Chapter 45

Madam Liu stood abruptly and asked anxiously, “Did Fangrui go to Xiangguo Temple?”

Xie Xinglan replied, “The Prince’s residence was searched thoroughly for several days, focusing mainly on the villages and towns along the main road. However, they did not consider the possibility of Li Fangrui heading toward Xiangguo Temple that day.”

At this moment, Li Yunqi said, “We sent people to inquire at Xiangguo Temple, but the guest monk from that day said he hadn’t seen her.”

Xie Xinglan continued, “She arrived at Xiangguo Temple but didn’t enter it. Instead, she went to a tenant farmer’s house behind Xiangguo Temple. She bought a horse from a tenant farmer and then disappeared. At that time, it was already past 3 pm on the 19th. Even if she hurried back to the capital on horseback, it would have been dark when she reached the city gate. The guard asked at the patrol camp, and they confirmed that after 7 pm on the 19th, when curfew began, no one entered the city on horseback. Therefore, Li Fangrui must have spent that night outside the city.”

Li Yunqi frowned slightly and remarked, “But even if this was discovered, it doesn’t help much in finding the murderer of Fangrui.”

Xie Xinglan remained composed and said, “At least it shows that Li Fangrui prepared her accommodation outside the city herself. Otherwise, where could she have stayed that night?”

As he said this, Xie Xinglan turned to Qin Ying and said, “The clue about the red dress has not been found. We searched the entire southern part of the city, and no embroidery workshop or clothing store had ever embroidered patterns of tangdi flowers. We also visited the Jinxiufang workshop, which the Prince’s residence frequently visited. However, the shopkeeper at Jinxiufang said that someone from the Prince’s residence ordered a spring dress with tangdi flower patterns six months ago. Moreover, Jinxiufang didn’t have the kind of silk fabric worn by the deceased.”

Qin Ying frowned slightly and said, “That’s quite strange.” After saying this, she immediately added, “I went to see Coroner Jiang, and the case from ten years ago truly was a wrongful conviction.”

Xie Xinglan had long believed in Qin Ying’s judgment, but even though it was anticipated, receiving confirmation still felt quite grim. At this moment, Prince Xuanping, Li Ao, stood up and said, “If Fangrui’s case is related to the wrongful conviction from ten years ago, wouldn’t that mean we’d have to find the original culprit to avenge Fangrui?”

Qin Ying turned and replied, “If the same perpetrator did it, then yes.”

Li Ao frowned and said, “The old case is already a decade old—how can it still be investigated? I think you should treat this as a new case and focus on finding out how Fangrui was murdered.”

As he said this, he glanced at Madam Liu, then turned to Zhou Xianchen and said, “Fangrui has been dead for several days. If you need to examine the body, just let it remain in the public mortuary. Now that you’ve checked everything you need to, we plan to take Fangrui’s body home and prepare her funeral.”

Zhou Xianchen looked at Xie Xinglan and Cui Muzhi, who both turned to Qin Ying.

Qin Ying said, “It’s unlikely any more clues can be found on the body.”

Cui Muzhi nodded and said, “Then the Prince may take Miss Li’s body back.”

Madam Liu’s tightly furrowed brows slightly relaxed as she stood up, saying, “We originally thought we could hear the latest progress today, but it turns out you still haven’t found anything. Since all the officials are present here, who can give us a definite answer—how many days will it take to find the culprit who harmed Fangrui?”

As she spoke, her eyes turned red, and Xiao Mei softly comforted her.

Zhou Xianchen, not daring to answer such a question, looked to Cui Muzhi and Xie Xinglan for help. Cui Muzhi also had no clear answer. At this moment, Xie Xinglan spoke, “The two government offices will do their utmost, but we cannot give the Princess Consort a definite timeline. A murder case is no trivial matter; if we only aim to rush the investigation, mistakes are likely to occur, and it could result in a wrongful conviction like ten years ago.”

