Chapter 28

Qin Ying’s words startled the two petty officials, and Xie Xinglan stepped forward quickly, saying, “Where is the doubt?”

Qin Ying picked up the unfinished forensic report from the petty officials. “The forensic expert determined that the deceased accidentally burned himself to death. However, if it were just an accident, the deceased’s mouth and eyes couldn’t be slightly open. While the mouth might not close due to suffocation, the eyes are impossible to remain open.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “Who is investigating this case?”

One petty official replied, “Master Feng Xiao and Zhao Butou from the Jingji Yamen jointly investigating. We were the ones who discovered it first, but the Jingji Yamen personnel soon arrived. Together, we interrogated the Dou family. The forensic expert examining the body is Coroner Yue from the Jingji Yamen.”

Xie Xinglan instructed Xie Jian, “Go and bring Feng Xiao here.”

Xie Jian left immediately, and Qin Ying began reviewing the case statement beside her. “The deceased, Dou Yu, second son of the Dou family, passed the provincial examination last year. Although he failed the spring imperial examination this year, he was already considered exceptionally knowledgeable at only twenty years old. His father passed away early, and his grandfather… his grandfather is a deputy at the Treasury Department?”

Xie Xinglan frowned slightly, “Indeed, there is a Dou official at the Treasury Department. If I’m not mistaken, it’s an honorary position.”

Just as the words were spoken, Xie Jian arrived with Feng Xiao. Feng Xiao, born into an official family, had sharp eyebrows, a broad face, and a sturdy build. He had served in the Jinwu Guards for six or seven years and was now a fifth-rank officer. Although two years older than Xie Xinglan, his position was still lower. Upon entering, he first greeted the two and then asked, “Sir, I heard from Xie Jian that there’s something strange about the Dou family’s case?”

Xie Xinglan pointed at the forensic report. “The deceased was supposedly burned to death accidentally, yet their mouth and eyes were slightly open. Does that seem logical?”

Feng Xiao frowned and said, “This was examined by Coroner Yue from the Jingji Yamen. He found a lot of ash inside the deceased’s mouth and nose, and the body was slightly curled up. There were no other visible injuries. Additionally, the servants stated that the deceased liked to burn incense indoors and had previously almost caused a fire. So everything about this suggests an accidental death by fire…”

At this point, Qin Ying asked, “Was the body burned to the extent of being completely charred?”

Feng Xiao quickly shook his head. “No, it wasn’t. The deceased’s secondary residence was within the Dou family estate, and the fire was discovered shortly after it started. When the flames were extinguished, the deceased’s clothes were burned away, their hair was gone, and their facial skin was scorched yellow. However, burn blisters could still be seen on the body and face. In my opinion, the deceased likely died from suffocation.”

Qin Ying’s expression darkened slightly. “That makes it even stranger. After a fire breaks out, the deceased would inevitably be choked by thick smoke at the scene. There’s no way their eyes would remain open, not even if they suffocated.”

Feng Xiao also found it reasonable but added, “However, the deceased had a significant amount of soot in the nose and mouth, which only happens when living individuals encounter a raging fire and inhale large quantities of smoke and dust.”

Qin Ying nodded in agreement, saying, “That’s true, but this alone cannot be used as definitive evidence to determine whether the deceased died in a fire or if it was posthumous burning. If the deceased’s corpse already had slightly parted lips before the burning began, then the smoke and soot could still have entered the nose and mouth during the fire.” Her gaze shifted to a nearby drawer, “It’s like this drawer—even if it is just slightly ajar, dust will still fall inside. Moreover, smoke billows and ash fills the air in a fire.”

Feng Xiao was completely convinced. Xie Xinglan promptly asked, “Where is the corpse stored?”

Feng Xiao quickly replied, “At the mortuary in the southern part of the city.”

Xie Xinglan looked at Qin Ying, and without hesitation, Qin Ying nodded, “I’ll accompany you.”

