The Powerful and Favored Coroner Imperial Concubine

Chapter 140 : The Murderer Is Killed, Feelings Surge

140: The Murderer Is Killed, Feelings Surge

In an instant, every hair on Qin Xiang's body stood on end!

She subconsciously tried to stand up, but at that moment, a cold, hard, and sharp blade was pressed against her lower back.

"Don't move."

The man's voice was hoarse and indifferent, like a devil lurking in the darkness, ready to devour Qin Xiang at any moment. Qin Xiang's spine ramrod straight, her body stiff as a board, yet she couldn't stop trembling.

Qin Xiang's room was divided into two sections. Seeing Qin Xiang storm into the inner chamber in a huff, Wanhe hadn't dared to follow her rashly. Usually, when Qin Xiang was in a rage, she didn't want anyone near her. Today, Wanhe waited in the outer room.

"You…"

Qin Xiang's voice instantly turned hoarse, as if an invisible hand were choking her. As soon as she spoke, the cold, hard object against her back pressed in harder. Qin Xiang's scalp tingled. She could almost feel the blade about to cut through her vast, misty pink gauze dress. She clenched her fists, not daring to make a single sound.

The inner chamber was pitch black. Only a sliver of dim light from the entrance filtered in. Qin Xiang stared desperately at that faint light. Large, cold drops of sweat streamed down her forehead.

She began to regret it immensely. She shouldn't have come back. She should have listened to Wanhe.

Though the inner chamber was pitch dark, Qin Xiang could hear the sound of the wind at the window. She had come with Wanhe, but Xiu Zhi was still in the room. When she returned, Xiu Zhi was guarding the outer room and was quite surprised and confused by her angry expression. Qin Xiang knew the person behind her had climbed in through the back window.

Qin Xiang bit her lip hard. Her heart pounded with fear. Realizing she was alone in the inner chamber and recalling what Wanhe had said about the two men who died, both with their limbs hacked off, a wave of nausea rose in her throat. At this moment, apart from crying silently, Qin Xiang didn't know what else to do.

"Miss?" After a moment, Wanhe's voice suddenly sounded from the entrance to the inner chamber. Qin Xiang's heart leaped. She heard Wanhe say, "Shall this servant come in and light the lamp for you?"

Wanhe, standing outside, could vaguely see Qin Xiang sitting on the edge of the bed, seemingly with her head slightly lowered, but couldn't see anything amiss. Given Qin Xiang's current temper, if Wanhe entered without her command, she would incur an even greater fury.

After her words, Qin Xiang didn't answer for a moment. Wanhe sighed, having expected such a scene.

When Qin Xiang was angry, she was either furious or gave people the silent treatment. Wanhe had grown used to this over the past few days. Seeing this, she sighed softly again and said no more, simply standing guard silently at the door.

Inside, Qin Xiang was drenched in a cold sweat. The blade against her back pressed in, deliberately, a fraction harder.

Qin Xiang trembled and knew what the person behind her meant. She gritted her teeth and said, "Don't mind me. Withdraw…"

Hearing the change in Qin Xiang's voice, Wanhe thought she was just enraged. She sighed again and walked towards the room. "Miss, be careful not to hurt your…"

Before the word "body" could leave her mouth, Qin Xiang suddenly let out a hysterical scream. "Get out! Don't come in!"

Qin Xiang's sudden cry startled Wanhe greatly. Even when truly furious, a pampered young miss like Qin Xiang rarely screamed like that. Wanhe had served Qin Xiang for many years and was now stunned. The slightly shrill cry also instilled a sense of fear in her. Wanhe quickly nodded and took several steps back.

"Yes, yes, yes. This servant is leaving right now."

As she spoke, Wanhe subconsciously glanced up. She had intended to see what was wrong with Qin Xiang, but as she looked over, she only saw Qin Xiang sitting ramrod straight. At the same time, a glint of cold light flashed past the corner of her eye.

Though Wanhe found it strange, she didn't immediately understand. She just retreated quickly.

