As winter arrived, Minister of Justice Song Huai’s health deteriorated day by day. This elderly minister had served in court for forty years and had now reached his sixtieth year. When he fell ill, Yan Huai naturally wouldn’t let him continue working and directly sent imperial physicians to Minister Song’s residence, allowing him to rest and recover. Consequently, Yan Chi, the Left Deputy Minister of Justice, had to begin investigating the long-stalled Prince Jin case.
On the very afternoon, Yan Chi returned to the Ministry of Justice, Wang Han, the fugitive Imperial Guard, was found by constables sent by Prince Cheng and immediately imprisoned in the Ministry’s dungeon.
Yan Qi had been watching Yan Chi appearing “dejected” in Prince Rui’s mansion, still contemplating how to implicate him. Now that Yan Chi had inherited his title and returned to the Ministry of Justice as its acting head, Yan Qi smiled sinisterly – Yan Chi couldn’t escape now. Yan Qi summoned Li Mu Yun and Zheng Bai Shi, along with Yan Chi and Qin Wan, for a joint interrogation of Wang Han.
When Qin Wan arrived at the Ministry’s dungeon, she saw everyone else had already arrived. Zheng Bai Shi’s face was dark as water, while only Yan Chi and Li Mu Yun maintained composed expressions. Yan Chi, now also a prince, sat as an equal with Yan Qi in the northern direction. The imposter Wang Han knelt on the ground trembling, his hands shaking against the floor tiles.
Qin Wan had figured things out but still exchanged an inconspicuous glance with Yan Chi.
Yan Qi looked between Yan Chi and Qin Wan with an ambiguous smile. After a moment, he struck the judge’s block beside him and commanded, “Repeat what you said to them! You know Governor Zheng and Official Li, and you must be familiar with Prince Rui as well. If you speak one false word, not only will you lose your life, but your family will also suffer because of you!”
Wang Han prostrated himself while trembling, “Yes… yes, I understand…”
Yan Qi raised his chin, gesturing for him to continue. Wang Han curled into a ball, his voice hoarse. Though he showed no obvious new injuries, his mental state was near collapse. In such a condition, he would honestly answer any question.
“After last year’s Prince Jin case, around June 13th or 15th, I… I was the captain of the Xi Hua Gate guard then. My godfather, Eunuch Zhu, suddenly came to instruct me, saying the Imperial Household Department needed to transport some goods out, asking me to arrange everything properly. I was puzzled at the time but thought my godfather just wanted to transport some goods out for trading, so I didn’t take it seriously. Such things… such things weren’t uncommon in the palace…”
“When my godfather saw I wasn’t taking it seriously, he added that… that it was Her Majesty the Empress’s order, telling me I absolutely couldn’t be careless… Only then did I become nervous. I can’t remember the exact date later, but it should have been during those two days. The Imperial Household Department’s purchasing eunuch, Kang Bo Wen, led two people driving a carriage out of the palace. There were several boxes on the carriage. I took the initiative to inspect them at the time, but didn’t look… just let them pass according to usual procedure…”
“I didn’t know what it was at the time, only felt that Kang Bo Wen’s expression was strange. Later… later when drinking with my godfather, after he got drunk, he mentioned that what was sent out that day wasn’t ordinary goods, but a person! It was Prince Jin’s guard Song Xi Wen…”
“I knew then that this wasn’t simple and became very afraid, but the case was quickly settled afterward, so my heart gradually settled back down. I didn’t expect that this year…”
Yan Qi listened leisurely, occasionally glancing at Zheng Bai Shi and Qin Wan.
After a moment, Yan Qi asked, “Why did you flee this year? Don’t you know desertion from the Imperial Guard is a capital offense?”
Wang Han immediately became flustered, “Your Highness, I didn’t want to flee, it was Her Majesty the Empress… Her Majesty sent her palace maid to deliver a message, telling me to leave the palace quickly, or else I would face mortal danger… How dare I disobey Her Majesty’s orders?! At the time, I couldn’t even ask Her Majesty to help find an excuse. I fled that very night…”
Zheng Bai Shi’s lips trembled, but he couldn’t help saying, “Wang Han, do you have evidence for these claims?! You can’t casually slander Her Majesty the Empress without proof…”
Wang Han trembled again but desperately raised his head, “I dare not lie. To cover for them, I even went out of the palace that night. This can be verified with others who were on duty with me at the time.”
