn’t you wear a cloak to come out?”
Qin Wan was slightly stunned, not expecting such caring words from Yan Chi. She shook her head and said, “Your Highness need not worry, I don’t feel cold right now. Has Your Highness come with questions?”
Yan Chi pressed his lips together and said, “Magistrate Huo has seen Master Qin, and indeed, he also has venereal disease.”
Yan Chi lowered his voice, and Qin Wan’s heart shook upon hearing this. She quickly asked, “How long?”
A light flashed in Yan Chi’s eyes, “About twenty days. He kept it hidden at first, only revealing it when it became severe. He contracted the disease later than Madam Liu, and when questioned, his last intimate encounter with Madam Liu was exactly a month ago. By then, Madam Liu must have already been infected, though he didn’t notice.”
Qin Wan frowned, “So… Third Uncle didn’t infect Madam Liu?”
Yan Chi made a sound of agreement, “Exactly. Therefore, the most suspicious person now is the one who met Madam Liu at midnight, and that person is within the Qin household. Moreover, that person must also have contracted venereal disease.”
Qin Wan’s heart skipped a beat. Qin Li also had venereal disease, but his illness onset was also later than Madam Liu’s. There were two possibilities: first, as Qin Li claimed, he contracted it outside the mansion; second, although Qin Li wasn’t the one who infected Madam Liu, his disease was contracted from her, which would give him a possible motive for murder.
“So Your Highness plans to examine all the men in the household?”
The corner of Yan Chi’s lips curved slightly, “Indeed, and the examination will begin in half an hour.”
Qin Wan’s heart tightened, “In half an hour?”
Yan Chi frowned perceptively, “What’s wrong?”
Qin Wan kept her eyes lowered, her gaze flickering left and right. Seeing this, Yan Chi grew increasingly suspicious, but he didn’t question further, only fixing his determined gaze on Qin Wan. After an internal struggle, Qin Wan suddenly looked up and was struck by the conviction in Yan Chi’s eyes. She bit her lip and suddenly lowered her voice, “There’s one person Your Highness need not examine.”
Yan Chi’s dark lashes flickered, “Who?”
Qin Wan looked around and stepped forward, moving closer to Yan Chi. She also lowered her voice, “Qin Li.”
Yan Chi frowned, “The Second Young Master of the Qin household?”
Qin Wan made a sound of agreement, “Your Highness need not examine him because… because he’s already confirmed to have venereal disease. He came to me for diagnosis several days ago, and I’ve already prescribed several medicines for his treatment.”
A cold glint flashed in Yan Chi’s eyes. The Second Young Master of the Qin household also had venereal disease?! One was a concubine of the Qin household, the other was the Second Young Master… what relationship did these two have previously?
“Only you two know about this?”
Yan Chi frowned as he asked, feeling somewhat strange. Venereal disease was not only a terrible illness that could infect others, but it was also deeply despised by society. Generally, young masters and ladies from good families would never contract such a disease. Although Qin Wan was a doctor with excellent medical skills, and saving lives was her calling, Yan Chi felt increasingly unsettled the more he thought about it.
Qin Wan shook her head, “Fu Ling knows, and Qin Li’s close attendants probably know too.”
After a pause, Qin Wan continued, “I asked him, and he said he contracted the disease outside the mansion, but I can’t be certain if his words are true. His onset time is similar to Third Uncle’s, both later than Madam Liu herself. If what he says is true, he might not be closely connected to this case, but if he’s lying, for instance, if he contracted the disease through relations with Madam Liu, then he would have a motive for murder…”
As Qin Wan spoke these words, she recalled Qin Li’s eyes full of obscurity and pain. She pressed her lips together, her eyes clear as a stream as she looked at Yan Chi. Seeing Qin Wan like this, Yan Chi’s breathing suddenly became faint.
She was of medium height among women, and standing before Yan Chi, she only reached just above his chest. At this moment, she stood very close, tilting her head up to look into Yan Chi’s eyes. Her loose hair fell behind her ears, her delicate face lifted in a beautiful arc, and her eyes, reflected in the distant night lanterns, appeared particularly clear and enchanting.
Like jewels falling into a flowing stream of water, the glittering light didn’t dazzle Yan Chi’s eyes but disturbed his heart. Yan Chi swallowed with some difficulty, his hand almost unconsciously reaching to touch her cheek before he clenched his fist and held back. He said in a deep voice, “You want me to not examine him publicly? To leave him some dignity?”
Understanding someone’s thoughts was a simple matter for Yan Chi.