Xie Xinglan collected the report and strode outside. Qin Ying followed closely behind, along with Feng Xiao and Xie Jian. Upon hearing they were heading to the mortuary, Bai Yuan and Shen Luo exchanged glances, their faces filled with horror.

While walking, Bai Yuan remarked, “Is the County Princess investigating another case with Envoy Xie?”

Shen Luo also found it peculiar, “Perhaps after doing strange and eccentric things in the past, the County Princess has finally found something she’s interested in?”

Bai Yuan murmured with a pale face, “She isn’t an official; hopefully, she doesn’t develop a fondness for solving cases.”

Leaving the Jinwu Guards Office, Qin Ying got onto the carriage and headed straight for the southern part of the city. At this moment, the dusk clouds hung low, and night was approaching. She hadn’t expected that after visiting the Jinwu Guards Office, she would encounter a case with unresolved doubts. Thinking about the autopsy report she had just seen, Qin Ying felt a weight in her heart. Ancient forensic techniques were still in their infancy, making complex examinations difficult and prone to significant errors, easily leading to wrongful judgments. Qin Ying couldn’t help but sigh.

The mortuary was located in a desolate area in the south of the city, where human traces were rare. The nearest low-rise residences were separated by over a hundred yards. The carriage slowly moved along the desolate path, and by the time it reached the gate, night had fully descended. Tonight was not a clear night; the inky black sky had neither stars nor a moon. Coupled with the chilly gusts of wind outside the gate, the place felt inexplicably eerie.

According to the original storyline, the County Princess Yunyang, Qin Ying, would never have set foot in such a desolate and sinister location in her lifetime. Therefore, as she lifted the curtain to look at the mortuary, she felt a certain comfort in her heart—perhaps the storyline was not entirely unchangeable.

Last night, when resting, Qin Ying had been somewhat melancholic. While the case involving Cui and Xue had been preliminarily resolved, she wondered—after coming to this other world and even changing her fate of death—could she truly be at ease living a privileged life as the County Princess Yunyang?

The answer, of course, was no. At that time, she felt an emptiness in her heart. Later, she had a dream: in it, she was like a small leaf of duckweed drifting on an endless and boundless river. The waves surged with dark undercurrents, the river was pitch black and boundless, and the fear of the unknown suffocated her. From the unfathomable depths, it seemed as if countless hands were trying to drag her into the abyss.

She woke up drenched in cold sweat and remained awake for a while, only then confirming that she was still resting in Qingwu Courtyard. However, the feeling of emptiness from the dream still lingered. While it was true that she had survived, how was she supposed to settle down and build her life in peace?

Just two hours ago, she still harbored such doubts in her heart. This world was so savage and feudal that she could not fully accept and adapt to everything. The cultural divide left her feeling utterly unrooted, and she was painfully aware of her insignificance. But at this moment, Qin Ying calmed herself with a dose of reassurance. The mysterious forces of fate had brought her here; she was certainly not in this world without purpose.

As the carriage came to a stop, Qin Ying was the first to jump down.

Bai Yuan followed nervously, her legs trembling as she entered the gate. Upon arriving at the courtyard, she asked Qin Ying one last time, “County Princess, are we really… really going to look at a corpse?”

Qin Ying understood Bai Yuan’s fear and reassured her, “I know you’re scared. You can stay outside and let Shen Luo accompany you. I’ll go in with Envoy Xie to take a look.”

The mortuary was built many years ago. It was seldom maintained because it was a place where corpses were stored. Moss and weeds now grew all over the inner courtyard. Outside the main entrance, a pale-gray lantern swung with the wind, casting eerie and mottled shadows on the ground.

Bai Yuan hurriedly shook her head, “No, no, no. I must stay by your side.”

Qin Ying hesitated and said, “Today’s deceased was burned to death, so the appearance will certainly be horrifying. I suggest you wait outside for me.”

Bai Yuan had never seen what a person burned to death looked like. Unable to imagine it, she firmly said, “You must also be scared. I will stay with you—”

Qin Ying’s gaze showed a hint of pity. “I fear you might regret it.”

Bai Yuan puffed out her chest. “This servant will never regret it!”

