novelraw Chapter 113 : The Hypocritical Qin Chen, and the Harmful Caihe
Chapter 113 : The Hypocritical Qin Chen, and the Harmful Caihe
113: The Hypocritical Qin Chen, and the Harmful Caihe
A beam of bright light poured in through the high window, illuminating the narrow, cramped passageway of the archive by a fraction. Even so, the library remained dim and gloomy. Yan Chi stood behind Qin Wan, his gaze looking past her shoulder.
On the slightly yellowed paper, one after another, vivid Spring Palace paintings came to life. The painter was skilled, the coloring exquisite, and the layout ingenious. In the courtyard paintings, one could see the condensed dew on the peony stamens, in the streamside paintings, the clear, shallow riverbed with its smooth stones, and in the grass paintings, the veins of the lush green blades. Since the painter was so detailed and realistic, the people they depicted were naturally drawn to the extreme. The two tangled figures, a man and a woman both handsome in appearance, were either naked or half-clothed. The man’s muscle lines were visible, the woman’s crimson peaks revealed, and where the two joined...
Yan Chi’s gaze shifted abruptly to Qin Wan’s face. The faint light from the window was falling on her shoulder, and a thin layer of red had spread across her snow-white cheeks. Yan Chi watched, and the color in his eyes deepened.
With a rustle, Qin Wan closed the erotic painting in her hand. She turned to stare fixedly at Yan Chi, searching desperately for any trace of a clue on his face. Yet, looking at him like this, Yan Chi’s expression held nothing special. Qin Wan’s heart relaxed, and she hurriedly turned back to roll the scroll up again. "This isn’t it..."
Having spoken, Qin Wan secretly exhaled a breath.
"As a healer, surely you wouldn’t be stirred by such paintings?"
Just as Qin Wan was about to finish letting that breath out, Yan Chi suddenly spoke again. At this question, Qin Wan’s back straightened instantly. He saw!
Watching Qin Wan suddenly freeze, a trace of a smile rose in Yan Chi’s eyes. The faint light falling on Qin Wan’s shoulder flared brightly for a moment, dust motes dancing in the beam like golden sugar powder sprinkled in the air, carrying a strange, faint sweetness.
Yan Chi did not wish to embarrass Qin Wan, so he turned and walked toward the tall cabinet behind her.
Hearing his footsteps move away, Qin Wan’s stiff spine finally relaxed slightly. "Naturally..."
Her voice was cool, but her ears were burning. As a doctor, she naturally knew every bone and muscle in the human body, yet she had lived so many years and had never looked at such things!
Frowning, Qin Wan stuffed the scroll into the deepest part of the high cabinet.
She cursed Qin An silently in her heart. It really was Qin An. Even the paintings he collected were like this...
Qin Wan calmed her mind and looked at the other scrolls in the cabinet. Glancing at them, she was greatly surprised. Inside this cabinet, everything was either twelve Spring Palace paintings, paintings of beauties bathing, or even scenes of drunken revelry in forests of flesh and wine. Every time Qin Wan opened one and saw just a corner, she closed it immediately, afraid Yan Chi would come over again. As she looked, she muttered to herself, could it be that all the paintings in this cabinet were of this nature?
Qin Wan finished looking at the last one unwillingly, then closed the cabinet door with resignation.
Yan Chi listened to the movements behind him, his eyes filled with laughter, but he did not look back. Before long, Qin Wan closed the cabinet door and glanced at Yan Chi. Seeing that he remained unmoved, Qin Wan thought that a man of the military like Yan Chi, with such steadfast character, would not easily be distracted by lust. This was just as well...
Qin Wan exhaled and opened another high cabinet nearby. As soon as it opened, Qin Wan saw several yellowed calligraphies and paintings, with a few lines of small characters inscribed on the scrolls. Looking at the style, it was actually the work of a certain master from the previous dynasty. Qin Wan opened it to check, and sure enough, it was an old item. Qin Wan looked at this cabinet, then at the cabinet holding the erotic paintings, and sighed. The Qin family was wealthy, but they had encountered a head of household like Qin An...
"These are all the Qin family’s collected works."
