Chapter 29

“Rong’er, you’re insane!”

As soon as the little girl finished speaking, a middle-aged man in a blue robe immediately stood up and said, “Someone had harmed your second elder brother. Officials from both judicial departments have come to investigate. You mustn’t speak carelessly; if they truly treat you as a suspect and detain you, you’ll end up in prison!”

“But didn’t you all doubt me? If so, then I’ll admit that I harmed Second Brother.” After the girl finished speaking, she turned to the speaker again. “Doesn’t Father also doubt me?”

The questioned man stiffened slightly and glanced at Xie Xinglan, sitting in the main seat. He responded more gently, “It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just that you don’t have a single witness. Even if we believe you, the officials won’t. You are my daughter; do you think I would harm you?”

The little girl tightened her lips. “But that night, I was alone at Taoran Pavilion. Father must have forgotten. That evening, Father rebuked me, and I felt guilty, so I went there and sat gloomily for half an hour. No one passed by at the time, so naturally, no one can testify for me.”

The middle-aged man became somewhat annoyed. “You…”

The Dou family consists of five branches. In this grand hall, nearly twenty people were seated in succession. Xie Xinglan, holding a cup of tea in his hand, showed no intention of stopping the father and daughter’s dramatic squabble, as if the fiercer the argument, the better.

Suddenly, Xie Yong whispered, “Lord, the County Princess has arrived.”

Only then did Xie Xinglan raise his eyes to the courtyard and see that Qin Ying had indeed arrived. He put down his teacup and walked outside, saying as he walked, “You may continue your discussion. Make sure to clarify everything.”

When Qin Ying saw him coming out, she approached to meet him. The two met by the lotus pond in the courtyard, which was about ten feet wide. Qin Ying asked in a low voice, “What’s going on? I almost thought you solved the case at lightning speed and that the culprit had already confessed.”

The argument in the hall continued as Xie Xinglan explained, “That girl is the Dou family’s Third Young Miss, Dou Rong. Her remarks earlier were mostly made out of spite. The person she was responding to was her father, Fourth Master Dou Wenyao. I arrived a short while ago and was inquiring about everyone’s whereabouts on the night of the incident. It turns out that Dou Rong didn’t have any witnesses for half the night. Her father questioned her a bit more, and she began speaking nonsense.”

Qin Ying showed a look of understanding. At this moment, another female voice rang out in the hall: “Elder Sister, don’t argue with Father anymore. He’s only thinking about the well-being of our fourth branch. Since you have no witnesses, let the officials investigate. They will not falsely accuse you.”

“That is Fourth Young Miss Dou Nan, Dou Wenyao’s illegitimate daughter. Dou Rong is the legitimate daughter,” Xie Xinglan added.

Qin Ying listened intently, picking up on the subtle implications. Since she had arrived late, she naturally needed to recognize the people involved. Xie Xinglan thoughtfully introduced them one by one: “Starting from the first seat on the left is Vice Minister Dou’s eldest son, Dou Wenyun. Beside him is his wife, Madam Zhou. Below them sit their eldest son, Dou Shuo, and his wife, Madam Wu. They have a four-year-old daughter. The first branch also has an eldest daughter who married into Fanzhou and is unrelated to this case.”

“Starting from the right are Dou Wenbin from the third branch and his wife, Madam Jiang. Beside them are their daughter, Dou Tong, and son, Dou Ye, ranked second and fourth in order. At the very end is Fifth Master Dou Wenjia. Around Dou Wenyao, besides Dou Rong and Dou Nan, is his illegitimate son, Dou Huan. His wife, Madam Chu, has been bedridden for years due to illness. Dou Yu’s mother, Madam Huang, is currently resting in her room due to excessive grief over Dou Yu’s death.”

Qin Ying followed the introductions one by one. When she reached Dou Wenjia, her gaze lingered on him momentarily. Though his nephew had died and the hall was filled with people harboring various thoughts, Dou Wenjia sat calmly in the last seat, completely detached from the matter.

