Chapter 24

Inside the hall, Madam Lin embraced Cui Han while crying loudly, and Cui Han followed suit, shedding tears. If someone uninformed were to see this scene, they might assume the two were biological mother and son. Qin Ying’s heart turned cold, and her body stiffened as she remained unmoving. Qin Zhang glanced at her, then asked, “Ying Ying, what’s wrong?”

In a deep voice, Qin Ying replied, “Father, please return to the house first. Your daughter still has an unresolved matter to investigate. Once I uncover the truth, I will return home.”

Qin Zhang hesitated, but recalling how the current Qin Ying differed from before, he refrained from asking further. “Alright then, I’ll wait for you at the manor.”

Qin Ying agreed and strode toward the inner courtyard. Qin Zhang stood there watching her figure fade into the distance, and an inexplicable sense of unease arose in his heart. If, before today, he had doubts that Qin Ying’s case investigation was merely a fleeting interest in Cui Muzhi, her demeanor today truly shocked him. No one understood Qin Ying’s temperament and abilities better than him.

The Qin Ying standing before him, decisive in her actions and sharp in her investigations, seemed to have undergone a complete transformation compared to her past self. He saw this change clearly but didn’t know whether he should feel pleased or troubled. Could this transformation stem solely from letting go of Cui Muzhi?

Thinking about it, Qin Zhang couldn’t help but recall Cui Muzhi’s liver-colored face today, and he let out a cold snort in his heart. His precious daughter truly seemed to have dismissed Cui Muzhi completely.

Qin Ying’s pace quickened as she reached the inner courtyard entrance, where she saw Xie Jian reporting something to Xie Xinglan. Xie Jian was the first to notice her and immediately announced, “The County Princess has arrived—”

Xie Xinglan turned around and frowned, “You haven’t left yet?”

Qin Ying stepped forward briskly, her sharp eyes scanning her surroundings. Seeing the servants being questioned were far away, she lowered her voice and said, “There is a suspicious point that just occurred to me. If my suspicion is correct, there might be more hidden truths to this case—”

Xie Xinglan raised his eyebrows, “Is it about the Fu family?”

Qin Ying shook her head, “Not the Fu family, but the Earl Zhongyuan household. Madam Lin just mentioned that Cui Wan’s child died shortly after birth, but I suspect that the child not only did not die but was actually raised in the residence.”

Both Xie Xinglan and Xie Jian were surprised. Xie Xinglan thought for a moment and said coldly, “You mean—”

Qin Ying nodded, “Exactly.”

Xie Jian glanced between Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan, feeling as if the two were playing riddles. His young master hadn’t finished speaking, yet the County Princess had already affirmed his thoughts. Since when did the two of them have such a tacit understanding?

Xie Xinglan also looked around and whispered, “If this is true, then Madam Lin is utterly insane.”

Qin Ying hadn’t anticipated that Cui Wan’s death would reveal layer upon layer of cases. She recalled, “I still remember when Madam Zhang was previously interrogated. She said that she had been pregnant at the time and risked her life to give birth. Three days after the child was born, he was placed under Madam Lin’s care. Newborns change appearance every few days, and Madam Zhang probably didn’t notice anything strange. If the child were truly swapped, the original child would have had only two possible outcomes—”

At this moment, Xie Jian finally understood. He exclaimed in shock, “County Princess, are you saying that Concubine Zhang’s child was swapped? No wonder, no wonder someone like Madam Lin, with her temperament, could show such affection to a concubine-born child like Cui Han.”

Xie Xinglan immediately made a decision. “Madam Lin is highly resourceful. She might have gone so far as to harm Concubine Zhang’s child to raise Cui Wan’s. It’s been four years, and back then, all of Cui Wan’s personal maids were sold off, but the two senior maids by Madam Lin’s side have remained unchanged. They are her confidantes and must know the truth of what happened.”

At this point, Xie Xinglan saw no need to maintain politeness with the Earl Zhongyuan household. He promptly ordered, “Detain the two senior maids by Madam Lin’s side and confine them in a side hall for questioning.”

