Chapter 41

From the time Hongxiu began using the medicinal wine sent by Lu Roujia, her injuries steadily improved day by day. By the 25th, when Lu Roujia came to change the prescription, most of the bruising on Hongxiu’s face had faded.

Unwilling to comfortably rest and recover in the marquis’ residence, she requested to assist with some chores in Qin Ying’s courtyard. Seeing her sincerity, Bai Yuan agreed. It was time to prepare autumn and winter clothing in residence; thus, she took Hongxiu along to measure and tailor clothes for Qin Ying and Qingwu courtyards’ attendants. It was a massive task that kept everyone in the Qingwu courtyard busy for three days.

Unaccustomed to being waited on and pampered, Qin Ying also joined in to help. Her active participation surprised many in the Qingwu courtyard and even alarmed Qin Zhang. While everyone assumed Qin Ying’s involvement was temporary, they were shocked to find her in the sewing room daily without fail. Though she wasn’t skilled in needlework, she greatly enjoyed watching Bai Yuan embroider and found some enjoyment in doing minor tasks.

By the 29th of July, Hongxiu’s injuries had almost completely healed, and she was just waiting for Lu Roujia to take her to the Lu family medical clinic. With some free time, Qin Ying began thinking about the Fu and Dou family cases again. However, visiting Xie Xinglan at the Jinwu Guard’s Office felt rather abrupt, so she brought up the matter with Qin Zhang during lunch.

Qin Zhang replied, “The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review are verifying the criminal cases across the country. This process is not that fast. However, as August approaches, news will likely arrive soon. Once the punishment is determined, execution will take place after the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

The saying “executions after autumn” aligns with the offices’ procedural timeline. Qin Ying nodded in agreement.

Qin Zhang then added with a solemn tone, “I heard that Cui Jin has already returned to Qinghe with Madam Lin and the child. They probably won’t be back for years. How the grand Earl Zongyuan residence has fallen! Fortunately, the Qinghe Cui clan has more than one branch granted a title.”

Qin Zhang sighed and continued, “The Xue family caused trouble several times, but the Earl’s residence absolutely refused to give up the child. The residence cannot maintain a position in the capital, but the Cui clan still has the Changqing Marquis’ residence. With the strong influence of the Cui clan, the Xue family has no way to forcibly take the child. They had to quiet down. Xue Xianzhi was so enraged that he fell ill and resigned from his position as the head of the Imperial Academy.”

This romantic affair between young men and women resulted in a tragedy for three families. Qin Ying sighed and said, “The Empress Dowager mentioned this matter the day I visited the palace. She expected they would soon leave the capital, but I didn’t think it would happen so quickly. What about the Fu family?”

“The Emperor decreed to strip Fu Zhongming of his position as the Minister, demoting him to a rank-eight subordinate—the lowest position in the bureau. How could Fu Zhongming bear to stay? He submitted a petition requesting to leave as well. Although Fu Ling killed two people to avenge her sister, in the end, she still took lives. In my opinion, the Fu family cannot sustain a position in the capital either. It wouldn’t be surprising if they return to their hometown in Fenzhou.”

Qin Zhang’s gaze became slightly dim. “Regardless of whether it’s the Fu family or Earl Zhongyuan’s residence, leaving is ultimately a good thing. However, Cui Jin and Fu Zhongming will surely regret their titles and official positions. Fu Zhongming still has a son, while Cui Jin has no heir to inherit the position of Earl. In the future, they will most likely have to find an adopted son within the family, just like the child of the Xie family.”

Qin Ying’s brows slightly furrowed. Xie Xinglan’s parents passed away early, and he was later adopted by a same-clan uncle to inherit the lineage of Xie Zhengze. Thinking of this, Qin Ying suddenly looked at Qin Zhang. “Then, Father, have you ever considered that no one in our family will inherit the title?”

Qin Zhang smiled. “If Father were to bring home a stepmother for you, what if things turned out like Fu Zhongming? Would you agree?”

