Ch. 165
165: An Old Case of Murder, The Same Modus Operandi
"The servant in charge of morning cleaning discovered it. The lotus pond had frozen over and was covered with snow. Remember? When we went to see it last time, the pond was a vast expanse of white. But this morning, there was a hole smashed in the ice. The ice was broken, and Commissioner Liu was floating on the icy water."
Qin Shuang spoke rapidly. Qin Wan listened, her frown deepening. The two of them hurried towards the direction of the lotus pond. Before they even reached it, they could hear voices coming from that direction.
"Give it a pull, quickly!"
"Careful, don't fall in!"
Qin Wan's brow furrowed slightly. She quickened her steps toward the edge of the lotus pond.
It was the same lotus pond Qin Wan and Qin Shuang had visited before. At this moment, the area by the rockery next to the pond was crowded with the masters and servants of Clear Radiance Garden. Pang Fuliang stood to one side, his face dark as charcoal. Pang Youde was directing servants to retrieve Liu Renli's body. Qin Yan and Zhou Huai also stood nearby, their expressions as somber as Pang Fuliang's.
"Third Brother." Qin Wan called out to Qin Yan and walked to his side.
Qin Wan's brow was tightly knit. "Now we truly cannot leave."
Previously, the dead person was Qingjun. Though it was a murder case, it wasn't too critical. But this time, the deceased was a court official.
This case would undoubtedly have to be reported to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Moreover, it would likely reach the Emperor himself. Qin Yan knew he and his family had no connection to the case, but once a memorial bearing his name was submitted, the Marquis's household would be linked to this case to some extent. And how the Emperor would view it then, no one knew.
Though Qin Wan wasn't deeply versed in the intricacies of court politics and power struggles, she understood the stakes involved in officialdom and the way of ministers. Many cases her father had handled in the past, once they involved the death of a court official, became matters of utmost importance.
In this world, the lives of those serving as court officials were indeed considered far more valuable than those of ordinary commoners.
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes slightly and looked up at Pang Youde and a few male servants not far away. Using long hooks and ropes, they had already dragged Liu Renli from the pond. Liu Renli was soaking wet, his clothes and hair frozen with icicles. Qin Wan recognized that lake-blue robe; Liu Renli had worn it a few days ago. Seeing his neat attire, Qin Wan couldn't imagine how a man in his forties like Liu Renli could have fallen into the pond and drowned himself.
Although an autopsy hadn't been performed yet, given Qingjun's death, everyone harbored deep suspicions about Liu Renli's sudden demise.
And Qin Wan, just based on common sense, felt this couldn't possibly be an accident or a suicide.
Her gaze lowered to the lotus pond below. This pond was different from the one in the Qin residence. The Qin residence's pond had wooden bridges, and the water wasn't deep; one could even see the withered lotus leaves. But the pond in Clear Radiance Garden was not only deep but also had a two-foot drop from the bank. The pond's perimeter was lined with stone walls, and there was a railing on the bank. However one considered it, it was impossible for Liu Renli to climb over the railing and fall in to drown by himself.
Of course, Liu Renli might not have died from drowning.
Winters in the north were snowy and unforgiving. Perhaps all the dried leaves and lotus roots had been cleared from the pond in autumn. Thus, when Qin Wan had seen it last time, the pond's surface was a pristine, even blanket of white snow, like a piece of finest pure white velvet spread over it. Now, that unbroken velvet cover was smashed open. The cold, muddy water beneath had welled up, staining the blackened, ragged edges of the hole.
Qin Wan looked again. The breach was located due north in this section of the pond.
Pang Fuliang stood to the northwest. Seeing Liu Renli being pulled out, he hurried to his side. Pang Youde shook his head. "Master, there's no breath…"
Pang Fuliang frowned, seemingly struck by a thought. "When will Prefect Wang arrive?"
Pang Youde quickly replied, "Should be soon. The man we sent out left half an hour ago."
This time, Pang Fuliang had reported to the authorities swiftly. The dead man was Liu Renli, a court official. He truly didn't dare delay a moment.
"Good. Do nothing else. Wait. Wait for Prefect Wang to come…"
Pang Fuliang's expression carried an unusual gravity. As he spoke, he glanced towards Qin Yan. Qin Yan stepped forward appropriately, looked at Liu Renli's ashen, lifeless face, and his eyes darkened. "Master Pang's residence seems to have a touch of the sinister about it."