Qin Wan looked at a few more, and Yan Chi beside her said the same. The cabinets at the end of the archive had been checked by the two of them. Having no choice, Qin Wan walked out. Yan Chi stood opposite her and also walked out a few steps.
Once they walked out, the painting paper on the cabinets looked quite new. Qin Wan felt it didn't look like something from seven or eight years ago, but she couldn't help but continue searching. Halfway through, Yan Chi suddenly stopped moving. "Come look..."
Hearing this, Qin Wan’s eyes lit up slightly. She immediately turned and walked to Yan Chi’s side. She saw Yan Chi had opened a painting about two feet long halfway. It was not by a famous artist, and it depicted the back of a woman in red.
The painter’s skill was not supremely high, but the artistic conception was beautiful. Just looking at this painting, and seeing only a back view, Qin Wan could sense the woman’s clear and peerless elegance. The woman’s figure was slender and graceful, her cloud-like black hair draped entirely behind her. She walked in the spring amidst willow branches, her skirt rising and falling with her steps, colorful butterflies dancing around her. It was truly a vibrant image of a beauty brimming with spirit.
"This painting..."
The painting did not reveal the woman’s face, so it was of no help to Qin Wan regarding the Second Aunt. Moreover, looking at the painting, Qin Wan subconsciously felt something was wrong. Yan Chi continued, "The paper isn’t old enough. It was made within a year."
Qin Wan nodded, her hand brushing the paper. "Exactly. However..."
Saying this, Qin Wan simply pulled the scroll open all the way to the end. The painter seemed unwilling to inscribe a title or signature, leaving not even the year it was painted. But Qin Wan looked closely and found a small, unclear seal in the lower left corner. Qin Wan looked at it and faintly recognized the two characters. "Minyu?"
Qin Wan asked in confusion, "Who is this? It sounds like someone’s courtesy name..."
Yan Chi’s eyes focused slightly. "The characters Min and Yu both describe beautiful jade. Within the Qin Manor, only the Young Master’s name contains characters for precious jade and gems. If I guess correctly, this is definitely the courtesy name of the Eldest Young Master, Qin Chen."
Qin Wan’s eyelid twitched. Yao Xinlan had said she once dreamed of Qin Chen painting, and the person in the painting was a woman, with mountains and plains full of yearning red beans. Qin Wan examined the painting again. Although there were no red beans on it, the painter had captured the romance of spring on paper, as if wishing to dedicate the world’s spring light to the woman in the painting.
Qin Wan pursed her lips. "It should be by Big Brother..."
Yan Chi did not know the issues between Yao Xinlan and Qin Chen, and said subconsciously, "Is this the Young Madame of the manor he painted?"
Qin Wan did not answer immediately. Yan Chi glanced at Qin Wan, saw her grave expression, and raised an eyebrow. "Not the Young Madame? Rumor has it he and the Young Madame have been married less than a year. Why would he paint someone else?"
Yan Chi also saw the love the painter held for the woman in the painting, and instantly saw through Qin Chen’s mind.
Qin Wan shook her head. It was not good to say what she knew too clearly, yet she trusted Yan Chi in her heart. She said only, "I don’t know either. Big Brother and sister-in-law are not as loving as the rumors outside say."
Yan Chi pondered for a moment, unable for a time to think of what connection this case had with the deaths of Concubine Liu and Liu Chun, so he treated it merely as a secret within the Qin Manor. It was not good to ask further, so he rolled the painting up. But Qin Wan felt her hands and feet turn ice-cold. There was a third murder hidden within the Qin Manor. The original Ninth Miss had entered the Purple Bamboo Grove, and Qin Wan still hadn’t figured out why. The greatest possibility was that she knew certain things she shouldn’t have and thus invited a fatal disaster.
For Qin Chen, would liking another person count as a deadly matter?
"What’s wrong?" Seeing Qin Wan silent for a long time, Yan Chi suddenly asked a sentence. From his angle, Qin Wan’s expression looked particularly grave. Yan Chi thought for a moment; most likely Qin Wan had never imagined Qin Chen would be like this, or perhaps she was good friends with the Young Madame and thus felt displeased with Qin Chen. Yan Chi put the scroll back in its place. "Shall we tell the Young Madame about this?"
Qin Wan snapped back to reality and shook her head after a moment. "I haven’t thought it through clearly."
