Pan Chi hastily explained, trying to conceal the panic in his eyes, “It’s not that. I’ve just never seen a woman so bold yet meticulous in my life. I can’t help but admire her.”

“Heh…” Zhu Yan lowered her eyes and smiled, knowing full well that Pan Chi was lying. “If you don’t want to say it, then don’t. Why bother with such a flimsy excuse?”

His lie exposed, Pan Chi’s face flushed red and his heart raced. He scratched his neck, still unable to voice his true thoughts.

He could hardly admit, right in front of Jing Lin, that he was attracted to Zhu Yan’s beauty and admired her dedication.

If Jing Lin were to relay such words to Shen Du, how could he go on living?

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Zhu Yan’s mind. She recalled her master experimenting with certain liquids.

Both were clear, but when combined, they revealed different colors, achieving unexpected effects.

Could someone have applied something similar to these bodies? To test her theory, she turned a serious gaze to Jing Lin.

“Bring some salt water.”

“Huh?” Jing Lin didn’t immediately grasp Zhu Yan’s meaning. She furrowed her brow. “Didn’t you hear me? I need some salt water.”

“I’ll go,” Pan Chi volunteered, eager to dispel the earlier awkwardness. He soon returned with a basin of salt water.

Zhu Yan carefully dabbed the salt water around the wounds of the headless corpse. Sure enough, moments later, strange characters appeared around the wound.

There was the familiar fire moth mark, along with dense, tiny writing.

“What’s this?” Pan Chi was also shocked, leaning in for a closer look.

“All laugh at the moth flying into the flame, unaware they are mayflies born in the morning, dead by night, not entering the cycle of rebirth. The moth endures the fire, dies not, and is reborn.”

Pan Chi muttered to himself, his expression growing darker. He seemed to understand something.

Zhu Yan slowly clenched her fist. This phrase was all too familiar, but why would it appear here?

She seemed to realize something and quickly applied salt water to the other corpse as well.

Around Er Laipi’s eyes, text and the fire moth mark also appeared, along with a detailed list of crimes.

Her uncertainty became a certainty, and Zhu Yan momentarily lost her composure.

If they were going to list crimes, why do it in such a roundabout, hidden way? And if so, why kill at all?

But one thing was now clear: these two cases were related to the two in the capital, or rather, to the Fire Moth Party associates Shen Du was investigating.

As well as Madam Tang, Lai Luozhi, and Lai Luofu – they were all connected.

If this was true, it might further indicate that Chen Huoe’s associates knew all along they would come here, and everything happening now was just a performance for their benefit.

The thought was chilling. They had done so much, yet remained under the other side’s control.

This mission was specially arranged by the Empress. Could even Her Majesty’s actions be part of their scheme?

The more she pondered, the more uneasy Zhu Yan became, her face turning pale.

Pan Chi seemed to have guessed this as well. Noticing Zhu Yan’s pallor, he asked with concern, “Though I haven’t been to the capital in a long while, I’ve heard bits about what’s happening there. When the first two cases occurred, was your family also implicated?”

Zhu Yan was startled, quickly recalling past events.

Seeing her unease and apparent confusion, Pan Chi sighed and continued, “Your third sister and brother-in-law were once kidnapped and nearly burned alive. It caused quite a stir in the capital. I think that was their warning to you.”

“What do you mean?” Zhu Yan’s voice trembled. She seemed to anticipate Pan Chi’s next words.

“These cases appear unrelated to those in the capital, yet we’ve found similarities. I think they’re indirectly telling you that if you continue investigating and interfering with their plans, your family in the capital will be in danger.”

Hearing this, Zhu Yan completely panicked, shuddering and nearly falling over.

Pan Chi’s words were not unreasonable, and such actions aligned with their adversaries’ methods.

It was also Zhu Yan’s greatest fear.

Jing Lin, listening nearby, furrowed his brow but remained silent.

Pan Chi’s analysis made sense, and even if he tried to reassure Zhu Yan on Shen Du’s behalf, she might not listen.

At this point, Zhu Yan had no heart to continue investigating. With a deeply troubled expression, she turned and left.

Jing Lin didn’t follow Zhu Yan. Instead, he looked reproachfully at Pan Chi. “How could you say such things to Madam? Aren’t you deliberately worrying her?”

Pan Chi gave him a disdainful look. “With her intelligence, she’d have realized it sooner or later. I merely gave her a heads up, so she could be prepared.”

“What good is being prepared to do? She can’t go back now with this case ongoing. Are you suggesting she defy imperial orders?”

Pan Chi’s eyes were full of meaning. “You’ve been with Shen Du for so long, yet you don’t understand the people around him at all.”

“You speak as if you know her so well.”

Pan Chi gave Jing Lin a deeply meaningful look, smiled slightly, and also left.

Today’s discovery had indeed dampened his investigative enthusiasm. What worried him most now was whether Zhu Yan would truly fret and agonize over this matter.

But at the same time, he was increasingly intrigued by the case, especially with Zhu Yan’s involvement.

The thought of fighting alongside that woman filled him with a sense of joy. He decided to take a walk outside, hoping to uncover new clues.

Zhu Yan sat in the pavilion for a long time, only coming to her senses when the cool breeze raised goosebumps on her skin.

She loved solving cases and uncovering truths, but she didn’t want her family to be harmed or those close to her to be implicated because of her.

With a slight headache, Zhu Yan returned to her room. She had just laid down when she heard the door open.

Shen Du entered hurriedly, quickly approaching the bed. Seeing the woman’s pale face, he asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Have you seen a physician?”

Zhu Yan sat up, rubbing her forehead and forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Have you finished dealing with Lord Mo’s affairs? You’re back so soon.”