Chapter 50

The maids near the path’s entrance were so terrified they staggered backward while the attendants carrying the coffin all let go simultaneously. The heavy black lacquered coffin crashed to the ground with a loud “bang,” sparking yet another wave of screams.

Xiao Mei, who had supported Madam Liu, also screamed, hiding behind Madam Liu in panic.

Madam Liu, pushed off balance by Xiao Mei’s sudden movement, stumbled slightly but had no time to mind it. Her sorrow-filled eyes quickly reddened as she tremulously cried out, “Fangrui—”

Standing on the narrow path was none other than Miss Li Fangrui, the eldest daughter of the Prince’s residence, who had disappeared for over ten days. Dressed in a moon-white gown, her figure was slender and upright. Her crescent-shaped smiling eyes, complemented by the tear-shaped mole beneath her left eye, lent her features a captivating charm. At that moment, however, her eyes reflected an air of guilt. Upon hearing Madam Liu’s voice, she briskly moved toward her mother, calling, “Mother—”

Before Li Fangrui could approach, Madam Liu rushed forward and hugged her tightly, sobbing, “My dear daughter, you’re alive. You’re really alive. Do you know how I’ve spent these days? I wished I could follow you to the grave!”

Li Ao, overwhelmed by the shock of the moment, found his own eyes moistening. Seeing Li Fangrui reunited with Madam Liu, he was torn between relief and anger. With complex emotions on his face, he stepped forward, wanting to scold her but finding himself unable to utter a word.

Li Fangrui hugged Madam Liu and then turned to Li Ao and Li Yunqi. “Father, Brother, it’s all my fault. I didn’t realize things had escalated like this. If Envoy Xie hadn’t found me, I wouldn’t have known about this massive misunderstanding.”

Li Yunqi slowly approached the mother and daughter, visibly distressed. “Where exactly have you been these past days? We sent out so many people, yet none of them could find any trace of you.”

Li Fangrui replied with a hint of grievance, “I went to Jingyun Nunnery.”

Li Yunqi frowned. “Where is that?”

Li Fangrui pouted and explained, “I knew there were many guards from the mansion, and if I stayed nearby, you would definitely find me. So, I went to the Baishi Valley. Although I hadn’t been there before, I heard a nanny in the mansion mention it once. She said there were two nunneries there, and in the past, women from the capital who had committed mistakes were sent there for secluded reflection. It served as both punishment and concealment. I figured that if I went there, you wouldn’t be able to find me no matter what. That day, I brought money with me and went to the nunnery, claiming I wanted to stay for half a month of meditation. I gave them enough offerings and asked them not to inform outsiders. They treated me very well.”

As she spoke, she continued to comfort Madam Liu, while Xie Xinglan added, “Baishi Valley is twenty miles northwest of Xiangguo Temple. There’s a post station there, along with two small villages. Behind the post station are two nunneries, one of which is called Jingyun Nunnery. These nunneries rarely receive visitors and are managed by three secluded nuns each. Since they cannot sustain themselves, they go down to the post station every two days to purchase daily necessities.”

“Ten days ago, the post station staff noticed that the nuns from Jingyun Nunnery were buying unusually large amounts of coarse rice—this occurred four times in a row. When questioned, the nuns did not reveal any details. When the Jinwu Guards went to investigate, they happened to inquire about this matter. After the information was relayed to me, I suspected someone else was staying at the nunnery. I went there today and found Miss Li.”

The Li family showed a moment of realization, and Li Ao exclaimed, “Fortunately, Envoy Xie’s keen observations caught onto the clues—otherwise, Fangrui might still be hiding on that mountain.”

Hearing this, Li Fangrui felt even more guilty. Qin Ying, standing nearby, finally understood what Xie Xinglan had been doing all day. She studied Li Fangrui’s appearance, noting her spotless white gown and radiant, composed demeanor, and could imagine how well Fangrui had been cared for at the nunnery. However, glancing at the heavy black coffin not far away, a subtle weight settled on Qin Ying’s heart.

“How did you determine the deceased wasn’t Li Fangrui?”