Yan Chi’s gaze sank slightly. "It is as I said before. Your Big Brother’s thoughts are not simple. You must be on guard."
Qin Wan nodded, dispelling the complicated thoughts in her heart, and turned to look at the bookshelf nearby. "Continue..."
Qin Wan’s tone was heavy, and her movements crisp. Seeing her like this, Yan Chi also searched nearby. However, cabinet after cabinet opened to reveal ancient books and old collections, with no paintings from recent years. Qin Wan closed the door of the last cabinet, her expression somewhat grave. "It seems it’s not here either..."
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes. "Are there other places in the manor where paintings and calligraphy might be?"
Qin Wan shook her head. "All the paintings, books, and ancient texts are here. I don’t know about other places. I’ll have to ask."
Qin Wan looked around. "Since it’s not here, let’s leave first."
Yan Chi nodded naturally. The two walked out of the archive door and headed toward Linfeng Courtyard.
Having just seen Qin Chen’s painting, although Yan Chi had no intention of prying into the Qin Manor’s secrets, Qin Wan was in the Qin Manor, so he couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned. "Just now, when Qin Chen left, his expression was strange..."
As soon as Yan Chi said this, Qin Wan knew what he wanted to ask. "Just now, the two of them argued."
There was no surprise in Yan Chi’s eyes. He simply stared ahead. "Although this matter has nothing to do with the case, you still shouldn’t insert yourself between the two of them. In the Qin Manor’s current situation, the person who will manage the household in the future will most likely be Qin Chen."
Qin Wan was living under another’s roof. If the Qin Manor really fell under Qin Chen’s management in the future, Qin Wan should be on good terms with Qin Chen.
Qin Wan understood these principles and knew Yan Chi was concerned for her, so she couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her heart.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. I know what to do."
As soon as her voice fell, Bai Feng walked over from the direction of the front courtyard. Seeing him look as if he had something to report, Qin Wan immediately took two steps forward. Sure enough, Bai Feng walked to Yan Chi’s side and whispered something.
Yan Chi’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this. He turned to look at Qin Wan. "Prefect Huo has captured the people. One of them has been brought back to the Qin Manor. I am going to take a look. I will have Bai Feng stay with you."
Qin Wan nodded and then shook her head. "No need. Your Highness should have someone by your side as well. I will go to Linfeng Courtyard to return the key and then go back to my own quarters. Your Highness need not worry."
Yan Chi thought for a moment. "Very well. If I obtain useful news, I will come find you."
Qin Wan answered, and Yan Chi left without delay. Watching his figure disappear, Qin Wan then walked toward Linfeng Courtyard. She hadn't taken more than a few steps when she saw Fuling hurriedly walking toward her.
She had instructed Fuling to come find her at the archive, but Fuling seemed to be a bit late.
"Miss, this servant is late..."
Qin Wan frowned. "What happened?"
Fuling caught her breath. "Just now, a maidservant from Second Young Master’s yard came over..."
Qin Wan blinked. Fuling continued, "That maidservant said that these past few days, Miss has been helping His Highness, so Second Young Master hasn't come over. But today, Second Young Master’s illness has worsened somewhat, and he wishes to invite you over to take a look. I kept her to say a few words and then let her go back first, saying Miss would come over once she was busy."
"I should go over and take a look. The Qin Manor is in such a state now; there is no need for so many taboos." Qin Wan felt a sinking feeling in her heart and hurried toward Linfeng Courtyard. She had originally been thinking of preparing medicine for Qin Li, but she didn’t expect Qin Li’s people to come looking for her first.
Qin Wan went straight to Linfeng Courtyard. She was still somewhat uneasy in her heart, afraid Qin Chen had returned. But upon reaching the courtyard, Qin Chen had not yet returned. Qin Wan handed the key to Moshu. The redness in Moshu’s eyes from earlier had faded.
"Ninth Miss, please go see the Young Madame. Just now, a letter arrived from Jianzhou. The Young Madame is much more relaxed now."
Hearing Moshu’s words, Qin Wan naturally couldn’t leave immediately. She hurried toward the inner chamber. Inside, Yao Xinlan had indeed calmed down. She held a piece of paper in her hand, still sitting in a daze on the bedside.