Once outside, Xiu Zhi looked at her questioningly. Wanhe gave a bitter smile, took two steps towards the main room, her confusion growing. Just now, Qin Xiang had seemed too straight, too stiff. The posture was almost as if someone were holding a knife to her neck. At this thought, Wanhe's footsteps suddenly faltered. Cold light… that was…

A chill crept up Wanhe's soles. She then unbelievably widened her eyes. Xiu Zhi, watching from the side, also looked up with doubt. "What's wrong with you…"

"Shh." Wanhe made a sharp gesture for silence. Xiu Zhi's words broke off, and she froze.

Although she didn't know why Qin Xiang was angry or why Wanhe was acting this way, Wanhe's usually composed demeanor made her instinctively feel danger and unease. Wanhe slowly turned, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on the silent inner chamber. After watching for about ten breaths, Wanhe suddenly gritted her teeth.

She looked around, a hint of fear and panic in her eyes, but she forced herself to remain calm. She called towards the inner chamber, "Miss, don't be angry. This servant will go fetch some food from the Heir Apparent's place, so you won't be hungry later."

She said this seemingly out of nowhere. Xiu Zhi raised an eyebrow beside her, watching Wanhe, wanting to speak but hesitating. Wanhe pulled Xiu Zhi a few steps towards the door, then lowered her voice. "Don't go in. Wait here."

Xiu Zhi was taken aback. A chill ran down her spine at Wanhe's words. But Wanhe couldn't wait for her to nod and turned to walk outside.

The night had already fallen deep. Outside, the deep chill of a winter night prevailed. Wanhe stepped on the yet-unmelted snow, forgetting even to bring a lantern. But she couldn't be bothered. Guided by the faint light, she walked with uneven steps towards Qin Yan's courtyard. The short distance felt as long as several hours. She had unconsciously broken out in a cold sweat. The biting, cold wind outside made her feel a chill that seeped to her bones. When she reached Qin Yan's courtyard, she didn't know if it was from fear or cold, but her teeth had already begun to chatter.

"Wanhe? Why have you returned?"

Zhou Huai stood at the entrance to the main room, his tone slightly surprised. Just now, he was guarding the entrance to the warm chamber. When he turned around, Qin Xiang and her maids were gone. He hurried out to see them already at the courtyard gate. Zhou Huai turned back to report to Qin Yan. Qin Yan, hearing that Qin Xiang had left without a word, just said calmly that it was fine for her to go back and rest.

So Zhou Huai hadn't pursued her. But it hadn't even been the time to finish a cup of tea. Why was Wanhe back again?

"Steward Zhou!"

Wanhe hurried to the entrance of the main room, her voice trembling as she spoke. Hearing this, Zhou Huai also noticed her strange expression. He immediately frowned. "What is it?"

Wanhe's eyes were slightly red. "Steward Zhou, quickly tell the Heir Apparent. We… we seem to have someone in our courtyard."

Wanhe spoke very quickly. As her words fell, Song Li and Qin Yan emerged together from the warm chamber. Song Li's eyes lit up. "What? Someone in your courtyard?!"

Wanhe ignored Song Li, looking only at Qin Yan. "Heir Apparent, after the Miss returned to the inner chamber, something was wrong. She wouldn't let this servant enter. Standing at the door, I seemed to see the Miss being held hostage. I used an excuse to run out. Please, Heir Apparent, hurry and save the Miss…" After saying this, tears silently streamed down her face.

Song Li gave a harsh laugh. "No wonder we couldn't find him anywhere. So he was hiding in a courtyard with people. Let's go! We'll go rescue Miss Qin now!"

Wanhe was not reassured by Song Li's sudden enthusiasm; on the contrary, she felt a bit worried. Qin Yan glanced at Zhou Huai and then strode towards the courtyard gate. Wanhe hurried to follow. Qin Yan turned to look at Wanhe. "Did you see clearly? Is there really someone in your Miss's room?"

At this question, Wanhe didn't have a definite answer for a moment. "This servant… this servant didn't see clearly. It's just… just the Miss's behavior was very strange. I vaguely saw a knife held to her back."

