novelraw Chapter 101 : Examining Bones in the Mud. She Had Given Birth
Chapter 101 : Examining Bones in the Mud. She Had Given Birth
101: Examining Bones in the Mud. She Had Given Birth.
Qin Li's gaze flickered, turning away. "What I know, you also know. It's just that you, Ninth Sister, don't believe it."
Qin Wan frowned. "Second Brother means the talk of the cursed well? Second Brother believes that?"
Qin Li turned to look at Qin Wan. "Ninth Sister knows now too. Second Concubine threw herself into the well and died. All these years, peace in the Qin residence has relied on that demon-suppressing stone sealing the well mouth. Now the stone has been moved, and Steward Liu also died in the well. Isn't that proof enough? Ninth Sister, listen to my advice. Don't go to the Purple Bamboo Grove again."
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes slightly. "To be honest, Second Brother, I don't believe in ghosts and spirits. True ghosts all hide in people's hearts. If Second Brother believes in such talk, does it mean there's a ghost in his own heart?"
Qin Li hesitated, wanting to speak, but ultimately lowered his eyes.
"Ninth Sister may not believe it, so be it." He paused briefly, then added, "This time, with Lady Liu being killed and that disease discovered, thank you for covering for me. And my illness relies entirely on you, Ninth Sister. I just don't want anything to happen to you."
Listening, Qin Wan suddenly said, "Second Brother, do you know why Second Concubine threw herself into the well back then?"
Qin Li's tightly knit brows furrowed even more. He shook his head. "Eight years ago, I was just a child. Naturally, I wouldn't know such things."
Qin Wan somewhat disbelieved him inwardly. But seeing Qin Li's grave expression and his refusal to say more, she knew she wouldn't get anything from him. Thinking this, her gaze grew even heavier.
"Forget it. If Second Brother doesn't know, so be it."
With that, Qin Wan rolled up her sleeves. "Second Brother, extend your wrist."
Qin Li presented his wrist. Qin Wan placed her fingertips on it. After a moment, her brow furrowed.
Seeing her expression change, Qin Li immediately grew nervous. "How is it, Ninth Sister?"
Qin Wan looked at his face. The purplish-red hard chancres on his face had begun to fade and heal. Then her gaze swept to his neck. Qin Li immediately said, "After using Ninth Sister's medicine, these chancres have started to heal..."
Qin Li's tone carried a note of relief, as if praising the efficacy of Qin Wan's prescription. However, Qin Wan's expression grew even more solemn. "Second Brother may not know this. The initial hard chancre of syphilis can sometimes heal on its own even without medicine. But this is not a sign of recovery. Because once the chancre begins to heal, syphilitic sores will appear on the body."
Qin Li's brow twitched. "Ninth Sister means..."
Qin Wan pressed her lips together. "Second Brother has excessive internal damp-heat. The medicine used these past few days showed some effect, but today's pulse reading indicates a resurgence of damp-heat and pathogenic fire. Damp-heat and pathogenic fire transform into toxins, and the toxins emerge from within, forming the syphilitic sores."
A flicker of panic appeared in Qin Li's eyes. "Then... what should be done? These past few days, I've been taking and applying the medicine according to Ninth Sister's prescription without the slightest negligence. Ninth Sister..."
Qin Li looked at Qin Wan eagerly. Qin Wan withdrew her hand, her expression grave. "This disease is truly vicious. It seems the prescription I gave was too mild. For now, Second Brother should return. Continue with the old prescription tomorrow without relaxing. Come back tomorrow evening, and I will give you a new prescription."
Hearing this, Qin Li's eyes showed gratitude. "Thank you, Ninth Sister."
Qin Wan turned away. "Second Brother needn't thank me like that. Even if others came seeking treatment, I would treat them."
Qin Li watched Qin Wan's back, seeming to want to say more but ultimately not speaking. He clasped his hands in a bow before turning to leave.
As his footsteps faded, Qin Wan turned and looked out at the boundless night, sighing.
Qin Li's illness was indeed difficult, but not hopeless. Yet the stranger his attitude towards the Purple Bamboo Grove, the more suspicious it became. How exactly did Second Concubine die? What secret did that well hold?