After speaking, Wang Han lowered his head in fear.
The truth wasn’t just this simple, of course, but now the Prince Jin case was merely a weapon in Yan Qi’s hands. Yan Qi didn’t care about the truth, only about how much the Empress and Crown Prince were involved in this case. Since that was so, Yan Chi might as well give him what he wanted, while Qin Wan and Yan Chi would naturally have other considerations regarding the real facts.
The current court situation – the succession struggle, plus the Prince Jin case, Consort Jin’s death, and this suddenly appearing corpse – had become extremely complicated. In comparison, the black rice that shouldn’t have appeared in the prince’s back garden wasn’t so important anymore. Or perhaps, the current situation was exactly what that person hiding in the shadows hoped for. Qin Wan and Yan Chi would follow that person’s lead to see what their ultimate goal was.
“Where did you go after leaving the palace?!” Zheng Bai Shi asked almost urgently.
Wang Han answered tremblingly, “I only ensured they could leave the palace smoothly, I didn’t follow them. Kang Bo Wen didn’t let me follow either. After leaving the palace, that night… that night I went to seek pleasure in the West Market…”
Everyone present knew what “seeking pleasure” meant. Zheng Bai Shi bit his teeth and didn’t ask further.
Yan Qi narrowed his eyes and asked, “Then, which direction did you see them heading?”
Wang Han appeared to consider for a moment before saying, “It should be… toward Xing Le District…”
The direction of Xing Le District was exactly where Prince Jin’s mansion was located!
Yan Qi nodded, “Did your godfather later mention why Song Xi Wen was sent out?”
Wang Han pressed his lips together and said, “He mentioned… mentioned briefly, saying that… saying Song Xi Wen said at the time… said he knew of evidence that Prince Jin and Consort Jin were having an affair… Her Majesty the Empress wanted to investigate this matter…”
Zheng Bai Shi’s eyelids jerked violently. Yan Qi said, “So that’s how it was. Her Majesty privately removed Song Xi Wen from the palace, but in the end, he died. Not only did he die, but he was buried in Prince Jin’s back garden. This doesn’t make sense any way you look at it.”
Wang Han shook his head, “I’ve told everything I know, I dare not hide anything from Your Highness.”
Yan Qi made a sound of acknowledgment and looked toward Zheng Bai Shi and Li Mu Yun, “Do you two have anything else to ask?”
Zheng Bai Shi gritted his teeth, “Your Highness, what this person says may not be true. Even if we investigate and confirm he left the palace last year in June, now that Kang Bo Wen is dead, no one can question his claims no matter what he says. He might have left the palace for other reasons…”
Yan Qi raised an eyebrow, “Then what does Governor Zheng think is the right way to investigate this case? If he wasn’t guilty, why did he run in the first place? Now that I’ve finally captured him, you say his words can’t be trusted. Governor Zheng, if you’re going to be like this, then I might as well not investigate.” His gaze shifted to Li Mu Yun, “What does Official Li think?”
Li Mu Yun lowered his eyes for a moment and said, “All deductions are just deductions. It’s better to verify first.”
Speaking thus, Li Mu Yun looked at Wang Han, “You say Kang Bo Wen took people from the Imperial Household Department out. Do you remember who was with him that night?”
Kang Bo Wen was already dead, another case of dead men telling no tales. If he remembered who had gone out with Kang Bo Wen, then this case would have other leads to investigate.
As they say, one lie requires ten lies to cover it up. Wang Han shook his head in confusion, “That night, the people Kang Bo Wen brought were unfamiliar faces. I looked a few times and then, found I didn’t recognize them, so didn’t ask much. Eunuch Kang had some status in the Imperial Household Department, I didn’t want to say too much lest he speak ill of me to Her Majesty.”
