The Powerful and Favored Coroner Imperial Concubine

Chapter 171 : Inferiority and Arrogance, The Sweetness of Morning

171: Inferiority and Arrogance, The Sweetness of Morning

A night of sound sleep. Early the next morning, Qin Wan arose. Stepping out of the courtyard gate, she found Clear Radiance Garden unusually quiet and solemn that day. Moreover, noticeably, there were far more yamen runners present than the previous day.

Qin Wan stood at the courtyard entrance for a moment, then turned left along the small path in front of the gate towards Qin Yan's courtyard. For several days now, the siblings had taken their morning meals here. When Qin Wan arrived, Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang had not yet come, and Qin Yan was also not in the courtyard.

Qin Wan waited in the courtyard for a short while before seeing Qin Yan return from the east. "Third Brother."

Qin Yan seemed not to have expected Qin Wan to be there either. "Why are you up so early?"

Qin Wan smiled slightly but didn't elaborate, simply following Qin Yan into the main room. The room was warmed by a charcoal brazier, dispelling some of the winter chill. Qin Wan asked, "Third Brother came from the east? How is everything over there?"

Qin Yan shook his head. "His Highness the Heir Apparent and Lord Prefect Wang are still conducting interrogations. Master Pang, however, claims to have fallen ill."

Qin Wan's brows lifted slightly. "Master Pang has taken ill?"

Qin Yan nodded. "Witnessing Pang Yiwen fall to his death right before his eyes last night was naturally hard to bear. They say he was unwell after returning last night. The household is in chaos now, with only the Second Young Master managing affairs."

Qin Wan naturally understood. The consecutive murders had already filled everyone with unease. And now, with Pang Fuliang falling ill at such a time, it was no wonder the household was in disarray. Seeing Qin Wan lost in thought, Qin Yan said, "Has the Pang family also become entangled in Transport Commissioner Liu's case?"

Qin Wan snapped back to attention, momentarily surprised. "Why does Third Brother ask that?"

Qin Yan stood up and looked out at the overcast, gray sky. "Overnight, so many yamen runners appeared in the residence. It doesn't seem like a simple murder case anymore. Although Transport Commissioner Liu's death was serious enough, the feeling is different now. Moreover, His Highness Yan Chi is suddenly taking an extraordinary interest in the Pang family's affairs. That alone indicates this is no simple matter..."

Qin Yan, after all, had grown up in the capital. He was acutely sensitive to any sign of trouble.

Qin Wan replied vaguely, "Indeed, it's not just because of the murders. But as to the exact reason, I am not entirely clear myself. Perhaps it is related to Lord Liu's case."

The case from years ago was likely something very few people would even think to connect. As it was not yet confirmed, Qin Wan naturally couldn't speak of it easily.

Qin Yan looked deeply at her for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Huai suddenly made a sound of surprise. Qin Wan looked over and saw Zhou Huai staring towards the courtyard gate. Following his gaze, she immediately saw Bai Feng's figure.

Qin Wan instinctively walked towards the door. Qin Yan also said, "He's likely looking for you. Go ahead."

Qin Wan nodded, then took Fuling and Bai Ying with her towards the courtyard entrance.

Seeing her leave after exchanging a few words with Bai Feng, Qin Yan's expression turned somewhat subtle.

Zhou Huai also stepped forward. "Young Master, judging by the actions of His Highness Yan Chi and Lord Prefect Wang, it seems the implications are significant."

Qin Yan nodded. "I haven't yet guessed the exact reason, but it must be related to Liu Renli." He paused briefly, then added through gritted teeth, "We shouldn't have agreed to Pang Fuliang's request in the first place."

Zhou Huai sighed. "At that time, we only knew Lord Liu was 'implicated' and believed his one-sided story."

Qin Yan, with the intention of recruiting Liu Renli under the Marquis household's wing and thus gaining an asset for the Crown Prince, naturally paid Liu Renli special attention. Pang Fuliang seemed to have anticipated this. From the initial arrangement of the meeting between Qin Yan and Liu Renli, he harbored intentions to use Qin Yan and the Loyal and Valiant Marquis household. At that first meeting, Pang Fuliang was candid, directly stating that Liu Renli's yamen was embroiled in a corruption scandal and was likely to be implicated. Qin Yan was dissatisfied at the time; he wanted someone with a clean background who could serve the Crown Prince without bringing trouble. Liu Renli clearly did not fit this ideal.

