The Powerful and Favored Coroner Imperial Concubine

96: Autopsy. Syphilis, Again!

"Old Madam, Eldest Young Master, Prince Rui's Heir Apparent requests your presence."

When the constable arrived, Old Madam Jiang, who had been rotating her prayer beads, paused. Her half-closed eyes opened. After a moment, she slowly nodded. "Very well. We will come at once."

The constable nodded and left. Mistress Lin immediately helped Madam Jiang stand. "Mother, this…"

Madam Jiang raised a hand, and Madam Lin immediately fell silent. Madam Jiang looked at Qin Chen. "Chen'er, stick to what we said before. Don't worry about anything else."[ TN: Jiang-shi and Lin-shi → Madam. ]

Qin Chen hesitated, wanting to speak. "But…"

Madam Jiang pressed her lips together. "No 'buts.' If we truly cannot conceal it, then it is fate."

Qin Chen let out a breath and strode out. Caihe, nearby, hurried forward to help Madam Lin support Madam Jiang as they walked out. Lady Liu's courtyard had been sealed off, so Yan Chi had chosen another side hall for questioning.

When Madam Jiang and the others entered, Yan Chi was already seated with a somber expression in the main seat. Huo Huaixin stood respectfully to the side. Even Huo Huaixin dared not sit in Yan Chi's presence, let alone anyone else.

"Greetings to Your Highness, greetings to Prefect Huo."

The Qin family members performed their bows. Huo Huaixin waved a hand. "Rise, rise."

Huo Huaixin's tone was relaxed. He glanced sideways at Yan Chi in the main seat. Yan Chi's expression was indifferent; he casually toyed with a small bone pendant hanging at his waist, looking like an outsider who had no intention of interfering. Yet, an oppressive aura emanated from him. Huo Huaixin withdrew his gaze and asked, "Might I ask, who among you was the first to arrive here?"

Qin Chen frowned slightly. Madam Lin stepped forward first. "Prefect Huo, it was this humble wife."

Huo Huaixin nodded, his tone still quite courteous. "So Mistress was the first to arrive. Then might I ask, when you first came to the courtyard, was Lady Liu already lying on the bed, having been strangled?"

A flash passed through Madam Lin's eyes. She nodded. "Exactly so."

Huo Huaixin smiled and nodded amiably. He looked at the constable at the door. "Go and bring in the two maidservants who served Lady Liu."

The constable acknowledged and left. Qin Chen couldn't help but ask, "Prefect Huo, do you have any doubts?"

Huo Huaixin, beaming like a smiling Buddha, said, "No, no. You arrived late and wouldn't know, so I won't ask you. I'll ask those two maidservants in a moment…"

Qin Chen pressed his lips together, a slight frown appearing on his brow.

After Huo Huaixin finished, he looked at Yan Chi. Yan Chi was still fiddling with the bone pendant, as if he hadn't been listening at all. Yet his gaze was cold and sharp; though not directly fixed on Madam Jiang and the others, it made it impossible to ignore him.

Huo Huaixin felt a pang of trepidation. Looking at the people below, apart from Madam Jiang, Qin Chen and Madam Lin both appeared nervous. A young maidservant standing nearby was so tense she twisted the cuff of her sleeve with her fingers.

Huo Huaixin inwardly shook his head and sighed softly. At that moment, two young maidservants in green attire entered.

"Greetings to both lords!"

Seeing them kneel and bow, Huo Huaixin didn't bother with formal introductions. He asked directly, "Who are you below the dais?"

"This servant is Xiuqin…"

"This servant is Xiushu…"

They answered in turn. Their names were quite elegant. Huo Huaixin nodded. "You two, who was the first to discover Lady Liu dead in her room this morning?"

The two were taken aback, instinctively lowering their gazes. Then Xiuqin said, "It... it was this servant."

Huo Huaixin made an acknowledging sound and asked Xiushu, "And you, how did you see Lady Liu?"

Xiushu clutched the hem of her clothes, nervous. "This servant heard Xiuqin scream and went to look. I saw the concubine lying on the bed, already lifeless…"

Huo Huaixin drew out a long "Hmm." The sound alone made Xiuqin and Xiushu break out in a cold sweat.