Madam Liu and Li Ao wanted a definite answer, but at this point, Li Yunqi said, “Father, Mother, this matter cannot be hurried. We should first bring Fangrui back to the manor for rites so she doesn’t have to suffer in the wilderness as a lonely spirit.”

Tears glistened in Madam Liu’s eyes again as she said, “Yes… Right now, nothing is more important than bringing Fangrui back.”

Li Ao sighed and said to Zhou Xianchen and Xie Xinglan, “Although I haven’t forced you to pledge an oath, the most important thing right now is to investigate Fangrui’s case. From now on, the Prince’s residence will send people daily to wait for updates.”

Zhou Xianchen quickly agreed, escorting Li Ao and Madam Liu as if they were deities. Xiao Mei, who had been accompanying Madam Liu, paused slightly and said to Qin Ying in a tone filled with earnestness, “Ying Ying, investigating cases is the duty of the government. As a young lady, you shouldn’t interfere with their official business. If anything goes wrong, even the Empress Dowager might be unable to protect you.”

Qin Ying smiled faintly: “If I were to hinder them, even if others wouldn’t dare, Lord Cui would certainly submit a memorial to accuse me. So there’s no need for you to worry.”

As her words settled, Cui Muzhi’s expression stiffened, and Xiao Mei was momentarily stunned. She was used to putting on airs in front of others, believing that Qin Ying would surely find it hard to refute her in front of everyone. Unexpectedly, Qin Ying disregarded everyone’s face entirely.

Suppressing her irritation, Xiao Mei still spoke gently: “Ah, I’m only doing this for your sake. But I understand your intentions. Yet, as a noble lady, you must be mindful of decorum. Otherwise, trying to please others will only lead to displeasure.”

With a sigh, she glanced meaningfully at Cui Muzhi before turning and walking away gracefully.

Qin Ying hadn’t anticipated Xiao Mei’s parting comment. Seeing so many people still present, she felt a headache coming on. Just then, Li Yunqi, who was already at the door, paused. He looked back at Qin Ying and said, “It seems the rumors outside are true. You indeed played a significant role in Earl Zhongyuan’s case, County Princess.”

Qin Ying was not well-acquainted with him, so she merely glanced at him indifferently.

Li Yunqi spoke coolly, “On the day the case was finalized, we heard of your heroic deeds. Fangrui originally didn’t want to marry into the Wei family, but after hearing the case details, she became even more resistant to the engagement. On the 16th, you attended the mansion’s public trial. On the 19th, she went missing after going to incense burning. You probably don’t realize that this was also partly your doing—”

His words were ambiguous, almost as if he were blaming Qin Ying. Just as Qin Ying caught on and was about to retort, Xie Xinglan stepped forward and said, “What does the heir mean by this? Miss Li is courageous and resourceful, which is a credit to the Prince and Princess’s upbringing. How could it have anything to do with outsiders?”

Li Fangrui ran away from home to escape the engagement. Upon reflecting, it was indeed the fault of Prince Xuanping and Madam Liu. Qin Ying hadn’t expected Li Yunqi’s remarks, but since Xie Xinglan had already countered them, she couldn’t be bothered to respond further.

Li Yunqi saw Xie Xinglan speaking up for Qin Ying. His gaze swept the two of them ambiguously before he pursed his lips tightly and said, “I’ll wait for the good news from the related offices.”

After saying this, he left. Qin Ying stood there, feeling somewhat puzzled, but couldn’t help wondering why Li Fangrui had fled her home.

According to the original story, Li Fangrui eventually married Wei Meng, but their marriage was far from harmonious. Wei Meng failed the autumn examinations again, which hit him hard. He indulged in decadence, spending days in brothels and becoming addicted to gambling. Li Fangrui tried to dissuade him but to no avail. In anger, she divorced him. Wei Meng refused to let go, so Li Fangrui tied him up and displayed him on the city tower.

Initially, she admired Li Fangrui’s bold and resolute personality. However, now that Li Fangrui had died due to fleeing her home, Qin Ying couldn’t help but feel a heavy burden in her heart. The storyline changed because of her own presence, and Li Yunqi’s accusations were not entirely wrong.