Hearing the movement, Yao Xinlan turned her face. As soon as she saw Qin Wan, her eyes reddened slightly again.
"Sister-in-law, did a letter come from Jianzhou?"
Yao Xinlan nodded and pulled Qin Wan to sit beside her. "More than ten days ago, someone from the clan happened to come to Jinzhou to handle business matters. Originally, the manor only had people die, but later so many white bones were dug up, so the situation became different. The clan members sent the news back to Jianzhou. Father found out and wrote a letter."
Qin Wan nodded. "What does Lord Yao say?"
A trace of warmth rose in Yao Xinlan’s eyes. "Father says that the matter of the Qin Manor has nothing to do with Brother Chen. But now that this has happened, the Qin Manor cannot remain in Jinzhou. Father’s meaning is that Jianzhou is the Yao family’s land. I am about to give birth. Although the Loyal and Valiant Marquis Manor in the capital will also help, the journey to the capital is too far, and my body cannot withstand it. Father said he has already sent people over. Once the case is concluded, he will immediately take Brother Chen and me to Jianzhou. After the new year, he will return to the capital to serve as an official. By then, he will do his best to arrange a future for Brother Chen. With the support of the Loyal and Valiant Marquis Manor, at least Brother Chen can still carve out a career. Jinzhou is a place of trouble. Neither I nor Brother Chen should stay long."
Even Qin Wan felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. Yao Xinlan’s father was a sensible man. The Qin Manor was in such a state, yet Madam Lin and Madam Jiang were full of despair, while this Lord Yao did his best to consider things for Qin Chen. Currently, the authorities had not yet made a final ruling. If they did, the Qin Manor in Jinzhou would likely be shouted down by everyone. When the report was submitted to the court, the descendants of the Qin family would naturally have no good path forward.
At this time, who knew how many people wanted to distance themselves from the Qin Manor. Although Lord Yao was doing it for his own daughter, he could still be considered to have done his utmost. Qin Wan curved her lips. "Lord Yao loves you, sister-in-law. This arrangement could not be better."
A look of confusion appeared on Yao Xinlan’s exquisite face. "But I haven’t thought it through clearly."
Hearing this, Qin Wan immediately thought of the painting she had just seen in the archive. She looked at Yao Xinlan’s bewildered eyes and almost couldn’t help but say it. But the words reached her lips, and she ultimately held them back. She only asked Yao Xinlan, "What does sister-in-law want to do? If sister-in-law thinks it through, just send someone to call me. I can help you."
Yao Xinlan showed gratitude but shook her head. "I haven’t thought it through. My mind is too messy."
Saying this, Yao Xinlan gave a tearful smile. "I am too soft. I don’t have your temperament, Ninth Sister. I need to think about it some more... Ninth Sister, go do your own business. When I think it through, I will have Moshu call you."
Thinking of examining Qin Li, Qin Wan nodded. "Very well. I will go back first."
Taking her leave of Yao Xinlan, Qin Wan took Fuling and quickly returned to Tinglan Courtyard.
"Miss, are we going to Second Young Master’s place now?"
As soon as she entered the room, Fuling asked. Qin Wan, however, slowed her steps with a grave expression. The door was closed. Qin Wan frowned slightly. "Fuling, where was Big Brother the night I fell into the lake?"
Fuling paused for a moment, tilted her head to think for a while, and said, "That night... that afternoon, it seemed the Eldest Young Master was about to leave for Jianzhou. I heard people in the manor say so."
Qin Wan turned to look at Fuling. "Are you certain?"
Being looked at so seriously by Qin Wan, Fuling couldn’t help but shrink her neck. "With Miss asking like this, this servant dares not say she is certain. However, we can ask the gatekeeper. They will definitely know!"
"Miss, shall we go ask now?"
Qin Wan shook her head. She was suspicious in her heart, but also afraid of alerting the snake, so she was unwilling to act rashly.
Calming her mind, Qin Wan still said, "Let’s go see Second Brother first."
As soon as her voice fell, there was a sudden "swish" sound outside the door. Qin Wan frowned. "Who is outside!"