At the time, Qin Yan believed Liu Renli was truly a victim of circumstance. Not wanting to give up the chance to win him over, he agreed, thinking that by extending a favor, Liu Renli would surely pledge loyalty to the Marquis household. If not for Qingjun's death, he might very well have returned to the capital intending to protect Liu Renli when the impeachment came...

Fortunately, Qingjun's death came suddenly, and fortunately, Qin Wan had given him a warning.

"At the time, I thought only Liu Renli was in trouble, with Pang Fuliang merely acting as an intermediary. Now it seems the Pang family is also tainted. His Highness Yan Chi was initially only making simple inquiries, yet last night he interrogated through the night without rest. The situation is more serious than we thought."

Qin Yan's tone already carried a note of concern. His purpose in coming to Yuzhou was to offer birthday congratulations, yet he ended up staying at Clear Radiance Garden. Once he set foot here, regardless of the Pang family's past dealings and connections with the Marquis household's businesses, even without that history, merely being present at the scene of the crime was enough for those with ulterior motives to make something of it. Moreover, it now seemed likely this involved not just deaths, but a major corruption case within the court. The more Qin Yan thought about it, the heavier his heart sank. The Marquis household could not afford even the slightest disturbance now.

Zhou Huai's expression was also grave. "Young Master's letter has already been sent. The Marquis in the capital will certainly take precautions. As long as we keep ourselves clean here, once we return to the capital, those with ill intentions will have nothing to say."

Qin Yan sighed. "The Emperor's heart is inscrutable. Not to mention the Emperor's heart, even the one in the Eastern Palace is not easy to deal with. Although the Marquis household has aligned with the Eastern Palace, who knows what the Crown Prince truly thinks? Once the Marquis household falls under suspicion, how will the Eastern Palace choose?"

Zhou Huai pressed his lips together for a long moment. "And what of His Highness Yan Chi here? The Young Master had a pleasant conversation with him last time. If His Highness Yan Chi, with Young Master's encouragement, also aligns with the Eastern Palace, wouldn't the Marquis household have rendered a great service?"

Qin Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Steward Zhou, haven't you noticed it either?"

Zhou Huai was taken aback. "What does Young Master mean?"

Qin Yan was silent for a moment. "His Highness's attitude that day was indeed much better than expected. But would you believe it? I still didn't fully grasp his intentions."

Zhou Huai was stunned. That day, he had waited outside the door. He only heard the conversation and the sound of the board game inside, but could not see Yan Chi's expression. After that, they traveled together to Yuzhou, and this legendary 'Demon King' did not seem so difficult to get along with. "But... but later, on the journey to Yuzhou, this humble servant didn't see any indication that he intended to distance himself from us."

The Loyal and Valiant Marquis household's closeness to the Eastern Palace was no longer a secret in the capital. If Yan Chi did not distance himself from them, once they returned to the capital, he would also be seen as leaning towards the Eastern Palace. He could have refused to travel with them, but he did not.

Qin Yan shook his head. "At first, I thought so too... but later I realized he simply acts without restraint. Even if the entire capital believes he favors the Eastern Palace, it likely means nothing to him."

As he spoke, Qin Yan lifted his chin slightly. "His 'Demon King' moniker isn't for nothing. When it comes to inscrutable intentions, this young man likely surpasses even the Crown Prince. Most importantly, he didn't grow up within the capital's power circles. No one knows what he's truly thinking. Although those in the capital all want to establish connections with the Rui Prince's household, who would dare act recklessly?"

"Young Master speaks wisely," Zhou Huai nodded.

Qin Yan sighed, his tone uncharacteristically dejected. "Our actions this time were somewhat imprudent. I can only hope they don't bring too much trouble to the family. For now, we can only watch and wait. If there's any way we can help, we should lend a hand, lest we later find ourselves full of faults."

Zhou Huai nodded gravely, his expression not relaxing in the slightest.

Outside the courtyard, Bai Feng was leading Qin Wan towards a separate courtyard in the southwest.

"The master worked through the night. When he learned you were up, he asked me to invite you over."

