The Powerful and Favored Coroner Imperial Concubine

Chapter 131 : Suspicious Sounds in the Courtyard, Bai Feiyan

131: Suspicious Sounds in the Courtyard, Bai Feiyan

That person seemed to have been standing there all along, yet Qin Wan and the others hadn't noticed earlier. Now, the dim light from their lanterns illuminated the figure more clearly.

The night was ink‑black. The person, with disheveled hair like a ghost, had eyes that were eerily sinister. Fuling instinctively tightened her grip on Qin Wan's arm, while Wanxing stepped in front of Qin Wan. Qin Wan looked at Wanxing with some surprise.

Qin Shuang also huddled close to Qin Wan. The six girls clustered together, unsure if the distant figure was human or ghost.

Separated by seventy or eighty feet, the person wore thin robes and had a tall, slender build. Messy black hair covered most of the face, but the pair of eyes behind the hair gaps were exceptionally deep and dark. Because of this, in the deep night of this old manor, it seemed particularly eerie and frightening.

He stared directly at Qin Wan and the others, as if about to pounce in the next moment...

Qin Shuang held her breath, clutching Qin Wan's arm tightly, not daring to move, as if facing a ferocious crouching tiger, afraid any movement would provoke it into a frenzied attack.

A cold wind howled past. The lantern flickered, bright then dim. The standoff was heart‑stopping. No one knew how long it lasted. Suddenly, several sets of footsteps sounded from deep within the manor. Instantly, the silent confrontation broke. The rigid figure suddenly moved. Instinctively, Qin Wan and the others took a step back. However, the person's gloomy eyes merely swept over Qin Wan's group before he turned and ran away. Qin Wan's eyes widened in surprise; she saw the figure actually running towards the gate of Hundred Herb Garden.

Not coming towards them. Qin Shuang's tense body relaxed slightly. The footsteps from deep in the manor drew nearer. Before long, Qin Shuang and the others saw Uncle Dong running over with a lantern.

Behind him were two older women servants and two male servants, their faces showing some anxiety, their eyes searching around. They immediately spotted Qin Wan's group. Uncle Dong was startled. He glanced back at one of the women servants, then walked over to Qin Wan. "Miss Qin? Why are you here..."

Seeing Uncle Dong, Qin Shuang's mind relaxed further. Hearing his question, she quickly said, "We came to get something from our carriage."

Uncle Dong was panting, out of breath. Hearing this, understanding dawned in his eyes. He asked again, "Did you young ladies see someone running out from here?"

Qin Wan pressed her lips together. Qin Shuang had already spoken rapidly, "Yes! He scared us! With disheveled hair, we thought he was someone... He went towards the manor gate..."

Though this place wasn't far from the gate, one still had to go around a corridor. Hearing this, Uncle Dong relaxed. He glanced at the four people behind him. They nodded and hurried towards the manor gate.

The cold wind blew harshly against Qin Wan's face, making it ache. But she couldn't forget the figure she had just seen. This was Senior Brother Sun's residence for his wife's recuperation. Why would such a person run out for no reason?

Full of doubts, Uncle Dong already said, "He is a patient of the Young Master. That person is somewhat deranged. Usually, he's kept locked in a courtyard. Just now, when delivering food, the door wasn't closed properly, and he ran out."

Hearing this, Qin Shuang sighed in relief. "So that's what it was. I wondered why his hair was so disheveled and unpresentable."

Uncle Dong said apologetically, "Exactly so. I hope he didn't frighten you young ladies."

Qin Shuang waved a hand. "Not really..."

Uncle Dong also relaxed. "That's good. It's too cold outside. Please return quickly, young ladies."

Qin Shuang nodded, pulled Qin Wan, and Qin Wan also nodded and gave a slight curtsy. Uncle Dong smiled, watching them turn to leave.

Qin Wan walked slowly; Qin Shuang also walked slowly. Though proven not to be a ghost, the earlier scene still left them somewhat shaken. As she walked, Qin Shuang said, "I never thought there were patients living in this manor. Divine Physician Sun actually lets patients live in his own home. Ordinary physicians probably wouldn't do that..."

