“The traces on the steps aren’t very clear, but there’s dark brown soil from the steps on the heel of the victim’s shoes. He was undoubtedly dragged down from above. The victim’s tongue is missing from his mouth, though we don’t know where the killer disposed of it.”
As Qin Wan spoke with Yan Chi, she turned to see a woman nearby crying herself hoarse, too weak to stand. Two yamen runners were currently supporting her up the steps.
The body couldn’t remain there indefinitely. Now that they had finished examining the surroundings, it needed to be transported to the morgue. Qin Wan also needed to conduct an autopsy there. The woman stumbled as the runners helped her up the steps.
Zheng Baishi directed several yamen runners to move the body, then came over to Qin Wan and said, “Princess, shall we head to the morgue now? We’ve examined most things here. Let’s leave some men to interview people while we go to the morgue.”
Qin Wan nodded and was about to step forward when her gaze fell on the spot where the body had lain. Her brows furrowed as she quickly walked over.
Yan Chi and Zheng Baishi followed her. When they reached the spot, they simultaneously noticed the gray marks on the ground that had been hidden beneath the victim’s supine body until the yamen runners moved him.
The ground was covered in hardened silt mixed with some blood, and the gray marks were quite distinct.
Qin Wan crouched down and touched them with her fingertips, frowning. “These are ashes, but not many—probably from burning just a few pieces of paper…”
As she examined the ashes, Qin Wan suddenly noticed a vermillion mark underneath. The trace was so faint that one might mistake it for blood or the natural color of the soil. Qin Wan took out a handkerchief from her sleeve pocket and carefully wiped away the ashes, revealing a somewhat blurred pattern on the ground.
Qin Wan shifted slightly. “Look at this—what do you think it is?”
Yan Chi and Zheng Baishi both came forward to look, and their brows furrowed simultaneously.
Zheng Baishi said, “What is this drawing? It looks like… some kind of character, but it’s neither clerical script nor seal script. Could it be some ancient writing?”
Yan Chi, however, said in a deep voice, “It looks more like a ceremonial talisman.”
Qin Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and she nodded. “Your Highness’s observation seems more accurate.”
Zheng Baishi looked around. “There aren’t any others nearby—why was this one just under the victim’s body?”
Qin Wan stood up. “Please have someone make a rubbing of this pattern, Master Zheng. Leave the ashes for now. It’s unfortunate—it seems to have been drawn with cinnabar, but the ashes have made it unclear.”
Zheng Baishi nodded. “Very well, I’ll have it done right away.”
Yan Chi said, “The case from six years ago involved killing according to religious doctrine. Since this involves sects, could these talismans be from the Moon Worship Cult or Taoism?”
Qin Wan strongly agreed. “That’s highly possible.” She turned to Zheng Baishi. “Master Zheng, were any such talismans or ashes found where Wu Qian died?”
Zheng Baishi looked slightly surprised. “No, there weren’t any. There was quite a lot of blood under Wu Qian’s body. By the time we arrived, the blood on the ground had dried. The alley was quite dirty and messy, so we didn’t notice anything like this.”
The ashes hadn’t been plentiful to begin with, and mixed with blood in that poor environment, even if they went looking now, they probably wouldn’t find any traces. Qin Wan said, “I suspect the killer left this deliberately. That Taoist priest mentioned that the Moon Worship Cult’s doctrine allows punishing evil to atone for sins. Perhaps this person has some special purpose and therefore needs to burn talismans.”
Zheng Baishi nodded. “I’ll have people check where Wu Qian died again.”
Qin Wan nodded and carefully examined the surroundings once more. Finding no other strange traces, she finally left. The crowd of onlookers still thronged around the area. After climbing the riverbank, Yan Chi knew Qin Wan couldn’t ride with him, so he gave up on riding horses together. Bai Feng led Yan Chi’s guards to clear the way ahead. This time, the common people didn’t dare to be disrespectful.
After leaving the street where the incident occurred, Qin Wan finally got into her carriage. Bai Feng brought the horse, and Yan Chi mounted it, staying beside Qin Wan’s carriage. Qin Wan lifted the curtain and asked, “Do you think anyone from Marquis Weiyuan’s household might know the victim?”