Seeing Qin Ying’s somber expression and silence, Xie Xinglan said, “Ignore his words. Even if Li Fangrui decided to flee because of knowing about the Cui family’s case, it all stemmed from that engagement.”

Qin Ying took a deep breath. “Given where things stand, it’s better to focus on resolving the case. Today, I met with Coroner Jiang and heard him mention several suspicions…”

Qin Ying relayed what Jiang Zheng had said, not only making Xie Xinglan look cold but also making Cui Muzhi and Zhou Xianchen’s expressions darken slightly. Qin Ying then said, “This case has already dragged on for ten years, and it is indeed difficult to investigate. Tomorrow, I will visit the victims from back then to see how much overlap there is with this case. Others can follow up on Li Fangrui’s clues.”

After speaking, she asked Zhou Xianchen for all the old case files, planning to review them later at her residence. By now, twilight had set in, and Zhao Lian, who had been out all day, finally returned to the office with Zhao Qing and others.

Upon their arrival, Zhou Xianchen summoned Zhao Lian to the side hall. Zhao Lian first reported, “Today we expanded inquiries into two more neighborhoods, starting from Baicao Street, heading south and north. We interviewed a total of around 200 people. This led to one clue: On the night of the 25th, a worker from Fuxi Restaurant in the southern city was returning home late and saw a small, shabby carriage with green curtains passing by. The carriage seemed old, narrow enough to seat two people. The horse pulling it sounded like it was an old horse breathing heavily.”

“His family used to raise horses, so upon hearing the sound, he wondered whose horse was so old yet still being used. According to him, it was just before the hour of Yin (3- 5 am) during the night. The lantern he held was dim, so he couldn’t see far, but the carriage was rather strange. It had no lanterns hanging outside, traveling in complete darkness. They didn’t even fear getting lost.”

“He didn’t see what was inside the carriage, only the driver, who was a young man with a slim figure. Judging by his silhouette, he appeared to be in his twenties or thirties. His posture was extremely upright, with no signs of corpulence or stooping. Though his testimony didn’t pinpoint the culprit’s appearance, it did help narrow the scope. He saw the carriage in Shuijing Alley, south of Baicao Street. This indicates that the perpetrator could only be located further south of Shuijing Alley.”

Zhao Lian finished his report in one breath, his expression showing a hint of pride as though waiting for praise. However, Zhou Xianchen merely nodded and proceeded to share the findings Qin Ying had obtained from Jiang Zheng. Upon hearing this, Zhao Lian’s pride quickly faded, and he became fearful, saying, “Could it be that the lord suspects my negligence in handling this case? Back then, many people were investigating, and I wasn’t in charge. I’m truly being wronged…”

Zhou Xianchen sighed helplessly. “I haven’t even said it’s your fault, so why are you so quick to claim injustice? Since Jin Wenyan wasn’t the real culprit, the fact that he confessed seems quite peculiar. Think carefully—during the investigation back then, was there anything unusual about Jin Wenyan? Or perhaps, did you coerce a confession through force?”

Zhao Lian replied with a troubled expression, “Jin Wenyan was apprehended on the spot. Initially, he denied everything, but we quickly found incriminating items in his house, like ropes and a sedative incense that seemed purposefully bought. Not only that, but his wardrobe contained several red dresses he had stolen from others. He confessed, saying his wife liked red dresses but had taken all her belongings and the family’s valuables when she left. He was deeply resentful toward her because of it.”

“With all the evidence piled up, combined with the fact that he had no alibi for the murders of the three previous victims, Captain Guo intimidated him a few times, and he confessed thoroughly. There was no use of torture during this process. If he had insisted on denying it, he might have experienced some physical pain, but since he admitted it, we didn’t need to go that far. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Zhao Qing, Meng Huaili, or Zhu Qiang—they were all involved in investigating the case back then.”

Zhao Lian’s words were sincere, as if genuinely afraid of being blamed. Zhou Xianchen looked at Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying, and Xie Xinglan said, “Summon Zhao Qing for questioning.”