Hearing this, Fuling hurriedly ran to the door. Opening it to look, the corridor outside and even the courtyard were empty. Fuling said strangely, "What is going on? This servant heard it too. It felt like someone’s footsteps suddenly became heavy."
Qin Wan also walked to the door and looked around the courtyard. She shook her head. "Perhaps it was a bird. It’s fine. Hurry and get the medicine. We will go take a look and come back..."
Fuling hurriedly went to get it. Qin Wan stood alone at the door, looking at the empty courtyard in a daze for a moment.
"Miss, it’s ready. The medicine is all packed."
Qin Wan nodded and walked out first. Fuling locked the door as usual and followed behind Qin Wan without distraction.
The two walked out of the courtyard gate. Qin Wan looked back. The half-closed door revealed a corner of the courtyard. Faintly, she could see the courtyard was as quiet as before, with no one there. Qin Wan withdrew her gaze and walked quickly toward Qin Li’s yard.
Qin Li’s yard was also behind the front courtyard, but it was much more secluded than Linfeng Courtyard. Qin Wan had never been there. She walked over according to the general direction Fuling gave. Upon arriving at the courtyard gate, it was locked from the inside. Fuling went forward to knock, and it was opened. As soon as the courtyard door opened, Qin Wan saw a layout much smaller than Linfeng Courtyard.
Qin Li had also been fond of romance in the past, so although the yard was not large, it was decorated very elegantly. The maidservant who opened the door had delicate features. Seeing Qin Wan arrive, she hurriedly lowered her head in a curtsy. "Greetings, Ninth Miss. Our young master is waiting for you."
Qin Wan nodded and walked inside. After a few steps, she saw another maidservant waiting at the door.
This second maidservant was also fresh and good-looking. Fuling couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times and whispered to Qin Wan, "Miss, the sisters here at Second Young Master’s place are indeed all born very beautiful..."
Qin Wan made no comment. The second maidservant lifted the curtain and respectfully invited Qin Wan inside.
A faint scent of medicine wafted from the room. To Qin Wan’s surprise, the decoration inside was very elegant, actually somewhat unlike Qin Li’s character. Qin Wan didn’t look much and was led by the maidservant into the warm pavilion.
"Ninth Sister..."
As soon as she entered the warm pavilion, she saw Qin Li lying on a long couch by the window. Not having seen him for a few days, Qin Li had lost another couple of points of weight. The hard chancre at the corner of his lip had slowly improved, but Qin Wan saw at a glance the plum-blossom sores growing on Qin Li’s neck.
Qin Wan walked over quickly and sat down on the small stool by Qin Li’s side.
"Reach out your hand..."
Qin Wan had no small talk whatsoever, truly appearing as a doctor coming for a consultation.
Qin Li extended his wrist, and the tips of Qin Wan’s fingers pressed onto it...
"I took the medicine Ninth Sister gave, and applied the ointment, but only..."
As he spoke, Qin Li subconsciously wanted to reach out and touch the plum-blossom sore on his neck. Qin Wan glanced at his hand. Perhaps because her gaze was too sharp, Qin Li’s movement suddenly stopped.
"It looks like the hard chancre has healed, but in reality, the evil poison transformed from damp-heat has now manifested. How many sores are there on your neck? Where do they grow?"
Qin Wan’s voice was undulating. At this question, Qin Li lowered his eyes, seemingly with a trace of shame. "Not many. One on the neck, two on the lower abdomen, and also on the thighs and..."
Qin Li’s voice paused. Qin Wan understood. She nodded, retracted her fingertips, turned to take the medicine package Fuling was holding, and said, "This is the decoction. Four doses a day. Three during the day, one at night. Here is the White Apricot Ointment. It is just missing two ingredients. When using it, grind this packet into a fine powder and mix it in. The method is the same as before."
After Qin Wan finished speaking, her brows were still slightly furrowed. Qin Li couldn’t help but ask, "How is Father?"
Qin Wan shook her head. "He was poisoned with heavy metal poison a few days ago, which triggered the illness. His condition is already very severe these past two days. You have only just started, but he is beyond help..."
Qin Li’s eyelid twitched. He seemed to think of his future self, revealing a look of nervousness and despair, but he forcibly restrained himself and asked, "Poisoned? Who would poison him?"
