novelraw Chapter 88 : Searching Through the Ashes, Piecing Together a Skull
Chapter 88 : Searching Through the Ashes, Piecing Together a Skull
88: Searching Through the Ashes, Piecing Together a Skull
Huo Huaixin's voice carried a hint of a cold smile. Wei Yanzhi stood as rigid as a statue, not turning around for a long while. Huo Huaixin took another step forward. "This letter is the key physical evidence that determines who the murderer is. You stole it, Second Young Master. Were you not trying to let us know who the murderer was one step ahead of us?"
The room was a surge of hot air, yet a chill rose from Wei Yanzhi's feet. Sweat poured down his face, but his feet were cold.
He had thought of this long ago, but he had hesitated for an entire day before taking the bait. Because only he himself knew, he had only this one chance. Whether it was real or fake, he had no chance to risk it. Even if he knew there was an eighty or ninety percent chance of being exposed, he still had to go. Because once the contents of that letter were revealed, he would be thrown into a hellish prison from which there was no return.
Wei Yanzhi gritted his teeth. Lowering his head, he looked at the letter in his hand. At this glance, Wei Yanzhi's pupils contracted violently. This damp letter, which reeked of medicine, didn't have a single character on it. It was just a piece of Gilded Paper coated in medicinal juice.
He had fallen into a trap!
Huo Huaixin saw his lowered head and thus smiled. "Did Second Young Master really think we would put the real letter in the box?" Huo Huaixin narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice laced with heavy mockery. But only Yan Chi, who stood by his side, could hear that every word he spoke was extremely cautious.
Sure enough, Wei Yanzhi turned around. The moment he did, he saw that this empty room unexpectedly stood quite a few people.
Huo Huaixin nodded, then beside him, Yan Chi stood shoulder to shoulder with Yue Qiong. Behind them were Qi Lin and Yue Qing and Yue Jia. Everyone looked at him with mocking and contemptuous gazes.
Wei Yanzhi gripped the damp Gilded Paper tightly. He lifted his chin slightly and also laughed coldly. "Prefect, you truly went to great trouble for my sake. To actually set such a large trap with Ninth Young Miss."
Huo Huaixin snorted. "And what else do you have to say now? Since Ninth Young Miss already knows you are the murderer, this trap was only to make you confess willingly. Now that we have both the person and the evidence, can you still say Miss Song's death has nothing to do with you?"
Wei Yanzhi took a deep breath, his brow also furrowing. "Since Ninth Young Miss already knows the truth, why go to such great lengths? Indeed, she still remembers that night she was almost killed by the falling lantern tower."
Saying this, Wei Yanzhi suddenly threw the Gilded Paper in his hand to the side. He stood by the half-open window lattice. A cold draft blew in, and the thin sweat on his face instantly dried. He straightened his back, and his frantically beating heart gradually quieted down. His expression was certain, and a cold, sharp glint appeared in his eyes. Seeing him like this, Huo Huaixin shook his head. "Wei Yanzhi, you and Miss Song were in love. For your sake, you pinned the scandal on Eldest Brother. He broke a leg for her. And you, yet you viciously killed Miss Song. To this day, you have not shown a single shred of remorse!"
Wei Yanzhi's lips curved slightly, and a bleak smile bloomed in his eyes. "Eldest Brother? He is the Wei family's legitimate son. He is not my elder brother. He was born with all the honor and pampering. For so many years, I have served him like an ox and a horse. That was only a leg. He owes me. How is that only a leg? My mother's life, what did he use to pay it back?"
Speaking of this, a sudden glint of moisture flashed across Wei Yanzhi's eyes.
"I only met my mother once. If not for his big mouth, Miss Jingxi would not have been punished to kneel on the ground in the courtyard all winter. If not for that, how could my mother have contracted a cold illness and died?"
Song Jingxi was the name of the Wei family's matriarch. At this moment, Wei Yanzhi said through gritted teeth, his words carrying a bone-chilling hatred. Huo Huaixin frowned deeply. "You hate Lady Wei, but what does that have to do with Miss Song? My mother's life is a life. Miss Song's life is also not a life? Besides, she was in love with you and even carried your child. How could you bring yourself to harm her?"