A warm current surged in Qin Ying’s heart. Her father in her previous life never remarried and worried endlessly for her as his daughter. Softly, she said, “With Father’s temperament, he would never favor one over the other. He certainly wouldn’t become like Master Fu…”

Qin Zhang couldn’t help but stroke the top of her head. “Silly girl, having more people in the house would divide Father’s attention. Besides, matters in the inner quarters are not as simple as you think. Your mind is too pure—Father wouldn’t dare to find you a stepmother.”

Qin Ying had initially asked casually, but her question caused Qin Zhang to remember old memories. His expression took on a hint of desolation, and he quickly got up to leave for the scripture room. Seeing his solitary figure, Qin Ying also felt a pang of sadness.

Qin Guang, observing this scene, quietly said, “The Lord had never told the County Princess that back in Fengzhou, when the Grand Princess was bedridden with illness, he swore a solemn oath to her, promising never to marry again in this life. Over the years, the Lord has never broken this vow.”

When Grand Princess Yichuan passed away, the original protagonist was not yet a year old, so naturally, there was no memory associated with her. Qin Ying couldn’t help but ask, “What did my mother look like?”

Qin Guang slightly narrowed his eyes, sinking into memories. “The Grand Princess was born of Consort Ning, who herself was a woman of exceptional beauty and talent. When the Grand Princess was seven or eight years old, her looks and temperament were unparalleled even within the Li Zhou royal family. Later, as she matured, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe her as having celestial beauty. The Marquis was fortunate to marry the Grand Princess. Even if he hadn’t made a vow back then, having such a wife before him, how could he possibly look at anyone else?”

Qin Ying had never seen the elegance of Grand Princess Yichuan, not even the slightest impression of her. Thinking of her previous life’s mother, who also passed away early, a sense of emptiness and sorrow welled up.

Qin Guang, who had followed Qin Zhang for many years and watched Qin Ying grow up, noticed the change in her expression and comforted her. “The County Princess has become more understanding nowadays. If the Grand Princess were watching from heaven, she would surely be very happy.”

Qin Ying forced a faint smile, “Since there’s nothing to do these days, I’ll accompany Father in reading scripture.”

As a County Princess, Qin Ying had no official duties. Going out typically involved attending gatherings among noble ladies, but she was not interested in such things. If she were like other noblewomen staying at home, she would likely spend her time practicing arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she had no passion for these pursuits either. After contemplating, she decided that accompanying Qin Zhang and reading Daoist texts would be a more meaningful pastime.

However, just as she spoke, a servant suddenly rushed in to report, “County Princess, Miss Lu has arrived.”

Qin Ying’s eyes lit up. “Quick, invite her in!”

It had been three days since Lu Roujia last visited to change Hongxiu’s prescription, and now she had come again for a follow-up. Before long, Qin Ying saw a figure dressed in vibrant green enter the courtyard. She went out to greet her but, upon approaching, noticed a trace of concern clouding Lu Roujia’s brows. Qin Ying quickly asked, “What’s the matter?”

Lu Roujia said softly, “Yesterday, Father went to Marquis Changqing’s residence.”

Qin Ying was surprised and led her back to Qingwu Courtyard. Once inside, she dismissed everyone else, and only then did Lu Roujia continue, “Yesterday, Father went to the Marquis’s residence to withdraw the engagement. Marquis Changqing was very shocked and kept asking Father why. Left with no choice, Father mentioned the matter between the heir of the Cui family and the young lady of Duke Lu’s residence. In the end, the Marquis agreed to postpone the engagement, but I suspect this matter may become more complicated.”

Qin Ying pondered for a moment, “You mean they involved the young lady from Duke Lu’s residence?”

Lu Roujia nodded, deeply worried. “If this harms the young lady’s reputation, it would be very inappropriate.”

Qin Ying shook her head helplessly, thinking Lu Roujia was too kind-hearted. In the original story, this very nature led her to be completely taken advantage of. She said, “Duke Lu’s residence and Marquis Changqing’s residence are close allies. I suppose the Marquis already knows about the connection between Cui Muzhi and Lu Yuening. You don’t need to worry about these things; just make sure the engagement withdrawal is handled smoothly. Besides, Cui Muzhi is likely to hold a grudge against the Lu family.”

