After Wu Yu finished speaking, Zhan Yang frowned slightly with some helplessness. “If it’s about fighting over a beauty out of jealousy, it wouldn’t be enough to murder someone. Looking at what you’ve written here, these are all respectable families with status.”

Wu Yu smiled bitterly. “The main thing is that big brother’s disappearance was extremely strange. Naturally, I must tell Head Constable Zhan everything I can think of.”

Zhan Yang tucked the list away. “Good, Third Young Master can rest assured. We will investigate all these families.”

Wu Yu nodded, then glanced toward the back of the mortuary. “I heard that someone died in the southern part of the city last night?”

Zhan Yang nodded. “Yes, Fourth Young Master’s case isn’t finished yet, and now a fifth person has died.”

Wu Yu sighed. “This murderer is truly deranged. Who knows what he’s killing for. Head Constable Zhan, although my big brother’s case has been reported to the authorities, please prioritize this case first, lest delays lead to more deaths.”

Zhan Yang’s lips curved upward. “Thank you for your understanding, Third Young Master—”

This being the mortuary, Wu Yu couldn’t stay long. After saying a few more words, he took his leave and departed. Once Wu Yu left, Qin Wan said, “This Third Young Master has been coming quite frequently these past few days—”

Zhan Yang nodded. “Yes, his big brother’s case is indeed difficult to investigate.”

Four years had passed since the incident. Wu Yu coming to report the case at this time—wasn’t he making things difficult for the yamen?!

Thinking this, Qin Wan frowned slightly. “Is Wu Yu’s mother gravely ill?”

Zhan Yang nodded. “Yes, she’s very ill and can no longer get out of bed.”

“Did she fall ill before Fourth Young Master’s incident?”

“Yes, she became ill a year ago. After Fourth Young Master’s incident, she’s probably barely clinging to life.”

Qin Wan didn’t know if she was being overly suspicious, but at this moment, she thought of what Daoist Zhang had said before. He said that setting up this ritual could allow someone who should have died to live. Could it be…

However, this case and the one from six years ago were by the same murderer. Six years ago, what was Wu Yu doing?

Qin Wan quickly said, “Head Constable Zhan, do you know what Third Young Master Wu was doing six years ago?”

Zhan Yang gave a start upon hearing this. “Princess, you mean…”

Qin Wan smiled bitterly. “Nothing, just a sudden thought. Without evidence, I can only make guesses.”

Zhan Yang’s eyes rolled. “If I remember correctly, Third Young Master was indeed not in the capital six years ago.”

Qin Wan had only been casually suspicious, but hearing Zhan Yang say this, she was surprised and quickly asked, “Then where was he?”

“I heard he went out to study and travel. I don’t know the specifics yet. Since we’ve brought this up, I’ll go to Earl Weiyuan’s mansion right now, saying it’s to investigate the eldest young master’s case, and ask properly…”

Qin Wan nodded. Zhan Yang immediately led his men outside. Only after Zhan Yang’s figure disappeared from view did Qin Wan remember that they had agreed to go look at the mill. Thinking this, Qin Wan couldn’t help but smile bitterly, and could only wait until tomorrow to go to the southern part of the city.

Qin Wan left the mortuary, her heart constantly recalling Zhan Yang’s words. Why such a coincidence—if Wu Yu truly wasn’t in the capital six years ago, then he was indeed a suspicious target. But what relationship did he have with Zhao Jiaxu, Hu Dequan, and Wang Shouchang? How did he learn of these people’s crimes?

Qin Wan returned to the marquis’s mansion. These past two days, the mansion was decorated with red everywhere, looking brand new inside and out. In five more days would be Qin Shuang’s wedding day. When Qin Wan arrived at the main courtyard, Hu Shi was pulling Qin Shuang to look at the dowry prepared for her. Chest after chest of dowry items were arranged in sequence in the side rooms of the main courtyard, with large red silk flowers tied on top of each trunk. Qin Shuang’s face was slightly flushed, and Hu Shi continued, “I’ve selected two more maids for you to be your dowry head maids. Additionally, there are two matrons, two stewards, and four manservants, all prepared for you. Outside there are also two shops and two estates—only then is your dowry considered substantial.”

