Chapter 23 : Sinister Shadow
23: Sinister Shadow
Tinglan Pavilion was located east of Half-Moon Lake, an elegant two-courtyard house named for its proximity to the estate’s orchid nursery.
Fuling’s eyes reddened as she looked at the room with its fine carpets and luxurious curtains. "This servant is finally moving out of the Western Back Courtyard with Young Miss. Young Miss saved the Young Mistress and the young master. The Old Madam finally knows to be grateful to Young Miss."
Though they had moved to a more splendid and refined residence, Qin Wan’s emotions remained largely unmoved.
Her gaze fell on the ink-black night outside the window. The evening breeze brushed gently, carrying a faint, indistinct orchid fragrance. In the past, in the Shen family residence in the capital, her small courtyard had also been filled with orchids. Both her father and mother had loved orchids.
"Young Miss, what’s wrong?" Fuling draped a cloak over Qin Wan’s shoulders. "Is Young Miss thinking of the Master and Mistress? Or about what happened at the Anyang Marquis’s estate?"
Qin Wan snapped back to the present.
Every time night fell and all was quiet, she would unconsciously sink into memories of the past.
Grief, helplessness, despair… hatred, yet not knowing exactly who to hate. But she knew she couldn’t let these emotions defeat her. She must remain clear-headed and rational. She must resolve the troubles before her, then gradually approach the injustice of her father’s case.
Half a month had passed since the incident. What was the situation in the capital?
Would anyone plead for her father’s innocence? Had Consort Jin’s case been settled?
Qin Wan gritted her teeth slightly, nodding. "I miss Father and Mother a little."
Fuling’s voice caught. "The Master and Mistress, seeing Young Miss’s circumstances improve day by day, would certainly be happy."
Qin Wan exhaled, pushing open the window lattice. She narrowed her eyes, looking toward the northeast direction of the estate.
With the change of residence, the Purple Bamboo Grove was getting farther away. Last time she went, she encountered Qin Li. Since then, she had had no opportunity. Qin Wan was unwilling to give up. She firmly believed evidence must remain in the Purple Bamboo Grove.
The murderer was definitely someone from the Qin household. Perhaps someone she saw daily, perhaps someone who rode in carriages with her.
Until this threat was removed, she remained in danger of losing her life again.
"What is Young Miss looking at? Does Young Miss want to see the orchid nursery outside?"
Qin Wan withdrew her gaze. "I do want to see, but it’s too late now. Tomorrow, we’ll move a few pots of orchids indoors. Then we won’t need to burn incense."
Fuling smiled. "No need to wait until tomorrow. This servant will go move them for Young Miss now." As she spoke, Fuling headed outside. "Does Young Miss know there’s a side door here that leads directly to the orchid nursery?!"
The night was deep. Qin Wan wanted to stop Fuling, but seeing her cheerful, eager manner, she ultimately didn’t speak.
Tightening her cloak, Qin Wan followed her out.
Qin Wan stood under the corridor eaves, watching Fuling head toward the orchid nursery with a lantern.
Fuling walked straight along the covered walkway, soon reaching the side door. Seeing her happily enter the orchid nursery, Qin Wan finally withdrew her gaze.
This small courtyard was refined and elegant. The central courtyard was already planted with abundant orchids. Combined with the blooming roses at the corner of the wall and an ancient willow with gnarled branches, it instantly lent the courtyard an air of refined grace.
Qin Wan scanned it carefully, her heart gradually calming.
"Ah!"
Just as Qin Wan was about to step down from the stairs, a horrified scream suddenly pierced the air!
The sound came from the direction of the orchid nursery. It was Fuling. Qin Wan’s brow furrowed deeply. She lifted her skirts and ran toward the orchid nursery!
"Fuling! Fuling, what’s wrong…"
Qin Wan had just reached the side door when Fuling, panic-stricken, crashed into her arms.
"Young Miss! There’s someone! There’s someone inside the orchid nursery!"
The lantern in Fuling’s hand was gone. Her face was full of terror. Qin Wan pulled her close. "Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Was it the estate’s gardener? Or another servant?"
