Chapter 14

Qin Zhang was waiting for Qin Ying at the residence. Seeing that it was already late, the steward, Qin Guang, hurried in from outside. “Lord Marquis, the County Princess has returned—”

Qin Zhang’s expression relaxed slightly, but Qin Guang continued, “However, the County Princess is currently speaking with a girl surnamed Lu outside. Bai Yuan said that the girl, Miss Lu, is the daughter of Imperial Physician Lu.”

Qin Zhang questioned, “The same Imperial Physician Lu who is about to arrange a marriage with Marqui Changqing’s household?”

Qin Guang nodded. Qin Zhang’s brows furrowed in surprise, and he immediately strode outside. “Oh no, oh no. Why has Ying Ying brought Miss Lu over? Could she intend to trouble her right outside our gates?”

Qin Zhang knew Qin Ying’s temperament all too well. Bringing Lu Roujia to the house to harass her was truly disgraceful, and he was determined to stop it at all costs. But when he hurriedly ran out to the front courtyard, he was suddenly stunned.

Night had already fallen. The Marquis’ residence was brightly lit, and along the corridor leading to the front courtyard, Qin Ying and Lu Roujia walked side by side. Whatever they were talking about, Qin Ying smiled warmly, while Lu Roujia looked gentle and slightly grateful as she gazed at her.

Qin Zhang let out a soft hiss, “How is this not what I expected?”

Qin Ying noticed him, too. “Father—”

She approached and introduced, “Father, this is Roujia. She came to speak with me today, and I brought her to Qingwu Courtyard to sit for a while.”

Lu Roujia curtsied in greeting, and Qin Zhang smiled kindly. “Very good, very good. Let the kitchen send over some refreshments for you.”

Qin Ying agreed and led Lu Roujia to her courtyard. Qin Zhang stood there watching, utterly baffled. After a moment, he summoned Shen Luo. Shen Luo also appeared puzzled as he reported, “Lord Marquis, Miss Lu came to express her gratitude. She said that on the night Cui Wan died, the prefecture officials tried to falsely accuse her of being the murderer. Thankfully, the County Princess spoke up for her; otherwise, she would have ended up in the dungeon by now.”

Qin Zhang’s brows shot up, and Shen Luo added, “What’s more, Lord Marquis, in my humble opinion, the County Princess shows no intention of giving up on Cui Wan’s case…”

Qin Zhang looked in the direction where Qin Ying had left, more confused than ever.

In Qingwu Courtyard, Bai Yuan finished setting out the refreshments and stood aside, watching her County Princess chat with Lu Roujia. Somehow, as she observed this scene, she inexplicably felt a sense of absurdity.

Lu Roujia held the teacup and said, “An official came to question me today, but they only asked whether I had left the residence the night before. After thinking it over, I felt I should come to express my gratitude. If not for the County Princess, I would most likely be trapped in prison by now.”

Qin Ying looked at her with mixed emotions, her chest heavy with unspoken words that couldn’t be shared yet. “You’ve expressed your thanks multiple times already in this short while. I understand your sentiment—you don’t need to dwell on it. The officials came to you merely to verify your whereabouts when Xue Ming was killed. You don’t have to worry; this case has little to do with you now.”

Even so, Qin Ying couldn’t help but ask, “You had limited interactions with Cui Wan in the past, and there are private matters you likely wouldn’t know. But on the day of the incident, did you notice anything unusual?”

After a brief moment of reflection, Lu Roujia replied, “I didn’t notice anything unusual. My interactions with everyone have always been minimal. I attended the banquet that day mostly out of propriety, and later joined the evening festivities during Qixi. Everything seemed normal, except for my silk handkerchief.”

“I still can’t figure out how I lost my handkerchief. I only remember that my sleeve got wet while placing river lanterns, and I used the handkerchief to wipe it. Logically, under the lantern’s light, I would have seen it fall into the lake. If it fell on the shore, I might have missed it, but if it were on the shore, how could it have floated into the water?”

Her words stirred something within Qin Ying’s heart. “When you were releasing the river lanterns, who were the people around you?”

Lu Roujia thought for a moment and said, “Apart from you, the other young ladies were nearby.”

Qin Ying seemed to be lost in thought. Lu Roujia hesitated and asked, “Is there something wrong?”

Looking at the fresh and delicate face in front of her, Qin Ying suddenly thought of a possibility and asked, “Do you know of the herb called snow lotus herb? Does your Lu family possess this herb?”

Lu Roujia nodded and said, “This medicine is extremely rare and precious, and its usage is quite delicate. If used improperly, it becomes a deadly poison. In our household, my father locks such medicines in the cabinet and forbids us from taking them casually.”