Qin Ying sighed, “Alright, but stand farther away—”

The conversation between the mistress and servant carried into the ears of Xie Xinglan, who was waiting at the door, his eyes deeply fixed on Qin Ying. At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached quickly from inside.

“Who’s coming here so late?”

From the inner hall emerged two officers, one older and one younger. Though clad in official uniforms, the garments were so faded and worn that they looked threadbare. The younger officer seemed fine, but the elder had his collar crooked. Strolling behind the younger officer, he frowned, his face twisted into a grouchy and irritable expression as though he had no patience.

“Oh, it’s the esteemed officials from the Jinwu Guards!” The young constable saw Xie Xinglan’s official robe and immediately stepped forward, saying, “I am Wang Yun, and he is Yuan Shoucheng. We are guards of the capital prefecture stationed at the mortuary. May I ask what brings you here, sir?”

Xie Xinglan went straight to the point, “Is Dou Yu’s corpse here?”

Wang Yun nodded hastily, “Yes, yes, it’s here…”

“Lead the way—”

With Xie Xinglan’s command, Wang Yun quickly began leading the way. Yuan Shoucheng, standing aside, showed some restraint in his expression but appeared disdainful upon noticing that two women accompanied Xie Xinglan. When Qin Ying entered, her gaze met Yuan Shoucheng’s. Though he lowered his head, Qin Ying could tell he harbored hostility towards them despite his old age. She didn’t dwell on it and proceeded to the rear hall where the corpses were stored. After passing through the northwest corner gate, a spacious rear hall appeared before the group. Rows of mortuary beds lay on the ground, but only three had corpses laid upon them.

Wang Yun pointed to a plank bed with an ice basin on it. “This is the body of Young Master Dou. The other two are nameless corpses that have gone unclaimed for days. The Dou family provided an ice basin to preserve the body, so it is still relatively viewable.”

All three corpses were covered with straw mats, but a pungent stench emanated from the other two. Bai Yuan covered her mouth and nose as soon as she entered the rear hall. Just then, Wang Yun, having finished speaking, dramatically whipped off the straw mat. On the plank bed lay a corpse with jet-black skin. Its clothes and hair had been completely burned away, and it now lay rigidly flat.

Upon closer inspection, the body was not only charred but covered in soot. Even the plank bed beneath it was dusted with ash. Feng Xiao, who had come along, lit a lantern and held it up over the body. Only then did they see that the corpse’s surface was marred with varying sizes of yellow and black blisters. Some of these blisters were festering, while others were swollen. The burns were most severe on the lower legs and feet, where the skin had turned into patches of charred scabs. These scabs had cracked along the skin’s natural lines into spindle-shaped openings, faintly revealing the crimson flesh underneath. Upon closer examination, grains of maggots could be seen wriggling within these fissures.

Bai Yuan stifled a horrified scream with her hands, but upon seeing the festering blisters and maggots, she could no longer hold it in and turned to run outside, retching loudly. “Ugh—”

The faint sound of vomiting came from outside. Qin Ying quickly instructed Shen Luo, “Go check on her.”

Bai Yuan’s reaction was as everyone had expected. The others then turned to Qin Ying, seemingly curious about how long she could endure the sight. To their surprise, after giving her instructions, Qin Ying stepped forward a few paces and walked straight up to the plank bed. She even leaned in close. Her delicate and flawless face was now just over a foot away from the charred, maggot-infested corpse. She covered her mouth and nose with a silk handkerchief and examined carefully. “The feet and lower legs have third-degree burns. From the knees upward, the burns gradually lessen to second- and first-degree burns. This clear distinction indicates that at the time of death, his feet and lower legs were close to the most intense flames, while his upper body was relatively farther away. What does this suggest?”

She turned to Xie Xinglan as if testing him. Xie Xinglan furrowed his brows slightly. “It suggests that he remained motionless in the fire for a long time.”

