Chapter 47

With two resounding bangs, the wooden latch behind Fan’s family gate broke apart. Fan Changlin and his servants, who had only gone a short distance, turned back in shock and anger, only to see the gate wide open with Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying walking in.

Fan Changlin, both surprised and furious, pointed at them and exclaimed, “You… you’re breaking into a private home! What are you trying to do? Do you believe I won’t report you to the authorities—”

Xie Jian sneered, “Which authority will you report us to? Do you even know which yamen we’re from?”

Fan Changlin’s face turned pale, and the middle-aged woman beside him, clearly frightened, nervously tugged at Fan Changlin’s robe and whispered, “Master, these people seem to be those we can’t afford to provoke. Let it go…”

Fan Changlin hesitated, but Xie Jian turned to Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying, saying, “This is Lord Xie of the Longyi Division under the Jinwu Guards, and this is the County Princess Yunyang, personally appointed by His Majesty. Even your county magistrate wouldn’t dare oppose them. Yet you refuse to cooperate with their investigation? Do you perhaps know something about the case from back then and feel guilty?”

At the mention of the Longyi Division and the County Princess, Fan Changlin panicked and quickly replaced his attitude with an ingratiating demeanor. “No, no, absolutely not guilty. If the Lord and the County Princess wish to investigate, then so be it. Please, come inside to talk.”

Once inside the main hall, Fan Changlin no longer dared to act carelessly and hastily ordered tea and snacks to be served. With a cold expression, Xie Xinglan asked, “The true murderer of Fan Yuping remains at large. Yet, as her father, you seem entirely unconcerned?”

Fan Changlin stood awkwardly in the hall, looking at a loss. “My lord, it’s not that I don’t care. It’s just that the case was already settled back then. For me, the matter was put to rest.”

Qin Ying, irritated, retorted, “Are you ignoring what we’re saying? While the case might have been officially closed, the person executed was not the real culprit. Do you not understand this, or do you simply not care about the truth of Fan Yuping’s case?”

Fan Changlin’s face showed distress as he replied, “My daughter has been dead for years. If the yamen wishes to investigate, how can I stop it? I don’t know anything and have no way to help.”

Xie Xinglan glanced at the woman standing behind Fan Changlin. She appeared to be in her forties, dressed in lavish attire adorned with golden hairpins that glittered in her elaborate hairstyle. When Fan Yuping’s name was mentioned, there was no hint of sorrow on her face. Xie Xinglan asked in a low voice, “Where is Fan Yuping’s mother?”

Fan Changlin’s eyelid twitched, and he grunted, “That madwoman was divorced long ago.”

Qin Ying frowned, “Madwoman?”

Fan Changlin replied indignantly, “Yes, after the incident, when the yamen came to us, I went with her to the capital to identify the body. After seeing it, she lost her mind. When we returned home, she cried and made a scene every day, sometimes even lashing out violently. Besides, she had been married to me for over ten years without giving birth to a son. Why should I keep her around?”

Qin Ying narrowed her eyes. “When did you divorce her?”

Fan Changlin seemed unprepared for the pointed question, and a flicker of guilt crossed his face. Yet, he stiffened his neck and said, “It was… it was at the end of that year. During the New Year, she caused another uproar and even made my mother so angry that she fell ill. A daughter-in-law like that could only be sent back to her family.”

“Your daughter was murdered less than two months earlier, and you had the heart to send your mentally ill wife back to her family?” Qin Ying was incredulous. She turned her gaze to the woman behind Fan Changlin. “And when did this new wife enter the household?”

The woman lowered her eyes, refraining from boldness, yet her expression carried a cold indifference and disdain. Fan Changlin answered, “She was already in our household as my concubine. She gave birth to a son within three years of entering the house. Naturally, I couldn’t treat her poorly. Fan Yuping was harmed by a villain, but that has nothing to do with us.”

“At the time, I thought she should just stay at home. At her age, it would have been better for her to settle down and prepare for marriage. I had even arranged for her to marry into Mr. Wang’s household in the neighboring village to become the Wang family’s granddaughter-in-law. But she insisted on going to the capital to work as an embroiderer, claiming it was to support the family. What help was that measly one or two taels of silver a month?”

“Later, the incident brought so much gossip to our family. Her mother indulged her and eventually went mad, becoming nothing but a disgrace to our Fan family. In my opinion, they were simply unlucky. Ever since I divorced her mother, our family’s fortunes have turned around—we were even the first in the village to open a workshop.”