Xie Jian obeyed the order and, with the imperial guards, returned to the front hall. Inside, Madam Lin was still holding Cui Han and weeping. Cui Jin, hoarse from yelling, sat slumped in his chair, his face filled with despair. When he saw Xie Jian enter with his men, his eyelids twitched. He watched as several guards walked forward and detained the two senior maids who were comforting Madam Lin.

The two maids, both over forty and previously influential figures in the household, had never suffered such humiliation. They panicked and shouted in fear. Madam Lin was stunned and scolded, “What are you doing? Why are you taking them?”

Unmoved, Xie Jian replied, “There are still many unresolved details in this case. These two are suspects and must be taken for questioning.”

The guards left with the maids. Seeing that only the maids were taken for questioning, Cui Jin remained motionless. Madam Lin, though unsure of the specifics, felt an inexplicable unease. She glanced at Cui Han and instructed, “Take the young master back to the inner courtyard to avoid startling him.”

In the inner courtyard, Qin Ying paced back and forth. “The ones most familiar with the characteristics of the baby back then, apart from Concubine Zhang, would likely include the midwife who delivered the baby and the maids who cared for her during childbirth.”

Just as she finished speaking, Xie Jian entered from outside. “Lord, County Princess, the suspects have been detained. Both of them are wailing loudly—truly fitting for Madam Lin’s people.”

Xie Xinglan nodded. “Keep them detained for now to temper their spirits. Go and summon Concubine Zhang along with her maids and nanny.”

Xie Jian obeyed and left. Xie Xinglan couldn’t help but scrutinize Qin Ying. At this point, the truth behind Cui Wan and Xue Ming’s deaths had been uncovered. Fu Ling and Fu Zhongming were imprisoned. Fu Zhongming might indeed be unrelated to the case, but Fu Ling, having killed two people, faced severe legal punishment. If he remembered correctly, Fu Ling had married far away from the capital in the previous life—a completely different ending from this one.

Xie Xinglan’s gaze deepened, and the swirling thought in his heart was further confirmed, making it difficult for him to view Qin Ying as an ordinary person. Yet what worried him more was the upcoming seventeenth of July.

“Why are you staring at me?” Uncomfortable under his gaze, Qin Ying asked, “Do I have flowers on my face?”

She mimicked Xie Xinglan, though he could never behave as unrestrainedly as she did. He averted his gaze. “There are still many details in this case that remain unclear. If you are free tomorrow, I’ll need you to come to the yamen and check if anything has been overlooked.”

Qin Ying raised her eyebrows. “This seems to be a task for your Longyi Guards.”

Xie Xinglan looked at her. “Tomorrow, Fu Ling still needs to be questioned again. I can allow you to observe.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Ying’s expression softened slightly. A hint of melancholy surfaced in her eyes. “Although I know how she killed, I indeed want to hear more of her account.”

Xie Xinglan’s eyebrows slightly relaxed. At this moment, Concubine Zhang approached with maids and wet nurses in tow.

Today, during the public trial at the Earl’s residence, Concubine Zhang hadn’t been in the front hall to hear the proceedings, but she had already heard of the outcome. The disgrace brought upon the Earl’s residence left her with a lingering fear. She nervously saluted and timidly said, “I wonder what instructions the Envoy and Her Highness might have?”

Xie Xinglan asked her, “Where did you find the midwife who delivered your child all those years ago? Do you recall if Cui Han had any distinctive marks when he was just born?”

Concubine Zhang seemed puzzled but replied honestly, “The midwife was hired in advance—it was Midwife Zhang from Baihua Street. She was said to have previously served in the royal residence and was known for her expertise in delivering babies. As for any distinguishing marks on Han’er… I gave birth prematurely, a month early, and it was a tough delivery. I was unconscious for several days post-delivery. During that time, I only saw him three to five times. All I remember is that his skin was yellowish, and there was some bruising on his head. I can’t recall anything else. By the time I recovered, he had already been taken to the Madam’s care. When I saw him again during his full moon celebration, he was fair and chubby, with no visible abnormalities.”

Xie Xinglan asked again, “What about the maidservants who were taking care of you at that time? Do they still remember?”

