“My Lords, Father, I have a solution to break this deadlock—” As soon as Qin Yan spoke, he immediately drew everyone’s attention. Zheng Baishi urgently asked, “What solution does the Young Lord have?”
Zheng Baishi and Qin Shu were of similar age. With his broad features and refined scholarly appearance, he was the very picture of a civil official. Today he wore plain cyan casual attire to visit the Marquis’s residence, which made him appear even more dignified and steady. Though his question carried a hint of anxiety, clearly troubled by this case. Meanwhile, Li Muyun remained silent beside him, yet his eyes remained fixed unwavering on Qin Yan.
Compared to the refined Zheng Baishi, Li Muyun’s expression carried a touch of aloofness that kept others at a distance. He was several years younger than Zheng Baishi and Qin Shu, yet carried himself with a certain weathered maturity. His frame was as slender as bamboo, with narrow eyes that flashed with intelligence. He sat straight-backed with perfect posture, somehow carrying an air of bookish rigidity.
While Zheng Baishi and Li Muyun watched Qin Yan, Qin Shu’s attention was even more focused, though his eyes held questions. He knew his son well and was familiar with Qin Yan’s associates – so how had he not known of this solution?
With all three elders watching him, Qin Yan’s expression grew serious as he asked, “Magistrate, are the bodies of the deceased still available?”
Zheng Baishi nodded, “Of course they are. The case remains unsolved, so the bodies haven’t been released to their families yet.”
Qin Yan’s lips tightened slightly, “Then who was the coroner who examined the bodies after the incident?”
Zheng Baishi was even more surprised at this question, “The coroner… it was Old Master Fang from the magistrate’s office. He’s been Linan City’s coroner for many years. Why, Young Lord, do you suspect there were oversights in his examination?”
Qin Yan shook his head, “Not at all. It’s just that… I know someone who has a keen interest in criminal justice and investigation. As you mentioned earlier, they’re meticulous in unraveling details, often seeing things others miss. They’ve even helped investigate several murder cases elsewhere. However, this person currently holds no official position – I’m not sure if they can get involved in this matter.”
“Oh? Who is this person? If they’re truly as you describe, what does it matter that they hold no position? The Linan Magistrate’s office is short of two minor officials. If the Young Lord vouches for them, they can join the magistrate’s office directly, starting as a minor official. If they prove capable, I certainly won’t treat them poorly.” Zheng Baishi was quite generous.
Li Muyun, who had been listening, interjected, “But Young Lord if neither Magistrate Zheng nor the constables can solve it, could your friend be more capable than the official investigators?”
The magistrate oversees civil administration within the prefecture, while ordinary murder cases are usually investigated by the constabulary chief personally. The person Qin Yan spoke of held no official position – even if they had helped investigate cases before, could they match the experience of official investigators?
At this question, Qin Yan hesitated momentarily. Seeing his expression, Zheng Baishi understood that Qin Yan wasn’t entirely confident either. However, given the urgent situation, Zheng Baishi still asked hopefully, “Who is this friend of yours, Young Lord?”
At this second inquiry, Qin Yan’s expression grew more uncertain, “My Lord, to be honest, this person isn’t primarily skilled at investigating cases… but… her medical skills are exceptional, and she has helped examine bodies before. Due to her medical training, her autopsy techniques are far more precise and thorough than ordinary coroners. Combined with her intelligence, she often discovers crucial details.”
By the time Qin Yan was halfway through speaking, Qin Shu’s expression had changed somewhat, though he didn’t interrupt.
After a pause, Qin Yan continued, “I only suggested this because I saw that neither the Magistrate nor Lord Li had any solutions. I’m not certain whether she can help or not.”
Zheng Baishi and Li Muyun exchanged glances. Zheng Baishi sighed, “Since you speak of them this way, you must have some confidence in their abilities. You mentioned they’re particularly skilled at examining bodies – do you want them to conduct another examination?”
Qin Yan nodded, “Exactly. If she could examine the bodies, she might discover something previously overlooked.”
