Seeing Qin Wan’s expression change, Zhan Yang quickly asked, “What’s wrong? What has the Princess thought of?”
Qin Wan was still in shock, momentarily unable to speak. Zhan Yang frowned as he watched her but didn’t rush her. After a while, Qin Wan finally collected herself, “This news is very timely. I did think of something, however…”
Qin Wan hesitated, “However, for Captain Zhan’s sake, it’s better if I don’t tell you.”
Zhan Yang, being a clever person, changed the subject, “Something has happened in the capital. I wonder if it’s related to this matter.”
Qin Wan shook her head, “Since Captain Zhan can think this far, let’s leave this matter here. Don’t investigate any further.”
A trace of struggle flashed in Zhan Yang’s eyes. Qin Wan suddenly asked, “How is Master Zheng lately?”
Hearing this question, Zhan Yang sighed, “The Master is currently at home, claiming illness.”
Qin Wan smiled bitterly, “Master Zheng understands in his heart. Captain Zhan, your intentions are good. If you could be promoted, it would benefit the common people. With greater authority, power could be used for the people’s benefit. However, in officialdom, self-preservation must come first.”
Zhan Yang resigned himself, “Very well, I’ll listen to the Princess. I won’t investigate this case further. Though I’m somewhat reluctant, I trust you.”
Qin Wan nodded while suppressing the tumultuous waves in her heart, she poured Zhan Yang a cup of tea. “I really must thank you. We all knew about Guanyin Town, but no one had gone to investigate it in person. It snowed a few days ago, and your journey there and back, staying for several days, must have been quite difficult.”
Qin Wan had always known Zhan Yang to be conscientious in his duties, but this time she gained even more respect for him.
Zhan Yang’s jurisdiction was only within Linan City. Going beyond Linan City was not his responsibility, and his solo trip to Guanyin Town had no official backing and needed to be kept secret. One can imagine how difficult it must have been, yet he still went and ultimately gained results.
Zhan Yang’s persistence in pursuing evil and truth seemed even more steadfast than Qin Wan had imagined.
Zhan Yang lifted the teacup and took a sip, “It wasn’t difficult at all. As a grown man, traveling poses no danger to me. It just took some time and effort.” Zhan Yang spoke lightly, then continued, “I hadn’t thought much about Ning Buyi’s case, but after what the Princess said, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed wrong. If we simply believed Ning Buyi was the murderer and missed the real mastermind behind it all, I fear I would be uneasy for the rest of my life.”
Qin Wan looked at Zhan Yang, “Are you like this with every case? If they truly become cold cases, you must be exhausting yourself.”
For an outsider, whether hearing about or witnessing a murder case, they would feel sorry for the deceased and hate the murderer. However, people like Zhan Yang or Shen Yi who deal with criminal cases as their official duty, gradually become emotionally detached. They remain rational and calm; though they may feel hatred and anger, these emotions aren’t what drives them to seek the truth. To investigate the truth, responsibility must come first, but Zhan Yang took this responsibility too seriously. How many unsolved cases would there be in a yamen?
Zhan Yang smiled, his stern face showing some satisfaction, “Perhaps I’m just that kind of person. If I don’t clear up a case, I feel very uneasy in my heart. Since I wear this official uniform of the yamen, I should do something worthwhile.”
Qin Wan looked at Zhan Yang and smiled, “There are few righteous people in this world, but I feel you are such a person.”
Zhan Yang’s personality was like his expression, always stern, like a sword of justice, forever striking forward against evil.
Zhan Yang’s hand holding the teacup tightened slightly as he smiled bitterly, “Not really. Everyone has their thoughts, right? It’s just that I’m alone without family, so I don’t have as many concerns. If I had elderly parents above and young children below, perhaps I would also spend my days thinking about getting promoted and making money to give them a better life.”
Qin Wan wanted to say something but held back. Zhan Yang wasn’t young anymore, and having been a captain for many years, he had some savings. Finding a matchmaker to arrange a marriage wouldn’t be a problem, but he seemed to have no such intention. Qin Wan wanted to bring it up, but since Zhan Yang had never mentioned his family matters in front of them, Qin Wan, being a tactful person, didn’t feel it appropriate to ask more.
Qin Wan nodded, “As I said before, you can do a lot for the common people. The more capable you are, the more you need to protect yourself. Currently, the political situation is unstable. The yamen is a temporary shelter, but with your abilities, advancing upward wouldn’t be a problem. It’s not easy for common people to have a good official.”
This was praise, and Zhan Yang’s smile became gentler, “Thank you for the reminder, Princess. I’ll think about it.”
After chatting for a few more sentences, Zhan Yang hadn’t come to drink tea with Qin Wan, and knowing she needed to enter the palace, he quickly rose to bid farewell.