Hearing this, Yan Chi had a sudden inspiration and gave some instructions to an attendant, who turned and galloped toward Zheng Baishi.
At the morgue, the victim’s body arrived shortly after them. The body was taken to the back hall, and soon after, Zheng Baishi arrived with the still-wailing woman. It wouldn’t be appropriate to conduct the autopsy in front of her, so Qin Wan stood in the back hall to examine the body while Zheng Baishi took the woman to the front hall.
Looking at the woman’s heartbreaking state, Zheng Baishi sighed before asking, “Your husband was murdered. Please tell us what he did for a living and if he had any enemies. The more you tell us, the better we can find the person who harmed your husband.”
The woman had cried until she was completely exhausted, now half-leaning against a chair. As soon as she opened her mouth, tears began falling again. She seemed dazed for a moment, then suddenly straightened her back. “It was He Wencai who killed my husband! It must have been He Wencai! He was jealous of my husband. Master, please avenge my husband—”
The woman slid from her chair and knelt before Zheng Baishi.
Zheng Baishi had two yamen runners help her up, but she wouldn’t rise. Zheng Baishi sighed and decided to take the main seat. “First tell me about yourself and your husband, then about who He Wencai is. Please be as detailed as possible.”
Once Zheng Baishi was seated, it was as if they were in court. The woman didn’t dare act rashly anymore. After a few sobs, she slowly said, “Master, this humble woman is Zhao Yu. My husband was called Zhao Jiaxu, thirty-five years old. He was a teacher at the Wei Family’s clan school in Hat Hutong. My husband was well-educated, and skilled in eight-legged essays and calligraphy. He Wencai was also a teacher at the Wei Family’s clan school. About two months ago, He Wencai stole paper, ink, and silver from the school. My husband couldn’t stand it and told Master Wei. When Master Wei found out, he drove He Wencai away. Because of this, He Wencai became jealous of my husband and came to make trouble at our house several times, always saying my husband had wronged him…”
Madam Zhao wiped her tears. “It must be him. He threatened to kill my husband several times, but my husband was upright and didn’t fear him. My husband always treated people well and never made enemies with anyone. He Wencai is the only one, so I can’t think of anyone else who would harm my husband…”
Listening to this, Zheng Baishi felt alarmed. The Hell of Tongue-Pulling was specifically for punishing those who committed sins of the tongue. If the killer hadn’t made a mistake, then Zhao Jiaxu must have committed such a sin. Could it be that Zhao Jiaxu had falsely accused He Wencai? Zheng Baishi looked at Zhan Ying, who immediately went out to instruct the yamen runners—one group to go to Master Wei’s residence, another to find He Wencai.
Zheng Baishi nodded, speaking very formally, “Rest assured, this official understands. I’ll have people bring He Wencai for confrontation. The government will thoroughly investigate your husband’s death.”
Madam Zhao repeatedly kowtowed to Zheng Baishi. Thinking of how her husband had become a corpse, she couldn’t help but cry again.
In the back hall, Yan Chi accompanied Qin Wan during the autopsy. Knowing that the woman was still in the front hall, Qin Wan worked a bit faster. By the time the questioning finished in front, she had also nearly completed her examination. She said quietly, “There’s also a swollen injury on the back of his head. He was probably attacked by the killer first before being dragged down to the riverbank. The cause of death was suffocation from blood flowing into his airway after his tongue was pulled out. Besides this, there are no other external injuries. As for his fingers, they appear to have been cut off with a sharp knife. Judging from the wound and bone wear patterns, the knife must have been extremely thin.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. “Though he was thin, he wouldn’t have easily been knocked out by a sneak attack…”
Qin Wan was also puzzled. In the front hall, Zheng Baishi asked further, “You said your husband didn’t return home last night. When did he leave, and why?”
Sobbing, Madam Zhao replied, “My husband naturally went to teach. We live not far from Master Wei’s clan school, just three streets away. Every day, my husband would go at noon and return in the evening. Last night, he didn’t come home. Very occasionally, Master Wei would keep him to discuss scholarship, and he might stay overnight, but he would always return home the next morning. But today, I waited until broad daylight and still didn’t see him. I was getting worried when the yamen runners came to our door.”
