It was past Chen Hour (7-9 AM) when Qin Wan, dressed in men’s clothing, arrived with Yan Chi at the Meng mansion, entering through the side door as before.
On this winter morning, the Meng mansion was shrouded in a cold, desolate atmosphere. Qin Wan wore a deep blue cloak with a hood covering her head—a disguise that effectively concealed her identity.
Following the corridor deeper inside, they soon saw Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang coming toward them.
Qin Wan removed her hood and curtsied. Yan Chi had already asked, “How is it?”
Zheng Baishi hurriedly said, “The Meng family members have been kept away. Ninth Young Lady can proceed.”
Yan Chi glanced back at Qin Wan, and together they followed Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang to the scene.
As they walked, Yan Chi explained, “Meng Wei hanged himself. He was found hanging from an ancient willow tree by the inner lake, less than ten paces from where Meng Jin’s body was discovered.”
Qin Wan frowned. Hanging? Meng Wei had died by hanging?
Zheng Baishi continued, “When he was discovered, the body was already cold. The household was in chaos and rushed to notify the officials. Coincidentally, Zhan Yang and I were heading to the Meng mansion at that time, so when we heard, we came immediately.”
As they spoke, the group neared the inner lake. From a distance, they could see more than ten guards in black clothing stationed around the area, and further away, yamen runners were keeping the Meng household servants at bay. Qin Wan glanced over and saw Meng Zhou, Meng Hui, and others present. She lowered her eyes and continued following Yan Chi’s group to the lakeside.
Qin Wan had visited the lakeside multiple times, including her investigation there yesterday, so she immediately recognized the surroundings. Within view, closest to the lake stood a century-old willow tree. Its trunk was gnarled, thick enough that two people couldn’t encircle it with their arms. Now in deep winter, the ancient tree showed no green, only twisted branches stretching chaotically in all directions. Currently, a common hemp rope hung from one of the thick horizontal branches, and near the railing on the ground, Meng Wei’s body had been laid aside after being taken down.
Qin Wan first went to examine Meng Wei’s body. He wore a dark blue robe, identical to what she had seen yesterday. His clothes were perfectly neat, his eyes tightly closed, but his cheeks and exposed wrists showed bruising. His face was pale and bluish, his lips purple, and at his collar was a deep purple-black bruise.
Qin Wan first pulled back Meng Wei’s collar to look, then frowned.
Zheng Baishi hurriedly asked, “Ninth Young Lady, what’s wrong?”
Qin Wan didn’t answer immediately, instead asking, “How did he get these injuries?”
Zheng Baishi gave a bitter smile, “Not just what you can see—there’s more on his body. They’re from yesterday’s family punishment.”
Qin Wan naturally remembered yesterday’s scene when Meng Zhou wanted to administer family punishment, and how Meng Wei had quarreled violently with Meng Hui in protest. She frowned, then said decisively, “Looking at the rope marks, it does appear to be suicide by hanging, but we need a detailed examination to be sure. Move him to the side hall where Meng Jin is kept—I need to examine him thoroughly.”
Zheng Baishi nodded and quickly called Zhan Yang to move the body. Qin Wan stood up to make way, then looked back at the rope on the ancient willow tree before lowering her gaze to the mud beneath.
Her eyebrows raised, and she quickly walked over.
The ancient willow was so close to the lake that exposed mud showed around its roots. Currently, the footprints in the mud were somewhat chaotic, but upon careful examination, one could see that some of the prints belonged to a single person.
Seeing Qin Wan examining the footprints, Yan Chi came over and said, “Only the prints in the middle are Meng Wei’s—the others belong to different people. A cleaning maid discovered Meng Wei this morning. She didn’t dare touch anything at first and went to report to Meng Zhou. When Meng Zhou arrived, they found only one person’s footprints in the mud below—prints going toward the tree but none coming back. That’s why they’re saying it was suicide.”
Zheng Baishi also came forward, “After the snow melted these past few days, this patch of mud hasn’t dried, so footprints are still clearly visible. When we arrived, Meng Wei had already been taken down.”
Only footprints leading to the tree, none returning—on the surface, it did appear that Meng Wei had taken his own life in despair. Qin Wan nodded, “I’ll examine the body first.”
Yan Chi said, “I’ll accompany you.”
After giving some instructions to Zheng Baishi, he went with Qin Wan to the side hall from before.
Guards stood at the entrance to the side hall and inside was completely silent. Entering the courtyard, they found the yamen runners had placed Meng Wei’s body on a long table inside the room, while Meng Jin’s body remained in the coffin.
With father and son’s bodies now in the same room, Qin Wan felt an inexplicable sense of tragedy. She walked to Meng Wei’s body, first examining his head, face, and ears for injuries before loosening his collar.
When the collar was opened, the marks on Meng Wei’s neck became particularly evident.
Yan Chi stepped forward, “You said earlier that the rope marks suggest suicide?”