Wei Yanzhi suddenly seemed to recall something, a momentary daze in his eyes. But then, he gritted his teeth and said with intense concern, "I didn't want to kill her! I never wanted to kill her! But she insisted on forcing me..."
Wei Yanzhi took a step back, the corners of his eyes slightly red, yet his voice was fierce. "She was also a born noble lady. I don't know what I have paid for this day. She had such a good marriage arranged. Yet she couldn't be content. That would have been one thing. But to drag me down with her... I didn't want her to die! But she absolutely had to!"
Wei Yanzhi's eyes widened. "She was also of noble birth and high status, not knowing what I have paid for this day. She clearly had a very good marriage ahead. But she wasn't content, that would have been one thing. But she insisted on dragging me down with her... I didn't want her to die! But she absolutely had to!"
Wei Yanzhi suddenly fell silent, his expression strange. He shot a weird glance at Huo Huaixin, then looked at Yan Chi and the others. He suddenly laughed strangely. "You are deceiving me!"
Huo Huaixin frowned. "Deceiving you about what?"
Wei Yanzhi straightened his body, the picture of a man who had caught his breath. He said with certainty, "You do not have that letter."
Huo Huaixin narrowed his eyes. "If there is no letter, how did you set a trap to catch me?"
Wei Yanzhi listened, shaking his head as he laughed. "No... You do not have the letter. That is why you had to set a trap. If you had the letter, Prefect, you could have invited me into the trap. The letter was just a cover. You wanted to trick me into confessing the truth of that day."
Wei Yanzhi swept a glance at the discarded Gilded Paper on the ground. "In the end, you still have no evidence."
Wei Yanzhi proudly raised his chin. Although he had fallen for the trap, without proof, how could Huo Huaixin convict him? He had only stolen a letter that didn't exist at all...
Huo Huaixin sneered. "Your words just now are the evidence! Wei Yanzhi, your hatred for Wei Qizhi and Lady Wei, your framing of Miss Song to pin the scandal on Wei Qizhi, you saw her off to her marriage! You personally escorted her. But perhaps she still wanted to entangle you over old matters. You were afraid the old matters would be exposed, so in a fit of rage, you killed her!"
Wei Yanzhi raised his chin. At this point, he was completely fearless. "Prefect, feel free to speculate. In any case, you will not find any evidence."
Huo Huaixin was enraged by Wei Yanzhi's contemptuous gaze and waved his large hand. "Take him back! Let him have a taste of the prefectural prison's flavor! Let's see whether his mouth is tough or the prison's whips are tough!"
Qi Lin acknowledged and stepped forward to take Wei Yanzhi. Wei Yanzhi stood tall and straight, a cold smile on his face, without a trace of fear. Qi Lin took out the prepared handcuffs, intending to use force, but as he approached Wei Yanzhi, the latter actually extended his hands willingly. His expression, however, remained that of 'what can you do to me' fearlessness.
Qi Lin was angry. With a "click," he locked the handcuffs on Wei Yanzhi's hands and gave him a shove. "Walk!"
Wei Yanzhi staggered from the push. After steadying himself, he looked at Huo Huaixin and the others with a composed expression and walked out from their presence. Outside, the charcoal in the stove still rumbled fiercely. Wei Yanzhi walked to the doorway. Qi Lin grabbed the door and pulled it open. The moment the door opened, Wei Yanzhi saw Qin Wan and Yue Ning standing outside. Grand Princess Jiayi was being supported by Jiang‑shi, also standing by the door.
It seemed everyone had set the trap together. Wei Yanzhi glanced at Yue Ning, then looked at Qin Wan. Their four eyes met. Wei Yanzhi's gaze held a heavy, dark glint. Qi Lin gave him another shove. Only then did Wei Yanzhi withdraw his gaze and walk away from Qin Wan and her party. Outside the eastern courtyard, yamen constables were already waiting. Seeing Qi Lin leading a man out, they immediately stepped forward and seized him. In the courtyard, Grand Princess sighed. "To harbor the intent to harm!"