Qin Shuang's tone was full of admiration. Qin Wan inwardly nodded as well. Although Medicine King Valley had the principle of practicing medicine to aid the people, not everyone could be like Sun Haoyue. Thinking this, Qin Wan couldn't help but admire this Senior Brother even more.

Just as she was thinking, some commotion suddenly came from far behind. Qin Wan stopped and looked back. Looking, she immediately saw the two women servants supporting the patient who had just run out, walking back in. Two male servants guarded behind. Uncle Dong, holding a lantern in front, chose another path, heading towards the east.

Qin Shuang was also watching. Seeing this, she said quietly, "Fortunately they caught him. Such a patient might hurt people."

Wanqing, beside her, also patted her chest. "Yes. Probably suffers from madness..."

The words "madness" spoken, Qin Wan immediately thought of Yao Xinlan. By the time she left, she still hadn't figured out if Yao Xinlan had any precursors to a madness episode. If it didn't occur, that would be good. But once it did, how could it be treated?

Qin Wan had read many medical books but hadn't seen any that explained how to cure madness. She only occasionally saw mentions of using needle techniques from the Needle Classics to treat this illness. However, Qin Wan wasn't proficient in the Needle Classics. In comparison, she had studied pharmacology and pulse theory better.

Watching Uncle Dong and the others' figures disappear in another direction, a thought suddenly occurred to Qin Wan. If Senior Brother Haoyue could treat madness, could she seek instruction from him? Not just for Yao Xinlan's sake, but if she could gain some insight, she would know how to proceed when encountering other patients in the future...

As this thought arose, Qin Wan immediately shook her head. Not to mention that suddenly seeking instruction would be very presumptuous. If Sun Muqing and Sun Haoyue realized she had once studied medicine at Medicine King Valley, that would be disastrous.

Sighing, Qin Wan quickly suppressed the thought.

"Let's go." Once Uncle Dong and the others disappeared, Qin Shuang turned around and continued walking forward. She added, "It seems it was right not to let us wander around. I wonder if there are other patients living in this manor?"

Qin Shuang's question made Wanqing and the others uneasy. If several mad patients lived here, it would indeed be somewhat dangerous. Qin Wan shook her head. She didn't know if other patients lived in this manor. She only felt the snow showed no sign of stopping at all. If it continued like this, she truly didn't know how long they would be trapped here.

By the time they returned to the courtyard, Qin Wan felt her hands aching from the cold. Qin Shuang lingered for a moment, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Um... thank you..."

Qin Wan waved a hand. "Rest early."

Qin Shuang acknowledged and then took Wanqing and Xiuyun back to her side room. Meanwhile, Fuling said, amused and exasperated, "Sixth Young Miss has certainly learned better now. Looking at her like this, how could she be the person who pushed Young Miss into the lake?"

Only after entering the room did Qin Wan feel some warmth. Rubbing her hands, she said, "It's good she can learn. No one taught her properly before." Not only was no one teaching her, but some were also inciting and manipulating her.

Fuling smiled and said "yes," then added, "She seems fine now. I just hope she doesn't act foolishly again later. This servant remembers past grievances. Since her attitude towards Young Miss is good now, let's not mention it. But if she becomes bad again later, then we'll settle old and new scores together." Fuling spoke indignantly, went out to fetch charcoal, and added it to the brazier.

There was a slight charcoal smell in the room. Qin Wan opened her worn medicinal sachet and tossed a few pieces of atractylodes rhizome and dried tangerine peel into the brazier. Soon, a medicinal scent and the sweet fragrance of tangerine peel arose in the room. Fuling opened the window to glance at the heavy snow outside and sighed. "Why hasn't the snow stopped yet? If the road ahead gets blocked by snow in the mountains, that would be bad."

Qin Wan was also worried about this. Turning her gaze, she saw Wanxing standing quietly to the side, not having said a word all this time. Qin Wan immediately recalled how Wanxing had protected her earlier. Her heart warmed. She beckoned to Wanxing. "Wanxing, come here..."

Wanxing thought Qin Wan had some instruction and hurried to Qin Wan's front. "Young Miss..."

Qin Wan sighed. "You don't need to be so reserved. Look at Fuling. Although we are master and servant, inside the room, we can be more at ease. Though you came to me later, compared to Fuling, you are not lacking in anything. You are both people I trust and am close to. I know you don't speak much, but seeing you always standing with your head bowed makes me feel you are very constrained."

