Chapter 95 : The Death of the Concubine. Who Moved the Body
95: The Death of the Concubine. Who Moved the Body?
A thud echoed in Qin Wan’s heart. "A death? In the Qin Manor?"
Yan Chi nodded. "Yes. So you should leave other matters be for now. You must return to your residence at once."
A sudden chill crept up from the soles of Qin Wan’s feet. "Who in the Qin Manor is dead?"
"Apparently one of your household master's concubines." With that, Yan Chi took Qin Wan's hand and continued leading her outwards. "The report was made at the prefect's yamen about half an hour ago. Prefect Huo is already on his way to the Qin Manor."
Qin Wan was still reeling, struggling to grasp the situation. "A concubine? There are many concubines in the household... I don't know which one..."
Yan Chi glanced back at her for a moment. "Nor do I. We’ll know once we get there."
The sudden, unforeseen news filled Qin Wan's heart with shock and suspicion, momentarily clouding her thoughts. She could only stare at Yan Chi’s profile as she asked, "How did Your Highness learn of this?"
Yan Chi’s tone was grave. "I had only just returned to the Qin Manor briefly. I was about to go to the prefect's yamen, but before I could leave, they reported that Prefect Huo had headed to the Qin Manor to investigate a homicide. I intended to go directly, but upon leaving, I learned you were here and came to fetch you."
Qin Wan didn’t understand why Yan Chi wanted to go after learning Huo Huaixin was heading to the Qin Manor. Huo Huaixin went because he was the prefect, but Yan Chi, for what reason?
Her mind was in disarray, and that question seemed less important at this moment. He was the Heir Apparent of Prince Rui, and though he had been away these past few days on military affairs, with his status, he could go wherever he wished.
Qin Wan lowered her gaze and, pulled along by Yan Chi, had no choice but to follow at a brisk pace. After a few more steps, Yan Chi glanced back at the swaying hem of her skirt and subtly slowed his pace. Fuling, who had been following close behind with difficulty, breathed a huge sigh of relief at this.
The group emerged from the Eastern Garden and onto the residence's main path. Qin Wan’s heart felt heavy and confused, only thinking about who the deceased in the Qin Manor might be. Suddenly, Yue Ning’s voice rang out.
"Qin Wan, are you returning to your residence?"
Qin Wan looked up to see Yue Ning in front, followed by Yue Qing and the Grand Princess, with Jiang‑shi accompanying them.
It seemed they all knew about the incident at the Qin Manor. Their expressions looked somewhat heavy.
Qin Wan nodded. "I don’t know what has happened yet. I need to return to check."
As she spoke, Qin Wan suddenly became aware that Yan Chi was still holding her hand. She tried to pull away, but Yan Chi seemed to sense this and released her grasp. Yue Ning glanced at Yan Chi but said nothing.
Having come to the Marquis’s estate, Qin Wan naturally had to pay her respects to the Grand Princess first. Since the Grand Princess had not been present earlier, Qin Wan now stepped forward to bow. The Grand Princess grasped Qin Wan’s hands. "Very well. We don't know what exactly happened. Go back and take a look. Be careful to keep yourself safe."
Qin Wan gave an affirmative hum. "I have left the medicine for you in your courtyard. It’s still primarily for recuperation. Take it three times a day as before. Please remember to take it on time."
The Grand Princess patted the back of Qin Wan’s hand. "Alright. I am much better now. You go and take a look first. Come again tomorrow."
Qin Wan nodded. The Grand Princess then looked at Yan Chi. "Young Seventh, are you going too?"
Yan Chi nodded. The Grand Princess sighed. "Good. Go and see if there’s anywhere you can help. You just received the imperial edict and encountered this incident. You cannot disengage."
Yan Chi nodded. "Aunt, rest assured. I understand."
Qin Wan’s mind was muddled, but she clearly heard the exchange between Yan Chi and the Grand Princess and felt a slight suspicion. She didn’t ponder much, however. Matters like imperial edicts were not for her to inquire about. Therefore, Qin Wan asked nothing and only thought of returning to the Qin Manor as soon as possible to see what had happened.
Yan Chi finished and looked at Qin Wan. "Let’s go."