Qin Wan slept lightly that night. The next morning, after breakfast, she went to her small study.
Several thick medical texts lay on the desk in the small study. Qin Wan instructed Fuling to grind ink, then began writing a new prescription. "Gentian Root, Dried Rehmannia Root, Chinese Angelica, Plantain Seed, Akebia Stem... perhaps add Scutellaria and Licorice Root..."
As she murmured to herself, she wrote. Fuling, watching beside her, said, "Young Miss's prescription is quite different from the previous ones."
Qin Wan replied, "The previous prescriptions were still too mild. They became ineffective after just a few days."
Saying this, she added a few more herbs to the prescription, then set down her brush and studied it carefully. After a moment, she nodded. "This should do. Go to the medicine storehouse later."
As she spoke, she hesitated again, stood up, and said, "Never mind, I'll go myself. We can go see Cook Liu on the way."
Fuling blinked, immediately understanding Qin Wan's meaning. Visiting Cook Liu was a pretext; asking about Second Concubine was the real purpose.
"Alright, Young Miss. Should we take Wanxing?"
Qin Wan shook her head. "No need."
"Good. This servant will fetch your cloak."
Qin Wan nodded, folded the prescription, and placed it in her sleeve pocket.
…
…
Though it was only early September, the south this year was exceptionally cold. Qin Wan pulled her cloak tighter and walked westward along the residence's small paths. Before long, she reached the servants' quarters.
Fuling pointed to a row of main rooms ahead. "Cook Liu lives in the very end room."
Qin Wan nodded and stepped forward. Before she reached the door, the curtain was lifted, and a plump, middle-aged maidservant in a blue robe emerged. Seeing Qin Wan and Fuling, she was slightly surprised, then hurried over with small steps.
"Greetings to Ninth Young Miss. Why has Ninth Young Miss come?"
Fuling stepped forward and placed two packets of pastries in Cook Liu's hands, smiling. "Ninth Young Miss said the ginseng soup these past few days has been very delicious, troubling you. So she came to see you."
Liu Shi was taken aback. Looking at the generously portioned pastries, a slight smile touched her lips. "This... how can I accept..."
Fuling shook her head. "Why not? Young Miss's health is frail. She will rely on you to help her recover in the future."
Qin Wan also said gently, "Please accept them, Auntie."
Liu Shi hesitated for a moment, then seeing Qin Wan's gentle, refined, harmless appearance, she clapped her hands. "Alright then, this servant will accept them. Thank you, Ninth Young Miss! Rest assured, Ninth Young Miss, I'll make sure your health recovers fully!"
Fuling smiled. Liu Shi glanced at Qin Wan and her maid again, noticing Qin Wan had no intention of leaving, and hurriedly gestured respectfully. "If Ninth Young Miss doesn't mind the humble accommodations, please come in and sit for a while. This servant happens to be making osmanthus cakes these past couple of days. Please come in and try them. They're made with this year's freshest, first-bloom osmanthus."
It was September, autumn, the season for osmanthus. The Qin residence also had osmanthus trees, though planted in a somewhat remote location. Kitchen servants like Cook Liu naturally prepared seasonal delicacies for their masters. If the masters were pleased, the rewards were unmatched elsewhere in the residence.
Qin Wan's lips curved. "Then I must truly have a taste."
Qin Wan and Fuling followed Liu Shi as she lifted the curtain and entered. At a glance, the room was indeed simple. This row of rooms housed the inner courtyard stewards. Liu Shi held some standing in the kitchen, hence had a room. Qin Wan glanced around; though the furnishings were few, the room was tidy and clean, improving her impression of Cook Liu.
"Ninth Young Miss, please sit. This servant has no fine tea. Please don't mind."
As she spoke, Liu Shi poured hot tea, then went into the inner room for a moment. Soon, she brought out a plate of osmanthus cakes on a white porcelain dish. The porcelain was flawless white; the osmanthus cakes were golden, soft, and sticky. Against each other, they were particularly pleasing to the eye.
"Ninth Young Miss, please try. I couldn't bear to damage later blooms, so I didn't pick much of the first flowering. I tried making them twice; this is the second batch. Finally managed to match last year's skill. Please try."