Zheng Baishi hesitated slightly, looking at Li Muyun, “Old Master Fang is quite experienced at examining bodies…”
Li Muyun nodded, “Indeed, after all these years of experience.”
After a pause, Li Muyun looked at Qin Yan, “However, there’s no harm in trying.”
Zheng Baishi’s lips curved slightly, “Where is this friend of yours, Young Lord? Can we contact them now?”
Qin Yan’s eyes shifted slightly, “My friend is currently… in the capital, but she’s not affiliated with any judicial office. Given how significant this case is, I’m not sure if she’s willing to help…”
“Don’t worry about that, Young Lord. We’re merely hoping to try another approach. Even if it doesn’t work out, we won’t hold it against her.”
Zheng Baishi spoke gently, and Qin Yan trusted this magistrate, so he said, “Then… allow me to send someone to ask her. If she agrees, I’ll send word to your residence.” He added, “However… there’s one thing I must ask for your understanding, My Lord. My friend’s identity is special – if she agrees, the examination must be conducted discreetly.”
Zheng Baishi smiled immediately, “I understand, I understand. She’s not an official, so I won’t make any grand arrangements.”
Qin Yan sighed in relief, “Good, I’ll send someone to find her shortly and give you an answer tomorrow morning.”
Zheng Baishi nodded. By now it was getting late, and though he was anxious, he wouldn’t insist on finding someone to examine the bodies tonight. Moreover… he appreciated Qin Yan’s enthusiasm and couldn’t refuse. If someone else had suddenly suggested bringing in an outsider to help with the examination, he probably wouldn’t have agreed. The constables and coroners in the magistrate’s office were highly experienced, far beyond ordinary people, and while Qin Yan mentioned his friend’s medical skills, medical expertise was different from forensic examination.
The more Zheng Baishi thought about it, the less he expected, though Qin Yan’s suggestion had sparked a thought – could something have been missed during the initial examination? With this in mind, Zheng Baishi decided to take his leave, “It’s getting late, we won’t stay longer. With the New Year approaching, this is the only matter causing concern. The Crown Prince’s arrangements in the south – the Marquis is already aware of those, so we needn’t worry about that situation.”
Qin Shu hurried to say, “Don’t worry about that. Let’s just focus on resolving this matter.”
Zheng Baishi stood and cupped his hands, “I need to return to the office, so I’ll take my leave. Lord Li?”
Li Muyun also stood, “I’ll be going as well. I’ll visit another day.”
Qin Shu exchanged a few more pleasantries with them before personally escorting them to the side gate of the mansion. After they left, Qin Shu took Qin Yan back to the study. As soon as they entered, Qin Shu asked, “Who were you talking about earlier?”
“Father, it was Ninth Sister—”
Qin Shu sat down, his brows already furrowed, “How absurd! Your Ninth Sister has just arrived in the capital. It’s one thing to say she has medical skills and can help people, but how can you suggest letting her examine bodies at the magistrate’s office?”
Qin Yan smiled bitterly, “I couldn’t help myself, seeing how this case had no solution.”
He continued, “Father, Ninth Sister is truly exceptional in this field. I’ve seen her examine bodies myself.”
“So what?” Qin Shu sighed, “Was this in Yuan Prefecture or Yu Prefecture?”
“She didn’t handle it directly in Yuan Prefecture, but she knew exactly what to look for. In Yu Prefecture, she performed the examination herself.”
Qin Yan replied irritably, “That was only because there was no experienced coroner available then. But now, as Magistrate Zheng said, they have an experienced coroner. She only knows medicine – how can she compare to those veteran coroners?”
“It’s not just medicine, Father. Ninth Sister is also very interested in criminal investigation and judgment!”
“Can she be better than the official investigators?”
Qin Yan’s lips moved, but he couldn’t respond. Qin Shu had a point, but somehow, while Qin Yan felt protective of Qin Wan and didn’t want her involved in such matters, he also inexplicably believed in her unique abilities. Given the current urgent situation, he had instinctively felt that Qin Wan could solve this predicament, which was why he had suggested her.