Qin Wan shook her head, then narrowed her eyes at Qin Li and said, "Second Brother wasn’t willing to say before, so why ask now?"
Qin Li lowered his eyes and gave a bitter smile. "Whatever Ninth Miss asked, whatever I could say, I said..."
"Second Brother only told me not to go near that well and not to go to the Purple Bamboo Grove." Qin Wan gave a cold laugh.
"Trying to stop Ninth Miss from going to that well is because Grandmother said that well is an unlucky well. I didn’t know there were so many people’s bones hidden underneath; I only knew about Second Aunt’s..."
"Then why didn’t Second Brother want me to go to the Purple Bamboo Grove?"
Qin Wan looked at Qin Li with a pressing gaze. The corners of Qin Li’s lips moved a few times, but he didn’t say anything.
Qin Wan’s tone became even more forceful. "At this point, Second Brother isn’t afraid of others knowing he is sick, so what is there to hide? Could it be there is another secret in the Purple Bamboo Grove?"
Qin Li’s face was full of difficulty. Qin Wan immediately frowned. "What other secret is there in the Purple Bamboo Grove?!"
Qin Li gave a bitter smile. "Don’t ask anymore. The Qin Manor has reached this state; it’s not good to create more waves. Although I am not a legitimate son, I also know that the Qin Manor cannot withstand much turmoil right now. We younger generation must understand this even more..."
Qin Li spoke to himself. Qin Wan couldn’t help but ponder the meaning of his words. Legitimate son... younger generation...
Her breath tightened. Qin Wan said coldly, "Is it related to Big Brother?!"
The corner of Qin Li’s eye twitched. The hand at his side suddenly gripped the corner of his clothes, and his eyes lowered even further, unwilling to look at Qin Wan. Seeing these small movements of his, Qin Wan’s eyes narrowed instantly. "What secret does Big Brother have?"
Qin Li simply turned his head away and said, "Big Brother has no secrets. Big Brother and sister-in-law love each other, and his learning is also good. He is the future pillar of the Qin family. What secret could he have?"
Qin Wan looked at Qin Li like this and gave a cold laugh. "Then why would he paint another woman?"
Qin Li was shocked and turned his eyes to Qin Wan in disbelief. "How does Ninth Sister know?!"
Qin Wan put on an appearance of calm indifference, as if she understood everything. "If you don’t want people to know, don’t do it. Everyone else thinks he treats sister-in-law extremely well, but I have been with sister-in-law a lot recently and understand that Big Brother doesn’t truly love sister-in-law! Moreover, I found the painting he made of that person in the archive. It is truly audacious, bold to such an extent!"
It was just a back view, so Qin Wan hadn’t recognized who it was at all. But Qin Wan hadn’t forgotten Yao Xinlan’s jade pendant. Since she had seen with her own eyes Qin Chen meeting privately with someone else, that person was likely someone in the Qin Manor...
Since they were someone from the Qin Manor, weren’t they being incredibly bold?!
Qin Wan continued, her tone carrying annoyance. "Sister-in-law is the future mistress of the Qin Manor, yet they dared... Sister-in-law told me she once saw them meeting privately. That person actually dared to seduce Big Brother..."
Hearing Qin Wan’s words, Qin Li thought that Qin Wan already knew the inside story of this matter. Hearing this, he shook his head with a bitter smile. "Who let Grandmother favor and rely on her? In the inner courtyard, who doesn’t know she is the person Grandmother values most."
Qin Wan’s pupils trembled violently. If her self-control hadn’t been good, she almost would have widened her eyes.
Caihe... The person Madam Jiang favored and relied on, besides Caihe, who could it be?!
Qin Wan’s heart beat wildly twice. Qin Chen... Caihe... It was them...
Gritting her teeth fiercely, Qin Wan finally found her voice. "Since Big Brother likes her, why didn’t he take her as a concubine?"
Qin Li’s bitter smile grew even deeper. "Big Brother married sister-in-law originally because sister-in-law’s father is the Prefect of Jianzhou. The Qin family’s Third House had fallen into decline, and the Capital side wasn’t very concerned with Big Brother’s future, so Grandmother came up with this idea. It happened that sister-in-law also liked Big Brother. It was originally perfect. But Lord Yao had one requirement for Big Brother, which was that he could not take concubines. Grandmother also agreed."
