The Powerful and Favored Coroner Imperial Concubine

Chapter 107 : The Tenth Skeleton

107: The Tenth Skeleton

The long table was newly brought out. All the white bones placed upon it had been cleaned, not a trace of sludge remained. Qin Wan walked behind the table and immediately spotted the bones Xu He held in his hand.

Xu He spoke again. "These that Ninth Young Miss sees are ones I roughly arranged based on skeleton size. I don't know if there are any mistakes. Please have a general look, Ninth Young Miss. It's just here... the bones seem about the same size, but upon inspection, I found there seems to be an extra finger bone. Could it be I arranged them wrong?"

Xu He had also been attempting to assemble the skeletons, learning from Qin Wan's example. Qin Wan could see at a glance that he was a quick learner. Aside from some minor disarrangement of fragments, there were no major issues overall.

Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. "Let me see..."

She looked carefully, her gaze sweeping over the piles of bones grouped on the table. Before long, her expression grew somber. "This seems to be... a sixth finger..."

Xu He was momentarily stunned. "A sixth finger?"

In some commoner quarters, people with extra digits were considered blessed, while others viewed them as unlucky. But Qin Wan knew it was a medical condition. She picked up several other finger bones nearby for comparison before nodding firmly. "It is indeed a sixth finger. The extra digit grows next to the thumb. Look, the epiphyseal trace here is still visible."

Xu He peered closely and indeed saw the connecting mark. He sighed. "So a little girl with an extra finger was seized and brought here... so many children's skeletons... truly, what could be the reason..."

As he spoke, Yan Chi emerged from the Purple Bamboo Grove. Seeing him, Qin Wan hurried over and curtseyed. "Lord Heir."

Yan Chi nodded. "You didn't need to come so early."

Qin Wan shook her head. "It's fine." She glanced around, noting Huo Huaixin was nowhere in sight. "Where is the Prefect? Did the interrogations last night yield anything?"

Yan Chi shook his head. "I haven't looked at the specific transcripts yet, but it seems nothing was discovered."

"And Third Uncle..." Qin Wan truly didn't wish to utter the words "Third Uncle," but to avoid revealing any flaws, she had to use the familiar address. As she finished speaking, Yan Chi's gaze darkened slightly. "Not yet questioned. They said Master Qin was mentally unstable last night, raged for half the night, then fainted. Prefect Huo just went to see him a moment ago; he hasn't regained consciousness."

Qin Wan's brow knitted tightly. "It seems we can only wait. What about the others?"

Yan Chi walked toward the long table as he spoke. "The young masters and ladies of the residence likely had nothing to do with the events of that year. After last night's questioning, they were permitted to return to their own quarters but are not to wander about idly. The Old Madam and the Mistress undoubtedly know the inside details of that incident. Prefect Huo has already posted men outside their courtyards to keep watch."

The senior members of the Qin family's Third Household were quite few. Given it was an incident from a decade ago, it was indeed likely only the elders would know. Yet, thinking of Qin Li's strange behavior on several occasions recently, Qin Wan suddenly felt Qin Li must know something as well.

She made a mental note of this and began helping Xu He assemble the skeletons.

Once the sludge was washed away, it was easier to spot injuries on the bones. Although Qin Wan hadn't found any yet, she dared not be careless. As for the area beneath the Flower Arbor, it was indeed as Fuling said. Not only had the well opening been excavated, but a large surrounding area had been dug up. A deep trench now cut across the courtyard, from which one or two bones were occasionally still being discovered in the subterranean mud.

"Nine sets of little girls' skeletons have been found now. These little girls couldn't all have been without families..." Xu He murmured while helping clean the bones.

Hearing this, Qin Wan's thoughts crystallized. She quickly turned to Yan Chi. "Lord Heir, I recall there was a file in the Jinzhou prefectural archives describing the disappearance of a twelve-year-old girl a decade ago?"

Yan Chi nodded. Qin Wan glanced at the long table. "With so many little girls, it's impossible that no one reported each disappearance to the authorities. If Jinzhou's records don't account for them all, then it's highly likely they came from neighboring prefectures."

Yan Chi frowned. "Neighboring prefectures are Jianzhou and Huzhou for the most part. I will send men to inquire immediately."

Qin Wan acknowledged with an "Mmm." Seeing Yan Chi walk aside to give instructions to Bai Feng, she turned back to continue assembling skeletons. With so many bones, she needed a rough count of how many individuals were represented. Although the number of skulls could determine the count, Qin Wan didn't know if any had been missed in the mud, so she was being extra meticulous and cautious.

After Qin Wan had worked for roughly half an hour, another bailiff approached from the direction of the Purple Bamboo Grove.

"Lord Heir, another skull has been unearthed..."

