Chapter 62 : How Could It Be Qin Wan!
62: How Could It Be Qin Wan?!
It was Huo Ning who was afraid.
Inside the dim, lightless mortuary in the early morning, a dank wind whispered through the air. In a cramped storage room, old mourning clothes, spirit money, and soul‑banner streamers lay piled in a disorderly heap. Huo Ning, along with Feiquan and Nanfeng, huddled together, hearts pounding with fear.
"Young Master, must we really hide here? Forget the smell... next door is where Miss Song's body is laid out. And the room beyond that... doesn't that hold two unclaimed, nameless corpses?"
"That's right, Young Master. These things... have they been used before or not?"
Huo Ning's face alternated between pale and green, but he feigned composure. "Father forbade me from getting involved in this matter, as if he's hiding something from me. Of course I have to see who this expert is and what skills they possess."
As he spoke, he shifted further into the corner. "Some of these things have been used, some haven't. Mortuaries often take in unclaimed, nameless bodies. Once the examination is done, they must be buried. The caretaker here, Old Kuan, keeps the leftover, unwanted items to use for these unidentified corpses."
Feiquan swallowed with difficulty. "Young Master, I'm scared."
Huo Ning was already uneasy at heart. Feiquan's complaint added another layer of eerie gloom. Huo Ning kicked out at him. "Even if you're scared, endure it! Are you a man or not?! No one's asking you to kill anyone! What's there to be afraid of?!"
As he spoke, his own voice trembled uncontrollably.
Feiquan took the kick, stumbling backward and falling to the floor. With a loud rustle, the nearby pile of soul banners and mourning clothes tumbled down on top of him. Panicked, the smell of decay in his nostrils made him feel as if countless corpses were pressing down on him. He immediately began wailing, "Young Master, save me! Save me!"
Huo Ning lunged forward and clamped a hand over Feiquan's mouth, nearly stuffing the mourning clothes worn by the dead into his mouth. "Shut up! Stop shouting! There's movement outside! Most likely, someone has arrived!"
Feiquan was on the verge of tears. He scrambled frantically out of the pile of mourning clothes, pricking up his ears. Sure enough, voices and the sounds of carriage and horse came from outside the mortuary. Gritting his teeth, Feiquan hastily fell silent.
The location of this storage room was quite clever. Though cramped, it did have a small window. This window offered a view of the mortuary's entrance. And to the left of this storage room was the side hall where Song Rou's body was resting.
By hiding here, Huo Ning could see who the arriving expert was, and also listen undetected to the examination process next door. As long as the mortuary guards didn't talk, Huo Huaixin would never know he had been here.
"Shh, Father is here!"
Looking out the small window, he saw a carriage slowly halt before the mortuary gate.
The driver was Huo Huaixin's most trusted servant. The carriage curtain lifted, and Huo Huaixin and Xu He stepped out. However, Huo Ning frowned. "Father came with minimal escort, not even bringing guards."
"Huh?" Huo Ning was full of surprise. "The Anyang Marquis is here too!"
Behind Huo Huaixin's carriage was another inconspicuous, plain blue‑cloth covered carriage. The first to descend from that carriage was Yue Qiong.
Feiquan and Nanfeng crowded at the window corner, their view limited. Nanfeng said, "This case is also related to the Anyang Marquis's household, so that's why the Marquis is here, right?"
Huo Ning thought the same, but soon he exclaimed in astonishment, "The Marquis's second son is here too!"
Feiquan and Nanfeng exchanged a glance. Feiquan said, "Why isn't the Heir‑apparent of Anyang Marquis coming? What's the Second Young Master doing here, joining the excitement?"
Huo Ning raised an eyebrow. He was fond of refined elegance, and the friends he most often associated with were mostly the cultured literati of Jinzhou City. Though he was acquainted with Yue Qing, they were not particularly close. He offered no opinion on Yue Qing's appearance, merely listening quietly to the conversation outside.
"Alright, all of you withdraw. Return in two hours."
