“This is Miss Song’s wedding dress!” Yue Ning exclaimed in surprise. She had stood very close that day and had seen it.
Yue Qing looked at the bright red wedding dress in his hands, unable to suppress a shudder. However, in front of Qin Wan, he couldn’t just throw it away, so he could only stiffen his neck and ask, “How did her wedding dress end up here?”
As Yue Qing’s words fell, his gaze landed on Qin Wan.
While everyone was staring at the wedding dress in his hands, only Qin Wan had moved to the edge of the flower bed. She had personally lit a lamp and was carefully searching for something in the flower bed.
However, wearing her formal dress and holding both the lamp and her skirts made it difficult for her to move around.
Suddenly, the lamp in Qin Wan’s hand was taken away—
Qin Wan turned to meet Yan Chi’s deep phoenix eyes.
Their gazes met, and Yan Chi remained as unmoved as a mountain. Qin Wan pressed her lips together without comment, using one hand to hold her skirts and the other to part the rose bushes, her gaze burning with intensity…
“Could it be that her soul has attached itself to the wedding dress?” Madam Jiang, being a woman of the inner court, still believed in Buddhism and spirits. “I’ve heard that when the dead wish to return to the mortal world, they often attach themselves to items they were closest to. Miss Song died wearing this wedding dress, perhaps… perhaps she’s blaming our Marquis Manor…”
“Madam, there’s no such thing as spirits and ghosts. Didn’t you hear what Ninth Young Miss said? It must be human doing.”
At Yue Qiong’s words, Madam Jiang’s expression steadied slightly. She turned to look at the still-frightened Fuling. “Girl, tell us, what exactly happened?”
Fuling’s eyes were slightly red as she spoke with a trembling voice, “Shortly after Madam left, Young Miss and this servant were talking when I suddenly saw Miss Song standing outside. Though it was pitch black outside the window, her wedding dress was a shocking bright red. We don’t know when she appeared outside our window. Her wedding dress fit perfectly, her hands were folded in front of her body, standing there gracefully like a living person, but she… like that day in the sedan chair, she had no… no head…”
As Fuling spoke, the fear returned to her eyes. Madam Jiang and Yue Ning, imagining the scene she described, couldn’t help but feel chills down their spines. Just as they were about to speak again, Qin Wan turned around from a corner of the flower bed. “Marquis, please look—”
Yue Qiong hurried forward to see Qin Wan pointing at the flower bed before them. “This person was very careful, leaving almost no footprints, but Marquis, look at these rose clusters—they’re completely withered, with all the petals scattered in one direction. The person must have brushed against them in their haste. And here—”
Qin Wan pointed to the roof tiles on the back wall. “There are two marks in the moss here, like footprints.”
The roses in the flower bed were at the end of their blooming season, at their most vibrant moment, with many buds hanging heavily on the branches, seemingly about to wither. However, looking around, none had completely fallen except for those few clusters Qin Wan pointed to, which were bare except for their centers as if someone had forcefully pulled them off. Oddly, the fallen petals were all scattered in one direction.
Before she stood the back wall of the Plum Garden. Since it wasn’t regularly maintained, the roof tiles were covered in moss, but two spots showed signs of being stepped on.
“Wherever something happens, traces must be left,” Qin Wan finished and turned to Yan Chi. “Would Your Highness be able to tell how these marks were made?”
Yan Chi hadn’t expected Qin Wan to ask him. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a shimmering light appearing in his pupils. “This wall isn’t high. Anyone with martial arts skills could leap up and over it. Any ordinary martial artist could manage it.”
Qin Wan turned to look at Yue Qiong. “Marquis, this must be human-made. Regardless of why this person chose to dress this way and come here, this incident must be related to Miss Song’s case.”
After a slight pause, Qin Wan looked at Yue Qing. “Second Young Master, might I examine the wedding dress?”
How could Yue Qing refuse? He quickly stepped forward and spread the wedding dress in his hands. Worried that Qin Wan might be frightened, he didn’t hand it directly to her but held it so she could examine it. Qin Wan found this arrangement quite convenient and began examining the dress.
Beside them, Yan Chi, holding the lamp, deepened his gaze, his phoenix eyes slowly narrowing.
Upon inspection, the wedding dress appeared new, with a faint scent of sandalwood, clearly having been perfumed but never worn. As she continued examining, Qin Wan suddenly noticed a faint dark mark on the left sleeve.
The wedding dress was bright red and luxurious, made of the finest materials—why would there be this flaw on the left sleeve?
Looking closer, Qin Wan was even more surprised to discover a half-inch of pulled thread next to the flaw. Both the flaw and the thread were very inconspicuous; if she hadn’t looked so closely, they would have been hard to spot.
“Ninth Young Miss, what is it?” Yue Qing, being closest, couldn’t help but ask.
Unable to understand how this tiny flaw had occurred, Qin Wan checked other areas but found no other issues. She shook her head and looked at Yue Qiong. “May I ask, Marquis, where was Miss Song taken after the incident? And what about her wedding dress?”
Yue Qiong’s eyes focused. “Miss Song was taken to the public mortuary, still wearing her wedding dress.”
The wedding dress was still on Song Rou? Then where did this set come from?
