“Take this prescription for three days. It serves two purposes: first to counteract the poison, and second to suppress the venereal disease. However, venereal disease is difficult to cure, and I cannot guarantee complete success. I’m not sure how many days this will buy us,” Qin Wan wrote out the prescription and handed it to the servant attending Qin An. Knowing Qin Wan’s miraculous healing abilities, the servant expressed profound gratitude, bowing repeatedly before leaving to fetch the medicine. Qin Wan stood up and went to the inner chamber to look at Qin An, who was now tied to the bed. Her eyes showed none of the usual sympathy she had for other patients.
Yan Chi stood behind Qin Wan and after a moment softly said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you back.”
Qin Wan nodded and walked out of the courtyard.
Despite all the commotion, it was still early in the day. Qin Wan looked up and saw the sky was a transparent azure, with dawn’s glow faintly visible at the horizon. A light golden hue suffused the blue expanse, like a brush dipped in blue ink had swept across the sky with fluid strokes, then dusted with a thin layer of gold powder.
The morning chill came with a gentle breeze, and Qin Wan finally felt the cold. She pulled her robes tighter and looked down to see a frost-like layer of ice on the green grass beside the path. When she exhaled, a faint white mist was visible. Qin Wan frowned, “The weather turned cold so suddenly, and it’s not even October yet.”
Fu Ling, attending nearby, boldly spoke up despite Yan Chi’s presence, “Miss, have you forgotten? It’s usually this cold this time of year. It’s just that it’s usually a damp cold, and the south doesn’t get much snow.”
Qin Wan made a sound of acknowledgment, “I see.”
Yan Chi’s gaze swept across the water-washed blue sky, and his brows furrowed at her words, “Did you injure your head when you fell into the lake? Are you still experiencing any discomfort?”
Qin Wan shook her head, “I had some headaches when I first woke up, but they’re gone now. I just can’t remember past events clearly.”
A look of deep contemplation crossed Yan Chi’s eyes, with a questioning glint in his lustrous pupils, “You can’t remember past events… amnesia? If so, there might still be undetected damage to your brain. They say doctors shouldn’t treat themselves. Why don’t you seek another physician’s opinion? If there are any hidden problems, they could have serious consequences in the future.”
Though Yan Chi wasn’t versed in medicine, his years on the battlefield had given him extensive knowledge of various injuries. On the battlefield, there were cases of internal injuries to organs and brain damage without visible external wounds. Military doctors would often say that blood clots in the brain or internal organ damage from impacts might show no external signs but still require treatment.
Qin Wan shook her head, “The most concerning would be bone damage or intracranial blood clots, but since I haven’t had any headaches since then, I didn’t think I needed to see another doctor. Perhaps it’s just damage to one of the brain meridians – blocked meridians can cause memory loss.”
Yan Chi understood the meridian theory that many doctors subscribed to. Moreover, as a physician, Qin Wan was responsible for other patients’ health and wouldn’t be careless with her own. Yan Chi dropped the subject but then asked, “What exactly happened that night?”
Qin Wan’s eye twitched, “I don’t remember the specifics. I think because the weather was gloomy and I was feeling melancholic, I decided to take a walk by Half Moon Lake. Suddenly it started raining heavily, and I slipped and fell into the lake.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, “I’ve seen the Half Moon Lake at your Qin residence. Unless you were already contemplating suicide, you wouldn’t have gone to the very edge. If you weren’t at the edge, how could you have fallen in?”
Qin Wan sighed. Yan Chi was too perceptive; simple lies couldn’t deceive him.
“Perhaps I was indeed in a daze then, or maybe I did have thoughts of ending my life. I can’t remember clearly now, but it’s all in the past. After that incident, my outlook became much clearer.”
Yan Chi frowned as he looked at Qin Wan beside him. Would someone of Qin Wan’s temperament have suicidal thoughts?
Or was it as Bai Feng had said – that her personality had changed dramatically after falling into the lake?