Qin Wan nodded. Putting on protective gloves, she examined the marks on Meng Wei’s neck, “The rope mark is between the hyoid bone and the laryngeal cartilage. The deepest part of the mark is flat, while both sides angle upward. The depth of the injury—the point of greatest force—is deepest in the center and shallower on the sides. There’s no bleeding within the furrow of the injury, but there is bleeding at the upper and lower edges. Combined with the pale complexion and faint petechiae in the eye membranes, it does appear to be death by hanging.”
Then, Qin Wan moved to Meng Wei’s feet. She lifted his robe and found obvious post-mortem lividity on his calves and the tops of his feet. Qin Wan frowned slightly, “His cause of death was certainly strangulation, but whether it was suicide needs further examination.” With that, she unbuttoned Meng Wei’s chest and began a full body examination.
Yan Chi ordered Bai Feng to guard the door while he stayed with Qin Wan during the examination. As he watched her work, he said, “I had people investigate the internal affairs of the Meng family’s Four Branches. The First Branch’s Lady passed away long ago. The Second Branch’s Lady was Meng Jin’s second wife, which explains her apparent indifference. The Third Branch has had particularly bad fortune—the Third Master died of illness five years ago. He had two sons; the elder was exceptionally intelligent, and accomplished in both civil and military arts from a young age, but died of illness at twelve. Now only the second son, Meng Ziyi, remains. This Meng Ziyi has stuttered since childhood, and once injured his left arm falling from a horse. After the Third Master’s death, the Third Branch was left with just a widow and an orphan. The third Lady has a weak personality, and with Meng Ziyi chronically ill, the Third Branch exists in the Meng household almost as dependents, though fortunately, Meng Ziyi later found a wife.”
Yan Chi’s account matched what Meng Yao had told her, confirming she hadn’t lied. Qin Wan listened patiently while carefully examining Meng Wei’s injuries. Yan Chi continued, “As for the Fourth Branch, Meng Hui has long been suppressed by the Second Branch and harbors deep resentment. It’s true that he previously owned two shops—one closed down, and the other remains open but operates at a loss. Earlier, Meng Hui had sent people to cause trouble at several restaurants managed by the Second Branch, nearly bringing the matter to the officials.”
Qin Wan listened and asked, “If it’s not about fighting over family property, what else do you think it could be?”
Yan Chi replied, “The Second Lady’s position is quite peculiar. She’s been married to the Meng family for ten years but hasn’t borne any children, and she’s had a poor relationship with Meng Jin from the start. So I had people investigate her background, and sure enough, they found something.”
Qin Wan’s hands paused as she turned to look at Yan Chi, “What did they find?”
“This Second Lady was the daughter of a wealthy gentleman from Luo Prefecture. She had been previously betrothed, but when she married Meng Jin, it was because her childhood sweetheart and fiancé suddenly died. The wealthy gentleman, seeing his daughter without a marriage prospect, and having business dealings with the Meng family—at the time, Meng Zhou was already a Fifth-Rank Outer Lang in the court, and the Meng family business was somewhat successful—thought marrying his daughter into an official’s family in the capital would be good, so he forced the marriage.”
Qin Wan frowned at Yan Chi’s words, “So the Second Lady has been pining for her dead fiancé all these years?”
“It’s not impossible, but this reason alone wouldn’t be enough for her to kill Meng Jin. Besides, she’s been married into the Meng family for so many years—even if Meng Jin was involved in what happened back then, why would she act only now?”
Qin Wan said, “What if she only recently learned the truth about what happened back then?”
Yan Chi’s lips curved slightly, “That’s why I’ve already sent people to investigate what happened back then. We’ll have to wait three days for news.”
Hearing this, a bright light appeared in Qin Wan’s eyes. They had worked well together in Jin Zhou, and now they were even more in sync. Luo Prefecture was the closest city to Lin’an City, but it still took more than a day to reach. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take three days for a round trip.
“Regarding Meng Jin’s death, the Second Lady is indeed a possibility. Looking at the reactions after Meng Jin’s death, she and Meng Hui from the Fourth Branch are the most suspicious in the entire Meng household.”
Speaking thus, Qin Wan frowned at Meng Wei’s injury-covered body. “He has dozens of injuries, large and small. Who administered the punishment yesterday?”
Yan Chi quickly replied, “Meng Zhou and Meng Hui.”
Qin Wan nodded, “Most of Meng Wei’s injuries are from clubs and rods, but there are also irregular bruises. We need to question them in detail and make a record—who struck which areas, as precisely as possible.” Then she added, “Please help me prepare some rice vinegar.”
Yan Chi nodded and walked to the courtyard entrance to give instructions. Meanwhile, Qin Wan straightened up with a frown.
When Yan Chi returned and saw Qin Wan’s grave expression, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qin Wan stared at Meng Wei’s face, “Do you think he’s the type to commit suicide?”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, “Doesn’t seem like it.” He continued, “I had people investigate Meng Wei’s character. He was born to Meng Jin’s first wife. Because his mother died early, when the Meng family’s Old Madam was alive, she particularly doted on him. Later, Meng Jin also deeply loved this son and even entrusted him with business matters. Meng Wei had an impulsive temperament and quick temper, often beating and scolding workers in his shops and behaving quite arrogantly outside. When Meng Jin died, he wanted to first cover up their deception, second, find that key, and third, truly seek justice for Meng Jin. Yesterday after receiving family punishment, though Meng Hui threatened to expel him from the Meng family, by evening he was still having people search for the key, showing he had no thoughts of suicide.”