As Fan Changlin continued speaking, his expression grew increasingly smug. Only when he remembered the identities of Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying did he rein in his demeanor slightly. Xie Xinglan then asked, “So before the incident, how long had it been since you last saw Fan Yuping? And how much of the events afterward do you still remember?”

“At least two or three months, I’d say. I knew what was on her mind—she didn’t want to marry into Mr. Wang’s family, so she refused to come home. And that’s when the incident happened. Afterward, the officials came to see us twice—once to ask us to identify the body, and the second time to inform us that the murderer had been caught and to let us retrieve her remains. They mentioned that the culprit was a gambler. As for other details, I don’t remember much. An unmarried daughter couldn’t be buried in the ancestral grave, so I even bought her a good piece of land with favorable feng shui. As her father, I’ve done all I could.”

With that, Fan Changlin spread his hands and added, “We couldn’t all stop living just because one daughter died, could we? Back then, we listened to the yamen—whatever they said was what we went along with. So if you’re asking how much I remember about the case, I’ve honestly forgotten most of it.”

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying had already visited the Kang and Luo families earlier. Though the circumstances of those families differed, their deep mourning for the deceased was profoundly moving. In stark contrast, Fan Changlin clearly showed no concern for his tragically slain daughter.

Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying then turned to look at the servants standing outside the hall. They, too, appeared curious about what was happening inside but showed little to no sadness. Qin Ying decisively asked, “Where does her mother’s family live?”

With a face full of disdain, Fan Changlin replied, “Her mother, Miao Huilan, lived in the neighboring Miaojia Village. But there’s no point in looking for her. I heard she was taken away by a relative years ago and hasn’t been back since. Her family barely had any members left—her older brother went to Lianzhou and never returned, and their two old mud houses collapsed long ago.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “Which relative took her away?”

Fan Changlin shook his head. “That, I don’t know. It’s just something I heard.”

Xie Xinglan pressed further, “Did Fan Yuping have any cousins on her mother’s side?”

Fan Changlin furrowed his brows and said, “Yes, I have an older sister who married into Yuezhou. She has a child about the same age as Yuping, who is now running a business in Yuezhou. Why do you ask? What do you want with him?”

This age did not match what Kang Xiuli had mentioned, so Xie Xinglan didn’t reveal any further details. Seeing Fan Changlin’s stubborn and uncooperative attitude, Xie Xinglan said coldly, “The culprit who murdered Fan Yuping was extremely ruthless. The authorities are now reopening the investigation, and the real killer will be brought to justice. If you recall anything important, you must inform the authorities immediately.”

Fan Changlin shrugged, agreeing verbally, though his face showed indifference. Xie Xinglan fixed him with a piercing gaze and said, “She was your daughter. If you hadn’t pressured her, she wouldn’t have had to go to the capital alone to work as an embroiderer. She has suffered unjustly for all these years—how can you live so comfortably knowing that?”

Fan Changlin, clearly annoyed, protested, “Why blame me? If anyone is to blame, it’s her mother. She taught her embroidery and filled her head with grand ideas, making her restless. Besides… my daughter was not the most virtuous person to begin with. After she went to the capital, who knows what kind of people she got involved with to bring this calamity upon herself? And yet you blame me?”

Qin Ying was infuriated by Fan Changlin’s attitude and raised her voice upon hearing him slander his daughter’s character. “What gives you the right to say she was not virtuous? As her father, how can you speak so poorly of your daughter?”

Fan Changlin raised his chin defiantly. “Hiding her intentions from her parents and secretly pledging herself to someone—doesn’t that count as lacking virtue?”

Both Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying frowned deeply. Fan Changlin huffed and continued, “They thought they had hidden it well. Once, someone brought a New Year’s gift, and inside was a pair of cheap jade bracelets. I asked them about it, and the mother and daughter claimed it was a gift from a distant Miao family relative. They said the bracelets were a blessing from an elder for Yuping. Later, whenever I brought up a potential match for her, she wouldn’t pay any attention, but she treated those jade bracelets like treasures. If that doesn’t mean she had someone in her heart, then what does?”

Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan exchanged glances, thinking that the person Fan Changlin referred to might be the same individual who approached Kang Xiuli years ago. Wasting no time, they left Fan’s household and headed to Miaojia Village. The two villages were separated only by a ridge, and after traveling for half an hour, they arrived at Miaojia Village.