Xie Xinglan continued, “The fire broke out on the twelfth day of the month during the initial hour of Xu (around 7:00-9:00 PM). At that time, the Dou family was having dinner and were waiting for Dou Yu, who hadn’t arrived yet. Just as Vice Minister Dou was about to send someone to fetch him, the servants discovered that his Hanguang Pavilion residence was on fire. By the time everyone rushed over, half of Hanguang Pavilion was engulfed in flames, making rescue impossible. Following the incident, Vice Minister Dou’s condition worsened, and he has been bedridden these past few days, half-conscious. When I arrived earlier, he was still asleep.”

Qin Ying responded, “The cause of Dou Yu’s death remains unclear. Since we’ve come to the Dou family first, shall we visit the crime scene?”

Xie Xinglan was about to nod when two figures appeared in the corridor outside the courtyard. The guards stationed outside stepped forward and reported, “Lord, County Princess, the siblings of the Ge family who are residing in the Dou family estate have arrived.”

Qin Ying frowned upon hearing this. Xie Xinglan explained, “The deceased Madam of this residence came from the Ge family of Luo Prefecture. Two years ago, the Ge family was involved in a legal case, and the authorities confiscated most of their assets, leading to their decline. About a year and a half ago, the Ge siblings came to the capital seeking refuge with the Dou family. The elder brother, Ge Mingzhou, is one year older than Dou Yu and came here for last year’s autumn exams, but he failed and did not participate in this year’s spring exams. The younger sister, Ge Mingfu, is over seventeen and came to the capital hoping for a good marriage.”

After finishing, Xie Xinglan ordered the guards to let them in. As the Ge siblings approached, the noisy crowd inside the hall quieted down. Vice Minister Dou’s eldest son, Dou Wenyun, quickly stepped forward and said, “Officer Xie, what should we do now? During the fire, many of us were on the way to the Sijin Pavilion and lacked witnesses. Besides Rong’er, several others are unclear about their whereabouts.”

Xie Xinglan turned to the newcomers and asked, “Where were you two at the time? Do you have witnesses?”

The expressions on the faces of the Ge siblings clearly showed sorrow. Ge Mingzhou said in a deep voice, “I was studying at the time and had no idea what hour it was outside. Later, I realized it was already late, so I got up to eat. As soon as I stepped out of my small courtyard, I saw a fire in the east. When I arrived at Hanguang Pavilion, everyone else was already there. My servant wasn’t in the courtyard at the time, so I have no witness.”

Ge Mingfu, with reddened eyes, said, “I was on my way to Hanguang Pavilion at the time. My maid, Ruyi, can testify to that.” She pursed her lips and asked, “Was Second Brother really murdered? Didn’t the authorities previously say it was an accidental fire?”

The people in the hall had all come out by now. Everyone glanced at Xie Xinglan, then Qin Ying, puzzled as to why the officer from Longyi Guards had brought a woman to the Dou family. Xie Xinglan first said, “The earlier judgment was incorrect. Dou Yu was indeed murdered.”

He then turned to Qin Ying, “This is County Princess Yunyang. It was she who discovered that Dou Yu was murdered. This time, she will work alongside Jinwu Guards to follow up on the case.”

Everyone saluted with astonished expressions. County Princess Yunyang? Wasn’t she the one who caused several scandals? How could she be involved in investigating a case with Longyi Guards?

Noticing the curious looks directed at Qin Ying, Xie Xinglan said, “Let’s go to Hanguang Pavilion to take a look.”

The Dou residence was vast, more than two to three times the size of a typical official mansion. Dou Wenyun led the group down the corridor, heading towards Hanquang Pavilion.

As Dou Wenyun walked, he said, “The residence layout is well-organized. Each branch has its own courtyard, and the grown-up juniors also have their own small courtyards. Yu’er was the best at studying, and Father had high hopes for him. So, when he turned fifteen, he had a special Hanguang Pavilion built for him in the west. He studied and lived there, and usually, the servants didn’t dare to make loud noises when passing by.”

“The second branch’s courtyard is in the northwest, while Father and Mother’s main courtyard is directly to the north. The other three branches are located in the northeast. As for the Mingzhou siblings, they also reside in the western courtyard.”