The moment her voice fell, Huo Huaixin and his group walked out from the room. They shouted again, "Search! Search for me! I refuse to believe we can't find anything!"
Saying this, he pointed to the side room. "Go! Take the people inside away too!"
Qin Wan stepped forward two paces. The room door was wide open, and the hot air from within billowed out. Qin Wan frowned. "Sir, look at this stove. Wei Yanzhi has been burning it for many days. There is likely something odd."
Huo Huaixin nodded upon hearing this. Just then, Qi Lin walked in from outside. Huo Huaixin then said, "Take a look at this stove."
Qi Lin acknowledged and led several yamen constables into the room. Meanwhile, Wei Yanzhi's guard was dragged from his sleep. The two men were utterly bewildered as they were dragged away. Seeing the imposing formation in the courtyard, their legs went weak. Before they could even cry out their innocence, they were dragged out of the eastern courtyard. Huo Huaixin stood with his hands behind his back but sighed. "If Wei Yanzhi is stubborn-mouthed, I'm afraid even torture might not be enough to make him talk."
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. "It is certain that he is the murderer. It's just that the murder weapon still needs his own confession. Miss Song's head has not been found yet. And the process of the murder cannot be ignored. If he refuses to talk even to the death, it will be quite troublesome."
Huo Huaixin snorted lightly. "I still don't believe it..."
Qin Wan and Yue Ning exchanged a glance, neither saying a word. They went to the prison cells to see. For Huo Huaixin, the torture on Wei Qizhi might perhaps truly not be severe enough. He was afraid that Wei Yanzhi could really endure it.
"Sir, the stove has been searched inside. Aside from the charcoal fire, there is nothing else out of the ordinary!"
Just as he was thinking, Qi Lin walked out from the room. These words had just fallen, and Huo Huaixin frowned. Qin Wan and Yue Ning, however, were the first to enter the room. The moment they stepped in, they saw that the outer room was already a mess. The stove fire had been doused, and all the charcoal inside had been taken out. The inside of the stove was empty as could be, without any other foreign objects. And the ashes underneath had also been turned over by Qi Lin, without finding anything. Qin Wan's pupils contracted, her brow deeply furrowed.
Wei Yanzhi's illness had its quirks. And afterwards, this room gained the addition of the stove. If there was nothing odd about the stove, where could the oddity be?
Qin Wan turned and walked straight into the inner chamber. Inside, there were also yamen constables, now examining the items in the room. Qin Wan's gaze swept across and suddenly fixed on the two swords hanging on the inner chamber's wall. One was long, one was short. Both had special markings.
Yue Ning followed her in from behind. "These are Wei Yanzhi's weapons. When he crossed hands with me before, he used this long sword. This is a famous sword. Though it doesn't rank on the lists, it was forged by the hand of the Liang family from the Western Frontiers."
"The Liang family? That Liang family, the sword-forging clan?"
Qin Wan's reaction was extremely fast. Yue Ning hadn't expected that Qin Wan even knew this, so she nodded. "Exactly. This sword is from the Liang family. The Liang family was exterminated in the former dynasty. Of the swords that survive in the world today, there are little more than a hundred. This sword is named 'Cheng Ying' (Bearing Shadow). It is recorded on the Liang family's sword registry. Wei Yanzhi once said this sword was a gift from the Duke's household."
Qin Wan stepped forward and reached out to take down the 'Cheng Ying' sword. With a "shing," she drew the blade. A glint of cold light instantly made her pupils contract. Yue Ning stepped closer. "What is it? Is the sword's edge too sharp?"
Qin Wan nodded and slowly drew the long sword. The moment it was fully unsheathed, a faint, clear hum of the sword rang out.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Qin Wan's gaze swept over the sword's edge. Yue Ning then said, "This sword's edge is three cun long. It is one of the few blunt-edged swords made by the Liang family. The point is shaped like a hooking moon. It looks unsharpened, but a murderous force is concealed within the blade's temper, heavy as a great army."