Qin Wan lowered her eyes for a moment, then suddenly said, “How many of the Song family’s dowry servants are staying in the Marquis Manor? I suspect they prepared two sets of wedding dresses for Song Rou, and this one likely came with the dowry chests!”
The Song family was among the capital’s nobility, and Song Rou was marrying far from home. It wouldn’t be unusual to prepare two wedding dresses in case of accidents during the journey.
Yan Chi noticed how Qin Wan stepped back two paces from Yue Qing after releasing the wedding dress before looking away. He then looked beyond the courtyard wall. “What’s behind this?”
Yue Qing quickly responded, “Behind is the manor’s West Garden, not far from the Mirror Lake.”
Hearing this location, it was clear it was an area where manor residents could come and go freely. Qin Wan understood Yan Chi’s meaning and, after a moment’s thought, said to Yue Qiong, “I don’t know the details of Miss Song’s case, but with this wedding dress here, this matter must be related to the Song Duke’s household. I’ve heard the dowry servants are staying in the manor—those with martial arts skills would be especially suspicious. Additionally, Marquis, you might want to ask if they prepared a second wedding dress, and if so, check if it’s still there…”
Yue Qiong’s eyes darkened. “The Prefecture Chief still has no leads in Miss Song’s case, but we never expected such an incident within the manor. I’ll send word immediately for him to come to the manor—this might help with his investigation.”
Qin Wan agreed, and Yue Qiong asked, “Ninth Young Miss must have been frightened earlier. Are you feeling unwell?”
Qin Wan quickly shook her head, glancing at Fuling in the distance. “Only Fuling was frightened. I’m fine, Marquis need not worry.” After a pause, Qin Wan smiled wryly. “I just don’t understand why they came to the Plum Garden.”
Yue Qiong’s expression also darkened. Song Rou’s death had nothing to do with Qin Wan—what was this person’s intention?
Unable to think it through at the moment, Yue Qiong turned to instruct Yue Jia, “Send word to the Prefecture Chief immediately, asking him to come. Also, send people to search the manor for any suspicious activity.”
Yue Jia left immediately, and Yue Qiong turned apologetically to Qin Wan. “We invited Ninth Young Miss here for my mother’s illness, yet now you’ve been frightened. We’ve truly wronged you…”
Qin Wan quickly bowed. “Marquis, you’re too kind.” She glanced at the still red-eyed Fuling. “However, I fear we cannot stay in the Plum Garden tonight. Might there be other accommodation available?”
While Qin Wan could remain calm, Fuling had been severely frightened. Worried that Fuling might fall ill from the shock, and since the Plum Garden wasn’t safe, it would be better to change locations for the night. As soon as Qin Wan finished speaking, Yue Ning strode over. “Stay with me!”
Madam Jiang also came over. “Ning’er has a warm chamber available, though I worry it might be cramped for Wan’er…”
Qin Wan met Yue Ning’s bright eyes and smiled. “Not at all, then I’ll impose on the Princess!”
Yue Ning shook her head. “It’s only natural.”
Yue Qiong was satisfied with this arrangement and then turned serious, instructing Yue Qing, “Have people guard the Plum Garden. After Ninth Young Miss leaves, search the courtyard for any other irregularities. Keep the wedding dress for when the Prefecture Chief arrives.”
Yue Qing agreed, and Yue Qiong looked at Qin Wan and Yan Chi. “It’s late now. Your Highness is injured and shouldn’t move about too much, and Ninth Young Miss should rest. Don’t worry, we won’t let you get involved in this matter. We’ll give you an explanation once the Prefecture Chief concludes.”
This was, after all, a murder case, and such a terrifying one at that. While people might gossip about the An Yang Marquis Manor, it wouldn’t be good to have Qin Wan associated with it.
Qin Wan understood Yue Qiong’s good intentions and curtsied. “The Marquis has thought of everything. Thank you, Marquis.”
Since this matter had already involved Qin Wan because of the An Yang Marquis Manor, how could Yue Qiong accept her thanks? He quickly instructed Yue Ning to escort Qin Wan back to rest. Qin Wan curtsied and returned to her room with Fuling.
Since they wouldn’t be staying here, Qin Wan needed to take the items she’d been using these past days and the gifts from Madam Jiang. While Fuling was packing, Qin Wan stood lost in thought, staring at the back window.
Yue Ning, waiting at the door, saw her expression and hurried in. “What is it?”
Qin Wan frowned, raising her chin to point at the back window. “At that time, Fuling and I were standing here when we saw it. We both saw a person without a head. I’m wondering how that person did it…”
As Qin Wan was speaking, suddenly Yue Qing’s figure appeared outside the window.
He was directing servants to search the flower bed, still holding the bright red wedding dress in his hand. Perhaps because he’d been holding it for so long, his discomfort had faded, and he was now examining the dress up close just as Qin Wan had done.
Yue Ning had a sudden thought. “Second Brother—”
At this call, Yue Qing instinctively turned around but didn’t lower the wedding dress, which perfectly blocked his head and face. Qin Wan’s eyes widened. “The person was six feet tall—it was a man!”
After a slight pause, she added in a deep voice, “And he was left-handed.”