Following Dou Wenyun’s explanation, Qin Ying looked deeper into the estate. Her gaze took in the continuous rows of flying eaves, interspersed with pavilions and water kiosks, all displaying an elegant and luxurious atmosphere befitting nobility. There were numerous buildings, and the Dou family’s gardens were exceptionally well-maintained. In early autumn, rare flowers and fragrant trees thrived with vibrant splendor. Passing by a water kiosk, she saw a patch of white lotus blooming at its peak nearby. This delicate and graceful landscape surely required considerable labor and financial resources for meticulous upkeep.

After walking for about half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the group reached a verdant bamboo grove. Dou Wenyun pointed to the pavilion surrounded by the bamboo forest, “This is Hanguang Pavilion. On the night of the fire, a north wind was blowing, which also caused most of the bamboo grove on the south side to burn.”

They approached from the east, heading west. Although the nearby bamboo forest appeared relatively intact at first glance, closer inspection revealed remnants of ash scattered across the ground, not yet cleaned up. Looking southward through the gaps in the forest, they could see that much of the bamboo grove on that side had indeed been burned. The remaining unburnt sections were mostly just blackened, half-standing bamboo stalks.

Walking further along the stone path through the forest, the scenery suddenly opened up, and the burned-down Hanguang Pavilion came into view.

Hanguang Pavilion faced south with its back to the north. The fire had destroyed the entire eastern wing, while the western wing and the rear living quarters remained intact. Feng Xiao, who was accompanying them, stepped forward and explained, “On the day of the fire, by the time we arrived, the household servants had nearly extinguished the flames. Fortunately, the north wind caused the fire to spread very slowly toward the east, or the entire courtyard would have been lost. The rooms on the eastern side housed Dou Yu’s study and library. After the fire was extinguished, Dou Yu’s body was found near the east window of the study—”

The front room of the eastern wing had mostly collapsed from the fire. Though the roof of the two rooms in the rear was still intact, they had now become dangerous and unstable. Leading the way into the ruins, Feng Xiao precisely pointed to the northeast corner and said, “His body was found here. This entire front room was where he typically studied and wrote. The rear section was the library. The study desk, writing tools, and ink in the front room were all destroyed by the fire, and most of the library’s collection was burned as well. However, some inkstones, porcelain, and jade artifacts remain.”

“At the time, the body was lying in this corner. It looked as though the deceased had sought refuge from the fire by curling up in this spot. There was a half-person-high porcelain vase for storing paintings here, and the body was lying right beside it.”

The porcelain vase that Feng Xiao mentioned had already been moved, leaving behind a faint circular mark on the ground. He continued, “That night, we questioned the servants in the household. They said that Dou Yu had been studying even more diligently since failing the spring exams. Aside from joining everyone for dinner in Sijin Pavilion, he had his breakfast and lunch delivered to his door by the servant boys in food containers. He would only retrieve the food after finishing his studies. On that particular day, during breakfast and lunch, the servants delivering the meals saw his silhouette studying by the window and didn’t dare make any noise.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “Did anyone else see him that day?”

Feng Xiao shook his head. “No one else saw him. Everyone knows how dedicated he was to his studies. He rarely entertained visitors here, and Vice Minister Dou had ordered that no one disturb him without reason. It was only after dinner that people would chat with him for a bit. Moreover, he had a penchant for burning incense and enjoyed using traditional methods for it. He would burn silver charcoal in a brazier covered with a perforated lid and sprinkle incense powder and aromatic materials directly inside, filling the room with fragrance. When we arrived that night, we found that he had moved the brazier to the area near the east window, which initially led us to believe the fire was an accident.”

At this point, Qin Ying couldn’t help but ask, “So the last time anyone saw him alive was actually during dinner the previous evening? Did he act unusual that night?”

Feng Xiao glanced at Dou Wenyun, who replied, “That’s correct. He arrived for dinner rather early the previous evening and mentioned that his eyes felt strained from reading. We even advised him to take it easy. After dinner, he accompanied Father back to the main courtyard and likely chatted for a while before returning to his quarters.”

Qin Ying glanced around and asked, “There’s no servant taking care of him here?”