He started walking. Qin Wan curtsied to the Grand Princess and Jiang‑shi, then followed behind Yan Chi. Yue Ning watched them and said, "With a death in the Qin Manor, and no one knowing exactly what happened, I almost want to go and see as well."
The Grand Princess gave her a disapproving look. "Her household has met with misfortune. What identity would you use to go? You will find out sooner or later. There’s no need to rush. Going now would be too inappropriate."
Yue Ning nodded slightly. "I was merely saying. Grandmother, please rest assured. I understand."
The Grand Princess shook her head. "The Qin residence… even without incidents, it’s not a good place. Now that troubles have arisen, Poor Wan’er. It will be difficult for her."
Hearing this, Yue Ning and Yue Qing both showed concern on their faces. Jiang‑shi, however, said, "Mother, do not worry. Wan’er is a blessed child. Besides, we are here. She will not be too hard-pressed."
Meanwhile, Qin Wan followed Yan Chi out of the Marquis’s estate. Outside the gate, apart from her carriage, there were two horses.
Qin Wan, not caring about much else, directly climbed into the carriage. Yan Chi raised an eyebrow, then, together with Bai Feng behind him, swung up onto their horses. Qin Wan gave the order, "Faster, back to the residence."
Once the carriage curtain fell, the driver cracked his whip.
The carriage began to roll. Fuling asked nervously, "Young Miss, how could there be a death in the residence?"
Qin Wan shook her head. Her eyes narrowed slightly, as deep and clear as a mountain spring. "I don’t know. We’ll find out when we get back."
Qin Wan did not even know who the deceased was, so she naturally could not draw conclusions. Yet, deep down, she felt that a death in the Qin Manor did not come as a complete surprise. Prior to this, there had already been a murder case in the Qin Manor, though the victim had died and then revived, while the murderer had hidden thoroughly.
Was there any connection between this homicide and the previous one?
The carriage wheels creaked as they turned, and the sound of hooves echoed outside. Qin Wan lifted a corner of the curtain to glance out. Yan Chi could have ridden ahead quickly, but because of her carriage, he had slowed his pace. Only now did Qin Wan’s internal suspicions surge forth. Why was Yan Chi making this trip? And why was he following her carriage?
She pushed open the curtain and looked at Yan Chi. "Does Your Highness have urgent business with the prefect?"
Yan Chi looked down at her from his horse. "Why do you ask?"
Qin Wan said, "My carriage is too slow. If Your Highness has urgent business, please ride ahead."
Yan Chi narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, swept a glance at Qin Wan, then turned his gaze forward. However, he did not increase his speed at all, keeping pace beside Qin Wan’s carriage. Qin Wan felt Yan Chi appeared lofty and unapproachable at this moment. Frowning, she lowered the carriage curtain. In any case, she had expressed her stance. Whether he listened was his affair.
Inside the dimly lit carriage, Qin Wan decided not to mind Yan Chi anymore and only thought about matters concerning the Qin residence.
Yesterday, Qin Shuang had just fallen into that well. Steward Liu Chun said the well could be used, but in the evening, the Old Madam had it sealed. Who was dead? Could it be related to that well?
The more Qin Wan thought, the more solemn her expression became. She only wished the carriage could fly back to the Qin Manor.
Following Qin Wan’s order, the driver dared not take it lightly, whipping the horse urgently. The speed was considerably faster than usual. In less than half an hour, the carriage stopped outside the Qin residence.
As soon as Qin Wan alighted, she saw that beside the Qin Manor's side gate, apart from their own gatekeeper, there were also two yamen constables standing guard. The two seemed to be waiting for someone. Seeing Qin Wan’s carriage stop, they immediately walked over.
Qin Wan was somewhat taken aback. The two constables, however, looked at Yan Chi and bowed. "Greetings to your Highness. Your Highness, Prefect Huo has already entered the Qin residence. Please follow us."
Qin Wan frowned tightly. So Yan Chi really did have important business with the prefect.
Thinking this, Yan Chi glanced at Qin Wan. "Aren’t you following?"