Qin Wan was stunned for a moment. Didn’t Yao Xinlan say that originally Qin Chen decided to only marry her in this life because he loved her and was tired of Qin An’s promiscuity?
Thinking of Yao Xinlan saying those words with a faint hint of sweetness, Qin Wan felt a pang of pity.
Lord Yao loved his daughter and raised this requirement. Qin Chen went with the flow and turned this matter into something he did willingly, thereby winning Yao Xinlan’s heart, yet he still hid someone else in his heart...
Qin Wan felt a wave of disgust. Qin Chen had deceived Yao Xinlan...
Thinking this way, Qin Wan’s suspicion of Qin Chen grew a bit stronger.
Qin Wan also lowered her eyes to hide the sharpness within. "Old Madam surely doesn’t know about this matter. If Old Madam and sister-in-law were to find out, what would happen?"
Qin Li narrowed his eyes and shook his head with sarcasm. "What would happen? If this matter were known, what life would Caihe have left? No matter how much she is favored, she is just a servant. Even if sister-in-law endures the grievance, her father would not endure it. Grandmother would definitely sacrifice Caihe for the future of the Qin Manor."
Saying this, Qin Li mocked, "Everyone thinks Big Brother is a favored son of heaven, but in this matter, he is truly muddled."
Qin Wan’s lips were pressed tight. Qin Li was right. This matter truly could not be made public.
And standing from Qin Chen’s perspective, if this matter were discovered, and he truly loved Caihe, it would not be impossible for him to kill others for her. As Qin Wan thought this, a chill slowly crept up her spine.
"Ninth Sister, let Big Brother handle this matter himself. The Qin Manor is in even less of a position to lose the support of sister-in-law’s father right now. Making things unpleasant at this moment would do the Qin Manor a hundred harms and no benefit."
Qin Wan abruptly raised her head. She looked at Qin Li, her gaze cold to the point of being frightening.
"If the Qin Manor treated sister-in-law well, accepting Lord Yao’s support would be one thing. But now, treating someone else’s daughter like a fool, yet borrowing her strength without any shame in your heart?"
Qin Li was stunned by Qin Wan’s words. Qin Wan continued, "Second Brother mocks Big Brother, but isn’t Second Brother the same?"
As she spoke, Qin Wan stood up. "With Third Uncle above, and Big Brother and Second Brother below, how can the Qin family avoid ruin? Second Brother, focus on recovering..."
Qin Wan finished speaking and left. Qin Li hurriedly sat up straight. "Ninth Sister!"
Qin Li called out urgently, but Qin Wan had no intention of stopping. In an instant, she led Fuling out.
Qin Li sat in a daze for a moment. Not long after, he lay back down powerlessly.
As soon as they left the courtyard gate, Fuling couldn’t help but say in a low voice in disbelief, "Miss, did this servant hear wrong just now... or did this servant mistake the person... The Eldest Young Master is thinking of someone else? That person... is... is it Caihe?"
Qin Wan walked quickly in front. She didn’t stop until she had walked a good distance away. She adjusted her breathing, forcing herself to calm down.
"It is Caihe... I actually didn’t think of it..."
As Qin Wan spoke, her heart started to pound with a "thump-thump." She had been wondering who had harmed Yao Xinlan. Both Madam Jiang and Qin Chen had musk, but neither of them could have done it. But if, now, she added Caihe to the equation?
If Caihe and Qin Chen had an affair, she would have had the opportunity to tamper with Yao Xinlan’s medicine. Could it be that she added musk and angelica to make Yao Xinlan miscarry?
As Qin Wan thought this, she felt certain in her heart. It was entirely possible!
Although Qin Wan had never experienced it herself, she had heard plenty of rumors among great families. Wives and concubines struggling, family infighting, poisoning and harming each other were common occurrences, not to mention adding just two medicinal ingredients.
"Miss, how could it be Caihe? So... so what the Young Madame saw was real?"
Fuling still hadn’t reacted. Qin Wan nodded. "The jade pendant we picked up last time already proved that sister-in-law went to Half-Moon Lake, she just forgot it herself. And Big Brother, seeing her in a trance, said she was dreaming."