“His close servants said he lay down all afternoon after the beating and had medicine applied to his injuries. By nightfall, he was still intent on finding the key and ordered people to search again. Late at night, when servants reported they hadn’t found it, he got dressed and said he would look himself. Originally two servants followed him, but they separated in the garden. The two servants searched around but couldn’t find him in the courtyard. When they returned to Meng Wei’s courtyard, he wasn’t there either. They were about to search for him when Meng Zhou sent someone to check on Meng Wei. The two servants tried to cover for him, claiming he was asleep. Then they didn’t dare wander around and waited in the courtyard for him, but waited all night without his return until he was found hanged this morning.”
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, “Suicidal thoughts either come from truly reaching a dead end, or from someone being habitually self-pitying, or from someone who’s been so spoiled from childhood that they’re fragile and can’t handle sudden setbacks. But I saw him arguing forcefully in court yesterday—he didn’t seem unable to bear his father’s death. As for being expelled, he probably knew Lord Meng wouldn’t do that.”
Qin Wan finished speaking and exchanged glances with Yan Chi, “But if Meng Wei was murdered, who killed him?”
With Meng Jin, the Second Lady might have been the killer, but what about Meng Wei?
Even if there were hidden circumstances about the marriage, would the Second Lady consider Meng Wei an enemy too?
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, “From what I know, the Second Lady has lived alone in her courtyard all these years. Though Meng Wei didn’t treat her as a mother, he never did anything seriously disrespectful and still called her ‘Lady’ in front of others.”
Qin Wan frowned deeply, “If Meng Jin was murdered, there must be some crucial interests at stake.”
Just then, Bai Feng entered the courtyard with the rice vinegar, “Master, Ninth Young Lady, the rice vinegar is ready.”
Qin Wan hurried forward to take it, then went to Meng Wei’s side and carefully applied the vinegar to his body. “Meng Wei’s injuries are too numerous and chaotic, mostly bruises. In such circumstances, deeper bruises might not be visible. Applying vinegar will help reveal any injuries we haven’t noticed, then we can compare them with Lord Meng and Meng Hui’s accounts to determine which injuries came later.”
This was naturally Qin Wan’s expertise. Just as she finished applying the vinegar, suddenly Zheng Baishi hurried into the courtyard with Zhan Yang, “Your Highness, Ninth Young Lady, Lord Meng demands to see the examination. We’ve held him back for a long while, but we can’t stop him anymore.”
Zheng Baishi added, “Ninth Young Lady is dressed as a man today—should we let them in?”
Qin Wan frowned, and Yan Chi glanced at her, “Did Miss Meng visit the Marquis’s mansion yesterday?”
Qin Wan nodded; this was exactly what worried her.
Yan Chi took a deep breath, “You continue the examination here with Bai Feng’s help. I’ll go outside.”
He left with Zheng Baishi and Zhan Yang, closing the door behind them.
As soon as the door closed, Meng Zhou arrived with Meng Hui and others.
Yan Chi’s phoenix eyes narrowed, his voice turning cold, “Lord Meng is an imperial official, yet with consecutive deaths in your household, you don’t even know how to cooperate with official investigations?”
Yan Chi wore an imposing black formal robe, his expression stern and his tone frigid and intimidating. Meng Zhou’s heart skipped a beat.
Seeing Yan Chi present, though Meng Zhou was anxious, he had to contain himself. He said sorrowfully, “Your Highness, it’s not that this official doesn’t respect the rules, it’s just… we never imagined Meng Wei would hang himself. This morning before we could properly examine Meng Wei, the officials cordoned him off. It’s been half a day—surely we deserve some explanation of what happened.”
He continued, “This official recalls that yamen examinations aren’t secret affairs—having witnesses present helps ensure fairness. Your Highness, though Meng Wei did wrong, we still watched him grow up. His sudden death, we…”
As Meng Zhou spoke sadly, Yan Chi raised his chin slightly, “Meng Wei’s death is no ordinary matter, and everyone in the Meng household is suspect. How could we let you all crowd around to watch?”
Meng Zhou was startled, “Your Highness means… Meng Wei was murdered?”
Yan Chi stood immovable before the door—though alone, he had the presence of one man holding off ten thousand. His gaze quickly swept over the group, noting that while Meng Hui looked surprised, he showed no panic.
“Whether it was murder has yet to be determined. Now, I must ask you: yesterday when you administered family punishment to Meng Wei, how exactly did you do it? What implements did you use? Where did you strike him?”
Hearing this, Meng Zhou’s expression changed, and Meng Hui’s eyes widened, “Your Highness, we just beat him with rods according to family law. We didn’t do anything else to him.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, looking Meng Hui up and down, when suddenly he noticed the bruising on Meng Hui’s hand. His voice turned cold, “How did you get those bruises on your hands?”