Qin Wan had initially intended to keep her distance and let Yan Chi, given his status, enter first. But since Yan Chi had spoken, she naturally wanted to follow immediately. The two constables walked briskly, and Yan Chi’s pace was no slower. Qin Wan, holding up her skirt, hurried after them. Once inside the gate, she saw the gatekeeper with a grave expression. Proceeding inward, she could still see a few servants coming and going in the direction of the outer courtyard, but the further they went towards the inner courtyard, the quieter it became. The two constables clearly knew the way, striding ahead to lead. Qin Wan saw they were heading directly east!
A sense of unease welled up in Qin Wan’s heart. Following the covered corridor straight ahead, they passed the medicine storehouse, and the two constables still hadn’t stopped. Qin Wan realized then; the deceased was a concubine, likely heading to the concubines’ courtyard.
Sure enough, when they reached the concubines’ courtyard, the two leading constables slowed their steps. However, the concubines’ courtyards were arranged in a row, and Qin Wan didn’t know which one they were heading to. She glanced back at Fuling, who was also watching the constables’ destination with great tension. Suddenly, the two constables turned and entered a specific courtyard.
Qin Wan’s brow furrowed. Fuling also inhaled sharply.
The two constables had entered the courtyard of Concubine Eighth, Lady Liu!
Qin Wan’s hand tightened fiercely around her sleeve.
Lady Liu was dead?!
Lady Liu was someone who had gone to the Purple Bamboo Grove. Was her death related to Ninth Young Miss’s death?
Qin Wan’s heart pounded like a drum. Yan Chi, walking ahead, glanced back at her, his gaze profound.
"Your Highness! Greetings to Your Highness!"
Just as they reached the courtyard entrance, Huo Huaixin emerged to greet them, followed by Qin Chen and Old Madam Jiang Shi, both with somber expressions. Flanking Old Madam Jiang Shi were Caihe and Mistress Lin.
Huo Huaixin performed a deep bow, and the others from the Qin family behind him also bowed. When they saw Qin Wan following behind Yan Chi, the expressions of Jiang Shi and the others shifted slightly. Yan Chi lifted his chin slightly. "Rise. No need for such formalities."
Jiang Shi, supported by Mistress Lin and Caihe, stood up. Yan Chi looked at Huo Huaixin. "What is the situation?"
Huo Huaixin wiped the thin sweat from his forehead and shook his head. "Initial judgment is homicide. Strangulation. At the moment, all inner courtyard servants have been gathered at the stewards’ courtyard for questioning, one by one. Xu He is inside examining the body."
Qin Wan’s brow twitched. Yan Chi looked at Qin Chen and Jiang Shi and the others, frowning. "Where is Master Qin?"
With a homicide case occurring at the Qin residence, Master Qin should be the one to preside. So why wasn't he present?
Huo Huaixin gave a pained smile. "Master Qin is ill, and... gravely ill. So now it is Eldest Young Master Qin Chen and the Old Madam who are presiding. If Your Highness has any questions, they can answer them."
With that, Qin Chen stepped forward. "If Your Highness has any inquiries, you may ask me."
Yan Chi gave a slow nod, an imposing aura about his brow. He remained silent. Huo Huaixin wiped his sweat again. Qin Chen and the others also seemed nervous, unsure what to say. Qin Chen’s gaze shifted, landing on Qin Wan. "Since Ninth Sister has returned, you should go back to Tinglan Pavilion first. This matter certainly has nothing to do with you. Staying here is rather inauspicious."
Qin Wan had left the Qin residence early in the morning and arrived with Yan Chi, likely because they were both at the Marquis’s estate. At this moment, Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang were not here, making it clear that Jiang Shi and Mistress Lin did not want the younger generation involved in such matters. Qin Chen’s suggestion was normal. However, when his words fell, Yan Chi said, "Ninth Young Miss may have to trouble herself."
Qin Chen was taken aback. Qin Wan and Huo Huaixin nearby were also startled.
Yan Chi swept a glance over Qin Chen and the others. "This case concerns the Qin family’s reputation. Prefect Huo and I are rather unfamiliar with your esteemed residence. Fortunately, Ninth Young Miss is highly trusted by the Grand Princess. She may stay, and we can ask her when we encounter anything unclear."
He then looked at Qin Wan. "What do you say?"