With Huo Huaixin's opening words, he dismissed the guards outside the mortuary. Huo Ning's eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
"Why is Father sending all the guards away?"
"Probably because that expert doesn't want anyone to know he's here to examine the body..."
Huo Ning's heart stirred with restless curiosity. He wanted even more to know who the arriving expert was.
"He should be here soon, right?" Yue Qiong, Huo Huaixin, and the others stood waiting at the mortuary entrance, all gazing toward the end of the long street.
"It only takes two quarters of an hour to get here from there. If she is willing to come, it will be very soon." Huo Huaixin let out a breath, still somewhat uncertain. "I don't know if she'll be willing. If not, then this case..."
Huo Huaixin gave a bitter smile, but Yue Qiong said, "His Highness Yan Chi was right. She will certainly be willing to help. Last time with Qing'er's incident, we didn't even know she could perform autopsies, yet she stepped forward on her own. She is kind‑hearted by nature. And later, listening to her speak, she had actually read Shen Yi's writings. Her words carried a sense of integrity and righteous principle. So she will come."
Huo Huaixin sighed. "When you think about it, it's truly astonishing. Who would have thought that a woman..."
Huo Huaixin's following words suddenly dropped in volume. Huo Ning couldn't hear clearly, but judging from Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin's conversation, this expert was not only of special status, but also possessed considerable skill in autopsy. Moreover, the person was upright and just. What surprised Huo Ning was that the mess Yue Qing had gotten into last time had actually been resolved by this person uncovering the truth!
No wonder it had been cleared up so quickly back then!
Though Huo Ning didn't know who the expert was, based on what he had heard, he already felt a sliver of respect.
"That's why it's said she is a pearl covered in dust. At her age, to have such attainment in medicine is already remarkable. Who would have guessed she also knows how to perform autopsies? It's a pity all these past years she remained unknown."
"Exactly. In all my years, I've never met someone like her, a true rarity."
"Her fate has been harsh, yet remarkably, hardship hasn't broken her spirit. She still retains her genuine, kind nature, and her character is extremely resilient. When my wife learned we were asking for her help again today, she was quite distressed. If it weren't for coming to the mortuary, my wife would likely have come along personally to accompany her."
Huo Huaixin laughed. "I could see your lady holds her in high regard. And she truly deserves such affection. Even I find myself growing fond of her just looking at her. Whether in character or appearance, she is exceptional!"
Huo Ning listened, utterly bewildered. The field of coroners was entirely male. He had instinctively assumed this expert must be a man, not only a man, but also one of considerable age. Few young ones were truly skilled; one need only look at Xu He to see that. Yet listening to the conversation outside, why were they even discussing appearance?
Though a handsome man was pleasing to the eye, why would the wife of the Anyang Marquis hold an older, good‑looking man in such affection? That was truly bizarre...
The more Huo Ning thought about it, the more his scalp prickled. Just as he was puzzling over it, Yue Qing suddenly called out softly, "They're here!"
Huo Ning's spirits lifted. He hurriedly looked toward the end of the long street. Sure enough, he saw a single rider and a carriage approaching slowly. The carriage was an ordinary small blue‑curtained vehicle, but the lone rider was particularly eye‑catching. Huo Ning focused his gaze, and his pupils immediately contracted. The aura surrounding Yan Chi was enough for Huo Ning to recognize him at a glance, even from dozens of yards away down the long street!
Looking again at the carriage, Huo Ning frowned.
Just who was this expert, to have the Anyang Marquis and his own father, the esteemed Prefect, waiting for so long? Even more astonishing was that Yan Chi himself had gone to fetch her! Taking a deep breath, Huo Ning perked up entirely.
If Huo Ning could hear, naturally Feiquan and Nanfeng beside him could too.
The two of them were squeezed to one side, unable to see outside at all. Feiquan wanted to look; Nanfeng also wanted to look. Silently, they jostled against each other. Who knows whose hand slipped with a creak, the half‑closed window lattice was pushed open…
Instantly, the three men standing inside the window froze like stone statues.