Qin Yan and Zhou Huai exchanged a glance, their expressions immediately sinking. Qin Wan and Sun Muqing also came out of the warm chamber. They hadn't heard Wanhe's words clearly, and seeing everyone heading out, they followed as well. Qin Shuang, bringing up the rear, ran up and said, "What's she making a fuss about now? I refuse to believe there's someone in her room!"

…

…

Hearing Wanhe say she was going to get her food, Qin Xiang felt a chill in her heart. She wanted to tell Wanhe not to go, but the sharp blade at her back was starting to hurt. She didn't dare to make a sound.

Soon, the sound of footsteps opening the door and leaving could be heard.

Listening to Wanhe's footsteps walk away and out of earshot, Qin Xiang couldn't help but break down in tears.

Although Xiu Zhi was a person from Madam Lin, she trusted Wanhe the most. Now that Wanhe was gone, she felt her last glimmer of hope vanish. Qin Xiang's tears flowed faster and faster. She felt like she was already a dead person with severed hands and feet.

Qin Xiang gritted her teeth, feeling like she couldn't even breathe. The entire manor was being searched, but who would have thought the person being searched for was hiding in her room? With tears blurring her vision, holding on to a last thread of hope, she said, "If you… don't leave now… in a moment… you won't be able to…"

Qin Xiang lowered her voice, mixing it with her sobs, making her sound incredibly pitiful.

The man behind her did not speak. But a moment later, a rustling sound came from behind him. At the same time, the knife at her back loosened by a fraction. Qin Xiang felt a slight relief. "My… maids will be back soon. If you don't leave, they will definitely find it very strange. They'll have to come in sooner or later."

Seeing her words had an effect, Qin Xiang continued to speak. The man's knife was still pressed against her lower back, but he remained motionless for a moment. Qin Xiang's throat felt as if it were blocked by a piece of hard iron. Seeing the man didn't move, she didn't dare speak rashly. The man behind her was listening for movement outside.

Before long, the man suddenly gave Qin Xiang a push. Qin Xiang's face immediately changed. She slowly stood up. In that brief moment, her legs had gone numb, but seeing the man finally move, she felt both excited and scared. She only hoped the man, seeing she wasn't from the manor, wouldn't hurt her. As for where he planned to run, Qin Xiang couldn't be concerned with that. But she was afraid the man, maddened by killing, would kill her before he left.

Qin Xiang kept her head slightly lowered, her steps stiff as the man guided her with the knife towards the back window. The back window, which had been tightly shut, was now open. The remaining snow outside had been dragged onto the windowsill, melting into a patch of muddy slush.

Qin Xiang walked step by step. Seeing the window grow closer, she grew more and more nervous. She didn't know what choice the man would make. And if the man wanted to kill her, it would take only an instant. Qin Xiang's fists were clenched tight. Her steps grew heavier. The man seemed to be observing outside the window for an ambush and didn't rush her for a moment. A few breaths later, Qin Xiang was only a few steps from the back window. Just then, the deathly silence in the room, where a pin drop could be heard, was broken by the rough sound of a door being pushed open.

Song Li pushed the door open. "Where is your Miss?"

The sudden human voice startled Qin Xiang and also made the man's body, which had just relaxed, tense up again. Especially when he heard the subsequent heavy, numerous footsteps, the man suddenly shoved Qin Xiang violently towards the window frame right in front of her. The sudden appearance of people made Qin Xiang's heart flutter. The man's sudden shove caught her completely off guard. So, she let out an involuntary cry. Song Li in the outer room, who was at a loss as to Qin Xiang's location, now found his direction!

"Constable Song, don't be reckless!"

Qin Yan had also heard Qin Xiang's startled cry. He was almost certain that what Wanhe said was true. And if Qin Xiang was truly being held hostage, bursting in so recklessly would likely cause her to be killed on the spot. So Qin Yan hastily warned.

Song Li had been about to charge into the inner chamber, but Qin Yan's words made him hesitate. He didn't rush in, just loudly commanded, "Quickly go inform Uncle Dong. Have him gather everyone else and surround this place! Don't let the murderer escape!"