Qin Wan looked up at Yan Chi, understanding he intended for her to participate in this case. But she still didn’t understand: why was Yan Chi, for no apparent reason, taking charge of this case? He hadn’t shown such concern for Song Rou’s case.
"Of course I will obey Your Highness’s instructions..."
As Qin Wan answered, Qin Chen attempted to speak but hesitated. "But... a death has occurred. Ninth Sister is still a young girl. I fear she may be quite frightened. If Your Highness does not object, I can..."
Yan Chi frowned. "It’s not that I find the Eldest Young Master unsuitable. But this case occurred in the Qin residence. The Eldest Young Master would do better to avoid suspicion."
Qin Chen’s face paled slightly. Yan Chi’s cold gaze swept over Jiang Shi and the others. "The incident occurred in the Qin residence. All of you are masters of the Qin household. I do not wish to suspect any of you, but in principle, all of you should avoid suspicion."
The Qin residence was, after all, part of Jinzhou’s nobility. Even Huo Huaixin would not be so direct and brusque. But Yan Chi had no need to be so circumspect. His words left Qin Chen and Jiang Shi with little room for compromise.
Qin Chen could only nod. "Yes. Your Highness speaks reason."
Yan Chi nodded slightly, appearing somewhat satisfied. He then looked at Huo Huaixin. "Please escort the Old Madam and the Eldest Young Master to rest aside. You can brief me on the case details. Now, take me to see the deceased’s body."
Huo Huaixin wiped his sweat and hurriedly directed a nearby constable. "You, take the Old Madam to sit in the side reception room." He then looked at Jiang Shi with a smile. "Old Madam, please go and rest for a while. We will ask you if there are any questions."
Jiang Shi, holding a string of prayer beads, made a single-handed bow to Huo Huaixin. "Amitabha. I entrust this matter to Prefect Huo." She also bowed to Yan Chi before leading Qin Chen and the others away.
Once they left, Yan Chi asked, "Where is the body?"
Huo Huaixin pointed inside. "Inside. Your Highness, please."
Yan Chi strode forward. After two steps, he turned back and saw Qin Wan still standing in place, unmoved. Yan Chi frowned. "What? Don’t you want to see what happened to the body?"
Qin Wan straightened her back. Of course she did! Even if she encountered a suspicious case by the roadside, her years of instinct working with her father would drive her to investigate, let alone a case arising within her own residence. But…
Qin Wan frowned at Yan Chi. "Your Highness is going to oversee this case?"
It wasn’t that Qin Wan was overstepping, but Yan Chi had been perfectly fine, not at the Yue family military camp. Why was he here at the Qin residence? She had thought he was seeking Prefect Huo for other matters, but from the looks of it, he seemed to have come precisely for the Qin residence case!
Something felt off. It seemed there was something she still didn’t know.
Though her question was vague, both Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin understood her meaning. Huo Huaixin even grinned. "Young Miss is surprised His Highness is handling the case? Haha, Young Miss doesn’t know yet, does she? His Highness has now been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of Provincial Judicial Commissioner for the Ministry of Justice, with rank equal to a Vice Minister of the Left of the Ministry of Justice. As he is currently in Jinzhou, homicide cases in Jinzhou naturally fall under his purview."
Qin Wan’s eyes widened instantly. "Provincial Judicial Commissioner for the Ministry of Justice?"
The position of Judicial Commissioner with investigative duties was not a regular official post. However, any title with the words "Provincial Commissioner" was usually directly appointed by the Emperor and the Chancellery, carrying the Emperor’s authority to prefectures and counties, responsible for supervision and oversight, holding the power to evaluate officials and oversee local administration. As a Provincial Judicial Commissioner, while Yan Chi might not interfere in other matters, all legal investigations and litigation cases related to criminal justice within Jinzhou Prefecture now fell under his jurisdiction. With him present, Huo Huaixin and the prefectural judicial office effectively became his subordinates. How the Qin residence case was handled was now ultimately up to him. But why had Yan Chi, for no apparent reason, been given the hat of Provincial Judicial Commissioner?