A bitter expression spread across Pang Fuliang's face. "It was perfectly fine before. This time, however…" He added, "I spoke with Brother Liu last night. He returned to his courtyard first. I waited until Prefect Wang left before resting. Who could have imagined…"
Qin Yan sighed. "Let Prefect Wang investigate thoroughly. If no cause is found, I doubt you, Master Pang, will feel at ease living here yourself…"
"Exactly so. For no reason at all, Brother Liu…"
Pang Fuliang's voice was choked; he truly didn't know what else to say. For no reason, Qingjun died, and then Clear Radiance Garden came under the prefectural yamen's scrutiny. Becoming entangled in such an affair was damaging to one's reputation, let alone having a court official die in one's own home.
Pang Fuliang looked at Liu Renli's tightly closed eyes, a complex, shadowy depth in his gaze.
Qin Wan followed Qin Yan a few steps. From a distance, she could see Liu Renli's face was terribly pale, clearly having soaked in the cold water for a long time. Without performing an autopsy, she couldn't determine the exact time of death, but just looking at the wrinkles on his skin suggested he had likely died late at night.
In the middle of the night, Liu Renli wandered out by himself? Then plunged headfirst into the pond?
Qin Wan shook her head, more certain than ever that there was something suspicious about this. Her gaze shifted and suddenly caught sight of several somewhat hesitant figures appearing at the periphery of the crowd. They were a few young women of similar age, each around twenty. One of them looked very familiar to Qin Wan. She thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered.
Her mind made up, Qin Wan walked toward that person.
"Miss Qinglan?"
Qin Wan called out softly. Qinglan, who had been staring in Liu Renli's direction, immediately turned her head.
Seeing Qin Wan, Qinglan was momentarily stunned, then, as if also remembering, she reacted and performed a slight curtsey. "Young Miss Qin."
Qin Wan showed a trace of surprise. That day behind the stage, Yan Chi hadn't introduced her identity. How did she know she was surnamed Qin?
As if sensing Qin Wan's thought, Qinglan curved her lips slightly. "Everyone knows the loyal and valiant Marquis from the capital and his siblings are staying at the manor."
Qin Wan nodded, then looked her over again. "You seem alright. That day, seeing your resolute expression, I thought the matter of Master Qingli likely had nothing to do with you. It's a pity the evidence at the time seemed conclusive."
A bitter smile touched Qinglan's lips. "My nature is stubborn. If I didn't do something, I would never admit to it. Fortunately, Prefect Wang later saw the truth clearly."
Naturally, Qinglan didn't know that Wang Huaiyu's clear-sightedness stemmed from Qin Wan. Nor did Qin Wan intend to enlighten her. She simply looked at Qinglan and said, "Do you know that another person from your troupe, your former troupe leader, met with misfortune?"
Qinglan nodded. "Of course I know. Our troupe members live in the rear quarters. Usually, we dare not come to the front. It's only because we heard something happened again at the front today that we couldn't resist our curiosity."
After a pause, Qinglan added, "The former troupe leader you mentioned is, by seniority, my grand-master. When I was first taken in by my master, Grand-master was about to retire. I didn't have many opportunities to see her. Later, I only saw her twice in Yuzhou."
Perhaps finding Qin Wan amiable, Qinglan couldn't help but say more.
Qin Wan raised her eyebrows slightly. "Yuzhou? You met her often in Yuzhou?"
Qin Wan intended to ask Qinglan more, so she took a few steps to the side. Seeing this, Qinglan followed and said, "Not exactly. Only once a year. It was here at Clear Radiance Garden. Master Pang greatly supported the Shuangqing Troupe. I heard the friendship dates back to Grand-master's time. Every year-end, Master Pang would book the troupe. When we came, Grand-master sometimes came too. She would bring my master, and they would gather with Master Pang and Commissioner Liu."
"Commissioner Liu came every year as well?"
Qinglan shook her head. "Not every year. But he came three or four times over the years."
Qin Wan frowned. "Has he been in the last three years?"
Qinglan thought for a moment. "No. The most recent was three years ago."