Seeing Qin Yan’s expression, Qin Shu shook his head, “You’re still too impulsive. I didn’t realize at first who you meant, and by the time I figured it out, it was too late to stop you.”
Qin Yan smiled wryly, “Then Father, should we still let Ninth Sister go?”
Qin Shu pondered briefly, “You’ve already spoken the words, so we can only approach this as a trial run. However, as you said, ask her opinion first. If she’s unwilling, we’ll let it be.”
“Ninth Sister will certainly agree—” Qin Yan answered decisively. Qin Shu gave him a suspicious look, “You’re that certain?”
Qin Yan nodded, feeling inexplicably excited. Although he hadn’t personally witnessed how Qin Wan helped Yan Chi and Wang Huaiyu investigate cases, from Qing Niang’s account, Qin Wan had indeed identified the crucial elements in the Qinghui Garden case. Moreover, at Yuan Mountain in Yuan Prefecture, Qin Wan not only knew what to look for during the autopsy but also deduced the killer’s route. Finally, it was Qin Wan who led people back to Baicao Garden to save Qin Xiang. Everything convinced Qin Yan of Qin Wan’s abilities – these were things he had witnessed firsthand. Besides, Qin Shuang had mentioned that Qin Wan had been helping Yan Chi investigate cases since their time in Jin Prefecture.
Qin Shu watched Qin Yan’s expression, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Qin Yan was his protégé. Though young, Qin Yan was skilled at judging people. If Qin Yan trusted Qin Wan, she must have exceptional abilities. Qin Shu knew about the events in Jin Prefecture and along their journey home, but after seeing Qin Wan, he couldn’t help but still view her as a young girl, his little niece. Additionally, since he hadn’t witnessed those events personally, he remained skeptical of Qin Wan’s abilities. Thinking this, Qin Shu suddenly felt curious – was Qin Wan that capable?
Ordinary young ladies would be frightened just seeing a dead body, let alone performing an autopsy. Now, Qin Wan would not only examine corpses but do so for the Linan Magistrate’s office. The fear and pressure she would face were imaginable—
After pondering for a moment, Qin Shu said, “Call your Ninth Sister here. I have something else to inform her about.”
Qin Yan nodded and hurried out of the outer study.
……
……
When Madam Hu returned from the outer study, Qin Wan and the others had almost finished their meal. Madam Hu didn’t know why Zheng Baishi and the others had come, and with matters weighing on her mind, she only ate a few bites. After dinner, tea and snacks were served as usual. Knowing the discussion in the outer study wouldn’t end quickly, Madam Hu prepared to chat over tea with Qin Zhaoyu and several young nieces. However, before they could say much, Qin Yan suddenly appeared—
“Yan’er? Where’s your father? And the two Lords?”
Qin Yan’s lips curved slightly, “The two Lords have left, Father is still in the study.”
He glanced at Qin Wan, “Father wants Ninth Sister to visit the outer study.”
Everyone immediately looked at Qin Wan, who stood up, somewhat surprised herself.
Qin Yan smiled, “It’s nothing serious. Father just said he has something to tell you.”
Qin Wan nodded, “Alright, I’ll go now.”
Qin Yan responded with an “Mm,” and then said, “Come with me.” He looked at Madam Hu, “Mother, I’ll escort Ninth Sister over.”
Madam Hu stepped forward, “Good, go on then—”
Qin Yan led Qin Wan away, with Fuling hurriedly following. As they left the main hall, before Qin Zhaoyu and the others could relax their furrowed brows, Qin Xiang asked, “What does Uncle want with Ninth Sister?”
Qin Zhaoyu’s brows remained tightly knitted, “Mother, who were the distinguished guests with Father?”
Madam Hu smiled, “It was Magistrate Zheng. Your father probably called Wan girl to give her the Second Branch’s property deeds.”
“The Second Branch’s deeds? Uncle and Aunt’s property deeds?”