Zheng Baishi frowned. “Which route did he usually take to the clan school?”
Madam Zhao said, “He would walk along the street near the city moat, then turn into the alley leading to the school. It’s a straight path, a main road. My husband always went that way…”
“Was your husband acquainted with anyone from the Marquis Weiyuan’s household?”
When Zheng Baishi asked this, Madam Zhao looked confused, clearly not knowing who the Marquis Weiyuan was.
“Master, we are just common people. We don’t know any Marquis households.”
Zheng Baishi understood and asked further, “Besides He Wencai, did anyone else have grudges against him? Did he show any unusual behavior these past few days?”
Madam Zhao shook her head. “No one else, Master, just He Wencai. As for unusual behavior…”
Madam Zhao thought for a moment, then shook her head again. “No, nothing. These past few days, the master had been returning home later because there were more children at the clan school. He had to teach those who were falling behind separately. My husband was a very responsible teacher…”
Madam Zhao continued speaking intermittently about Zhao Jiaxu’s good qualities, showing her deep affection for him.
Unfortunately, they had only one daughter, who died of illness a few years ago. The couple had been worried about this for years, but Madam Zhao had not been able to conceive again. Even so, Zhao Jiaxu had never thought about taking a concubine. For this alone, Madam Zhao was completely devoted to Zhao Jiaxu. Madam Zhao was thirty years old, and though her clothes were simple and she appeared somewhat aged, one could tell she had been quite beautiful in her youth. Though her manners weren’t particularly elegant or refined, she was educated. She answered all of Zheng Baishi’s questions directly.
“This matter still requires careful investigation by the authorities. Please try to accept your loss. Your husband’s body must remain at the morgue for now. Don’t worry, we have dedicated people watching over it. You probably have other family members at home, so perhaps you should return now to begin the mourning process and prepare for the funeral. Once we notify you, you can come back to claim the body.”
Zheng Baishi, though a third-rank official, was polite and cultured in his treatment of Madam Zhao. Although she was reluctant and grieving, she didn’t dare argue with the authorities. After making her request to Zheng Baishi, she went to the back hall to see Zhao Jiaxu one more time. Qin Wan had cleaned the blood from Zhao Jiaxu’s face, making him look less horrifying than before. Madam Zhao wept bitterly once more before being escorted home by yamen runners that Zheng Baishi assigned.
After Madam Zhao left, Zheng Baishi asked Qin Wan about the autopsy results. Qin Wan repeated her findings, and Zheng Baishi asked, “Can we be certain these two cases were committed by the same person?”
Qin Wan replied, “Zhao Jiaxu’s fingers were cut off, and judging from the cuts, the killer was skilled with a knife. We found ashes and a cinnabar pattern where Zhao Jiaxu died. We don’t have news about where Wu Qian died yet. If we only consider the use of the knife, we can’t be completely certain it was the same person. However, connecting it to the case from six years ago, we can be ninety percent certain. At least both killing methods are uncommon and can be linked to religious sects.”
Zheng Baishi shared these thoughts. In the case from six years ago, the first victim was skinned, and the second had their tongue pulled out—exactly like now. Thinking of this, Zheng Baishi felt his head throbbing severely. “If we don’t find the killer soon, a third person will die. How does the killer find these people one by one? The first person sinned, and so did the second…”
Yan Chi said, “The killer must have been in the capital for many years. Over time, they’ve gotten to know many people and learned various household secrets. Eventually, they find people whose actions match the sins described in their doctrine.”
Zheng Baishi smiled bitterly. “Then we’re looking for a needle in a haystack. In the previous case, the killer only operated in the South City, but now they’re striking in both South and West City. We can’t even locate where they live.”
This autopsy didn’t reveal any crucial details, and the victim’s identity was quickly understood. Zheng Baishi invited Qin Wan and Yan Chi to the front hall and discussed the connections between this case and the previous one. “Regular revenge killings aren’t done this way—skinning, tongue-pulling—who would think of such methods? This killer knows about the Marquis Weiyuan’s household affairs. While the Marquis is nobility and Zhao Jiaxu is a commoner, he is still teaching at a prestigious family school. Could the killer be someone who moves in both these circles?”