Qin Wan frowned slightly. Xu He's voice trembled slightly. "Ten people... The Jinzhou Prefectural Yamen hasn't seen a case this large in many years. This case will likely have to be reported to the Ministry of Justice."

Yan Chi's face was grim as he followed the bailiff toward the Purple Bamboo Grove. Another half-hour later, two bailiffs carried out a basket filled with bones. The drizzle in the sky grew finer and finer, almost ceasing entirely by noon. All the yamen bailiffs were in the Qin Manor. Huo Huaixin had instructed the Qin Manor kitchen to prepare a midday meal. Only then did everyone get a chance to rest. Qin Wan also took this opportunity to return to Tinglan Pavilion to eat.

"Miss, a kitchen servant who took food to the main residence earlier said Third Master seemed to be going mad..." Fuling reported while Qin Wan was eating.

Upon hearing this, Qin Wan's brow arched slightly. "Going mad? Could it be an act?"

With the precedent of Yan Chi treating Qin An's "stupidity" before, Qin Wan's first suspicion was that this could be another pretense. Fuling also frowned. "Perhaps. Perhaps now that the matter has been exposed, Third Master has no other way and must resort to feigning madness to cover up his crime? Miss, this servant once heard that some wealthy families, not content with taking many concubines, would indulge in other, more depraved forms of amusement to entertain themselves. Could it be..."

Fuling's eyebrows trembled as she spoke, as if afraid to contemplate it further.

Looking at the food before her, Qin Wan felt her appetite vanish. She took another sip of broth before setting down her chopsticks.

Once she set the utensils down, Qin Wan looked out the window and saw the rain that had lasted for days had finally stopped. Just as she was about to go out, a clear, bright voice rang out...

"How strange! The rain stops just as I arrive at your gate!"

Hearing this, Qin Wan perked up, unable to suppress a flicker of joy in her eyes. She turned and hurried out the door. Sure enough, she saw a lively, spirited figure entering the courtyard. "Young Princess, what brings you here..."

Qin Wan curtsied lightly. Yue Ning gave a light hum and directly walked past her into the room.

"I had wanted to come see you after what happened at your residence, but I thought it might be improper at the time, so I didn't. These past few days, the Qin family's affairs have spread all over Jinzhou City. Since you haven't come to the Marquis's residence again, Grandmother and Mother were worried and sent me to look in on you." Yue Ning spoke as she settled into a seat by the bed, then sized Qin Wan up in a couple of glances. "You seem to have lost weight."

Qin Wan smiled as she entered the room. "How could I? Please convey my gratitude for Grand Princess and Her Ladyship's concern."

It had been many days since Qin Wan last saw Yue Ning, so she was genuinely pleased. She stepped forward to personally pour tea for her. Fuling, standing to the side, was also visibly happy. In times of trouble, having someone come to see her mistress felt truly wonderful.

After a slight pause, the faint smile on Qin Wan's lips faded a little. "Has it truly spread throughout Jinzhou City?"

Yue Ning sighed. Since the topic of the Qin family was raised, it was no time for levity. "Yes. I don't know how it got out. They say many children's bones were dug up from an abandoned well in the Qin residence. Some say the Qin master practiced some evil arts. Others say the Qin household harbors a fox demon that eats people. And still others say the Qin family's descendants are fated to die young, and many have perished..."

Qin Wan presented a cup of tea to Yue Ning, her heart unruffled. The Qin residence had many servants, and bailiffs coming and going. It was ultimately impossible to keep this concealed. In a small city like Jinzhou with little else of note, this incident would likely become fodder for commoners' gossip for a long time to come.

"This matter is not small. It cannot be kept secret." Qin Wan sighed, a bitter smile touching her lips. "At this point, the Qin family's reputation hardly matters. Having committed such heinous acts, it is only right they are discussed."

Yue Ning's expression turned serious. "How many skeletons exactly..."

"Ten sets so far. They're still digging. There may be more."

Yue Ning's hand holding the teacup clenched slightly tighter. "This... truly deserves death."

Qin Wan nodded. "The interrogations haven't begun yet. We don't know the exact reasons. But just looking at so many children's skeletons is enough to make one's scalp crawl. Whoever is involved, anyone who knew about this cannot escape responsibility."

"No wonder you haven't come to the Marquis residence. Grandmother also said this Qin family matter is not trivial."

Qin Wan quickly asked, "How is Grand Princess's health? And how is Young Master Wei's leg? The prescriptions I gave last time were enough for at least ten to fifteen days. With all the troubles in the residence these past few days, I haven't been able to visit."

Yue Ning set down her teacup, her tone reassuring. "All is well. Grandmother's health improves day by day. Young Master Wei's leg injury has mostly healed. As you instructed, he has been very compliant these days."

Qin Wan nodded, then suddenly remembered something else. "By the way, what about the people from the Song Duke's household in the capital?"