Cook Liu offered the plate to Qin Wan. Qin Wan smiled and took a piece. Tasting it, it indeed melted in the mouth, fragrant and sweet. "Truly worthy of Auntie's skill. Very fragrant and sticky."
Cook Liu smiled with satisfaction, also giving two pieces to Fuling. Fuling glanced at Qin Wan, then addressed Cook Liu. "Auntie, please sit too. Actually, we came today to ask about something."
What Qin Wan wanted to ask wasn't a trivial matter. Hearing this, Cook Liu likely understood Qin Wan's real purpose. It was better to be straightforward. Upon hearing this, Cook Liu wasn't surprised and sat on a small stool to the side.
Qin Wan wore a gentle, mild smile. "Auntie, how many years have you been in the Qin residence?"
Liu Shi sat up a little straighter, somewhat nervous. "Over a decade. Counting, it's fourteen or fifteen years."
Qin Wan's gaze was mild and gentle, her tone even more considerate. "Auntie must know about last night's incident in the Purple Bamboo Grove?"
At this question, Liu Shi grew even more nervous, clasping her hands together with some unease, but nodded. "Naturally, I know. There was quite a commotion last night. By now, the entire Qin residence should know."
Qin Wan sighed. "This matter has unsettled the Qin residence greatly. Last night, the Old Madam also mentioned the old matter of Second Concubine. At that time, His Highness the Heir Apparent and Prefect Huo were present. Hearing the Old Madam's words, they grew somewhat suspicious about Second Concubine's old case. But it wasn't appropriate to question the Old Madam, so the task fell to me."
Qin Wan's tone turned slightly pained. "Auntie also knows my situation. I cannot very well question the Old Madam or Third Aunt. So I thought, since Auntie is an old servant of the residence, you should know something about this."
Liu Shi's expression changed several times. "This matter..."
Seeing Liu Shi's evident difficulty, Qin Wan smiled slightly. "Auntie needn't be nervous. Presumably, Auntie doesn't know the details. Just tell me what others in the residence also knew at the time."
Hearing this, Liu Shi relaxed inwardly. Seeing Qin Wan's clear, bright gaze and expression showing no pressure, Liu Shi felt more at ease. After thinking, she said, "Back then, Second Concubine was extremely favored and very beautiful. When she died, she had been in the residence just over two years. At the time, we didn't know why she threw herself into the well, and no one witnessed it. But later, I heard it was related to her child. However, thinking back now, I don't recall Second Concubine being pregnant. Or perhaps she miscarried. She might have miscarried soon after conceiving. Perhaps she couldn't bear it and threw herself into the well."
Qin Wan frowned. "Auntie didn't see her throw herself into the well. Then who later spoke about the child?"
"It was... seems it was a maidservant attending Second Concubine. That maidservant cared for Second Concubine day and night and knew best why Second Concubine lost the will to live. After Second Concubine threw herself into the well, the Old Madam invited a monk to see. Then the well was sealed. After that, the maidservant fell seriously ill and died not long after." Liu Shi sighed. "Speaking of which, Ninth Young Miss probably knows. The master's affections change quickly. After that maidservant died, no one mentioned Second Concubine again. Over the years, many newcomers didn't even know of Second Concubine's death."
Liu Shi was not young; speaking of this, her tone carried a sense of melancholy.
Qin Wan pondered briefly. "So, Second Concubine must have been pregnant at the time?"
Liu Shi narrowed her eyes in thought for a moment, then nodded quite affirmatively. "Exactly. I remember clearly. It was that maidservant. Once, in front of everyone, she said Second Concubine killed herself out of grief for her child. That statement seemed to displease the Old Madam at the time. The Old Madam even punished her. The Qin residence is a prominent family. For us servants, such matters... we dare not speak or listen too much, but in our hearts, we're not surprised. Most likely, Second Concubine's child died early."
Hearing this, Qin Wan nodded. Liu Shi then apologized, "After all, it's been eight years. This servant's memory is a bit fuzzy. This is all I can recall clearly. Please don't blame me, Ninth Young Miss."