Everyone present was familiar with the palace servants’ complicated relationships. Li Mu Yun frowned, “The Imperial Household Department’s purchasing staff should be limited to certain people. This lead can be investigated.”
Since Kang Bo Wen had died only recently, Qin Wan asked, “Where is Kang Bo Wen’s body?”
Qin Wan was the most interested in the corpse among those present. She could make dead men speak, but others thought that once someone was dead, the leads were cut off. Yan Qi frowned and said, “His body is in the Imperial Mortuary. Since his death was accidental and no one said he was guilty at the time, naturally no one managed his body, let alone conducted an autopsy.”
Qin Wan said, “If Your Highness needs me to examine the body, I can make the trip.”
Qin Wan’s attitude was very proactive. Yan Qi raised an eyebrow, glanced at Yan Chi beside him, and suddenly smiled, “Very well, let Yan Chi accompany you. That place isn’t very pleasant, you’ll feel more at ease with him there.”
Everyone knew Yan Chi and Qin Wan had been granted marriage, with the wedding date already set. Yan Qi’s words naturally carried a teasing tone.
Yan Chi heard this without comment, “In that case, shall we split up?”
Yan Qi nodded, “Alright, I’ll handle investigating the Imperial Guard and Imperial Household Department.” Speaking thus, Yan Qi smiled at Zheng Bai Shi, “Governor Zheng should come with me, lest we discover something and Governor Zheng again says those words can’t be trusted.”
Zheng Bai Shi’s forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Hearing this, he could only force a laugh and say, “I wouldn’t dare.”
After leaving the Ministry’s dungeon, Yan Chi took Qin Wan in a carriage heading to the palace.
The light was dim inside the carriage. Looking at Yan Chi in his formal court robes, Qin Wan felt somewhat relieved. Although Yan Chi used to wear black, now these court robes with four-clawed coiled dragons represented an even more noble status and indeed enhanced the already intimidating presence Yan Chi naturally possessed. Qin Wan had to admit that someone of her personality was most impressed by powerful people.
“He… Wang Han… will he be in danger?”
Qin Wan asked. The imposter Wang Han had performed well enough earlier, not arousing anyone’s suspicion, but since he was their person, Qin Wan still felt somewhat worried.
Yan Chi shook his head, “Don’t worry, this isn’t his first time facing such a situation. He can handle it. Yan Qi has finally caught a living person and a very cooperative one at that. He definitely won’t let him die easily. On the contrary, he will protect him.”
Qin Wan nodded. She had the same guess but felt she could only be at ease after hearing Yan Chi say so.
After a slight pause, Yan Chi said, “Yan Qi met with Li Mu Yun privately.”
Qin Wan’s pupils trembled, clearly very concerned about Li Mu Yun.
“Li Mu Yun submitted a memorial a few days ago, you should know. He has many doubts about this case. It seems he intends to listen to Yan Qi, at least he won’t stay uninvolved anymore.”
Qin Wan frowned, “So he was coerced by Prince Cheng?”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, “That’s possible—”
Qin Wan’s gaze sank. Li Mu Yun was even more unattached than her father. Although he appeared more diplomatic than her father on the surface, in these two years, he hadn’t allied with any faction. Now that he was being coerced by Yan Qi, what did Yan Qi use to coerce him?
“Last year it was Li Mu Yun who exposed Official Shen, but outsiders don’t know what exactly he told His Majesty.”
Qin Wan’s heart jumped, “He was falsely accusing Official Shen. Could it be that Yan Qi has caught his weakness?”
Qin Wan became somewhat agitated. Yan Chi grabbed her hand and gripped it tightly, “It shouldn’t be that serious. Li Mu Yun’s attitude is very ambiguous. Although he seems to strongly advocate thoroughly investigating this case, he hasn’t completely sided with Yan Qi. From his demeanor, he’s likely just doing what he can. And if this case can’t be cleared up, last year’s case has no possibility of being overturned.”
This was an extremely complex situation involving the Crown Prince and Empress, Yan Qi, the Emperor, Li Mu Yun, herself, and Yan Chi. Everyone stood from different positions, and looking at it now, no one’s goals completely aligned with another’s.