Qin Ying was focused on Li Fangrui, while Xie Xinglan was focused on her. He stepped closer and lowered his voice to ask. Turning to face him, Qin Ying exhaled in relief and said, “Luckily, you arrived quickly—otherwise, they might have truly believed I was speaking nonsense.”

She gestured toward the red dress held by Shen Luo and Bai Yuan. “I compared the clothing worn by the deceased with the dresses Fangrui previously wore. I found that the body’s dress didn’t match her figure at all. Together with other clues, I deduced the deceased wasn’t Li Fangrui.”

Xie Xinglan frowned. “Other clues?”

Qin Ying nodded, but she glanced around, clearly hesitant to discuss further in front of so many people. Respecting this, Xie Xinglan didn’t press her. At this point, the maids and servants began embracing the reality that their young lady was alive, their expressions turning joyous.

Having finished crying, Li Fangrui and Liu stood together. Li Ao looked toward Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying and said, “It’s clear now that we made an error. Since Fangrui has been found, the deceased must be someone else. What happens next?”

Xie Xinglan responded, “Since this matter is unrelated to the Prince’s residence, the body will be sent back to the mortuary, and the Yamen will continue its investigation.”

Li Ao glanced at the coffin and remarked, “Very well, let’s give the coffin to this poor girl as well. We’ve mistaken her identity for days—her family must be frantic. I hope you uncover the truth soon so she doesn’t die in vain.”

Although it was not their daughter who had died, the past few days had been torturous for the Li family. They could empathize with the pain of truly losing a child. Li Ao gave the order, and the coffin originally intended for Xiangguo Temple was redirected to the mortuary in the southern part of the city. As the attendants carried the coffin away, the monk holding the wooden fish looked somewhat bewildered.

At that moment, Madam Liu approached, holding Li Fangrui’s hand, and spoke gently. “I didn’t expect the County Princess to be right. Although Envoy Xie returned just in time, had the County Princess not intervened, the funeral procession would have already been on the Imperial Street. If that had caused a scandal, it would have been nothing but harm to our mansion.”

Madam Liu’s expression showed slight embarrassment when reflecting on her earlier attitude toward Qin Ying. Because Qin Ying had previously been reckless and unruly, Madam Liu had often treated her dismissively. However, with this matter involving Li Fangrui and the reputation of the Prince’s residence, Madam Liu understood the gravity of the situation. She carefully examined Qin Ying, realizing that the current Qin Ying was vastly different from the County Princess Yunyang she had known before.

Li Fangrui also looked at Qin Ying with bright admiration in her eyes. “We’ve met twice before, but I never imagined the County Princess would have such skill in investigating cases. When the County Princess helped solve the case at Earl Zhongyuan’s residence, the families involved all spoke highly of her abilities. I even had people inquire discreetly about it—I was half skeptical after hearing it. But now, even before seeing me return, the County Princess was able to determine the deceased wasn’t me. This alone proves all those praises are true. County Princess, how did you do it?”

Due to her martial upbringing, Li Fangrui maintained a straightforward personality despite growing up pampered. Her admiration was evident, but her brother Li Yunqi’s expression turned peculiar. Knowing his sister had inquired about the Earl’s case, he believed it influenced her to leave home and blamed Qin Ying for indirectly causing the misunderstanding. However, with Li Fangrui safe and sound, Li Yunqi realized his previous remarks had been quite inappropriate.

Moments ago, no one present believed Qin Ying. However, with Li Fangrui’s appearance, alive and well, all doubts regarding Qin Ying were completely dispelled. Not only did the Li family recognize Qin Ying’s brilliance, but even Zheng Qin and Du Zimian gathered around her, filled with admiration. Meanwhile, Xiao Mei remained at the back of the crowd, seething with jealousy as she observed the scene.

Cui Muzhi, who had accompanied Qin Ying, was unaware of the details. While Qin Ying declared the deceased was not Li Fangrui, Xie Xinglan promptly returned with Li Fangrui herself, showcasing an uncanny synchronicity between the two. Now surrounded by others, the pair shared a unique connection that left Cui Muzhi feeling mixed emotions.

Qin Ying calmly remarked, “It’s nothing special. Even the most difficult cases have clues to follow. With enough evidence, the truth becomes clear. The fact that Miss Li wasn’t harmed is the best outcome.”