Dou Wenyun replied, “There used to be, but after he failed the spring exams, he refused to let anyone stay here. Only after dinner each day would he allow a servant to come and tidy up the place. Last year, he passed the provincial exam, and we had high hopes for him this year. Failing the spring exams dealt a heavy blow to him, so he swore to study diligently for three years and make it onto the honors list next time. Ah, this child lived a very austere life, and we truly felt for him.”

As soon as Dou Wenyun finished speaking, Dou Wenyao interjected, “Yu’er is not even the family’s eldest son. If others showed a bit more ambition, why would he have to carry the entire burden by himself?”

These words instantly made Dou Wenyun’s face pale. Among the crowd, Dou Shuo and his wife, Madam Wu, also showed subtle changes in expression. Dou Wenyun chuckled coldly, “Yu’er may not be the eldest, but he is Second Brother’s only legitimate son. He is ambitious, hardworking, and seeks progress, which is far better than others who squander their time chasing frivolous pleasures and neglecting their duties.”

Dou Wenyao’s expression darkened as Dou Wenyun’s words hit home. Beneath Dou Wenyao were two daughters and a son. His eldest daughter, Dou Rong, was legitimate, but his younger daughter, Dou Nan, and eldest son, Dou Huan, were both born to his concubine, Madam Qian. Despite his fondness for Dou Huan, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children remained a thorn in his heart. Furthermore, Dou Huan was mediocre in talent and had recently taken up frivolous activities like cockfighting, which led Dou Qiguang to care little for Dou Huan and, by extension, value Dou Wenyao even less.

Dou Wenyao ground his teeth audibly but swallowed his frustration in the presence of outsiders.

Xie Xinglan had been observing the open and covert conflicts between the second branch. Qin Ying also noticed them but decided not to delve into the Dou family’s grievances for now. She walked toward the spot where Dou Yu’s body was found and silently inspected the charred remains of the room.

Shortly afterward, Qin Ying asked, “Where is the servant who attended to Dou Yu?”

Dou Wenyun summoned the servant, a young man who appeared to be under twenty. The young man respectfully bowed and said, “I am Zhishu. May I ask what orders the County Princess has?”

Qin Ying inquired, “Describe in detail the layout of this front room.”

Zhishu looked at the burned scene and thought of his master, his eyes turning slightly red. He explained, “This is the eastern wing. The door opens on the west side, facing the main hall. Against the north wall is a row of bookcases, and in front of the bookcases is the writing desk where the master worked. In the corner near the window was a porcelain vase used for storing paintings. Below the window frame was a zither table holding a seven-stringed zither that the master would sometimes play to uplift his mood. Along the southern wall was a low couch with a small table on it. Walking toward the corner, there was a flower stand holding two pots of orchids. At the other end of the table were cabinets placed against the wall, containing the master’s favorite brushes and ink. All the wooden items were completely burned…”

Zhishu’s voice became hoarse. At this point, Xie Xinglan asked, “Where was the incense brazier your master used originally placed?”

Zhishu pointed toward the main hall and replied, “It was usually placed outside. However, that night, perhaps because it felt a bit cold, the master brought the brazier inside. This room was filled with paper, so even a moment of negligence could lead to a fire. During the New Year in January, the master accidentally set fire to a book, though at that time, it was caused by an overturned oil lamp. The master often studied late into the night, and there were seven or eight oil lamps lit in the room.”

Both Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying’s expressions turned grim. Dou Yu hadn’t died from the fire, yet when he was found, his body had been placed near the window. By the window stood a zither table and a seven-stringed zither. Although they had been completely burned and left no trace, the question remained—how had the culprit killed him?

Qin Ying surveyed the fire site again, noticing that the south wall was the most severely burned while a large section of the east wall was already missing. She asked, “How large were the windows here originally? Did you deliver breakfast and lunch that day? What did your master look like?”

Zhishu stepped forward to demonstrate, “This window had six panels, covering half the wall. It was designed to brighten the room by adding two extra panels. On that day, I came through the small path on the east side and saw the master standing by the window dressed in a white robe. He was facing the direction of his desk, his chin slightly lowered, probably reading a book.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “You didn’t see his full face?”

Zhishu, seemingly understanding Xie Xinglan’s doubts, replied, “From that direction, I could see his ear and part of his profile. There’s no mistake; his figure and appearance must have been the master.”