Bai Feng's tone was respectful. Qin Wan thought to herself that she had only been up for a short while, yet Yan Chi knew so quickly.

Soon, Bai Feng brought Qin Wan to the courtyard gate. The courtyard in the morning was peacefully quiet. There were no guards inside or out. Entering the gate, she saw the door to the main room slightly ajar. Bai Feng led Qin Wan to the doorway, gesturing respectfully. "Ninth Young Miss, please enter."

Qin Wan nodded, pushed the door open, and entered. Fuling and Bai Ying remained outside.

The room was also very quiet, and it was clearly a hastily prepared, previously empty room. Qin Wan closed the door gently behind her, her gaze first going to the left chamber, then to the right. As she hesitated, a figure emerged from the doorway of the right chamber. It was Yan Chi.

Seeing her hesitating at the entrance, Yan Chi strode over and took her hand. "Come in."

Qin Wan was pulled inside. Through the door was a warm chamber. At that moment, a small table was placed on the heated platform by the window, set with simple congee and two side dishes. A brazier stood in one corner of the room, its charcoal nearly burnt out.

"Prefect Wang had this prepared. I originally didn't need it, but I suddenly wanted to have breakfast with you, so I came here to rest for a bit."

Yan Chi led Qin Wan to sit comfortably on the platform, then sat down opposite her. He knew she had just risen, and naturally knew she hadn't eaten breakfast. Qin Wan studied Yan Chi for a moment. Aside from the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw, he seemed in good spirits. She felt slightly relieved.

"Staying up all night must be commonplace for you?"

Two sets of bowls and chopsticks were laid on the table. Qin Wan began to serve Yan Chi a bowl of congee.

The two of them had shared meals at the Marquis household more than once, but always with a large group of people present. This was the first time they were dining alone together. Seeing Qin Wan serve him congee, Yan Chi's eyes visibly brightened.

"When on campaign, day and night are no different."

Qin Wan handed him the bowl. Yan Chi accepted it with a smile. Qin Wan waited until he had eaten a few mouthfuls before asking, "How did it go last night?"

The smile on Yan Chi's face faded somewhat. "Pang Youde began following Pang Fuliang fourteen years ago. He only knows that Pang Fuliang suddenly came into money back then, but not where it came from. He knows nothing of the events from fifteen years ago. However..."

Yan Chi's tone turned serious. "However, he is very clear about the financial dealings with Qingjun and Liu Renli over the years, even more detailed than what Madam Chang said. Pang Fuliang gave large sums of money to Qingjun and Liu Renli every year. The amounts given to the Shuangqing Troupe were also particularly large. Most of this money was given in silver notes. For one or two years when Qingjun didn't come personally, it was handed to Qingxi."

"Moreover, over the years, Qingjun and Liu Renli's appetites grew larger and larger. Pang Fuliang had already begun to feel dissatisfaction. Qingxi's death this time angered Qingjun greatly. When she arrived at the estate, she indeed made the demand for the inn."

Qin Wan frowned. "Pang Youde is Pang Fuliang's most trusted person. Didn't he mention anything about the events of that year? Does he also not know why money was given to Qingjun and Liu Renli?"

Yan Chi nodded. "He said Pang Fuliang explained it to him. When Pang Fuliang started his business back then, Qingjun and Liu Renli also contributed capital. The money given each year afterward was their share of the profits."

That explanation seemed reasonable on the surface. But how could it be that simple?

"If they contributed capital, how much? How were the annual profits calculated? Are there detailed accounts?" Qin Wan sighed. "Pang Fuliang didn't even tell Pang Youde. It's truly unknown how he kept this secret hidden all these years."

"He said he also had his suspicions, but Pang Fuliang is an extremely suspicious man. The slightest hint of disloyalty would raise his suspicions. So he didn't do anything. Besides, following Pang Fuliang all these years has given him a very comfortable life."

Qin Wan nodded. "So, for the time being, we cannot find evidence linking Pang Fuliang to the events of that year?"

Yan Chi sighed softly. "Indeed. The witnesses are dead, and it's also impossible to locate any stolen goods now."

"That's not necessarily true." Qin Wan looked at Yan Chi with clear, bright eyes. "What do you make of Pang Fuliang's character?"