Zhao Lian complied and went to fetch Zhao Qing. Shortly after, Zhao Qing entered the room nervously.

When Zhou Xianchen asked about Jin Wenyan’s case, Zhao Qing recounted the circumstances of the investigation, which were similar to Zhao Lian’s account. “…From the time he was captured to his confession, there was nothing unusual. That’s why the case was resolved so smoothly. After confessing, Jin Wenyan knew he couldn’t escape the death penalty. He seemed utterly resigned, spending his days huddled in a corner without any resistance or complaints. Occasionally, his eyes would redden, as though he were repenting for his crimes.”

Qin Ying’s gaze sharpened. “Repenting for his crimes?”

Zhao Qing nodded affirmatively. Qin Ying said, “He committed heinous and cruel acts, killing three people in succession. His mindset far exceeds that of ordinary individuals. Even if he knew he couldn’t escape the death penalty, he wouldn’t easily repent. A person like him would value his life until the very end and never feel remorse for his victims.”

Zhao Qing seemed unsettled by Qin Ying’s words and replied, “I just remember that his cell was in the innermost area, and the neighboring cells housed several other prisoners. At the time, most of those prisoners were thieves, and when they learned he was arrested for murdering women, they looked down on him. Initially, others feared him because they thought he was ferocious, but when they discovered he cried in the middle of the night, they became bold. Whether mocking him with words or throwing grass and stones at him, Jin Wenyan didn’t react. On the day he was transferred to the Ministry of Justice’s prison, other prisoners even spat at him, and he didn’t show a trace of anger.”

Qin Ying’s expression grew darker. “A killer who brutally abused and murdered his victims must have a violent nature. He would never tolerate such humiliation willingly. This further proves that Jin Wenyan wasn’t the true culprit.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “During Jin Wenyan’s interrogation, did anyone visit him, or did he make any requests? Did his wife and two children ever return to the capital afterward?”

Zhao Qing shook his head and said, “No, from the time he was captured to his confession and the yamen’s verification, it was a total of three days. During this time, he made no requests, nor did anyone come to visit him. After the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review examined the case, more than half a month had passed. A few days after he was transferred to the prison of the Ministry of Justice, he was taken to the execution grounds and beheaded. As for whether his wife and children returned afterward, that is unknown. He was deeply addicted to gambling, even to the point of pawning his daughter. His wife probably never wanted to come back in her entire life.”

After Zhao Qing finished speaking, Zhou Xianchen summoned Meng Huaili and Zhu Qiang for separate questioning. Both of their statements were consistent with the testimonies of Zhao Qing and Zhao Lian. After hearing this, Cui Muzhi said, “Among the guards of the Ministry of Justice’s prison, there are some who have been on duty for over ten years. I will inquire with them tomorrow to see if there was anything unusual after Jin Wenyuan was transferred to the Ministry’s prison.”

Cui Muzhi’s cooperation was naturally appreciated. Xie Xinglan added, “The evidence Zhao Lian found points to the route the murderer used to dump the body. Tomorrow, we should search south of Shuijing Alley. That small horse-drawn cart and old horse are quite distinctive. If we can identify them, it will lead us directly to the culprit. I will also continue to send people to investigate Li Fangrui’s movements outside the city. Besides this, we need to visit the residence of Minister Jian to see if he has any impressions of the case.”

At this point, Xie Xinglan asked Zhou Xianchen, “Where is Guo Zhongyun’s family located?”

Zhou Xianchen looked troubled and replied, “If I remember correctly, it should be in Cangzhou. Cangzhou is a thousand miles away from the capital. A round trip would take at least a month, and four years have passed since. Who knows what Guo Zhongyun’s current situation is like?”

Xie Xinglan thought for a moment and said, “I will handle this matter.”

With that settled, and as it was already late, neither Xie Xinglan nor Qin Ying planned to stay in the yamen for much longer. Cui Muzhi, on the other hand, was in no hurry to leave. However, upon seeing Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan leaving together and recalling Qin Ying’s earlier remark that only he would file a memorial to accuse her, a cloud of gloom darkened his expression.