Marquis Changqing had arranged this marriage to demonstrate loyalty to Emperor Zhenyuan. Now that the engagement was canceled, the Marquis’s position became awkward. Cui Muzhi, who always prioritized the family’s honor, would naturally view the Lu family’s actions as disrespectful.

Lu Roujia forced a bitter smile. “These outcomes are predictable, but it doesn’t matter much. At worst, Father will stop being an imperial physician. Other than that, there’s nothing else to worry about. The Lu family has been in the medical profession for generations, and even opening a medical clinic would be enough for us to get by.”

Speaking of the medical clinic, she asked about Hongxiu. Qin Ying took her to the side courtyard, where they found Hongxiu’s injuries had healed. Lu Roujia immediately set plans to bring Hongxiu to the medical clinic as an apprentice the next day. Hongxiu was naturally eager to agree, but when Lu Roujia mentioned sending someone to pick her up, Hongxiu quickly declined.

Unexpectedly, Lu Roujia said, “Our medical clinic is in the southern part of the city. Yesterday and today, I don’t know what’s been happening, but the southern part is filled with Jinwu Guards and officials from the yamen. It feels quite unsettled. I think it would be better to have a servant come to pick you up.”

Qin Ying hadn’t gone out for several days, and with the Marquis’s residence located in Changle District, close to the imperial city, she was even less aware of such developments. A sense of unease stirred in her heart. “The southern part of the city is filled with Jinwu Guards and officials from yamen? Could it be that something has happened?”

Lu Roujia replied, “That’s what I think as well. Either someone has died, or perhaps bandits have infiltrated the city. In any case, it all seems quite alarming.”

Qin Ying’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She immediately summoned Shen Luo and instructed him, “Go to the Jinwu Guards Office and take a look. If Envoy Xie is there, find Xie Jian and the others to inquire about what’s happening in the city.”

Qin Ying was not a government official, so it would have been too conspicuous for her to visit the Jinwu Guards Office unexpectedly. It made the most sense to send Shen Luo to investigate.

Shen Luo received the order and went on his way, while Qin Ying stayed behind to chat with Lu Roujia. They had just finished two cups of tea when Shen Luo swiftly returned to the Marquis’ residence and entered Qingwu Courtyard to report: “County Princess, I went to Jinwu Guards Office to inquire, but Envoy Xie was not in the office. I sought out Feng Xiao to investigate instead. Lord Feng mentioned that there indeed was a homicide in the southern city three days ago. However, because the case was found to be tied to the royal family the day before, even he doesn’t know the specific details.”

Qin Ying was stunned. “The royal family? Which royal family member?”

Seeing Shen Luo shake his head, Qin Ying continued, “Since this involves a homicide related to the royal family, is Envoy Xie leading the Longyi Guards in the investigation?”

Shen Luo replied, “No. Feng Xiao revealed something earlier, saying that Envoy Xie handled the last two cases beautifully and earned the Emperor’s favor. Over the past two days, the Emperor summoned him twice. He will likely be sent south as an imperial envoy soon. Every August, the Emperor dispatches imperial envoys to the south to inspect local officials. Such tasks are typically entrusted to ministers highly valued by the Emperor. Furthermore, upon returning with accomplishments, the envoys are often rewarded with promotions and titles at the year’s end. It seems Envoy Xie is poised for this role. Currently, the case is being handled by Zheng Qin, who was recently promoted to general.”

Qin Ying was slightly startled. She had almost forgotten—Xie Xinglan risked his life to secure the role of Commander of Longyi Guards, not to investigate ordinary homicides. Regardless of which royal family member was involved this time, unless it was directly linked to the imperial family, it would not outweigh the importance of the southern inspection. Xie Xinglan is someone determined to climb higher at any cost.

Seeing her disappointed expression, Shen Luo hesitated and asked, “County Princess, what’s the matter? Should I continue investigating which royal family member is involved?”

