Yan Che walked slowly toward the main hall of Shou Kang Palace. Tang Fu carefully spoke behind him, “Your Highness, are we letting them release that bird from the palace? No wonder my servants couldn’t find it after searching for so long—it turns out the Ninth Prince had caught it.”
Yan Che’s footsteps slowed, but he remained silent.
Tang Fu continued, “That bird has been in the Eastern Palace for so long. Your Highness, can you bear to let it go?”
Yan Che remained silent, though his eyes darkened somewhat.
He paused, then turned toward the side courtyard. However, this time, just as he reached the outer courtyard, he saw Mo Yi standing guard outside. He recognized Mo Yi as Qin Chao Yu’s maid. Just as he was about to ask why Mo Yi was there, her expression changed dramatically upon seeing him. Yan Che’s eyes immediately darkened—Mo Yi’s change in expression clearly showed she was standing guard for Qin Chao Yu.
He immediately made a gesture of silence. Mo Yi froze, unable to speak under Yan Che’s dark gaze.
While Mo Yi remained silent, Qin Chao Yu’s aggressive questioning could be heard from beyond the wall. Yan Che paused his steps, not immediately approaching the door.
“What’s wrong? Feeling guilty and afraid to face me?!”
Though Qin Chao Yu had lowered her voice somewhat, it remained particularly jarring. Yan Che raised an eyebrow—what guilt? What confrontation? Was Qin Chao Yu arguing with Qin Wan?
Yan Che’s questions were quickly answered when he heard about the warming tea. His expression rapidly darkened. He stepped toward the side door, his footsteps light enough that Qin Chao Yu didn’t notice. Her words became increasingly excessive, and when she finished, Qin Wan was the first to see him.
There was some irritation in Qin Wan’s eyes, but her expression remained calm when she saw him.
In that instant, Yan Che recalled the mocking expression on Qin Wan’s face that day at the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s mansion.
Qin Chao Yu had misunderstood—how could Qin Wan want to enter the Eastern Palace? She disdained the very idea!
Noticing the change in Qin Wan’s gaze, Qin Chao Yu turned around questioningly. When she saw Yan Che standing at the door with a dark expression, her heart suddenly skipped a beat…
“Crown… Crown Prince—”
Yan Che stared heavily at Qin Chao Yu, whose face turned from white to red.
They weren’t yet married, and he had witnessed her arguing with her sister over him. This shouldn’t have happened, but what she said was true! What did it matter if he heard? He needed to know she cared about these things!
Yan Che stared at Qin Chao Yu for several moments before suddenly turning to Qin Wan. “Princess Yong Ci, please take Little Nine back to the main hall.”
Qin Wan nodded at his words and led Yan Sui out. Qin Chao Yu raised her eyebrows but didn’t dare say anything.
After Qin Wan and Yan Sui left, only Qin Chao Yu and Yan Che remained in the vast side courtyard.
Yan Che looked at Qin Chao Yu. “How did you know about the warming tea?”
Qin Chao Yu pressed her lips together tightly. What did Yan Che mean by asking this? Did he think she was meddling?!
Qin Chao Yu raised her chin slightly. “When I went to see Your Highness that day, I smelled tea in your chambers. Later, when I went to the Empress Dowager’s chambers, I drank the same tea. I asked Ninth Sister, and she said this tea was only given to the Empress. If that’s the case, where did Your Highness get the tea? She was lying to me! She’s my sister, and I’ve always loved her, but she secretly sends tea to Your Highness and then deceives me about it. That’s why I’m angry.”
After Qin Chao Yu finished her righteous explanation, she saw Yan Che’s gaze was extremely complex.
“Since you didn’t witness it personally, what makes you think Princess Yong Ci sent me the tea?”
Qin Chao Yu felt a breath caught in her chest but couldn’t speak. Wasn’t it obvious? Only Qin Wan had access to the tea! The two stories didn’t match up, so naturally, Qin Wan must be lying. Qin Wan couldn’t be Crown Princess, yet she coveted the Eastern Palace position!