Deep questions arose in Yan Chi’s eyes, but he kept them to himself without pursuing further.
True to his word about escorting Qin Wan, Yan Chi accompanied her to Tinglan Court. “Last night we unearthed two more skeletons, which should be the last ones. I hope your medicine can help Qin An recover soon. Although we now know Qin An was behind what happened back then, we still don’t know the full story. We need him to tell us himself…”
Qin Wan nodded, “Alright, I’ll help with the investigation later.”
Yan Chi made a sound of agreement, “No need to rush. Go inside now.”
As Qin Wan entered the courtyard, she pondered about Qin An’s situation. Someone had poisoned Qin An over several days, allowing the toxin to accumulate until it drove him into a frenzy. In his mentally excited state, he no longer concealed what happened years ago. The poisoner must be connected to the victims from back then – most likely the person who killed Liu Shi and Liu Chun.
As soon as they entered the room, Fu Ling couldn’t help but gnash her teeth in anger, “Third Master is truly heartless, keeping male favorites… even Sixth Miss could see it, yet Old Madam couldn’t? Old Madam was just trying to buy time…”
“If someone did this to my child, I would want to kill them too.”
“In all these years, I’ve never seen someone so… so depraved. If I had such a father, I’d rather be dead. He’s not only a sinner himself but has brought trouble to the whole family.”
Qin Wan had left early and hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. As Fu Ling set out the meal, she continued speaking with deeply furrowed brows. Though she wasn’t well-educated, she couldn’t bring herself to curse outright, and after thinking for a long while, couldn’t find the right words to express her outrage.
Qin Wan’s expression was also somber as she sat down, “Those who commit heinous crimes deserve death a thousand times over. However, among them, some are forced by circumstances, some have no choice, and others act purely out of selfish desire. Those who inflict their evil upon children are truly the ones I’m most reluctant to save.”
“Miss, will the medicine you prescribed cure Third Master?”
Qin Wan shook her head, “His condition is far worse than Qin Li’s, and with the added poison, he already has one foot in the grave. But we need him to speak about this case – my medicine is merely keeping him alive for now.”
After speaking, Qin Wan felt no ripples of emotion in her heart. If not for the oath she had taken when entering the Medicine King Valley, she might have been tempted to add something extra to Qin An’s medicine. For someone like him, even letting him rot away in the darkest corner in utmost agony wouldn’t be enough to repay his evil deeds. Thinking this, Qin Wan suddenly thought of Liu Chun and Liu Shi’s killer.
The Qin family was wealthy and powerful – who would think to dig up their abandoned wells without reason? Even if they discovered Second Aunt’s remains, it wouldn’t prove much. If not for Yan Chi’s presence, even Huo Huaixin might have tried to smooth things over rather than confront the Qin family directly. In their position, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t have taken extreme measures to uncover the truth.
But murder must be punished. For ordinary people, the balance between law and human sentiment might be difficult to judge, but having followed her father for many years, Qin Wan had long ago planted the seed that law outweighed human sentiment in her heart. Regardless of what relationship the killer behind this had with the deceased from years ago, it was ultimately one tragedy spawning another. She could sympathize and pity, but the Great Zhou’s criminal code would not.
After finishing breakfast, Qin Wan returned to the bamboo grove. Including the skeletons unearthed last night, they had recovered thirteen sets of remains in total. It wasn’t until the afternoon that Qin Wan and Xu He finished cleaning and assembling all thirteen skeletons.
“Ninth Miss, the Magistrate says there shouldn’t be any more,” Xu He walked over from the direction of the bamboo grove. From the flower shed to the well in the bamboo grove, a very deep trench had been dug – the work of dozens of yamen runners over two days and nights. Now, all the mud below had been sifted through, and except for small bones like fingers and teeth, all other bones had been recovered.