Song Li had been searching the manor all day, was tired, and full of frustration. Coming here in the evening was just to vent some of his anger on Qin Wan and the others. But he never expected to learn the murderer's whereabouts because of it!

After giving the order, Song Li exchanged a look with the constables who had followed him in. The few of them immediately headed for the door. The inner chamber was unlit. Song Li grabbed the oil lamp from the table. Wanhe, upon entering, stood with Xiu Zhi. Xiu Zhi now understood what Wanhe had meant earlier. For a moment, both of them were terrified, their eyes reddening.

And Qin Xiang was still in the inner chamber. When Qin Yan and Song Li walked in together, they only saw a man dressed in a servant's clothes holding a sharp cleaver to Qin Xiang's neck by the open back window.

Qin Xiang, her face full of tears, was being held by the man. Her pink dress was in disarray, her makeup smudged. Because of this, she looked especially miserable and tragic. Qin Yan's pupils contracted slightly. Song Li's eyes lit up. A triumphant smile appeared on his fleshy face, and he pointed at the man. "We've been looking everywhere for you. So you were hiding here."

As he spoke, Song Li took a step forward, about to say more, but Qin Yan brushed past him and went to the very front.

"The person you're holding hostage doesn't live here. What will it take for you to let her go?"

Qin Yan's voice was cold and noble, fully embodying the aura of the Marquis's Heir Apparent. Seeing this, how dare Song Li say more? He could only shrink back. The man was dressed in a gray cotton-padded jacket, his hair somewhat messily tied on top of his head. His features were almost indiscernible in the dim light, but the cleaver in his hand was sharp, glinting with a cold, fierce light.

"Let the divine physician of this manor die before my eyes."

The man spoke, his indifferent voice matching the horrific state of Little Songzi and Da Cheng's deaths.

Qin Yan narrowed his eyes, naturally recalling what Sun Haoyue had said during the day. "Your enemy is Divine Physician Sun, not my sister. My sister is about the same age as your daughter. You think your daughter died unjustly, and so does my sister."

"Bring him here. Have him come here."

The man took a step back, his body pressing against the wall. The knife pressed tighter against Qin Xiang's neck, pulling her back with him. But because she couldn't retreat fast enough, her neck suddenly struck the blade. In an instant, blood flowed out. Tears like jade pearls rolled down Qin Xiang's cheeks, but she pressed her lips tightly, looking at Qin Yan with pleading eyes.

Qin Xiang knew that only Qin Yan could save her now.

"Fine. I'll have someone pass on the word right away."

After Qin Yan spoke, he turned and gave a warning glance at Song Li. Song Li also saw that Qin Xiang was injured and didn't dare to be careless. He quickly took a step back as well. Qin Yan left the inner chamber. At the doorway, Qin Wan and the others could now see the murderer's face.

She took a step back with Qin Yan, her expression exceptionally heavy. "It's that man we saved!"

Qin Wan's breathing was slightly unsteady as she spoke. She hadn't thought of him during the day and had almost forgotten about him in the past few days. But now, standing at the doorway and looking over by the dim light of Song Li's lamp, she recognized him at a glance. She vaguely remembered that he had a dark complexion, looking like a farmhand who had done hard labor for many years. He had been nearly frozen to death. After they brought him back, he had clearly woken up but didn't speak, and later disappeared.

He was too ordinary, too common, so common that he could be dismissed as a medicine thief who fled out of fear of punishment. The west courtyard gate had been opened. No one thought he had not only not fled but had stayed behind to kill.

Qin Wan pressed her lips tightly, vaguely feeling that to some extent, this was her responsibility. She should have thought of it earlier! That scrap of black cotton cloth. The day he was rescued, wasn't he wearing that black cotton-padded jacket?!

The first time he killed, he hadn't yet changed into a servant's clothes. Because someone had died, the people in the manor had become vigilant. That was why he had the idea to change clothes. Even the night before when she bumped into him, she hadn't recognized him at the time. Qin Wan didn't believe this was a coincidence. This man, who appeared so honest his features were a blur, actually had a cunning mind. Or perhaps, when a person intends to do evil, especially premeditated evil, they subconsciously become more treacherous.