Qin Ying straightened up. “There are two possibilities: either he had already fainted from suffocation at the time, or he was already dead when the fire started. The former means he was burned to death, which could have been an accident caused by himself. The latter means the body was burned post-mortem, making this a case of murder.”

After saying this, Qin Ying walked to the head of the plank bed to examine the deceased’s face closely. Although the body was charred black, it was evident that the deceased was a tall, well-built young man with regular features. However, his face was covered with numerous blisters from the burns, and after days in the mortuary, dark purple, branch-like veins of decay surrounded the blisters. His facial features were unrecognizable and quite horrifying.

But Qin Ying was clearly unafraid. Not only was she unafraid, but she also used her silk handkerchief to inspect the deceased’s eyelids. After several confirmations, she straightened up again. “I can confirm that he was not burned to death.”

Before Xie Xinglan could speak, Feng Xiao couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you say that?”

Qin Ying pointed to the corner of the deceased’s eyes. “Look here. The deceased’s eyelids are slightly parted and not fully closed, especially at the corners, where the folds are smooth. This indicates that before death, the deceased’s eyes were not tightly shut due to smoke irritation. If his eyes had been tightly shut—”

To clarify, Qin Ying tightly closed her own eyes and pointed to herself. “If it were like this, the corners of the eyes would have many folds. After death, as the body’s tissues relax, these folds would gradually smooth out. However, these areas would not appear charred, especially the base of the eyelashes—”

Qin Ying spoke with focus, her voice clear and pleasant. Xie Xinglan’s gaze remained fixed on her. Wherever her fingers pointed, his eyes followed, though his gaze soon shifted to her face entirely. While his mind tried to process the scenario Qin Ying described, his reaction inexplicably slowed. Realizing this, Xie Xinglan quickly regained his composure.

At that moment, Qin Ying suddenly opened her eyes wide. “The corners of the eyes may have traces of ash, but due to the eyes being tightly shut, the base of the eyelashes should remain intact. There shouldn’t be excessive smoke residue within the eyelids or the corners of the eyes. This is the most compelling evidence to determine whether the deceased was burned alive. Come and look—”

Feng Xiao moved to her side, followed by Xie Xinglan and Xie Jian. Even Wang Yun inched closer. Qin Ying pointed to the corner of the deceased’s eyes. “All his eyelashes are burned away. Moreover, the inside of his eyelids and eye corners are completely charred and contain ash. This cannot simply be attributed to mishandling the corpse. Therefore, I conclude that he was already dead when the fire began.”

Qin Ying placed the handkerchief that had been in contact with the corpse aside and continued, “If there’s still doubt, we can summon the coroner from the capital prefecture and have them conduct an autopsy—”

Xie Xinglan frowned slightly. “An autopsy?”

Qin Ying pointed to the deceased’s neck. “Dissect the trachea to check for smoke residue. If he had truly died from suffocation caused by thick smoke, there would definitely be significant traces of ash in the trachea, apart from the mouth and nose.”

Opening up a corpse like this was unheard of, especially in the Zhou Dynasty, which adhered to Confucian principles emphasizing respect for one’s body received from one’s parents. Even the government rarely damaged a deceased’s remains. Feng Xiao couldn’t help but say, “I’m afraid the Dou family might not consent to an autopsy. What the County Princess mentioned about the eyelashes and eye corners seems highly reasonable; we may not need an autopsy.”

At that moment, Xie Xinglan asked, “Is the head of the Dou family Minister Dou from the Ministry of Treasury?”

Feng Xiao nodded. “Correct. The Dou family used to be wealthy merchants in Jinzhou. Around 30 years ago, they became royal merchants specializing in tea and silk procurement for the imperial family. As you know, just these two commodities alone make the Dou family incredibly wealthy. However, they weren’t content with being mere merchants. After the Fengzhou rebellion, the court needed funds to suppress the rebels, and they donated a million taels of silver in one go. In return, the family was granted a hereditary position of vice minister at the Ministry of Treasury. Currently, this position is held by the old master Dou, but he has been gravely ill this year. The Dou family is now embroiled in a fierce dispute over who will become the next head of the family.”