“We’re not missing much now.” Qin Wan was still tidying up the long table. Although they didn’t know the names of these remains yet, at least when they were eventually buried, the skeletons would be complete. Qin Wan didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, but she maintained every bit of proper reverence and solemnity.
“What a massive undertaking! These past two days and nights have exhausted all the brothers from the yamen. If this were construction work, we could have built a house by now. The Magistrate was just saying earlier that everyone’s salary this month will be increased by one tael as a bonus for their hard work on this case and the previous Marquis case…”
As Xu He spoke, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. Qin Wan also curved her lips in a smile. Magistrate Huo Huaixin’s reputation as an official wasn’t unearned. Though he might not be the upright official of the previous dynasty, no one could find fault with him.
“Today we’ll record all of this, and tomorrow we can send all the remains to the yamen,” Xu He said as he picked up the brush and paper from the table. “Among these people, the oldest was twelve and the youngest only eight. Ah, it truly makes one sigh… I wonder where they’re from, where their homes are, and if they have any family left.”
Though Xu He worked as what others considered a lowly coroner, he was educated and retained a scholarly air. As he spoke, like Fu Ling, he couldn’t stop sighing, “They were all young girls. If their families had other siblings, that would be one thing, but if not… Their parents must be around forty now. Losing a daughter in their early years, the elderly couple living alone – if they have some money, that’s manageable, but if not, it’s truly miserable…”
Qin Wan looked at Xu He, “Coroner Xu, do you have any family left?”
Caught off guard by the question, Xu He replied, “No one left. My only father passed away five years ago. He was educated in his early years and even taught in the village for a while. But then he fell ill and became bedridden. He just lingered on until he passed. It was my failure.”
Qin Wan’s eyes darkened slightly, “No wonder you can read and write. How did you end up becoming a coroner?”
Xu He sighed, though without bitterness on his face, “We spent all our family’s money treating father’s illness. Fortunately, a cousin helped arrange my father’s funeral. Afterward, I was at a loss but knew I had to find some way to make a living. I had no connections and though educated, had never attended an academy. It was that same cousin, a coroner in Xishui County of Jinzhou, who said while he couldn’t teach me much, he asked if I wanted to join the coroner profession.”
“I thought that any profession that could provide a living was good, so I learned from my cousin for a while. First, I helped in Xishui County, then the County Magistrate saw I was young and reliable. When the Prefecture needed a coroner, he sent me here. This position should have been my cousin’s, but he said he was too old and it wouldn’t be interesting, so he let me come gain experience. So while I have no immediate family left, this cousin who gave me a new lease on life is my only remaining relative…”
Xu He spoke lightly, showing no regret about entering the coroner profession at such a young age. Qin Wan listened and pondered briefly, “How old are you, Coroner Xu?”
Xu He replied somewhat embarrassedly, “I’m already twenty-three.”
Twenty-three?! Qin Wan’s hand holding the brush trembled… She turned to look at Xu He. Perhaps due to exhaustion these past days, his stubble was dark, and there were shadows under his eyes. Looking at him this way, Xu He truly appeared to be around thirty. Thinking back to when she first met him, Qin Wan’s initial impression was that he must have been at least twenty-nine, yet he was only twenty-three.
Qin Wan looked away, feeling somewhat bemused. She then spoke formally, “In that case, Coroner Xu is still young. You’re not originally from a lowly background and are educated. Magistrate Huo intends to make good use of you. When the opportunity arises, you might seek a position at the Bureau of Investigation and Justice. In the future, you could help commoners seek justice.”
Xu He’s eyes lit up. Unlike those born into lowly status, he was at least from a commoner family. Moreover, besides the imperial examinations, the Great Zhou also had systems of recommendation and hereditary offices. As long as he worked diligently, with Huo Huaixin giving him a chance or two, the path Qin Wan suggested wasn’t impossible. He had thought about it before but lacked confidence. Now that Qin Wan mentioned it, infinite hope arose in his heart.
