The Powerful and Favored Coroner Imperial Concubine

Chapter 128 : The Strange Sick Village, Meeting an Old Acquaintance Again

128: The Strange Sick Village, Meeting an Old Acquaintance Again

Once October arrived, winter had officially begun. The further north one traveled, the more biting the cold became.

Traveling north from Jinzhou for one day brought them to Shili Temple. After another two days, they reached Qi County, the northernmost point of Jinzhou Prefecture. Passing Qi County meant leaving Jinzhou Prefecture and entering Yongzhou territory. Turning northeast and traveling for five more days, they exited Yongzhou and arrived at Yuanzhou. The southern part of Yuanzhou was traversed by the Yanjiang River. Crossing the Yanjiang at the Jialing Ferry, the opposite shore was Yunwu Mountain.

Yunwu Mountain marked the boundary between north and south in Great Zhou. It was also an exceptionally beautiful mountain range, its peaks stretching unbroken for hundreds of miles. The entire area south of Yuanzhou consisted of hilly terrain, with cities, towns, and villages scattered among them like stars. Bordering the Yanjiang River, the land was not only fertile and abundant in resources but also boasted numerous scenic spots and historical sites such as Lancang Lake, Lingyin Temple, Yunwu Academy, and Goddess Gorge.

Having never been on a boat before, the Qin sisters, Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang, began suffering from seasickness as soon as they boarded. In the mere half hour it took to cross the river, the two sisters vomited three times in succession. Qin Shuang could manage, but Qin Xiang's constitution was exceedingly delicate. By the time they disembarked on the north bank of the Yanjiang, she didn't even have the strength to walk. Each of the three sisters had brought two maidservants. Besides Wanqing, Qin Shuang had also brought Xiuyun. Qin Xiang had Wanhe and a girl named Xiuzhi, who originally served Madam Lin. Wanhe and Xiuzhi half‑supported, half‑carried Qin Xiang off the boat. Since their carriages and luggage had been unloaded and loaded onto the boat, they now had to wait a moment before they could get back into their carriages.

Qin Yan had someone reserve a private room in a tea house not far from the ferry, allowing the sisters to rest temporarily.

"Young Miss, how are you feeling?"

Wanhe helped Qin Xiang sit down. Qin Xiang's brow was tightly furrowed, her small face pale in waves. In response, she merely pressed her lips together, remaining silent, one hand pressed over her heart as if she might vomit again at any moment.

Xiuzhi poured a cup of tea and handed it to Qin Xiang. Qin Xiang only took a small sip before refusing more. Both Xiuzhi and Wanhe's eyes were filled with distress. Meanwhile, Qin Shuang was eating the pastries the waiter had brought up. "The area around Yunwu Mountain is all tea‑producing land. These tea pastries are quite delicious."

Qin Shuang, who had been miserably seasick on the boat, was now lively and energetic as soon as she disembarked. By contrast, Qin Xiang appeared even more frail and pitiful. Wanhe shot a displeased glance at Qin Shuang, then paused slightly when she turned her head and saw the figure by the window.

The private room was on the second floor. At this moment, the window lattice was half‑open. Qin Wan, dressed in a lotus‑root‑colored gown with a misty blue‑green cloak draped over it, stood by the window looking out. From Wanhe's perspective, Qin Wan was different from Qin Shuang, who was eating and drinking heartily, and also different from Qin Xiang, who looked delicate and pitiful like a lotus trembling in the wind. Qin Wan stood by the window, her hair and attire elegant, neat, and meticulous. Despite the fatigue of travel, her posture was graceful, her quality like an autumn orchid. Though weariness showed on her face, it did nothing to diminish her composed and calm demeanor. The natural light from outside the window streamed in, and when Wanhe first looked over, she faintly felt as if Qin Wan were draped in a silvery glow like that of a clear moon.

What kind of ethereal, bright, and noble figure was this?

Wanhe thought this to herself, then lowered her head to glance at Qin Xiang. Qin Xiang's small face was all scrunched up with discomfort, and the new gown she wore today was also wrinkled and crumpled. She couldn't compare in appearance, let alone in temperament, which was a world of difference. Having left Jinzhou, Wanhe began to feel a vague sense of worry.