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying exchanged glances before Xie Xinglan continued questioning, “When you delivered lunch, what time was it?”

Zhishu replied, “It was shortly after noon. When I arrived, the master had already finished breakfast, leaving the bowl and chopsticks inside the food container. The door was tightly closed. After the fire broke out that night, that food container had already been burned when we went in.”

Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan didn’t say anything immediately. Feng Xiao, standing nearby, added, “At noon, the deceased was still fine. As for the killer, they must have set the fire to burn the body. Based on our calculations, it would’ve taken at least the time of one incense stick to create such a large blaze. The culprit must have started the fire within the time of one incense stick before Xu Hour (7:00–9:00 PM). It’s likely the murder occurred around then. From here to Sijin Pavilion, it takes about half the time of an incense stick to travel. Round trip, it’s exactly the duration of one incense stick…”

After calculating and discussing, they realized the key was establishing alibis for the Dou family members during the dinner hour. Xie Xinglan scanned the crowd and said to Feng Xiao, “Since the cause of death is still undetermined, stay here and conduct a detailed questioning of the witnesses. We’ll head to the mortuary.”

Feng Xiao acknowledged the order. Qin Ying glanced at the room once more before leaving. Just as they were about to depart, Xie Xinglan turned to Dou Wenyun and said, “I have something to discuss with Vice Minister Dou. Is he awake now?”

Dou Wenyun quickly sent a servant to inquire. Shortly after, the servant returned to report, “The Old Master has just woken up.”

Xie Xinglan nodded and said to Qin Ying, “Wait for me at the front gate.”

After saying this, he left. Qin Ying acknowledged the instruction but had no idea where he was heading. She wandered around Hanguang Pavilion one more time, and by the time she came out, the Dou family members had all gone to give their statements with Feng Xiao and dispersed. However, Dou Rong, who had confessed earlier of killing Dou Yu, was still outside the building.

The two exchanged looks. Dou Rong hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and asking, “If there’s no witness, would I really be treated as the murderer?”

Qin Ying shook her head. “It would only raise more suspicion. Without evidence proving someone caused harm, they won’t be deemed the murderer.”

Dou Rong seemed relieved, thanked her, and turned to leave. However, after a few steps, she looked back at Hanguang Pavilion and said, “Second Brother was a good person. His early life was hard. I hope he can find peace and comfort in the afterlife.”

Qin Ying frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Dou Rong gave a bitter smile. “He was Grandfather’s hope and the family’s hope. Second Uncle’s dying wish was also for him to achieve great success. When did he ever have a moment to relax? This pavilion is the most meticulously constructed part of the estate. Years ago, Grandfather spared no expense in building it for him. How could someone so young bear such expectations? But once it was built, he had to move in. It was as though he was cut off from the world. This pavilion is both luxurious and a cage. Every time I come here, I feel its oppressive weight.”

Seeing that Dou Rong was willing to say so much, Qin Ying couldn’t help but ask, “Who in this household could possibly want to harm him?”

Dou Rong’s expression turned bitter. “If I must speak plainly, my eldest uncle and my father both might have wanted to harm him. These two elders couldn’t outmatch a younger family member. They appear generous and caring on the surface, but deep down, who knows how much they resent him?”

While it was one thing for her to criticize Dou Wenyun, she was ruthless enough to include her own father as well. Qin Ying’s gaze deepened as Dou Rong realized she had overstepped. She quickly bowed and walked away in haste.

Nearby, Xie Jian remarked, “How can this girl be so blunt about her own father?”

Bai Yuan clicked her tongue and replied, “Can’t you see? Her father clearly prefers the illegitimate child. That illegitimate child may seem respectful, but his attitude is far from restrained. Just earlier, the Dou family’s eldest master mocked him for not having a legitimate heir, didn’t he? It wouldn’t be surprising if the fourth branch of the Dou family is plagued by issues like favoring concubines over wives.”

Xie Jian and Shen Luo were stunned. “You figured all that out?”

Bai Yuan lifted her chin slightly. “In large families like this, if the family discipline isn’t strict, these issues tend to arise.”

Qin Ying also showed appreciation, “Our Bai Yuan is truly clever.”