A glint appeared in the bottom of Qin Wan's eyes. "If... this sword's edge leaves a wound on a person, we only need to find a three-cun blunt-edged sword to know which one it is, wouldn't we?"
Yue Ning instantly understood Qin Wan's meaning, a light flashing in her eyes.
"Exactly so. Although the Liang family has more than one three-cun blunt-edged sword, there are many that survive in the world today. 'Cheng Ying' is one, and the other several famous swords also have known masters. By investigating a little, we will know where the master is."
Qin Wan curved her lips. "So that was Wei Yanzhi's reason..."
Saying this, she held the 'Cheng Ying' sword and walked out. Outside, Huo Huaixin was talking with Yue Qiong. Seeing Qin Wan come out with the sword, he hurriedly looked over. After listening to Qin Wan finish, Huo Huaixin's eyes lit up. "That makes perfect sense!"
Qin Wan handed the sword to Huo Huaixin. "I am handing this over to you, sir. It's a pity we didn't find other evidence." Huo Huaixin knew what Qin Wan meant that she was saying Miss Song's head had not yet been found. But tonight, having made great progress, Huo Huaixin, though somewhat anxious, was ultimately satisfied. Since he was certain Wei Yanzhi was the murderer, he had ways to make him talk. In his hands, he had never seen a man who truly would not talk even in the face of death.
"Rest assured, Ninth Young Miss. I have not even begun the interrogation. Once I start, I won't worry that Wei Yanzhi will not confess. Tonight's trap has confirmed Wei Yanzhi's identity as the murderer. I, Huo, am already at ease. As long as we didn't arrest the wrong person, I have confidence in making him talk."
Saying this, he looked to the Grand Princess. "The night is deep. Your health must be tended to."
The Grand Princess hadn't needed to come, but having not experienced such a scheme in many years, she had become spirited for the moment. Now that there was a tentative result, the Grand Princess did not need to force herself to stay. She nodded at once. "Good. You and Yue Qiong see to it then. I will go back for now."
As these words left, Qin Wan and Yue Ning immediately helped the Grand Princess up. On the other side, Wei Yanzhi went to Yan Chi to express his thanks. "Tonight, we were much indebted to Your Highness's dispatch of men to watch. If those few incompetent yamen constables had come, matters would likely have gone awry."
Qin Wan then walked out, glancing back. In the bright lights of the eastern courtyard, Bai Feng stood by Yan Chi's side. Though silent, he possessed an aura that could not be ignored. Recalling her mind, Qin Wan couldn't help but think of Yan Chi's actions over these many days. His presence was so forceful it drew attention, yet his actions were imperceptibly silent, without a single leak or flaw. Such a person, as a friend, was a hundred benefits without harm. But if one were not careful and made an enemy of him... one would suffer a disastrous end.
Walking out of the eastern courtyard, the Grand Princess sighed. "Those in high places are never simple. Though the Wei family's son is not considered high-ranking, his background is as such. That he could have what he has today is definitely because he has been half-cautious, clever, and bent on pleasing others his entire life. Having an affair with Miss Song was perhaps his means, or perhaps his true feelings. This is not important anymore. What is important is that Miss Song, in the end, obstructed him."
Saying this, the Grand Princess let out another faint sigh. "The deepest desires always give rise to the deepest hatred. Even if that person was once an intimate companion by one's pillowside... So, to harbor the intent to harm..."
To harbor the intent to harm. The Grand Princess had only just spoken these words, and hearing them again, Qin Wan felt a chill rise in her heart. All things in the world have causes and effects. Wei Yanzhi's murderous actions were not born overnight.
Qin Wan had seen many cases. The Grand Princess was not so, yet with her half-life's experience, she pierced through the cause and effect of Wei Yanzhi's actions with a single sentence. Qin Wan listened silently, only feeling that her education was profoundly humbling.