Knowing Liu Shi wouldn't say more, Qin Wan stood up. "How could I blame you? Auntie has already clarified things for me. I should thank you." As she spoke, Qin Wan glanced at Fuling. Fuling immediately took out a small sachet from her sleeve.
Fuling smiled and pressed it into Liu Shi's hand. "Young Miss's health relies on you, Auntie."
Liu Shi hesitated, but Fuling insistently placed it in her palm.
Seeing this, Qin Wan turned and walked out of the room, followed by Fuling. The master and servant headed directly southeast.
Only after leaving the servants' quarters did Fuling say, "Young Miss, it seems Second Concubine was likely pregnant back then but miscarried soon after. Unable to bear it, she threw herself into the well."
Qin Wan nodded, having reached the same conclusion. Miscarriage was no small matter, harming both body and heart. If, on top of that, Second Concubine's child was lost due to foul play rather than naturally, her resentment would likely have been even greater. And if Qin An couldn't stand up for her back then, it was possible she lost the will to live in despair.
Qin Wan sighed. As Cook Liu said, in large, prominent families, such matters were indeed commonplace.
"Young Miss, are we going to the medicine storehouse now?"
Qin Wan nodded, then glanced towards the residence gates. "At this hour, His Highness and Prefect Huo will probably arrive soon. We must hurry."
With that, Qin Wan quickened her pace. Fuling followed. The two took a shortcut to the medicine storehouse, fetched the medicine, and then returned to Tinglan Pavilion. Before reaching the pavilion, Fuling exclaimed softly, "Young Miss..."
Qin Wan looked up to see Bai Feng standing at the courtyard gate. Yan Chi had come!
Qin Wan hastened her steps. Bai Feng, seeing Qin Wan approach, quickly bowed. "Greetings, Ninth Young Miss."
Qin Wan glanced around. "Has His Highness arrived?"
Bai Feng nodded. "Yes. The master and Prefect Huo have gone to the Purple Bamboo Grove. Today they will excavate the remains buried in the well. The master came earlier, but the maidservant inside said you were not here, so he had me wait here and went to the Purple Bamboo Grove first."
Qin Wan nodded. "Wait a moment. I'll be right out."
She spoke quickly, entered the courtyard, set down the medicine packet, and came out with Fuling. Together with Bai Feng, the three headed straight for the Purple Bamboo Grove. The formerly forbidden Purple Bamboo Grove was now full of voices. Even walking outside the grove, Qin Wan could see figures moving within. The presence of living people finally diluted the eerie atmosphere inside the bamboo grove. Qin Wan walked in briskly.
"Your Highness, Prefect Huo..."
Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin were looking towards the well opening. Hearing her voice, they turned.
In her line of sight, Qin Wan was curtsying gracefully. The faint sunlight filtering through the bamboo leaves dappled her shoulders with spots of light. A spark lit in Yan Chi's eyes. "Rise. Come take a look..."
Qin Wan rose and stepped forward. At a glance, she saw a light gray human bone lying on a felt cloth spread by the well opening. Yan Chi said, "Excavated the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. What the Old Madam said seems true. The bones aren't buried deep. Likely, after Second Concubine threw herself into the well, it was directly sealed with the demon-suppressing stone."
Qin Wan nodded. "This is the tibia of a woman's lower leg."
A hint of admiration flashed in Yan Chi's expression. Qin Wan then quietly recounted her visit to Cook Liu. Yan Chi and Huo Huaixin both frowned simultaneously. Huo Huaixin asked, "So, she threw herself into the well after miscarrying?"
Qin Wan nodded. "Highly possible..."
Huo Huaixin's lips twitched. "Then... then this is difficult. It's been eight years. Even if it was a miscarriage, it's hard for us to know the exact cause. By the way, can Ninth Young Miss determine from examining the bones?"
A deep shadow passed through Qin Wan's eyes. She shook her head. "No. It's been eight years. Currently, we can only judge from the bone structure. If the pregnancy was short-term, it's difficult to change the bone shape."
Huo Huaixin sighed. "In that case, we can only bury her."