How much could Qin Shuang’s own possessions amount to? Now this room was packed full, all prepared by the marquis’s mansion. This wasn’t even counting the two estates and two shops. With this, Qin Shuang had instantly become a small wealthy woman.

Seeing Qin Wan return, Qin Shuang pulled Qin Wan over and praised everything Hu Shi had prepared. Hu Shi beside them was also very pleased to hear this. After viewing the dowry, they went to see the maids and matrons prepared for Qin Shuang. Qin Shuang was increasingly grateful to Hu Shi from the bottom of her heart.

Although these things didn’t amount to even one-tenth of what Hu Shi had prepared for Qin Chaoyu, for her it was already very satisfying. After viewing everything, Qin Shuang pulled Qin Wan back to her own courtyard to talk. These days Qin Wan had been out of the mansion frequently, and the two of them spent less and less time together. Qin Shuang pulled Qin Wan and talked for a long time before they finally parted when it grew late.

The next morning, Zhan Yang sent a yamen runner with a message.

Bai Ying came in from outside carrying a letter. “Miss, the yamen runner said the deceased’s identity hasn’t been determined yet, but this letter contains another matter you wanted to know about…”

Qin Wan took the letter to read. After just glancing at it twice, her brow furrowed.

In the letter, Zhan Yang wrote that Wu Yu had been traveling and studying outside six years ago, going as far as the southwestern border cities. When the case occurred six years ago, Wu Yu said he was in Luozhou, where he had been seeking out scenic spots and stayed for half a month. But so much time had passed, and Wu Yu had been alone then—no one could verify his whereabouts now. He did mention two inns, but after so long, could those innkeepers remember clearly?

Qin Wan grew increasingly suspicious of Wu Yu—

Seeing Qin Wan deep in thought, Bai Ying asked, “Miss, should we go to the yamen?”

Qin Wan shook her head. Her gaze shifted to the collection of works by Shen Yi that Yue Qing had found nearby. She picked up those two volumes, holding them in her palm. After a moment, she said, “Not to the yamen. We’re going to Wang Family Bookshop in the southern part of the city.”

Bai Ying was slightly surprised, not knowing what Wang Family Bookshop was. Following Qin Wan out of the mansion, their carriage headed straight for the southern part of the city. When they arrived, Bai Ying discovered that Wang Family Bookshop was just a small shop in an alley that sold picture books. Besides picture books, there were also some old books—quite a few classics, historical texts, and collections, as well as calligraphy, painting, writing brushes, and ink. Generally, only nearby commoners and poor scholars would come here to buy books and ink.

The shop owner was a middle-aged man in plain clothes, very thin but with a scholarly air about him. Seeing new customers arrive, and judging by their fine clothes and servants that they were people of means, the man stood up and smiled. “What would the young lady like to purchase?”

Qin Wan looked through the old books on the shelves, then took out Shen Yi’s collection. “Shopkeeper, may I ask who sold this volume to you? Or where did you acquire it?”

The bookshop owner’s eyes brightened slightly upon seeing the volume, and he smiled. “This volume was sold to me by someone. A few days ago, a young gentleman purchased it, and just after he left with the book, the person who sold it came back saying he wanted to retrieve this item. Unfortunately, the young gentleman bought the book and left, and I don’t know his identity, so that was that. Why, miss, are you looking for the person who sold the book?”

The young gentleman the owner mentioned was naturally Yue Qing. Knowing she liked medical books, he had been searching everywhere for her. The dignified Second Young Master of the Anyang Marquis’s mansion had actually come to this small alley to buy books. Qin Wan sighed. “The young gentleman the shopkeeper mentioned is my friend. The thing is, I really like this volume, so I wanted to ask the seller if he has any others like this. If so, I’d like to buy them all…”

The shopkeeper could tell from Qin Wan’s appearance and demeanor that she was no ordinary person. However, he smiled regretfully. “Many people from the surrounding area come to sell their old books to me. I don’t know the person who sold this volume—just felt he lived nearby. I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

Qin Wan was somewhat disappointed. “This volume was sold by that person, so why did he want to retrieve it?”