Yue Ning's face also turned solemn. She asked in a low voice, "But Grandmother, people always have a choice..."
The Grand Princess smiled and squeezed Yue Ning's hand. "Indeed, people always have a choice. If, at the time Miss Song's pregnancy was discovered, Wei Yanzhi had stepped forward, perhaps the rest of his life would have been very tragic. But perhaps there would have been a different outcome. Or, at Ten Li Temple, he did not harm Miss Song. Then things would have been different. The same encounter, yet different choices. Some come from good, some from evil. This is the deep and complex nature of people. You all, no matter what you encounter in the future, you must not lose your kind and good hearts."
"Yes, Grandmother. Ning'er understands."
"Rest assured, Wan'er. Grandmother understands."
As they spoke, they reached the front of the Grand Princess's courtyard. The Grand Princess held Qin Wan and Yue Ning's hands and smiled. "For you two, I can rest at ease now. Good, you should both go back to your rest."
Qin Wan and Yue Ning both took their leave of the Grand Princess, then turned and walked back. Qin Wan smiled slightly. "It's no wonder the Anyang Marquis's estate has remained glorious for generations without decline. The old Marquis who chose the Grand Princess as his bride was a famous courtier whose name resounded for a thousand years. Later, when the title passed to the Grand Princess and then to the Marquis, the marquis's estate's style remained uncorrupted. Even now, with the Grand Princess here, the Holy One has never suspected the marquis's estate."
Yue Ning's lips raised. "With your auspicious words, you are flattering me."
The two of them spoke as they walked and soon reached the entrance to Yue Ning's courtyard. Before they could even enter, they saw a young maid rush out from within, her steps so frantic she nearly collided with Qin Wan and Yue Ning.
"Lüjing! What's the matter!"
Yue Ning's sharp voice made the young maid, Lüjing, immediately kneel on the ground.
"I beg the Young Miss and Ninth Young Miss's forgiveness. This servant deserves death."
Yue Ning frowned. "Alright, alright. Don't keep saying 'I deserve to die' all day. You came running in such a panic, what has happened?"
Lüjing stood up, her eyes red-rimmed. "The jade pendant the Young Miss gifted this servant is gone."
Yue Ning raised an eyebrow. "Did you lose it yourself, or was it stolen?"
Lüjing quickly said, "I'm afraid this servant lost it carelessly. Today, when I was changing clothes, I took off the jade pendant. Later, I took the clothes to the wash. When I came back, I discovered the jade pendant was missing. This servant thought it was very likely wrapped up with the clothes and accidentally lost by the well. I am about to go look for it now."
Yue Ning laughed helplessly. "Alright, stop looking so red-eyed. Go look for it first. If you can't find it, I'll give you another one."
Lüjing looked at her with immense hope and hurried off towards the laundry courtyard.
From the side, Qin Wan said, "The Princess treats her servants too well."
Yue Ning raised her lips. "They are all from daughters' families, and they entered the estate to serve at a young age after leaving their mothers. Thinking about it, it's quite pitiful. Usually, the maids in my courtyard are very diligent in their work. Naturally, I treat them well."
As these words settled, Fuling behind them added, "My young mistress is also good. She is even teaching me medicine."
Hearing this, Lüjing was truly slightly surprised. Usually, a master was kind to their servants in terms of clothing and monetary rewards. Qin Wan was different. She was teaching the art of medicine. To put it lightly, this was a skill that could allow one to establish their own household...!"
Yue Ning smiled first. "Then I can't compare to your young mistress..."
Qin Wan, however, who was walking behind them, suddenly had a grave expression and her steps faltered.
Yue Ning was taken aback. "What is it?"
Qin Wan lifted her gaze. "That little maid just now, where did she say she was going to look for the jade pendant?"
Yue Ning and Lüjing looked at each other. Yue Ning said, "To the laundry courtyard's well..."
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, murmuring, "The jade pendant was wrapped in the clothes. The clothes were taken to the well to wash. The jade pendant fell by the well..." As she said this, Qin Wan suddenly lifted her head. "I know!"
