Chapter 61 : To the Mortuary
61: To the Mortuary
This was Qin Wan's first time in the front courtyard.
She had just reached the entrance when she saw Qin Chen pacing anxiously inside. He spotted her immediately and strode over. "What took so long?"
Qin Chen was usually gentle and mild‑mannered, but his tone now carried a sharp edge.
Caihe hurriedly lowered her head. "Ninth Young Miss went to the eastern side. The search took a while."
Qin Chen's brow furrowed tightly. He had wanted to ask why Qin Wan had gone there, but thoughts of the distinguished guest left him no time to delay. He glanced at Qin Wan and turned back toward the main hall. "Come with me, quickly."
The moment she stepped through the courtyard gate, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere washed over Qin Wan.
Instantly, her heart tightened.
Keeping her gaze downcast, she swept a glance from the corner of her eye. All the Qin Manor servants stood with bowed heads, holding their breath, silent as cicadas in winter. Raising her eyes briefly toward the main hall, she saw several tense, cowering figures standing just inside the doorway.
One of them was the ever‑irreverent Qin Li.
Qin Chen's steps were rapid, a clear sign of how seriously he regarded this guest. In moments, he had already ascended the steps. "Your Highness, my apologies for the wait. My younger sister is here."
*Your Highness?* Qin Wan's heart constricted. She looked up instinctively.
With a single glance, she saw Yan Chi seated imposingly in the host's chair in the Qin Manor main hall. Dressed in a striking black brocade robe, he leaned back casually, his expression cold and stern, his brow slightly furrowed. His sidelong glance carried an air of lofty, intimidating authority.
So it was Yan Chi... she had wondered who it might be.
Everyone indoors and out hardly dared to breathe, but Qin Wan's tightly wound heart relaxed at once.
"Qin Wan, why aren't you paying your respects to His Highness?"
Qin Wan had paused briefly upon seeing Yan Chi. In that momentary hesitation, a voice lacking in vigor suddenly spoke up. Qin Wan looked up to see a middle‑aged man in sumptuous robes standing beside Qin Li.
Though she had no memory of him, Qin Wan recognized the man's identity at once.
He was of average height, wearing a formal standing‑collar robe today. His facial features bore some resemblance to Qin Chen's, but his eyes were narrow and slanted. It was these eyes that gave his entire face a cunning, untrustworthy cast. Dark circles shadowed his lower lids; his irises were muddy, his complexion sallow and dull. He stood with a slight stoop, his breathing shallow and weak. Barely past forty, his temples were already frosted with white. He was the very picture of a man hollowed out by wine and women. In the Qin household, who else could this be but the Third Master, Qin An?
Thanks to Yan Chi, she had finally met this Third Uncle.
"Qin Wan pays her respects to Your…"
"Ninth Young Miss, there is no need."
Before Qin Wan could finish speaking, before her curtsy could even begin, Yan Chi cut her off with a single sentence.
Qin Wan looked up and met his deep, inscrutable gaze.
"Ninth Young Miss has treated the Grand Princess. That alone makes you a benefactor to the Marquis's household and to the Yan family. How could I presume to accept your formal courtesies?"
At these words, Qin Wan slowly straightened. Qin An and the others, however, exchanged uneasy glances.
When this Prince Rui's son, the Heir‑apparent, had arrived at the Qin residence moments ago, riding in with an air of domineering arrogance, his manner had been utterly overbearing. Not only had he accepted their formal greetings, he had even let them kneel for a good while before permitting them to rise. Once seated inside, he had offered no pleasantries, sitting expressionless and silent. It felt as though an invisible net weighing a thousand pounds pressed down upon them, filling them with apprehension.
Why, then, had his demeanor changed so completely for Qin Wan?
"Your Highness is too kind. Qin Wan does not deserve such consideration."
Lowering her eyes, Qin Wan felt a flicker of unease. Was Yan Chi's remark meant to help her establish a footing within the Qin household?
"The Grand Princess has taken your medicine and has already awoken. Yesterday she was conscious only briefly before sleeping again, but today she is able to speak. The moment she awoke, she spoke your name. I had no choice but to come fetch you."
Yan Chi's tone softened slightly, even carrying a trace of the helpless familiarity one might use with someone close.
Qin An glanced at Qin Chen. Qin Chen's eyes narrowed imperceptibly.
Qin Wan, however, paid no attention to these subtleties. Her eyes brightened as she lifted her head. "The Grand Princess can speak?"
Yan Chi's lips curved upward in a genuine smile. His sharply carved features seemed to brighten with the expression, lending his entire person a radiant, spring‑like brilliance. "Yes. She is waiting for you even now."
His tone grew even more familiar and intimate. Seeing the smile on his face, everyone present became even more aware of his distinct manner toward Qin Wan.
The corner of Qin An's mouth twitched. He studied his niece with renewed gravity.
Qin Wan found Yan Chi's tone somewhat odd but didn't dwell on it. She had been back at the manor for two days, and if the Grand Princess could speak, it meant her condition had greatly improved. Qin Wan felt nothing but sincere joy. She had saved another life.