It was plausible that Liu Renli hadn't returned to the capital in three years while serving as Salt Transport Commissioner for the Two Lakes. But before that, Liu Renli had served as an official in the east. To travel all the way to Yuzhou every year-end?
These few people didn't seem like ordinary acquaintances.
"Have you ever heard anything about your grand-aunt master's matters?"
As soon as the question was asked, Qinglan's expression became somewhat troubled, as if something was inconvenient to speak of.
Qin Wan curved her lips. "It's alright. If it's inconvenient, it doesn't matter."
Qinglan quickly shook her head. "No, it's not… it's not inconvenient. It's just… my master seemed to dislike that grand-aunt master quite a bit…"
Qin Wan raised her brows. Qinglan lowered her voice. "I'm not afraid to make you laugh, Young Miss Qin, but only the two first-generation troupe leaders of the Shuangqing Troupe were truly like sisters. Since then, passed down through generations, there have inevitably been factions and rivalries. Our junior generation wasn't familiar with that grand-aunt master. But she was the first in the troupe to abandon her position as leader to marry out. So inevitably, people talked about her. But my master disliked her, calling her a traitor to the troupe and forbidding us to mention her."
What Qinglan said made some sense. If Qingli truly held the Shuangqing Troupe as her faith, she probably wouldn't like Qingxi, who left the troupe to marry. Qin Wan nodded. "Then do you know what happened to your grand-aunt master?"
Qinglan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I know…"
Seeing her hesitant expression, Qin Wan asked, "What is it?"
Qinglan thought for a moment. "A long time ago, I overheard my master and grand-master mentioning it. I didn't hear clearly at the time, but I remember Grand-master forbade my master to speak of what happened to the grand-aunt master. It seems both master and disciple disliked her."
Qin Wan tucked this information away, then asked, "Do you know if your grand-master had any other old acquaintances?"
Qinglan looked slightly surprised. "Prefect Wang asked the same question last night."
Qin Wan smiled slightly. Qinglan continued, "I don't know. After all, I'm a generation removed from Grand-master. Besides, those who enter opera troupes usually come from bitter backgrounds. Even my own family is gone. Of Grand-master's generation, besides that grand-aunt master, only that grand-aunt master's disciple might have known my grand-master. But back then, when the grand-aunt master left the troupe, she took her disciple with her. After that, there was no news until we heard of the misfortune that befell the grand-aunt master's family."
A flicker of doubt arose in Qin Wan's mind. Yesterday, she only heard Yan Chi mention that Qingxi's family met with misfortune, but he hadn't mentioned Qingxi's disciple. Qin Wan noted this to ask Yan Chi about later.
Just as she was thinking this, a clamor of voices rose. Qin Wan turned to see Wang Huaiyu striding over from the southern path, accompanied by yamen constables. Behind the constables walked Yan Chi and Yan Li, one after the other. Yan Li seemed to be saying something; Yan Chi listened while slowing his pace.
"Prefect Wang, you've finally arrived."
Pang Fuliang hurried forward to meet him. "Take a look. What is to be done?"
Wang Huaiyu already knew of Liu Renli's mishap, but seeing it with his own eyes still sent a tremor through him. Liu Renli was dead, died in the Pang manor, died within the city of Yuzhou under his jurisdiction.
"How was he discovered?" Wang Huaiyu clenched his fists.
Pang Fuliang glanced at Pang Youde, who quickly stepped forward. "Servants responsible for morning cleaning passed by here and discovered him."
Wang Huaiyu walked over to examine Liu Renli's body, then turned to look at the pond.
"What state was Lord Liu in when found?"
"He was face down, almost completely frozen. We called for people, and the Master came. Then we used hooks and ropes to pull Lord Liu up. He had long since stopped breathing."
Wang Huaiyu frowned. "Were there any suspicious people nearby?"
"None. It wasn't fully light yet."
Wang Huaiyu took a deep breath, feeling both anxious and annoyed. The case of Qingjun hadn't yielded any leads, and now in the blink of an eye, Liu Renli was dead. The Qingjun case didn't need to be solved urgently, but with Liu Renli's death, many eyes in the court would fall upon this place. A delay of ten days to half a month might be acceptable, but if it remained unsolved, his performance evaluation for the year would suffer greatly.