Qin Ying returned to her senses but had not yet nodded when Lu Roujia suddenly exclaimed, “No wonder the southern area appears to be under martial law—it must be related to some prominent family. Is the County Princess paying attention to this because you wish to help investigate?”

Qin Ying took a shallow breath and said, “Not necessarily. It might not even require my involvement. Let’s go and explore first.”

Shen Luo accepted the order and left. Meanwhile, Lu Roujia observed Qin Ying and asked, “County Princess, you seem deeply worried. Are you concerned that it might involve a family you frequently associate with?”

Qin Ying also looked at Lu Roujia. When it came to Lu Roujia, all she had to do was tell her about Cui Muzhi’s feelings for someone else, and she would naturally make a different choice. However, this approach could not be applied to Xie Xinglan. Moreover, from Xie Xinglan’s perspective, holding even greater power was the only way to restore the honor of the Xie family and to settle old scores thoroughly.

Over the past half a year, Xie Xinglan has acted with impunity, making more enemies and even drawing criticism from Emperor Zhenyuan. However, he has now managed to regain the Emperor’s favor, and the task of receiving a promotion and noble title is about to fall into his hands. Qin Ying could almost picture Xie Xinglan’s smug satisfaction.

Following the Cui Wan case and the Dou clan case, the direction of the story seemed to have undergone a dramatic change. Yet, upon hearing that Xie Xinglan was assigned to the southern inspection mission, Qin Ying inexplicably thought of the scene where he ultimately met a tragic end after struggling relentlessly to climb to the top.

Qin Ying’s heart tightened for a moment, but after a multitude of thoughts ran through her mind, she realized she couldn’t act as a savior for everyone. Even if she found it regrettable, even if she wanted to help, Xie Xinglan would still be Xie Xinglan. His determination was set; ultimately, he had his own decisions and fate. Moreover, the southern inspection was a state matter, something she could not interfere with under any circumstances.

Qin Ying composed herself and said, “Not really. I just think the world is ever-changing, and blessings or misfortunes are hard to predict. Until we reach that point, it’s difficult to say whether it will be joy or sorrow.”

Lu Roujia, assuming she was worried about the chaos in the southern city, nodded in agreement and said, “I just hope it doesn’t involve someone losing their life.”

Because of this matter, both of them lost their appetite for tea. As the sun began to set in the west, Qin Ying got up and walked to the window, saying, “Could this really be some significant affair involving the imperial family? Shen Luo hasn’t even returned after all this time.”

Recalling how close the previous Dou clan wrongful conviction case came to happening, Qin Ying had little trust in the world’s judicial system. She mused inwardly that despite the large-scale operation, it would be much simpler if it were merely about apprehending thieves or bandits.

As the sun set and the last traces of its glow were about to fade away, Qin Ying’s unease grew stronger. Just as she hesitated whether to go and investigate personally, Bai Yuan entered with a peculiar expression and said, “County Princess, someone has come to visit.”

Qin Ying asked in confusion, “It’s almost dark. Who’s come to visit?”

Bai Yuan glanced at Lu Roujia and coughed lightly before replying, “Lord Cui is here, along with Coroner Yue.”

Qin Ying was momentarily stunned. Cui Muzhi coming to her Linchuan Marquis Manor? He should have thought of this place as a lair of hidden dangers.

Startled by this thought, Qin Ying furrowed her brow. No, it was precisely because Cui Muzhi shouldn’t have come that his visit seemed all the more unusual. Suddenly reminded of the chaos in the southern city, she promptly stood up, ready to head outside, but then recalled that Lu Roujia’s status made it inconvenient for her. She explained, “Cui Muzhi has joined the Ministry of Justice as an Assistant Minister. He’s brought Yue Lingxiu along, so I suspect another homicide case has occurred. Would you like to meet him? If not, you can wait here for me.”

Lu Roujia pressed her lips slightly and replied, “I have no reason to avoid him. There’s no need for secrecy in my association with you, County Princess.”