“There’s naturally much interaction between the capital’s nobility and wealthy households, so this isn’t surprising.”
After Yan Chi said this, Zheng Baishi thought for a moment and had some ideas.
After they sat for a while longer, the people sent to bring He Wencai returned!
He Wencai was a short man in his forties with graying temples, wearing a straight-cut cyan silk robe. His entire bearing was stooped, his expression wooden, making him appear particularly aged. Brought into the hall, he first paid his respects to Zheng Baishi, then looked bewilderedly at Yan Chi and Qin Wan. Yan Chi waved his hand, so Zheng Baishi didn’t make introductions but asked directly, “Are you He Wencai, the teacher who was dismissed from Master Wei’s household?”
He Wencai knelt on the ground, nodded, and said, “Master, the yamen runner said I was called here because Zhao Jiaxu was killed?”
Zheng Baishi nodded. “Yes, we learned that you recently had conflicts with Zhao Jiaxu, so we called you for questioning. Where were you around midnight last night?”
He Wencai was stunned for a moment, then a trace of satisfaction appeared on his face. “Zhao Jiaxu finally got what he deserved!”
Zheng Baishi frowned, and He Wencai quickly added, “Master, I was at home all night. My wife is gravely ill, and I was tending to her. My son can vouch for this.”
He Wencai remained calm and composed. Apart from his satisfaction at hearing Zhao Jiaxu’s death, he showed no unusual behavior. Zheng Baishi glanced at Zhan Ying, who understood and naturally went to verify the alibi. Zheng Baishi continued, “Two months ago, Zhao Jiaxu told Master Wei that you stole writing materials and silver from the clan school. Is this true?”
At this question, He Wencai laughed bitterly. “That scoundrel Zhao Jiaxu! I never touched a single coin of that silver, yet he insisted I took it. It was all about the teaching position. Several children in the Wei household will stop attending the clan school next year, so they won’t need as many teachers. We both specialized in eight-legged essays and calligraphy and between the two of us, one had to go. He didn’t want to leave, so naturally he found a way to force me out. He was just a young provincial graduate, while I’m an imperial graduate. I had more seniority too. If he hadn’t used such methods, he would have been the one to go. Unfortunately, he was always fawning over Master Wei, who chose to believe him…”
Though Zheng Baishi was only a few years younger than He Wencai, the latter looked much older. Zheng Baishi observed him for a moment and saw that his eyes were clear and fearless, his speech firm without any hint of guilt. He sighed, feeling his suspicions were correct—Zhao Jiaxu had framed He Wencai, and the killer, knowing this, had chosen Zhao Jiaxu as a target. But how did the killer know about this?
“You say Zhao Jiaxu framed you. Do you have evidence?”
He Wencai smiled bitterly. “The silver appeared in my belongings, and I was caught red-handed. What defense could I make? But I didn’t do it, and I would never admit to a crime I didn’t commit.”
Zheng Baishi frowned slightly. From He Wencai’s words, it seemed everyone believed he had indeed stolen the silver. So how did the killer know that Zhao Jiaxu had deliberately framed him?
Could the killer be someone familiar with He Wencai?
Zheng Baishi asked, “Did you tell anyone about this? Did they believe you?”
He Wencai smiled bitterly again. “I naturally told my family. Whether others truly believed me or not didn’t matter anymore. I caused trouble at first, but when I saw it was useless, I stopped. Someone who does evil deeds will naturally face retribution. I couldn’t let disrupting his life prevent me from living mine. Now he’s been killed—it must be karma.”
Would a killer dare curse the victim like this in front of the Prefect?
After hearing all this, Zheng Baishi asked about how long He Wencai had known Zhao Jiaxu and about the latter’s general character, then let He Wencai leave temporarily. After he left, Zheng Baishi looked at Yan Chi and Qin Wan. “Your Highness, Princess, I don’t think He Wencai was lying. What do you think?”
Yan Chi turned to look at Qin Wan, who said, “I also believe he was telling the truth.”