Though Qin Chao Yu didn’t speak, her expression revealed everything. Looking at her, Yan Che suddenly felt uncertain whether choosing such a Crown Princess was correct. He said to her, “I took the tea from Mother Empress. Mother doesn’t care for such things, so I took it to drink myself. It’s not what you imagined.”
Qin Chao Yu was stunned and then drew in a sharp breath. Given Yan Che’s tone, he wouldn’t lie to her, which meant she had misunderstood Qin Wan. At this thought, Qin Chao Yu’s face reddened. “I… I didn’t know…”
“Though you didn’t know the truth, you immediately concluded that Princess Yong Ci had ulterior motives. Eighth Miss, you are the future Crown Princess. If you treat your sister this way, how can I entrust the Eastern Palace’s inner court to you?”
Qin Chao Yu’s heart trembled—what did Yan Che mean?
However, Yan Che examined her for another moment. “Do you naturally dislike Princess Yong Ci and deliberately misunderstand her, or is your mind so narrow that you cannot distinguish right from wrong? If it’s the former, as an elder sister, you lack the generous and courteous heart needed between sisters. If it’s the latter, perhaps the position of Crown Princess doesn’t suit you.”
Qin Chao Yu felt as if she’d been slapped. She was the capital’s premier talented lady, always praised by others, yet Yan Che said she wasn’t fit to be Crown Princess?!
And of these two points Yan Che raised, even she didn’t know how to answer.
From the beginning, she couldn’t bring herself to like Qin Wan. Later, after testing her, she lowered her guard, but subsequent events made her feel unsettled again. As for having a narrow mind, she couldn’t maintain perfect composure no matter who was involved in such matters.
“Crown Prince, I… I just…”
Qin Chao Yu, usually so eloquent, now found herself speechless. Yan Che spoke severely, “If you’re not prepared to be Crown Princess, I can ask Father Emperor to withdraw the decree!”
“No! Crown Prince, I understand your meaning. I won’t do this again…”
Speaking thus, Qin Chao Yu smiled bitterly. “This time, I misunderstood Ninth Sister…”
Yan Che looked at Qin Chao Yu with dark eyes. “Previously, you were the Eighth Miss of the Marquis’s mansion, outstanding and dominant. But when you enter the Eastern Palace, you cannot act as willfully as you did in your maiden home. If you can’t understand your future position and responsibilities, it’s not too late for me to change Crown Princesses now.”
Qin Chao Yu felt as if her breath had been strangled. She never imagined Yan Che would say such things…
“I… I understand…”
Qin Chao Yu spoke these four broken words after a long while, bitter and grieved.
Seeing this, Yan Che turned to leave, but halfway through his turn, he looked back at Qin Chao Yu. “Put away that wronged expression. Don’t let the Empress Dowager and Mother Empress think someone has bullied you.”
After saying this, Yan Che strode away without another word.
Mo Yi dared to enter only after Yan Che left. As soon as she entered the side courtyard, she saw Qin Chao Yu about to collapse.
“Miss… Miss, are you alright?”
She hurried forward to support Qin Chao Yu, whose face was completely drained of color. Yan Che’s words and cold expression echoed in her heart. She never knew someone’s words could hurt her so much!
What unforgivable sin had she committed?!
Yet he had said such things—change Crown Princesses?! In what way was she unfit to be Crown Princess?!
Seeing Qin Chao Yu in such a state, Mo Yi felt heartbroken. “Miss, Miss, please stay strong. The Crown Prince’s words just now… were indeed excessive. Don’t take them to heart—we’re in Shou Kang Palace after all.”
Qin Chao Yu felt as if an iron block was lodged in her chest. The cruelest part was that Yan Che wouldn’t even allow her to feel wronged. Wasn’t Yan Che supposed to be a virtuous gentleman?! How could he be so heartless toward her?!
Qin Chao Yu gritted her teeth and stood straight. She raised her eyes slightly, looking from the high palace walls to the distant sky, deeply feeling for the first time that the position of Crown Princess was so different from what she had imagined.
When Yan Che reached the main hall’s entrance, Yan Sui was writing on the bluestone again, while Qin Wan stood talking with Madame Su nearby. Upon seeing him approach, both immediately stood at attention.