Qin Shuang asked curiously. Madam Hu nodded, “Yes when your uncle and aunt passed away suddenly, your uncle managed some of the Second Branch’s house and property deeds.”
Qin Shuang responded with an “Oh,” “I see.”
Qin Zhaoyu’s expression was also relaxed. While there was much to say about Qin Wan, losing her parents certainly evoked sympathy. Seeing it was just about property deeds, Qin Zhaoyu sat back down to drink his tea.
Meanwhile, Qin Wan’s heart was beating rapidly as she followed behind Qin Yan.
Fuling had never mentioned anything about the Second Branch’s deeds. What did Uncle Shu want to discuss?
When she was sent away years ago, the Young Miss’s personality was presumably similar to before – unworldly and timid. Though Fuling followed the Young Miss and was concerned, she was still a servant. Since the Second and First Branches had split, how the Second Branch’s assets were arranged was indeed something Qin Wan should care about. However, she hadn’t fully assumed the identity of the Young Miss and naturally hadn’t thought to inquire about the property.
“Ninth Sister, what have you been doing these past few days?”
Seeing Qin Wan lowering her eyes in silence, Qin Yan took the initiative to ask.
Qin Wan looked up, “Nothing much, just reading books and making medicine pills.”
Qin Yan seemed about to speak but hesitated, then thought better of it and said, “Don’t be nervous, it’s nothing serious.”
Qin Wan nodded, following Qin Yan straight into the study’s courtyard. Night had fallen and winter’s chill was heavy. As soon as Qin Wan entered the courtyard, she saw the room brilliantly lit. She composed herself and followed Qin Yan inside.
“Father, Ninth Sister is here—”
Qin Yan turned as Qin Wan curtsied, “Greetings, Uncle.”
Qin Shu smiled warmly, “Isn’t it cold outside? Why aren’t you wearing a cloak?”
Qin Wan smiled, “Just walking within the mansion, it’s not cold.”
Qin Shu gestured to a nearby stool, “Sit down and let’s talk.”
As Qin Yan and Qin Wan sat down, Qin Shu spoke gently, “I should have told you this as soon as you returned, but I thought you might need time to adjust, so I planned to wait until you’d settled in. Now that you’ve been back for several days and presumably feel more at ease, I’ll give you some things.”
Speaking thus, Qin Yan took out a purple sandalwood box from the desk drawer. He patted the lid and said, “This contains the Second Branch’s assets left when your father passed away. They left suddenly, and you were young then. Fearing that unscrupulous servants might take advantage, I kept these things in trust. This arrangement was witnessed by other family elders at the time, so you needn’t worry. Now that you’re back, I’ll hand these over to your keeping.”
With that, Qin Yan pushed forward the box. “These properties are still managed by your father’s former stewards, who now oversee your father’s farms. Your father owned several shops, but after his passing, without a familiar master watching over them, they declined day by day. Later, I decided to sell them and convert them to farmland. The past few years’ rent has increased annually, all deposited in the Qingfeng Bank. You can withdraw the money with your father’s seal. Inside are the property deeds, house deeds, your father’s seal, and other items. Take the first, and with the New Year approaching, whenever you want to meet these stewards, just tell your Third Brother, and he’ll send someone to summon them to the mansion.”
Qin Wan naturally nodded. Qin Yan continued, “You don’t need to manage these properties yourself. The stewards are experienced. You just need to let them know you’re their master. When you marry in the future, these will be your dowry.”
Qin Wan seemed about to speak but hesitated. Hearing Qin Shu’s words, she knew these properties were quite valuable, and not being the real Young Miss, she felt quite guilty about accepting them. Seeing her hesitation, Qin Shu smiled, “If you’re worried about managing them, you can always ask me or your Third Brother for help. We’ll assist you. Your father was an upright man, and these properties aren’t excessive. When you marry, your aunt will need to add to your dowry. Even so, these are your father’s legacy and should rightfully be yours. Come, take them. Inside is also the verification document from the family elders, listing every property. You should check if all the deeds are complete—”
Both Qin Shu and Qin Yan watched Qin Wan. After a moment’s thought, Qin Wan steeled herself, walked to the desk, and accepted the box. It was heavy. Qin Shu smiled, “Open it and check—”
Qin Wan hurriedly said, “You’ve managed these for so many years, Uncle. There’s no need to check.”