Relieved, Qin Ying then led Lu Roujia toward the front courtyard. As they approached the front hall, they saw Cui Muzhi, not even stepping inside, standing at the door with Yue Lingxiu. Both wore somber expressions as if waiting for someone, devoid of any leisure to enjoy tea.

Qin Ying quickly stepped forward and asked, “What happened?”

Cui Muzhi and Yue Lingxiu turned to look at her. While Yue Lingxiu bowed in greeting, Cui Muzhi’s gaze landed on Lu Roujia behind Qin Ying. His handsome brows furrowed slightly, then he turned to Qin Ying and said, “Please, uh, please go to the mortuary. There’s a corpse Coroner Yue couldn’t assess. We need you to examine it.”

It was the first time Cui Muzhi showed such courtesy toward Qin Ying. Perhaps he wasn’t used to it, as even his speech was stiff. Qin Ying paid no mind to this and instead looked at Yue Lingxiu, asking, “What kind of corpse can’t be examined?”

Yue Lingxiu stepped around Cui Muzhi, speaking more decisively. “Two days ago, a woman’s corpse was discovered in a narrow alley on Baicao Street in Yongding District, South City. It was found by a night watchman, who reported it to the authorities at dawn. The body was sent to the mortuary, and I examined it for two days without being able to determine the cause of death. Yesterday, however, the woman’s identity was suddenly confirmed—”

This was precisely what Qin Ying had asked Shen Luo to investigate. Her gaze sharpened as she asked, “Who is it?”

Yue Lingxiu appeared hesitant and glanced cautiously at Cui Muzhi, who then said in a deep voice, “She is Miss Li Fangrui from Prince Xuanping’s Manor.”

Qin Ying’s eyes trembled. “Li Fangrui?”

A chill crawled up her spine as she suddenly recalled the scene of Madam Liu’s lies in Yongshou Palace that day. Unable to resist, she asked, “Has Li Fangrui been missing for over seven days?”

Cui Muzhi and Yue Lingshou were surprised to hear this, and Yue Lingxiu responded excitedly, “County Princess, you could even deduce that?”

Qin Ying shook her head and said, “It’s late. Since we need to go, let’s set out for the mortuary now.”

She turned to Lu Roujia, originally intending to suggest she return to the manor. However, to her surprise, Lu Roujia’s face had turned slightly pale, and she said, “County Princess, Baicao Street is precisely where the Lu family’s medical clinic is located. No wonder there have been so many constables around the area.”

Qin Ying slightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows, “So, this means you’re quite familiar with that area?”

Lu Roujia immediately confirmed, to which Qin Ying said, “Alright then, would you be willing to accompany me for a trip? Since we’ll pass through the southern part of the city on the way to the morgue, let’s first take a look at the place where the body was found and then head to the morgue.”

Lu Roujia would never refuse Qin Ying and promptly agreed. Qin Ying then instructed the servants to inform Qin Zhang, and with her entourage, she headed out. Just as they reached the entrance, Shen Luo, who had been absent for half a day, finally returned.

Seeing Cui Muzhi and Yue Lingxiu also present, Shen Luo was quite surprised. Meanwhile, Bai Yuan bitterly remarked from the side, “The County Princess knows everything now and is about to head to the morgue. Drive the carriage there.”

From Shen Luo’s inquiries, he hadn’t gathered as much detail as Cui Muzhi and Yue Lingxiu. Once everyone boarded the carriage—Cui Muzhi and Yue Lingxiu riding alongside on horseback—Qin Ying finally explained the matter regarding Yongshou Palace, “Later, I suspected she might have been lying, but since it was a private matter, I refrained from commenting. Yet, I never expected Li Fangrui to have encountered such an incident. Thinking back, Li Fangrui must have already gone missing by then.”

Cui Muzhi had not expected this turn of events either. Seeing that Qin Ying readily agreed to examine the body without hesitation, he solemnly explained, “The body was discovered early morning on the 26th, just before dawn. After the authorities were informed, the magistrate’s office treated it as an ordinary murder case. By the morning of the 27th, the people from the Prince’s residence learned of it and sent someone to investigate. Lord Zhou noticed something was amiss and reported it to the Ministry of Justice. He even personally accompanied the Prince and Princess Consort from their residence to identify the body. After several examinations, they finally confirmed yesterday that the deceased was indeed Li Fangrui.”