Qin Ying’s eyes turned cold. She initially thought that Lu Roujia’s silk handkerchief was merely a coincidence, but if the murderer had intended to find a scapegoat from the beginning, could Lu Roujia have been the original target? The silk handkerchief serves as one piece of evidence, and if the snow lotus herb is discovered, it would add another layer of suspicion against Lu Roujia.

Qin Ying’s thoughts raced, yet she did not voice them directly. Instead, she discussed some case-related matters with Lu Roujia and eventually couldn’t resist asking, “How far along is the marriage arrangement between the Lu family and Changqing Marquis’s household?”

Lu Roujia’s expression stiffened slightly. “You…”

Qin Ying tugged at her lips and said, “Since I’ve saved you, I won’t hold any grudges over this matter. Besides, I’ve thought it through—I won’t persist in being attached to Cui Muzhi alone. There are countless men in the world; he isn’t the best among them.”

Qin Ying spoke solemnly, and though Lu Roujia was somewhat skeptical, she accepted it openly, saying, “My father said the betrothal gifts would be presented by no later than Mid-Autumn.”

Qin Ying furrowed her delicate brows. “He didn’t believe you that day, nor did he defend you, even watching as you were humiliated and wronged in front of everyone. Forget the fact that you are soon to be engaged—even out of the long-standing friendship between your families, he should have intervened. Can such a man truly be a good match?”

Lu Roujia’s eyes dimmed, clearly hurt. “Yesterday, someone from Marquis Changqing’s residence visited, saying that the heir didn’t step forward to help me that day because his nature is too upright, and it caused me to suffer.”

So much for uprightness! Qin Ying was infuriated but couldn’t help but laugh out of anger. Seeing Lu Roujia’s furrowed brows, she realized this wasn’t something she could resolve with a few words. Instead, she said, “Once Cui Wan’s case is concluded, I’ll take you to a place.”

Lu Roujia looked at her in confusion, but Qin Ying shifted the topic elsewhere. The two shared more private conversations until Lu Roujia finally took her leave. Qin Ying personally escorted her to the carriage.

Early the next morning, while having breakfast with Qin Zhang, Qin Ying remembered the rock garden at Earl Zhongyuan’s residence.

Upon hearing that it was maze-like, Qin Zhang laughed, “That’s the work of Huang Ting. The Qianrui Tower in the palace, the Fenghuang Terrace in the eastern part of the city, and the Sifang Pavilion that is now used to receive envoys—all were designed and supervised by him thirty or fifty years ago. The Weiyang Garden in the western part of the imperial city, which is under construction, is also based on his drafts. When it’s completed by year’s end, you’ll see what true craftsmanship looks like.”

Qin Ying had only heard from Cui Jin that the rock garden designer was a renowned artisan but hadn’t expected so many famous structures to be his work. Qin Zhang continued, “Many once sought him to help design gardens and landscapes, but he wasn’t swayed by power and rarely agreed. Despite his young age, he held a position in the Ministry of Works and only carried out official assignments. Whenever other government offices needed to construct buildings, they had to come to him. Unfortunately, he grew weary of officialdom and retired early.”

“What a legendary figure,” Qin Ying sighed. Noticing that the morning light was already bright, she immediately set out with Bai Yuan and Shen Luo.

Seeing her excitement, Qin Zhang wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or concerned.

In the carriage, Shen Luo asked Qin Ying, “County Princess, are you heading to Earl Zhongyuan’s residence?”

Qin Ying shook her head. “No, we’re going to visit the major pharmacies in the city. Drive the carriage and lead the way.”

Qin Ying had no intention of going to Earl’s residence so early. At this point, all the witnesses involved in the case had been interviewed, and the bodies of the two deceased had been examined. Although Cui Wan’s body had only been briefly checked, with Madam Lin present, a more thorough examination was not permitted. Among the current clues, there has still been no progress regarding the snow lotus herb. Rather than rely entirely on Xie Xinglan for information, she decided to investigate on her own.

The carriage left Changle Lane and headed toward the western market.

After turning past two alley corners, Qin Ying was dazzled by the capital’s prosperity. Along the roadside were intricately designed buildings with carved beams and painted rafters, grand mansions stood in rows, and teahouses and wine shops were lined with embroidered windows and pearl curtains. Colored banners fluttered in the breeze, and occasionally, arched bridges spanned the streets like rainbows. Around her, peddlers bustled, luxurious carriages vied for the road, and the noisy crowds buzzed like a boiling pot, making Qin Ying marvel at the flourishing atmosphere of the imperial capital.