Zheng Baishi said, “Good, I’ll send some people to investigate further. From what he said, there should be several people who can vouch for him. When our people return from the Wei household, we’ll know if these two were telling the truth.”
Just as he finished speaking, Zhan Ying returned from outside. Zheng Baishi was surprised to see him back. “Why are you back so soon? You should personally investigate He Wencai’s claims—we can’t be certain everything he said is true.”
However, Zhan Ying turned and said, “Master, someone has come from the Wei household. You, Your Highness, and the Princess all know him—”
Hearing this, Yan Chi and Qin Wan exchanged glances, both thinking of someone named Wei. At that moment, a figure flashed through the doorway—Wei Qizhi, wearing a sapphire blue silk robe with subtle patterns, walked in!
Qin Wan and Yan Chi showed no surprise, though they hadn’t expected the Wei household Madam Zhao mentioned to be Wei Qizhi’s Wei household.
“Greetings to Your Highness, Princess, and Prefect—”
Wei Qizhi entered with a smile, respectfully greeting all three. Zheng Baishi smiled. “Young Master Wei! Why have you come? So Zhao Jiaxu taught at your household?”
Wei Qizhi straightened up and smiled. “Not exactly—it was at my uncle’s household. My uncle’s business is the largest in the clan, and the clan school is at his place. I happened to be at my uncle’s today and heard about what happened to their teacher. When I learned that Your Highness and the Princess were investigating this case, I decided to come by. I know this teacher as well.”
Qin Wan hadn’t expected Wei Qizhi to appear, nor the two Wei households were the same. After Wei Qizhi’s explanation, Zheng Baishi asked, “You know this person? Then who was right in the dispute between him and He Wencai?”
Wei Qizhi’s smile remained. “I don’t know about that incident, but my uncle said that Zhao Jiaxu was quite learned and clever. He was very surprised when it happened because Master He was usually very honest and steady. Master He has a seriously ill wife at home, and in all these years, he never asked for extra money. The writing materials and silver were only worth ten taels and were kept in the clan school’s study for servants to buy supplies when needed. There was no reason for him to do this.”
Qin Wan said, “But Madam Zhao said Zhao Jiaxu had treated her very well all these years, was of good character, never made enemies, and despite her not bearing a son, he never took a concubine.”
As a woman, Qin Wan was particularly impressed by this point. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, when a wife couldn’t bear a son for many years, most husbands would take concubines, and many would even divorce their wives to remarry.
Wei Qizhi replied, “The Princess doesn’t know the full story. This Zhao Jiaxu used to be extremely poor. If not for Madam Zhao, he couldn’t have become a provincial graduate—he wouldn’t even have been able to afford schooling. He had previously sworn to the Zhao clan that after marrying Madam Zhao, he would never take a concubine. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened.”
Everyone was slightly shocked. From Madam Zhao’s words, they had all assumed Zhao Jiaxu must have been a good person. No one had expected this background. With this context, Zhao Jiaxu’s tolerance of Madam Zhao wasn’t so pure after all.
“So Young Master Wei thinks He Wencai was framed?”
Wei Qizhi shook his head. “I didn’t witness it personally, so I dare not make assumptions. I’m just describing their usual behavior. However, I don’t believe Master He would kill someone over this—he’s already teaching other students now.”
As Wei Qizhi was essentially He Wencai’s employer, his words were high praise indeed. Everyone had already harbored a few suspicions about He Wencai, and this further convinced them that he wasn’t the killer.
“Since Young Master Wei knows Zhao Jiaxu, do you know if he had any other enemies?”
Hearing this, Wei Qizhi thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Zhao Jiaxu indeed rarely made enemies, but he wasn’t necessarily good to everyone. He just always left himself some room to maneuver—he had his way of dealing with people.”
With Wei Qizhi’s explanation, everyone understood—such a person had a clever way of navigating relationships.
Seeing the troubled expressions on Zheng Baishi, Qin Wan, and Yan Chi’s faces, Wei Qizhi instinctively asked, “What’s wrong? Is this case particularly difficult?”