Qin Wan naturally hadn't missed the commotion from Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang. She glanced at Wanxing, who then walked over to Qin Xiang and took out a sachet. "Fifth Young Miss, this is a medicinal sachet our Young Miss made. It can alleviate seasickness."

Upon hearing this, Wanhe reached out to take it, but Qin Xiang waved her hand. "No need."

At this refusal, Wanhe's hand withdrew. She gave Wanxing an apologetic look. Wanxing expressionlessly retrieved the sachet and, without another word, retreated to Qin Wan's side.

Qin Wan didn't spare Qin Xiang a glance. Her gaze fell distantly on the Qin family guards loading the carriages not far from the tea house, or more accurately, on Zhou Huai directing the group of guards.

Their party had been traveling for thirteen days now. Though slower than anticipated, they had still covered ten out of fourteen parts of the journey. And along this journey, Qin Wan had rarely seen Steward Zhou speak.

His scholarly air made it clear he was no ordinary steward. Yet on this trip, he simply followed behind Qin Yan, quiet and silent like a shadow. The journey was too monotonous and tedious. Qin Wan passed the time making medicinal sachets and reading books, and in her leisure moments, she observed the habits of those around her. Qin Yan was fond of cleanliness. The sitting couch inside his carriage and the saddle on his horse had to be wiped clean daily; his robes were also changed every day. Not only that, he demanded great fastidiousness from the two personal attendants by his side. Moreover, he particularly loved reading books, even having people buy books for him during the journey. This was quite different from the typical wealthy young masters from prominent families who were more interested in sightseeing and pleasure‑seeking.

As for Steward Zhou, Qin Wan hadn't discerned much. He had been handling all the arrangements along the way. Apart from rising early, this Steward Zhou hadn't displayed any particular preferences. If he were merely a low‑ranking guard, that would be one thing, but Qin Yan's attitude made it clear he held a high position within the household. He clearly had the means and authority to have preferences, yet he had none.

This gave Qin Wan an unfathomable, inscrutable feeling...

"It's already noon. I wonder where we'll rest tonight?"

Suddenly, Qin Shuang ran over to Qin Wan's side. The weariness of more than ten days of travel had slimmed Qin Shuang down a bit. This slimming had given some definition to her cheeks, making her appear somewhat prettier. Her words seemed partly directed at Qin Wan, partly a musing to herself. Seeing Qin Wan didn't respond, she looked up at the sky. "The sky looks rather gloomy. It's not going to rain, is it?"

As she spoke, Qin Shuang pulled her cloak tighter around herself. "The weather is getting colder and colder."

After saying this, Qin Wan still didn't reply. Qin Shuang grew a bit uncomfortable and muttered, "If it rains, we definitely can't rest in some crude place outdoors, or we'll really freeze to death."

"If it falls now, it will be snow, not rain."

Qin Wan finally spoke. Qin Shuang's eyes immediately lit up as she looked at Qin Wan. "What? Snow?!"

Qin Wan was amused by her excitement. "It should snow in October."

Qin Shuang instantly looked up at the sky with shining eyes, as if watching for when the snowflakes might start falling. "So it really snows this early up north? Will it fall tonight?"

Qin Shuang had been born and raised in Jinzhou, which was in the south of Great Zhou. Even if she saw snow, it was only light sleet that melted upon hitting the ground. Qin Wan shook her head at Qin Shuang's reaction. She had spent considerable time in the west and north with her father in the past. Though she also liked snowy days, she wasn't as eager to see snow as Qin Shuang. Besides...

"If it's a heavy snow, the mountain roads will be difficult, and we'll travel very slowly."

Qin Wan didn't even mention that if they encountered a blizzard, the roads might be blocked, and they might not be able to travel at all.

Yet upon hearing this, Qin Shuang chuckled. "So we travel slower, that's fine. I've never seen heavy snow before. Does it snow in the capital too?"

"It does. The capital sees snow every year." Qin Wan replied.

Only then did Qin Shuang relax. "That's good then. If we don't see it on the road, we can see it in the capital."

As they were speaking, Qin Wan saw in the distance that the carriages had all been loaded and the luggage moved onto the carriages. Qin Yan was walking towards the tea house. Not long after, footsteps approached their private room.