"So, you, Xiuqin, were the first to see Lady Liu's body?"

Xiuqin nodded, beads of sweat like soybeans dripping from her cheeks. Huo Huaixin stared coldly at Xiuqin and let out a light laugh. "Were you truly the first to see Lady Liu's body?"

Xiuqin glanced up at Huo Huaixin, gritted her teeth, and continued nodding. "It was indeed this servant."

The smile slowly faded from Huo Huaixin's face, his gaze turning sharp and cold. "I ask you once more: when you first saw Lady Liu this morning, was she exactly like this?"

Xiuqin swallowed with difficulty, her face growing even paler. Hesitation appeared on her face. She glanced at Madam Lin, but seeing Madam Lin with eyes downcast, not looking at her, she could only nod again. "Yes, my lord!"

Huo Huaixin narrowed his eyes and suddenly gave a cold snort. "Daring to lie in front of His Highness and this official, do you truly not know the law? Guards! Take her away. Give her thirty strokes!"

Huo Huaixin's tone had initially been gentle, but now his expression changed abruptly, his voice carrying thunderous anger. Xiuqin was instantly terrified, her face drained of color. "My lord! My lord! This servant did not lie... This servant truly…"

Xiuqin's words became incoherent. She looked pleadingly at Madam Lin, but Madam Lin only gripped Madam Jiang's arm tightly, not glancing her way at all. Xiuqin's tears fell like rain. "This servant is wronged, this servant did not lie. My lord... my lord, spare me!"

After just two cries, constables at the door had already entered. Without further ado, they began dragging Xiuqin out. A young girl like Xiuqin was no match for the strength of two grown men. She was immediately pulled towards the doorway like a struggling fish. If the Qin household servants administered the thirty strokes, it might be one thing, but these were yamen constables. Strong, sturdy men accustomed to punishing prisoners. Thirty strokes from them could cripple or even kill Xiuqin!

Xiuqin struggled desperately, her miserable wails echoing far away...

"Prefect Huo, I beg you to spare her."

As Xiuqin was about to be dragged out, Madam Jiang, holding her prayer beads, suddenly sighed and spoke.

Facing Madam Jiang, a smile reappeared on Huo Huaixin's face. "Oh? Old Madam, what do you mean by that?"

Madam Jiang looked expressionlessly at Huo Huaixin. Her wrinkled face wore a desolate, defeated look, yet a glimmer of unextinguished vitality remained in her cloudy eyes. "This old woman understands Prefect's meaning. Spare her. If Prefect Huo wishes to know, ask this old woman…"

Huo Huaixin's smile didn't fade. He raised a hand and waved towards the constables at the door.

The constables released Xiuqin. Xiuqin let out a choked sob, pressing her voice down as she prostrated herself on the ground.

Huo Huaixin then said, "Just now, the prefectural coroner examined Lady Liu's corpse. He found that Lady Liu was strangled after 11 PM. After death, Lady Liu should have been lying on her side on the ground. But about an hour ago, she was moved and placed lying on her back. Additionally, Lady Liu had injuries on her hands, yet her room shows no signs of struggle or fighting. By all appearances, it doesn't seem she was killed in her own bedchamber. This maid claims she was the first to see Lady Liu. This official suspects that when she first saw Lady Liu, the body was likely not as it is now. What does Old Madam think?"

Madam Jiang listened impassively. After Huo Huaixin finished, she showed no reaction. Just as Huo Huaixin thought she wouldn't answer and was about to speak again, Madam Jiang said in a low voice, "Xiuqin, tell the truth."

Xiuqin, hearing her name, trembled violently. "Old Madam…"

Madam Jiang sighed, looking at Huo Huaixin as she continued, "Prefect, the lie... I told her to tell it. Only because... only because Lady Liu died in an undignified manner. For the sake of the Qin family's reputation, I had her lie."

With Madam Jiang saying this, Qin Chen and Madam Lin beside her also sighed together.