Wei Qizhi was quite familiar with the three of them, so Zheng Baishi said, “This is already the second victim. If we can’t find the killer, there will be a third victim, so the yamen is under extreme pressure.”
Wei Qizhi knew about the rumors in the capital, but as this was a matter for the authorities, he couldn’t say much. “Then we’ll have to trouble you all. If you need to ask anything else at the Wei household, please feel free to do so.” After a slight pause, Wei Qizhi added, “Oh right, when my uncle heard about what happened to Zhao Jiaxu, he called the clan school’s manager to ask. The manager said Zhao Jiaxu left very early that night, probably before it was completely dark…”
The three immediately frowned, and Zheng Baishi said, “Zhao Jiaxu was killed around midnight, not in the evening. Where did he go for half the night after leaving the Wei household?”
Wei Qizhi shook his head. “That I don’t know.”
Yan Chi quickly asked, “Has Zhao Jiaxu been particularly busy lately?”
Wei Qizhi thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. Several of the Wei family’s younger members are preparing to attend the Imperial Academy, so their teachers have been quite relaxed. Five days ago, when I visited my uncle’s household, I ran into Zhao Jiaxu. It was also evening, and he was just preparing to leave. If you want to confirm this, I can ask the manager at my uncle’s place again.”
At these words, the expressions of Qin Wan and the others grew even more troubled.
Wei Qizhi sensed something was wrong. “What is it? Is there a problem?”
Qin Wan said, “Earlier, Madam Zhao said Zhao Jiaxu had been very busy lately, often returning home late. He told her that the Wei clan school had some new students, and he had to stay behind to teach those who were falling behind individually.”
Wei Qizhi laughed. “That’s impossible. I know all the Wei family’s younger members. Several are indeed preparing for the Imperial Academy, but the other young ones aren’t even old enough for schooling yet.”
Wei Qizhi’s words matched He Wencai’s account, while Madam Zhao’s story was full of doubts. Zhao Jiaxu had been deceiving Madam Zhao, yet she had believed everything. So where had Zhao Jiaxu been going after leaving the Wei household’s early days? If they could figure this out, they might make discoveries.
“Thank you for coming, Young Master Wei. Your information has been especially enlightening.”
After Zheng Baishi expressed his gratitude, Wei Qizhi, knowing this wasn’t a time for social conversation, exchanged a few more pleasantries before taking his leave. Qin Wan thought for a moment. “I’ll examine him again. There must be traces somewhere.”
An autopsy was extremely detailed work—missing even a small detail could mean overlooking crucial information. Qin Wan returned to the back hall and carefully reexamined Zhao Jiaxu’s body. While considering whether to perform a dissection, she discovered some marks on his clothes.
“There are fresh repair stitches here—”
While Zhao Jiaxu’s silk robe looked normal from the outside, when Qin Wan turned it inside out, she found evidence of recent repairs at the shoulder of the sleeve. The original thread was white but had grayed with age. The new repairs also used white thread, but its freshness indicated recent work. Qin Wan found something odd about the stitching.
Zheng Baishi said, “He has a wife—it’s normal for someone to mend his clothes.”
But as soon as he spoke, Zheng Baishi rejected his own words.
Madam Zhao had said Zhao Jiaxu had no other interests, yet he had begun lying to her. If he was merely visiting friends or attending scholarly gatherings, why couldn’t he tell her? The only explanation was that his undisclosed destination was somewhere Madam Zhao would disapprove of or couldn’t accept—which naturally led one to think of women.
Zheng Baishi immediately said, “I’ll send someone to inquire about this.”
As he spoke, he turned and left the inner hall. Qin Wan nodded and continued examining Zhao Jiaxu’s clothing carefully. When she reached his trousers, she suddenly discovered white stains on the inner thigh area. Her brows furrowed slightly, and after a moment, understanding dawned in her eyes. “This is male—”
She looked up and met Yan Chi’s gaze, finding herself unable to say the words “essence.” While examining such things was normal for an autopsy, with only her and Yan Chi in the inner chamber, these typically routine observations suddenly became embarrassing. As Qin Wan hesitated, Yan Chi wondered what was wrong. He leaned in to look and also saw the white stains. As a twenty-two-year-old man, he immediately understood what they were, and his gaze deepened.