With a creak, the door to the private room was pushed open. Qin Yan entered. "Third Sisters, the carriages are loaded. Everyone, please board. The sky is growing darker; we need to hurry on our way."

Qin Shuang responded. Qin Wan also turned to prepare to go downstairs. Qin Xiang was helped up by Wanhe, her face even paler and more distressed. Qin Yan hurried forward. "Fifth Sister, are you still unwell?"

Qin Xiang shook her head. "It's nothing, Third Brother. Let's go."

Qin Yan's eyes were full of concern. "Are you sure you're all right?"

Qin Xiang straightened her back slightly. "Really, it's nothing. We mustn't delay the journey. Let's hurry."

Qin Yan sighed, rather heart‑achingly. "Alright then. When we reach our resting place tonight, Fifth Sister can rest properly." As he spoke, he raised a hand and personally helped Qin Xiang downstairs.

Qin Shuang and Qin Wan walked behind. Qin Shuang snorted softly. "Really. There was a medicinal sachet offered, but she refused to use it, instead putting on this delicate, frail act. Who knows what it's for."

Qin Wan curved her lips slightly but said nothing more, simply following them out of the tea house and into her carriage.

The convoy was ready. As soon as Qin Wan boarded her carriage, she heard Zhou Huai's voice outside.

"Young Master, we've been delayed a bit. I'm afraid we'll have to move faster."

Qin Yan responded, "Alright, pick up the pace. The weather looks rather unfavorable..."

"Indeed. Heavy snow is certain within two days."

Zhou Huai's tone was very definite. Then he quickly walked towards the front.

Soon, the convoy set off, moving much faster than they had been south of the Yanjiang. With increased speed came greater jolting. The carriages for Qin Wan and the others were originally very sturdy and spacious large carriages, equipped with sitting couches, hidden cabinets, small tables, and the like. Normally, one could even brew a pot of tea inside. But now, with the increased speed, they didn't dare place anything on the small table inside.

"Young Miss, heavy snow within two days?" Fuling leaned against the carriage wall, feeling rather uncomfortable from the jolting.

Qin Wan shook her head. "I don't know about that either, but Steward Zhou sounded certain, so it's probably true..."

Fuling sighed. "Sixth Young Miss is hoping for snow, but once heavy snow falls, our journey will become very difficult."

Qin Wan nodded, then looked towards Wanxing sitting in the corner by the carriage door. Her carriage was lined with a thick layer of plush carpet. At the moment, all three master and servant sat on the carpet. Fuling was her usual self, and Wanxing was the same. Throughout the journey, Qin Wan hadn't heard her speak more than a few words. Qin Wan couldn't help but ask now, "Wanxing, where are you from?"

Wanxing lowered her eyes respectfully. "This servant was from Yongzhou as a child. Later... was sold to a broker."

Yongzhou was north of Jinzhou, but still in the south. Qin Wan nodded. "Is your family still there?"

Wanxing shook her head. "This servant doesn't know. It's been many years since I had any news from my family..."

Hearing this, Qin Wan didn't ask further. She lifted the curtain of the carriage window to look in the direction they were heading. Though it was only just past noon, the sky was gradually darkening, with a tendency to grow even darker. The direction they were heading towards was filled with an unbroken stretch of dark blue‑black mountain shadows in the distance: Yunwu Mountain.

Looking at the seemingly endless mountain shadows, Qin Wan's heart sank slightly.

If they were on flat plains, it would be one thing, but they were right in front of the mountains. If heavy snow fell now, even their sturdier and taller‑than‑usual carriages wouldn't hold up well. And the three sisters and their maidservants couldn't ride horses like Qin Yan and the others.

Qin Wan could only hope to pass through Yunwu Mountain before the snow fell. But after traveling just over ten miles, the convoy's speed suddenly slowed. Not only that, Qin Wan heard talking from the carriage ahead. A moment later, Qin Yan suddenly rode his horse to the side of Qin Wan's carriage. "Ninth Sister, do you still have any of those medicinal sachets with you?"

Qin Wan lifted the carriage curtain. "Yes, I do. What is it, Third Brother?"

Qin Yan gave a bitter smile. "Fifth Sister vomited again. She looks rather serious."