The Ministry of Treasury oversees the national treasury’s income and expenditure as well as currency matters, including the storage and management of cloth, grains, and granaries, as well as the supply of official salaries in rice to capital officials. It is staffed by one Head Minister and two Deputy Ministers. The Dou family obtained a hereditary Deputy Minister position, elevating them from merchants to an official household. This allowed their descendants to pursue academic titles and government positions while leveraging the Deputy Minister’s role to conduct business with the royal family—a highly profitable venture.

After listening to Feng Xiao’s final words, Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying exchanged glances. Xie Xinglan asked, “Fighting over the position of the family head?”

Feng Xiao nodded. “The Deputy Minister position is hereditary, and the Dou family is vast and wealthy. In the capital, the main branch alone has five households. Each one wants to be the family head, and even if they don’t, they want to claim the lucrative royal silk and tea businesses. Some want to split the family, while others don’t. In any case, the situation is messy. Dou Yu was the second son, and his father passed away early, leaving only a widowed mother. It’s said that he was highly favored by the current Deputy Minister Dou, but now, at this critical juncture, such an incident has occurred—”

Feng Xiao trailed off, his eyes revealing shock as he, too, realized the complexity of the case.

By this time, night had fallen. Xie Xinglan glanced outside and asked, “Does the Dou family expect the case to be concluded by tomorrow?”

Feng Xiao’s expression darkened. “Yes, I have failed to solve the case on time—”

Xie Xinglan waved his hand dismissively. “Now is not the time for blame. Early tomorrow morning, we’ll visit the Dou family. This case needs a thorough reinvestigation. For now, head to the yamen and report the details. Also, instruct the coroner to re-examine the body tomorrow.”

Feng Xiao quickly acknowledged and took his leave, being the first to depart the mortuary. Meanwhile, Qin Ying walked over to the two other bodies placed nearby, lifting the straw mats to examine them. Wang Yun hurriedly followed, explaining, “These two were laborers working outside the city. One died of a heart attack in a rented shack, according to Coroner Yue. The other fell to his death from a wooden scaffold while working. The foreman compensated a small amount, but their families have yet to come forward to claim the bodies.”

The two corpses had already started to decay. Qin Ying carefully examined each of them but found nothing unusual, so she covered them with straw mats. However, when she turned around, she met Xie Xinglan’s deep gaze. She thought Xie Xinglan might question her again about why she knew so much, but unexpectedly, he simply said, “It’s already past the second watch. You should return home.”

The tension in Qin Ying’s heart relaxed slightly, and she smiled. “Alright, it’s time to head back. I’ve been outside all day—Father must be worried.”

She washed her hands as she left and saw Bai Yuan standing outside the door, her face pale. Shen Luo was by her side, and both of them looked rather pitiful.

Qin Ying sighed as she walked over. “I told you that you’d regret it, didn’t I?”

Bai Yuan pouted and said, “Next time, I’ll definitely listen to you.”

Qin Ying patted her on the shoulder. “Alright, we’ve seen enough. Let’s return to the house.”

Bai Yuan’s face lit up with joy, but she couldn’t help asking, “Then, as for the second son of the Dou family—was he accidentally burned to death, or was it…”

Qin Ying said solemnly, “He was murdered.”

Bai Yuan and Shen Luo were both startled. After walking out of the mortuary and getting into the carriage, Xie Xinglan followed with his men on horseback. Inside the carriage, Bai Yuan couldn’t help but ask Qin Ying, “Will you investigate this case, County Princess?”

Qin Ying nodded resolutely, “Yes, I will investigate.”

Bai Yuan looked conflicted, “This case has nothing to do with you. If you choose to investigate it, you’ll inevitably face hardships.”

Qin Ying patiently replied, “The second son of the Dou family is barely twenty years old, and he was clearly murdered. Yet, people almost believed he set the house on fire and harmed himself. If we don’t uncover the truth, he would have died so unjustly at such a young age. The person who harmed him harbors sinister intentions and might plot against more people next. How many innocent lives would be lost in this way?”