"Yes, the Provincial Judicial Commissioner," Huo Huaixin sighed, glancing around and, seeing no outsiders, added, "The case of Miss Song was reported back to the capital. It involves the Anyang Marquis’s household and Duke Song’s household. Perhaps His Majesty also considered the Grand Princess’s potential wrath, so he pushed His Highness forward. This case was originally quite thorny, and His Majesty didn’t know how long it would take to solve. He wanted His Highness to lead the investigation, both to save face for all parties and to bring the murderer to justice."
He paused, then said with a wry smile, "But who would have thought, before the imperial edict even arrived from the capital, the case was solved with Ninth Young Miss’s help. The imperial edict arrived yesterday afternoon. At the time, I even joked that the edict came too late, turning His Highness’s commissionership into a sinecure. Yet as soon as those words left my mouth, today the Qin residence has this incident..."
Huo Huaixin smiled helplessly. Qin Wan also blinked. Song Rou’s case indeed had significant implications. The current Emperor, knowing Yan Chi’s identity and close ties to the Anyang Marquis’s household, pushing him forward was a clever move. Moreover, with Yan Chi’s status and boldness, he would act without timidity, naturally expediting the investigation. However, the Emperor likely never expected the case to be solved so quickly. Still, was the Emperor’s edict specifically for Yan Chi to oversee Song Rou’s case, or had he genuinely been instated as Provincial Judicial Commissioner? If the former, it was one thing, but the latter situation would be far more complex.
"However, in my view, His Majesty also intended to test and temper His Highness. This case will allow His Highness to fully demonstrate his abilities." Huo Huaixin added, "With His Highness here, it sets my mind at ease. How this case is investigated is entirely up to His Highness. This official will certainly be His Highness’s loyal vanguard."
Huo Huaixin’s words contained no small amount of flattery, but a pang of unease settled in Qin Wan’s heart.
Yan Chi had returned from the Western Frontier Army, did this mean he would not be returning to the military but entering the court instead?
If the Emperor truly intended for Yan Chi to gain experience as Provincial Judicial Commissioner, wouldn’t that mean he planned to keep him in the Ministry of Justice in the future? With such an arrangement, it would be very difficult for Yan Chi to return to the military!
In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Qin Wan’s mind. Yan Chi’s expression showed no ripple. He glanced at Qin Wan, then turned to enter the courtyard. "Prefect Huo, please explain. What have you learned from receiving the report until now?"
Yan Chi slowed his pace slightly. Huo Huaixin hurried to keep up. "This official received the report from a Qin household servant at the yamen about one and a half hours ago. He only said there was a death in the residence, nothing more. Hearing it was the Qin residence, I immediately sent word to His Highness while coming here myself. When I arrived, the inner courtyard of the Qin residence had already been secured. Servants were forbidden from approaching. The Qin residence has always upheld strict family discipline, as evidenced by this. The absence of miscellaneous people is also very convenient. I entered with my men and heard from the maid in this courtyard that this morning, when she opened the door, she found this concubine dead in her room. She was terrified and reported it to Mistress Lin. It was Mistress Lin who sent someone to the authorities to report."
He paused slightly before continuing, "This concubine is the Eighth Concubine of the household, highly favored. However, recently, since Master Qin fell ill, he has rarely come to the inner quarters. This concubine also fell ill these past few days and was still taking medicine. She died on her own bed. She only had two personal maidservants attending her in this courtyard. The two maids said that after the concubine retired early last night, they locked the courtyard gate and went to sleep. Only this morning did they discover her dead when they opened the door."
Yan Chi frowned. "The gate wasn’t locked?"
Huo Huaixin nodded. "The gate wasn’t locked."
As they spoke, Yan Chi looked toward the main room ahead. "This is her room?"
Huo Huaixin nodded. "Exactly. Xu He is inside examining the body."
Yan Chi strode toward the main room. This was Qin Wan’s first time in Concubine Liu’s courtyard. Now, she also curiously surveyed the courtyard. The concubines’ courtyard was not as large as those of the young masters and misses. However, the Qin residence was always elegant in its landscaping. Lady Liu’s courtyard, seemingly in harmony with her name, had several weeping willows planted along the walls. Under the willow trees were clusters of peonies, subtly hinting at Lady Liu’s charm. A rockery and flowing water feature were placed in the central courtyard. In spring, though small, this courtyard would undoubtedly be elegant and pleasant.
