“What’s wrong? What are you looking at?”

Seeing Qin Wan staring intently at the injuries on Tuoba Hong’s body, Tuoba Wu couldn’t help but ask quietly. Qin Wan replied softly, “These past few days, you haven’t applied any medicine to your elder brother, have you?”

Tuoba Wu naturally replied, “No, of course not. I didn’t dare apply medicine randomly.”

Qin Wan nodded, her frown deepening more and more. “Something’s not right.”

Tuoba Wu didn’t know what had happened – how could applying medicine be wrong?

“What’s the matter? My elder brother, he…”

“The scars on your elder brother’s back are lighter now, because several days have passed. Except for the festering wounds, other areas have already begun to heal naturally. Even the bruises have faded considerably. But in comparison, the wound on your elder brother’s waist side appears much darker in color. This isn’t quite reasonable – this wound is exposed outside, so logically it should heal faster.”

Tuoba Wu frowned. “Then perhaps the external injury was originally more severe?”

Qin Wan thought for a moment but didn’t answer immediately. What Tuoba Wu said wasn’t impossible, but unfortunately, when Tuoba Hong was first brought back, she hadn’t been able to examine the injuries on his back immediately, making it impossible to compare from the very beginning.

Qin Wan sighed, leaning forward to lift Tuoba Hong’s eyelids and check his pulse, saying with concern, “Logically speaking, he should have awakened by now. If he still doesn’t wake up, there will be problems.”

In just a few short days, Tuoba Hong had already visibly lost a full circle of weight. He couldn’t eat or drink daily, only able to be fed medicinal broths. If he continued not waking up, he definitely couldn’t maintain this much longer. Hearing this, Tuoba Wu felt his heart clench with pain. “Right now I only want my elder brother to wake up. I don’t even have the heart to catch the culprit anymore. If elder brother could wake up, then even not catching the murderer would be fine.”

Qin Wan shook her head. “The culprit will definitely be caught, don’t worry.”

Tuoba Wu snorted lightly. “I know Crown Prince Yan made a military pledge before the Da Zhou Emperor, saying he would definitely catch the one who hurt Fu Desheng within three days. That Liu Yun losing his general is indeed pitiful, but I haven’t pressured you all!”

Qin Wan couldn’t agree with this in her heart. Given Tuoba Wu’s temperament, if something really happened to Tuoba Hong, he’d probably be worse than a hundred Liu Yuns. “General Fu’s death does have Da Zhou’s responsibility, and the Third Prince’s state of mind is understandable. Now a day and a half have passed – the culprit must be caught before early morning the day after tomorrow.”

Tuoba Wu asked, “Is that possible? Are there any leads now?”

Qin Wan shook her head without responding. Both emotionally and rationally, she knew she couldn’t casually tell Tuoba Wu what she knew.

After staying in the tent for a while longer, when Qin Wan was leaving, she asked Xu Chang, “Deputy Commander Xu, how long before you change guard shifts?”

Xu Chang hurriedly replied, “Usually every three hours, though sometimes it’s not fixed.”

Qin Wan nodded, seeming lost in thought. Xu Chang asked, “Ninth Young Lady, why do you ask this?”

Qin Wan thought for a moment and said, “It’s nothing. Deputy Commander, please work hard, and absolutely don’t let other people enter.”

Xu Chang hurriedly agreed repeatedly, and only then did Qin Wan head toward the Empress Dowager’s tent.

Returning to the Empress Dowager’s tent, the Empress Dowager immediately pulled Qin Wan close. “Ninth Girl, come here quickly. You’ve been too busy these past two days, there hasn’t been a chance to hear you tell the details of what happened before. You still haven’t told me – where did you learn this autopsy technique?”

Qin Wan smiled and said, “In childhood, I first learned medicine from my parents, then later read various books. Once I was reading a book that I thought was about medicine, but unexpectedly, when it got to the later parts, it actually discussed coroner techniques. That book was mostly nonsensical writing, but it gave me some inspiration. After that, I paid more attention to such things. Plus, I like reading some strange tales and supernatural stories passed down from previous dynasties, and gradually, I also liked learning from those upright officials how they reasoned through and solved cases…”

The Empress Dowager smiled. “Indeed! Earlier when the Empress brought your Eighth Sister to pay respects, your Eighth Sister said that your father and mother were very fond of studying medical principles in earlier years, which is why they taught you. You had exceptional talent – even without a specialized master to teach you, you learned successfully. Not only that, but you also achieved great success in coroner techniques by following medical principles. Come tell me, how did you solve the case at Princess Taizhang’s residence in Jin Zhou?”

In Jin Zhou, Qin Wan had actually helped Huo Huaixin solve two cases. Because one case involved Song Duke’s mansion and An Yang Marquis’s household, the Emperor hadn’t mentioned it that day, but the Empress Dowager had learned about it later.

Qin Wan sat down and, omitting many frightening details, only related what was suitable for hearing. Even so, the Empress Dowager listened with fear and trembling. “Heavens! I thought my courage was already quite large when I was young, but who would have thought – this is what true courage looks like! How did you dare? Ninth Girl, your character truly puts me to shame!”