Yan Chi rose to his feet. "The carriage is ready outside. Come with me."
If her condition had improved this much, the prescription would need adjusting. A visit to the Marquis's residence was indeed necessary.
Qin Wan nodded and was about to turn when Qin An suddenly stepped forward. "Wait a moment!"
"Hm?" The faint smile vanished from Yan Chi's face in an instant. He turned, his gaze cold and forbidding as it settled on Qin An.
Qin An had never seen anyone's expression change so swiftly. His heart plummeted. "Y‑Your Highness... since we are going to visit the Grand Princess, we... we must prepare gifts. Please, Your Highness, wait a moment. I will go give instructions…"
"Unnecessary!" Yan Chi cut off Qin An's stammering words without mercy. "The Grand Princess will be pleased enough simply by Ninth Young Miss's presence. Moreover, anything the Qin residence could offer, the Marquis's household already possesses."
With that, Yan Chi withdrew his gaze and strode out of the hall.
Qin Wan glanced at Qin Chen. Qin Chen gave her a slight nod. Qin Wan offered a shallow curtsey, then followed Yan Chi.
After the two of them left, Qin An stood dumbfounded for a long moment before collecting himself. "What is going on...? Since when does our ninth niece know medicine...? How is it I knew nothing of this?!" As he spoke, a flush of anger colored Qin An's face as he stared at Qin Chen.
Qin Chen kept his head lowered, his expression icy. "Father never visits Mother's quarters in the inner courtyard. Naturally, you would not know."
Once outside the manor gates, Qin Wan remembered the matter of Liu Chun. Watching Yan Chi's back, her gaze grew somewhat vexed. Yan Chi, ever perceptive, turned his head almost immediately. "What is it?"
What was done was done. Complaining now would be pointless. Qin Wan took a deep breath to steady herself. "Nothing. Your Highness's timing is truly fortuitous."
She intended the remark as a wry, self‑amused jest. Unexpectedly, Yan Chi's eyes sharpened as he looked at Fuling, who was following behind. "Why was there such a delay earlier? What was your young lady doing?"
Fuling had been rather intimidated by Yan Chi ever since she first saw him from a distance. Now, suddenly questioned, she froze in fear. "The young lady... she was just now... watching the servants clean the well..."
This was, of course, the truth. Fuling had blurted it out almost the moment Qin Wan turned away.
Qin Wan frowned, watching the little maid's pale face. Just who was her mistress, anyway?
"Was that all?" Yan Chi pressed.
Fuling's eyes darted nervously before she hurriedly lowered her head. "Th‑that was all..."
Qin Wan sighed inwardly. Fortunately, Fuling hadn't told the whole story.
"Why does Your Highness ask?"
Yan Chi's lips curved again. "I merely thought my visit to your residence might have interrupted Ninth Young Miss in some important task."
Qin Wan was almost certain this fellow was doing it on purpose. She gave a quiet, inward cold smile, but her expression remained unreadable as she stepped toward the carriage. "Naturally, nothing is more important than seeing the Grand Princess."
"Actually, that is not the case…"
Qin Wan's steps halted. She turned to look at Yan Chi. "What does Your Highness mean?"
Yan Chi's expression grew serious. "At this moment, there is indeed something more urgent than visiting the Grand Princess. The Marquis and the Prefect are not in a position to make the request themselves. I have come on their behalf to ask for your assistance."
Qin Wan's expression also grew solemn. Visiting the Grand Princess was her duty, but if Yan Chi had tricked her out of the manor under false pretenses for some other matter, that was rather unseemly. Yet he had mentioned Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin. After a moment's consideration, she understood.
"So what Your Highness said in the manor just now was merely a pretext?"
Seeing Yan Chi's silent confirmation, Qin Wan felt a spark of irritation. "How did Your Highness know I would agree to help?"
Noting Qin Wan's annoyance, Yan Chi took a step closer to her. "That day, I heard a note of respect in your words when you spoke of the former Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Shen Yi. You have a kind heart and exceptional medical skill. Most importantly... I simply believed you would help."
Qin Wan found herself momentarily speechless under Yan Chi's deep gaze. "I... am not a kind person."
"You are." Yan Chi took another step closer. "You do only what you believe is right. That is kindness."
Yan Chi was now extremely close. Qin Wan felt his figure completely envelop her. His gaze, unwavering and intense, held hers with a depth that was oppressive, a sharpness that was startling, as if it were aggressively invading every breath she took. Her heartbeat quickened inexplicably. She stiffened her spine, forcing her breathing to remain even, just so she would not falter under his scrutiny.
She held out for only a few moments before her composure began to crack. Feigning nonchalance, she turned and hurriedly climbed into the carriage. "Are we going to the mortuary or the Marquis's residence..."
A faint smile played in Yan Chi's phoenix eyes. "The mortuary."
After a pause, he added, "Do not be afraid. I will accompany you."
From inside the carriage came a soft, dismissive snort. Qin Wan visited mortuaries as easily as her own backyard. Afraid? Who knew who would be the one feeling fear...