Qin Wan and Yan Chi exchanged a glance. After a moment's thought, Yan Chi said, "That's acceptable. This matter cannot be verified. We'll focus on finding the murderer of Lady Liu and Liu Chun. The killer is still hiding in the residence. Perhaps they hope we'll focus on Second Concubine's case. Or perhaps... this case is somehow connected to Second Concubine's matter."
"Once the killer is caught, everything will be clear."
Qin Wan's voice was heavy as she added this, her gaze falling on the dark well opening.
"Alright! Pull it up!"
A muffled shout came from the well. The constables at the well opening immediately began pulling the rope. As more rope was hauled up, a bamboo basket emerged. The constables dragged the basket up. Qin Wan saw the grayish bone segments stained with mud inside. Looking at them, a scene of Second Concubine throwing herself into the well eight years ago seemed to float before Qin Wan's eyes.
"What are you suspecting?"
Just as she was thinking, Yan Chi suddenly stood beside her.
Qin Wan glanced at Yan Chi for a moment. "I'm thinking about Second Concubine throwing herself into the well, and also about the killer in the cases of Lady Liu and Steward Liu. Could there be some connection to Second Concubine's incident all those years ago?"
"You suspect someone is seeking revenge for Second Concubine?"
Yan Chi immediately thought of this possibility. But then Qin Wan shook her head. "It doesn't seem so either. Lady Liu entered the residence four years ago. By then, Second Concubine was already dead. If it were revenge, Steward Liu might have been involved back then..."
"Yet the first to die was Lady Liu." Yan Chi said somberly. Before he could finish, several figures suddenly appeared outside the Purple Bamboo Grove. Yan Chi looked out. Qin Wan followed his gaze and couldn't help raising an eyebrow. The newcomers were actually the sisters Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang, and standing between them was Yao Xinlan.
"Your Highness, I'll go see."
Yan Chi didn't know the Qin family's female members, but Qin Wan couldn't pretend not to see them. Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang were one thing, but Yao Xinlan was someone she had worked hard to cure. For no reason, why had she come here?!
Qin Wan walked out from the Purple Bamboo Grove. Qin Shuang saw her and immediately snorted coldly. Qin Xiang's indifferent gaze swept over her without expression. Only Yao Xinlan stepped forward, about to take Qin Wan's hand. "I heard His Highness and Prefect Huo had asked Ninth Sister to assist. So it's true. No wonder Ninth Sister hasn't visited me these past couple of days."
Qin Wan looked Yao Xinlan up and down, relieved to see her complexion was fair. "Sister-in-law, why have you come? This is where the constables are handling official business. Moreover, if the Old Madam finds out, she'll surely..."
Yao Xinlan was carrying the Qin family's legitimate eldest grandson and was dearly loved by Madam Jiang. The Purple Bamboo Grove held two corpses, a place of great inauspiciousness in Madam Jiang's eyes. If Madam Jiang learned Yao Xinlan had come here, she would certainly be displeased.
Yao Xinlan shook her head, then glanced back at Qin Xiang and the other. "With such an incident in the residence, Shuang'er, Xiang'er, and I have been confined these past two days, told not to look, not to ask. But you know how people are: forbid something, and it sparks even greater curiosity. Seeing the fine weather today, I came out for a walk. The three of us originally intended to visit the chrysanthemum garden, but walking, we ended up here. Now this place isn't forbidden anymore. We'll just look from outside. It shouldn't matter."
Hearing Yao Xinlan say this, Qin Wan had no choice. Meanwhile, Qin Shuang stepped forward. "You're allowed to come, but we can't?" She looked into the grove, vaguely seeing some figures. "Is that Prince Rui's Heir Apparent?"
Yan Chi stood deep within the bamboo grove, where the light was dimmer than outside. Qin Wan could see outside relatively clearly earlier, but from outside looking in, one couldn't see much. Qin Shuang couldn't make out anything clearly. Which figure was she even asking about?
Qin Wan didn't answer, only speaking to Yao Xinlan, "Sister-in-law, walk a bit and then return. This place really isn't suitable."
Yao Xinlan patted Qin Wan's hand. "I know. Don't worry. And don't think of me as timid and delicate. If not for the child, I'd really like to go into the grove and look."