Qin Wan replied, “Actually, once you understand it, it’s nothing much. Besides, I conduct myself properly and sit upright, so even if something happens, I absolutely won’t be afraid.” Saying this, Qin Wan smiled. “Actually, I don’t mind these things – generally it’s other people who mind more.”

The Empress Dowager knew Qin Wan was referring to others’ gossip, so she snorted lightly. “Those who achieve great things don’t get caught up in minor details, and don’t fear rumors either. I know you’re excellent, Ninth Girl. This time, help Yan Chi well. Once this case is investigated clearly, I’ll definitely make the Emperor reward you handsomely! How about that?”

Qin Wan’s face lit up with radiance, her smile blooming. “That would naturally be wonderful—”

The news that Yan Chi had made a military pledge before Yan Huai, promising Liu Yun and others to solve the case within three days, quickly spread throughout the camp. The Da Zhou people were tense, while Northern Wei and Western Liang waited expectantly. The Northern Wei case and Western Liang case might be separate, or possibly completely unrelated. With Liu Yun acting this way, if Yan Chi failed to solve the case, Northern Wei wouldn’t keep waiting, and if Yan Chi solved it, Northern Wei would have even more reason to apply pressure.

By evening, Yan Chi hadn’t conducted any more large-scale investigations. He had only arranged for people to watch two tall, thin Northern Wei warriors. Whether these two were on guard duty, patrolling, or just staying in their tent without stepping out, the people outside remained motionless as mountains watching them. However, this scene fell into Xu Chang’s eyes.

These two tall, thin men – one named Wei Chan, one named Xiao Yu – were both elite Northern Wei warriors selected for this mission. Like Xu Chang, they served in Northern Wei’s Imperial Guard. Xu Chang was the Deputy Instructor of the Imperial Guard in Northern Wei; the Chief Instructor had been left in Northern Wei to guard the imperial city, while he had been selected to command the close guards around Tuoba Hong and his companions. Of the nearly hundred guards Tuoba Hong had brought this time, about thirty could serve in close attendance. Xu Chang was very familiar with each of these men, and both Wei Chan and Xiao Yu had been selected to follow Tuoba Hong up the mountain on the day of the hunt—

When Tuoba Wu selected guards to watch over the main tent, he naturally chose those whom Tuoba Hong already trusted. Xu Chang was one, and most of the other guards were also those who had gone up the mountain that day. Xu Chang came out from the Northern Wei warriors’ camp three times, and each time he could see people stationed at an intersection not far away. Previously, no patrol posts had been set up there. At first Xu Chang didn’t know why, until he saw these guards secretly following Wei Chan after he left the tent – only then did he understand.

Thinking through the connections, Xu Chang figured it out.

Qin Wan had asked about his trip to the medicine storehouse, and his answer was that he’d heard his brothers mention it. The ones on guard duty at that time were precisely Wei Chan and Xiao Yu. So this was suspecting those who knew when the medicine apprentice would leave the pharmacy.

After much consideration, by nightfall, Xu Chang couldn’t help but keep Wei Chan and Xiao Yu in the tent.

Wei Chan and Xiao Yu didn’t know why, with Wei Chan even asking, “Brother Xu, what’s happening?”

With only the two of them in the tent, Xu Chang clearly had something important to say.

Xu Chang stared coldly at Wei Chan and Xiao Yu for a moment, then said, “You two were also on the mountain that day. Does His Highness the Crown Prince’s incident have anything to do with you? Does General Fu of Western Liang’s incident have anything to do with you?”

Wei Chan and Xiao Yu were startled. Xiao Yu said, “Brother Xu, what are you saying?! Don’t you know what kind of people we are? In Northern Wei, we’re Imperial Guards who protect the Eastern Palace. We’ve had friendship with His Highness the Crown Prince for a long time – how could we harm His Highness the Crown Prince? And that General Fu – we have no grievances with him. Why would we harm him?”

Wei Chan also said, “Exactly! How could you suddenly say such things about us?”

Xu Chang narrowed his eyes and smiled coldly. “You two are agile and skilled, having followed His Highness the Crown Prince for a long time. It’s precisely because His Highness the Crown Prince trusted you that you could possibly harm him. Do you think it’s me suspecting you?! It’s not me! It’s Da Zhou’s Crown Prince! Don’t you two know that you’re already being monitored?!”

Wei Chan and Xiao Yu were stunned. The two looked blankly toward the tent entrance. Xu Chang continued, “At the intersection ahead, those people aren’t newly established patrol posts – they’re there specifically to monitor you! Your every move is completely under their watch?!”

Saying this, Xu Chang’s gaze swept coldly over the two. “I also know your characters, but it doesn’t rule out the possibility that someone is disguising extremely well. Tell me, that day on the mountain, how exactly did you walk, or did you see anything?”

Wei Chan, made somewhat tremulous by Xu Chang’s words, hurriedly explained, “We said this before! Brother Xu, Deputy Commander Xu, please believe us. We followed orders and spread out, walking forward the whole time, until His Fifth Highness sent the signal and we went toward the signal location. We never turned back in between. We and His Highness the Crown Prince weren’t walking in the same direction – how could we harm His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Xu Chang’s eyes were extremely serious. “Then why do the Da Zhou people suspect you two?”