The shopkeeper quickly said, “When he came back later, he said he had sold it by mistake—this volume had gotten mixed in, and he said it shouldn’t have been sold. He only discovered it after returning home.” The shopkeeper smiled bitterly. “He brought many old books that day and didn’t look carefully himself, so it just got sold like that—”

Qin Wan sighed upon hearing this. It seemed her timing was truly unfortunate.

Just as Qin Wan was feeling disappointed, suddenly the bookshop owner looked behind her and called out, “Hey, this gentleman! This young lady bought your volume and has come back looking for you…”

Qin Wan turned around abruptly and saw a tall, middle-aged man standing not far away at the mouth of the alley. He had apparently been about to enter, but seeing Qin Wan’s carriage and attendants there, he stopped in his tracks.

When the bookshop owner called out like this, the man should have come over to ask Qin Wan for the volume. But when Qin Wan turned around, the man immediately turned and ran. Qin Wan frowned. “Bai Ying, chase him—”

Bai Ying immediately rushed forward. Qin Wan greeted the shopkeeper and got into her carriage. The attendant driving the carriage was from the marquis’s mansion and had been with Qin Wan for many days. Seeing the situation, he immediately drove the carriage in the direction the man had fled.

Inside the carriage, Qin Wan’s frown deepened—

The volume in her hand was not a copy made by someone else, but the original manuscript. Her father had always kept this original manuscript with him, sometimes writing at home, sometimes taking it to the yamen to write. When the incident occurred that night, their whole family had left in great haste, so naturally no one had taken this volume. But now, this volume had appeared outside, and that man just now—at first glance Qin Wan found him completely unfamiliar, but thinking carefully about his features, she felt she had seen him somewhere before!

Who was he?! Was he one of the Imperial Guards who had pursued them that night, or someone from Dali Temple?

Qin Wan’s heart tightened, and the carriage began racing at great speed. The fleeing man was obviously very familiar with the surrounding terrain, taking routes through small alleys. The southern residential area was already quite chaotic, and taking this route made Qin Wan’s carriage slower and slower. But the man had never expected that a mere servant girl could have such excellent martial arts skills.

After winding through the small alleys for some time, Qin Wan’s carriage stopped. Outside the carriage was a dead end, and Bai Ying was confronting the man. There was a footprint on the man’s chest—obviously from Bai Ying’s kick.

“What are you doing?! I left Dali Temple long ago! That matter has nothing to do with me!”

Seeing Qin Wan’s carriage arrive, the man dared not be presumptuous anymore, but he clenched his fists and watched them warily.

Qin Wan lifted the curtain and stepped out, her gaze falling deeply on the man. Now that they were closer, Qin Wan could see his features more clearly. This made her feel even more that this person looked familiar.

He had already left Dali Temple, and that matter had nothing to do with him…

Who exactly was this person?!

Qin Wan stared intently at the man. All the officials at Dali Temple wore official robes, and if not spirited and energetic, they at least dressed neatly and properly. But now, although the man was indeed upright-looking, his face was unshaven and quite disheveled. Qin Wan looked at him carefully, and at a certain moment, her eyes suddenly brightened!

She remembered! This person was a subordinate official who had worked under her father at Dali Temple. She had followed her father to Dali Temple several times and had seen this man at least twice. It was just that previously this man had been tall, straight, and imposing, but now he looked dejected, his whole being permeated with a sense of despair, so Qin Wan hadn’t recognized him immediately.

Qin Wan looked the man up and down, noticing that his clothes were somewhat worn, and his shoes were even worn through at the tips.

Since he was an official at Dali Temple, why had he fallen to such a state now?

“Why are you so nervous? Why did you run just now?”

Qin Wan stepped down from the carriage, deliberately making her expression somewhat stern.

The man raised his chin and glanced at the volume in Qin Wan’s hand. “If you bought this volume, then you bought it. Why come back looking for me? Aren’t you trying to expose me? Who are you?!”

Qin Wan smiled slightly. “You don’t need to know who I am. I came back to find you only to ask if there are any subsequent volumes to this book…”

The man’s expression immediately changed. He continued to size up Qin Wan. This volume recorded dozens of cases, large and small, with extensive content. Further on would be the case of the Prince Jin. This young lady was clearly of extraordinary status—what did she want with the later content?!