Qin Wan felt somewhat helpless. Yao Xinlan lowered her voice and asked, "Is Liu Chun really dead in the well? How deep is the well? I actually didn't know there was a well in that grove..."
"He died in the well. I don't know how deep it is either, probably the depth of a regular well. Before this incident, I didn't know either." Yao Xinlan spoke softly, so Qin Wan replied in a low voice as well.
Qin Shuang frowned. "Sister-in-law, what are you whispering with her about?"
Qin Shuang's earlier commotion had indeed forced Madam Lin to lift her confinement once she recovered. However, it seemed the traumatic experience of falling into the well hadn't tempered her personality much.
Yao Xinlan straightened up. "I was asking Ninth Sister how deep the well in the grove is."
Hearing this, Qin Shuang's expression changed slightly despite herself. She turned and instinctively looked towards the not-too-distant flower arbor. Although that well had been filled, the fear from falling into it hadn't completely faded. And she knew that on the very night she was rescued from the well, someone died under that flower arbor, the Eighth Concubine she disliked most.
A slight chill ran down Qin Shuang's spine. "How deep... naturally as deep as that well was... wouldn't kill someone from the fall."
Saying this, Qin Shuang suddenly paled. "Wait, back then I said I touched dead bones at the bottom of the well, and I saw Mother's expression change several times. Thinking about it now, perhaps it was because Mother thought of the well in the Purple Bamboo Grove. Didn't a concubine jump into that well?"
Qin Shuang's face showed fright. Meanwhile, Qin Xiang frowned. "Sixth Sister, don't talk nonsense. Mother was worried about you back then. What dead bones? Mother didn't know."
Qin Xiang's tone was indifferent, carrying a superior, lecturing air that immediately angered Qin Shuang. That day, she had been surrounded and chased; if not for that, she wouldn't have fallen in. And her desperate cries and pleas were ignored. This Fifth Sister, who usually treated her so well in front of others, had remained silent. Naturally, she was protecting her own mother. But the one who confined her was her mother. Thus, it followed that this mother-daughter pair's concern for her wasn't genuine!
Qin Shuang snorted. "How could Mother not know? Grandmother knows! When that concubine entered the residence, Fifth Sister and I were just children. But thinking about it now, Mother didn't like that concubine much back then..."
Qin Xiang glanced at Qin Wan, her face growing even angrier!
"Qin Shuang! What nonsense are you talking?! How dare you slander Mother!"
Qin Shuang's eyes widened. Her already chubby cheeks puffed out further. "Slander?! I just said Mother didn't like that concubine! What's wrong with that?! Father doted on that concubine back then. It's normal for Mother not to like her. I didn't say Mother harmed that concubine. Why are you so nervous? Where did I slander Mother?!"
Qin Xiang grew anxious. Looking at Qin Shuang's moving mouth, she wished she could tear it. "Qin Shuang! Shut up! You have such nerve! How dare you say you're not slandering Mother?!"
"I'm not! I'm just not! You're the one with a guilty conscience!"
Qin Shuang planted her hands on her hips. Not only did she no longer follow Qin Xiang around as before, but when arguing with Qin Xiang, her voice grew louder and louder. Qin Xiang, usually accustomed to acting the refined young miss, was momentarily at a loss!
Qin Wan helped Yao Xinlan step back two paces. Yao Xinlan sighed. "Alright, alright... Fifth Sister, Sixth Sister, don't argue. There are servants around, and constable brothers inside the grove. Don't make a scene. It's too improper."
Qin Shuang, chest heaving, was still fuming. Hearing this, Qin Xiang's eyes reddened. Stamping her foot, she said, "Sister-in-law should scold Qin Shuang! With so many people here, what kind of talk is Qin Shuang saying?! If others hear, they might think Mother really did something!"
Yao Xinlan sighed and was about to speak when Qin Shuang puffed out her chest again. "What did I say? I clearly said nothing, and you accuse me of slandering Mother! How would I dare slander Mother?! Clearly, you misunderstood!"
Qin Xiang had always thought Qin Shuang was impulsive, hot-tempered, and rather foolish, easy to manipulate, which was why she had repeatedly incited her to be her pawn. But she never imagined Qin Shuang would one day yell at her like this. What was infuriating was that Qin Shuang wasn't foolish at all now; instead, she reacted quickly, every sentence leaving Qin Xiang without a retort.