After Zhan Yang left, Qin Wan sat alone in the reception room for a long while without getting up. Only when the tea before her had cooled did she rise, put on her cloak, and board her carriage.
The Empress Dowager was growing weaker day by day, and after taking potent medicine, she would feel particularly unwell. Qin Wan didn’t dare be careless and tried to visit the Empress Dowager in the palace once every day. In the carriage, Qin Wan was still thinking about what Zhan Yang had said earlier. If Zhan Yang had only mentioned that Ning Buyi had met someone back then, without describing that person’s appearance, or if he had described something else, Qin Wan wouldn’t have thought much of it. But Zhan Yang specifically mentioned that the person was leaning on a walking stick, and even when hearing people speak, their gaze wouldn’t look over…
Someone with these two characteristics was most likely blind. Only a blind person would lean on a walking stick, and only a blind person wouldn’t instinctively look toward the source of a sound when hearing someone speak. Someone who could command Ning Buyi to do such things must have been a person of high position and authority, and Qin Wan happened to know just such a high-ranking blind person.
Thinking of this point, Qin Wan’s mind couldn’t help but recall something, something she had overlooked.
In the world, only the Empress knew that the current Emperor wasn’t the Prince of Luo. Later, Concubine Jin died because of this, and the Prince of Jin and her father were also executed because of it. This showed that whenever the Emperor knew someone had learned this secret, he would show no mercy. So before these three people, had anyone else known?
Twenty years had passed, and if this secret were revealed to the world today, even Prince Yan Qi and others probably wouldn’t and wouldn’t dare believe it. Over these twenty years, the Emperor had long since learned to be the Prince of Luo, or perhaps too much time had passed, and what people could once distinguish had become indistinguishable. But what about when the Emperor had just been rescued?
At that time, the Prince of Luo was the Prince of Luo, and the Prince of Gong was the Prince of Gong. Although they were brothers and had some similarities, people could still clearly distinguish between the two, and their temperaments and talents were completely different. No one would have mistaken them for each other. The Emperor had escaped death because he had been severely injured.
Burns, knife wounds, and sword wounds had made his features unrecognizable to ordinary people, but who might have had the chance to discover the truth?
At that time, the person treating the Emperor’s wounds was the Princess Consort of Prince Yi. She was an outer disciple of the Medicine King Valley, skilled in medical arts. She had fought desperately to save the Emperor’s life for half a month before stabilizing his condition. It could be said that the Emperor at that time was probably completely exposed before the Princess Consort of Prince Yi. Did the Emperor have any distinguishing marks? Did the Princess Consort know about the Emperor’s old wounds? Or were there other details… In short, the Princess Consort of Prince Yi was the person most likely to discover the secret…
And in the end, she died. Yue Ning had mentioned that the Princess Consort of Prince Yi had died suddenly, though it was officially reported as illness. But how could someone so young and a medical practitioner suddenly die from some serious illness? This doubt would be much easier to explain from another perspective…
When the Emperor wanted someone dead, that person had no choice but to die, and even die in the most natural way possible.
But what if Prince Yi and Yan Ze had discovered something amiss?
The revenge for a murdered mother, the revenge for a murdered wife – was such deep hatred worth returning for after many years?
Qin Wan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Of course, it was worth it. Faced with the crushing force of imperial power, few could stand against it. If one wanted revenge, one could only rely on years of planning. If this were true, what was Yan Ze’s purpose? Did he already know the Emperor’s secret?
Qin Wan’s mind was full of questions without answers. When she entered the palace, she became even more careful not to reveal her thoughts.
When she reached Shoukang Palace, Qin Wan heard Yue Ning’s voice from far away…
“Yes, this sword is good. You’re young, so this one is suitable for you.”
“Try it out, can you wield it?”
“Yes, yes, yes, that’s right. Oh, it looks quite good…”
Qin Wan entered the palace gate and hadn’t walked far when she saw Yue Ning teaching Yan Sui to practice swords in the courtyard. Yan Sui was holding a short sword in his small hands, swinging it with all his might. His eyes were gleaming, his forehead sweating, and he looked very excited.
Qin Wan’s lips curved into a smile as she walked in. Yue Ning saw her first.
“Oh, you’re here! We’ve been waiting for you! What do you think of the short sword I prepared for him?”
Qin Wan smiled as she came forward, “Why did you start teaching him martial arts?”
Yue Ning smiled and said, “Last time when talking with the Empress Dowager, she mentioned that the Ninth Prince’s health wasn’t good either. At that moment, I suggested teaching him martial arts. He’s a boy, and practicing martial arts from a young age would strengthen his body. The Empress Dowager said that the Emperor also practiced martial arts from childhood, and I have several short weapons at home, so I chose one for him.”