Hearing this, Yue Ning gave a cold snort. "Song Rou's father came. He brought many rare treasures as compensation, but Grandmother refused every single item, returning them all. Duke Song stayed at the residence for two days, requesting audiences with Grandmother several times but was not received. He could only plead his case to my father. Father responded briefly, saying only that the matter must await His Majesty's decision. Yesterday, word came from Lord Heir... well, the Lord Heir's men reported that in the capital, His Majesty has reduced the ancestral privileges of the Song Duke's household, changing the hereditary status from indefinite to only three generations, and downgraded them from Duke to Marquis. There has also been some movement within the palace. Before His Majesty has even spoken, some are already making trouble for that Song daughter who entered the palace."

Because of their hereditary dukedom, the Song Duke's household ranked among the forefront of the capital's nobility. Now, downgraded to a marquisate with only three generations of inheritance, it meant that after Song Rou's father succeeded the title, only one more generation could inherit it before it lapsed. Unless a later descendant of the Song household performed great meritorious service, earning reinstatement of hereditary status, the Song Duke's household would soon become merely the Song household, little different from the Wei family.

"His Majesty feels guilt. He dared not fail to give Grand Princess an explanation."

Yue Ning gave another light hum. "Grandmother is still angry. She also didn't wish Duke Song to linger. Considering he had just lost his daughter, she didn't make things too difficult for him, allowing him to return to the capital early."

Qin Wan felt a pang of melancholy. "So this matter is finally concluded."

Yue Ning narrowed her eyes. "I fear it may not be concluded. On the surface, it seems a matter between the Duke Song's household and the Anyang Marquis's household. But now that the Duke's title and the lady in the palace are involved, things become more complicated. I don't know the specifics, but yesterday I overheard Grandmother and Father discussing it. It seems the court struggles are intensifying. Some seek to use this incident for their own ends."

Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. "Court struggles are intensifying? Isn't the Crown Prince position settled?"

"Yes, it is settled. However... His Majesty is in the prime of his life. Who can predict the future? At court, arguments can be made for appointing the rightful heir by birth order, the eldest, or the most virtuous. Once a fault is found with the Crown Prince, the political landscape of the capital will shift again. You read many books and spent your childhood in the capital. You likely understand the allure of that position. As long as the Crown Prince has not yet ascended, others will have ample opportunity."

Yue Ning's tone held a certain gravity. Looking at her, Qin Wan faintly saw a shadow of Yue Qiong. Though Yue Ning resembled Madam Jiang in appearance, her temperament took more after the Grand Princess and Yue Qiong. Qin Wan nodded. "I understand. Grand Princess is angry, but she likely does not wish this incident to be exploited for major political maneuvers."

A light shone in Yue Ning's eyes. "You truly have penetrating insight! That is precisely what Grandmother thinks. Although we are in Jinzhou, court matters, especially those concerning the imperial succession, have wide-ranging repercussions. Grandmother certainly does not wish to get entangled!"

Qin Wan's heart grew heavy. Though she had only entered the palace three times, all for the New Year's banquets, accompanying her mother to pay respects and receive imperial gifts. Those three occasions alone had allowed her to sense the palace's grandeur and its hidden undercurrents. Coupled with her father's occasional remarks in the past and the bloody accounts recorded in history books, she needed no great imagination to understand how terrifying struggles for power could be.

"Grand Princess, with her strategic foresight, naturally knows what course is best."

Yue Ning nodded, then suddenly stood up. "I came to the residence not only to see you but also to see if I can help. Come, take me to have a look. See if there's anything I can do..."

Qin Wan looked at her intently. "I'm afraid there is nothing Young Princess can do. Surely you don't intend to join in the digging? The Prefect has sent sufficient bailiffs. There is no need for Young Princess..."

"Then what are you doing?"

Yue Ning turned around to ask Qin Wan. After a moment's hesitation, Qin Wan said, "I am helping organize the excavated bones."

Yue Ning lifted her chin. "There you have it. I can do that too. Let's go, take me to see..."

As she spoke, Yue Ning made to grab Qin Wan's hand. Qin Wan gave a wry smile. "But those are ghastly white human bones. Are you truly certain, Young Princess? I fear you might be badly frightened... Coroner Xu and I are managing over there. There's no need for Young Princess..."

Yue Ning's frown deepened. "If Xu He can do it, why can't I? Quickly, lead the way..."

Seeing Yue Ning's determined stance, Qin Wan felt helpless but had no choice but to lead her toward the Purple Bamboo Grove. Yue Ning's expression was serious, her steps steady, like a bailiff on official duty. However, just as they were about to reach the Flower Arbor, her steps suddenly halted. "Wait... those on the table... they couldn't be..."

Qin Wan nodded calmly. "They are the excavated remains."

After a pause, she added, "And there are many more that haven't been cleaned yet..."