On the way home, Qin Ying pondered deeply before speaking to Xie Xinglan: “Of the three victims in the old case, two were within the city and one outside. Tomorrow, it would be best for you to accompany me to visit their households.”

Xie Xinglan’s pupils darkened slightly as Qin Ying continued solemnly: “The case from back then was considered closed; they must believe the real culprit had been brought to justice. Suddenly informing them that the perpetrator was wrongly accused requires careful handling. It would be best for an official to inform them formally, as the matter requires re-investigation and accountability. We owe them closure and cannot treat this lightly.”

As Qin Ying spoke, she slightly lifted the curtain, and the dim streetlights illuminated her delicate face. Her usually carefree and clear eyes were now filled with compassion for the victims and their families. The wrongful death of their innocent daughter was a pain her parents and relatives could never fully overcome, even after all these years. The true culprit who should have faced justice was still at large, and the fairness and justice they thought had been delivered were merely the result of the authorities’ negligence and misjudgment.

Xie Xinglan gave a deep reply: “Understood.”

After sending Qin Ying back to the Marquis’s residence, Xie Xinglan headed to the general’s residence. Once he returned to his study, he could not focus on the case files. He sat quietly for a while, then turned and opened the cabinet’s highest door behind him. He retrieved a silk box, sat back down, and opened it. Inside the box lay a jade wind instrument—a deep green, translucent, and lustrous piece. He gazed at it silently for a moment before gently closing the box and placing it back in the cabinet.

After closing the cabinet door, he went to the Buddhist altar, lit an incense stick, and then retired for the night. He did not know how long he had slept before slipping into a dream. In the dream, he found himself in a bottomless river, the icy waters biting into his skin. He floated on the river’s surface like driftwood. In the distance, lightning and thunder tore through the sky while waves surged nearby. He struggled to lift his head above the water but barely had a chance to breathe before towering waves crashed over him, dragging him under once more. All he could see were swirling dark currents, dragging him uncontrollably downward. No matter how hard he fought, the light above became increasingly distant.

Just as his chest tightened with pain and he was about to sink into the abyss, a hand suddenly reached out to him. That hand pulled him upward, bringing him closer to the water’s surface. Instinctively, he turned to see who had saved him. When he looked back, he saw only a face—a corpse’s face, pale and gray from being soaked in the river.

Early in the morning, Xie Jian hurried to Xie Xinglan’s courtyard and saw that, amidst the morning mist, Xie Xinglan was practicing his swordsmanship again. His movements were sharp and decisive, with fierce and precise angles. Even though Xie Jian stood at a distance, he could feel an overwhelming aura emanating from him.

Xie Jian was momentarily reminded of the years when he had just followed Xie Xinglan to the capital. Back then, Xie Zhengze had criticized Xie Xinglan for being too refined and scholarly. While berating Xie Zhengyu for not raising his child properly, Xie Zhengze forcibly made Xie Xinglan train in martial arts. Only Xie Jian knew how much hardship their young master endured under Xie Zhengze’s rigorous tutelage to master his skills.

Since there was official business to attend to that day, Xie Xinglan did not linger for long. As he led the group towards Marquis Linchuan’s residence, the first rays of dawn were breaking through the clouds. After waiting for only a short while, Qin Ying emerged with Bai Yuan and another attendant.

Once they were aboard the carriage, Qin Ying said, “The Kang family is the closest. We’ll visit them first.”

The residence of Kang Suqin, the third victim, was in the Mingkang District in the western part of the city. Upon reaching the western market, they would head southwest for two long streets to arrive at their destination. Along the way, Qin Ying lifted the carriage curtain and remarked, “I carefully reviewed the case files last night. Aside from Kang Suqin, the Kang family also had an elder brother and an elder sister. At the time of her murder, the sister was already married, and the brother had also wed. It has been ten years since then—I wonder how Master and Madam Kang are faring now.”