During the questioning, Yan Chi and Yan Li walked over together. The onlookers bowed in unison. Yan Chi waved them aside and approached Liu Renli's body. His expression was particularly grave. After looking at Liu Renli for a moment, he said, "An autopsy. He may not have drowned. We won't know until after examination."
Wang Huaiyu hastily replied, "But the prefectural yamen's coroner hasn't returned yet."
Yan Chi turned, his gaze accurately picking out Qin Wan's figure from the crowd.
Wang Huaiyu followed Yan Chi's gaze and smiled bitterly. "We can only ask Ninth Young Miss for help."
Qin Wan walked towards Yan Chi. Yan Chi said gently, "The prefectural yamen's coroner hasn't returned yet. I'm afraid we must trouble you again."
Qin Wan nodded. "It's my duty. Where should I perform it?"
The surrounding onlookers, hearing this, looked at Qin Wan with astonishment. Wang Huaiyu shot an impatient glance at the crowd. "Everyone here, take them away. I'll question them one by one later." His tone softened. "Find an empty room for Ninth Young Miss?"
Qin Wan nodded. Wang Huaiyu swiftly looked at Pang Youde. "Find an empty room. Move the body there."
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan. "Will you need to perform a dissection?"
Qin Wan shook her head. "If only the cause of death is needed, then no."
After their brief exchange, an empty room was quickly prepared, and Liu Renli's body was carried there. The constables went to question the servants. Yan Chi and Wang Huaiyu followed into the room. Yan Li hovered eagerly at the doorway, hesitating. Yan Chi glanced at him and, without a word, closed the door.
Yan Li made a few protesting noises outside but didn't dare push the door open.
Last time, the smell of decay had nearly made him vomit, let alone stand before Qin Wan watching her conduct an autopsy. If there were any sights or smells beyond his comprehension this time, he might lose his composure…
Inside the room, Qin Wan rolled up her sleeves and began to undress Liu Renli.
The previous autopsy was on a woman; this time, it was a man. Not just a male corpse, but a fresh one. Due to the cold water immersion, aside from some livid pallor, Liu Renli's body showed little livor mortis. Thus, once his clothes were removed, it almost looked like a normal male torso…
Wang Huaiyu had never seen a female coroner conduct an autopsy. He was somewhat worried whether Qin Wan would be comfortable handling a male corpse. But seeing Qin Wan deftly strip Liu Renli bare in a few moves, he couldn't help but widen his eyes instinctively. Looking at Liu Renli's body himself didn't cause him any awkwardness, but with Qin Wan present, he felt somewhat ill at ease for some reason. Strangely, Qin Wan herself wore an expression of unshakable calm and solemnity. Watching Qin Wan, Wang Huaiyu once again marveled inwardly.
Last time, dissecting Qingjun, she not only opened the chest and abdomen but also removed the stomach contents. The scene couldn't be described as anything but bloody. This time, examining a male corpse, the scene couldn't be described as anything but awkward. Yet Qin Wan's gaze was as cautious and meticulous as if examining an object. To his knowledge, Qin Wan would only be seventeen after the New Year. How did such a young girl achieve such unflappable composure?!
Liu Renli was placed on a long table. Qin Wan first removed his clothing, then checked his body for external injuries. As she meticulously examined, Yan Chi, standing nearby, spoke up. "Prefect Wang, did you find any information on Qingjun's senior sister?"
Wang Huaiyu snapped back to attention. "Her senior sister? Ah, yes, I did. I was planning to report to Your Highness today. I received some bad news. Qingjun's senior sister died fifteen years ago, and… it was in connection with a major case. Has Your Highness heard of the Great Gold Robbery in Meng County in the west fifteen years ago? At that time, the west was preparing for war. That gold was originally military pay. At that time… at that time, it was the Western Frontier Army and the Northern Garrison Army in the west. Prince Rui was the commander of the Western Frontier Army then!"
Yan Chi nodded. "What else?"
Wang Huaiyu was slightly surprised. "That's it. Qingjun's senior sister is dead. That path is a dead end for us."
"Did Prefect Wang investigate *how* Qingjun's senior sister died?"