Qin Shu smiled, “It’s good that you trust your uncle.” He paused, then added, “Your Third Brother tells me you know how to examine corpses?”
Qin Wan, who had been wondering how to handle the box, was startled by the sudden mention of “examining corpses.”
Qin Wan glanced at Qin Yan, then nodded, “Yes.”
Qin Shu’s smile deepened, “How did you learn to examine corpses?”
Qin Wan straightened her back, “Initially, I only knew medicine. Later, I happened to read a text about examining corpses and discovered it shared commonalities with medical practice. Sometimes, natural deaths are mistaken for murders, and coroners must determine if there was foul play. This requires an understanding of pathology. Other times, murders are disguised as natural deaths, requiring extensive medical knowledge to verify. This sparked my interest in forensic examination. After studying some books, I found it wasn’t particularly difficult.”
The words “wasn’t particularly difficult” made Qin Shu narrow his eyes. Examining corpses was certainly not simple, but for someone talented, it might indeed not be difficult. Qin Shu listened with growing interest, “What you say makes sense, but aren’t you afraid?”
Qin Wan pressed her lips together, “I was somewhat frightened at first, but then I realized dead people can’t move or harm anyone, so I stopped being afraid. As for supernatural concerns, burning purifying incense during examinations suffices.”
The light in Qin Shu’s eyes grew brighter. He finally believed some of what Qin Yan had said – what young lady could discuss examining corpses so calmly? Qin Yan asked, “You’re not afraid of blood and filth?”
Qin Wan paused briefly, “The Bodhi tree has no existence, the bright mirror has no stand.”
Qin Shu was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter, “Good! ‘The Bodhi has no tree, originally there is nothing, where can dust alight?’ You appear naturally composed, and your mindset is indeed transcendent. Fear in the heart is but an illusion – once you understand this, there’s truly nothing to fear. Wan’er, you’ve truly impressed your uncle.”
Qin Wan lowered her eyes, “I merely heard the Old Madam recite many Buddhist sutras in Jin Prefecture…”
This explanation made perfect sense to Qin Shu, who sighed inwardly, “Your Third Brother said your medical skills were extraordinary, which surprised me. Though your parents were interested in medicine, they didn’t achieve remarkable success in it. Now I see you’ve surpassed them through their early teachings, truly showing your exceptional talent.”
Not only was she gifted in medicine, but she had gained insight from just hearing the Old Madam’s Buddhist recitations in Jin Prefecture. Such wisdom wasn’t common among ordinary people. Besides being struck by Qin Wan’s beauty when he first met her, Qin Shu hadn’t had time to speak much with his three nieces. Today’s brief conversation made him see this niece in a new light.
This made what he needed to say next easier.
“Wan’er, since you’re not afraid of examining corpses, your uncle has a favor to ask.” Qin Shu spoke directly, “You’ve probably heard about the recent case in the capital. The Linan Magistrate has investigated for over a month without finding key clues. Tonight, hearing your Third Brother speak of your abilities, I thought to let you try. Would you be willing?”
Qin Wan’s heart stirred – so this was the real reason for summoning her.
Almost without hesitation, she nodded, “Of course I’m willing.”
Qin Shu was surprised again, “Have you thought it through? This case has serious implications.”
He quickly added, “If you go, you must try your best. It’s fine if you can help, and no matter if you can’t.”
Qin Wan nodded, “Don’t worry, Uncle. Since I’ve agreed, I won’t take it lightly.”
Qin Shu happily patted the desk, “Good! Truly worthy of being a daughter of the Qin family, a woman not inferior to any man. This needs some arrangement, but don’t worry, we won’t make a grand display of it. Wait for news – you’ll likely go tomorrow.” He added, “Your Third Brother and I will accompany you. Don’t be afraid.”