Qin Chen, pressing his lips, said, "Lady Liu was quite favored in the household. Yet, Father has only been ill for a little over half a month, and she… she actually left her courtyard in the dead of night..." Qin Chen's face showed he found it difficult to speak, and his words trailed off.

Huo Huaixin raised an eyebrow. Meanwhile, Xiuqin, still prostrate on the ground, said, "Replying to Prefect Huo, this servant... this servant got up this morning and, as usual, went to the main room to see if the concubine had risen. But when I opened the door, the concubine was nowhere to be seen. It was just beginning to get light then. I didn't know where the concubine had gone, so I went out to look. I first headed towards the front courtyard direction, but before I had gone far, screams came from the direction of the eastern back courtyard. Hearing something was wrong, I hurried back towards the source of the sound. Upon looking, I discovered... I discovered Lady Liu dead under the flower arbor in the east courtyard..."

She paused, swallowing with difficulty. "And... and at that time, Lady Liu's clothing was disheveled, looking quite horrifying. The one who found Lady Liu was a young servant responsible for sweeping. Both she and I were panicked. I told her to watch while I went to find the Mistress. The Mistress came with her people, then went to inform the Old Madam. When the Old Madam arrived and saw Lady Liu's disheveled state, fearing unfavorable rumors might spread in the household, she had the Mistress send someone to report to the authorities while also having the concubine's body taken back to her courtyard and her clothes changed."

Xiuqin finished, breathing heavily as she knelt prostrate on the ground, sobbing in fear.

Huo Huaixin heard this and glanced at Yan Chi. Yan Chi, who had been looking bored and gloomy, finally set aside the bone pendant. He swept his gaze over the people below. "So, you believe Lady Liu was murdered because she was having an affair?"

Qin Chen said gravely, "Replying to Your Highness, my mother and grandmother described Lady Liu's disheveled appearance. Moreover, late at night, she left her courtyard alone. In terms of reason and propriety, it constitutes improper conduct…"

Qin Chen's face showed distress. "Although she was a concubine in the household, my father and mother treated her very generously. Now... now that she has been murdered, we should grieve for her. But if she was engaged in immoral relations, where does that leave the Qin family's face?"

Huo Huaixin raised an eyebrow, somewhat troubled. What he said made sense. Though she was a concubine, she was still Master Qin's woman. If there really was some disgraceful conduct, Master Qin would lose face, and others would say the Qin family lacked proper discipline.

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "I wonder, for the sake of the Qin family's reputation, has the Old Madam concealed anything else?"

Madam Jiang shook her head, lowering her eyes. "I wouldn't dare. Only these things. The clothes changed at that time, if Prefect Huo needs them, I will have Xiuqin bring them to the main room shortly."

Huo Huaixin smiled and nodded. "We need them, we need them. The Old Madam follows the Buddhist path and naturally harbors a compassionate heart. However, if there is concealment, it hinders the investigation. And regardless of why that person killed Lady Liu, for the Old Madam, the Mistress, and all the Qin family masters, he is a murderer. If we don't catch him, all of you are also in danger, aren't you?"

Madam Jiang bowed her head. "Prefect speaks reason."

Yan Chi, impatient with pleasantries with the Qin family, said directly, "Very well. You may withdraw for now. Since the authorities have begun investigating this case, we will certainly give the Qin family an explanation. Regarding the initial concealment… we will not pursue it for the moment."

Qin Chen hurriedly made a fist-and-palm salute. "Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Prefect Huo."

Huo Huaixin said cheerfully, "Alright, nothing for now. I understand your concerns. Quickly assist the Old Madam to rest. Once all the inner courtyard servants have been questioned, you may return to your own courtyards."

Qin Chen bowed again to Huo Huaixin, then helped Madam Jiang walk out.

As Qin Chen exited, he glanced around, searching a few times but not finding Qin Wan's figure. He felt suspicious but knew it was not appropriate to ask. Turning back, he faintly heard Qin Wan's voice coming from the side hall they had just left. Qin Chen looked at Madam Jiang with shock and doubt. "Grandmother, Ninth Sister she…"

Madam Jiang narrowed her eyes. "She doesn't know anything either. His Highness Yan and Prefect Huo value her, but it's largely due to the Grand Princess's face. Let her be. It is her fortune."