Li Fangrui, slightly baffled, couldn’t help but admire Qin Ying’s abilities. However, thinking of the unidentified victim, sadness flickered across her face. “If the deceased isn’t me, then who is she? She wore a red dress with tangdi patterns, just like my preference. Such a kindred soul, tragically murdered—County Princess, Envoy Xie, can you find her killer?”

Xie Xinglan, recalling Qin Ying’s mention of other clues, glanced at her. “No matter who the victim is, the authorities will investigate thoroughly. Since Miss Li is safe, we will take our leave.”

Qin Ying, unwilling to linger, returned the clean red dress to Li Fangrui and also bid farewell. Madam Liu and Li Ao, grateful for the intervention, expressed their thanks to Xie Xinglan and escorted both Qin Ying and Xie Xinglan to the corridor leading out of the mansion.

As he watched the pair walk away, Li Ao glanced at Li Fangrui and said, “Fortunately, we found you. Otherwise, your mother and I would have made a complete fool of ourselves.”

Li Fangrui pouted, quietly muttering, “You know why I left home. If this house truly can’t accommodate me, then I might leave again…”

Li Ao frowned. “You—”

“All right, all right,” Madam Liu quickly pulled Li Fangrui close and said to Li Ao, “Fangrui has just returned; there’s no need to scold her. Haven’t we suffered enough these past few days?”

She gently patted Li Fangrui’s back and smoothed her hair, recalling the sight of the corpse she had seen and feeling a lingering fear in her heart. “It’s all thanks to Envoy Xie this time. Don’t worry, your mother and father will never pressure you again.”

Li Fangrui let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Nearby, Zheng Qin shook his head with an amused look, and Du Zimian, who had accompanied him, asked, “What do you think?”

In a low voice, Zheng Qin replied, “This case involved the alleged murder of the Prince’s eldest daughter, which reached the emperor’s ears, leading Xie Xinglan to take charge of the matter. He even gave up an imperial southern tour for this. Now that it’s proven the victim isn’t the eldest daughter of the Prince’s residence, how do you think he feels about all this?”

Du Zimian raised his eyebrows, and Li Yunqi added, “So, who did the emperor ultimately assign to the southern mission?”

Hearing this, Zheng Qin’s expression turned displeased. “Me, along with Duan Zhe, and officials from the Ministry of Personnel. We’ve been split into two groups to visit six southern provinces. The plan is to return by November before the Nanzhao emissaries arrive in the capital for their year-end tribute.”

Upon hearing Zheng Qin’s remarks, everyone present realized this was yet another political rivalry between Zheng Qin and Duan Zhe.

Outside the Prince’s residence, Qin Ying boarded her carriage while Xie Xinglan mounted his horse. The two departed together, heading northeast. After traveling some distance to a secluded area, Qin Ying called, “Stop.”

Pulling back the curtain, she looked at Xie Xinglan and said, “Time is tight. Let’s discuss this here.”

Xie Xinglan urged his horse closer to the carriage. Qin Ying explained, “The red dress on the deceased’s body not only differs from Li Fangrui’s dresses but doesn’t even fit the deceased herself. When I visited the mortuary, the corpse was already swollen, and although the dress had shrunk, it barely fit on the body, which indicates the dress was far too large.”

Xie Xinglan furrowed his brows. “What does that suggest?”

Qin Ying’s mind raced with thoughts. She steadied herself before continuing, “When we visited the Kang family, Master Kang mentioned that a victim’s cousin had come to the Kang household with insider information about the case—”

Xie Xinglan nodded, prompting Qin Ying to add, “Don’t you think this is all too coincidental? The deceased was dressed in an ill-fitting red gown, her face disfigured—mirroring a case from ten years ago. Any officer familiar with that old case would immediately connect the two, leading us to link these incidents together.”

“Given our positions, it wasn’t difficult for us to access the old case files. Upon reviewing them, I discovered that the old case was a wrongful conviction. As we investigated Li Fangrui’s supposed murder, we also began to examine the old case. Yet the deceased isn’t Li Fangrui. Could it really be that another girl with similar preferences was killed?”

