The once-clear pond water was now choked with green moss and rotting lotus roots. The former lotus pond, which used to be fragrant and clear to its bottom, had transformed into a pool of decrepit dark green, faintly emitting the stench of decaying mud.
Qin Wan hurried across the corridor bridge, her skirt brushing against the peeling railings, leaving spots of rust-red on her smoke-gray hem. She held her breath, her gaze fixed intently on that retreating figure, but soon, the silhouette disappeared into the purple bamboo grove.
This was Qin Wan’s second time walking down the western path toward the purple bamboo grove.
Beneath her feet, autumn’s desolation had already infected every clump of wild grass. Along the path, the uneven dwarf bamboo was half-withered yellow and half-dark green, as if struggling against the universal decline of deep autumn. Though it was a cloudy but clear day, after Qin Wan walked barely forty or fifty feet along the path, the surrounding air suddenly turned cold.
A concubine had once hanged herself here, making it a forbidden area of the manor. Neither masters nor servants dared to come…
As Qin Wan walked, she recalled Fu Ling’s words.
Because of these words, she suddenly felt even colder.
After walking another dozen steps, the fragrance of bamboo suddenly filled Qin Wan’s nostrils. Looking up, the emerald bamboo tops were right before her eyes. Qin Wan clenched her jaw, and her footsteps immediately slowed.
The secluded path was quiet and dark. Though someone had entered the purple bamboo grove just moments ago, Qin Wan could find no trace of footprints in the messy pile of withered branches and fallen leaves. She looked back at the path she had come from, and similarly, could see no traces of her passage.
Steadying her thoughts, Qin Wan walked in with determined steps.
Her emotions were different from her first visit. Back then, she had only seen the half-bamboo branch picked up from Half Moon Lake, and the purple bamboo grove was merely a mysterious, secluded place to her. But this time, she knew it must hide some secret, and more unsettling was that someone had entered before her.
The emerald bamboo grew densely along both sides of the path. The stone-paved trail was covered layer upon layer with yellow bamboo leaves and dead branches. Walking on them produced only a faint rustling sound. As Fu Ling had said, this grove was ancient and had once been carefully cultivated by craftsmen. Even after being abandoned for so many years, one could still see the orderly arrangement of the bamboo, not randomly planted in chaos. The purple bamboo lining both sides of the path was tall enough to block the sky and as thick as teacups, with clearly visible purple markings. Such a fine purple bamboo grove would not be found anywhere else in Jin Zhou City.
Yet oddly, the Qin Manor had abandoned this place for nearly ten years.
Step by step, as she walked deeper into the bamboo grove, the light around Qin Wan grew increasingly dim. The bamboo tops layered upon each other, completely blocking out the already weak sunlight. In broad daylight, Qin Wan had the illusion that dusk had fallen. At one point, Qin Wan’s footsteps faltered slightly. She looked up and could barely see the path thirty or forty feet ahead through the darkness. The end of the purple bamboo grove seemed to be shrouded in a layer of black mist, unclear to the eye. She didn’t know how large this purple bamboo grove was, and where she stood was exactly where she had stopped during her previous visit. Qin Wan frowned at the dark grove ahead, wondering whether to continue forward.
Qin Wan liked quietness, but she certainly didn’t like this kind of quietness.
The depths of this dense bamboo grove were so quiet it made Qin Wan somewhat anxious.
Yet she knew she wasn’t alone in this grove…
Where was that person? Where was the one who had deliberately led her in here?
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed tightly as her piercing gaze penetrated the depths of the bamboo grove. She gripped her sleeve tightly, her palm carefully tracing the outline of Han Yue through the fabric. One moment, two moments…
Qin Wan waited quietly, but after nearly half an incense stick’s time, there was still no movement. Instead, a breeze swept through the grove, and immediately, a “rustle rustle” sound arose in this eerily quiet purple bamboo grove. At the same time, the bamboo tops swayed, their shadows intertwining chaotically. The darker depths of the bamboo grove suddenly seemed filled with hundreds of gesticulating ghosts. Looking at those terrifying, chaotic shadows, Qin Wan suddenly moved forward—
She advanced step by step, her pupils slightly contracted, while her peripheral vision keenly swept across the grove. She even prepared herself to see a second Qin Li staring at her with that strange smile.
One step, two steps, three steps…
Nothing. No one. Not even a breath, a footstep, not even a ghost’s shadow.
