“All girls?!” Huo Huaixin’s eyes widened in shock.
Just as his words fell, another muffled shout came from the bottom of the well. Huo Huaixin turned around as the Yamen runner at the well’s edge called out, “Sir, they’re saying they’ve found another skull…”
Huo Huaixin’s eye twitched at the news, his scalp tingling with horror. Four sets of remains had already been found above the well, and now another skull had been unearthed below. How many more skeletons lay hidden down there? Huo Huaixin wiped the thin layer of sweat from his brow before turning to look at Qin Wan and Yan Chi.
“Ninth Young Lady, can you determine the cause of death?”
Qin Wan was still holding the stark white human bones, examining them carefully before shaking her head. “The bone color appears normal, suggesting they didn’t die from poison. So far, I haven’t found any visible injuries on these bones. I can’t determine the cause of death yet.”
Huo Huaixin sighed, “How could so many people have died…”
At this point, Qin Wan’s brows furrowed as she stood up. “Keep digging. Let’s see exactly how many are down there. As for the cause of death, perhaps we should ask the Old Madam or Third Uncle.”
Qin Wan had several theories forming in her mind. She never liked to assume the worst about others, but past experiences had taught her that the world’s darkness and ugliness far exceeded her imagination. As she looked at the mud-stained bones scattered chaotically on the felt blanket and reviewed the theories in her mind, her cold hands hanging at her sides began to tremble.
The night rain fell dismally as firelight illuminated the bones, casting an eerie white glow. Yan Chi moved closer to Qin Wan with his umbrella. “If this is too much for you, you should head back. It’s getting late, and it might take until after midnight to excavate everything.”
Qin Wan shook her head. “It’s fine. I can handle it.”
Yan Chi turned to look at Qin Wan, noting her tightly pressed lips and the deep chill in her eyes. She appeared more solemn now than when examining corpses and bones, with an overwhelming coldness emanating from her entire being. Beneath her mask of gentle elegance emerged a sharp edge that made her seem as formidable as a sword or bamboo, not to be underestimated.
Yan Chi’s eyes darkened slightly. Meanwhile, Huo Huaixin walked to the well’s edge. “Dig faster. If needed, we can send down more people…”
After his words, two muffled shouts came from below the well.
Huo Huaixin frowned upon hearing this. “Wait, let me ask…” He turned toward Yan Chi’s direction. “Your Highness, the men below say they can’t dig any deeper, but there’s wet mud and sand in the southern direction.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes and after a brief contemplation said, “Continue digging, but be careful.”
Huo Huaixin nodded and turned to relay the instructions to the men in the well.
Qin Wan sighed, “It seems it will be difficult to excavate everything tonight. After so many years, the flowing water in this well has become stagnant, and we don’t know what changes have occurred. The remains might have been carried elsewhere.”
Speaking thus, Qin Wan turned to look at the flower shed in the distance. “Although these two wells seem to wind around, they’re not far apart. When Sixth Sister fell in before, she said she touched human bones. Could it be that the underground flowing sand and mud carried the bones over there? Your Highness, since we have enough people now, could you send someone to check?”
As she finished speaking, Yan Chi looked at Bai Feng, “Take some men to investigate.”
Bai Feng accepted the order and left, then Yan Chi said to Qin Wan, “You should go too. It’s too cold in this grove.”
Qin Wan’s lips moved slightly, initially wanting to refuse, but considering the importance of checking for bones in that well too, she nodded. Yan Chi turned, holding the umbrella to let Qin Wan go first, escorting her as they walked toward the flower shed. Huo Huaixin, standing behind them, watched the pair leave the bamboo grove, his eyes filling with relief – he had originally thought of matching Qin Wan with his own Huo Ning, fortunately, he had only instructed Madam Yuan to visit the Qin residence once and nothing more.
Reaching the flower shed, surrounded by covered corridors, they no longer needed umbrellas. Qin Wan stood in the corridor, watching as Bai Feng and several Yamen runners lifted the newly laid bluestone floor tiles that had only been there for a few days.
With the tiles removed, the packed soil filling the well mouth had changed color. Four or five men gathered their tools and quickly began working. Qin Wan watched from the side as Fu Ling attended to her. “Young Lady, that day when Steward Liu went down, he saw it was just a dead branch. Could there be white bones down there?”
Qin Wan shook her head, “We’re not sure, let’s wait and see.”
Fu Ling adjusted Qin Wan’s cloak, saying worriedly, “Young Lady, you’re ice cold. You’ve been standing outside too long tonight, won’t you catch a cold… Even the hand warmer is getting cold, let me get you a new one.”