"Yes! It's him!" Sun Muqing's reaction was slower than Qin Wan's, but he had cared for the man for most of the day and still remembered. The moment the thought struck him, he couldn't help but stumble back two steps. It was he who had wanted to take Qin Wan and the others to see the herb garden that day. It was he who had treated him. It was also his failure to keep a proper watch…

"How could it be him? He was clearly here to steal medicine! And… and he was almost frozen to death!" Sun Muqing shook his head. "Did he originally intend to kill, or did he just kill because he stumbled into the manor by chance?"

Qin Yan had already instructed Zhou Huai to find Old Dong. Hearing this, he turned and said, "Now is not the time to discuss this. An evil person with evil thoughts is evil no matter when. Without this opportunity, there would be another. Right now, we must save Fifth Sister."

Qin Yan's expression grew grim. Qin Wan also looked grave. No matter what, no one wanted to see another person harmed in the manor, especially not Qin Xiang. Qin Wan moved to the entrance of the inner chamber. Qin Yan also returned to the inner room.

"I've already given the order. He will be here shortly." As he spoke, Qin Yan frowned slightly. "You've been hiding in the manor for so many days, all to seek revenge on Divine Physician Sun?"

Qin Yan asked in the tone of an outsider, not appearing too close to Sun Haoyue. Hearing this, the man's gaze shifted to Qin Yan. After a moment, he said flatly, "He is not a divine physician. He is a harm-doer."

Qin Yan naturally didn't believe this. He looked at the man not far away. In the dim light, he couldn't even see the man's features clearly. He only vaguely remembered that the man's appearance had been very ordinary the day they rescued him. And now, though the man was looking at him, his gaze held no oppressive power. Qin Yan couldn't feel anger or hatred; it was as if his eyes were just two dark, empty holes. Yet it was this very person who had so cruelly killed Little Songzi and Da Cheng.

"Divine Physician Sun has saved many people." Qin Yan's tone was equally flat. If it were an ordinary person who hated Sun Haoyue, hearing this would likely enrage them. But the man showed no reaction.

For a moment, Qin Yan couldn't tell if the man was mentally strong or if he was now like a walking corpse.

Qin Wan and Sun Muqing stood watching from behind, their hearts tightening. Others might have forgotten, but they had not. The look in this man's eyes when he woke up that day was almost no different from now. At the time, they just thought he was lifeless and his spirit had not yet recovered. But now Qin Wan understood. It wasn't that the man's spirit hadn't recovered. It was that he was inherently this way.

"My daughter, she couldn't walk from birth. Everyone said she was a monster, but she was the flesh that fell from her mother and me. For all these years, I worked myself sick to feed and clothe her. She just couldn't use her hands and feet. She wouldn't die. But after leaving here, she died."

The man's voice was rigid and indifferent, with only the slightest tremor audible when he spoke of his beloved daughter.

He paused briefly, then continued. "Her mother cried for a few days after returning. Later, she fell into the Chishui River and drowned. Raising our daughter was not easy for our family. She made our family very bitter, but we didn't want her to die. The moment she died, her mother and I both didn't want to live anymore."

Qin Yan frowned slightly. Song Li was also a bit stunned. The man spoke in a flat tone. People like them, from normal, wealthy families, couldn't understand his words at all. Only Qin Wan felt a slight pang in her heart. Raising a "monster" daughter, perhaps someone of Qin Yan's background could never understand what a great suffering this was for an already impoverished family. But they had never thought of giving up on this daughter who had dragged the whole family into an abyss.

Qin Wan looked at the man's indistinct face, unable to tell for a moment if he was speaking in a maddened frenzy after losing his beloved daughter, or if he was speaking with extreme rationality and restraint. A secret thought arose in Qin Wan's mind. What illness did his daughter actually have?

Qin Wan had seen too many criminals, cruel and merciless when committing their crimes. After being caught, they either wept and repented or were cynical and resentful. But a man like this was extremely rare in her experience. She felt no sympathy for a man who had brutally murdered two innocent lives, yet she couldn't help but feel more conjecture arise. A father who wouldn't give up on a monster daughter and a demon who killed everyone he met were a complete contradiction. Within this extreme contradiction, because of the former, Qin Wan cautiously searched for what in his words might be believable.