Qin Chen nodded and asked no more.

…

…

In the side hall, Qin Wan and Coroner Xu emerged from a side room.

Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan. "Well? Does it match your deduction?"

Qin Wan nodded. "It's roughly the same. Just now, I examined carefully. The wounds on Lady Liu's palms are mostly linear abrasions, with some tiny particles embedded. It's almost certain she was killed outside. Later, when we look at the clothes and shoes Xiuqin brings, there will be more clues. As for the autopsy, this time Coroner Xu should be able to handle it alone."

Xu He quickly waved his hands upon hearing this. "No, no. Naturally, we still need Ninth Young Miss's expertise…"

Qin Wan shook her head. "This examination is quite straightforward. Try it yourself; you certainly can. We can't have me do it every time. You are the coroner of Jinzhou Prefecture; you need to stand on your own in the future."

Xu He heard this, and his heart warmed. He understood this reasoning, but with Qin Wan present, he felt conducting an autopsy before her was like showing off before an expert. He was also afraid of delaying the investigation, hence his hesitation. Now, hearing Qin Wan's words, he immediately straightened his back. "Very well. Then this humble one will give it a try. Observing Ninth Young Miss perform autopsies before has benefited me greatly. If there are any shortcomings this time, I ask Ninth Young Miss to correct and instruct me…"

Qin Wan nodded. At that moment, Yan Chi suddenly asked, "Why is the Qin family's Second Young Master not here?"

Huo Huaixin, hearing this, shook his head with a wry smile. "This Second Young Master is also ill. Furthermore, people from his courtyard testified that he never left his room last night. So we let him stay in his own courtyard."

Yan Chi nodded. Qin Wan thought of Qin Li; he seemed to have no connection with Lady Liu, so she temporarily set aside suspicion of him and looked at Yan Chi. "Does His Highness wish to see the flower arbor?"

Yan Chi stood up. "Lead the way."

Huo Huaixin, seeing this, said, "Your Highness and Ninth Young Miss go ahead and take a look. This official will wait for Lady Liu's clothes and shoes. If there are more clues, I'll bring them to Your Highness later."

Yan Chi nodded, looking at Qin Wan. Qin Wan turned and went out, leading Yan Chi towards the flower arbor.

Leaving this side hall and proceeding along the covered corridor, passing Lady Liu's courtyard, and turning twice along the corridor, the shadow of the flower arbor came into view. After walking a few more zhang, the entire arbor was revealed.

At first glance, Yan Chi frowned. "Why is it in such a mess?"

All the inner courtyard servants were currently being questioned, leaving the area around the flower arbor deserted and silent. Bai Feng, Fuling, and several constables followed behind Yan Chi and Qin Wan as they approached the flower arbor.

Yan Chi glanced at the constables. "Search the area for anything suspicious. Also, find some rope and cordon off the entire flower arbor. No one except those investigating the case is to approach."

Watching Yan Chi, a faint light sparked in Qin Wan's eyes. She only knew Yan Chi had fought on battlefields for twelve years; she didn't know he also had some method in criminal investigation.

The constables obeyed. Yan Chi then walked under the flower arbor.

Qin Wan followed him, looking at the still somewhat chaotic central area. "Your Highness thinks it looks messy because there originally was a well here."

Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. "A well?"

Qin Wan nodded, following Yan Chi under the arbor.

It was called a flower arbor, but it was essentially a pavilion open on all sides. To cover the well, a roof had been built. Because the surroundings were all elegant corridors and flower beds, wooden frames had been nailed around the pavilion and wisteria planted. Now the wisteria climbed the frames, giving it the appearance of a flower arbor.

Last night, the Old Madam ordered the well sealed. The dismantled well curb had not been rebuilt; furthermore, after the well mouth was filled, the ground had been leveled. However, because it was too late last night, the well mouth section hadn't yet been covered with stone slabs. And with the incident this morning, that part of the ground under the arbor was still bare earth, with planks, ropes, and bricks scattered around, looking quite untidy. Late at night, why would Concubine Eighth come here?

