Chapter 38

Cui Muzhi froze as if struck by lightning and stammered, “Who taught you?”

Yue Lingxiu replied, “County Princess Yunyang.”

Seeing Cui Muzhi’s incredulous expression, Yue Lingxiu continued, “The magistrate’s office initially conducted an autopsy and, due to my lack of skill, incorrectly concluded Dou Yu’s death was accidental due to a fire. Later, the County Princess discovered anomalies while at the Jinwu Guard Office and, alongside Envoy Xie, decided to re-examine the corpse at the Yi Zhuang. The autopsy methods were taught to me by the County Princess herself. She generously taught me everything she knew and instructed me to keep this confidential, which is why I have never mentioned it to anyone.”

Yue Lingxiu, apologetic, turned to Qin Ying and said, “I had previously received verbal praise from Lord Zhou, which was fine, but now that Lord Cui insists on giving me credit, I feel deeply unworthy of such recognition. Discovering the cause of death was entirely due to the County Princess’s efforts. I cannot bear to see Lord Cui misunderstand you.”

Qin Ying was somewhat helpless, but she couldn’t say much given the circumstances. Yue Lingxiu then addressed Cui Muzhi, “You were unaware of the truth earlier and thought the County Princess was just flaunting superficial knowledge. Now that you know it was all her efforts, please do not erase the accomplishments of the County Princess; as you’ve mentioned, she is a truly selfless person.”

Cui Muzhi felt a chill down his spine. Thinking of his earlier ridicule towards Qin Ying, his face alternated between red and blue. He looked at Yue Lingxiu, then at Qin Ying. Though unwilling to believe it, he understood that Yue Lingxiu had no reason to refuse recognition and advocate for someone else’s credit. Shocked, he turned to Qin Ying, asking, “But… how is it possible? How could you know these things?”

Qin Ying curved her lips slightly and said mockingly, “Yes, of course, I couldn’t possibly know these things. In everyone’s eyes, I’m supposed to be completely incompetent, to continue putting on a show, because that’s the impression I, Qin Ying, have left on everyone.”

Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm. Cui Muzhi couldn’t help but retort, “But in the past—”

Qin Ying scoffed, “And what about the past? Yes, I used to be reckless and unrestrained, but how long is a person’s life? Can’t they choose to live differently? If everyone were as fixated as Dou Ye, they’d inevitably harm others and themselves sooner or later.” As she spoke, she scrutinized Cui Muzhi for a moment and said, “Lord Cui, as someone working in the Ministry of Justice and overseeing criminal investigations, do you know what the most fatal flaw is when handling a case?”

Cui Muzhi, already shaken and overwhelmed, couldn’t think of an answer.

Qin Ying’s tone grew more serious as she continued, “The most fatal flaw is being blinded by prejudice, especially when one fails to uphold fairness and selflessness, allowing bias and selfish motives to cloud their judgment.”

Cui Muzhi’s pupils quivered slightly. He wanted to refute her, but under Qin Ying’s unwavering and fearless gaze, he couldn’t say a word. He recalled how, over the past half-month, his biases against Qin Ying had led him to question and deny her capabilities repeatedly. He had never believed she could truly solve cases. His personal grievances with Xie Xinglan had also caused him to meddle in the Dou family’s case, driven entirely by bias and selfish motives.

Previously, Cui Muzhi had prided himself on his title as a ministerial officer, justifying all his actions. But Qin Ying’s words stripped away his façade, leaving him feeling deeply embarrassed. As the eldest son of the Marquis of Changqing for the past twenty years, he had never found himself in such a humiliating predicament.

Seeing Cui Muzhi’s stiff expression, Qin Ying assumed he was too angry to respond. Though she felt somewhat vindicated, she decided not to escalate matters further. She said seriously, “It’s true. I was the one who taught him, but I never intended for anyone to credit me for his success. While I taught him, Yue Lingxiu has learned exceptionally well and indeed deserves recognition.”

Seeing Yue Lingxiu still kneeling, Qin Ying said, “Stand up. Lord Cui is a gentleman; he won’t make things difficult for you.”

Yue Lingxiu glanced at Cui Muzhi and Zhou Xianchen but hesitated to rise. Zhou Xianchen coughed lightly and said, “Now that everything is cleared up and the County Princess has spoken for you, you may rise.”

Only then did Yue Lingxiu stand up, while Cui Muzhi kept his gaze fixed on Qin Ying and persistently asked, “If you possess such skills, you must have someone extraordinary guiding you. Who have you taken as your teacher?”