Qin Yan did not know the bitterness of the impoverished world. He only knew that once these crude and violent commoners turned malicious, they would cling to a twisted logic and commit the most cruel acts. He had been with Qin Xiang for less than a month, but because she bore the surname Qin, he absolutely could not let her be harmed. If he couldn't even protect a person with the surname Qin, what face would he have to be the Marquis's Heir Apparent?

"What proof do you have that it was the Divine Physician's inadequate treatment?"

Qin Yan asked slowly. The man shook his head. "None. When I returned from the mine, her mother's and her bodies were already decayed. But I know my daughter. She lived as a cripple for more than ten years. She wouldn't just die easily."

This answer greatly displeased Qin Yan. The man was clearly uneducated and ignorant of worldly principles. To commit murder based on such a guess confirmed in Qin Yan's mind that he was a violent brute. "You think Divine Physician Sun is your enemy, so why did you kill those two young men? They were only a few years older than your daughter."

"They supported him. They deserved to die."

The man's voice suddenly grew colder, as if infecting even the cold wind outside with his words.

Qin Yan looked at the man, his gaze suddenly flashing towards the man's back.

Behind the man was the open window. Beyond it, the vast night was like a sea of ink, capable of concealing any murderous intent.

Qin Wan watched the man say this, and the sliver of pity she had felt in her heart immediately dissipated. The man did have hatred in his heart, but when that hatred reached its extreme, it no longer manifested in furious curses. He just pressed the deepest hatred into the bottom of his heart, venting it as the blade sank into flesh and blood, even when the person before him was innocent.

"When is he coming!"

Seeming to notice that Qin Yan was talking to him and distracting him, the man suddenly grew wary.

He pulled the knife back slightly, and Qin Xiang let out another low pained cry.

"The Young Master has arrived!"

Before Qin Yan could speak, Old Dong's voice suddenly rang out. This somewhat aged voice immediately drew all of the man's attention. At the same time, he also tightened his grip on Qin Xiang. Qin Yan turned. Qin Wan and the others also looked towards the door, but they only saw Old Dong walk in alone.

Qin Wan blinked. She saw Old Dong walk with slow, steady steps to the entrance of the inner chamber.

He stood still, looked at the man at the far end, then turned to look at the doorway, as if waiting for Sun Haoyue to walk over. Qin Yan and Song Li inside couldn't see this, but Qin Wan, Sun Muqing, and the others standing outside could. The outer room was empty. Where was Sun Haoyue? Qin Yan was waiting for Sun Haoyue. Song Li was waiting for Sun Haoyue. The man was waiting even more.

He stared straight at the entrance to the inner chamber. The enemy he hadn't seen in all his days of hiding in the manor was finally about to appear before him. The man tightened his grip on the cleaver in his hand.

Qin Wan frowned more and more tightly. Just as she was wondering what Old Dong was up to, she suddenly heard a faint sound of something breaking through the air. Qin Wan's heart leaped. The sound was so familiar it immediately stirred the deepest fear in her heart. The next moment, the crisp clang of an iron object falling to the ground startled Qin Wan back to her senses!

"Third Brother."

"Fifth Sister."

"Whose archery is that accurate? Truly impressive!"

"Young Master Bai has returned. It must be him."

Qin Xiang's cry, Qin Yan's reassurance, Qin Shuang's astonishment, Old Dong's sigh of relief as he explained.

Qin Wan stood stunned. She turned and saw the man with an arrow in the back of his head. He had already collapsed to the ground. The blood flowing from his head, like Little Songzi's and Da Cheng's, snaked into a small stream along the cracks in the floor tiles. Wanhe and Xiu Zhi rushed in, helping Qin Xiang up while comforting her. Qin Yan stood by the window, seemingly saying something to the person outside. Zhou Huai leaped in through the window. Several constables together dragged the man's body outside.

Qin Wan's heartbeat suddenly became very slow. The scene before her eyes was rapidly changing. She only came back to her senses, jolted by the smell of blood as the man's corpse passed before her.