"There originally was a well here these past few days, the Qin residence was clearing sludge from the well. This well was still being cleaned yesterday... but... but some disturbance occurred yesterday. My Sixth Sister fell into the well. Whether she was frightened or not, she claimed to have seen dead bones at the bottom. Later, Third Aunt sent Steward Liu down to investigate. He found only muddy, debris-covered branches. Sixth Sister had a false alarm, but the commotion was considerable. The Old Madam learned of this and invited a Taoist master. The master said this well was rather inauspicious and might cause further misfortune, so he ordered the well filled."

Qin Wan explained to Yan Chi, who then nodded. "I see."

Yan Chi swept a glance over the flower arbor. "At night, this place is probably deserted, quite secluded. But if, as the Eldest Young Master and the Old Madam suggested, she was involved in improper relations and met someone here for a tryst, it still seems rather rash. This place, once someone comes, they could be seen. Unless it was for a hurried meeting…"

This flower arbor allowed entry and exit from both front and back, while the sides were enclosed by the flower frames. Yan Chi stood behind a flower frame, which somewhat concealed his figure. In the dead of night, it could almost completely hide a person.

But as Yan Chi said, if Lady Liu came out to meet someone for an illicit affair, why choose here?

Thinking this, Qin Wan's gaze suddenly fell on the distant Purple Bamboo Grove. This was already the eastern back courtyard, only about ten zhang from the Purple Bamboo Grove to the northeast. Passing through a few corridors and reaching the end, ahead was the Purple Bamboo Grove. If it really was a secret tryst, choosing the flower arbor was worse than choosing the Purple Bamboo Grove. Unless Lady Liu came out only for a brief meeting with someone.

"What are you looking at?"

The Purple Bamboo Grove always held the most mystery in the residence for Qin Wan. Her thoughts unconsciously drifted there; this stare naturally made her momentarily lost in thought. Yan Chi's call brought her mind back.

"I was thinking, if it really was an illicit affair, one would at least choose a more hidden place. Although this place could serve as concealment at night, it's ultimately not secluded enough. And for something like an illicit affair, once discovered, it's a serious crime."

Yan Chi followed Qin Wan's gaze toward the Purple Bamboo Grove. "Going to that bamboo grove would be better than here."

Qin Wan hesitated for a moment. "That bamboo grove is a forbidden area in the residence. Under normal circumstances, no one dares to go there."

"Forbidden area?" A flicker of interest appeared in Yan Chi's eyes. With his temperament, there was no such thing as forbidden areas. "How so? Usually, forbidden areas are linked to secrets."

Qin Wan glanced around. "Many years ago, a concubine in the residence hanged herself in those woods…"

Understanding dawned in Yan Chi's eyes. If someone falling into a well could make the well seem inauspicious, then the Purple Bamboo Grove where someone died was even more so. Aristocratic families always placed great importance on omens of fortune and misfortune, as if the prosperity of great clans relied on such things. Yan Chi didn't quite agree inwardly but could understand. He had considered going to the grove to look, but thinking this, he shook his head and dismissed the idea.

"Master, the surrounding area has been checked. Nothing unusual." Not long after, Bai Feng approached. The area around the flower arbor was nothing but the small courtyards of several concubines; the nearest were some winding corridors, flower beds, and paths in the residence. There was really nowhere to hide things. And the murderer would naturally have been extremely careful, so clues wouldn't be easily found.

As Bai Feng finished speaking, Qin Wan had already crouched down. Under the arbor, the stone slabs were not conducive to leaving traces, but the filled well mouth was earthen. Qin Wan rolled up her sleeves slightly and brushed her hand over the soil surface.

"Although this place looks messy, the stone slabs seem to have been swept. A thin layer of dry dust was swept over this soil surface." As she spoke, Qin Wan carefully brushed away the dry dust.

Yan Chi looked down and immediately saw Qin Wan's delicate, onion-white fingertips stained with dirt and dust. He frowned and also crouched down. "You don't need to do this…"

Before he finished, Qin Wan, without looking up, said, "Since Your Highness trusts Qin Wan, Qin Wan naturally must exert some effort for Your Highness."