"Know what?!"
Yue Ning asked quickly. But from the side, Qin Wan was already lifting her skirt and was running with great strides towards the eastern courtyard. In the distance, Qin Wan saw the yamen constables outside the courtyard heading this way. Huo Huaixin and Yue Qiong were at the end of the procession. Just as she was about to run up, she saw Qin Wan appear.
"Sir, Marquis."
Huo Huaixin was speaking with Yue Qiong when, unexpectedly, Qin Wan appeared. Huo Huaixin frowned. "Ninth Young Miss? Didn't you go back to rest? Why have you come again?"
Qin Wan ran up to Huo Huaixin, panting as she spoke. "Sir, I know what was odd about the stove! The ashes... take a look at the ashes!"
Huo Huaixin blinked. "I've already looked at the ashes!"
Qin Wan shook her head. "Not that! Look at the ashes outside! In the courtyard!"
Huo Huaixin was slightly taken aback, but Qin Wan was already walking towards the courtyard gate. Huo Huaixin hurried to follow. The moment they reached the courtyard entrance, they saw Qin Wan had already run to the corner of the ash pile. Behind her, Yue Qiong and Yue Ning had also caught up. Seeing this scene, they were all stunned.
From the side, Qin Wan rolled up her sleeves. Her gaze swept past, and when she saw an iron poker thrown aside by the ash pile, her eyes lit up. Fuling, seeing this, hurried in.
"Young Miss, let this servant handle that..."
Qin Wan shook her head. "You just watch over there."
Fuling looked a bit anxious, but Qin Wan had already made up her mind to do it herself. Huo Huaixin strode forward. "Ninth Young Miss, what are you looking for!"
"Found it!"
Before Huo Huaixin could finish his question, Qin Wan's calm voice, laced with a hint of excitement, rang out!
Everyone looked over. They only saw that Qin Wan had actually unearthed a white object from within the gray ash pile! That white object was ashen-white, about half the size of a palm. Yue Ning looked at that object and felt a bit of discomfort for some reason, asking, "What is that...?"
Qin Wan placed the white object to one side. Her voice was chillingly cool. "If I'm not mistaken, at the time Miss Song was killed, this is her skull bone."
"What?!" Huo Huaixin's eyes widened. "Miss Song's skull bone?!"
Qin Wan nodded as she dug through the ash pile. "Yes! I always felt that something was wrong when Wei Yanzhi suddenly started burning the stove. When we opened the stove and found nothing, I still found it strange. Only then did I remember. Wei Yanzhi couldn't have possibly left the evidence so simply in the stove. He must have disposed of it. And then I thought of the ash pile in the corner of the courtyard!"
After a slight pause, Qin Wan added, "These things will be cleared away by early tomorrow morning. By then, nothing will be left. Wei Yanzhi, thinking he was being shrewd and divine, will have silently disposed of Miss Song's head. At that time, we will never be able to find Miss Song's head."
A muscle in Huo Huaixin's cheek twitched, but he didn't speak. The onlooking Yue Ning and Yue Qiong also wore complicated expressions.
Wei Yanzhi was a clever man. But he never imagined Qin Wan would think to dig through the ash pile. He was off by a tiny margin. Miss Song's head was about to silently disappear from this world.
Huo Huaixin's chest rose and fell a few times. He suddenly ordered the outside constables. "What are you standing around for? Start digging through the ash pile!"
With the order, Qi Lin immediately led men forward. Fuling quickly pulled Qin Wan up. Qin Wan looked at the ash pile before her and said, "This ash in the courtyard, who knows where it will be dumped?"
Yue Ning quickly said, "It's dumped in the northern Flower Garden! The gardeners there will mix it with flower soil! The ash from the main kitchens and the hot water rooms, etc., will all be sent there..."
Qin Wan then looked at Huo Huaixin. "Sir, I'm afraid you won't be able to rest tonight."