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed tightly. Where was that person?
She stopped, turning to look in all four directions. The paths crisscrossed in the purple bamboo grove, and Qin Wan had long lost sight of that person’s silhouette, naturally not knowing where they had gone. But what was their purpose? In broad daylight, did they want to harm her? If so, they should have appeared by now…
Or did they lead her in here to show her something else?
Qin Wan held her breath, maintaining a calm expression while her heart raced uncontrollably.
What was it all for? No one would lead her here without reason…
The breeze continued, and the rustling in the bamboo grove hadn’t stopped. Qin Wan felt a chill creeping up from her feet, and she had been in the purple bamboo grove for a full incense stick’s time…
Too long. She had stayed here too long.
Qin Wan’s grip on Han Yue tightened further, while her feet began to slowly retreat.
She wasn’t afraid of taking risks, but it would be foolish to deliberately place herself in danger. The Ninth Young Lady had died in this purple bamboo grove; she absolutely could not…
With these thoughts, Qin Wan’s retreat became quicker.
But just as she had backed up four or five steps, the breeze suddenly stopped. With the wind’s cessation, the chaotic bamboo shadows on the ground also vanished. At this moment, the black mist in the depths of the bamboo grove suddenly dispersed, and then, a person’s silhouette slowly emerged. Qin Wan’s pupils trembled – she had followed a woman in, but the figure she now saw was a man…
How could there be a man in this purple bamboo grove?!
Qin Wan’s spine stiffened, her palms growing increasingly sweaty. She didn’t know who this suddenly appearing man was but instinctively sensed danger. She wanted to retreat but somehow found herself unable to move, her feet seemed stuck in place. Fear struck Qin Wan instantly – she desperately tried to step away, but it was as if invisible hands had grabbed her legs, preventing any movement. Meanwhile, the man’s silhouette in the bamboo grove depths slowly turned around.
Qin Wan’s pupils gradually widened as the man first showed his profile, then his entire face. She stared in disbelief – the person standing a hundred feet away was Liu Chun!
Liu Chun, whom the entire manor couldn’t find, was actually in this purple bamboo grove!
Qin Wan stared intently at Liu Chun, but she suddenly noticed something strange – Liu Chun stood stock-still with his eyes closed. Not only were his eyes closed, but his face bore a deathly pale pallor as if he had been dead for days. Qin Wan’s heart pounded wildly, and just then, two streams of crimson bloody tears suddenly flowed from Liu Chun’s tightly closed eyes!
…
With a violent start, Qin Wan opened her eyes, breathing unsteadily!
Looking at the writing implements on the desk before her, Qin Wan still hadn’t regained her senses…
She slowly raised herself. The room was her room, the writing desk was her writing desk, several medical books lay beside her hand, and she had fallen asleep at her desk…
As Qin Wan massaged her numb arm, the fear in her heart gradually subsided.
It was a dream… those vivid scenes had just been a dream…
Qin Wan stood up and glanced at the courtyard outside. The courtyard was still quiet. She walked to the door, pushed it open, and immediately looked toward the side gate leading to the orchid garden. Only then did she relax.
The side gate to the orchid garden was tightly locked; no one had opened it.
Qin Wan’s tense back slowly relaxed, and she stared blankly into the space of the courtyard.
How strange that she would have such a dream…
Because she suspected someone had been planted among the four “evening” servants, she dreamed of being led out, and since the purple bamboo grove was already a psychological curse for her, she was naturally led there. The manor was searching for Liu Chun’s whereabouts, so she saw Liu Chun in the purple bamboo grove…
Qin Wan shook her head – thoughts by day become dreams by night… but why had she dreamed of Liu Chun with bloody tears?
Could Liu Chun have met with some misfortune?
With this thought, the tension that had subsided in Qin Wan’s heart surged up again.
When Fu Ling pushed open the courtyard gate, she saw Qin Wan standing dazed at the doorway. Slightly startled, Fu Ling hurried forward, “Young Lady, why did you come out? Were you waiting anxiously?”
Qin Wan suddenly came to her senses, shaking her head, “It’s nothing, my eyes were tired from reading, so I came out for a walk.”
Fu Ling made an “oh” sound, then took the medicine package from Wan Xing’s hands and said quietly, “Young Lady, when we went to the medicine storehouse, Doctor Qian looked very troubled. I heard the Old Madam had him go treat the Master.”