Qin Wan wasn’t afraid, to begin with, but still said, “Alright, Uncle, don’t worry.”
Qin Shu asked, “Do you need any preparations?”
Qin Wan thought briefly, “Just the usual tools coroners use at the magistrate’s office.”
Qin Shu nodded, “Good, then you can rest for tonight.”
Qin Wan curtsied and turned to leave. Qin Yan rose to escort her to the courtyard gate, saying softly, “Wait for my news.”
Qin Wan responded with an “Mm” before departing.
Qin Yan waited until Qin Wan was out of sight before hurrying back inside. As soon as he entered, he exclaimed excitedly, “Father, what did I tell you? Ninth Sister is different.”
The smile hadn’t left Qin Shu’s face – clearly, he was in an excellent mood. “This alone isn’t enough. Her mindset is admirable, but success requires more than that.”
Qin Yan lifted his chin, “Don’t worry, Father. She won’t disappoint you.”
Qin Shu nodded with a smile, “Quickly send someone to the magistrate’s office. Get the news as soon as possible and prepare early tomorrow.”
Qin Yan nodded vigorously before turning to leave and instructing Cheng Hu.
Meanwhile, Qin Wan carried the sandalwood box straight back to Songfeng Court.
Fuling looked at the box in Qin Wan’s hands and asked, “Young Miss, are these the old residence’s deeds?”
Qin Wan nodded, “All of Father’s assets are in here.”
Hearing this, Fuling’s eyes reddened, “Young Miss, it’s good that the Old Master gave these to you. Master’s spirit in heaven will surely rest easy now. Young Miss, with these, we won’t have to worry about the future.”
Qin Wan smiled wryly, her mind on how to handle these assets. She opened the box and, as Qin Shu had said, found a list of all properties under Qin Yi’s name, bearing the seals of the Qin family elders and Qin Shu. Glancing through it, she saw the thick stack of property deeds beneath.
Only then did Qin Wan realize Qin Shu’s earlier comment about the assets being modest was an understatement.
Her former family, the Shens – though Shen Yi rose from humble origins to high positions, they were only moderately wealthy. This was Qin Wan’s first time handling so many assets. The more she looked, the more conflicted she felt. The Qin family’s Second Branch had no one left, yet she had unexpectedly received all the Young Miss’s inheritance. Should she use it as her dowry as Qin Shu suggested?
Qin Wan shook her head. The box contained many deeds – though no shops, there were numerous house deeds. As she examined them one by one, her gaze suddenly fixed on one particular property deed.
Seeing Qin Wan lost in thought, Fuling read, “Copper Coin Lane in Changle Ward… Young Miss, do you like this property?”
Qin Wan frowned slightly, “Not particularly. I just wonder about this western property when Father’s other houses are in the south.”
Fuling tilted her head, “Changle Ward is where many noble families live. Though there might be fewer marquises and dukes, it’s full of officials’ residences. It must be quite good.”
Qin Wan nodded and glanced at the deed once more before turning to other documents.
“What are your plans, Young Miss? What did the Old Master say?”
“Uncle said these will be my future dowry.”
Fuling sighed in relief, “That’s wonderful! I’ve been wondering about your future, but I hadn’t expected the Old Master to be so fair.”
The Second Branch had no male heirs, and technically, all these assets belonged to the Qin family. If Qin Wan took them as her dowry, they would pass to another surname. Stories of brothers fighting over inheritance after deaths were common, but Qin Shu showed no greed in this matter. Though Qin Wan had no blood relation to Qin Shu’s family, after several days of interaction, her initial wariness had faded considerably. Hearing Fuling’s words, Qin Wan nodded.
“Uncle said to arrange a meeting with Father’s former stewards sometime.”
Fuling’s eyes brightened, “Yes, you must meet them! They need to know who their master is. If they’re loyal, Young Miss should cultivate good relationships with them. You’ll need your people in the future.”