Xie Xinglan said, “Master Kang was a ninth-rank official back then. After ten years, he has likely received a promotion.”

The carriage headed southward, and by the time they arrived at Kang’s residence, it was already halfway through the Si hour (around 10:30 am). The daylight was bright, and the morning sun had risen. Xie Jian stepped forward to knock on the door, and after a moment, an elderly servant opened the gate. Upon seeing Xie Xinglan and the guards’ official uniforms, the servant’s expression subtly shifted. “May I ask what business brings the esteemed officials here?”

Xie Xinglan asked, “Are your master and mistress at home?”

The elderly servant nodded, “They are, but our mistress passed away the year before last. As for our master, he is currently recovering from an illness. Please, follow me, my lords.”

Upon entering the residence, Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan’s expressions darkened slightly. The Kang family’s estate was a three-courtyard layout, which was considered impressive in the Mingkang District. However, upon stepping inside, they noticed that most of the buildings were old and seemed untouched for years. The gardens were overgrown with weeds, showing signs of neglect. On the way from the gate to the front courtyard, they encountered only one servant carrying medicine. The entire estate exuded an air of desolation and decline.

At that moment, Xie Xinglan asked, “Where is your eldest young master?”

The servant replied, “The eldest young master is away conducting business, and the young mistress has taken the young master to visit her maternal family for a few days.”

Qin Ying couldn’t help but ask, “I recall your master used to work at the Armory Office back then. Does he no longer hold a position?”

With these words, the elderly servant sighed deeply. “That was all ten years ago. After a sudden misfortune befell our household, both our master and mistress were overwhelmed with grief, which led to lingering health issues. During his tenure, our master made a small mistake, causing him to lose his position. What was once an official family fell into decline. Later, the eldest young master struggled to secure an official post and was forced to use the remaining family funds to start a business. We’ve been barely making ends meet ever since.”

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying both felt their hearts sink deeply. The situation of the Kang family was entirely different from what they had anticipated. The “misfortune” mentioned by the old servant was naturally the murder of Kang Suqin all those years ago, marking the beginning of the Kang family’s decline.

Upon hearing that officials from the Jinwu Guards were visiting, the bedridden Master Kang hurriedly got up to meet them in the main hall. When Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan entered, they saw an elderly man with gray hair. Master Kang had changed into a slightly newer robe and carefully combed his hair. As soon as he saw Xie Xinglan’s official uniform, he immediately approached to salute and asked in confusion, “May I ask what brings the esteemed officials to my residence?”

Xie Xinglan noticed Master Kang’s sickly appearance and a trace of pity flickered in his eyes. However, he still spoke, “Ten years ago, your daughter Kang Suqin was murdered. At the time, the authorities apprehended someone who confessed to the crime and was declared the true culprit, eventually facing execution. But… ten years later, during the investigation of a new case, it was discovered that the old case was a misjudgment. The one who confessed was not the true culprit. We are here today to reopen the investigation into the case.”

“A misjudgment?” Master Kang almost doubted his hearing. “Do you mean that the person who confessed back then wasn’t the one who murdered Suqin? The real culprit has yet to face justice?”

Xie Xinglan affirmed, “That is correct. Although the person confessed, upon reviewing the case files, we found many discrepancies. The person likely took the blame for someone else. Additionally, there are suspicions of negligence and dereliction of duty on the officials who handled the case at the time. If the truth is uncovered, the government will hold the responsible officials and clerks accountable.”

Master Kang swayed and nearly collapsed. The old servant and a young attendant quickly supported him and helped him sit down. His breathing was labored, and his face had turned pale. The young attendant worked for a long time to steady his breath before he gradually recovered. Master Kang looked at Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying, his previously respectful demeanor dissipating as a trace of anger slowly surfaced in his eyes. However, he restrained himself with great effort and refrained from lashing out for a long time.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, he struggled to sit upright. He appeared bewildered and uncertain as he thought back for a while, then looked at Xie Xinglan and said, “So… so what that man said back then was true…”