Qin Wan looked closely and saw that the blade of the short sword in Yan Sui’s hand was very thick and hadn’t been sharpened.
“It hasn’t been sharpened…”
Yue Ning said, “How could we give him a sharpened one? What if he injured himself?”
Qin Wan was most at ease with Yue Ning’s way of doing things. Yan Sui stopped his movements and looked at Qin Wan, panting.
Qin Wan smiled, “If you’re tired, take a rest…”
Yan Sui shook his head and began swinging again. Qin Wan then went to the warm chamber to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
Just as she reached the door of the warm chamber, Qin Wan heard voices from inside.
“When the Emperor was young, he loved practicing with swords the most. I remember at that time, the Late Emperor invited a great sword master from Meng Province to teach him. He said swords were more elegant than sabers, though I don’t know what logic that was – looking for elegance in martial arts…”
The Empress Dowager chuckled, then continued, “Huan’er was different, he could wield any weapon – saber, spear, sword, or halberd – but he preferred the saber.”
Speaking of the Prince of Gong, the Empress Dowager’s spirits inevitably dampened. Qin Wan then heard Yan Ze say, “I remember when I was very, very young, I saw His Majesty and them sparring. In comparison, Uncle Prince Rui’s martial arts were the best, while my father always lost.”
The Empress Dowager sighed, “Yes, now that you mention it, I’m somewhat reluctant to let Yan Sui learn martial arts.”
Yan Ze reassured her, “Learning martial arts has its benefits. Don’t worry, we won’t let Yan Sui become obsessed with martial arts. Look at His Majesty, his health has improved over the years, which is related to his early sword practice. Even you should walk around more to stay healthy.”
The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly, “I can’t anymore. I just woke up before you all came, but now I’m feeling sleepy again.”
Qin Wan lowered her eyes and walked in. Upon seeing Qin Wan, the Empress Dowager immediately smiled. Yan Ze turned his body toward her direction.
“Paying respects to the Empress Dowager…”
Yan Ze still had medicine patches on his face, and he smiled, “The Princess has arrived.”
“Your Highness came early, I’m late.”
While Qin Wan was talking with the Empress Dowager and checking her pulse, the Empress Dowager suddenly remembered what they had been discussing and said, “Now that you mention it, I suddenly realized I haven’t seen His Majesty practice sword for many years. Ah, he’s too busy…”
Yan Ze said gently, “His Majesty prioritizes state affairs.”
The Empress Dowager seemed to think of something else but didn’t express it. She waited for Qin Wan to check her pulse and speak. Qin Wan said, “After taking the medicine, your pulse shows some improvement, but it’s not enough. If you feel tired these days, just rest as much as you need. You must not get angry or overexert yourself.”
The Empress Dowager smiled, “Indeed, I feel most at ease with your medicine.”
Since the Empress Dowager had mentioned feeling drowsy, neither Yan Ze nor Qin Wan would stay long in the inner chamber. Soon after, they both bid farewell and left.
Outside, Yue Ning was still teaching Yan Sui. Yan Ze walked out the door with measured steps and, following his memory, stopped under the corridor. He smiled and said, “I haven’t seen the Princess visit my residence these past few days.”
Qin Wan turned to observe Yan Ze. Because Yan Ze’s face was covered with medicine patches, her gaze could be unrestrained, “I always feel that Your Highness’s eye condition has already healed, but for some reason, Your Highness still cannot see. I think perhaps it just needs the right opportunity.”
Yan Ze maintained his usual gentle demeanor, “Does the Princess know where this opportunity lies?”
Qin Wan hadn’t expected Yan Ze to ask this way. She gave him another deep look, “I am a doctor, I can only treat physical ailments. If Your Highness has unresolved matters in your heart, I cannot treat those. Unless Your Highness wants to resolve these heart knots yourself, that would be much more effective.”
Yan Ze smiled slightly, “Divine Doctor Sun said I might have undiscovered hidden ailments, yet the Princess is certain it’s my unresolved heart knots.”
Qin Wan withdrew her gaze to look at Yue Ning in the distance, “Physical ailments can be treated with medicine, but heart ailments have no cure. Divine Doctor Sun is straightforward, perhaps he hasn’t thought that far.”
Yan Ze silently listened, not at all annoyed by the implications of Qin Wan’s words. Instead, after a moment of silence, he asked, “Does the Princess know where my heart knot lies?”
Qin Wan pressed her lips together without speaking. Yan Ze smiled slightly, “The Princess’s medical skills are indeed excellent. With the Princess here, there is hope for the Imperial Grandmother’s health.”
After saying this, Yan Ze stepped forward, walking straight along the corridor toward Yue Ning. Watching Yan Ze’s retreating figure, Qin Wan felt for the first time that this Young Master was shrouded in an aura of cold detachment that kept people at a thousand miles’ distance.