Wei Chan and Xiao Yu looked ready to cry. Xiao Yu even walked out of the tent to take a look, refusing to believe it. Soon, he returned again. Meeting Wei Chan’s questioning gaze, Xiao Yu nodded with a crying expression. “They really are watching us. I didn’t notice during the day!” After finishing, Xiao Yu looked at Xu Chang again. “What exactly is going on?! How did suspicion fall on us?!”

Xu Chang looked at Wei Chan and Xiao Yu, his gaze still carrying doubt. Hearing this, he continued, “The one investigating this case is the Young Marshal of the Shuo Xi Army. You should know him. What they’ve grasped and what they know, I don’t know. So now I can’t trust you either. I’m asking you first – after all, we’re from the same country. If you did it, tell me now. I’ll go find the Princess and Fifth Highness, and we won’t go through the Zhou people. Perhaps we can still save your lives.”

Wei Chan and Xiao Yu looked helpless. Wei Chan puffed out his chest. “Why assume it was us?! We have clear consciences! We can confront them right now! Deputy Commander Xu, come with us!”

Wei Chan turned and walked toward the exit. Xu Chang called out sharply, “Stop right there!”

Wei Chan’s steps halted. He turned around with a bitter expression. “I really can confront them! I truly can’t understand how suspicion fell on us! Whether it’s His Highness the Crown Prince or that General Fu, we have no motive!”

Xu Chang narrowed his eyes, seeming to ponder this matter. After a moment, his brow furrowed as if he’d thought of something unpleasant.

Wei Chan stepped forward. “Deputy Commander Xu, what is it? What did you think of?”

Xu Chang frowned. “I find it very strange. I also think you two have absolutely no possibility of being suspected, but Crown Prince Yan has arranged things this way nonetheless. He made a military pledge with Western Liang’s Third Prince, and now there’s only one day left…”

Xiao Yu reacted extremely quickly. “If they can’t catch the culprit by then, Western Liang’s Third Prince will demand accountability. So, given Crown Prince Yan’s ruthless and merciless nature, to resolve this predicament, he must catch a culprit!”

Wei Chan’s face went pale. “So… they want to find scapegoats to block Western Liang’s Third Prince’s fury?!” The more Wei Chan spoke, the more possible it seemed. He hurriedly said, “What can we do? That Crown Prince Yan can make foreign enemies flee in terror in the Shuo Xi Army. He’s not just ruthless and merciless – besides, we’re Northern Wei people. He wouldn’t care about our lives even more…”

Cold sweat appeared on Xiao Yu’s forehead. “I heard Crown Prince Yan’s methods of interrogation are such that even foreign enemies can’t withstand them…”

Wei Chan’s body trembled. “Could it be that Crown Prince Yan really intends to use us to complete his mission?”

Both Wei Chan and Xiao Yu became nervous. If it were someone else, that would be one thing, but the one who made the military pledge this time was Yan Chi. Regarding this Young Marshal of the Shuo Xi Army, they felt more fear than respect. And this time involving diplomatic relations between three countries, Yan Chi already had the reputation of a demon king. Now in this situation, finding two unimportant people who could provide a reasonable explanation was perfectly normal!

Xu Chang understood this possibility most clearly, and his expression became unprecedentedly grave. “If they truly investigate, there’s nothing to fear. What’s frightening is if Crown Prince Yan has already prepared all the evidence and is just waiting for time to run out to arrest people.”

…

…

The night was cool as water. When Qin Wan emerged from the tent again, she discovered that the guard at the entrance was no longer Xu Chang. She didn’t think much of it at the time, only taking Bai Ying with her toward the pharmacy. “Did you tell everything to His Highness?”

Bai Ying nodded. “Yes, I told him everything. His Highness said he has arrangements and told you not to worry.”

Qin Wan nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. Only one day remained. Many Da Zhou people’s hearts were probably hanging in suspense. This wasn’t an ordinary case – both Western Liang and Northern Wei had incidents, and Da Zhou bore undeniable responsibility.

After the previous incident, the guards around the pharmacy had increased considerably. When Qin Wan arrived at the pharmacy, two medicine apprentices were still preparing medicines. Seeing Qin Wan arrive, they hurriedly bowed. Qin Wan, remembering what Xu Chang had said, asked, “Did you deliver the medicinal paste you made for Deputy Commander Xu?”

The lead medicine apprentice hurriedly stepped forward. “We delivered it, but it was to another warrior surnamed Zhang. That person, like Deputy Commander Xu, was also injured.” The apprentice said quietly, “I heard it was from fighting.”

This matter was no longer a secret. Qin Wan sighed. “Yes, that person drank alcohol and violated regulations.”

The medicine apprentice nodded. “That warrior Zhang also said that usually Deputy Commander Xu wouldn’t strike so heavily. He didn’t know what happened that night. If the blow hadn’t been so severe, he wouldn’t have dared fight back…”

Hearing this, Qin Wan’s brow furrowed tighter.