Qin Wan glanced at Wanxing, who promptly handed over a sachet. Qin Yan said a word of thanks and rode forward. Inside the carriage, Fuling hummed softly. "What does Fifth Young Miss mean by this? She refused it just now, but now she has the Young Master come ask for it, making it seem as if our Young Miss was unwilling to give it to her." She leaned against the window to look out. "It seems the Young Master slowed the convoy for her sake."

Qin Wan felt some concern. She had seen the route map for their return to the capital. If their speed decreased, they would only just enter the mountains by nightfall and wouldn't make it to their originally planned resting place. Although there were many villages and towns in this area, so they didn't need to worry about being in a desolate wilderness with no sign of human habitation, Qin Wan's unease grew stronger and stronger, feeling as if something would go wrong.

After traveling for another hour or so, as the sky grew increasingly dark, Zhou Huai, who was leading at the front, suddenly rode his horse back a few paces and called out clearly, "Young Master, it seems we won't make it to Guanyin Town..."

Qin Yan was riding his horse, currently beside Qin Xiang's carriage ahead of Qin Wan's. Qin Wan also heard Zhou Huai's words.

Then she heard Qin Yan say, "If we can't make it, then we can't. Let's find a village to stay in tonight and set out again early tomorrow morning."

Zhou Huai sighed. "The nearest bustling place from this Jialing Ferry is that Guanyin Town. Further ahead, though it's only a day's journey to Yuanzhou City by fast horse, at our pace it would take over two days."

Qin Yan glanced into the carriage. "We don't need a bustling place. Just find a village. If there's no inn, we can ask a household to put us up. At most, we'll pay a bit more silver."

Zhou Huai nodded. "Young Master, do you remember? On the way here, there was a village in the northwest direction from here?"

Qin Yan thought for a moment, then nodded. "I remember. Though we only passed by from a distance then, it looked like it had many households. Let's go there. We should be able to reach it before dark."

Zhou Huai acknowledged and went to instruct the guards leading at the front. Then Qin Yan came back to inform Qin Wan and Qin Shuang in turn. Matters being as they were, they could only head towards the place Qin Yan and Zhou Huai mentioned.

The sky grew darker and darker. The leading guards changed direction, veering off the main road heading towards Yuanzhou City onto a small path only slightly wider than the carriages. Fortunately, the path was relatively even. Though they slowed down a bit along the way, no accidents occurred. By dusk, Qin Wan, looking out the carriage window, could faintly see a cluster of residential buildings not far away: a village.

In the mountains and wilderness, though they could see it, it still took the better part of an hour to actually reach the front. The sky above was a starless, moonless black, and suddenly a strong wind began to blow, a bone‑chillingly cold gust. By the time the carriages slowly entered the village entrance, Qin Wan discovered the village was considerably larger than she had imagined.

The main road through the village was very even, and small compounds with black‑tiled roofs and gray walls stood on either side. Two guards were sent out by Zhou Huai. Not long after, they returned and reported, "Young Master, Steward Zhou, we walked the entire length of the street. There's only one small, rather dilapidated‑looking inn. And when we asked, that inn only has three rooms left, and no food."

The inn was dilapidated, only three rooms remained, and there was no food...

Qin Yan frowned. "Then we might as well ask to stay in a private home."

Zhou Huai nodded. His gaze swept around and settled on a nearby residence. He went up and knocked. This household appeared quite prosperous within the village, and faint lamplight seeped through the cracks in the door.

After Zhou Huai knocked for a while, the door was opened from inside. The one who opened it was an elderly man with graying hair. He only opened the door the width of a palm, not even fully revealing his face. He swept a wary glance over those outside and asked, "What do you want?"

The old man's tone wasn't very polite. Zhou Huai hurriedly bowed and explained their purpose. After listening, the old man's expression remained impassive. Instead, he scanned their group and said, "Our village doesn't take in outsiders. You'd best leave quickly."

With that, he shut the door with a thud. The sound of a door bar being set in place followed from inside.

Zhou Huai frowned slightly. Qin Yan was also somewhat displeased. "Forget it. Let's try further ahead."