Meanwhile, Qin Shuang grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, saying with a crying tone, "Although she's usually too much, she really suffered this time. It was truly frightening. You're usually the bravest. How did you get scared silly too?"

Qin Wan wasn't scared silly. It was just that this scene, for some reason, immediately brought out the memory of that night of blood, fire, and cold arrows. It was the deepest, most secret, and only fear in her heart.

It was another moment of crisis, but the last time she was almost killed by Qin Chen in the Qin residence, and the time she was almost crushed by the collapsing lantern tower by the Li River, she hadn't felt this same kind of fear…

Qin Wan's hands and feet felt cold. Looking at Qin Xiang, who was crying her eyes out, she also felt a touch of sorrow. Although she hadn't experienced a life-and-death moment herself this time, she felt somewhat dispirited and melancholic. With this thought, a figure suddenly flashed through Qin Wan's mind. That's right. The last time and the time before that, Yan Chi had been by her side.

Qin Wan's heart was suddenly pricked by something, and an immense, aching surge of sadness arose in her, almost uncontrollably. On this journey, when she thought of the Marquis's household and worried about Yao Xinlan, it was far more often than she thought of her time with Yan Chi. But at this moment, her mind was filled with his image. Qin Wan shook her head. The world around her was a cacophony. Her breathing became somewhat difficult.

"Alright, alright. It's over now. While he was talking to you, Uncle Dong and I had already gone outside to make arrangements. We would definitely have saved you. It's just that he was holding a knife, so we didn't dare to act rashly…"

"Yes, I didn't expect Young Master Bai's archery to be so good."

Qin Yan's voice was mixed with Qin Xiang's, which was hard to hear through her sobs. Qin Wan was standing aside, lost in thought, when she suddenly saw a figure in a silver robe walk into the inner chamber's entrance. Qin Wan looked over and saw that the newcomer was tall and lean, with an air of competence about him. His facial features were quite handsome. Qin Wan's heart settled. She glanced behind him and, seeing no one else follow, knew this must be Young Master Bai.

"Look, that's Young Master Bai of the Bai family. He's quite good-looking!"

Qin Shuang stood beside Qin Wan, pointing him out. But Qin Wan was not in the mood to look.

This horrifying case was over. She didn't even know the man's name. She felt a slight relief in her heart, but at this juncture, she thought of Yan Chi. Her feelings were somewhat complicated, and she felt a bit dazed.

This had never happened before. What was wrong with her?

Qin Wan was still in a daze when Qin Shuang quickly nudged her arm. "Look, look. Look at Fifth Sister's expression…"

The room was very crowded now. Qin Wan and Qin Shuang were standing to the side, watching. Qin Xiang's eyes were still brimming with tears, but the moment Bai Feiyu entered, her gaze fell upon him, her entire spirit lifting. When Bai Feiyu offered a low greeting, the look in her eyes changed again. Although Qin Wan didn't understand matters of the heart, she was good at observing details. Besides, she was also a woman and understood a young maiden's thoughts to some degree. Qin Xiang was probably truly smitten with Bai Feiyu.

"See? Did you see? The way she looks, how could Young Master Bai not notice?" Qin Shuang said. She seemed to hear Qin Xiang say something and suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, as if her teeth ached. "Did you hear that? She even said she was just thinking about when Young Master Bai would return. It was so dangerous just now, and she actually… It really proves that saying… at the moment of life and death, the person you think of is the one you love most…" As she said this, Qin Shuang made a retching gesture herself. "It's sickening…"

Hearing this, Qin Wan's thoughts drifted again. "At the moment of life and death?"

Qin Shuang gave a soft snort. "How dare she say that. Come on, this room is uninhabitable now. Let's go out first."

Qin Xiang's wound had been given simple treatment. Qin Wan heard Qin Yan instruct Qin Xiang to change rooms. Wanhe and Xiu Zhi were already packing. Pulled by Qin Shuang, Qin Wan walked out with her.