When they arrived at Miao Huilan’s home, they found only ruins and rubble. Xie Xinglan promptly ordered the group to inquire about her whereabouts from the villagers, but after half an hour, all the gathered information proved unfavorable.

Xie Jian reported, “I spoke to the village head, and it’s just as Fan Changlin said. Miao Huilan was taken away shortly after being dismissed and sent back home. As for who took her away, the village head said it was her brother who sent someone to fetch her.”

Shen Luo returned with further information. “I spoke to an elderly woman nearby. She said that after Miao Huilan was sent home, she was indeed mentally unstable, constantly muttering Fan Yuping’s name and unable to take care of herself. Initially, the neighbors helped look after her as much as they could, but every household had its own matters to attend to, so they couldn’t provide ongoing care. Around the New Year, a carriage arrived at Miao Huilan’s house and took her away along with her belongings. She never returned. The elderly woman said that at first, she thought Fan Changlin had acted out of kindness and decided to bring his wife back.”

Shortly thereafter, another guard reported, “I spoke with an elderly man who claimed to be Miao Huilan’s paternal uncle. He said Miao Huilan was very talented and learned embroidery skills at a young age from a matron at an estate near the capital. Her embroidery skills became exceptional, and she worked as an embroiderer in the capital for a few years. When she reached marriageable age, she chose Fan Changlin from the neighboring village.”

“Fan Changlin didn’t farm or engage in manual labor. At first, the Fan family relied entirely on Miao Huilan’s embroidery sales for income. Later, she gave birth to Fan Yuping, but Fan Changlin began to resent her for not bearing him a son and took a concubine. Eventually, the Fan family started a small dyeing and weaving workshop using the techniques Miao Huilan had learned. Even after Fan Yuping’s incident, with the workshop already established, Fan Changlin divorced Miao Huilan when she went mad.”

Qin Ying hurriedly asked, “Did they mention who took her away back then?”

The guard replied, “The old man said it was a relative from Miao Huilan’s maternal grandfather’s side, someone from Yizhou. When they came to take Miao Huilan, he was certain she would never return, but he didn’t know the person’s name.”

This made matters difficult. Some said Miao Huilan’s brother sent someone to fetch her, while others said it was a relative from her maternal grandfather’s side. Now, after so many years, it was hard to determine which version was true. Moreover, Yizhou and Lianzhou were a thousand miles apart, and no one knew the current whereabouts of Miao Huilan’s maternal grandfather or her brother.

As they set out on their return to the city, the sun was already setting. Qin Ying lifted the carriage curtain and remarked, “Regardless of who took Miao Huilan away, the person who approached Kang Xiuli back then is very likely the one who shared mutual feelings with Fan Yuping. But it’s unclear how this person determined the case had been mishandled. They only sought out Kang Xiuli, perhaps thinking that the Kang family, as minor officials, had some influence. But when they saw Kang Xiuli didn’t believe them, they gave up. Where this person might be now remains unknown.”

Xie Xinglan responded, “This individual only met Kang Xiuli once. Finding them now is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Once we return to the city, we’ll visit Minister Jian. Tomorrow, we’ll continue investigating from Li Fangrui’s side.”

Qin Ying agreed, saying, “After all, it’s a new case. Who knows whether today’s search outside the city might uncover Li Fangrui’s whereabouts.”

Having visited three households concerning the old case, Xie Xinglan had assigned the search outside the city to Xie Yong and Feng Xiao. He looked up at the sky and said, “We’ll know more after returning to the capital.”

By the time they reached the city gate, dusk had fallen. Passing through the dark and shadowy archway, the flickering lights of the city greeted them. It was already late, so the group headed straight to the Jian residence in Anning District.

They arrived at Jian’s residence after the hour of Xu was halfway past. Xie Jian stepped forward to knock on the door. Upon seeing that the visitors were from the Jinwu Guards, the servant at the door greeted them respectfully and escorted them inside before sending another servant to inform the master.

Jian Qiming has been serving as Minister of Personnel for four years. His expansive and elegant residence showcases careful attention to detail and refined taste. As they walked, the servant leading them explained, “The master currently has guests. He’s in the study. Lord Xie and the County Princess are requested to wait in the front courtyard for a moment.”