This question immediately stumped Wang Huaiyu. He looked troubled. "I haven't had time to check that yet. But I vaguely recall there was a fire…"
"Not a fire." Yan Chi's voice grew heavy. He looked at Qin Wan. "Let's wait until Ninth Young Miss finishes the examination."
Qin Wan was still examining the body; Yan Chi clearly wanted to wait until she was done before sharing the news he had.
Meanwhile, Qin Wan had quickly gleaned the most crucial information. "Commissioner Liu's abdomen is distended. There are sand particles in his mouth, teeth, and throat. There are no other fatal injuries elsewhere. It can be determined he died by drowning."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Chi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Qin Wan continued, "He has a bruise on his abdomen, likely from falling onto the icy surface of the pond. Additionally, there are extremely fine ligature marks on Commissioner Liu's neck and both wrists. Though not fatal, they are rather odd. However, they don't seem to be from being bound… I don't yet know how these injuries were inflicted. Time of death was between the hours of Yin and Mao last night. Beyond that, nothing else has been found for now. However, there are two old scarred injuries on his body, from many years ago. I won't draw conclusions about those yet."
Both the cause of death and time of death were now known. Wang Huaiyu nodded and looked at Yan Chi. Qin Wan, having overheard Yan Chi's words earlier, also looked at him. "Your Highness, what clues have you obtained?"
Yan Chi's expression was solemn. "News received this morning. In the Great Gold Robbery case back then, besides the fifty thousand taels of gold vanishing without a trace, General Zhang's entire family was… brutally murdered."
Qin Wan was shocked. Wang Huaiyu also stared at Yan Chi in astonishment.
Besides the shocking nature of the news itself, the fact that Yan Chi had already investigated the old case surprised him even more. Yan Chi obtained information faster than he did and had already thought of Qingjun's senior sister. He suddenly felt a pang of shame.
"Brutally murdered?!" Qin Wan had thought Qingxi's family all died in the fire.
Yan Chi nodded. "The case dossier is stored in Yunzhou, north of Yuzhou. The message was sent by carrier pigeon. The details aren't exhaustive, but the general outline is clear. When Qingxi left, she took her disciple with her. After marrying General Zhang, she gave birth to a son and a daughter. In the end, the family's bodies were found at the fire scene, but they weren't completely burned beyond recognition. The family… Qingxi was strangled to death. The son and daughter were drowned. General Zhang died from an arrow wound. As for Qingxi's disciple, it wasn't specified. Most likely, she was burned to death in the fire."
Qin Wan had been about to ask Yan Chi about Qingxi's disciple's fate. She hadn't expected this outcome.
If it was robbery, why the brutal murders?
Thinking this, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Qin Wan. "Wait, you said… one was strangled, two were drowned, and one died from an arrow wound?!"
Qin Wan stood beside Liu Renli's corpse. The body didn't frighten her, but Yan Chi's news sent chills down her spine. "Qingjun died by hanging, which is equivalent to strangulation. And Commissioner Liu… he was drowned. And Qingli… Qingli died from an arrow wound, didn't she?"
Yan Chi's expression remained dark, unsurprised. Clearly, he had already made the connection when he received the news. Compared to Yan Chi, Wang Huaiyu on the side was much more astonished. "Ninth Young Miss, are you suggesting… these two cases are connected?"
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes and looked toward Yan Chi. "I recall Your Highness said that before the Great Gold Robbery, the commander transporting the pay used a diversionary tactic. I asked you then if someone had leaked the information. But now I have another speculation. Could it be that someone, using a familial or acquaintance relationship with someone in the transport party, learned about the diversion plan? And then, using that relationship, committed robbery and murder when they were off guard? There were also soldiers disguised as servants in the party. They all ended up dead at the relay station. If it had been a large-scale bandit attack, it's impossible no traces were left."
A dark gleam flickered in Yan Chi's eyes. Clearly, he was thinking along the same lines.