As she spoke, Yan Chi, who had walked to the flower shed, came over and said to Qin Wan, “You should return to your courtyard to rest. This well has been filled before, it won’t be excavated until late.”
Before Qin Wan could speak, Fu Ling quickly nodded beside her, “Yes, Young Lady. If Young Lady falls ill, wouldn’t His Highness lose his helper?” Fu Ling had boldly spoken up in front of Yan Chi, and her palms were already sweating after she finished.
Qin Wan thought briefly, realizing the logic in this, and nodded, “Alright, I’ll go back first.”
Yan Chi didn’t say more, only called out, “Bai Feng, escort Ninth Young Lady back.”
Qin Wan curtsied, and when Fu Ling opened the umbrella, she left with Fu Ling into the rain, with Bai Feng following behind as guard.
It was already past midnight, and though the entire Qin residence was brightly lit, it was completely silent. Fu Ling walked with Qin Wan past the courtyards on both sides, fear appearing on her face, “Young Lady, those bones, were they all children’s bones? And all girls? Where did they come from? Could they have been servants of the Qin family? And how did they die…”
Qin Wan’s lips were tightly pressed together, but she didn’t speak. After a moment, she said, “I don’t know yet. We’ll have to wait until His Highness and the Magistrate excavate all the bones, and then question those who need to be questioned to find out.”
Fu Ling looked around in all directions, “Young Lady, no wonder Old Madam talked about using spirit-warding stones. Children are most likely to become ghosts after death. No wonder she was so superstitious, or perhaps this is why she’s been vegetarian and Buddhist all these years?”
The rain fell lightly as Qin Wan walked heavily along the bluestone path in the mansion. The brightly lit compound was completely quiet, with occasional Yamen guards visible at key intersections, but not a single master or servant of the Qin family was to be seen.
Qin Wan knew that the uniformed Yamen runners had taken control of the Qin residence, and she glanced in the direction of the Buddhist hall, “Those little girls won’t become ghosts, but Old Madam must surely have ghosts in her heart. Her vegetarian diet and Buddhist practices are probably because she fears the ghosts in her own heart.”
Qin Wan’s words sent a chill down Fu Ling’s spine. Fu Ling unconsciously pulled at her collar and said nothing more. Bai Feng followed silently behind, naturally not joining in on this topic. When the three reached Ting Lan courtyard, they saw Qi Lin leading three Yamen runners lingering at the courtyard gate. Upon seeing Qin Wan arrive, Qi Lin immediately came forward.
“Ninth Young Lady…”
Qin Wan looked at Qi Lin questioningly, “Why is Captain Qi here?”
Qi Lin spoke somewhat awkwardly, “Ninth Young Lady has helped us several times, and we shouldn’t trouble you, but this time… His Excellency has ordered all servants to wait in the steward’s courtyard for questioning, so…”
Qi Lin glanced at the gate of Ting Lan courtyard, and Qin Wan immediately understood. She turned to instruct Fu Ling, “Go call the four of them out. It’s just routine questioning, if there’s nothing wrong, they’ll return after answering the questions.”
Qi Lin immediately showed gratitude, “Thank you, Ninth Young Lady…”
Qin Wan shook her head, “Do you need to question me about anything?”
Qi Lin hurriedly waved his hands, “No, no, of course not… Ninth Young Lady is certainly unrelated to this case.”
Qin Wan’s expression tightened slightly without speaking. Soon, Fu Ling brought Wan Tang and the others out of the courtyard. Wan Tang led the other three forward, curtsying before Qin Wan, who then said, “Go on, you can return after answering their questions.”
“Yes, Young Lady, please don’t worry,” Wan Tang respectfully nodded in response.
Qin Wan then looked at Qi Lin and said, “Captain Qi has worked hard tonight.”
Qi Lin clasped his hands in salute, “This is my duty. That being the case, I shall take my leave.”
Qin Wan responded with a soft “Mm,” and Qi Lin led Wan Tang and the others toward the steward’s courtyard. Qin Wan then turned to Bai Feng, “We’ve arrived. Guard Bai should return to His Highness’s side.”
Bai Feng nodded, “Ninth Young Lady need not worry, please rest early.”
After speaking, Bai Feng also saluted and turned to leave. Qin Wan stood in place for a moment before entering the courtyard.
“Young Lady, you should rest first. Conserve your energy – they’ll surely need your help again after all the remains are excavated,” Fu Ling advised Qin Wan as soon as they entered.
Qin Wan thought for a moment and said, “It seems Second Brother won’t be able to come tonight.”
“Indeed, all the courtyards in the mansion are guarded, he certainly can’t leave.”
Putting away the umbrella, Fu Ling removed the cloak from Qin Wan’s shoulders, “Young Lady’s cloak is half wet. If you don’t rest now, you might catch a cold tomorrow. Young Lady, please don’t stay up.”