This also involved Consort Jin’s death, Prince Jin being framed, Shen Yi being wronged, and this corpse case at Prince Jin’s mansion. With the complex case threads and unfathomable human hearts, even someone as calm and rational as Qin Wan found it thorny.
More troubling was that the situation was constantly changing, everyone’s thoughts were changing. How this case would develop, neither Yan Chi nor Qin Wan could predict. It seemed as if an invisible hand in destiny was pushing the case’s development, and they were all just drops in the torrent, no one able to control its direction.
“The Empress killed Song Xi Wen, she probably wanted to ensure Prince Jin had no chance of vindication. But at the time, Shen Yi was the Crown Prince’s future father-in-law, yet Li Mu Yun exposed Shen Yi, which proves Li Mu Yun isn’t the Crown Prince’s man.”
Yan Chi spoke softly while squeezing Qin Wan’s palm.
But Qin Wan looked up and asked, “After Shen Yi’s downfall, did it affect the Crown Prince?”
Yan Chi thought for a moment, “Seemingly not, because the Crown Prince joined the court officials in strongly arguing that Prince Jin was guilty.”
Qin Wan nodded, “That’s it then. With the Crown Prince and Empress’s personalities, if Shen Yi hindered them, what did it matter if he was the future father-in-law? Choosing Shen Yi’s daughter initially… was just to win over the common officials.
But the Crown Prince probably discovered that even if he married Shen Yi’s daughter, given Shen Yi’s temperament, he likely wouldn’t truly serve him devotedly. So he wasn’t opposed to moving against Shen Yi.”
Qin Wan spoke these words with extreme calm and restraint. Yan Chi gripped her hand and asked softly, “You dislike the Crown Prince?”
Although Qin Wan’s words made sense, she rarely made such definitive negative deductions without evidence. Moreover, Yan Chi could hear that Qin Wan’s tone was very indifferent, as if certain the Crown Prince was a ruthless person.
Qin Wan paused before saying, “When I first returned at the beginning of the year, Third Brother took me to dine at Zui Xian Lou, but we encountered Zhao Jing and Feng Zhang fighting. Someone died at that time. I was present and without thinking too much, tried to save that person. With my medical skills, I was confident I could save him…”
“But in the end that person still died.”
Before Qin Wan finished, Yan Chi already knew the outcome. Qin Wan nodded, her eyes dark.
Yan Chi sighed, “I know about this matter. Because of this, Yan Qi took a moderate setback. If that person hadn’t died, it wouldn’t have had such an effect. The succession struggle is like this – both the Crown Prince and Prince Cheng are cautious people, and neither would make a fatal mistake. But it’s these moderate matters accumulating one by one that not only sway the court officials’ hearts but make the Emperor’s thoughts hard to fathom. At some point, it might change his original intentions.”
Qin Wan knew these points, but she was too far removed from court power struggles. From an observer’s perspective, all the cruelty and heartlessness naturally became crystal clear, striking even more deeply at one’s heart.
Qin Wan sighed, “At first I didn’t know why, but later I understood – I actually couldn’t have saved that person.”
“You let him live one more day, that was enough.” This consolation couldn’t dispel the chill in Qin Wan’s heart. Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan’s dark eyes and suddenly said, “If… if one day I also have to use others’ lives as bargaining chips…”
Yan Chi wasn’t saying this in jest. Power struggles without sacrifice would be a joke. When he had no choice, he could only sacrifice unimportant people around him. Moreover, in more secretive matters, Yan Chi felt the Crown Prince’s actions were actually within normal bounds. He wasn’t surprised or critical, only somewhat pitying that Northern Army general.
Qin Wan understood Yan Chi’s meaning. She raised her hand to brush his face, “Would you send your soldiers to their deaths?”
Yan Chi was slightly startled, then covered her hand and smiled, “Of course not.”