The kitchens and hot water rooms of the entire marquis's estate produced how much ash in a day? The ash sent from the eastern courtyard was only a very small portion. And Miss Song's head had already been smashed. To find a skull fragment in a mountain of ash was like finding a needle in the ocean. The labor was indeed not small, but at this moment, Huo Huaixin wouldn't mind the yamen constables having too much work to do. He himself wanted to dig through the ash mountain!
"Chief Constable Qi, you take men to the Flower Garden. Marquis, I'm afraid we will need the marquis's people to help. Let's do our best to find all the bones we can tonight..."
Yue Qiong naturally could not refuse. Qin Wan added, "Wei Yanzhi's stove has been burning for nearly six days. To burn the flesh to nothing and to break the bones, it takes at least three days. We need to search the ashes from the most recent three days."
Yue Qiong nodded and immediately went out to instruct Yang Xi.
The commotion tonight was not small. Yue Qing and the others had originally gone back to rest, but hearing the commotion in the estate, they got up again. Before long, even Yan Chi had arrived at the Flower Garden. At a glance, he saw Qin Wan and Yue Ning standing at the very side. In the distance, in the flower garden, several groups of people were searching through several ash piles. Huo Huaixin stood to one side, occasionally urging a sentence!
"Search more carefully! Don't let any small pieces slip by!"
"Don't mix other things in either!"
Yan Chi raised an eyebrow and walked towards Qin Wan and the others.
From the side, Yue Qing said, "So, Ninth Young Miss, you intend to piece the bones together now?"
Yue Qing said, glancing at the fragmented bone pieces arranged in the tray before him. "The bones are all broken into pieces like this, how are we to piece them together?"
If a complete skull were placed before everyone, they would probably all be pale with fright. But at this moment, the entire skull had been burned and smashed by Wei Yanzhi. Looking at the pieces of bone, everyone felt no fear.
Yan Chi walked closer. Hearing this question, his steps unconsciously slowed. He too wanted to see how Qin Wan would piece the bones together.
Then they heard Qin Wan say, "These bones belong to different parts and are too fragmented to probably piece together a complete shape, but we can probably piece together a rough approximation."
Saying this, Qin Wan looked at Yue Qing. "It might be a trouble to trouble Second Young Master to go find some fish glue?"
Yue Ning first frowned, seemingly finding it difficult, but very quickly, a light lit up in her eyes. "Good. The sky will be bright soon. I'll make a trip to the Baoqin Zhai (Treasured Qin Zhai) in the city. I can get the fish glue back for you within one shichen."
After Yue Qing finished speaking, he left. Yue Ning looked at his quickly disappearing figure, puzzled. "Fish glue? It seems to be used by woodworkers? What is Second Brother going to the Baoqin Zhai for?"
Hearing this, Qin Wan smiled. "Fish glue is made by boiling fish swim bladders. Its adhesive property is extremely good, but it's not common. Not only can it be used as glue, but when used in medicine, it also has the effect of fortifying the vital essence and strengthening the kidneys. When making glue, it is usually only used when making extremely fine furniture. Furthermore, when making instruments like the qin, sheng, and song, fish glue is the best choice. Baoqin Zhai sounds like it sells qin. I imagine there are qin makers inside, so naturally there will be fish glue too."
Yue Ning felt a little admiration. "How many books have you read? How do you know so many rare and strange things?"
Qin Wan smiled slightly. Before she could speak, Yan Chi had already walked up.
"Ninth Young Miss's knowledge is encyclopedic. Some books, are ones that even Yan Chi has not heard."
At this, Qin Wan's heart skipped a beat. Yet, when she turned her eyes, what met his were his profound, deep gaze.
In the dead of the night, layers of dark clouds scattered. A sliver of a crescent moon hung diagonally in the sky. Its moonlight was clear and cold. Though it could not reach the stars, it still made this autumn night's dawn clear and bright. And Yan Chi's eyes seemed to have been dyed by the moonlight. At the same time, Qin Wan was reflected within them.