Qin Ying smiled slightly, but her eyes remained cold. “Why should I tell Lord Cui? What position does Lord Cui hold to inquire? I am not one of your Ministry of Justice employees.”

Off to the side, Xie Xinglan had initially enjoyed seeing Cui Muzhi humbled in front of Qin Ying. But as he saw their prolonged exchange, an inexplicable sense of dissatisfaction rose within him, prompting him to coolly interject, “Lord Cui just mentioned treating the person who taught Yue the coroner’s skills with respect. Surely you haven’t forgotten your own words already?”

Cui Muzhi’s lips tightened into a firm line. Xie Xinglan evidently knew the truth all along, while Cui himself had been kept in the dark. His eyes shifted between Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying before finally settling on Qin Ying. He said, “If you’re unwilling to share, I won’t press further. Previously, I didn’t know about your expertise in investigation, but today… I’m truly impressed.”

Cui Muzhi struggled to utter those last six words. In the past, even a hint of acknowledgment from him would have thrilled Qin Ying like a holiday celebration. Yet now, as she heard his words, she showed no reaction whatsoever. She didn’t even bother to glance at him. Instead, she turned to Xie Xinglan and said, “Tonight, let Hongxiu stay at the Marquis’s residence. Tomorrow, I’ll send her to the Jinwu Guards. The matters at Dou’s restaurant still require thorough investigation.”

Xie Xinglan agreed, then glanced in the direction where Dou Qiguang had left. Qin Ying asked, “Do you want to go and take a look?”

Dou Qiguang had not looked well earlier. If he couldn’t make it through the night, yet another tragedy would befall the Dou family. Xie Xinglan nodded, “Let’s take a look. Besides, there’s still some testimony that needs further questioning.”

Xie Xinglan stepped forward, and Qin Ying followed him. As the two left, the other attendants naturally followed suit. Cui Muzhi stood alone at the main gate of Sijin Pavilion. Zhou Xianchen awkwardly asked, “My lord, what about us?”

Cui Muzhi’s expression shifted several times before he said, “Return to your respective offices and wait for the case files.”

Zhou Xianchen let out a big sigh of relief, descended the steps with Cui Muzhi, and motioned for Yue Lingxiu to follow. The group quickly departed the Dou residence.

The courtyard of Dou Qiguang was already crowded with people. When Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying arrived, Madam Wu also came over, carrying Dou Xin in her arms. The adults knew what was happening, but Dou Xin did not. She looked at the stars in the sky and asked, “Mother, do dragonflies fly up to the stars?”

Madam Wu gently replied, “Dragonflies can’t fly that high.”

Dou Xin said, “But I’ve seen it. On the night of that big fire, I saw one. A dragonfly flew up from the small building to a very, very high place…”

Madam Wu, not wanting Dou Xin to be scared, didn’t stop her from speaking nonsense. Nearby, Qin Ying’s heart stirred slightly upon hearing those words and asked, “Xin’er, where did you see the red dragonfly?”

Dou Xin, now unafraid of Qin Ying, pointed toward Sijin Pavilion in the distance and said, “When we went to eat, I saw a red dragonfly flying so fast there, and then it just disappeared.”

Madam Wu listened to Dou Xin’s words and recalled something. “On the night of the twelfth, I was accompanying my mother in Sijin Pavilion during dinner. It was her father who carried her over. As soon as she entered the main hall, she wanted me to carry her and quietly told me that on the way here, she saw a dragonfly flying away from the second floor. At the time, I simply thought she had played with her bamboo dragonfly during the day and was being playful again when she said that…”

Xie Xinglan also heard their conversation. He said gravely, “What she saw wasn’t a bamboo dragonfly but a flaming arrow fired by Dou Ye from the second floor, and the sparks were mistaken by her as a dragonfly.”

Madam Wu’s face turned pale upon hearing this, and she hurriedly hugged Dou Xin tightly. Who could have imagined that the only eyewitness to Dou Ye’s crime would be a small child within the residence? No wonder that day, as they entered the residence, Dou Xin kept mentioning wanting to see red and blue dragonflies. While the adults appeared somber, Dou Xin had no idea what they were discussing and mumbled softly while gazing at the stars in the sky.

The doctor summoned by the Dou family arrived quickly. After spending the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense in the inner chamber, news came out from within—Dou Qiguang was distressed and angry, but his life was not in danger.

With that, Xie Xinglan felt at ease and said to Qin Ying, “It’s getting late. I’ll stay in the residence to continue examining testimonies. You should head home.”