Fu Ling had followed Qin Wan yesterday and heard some of what Yan Chi and Huo Huai Xin had discussed. She knew what illness Qin An had, and if even Qin Wan couldn’t cure this venereal disease, how could Qian Bai Ren?
Right now, Qian Bai Ren must be extremely anxious!
Qin Wan frowned slightly and turned to enter the room. After taking two steps, she asked, “Last night, when the Magistrate searched the Qin Manor, did they search the purple bamboo grove?”
Fu Ling’s brows furrowed slightly, “Search the purple bamboo grove?”
Qin Wan nodded, “Didn’t they say they searched the entire manor?”
Fu Ling hesitated for a moment, “That I don’t know, but since that place is forbidden ground in the manor, and the Magistrate has some friendship with the Master, they probably wouldn’t search there… Young Lady, wait a moment, let me go ask around.”
Fu Ling turned, handed the medicine package to Wan Xing, and walked out.
Wan Xing still stood guard at the door, holding the medicine package and keeping her head lowered.
Qin Wan watched Fu Ling leave the courtyard, then turned her gaze to Wan Xing. Although Wan Xing had helped her out of a difficult situation last time, she had never asked about it, and apart from having Fu Ling take her along each time to get medicine, she had never rewarded her. And throughout it all, Wan Xing had remained silent like a shadow.
She was bought from outside and raised as a house-born servant in the Qin Manor. Who had trained her to be like this?
While Qin Wan was thinking, Fu Ling returned, “Young Lady, I asked around. They say when the Magistrate was searching, he had the male servants lead two yamen runners in to look, but… but those two runners also seemed to know the purple bamboo grove was haunted, so they went in and came out quickly. They probably didn’t search thoroughly.”
Qin Wan’s heart sank slightly. She nodded and asked, “Are the Magistrate and His Highness the Crown Prince entering the Qin Manor today?”
Fu Ling shook her head, “This servant doesn’t know. What’s wrong, Young Lady?”
Qin Wan pressed her lips together for a moment, saying nothing more, only instructing, “Inform me as soon as the Magistrate and His Highness enter the manor.”
Fu Ling nodded, then took the medicine package from Wan Xing’s hands and followed Qin Wan into the room.
Wan Xing stood at the door for a moment before turning toward the side room.
…
…
Since Liu Chun wasn’t found in the manor, Huo Huai Xin and Yan Chi spent the entire day searching for him in the city. Qin Wan waited anxiously for the two to return to the Qin Manor. It wasn’t until dinnertime that Fu Ling came running in, “Young Lady, His Highness the Crown Prince and the Magistrate have entered the manor! They say they couldn’t find any trace of Manager Liu outside and want to come in to investigate some matters!”
Qin Wan was having dinner but immediately stood up upon hearing this, “Where are they?”
“In the Steward’s Court!” Fu Ling answered, frowning as she watched Qin Wan go to rinse her mouth, “Young Lady should at least finish dinner. Why such hurry…”
Qin Wan straightened her clothes, shaking her head as she walked out, “No need to eat more. Let Wan Tang clean up, and let’s go to the Steward’s Court to see what’s happening.”
Fu Ling quickly grabbed a cloak, gave instructions to Wan Tang, and then followed Qin Wan out.
Fu Ling hurried to drape the cloak over Qin Wan, “Don’t rush, Young Lady. Right now, the Magistrate and His Highness are talking with the Eldest Young Master.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan collected herself and indeed slowed her pace. Even so, when Qin Wan arrived at the Steward’s Court, Yan Chi and the others were still with Qin Chen. Seeing it was Qin Wan, Bai Feng let her in without any hindrance.
When Qin Wan entered the courtyard, she saw the spacious main hall brightly lit.
“Ninth Young Lady, the Eldest Young Master is inside too.”
Bai Feng reminded her, and Qin Wan responded with a “mm.”
“So the Magistrate thinks we should question his two servants again?”
“That’s right, someone might know his whereabouts but isn’t speaking up.”
The voices of Qin Chen and Huo Huai Xin carried from inside. Bai Feng went to the door, “Masters, Lord Magistrate, the Ninth Young Lady is here…”
Yan Chi and Huo Huai Xin’s eyes brightened. Yan Chi nodded, “Please enter.”
Bai Feng looked back, “Ninth Young Lady, please come in—”
Qin Wan entered under the gaze of the three inside, curtsying to Yan Chi and Huo Huai Xin, “Hearing that Your Highness and the Magistrate had arrived, I came to see if there was anything I could help with.”