Wang Huaiyu looked from Qin Wan to Yan Chi, his eyes wide as copper bells…
First, Qingjun died. Then Liu Renli, a court official, died. And now a fifteen-year-old unsolved case was implicated? An invisible mountain seemed to press down on Wang Huaiyu's shoulders. If what Ninth Young Miss said was true, then this case was truly momentous. If he could solve the Great Gold Robbery case, wouldn't that…
Wang Huaiyu's eyes held both hesitation and excitement. He took a deep breath. "What Ninth Young Miss says makes sense. Previously, we thought Qingli's death might have been an accident. But now, placing three deaths together, it's impossible for them to coincidentally match the methods of that fifteen-year-old case. Looking at it this way, it seems like someone has come back for revenge."
Saying this, Wang Huaiyu himself began to believe this deduction. "It must be! It must be! Otherwise, why would Qingjun die suddenly after arriving? And before, I also felt the relationship between Master Pang, Qingjun, and Commissioner Liu was strange. Now that I think about it, could one of them be connected to the events of that year?"
Yan Chi looked at Wang Huaiyu. "Qingjun, Pang Fuliang, and Liu Renli, all three are from Dingzhou."
Wang Huaiyu's heart skipped another beat. "Your Highness has already investigated that? I truly feel inadequate… Since they're all from Dingzhou, that's even closer to Mengzhou. Although the transport of military pay back then was a secret, once it reached Dingzhou territory from the capital, everyone basically knew. So, the possibility is even greater."
Yan Chi's voice was steady and somber. "That's one direction. Continue investigating as you originally were, Prefect Wang. For now, don't reveal that we've thought of the old case. If it truly is connected to that case, then it must be someone who knows the inside story of that time, returned for revenge. Secretly, we must also guard against what the murderer might do next."
Wang Huaiyu quickly assented. This time, his reaction was also swift. "The fifteen-year-old case involved four methods of death. We've seen three now. The last one is setting a fire. Could the murderer's next step be arson?"
Wang Huaiyu looked from Yan Chi to Qin Wan. Qin Wan and Yan Chi exchanged a glance. Yan Chi nodded. "That is indeed a possibility. And if this matter is truly connected, it likely involves Pang Fuliang. The murderer's next target is most likely him."
Wang Huaiyu originally felt this case, with its many complexities, was extremely difficult. But seeing Qin Wan and Yan Chi here, he inexplicably felt a surge of determination. His eyes shifted. "By the way, if Pang Fuliang truly is connected to the old case, then given how things have developed, might he himself have realized something is amiss? Might he take precautions himself?"
Yan Chi's expression eased slightly. "Prefect Wang can test that."
Wang Huaiyu thought for a moment. "Good. I know what to do…"
…
…
The door opened, and Wang Huaiyu strode out. As soon as he emerged, Yan Li immediately stepped forward. "Prefect Wang, what's the situation?"
Pang Fuliang, Pang Youde, and Qin Yan were waiting outside. At Yan Li's question, all three looked at Wang Huaiyu. Wang Huaiyu wore an expression of deep sorrow. "Commissioner Liu indeed died by drowning. Now we must investigate whether he fell in by himself, was pushed, or if there was another method. However, Commissioner Liu couldn't possibly have fallen in for no reason."
Not just Wang Huaiyu thought so; everyone else did too. This case was likely murder.
"So strange. Qingjun died, that's one thing. We can assume someone had a grudge against her. But how did Commissioner Liu also die? Who held a grudge against him? The Pang household only has so many people…"
Yan Li spoke curiously, then turned to look at Pang Fuliang. As the master of the residence, Pang Fuliang would, in theory, be the most convenient person to do something untoward. On the other hand, why would he commit murder in his own home?
Seeing Yan Li's somewhat suspicious gaze, Pang Fuliang could only smile bitterly. "Your Highness, this humble one truly doesn't know what's happening. This residence was perfectly peaceful before. How could it suddenly…"
Wang Huaiyu took a step forward. "Once the case is solved, Master Pang really must invite a master to perform a cleansing ritual to rid the place of its ill fortune. Three people have died in succession now, each by different methods. It's truly…"
Pang Fuliang was taken aback. "Three people?"
"Qingli," Wang Huaiyu said, frowning. "We originally thought Qingli's death might have been an accident, but new clues were discovered last night. It's highly likely Qingli was murdered." He gave Pang Fuliang an odd look. "Although Qingli didn't die in Clear Radiance Garden, she was staying here. Master Pang, think carefully."
Pang Fuliang seemed stunned, unable to respond.