Hearing that the household had visitors, Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying weren’t surprised. Given Jian Qiming’s high position, frequent guests were to be expected. They continued walking, but Xie Xinglan’s expression subtly changed before reaching the front hall. Standing under the front hall corridor were three young gentlemen; with the one leading them was none other than Du Ziqin, someone who had a long-standing feud with Xie Xinglan.

Du Ziqin immediately noticed him, raising an eyebrow and sneering, “Well, well, which esteemed guest do we have here? Why would the Envoy of the Longyi Guards visit the residence of the Minister of Personnel so late at night?”

“Ziqin, show some respect.”

Qin Ying initially expected Du Ziqin’s insolence would inevitably lead to a confrontation tonight. However, just as he finished speaking, a white-robed gentleman standing nearby spoke softly. Qin Ying turned her gaze to him and found him familiar.

The white-robed man’s voice was gentle yet commanding, immediately taming Du Ziqin like a cat retracting its claws. He muttered a few words hesitantly, his expression now devoid of provocation.

Xie Xinglan furrowed his brows slightly, saying, “I didn’t expect you to return.”

By “you,” Xie Xinglan referred to the two individuals with Du Ziqin. The white-robed man was Du Ziqin’s elder brother, Du Zimian, the heir to the Marquis of Dingbei. The other man, dressed in blue, was Jian Qinghe, the elder brother of Jian Fangfei. They had been traveling and studying together for half a year and had just returned to the capital as the Mid-Autumn Festival approached.

Du Zimian smiled and said, “It’s been half a year, and Lord Xie seems quite different from before.”

Jian Qinghe added, “We’ve only been back for two days, but we’ve already heard plenty about you… and the County Princess Yunyang. Are you here to see my father at this late hour?”

Jian Fangfei was one of the individuals involved in the Cui Wan case, and Jian Qinghe naturally knew everything she witnessed. In contrast to Du Ziqin’s rudeness, Du Zimian and Jian Qinghe displayed much more politeness. Xie Xinglan replied indifferently, “Regarding an old case.”

Jian Qinghe glanced at Du Ziqin, who asked curiously, “How is it an old case? I thought the matter involved the young lady from Prince Xuanping’s household?”

Xie Xinglan maintained his composure. “Jinwu Guards affairs are not open for discussion.”

Du Ziqin let out a sharp hiss, ready to express his dissatisfaction when the servant who had gone to notify the master returned quickly. “Lord Xie, County Princess, the master is in the study waiting for you. Please follow me this way.”

When they met Jian Qiming in the study, his expression still carried traces of surprise. It had been half a month since the public trial at the Earl Zhongyuan’s residence, and he hadn’t expected Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying to visit his home at this time.

Once they were seated, Jian Qiming smiled and said, “I’ve heard a bit about recent events in the city, but I didn’t expect your visit. Is there something I can assist you with?”

Xie Xinglan responded, “Minister Jian should be aware that the current case involves the young lady from Prince Xuanping’s household. However, what you might not expect is that this case bears striking similarities to the lotus murders in the capital from ten years ago. After reviewing the old case files, we discovered it was a miscarriage of justice.”

Jian Qiming’s smile gradually faded. “Ten years ago?”

“That’s right. Minister Jian, do you remember? Ten years ago, there was a murderer in the capital who raped and killed three young women dressed in red and disfigured them. At the time, you were the capital prefect in charge of the case.”

Jian Qiming’s eyelid twitched, indicating a faint memory of the case. “What evidence do you have that it was a miscarriage of justice?”

At this, Qin Ying spoke up, outlining several inconsistencies from the case files. Jian Qiming’s expression grew serious. “Some of these issues were noticed when the case was being reviewed back then. However, Captain Guo led the investigation. After questioning the suspect, he provided explanations for the doubts, which led to the final verdict.”

Xie Xinglan asked, “So, are you saying this was Guo Zhongyun’s fault?”

Jian Qiming’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Guo Zhongyun was the one directly responsible, but as the supervising officer, I also bear some responsibility. Even the Three Judicial Offices were not without fault. However… are you truly claiming that Jin Wenyuan took the blame for someone else?”

Seeing that Jian Qiming’s knowledge was limited, Xie Xinglan scrutinized him further. “Jin Wenyuan’s testimony has too many gaps. Even if he wasn’t taking the blame, he was at least an accomplice. Minister Jian, do you remember any other peculiarities from the case?”