Yan Chi frowned. "You just need to help with the autopsy. These tasks are for the constables."

Qin Wan shook her head. "I also want to find the murderer sooner. Your Highness needn't be courteous. These small tasks are very detailed. If I think of something, I'll do it. It's no trouble."

Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan, inexplicably feeling her tone was heavy as she said this. But then again, Qin Wan always seemed this way whenever she was involved in investigating and examining corpses. He sighed inwardly and said, "I'm afraid it was the Qin family's Old Madam who ordered the cleanup. With them acting like this, I wonder if there's any offense under the penal code!"

Qin Wan also felt quite helpless. She understood Madam Jiang's intentions, but such an act of covering one's ears while stealing a bell, full of flaws, was truly somewhat absurd and laughable. What was infuriating was that she actually did it. Now, much evidence and many clues had been inadvertently destroyed by her, naturally greatly increasing the difficulty of uncovering the truth!

"These seem to be footprints…"

As the dry dust was brushed away, several imprints of varying depths on the soil surface were revealed.

But Qin Wan frowned. "These footprints can't accurately determine which were the last left, because the well was also sealed last night. Additionally, it's very likely they stepped here when moving Lady Liu's body, so it's a bit chaotic."

Yan Chi said, "Later, when Prefect Huo calls Xiuqin over, we can listen to her describe what Lady Liu looked like when she saw her and what they did afterwards."

Qin Wan glanced at those deep and shallow footprints again and nodded.

Qin Wan scanned the area carefully, beginning to examine this flower arbor meticulously. The stone slabs were extremely difficult to retain marks; even if there were any, they had been swept away. However, the flower frames on the side were different. Qin Wan looked closely and indeed saw several places on the wisteria leaves where there were small, varying injuries. "Your Highness, please come look…"

Yan Chi stood beside Qin Wan. Qin Wan said, "The wisteria here has always grown very well. But look, Your Highness, the scars on these leaves seem to have been caused by grasping. And here, the leaf is gone, and the vine is nearly torn."

Yan Chi naturally saw these marks as well. "These are traces left by Lady Liu struggling when she was killed?"

Qin Wan nodded. "Possibly."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Huo Huaixin approached from not far away, bringing Xiuqin, Xiushu, and two constables.

One constable carried a small bundle, presumably the clothes Lady Liu wore when she died.

Qin Wan narrowed her eyes and walked to the entrance of the flower arbor. Huo Huaixin strode over. "They're here, Your Highness, Ninth Young Miss. Lady Liu's clothes are here…"

Yan Chi nodded and looked at Xiuqin. "Describe what Lady Liu looked like when you first saw her this morning."

Xiuqin's face was deathly pale, her eyes still red. "Yes. When this servant ran over, the young servant responsible for sweeping was standing outside the flower arbor, her broom dropped on the ground in fright. When this servant walked to the entrance of the arbor and looked, I was also scared out of my wits… I saw… I saw the concubine lying on the left side of the center of the flower arbor, her eyes wide open, her neck tilted back oddly, exactly… exactly like this, lying on her side…"

As she spoke, Xiuqin gestured, exactly as Qin Wan had described.

"Was the left shoulder on the ground?"

Qin Wan asked. Xiuqin nodded frantically. "Exactly, exactly!"

Qin Wan beckoned her over. "Come here. Specifically describe where her head was, where her feet were."

Xiuqin walked under the arbor and pointed at the earthen area in the middle. "The concubine's feet were just outside here. Her head was towards the left, her body lying sideways across the ground. And on the ground, this servant clearly remembers there was a dragging mark, from here to… here…"

Xiuqin indicated a path from the filled well mouth to where Lady Liu ultimately lay.

Qin Wan glanced at Yan Chi. The Qin family still didn't know she performed autopsies, so it wasn't appropriate for her to ask too much.

Yan Chi understood her meaning at a glance. He asked, "Your Old Madam said her clothes were disheveled. How exactly?"