Qin Wan’s lips curved slightly, “That’s enough then. If it were you, you definitely wouldn’t end the lives of those around you just to make your opponent take a small fall. Zhao Jing and the Crown Prince both knew that one death wouldn’t make Prince Cheng completely lose favor, but they were still willing to exchange a person’s life for one rebuke, one disappointment from the Emperor towards Prince Cheng. Life is too cheap in their eyes.”
Yan Chi’s heart burned hot. Qin Wan had compassion but also saw clearly, and wouldn’t demand or criticize him. This was truly rare. He took her hand to his lips and kissed it firmly.
“Rest assured, soldiers from Shuo Xi would never send their brothers to their deaths.”
These words seemed to carry Shuo Xi’s fierce winds, creating a roaring in Qin Wan’s ears. Her heart trembled – this was the Young Commander of the Shuo Xi Army’s promise, as light as a tender kiss, yet as solemn as giving hope to thousands of troops. Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi’s bright black eyes, and suddenly a voice in her heart said – this is the man she loves—
Qin Wan’s eyes were shining. This was Yan Chi, unafraid of sinister and ugly plots and schemes, possessing counterattacks that made enemies lose heart at the mere mention. But more importantly, it was his responsibility and uprightness, broad enough to contain mountains and rivers, mighty enough to stand between heaven and earth.
“The way you’re looking at me, are you testing me?”
Yan Chi suddenly drew closer. Qin Wan blinked but didn’t retreat, “I’m very happy.”
“Hmm?” Yan Chi pecked her lips, “Happy about what?”
Qin Wan’s eyes sparkled, “Happy that you’re different from everyone else…”
Yan Chi felt as if struck by these words, his heart burning hot and his eyes darkening. Looking at Qin Wan’s trusting eyes, he thought silently that he wasn’t actually that different. What Yan Che didn’t seem so evil to him – if needed, he wouldn’t mind playing such small tricks, just that the dead would never be frontline soldiers. But if she didn’t like it, he could maintain lofty principles, because he absolutely wouldn’t allow her current gaze to be shadowed by anything he did.
“That’s because of you.” Yan Chi’s voice deepened as he lowered his head to kiss Qin Wan.
One hand held her back while the other wrapped around her waist. This kiss was passionate yet without too much sensual desire. He seemed to be unhurriedly comforting her while also making an extremely solemn promise. Within that gentleness and delicacy was also his complete sincerity toward her. He increasingly felt that heaven hadn’t mistreated him after all.
The carriage arrived at the palace gate. Only then did Yan Chi release Qin Wan. Although he held a prince’s title, he was bringing Qin Wan and it was for official business, so it wasn’t appropriate to drive the carriage inside. Qin Wan took several quick breaths to calm herself, adjusted her clothes, and then gave Yan Chi a reproachful glare before getting off the carriage. The palace guards didn’t think anything of it and respectfully let them pass.
After entering Zheng Yang Gate, the tips of Qin Wan’s ears showed an almost imperceptible pink. Yan Chi walked half a step ahead of her, turning his head just in time to see this. His gaze grew even more intense, and Qin Wan frowned, giving him another disapproving sideways glance.
Yan Chi was in such a good mood that even when they reached the Imperial Mortuary, he wasn’t angered by the palace servants’ laxness. The mortuary servants never expected anyone would come to inquire about Kang Bo Wen’s body. According to palace rules, bodies from accidental deaths should be sent out quickly, yet Kang Bo Wen’s body remained in the palace. Qin Wan thought briefly and looked up at Yan Chi.
Yan Chi caught her look, “What is it?”
Qin Wan said, “Kang Bo Wen died early on, his body shouldn’t still be here. When he died, Yan Qi didn’t know he was connected to last year’s events. There’s no explanation other than you arranged this.”
Yan Chi sighed and said while following the servant toward where the body was kept, “Can’t hide anything from you.”
Qin Wan smiled, showing rare girlish pride on her face.
Yan Chi walked in front, leading the way to an abandoned side courtyard in the Imperial Mortuary.
The Imperial Mortuary was where low-ranking palace servants lived. Besides the original servants, most were those who had been demoted there for offenses. Therefore, when Yan Chi and Qin Wan arrived, everyone barely dared to breathe.