Hearing this, Huo Huai Xin smiled and was about to shake his head when Yan Chi said, “We were just about to request Ninth Young Lady’s presence.”
Qin Chen watched from the side, his lips curving slightly, “It’s good that Ninth Sister has come.”
Qin Wan nodded and went to sit below Qin Chen. Huo Huai Xin looked at Qin Chen and asked, “Eldest Young Master, does Liu Chun have any old acquaintances? Could he be hiding at a former friend’s place?”
While Huo Huai Xin asked this, he inwardly wondered why Yan Chi insisted on having Qin Wan present. For questions about Liu Chun’s old friends, Qin Wan naturally wouldn’t know as well as Qin Chen.
Sure enough, Qin Chen said, “Liu Chun is a house-born servant of the Qin Manor. His family has served the Qins for three generations. He grew up following his father and later became the steward. I don’t know if he has any old friends outside, but Your Honor and His Highness know all the people in the manor. By reason, he shouldn’t have many close friends outside.”
Huo Huai Xin’s brows furrowed as he turned to look at Yan Chi, “What does Your Highness think?”
Yan Chi glanced at Qin Wan and said, “If we haven’t found him outside, there must be places we missed inside. Let’s search Liu Chun’s courtyard again. Perhaps we’ll find clues about other acquaintances or properties.”
Huo Huai Xin nodded, “Good, I’ll take people there now.”
Huo Huai Xin stood up and left with the yamen runners waiting outside. Yan Chi also stood up, and Qin Wan and Qin Chen rose together. As they all walked out, Yan Chi asked, “Can you two think of any places we might have missed in the manor?”
Qin Chen frowned, thought for a moment, and shook his head, “Can’t think of any right now. With servants coming and going in the manor, Liu Chun couldn’t possibly hide somewhere for a day and night without being seen.”
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan. Her eyes flickered, “I can’t think of anything at the moment, but…”
This “but” was exactly what Yan Chi had been waiting for. He focused intently on her, listening as Qin Wan said, “But the Magistrate might have places he didn’t search thoroughly.”
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan, his mind suddenly clearing. He turned to Qin Chen, “I hear there’s a purple bamboo grove in the manor?”
Qin Chen instinctively straightened his posture but maintained a composed expression, “Yes, but the Magistrate already searched there yesterday. Besides, there’s nothing in that grove. Without food or water, Liu Chun wouldn’t hide there.”
Yan Chi nodded somewhat ambiguously, then said, “Very well, nothing else then. Eldest Young Master may go about your business.”
Qin Chen glanced at Qin Wan, and nodded, “Alright, then I shall take my leave.”
Yan Chi nodded, and Qin Wan also curtsied to Qin Chen, who then left.
Seeing Qin Chen leave, Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan and asked, “Why were you waiting for us to enter the manor?”
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed, “Waiting for you?”
Yan Chi’s expression deepened almost imperceptibly, but he smiled easily, “You came shortly after we arrived at the manor, clearly waiting for us to come. Have you thought of something new?”
Qin Wan seemed to understand slightly but shook her head, “It’s not that I thought of something new…”
She had only had a dream, and she already had many suspicions about the purple bamboo grove. But could she tell Yan Chi this? Even if she did, would he believe her?
Seeing Qin Wan’s hesitation, Yan Chi said, “Just say whatever you’ve thought of.”
Qin Wan glanced to the side, then said, “The Magistrate has gone to search Liu Chun’s courtyard. Shouldn’t Your Highness go look? Ask him which places he searched thoroughly last night and which he didn’t.”
Yan Chi gave her another inscrutable look, then nodded, “Alright.”
With that, he strode out, and Qin Wan followed behind him, her mind made up.
Huo Huai Xin hadn’t searched the purple bamboo grove thoroughly last night. They only needed to ask, and they could search again. She could follow along then. Even if they found nothing, she could see what the purple bamboo grove was really like. This way, it wouldn’t count as her using Yan Chi to investigate the Ninth Young Lady’s case.
Thinking this, Qin Wan followed Yan Chi straight to Liu Chun’s residence. As the manor’s steward, Liu Chun not only had his servants but also his courtyard. Though it couldn’t compare to the young masters’ and young ladies’ courtyards in elegance, it was still decorated quite luxuriously and refinedly. Just as Qin Wan and Yan Chi reached the courtyard gate, they saw the courtyard brightly lit inside, with many yamen runners guarding outside. Not far away, male servants from the outer court were watching and gathering around.