Concerned about Hongxiu’s injuries and learning that Shen Luo had already returned, Qin Ying agreed. After bidding farewell to Madam Wu, she left the residence with Bai Yuan.

Xie Xinglan stood motionless, only retracting his gaze after Qin Ying’s silhouette disappeared into the floral grove. When he turned around, he met Madam Wu’s eyes. Her eyebrows dropped slightly, and she dared not say much.

Xie Xinglan looked at her for a moment before walking toward Madam Jiang and Dou Tong.

When Qin Ying returned to the residence, Qin Zhang was waiting for her in the main hall. After Hongxiu was brought back for treatment, he knew the Dou family case was solved. Now, hearing Qin Ying recount the details, he sighed deeply, “Who would have thought it would come to this—brothers turning on each other. Although this was Dou Ye’s wrongdoing, it also reflects Lord Dou’s failure to manage his household. Even though there are distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate children, it shouldn’t lead to such neglect of the illegitimate family. If he truly didn’t favor them, why take a concubine in the first place?”

Qin Ying was very pleased. Despite living in ancient times, Qin Zhang’s perspective was quite progressive. Seeing her concern for Hongxiu, Qin Zhang added, “The doctor prescribed her some medicine, saying most of her injuries are superficial and will heal with rest. I’ve assigned a maid to take care of her, so you do not need to worry. She’s already resting now.”

Qin Ying nodded. “She was almost forced into a brothel. Tomorrow, I’ll take her to Jinwu Guards.”

Hearing this, Qin Zhang sighed, “No wonder the Dou family’s business thrived so well—it turns out they were running this kind of operation under the guise of a restaurant. Truly, when something seems off, there must be a hidden reason.”

Although Qin Ying knew that brothels were legal businesses, being coerced into one was an entirely different matter. To be cautious, she summoned the maid attending to Hongxiu and asked her some questions before resting.

---

By the time Xie Xinglan left the Dou residence, it was almost midnight. He returned to the Jinwu Guards Office with his men and went to the prison to check on Dou Ye and his son. Dou Ye remained silent, but Dou Wenbin appeared on the verge of a breakdown.

Xie Xinglan wasn’t in a hurry to interrogate them overnight. Instead, he ordered the jailers to reduce their food and water to wear down Dou Ye’s resolve. When he returned to the general’s mansion, it was already past 2 a.m., deep into the night.

Xie Xinglan instructed Xie Jian, “Tomorrow, retrieve the case files from the past few years involving major and unsolved crimes at Jinwu Guards. I want to review them.”

Xie Jian asked suspiciously, “What are you planning?”

Xie Xinglan said casually while getting dressed, “Just taking a look.”

Xie Jian didn’t believe that Xie Xinglan was merely taking a casual look, but since Xie Xinglan didn’t elaborate, he dared not ask further and quickly complied.

When Xie Xinglan lay on the bed, he soon fell into a deep sleep. Over the past two days, he had been falling asleep quickly without experiencing the nightmares that haunted him like a demon. Nobody knew that he would wake in terror, initially thinking it would be another sleepless night, only to find, to his delight, the gentle light of dawn already breaking outside.

Another dreamless night. Xie Xinglan woke early and headed straight to the Jinwu Guards office.

When he arrived at the office, most officers had yet to report for duty. Those who had arrived early were slightly surprised to see him there so early as well. After he left, they quietly began discussing in low tones.

“Envoy Xie has been acting strangely these days—seems like he’s returned to how he was six months ago.”

“Why six months? It should be a year ago! Back then, as a Qian, he was wholeheartedly dedicated to both large and small tasks. But ever since gaining the emperor’s favor, he hasn’t been this diligent about local affairs for a long time. He’s been too busy engaging in battles of wits with others in power.”

“He’s no match for the Duan and Zheng families. After suffering a setback six months ago, he’s now bouncing back.”

“Yes, just wait and see. There will be quite a show again. Early next month is the annual inspection tour of the Southern Circuit Inspector. Every year, several local officials are dismissed from office, while those who accompany the tour often return with promotions and titles. His Majesty will assign the Longyi Guards to escort them. This time, he’s bound to fiercely compete with the other two Inspectors.”

These discussions did not reach Xie Xinglan’s ears. He first reexamined all the testimonies related to the Dou family’s case. When the morning light barely illuminated the prison cells, he ordered Dou Ye to be brought into the interrogation room.

Having been sent to the prison the night before, Dou Ye had only had a few sips of cold water all night. At this moment, he was both exhausted and famished, his spirits utterly crushed. However, Xie Xinglan was in high spirits. For a full two hours, he interrogated Dou Ye like a soldier charging into battle. Dou Ye, completely defeated in both body and mind, eventually surrendered, barely keeping his life.