Zhou Huai acknowledged and walked forward again. The three Qin sisters hadn't disembarked from their carriages but had clearly heard the exchange between Zhou Huai and the old man. Inside her carriage, Qin Wan frowned, faintly sensing something was off.

Outside, Zhou Huai walked forward again, only to find that the households in this village were all shut tight. Some had light visible through the door cracks, but before they could even approach, the light would go out. Other households were dark from the start. Zhou Huai's frown deepened. Before long, he saw another household with quite a few buildings.

Bang, bang, bang. Three knocks. Zhou Huai knocked as usual. Soon, footsteps approached from behind the door.

No one opened the door. Only a man's voice came through. "Who is it?"

Zhou Huai stated their identity and purpose. The man was silent for a moment. "Our village doesn't take in outsiders. Please leave."

After saying this, the person behind the door ran off. Soon, this originally lit‑up residence plunged into darkness.

By now, Zhou Huai already felt something was wrong. He walked over to Qin Yan and said, "Young Master, it seems the people of this village are very wary of outsiders. I'm afraid asking to stay in a private home won't work. Should we settle in the inn for the night instead? We have plenty of dry rations and food with us, so no food is no problem. It's just that it will inconvenience the three Young Misses. I'm afraid they'll have to squeeze together to rest tonight."

There were only three rooms total. Besides the masters, there were over twenty guards and male servants. Not only could they not sleep in the carriages, but in such cold weather, it wouldn't be good to rest inside them either. Qin Yan felt helpless and had to nod. "Alright. Have someone lead the way to that inn to take a look."

At his command, the convoy headed towards the inn the two guards had mentioned earlier. After the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the carriages stopped in front of the inn. Qin Wan got out of her carriage and looked up to see the signboard hanging over the inn's courtyard gate, looking as if it might fall off at any moment.

"Changfu Inn?" Fuling read softly, then added, "Looks like it's been open for over ten years."

The carriages were driven into the courtyard one after another. Qin Wan also walked in. She saw the inn covered a decent area, but the buildings were very old. The courtyard wasn't enclosed by a gray wall but by a row of wooden fences.

Qin Yan led the way inside. Zhou Huai stayed outside to arrange the carriages and horses. Soon, a middle‑aged man in a dark blue robe walked out. The man was extremely short, with a dark complexion and rough, yellowish teeth. Seeing such a large group arriving, a smile nearly overflowed on his face. "Honored guests from afar, please, please come in!"

"So those two young fellows earlier were asking on behalf of the Young Master and Young Misses."

"Young Master has extraordinary bearing, and the Young Misses look like immortals. Did you come from Yongzhou or Jinzhou?"

As he ushered Qin Yan and the others into the main hall, the middle‑aged man didn't stop talking. "My name is Wei Changfu. I'm the proprietor of this inn."

Wei Changfu's enthusiasm was a world apart from the attitude of the households earlier, which made Qin Yan feel slightly more at ease. He said first, "I heard you only have three rooms left? You need to accommodate all of us."

Wei Changfu's eyes shifted, then he immediately had a plan. "Though there are no more rooms, there are plenty of beds. The three Young Misses can share one room. The Young Master can take another. As for the rest of you fellows, I can offer a storage room. That's two rooms. If you all squeeze in a bit, wouldn't that settle everyone? I'm not short on quilts here either; I definitely won't let anyone catch cold."

As he spoke, Wei Changfu called out, "Li Wang, Li Cai, carry two sleeping beds to the Number Three room at the back!"

At his call, two young men who looked very simple and honest emerged from a hidden room behind the high counter in the main hall. The two acknowledged and headed towards the backyard. Wei Changfu then smiled. "They're the helpers here. Young Master, please wait a moment. I'll definitely arrange things to your satisfaction."

Qin Yan nodded. "Just give the quilts to the servants." Then he instructed Fuling and the others, "You, go to the carriages and bring the food and brocade quilts we brought. Take good care of your Young Misses later."

At this instruction, Wanxing, Fuling, and the others immediately went out.

Though Qin Yan was the heir of a marquis household, he was quite thoughtful in these matters. Seeing the group standing after entering, Wei Changfu hurriedly said, "Young Master and Young Misses, please have a seat first. Though I have no food here, I do have tea..."