Qin Wan swept a glance around and was about to enter with Yan Chi when they saw Huo Huai Xin stride out from inside the courtyard—
Looking up to see Yan Chi and Qin Wan, Huo Huai Xin’s eyes brightened, “Your Highness! Ninth Young Lady! You’ve come at just the right time! Look what this is…”
As he spoke, Liu Chun held up the handkerchief in his hand.
Qin Wan and Yan Chi looked and saw it was a snow-white handkerchief with a willow leaf embroidered in one corner—exactly like the handkerchief they had seen in Liu’s sleeve that day. Yan Chi and Qin Wan exchanged a glance, their thoughts aligning.
Huo Huai Xin excitedly said, “Your Highness, Ninth Young Lady, it seems we haven’t found the wrong person! There are three such handkerchiefs here in Liu Chun’s possession, all hidden deep in his wardrobe. I guess they must all be from Concubine Liu, perhaps even tokens of their relationship. This confirms it—the person involved with Concubine Liu must be Manager Liu!”
Qin Wan’s heart steadied—if everyone hadn’t guessed wrong, this would be easier to handle!
Yan Chi also nodded, “Good that we didn’t guess wrong. This makes Liu Chun even more suspicious.”
Huo Huai Xin’s smile was evident, “This is excellent! Now we can solve this case. Sure enough, with Your Highness taking charge, we can find the culprit in just two days…”
Qin Wan’s lips twitched hearing this, and Yan Chi also raised his eyebrows disapprovingly. Seeing Yan Chi’s expression, Huo Huai Xin knew this approach wouldn’t work, so he laughed awkwardly and said, “Then this official will search again, see if there are any other clues!”
Yan Chi nodded, and as Huo Huai Xin was about to leave, he suddenly asked, “By the way, were there any places Lord Huo didn’t search thoroughly last night? Liu Chun couldn’t have vanished without a trace in half a day—he might still be in the manor!”
Huo Huai Xin’s footsteps halted, his face puzzled, “Still in the manor…”
Huo Huai Xin thought deeply for a moment, “Well, there isn’t—”
Before he could finish saying “any,” a figure suddenly came running from the path northwest of Liu Chun’s small courtyard. A young maid grabbed one of the male servants watching and cried, “You, you must come quick, something’s happened at the purple bamboo grove, there’s some kind of ghost fire, Old Woman Zhao fainted from fright!”
The maid’s face was terrified, and her tearful voice was particularly shrill.
Because of this, all three—Yan Chi, Qin Wan, and Huo Huai Xin—heard every word…
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed slightly, but the male servant said, “What do you mean fainted? It’s not like the Ninth Young…”
Qin Wan couldn’t hear the rest, as the servant deliberately lowered his voice, but she didn’t need to hear clearly to know what he meant. When she had come back from the dead, it had given the manor’s people quite a shock.
Just as this thought settled, the young maid cried again, “Ghost fire! Old Woman Zhao said she saw ghost fire in the purple bamboo grove…”
Ghost fire… Qin Wan’s attention was immediately drawn to these two words!
“What ghost fire? Don’t talk nonsense… Where are the people? I’ll go look…”
The male servant lowered his voice, seemingly not wanting to alarm the yamen runners, but Qin Wan suddenly turned to look in the direction of the servant and maid’s conversation. Her movement was not small, and Yan Chi immediately frowned, “What’s wrong?”
“There shouldn’t be ghost fire appearing out of nowhere…”
Qin Wan’s voice was steady. Yan Chi frowned and asked, “Isn’t ghost fire just a rumor?”
Qin Wan shook her head, looking into Yan Chi’s bright eyes, “No, it’s not.” Realizing her tone was too certain, she added, “I once read in Lord Shen Yi’s writings that ghost fire often appears in burial grounds, created when corpses decompose and ferment, producing corpse gas. This corpse gas is very likely to ignite during dry weather, thus becoming ghost fire.”
Huo Huai Xin, listening from the side, widened his eyes, “This… does this mean where there’s ghost fire, there’s a decomposing corpse?”
For the first time, Qin Wan found Huo Huai Xin so intelligent. She nodded, “That’s exactly right.”