Qin Xiang choked on her anger, unable to vent it, and couldn't hit anyone either. Seeing Yao Xinlan supporting her waist, looking utterly helpless, she stamped her foot hard, turned, and ran off. "I'll tell Mother. Just you wait!"
"Fifth Sister..." Yao Xinlan called out, but Qin Xiang ran faster and faster, clearly ignoring her.
Yao Xinlan shook her head helplessly. With Qin Xiang gone, Qin Shuang also felt a bit afraid. She grabbed Yao Xinlan's arm. "Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, help me. Will Mother confine me again..."
Yao Xinlan felt a headache coming on. "Now you're scared? Arguing so vigorously earlier?"
Qin Shuang gave a light humph, muttering with her head down, "I've had grievances for a long time. Fifth Sister accuses me of slandering Mother. I clearly didn't... I think she has a guilty conscience!"
"My dear sister, please say less." Yao Xinlan smiled bitterly. "You really mustn't say that again. You're a junior; such words are highly disrespectful. It's my fault, my fault for bringing you here. Xiang'er will definitely go tell Mother. Come back with me first. I'll speak a few words for you later, but you must also apologize to Xiang'er."
"I won't... Why should I apologize..." Qin Shuang's eyes were full of reluctance, very unwilling.
"Because what you said truly was disrespectful. Or do you want to be confined again?"
Yao Xinlan still spoke gently, with immense patience. Hearing "confinement," Qin Shuang immediately pursed her lips tightly. Yao Xinlan pulled her. "Alright, if you want to get through this, do as I say. No disobedience."
She then looked at Qin Wan. "Ninth Sister, this turned out unpleasantly. I must return."
Qin Wan nodded. "Take care of yourself, Sister-in-law."
Yao Xinlan gave an affirmative sound, pulling Qin Shuang away. As they walked, Qin Shuang muttered, "Before, I listened to her in everything. Now that I don't, she has a trick to tattle to Mother..."
Qin Wan stood where she was. Qin Shuang's complaints gradually faded. Beside her, Yao Xinlan continued speaking softly to her. Watching Yao Xinlan's retreating back, Qin Wan felt her sister-in-law handled things very well. She would surely be a good mother in the future.
Qin Wan stood for a moment longer until Yao Xinlan and Qin Shuang were far away before turning back. Turning around, she saw Yan Chi had walked to the edge of the bamboo grove and was looking at her. Qin Wan hurried over, forcing a smile. "I apologize for the unseemly display, Your Highness."
Yan Chi didn't speak, only glanced in the direction Yao Xinlan and the others had left. "They say the Qin family's discipline is strict. Now it seems somewhat undeserved."
Qin Wan's smile grew even more pained. "They are, after all, juniors..."
Yan Chi didn't agree with Qin Wan's explanation at all. He simply turned and gestured towards the grove with his chin.
Qin Wan, seeing this, stepped forward. The two walked back into the depths of the Purple Bamboo Grove together. "If juniors are like this, their elders may not be better. What that Sixth Young Miss said earlier aligns with our inference."
"We only inferred based on common sense. But in reality, nothing is certain." Qin Wan's tone was detached. Common sense could serve as reference, but in reality, many cases defied common sense. The specifics depended on the clues.
"Naturally." Yan Chi nodded, then suddenly asked, "Where did you live before?"
At this question, Qin Wan paused. For no reason, why shift the topic to her? "I lived in the western back courtyard before, not far from Lady Liu and Steward Liu's quarters. Why does Your Highness ask?"
Yan Chi naturally couldn't say he already knew she had lived in the western back courtyard. It was only when he actually walked to the west yesterday and saw the desolation there that he felt even more uncomfortable. "Why were you made to live there?"
Qin Wan lowered her eyes. The slight smile on her lips held no bitterness, only a bland tone. "Alone and of little use, having a roof over my head was already good enough."
"Then why did you fall into Half-Moon Lake?"
Qin Wan looked up at Yan Chi. Given Yan Chi's personality, he wouldn't be interested in others' past experiences. Had he noticed something?