Concubine Zhang hurriedly replied, “Qingping, Qinglian, come and respond.”

Two maidservants dressed in purple stepped forward. The one named Qingping said, “Concubine Zhang is right. At that time, the young master was severely jaundiced, and he didn’t cry or make any noise when he was born. The midwife had to use some methods to make the young master cry out. He had a blood clot on the left side of his skull, which the midwife said was common during childbirth.”

Xie Xinglan frowned, “A blood clot?”

Qingping nodded, “Yes, on the left side of his skull. It wasn’t very noticeable when he was first born, but two hours later, the blood clot kept growing larger. We were all terrified at the time. However, the midwife mentioned that she had seen this kind of situation multiple times and that the blood clot would eventually dissipate, leaving the children unharmed. Only then did we feel relieved.”

“The young master was taken by the madam’s nanny three days after his birth. At that time, the entire left side of his skull was purplish-black. But when the young master reached his first full month, he had already grown a thin layer of downy hair, and there was no trace of it left on his head.”

Beside them, Qin Ying frowned and said, “No trace left at all?”

Qingping nodded, “That’s right. Concubine Zhang even asked about this at that time, and Huifang, the servant serving Madam Lin, said that the young master recovered very quickly. By the time he was just half a month old, the bruising had almost disappeared.”

Qin Ying furrowed her brows tightly and hurriedly asked, “Can you show me? How big was the blood clot on Cui Han’s head at the time?”

Qingping carefully recalled and then gestured, “It was roughly two inches wide. It seemed small to adults, but on a newborn’s head, it appeared quite horrifying. Luckily, it gradually improved later on.”

Qin Ying asked again, “On the day of the full-month banquet, how long did you look at the child?”

At this point, Concubine Zhang couldn’t help but complain, “Newborns don’t tolerate noise well, and at that time, it was still the end of the month, and the weather was cold. The young master was only brought out for less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, and then he was taken back again. I am the child’s biological mother, yet the madam wouldn’t even let me hold him. I only glanced at him a few times from the side.”

After hearing this, Qin Ying’s gaze turned cold and somber. She turned to look at Xie Xinglan, her expression stern and alarming. Xie Xinglan immediately realized something was wrong. After dismissing Concubine Zhang and the others, he asked, “Did you discover something?”

Qin Ying said decisively, “The child must have been switched.”

Xie Xinglan’s expression turned slightly cold.

At this moment, Qin Ying spoke solemnly, “When a newborn is delivered, the pressure on the fetal head can cause damage to the blood vessels under the skin on the outside of the skull. This leads to subcutaneous bleeding, forming a cephalohematoma. This condition is not obvious at birth but will gradually become more noticeable later. If the bruised area is less than an inch, it can indeed resolve on its own within half a month. However, Qingping just indicated that the newborn had a two-inch-wide cephalohematoma at birth. Such severe bruising would take at least two to three months to heal completely. Yet, the nanny beside Madam Lin claimed it disappeared in just half a month, and by the full-month celebration, the baby’s scalp showed no traces of it at all. If you tell me the baby wasn’t switched, I simply cannot believe it.”

Xie Xinglan squinted his narrow eyes and asked, “You know medical principles?”

Qin Ying couldn’t explain further about the cephalohematoma, so she simply replied, “The baby had jaundice upon birth, which isn’t fatal. Between the third day after birth and the full-month celebration, almost a full month, the baby’s appearance could change significantly. On the day of the celebration, Concubine Zhang couldn’t hold the baby and only saw him briefly. This made it even harder to notice abnormalities, which was likely Madam Lin’s intentional doing.”

What Qin Ying said went beyond Xie Xinglan’s understanding, but he instinctively believed her. “If this is the case, the two nannies by Madam Lin’s side must be aware of the matter. Consequently, Concubine Zhang’s child’s whereabouts must be thoroughly investigated.”

The truth behind Cui Wan and Xue Ming’s deaths had just been uncovered, and now another suspected infanticide case emerged. Xie Xinglan’s expression grew heavy as he immediately instructed Xie Jian, “Have the imperial guards detain Madam Lin and all her nannies and maids. Today’s case is not yet resolved.”