Qin Wan didn’t reject this idea. She’d been in the capital for days but felt restricted in her movements. How could she investigate her father’s case without her network of people?
“Very well, we’ll arrange a meeting after the New Year.”
Thinking this, Qin Wan silently apologized to the real Young Miss. She had taken over the Young Miss’s body and received what should have been hers – the people and wealth. Though she wasn’t greedy for money, she would likely need these resources and people to investigate her father’s case. With this in mind, Qin Wan resolved to do better in the role of Young Miss, as repayment to her spirit. Besides, being in the Marquis’s household, the Young Miss would surely have wanted the family to prosper beyond just self-preservation. Therefore, she would need to handle tomorrow’s examination with particular care…
“Go prepare some purifying incense.”
Qin Wan suddenly instructed. Fuling and Bai Ying were startled, “Young Miss, what for?”
Qin Wan put away the sandalwood box and, after brief consideration, decided to be honest with Fuling and Bai Ying, “I’ll need it tomorrow.”
At these words, both Fuling and Bai Ying’s expressions changed.
Qin Wan spoke solemnly, “Uncle has asked for my help with the recent case in the capital.”
Fuling and Bai Ying hesitated to speak, their expressions uncertain. Qin Wan smiled, “Don’t worry, there’s no safety concern. If I could help Governor He in Jin Prefecture, I can certainly help Uncle here.”
Qin Wan knew this matter wasn’t under the Marquis’s jurisdiction and likely involved the Crown Prince. Though she had no intention of getting involved in court factions, since the Marquis’s household had made their choice, she could only follow their path.
“Young Miss, what time tomorrow? Where?”
Qin Wan shook her head, “Not yet known. We’ll get news tomorrow. Go prepare now.”
Fuling nodded and left. Bai Ying hesitated before saying, “Young Miss, the capital is different from elsewhere. If word gets out that you’re examining corpses, it might affect your reputation…”
“Don’t worry.” Qin Wan smiled, then suddenly asked, “Do you know when your master will return?”
Bai Ying shook her head, “This servant doesn’t know. I only send news to the master when something happens. Master doesn’t give me instructions. Master said you’re my proper master now.”
Qin Wan smiled, “Very well then. That’s all, prepare for bed.”
After saying this, Qin Wan gazed somewhat helplessly out the dark window. In just one day it would be New Year’s Eve. If Yan Chi didn’t return, where would he spend the New Year?
Qin Wan fell asleep with this thought, and sure enough, saw Yan Chi’s face in her dreams.
……
……
Deep in the night, in the study of Prince Cheng’s mansion, Prince Yan Qi was listening to his subordinate’s report.
“Your Highness, Magistrate Zheng, and Lord Li visited the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s mansion tonight. They left after half an hour. Lord Li returned to his residence, while Magistrate Zheng went to his office. About half an hour later, the Marquis’s mansion sent an attendant to the office, seemingly to report something. After staying for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the attendant returned to the mansion.”
In the dim light, Yan Qi’s face shifted between light and shadow, “They went to the Marquis’s mansion? Then the mansion sent someone to the office? Just one person? Did they carry anything?”
The attendant hurriedly shook his head, “No, just one person, possibly carrying a letter, but nothing else visible.”
Yan Qi snorted softly, “Regardless of what they carried, it must be about the murder case in the city. Tomorrow is the twenty-ninth of the last month. They only have two more days. I don’t believe they can produce any miracles.”
Lifting his chin, he asked, “What do our informants in the office say?”
The attendant immediately replied, “None of the leads went anywhere. Our people destroyed several pieces of evidence. They won’t find new clues. Even by the Lantern Festival, let alone New Year’s Eve, they might not solve it.”
Yan Qi laughed, “Excellent. Let’s at least drag this out until the Lantern Festival. I want to see what face our Crown Prince can show then!”
The attendant agreed, and Yan Qi continued languidly, “Just two days left. Though time is tight, we must watch closely. The Loyal and Brave Marquis isn’t to be underestimated – that old fox is quite crafty.”