When Xie Jian came to report that Qin Ying and Hongxiu had arrived at the office, Xie Xinglan was holding a guest list from the past six months of patrons who frequented the two taverns managed by the Dou family. Upon hearing that Qin Ying had arrived, he quickly stepped out of the dungeon to greet her. He went to the front entrance to welcome her and then moved to a quiet side hall to talk. He got straight to the point, saying, “Dou Ye has confessed everything. Among the Dou family’s businesses, only the two taverns under his management engage in such dealings. Over the years, Dou Wenbin, aware of his intelligence, had hoped for him to achieve great things and entrusted Fengle Tavern and Fengqing Tavern to his care. Initially, business was not promising, but he conceived the idea during one banquet for a distinguished guest when the guest took a liking to a musical performer.”

“Having performers entertain guests not only delighted the clientele but occasionally yielded some intelligence. This arrangement caused no harm to their business and, on the contrary, brought significant prosperity to Fengle and Fengqing Taverns over the past two years. Dou Yu became aware of the rumors half a year ago when the father of one of his classmates visited the tavern. Somehow, this information leaked, and the classmate made some sarcastic remarks to Dou Yu. Dou Yu, becoming suspicious, confronted him to verify the truth, but Dou Ye managed to deceive him.”

“Until a month ago, Dou Yu witnessed the practice of entertaining guests firsthand. Enraged, he threatened Dou Ye, saying that if he didn’t put an end to the business and properly resettle the performers within two months, he would report it to Dou Qiguang. He argued that such dealings violated the family’s ancestral teachings and would bring great disgrace to the Dou family if exposed. If Dou Qiguang found out, he might even expel them from the family. Dou Ye understood that, while these enterprises were not directly tied to the Dou family’s main lineage, they still relied on the family’s reputation. Thus, he pretended to agree.”

Qin Ying remarked, “Agreed, only to secretly plot to harm Dou Yu afterward?”

Xie Xinglan showed her the testimony. “At first, he considered other methods, but Dou Yu was resolute and unyielding, leaving no room for compromise. It was then that Dou Ye gradually developed murderous intent. The crossbows and arrows he used were common items. Initially, the incident was ruled as Dou Yu accidentally perishing in a fire. However, just as the case was about to be closed, you uncovered the clues. Later, when the Jinwu Guards investigated the Dou residence, Dou Ye grew anxious. During a hunting trip with the Pei brothers, he deliberately sabotaged the crossbow.”

Reading the testimony, Qin Ying added, “And the arsenic was bought half a month ago.”

Xie Xinglan nodded, glancing at Hongxiu. “Dou Ye said that all the other girls at the establishment were willing to entertain guests except for Bihe. No one else had accidents. Is that true?”

Hongxiu hesitated. “As far as I’ve seen, no one on my side seemed dissatisfied with this matter. However, at Fengqing Tavern, there might have been…”

Qin Ying interjected, “Never mind others—Bihe was forced to the point of jumping into a river. Dou Ye has been running this business for two years. I don’t believe she was the only one. Bihe… was Bihe drugged?”

Xie Xinglan confirmed, “He feared trouble in his line of work, so he usually resorted to gentle persuasion. But in Bihe’s case, the steward at Fengqing Tavern forcibly used drugs. The next day, Bihe woke up to find her chastity taken and, in despair, jumped into a river. As for the long-term employee he mentioned, it’s a mix of truth and lies. Bihe and the employee indeed had mutual feelings at first, but after the incident, the employee took the money and immediately left the capital without even investigating why Bihe died. I suspect he understands well.”

Qin Ying hadn’t expected this romantic affair to be true, leaving her feeling disappointed. She remarked, “It’s clear that this long-time employee is also a heartless and unprincipled person. Perhaps he didn’t know the full story at first, but after Dou Ye gave him money, how could he not have suspected something was amiss?”

After reading through one testimony, Qin Ying noticed several ink-stained pages in Xie Xinglan’s hand and asked, “What are those?”

Xie Xinglan handed them to her and replied, “The guests from Fengle Tavern and Fengqing Tavern.”

Qin Ying took them and, after scanning half a page, recognized several familiar names. A wave of disgust surged within her, and her expression became even more repulsive. “These people are from prominent families and currently hold positions in the court, don’t they?”

Though her memory was somewhat blurred, the former Qin Ying—despite being ignorant of court affairs—had heard of the noble families and their ranks. When Xie Xinglan nodded in agreement, she added, “They wouldn’t dare openly visit a brothel, but they do enjoy coming to these sorts of places for entertainment.”

