Wang Han, the adopted son of Zhu Yu Cheng in the Imperial Guard, had disappeared two days before Yan Qi’s men went looking for him. Yan Qi knew he had arrived one step too late. At this point, if anyone claimed this matter had nothing to do with Zhu Yu Cheng, even ghosts wouldn’t believe it. Since Zhu Yu Cheng was connected to Kun Ning Palace, both Zheng Bai Shi and Li Mu Yun understood who should be suspected.
When Qin Wan arrived at Prince Rui’s Mansion, she noticed that after just three days of absence, all the funeral arrangements had been dismantled. The mansion had returned to its former quietness, though the lingering scent of funeral incense remained.
At the waterside pavilion, Qin Wan found Yan Chi with several opened letters bearing broken wax seals on his desk. He sat there with furrowed brows and dark eyes. Qin Wan’s brow also creased as she approached, asking, “What has happened?”
Yan Chi extended his hand, and Qin Wan walked behind the desk. He pulled her into his embrace, settling her on his lap. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he said, “It’s about the Northwestern Border.”
Though Qin Wan hadn’t seen the letters’ contents, she knew the Northwestern Border must be in chaos. Yan Chi’s inner turmoil was evident as he looked at these reports. Qin Wan sighed, “What do you plan to do?”
“Wait.” Despite his anxiety, Yan Chi’s tone remained composed. His very first word could calm those around him. That strength and resilience, forged in the fires of war and tempered by blade edges, entranced Qin Wan.
“I can’t move now. We can only try to save what we can in the Northwest and plan for what follows.” Yan Chi knew each step ahead, but the difficulty lay in the snowflake-like flurry of incoming messages. His temporary inability to act was truly torturous.
“What does Master Qi say?” Qin Wan had met Qi Yu before.
Yan Chi sighed, “He has made up his mind and knows what’s most important right now.”
As Yan Chi spoke, Qin Wan’s gaze caught a folded map. The ink lines traced a rugged pattern, but it wasn’t a map of the capital. Yan Chi pulled it over and opened it, revealing the defense layout of the Northwestern Military Camp.
He continued, “I plan to send Master Qi and Yu Qi back to the Northwest first. Yesterday’s news reported that several of Father’s trusted deputy commanders have been imprisoned. This time, Lin Xu Gui is being extremely careful. If we want to rescue them, we must act quickly and have capable people watching the situation there.”
Qin Wan felt alarmed hearing this, imagining the massive personnel changes within the Northwestern Army. With Yan Chi thousands of miles away, strategic planning would not be easy. “Fan Xin’s health has improved significantly. He can walk now, and should fully recover in a few days.”
Yan Chi shook his head, “We won’t take Fan Xin this time. Let him stay in the capital.”
Qin Wan nodded, “That’s good too.”
The not-so-large map had worn edges from frequent handling, showing how Yan Chi had pored over it these past days. Qin Wan, with her unparalleled medical skills, always felt tense when treating patients who placed their hopes on her. How much more pressure must Yan Chi feel, carrying the safety of the entire Northwestern Army on his shoulders? Being trusted was good, but when you become everyone’s pillar of faith, it becomes a lonely burden as heavy as the sky.
Yan Chi put away the map and changed the subject, “Master Qi will go for the rescue, and Yu Qi will investigate Father’s matter. Do you have any instructions for him?”
Qin Wan’s expression immediately turned solemn. Yan Chi was sending someone to Liang Province to investigate Prince Rui’s death. After a moment’s thought, she said, “That post station is key. The area around it couldn’t have been completely deserted, and the station’s original staff must have gone somewhere. Who knew about the Prince’s departure from the Northwestern Army at that time? Only after getting this information could they begin preparations and wait for the Prince’s arrival.”
After thinking further, she added, “Fan Xin must know many details. I should question him again, preferably with Yu Qi present.”
Once Yu Qi left, they wouldn’t be able to hear Fan Xin’s account anymore. Yan Chi quickly agreed, “Alright, let’s go today.”
At this point, Yan Chi asked, “How are things in the palace?”
Qin Wan recounted the events of the past two days, “Kun Ning Palace is sealed tight, and Wang Han has vanished. Without evidence or witnesses, Prince Cheng is quite angry.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, “The more angry he becomes, the more relieved Kun Ning Palace and the Eastern Palace feel. As for Wang Han…”
He looked at Qin Wan, “Perhaps I can find this Wang Han.”