There were tables and seats in the main hall. Seeing they had to wait a while longer, Qin Yan had Qin Wan and the others sit down. Qin Xiang still looked unwell. The medicinal sachet from Qin Wan she had refused earlier was now clutched tightly in her hand, brought to her nose to sniff from time to time. Seeing she seemed genuinely distressed, Qin Shuang didn't comment either. When the proprietor brought hot tea, she first handed a cup to Qin Xiang.

As soon as she sat down, Qin Wan frowned.

When standing earlier, her line of sight had been level. But now sitting down, Qin Wan looked up and saw the ceiling of the main hall. And on this ceiling, many talismanic characters were painted in colored ink. The multi‑colored characters inexplicably gave off a strange, eerie feeling. Thinking of the villagers' attitudes earlier, Qin Wan's unease grew heavier.

As they were talking, Wei Changfu poured tea while saying, "Young Master and Young Misses, don't worry. It'll be arranged soon. I've been running this inn for over ten years and have never left any guest dissatisfied with their stay."

Qin Yan, who was fond of cleanliness, merely held the teacup without drinking. "If that's the case, why didn't you prepare any food, Proprietor?"

At this, Wei Changfu's eyes flickered slightly, then he gave a bitter smile. "This... isn't it winter? The number of people traveling this road to Yuanzhou City has been dwindling..."

Qin Wan frowned slightly, feeling Wei Changfu was being evasive. She took a sip of hot tea from her cup, waiting until the chill on her body dissipated a bit before saying, "Proprietor, why do you think we came from Yongzhou or Jinzhou?"

Wei Changfu chuckled. "In our line of work, one needs sharp eyes... The three Young Misses are so lovely, naturally not northerners. And with such a large amount of luggage, you must have come from afar."

Qin Wan's eyes shifted slightly. Qin Shuang already asked impatiently, "Why did the people in this village all say they don't take in outsiders and told us to leave quickly?"

Hearing this, Wei Changfu's eyes flickered even more rapidly. He cleared his throat softly. "This..."

Seeing him hesitate, Qin Yan immediately cooled his smile. "Since the Proprietor is so good at business, you shouldn't hide things from us." As he spoke, Qin Yan pointed at the talismanic characters on the ceiling. "What are these for?"

Wei Changfu knew he couldn't hide it, so he simply set the teapot down and sighed bitterly.

"Wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. Wouldn't dare hide things from the Young Master and Young Misses. This village is called Sanyuan Village. Earlier, there was a very large tea plantation below the Goddess Peak to the northwest. At that time, many people came, drawn by its fame. There were lots of people picking tea, buying tea, sightseeing... my inn was liveliest then. Only later, the owner of the tea plantation stopped growing tea for some reason. The plantation closed, and the surrounding area became less lively. But it wasn't as deserted as it is now. But three months..."

So saying, Wei Changfu tilted his head, thinking for a moment, then continued. "No, not three months. Six months... six months ago... a few people died in this village..."

Mention of death immediately changed the expressions of Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang. Qin Shuang glanced at Qin Xiang, then at Qin Wan. Perhaps feeling Qin Wan's calm demeanor indicated greater courage, she moved from her seat to Qin Wan's side. The tables in the main hall all had long benches. She sat close to Qin Wan, fearing Qin Wan might dislike it. Seeing Qin Wan showed no reaction, she relaxed.

"People died?" Qin Yan frowned. Since the Qin household had recently been through incidents, he was rather sensitive to this.

Wei Changfu nodded and sighed again. "Exactly. And they were all young people. Previously, they had no major illnesses. A few days before they died, pustules suddenly began to appear on their bodies. They went to see the village doctor and were still taking medicine when they died. One or two people dying would be one thing, but as more died, many rumors started. Some said Sanyuan Village was cursed; others said an epidemic had broken out in the village. In short, all sorts of things were said. The surrounding area completely stopped having visitors."

He paused, as if having opened a floodgate of words. "This matter spread widely north of the Yanjiang River. People within Yuanzhou basically don't dare come here. People from other places have also gradually decreased. Moreover, many villagers believe the deaths in the village were because too many outsiders came, bringing disease or misfortune. So they've become increasingly unwelcoming to outsiders."