When they arrived at the western market, the streets were adorned with willow trees and flowers, fragrant with the scent of silks and satins. Treasures from all over the world were gathered here, making it even livelier. Shen Luo slowed the carriage, and after about two incense sticks’ time, they reached Renxin Hall, the most renowned pharmacy in the western market.

Qin Ying entered with Bai Yuan to inquire and learned that they indeed had snow lotus herb. However, not only was it extremely expensive, but the shop also refused to sell it individually. When she tried to ask who had purchased medicines containing snow lotus herb, the pharmacy refused to answer.

She was not an official agent, and the pharmacy could not casually reveal patients’ privacy. Qin Ying did not press further and moved on to the next location. Thus, she traveled from the western market to the eastern market, visiting about ten pharmacies and medical establishments. Among them, seven carried snow lotus herb, but only two sold it individually. Qin Ying had no choice but to leverage her status as the County Princess, but after questioning the shopkeepers, none of the suspects had purchased it.

As the sun set behind the western hills, Qin Ying finally instructed Shen Luo to drive the carriage to the Earl’s residence. Although she had anticipated such a situation, it further proved that the killer had premeditatedly committed this clever crime. Where did the poison come from? On the night of the incident, everyone’s testimonies showed no apparent errors. If Xue Ming did not kill Cui Wan, how did the real culprit commit the crime so seamlessly?

“Lord! The County Princess is here!”

Qin Ying’s carriage barely came to a stop when she heard Xie Jian shout loudly. Qin Ying lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage. Raising her eyes, she saw Xie Xinglan coming out with a sullen expression. Qin Ying sighed softly; she had never seen this man in a good mood.

Xie Xinglan asked her, “Where have you been today?”

Raising her eyebrows, Qin Ying replied, “I went to the East and West markets.”

Xie Xinglan squinted slightly. In the past, Qin Ying had been fond of leisure and play, and today, she has gone to the markets early in the morning. It seemed that her interest in the case had indeed waned…

“I visited over ten medical clinics and pharmacies; it’s really not easy to procure snow lotus herb.”

Before Xie Xinglan could process his thoughts, Qin Ying continued her words, causing his pupils to contract. She added, “Moreover, I questioned those involved in the case. On the surface, none of them specifically went to buy this herb. Therefore, the culprit either used an unfamiliar servant to buy it or found another way. Do you have any leads on this?”

Xie Xinglan’s emotions shifted, but his face remained calm and composed. “I questioned the servants who attended the banquet that day. Their testimonies indicate that after the luncheon ended, everyone who stayed behind was left alone at some point, which means everyone had the opportunity to poison. During the night outing, the servants waited outside, so there’s nothing useful to glean from them. However, I have instructed the guards to investigate the matter of Madam Lin and Cui Wan visiting Sanqing Mountain four years ago, and they brought back some news.”

Qin Ying’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

Xie Xinglan looked around and stepped closer, lowering his voice. “It is very likely that they never went to Sanqing Mountain.”

The night closed in, and under the eaves of the Bo residence, the white lanterns cast a faint, desolate glow. Being so close, Qin Ying caught a faint whiff of sandalwood incense in the night breeze. She furrowed her brows sharply. “They didn’t go to Sanqing Mountain?”

Xie Xinglan nodded. “I am about to leave the city for this matter. You must return home immediately, and before I return to the city, do not investigate this case alone. If anything goes wrong, it will implicate all of us.”

Qin Ying gritted her teeth silently and couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. At this moment, Xie Xinglan ordered someone to bring his horse and then asked Xie Jian, “Is the route map ready?”

Xie Jian nodded. “It’s all set.”

Xie Xinglan mounted his horse and, before raising his whip, looked down at her from above. “Remember my words.”

Qin Ying did not respond, and Xie Xinglan had no intention of saying more. With a flick of his whip, he left with his men.

Qin Ying watched his figure fade into the night, her emotions complicated. Turning her head, she noticed Xie Jian standing in place.

Meeting her gaze, Xie Jian awkwardly grinned. “Lord instructed me to guard the county princess. Starting tonight, wherever the county princess goes, I will follow.”

Qin Ying was thoroughly annoyed. “Why keep an eye on me?”

Xie Jian laughed nervously. “I don’t know, but since the Lord gave the orders, I dare not take it lightly.”

Qin Ying asked again, “Where is he going? What’s the route map for?”

“I don’t know. When he returns, you can ask him yourself.”

Xie Jian remained stubborn and unyielding, leaving Qin Ying feeling exasperated. Suddenly, her expression shifted as if she had thought of something. Before Xie Jian could react, Qin Ying swiftly climbed back into the carriage. She urged, “Quick! Back to the residence to find Father!”