An old eunuch walked in front and pushed open the half-closed door. As soon as the door opened, a faint corpse stench wafted out. The old eunuch respectfully said, “Your Highness, County Princess, the body is inside. These days it’s been cold, and we servants have tried our best to preserve the body, but still…”
He looked at Qin Wan somewhat regretfully, presumably thinking it was quite sinful to let such a noble and beautiful lady see such a decomposed corpse.
Yan Chi waved his hand and personally led Qin Wan into the room.
The Imperial Mortuary was very remote, and this body was placed in a side room of this abandoned courtyard. The room was dimly lit, and they could faintly see a human form lying on felt blankets on the ground. Yan Chi said, “Go bring some lamps.”
The old eunuch immediately complied. Yan Chi personally opened all the doors and windows to let in light. When the old eunuch returned with lamps, they saw Qin Wan crouching beside the body, gently pressing around its head.
Kang Bo Wen had been dead for seven or eight days. Having drowned, his skin was bloated from the water, and after being retrieved he was just left there. His whole body had swollen from decay, with postmortem lividity covering his wrists and ankles. His face was blue and eyes protruding – even the old eunuch dared not look directly at him, but Qin Wan remained completely composed.
“Could you prepare some white vinegar—”
The old eunuch naturally dared not refuse and left after acknowledging.
Yan Chi walked to Qin Wan’s side. Seeing her touch the corpse without wearing protective gloves felt improper, so he grabbed her hand, “Let me—”
Qin Wan immediately understood what he was thinking and smiled, stepping back.
Yan Chi looked at her, waiting for instructions. Qin Wan said, “I’ve felt the back of the head, there are no injuries. Open his clothes and see if there are any external wounds… There’s an obvious impact injury on the front of the forehead, probably from hitting something when he fell into the well.”
Yan Chi followed her orders and opened the already-putrid clothes on the corpse. Once opened, they saw the chest and lungs were swollen, and the lower abdomen had started showing greenish discoloration. Though the body’s surface was covered in postmortem lividity, there were no visible external injuries.
Yan Chi turned the body over, revealing several purple-red abrasions on the back of the shoulder. Besides this, there were no other injuries. Suspicion arose in Qin Wan’s eyes as the old eunuch returned with the white vinegar.
Yan Chi knew how to use white vinegar and didn’t delay, evenly spreading it over the corpse. Qin Wan said, “Apply more to the wrists and arms – if he was coerced, there might be binding marks.”
Yan Chi followed her instructions. Soon, the vinegar was applied completely. Qin Wan and Yan Chi waited together for injuries to appear. However, after the time it takes to burn an incense stick, only the abrasions on Kang Bo Wen’s back became visible. Qin Wan examined them carefully for a while, slightly frowning, “Unless he was drugged unconscious, it doesn’t look like he was coerced.”
Qin Wan crouched down and briefly examined Kang Bo Wen’s nose and mouth. Though there was mud inside, it was impossible to check for traces of any sedative incense. Qin Wan pondered for a moment, “Where is the abandoned well he died in?”
Yan Chi stood up and called the old eunuch in, “Where did Kang Bo Wen die?”
The old eunuch immediately replied, “In the North Garden, an abandoned well in the northwest direction.”
Yan Chi and Qin Wan cleaned their hands and had the old eunuch lead them to the well in the North Garden.
Only today did Qin Wan realize how vast the inner palace was. The Imperial Mortuary was already quite remote, but the North Garden was even more isolated. As they walked, Yan Chi explained, “The inner palace underwent several expansions, especially during Emperor Wen’s time a hundred years ago. Emperor Wen loved luxury and kept expanding the palaces northward. But later, when the Zhou royal family declined and went through several internal struggles, there were fewer people, so naturally, many buildings were empty. Over time, large sections of palaces in the north became cold palaces.”
The further north they went, the more desolate it became. Though the palaces were built tall and magnificent, they were all covered in dust and cobwebs. After walking for about two incense sticks’ worth of time, an abandoned flower garden appeared before Qin Wan’s eyes. The old eunuch pointed to a corner in the distance, “That’s the abandoned well where Eunuch Kang was retrieved from.”