He smiled again, “With the Crown Prince about to stumble, he’s probably more anxious than anyone. He’s bet his whole family on the Crown Prince now. Qin Zhaoyu wants to be the Crown Prince’s consort, so naturally, he’s going all out to advise the Crown Prince.”
At this thought, Yan Qi’s eyes darkened, “Keep a close watch on the Marquis’s mansion. Tonight’s comings and goings and sending someone to the office must hide something. It’s the last day – they won’t just let the Crown Prince face Father’s censure. That old fox will likely think of some way to delay or compromise.”
His expression shifted, “If it were me, I’d probably find a scapegoat.”
The attendant hesitated, “A scapegoat? Pretend to solve the case?”
Yan Qi nodded, “When the Duke of Wei’s young heir committed murder, the Duke paid to have a death row prisoner take the blame. They might try the same approach.”
The more Yan Qi thought about it, the more likely it seemed – this would be the best way to resolve the case within two days. “They’ll either find a death row prisoner or someone of unknown identity, fabricate some evidence, and casually close the case.”
“Then… what should we do? Have our informants in the office watch?”
Yan Qi grunted in agreement, “That’s one thing. Secondly, those watching the Marquis’s mansion mustn’t relax their vigilance. If they decide to do this, our office informants might not access the core of the matter. Tomorrow, report any movement from the Marquis’s mansion immediately. I want to see what role they play. If they take such a risk, perfect – we’ll catch them all at once. Let’s see what the Crown Prince can use to compete with me then…”
“Yes, understood.”
……
……
Early the next morning, just after Qin Wan finished breakfast, Qin Yan arrived as expected, bringing a bundle, “Change into these. We leave at the Hour of Si.”
Without looking at the bundle’s contents, Qin Wan asked in surprise, “So early?”
Qin Yan nodded, “It would be better at night, but we don’t have that much time. So, I prepared this for you.”
Qin Yan gestured for her to open the bundle.
Qin Wan opened it to find a set of moon-white men’s brocade robes.
She looked up at Qin Yan in surprise. He coughed lightly, “We’re going to the mortuary today. If you dress as a woman, it might draw attention. These were bought casually – try them on.”
Qin Wan nodded and went to the inner chamber.
Fuling and Bai Ying, knowing Qin Wan’s purpose, followed to help her change.
It was still early, so Qin Yan waited patiently outside. After a while, he heard footsteps approaching. He turned instinctively to look and was stunned.
Qin Wan’s male attire wasn’t particularly elaborate. The height and build were meant for a slender youth of sixteen or seventeen, yet somehow suited her perfectly. The loose-fitting robe concealed her graceful figure, though the waist appeared delicately slim – a “youth” with a waist one could encircle with their hands. Today, Qin Wan’s jet-black hair was tied high, revealing her delicate features completely. The usual gentle impression given by her shoulder-length hair was reduced, replaced by a touch of grace and vigor.
Qin Yan looked her up and down, finding this “youth” extraordinarily refined and beautiful. Especially those bright eyes, more doe-like and touching than ever. Qin Wan’s frame was considered delicate among men – usually, only delicate ladies inspired such protective instincts, but now, though dressed as a man, she still stirred one’s heart with a desire to cherish and protect her. Though they had meant to conceal her beauty somewhat, now the capital had gained another beautiful young gentleman.
Seeing Qin Yan’s changing expression, Qin Wan looked down at herself, “It fits well, doesn’t it? What’s wrong? Is something not right?”
Qin Yan sighed, “No, this will do. We’ll take a carriage.”
Qin Wan nodded. Qin Yan then turned to Fuling and Bai Ying, “Only one of you should come with us today. More would be inconvenient.”
Qin Wan didn’t object, though Fuling pouted. They waited a while, and as the Hour of Si approached, Qin Wan followed Qin Yan out the mansion gate and into the carriage, heading straight for the southern city mortuary.
Just as the carriage traveled about a hundred paces, at the street corner near the Marquis’s mansion, an inconspicuous short man turned and quickly disappeared into the cold winter morning wind.