Jian Qiming shook his head. When he spoke again, his tone was somewhat detached. “At the time of the case, I had already received an oral directive about my upcoming promotion to Vice Minister of Personnel. Although it hadn’t been officially announced, my attention was no longer fully on the capital yamen. Once the case seemed resolved, I didn’t look into it further.”

As they left Jian’s residence, Jian Qiming personally escorted them to the door. Before they departed, he added, “All the case files are with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. If you have any doubts, you can find them there.”

Xie Xinglan acknowledged briefly and left Jian’s residence together with Qin Ying.

As they walked out onto the street in front of Jian’s residence, Qin Ying remarked, “Jian Qiming either knows nothing or is deliberately hiding something. Now that Guo Zhongyun is no longer in the capital, all responsibility can be shifted onto him. Back then, the Three Judicial Offices approved the case without conducting a thorough review. If the case had involved a marquis or a duke’s household, do you think they would have handled it the same way?”

Xie Xinglan replied coolly, “That’s the way of the world. This time, it’s only because the eldest daughter of a prince’s household was involved. If it had been an ordinary citizen, Yue Lingxiu and Cui Muzhi wouldn’t have found you so quickly.”

Qin Ying sighed, “What a pity we gained so little today.”

Jian Qiming’s impending promotion had caused him to neglect the case at the time. Qin Ying could see this from his attitude, and when thinking about the Three Judicial Offices, she felt as though a heavy stone weighed on her heart. Naturally, she was even more eager to uncover clues. In contrast, Xie Xinglan remained much calmer. Riding his horse, he said, “It’s been ten years; finding clues is no easy task.”

Qin Ying’s thoughts were a chaotic mess. “Ten years… It’s been ten years. Why would an identical case appear again?”

She muttered this quietly to herself, and her faint question was carried away by the cool evening breeze, dispersing into the vast night. Xie Xinglan had no answer, but his sharp gaze seemed capable of slicing through the shrouded mysteries hidden in the darkness.

Upon returning to the marquis’s residence, Qin Ying was still relatively composed, but Bai Yuan felt like she might collapse from exhaustion. When Qin Zhang heard how far they had traveled today, he couldn’t help but feel distressed. He immediately ordered the servants to send additional soup to replenish Qin Ying’s energy. After dinner, Qin Ying discussed the lingering doubts surrounding the old case with Qin Zhang. Surprisingly, Qin Zhang remembered the bloodshed vividly. Thinking of the killer’s cruel methods, he hastily summoned Shen Luo and gave him several instructions.

Upon returning to Qingwu Courtyard, Qin Ying finally felt a hint of exhaustion. She entered her bedroom to change and bathe, and upon emerging, she heard Bai Yuan scolding a young maid named Bai Li.

“I’ve told you countless times—this small garment needs to be washed in cold water and shouldn’t soak for too long. Look at what’s become of it! The County Princess is patient these days, but you’ve all become far too careless. Do you want me to punish you?”

While drying her wet hair, Qin Ying sat down in front of a copper mirror. Bai Yuan was right—she had “lost her temper” completely, entrusting the courtyard’s management entirely to Bai Yuan. This had made the servants less wary of her, treating her as less demanding.

Bai Li blushed and tried to explain softly, but Bai Yuan was unimpressed. “Another excuse! You must have been playing while washing and forgot about the garment in the basin. By the time you remembered, it had already soaked for half a day. Look at these wrinkles! How is the County Princess supposed to wear it? You’ve ruined a brand-new piece of clothing…”

Qin Ying paused mid-motion, quickly turning to look at them. In Bai Yuan’s hand was indeed the newly made undershirt from a few days ago. The jade-white fabric embroidered with orchid patterns had been crumpled into a mess, completely losing its shape.

A spark of clarity flashed in Qin Ying’s eyes, and she suddenly stood up!

At the same time, in the General’s Mansion, Xie Yong had just returned from his search outside the city for Li Fangrui’s whereabouts. With a heavy expression, he entered the study, greeted Xie Xinglan, and handed over a piece of testimony. He added, “Master, look at this—today, we discovered clues at Baishigou Inn, about twenty miles from Xiangguo Temple. This inn often stores miscellaneous goods, and nearby villagers and two temples halfway up the mountain buy their daily necessities from them. Here’s the innkeeper’s testimony…”

The slip of paper contained nearly a hundred words. Xie Xinglan scanned it quickly, and before finishing, he suddenly sat up straight. “How can this be?”