“Yes, that’s the best path I could think of too. Thank you for your kind words, Ninth Miss!”
Qin Wan smiled at this, “Coroner Xu is humble in learning and diligent. You’ll surely succeed.”
Xu He almost wanted to bow deeply to Qin Wan, feeling inexplicably convinced by her words. With just a few words from her, his confidence had grown significantly, “Thank you for your encouragement, Ninth Miss, thank you…”
By the time they finished organizing all the remains, it was getting late. At this point, Huo Huaixin strode in from the front courtyard. Perhaps because it wasn’t appropriate to speak outside, he invited Yan Chi, Qin Wan, and the others to a side hall.
“Magistrate, what’s wrong?”
Xu He asked cautiously. Huo Huaixin responded angrily, “We can’t figure out who administered the poison. Qian Bairen prescribed the medicine, two young servants delivered it, and someone from their courtyard prepared it. The most likely suspects are those two servants and the one who prepared the medicine, but we’ve interrogated them all day. These four people won’t talk, even after thirty strokes of the rod!”
Yan Chi frowned, “If they truly intended harm, they wouldn’t confess easily. But what motive would these people have?”
Huo Huaixin smiled bitterly, “That’s what’s so strange. The two servants that Your Highness and Ninth Miss saw today have been in Qin An’s courtyard since childhood, for many years. The two who delivered medicine were also born into the Qin household, with both parents serving there. Logically, household-born servants would be least likely to harm their masters, but Qian Bairen has no reason to poison either.”
Huo Huaixin was breathing heavily in frustration. Yan Chi pondered briefly, “Perhaps there are other clues we haven’t found. I feel this matter is connected to Second Aunt. Tomorrow my people will bring news from Yang County, and we’ll see if there are any leads.”
After a pause, Yan Chi asked Huo Huaixin, “How is Qin An?”
Huo Huaixin smiled wryly, “Still in a frenzy. It’s gotten so bad that he was coughing blood earlier.”
Qin Wan frowned. Coughing blood indicated a severe condition, showing how deeply the poison had taken hold. However, she had no intention of checking on Qin An again, only saying, “My medicine will take at least a day to show effect.”
Huo Huaixin quickly replied, “That’s fine, we’ve waited many days already. What’s concerning is we have no leads on who’s behind this, and we don’t know what they might do next.”
Qin Wan nodded without speaking. Huo Huaixin exhaled and wiped his face, “In that case, tonight we’ll withdraw the first shift of guards. Your Highness should return to the Marquis residence to rest. After two days and nights, even I can barely handle it. The manor’s guards can’t relax, but let’s take a breather.”
While the yamen runners had been rotating shifts over the two days and nights, Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi hadn’t left the Qin manor. Huo Huaixin was unshaven and exhausted, and though less apparent in Yan Chi, red marks had appeared in his eyes.
Yan Chi nodded, “That’s appropriate. There’s no rush.”
All the remains had been organized and placed in the western courtyard. As night fell, Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi left the Qin manor one after another, though yamen runners remained throughout the premises.
Qin Wan returned to Tinglan Court. Just after finishing dinner, Yao Xinlan appeared at the courtyard gate.
Yao Xinlan hadn’t visited Tinglan Court in many days, and this sudden visit surprised Qin Wan. As she entered, Yao Xinlan smiled and said, “The manor has been too chaotic these past days for me to walk about. Hearing that the Magistrate and that Young Lord had left, I finally dared to come out. It’s late and I didn’t know where else to go, so I came to sit with you.”
Qin Wan helped Yao Xinlan sit down, “Sister-in-law should indeed walk around daily. I have some osmanthus tea made from newly picked flowers. Would you like a cup?”
Yao Xinlan clapped her hands, “That would be wonderful.”
Mo Shu added, “Miss has been in much better spirits since seeing Ninth Miss.”