After finishing their observations, the group headed toward the front gate. After waiting for about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Xie Xinglan emerged from within.

Qin Ying lifted the curtain to look at him. Mounted on his horse, Xie Xinglan urged it forward to her and said, “I spoke with Dou Qiguang. He said that he valued Dou Yu the most. But when it comes to the position of family patriarch, he hasn’t yet made up his mind. Dou Yu was exceptionally talented, and he hoped that Dou Yu would enter public service as an official. He certainly wouldn’t entrust the family business to Dou Yu. If Dou Yu succeeded in passing the imperial exams, even the rank of Vice Minister in the Treasury Department wouldn’t matter much to him. However, if he doesn’t live to see this year’s end, Dou Qiguang will have no choice but to rely on Dou Yu. The third branch consists of illegitimate children, while neither the eldest nor the fourth branches have anyone capable of sustaining the family’s status. Dou Wenjia is indifferent to worldly matters. Dou Qiguang is currently in utter despair.”

Qin Ying remarked, “So the motive for the struggle over the family headship still exists. So far, apart from Dou Wenyun and Dou Wenyao, the others have yet to reveal anything. The four members of the third branch and Dou Wenjia seem intent on staying out of the matter.”

Xie Xinglan nodded. “We’ll leave the Dou estate to Feng Xiao for now. Let’s first confirm Dou Yu’s cause of death. I’ve already explained to Dou Qiguang, and he has agreed to allow the authorities to conduct an autopsy on Dou Yu’s body.”

Qin Ying’s eyes lit up. “How did you convince him?”

Xie Xinglan sighed and said, “Dou Yu was Dou Qiguang’s only hope. He is willing to do anything to find the culprit who murdered Dou Yu.”

Qin Ying also sighed. “It’s truly a pity about Dou Yu.”

The Dou family estate was located in the southern part of the city, so it didn’t take long to reach the mortuary today. Before noon, their carriage arrived at the mortuary gates. As Qin Ying stepped out of the carriage, she saw Captain Zhao Lian coming out to greet them.

With a flattering smile, Zhao Lian saluted and said, “Lord, County Princess, I’ve been waiting here since early this morning with the coroner, Yue. I heard that there’s something suspicious about the second young master Dou’s cause of death. Are we here to perform a new autopsy today?”

Xie Xinglan nodded as he walked. “That’s correct. Dou Yu did not die in the fire.”

Zhao Lian frowned slightly and followed them inside, casting curious glances at Qin Ying, seemingly wondering how she had become involved in this new case.

Wang Yun and Yuan Shoucheng were also waiting inside. When everyone entered the rear hall, they saw Coroner Yue Lingxiu preparing tools for the autopsy. Xie Xinglan instructed, “Dou Yu’s cause of death is suspicious. Re-examine the body today and make sure you find the true cause of death.”

Yue Lingxiu hesitated and showed a troubled expression. “Lord, I already examined Second Young Master Dou’s body very thoroughly that day. I am convinced he died from the fire. I fear… I fear it will be difficult to determine another cause of death. It’s my lack of skill…”

Xie Xinglan’s brows furrowed deeply, and he was about to lose his temper when Qin Ying stepped forward from behind him. She spoke gently, “Don’t be afraid. Your previous methods were not entirely wrong for someone of your training. But now, I’d like to teach you some new techniques. Are you willing to learn?”

Yue Lingshou recognized Qin Ying and was naturally shocked. First, because Qin Ying, as the County Princess, knew forensic techniques, and second, because someone of her high status was willing to teach him, a lowly coroner.

Seeing him stunned and silent, Qin Ying said, “You are young, and since you’ve taken up the role of a coroner, you cannot simply coast along. The cases you handle are all related to lives—mistakes cannot be made. If you continue using your previous methods, mistakes corrected today may still occur tomorrow. Instead, it’s better to learn the right techniques. Additionally, if I teach you today and you learn well, you’ll be able to pass these techniques on to others in the future.”

Yue Lingshou swallowed hard and asked, “What does the County Princess intend to teach me?”

Qin Ying sized him up and, noticing his somewhat delicate demeanor, asked, “Do you have the courage to perform a dissection?”