Qin Wan frowned, “This place is so remote – who discovered him?”
The old eunuch smiled bitterly, “One of Eunuch Kang’s apprentices found him.”
Kang’s apprentice was also from the Imperial Household Department and involved in purchasing. Within the department, purchasing eunuchs had the most profitable positions and highest status. These people would never casually walk this way. This garden and palace didn’t need maintenance, and even the lowest servants wouldn’t come here. What was his apprentice doing here?
Yan Chi immediately ordered, “Go summon Kang Bo Wen’s apprentice.”
The old eunuch acknowledged and instructed a young eunuch behind him to fetch someone, while Qin Wan walked to the well’s edge.
As soon as she saw the well opening, Qin Wan’s brows furrowed.
The well mouth was extremely narrow, barely able to fit an adult man’s body. Due to disuse, the well platform was covered in moss. Now there were many marks on the moss, presumably left when they retrieved the body. Qin Wan scrutinized the area around the well with piercing eyes, finally walking to the edge of the well platform. She pondered for a moment when a thought suddenly occurred to her. She bent down, took out her handkerchief from her sleeve, and wiped the moss on the well edge with moderate force.
Instantly, the handkerchief was stained with a dark green smudge. Qin Wan rubbed it with her hand – the moss stain seemed dyed on and wouldn’t easily come off. Qin Wan’s brows knitted deeply.
“If it was an accidental death, what do you think the circumstances would be?”
Yan Chi frowned, “The well mouth isn’t large – the possibility of an accident was low to begin with. If we must say, there’s only one possibility: he probably slipped on the well platform and fell straight in.”
As Yan Chi spoke, suspicion arose in his eyes. Kang Bo Wen wasn’t young and wasn’t particularly small. When normal people slip, their hands, feet, and body instinctively move – there’s no way to fall straight in. Yet oddly, Kang Bo Wen’s body showed no marks of strangulation or binding. Could it be he wasn’t thrown in by someone?
Soon, a young eunuch with a pale face approached.
“Greetings to Your Highness and County Princess… This servant is Kang Ming, Eunuch Kang’s apprentice…”
This young eunuch’s expression was somewhat flustered, but not particularly fearful. Yan Chi observed him for a moment, seeing his small face deathly pale and covered in cold sweat, clearly afraid of Yan Chi. Yan Chi spoke softly, “You discovered your master had fallen into the well and died that day?”
Kang Ming nodded, “Yes, Your Highness, I discovered him.”
Yan Chi continued, “This place is so remote – how did you discover him?”
Kang Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly said, “Because that day… my master said he was coming to the North Garden on business… Later when night came and the master hadn’t returned, there were two orders in the department waiting for his review. I was worried and came to the North Garden to look for a master. Then, by the abandoned well, I found the beads master usually wore on his wrist, and that’s when I discovered master had fallen into the well.”
As Kang Ming spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, clearly still unable to accept his master’s death.
Qin Wan frowned, “He said he was coming to the North Garden? Do you know why?”
Kang Ming shook his head, “This servant doesn’t know. Those few days master was very preoccupied, not even paying much attention to department work. I helped master with various tasks but didn’t dare ask. Later that day, master was going out alone, and I happened to run into him and asked where he was going. Master seemed somewhat dazed then, said he was going to look at something in the north, and left. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but thinking back now, master’s expression seemed strange…”
Qin Wan and Yan Chi exchanged glances, and Qin Wan asked further, “Did your master meet with anyone during those days?”
Kang Ming continued shaking his head, “I wasn’t master’s only apprentice, and I had my duties to attend to. I didn’t always know where the master went. Those days I didn’t see Master meet anyone unusual, everything seemed normal, except Master himself was somewhat off, though I can’t explain how…”
“What kind of beads did your master wear?”