Qin Wan smiled and went to make tea. Fu Ling took Mo Shu outside to chat. When Qin Wan returned with a cup of tea, she found Yao Xinlan sitting in a daze. Qin Wan approached, “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”
She offered the tea, “Please try it…”
Yao Xinlan took the cup and absently sipped, “Mm… indeed fragrant and sweet…”
Despite her words, Yao Xinlan set the cup down. Seeing the full cup, Qin Wan realized Yao Xinlan likely came with something to say.
“Ninth Sister, I heard that Father… those skeletons dug up from the well in the bamboo grove, they’re all connected to Father?”
Qin Wan’s eyes shifted slightly, “What did Elder Brother say?”
At this, Yao Xinlan’s eyes darkened, “Your brother didn’t say much, just told me not to worry about too many things and to focus on taking care of myself to deliver the child…”
Qin Wan curved her lips, “Elder Brother is right. Sister-in-law needn’t worry about manor affairs.”
Yao Xinlan smiled bitterly, “I’m not a child. When something happens, I need to know. Ninth Sister, tell me, those children’s remains, did Father…”
Yao Xinlan stared unwaveringly into Qin Wan’s eyes, and Qin Wan nodded.
Yao Xinlan’s expression grew complex as she gave a bitter laugh, “This is just… I thought the Qin family was one of proper conduct and elegance, but… it’s truly… just thinking about it is frightening…”
This matter had exceeded even Yao Xinlan’s imagination, and she couldn’t find words to describe it.
Qin Wan sighed. If this matter had been revealed earlier, Yao Xinlan would never have married into the family. But what’s done was done, and there was nothing to be done about Yao Xinlan’s concerns now. “Sister-in-law, please don’t worry. This matter… might affect the Qin family somewhat, but as long as Elder Brother is here, the Qin family won’t fall. I’m sorry for your hardship.”
Yao Xinlan was indeed suffering. She shook her head, “Actually, this matter isn’t much. Even if I had married into another family, I might have encountered similar situations. A family’s rise and fall isn’t controlled by one person. What I sought wasn’t the Qin family’s wealth and glory, but just your brother as a person. However…”
“Hmm?” Qin Wan looked at Yao Xinlan, “However what?”
Yao Xinlan pressed her lips together tightly for a moment, “However, I feel your brother has someone else in his heart.”
Qin Wan’s eyes widened, “Still because of that dream?”
Yao Xinlan stared steadily at Qin Wan, seemingly deciding whether to tell her. After a while, Yao Xinlan leaned forward and lowered her voice, “Last time, when I started bleeding on the way back, it wasn’t because of the exhausting journey, but… but because I heard him call someone’s name in his dream. I was so distressed that I…”
Qin Wan’s heart suddenly dropped, “Called someone else’s name? What name?”
Yao Xinlan smiled bitterly, “I couldn’t hear clearly, truly. But do you believe in a woman’s intuition? His tone was gentle, it must have been a woman’s name, but he wasn’t calling for me…”
Qin Wan’s hands tightened in her lap, her mind filled with doubts. Qin Chen mentioned that several people in Yao Xinlan’s family had suffered from mental illness, so she often had dreams and couldn’t distinguish between dreams and reality. However, at that time she had personally picked up the jade tablet with the character “Yao.” So this time, was what she saying true?
“Perhaps… perhaps he was just sleep-talking randomly. Sister-in-law, don’t overthink it…”
Qin Wan felt somewhat helpless and disliked her own words. She just didn’t want to get involved in this couple’s entanglement, but Yao Xinlan seemed to trust her. If what Yao Xinlan said was true, merely telling her not to overthink seemed somewhat cruel.
Sure enough, disappointment appeared in Yao Xinlan’s eyes. She looked at Qin Wan for a moment and sighed, “Never mind. The Ninth Sister is still young and doesn’t know how it feels when two people are in love. Perhaps I’m being paranoid, but many things…” She changed the subject, “Ninth Sister, let me ask you this: what kind of husband do you want?”