Qin Wan walked extremely slowly, thinking as she went. She had originally come to investigate the deaths of Liu-shi and Liu Chun, but instead found such a secret. And did this matter have any connection to the death of the Ninth Miss?
If there was a connection, Caihe must also know that her affair with Qin Chen was discovered. But Qin Lan remembered that every time Caihe saw her, she showed no hostility, and even held a hint of warning.
Or perhaps, Qin Chen and Caihe were indeed having an affair, but it had nothing to do with the Ninth Miss’s death?
Then who exactly killed the Ninth Miss in the Purple Bamboo Grove back then...
Qin Wan’s mind settled slightly. "Go, let’s go to the gatekeeper now to check!"
To know whether Qin Chen had anything to do with the Ninth Miss’s death, she first had to know whether Qin Chen was actually in the manor that day. If he was, his suspicion would increase greatly...
Qin Wan took Fuling and walked quickly toward the West Side Gate. Fuling followed behind, asking anxiously, "Miss, since we know now, should we tell the Young Madame?"
Qin Wan calmed her mind. "Wait for her to figure it out herself. If she comes to me, I will tell her."
Fuling gave a long sigh and pouted her mouth. In her heart, Qin Chen was simply a model husband. She felt that Qin Chen’s character, learning, and appearance were all top-notch. But she didn’t expect, didn’t expect that Qin Chen was actually like this!
Fuling held a breath of anger in her heart. Thinking of Yao Xinlan, she felt pity again and couldn’t help but say hatefully, "A gentleman should not be without faith. He clearly promised the Young Madame’s father, yet he cannot do it."
Hearing this, Qin Wan gave a bitter smile. "He did do it. He didn’t take a concubine. He just used a hypocritical method to deceive sister-in-law. He wants a good future, and he also wants the beauty he loves. Men in this world..."
Qin Wan was filled with sighs. From Qin Li’s yard all the way west, she had to pass Tinglan Courtyard on the way. Qin Wan took the path she was most familiar with. Although Tinglan Courtyard was right there, she didn’t intend to enter. However, from a distance, she saw Xu He waiting in front of the courtyard gate with a bundle on his back. Qin Wan paused in her steps and had no choice but to walk toward Xu He.
Xu He had been left in the West Back Courtyard by Huo Huaixin. Waiting at Tinglan Courtyard now, he was naturally looking for her.
"Coroner Xu."
Qin Wan called out. Xu He, who had been lowering his head, immediately turned around. "Ninth Miss."
Qin Wan took a few steps closer. "What is Coroner Xu doing waiting here?"
Xu He curved his lips and waved a stack of dossiers in his hand at Qin Wan. "These were brought back from Yang County by people sent by His Highness. Today, the bones and record dossiers from that side are to be sent to the Prefectural Yamen. I was looking at these, wondering if I should take them with me. I sent someone to ask the Official, and the Official said to come ask Ninth Miss."
Qin Wan thought for a moment. The deaths of Liu-shi and Liu Chun were simply means for the murderer to expose the events of the past; it was clear that these two cases were already entangled together. "Keep them for now. The matter isn’t settled yet. Perhaps there are still clues on them."
Xu He nodded. "Very well, this subordinate understands..." As he spoke, Xu He packed the dossiers and letters into the bag at his side, then asked, "Why is Ninth Miss walking so fast? Where are you going?"
Qin Wan didn’t intend to say much. "To the gatekeeper to ask about a matter."
As she spoke, Xu He inadvertently let two letters slip from his hand and fall to the ground.
Qin Wan happened to be standing nearby and hurriedly bent down to pick them up. Xu He awkwardly wanted to take them, but Qin Wan lowered her eyes and saw the words written on the letter. She frowned and for a moment did not hand them back to Xu He.
"What’s wrong, Ninth Miss…"
Xu He asked in confusion, but Qin Wan was still staring at a line of small words on the letter, lost in thought. On the letter, it was recorded what Yan Chi’s people had heard when interviewing the locals. What Qin Wan saw was a description by one person of how the master of a certain household sold silk. Everything else was fine, but Qin Wan happened to see that the letter said the master often got colors wrong.
Taking black for red, and grey for dark.