As they walked, Qin Shuang said, "What else? When you're about to die, you naturally think of the person you care about most. Oh, Fifth Sister, oh, Fifth Sister…"

Hearing Qin Shuang's words, Qin Wan felt another ripple in her heart. She subconsciously reached for her sleeve pouch and felt the Cold Moon blade lying quietly within. She gripped it tightly, and her heart felt slightly calmer.

The two of them walked out. Not long after, Qin Yan came before them. "Fifth Sister was frightened tonight. She probably can't stay in this courtyard by herself. How about she stays in Sixth Sister's old room for now?"

Qin Yan looked at Qin Shuang, who wouldn't quibble over such a small matter and immediately nodded.

After Qin Yan spoke, he went back inside. Soon, Qin Xiang was helped out. Seeing that they were changing rooms, Qin Shuang pulled Qin Wan and walked towards her own courtyard first. Qin Xiang was busy talking with Qin Yan at the moment. When Bai Feiyu arrived, she saw no one else. Although Qin Shuang had been worried earlier, now that the crisis was over, she didn't want to stand by and be an eyesore, so she turned and pulled Qin Wan back to their room. Once inside, Qin Shuang looked at Qin Wan and said, "Why are you so listless? Were you really scared silly?"

Qin Wan gave a wry smile and shook her head. "It's nothing. You don't have to worry."

Qin Wan sat by the window, lost in thought. Qin Shuang gave a "tsk" and truly paid her no more mind. She didn't know how long Qin Wan sat there, only that the courtyard was noisy for a long time. It only quieted down after Qin Xiang was settled in the opposite wing. Then, the door was knocked again.

Fuling opened the door. It was Qin Yan, standing outside. He walked into the room and said, "Sixth Sister, Ninth Sister, let's depart the morning after next. This case is concluded. Constable Song and his men will leave tomorrow. We'll wait for more of the snow to melt and leave the day after tomorrow."

Qin Shuang had been waiting to leave and immediately agreed. Qin Wan also assented.

As they were speaking, Qin Shuang saw two people walk into the courtyard, carrying a small chest towards Qin Xiang's room. Qin Shuang was slightly surprised. "Who's that…"

Qin Yan turned and naturally saw them as well. His expression was impassive. "It's someone from Young Master Bai. We'll leave the day after tomorrow. Young Master Bai will also leave the morning after tomorrow, probably a bit earlier than us. He said he's returning to Yizhou."

Qin Shuang immediately let out a "Ha." "What a pity. We won't be traveling together."

Qin Yan knew what Qin Shuang meant but didn't blame her. The two servants reached the door of the wing, knocked, and after saying a few words to Wanhe, who opened the door, they left.

After seeing the two men leave, Qin Yan exited the courtyard. Qin Shuang gave a soft snort and closed the door. "No matter what, you don't fall in love on the road. I'm afraid Fifth Sister's feelings are wasted."

Qin Wan said nothing in response. Meanwhile, in the opposite wing, Qin Xiang was holding her neck, which was wrapped in a white bandage. "What should I do? We're leaving the day after tomorrow, and Young Master Bai is also returning to Yizhou. Isn't this…"

Hearing this, Wanhe quickly advised, "Miss, don't think about these things for now. You've been injured. Rest well tomorrow so you can travel the day after. As for Young Master Bai, if he truly has those feelings, he will naturally come to the capital to find you after reporting to the head of the Bai family."

Qin Xiang got up and walked to the small chest that had just been delivered. She instructed Wanhe to open it. The moment the lid lifted, Qin Xiang's eyes lit up. Inside was a set of ruby-red jewelry. On the other side lay a pair of mandarin duck pendants.

Qin Xiang's eyes gleamed, her face instantly flushing a deep red. Wanhe, however, frowned. "This… this gift is too valuable. Young Master Bai and us can't be considered close yet. And this jade pendant…"

Wanhe stomped her foot and turned to go out. "This servant will call them back and return the chest."

Qin Xiang grabbed Wanhe. "No… don't return it. I understand what he means…"

Qin Xiang seemed to have forgotten the terror of the night, her expression full of satisfaction and joy. The look on her face was as if the position of the Bai Family's Young Madam was already within easy reach…