Qin Wan looked somewhat stunned, “That… I haven’t thought about it…”
Yao Xinlan smiled bitterly, lowered her eyes, and sighed, “Before, many talented young men from Jianzhou came to propose to me, but I refused them all because I felt they weren’t faithful men. But your brother, when he was pursuing me, he promised never to take concubines and to have only me in his heart for life. I didn’t believe it at first, but he said that since childhood, he had seen his mother neglected by his father, who spent his days in pleasure houses, first keeping mistresses in outer residences, then brazenly bringing them into the manor, and later taking concubines one after another. He said he’d had enough and would never be like his father. At that time, my heart was deeply moved, and I believed him.”
“Does Sister-in-law no longer believe Elder Brother now?”
At Qin Wan’s tentative question, tears welled up in Yao Xinlan’s eyes, “From belief to disbelief, I…”
Yao Xinlan choked up. In that instant, something struck Qin Wan’s heart, making it ache. Yao Xinlan came from a scholarly family, was kind-hearted, and looked like a porcelain doll. But now, the pain in her eyes was so obvious, her tears welling up but not falling. Qin Wan suddenly felt that Qin Chen might truly have changed his heart as Yao Xinlan said, but who could he like? Someone as good as Yao Xinlan, yet he gave her so much pain…
“Never mind.” Yao Xinlan lowered her eyes, “I love him, so naturally I’ll believe him. As long as he treats me well, I’ll believe him. Even if I stop believing later, as long as he treats me well again, comforts and cherishes me, I’ll believe him again…”
Qin Wan felt chills down her spine hearing this and felt even more pity for Yao Xinlan. Yao Xinlan wiped her eyes and looked up at Qin Wan, “Does this seem spineless? I used to be proud, but now I’m like this. But… but there’s still something stuck in my heart, getting pricked now and then. Ninth Sister, I hope you’ll never be like me.”
Finally, Yao Xinlan’s tears fell. Qin Wan’s throat tightened, truly not knowing what to say. Yao Xinlan looked at her painfully, like someone drowning at sea.
She looked at her desperately, hoping she could extend a pole or an oar to pull her ashore. Yet Qin Wan’s hands were empty, with nothing to offer. So she could only watch as she struggled helplessly in the deep sea, sinking, finally being submerged.
Perhaps it was the fatigue of recent days that had lowered Qin Wan’s spirits, or perhaps this case made people sorrowful, or maybe it was Yao Xinlan’s repeated tears that moved her to pity. At this moment, Qin Wan’s heart was soaked with sour and desolate feelings.
Do women in love suffer so much?
Qin Wan had not yet experienced love, but she deeply questioned this thing so often celebrated in poetry and songs.
“Sister-in-law, what do you want to do? What would you like me to do for you?”
Qin Wan suddenly spoke up. She didn’t want to get involved in the Qin family’s troubled waters and only wanted to be a physician treating Yao Xinlan’s physical injuries and illnesses. She couldn’t be responsible for her heartache, but at this moment, her heart had softened. She could no longer maintain her rational distance. She had made her decision – if Yao Xinlan needed her help with something, she would help!
But when asked this, Yao Xinlan was stunned, “Do what? I don’t know what can be done…”
Qin Wan steeled herself, “Sister-in-law, since you suspect Elder Brother, either trust him or investigate to see if he likes someone else, and if so, who that person is.”
After speaking, Qin Wan suddenly had a moment of clarity and continued, “Sister-in-law’s constant suspicion and self-imposed sorrow serve no purpose. You are Elder Brother’s principal wife, with absolute authority. Find that person – either have Elder Brother take her as a concubine or send her away from the manor so he can never see her again. Rather than living in such uncertainty and suspicion, why not be more decisive? Or even, if Sister-in-law feels too heartbroken, you could divorce… Of course, that’s the worst option, and perhaps Elder Brother hasn’t done anything.”