Xie Xinglan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re suggesting that someone deliberately staged a false case, dressing the deceased as Li Fangrui to make it appear as though she was murdered? Using her noble status to draw us into investigating this case, which in turn brought attention to the old case?”

Qin Ying confirmed, “Exactly. The mortuary received an unidentified female corpse ten days ago, but within two days, someone claiming to be her grandparents took her away. Today, I went to verify their address, only to find it was fake. Moreover, the wound on the left leg of the deceased likely came from the mortuary’s corpse bed…”

“The female corpse has already been sent back to the mortuary,” Xie Xinglan said as he glanced at the sky. “It’s getting late. You should return to the Marquis’ residence; I’ll visit the mortuary myself.”

“There’s no need to go to the mortuary for now. It’s better to check Jinxiufang first and send someone to Jingji Yamen,” Qin Ying said decisively, her tone serious. “I have a guess as to who deliberately orchestrated this false case. But to confirm the identity, we need sufficient evidence before confronting them.”

…

When Qin Ying returned to the residence, night had already fallen. Qin Zhang, having waited long for her return, was quietly worried. Seeing her finally arrive, he relaxed and said, “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t mind so much. But lately, women have been murdered in the capital, and the killer remains hidden. Knowing you were still out, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.”

Qin Ying replied, “Don’t worry, Father. I had Shen Luo with me; there’s no danger.”

Qin Zhang sighed, “It’s still hard not to worry. Even the young lady of the Prince’s residence, of noble birth, was targeted for murder. Although she didn’t have guards with her at the time, wasn’t she skilled in martial arts herself? Clearly, the killer is exceptionally dangerous.”

Listening nearby, Bai Yuan couldn’t help but interject, “Marquis, it wasn’t Miss Li who died; she’s still alive.”

Qin Zhang was stunned and turned to look at Qin Ying. Qin Ying nodded in agreement. “That’s right, the deceased wasn’t Li Fangrui. Today, Envoy Xie from the Longyi Guards brought her back. Her family has reunited.”

“She was found? How?”

Qin Ying explained, “She evaded her servants, went to a farmer near Xiangguo Temple to buy a horse, and then traveled northwest to Baishi Valley. There are two nunneries in the mountains there, and she hid in one of them.”

Qin Zhang sighed softly, “That’s quite far.”

Qin Ying nodded. “Li Fangrui mentioned that women from the capital who made mistakes in the past were sent to secluded nunneries like those to reflect. It’s a remote place that can help conceal such matters.”

Qin Zhang was momentarily amused by this story but quickly became serious again. “Even though it wasn’t Miss Li who was murdered, someone else was. The killer specifically targets young, beautiful girls and uses cruel methods. You must be careful while traveling outside.”

Aware of Qin Zhang’s concerns, Qin Ying reassured him before accompanying him for dinner. Later, she listened to him read from the Dao De Jing, but before an incense stick’s time had passed, she began nodding off. Shaking his head, Qin Zhang dismissed her, urging her to retire to Qingwu Courtyard.

Back at Qingwu Courtyard, Bai Yuan helped Qin Ying prepare for bed and asked, “Do you think Envoy Xie will manage in just one evening?”

Qin Ying sighed, “By tomorrow, everyone will know that the corpse has been sent back to the mortuary—that will make things much more complicated.” She paused before adding, “Envoy Xie works swiftly. If he can’t manage it tonight, no one else will.”

Bai Yuan blinked and teased, “So the County Princess waited all evening for Envoy Xie because you made an important deduction. Is it that the County Princess now trusts only him?”

Qin Ying raised her brows, initially intending to deny this, but after thinking it over, she conceded that Bai Yuan’s words were accurate. She nodded, lying down on the bed. Before sleep overtook her, she vaguely thought about how Xie Xinglan’s choices differed significantly from how the matter would originally unfold. However, now that it’s confirmed the victim wasn’t the young lady of the Prince’s residence, Xie Xinglan might feel some melancholy—solving a case concerning the Prince’s residence versus one involving ordinary civilians offers vastly different rewards.

The following morning, before dawn had fully broken, Qin Ying heard the rustling of voices outside. She called out quickly, “Bai Yuan? What’s going on outside?”