Yan Che walked to the doorway but paused and turned before entering. He looked at Qin Wan and said, “That bird’s wing is damaged. If released, it likely won’t survive long. Though Little Nine wants it to be free, perhaps the Princess should take it back to your mansion to care for it.”
Qin Wan was momentarily surprised but felt this was the Crown Prince’s directive. After hesitating for a moment, she looked at Yan Sui. Understanding Yan Che’s meaning and remembering what Qin Wan had said about the bird being shot down by palace guards, Yan Sui thought it would be good for Qin Wan to take it back and nodded repeatedly. Seeing this, Qin Wan could only smile and say, “Very well, the Crown Prince is thoughtful.”
Yan Che nodded and entered without another word.
Madame Su, who had overheard, spoke softly, “We don’t know where this bird came from. It fell into the courtyard and got tangled in some vines. The Ninth Prince saw it and caught it. Its wing was already damaged, yet it kept trying to fly away. It’s quite beautiful though. The Ninth Prince has been protecting it like a treasure. With the Princess caring for it outside the palace, the Ninth Prince will surely be at ease.”
Qin Wan listened in surprise—wasn’t this Yan Sui’s bird? How had it become something he found?
Remembering that she had seen this bird several years ago, Qin Wan couldn’t help but smile. So after all these years, the bird was still in the palace, unable to fly away. How fortunate it was to have survived without being caught by others!
Thinking of this, Qin Wan felt increasingly connected to the bird, and Yan Che’s suggestion seemed excellent!
A bird with damaged wings couldn’t truly be free anyway, though the mansion walls outside were at least lower than those in the palace.
Just as she was pondering this, Qin Chao Yu walked past. Qin Wan didn’t know what Yan Che had said to Qin Chao Yu, but seeing Yan Che’s calm expression, she assumed it wasn’t much. Qin Chao Yu approached with a composed face.
At the doorway, Qin Chao Yu paused to study her for a moment. Her gaze seemed both examining and analytical, though the anger was no longer visible. After looking at her for a few moments, Qin Chao Yu turned and entered the main hall.
Madame Su, unaware of what had transpired, found the interaction between the sisters strange.
Qin Wan knew that Qin Chao Yu must still be annoyed with her, yet couldn’t understand how her warming tea had ended up with the Crown Prince. Perhaps the Empress or Empress Dowager had given it privately?
Qin Wan thought this must be the case and shook her head.
It was rather amusing that Qin Chao Yu had firmly blamed her without understanding anything. It seemed her suspicions remained even after the previous test…
Feeling somewhat helpless, Qin Wan walked forward to see what Yan Sui was writing. Before she could make anything out, several footsteps suddenly sounded behind her. Qin Wan turned to see Yan Chi had arrived!
Qin Wan’s eyes immediately brightened. Nearby, Madame Su curtsied, “Greetings to the Heir Apparent—”
Yan Chi waved his hand, standing before Qin Wan. “Why are you standing outside?”
Qin Wan smiled, “Watching the Ninth Prince write.”
Not having seen Yan Chi for two days, Qin Wan’s eyes sparkled upon seeing him. She asked, “Shouldn’t you be at the ministry? Why have you come to the Empress Dowager’s palace?”
Yan Chi hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’ll go pay my respects first.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan said, “Then I’ll go with you…”
As they entered together, Madame Su watched them with furrowed brows, somehow feeling that when Princess Yong Ci and the Crown Prince’s Heir spoke together, they both seemed somewhat…
With Yan Che having just arrived and now Yan Chi as well, both the Empress Dowager and Grand Princess were delighted, quickly calling for seats and tea. However, Yan Chi said, “Grandmother, I cannot stay long. I came to escort Princess Yong Ci.”
Qin Wan was slightly surprised, as were the others. She quickly asked, “Has something happened?”
Yan Chi nodded, “There’s a case…”
Since there was a case, it meant they needed Qin Wan to help examine a corpse. Both the Empress Dowager and Grand Princess felt concerned. Qin Wan quickly said, “If that’s the case, then I shall take my leave.”