Xie Xinglan explained, “In the early years of Zhenyuan, His Majesty advocated for a frugal lifestyle and strongly cracked down on corruption. It became customary for court officials not to engage in debauchery. While not officially documented, everyone understood the emperor’s dislike for such behavior. Over the years, any official with a proper position paid close attention to this aspect. Dou Ye saw an opportunity and began running this secret business.”

Qin Ying’s expression revealed her dawning realization. Xie Xinglan then instructed Feng Xiao to escort Hongxiu away for further questioning. Once Hongxiu left, Xie Xinglan said, “I’ll be reporting this case to the palace later. How do you wish for me to present it?”

Qin Ying raised an eyebrow. “How I wish for you to present it is how you shall present it.”

Xie Xinglan’s eyes lit up with a subtle smile as he said, “I’ll consider that.”

Qin Ying said, “Don’t claim that I taught you the autopsy method, but for everything else, you can report it truthfully.”

Xie Xinglan’s eyes shifted slightly. “Yesterday, Cui Muzhi mentioned wanting to write the autopsy techniques into official documents and circulate them throughout the provinces and prefectures. You’ve also said before that you’re willing to teach anyone. If all coroners in the country were to master such powerful techniques, wouldn’t that be what you’ve always hoped for? Why are you now avoiding this matter?”

Qin Ying felt a heavy weight in her heart. “It’s not the right time. First, this method is too shocking, and many coroners might not even accept it. Second, conducting autopsies is an extremely complex science, and I’m not even fully proficient. Simply writing down what I’ve taught Coroner Yue wouldn’t be comprehensive enough. Third, a written document without hands-on practice could easily lead to problems. This method requires either direct mentorship or extensive practice. If someone with malicious intent were to misuse a written document, they might intentionally desecrate the bodies of the deceased.”

Xie Xinglan had not expected Qin Ying to consider the matter so thoroughly. He felt a renewed sense of admiration, realizing her heart was truly focused on doing meaningful work without chasing fame or momentary gratification. He couldn’t help but study her closely. Compared to the rumors about her, she was entirely different—there wasn’t another woman in the entire capital as skilled in investigations and autopsy as she was.

Xie Xinglan even thought, were it not for the fact that her methods were entirely unfamiliar to him, he might have suspected that Qin Ying was just like him.

“You’re farsighted, and I can help you cover things up to some extent. However, as for what Cui Muzhi will do, that’s difficult to predict.” Thinking of what Qin Ying had said yesterday, Xie Xinglan’s tone turned colder. “Do you truly believe he is a gentleman?”

Qin Ying chuckled, “That was to make it easier for Yue Lingxiu. Whether he is a gentleman or not, I don’t know. But if he truly intends to make things difficult for me, then I will simply have to accept the doubt. My father might even invite a Taoist master to exorcise me.”

Xie Xinglan seemed thoughtful, but Xie Jian suddenly rushed in before he could continue. Xie Xinglan frowned and asked, “What is it?”

Xie Jian caught his breath and said, “Sir, someone from the Marquis of Linchuan’s residence has arrived. They’ve come looking for the County Princess.”

Qin Ying furrowed her brows and abruptly stood up. “Could it be that something has happened to my father?”

The Marquis of Linchuan’s residence, wealthy and leisurely, rarely had urgent matters. The only thing Qin Ying could think of was that something had gone wrong with Qin Zhang. But Xie Jian shook his head and said, “No, it’s not the Marquis. The Empress Dowager wants to see you.”

Qin Ying was somewhat surprised. Although her mother, Grand Princess Yichuan, was not Empress Dowager’s child, Empress Dowager always treated her with great affection due to her early passing, showing her much love since childhood. In the original story, Empress Dowager grieved for a long time after her accident. But now that Cui Wan’s case had been resolved and she was still alive, Qin Ying could no longer predict the following events.

Hesitating, Qin Ying asked, “Was the purpose of the visit mentioned?”

Xie Jian’s expression was somewhat meaningful. “The people sent to escort you are outside, and they said that the Princess Consort Xuanping will also be entering the palace today. They seemed eager to take you as well and asked that you not delay the hour.”

Qin Ying murmured softly, “Prince Xuanping…”

Xie Xinglan’s expression darkened, and he added on her behalf, “Prince Xuanping, Li Ao, has a son in his family named Li Yunqi.”

Qin Ying suddenly understood but responded with bitterness, “Could it be that they’re arranging another marriage proposal for me?”