With the cloak removed, Qin Wan felt the chill. Thinking that it would take time to excavate all the bones anyway, she nodded and went to the side room to wash up before lying down on the bed. As she lay down, Qin Wan put on an extra robe, thinking that if Yan Chi sent someone to summon her, she could get up more quickly.
Seeing Qin Wan sleeping in her clothes, Fu Ling didn’t try to persuade her further, only waiting until Qin Wan closed her eyes before extinguishing the lamps in the room.
Upon lying down, exhaustion hit Qin Wan. Perhaps she had caught a chill, as she unconsciously wrapped the brocade quilt tighter around herself. It was already midnight, and at Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin’s pace, they would likely finish excavating by dawn at the latest. She had to wake up by then. With these thoughts, Qin Wan slowly drifted into dreams.
In her dream, she was again on the ten-mile-long street of the capital, with its carved beams and painted buildings, flying eaves, and bracket sets stretching continuously in an imposing sight.
Qin Wan stood before the Six Ministries again. The gates of the Court of Judicature were tightly closed, wild grass covering the steps. Though it was the highest-ranking criminal court of the Great Zhou, it now resembled a desolate temple.
Where were the Court officials? Where were the guards and runners?
Qin Wan climbed the weed-covered steps one by one, pushing hard against the decrepit door.
With a creaking sound, the weathered door was pushed open by Qin Wan. As it opened, a thin misty vapor flashed before her eyes. Qin Wan blinked, and the hazy mist gradually dispersed.
As the mist cleared, Qin Wan saw the courtyard full of wild grass, cobwebs covering the roof beams, and the main plaque hanging crookedly. The empty yamen was completely dilapidated, without a single person in sight.
Qin Wan walked a few puzzled steps inside when suddenly, an abandoned well appeared out of nowhere in the empty courtyard.
Weeds stood tall around the well platform, partially concealing the well opening. Qin Wan was startled – the Court of Judicature was no ordinary residence, how could there be a well in its courtyard? Just as she thought this, suddenly, a faint light flashed, and Qin Wan watched as a stark white hand reached out from the well…
Qin Wan’s eyes snapped open, staring fixedly at the bed canopy while gasping for breath.
It was just a dream, but the scene still filled Qin Wan with fear. The Court of Judicature couldn’t be overgrown with weeds, and certainly couldn’t have an abandoned well with skeletal hands reaching out – only the Qin residence had abandoned wells…
Sweat beaded on Qin Wan’s temples as she took two deep breaths to regain her composure. Just then, footsteps sounded outside the bed curtain. Qin Wan’s mind stirred, and she quickly sat up, lifting the curtain to see Fu Ling indeed walking softly outside. Seeing Qin Wan suddenly lift the bed curtain, Fu Ling was startled.
Clutching her chest, Fu Ling exhaled, “Young Lady is already awake? I thought you were still sleeping.”
“What’s wrong?” Qin Wan asked, turning her head to look outside. Seeing it was already bright daylight, her expression changed, “Why didn’t you wake me? It’s so late…”
Fu Ling hurriedly reassured her, “Don’t worry, Young Lady. It’s still raining, and the yamen runners have changed shifts several times. They say they’ve reached the bottom, but they need to dig elsewhere to find everything. That whole area has been excavated now.”
Qin Wan frowned as she threw off the covers and got out of bed, dressing while asking, “Have they found any new ones?”
Fu Ling understood what Qin Wan was asking, her expression changing slightly, “They found four more…”
Qin Wan’s hands paused, then moved even faster, “Have Wan Tang and the others returned?”
“Yes, they came back at dawn. Because there are too many places to dig, Magistrate Huo has already started questioning people. Also, Coroner Xu has entered the mansion and is now collecting the remains.”
Qin Wan responded with an “Mm” and quickly finished dressing. Fu Ling arranged her hair in a simple bun, and after washing up, Qin Wan left for the bamboo grove without eating breakfast.
Compared to last night, servants could now be seen moving about the Qin residence this morning. Fu Ling said in a low voice, “Those who entered the mansion later were released, but those who have been here for more than seven years were kept.”
Qin Wan nodded, hurrying toward the bamboo grove. Soon they neared the flower shed, and before getting close, they saw Xu He standing beside a long table. The table was newly brought out and now covered with bones.
Xu He was holding a bone fragment and examining something. Looking up to see Qin Wan, he immediately called out, “Ninth Young Lady is here! Please come quickly and look at this bone… what’s going on…”
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes as she approached, and Xu He asked puzzledly, “Is this a finger bone? But why is there an extra segment…”