Qin Wan avoided Yan Chi’s eyes and coughed lightly. “It seems Zhao Jiaxu wasn’t quite as Madam Zhao thought.”
She turned away and resumed examining Zhao Jiaxu’s body.
Seeing Qin Wan’s somewhat flustered retreat, Yan Chi’s lips curved in a smile.
When Zheng Baishi returned, he sensed the awkward atmosphere. Qin Wan was writing down her observations, and while she hadn’t spoken of it, she recorded everything in her report. Zheng Baishi had sent people to ask Madam Zhao about the mending, which should reveal something. Once Qin Wan finished writing, today’s autopsy was complete.
It was getting late outside, and Qin Wan felt hungry. She washed her hands and tidied up a bit. As there wasn’t much more she could contribute, she prepared to take her leave. Zheng Baishi had been comparing notes with Yan Chi about the testimonies, and hearing this, he said, “Your Highness, I’m afraid I must trouble you to escort the Princess home. I had sent Zhan Ying to receive her, but he’s out now.”
Yan Chi was more than happy to do so. After exchanging a few more words with Zheng Baishi, he left with Qin Wan.
Qin Wan got into the carriage, and Yan Chi lifted the curtain to enter after her. Seeing the sun setting in the west, Yan Chi asked, “Are you hungry?”
Qin Wan instinctively wanted to shake her head, but just as Yan Chi finished speaking, her stomach let out a loud growl. The sound was so pronounced that Qin Wan herself was stunned. Seeing the amusement in Yan Chi’s eyes, she frowned at her stomach, her face slightly flushed. Yan Chi couldn’t hold back anymore and laughed outright, his long arms reaching out to pull Qin Wan into his embrace. Qin Wan let out a light huff. “What’s so funny? I’ve been hungry for ages!”
Yan Chi rested his chin in the crook of her shoulder, his chest rumbling with laughter. “You were called over so early, and Master Zheng didn’t think of these things. You’ve had it rough. I’ll take you somewhere nice and feed you properly.”
Qin Wan turned to look at Yan Chi. “Where are we going? To the Drunk Fragrance Tower?”
The Drunk Fragrance Tower was the most renowned establishment in the capital, and it was Qin Wan’s first thought.
Yan Chi smiled. “Your Third Brother already took you there when you first returned. Today I’ll take you somewhere else. The Drunk Fragrance Tower is too crowded and public, though if you want to go there, I’m happy to take you.”
Qin Wan didn’t want to go! Besides, how did Yan Chi know that Qin Yan had taken her to the Drunk Fragrance Tower? He hadn’t even returned then!
Qin Wan sighed, thinking of Bai Ying outside, which explained it.
The carriage was no longer the official one from the yamen. After Yan Chi gave some instructions, the carriage quickly headed east along the side road. Qin Wan had never been very familiar with the capital, and now, seeing the direction they were taking, she didn’t know where Yan Chi was taking her. However, any place Yan Chi chose would naturally be trustworthy.
The carriage continued eastward, soon leaving the bustling city center behind. The east was where the noble residential districts were located, but at the furthest eastern edge, it became more marginal, with scattered residential areas. Occasional taverns and teahouses could be seen among them. These areas were home to declined noble families who, though fallen on hard times, still maintained their old customs. Along the way, the courtyards were neat and austere, with few pedestrians in sight. Soon, the carriage entered a very narrow alley, following it to the end before slowly coming to a stop.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Qin Wan curiously lifted the curtain to look. She saw they were surrounded by low-rise houses with pink walls and gray tiles, and before them was a back entrance. While Qin Wan didn’t know what lay inside, Bai Feng had already gone forward to knock. When the door opened, a quick-witted servant boy looked out, respectfully bowed to the carriage, then turned and ran inside. While Qin Wan was still wondering what was happening, footsteps quickly approached from inside. Soon, she saw a plump and graceful figure—it was a woman in her forties with striking beauty.
Qin Wan quickly lowered the carriage curtain.
“Greetings, Your Highness—”
The middle-aged woman curtseyed outside the carriage, and Yan Chi smiled, “Let’s get down.”