Qin Wan finally regained her rationality, and disliking ambiguity, she laid out these three paths before Yao Xinlan.
She expected Yao Xinlan to consider them, but instead, she immediately lowered her eyes, “I won’t take in anyone for him…”
Qin Wan had anticipated this possibility and replied without surprise, “Then send that person away.”
But Yao Xinlan shook her head, “That way… he would hate me… and wouldn’t treat me as well as he does now… and I… I’m carrying his child and never thought about divorce. I couldn’t live well without him…”
Qin Wan was momentarily speechless. She considered herself perceptive, but looking at Yao Xinlan, she couldn’t understand what she wanted. Even if she wanted to help, she needed Yao Xinlan to be clear about her desires first.
“Ninth Sister… thank you… but…”
Yao Xinlan spoke haltingly, unable to form complete sentences. Qin Wan suddenly understood – Yao Xinlan had too many fears. Qin Chen’s kindness was extremely important to her, not to be easily damaged, so she could only hesitate. She had come to Qin Wan not for help, but merely to express her suspicions and sorrows.
Not knowing love herself, she couldn’t fully understand Yao Xinlan’s thoughts, but at least she had figured out her intentions.
Qin Wan sighed. Yao Xinlan looked like a fragile porcelain doll, and her heart wasn’t strong enough. Qin Wan couldn’t bear to call her weak, only feeling deep concern for her. If Yao Xinlan and Qin Chen’s relationship was like a beautiful piece of porcelain, though cracks had already formed inside, Yao Xinlan was still deluding herself, treasuring that porcelain against her heart…
Qin Wan feared that when that porcelain eventually shattered, it would cut her heart to bleeding pieces.
“I understand. Sister-in-law doesn’t have to choose. If you feel troubled, just come talk to me. But Sister-in-law needs to protect herself more. Even while loving Elder Brother, you must consider yourself more.”
Yao Xinlan sobbed once, wiped her tears, and curved her lips slightly, “Thank you, Ninth Sister. In this manor, you’re probably the only one who truly cares about me…”
Qin Wan’s heart chilled – what about Qin Chen?
Though she thought this, she didn’t ask. Instead, thinking of two miscellaneous records she had, she went to fetch them for Yao Xinlan, “These are about Great Zhou’s landscapes, and there are many folk customs about raising children. They’re quite interesting. Sister-in-law can read them, but don’t read too much each day, and use proper lighting to avoid straining your eyes.”
Though Yao Xinlan had no interest in other things, seeing Qin Wan’s sincere concern, she mustered her spirits to accept them, promising, “Alright, I’ll read them. I haven’t been to many places, so this will be good.”
After chatting a bit more, seeing it was getting late, Yao Xinlan took her leave. Qin Wan escorted her and Mo Shu to the courtyard gate, only turning back after their figures disappeared.
Fu Ling said sympathetically, “The Young Madam’s eyes are red again. Did she argue with Young Master again?”
Qin Wan shook her head, “They didn’t argue today. It’s just that my medicine can heal her physical injuries and ailments, but can’t heal her heart’s wounds. She came here just seeking some comfort.”
Fu Ling’s voice was also low, “It makes one’s heart ache to see.”
Qin Wan exhaled and stood in the courtyard gazing at tonight’s sky. She had hoped to see some stars, but looking up intently, tonight was starless and moonless, overcast. A few dark clouds could be faintly seen floating, like Yao Xinlan’s tears, making one’s heart feel oppressed and heavy. “Yes, it makes one’s heart ache. The character for ‘love’ truly wounds people…”
After speaking, Qin Wan lowered her head and exhaled again, as if trying to breathe out the heaviness in her heart. After a moment, she shrugged, “The world is already harsh enough to women. If they also become helplessly trapped in love, then… the lucky ones find good men, while the unfortunate ones can only watch their hearts gradually grow cold within these grand mansions.”
Fu Ling sighed, “That makes one not want to marry at all.”