Wanxing still lowered her eyes but straightened her back slightly upon hearing this. After a pause, she said, "This servant knows."

Qin Wan knew ingrained habits couldn't be changed overnight, so she didn't say more. Seeing this, Fuling also came over and grabbed Wanxing's arm. "Good sister, our Young Miss is the kindest. Sometimes I even tease Young Miss, and I've never seen Young Miss get the least bit angry. Before Young Miss, the three of us are like family. Don't be reserved."

Wanxing nodded, her tone gaining a bit more vitality. "Yes. This servant knows..."

Fuling looked at Wanxing and sighed, then flicked Wanxing's somewhat wooden forehead. "Why are you still using 'this servant' when talking to me? From now on, we are sisters. We must serve Young Miss with one heart."

Wanxing's forehead made a soft thump from the flick. She pressed her lips together. "Yes. I know..."

Only then did Fuling smile broadly. Seeing this, Qin Wan also curved her lips slightly.

Because it was snowy and cold, Qin Wan soon washed up and went to bed. Qin Wan slept on the bed; Fuling and the other slept on the sleeping couch in the room. Perhaps the dampness in the room hadn't been fully dispelled, or maybe they were frightened earlier in the evening, but Qin Wan felt extremely tired yet couldn't fall asleep no matter what after lying down. Suddenly, Qin Wan remembered that disheveled mad patient.

That person had clearly been heading for the manor gate, probably trying to escape. But Uncle Dong had specifically said he was deranged. Yet how could a deranged person find the manor gate?

Thinking this, Qin Wan couldn't help but have some doubts.

From Qin Wan's past experiences, everything needed to seem reasonable. If unreasonable, it was mostly likely false. But why would Uncle Dong have reason to lie? And if that person wasn't a patient, then who was he?

Qin Wan closed her eyes and sighed, wondering if she had developed a habit of suspicion. Senior Brother Sun was from Medicine King Valley and had the reputation of a divine physician in Sanyuan Village. Though this manor seemed somewhat empty and eerie, he surely couldn't have any problems.

Qin Wan let out a breath, forcing herself to calm down. After suffering like this for a long time, she finally fell into a light sleep. When she woke, the sky was still a dark blue, just before dawn.

Qin Wan felt somewhat tired. She lay a while longer before opening her eyes. Listening quietly, it seemed there was no sound outside the room. Qin Wan's spirits lifted. She immediately got up, dressed, walked to the window, and opened it. Outside was a world of pristine white, and the heavy snow from last night had actually stopped.

The courtyard swept just yesterday was again covered with a thick layer of snow. On the tree branches in the courtyard, on the flower arbor, on the upturned eaves and bracket sets of the roof, all were layers of flawless white. The sky wasn't fully bright yet, but Qin Wan's state of mind was clear and bright. The snow stopping was good. Once the snow melted a bit today, perhaps they could depart tomorrow!

Qin Wan's spirits soared; her whole person felt refreshed and clear‑headed, all laziness swept away. However, turning to look, Fuling and Wanxing on the sleeping couch were still sleeping soundly. Qin Wan sighed. Those servants had slept on bedrolls at Laifu Inn; last night they probably hadn't slept well at all. Qin Wan moved quietly, added two pieces of charcoal to the brazier, and looked out the window again. The sky brightened a bit. Looking at that expanse of pristine, flawless white snow, Qin Wan suddenly felt an impulse to go out for a walk.

Glancing again at Fuling and Wanxing, Qin Wan turned, threw on her cloak, and pushed the door open to go out.

The sky was already quite bright. Not only had the snow stopped, but the wind had also died down. The old manor, covered in white snow, seemed renewed. Thinking the east was where Madam Sun recuperated and shouldn't be disturbed, Qin Wan followed the main path deeper into the northern part of the manor.

Perhaps there truly were too few servants in the manor. At this hour, servants should already be up, yet no one came to sweep. Thus, the main path was layered with snow. With each step, Qin Wan's boots sank into the thick snow, making constant crunch sounds.