The man watched Qin Wan warily and kept his mouth shut.

Qin Wan sighed. “I know this volume was written by Lord Shen before his death. Now it’s become forbidden. These are merely my household servants. If I wanted to pursue you over this matter, I would have brought official people with me.”

Seeing that the man remained silent with lowered eyes, Qin Wan added, “I am Princess Yongci.”

With these words, the man’s expression changed. Clearly, he knew of Princess Yongci’s reputation.

Qin Wan took advantage of the moment: “You should have heard of me. Recently I’ve been helping the yamen solve cases. However, this case is too mysterious, and I haven’t been able to help much. So I wanted to read some case-solving picture books, but unexpectedly bought Lord Shen’s writings by chance. Lord Shen’s matter is in the past. You needn’t be so paranoid. My purpose is simple, and I bear you no ill will.”

Hearing Qin Wan’s explanation, the man’s tense shoulders finally relaxed slightly.

After the imperial hunt, Princess Yongci’s reputation had become even more famous than the “Little Medical Immortal” title, because no one in the entire capital believed that a young girl could help the authorities solve the Northern Wei case. But gradually, as the stories of Qin Wan helping with autopsies spread wider and more convincingly, most people came to acknowledge Qin Wan’s achievements, and he was among them.

As a former member of Dali Temple, he was naturally more sensitive to homicide cases. He had long been curious about how a young girl could conduct autopsies and solve cases, but he never expected this young girl to seek him out now.

Shen Yi’s case was the Prince Jin’s case. Quite a few people had been implicated at the time, and he was one of them. From a respected Dali Temple official to his current state of destitution—the Prince Jin’s case was the crux of it all. Therefore, after he accidentally sold this volume, he had been uneasy. However, Qin Wan’s reasoning convinced him. He was also well aware of the recent frequent deaths in the capital. Pressing his lips together, the man said, “There’s nothing after this.”

His tone had lost its wariness, but when he spoke, he unconsciously lowered his gaze and didn’t dare look at Qin Wan.

Qin Wan immediately determined he was lying!

“What’s your name? You previously served at Dali Temple? Since you served at Dali Temple, why are you now an ordinary citizen?”

Qin Wan asked gently. The man looked at Qin Wan again. “This humble one left Dali Temple long ago. Since Your Highness bears no ill will, please let this humble one go…”

The man wanted to leave after speaking, but Bai Ying still blocked his way, so he looked at Qin Wan again.

Qin Wan smiled slightly. “If you don’t tell me, I can still find out. You’d better speak.”

The man gritted his teeth. Looking at the faint smile on Qin Wan’s face, he finally lowered his gaze. “This humble one is named Zhao Xun. After the incident at the beginning of the year, as Lord Shen’s subordinate official, I was dismissed and expelled from Dali Temple.”

The Prince Jin’s case had virtually caused a bloodbath in the capital. For Zhao Xun, as a mere subordinate official, to only be dismissed was already fortunate.

Qin Wan looked at Zhao Xun. After a while, she took out a sachet filled with silver from her sleeve.

Seeing this, Zhao Xun immediately stiffened his neck. “What does Your Highness mean by this?!”

Qin Wan smiled and shook the volume in her hand. “These volumes are extremely precious. Lord Shen’s original manuscripts are even more valuable—they can’t be bought for just a few coins. This is the price I’m offering, and I can’t possibly return this volume to you.”

After speaking, Qin Wan tossed the sachet over. Zhao Xun instinctively caught it, but thinking it inappropriate, he was about to return it to Qin Wan when she had already turned and gotten back into her carriage. “Lord Shen is a predecessor I greatly admire. Since you were his subordinate official, he must have trusted you greatly in life. Live well from now on.”

After Qin Wan finished speaking, Bai Ying also got into the carriage. The marquis’s mansion attendant turned the carriage around, and it quickly disappeared from the alley.

Inside the carriage, Qin Wan said quietly, “Get off at the intersection ahead and follow Zhao Xun. See where he lives.”