“According to them, Li Fangrui went missing on the 19th while on her way to offer incense at Xiangguo Temple. Her carriage stopped, and she said she wanted to pick flowers in the forest by the road. She entered, and no one saw her again. A few days prior, Li Fangrui had argued with them, so they initially thought she had left in a huff and run away from home. Moreover, since Li Fangrui was skilled in martial arts, they never considered the possibility of her meeting harm.”

“Li Fangrui disappeared outside the city, but her body was found inside the city?” Qin Ying remarked in puzzlement. “Even if Li Fangrui was killed on the 19th, it has only been seven days. How could her body decay so quickly that it became unrecognizable? And why did it take two more days to confirm her identity?”

Cui Muzhi’s gaze turned cold. “Because the murderer not only killed Li Fangrui but also disfigured her face. Moreover, her body bore multiple external injuries, and her clothes were changed entirely. It was incredibly difficult to identify her. Ultimately, her identity was confirmed through the calluses on her hands and a distinctive tear mole below her eye.”

Qin Ying felt a sinking sensation in her heart. “Disfigured her face?”

Cui Muzhi nodded. Behind him, Yue Lingxiu said, “Not only was the face destroyed, but for some unknown reason, the corpse has severely decayed. I am incompetent and truly cannot determine the cause of death. I wanted to use the method you taught last time, but the Junwang Manor became extremely enraged upon hearing about it. Before they arrived, I had already examined the body. They argued that allowing a male coroner to examine the body was already a transgression. However, ignorance is not a crime, and they forgave me. Yet, knowing the remains belonged to Miss Li and further damaging them would be an unforgivable crime.”

This was the difficulty of dealing with matters involving the imperial family. Qin Ying felt a heavy weight in her heart. She said, “Let’s first take a look at the place where the body was found.”

Yue Lingxiu agreed, and Cui Muzhi rode ahead swiftly toward Baicao Street. After about half an hour, the carriage stopped outside a narrow alley. Getting off the carriage, Lu Roujia remarked, “This place… this is the most secluded area of Baicao Street. There are many clinics and pharmacies on this street, but this part has two warehouses for storing medicinal materials. People rarely pass through during the day, and it’s even quieter at night.”

Qin Ying asked, “What did the night watchman who found the body say?”

Cui Muzhi replied, “It was discovered around the fifth watch. He said he heard dogs barking and thought something was amiss in the alley. Upon entering, he found the body placed inside a bamboo basket.”

Qin Ying stepped into the dark alley. The filthy pile was still there, with two broken bamboo baskets casually thrown to the side. The ground was covered with numerous footprints, indicating that many officers had investigated the area.

As night fell, Qin Ying surveyed the surroundings briefly and then decided not to linger. She first instructed Lu Roujia to return home before boarding the carriage and heading directly to the mortuary. After another quarter of an hour, the carriage slowly stopped in front of the mortuary.

Just after stepping out of the carriage, Qin Ying was stunned by the scene before her. Standing at the mortuary entrance were officials from the yamen and the Jinwu Guards, as well as two martial guards dressed in black robes, seemingly from the Prince’s residence.

Following Cui Muzhi into the mortuary, Qin Ying spotted a young man in his twenties, dressed in luxurious attire, standing with Zhou Xianchen. The man gave Cui Muzhi a once-over, glanced at Qin Ying behind him, and then said with displeasure, “Lord Cui really invited Yunyang. Isn’t this a joke?”

The speaker was none other than Zheng Qin, Duke Xin’s heir. His father, Zheng Mingkang, was Duke Xin, currently guarding the western border, while his uncle served as the Left General of the Jinwu Guards. Zheng Qin himself had recently been promoted to the rank of general, holding more prestige than Cui Muzhi.