When Qin Wan told him these things, although there was some trust, there was also pity for Qin Li. Venereal disease was shameful for women, and it would also damage the reputation of a young master like Qin Li. Yan Chi understood this clearly, but he felt somewhat displeased – why did Qin Li deserve so much of Qin Wan’s consideration?
Qin Wan still tilted her head slightly, “Yes, I’ve told Your Highness the truth. Your Highness can investigate directly or summon him for questioning. Of course, if Your Highness feels this would be unfair to others, you can still examine him in front of everyone.”
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan, the corner of his lips suddenly curving slightly, “Why are you protecting him?”
Qin Wan’s gaze shifted, “Having treated his illness these past few days, I’ve naturally developed some concern.”
Yan Chi didn’t intend to probe further. Since she had brought it up, he would comply with her wishes. Yan Chi nodded, “Very well, I understand what you’ve said. Do you have any other requests?”
Yan Chi’s manner was compelling, his eyes brilliant. Qin Wan blinked, suddenly realizing she was standing too close to him, and stepped back, “Of course not. How this case proceeds is up to Your Highness’s instructions.”
Yan Chi curved his lips and gave a light laugh. Just moments ago she had made a request, and now she was saying everything was up to his instructions – she certainly knew how to speak. Just as he was thinking this, footsteps suddenly came from nearby.
Yan Chi turned to look and saw a maid leading people over. He recognized this maid as one of the Old Madam’s close attendants. Qin Wan also looked over and immediately recognized Cai He approaching.
Cai He came forward and bowed, “Greetings to Your Highness, greetings to Ninth Miss.”
As soon as Cai He arrived, the smile on Yan Chi’s face disappeared, and he said solemnly, “Rise. How is the gathering of people proceeding?”
Cai He respectfully replied, “Your Highness, all the male servants from the outer courtyard have been gathered at the steward’s courtyard. The Magistrate is already there.”
Yan Chi nodded and looked at Qin Wan, “Ninth Miss, you may return.”
In front of others, his tone was appropriately distant. Qin Wan curtsied, and Yan Chi turned to leave.
As soon as Yan Chi left, Cai He didn’t hurry to leave. She looked at Qin Wan and said, “Ninth Miss, the Old Madam requests your presence.”
Qin Wan’s heart sank slightly, but her face showed no surprise.
What was meant to come would always come. She had been appointed by Yan Chi to assist with his inquiries, so it was natural for Madam Jiang to summon her for questioning. However… being summoned like this, Qin Wan felt something was amiss.
Madam Jiang had returned to the Buddha Hall. Qin Wan followed behind Cai He along the secluded path leading directly to it. The Buddha Hall was situated in a rather isolated location, with a stretch of path that had no lanterns. Fortunately, the two maids accompanying Cai He carried night lamps.
After walking a few steps, Cai He suddenly turned back, “Is Ninth Miss afraid?”
Qin Wan shook her head, “Of course not.”
Cai He smiled, “Ninth Miss is so brave. It’s good you’re not afraid. The path here is dark, and this servant was worried you might be frightened…” After a slight pause, Cai He continued, “With such an incident in the mansion, even this servant feels somewhat unsettled.”
Given that someone had died, Qin Wan understood Cai He’s sentiment. She didn’t respond, just following Cai He to the Buddha Hall.
They soon arrived at the Buddha Hall. Upon entering the main room, Qin Wan immediately saw Madam Lin and Qin Chen were present. Qin Wan curtsied, and Madam Jiang’s grave gaze fell upon her. Beside her, Madam Lin asked in a gentle voice, “Wan’er, you were with His Highness the Prince Rui’s heir and the Magistrate today. Do you know what they’ve discovered?”
Qin Wan kept her eyes lowered, “His Highness and the Magistrate discovered that Madam Liu had a strange illness. They’ve deduced that Madam Liu indeed had relations with someone else, and they’ll likely investigate in that direction.”
Hearing Qin Wan’s words, Madam Lin glanced at Madam Jiang. Neither their faces showed surprise nor confusion, clearly indicating that what Qin Wan said was true and that they already knew these circumstances.
“Did His Highness investigate anything else?” Madam Lin suddenly asked.
Qin Wan felt puzzled – investigate what else? What did that mean?
Qin Wan shook her head, “No, only these findings. Aren’t His Highness and the Magistrate now examining other male servants in the household for illness?”
The room fell silent for a moment what Qin Wan knew wasn’t much different from what they knew.
“Ninth Sister, will you continue assisting His Highness with the investigation tomorrow?” Qin Chen suddenly spoke up. “With someone dead in the household, you should stay in your courtyard like Xiang’er and Shuang’er. Having you follow His Highness and the Magistrate makes us concerned. I hope you won’t be frightened tonight.”