Qin Wan walked step by step, very slowly. After walking a dozen steps, she looked back. On the flawless white snow, a string of footprints stretched out, somewhat crooked. A sense of leisurely pleasure arose in Qin Wan's heart, dispelling much of the weariness from days of travel.

Though the manor seemed empty and old, the ancient trees in the courtyards were abundant, something new manors couldn't compare with. Qin Wan walked slowly, seeing the ancient trees in the courtyards were all evergreens found in the south. Their emerald canopies like umbrellas were weighed down by snow, as if the treetops reached into clouds. Qin Wan walked leisurely, unknowingly reaching deeper into the manor. The manor looked like a continuous stretch from outside; inside, it was even more a stacked accumulation of hundreds of buildings and courtyards. Walking step by step, Qin Wan saw all courtyards were closed and locked, feeling some regret. This place must have once been the ancestral home of a great family. If every courtyard had people, it must have been extremely lively. Now bought by Senior Brother Haoyue for recuperation, it was quiet, but indeed somewhat too empty.

Qin Wan walked extremely slowly. Though she hadn't gone far, it took considerable time. Just as she decided to turn back, an unlocked courtyard gate appeared in her view. Qin Wan had passed nearly ten courtyards; this was the only one not locked. Qin Wan's heart stirred. Did someone live here?

But was it a servant or a patient?

Qin Wan thought, hesitantly looking a few more times at the courtyard gate. Naturally, she wouldn't enter uninvited. After looking a moment without noticing anything unusual, she turned around. But just as she turned, a loud clang suddenly sounded from within the courtyard! The sound, coming through the courtyard wall, still startled Qin Wan, as if something heavy had fallen.

Qin Wan frowned. Listening carefully, she heard no human voices. That was strange!

Her eyes shifted. She couldn't help but look at the snow‑heavy roof. Had the snow collapsed the roof?!

Thinking this, Qin Wan walked towards the courtyard gate. She slightly lifted her skirt hem. The snow on the path covered her deerskin boots, reaching her ankles. Qin Wan quickened her steps. Just as she was about to reach the gate, a voice sounded behind her.

"Miss Qin, what are you doing?"

Qin Wan's figure halted. She turned to see Uncle Dong had somehow appeared at a corner not far behind her. Qin Wan glanced at the direction Uncle Dong came from; he was coming from the east.

Fearing Uncle Dong might misunderstand her wandering around, Qin Wan said somewhat apologetically, "Uncle Dong, good morning... I woke early and came out for a stroll. When I reached here, I heard some noise from this room, like something falling. But I didn't hear any voices. Not knowing what it was, I came closer to look..."

Uncle Dong's deeply wrinkled face showed a kindly smile. Hunched, he walked towards Qin Wan. Only when he reached her did he say in a hoarse voice, "Miss Qin, don't worry. There's no one in this courtyard. Only a few dogs brought from outside. The sound you heard just now was probably the dogs knocking over the cage inside again."

Qin Wan frowned slightly. "Dogs? Why don't I hear barking?"

Uncle Dong sighed. "The dogs were bought by Madam's elder brother, Young Master Bai. At first, they made a great commotion every day. But later, the noise disturbed Madam's recuperation. Throwing them out, in this remote wilderness, the dogs probably wouldn't survive. So we used medicine to make them mute. Now they don't make noise or fuss. At least they don't worry about food."

Uncle Dong's tone was gentle. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits. Originally an extremely kind‑looking face, but when Qin Wan heard him say these words, for some reason, her heart chilled. Looking again, she felt the wrinkles on Uncle Dong's face were like dried chicken skin. His entire face carried a sense of indifference that didn't match his smile.

Wealthy families didn't care about human life, let alone a few dogs' lives. And merely making them mute wasn't, in principle, a big deal. But Qin Wan suddenly realized, from seeing Uncle Dong yesterday until now, every time he spoke, he wore this smiling expression. This smile didn't seem like an expression of his pleasure but more like a mask on his face.

Qin Wan's impression of Uncle Dong's kindness and approachability immediately diminished somewhat. Again, she looked somewhat suspiciously at the room. "So that's what it was. It seems I overthought. I thought this courtyard also housed patients."

Uncle Dong chuckled, coughed lightly twice, and said, "Patients are all in the east backyard. That area is the most secluded and quiet."

