After lunch, feeling soreness in her back, Qin Wan took a short rest in the afternoon. However, this brief rest turned into a full hour, and when she awoke, it was already dusk. As she had predicted, small snowflakes were falling quietly from the sky.
Fu Ling stoked the floor heating system and lit a brazier in the room. Thus, the interior was as warm as spring, while Qin Wan sat by the half-opened window, watching the snow particles falling like white sand outside.
“Young Miss, be careful not to catch a cold…”
Fu Ling advised, but Qin Wan shook her head with a smile. “It’s fine. The room is so warm with the brazier lit, it’s good to let in some fresh air.” She changed her position to sit sideways. “This snowy weather is perfect for gathering around the brazier and brewing tea.”
Fu Ling smiled, “If Young Miss wishes, that would be nice, but tomorrow is New Year’s, shouldn’t Young Miss be thinking about that instead?”
“New Year’s…” Qin Wan murmured, her eyes dimming slightly. New Year’s Eve was a time for family reunions, with every household in Lin’an City gathering together, but she…
Seeing Qin Wan’s expression, Fu Ling knew what she was thinking. “Young Miss Misses Master and Madam?”
Qin Wan sighed, her eyes downcast. Fu Ling continued, “Of course, you’ll miss Master and Madam during New Year’s. Although it’s been seven years, and this servant can barely remember Master and Madam’s faces now, this servant knows they were the best masters in the world. Not just Master and Madam, but Young Miss is also the best master in the world. It’s this servant’s blessing to serve Young Miss. Young Miss, tomorrow let’s ask First Madam for some spirit money to make offerings to Master and Madam in the courtyard.”
Qin Wan’s lips curved slightly. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness. All right.”
Just as she finished speaking, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Both Qin Wan and Fu Ling were startled. Bai Ying hurried toward the entrance, and soon, Qin Yan’s voice could be heard. Shortly after, Qin Yan appeared at the doorway.
“Ninth Sister, come with me to the main courtyard.”
Qin Yan spoke while entering. Qin Wan rose from the couch. “What’s the matter?”
Qin Yan wasn’t wearing a cloak and brought in a chill as he entered. “Minister Zheng has come.”
Qin Wan was slightly surprised. “Has there been progress with the case?”
Qin Yan nodded. Seeing this, Qin Wan immediately looked at Fu Ling. “Bring my cloak.”
Fu Ling quickly draped the cloak over Qin Wan and then found an umbrella. Leaving Bai Ying to wait in the courtyard, Fu Ling held the umbrella and accompanied Qin Wan as they left. Qin Yan walked beside Qin Wan, completely unfazed by the flying snow, and said, “Earlier we only knew you had returned, but at that time people from the palace were here and we couldn’t get away. I went to the yamen again in the afternoon. Were you alright when His Highness brought you back today?”
Qin Wan thought of Yan Chi again. “Everything was fine. His Highness took me on a detour to shake off Prince Cheng’s men.”
Qin Yan nodded. “At noon, someone came from the palace with rewards from the Empress. Tomorrow, Mother will probably send some things to your place. She said several pieces of jewelry would suit you well.”
Qin Wan hurriedly said, “That’s not necessary. Uncle’s wife has already bought many things before.”
Qin Yan smiled. “It’s New Year’s. Just accept whatever you’re given. Others will receive gifts too.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan said nothing more. Qin Yan continued, “Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, but Father and Mother need to go to the palace for a while. We’ll stay at the manor and wait for them to return before having dinner. Ninth Sister, how did you spend New Year’s in Jinzhou?”
Qin Wan smiled bitterly at the question. How else could the Ninth Miss have spent it?
“Just the usual way. Won’t Third Brother go to the palace?”
Qin Yan sighed slightly. “Tomorrow night’s ceremony has many formalities. I don’t want to go, but the palace servants will come tomorrow morning with the feast invitation. We’ll see then…”
Qin Wan suddenly understood—the palace servants who came at noon had nothing to do with the New Year’s banquet.
As the siblings talked, they soon arrived at the study in the main courtyard. Qin Yan quickened his pace to open the door. Fu Ling remained outside while Qin Wan followed Qin Yan in. Upon entering, they saw both Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang inside.
Zheng Baishi had already recognized Qin Wan as a woman, but Zhan Yang hadn’t. When Qin Wan entered, Zheng Baishi’s smile deepened, while Zhan Yang stared at Qin Wan for a moment before his eyes suddenly widened in shock, frozen like a wooden chicken.
“Uncle, Minister Zheng,” Qin Wan curtsied, then looked at Zhan Yang. “Captain Zhan.”
Qin Shu nodded and gestured to a nearby chair for Qin Wan to sit. Meanwhile, Zhan Yang continued to stare at Qin Wan in disbelief, seemingly unable to accept that she was the young man who had helped them examine the corpses that day.