"As for my inn, I only accommodate the occasional passing traveler. To ward off disaster, I also invited a Daoist priest here to perform rites. Honored guests, don't look down on these talismanic characters. I spent a lot of silver on them. And up to now, I haven't fallen ill, and none of the guests in my inn have either. So I think these talismans have served their purpose..."

"You only said people died six months ago. What about later?" Qin Wan asked again.

At this, Wei Changfu relaxed slightly. "Many talked about an epidemic. Later, government officials came, and also some folk physicians. Some said it wasn't an epidemic; others insisted it was. Then another one or two people died. In the end, there was no definitive conclusion about the cause. Later, the government officials withdrew, and those who came to examine the sickness or watch the excitement also left. Then, four months ago... two more people died..."

Wei Changfu's words made everyone's hearts leap. But this time, Wei Changfu continued, "However, this time, the reason was finally figured out. A Physician Sun came to the village and actually cured someone who was nearly dead. That Physician Sun was hailed as a little Bodhisattva. He lives below the Goddess Peak to the west. Since he came, no one has died in the last two months. But everyone's hearts are still unsettled. They still think outsiders brought the misfortune."

Physician Sun? Qin Wan frowned slightly. "Do you know the physician's name?"

Wei Changfu shook his head. "How would I know? I've never even seen him; only heard about him. He's a bit eccentric in temperament. He makes house calls every morning, and his medicine is free of charge. Common folk whose illnesses he cured wanted to give him gifts of thanks, but he doesn't accept a single thing. I heard he came from elsewhere, came here to nurse his wife's health."

Hearing this, Qin Wan didn't ask further. Wei Changfu sighed as he spoke. "Though no one has continued dying, this village still gives people an inauspicious feeling. My business is getting harder and harder. To be honest with you all, aside from you, I haven't seen so many guests in many days."

Qin Yan said, "But you said you only have three rooms left?"

This sounded as if the inn was already fully occupied.

Wei Changfu looked somewhat uncomfortable and gave a bitter smile. "Originally, there were over ten guest rooms in the inn. But the rooms need upkeep, and I had to hire people. Later, when no one came to stay, I let go of quite a few staff. A few rooms were turned into storage; a few rooms were locked up. Now... now there are only four guest rooms fit for people to stay in..."

Listening to this, Qin Yan was both amused and exasperated. So the inn currently had only one guest.

Wei Changfu rubbed his hands apologetically, glanced towards the backyard, then frowned. "Speaking of which, the guest in Room Number One hasn't returned yet. I don't know what he went out to do."

Qin Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. "So late, and this person dares to go out?"

Wei Changfu, made uneasy by Qin Yan's words, said, "This... that guest is also a young man. He's stayed at the inn for two nights now. Every day he goes out early and returns very late. I don't know what he does."

Since they were strangers, Qin Yan didn't inquire further. At that moment, Fuling came over from the direction of the backyard and said, "Young Miss, the room has been tidied up..."

Qin Yan stood up upon hearing this. "Alright. I'll escort you to rest."

Wei Changfu hurriedly stood up to see them off respectfully. "If anything is unsuitable, Young Master can send someone to inform me."

Qin Yan nodded and led Qin Wan and the other two towards the back. Before long, they arrived in front of Room Number Three. He brought the girls inside and, seeing the room was indeed properly arranged, turned around and said in a low voice, "This village is somewhat strange. The proprietor's words can't be fully trusted either. We won't stay here long, as we need to hurry on our journey. Rest well. Don't be afraid tonight. I'll have people guard outside. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning." He paused, then added, "Also, don't drink any more water here. I'm afraid it might be an epidemic."

Qin Shuang's expression changed several times. "Third Brother is very thoughtful. I also feel it's very odd. Leaving early is best."

Qin Yan smiled at Qin Shuang, gave a few more instructions, and then left. On the table in the room were placed the food brought from the carriages. Besides the original bed in the room, the newly brought beds, though smaller, were sufficient for sleeping. Moreover, they were all spread with the clean brocade quilts the Qin sisters had brought with them, which was naturally far better than resting in the carriages.