Kang Ming hurriedly answered, “A string of small-leaf purple sandalwood…”
Speaking thus, Kang Ming showed his own, “Similar to what I’m wearing, just better quality than mine. Master loved small-leaf purple sandalwood, every apprentice had a string. When I came here then, I saw master’s beads by the well and knew something was wrong…”
Qin Wan immediately asked, “Was the string broken?”
Kang Ming shook his head, “No, no, it was intact, just fell off somehow.”
At this point, both Qin Wan and Yan Chi probably had figured it out. Yan Chi dismissed Kang Ming, and Qin Wan said, “Kang Bo Wen committed suicide. No one coerced him. His shoes were muddy but showed no moss stains, indicating it wasn’t an accidental slip. He didn’t even step on the well platform but stepped directly in. The injuries on his forehead and back weren’t severe, probably from hitting the well wall as he fell. His nose and mouth were full of mud, chest, and abdomen swollen, with petechiae under the eyelids – indeed death by drowning. And his beads couldn’t have just fallen intact by the well. If there was a murderer present, whether pushing or throwing him in, they would certainly have cleaned up the scene.”
After hearing Kang Ming’s words, Yan Chi also understood, his eyes darkening slightly, “Within half a month, Zhu Yu Cheng killed himself, and Kang Bo Wen jumped into a well. Who forced them is obvious.”
Though they understood the connection, they couldn’t find evidence.
Zhu Yu Cheng was dead, and Kang Bo Wen was also dead. With just Wang Han, and Yan Qi relying on Li Mu Yun up front, how much truth could they uncover? Yan Qi wasn’t certain. After looking around once more, he finally instructed the old eunuch, “Send the body out.”
The old eunuch nodded, and Yan Chi waved his hand, allowing the old eunuch to withdraw with his people.
Qin Wan took another look at the desolate North Garden and walked out with Yan Chi.
At the same time in Kun Ning Palace, Yun Yan said softly, “They didn’t discover anything, and now the body has been sent out.”
Zhao Shu Hua’s brows furrowed slightly, “The people who kept the body – were they Prince Cheng’s men, or Yan Chi’s?”
Yun Yan hesitated for a moment, “That’s still uncertain. The mortuary people are very complex, but being able to reach into the palace, this servant thinks they’re probably Prince Cheng’s people.”
Zhao Shu Hua narrowed her eyes, “Kang Bo Wen died by himself, so there’s nothing to fear from their investigation. After this time, who knows what move Prince Cheng will make next…”
Yun Yan smiled, “Prince Cheng is thinking too simply. Even if Eunuch Kang were still alive, could they move against you based on a eunuch’s accusations? That’s too naive.”
Zhao Shu Hua didn’t speak, then said, “Prince Cheng can’t move against me, but the Emperor can.”
Just as they were speaking, a young eunuch hurriedly walked to the hall outside, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived!”
Zhao Shu Hua raised an eyebrow and soon saw Yan Che striding in from outside. His expression was deeply serious – just from his face, Zhao Shu Hua knew something had happened. Sure enough, Yan Che walked straight to her and, as soon as he stopped, said in a low voice, “Mother, Wang Han has been found by Prince Cheng…”
Zhao Shu Hua’s expression changed, “What?!”
Yan Che spoke quickly and seriously, “It’s news from Zheng Bai Shi. This morning Prince Cheng summoned them all to the Ministry of Justice dungeon. Wang Han is there now and has confessed everything. Now Prince Cheng is taking Zheng Bai Shi and others to question the Imperial Guard at Xi Hua Gate, and people have gone to the Imperial Household Department’s purchasing office – probably because of Wang Han’s testimony!”
Zhao Shu Hua slammed her palm on the chair arm, “Outrageous! How was he captured?!”
Yan Che anxiously said, “Mother, it’s useless to pursue that now. The man is in Yan Qi’s hands – he’ll certainly make a big issue of it. Mother, what should we do now?”
Zhao Shu Hua quickly calmed down and suddenly asked, “Has Yan Qi sent people out of the city?”
Yan Che was startled and shook his head, “No, he hasn’t.”
Zhao Shu Hua narrowed her eyes, “Something’s not right… He should have sent people out of the city…”