Fuling was almost scared to tears, shaking her head frantically. "No, no, it wasn’t a gardener. This servant was moving flowers for Young Miss. That person was standing behind the flower rack. Young Miss, this servant was scared to death…"
Qin Wan’s brow instantly knitted tight. She turned quickly, picked up the wind lantern under the eaves, swept her gaze around, then grabbed a shovel by the side door. Turning, she was about to head into the orchid nursery!
"Young Miss, what are you doing?"
Qin Wan’s heart pounded wildly, but the hand holding the lantern was steady.
"Let’s go see!"
Fuling grabbed Qin Wan’s arm. "Young Miss, don’t go. That person hiding in the orchid nursery so late at night definitely isn’t a good person. Maybe… maybe they came to steal from us. This servant is scared…"
Qin Wan steadied herself. "I’ll go first. You just follow me. We’re not in the west anymore. If we shout, someone will hear. Don’t be afraid. Let’s go see who it is…"
Fuling was still shaken, but seeing Qin Wan’s calm demeanor gave her courage.
She made an affirming sound, picked up a broom herself, and followed Qin Wan into the orchid nursery.
The entire orchid nursery was vast. On the ground, over a dozen flowerbeds were arranged like a chessboard, containing newly sprouted orchid seedlings and ordinary varieties. Those orchids already cultivated into excellent specimens were placed pot by pot on flower racks lining the four sides. The racks were over a person’s height. If someone hid behind them, unless the orchid pots were moved aside, they would be completely invisible.
"Young Miss, it was over there!"
Fuling pointed, gripping the broom tightly.
Qin Wan’s gaze swept around. The orchid nursery was fragrant and serene now, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
She stepped forward, walking toward the flower rack Fuling indicated.
As she approached, Qin Wan first saw the fallen lantern on the ground. The lantern had dropped and gone out. Beside it was a potted orchid that had fallen and broken. Two other orchid pots had been taken down and placed on the ground.
"This servant was right here just now. I picked two pots and put them on the ground. When I went to move the third pot, I suddenly noticed the hem of a robe. This servant felt something was wrong, looked closely, and saw a person standing behind the flower rack."
Fuling’s words sent a chill down Qin Wan’s spine. She steadied herself and walked behind the flower rack.
"This servant was so scared I screamed. The lantern and flower pot in my hands fell to the ground. I didn’t care about anything else, just turned and ran toward you…"
Behind the flower rack was empty. Naturally, the person had run away.
"Did you see their face clearly?"
"No."
"What about their clothes?"
Fuling’s face was distressed. "Didn’t see clearly. It was very dark behind the rack. Only felt like they were wearing dark-colored clothes…"
Qin Wan’s eyes darkened.
The night was deep. If someone came to look at flowers, they certainly wouldn’t come at this hour. Moreover, the person carried no lantern. Clearly seeing Fuling, they made no sound. Discovered by Fuling, they offered no explanation but ran instead.
Had they come to steal?
Qin Wan turned her gaze toward the side door of Tinglan Pavilion, about twenty paces away, and shook her head.
They had just moved in tonight. This news was known throughout the entire household. If someone intended to steal, they certainly wouldn’t come tonight.
And around this orchid nursery, only Tinglan Pavilion stood.
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. This sinister shadow had clearly come to watch them!
Ever since discovering the Ninth Young Miss had been murdered, Qin Wan had felt the murderer would certainly observe their movements from the shadows. Could the person standing here just now be the one who killed the Ninth Young Miss?
The night was cool as water. The evening breeze brushed Qin Wan’s cheek. She instinctively tightened her collar.
As she had suspected, the murderer was right by her side!
"What are you two doing?!"
Qin Wan was deep in thought when a voice suddenly rang out. Qin Wan’s eyes flickered as she looked toward the source of the sound. There, at the side door, stood the Qin household’s Eldest Young Master, Qin Chen.
He still wore the same blue robe embroidered with bamboo, scholarly, elegant, and imposing in demeanor.