Qin Wan turned to look at Fu Ling, “Oh? Our Fu Ling is thinking of marriage?”
Fu Ling started, her face immediately reddening. She hurriedly shook her head, “No, no, this servant was speaking about Miss. I used to hope Miss would marry soon, but now I’m worried, afraid Miss might end up like Young Madam…”
Qin Wan patted Fu Ling’s hand and exhaled again, “Don’t worry. Not only am I in no hurry to marry, but even when I do, I’ve already thought it through.”
Fu Ling’s eyes widened, “What has Miss thought through?”
Qin Wan’s lips curved, “Thought through… how not to let myself become as heartbroken as Sister-in-law…”
“Oh?” Fu Ling’s eyes brightened, “What’s the method?”
Qin Wan blinked, “I’ll tell you when our Fu Ling has someone she likes. For now, I won’t reveal this secret…”
Fu Ling’s cheeks flushed again as she chidingly urged Qin Wan to rest. Amused by Fu Ling’s shy manner, Qin Wan, exhausted in body and mind, went to bed without further words. She slept dreamlessly through the night. The next morning, Qin Wan rose as usual and took a short walk in the courtyard. After breakfast, Yan Chi arrived at the manor with news from Yang County.
When Qin Wan hurried to the western rear courtyard, Huo Huaixin and Xu He were already there. Upon seeing her, Yan Chi said, “These are the case files from Yang County from back then. Take a look together…”
Qin Wan curtsied and stepped forward, and Yan Chi handed her the files.
“Besides the case files, there are also testimonies from visits to nearby households,” Yan Chi laid out a stack of letters containing statements from Yang County residents.
Qin Wan nodded, while beside her, Huo Huaixin took the stack of letters to read. After reading a few, Huo Huaixin suddenly frowned, “Strange, they had a daughter who went missing…”
Qin Wan’s brows immediately furrowed, and Yan Chi also looked at the letter in Huo Huaixin’s hand.
Huo Huaixin passed it to Yan Chi, “Your Highness, look. Some elderly people said that a young daughter disappeared along with the madam back then. Rumors were saying that the madam had left with the child.”
While it wasn’t uncommon for wives to leave with children when marriages failed, since the husband had reported it to officials, that probably wasn’t the case.
“These case files are very brief, only recording a missing twenty-two-year-old woman, presumably Second Aunt, but nothing about a missing daughter…” Qin Wan waved the files, then continued in a somber tone, “It was near year’s end, and the yamen was probably too busy and didn’t take missing person cases seriously. Some local officials either don’t act or are understaffed – as long as there’s no death, they won’t investigate…”
Listening beside her, Huo Huaixin looked uncomfortable, “Ninth Miss speaks truly. Such situations do exist. That’s why in my years as Magistrate, I visit the county yamens during festivals to ensure they don’t neglect citizens’ matters.”
Qin Wan hadn’t thought of this, she just knew more because she had traveled with her father in the north and seen how many local yamens operated. She didn’t respond, only fixing her gaze on the letter in Yan Chi’s hand.
Yan Chi was reading intently when he suddenly frowned, “It says their daughter was only eight or nine then.”
Qin Wan’s heart skipped a beat. Yan Chi quickly looked through other letters. Compared to the ineffective officials, these common people’s words had inadvertently revealed major clues.
Huo Huaixin also hurried to read other testimonies. Seeing this, Qin Wan put down the case files and took several letters. All three read rapidly through the contents. Qin Wan said, “Here someone else mentions that rumor, and the great fire.”
“Here!” Yan Chi’s voice suddenly steadied, “Someone says their missing daughter was blessed with six fingers at birth! Six fingers… I remember among the remains we dug up earlier…”
“One skeleton had six fingers!”
Qin Wan quickly finished the sentence, then her brows knotted tightly together, “So, Second Aunt and her daughter both ended up in the Qin manor? Did Second Aunt throw herself into the well because she discovered what happened to her daughter?”