Bai Yuan took a tense breath, “You’re absolutely right. How could the murderer live peacefully in this world after killing someone? When such a person dies, they would surely go to hell…”

Qin Ying nodded, “You make a good point as well. Those who commit atrocities and harm others deserve to go to hell. If we can do more good deeds, we can accumulate virtue and blessings. Besides, if we want the world to uphold righteousness, we can’t let cases involving lives be handled carelessly.”

Bai Yuan stared intensely at Qin Ying, “I truly didn’t expect you to have such thoughts!”

Qin Ying wasn’t trying to preach to Bai Yuan but rather to justify her actions and avoid their doubts. Seeing the admiration in Bai Yuan’s eyes, Qin Ying felt a mix of emotions and pretended to be casual, saying, “Just think of us as heroic characters from a legendary storybook—championing justice.”

The conversation inside the carriage was faintly audible outside. Xie Xinglan, seated high on horseback, couldn’t help but let his gaze fall on the carriage curtain. He had known little about Qin Ying in the past, but within ten short days, this Qin Ying was markedly different from the rumors. Her deduction and investigation skills could be attributed to natural intelligence, but how had a noble County Princess mastered peculiar medical techniques and forensic methods?

Xie Xinglan’s mind was filled with doubts. Yet today, he restrained himself from asking. There were too many mysteries surrounding Qin Ying—it might take him three to five months to unravel them. His patience had grown increasingly thin over the past half year, but for this matter, he found himself unusually willing.

The journey from the south of the city back to Changle District was not short; it took nearly half an hour to reach the gates of the Marquis of Linchuan’s residence. As Qin Ying dismounted from the carriage and was about to speak, Xie Xinglan spoke first, “Tomorrow morning, let Xie Jian accompany you to the Dou family.”

Qin Ying’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t help but smile, “Sir Xie is becoming more and more considerate. But there’s no need to trouble your guard—I’ll go myself tomorrow.”

Xie Xinglan remained firm, “It’s better if someone accompanies you.”

Qin Ying’s smile faded; she couldn’t understand Xie Xinglan’s insistence. Exhaling, she replied, “Fine, do as you see fit. Goodbye.”

She stormed into the residence angrily. Once Shen Luo drove the carriage inside, the front gate of the Marquis’s residence closed with a creak.

Xie Jian approached, “Lord, should I continue to guard here tonight?”

Xie Xinglan replied, “Leave a secret guard to watch.”

Xie Jian let out a sigh of relief and glanced at the empty long street, “Then, why are we staying here for now…?”

“Wait, wait for another half an hour. Return to the residence after midnight.”

Xie Jian looked at Xie Yong, who was equally bewildered. The autumn night had already grown cold, and the group waited in the chill until even the horses grew restless. Only then did Xie Xinglan give the order, “Return to the residence.”

He glanced at the gate of the Marquis of Linchuan’s residence, feeling the heavy stone in his heart finally drop. Turning his horse, he raised the whip, and his steed galloped out like an arrow.

The night wind roared, blowing Xie Xinglan’s robes and making them flutter. At this moment, the clouds in the sky parted slightly, revealing a crescent moon and several stars. The moonlight and starlight illuminated the autumn night haze and brightened the gloom in Xie Xinglan’s eyes. With an elegant posture, he sped across the long street. The brooding aura surrounding him dissipated, revealing a striking brilliance and confident spirit.

After a fast ride back to the General’s residence, Xie Xinglan dismounted with a light step, his sharp gaze radiating vigor. Tossing the whip to Xie Jian, he rushed to the study like the wind. Xie Jian and Xie Yong followed closely behind, both unaware of what had transpired. Yet, this was the first time in half a year they had seen Xie Xinglan so relaxed.

Following them to the study, upon entering, they saw Xie Xinglan again reviewing that booklet. However, this time, something in the booklet seemed to sting his eyes, and he quickly closed it and efficiently placed it deep in the drawer.