Qin Wan raised her eyes to look at Qin Chen for a moment. Seeing his face full of concern, she said, “I’m not afraid, just uneasy knowing there’s a murderer hidden in the household.”
Qin Chen nodded, “That’s natural. Therefore, stay in your courtyard at night and don’t wander around.”
Qin Wan nodded, “Yes, thank you, Elder Brother.”
Qin Chen’s lips twitched as he looked toward Madam Lin and Madam Jiang, “Mother, Grandmother, if there’s nothing else to ask, let Ninth Sister go rest.”
Madam Jiang’s gaze remained on Qin Wan. After remaining silent for so long, she now spoke, “Since His Highness and the Magistrate value you out of respect for the Imperial Princess, answer truthfully what they ask. However, you must also consider the Qin family’s reputation in everything. You are still a member of the Qin household, don’t let our family matters become too public.”
Qin Wan felt an ironic twinge in her heart, though her face showed nothing, “Yes, Wan’er understands.”
Madam Jiang slowly closed her eyes and sighed, “Very well, you may go. Cai He, escort her.”
Qin Wan curtsied again before turning to leave. Cai He followed with the two lantern-bearing maids, and only after leaving the Buddha Hall’s main entrance did she speak softly, “Ninth Miss need not fear, the Old Madam is just concerned about the family’s reputation.”
Qin Wan naturally understood Madam Jiang’s thoughts, but she felt Madam Jiang was being excessive. She was already an outsider – for instance, she didn’t know about Qin An’s venereal disease, so how could she tell Yan Chi about it? And what she did know, Yan Chi would eventually discover anyway. Madam Jiang’s behavior instead gave an impression of having a guilty conscience.
“I understand this naturally,” Qin Wan replied in an ordinary tone, appearing genuinely unmoved.
Cai He looked at her a few more times and smiled lightly, “Ninth Miss is even braver than Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss. However, with such an incident in the household, Ninth Miss should still be careful. As you said, the killer is still hidden, who knows when they might strike again. Although the Qin mansion has separate inner and outer courts, we can’t prevent people from the outer court from entering the inner residence at night.”
Qin Wan’s heart stirred, and she turned to look at Cai He, “Who does Miss Cai He thinks it might be?”
Cai He blinked at the question but shook her head, “Cai He is just a servant, I couldn’t possibly guess. We can only wait for His Highness and the Magistrate. Though the Old Madam keeps thinking it’s that well causing trouble. It is strange – just after Sixth Miss fell in, Eighth Madam met with misfortune. The Old Madam says that once this case is resolved, we need to invite priests to perform a forty-nine-day grand ceremony to dispel the household’s ill fortune.”
Qin Wan smiled slightly, “That well has been sealed, Eighth Madam’s incident probably has nothing to do with it.”
Cai He’s face also showed helplessness, “The Old Madam has been devoted to Buddhism these years. Whenever something inauspicious happens in the household, she always invites masters to perform ceremonies. It’s become a habit over time.” After a pause, Cai He suddenly said, “Oh right, I wonder when we can remove people from the flower trellis? The filled-in well hasn’t been paved over with tiles yet, which looks quite unsightly. This afternoon the Old Madam urged me about it, but with His Highness and the Magistrate investigating, how could we lay tiles…”
Qin Wan’s eye twitched, feeling that Madam Jiang was indeed too superstitious, “I don’t know about this either. Let’s wait until tomorrow, it should be fine by then.”
Cai He nodded, “That’s good then, thank you, Ninth Miss.”
“I haven’t done anything to deserve thanks.”
Cai He shook her head and suddenly said, “Ninth Miss… did you understand the Old Madam’s meaning earlier?”
Qin Wan looked at Cai He, “What meaning of the Old Madam’s?”
Cai He moved closer and lowered her voice, “The Old Madam doesn’t like His Highness and the Magistrate going to the forbidden areas of the mansion. The Qin household is after all a prestigious family in Jinzhou, and matters concerning the concubines and masters could damage our reputation.”
Qin Wan’s heart tightened, “You mean… the Purple Bamboo Grove?”
As they walked and talked, they had passed through the darkest stretch of the path. Cai He paused, the corner of her lips curving as she said, “Ninth Miss is very perceptive, you must understand the Old Madam’s meaning.” She glanced toward Ting Lan Court, “Ting Lan Court isn’t far now, and Cai He must return to serve the Old Madam, so I won’t escort you further. Please walk carefully.”
Qin Wan nodded slowly, and Cai He curtsied before turning back the way they had come.