Xiuqin nervously clutched her sleeve. "It was just… her skirt was somewhat messy, and the front of her jacket was pulled open a bit."

Yan Chi frowned. "Only that?"

Xiuqin shrank her neck and nodded. "Exactly. It did look somewhat indecent, but it wasn't… it wasn't like her clothes were half-open or she was naked."

Here, Huo Huaixin said, "The Old Madam suspects your concubine was having an affair. Tell me, did your concubine usually have close interactions with other men?"

Xiuqin's face trembled with fear as she shook her head. "No. From what this servant saw, the concubine never had any entanglement with other men. However… however the concubine didn't like us servants constantly attending her, so sometimes we didn't know."

Yan Chi asked further, "How did you clean this area?"

Xiuqin hung her head. "First, we moved the concubine back to her courtyard and changed her clothes. Then… then the ground here was a bit dirty, and some leaves had fallen. The Old Madam told us to clean up, so we swept away the dirt, dust, and leaves on the ground. Nothing else."

Yan Chi and Qin Wan exchanged a glance and asked no more. Huo Huaixin narrowed his eyes. Seeing Yan Chi and Qin Wan had no further questions, he looked at a nearby constable. "Take these two to Constable Lin. Interrogate them thoroughly."

This frightened Xiuqin and Xiushu, their eyes reddening as they fearfully followed the constable away.

Once they left, Qin Wan walked over and took the bundle from the constable. Opening it, she found a pair of shoes and a water-red dress, almost identical to what she had seen on Lady Liu earlier.

Qin Wan first shook out the dress. As it unfolded, a strong fragrance of perfumed powder wafted out. Qin Wan found it quite pungent. She examined it carefully and suddenly frowned. The dress's back, waist, buttocks, and hem were all stained with dirt and dust, and there were a few tears near the seat area. Qin Wan pressed her lips together and looked down at the shoes.

The shoe tips were brand new, but now, looking closely, the heels showed wear. Moreover, the shoes were coated with a layer of dirt. Qin Wan glanced at the earthen well mouth nearby; indeed, the dirt was identical.

Qin Wan handed the bundle back to Huo Huaixin. "Now we can basically conclude that Lady Liu was killed here."

Then, she looked at Yan Chi. "The cause of death was the ligature marks on her neck. And judging from the direction of the ligature, the murderer likely attacked from behind. The dirt stains and tears on her clothes also support this."

Qin Wan walked outside the flower arbor. "Last night, she left her courtyard and walked to the flower arbor entrance…"

She walked inside. "After entering, perhaps she exchanged a few words with the murderer. Then, she turned to the right…" Qin Wan turned around. "At that moment, the murderer grabbed her from behind. She was dragged backward a couple of steps and, unable to resist the murderer, was pulled to the ground and strangled to death."

At this point, Qin Wan's brow twitched. Back then, the Ninth Young Miss had also been throttled to death.

Yan Chi watched Qin Wan reconstruct the scene of the crime. For some reason, the image made his heart feel somewhat stifled. Qin Wan turned, her brow furrowed. "Who was she meeting? At that time, she should have already bathed, changed, and retired for the night. Yet when she came out, she changed into new clothes, new shoes, applied makeup, and was wearing heavy perfume."

Qin Wan gave a bitter smile. "The more I say, the more it sounds like an illicit tryst…"

She turned and walked to the left side of the flower arbor. "At that time, the murderer should have been over here… And these marks are also from the entrance towards the left. Hmm…"

Qin Wan suddenly exclaimed. Yan Chi walked over. "What is it?"

Qin Wan said, "The traces on these vines only cover about two chi. But here, look…" Qin Wan quickly walked to the left corner of the flower arbor. "The leaves in this spot look strange."

The traces Qin Wan mentioned earlier on the vines were simply leaves being plucked, vines being broken, or scratches on leaves. But the leaves in this corner Qin Wan now faced showed no obvious injuries; however, several leaves had large darkened patches.

"It seems something pressed against them…"

Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he stepped forward, leaning against a corner of the flower frame.