But the moment of ease didn’t last long. Soon, the mature and composed air returned to Xie Xinglan. He instructed Xie Jian, “Tomorrow at mid-morning, wait for Qin Ying at the Marquis’s residence and head straight to the Dou family.”

Xie Jian responded swiftly, and Xie Xinglan ordered the two to rest.

After they left, Xie Xinglan sat alone in the study, his expression fluctuating between gloom and brightness. Before long, his features returned to calm waters. He remained seated until floating clouds obscured the moonlight again, and then he rose to return to his room.

It was already past midnight, and the sky seemed as dark as ink. Yet, Xie Xinglan knew that the endless cold night that had been haunting his heart like a demon had finally glimpsed the light.

The next morning, Qin Zhang heard about the Dou family’s case and sighed deeply, “I know this Dou gentleman. His family is incredibly wealthy and once helped me acquire a famous painting from the previous dynasty. How could something like this happen to his child?”

Qin Ying said, “It’s said that the Dou family has recently been competing for the position of head of the household. This case is very likely related. I will go take a look later.”

Qin Zhang took a sharp breath, “Ying Ying, do you truly enjoy this field?”

Qin Ying nodded. At this moment, Bai Yuan repeated what Qin Ying had said yesterday, which greatly astonished Qin Zhang. “I never imagined my dear daughter could one day be so insightful! If you truly enjoy this field, I can ask Xu Aoqun, the Vice Minister of Justice and a friend of mine, to teach you some criminal case methods. There’s also He Zhiyuan, one of the heads of the Three Judicial Offices…”

Hearing this, Qin Ying was both amused and exasperated. Once again, she marveled at Qin Zhang, likely the most doting father in the world. After tactfully declining, she hurriedly left the residence and boarded the carriage.

Xie Jian was already waiting outside. As they walked, he said to Qin Ying, “County Princess, my lord instructed me to tell you that the Dou family has five branches. The fifth master, Dou Wenjia, has been devoted to Taoism since a young age. Now over thirty, he still hasn’t married or had children and has lived in seclusion outside the city for years. The third master, Dou Wenbin, is of illegitimate birth and has no inheritance rights to the family estate. Aware of this, he established his own business early on and now owns four thriving restaurants in the capital.”

“Thus, the only candidates eligible to inherit the family head position are Dou Wenyun from the first branch and Dou Wenyao from the fourth branch. The second master, Dou Wende, passed away prematurely, and the deceased Dou Yu was his son. While family head positions traditionally pass to sons, not grandsons, since Dou Wende died young, Dou Yu had been raised as an heir under Vice Minister Dou, Dou Qiguang. Hence, rumors have been circulating that Dou Qiguang might consider passing the family head position to the deceased Dou Yu.”

Qin Ying lifted the curtain and listened attentively, then nodded, “Let’s head to the Dou residence first and assess the situation.”

The carriage traveled south along the imperial avenue for the duration of two incense sticks, eventually arriving at Xiude Alley. Although Xiude Alley is not the priciest area, the Dou family leveraged the lack of restrictions to purchase two adjoining mansions and integrate them into a single estate with redesigned layouts and gardens. Today, it stands as the grandest and most luxurious residence in the entire southern city—a scale of magnificence unmatched even by the prince’s palaces near the imperial city.

When the carriage stopped at the gates, Qin Ying saw that guards from the Jinwu Guards and officials from the Jingji Yamen were already stationed outside—they had clearly arrived early. Qin Ying stepped briskly into the residence.

Xie Jian inquired to the gatekeepers, “My lord and the Jingji Yamen officials are now in the front hall of the Dou residence, entertaining guests. The County Princess may proceed directly.”

Qin Ying nodded and, bypassing the screen wall, walked straight down the corridor. Before reaching the hall, she heard cries and commotion coming from inside. Quickening her pace, she had just entered the central courtyard when she saw a young girl dressed in red standing at the entrance to the hall.

The girl fearlessly declared, “Yes, I’m the one who killed Second Brother.”

Qin Ying’s eyebrows arched in surprise—had the culprit confessed so quickly?