Yan Chi’s eyes darkened slightly, and he immediately glanced at Bai Feng.
Bai Feng stepped forward and called out to the maid who was about to leave, “Hey, you, wait a moment. Who did you just say was frightened by the ghost fire?”
The maid suddenly turned pale at being stopped by the yamen officials, glanced this way, and lowered her eyes, saying, “It was Old Woman Zhao. She’s responsible for arranging Concubine Liu’s memorial hall. Just now, after leaving the courtyard, Old Woman Zhao saw fire rising from the purple bamboo grove area. Old Woman Zhao said… said it was ghost fire… There weren’t many people in the inner court, so this servant thought to ask them to see what was happening. If it is ghost fire…”
“Where is this ghost fire? Lead the way.”
Before the maid could finish speaking, a cold, deep voice rang out. The maid instinctively looked up and met a pair of profound eyes. When she recognized Yan Chi, she froze.
Bai Feng frowned, “He’s asking you a question.”
The maid’s expression turned startled, and she immediately lowered her head, “At, the purple bamboo grove, at… yes…”
The maid turned around in confusion to lead the way. Yan Chi looked back and saw Qin Wan following behind him with notable urgency. He vaguely felt Qin Wan’s haste was unusual but showed nothing on his face. Behind them, Huo Huai Xin called over seven or eight yamen runners, “Come, let’s all go look. Ghost fire, I don’t believe it…”
As Yan Chi’s group left immediately, the male servant was stunned for a moment, then quickly pushed someone beside him, “Hurry and report to the Eldest Young Master! They’re going to the purple bamboo grove!”
The other person came to his senses and turned to run.
Meanwhile, the servant girl leading the way walked very quickly. Huo Huai Xin came forward and asked, “How was it seen? Who saw it?”
Yan Chi didn’t believe in supernatural things, so he didn’t believe in ghost fire either. However, Huo Huai Xin considered ghost fire to be something quite sinister and felt somewhat afraid. When he asked this, the maid immediately replied, “Old Woman Zhao saw it. She went out to get the funeral banner for decorating the memorial hall, and when she looked up, she saw it…”
Huo Huai Xin frowned slightly, “Your Highness, this… is this… oh right, no wonder they said yesterday the purple bamboo grove was forbidden ground in the Qin Manor. Could there be…”
Yan Chi glanced at Huo Huai Xin, “Does Lord Huo believe in supernatural things?”
Hearing this, Huo Huai Xin’s expression turned serious, “Of course not… one shouldn’t speak of strange powers and supernatural beings… but…”
“If you don’t believe, and Lord Huo hasn’t done anything to trouble his conscience, what is there to fear?”
Yan Chi’s tone brooked no argument. Huo Huai Xin hesitated for a moment, then could only put on a righteous appearance.
Night had already settled heavily around them. The maid had come from the west, so naturally led them west as well. Looking at the winding corridor before her, Qin Wan couldn’t help but think of the strange dream she’d had during the day. In the dream, someone had also led her toward the purple bamboo grove, and inside, she’d seen Liu Chun with blood flowing from his eyes…
Qin Wan’s breathing became light as an eerie feeling crept over her heart.
The maid led Qin Wan and the others, along with the yamen runners—more than ten people in total—heading majestically northwest. Before long, they arrived at the small lotus pond. By the light of the runners’ torches, Qin Wan looked at the pond in the darkness and indeed saw it was completely withered, looking almost exactly as it had in her dream.
Qin Wan gripped her sleeve tightly, her heart beginning to race.
“There, Concubine Liu’s memorial hall is set up there…”
Qin Wan looked in the direction the maid pointed and saw that Concubine Liu’s memorial hall was set up next to the western back courtyard where she and Fu Ling lived. However, the location of Concubine Liu’s memorial hall was even more secluded than the western back courtyard, and thus closer to the purple bamboo grove!
“Where is Old Woman Zhao?”
At Huo Huai Xin’s question, the maid hurriedly replied, “At the courtyard gate. We only heard her cry out once, and when we came out to look, she just said a few words before fainting…”
Seeing the maid’s vivid description, Huo Huai Xin frowned, “Take us to see.”
The maid nodded. After passing the small lotus pond and walking north for a while, they saw a small courtyard. At the courtyard gate, Old Woman Zhao was sitting slumped on the ground, while another young servant girl was fearfully pinching her philtrum.