There was longstanding animosity between the Zheng and Cui families. Cui Muzhi, unimpressed by Zheng Qin’s words, retorted, “The cases at the Earl Zhongyuan’s residence and the Dou family were both solved thanks to the efforts of Yunyang. If you truly want to crack this case, don’t waste any more time here.”

Zheng Qin sneered, “Do you have an imperial decree?”

Cui Muzhi frowned, “Time is of the essence; where would I get an imperial decree?”

Zheng Qin refused to even glance at Qin Ying, instead fixating on Cui Muzhi and saying, “If that’s the case, Lord Cui, you should first secure an imperial decree. Otherwise, letting a young lady meddle in the duties of our bureau will bring blame upon all of us when His Majesty holds us accountable.”

Qin Ying hadn’t expected such a situation. Zheng Qin’s battle with Cui Muzhi prevented her from seeing the body.

Unable to restrain herself, Qin Ying spoke up, “Young General Zheng, the innocent death of the young lady troubles her soul even in the afterlife. It hardly seems like a matter that requires an imperial decree. If His Majesty seeks accountability, let the blame fall on me.”

Cui Muzhi raised an eyebrow as he observed Qin Ying’s profile. Zheng Qin’s tone softened slightly but persisted, saying, “Yunyang, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty adore you. Even if they blame you, you won’t be punished, but for those of us in official positions, it’s different. Moreover…”

Zheng Qin glanced at Cui Muzhi, “Why help anyone else but a thankless wretch? You’ve suffered a lot these past two years, and as your elder brother, even I can’t stand it.”

Zheng Qin addressed the Empress Dowager as “Grand-Aunt,” and the Empress Dowager was Qin Ying’s maternal grandmother. Technically speaking, Zheng Qin could barely be considered the elder generation to Qin Ying, but the two had a five-year age gap and shared little personal connection. Zheng Qin, however, had a special fondness for Xiao Mei. His remark at this moment was merely meant to disgrace Cui Muzhi.

Qin Ying hesitated to speak, and Cui Muzhi interjected, “There’s no need to twist logic here. If His Majesty intends to fault someone, I will shoulder the blame. Tonight, County Princess Yunyang has already arrived. Your obstruction here verges on negligence—”

“What now? Planning to frame me in your report?” Impervious to reason, Zheng Qin adopted a cold expression and replied, “The Jinwu Guards follow their own rules. If you want Yunyang involved, you must first obtain the imperial edict. Otherwise, don’t even think about passing me.”

Cui Muzhi’s gaze darkened, but he felt helpless against Zheng Qin’s obstinate authority. Qin Ying, observing this, also felt utterly powerless. She couldn’t help but wonder—if the representative from Jinwu Guards were not Zheng Qin but Xie Xinglan, would there be all these deliberately complicated and obstructive formalities?

She was somewhat frustrated, but at that moment, a soft laugh suddenly echoed outside the gate of the morgue. “Zheng Qin, is this imperial edict in my hand the one you wanted?”

Qin Ying was stunned, almost doubting her ears. However, when she turned around, the dark figure of someone in a black martial robe entered her view—it was none other than Xie Xinglan. Holding a bright yellow imperial decree in his hand, he quickly glanced at Qin Ying before approaching Zheng Qin. After taking a few steps, he tossed the decree toward Zheng Qin and raised his voice, “Read the decree. His Majesty commands you to enter the palace immediately.”

Both Qin Ying and Cui Muzhi were perplexed by this turn of events. Meanwhile, Zheng Qin, whose expression wasn’t favorable upon seeing Xie Xinglan, suddenly brightened as he read the decree. A hint of satisfaction emerged in his eyes, and he scrutinized Xie Xinglan for a moment, “I didn’t expect you to choose this course of action. Fine. I’ll enter the palace to meet His Majesty. You take charge here!”

With this, Zheng Qin ceased his antagonism toward Cui Muzhi. Waving his hand, he led his subordinates away, the other Jinwu Guards following in single file. Before long, the courtyard of the morgue was left desolate.

Qin Ying was a bit dazed, but when she turned again, Xie Xinglan was walking toward her with calm detachment. He said lightly, “Now, we can examine the corpse.”