Watching Cai He leaves, Qin Wan stood motionless for a long time.
Fu Ling asked beside her, “What’s wrong, Miss?”
Qin Wan came to her senses, glanced at the path, and began walking with a dazed expression. The Ninth Miss was killed in the Purple Bamboo Grove, yet both Qin Li and now Cai He had told her not to go there…
What secret lay within the Purple Bamboo Grove?
Now both Yan Chi and Magistrate Huo trusted her. With just one word from her, she could direct attention to the Purple Bamboo Grove. This would not only allow her to enter the grove openly but also use Yan Chi’s authority to investigate the Ninth Miss’s death thoroughly.
Should she do this?
Qin Wan lowered her head, her brows tightly furrowed.
“Miss, what did Sister Cai He say just now?”
Earlier, when Cai He had deliberately walked close to Qin Wan, Fu Ling and the two lantern-bearing maids had fallen two steps behind, so even Fu Ling hadn’t heard clearly what Cai He had said. Qin Wan took a shallow breath, “She said not to go to the Purple Bamboo Grove.”
Fu Ling felt a chill down her spine upon hearing this, “Why go to the Purple Bamboo Grove?” She looked at Qin Wan in surprise, “Miss wants to go to the Purple Bamboo Grove again? Miss still hasn’t told this servant why you went there last time.”
Qin Wan shook her head and suddenly asked, “Who did you hear the rumors about the Purple Bamboo Grove from?”
Fu Ling thought for a moment, “Miss means the rumors about why the Purple Bamboo Grove became forbidden in the Qin household? This servant remembers it was Old Lady Liu from the kitchen who spoke of it. Though the older servants in the household all know about it – they say that years ago, a concubine hanged herself in the Purple Bamboo Grove, and then the Master ordered it sealed off.”
“But the purple bamboo in that area is very precious. For some reason, the Master didn’t have all the bamboo removed, just left it abandoned. Since then, neither masters nor servants have dared to go there.”
It wasn’t that no one dared to go there… Manager Liu had gone, and Madam Liu had gone too…
No, wait—
Qin Wan suddenly stopped in her tracks. How could she have forgotten this?!
Madam Liu had gone to the Purple Bamboo Grove, and she had coincidentally seen Manager Liu there too. Could it be… that Manager Liu was the one who had relations with Madam Liu?!
Qin Wan’s breathing tightened, and she suddenly thought of the medicine package in Madam Liu’s room.
Madam Liu wouldn’t have dared ask Qian Bai Ren for medicine, so someone else must have given her the prescription and taught her how to keep it secret. This person must be either Qin Li or Liu Chun. But who was it?
Qin Wan suddenly frowned, her gentle steps becoming rapid…
“What is Miss going to do?!”
Fu Ling hurriedly asked, and Qin Wan replied, “To find His Highness—”
Fu Ling quickly followed, “His Highness is at the steward’s courtyard!”
Qin Wan knew this. Lifting her skirts, she practically ran toward the steward’s courtyard. She had many questions in her mind. Earlier when Yan Chi came, she hadn’t had the chance to ask in detail. Now if she could just ask Yan Chi, she could know who had relations with Madam Liu – the answer would soon be revealed—
Qin Wan’s heart was pounding incessantly. Thinking of that time she saw Eighth Madam coming out of the Purple Bamboo Grove, she became more certain. Madam Liu went to the Purple Bamboo Grove to get something – what she took remained a huge question!
Qin Wan was slightly out of breath from running. When she reached the steward’s courtyard, she indeed saw layers of yamen runners guarding the entrance. Qin Wan stopped to catch her breath for a moment, then immediately walked over. She was about to announce herself to the yamen runners when she saw Yan Chi and Huo Huai Xin standing in the courtyard. A yamen runner stood before them, and though she couldn’t hear what he was saying, both Yan Chi and Huo Huai Xin’s expressions changed. Qin Wan raised her eyebrows, her gaze falling on that yamen runner.
Although all wore official uniforms, this speaker was covered in dust, not only his shoes were caked with mud, but even his robe hem showed spots of dirt. Qin Wan narrowed her eyes – this yamen runner had traveled from afar!
Perhaps Qin Wan’s gaze was too intense, for Yan Chi in the courtyard looked over at her. His brows slightly furrowed, and he immediately walked over to her. Seeing her forehead beaded with sweat from running, he frowned and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qin Wan curtsied and first glanced into the courtyard, “What has happened?”
Yan Chi’s expression darkened, and after a brief contemplation, he said in a low voice, “Wei Yan Zhi has committed suicide at the Ten Li Temple.”