Qin Wan’s eyes brightened momentarily before showing hesitation. Yan Chi said, “The Marquis’s manor is now tied to the Eastern Palace. You need to think carefully. If they learn you’re helping Prince Cheng, they might be displeased.”
Qin Wan wasn’t helping Prince Cheng; she was helping herself. She wasn’t the Ninth Young Lady and previously had little emotional connection to the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s manor. But after nearly a year, it was impossible to view the manor as unrelated. Yet regarding her father’s case, Qin Wan felt only regret when thinking of the manor – regret that they stood on opposing sides.
“This person might be the breakthrough in Prince Jin’s case. Help me find him first.”
Qin Wan still hesitated. If they found Wang Han and sent him to Yan Qi, the man’s value would surely be maximized. But she suddenly decided to keep Wang Han under her watch.
“Once we find him, let’s keep it quiet. I want to understand what this is all about first.”
Yan Chi understood Qin Wan’s intention and nodded, “Given the Empress’s nature, she would certainly try to eliminate anyone who might threaten the Crown Prince. Prince Jin was one of them, but Consort Jin’s death remains a mystery.”
Suddenly there were two cases. In Prince Jin’s case, he was framed, and the shadowy hands behind it were suspected of fabricating evidence and staging his suicide. Consort Jin’s death became a potentially separate case, unrelated to Prince Jin’s. The person who killed Consort Jin might have nothing to do with the princes’ succession struggle.
However, these were just speculations. Both cases remained shrouded in layers of mystery.
Soon, Yan Chi summoned Yu Qi, and they left through the side door, heading straight to Xun Niang’s place to find Fan Xin.
Yu Qi had anticipated meeting Fan Xin before leaving but hadn’t expected Qin Wan to come along.
When Yu Qi first returned to the capital, he might not have known Qin Wan’s reputation, but after these few days back, he had learned everything about her thoroughly – after all, she was their future Princess Consort.
Learning about her, Yu Qi found their future Princess Consort could only be described as “legendary.” When he first heard the title “Little Medical Immortal,” Yu Qi thought it quite fitting. Later, learning that Qin Wan could perform autopsies and had helped solve the Gold Robbery Case, his jaw nearly hit the ground.
Their future Princess Consort couldn’t simply be described as formidable and powerful!
Thinking of Qin Wan’s appearance, Yu Qi could only marvel that she must be some kind of celestial being…
Lost in thought along the way, by the time they met Fan Xin, this celestial being had already begun her formal questioning.
“Before leaving the Northwest, who did the Prince tell about his journey to Liang Province? From whom did he receive letters?”
“During the journey, did the Prince mention any changes in plans?”
“Was staying at the post station part of the original plan or a last-minute decision?”
“Was there anything suspicious about the people at the station? Think carefully about the leader’s appearance. Describe it in detail.”
“Tell us everything about the situation inside and outside the station when it happened. What did people say? Don’t omit a single word.”
After Qin Wan asked her final question and Fan Xin finished answering, she looked at Yan Chi. He said, “It was well-planned. The ambushers inside and outside struck precisely. They not only understood Father but knew every one of his guards. They separated Father from his guards, showing no mercy outside while taking special care with Father himself. These people struck decisively and meticulously. This alone doesn’t match frontier warriors’ habits. These people were well-trained, coordinated perfectly, and were all elite fighters, with no weak links… It’s somewhat similar to the Northwestern Army’s Divine Mechanism Camp’s methods.”
Seeing the question in Qin Wan’s eyes, Yan Chi explained, “The Divine Mechanism Camp has only one hundred men. They specialize in wartime intelligence, infiltration, and assassination. They target enemy generals and penetrate the most impregnable fortresses. They are the Northwestern Army’s most unexpected blade—”
At this point, Yan Chi suddenly narrowed his phoenix eyes, “I remember someone.”
Qin Wan, Yu Qi, and Fan Xin immediately sharpened their gaze. Yan Chi suddenly said in a cold voice, “Seven years ago, Jiang He Ying, then the Mighty General of the Northwestern Army’s Left Camp, was expelled from the Northwestern Army by Father for killing two suspected deserters through excessive torture. This man was nominally promoted but demoted to become the Commander of Qian Province—”