"Alright, eat something quickly and rest early." Qin Shuang was the first to walk over and eat some pastries. Seeing this, the maidservants hurriedly made the beds. With many people, the room gained some liveliness. Qin Wan wasn't hungry but also ate a little. Only Qin Xiang, without eating anything, went to lie down on a bed. After a while, Qin Wan and Qin Shuang also went to bed. Fuling and the others made bedrolls on the floor.

The fatigue of travel, though not showing much on Qin Wan's face, had long since worn her body down.

As soon as her head touched the pillow, she was struck by drowsiness. In her groggy state, however, her thoughts turned to the strange affair of Sanyuan Village.

Though it was possible for young people to die suddenly from illness without a clear cause, several dying at the same time seemed too coincidental. Moreover, they all developed pustules, which made her think of flower‑willow disease. But flower‑willow disease didn't kill that quickly. If it were an epidemic, it wouldn't appear in such a small, localized manner. And then there was that Physician Sun. Was the surname Sun a coincidence, or...

Qin Wan instinctively wanted to investigate, but first, she was too tired, and second, they were leaving early the next morning, leaving no time for deep inquiry. Thus, Qin Wan simply let herself fall asleep.

She didn't know how long she slept. In her groggy state, she suddenly heard noisy sounds outside the room door. Always alert, she instantly woke up. Listening carefully, sure enough, there was a commotion in the courtyard outside.

"How dare you! Speak!"

"You deny it?! Do you know who you're talking to?!"

"You weren't staying in the back. What were you doing there?!"

Qin Wan clearly heard the shouts of the Qin family guards. Though she didn't hear the voice of the person being questioned, the dialogue seemed to indicate some intruder had broken in...

Qin Wan immediately sat up. She had been lying down fully dressed; now she only needed to put on her outer robe. As she moved, the others who were also awakened sat up. Qin Shuang said groggily, "What's happening?!"

"Don't know yet. Possibly someone broke in."

Qin Wan gave a brief explanation, quickly threw on her cloak, and prepared to go out and look. Seeing this, Qin Shuang hurriedly put on her outer robe as well. Along this journey, she found herself increasingly liking to follow Qin Wan's lead. On the other side, Qin Xiang seemed to have recovered some energy. Hearing that others might have broken in, she also hurriedly put on her outer clothes. They were staying in this strange village after all; the innkeeper wasn't trustworthy. Though there were guards outside, one couldn't be too careful.

Wanxing lit the lamp. Seeing Qin Wan had finished tying up her hair and was heading out, she and Fuling followed.

The inn was only one story. Their guest room was at the very back; outside were Qin Yan's and the servants' quarters. As soon as she stepped out, Qin Wan's face stung from the piercing cold air that rushed at her. She paused in her steps, first noticing the snow that had appeared as if by magic in the central courtyard. She didn't know what time it was, but the sky was pitch black. By the dim light from the corridor lanterns, Qin Wan clearly saw large snowflakes swirling down. Her heart sank instantly!

Though the accumulated snow was only about two fingers deep at the moment, looking at the swirling snowflakes, Qin Wan had no doubt this would be a heavy snow hindering their journey. Their greatest worry had finally come to pass.

"Ah, it's snowing!"

As soon as Qin Shuang stepped out, she exclaimed in surprise. As if forgetting the crisis, her drowsiness vanished instantly.

But Qin Wan paid her no mind. She turned and headed towards the main hall area where the noise was loudest. Snow swirled, and a biting cold wind howled. Qin Wan instinctively pulled the collar of her cloak tighter. As she got closer, she realized the commotion wasn't in the main hall but in front of Room Number One. Qin Yan stood with his back to Qin Wan; in front of him, several guards were restraining a person. From a distance, it seemed to be a man. However, with Qin Yan blocking the view, she couldn't see the person's face clearly for the moment.

Qin Wan hurried forward. "Third Brother, what happened?"

Qin Yan turned. Seeing Qin Wan and the others had all come out, he frowned slightly and said, "This person was discovered sneaking towards your area in the middle of the night. We don't know what he intended. Now that he's been caught, he flatly denies it."

Qin Wan frowned. As she spoke, she had already walked to Qin Yan's side. In that instant, she clearly saw the face of the restrained person, and simultaneously, the restrained person also saw Qin Wan.

"Miss Qin! How can it be you?!"