Yue Qiong's expression turned severe. He shouted sharply, "Who's there?!"
Both Yue Qiong and Yue Qing were trained in martial arts, with keen hearing and sharp eyes. The noise wasn't loud, but in the quiet, breath‑held waiting, it was absolutely abrupt. Huo Huaixin also turned, anger flashing across his face!
He had already ordered all the guards to withdraw. How could someone still be hiding inside the mortuary?!
"Who's hiding in there?!" Before Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin could move, Yue Qing had already leapt down the steps in great strides, heading toward the window!
Seeing Yue Qing approach with tiger‑like steps, Huo Ning's face flushed with mingled embarrassment and anger. Knowing he couldn't hide any longer, he kicked Feiquan hard and pushed the window lattice wide open. He grinned wryly in Huo Huaixin's direction. "Father, Marquis…"
Yue Qing halted. Crossing his arms, he smiled meaningfully. "So it's Young Master Huo."
Huo Ning, reeking of strange odors, emerged from the storage room. He walked straight to the entrance where Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin stood. Feiquan and Nanfeng followed him out, their faces deathly pale. The moment they stepped outside, they knelt. Huo Ning stood beside them, crestfallen. "Father, it was I who suggested you seek help from that expert. Yet you wouldn't let me accompany you. So..."
Discovering it was Huo Ning hiding there, Huo Huaixin's face showed clear embarrassment. Yue Qiong, however, smiled magnanimously. "Huo Ning wanted to share your burden. Since he has this intention, letting him observe is harmless. You are being too cautious."
Yue Qiong offered a way down. Huo Huaixin naturally accepted it, glaring fiercely at Huo Ning. "If you wanted to come, you could have told me plainly! What's the meaning of hiding there like some lowlife?! All you know is causing trouble!"
After the initial scolding, he adopted a stern expression. "Since you're here, I'll allow you to watch. But very few know about this matter. Whatever you see today, you are not to speak of it carelessly outside!"
"Father, rest assured. Your son understands. Thank you, Marquis."
Huo Ning's face lit up with delight. He bowed to Yue Qiong in gratitude, then glared at Feiquan and Nanfeng. The two hurriedly rose and retreated to the side, secretly sighing in relief.
Huo Huaixin shook his head helplessly and turned back to look down the long street.
The mortuary was located in a desolate, overgrown area in the southern part of the city. The place was remote to begin with, and with the mortuary's presence, this street was almost always deserted. On the empty morning street, the lone rider and carriage were now quite close.
Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin involuntarily stepped forward. Yue Qing also wore a smile, anticipation lighting his eyes. Even Xu He stared devoutly at the carriage. Seeing the four of them like this, Huo Ning's curiosity grew even stronger. He too took two steps forward.
Huo Ning recognized Yan Chi. Combined with the man's intimidating aura that made one dare not look directly at him, Huo Ning fixed his gaze on the carriage.
The driver was Bai Feng. Huo Ning felt he had seen him somewhere before but couldn't recall. Soon, Yan Chi reined in his horse before the mortuary. The small carriage also came to a steady stop in front of the mortuary gates. Huo Ning widened his eyes, watching intently. He saw the handsome, white‑clad guard descend from the carriage and step aside, but it was Yan Chi who dismounted and lifted the carriage curtain.
Huo Ning found the scene utterly bizarre. Before he could collect his thoughts, from beneath the curtain, a sky‑blue gown came into view.
In the bleakness of early autumn, this dress was like a clear, limpid spring, instantly washing away the cold, desolate gloom before the mortuary. The dim morning haze dispersed; the sky itself seemed to brighten and clarify.
Huo Ning's pupils gradually dilated. The arriving expert was actually a woman?!
Huo Ning's blood surged with excitement; his heart was filled with shock and awe. But as the curtain was drawn fully aside, his boiling blood instantly froze. His mind went completely blank…
He stared fixedly at the exquisite, familiar face revealed beneath the curtain, doubting he was dreaming.
How... how could it be Qin Wan?!