Qin Shu noticed Zhan Yang’s reaction and looked at him with amusement. Zheng Baishi also glanced at Zhan Yang several times before laughing heartily. “Marquis, you may not know, but Zhan Yang has followed me for many years, and this is the first time I’ve seen him lose his composure. You’ve seen him several times before, and he’s never been like this…”
Qin Shu smiled. “It seems he’s been startled by Wan’er.”
At their words, Zhan Yang finally managed to regain his senses with great effort, moving his lips but unable to speak.
That day when he learned an outsider would examine the corpses, he had harbored some doubts. Later, when clues were indeed found, he had only felt admiration for the seemingly frail Qin Wan. When Zheng Baishi brought him today, he only said they were looking for the person who had helped them that day, not to mention they were looking for the Qin family’s young lady. How could he have imagined that the person who had calmly examined and dissected corpses that day was a woman?!
“This… this subordinate indeed hadn’t expected this.”
After a long while, Zhan Yang finally managed to speak, and the room erupted in hearty laughter.
Zheng Baishi said, “I’ve told you many times not to focus all your attention on yamen matters. Now, you couldn’t even tell Ninth Miss was a woman from her appearance. Have you ever seen such a handsome young man?”
Zhan Yang’s usually serious face showed signs of hesitation and difficulty expressing himself. When he had first seen Qin Wan, he hadn’t thought she was particularly good-looking, but thinking about it now, Qin Wan in male attire had indeed been more handsome than other young masters.
“Brother Zheng, stop teasing him. Captain Zhan is your right-hand man. If he were the type to notice such things, I’m afraid you’d be in trouble…” Qin Shu smiled, rescuing Zhan Yang from his predicament. Hearing this, Zhan Yang’s expression became solemn, and he gripped the long sword at his waist, posing like a warrior statue.
Zheng Baishi chuckled. “That’s true indeed.”
Then, Zheng Baishi’s expression turned serious. “Ninth Miss, I came today to tell you that based on the clues you found from today’s corpse examination, Captain Zhan led his men to search around the West Market during the day. During this search, they indeed found a small restaurant. The restaurant owner recognized the deceased and said she had eaten a bowl of fish soup there at noon that day. Moreover, she had gotten a fishbone stuck in her throat halfway through the meal, causing quite a commotion. Because of this incident, the owner had a particularly strong impression of her. The restaurant owner also said the deceased was in an extremely good mood that day, and despite the choking incident, she was very understanding and didn’t make a fuss. The owner wanted to waive the meal charge, but she still paid in full. Additionally, the restaurant owner handed over a sachet, saying it was left behind by the deceased.”
Qin Wan was slightly surprised. “A sachet?”
Zheng Baishi nodded. “Indeed, a sachet containing several copper coins.”
Qin Wan nodded but didn’t ask further for the moment. Zheng Baishi surely hadn’t come just to report on the search process and results; he must have had some questions that needed her help to resolve…
Sure enough, Zheng Baishi soon continued, “However, the owner doesn’t know where the deceased went afterward. We searched around the restaurant for a long time but found no other traces.”
Qin Wan frowned. This meant they still hadn’t found any strong evidence related to the killer.
“So what Minister Zheng means is…”
Zheng Baishi sighed. “So we came to ask Miss to help us think of other directions we could investigate.”
Qin Wan’s brows furrowed slightly. “From that day’s examination, we could only determine that the killer’s mind is unusual. Also, we know the killer’s hiding place likely has stairs, and then there’s where the third victim appeared before her death.” As she spoke, Qin Wan suddenly remembered something. “Oh right, did you search the areas His Highness circled that day?”
Qin Wan looked toward Zhan Yang as she spoke. Meeting her gaze, Zhan Yang immediately straightened his back. “We did. His Highness suggested that since the killer is familiar with the terrain in different directions, they must be located at the center of these areas. This way, they wouldn’t need to traverse the entire Imperial City when disposing of bodies at night. We went to the central area His Highness circled today, but after asking around, no one remembered the victim. As for the stairs Miss mentioned, we checked that too. That area is a very busy part of the South City, with several streets of two-story shops. We questioned everyone today, but no one remembered the victim or showed any suspicious behavior…”
Hearing this, Qin Wan’s heart sank. Suddenly, she asked, “Where is that sachet?”
At this question, Zheng Baishi turned and exchanged glances with Zhan Yang. Both showed somewhat troubled expressions. Zheng Baishi spread his hands, “That sachet only contained a few copper coins. We left it at the yamen after returning today, and didn’t bring it with us.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan frowned. “I was wondering if there might be some traces left on the sachet…”
Hearing this, Zheng Baishi became energetic. “In that case, let’s have Zhan Yang go back to get it. Miss Qin is very detail-oriented; perhaps you’ll notice something we missed…”
Upon hearing this, Zhan Yang immediately responded, bowing to Qin Shu and the others before leaving.