Qin Wan swept a brief glance and soon entered the main room. As soon as she stepped inside, a pungent odor of medicine made her frown. The medicinal smells were mixed, but Qin Wan immediately identified several ingredients. Considering this, the prescription was one she was rather familiar with...
"Xu He, His Highness and Ninth Young Miss are here. What have you found?"
Huo Huaixin turned right from the main hall and entered the concubine’s bedchamber. Here, another cloying mix of heavy cosmetics and medicine filled the air. Qin Wan discreetly observed the interior of Lady Liu’s room and inwardly clicked her tongue. From the outside, the courtyard appeared somewhat scenic but not significantly more so than others. However, the interior was vastly different. The furnishings and ornaments were all jade; the porcelain was exquisite and of high quality. Looking at the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, some were even works by renowned masters from previous dynasties. Qin Wan sighed inwardly. This Eighth Concubine indeed must have been extremely favored!
"Greetings to Your Highness, Ninth Young Miss."
The inner chamber was also exceptionally ornate and luxurious. Xu He, clad in white robes, stood inside the room. It had been days, yet his scholarly air remained undiminished. He bowed to Yan Chi and Qin Wan, then frowned. "My lord, please come and see."
At this, Huo Huaixin hurried over. Qin Wan followed Yan Chi and also approached the bed.
In the past, Huo Huaixin and Xu He might have worried about frightening Qin Wan. But now, the three grown men actually left a spot empty for her to observe conveniently. Qin Wan stepped forward without hesitation and saw the body of Eighth Concubine Liu, who had been dead for some time.
Perhaps Lady Liu loved red. Her bed curtains were also a bright, dazzling water red. At the moment, the curtains were fully drawn back, and the brocade quilt on the bed had been tucked aside. This vividly adorned bed had now become Lady Liu’s deathbed.
Lady Liu still wore her thin, water-red gauze dress. Xu He had only performed the most basic inspection and had not yet removed her clothing. At a glance, Lady Liu’s figure, under the gauze dress, remained curvaceous and alluring. But when Qin Wan saw Lady Liu’s face, discomfort immediately surged within her.
Lady Liu’s eyes were closed. Her lifeless face was still heavily coated with white powder, even more thickly than when Qin Wan had first seen her. Even so, one could still see her face was somewhat bluish-purple and swollen. Combined with the natural death pallor, Lady Liu now lay with eyes closed, yet her face resembled a malevolent ghost, terrifying to behold. The greasy powder clung to her face; faintly, it seemed to cover her neck too. Against this ghastly white powder, the purple ligature marks on her neck were glaringly obvious. No wonder Huo Huaixin said Xu He’s conclusion was strangulation.
Qin Wan did not doubt this statement, but her brow soon furrowed.
"My lord, Your Highness, Ninth Young Miss, look at this purple ligature mark, below the victim’s throat. I have already examined. The victim has no other injuries on her body for now, only this single ligature mark. The ligature mark crosses at the back of the neck and is extremely deep and fine. Look again…"
As he spoke, Xu He tilted Lady Liu’s head. With her head turned to the side, the ligature marks on the side of her neck became particularly evident. "Look. Above and below the ligature marks, there are tiny bleeding points. This proves the victim was strangled while alive. Additionally, the bluish-purple swelling of her skin and the slight protrusion of her eyeballs confirm death by strangulation."
Yan Chi nodded but turned to look at Qin Wan. "What do you think?"
Qin Wan’s lips pursed slightly. In truth, she didn’t necessarily need to be involved in this case. But Yan Chi seemed to have seen through her thoughts from the start, using the pretext of having her stay by his side to answer questions. With this excuse and citing the Grand Princess’s trust, everything seemed perfectly reasonable. As someone acquainted with him, it was normal for him to trust Qin Wan and ask her questions. The Qin family would have no reason to suspect anything.
And Qin Wan herself could not stand aside. Not to mention she knew Lady Liu had visited the Purple Bamboo Grove, even if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t let go of any suspicious case involving the Qin residence. Moreover, she had a growing feeling that Lady Liu’s death and the Ninth Young Miss’s death were not completely unrelated. As for the connection, perhaps uncovering the truth of Lady Liu’s death would reveal the truth about the Ninth Young Miss’s death!