Bai Yuan hurried to the bedside, lifted the curtain, and said, “County Princess, Xie Jian has arrived. He’s waiting at the gatehouse.”

Qin Ying woke up with a start and swiftly got out of bed. After dressing and grooming herself, she rushed out of Qingwu Courtyard. Upon reaching the gatehouse, she found Xie Jian waiting for her. She immediately asked, “How did it go?”

Xie Jian replied, “We found him. Our men are keeping watch, and the young master asked me to come and inform you so you wouldn’t worry.”

Qin Ying’s eyes brightened, and she said, “Don’t just inform me—lead the way. I want to see how he explains himself after being caught.”

Xie Jian grinned. “I knew you wouldn’t wait. He’s at Le’an District in the western part of the city, just as you mentioned last night.”

Eager, Qin Ying immediately entered her carriage, with Xie Jian leading the way to Le’an District.

Although Le’an District is in the west of the city, it’s closer to the southern side. By the time Qin Ying arrived, dawn was breaking, and the sky was a deep cerulean, with clouds drifting across it like strands of cotton.

As she rounded a corner, Qin Ying saw Xie Xinglan standing with several guards. Hearing the commotion, Xie Xinglan turned around, slightly surprised to see her. It was still early, and the autumn morning carried a sharp chill.

As her carriage pulled up, Qin Ying jumped down. Xie Xinglan remarked, “A County Princess doesn’t need to handle matters personally.”

Qin Ying retorted, “And an Envoy of the Longyi Guards doesn’t need to stay up all night.”

Xie Xinglan had nothing to add; like Qin Ying, he was eager to know if her suspicions from the previous night were correct. He pointed toward a small courtyard to the northeast and said, “It’s there. Last night, we sent people to search inside, but the house was empty. The carriage and horse were gone, yet all the valuables remained. It doesn’t look like someone fled—it’s more likely they were out all night for some reason. We had no choice but to keep watch.”

Qin Ying asked, “How did you confirm this?”

Xie Xinglan explained, “We checked the records at the Yamen. The person’s initially registered address had long since changed. Following your suggestion about Le’an District, we conducted further searches and eventually found a clue about a blue-cloth carriage. When we asked about the homeowner’s physical appearance, it matched the individual you suspected. Furthermore, the neighbors mentioned that an elderly woman, the homeowner’s mother, lived in the courtyard. However, over the past two days, she has disappeared, and no one knows where she was taken.”

Qin Ying squinted thoughtfully. “Then I wasn’t wrong.”

As the sky brightened, a streak of golden light illuminated the deep blue horizon. In the nearby streets and alleys, peddlers and laborers began opening their doors and starting their work. Seeing the group gathered here, they quickened their pace to leave. Before long, the sound of sweeping, hawking, and galloping filled the air.

As time slipped by, Xie Jian couldn’t help but say, “Could he have fled?”

Xie Xinglan, confident in his analysis, replied, “He earns a modest salary and cares for his mother. If he were trying to escape, he would have taken all his money. Moreover, he’s not the type to leave after carefully planning all this—”

Almost as if to confirm his words, a figure emerged from the nearby alley. The man was tall and thin, with dark, weathered skin and a scruffy beard, appearing to be in his late thirties to early forties. Dressed in coarse cloth garments, his long black hair hung over his forehead, covering his lashes. He seemed unremarkable, even somewhat dejected and gloomy.

Xie Jian’s eyes lit up. “He’s here!”

The man glanced at Xie Xinglan, who was already intently observing him. As he reached the courtyard gate and pulled out a key to open it, Xie Xinglan gave a signal. Xie Jian gripped the hilt of his blade and led the guards forward in unison.

Just as the man opened the gate and was about to step inside, he found himself surrounded by the armed Longyi Guards. His expression stiffened slightly. Turning his head, he noticed a familiar face—Xie Jian grinned at him and said, “Yuan Shoucheng, you recognize me, don’t you?”

Yuan Shoucheng froze for a moment, his gaze shifting to Xie Jian’s companions. After briefly hesitating, he did not resist. Carefully placing the key back into his sleeve, he opened the courtyard gate and said to Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying, who had stepped forward, “I didn’t expect Envoy Xie and the County Princess to visit my humble home. Since you’re here, please come inside for a chat.”