Xie Jian quickly complied. Xie Xinglan then ordered the guards to find Midwife Zhang, who had assisted Concubine Zhang during childbirth years ago. Before long, Xie Jian returned, accompanied by the despondent Cui Jin and Cui Muzhi, who had returned to the inner courtyard.

Cui Muzhi, aware that the imperial guards had not yet departed, was surprised to see Qin Ying still present. His expression briefly betrayed his shock but quickly returned to indifference. He approached Xie Xinglan and said, “I entered the palace with the two Highnesses. The Emperor is aware that Earl Zhongyuan’s case has been resolved and has sent me to assist with the aftermath. However, as soon as I entered the mansion’s gates, I saw you had placed Aunt under guard. Despite being a victim’s relative, what does this mean, Envoy?”

Xie Xinglan, already in a foul mood, looked even more forbidding and intimidating upon seeing Cui Muzhi. His gaze turned sharp as he said, “The case concerning Cui Wan and Xue Ming is resolved, but as for the Earl Zhongyuan household, I’m afraid this is not the only murder case.”

Cui Muzhi frowned, “Not the only one? Are you saying someone else has died?”

Xie Xinglan looked ambiguously at Cui Jin and said, “That’s a question for the nannies by Madam’s side.”

Cui Jin, devastated by the earlier upheaval, had sunk into despair. Upon hearing there was another murder case, he immediately exploded in anger, “Question the nannies? About what? Xie Xinglan, the mansion is already in chaos. I know you and the Cui family don’t get along, but now is not the time for you to behave recklessly!”

Xie Xinglan’s eyes glinted with mockery. “How convenient. The murder case I’m referring to also makes you a victim’s relative. Since you’re curious, why not hear the trial together?”

With those words, he turned and walked away, Qin Ying following closely behind. Cui Jin was bewildered and furious, while Cui Muzhi harbored a pent-up frustration. He was eager to see what Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying were up to, so he followed them.

Concubine Zhang, accompanied by her maids, was still waiting nearby. Cui Jin signaled for her to approach, and upon questioning her, he discovered that Xie Xinglan had specifically inquired about childbirth matters. Feeling unsettled, Cui Jin brought Concubine Zhang along as he trailed behind Cui Muzhi.

Meanwhile, it had been half an hour since the two nannies were detained. In the side hall of the mansion, they sat uneasily on wide chairs. As the door opened, they immediately stood up.

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying stood outside the door. The nanny named Huifang was the first to speak: “What do Lord Xie and the County Princess mean by this? Our young lady has been murdered—how could we, two old servants, possibly be involved?”

Xie Xinglan, with a cold and grim expression, blocked most of their view from the doorway. He turned to Xinfang, the other nanny beside Huifang, and instructed, “Take her to the western wing to wait.”

The imperial guards entered and unceremoniously escorted Xinfang away. Huifang, furious, sneered, “May I ask, Lord Xie, what kind of play is this? Are we mere servants to be mistreated by the imperial guards?”

Xie Xinglan replied coldly, “You claim to know your place as servants—how dare you commit such acts to harm your masters?”

Before Huifang could retort, Xie Xinglan sternly questioned, “In the first month of the 17th year of Zhenyuan, was it not under Madam Lin’s orders that you conspired to harm the child born to Concubine Zhang?”

Each of Xie Xinglan’s words landed like thunderclaps. Not only was Huifang stunned as if struck by lightning, but even outside, Cui Muzhi and Cui Jin stood frozen in shock. Upon hearing these words, Concubine Zhang was momentarily dazed and failed to react.

Inside the room, it took Huifang a long while to collect herself. She composed her demeanor and said, “What is Lord Xie talking about? Our young master is perfectly fine. What do you mean Madam instructed me to harm the young master? Such a heinous accusation cannot be made recklessly.”

Xie Xinglan replied coldly, “The child born to Concubine Zhang had a significant hematoma on the crown of his head. Such a hematoma would not fade in less than two or three months, yet by the full-month banquet, there was no trace of it on the crown of his head. Can you truly claim that the child at the full-month banquet was Concubine Zhang’s? And if not, where is Concubine Zhang’s child? Is the child you swapped in truly the Earl’s son, or is he the grandson Madam Lin claimed was stillborn—who should have been called the Earl’s maternal grandson?”