This thought solidified. Qin Wan said, "She was indeed strangled. Aside from what Coroner Xu mentioned, her tongue would definitely be protruding beyond her teeth. Also, there should be other clues on her hands and feet. We can also examine her sclera..."
Xu He raised his eyebrows and quickly turned to pry open Lady Liu’s mouth. Indeed, Lady Liu’s tongue was wedged between her teeth. Moreover, it appeared her tongue had been bitten, with traces of blood visible. Xu He then opened her eyelids and saw sporadic hemorrhagic spots visible on Lady Liu’s protruding eyeballs. Xu He silently noted this and turned to ask, "Ninth Young Miss’s meaning is, all strangled victims show these signs?"
Qin Wan nodded, then shook her head. "Not necessarily. It depends. For instance, whether the tongue protrudes beyond the teeth depends on the circumstances. When the ligature is here..." Qin Wan leaned forward, pointing to the area just below the victim’s throat.
"...lower than this position, the tongue will protrude. But if the ligature position is higher, the tongue will not protrude. So the saying that hanged ghosts always have long tongues is incorrect. Sometimes, even after hanging, the tongue may not protrude. The principle is the same; it depends on whether the rope's position is high or low."
Xu He nodded, mentally noting this.
Here, Huo Huaixin said, "So it seems, hanging death and strangulation are very similar."
Qin Wan originally didn’t want to say too much, but since Huo Huaixin brought it up, she continued, "The ligature marks from hanging show less bleeding. For strangulation, the ligature mark and areas above and below often bleed. The eyeballs in strangulation cases show more and more pronounced hemorrhagic spots. Hanging ligatures typically appear only on the lower part, fading towards the sides, while strangulation ligatures also show deep marks on the sides and back of the neck. Furthermore, if you open the victim’s skull, a strangled person will have significantly more bleeding under the scalp, while in hanging cases, there is almost none."
Open the skull... Huo Huaixin’s eyelid twitched. He coughed lightly. "Instructive, very instructive. Ninth Young Miss is indeed knowledgeable. Ahem, since the cause of death is confirmed, the murder weapon can also be determined, right? A very thin rope?" Huo Huaixin glanced around the room. "Could the murder weapon be somewhere in this room?"
Lady Liu’s bedchamber was decorated very exquisitely and lavishly. Near the window, there was also an unfinished embroidered handkerchief. But as for a thin, strong rope, none was immediately found.
"The room was like this when you entered?"
Suddenly, Yan Chi spoke up. Huo Huaixin was slightly taken aback. "Yes, exactly like this when we entered."
Yan Chi frowned, looking at Huo Huaixin. "Prefect Huo, doesn’t it feel off to you?"
Huo Huaixin looked around the room in confusion. "Off... where..." He looked around again and again, then murmured, "This room... doesn’t seem like a murder scene..."
As he said this, Huo Huaixin’s eyes widened. "Right! If she were killed in her own room, she should have struggled. But this room is too tidy. Could it be she was drugged?"
Saying this, Huo Huaixin went to examine Lady Liu’s medicine bowl.
Qin Wan said nothing. She stepped forward, pressed Lady Liu’s body, then felt her neck. Immediately, her brow furrowed. Xu He had been observing Qin Wan’s expression all along and now quickly asked, "What did Ninth Young Miss discover?"
Qin Wan looked at Lady Liu’s neatly arranged dress and suddenly began unfastening the front of her garment. She worked deftly but did not remove all the clothing, only pulling it down to just below the shoulders. As she did, several distinct purple patches on Lady Liu’s shoulder became visible. Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, then rolled up the sleeve of Lady Liu’s left arm. This time, she clearly saw several more purple patches on the inner side of Lady Liu’s left arm. Qin Wan pressed her finger against the patches and released; the purple marks lightened but soon returned to their original color. Qin Wan slowly lowered Lady Liu’s arm, her expression grave.
"The body has been moved..." Qin Wan said, her gaze slowly sweeping the surroundings. "Also, Lady Liu’s shoes from yesterday are not seen in the room. It is highly likely Lady Liu did not die here."