He moved so quickly that Qin Wan barely had time to react. However, thinking that there might indeed be clues on the sachet, she let it be. “The third victim’s clothes disappeared. Although the sachet may not necessarily have traces of the killer, it’s worth examining. I just feel bad troubling Captain Zhan with this trip.”
Zheng Baishi waved his hand. “It’s no trouble at all. He’s used to coming and going in wind and rain. Besides, this case has dragged on for so long, and he’s the type who can’t eat or sleep when working on a case. We should thank Miss Qin.”
Qin Wan repeatedly said, “I dare not.” Zheng Baishi then smiled and asked her, “Miss Qin learned to examine corpses because of your medical skills, but weren’t you scared the first time? Other young ladies wouldn’t even dare to look at dead bodies.”
Hearing this, Qin Shu laughed. “Brother Zheng, I asked her the same question.”
Zheng Baishi raised an eyebrow. “Oh? How did Miss Qin answer?”
Qin Shu laughed heartily, glancing at Qin Wan. “She told me a Buddhist verse… ‘Bodhi is not a tree, nor the mind a mirror bright.’ Brother Zheng, think about what that means…”
Hearing this, Zheng Baishi was first stunned, and then his eyes lit up brilliantly. “Bodhi is not a tree, nor the mind a mirror bright… Excellent, excellent! What a profound verse! Miss Qin, at such a young age you’ve understood such deep Buddhist philosophy! No wonder you didn’t flinch at seeing corpses that day and even dared to request an autopsy…”
After speaking, Zheng Baishi looked at Qin Wan with admiration. “Miss Qin may not know, but after seeing you perform the autopsy that day, Master Fang expressed many regrets after you left. He only regretted that you weren’t born male; otherwise, you would surely become a great official in criminal investigations. He’s been a coroner for many years, yet he felt you surpassed him.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan smiled faintly. “I merely rely on my medical training. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to Master Fang.”
“Don’t be so modest.” Zheng Baishi waved his hand, his tone both sighing and reminiscent. “Do you know you remind me of someone?”
Qin Wan’s heart instinctively tightened. “Remind you of someone?”
Zheng Baishi moved his lips, appearing hesitant to speak. Seeing this, Qin Shu lightly coughed. Zheng Baishi glanced at Qin Shu and changed the subject. “I’m reminded of an old friend. This friend of mine also showed extraordinary talent in forensics at a young age, and coincidentally, he also had medical skills. Though not comparable to great physicians, he integrated medical knowledge into his forensic work…”
Qin Wan’s back stiffened slightly, her faint smile almost faltering under Zheng Baishi’s gaze. Zheng Baishi didn’t wait for her response and continued, “When I first met him, I was truly amazed.”
After a while, Qin Wan finally managed to speak past the lump in her throat. “Then… why not ask for his help now?”
Zheng Baishi sighed, smiling bitterly for a moment. “Later, he… he passed away. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be struggling like this now… Ah…”
Qin Wan’s heart pounded like thunder. Looking at the regret in Zheng Baishi’s expression, she was certain he was speaking of her father. Zheng Baishi’s tone carried extreme admiration and deep regret about her father’s death. Could this mean he also believed her father was wronged? Moreover, did he know the inside story?
Qin Wan suddenly felt a surge of emotion and quickly asked, “Passed away? How did he pass away?”
Zheng Baishi smiled bitterly again and exchanged glances with Qin Shu, seemingly unwilling to continue this topic. He waved his hand, “It’s an old story, let’s not speak of it, let’s not speak of it…”
Qin Wan felt a wave of disappointment, but before she could say more, Zheng Baishi asked about how she learned medicine. Qin Wan worked hard to control her tone and expression, explaining according to her previous account. Thus, the conversation drifted further and further from what she wanted to say and ask. Two-quarters of an hour later, Zhan Yang returned through the snow!
As soon as he entered, Qin Wan keenly noticed something was wrong with his expression. The next moment, she saw Zhan Yang say with a grave face, “Minister, Marquis, Miss Qin… that sachet… it’s gone!”
Zheng Baishi frowned. “Gone? Wasn’t it in the evidence storage hall?”
Zhan Yang’s expression was extremely serious. “This subordinate clearly remembers placing it there, but when I went back to look just now, it had vanished… This subordinate searched the entire hall…”
Qin Wan looked at Zhan Yang’s expression and suddenly narrowed her eyes. “If I remember correctly, that young lady’s clothes were also missing, and now this sachet has vanished into thin air…”
As her words fell, everyone in the room’s expressions changed.