The footsteps of more than ten people startled the young girl into shrinking back into the courtyard. When she saw the arrivals were all yamen officials, she remembered to kneel and bow. Old Woman Zhao, who had regained some consciousness, also prostrated herself on the ground.
“Greetings, honored sirs, great masters…”
Huo Huai Xin snorted and asked directly, “You saw ghost fire just now?”
At this question, Old Woman Zhao immediately trembled, “Yes, yes, this old servant saw it…”
“Where? What did it look like?”
Cold sweat covered Old Woman Zhao’s forehead as she pointed randomly toward the purple bamboo grove, “Just… just in that grove, it was… it was blue… ah no, green, flickering, a small cluster…”
Huo Huai Xin frowned even more deeply, “Where did you see it? Get up and show us.”
Hearing this, Old Woman Zhao immediately collapsed in fear, “Great master, please spare me, this servant dares not… this servant dares not… That’s forbidden ground in the manor, there have long been rumors of hauntings, this servant dares not go…”
As she spoke, Old Woman Zhao began to cry.
Huo Huai Xin was about to speak again when Yan Chi cut in, “Very well, we have many people, we’ll just search it. Yesterday evening, did the Magistrate search thoroughly?”
Huo Huai Xin started, “Last night… last night’s search was hurried, I’m afraid…”
Before Huo Huai Xin could finish, Yan Chi understood his meaning. He said nothing more and didn’t blame him, simply leading the runners toward the purple bamboo grove. After taking two steps, he suddenly noticed Qin Wan was still following. Yan Chi frowned at her, “You stay outside.”
How could Qin Wan give up such a good opportunity? She quickly said, “Qin Wan doesn’t believe in supernatural things, Your Highness need not worry.”
Her expression was calm, her tone composed. Yan Chi met her gaze for a moment, and finally looked away, though his steps became slower as they continued. Fu Ling naturally didn’t want to go to the purple bamboo grove, but since Qin Wan was going, she had to follow. She grabbed Qin Wan’s arm for support, though she was more afraid. Qin Wan turned her head and affectionately patted the back of Fu Ling’s hand.
Following the western path toward the purple bamboo grove, the scene was just as in her dream, except that in the dream it had been daylight, while now it was dark. After nightfall, the purple bamboo grove was even more gloomy and terrifying.
Following the main path forward, Yan Chi soon entered the purple bamboo grove first. He looked back at Qin Wan once, staying on the main path. Before long, they reached a fork in the road. Yan Chi looked around and was about to order everyone to search together when suddenly several lanterns lit up outside the purple bamboo grove. Yan Chi looked closely and saw it was Qin Chen supporting Madam Jiang, striding toward them.
Yan Chi and Qin Wan frowned simultaneously.
“Magistrate, did the Old Madam come here last night as well?”
Huo Huai Xin shook his head, “No, only the Eldest Young Master came along…”
Yan Chi made an “oh” sound and looked at the surrounding runners, “You all, go in pairs to search inside, see what’s actually in this bamboo grove.”
Night had fallen completely, and this purple bamboo grove had been abandoned for years—even without rumors of ghost fire it was frightening, let alone after someone had just reported seeing ghost fire. Fortunately, Yan Chi had ordered them to go in pairs. As soon as he finished speaking, the runners split into four groups and headed into the depths of the bamboo grove. At this moment, Qin Chen and Madam Jiang entered.
Seeing Madam Jiang arrive, Huo Huai Xin grimaced, “So late at night, it’s just a routine search, why trouble the Old Madam?”
Madam Jiang maintained her indifferent expression and curtsied to Yan Chi, “Places already searched last night—why has the Magistrate come here again today?”
Huo Huai Xin glanced at Yan Chi, coughed lightly, and said, “Last night’s search wasn’t thorough, and besides, someone just saw ghost fire here…”
Madam Jiang narrowed her eyes, “Talk of ghost fire is usually just rumored. How can the Magistrate believe such things?”
Huo Huai Xin brushed his sleeve, “Old Madam need not worry, we’re just conducting a routine search. Once we finish searching, we’ll leave. We’re just checking if anything harmful to the Qin Manor is hidden here…”
Madam Jiang’s hand holding the prayer beads trembled slightly. Hearing this, she coughed lightly twice and said no more. Qin Chen’s gaze followed the runners’ torches into the depths of the bamboo grove.
Yan Chi swept his gaze over these two’s expressions and quietly waited for news from deep in the bamboo grove. Before long, one group came running back.