"That night it was raining. I slipped and fell into the lake." Qin Wan's gaze was frank, her tone calm, speaking as if it were the absolute truth.
But Yan Chi said, "Was someone pushed you in?"
Qin Wan's heart felt as if lightly pricked by a needle. So much time had passed; Yan Chi was the first to suspect her fall into the lake might have been murder. The former Ninth Young Miss was alone and helpless; later, she herself was also desperate and helpless. Whether the Ninth Young Miss or herself, life or death seemed insignificant. Qin Wan hadn't expected Yan Chi to consider this possibility.
She shook her head, her expression composed. "No, Your Highness thinks too much."
As she spoke, she looked towards the depths of the bamboo grove. "They should be almost done digging. Let's go take a look."
With that, Qin Wan strode towards the well opening. Yan Chi watched her retreating figure thoughtfully for a moment, then followed.
"None left? Look again. Since we're retrieving them, we can't leave any behind." Huo Huaixin looked into the pitch-black well opening, instructing the constables below to check again. A muffled voice came from the well, the constable below responding.
Huo Huaixin straightened up and turned. Seeing Yan Chi following Qin Wan over, a profound look flickered in his eyes.
"Your Highness, Ninth Young Miss. The men below say they've dug almost everything up. Digging further yields nothing. I told them to check once more to be sure before coming up."
On the felt cloth at Huo Huaixin's feet lay a pile of bones covered in mud. Qin Wan glanced over, stepped forward, and crouched down. "Whether anything's missing, I'll know by looking."
The bones had been buried in the well for eight years, mostly encased in thick, foul-smelling mud. Even Huo Huaixin said, "Ninth Young Miss needn't trouble yourself. Let them check a bit more."
Qin Wan shook her head and began rolling up her sleeves. "It's no trouble. I might as well check if anything is amiss."
Huo Huaixin glanced at Yan Chi. Seeing Yan Chi only watching Qin Wan without stopping her, he didn't press further. "Alright. Then please take a look, Ninth Young Miss. If there are any broken bones or injuries, then this case is not simple."
That thought was precisely Qin Wan's. Although Second Concubine's remains were in the well, it didn't necessarily mean she died by throwing herself in. The maidservant who witnessed it was dead. They couldn't rely solely on Madam Jiang and the others' account.
Thinking this, Qin Wan began to work. First, she roughly cleaned the mud off the bones, identified which part each belonged to, and then arranged them on the ground in a human shape. Skull, thoracic vertebrae, leg bones...
Huo Huaixin and Yan Chi had seen Qin Wan piece together a skull before. Now, watching her arrange a human skeleton, they weren't surprised. Qin Wan remained deeply focused. This gentle, beautiful young girl, handling bones that would frighten grown men with such ease, nearly scared the surrounding constables to death.
Huo Huaixin glanced around and laughed heartily. "Ninth Young Miss truly lives up to the title 'Little Medical Immortal.' Your knowledge of human skeletal structure is truly masterful."
This was naturally said for the constables' benefit. Qin Wan, undistracted, quickly assembled a human shape: head, upper body, lower body, and both hands. Soon, she retrieved the pelvic bones from nearby. Thus, the upper and lower body were connected. As she filled in the remaining bones, she said, "No injuries. The bones are intact."
Huo Huaixin let out a relieved breath. If this concubine had also died an unnatural death, they'd have an eight-year-old murder case to solve. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
As she finished speaking, Qin Wan picked up two ribs to place. Her hand moved, accidentally displacing the previously positioned pelvis. Hurriedly setting down the ribs, she moved the pelvis back into place. At that moment, her brow suddenly furrowed.
An adult female pelvis is broad and low, with relatively light bone density. Covered in mud, Qin Wan hadn't noticed the characteristics of the pubic bone area earlier. But now, her accidental touch had knocked off some mud, revealing the pubic bone. What she saw made her pupils contract sharply...
"We guessed wrong." Suddenly, Qin Wan spoke.
Yan Chi, who had been watching her, immediately stepped closer. "What's wrong?"
Qin Wan stared fixedly at the marks on the pubic bone. "Second Concubine was not only pregnant... she... also gave birth to a child."