"The body was moved?" Xu He’s eyes widened abruptly. "Ninth Young Miss, could you explain why?"
Although Xu He had entered the coroner’s profession, his skills were still lacking. Having witnessed Qin Wan’s expertise several times, he had long harbored a desire to learn from her. Before, it was secretly observing; after understanding Qin Wan’s temperament, he now simply asked directly.
Qin Wan glanced at him and, as expected, did not withhold knowledge. "Was she exactly like this when you arrived?"
Xu He nodded. "Yes, exactly like this."
Qin Wan said, "Look, she was strangled. When you arrived and saw her like this, your first reaction was she was killed in her own room. However, look at her face..."
Xu He hurriedly looked. Qin Wan said, "The two maids said they saw her retire before leaving last night. That means Lady Liu died after retiring. Judging from her body temperature and the condition of the lividity, she died between 11 PM and 1 AM. But at that time, she should have already been asleep. If she was asleep, why would she have such heavy powder on her face? Look at her clothing. It’s so neat and proper, not at all like someone who had gone to bed."
Xu He stared intently at Qin Wan. Qin Wan continued, "That is point one. Point two, her shoes are not in the room. Even if she was asleep, the servants wouldn’t take her shoes. The murderer took them? That’s possible, of course. But what would a pair of shoes reveal? Shoes are worn on the feet; they would only reveal where she had been. If she didn’t leave this room that night, why would the murderer go to the trouble of taking the shoes? Third, look at her fingernails..."
Xu He quickly said, "I also noticed that. Her nails are broken."
"Not just broken. The nails on her left ring finger and index finger, and the right ring finger, index finger, and middle finger are completely broken. Also, the pads of her fingers and her palms have abrasions. This indicates she struggled violently. She wasn’t drugged unconscious and then strangled. Furthermore, this room is so tidy. The teacup on the table, the brocade quilt on the bed, the jade ornaments by the bedhead, nothing is broken or damaged. How is that possible? The place where she was killed is certainly not here."
Qin Wan took a deep breath. "The most important point: the lividity on her body. Lividity, or livor mortis, typically appears after death when the heart stops beating. Once the heart stops, blood naturally flows downward due to gravity, accumulating in lower areas, forming lividity. Look, if she had been lying on her back like this all along, why would lividity appear on her shoulders and the inner sides of her arms? If I guess correctly, there will also be lividity on the sides of her thighs and waist. This proves that after death, she was likely lying on her side, perhaps even curled up. Look at her legs; they are somewhat unnaturally bent. If we want to know her posture at the time of death, we only need to examine more closely."
Xu He listened with utmost attention, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Qin Wan’s face.
Whenever it involved autopsy, Qin Wan’s focus took on a distinct intensity, different from her usual demeanor. This focus seemed to carry a kind of magic, compelling one to watch. Moreover, the certainty and composure in Qin Wan’s eyes gave a sense that she could see through all things, that she could, through these traces like spider webs, ultimately make the murderer have nowhere to hide an imposing feeling.
Because of this feeling, no matter how lofty a person might be, at this moment, they had to listen carefully to her!
Perhaps Xu He was watching too intently; Qin Wan mistakenly thought he had a question. She continued, "You know the body stiffens after death?"
Xu He snapped back to attention and hurriedly nodded. Qin Wan said, "The body begins to stiffen approximately one hour after death, starting from the areas most used in life. After three hours, the entire body becomes stiff. After six or seven hours, the entire body is rigid and difficult to move. After a day, the stiffened body begins to soften again, and after three or four days, it completely softens. So after death, the body maintains the posture of death for some time. That’s why her leg posture looks somewhat strange."
Xu He quickly nodded. "Good, noted. I have noted it."
Meanwhile, Huo Huaixin, though not as eager for knowledge as Xu He, also listened attentively. Now he quickly asked, "So, Ninth Young Miss believes the murderer killed Lady Liu elsewhere and then moved her here?"
Qin Wan looked at Huo Huaixin and shook her head. "The person who moved the body was not the murderer."
Huo Huaixin was stunned, bewilderedly turning to Yan Chi. A cold glint had already appeared in Yan Chi’s eyes. "It seems we must invite the masters of the Qin residence for questioning…"