As he leaned, his figure was quite concealed in this corner. Simultaneously, the leaves on the flower frame were pressed between him and the frame. Qin Wan's eyes lit up. "Exactly like this! Although Your Highness didn't deliberately exert force, if someone leaned here for a long time, the leaves would be crushed and turn black!"

"Before Lady Liu arrived, that person was already here." Yan Chi straightened up. "That person hid here for a long time, so this patch of leaves was crushed."

Qin Wan nodded, then suddenly said, "Could it be that person hid here precisely to kill Lady Liu?"

Yan Chi looked at her and asked, "But why would Lady Liu keep the rendezvous?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Huaixin beside them suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!" Qin Wan and Yan Chi turned to look. A handkerchief had fallen out of Lady Liu's clothes. Yan Chi and Qin Wan hurried over.

Huo Huaixin had also been examining the stains on the clothes. He looked it over repeatedly and was also surprised when the handkerchief suddenly fell out. "This thing… seems to have been in the sleeve pocket…"

Saying this, Huo Huaixin picked it up, glanced at it, and was about to put it back into the sleeve pocket of Lady Liu's clothes.

It was a white silk handkerchief, with a small willow leaf embroidered in one corner, clearly indicating it belonged to Lady Liu. But just as Huo Huaixin was about to put it in the pocket, his nose suddenly twitched.

"What is this smell…"

Qin Wan walked over, quickly took the handkerchief, and sniffed it. Frowning, she said, "Seems like sweat."

Yan Chi's phoenix eyes narrowed. "Sweat? How could it be sweat? She changed into a new dress, applied powder and perfume, yet the handkerchief she used smells of sweat? Even if she were meeting someone, she wouldn't let her own handkerchief carry such a smell in daily life."

A thud echoed in Qin Wan's heart. "This isn't her handkerchief!"

As soon as she spoke, Xu He's figure suddenly appeared in the distance. "Ninth Young Miss…"

Xu He ran over, out of breath, arriving before them. "Your Highness, Prefect Huo, Ninth Young Miss…"

Huo Huaixin looked at him. "Weren't you examining Lady Liu's body?"

Xu He nodded. "Yes, this humble one was examining Lady Liu's body. However… however I've encountered a situation now. I'd like to ask Ninth Young Miss to come take a look. I'm afraid of making a mistake."

Qin Wan raised an eyebrow. "What situation?"

Xu He glanced around. "It's not convenient to say now. Please come with me, Ninth Young Miss, and you'll understand."

A sinking feeling hit Qin Wan's heart. Holding the handkerchief, she followed Xu He towards Lady Liu's courtyard. Meanwhile, Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin also followed. The group hurried back to Lady Liu's courtyard and went straight to the main room.

"Ninth Young Miss, I dare not be certain. I must ask you to look…"

Xu He's face showed both embarrassment and a difficulty in speaking, filling Qin Wan with suspicion.

This time, Lady Liu was strangled; the signs were very clear. Because the cause of death was simple and not much time had passed since her death, she had suggested Xu He conduct the autopsy himself. But she hadn't expected Xu He to still have unresolved questions. Qin Wan thought it over; this time, no dissection was needed. Where could the unresolved issues lie?

Without asking further, Qin Wan entered the main room and headed towards the inner chamber. The inner chamber had now become a temporary autopsy site. Constables stood guard outside. Inside, most of Lady Liu's clothes had been removed. The moment Qin Wan reached the inner chamber doorway, her steps halted.

Xu He said awkwardly beside her, "Ninth Young Miss, look. Is this…"

Qin Wan's gaze fell on Lady Liu's partially exposed chest, abdomen, and thighs. In that instant, she finally understood why Lady Liu had applied layer upon layer of powder. She had suspected earlier, thinking the thick powder was merely to conceal some other skin condition. But how could she have imagined it was like this?

She slowly approached. Within sight, large patches of red rashes and ulcerations were visible on Lady Liu's skin below the neck, particularly severe on the chest, abdomen, and inner thighs. Qin Wan clenched her teeth, her gaze turning icy cold.

Syphilis. Lady Liu actually had the same disease as Qin Li…