“Your Highness, we found a well in the innermost part.”
A well? Qin Wan frowned, as did Huo Huai Xin and Yan Chi.
Madam Jiang said, “Just an abandoned well in the manor…”
Hearing these words, Qin Wan inexplicably thought of that well under the flower trellis.
When Qin Shuang fell, she said she had felt human bones in the well…
Qin Wan’s expression grew solemn as she turned to look at Yan Chi. With Madam Jiang and Qin Chen present, their gazes met and parted instantly. Yan Chi suddenly spoke, “Let’s go look. Perhaps something in the well bottom has caught fire.”
Yan Chi gave the order. Qin Chen wanted to speak but was stopped by Madam Jiang’s hand.
Yan Chi said no more and led everyone toward the depths of the bamboo grove. Qin Wan hurried to follow, while Madam Jiang’s gaze fixed firmly on Qin Wan…
“Your Highness, it’s this way…”
The runner led the group another hundred paces forward. As they proceeded, the purple bamboo along the small path grew increasingly dense, and the fallen leaves on the path were piled very thick. The well the runner spoke of was in the deepest part of the grove.
It was a well whose platform had collapsed and been abandoned, with a huge stone placed slantwise on one side of the well mouth. The only way to tell it was a well was the square, deep black hole in the ground.
Qin Wan looked at the well mouth and that huge stone, finding everything about it strange.
Having reached the depths of the bamboo grove, the fresh bamboo fragrance mixed with the damp, rotting smell of years of accumulated dead branches and leaves, filled everyone’s nostrils with an acrid scent. Yet even so, Qin Wan could smell an odor that only came from dead bodies.
Thinking of that dream, Qin Wan’s spine inexplicably chilled. She stared straight at the well mouth, her heart beginning to race.
Yan Chi followed Qin Wan’s gaze, “Bai Feng, go down and look.”
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a “plop” as Madam Jiang’s prayer beads fell to the ground.
Huo Huai Xin looked at Madam Jiang in surprise, but Yan Chi and Qin Wan had no time to notice the expressions of Madam Jiang and Qin Chen. Bai Feng looked around and took a dark lantern from one of the Qin Manor servants who had arrived later. He first swung the lantern over the well mouth, then without hesitation jumped down…
Seeing this, Madam Jiang slowly sighed, “Amitabha Buddha, these are all the Qin Manor’s sins…”
Yan Chi kept his eyes on the well mouth without turning around. Huo Huai Xin looked at Madam Jiang and asked, “Old Madam, what do you mean by those words?”
Qin Chen picked up the prayer beads, and Madam Jiang gripped them again in her palm. She turned the beads, her eyes narrowing as if lost in memory. She mumbled some scripture, and when she spoke again, her tone was particularly desolate, “In this well lies buried a former resident of the manor. For all these years, the purple bamboo grove has been forbidden ground in the manor for this very reason.”
Huo Huai Xin’s eyes widened in shock, “A former resident?”
Yan Chi didn’t listen to Madam Jiang’s words. He stepped forward to the well mouth to listen for sounds from below.
Meanwhile, Madam Jiang continued, “Many years ago, a concubine of the manor drowned herself in this well. At that time, we invited a priest who said this was an ill-fated well, and the soul within was a vengeful one. Only by placing a demon-suppressing stone could the Qin Manor remain peaceful. Since then, this well has been sealed, and no one has been allowed to enter the purple bamboo grove.”
Just as she finished speaking, Bai Feng leaped out of the well. He didn’t speak immediately but walked to Yan Chi’s side and whispered something.
Meanwhile, Madam Jiang was still speaking calmly with a hint of compassion, “This matter happened many years ago. It’s not a glorious affair, and we had hoped to let it pass, but unexpectedly the Magistrate has now learned of it…”
Huo Huai Xin was shocked speechless, not knowing what to say, when Yan Chi walked over.
He looked at Madam Jiang with deep eyes and said, “It seems the Old Madam speaks truly—this well is indeed ill-fated.”
Huo Huai Xin started, “Did you see that former resident?”
Yan Chi’s gaze was sharp, fixed unwaveringly on Madam Jiang, “Not just one former resident—now there’s a new one as well. If I’m not mistaken, it should be the manor’s steward, Liu Chun—”
Madam Jiang’s narrow eyes suddenly widened. Liu Chun?!