Wang Huaiyu looked at him for a moment. "Let's go. Check Commissioner Liu's quarters."
Yan Chi heard everything Wang Huaiyu said outside. For a moment, he felt a slight appreciation for this burly prefect. Qin Wan was washing her hands in a basin of water in the corner. Hearing this, she also remarked, "Prefect Wang is quite clever."
Yan Chi gave a soft chuckle. "Having reached this position, he naturally is."
The door was wide open. Yan Li might barge in at any moment, so Yan Chi could only look at Qin Wan. Qin Wan finished washing her hands and turned, meeting Yan Chi's deep, yet fiery gaze. She was momentarily startled, her heart missing a beat. Just as they were looking at each other, a shadow flashed at the doorway, it was Qin Yan entering.
"Ninth Sister, what's wrong?"
Qin Wan calmly smoothed her sleeves. "Just finished washing my hands."
Yan Chi inconspicuously turned and walked towards the door. Qin Wan followed. Once outside, Yan Li immediately approached, scrutinizing Qin Wan up and down. Qin Wan, seeing this, felt somewhat puzzled. "What is it, Your Highness?"
Yan Li let out a long sigh. "Ninth Young Miss is truly astonishing."
Qin Wan gave a wry smile. "Your Highness flatters me."
"No flattery, no flattery." Yan Li had the look of someone wanting to circle Qin Wan. "I'm just curious how Ninth Young Miss attained such miraculous medical skills and can even assist with autopsies?"
Qin Wan curved her lips slightly. "Does Your Highness wish to study medicine?"
A glint flashed in Yan Li's eyes. "To tell the truth, I have considered it. Would Ninth Young Miss take on a disciple?"
Qin Wan only wanted to divert Yan Li's curiosity. After all, the closer they got to the capital, the more taboo the name "Shen Yi" became. Yet, hearing Yan Li mention taking a disciple, she could only smile bitterly. "How could this humble girl dare…"
Yan Li was just getting interested, wanting to tease Qin Wan further, when a rather weighty gaze fell upon him. Yan Li coughed lightly and hurriedly swallowed his next words, changing the subject. "Prefect Wang went to investigate Commissioner Liu's quarters. Do you all want to go take a look as well?"
The "you all" Yan Li mentioned naturally referred to Qin Wan, Qin Yan, and Qin Shuang.
Qin Yan nodded, then said, "Alright. We don't know if Prefect Wang might have questions for us."
Thus, Yan Chi instructed the yamen constables to guard Liu Renli's body and led Qin Wan and the others toward Liu Renli's courtyard. Wang Huaiyu had gone ahead and was already inside Liu Renli's room. When Yan Chi and Qin Wan arrived, they heard Wang Huaiyu questioning Pang Fuliang.
"Commissioner Liu was preparing to leave, and you, Master Pang, didn't know?"
Pang Fuliang smiled bitterly. "Brother Liu did mention his intention to leave, but he didn't specify which day…"
Wang Huaiyu frowned. "He was preparing to leave, yet he died in the lotus pond? And how do you explain this bundle found outside your courtyard?"
As he spoke, hearing footsteps, Wang Huaiyu turned and saw Yan Chi enter. He pointed to a bundle in the room. "Your Highness, look. Lord Liu had his bundle prepared, as if planning to leave in a day or two. However, this bundle was found just now outside your courtyard, Master Pang… It's been checked. Lord Liu's official seal and other items are inside. It's definitely Lord Liu's bundle."
Pang Fuliang gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Prefect, I was in my own courtyard resting all last night and only came out this morning. I truly did not see Brother Liu. I know nothing about this bundle."
Wang Huaiyu gave a half-smile. "So, he was planning to sneak away by himself? And dropped his bundle on the way without noticing?"
As Wang Huaiyu spoke, Yan Li suddenly exclaimed, "What's this?"
Yan Li, who had seen the bundle upon entering, was the first to inspect its contents. Looking through it, he found a cylindrical scroll. It was like a scroll but also resembled a bamboo tube. He picked it up to show everyone, and then, perhaps pressing something unknowingly, the lid of the tube suddenly opened. With a rustle, a stack of papers fell out.
Everyone looked and was astounded.
What fell out of the bamboo tube was actually a large handful of banknotes…