Qin Wan's eyes shifted slightly, then she imitated Fuling's manner of speaking. "If Madam Sun is recuperating here, it seems other patients shouldn't also live here permanently, to avoid inauspiciousness."

Uncle Dong still smiled. "That's the principle. However, the Young Master is a physician; treating illnesses and saving people is his duty. Miss Qin, rest assured. Those patients live far from the Young Madam. They won't be a hindrance."

Qin Wan nodded. Uncle Dong then added, "Breakfast has been delivered to your courtyard. Please return to eat. Your skirt hem is wet. Be careful not to catch a chill."

Qin Wan curved her lips slightly. "Alright. I'll go back then..."

Qin Wan lifted her skirt hem and walked back along the path. This time she walked faster, making the footprints somewhat messy. As she walked, Uncle Dong's gaze felt like a tangible weight on her back. Qin Wan forcefully restrained the impulse to look back.

Only after passing a corner did Uncle Dong's gaze disappear. Qin Wan stood still, catching her breath. In just this short while, she actually felt slightly warm. And for some reason, her mind still lingered on that courtyard where the sound had come from.

"Ninth Young Miss! Why are you out here?!"

Just as she was thinking, a clear voice suddenly rang out. Qin Wan turned to look and saw Sun Muqing walking over from the west where they were staying. Qin Wan composed her expression. "I woke early and came out for a walk."

Sun Muqing's face again wore that pure, carefree smile. "Waking so early, did you not sleep well last night?"

Qin Wan shook her head. "No. I usually wake early."

Sun Muqing didn't mind. "It's too cold outside. Ninth Young Miss, don't catch a chill."

Qin Wan smiled and shook her head. Seeing Sun Muqing was also out, she asked, "Where are you going, Young Master Sun?"

Sun Muqing pointed east. "I plan to visit Senior Brother. Yesterday morning when I found him, I hadn't seen Sister‑in‑law yet. Now I'll go pay my respects. Although Sister‑in‑law's family is in Yizhou, because their Bai family and Senior Brother Haoyue's branch have been family friends for generations, Sister‑in‑law came to Lianzhou for a stay when she was little. I met her then. In a blink, over ten years have passed. When Senior Brother Haoyue married, I had just been accepted as Master's disciple. I couldn't attend their wedding ceremony."

Sun Muqing spoke on his own. Qin Wan, looking at his bright face, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. No matter how much sadness he held in his heart, his eyes and smile were always filled with clear, carefree, vibrant energy.

Qin Wan suddenly remembered Sun Muqing's many acts of care when they were fellow disciples and the innocent days of studying medicine together. Back then, his and her smiles were genuine, absolutely without a trace of bitterness.

Perhaps Qin Wan's focused expression pleased Sun Muqing. Seeing Qin Wan didn't respond, Sun Muqing suddenly said, "Would Ninth Young Miss like to come with me to see Senior Brother Haoyue? And incidentally meet my Sister‑in‑law, the number one beauty of Yizhou!"

Qin Wan should have refused. But her heart was in turmoil, and she actually nodded subconsciously.

Sun Muqing immediately beamed. "Excellent! I thought Ninth Young Miss would refuse. Let's go. I went once yesterday; I know the way. You don't know, my Sister‑in‑law is truly, exquisitely beautiful..."

Matters being as they were, Qin Wan had to follow Sun Muqing. She felt somewhat hesitant, but more so, agitated. Perhaps Heaven also felt injustice, allowing her to meet old acquaintances as compensation. And how could she remain completely unruffled?

Meanwhile, Sun Muqing was clearly in high spirits, momentarily opening up. "Sister‑in‑law is from the Yizhou Bai family. Ninth Young Miss, do you know the Yizhou Bai family? They were a first‑class great clan in the previous dynasty. Though they declined somewhat in Great Zhou, they are still a famous noble family in the east. The Bai family are all scholars, excelling in literature and calligraphy, producing many great masters. My Sister‑in‑law is also accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her name is Feiyan. She played the qin at five, composed essays at seven. Suitors from the east could line up all the way to Yunwu Mountain. But she and Senior Brother Haoyue were childhood sweethearts, deeply affectionate..."