No matter how composed Huifang usually was, hearing Xie Xinglan lay out so much in one breath, she instantly turned pale. Outside, Concubine Zhang finally understood, and she looked at Cui Jin. “My Lord, if I have not misheard, Lord Xie is saying that shortly after Madam took my child away, the child was swapped? Swapped for the child secretly born to the young lady?”

Concubine Zhang’s eyes were filled with shock, but she quickly pieced everything together. She cried out sorrowfully, “My Lord, did Madam kill our child just to raise the young lady’s child?”

Cui Jin, who had thought he had already endured enough torment for the day, was facing the most excruciating moment of his life. Gasping for air, he turned to Xie Xinglan, his voice trembling, “You… are you saying that the other murder case in our mansion refers to this? Are you saying that vile woman, Madam Lin, killed Concubine Zhang’s child and that the one she now cherishes so dearly is the illegitimate child born to Wan’er?”

Xie Xinglan stared intently at Huifang, who was drenched in cold sweat.

“Besides Cui Wan’s own flesh and blood, who else in this world could earn Madam Lin’s deep affection? Did the Earl never suspect?”

Concubine Zhang felt faint, her vision darkening. Cui Jin seemed on the verge of breaking apart. He simply could not believe what he was hearing. Yet Xie Xinglan’s questioning struck him like a bucket of cold water, awakening him painfully. Each small, venomous detail burrowed into his mind like a serpent, leaving him utterly speechless. A massive pain spread from his chest. Clutching it, Cui Jin collapsed to the ground. Just before losing consciousness, he forced out a curse through his throat, like a voice from hell, “The vile woman… all her fault…”

The servants cried out in alarm. Cui Muzhi immediately ordered someone to fetch a doctor. Amid the chaos, Cui Muzhi glanced up, only to see Xie Xinglan still standing at the doorway, waiting for Huifang to answer. Qin Ying stood beside Xie Xinglan as though she had known all along.

After Cui Jin was carried away for treatment, Huifang finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “That’s not true. The young master is indeed Concubine Zhang’s child. Our Madam treated him well only because she wanted to raise a son by her side. As for the hematoma you mentioned, we called a doctor to examine it back then, so it healed faster.”

“Which doctor did you call?”

“It was Imperial Doctor Song—oh, no, not him. It was a wandering physician from the southern city… Yes, a highly skilled traveling doctor who roams far and wide. He’s long since disappeared…”

Huifang, caught off guard by the questioning, had never prepared for this day. Her fragmented explanations betrayed her. Not only Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying but even Cui Muzhi could tell she was making things up on the spot. Considering that Cui Han, whom he had once held as a child, turned out to be the illegitimate son of Cui Wan and Xue Ming, Cui Muzhi felt a deep chill of disgust. The grand mansion he once admired now seemed utterly corrupt and revolting.

If such a scandal were to spread, Cui Muzhi could not fathom the chaos it would unleash in the capital—not only Earl Zhongyuan’s household but also their Marquis family would face unimaginable fallout.

Xie Xinglan coldly observed Huifang, unhurried. “It seems you don’t intend to speak the truth. If that’s the case, we’ll see whether the one taken away earlier is more cooperative. Your Madam not only raised her grandson as her son but also murdered the Earl’s concubine-born child. If such disgraceful news spreads, it’s uncertain whether, in her final days, she will be allowed into the ancestral tomb of the Cui clan.”

Though not born into a noble house himself, Xie Xinglan understood well what these prestigious families valued. While Madam Lin might sacrifice everything for her daughter, she could never accept being abandoned as the Madam of the household, much less a tarnished reputation. If reputation was the Achilles’ heel of other women, it was undoubtedly hers as well.

As his words lingered and he turned to leave, Huifang hesitated for mere moments in an intense internal struggle. As the door was about to close, she hastily said, “It’s not… Our Madam didn’t kill the child…”