Hearing this, Yan Chi's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. "Whether Pang Fuliang started from scratch or not, it's certain he had no background. From a commoner back then to the wealthiest man in the northwest today, his willpower and methods are extraordinary. Moreover, yesterday, when Pang Yiwen died before his eyes, although he appeared stunned and dazed for a while, he didn't seem to lose his composure entirely. This shows he has remarkable mental fortitude."

Yan Chi pondered for a moment. "Last night, he was restrained and controlled. And he is meticulous and proper in his dealings with others, showing he is shrewd. The last trait is probably ruthlessness and cruelty. Regardless of any connection to the old case, with the Pang family business growing so large, his hands are not clean."

Qin Wan nodded. "There's another side to his temperament you might not know: his violent nature."

Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan. Qin Wan then recounted Madam Chang's suffering. Yan Chi frowned deeply. "A man hitting a woman? If that's the case, I suspect that beneath his restraint and control, he harbors resentment, cowardice, and inferiority. Otherwise, he wouldn't resort to violence against women."

"Exactly." Qin Wan set down her chopsticks, her tone growing serious. "Normally, a decent man who understands propriety and reason would not lay hands on a woman. Aside from chivalry, most men would disdain to strike a woman. If a man habitually beats his wife, it indicates he holds women in contempt and has an extremely strong need for control. He is deeply insecure within himself. This insecurity, when facing those weaker than him, makes him particularly impulsive and prone to anger, using it as a means to vent his emotions."

Qin Wan continued, "He is an immensely wealthy magnate of the northwest, appearing glorious and illustrious on the surface. Even high officials and nobles address him respectfully as 'Lord Pang.' Yet in private, he treats his wife this way. He is insecure, perhaps because of the events of the past. But most importantly, there is an inherent inferiority in his bones. Maybe due to his origins, maybe something else."

"In any case, the more a person is like this, the less likely he is to completely erase all traces of the past events. Because those are his 'great achievements.' Seeing objects related to that incident might even give him a sense of satisfaction. Moreover, all these years, he hasn't eliminated the two potential threats, Qingjun and Liu Renli. This is likely also due to this reason: extreme inferiority combined with extreme arrogance. And judging by how he treats Madam Pang, he isn't entirely cool-headed and self-possessed. If we keep searching, we will surely find clues related to the events of that year..."

Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan, his eyes shining for a moment. After a night of fruitless interrogation, Wang Huaiyu was extremely disappointed. Even he had begun to doubt whether, given the time that had passed, they could find substantial evidence. Yet Qin Wan, based on Pang Fuliang's character, concluded he was not a perfect criminal. Her reasoning was logical and clear, and he found it very convincing. "If what you say is true, what would he do first upon realizing our investigation is heading in the wrong direction?"

Qin Wan's eyes shifted slightly, then she said gravely, "He would destroy any remaining evidence!"

Yan Chi's heart stirred. "I understand."

Qin Wan looked at him questioningly. Yan Chi smiled. "Alright, enough of that for now. The congee is getting cold."

Qin Wan looked down at the bowl of congee before her and also curved her lips slightly. She picked up her chopsticks again.

When the two of them discussed serious matters, they spoke volubly, yet normally they were not particularly talkative people. Once they began eating, the room fell quiet. The morning sunlight streamed in through the window, falling brightly on Qin Wan's profile, making her skin seem even more delicate and porcelain-like. Yan Chi watched Qin Wan, feeling his heart filled with a warmth and softness as if stuffed with clouds.

Sensing Yan Chi looking at her, Qin Wan paused her chopsticks and looked back at him. "What is it?"

Seeing her put down her chopsticks, Yan Chi smiled. "Finished eating?"

"Mmm, I'm full." Qin Wan straightened up. She was genuinely full.

At that moment, Yan Chi's gaze fell on the corner of her lips. Qin Wan was momentarily startled and instinctively raised her hand to wipe her mouth. "Is there..."

"Don't move." Yan Chi suddenly spoke. In an instant, he leaned across the small table between them. Qin Wan, thinking she had a grain of rice stuck to the corner of her mouth, had just lifted her hand when Yan Chi caught it. The next moment, Yan Chi's lips brushed against hers. She felt him lightly lick the corner of her mouth, and instantly her cheeks burned as if on fire.