Yan Chi stepped down first. The middle-aged woman was overjoyed to see him. As he had just steadied himself and turned around, the curtain lifted and a clear, elegant figure emerged. The woman was slightly startled, seemingly very surprised. When she saw Yan Chi helping Qin Wan down, her eyes grew even wider, but soon she was beside herself with joy!
“Your Highness, this is—”
Yan Chi glanced at the woman, his tone very gentle. “Madam Xun, this is Princess Yongci.”
Upon hearing this, even greater surprise showed in Madam Xun’s eyes as she eagerly and curiously examined Qin Wan, looking her up and down three times. Madam Xun couldn’t stop smiling. “This… is Princess Yongci? Please pardon my rudeness, Princess… I never expected His Highness… Oh, please, please come in…”
Qin Wan was somewhat bewildered by Madam Xun’s extreme excitement.
Yan Chi pulled Qin Wan gently, and she followed him inside. Past the door was a pond filled with lotus leaves, and beyond that was a waterside pavilion built over a lotus pond. All four sides had open latticed windows, revealing an elegant and dignified interior. As they walked, Madam Xun kept smiling and saying, “Really, we were just hoping His Highness would visit, and here he is! And bringing the Princess too! These days, everyone in the city is talking about Princess Yongci. I never expected, really never expected…”
Qin Wan felt that Madam Xun’s words weren’t just referring to her medical skills and autopsy abilities. Moreover, Yan Chi bringing her here so openly showed his complete trust in Madam Xun. Madam Xun was about the same age as her mother—who was she?
“The pavilion is cleaned daily, Your Highness and Princess can enter now. However, the dishes aren’t prepared yet. You’ll have to wait a moment—my husband will cook for Your Highness right away.”
Hearing this, Yan Chi said, “There’s no hurry. I didn’t give advance notice, so take your time.”
Madam Xun happily agreed, walking a few steps before turning back to look at Qin Wan, her face beaming with satisfaction as if she couldn’t look enough. Her footsteps were as light as a young girl’s. Madam Xun led Yan Chi and Qin Wan directly into the pavilion and personally brought out tea sets to serve them tea. After pouring the tea, she said, “Please wait a moment, Your Highness and Princess. I’ll go hurry my husband along.”
Yan Chi nodded, and Madam Xun left, still beaming with joy.
Though Madam Xun was somewhat plump, she was well-maintained, with a round face like a silver plate and beautiful features. She exuded warmth from near or far, and her enthusiasm and friendliness toward Qin Wan were particularly apparent.
After she left, Qin Wan couldn’t help smiling. “Who is she?”
Seeing Qin Wan so relaxed and comfortable, Yan Chi explained, “She was one of my mother’s attendants. After my mother passed away, most of her servants returned to Lan Province, but Madam Xun and her husband stayed in the capital. Originally it was because they were worried about me, but now they’re used to it here. Madam Xun’s husband is the best chef from the Lu family of Lan Province. When I was young and wouldn’t eat, Father would bring me here.”
Qin Wan was amazed—Madam Xun had been an attendant to the Consort Prince’s wife, which meant she was from the Lu family of Lan Province.
They had not only stayed in the capital but were living in such a remote location…
Qin Wan instinctively felt there was more to this than met the eye.
Seeing her lost in thought, Yan Chi smiled. “The Lu family of Lan Province doesn’t get along with Father, and their servants are fiercely loyal. When Father used to bring me here, Madam Xun would only cook what I liked, ignoring him completely.”
Hearing this, Qin Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. To think that the mighty and august Consort Prince would be snubbed by Madam Xun when it came to food—the scene was quite amusing. However, remembering that all this was because of the Consort Prince’s wife’s death, Qin Wan couldn’t laugh anymore.
Wait, Madam Xun’s look just now…
Qin Wan suddenly blushed. “Hold on, so when you brought me here, Madam Xun knew about us…”
Yan Chi laughed pleasantly again. The hungry Qin Wan seemed a bit slower to react. He looked at her with gentle amusement and said matter-of-factly, “She’s probably going to burn incense for my mother right now and tell her I have a Princess Consort.”