Xie Jian glanced at Xie Xinglan, who gave no objection, and waved his hand for the guards to step back. Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying followed Yuan Shoucheng into the courtyard.

Yuan Shoucheng turned his back to them and stood in the central courtyard, seemingly lost in thought. Unable to hold back, Qin Ying said, “Did you already anticipate us coming here?”

Yuan Shoucheng turned around. “Why would you say that, County Princess?”

Qin Ying scrutinized him for a moment and then replied coolly, “Your scheme was not difficult to unravel. Li Fangrui didn’t intend to stay away from the capital indefinitely. Once she heard rumors of the eldest daughter of the Prince’s residence being murdered, she was certain to reappear. At that point, your plan would collapse. You anticipated this and prepared accordingly.”

Yuan Shoucheng gazed at them with an expressionless face. “With your distinguished statuses, is this all you came here to say?”

Qin Ying turned to Xie Xinglan, who added, “Ten years ago, when Fan Yuping was murdered, you were stationed with the army in Qiangzhou. You had a bond with Fan Yuping since your youth, and she had been waiting for your return. But when you came back, you found that she had been raped and murdered, her face cruelly disfigured…”

Yuan Shoucheng’s expression tightened slightly, and Xie Xinglan continued, “When you returned, you discovered flaws in the case and went to the Kang family to speak with Master Kang. However, he didn’t believe the words of a stranger. Two years later, with a recommendation letter from the military, you became an officer at Jingji Yamen. You thought you finally had a chance for revenge, but as a low-ranking officer, you couldn’t accomplish anything. Investigating the old case privately led to your demotion to the mortuary, where you completely lost your opportunity. Then you learned of the County Princess’s skill in forensic investigation—her impartiality and noble status. You saw her as your chance.”

Yuan Shoucheng’s face remained impassive, and Xie Xinglan continued steadily, “But you knew that revisiting a ten-year-old case wouldn’t be easy. So, you devised a scheme. You noticed that the Prince’s residence began searching for someone on July 19th. Judging by their actions, it was likely the eldest daughter of the Prince’s residence, who favored red dresses and had a tear-shaped mole beneath her eye.”

“Then, on July 22nd, the Yamen received a female corpse. Coincidentally, the corpse also had a tear-shaped mole beneath her eye. You seized this opportunity. On July 23rd, you arranged for the elderly couple to appear. Using the mole, the red dress, and the tangdi pattern favored by the Prince’s eldest daughter, you disfigured the corpse’s face to stage a copycat crime. The ‘death of the Prince’s eldest daughter’ successfully achieved your goal.”

Yuan Shoucheng pressed his lips together slightly. “You’ve said so much, but how can you prove it was me?”

Xie Xinglan replied, “On July 23rd, you visited Jinxiufang, claiming to be helping your wife choose dresses. You examined various patterns, and although you didn’t explicitly mention the tangdi pattern, you lingered long enough for the shop assistant to remember you. As a mortuary guard, you were the first to think of using a corpse for your scheme. However, you didn’t know that the deceased had a wound on her leg caused by a nail on the mortuary’s corpse bed. The red-dressed deceased had never laid on that bed.”

Yuan Shoucheng’s brows furrowed slightly, and he was just about to speak when Qin Ying cut him off. “You would likely claim that you were merely looking around and didn’t specifically seek out the tangdi pattern. As a man, you wouldn’t know how to embroider, nor could you create a replica of Li Fangrui’s red dress in a short time. So let me ask you—where is your mother?”

Qin Ying glanced around the courtyard. “We’ve already discovered that a distant relative took Fan Yuping’s mother after she was divorced. Fan Yuping’s mother was highly skilled in embroidery in her youth. Although she developed mental illness, her embroidery skills would remain intact as long as she recovered somewhat.”

With a sigh, Qin Ying added, “You must have cared for her well over the years.”

Yuan Shoucheng’s icy expression finally showed a trace of movement. Qin Ying pressed on, “We worked hard to track you down, not only to expose your scheme but also to ask—what did you discover back then that convinced you the case was a wrongful conviction?”