Though Yan Chi’s position at the Ministry of Justice made his urgency understandable, Qin Wan needn’t have hurried so. Yet she didn’t want to delay. The Empress Dowager hurriedly said, “Very well, go then, ah, you go…”
The Empress Dowager wanted to say more, but thinking of those death scenes made her shudder. Yet Qin Wan was far more capable in this regard than she who had lived for most of her life.
After Yan Chi and Qin Wan took their leave, the Empress Dowager said worriedly, “The ninth girl is so young, it’s too hard on her.”
The Grand Princess also sighed, “She chooses to do these things herself. I just worry she’ll encounter danger—dealing with cases means confronting criminals, doesn’t it? And she’s just a young lady…”
As the two elderly women expressed their concerns, Yan Che sat lost in thought. Qin Chao Yu indeed hadn’t shown her feelings on her face, but she knew well that what the Empress disliked, Yan Che also disliked. Those teas and medicines—unless he was bedridden, Yan Che wouldn’t touch them. Yet he had taken tea from the Empress. Not only that, but earlier when Yan Che was so angry, was any part of it because of Qin Wan?
Looking at the dazed Yan Che, Qin Chao Yu’s irritation rose again.
Outside Shou Kang Palace, the carriage was already prepared. As soon as they boarded, Qin Wan asked, “What’s happened? Is there a new case?”
Yan Chi nodded, “A new case. A body was discovered in an alley in the southern city. The coroner at the Ministry of Justice did a preliminary examination—the person had been dead for two days. This case is special, which is why we need you to take a look.”
Qin Wan quickly asked, “Special? How so?”
Yan Chi pondered briefly, “This case… something similar happened six years ago.”
Six years ago—that was before her father had come to the capital.
“Something similar happened? Was the culprit from back then caught?”
Yan Chi nodded, “They caught someone who’s still in prison. When this case came up, Minister Zheng became anxious because he found the method very similar to six years ago, and the supposed culprit has never confessed all these years.”
“So… did they catch the wrong person back then?”
Yan Chi shook his head, “We can’t say for certain yet, but with this new case, the old one will have to be reopened.”
Qin Wan nodded. When Shen Yi first entered the Court of Judicature, he reviewed all the old case files and discovered several wrongful convictions. Many mysterious cases were extremely complex—if the investigating officials weren’t diligent, either rushing to close cases, accepting bribes from culprits, or missing details that would have revealed the truth, it led to wrongful convictions. Since the supposed culprit from back then had never confessed, perhaps there was indeed more to the story.
The carriage left the palace, heading directly to the Southern City mortuary. In the carriage, Yan Chi asked about Qin Wan’s activities these past two days. When he heard about her encountering Zhan Yang while visiting the graves outside the city, he said, “He must have been paying respects to his sister. His parents’ graves are in his hometown.”
Qin Wan nodded, feeling somewhat emotional. Seeing her thus, Yan Chi couldn’t help but take her hand in his. Half an hour later, they arrived at the Southern City mortuary.
Inside, Zheng Bai Shi and Zhan Yang were already waiting, with Li Mu Yun standing nearby. Li Mu Yun had arrived as soon as the case was discovered—clearly, the connection to the old case had drawn attention.
Given Qin Wan’s status, both Zheng Bai Shi and Li Mu Yun had to bow to her.
Qin Wan waved it off. As Zheng Bai Shi led her inside, he said, “After much consideration, we still needed to request the Princess’s presence. The body has been examined once, but when it comes to forensic expertise, the Princess’s skill is the most refined, so we request a second examination.”
They passed through the central courtyard into the main hall, then through a side door to the rear hall where the body lay.
Zheng Bai Shi added, “The corpse is in a horrific state. Princess, please prepare yourself…”
Though Qin Wan had seen all manner of corpses and nodded without concern, when Zhan Yang pulled back the shroud at the examination table, even she couldn’t help but shudder.
The body on the table was barely recognizable as human—its surface completely… flies and maggots crawled between the rotting flesh. This person, dead for just two days, had been flayed alive—the skin completely removed.