"Ninth Young Miss has only read a few miscellaneous books. I dare not take Your Highness's words as such." Qin Wan lowered her gaze, giving a perfunctory reply. Yan Chi, however, had a thoughtful expression. He didn't know what his previous words meant...
Yan Chi curved his lips, instead looking at the bone fragments that had been found in the tray. He casually picked up a piece, not minding that it was a human bone. "These bones here, every piece, do you know which part of the person they are from?"
Qin Wan swept her eyes over the half-teacup-sized bone fragment in Yan Chi's hand. She narrowed her eyes slightly. "The one in Your Highness's hand is the mandible bone."
Yan Chi raised an eyebrow. He looked at the ordinary-looking bone fragment in his hand. Since it had been smashed, the breaks were uneven. No matter how Yan Chi looked at it, he could not tell it was a person's mandible bone. Yue Ning subconsciously touched her own mandible. Only then did she feel her scalp tingle.
Yan Chi put down the bone in his hand and laughed lightly. "Whether in the medical arts or the art of autopsy, in what Yan Chi has seen, none can compare to the top three. And the other two were both in their prime. Furthermore, not a single person has simultaneously such attainments in both the medical arts and autopsy. Ninth Young Miss is worthy of her name as the 'Medical Immortal.' Yan Chi feels admiration."
This direct praise made Qin Wan feel a bit doubtful in her heart. Was Yan Chi's remark just now a probe, or was it sincere?
She thought Yan Chi would continue to press her, but after putting down the bone, he just stood to the side. Qin Wan's heart pounded, and she said, "dare not," then said no more, using the excuse of looking for bones in the ash pile to walk away. As she walked, Yue Ning raised her chin and looked at Yan Chi. "What intentions does Your Highness have towards her?"
Yan Chi turned his gaze and glanced at the distant Qin Wan. "There are naturally reasons."
Yue Ning looked at Yan Chi, then at the distant Qin Wan where his gaze fell, and her brow instantly furrowed. She felt a flash of anger in her heart, always feeling that this man was wickedly crafty, and that he harbored improper intentions towards Qin Wan. But she wanted to say something, and seeing Yan Chi's expression, the words would not come out. Besides, their statuses... she could not say anything to him.
Qin Wan was not aware of the sharpness between these two, she only saw how many bone fragments had been found. As the crescent moon sank lower and the night sky grew clearer, the bone fragments in the tray were almost piled into a small mountain.
At the break of dawn, Qin Wan counted the bones in the tray and said, "Sir, five teeth are missing. The rest are mostly accounted for. They are simply too fragmented; it's fine that we can't find them all. Let's go to the front courtyard."
Huo Huaixin had stayed up all night, and a layer of dark blue had grown under his eyes. Hearing this, he quickly nodded. He first instructed Qi Lin to stay behind and continue searching, then followed Qin Wan and the others towards the front courtyard. Qin Wan carried the tray of bone fragments herself, but before she could take a few steps, a large hand reached out from behind her and took the tray from her.
Qin Wan looked up. It was Yan Chi.
She raised an eyebrow, and the suspicion in her heart rose again.
The morning light was faint. The Song Rou case, with all its twists and turns, was about to end. Everyone wanted to know how Qin Wan would piece these fragments into a human skull. Just after Qin Wan burned a stick of incense in the front courtyard, Yue Qing returned with the fish glue!
In the front courtyard's main hall, the bones on the desk had been washed clean by Qin Wan and were laid out piece by piece. Yue Qing watched from the side and couldn't help but ask, "Ninth Young Miss, how do you intend to piece them?"
"Piece the skull first, then piece the facial skull."
Qin Wan's expression was solemn, and not the least bit negligent. As she spoke, she had already picked out the two largest bone fragments. She applied fish glue to the side of one of the skull's bones. Carefully and meticulously, she joined the two bone fragments together. The fish glue's adhesive property was excellent. The two bones joined seamlessly. Qin Wan kept her head down, searching. After a short while, she selected another fragment. Piece by piece, she assembled them. Soon, the dome-like shape of a skullcap began to take form. Onlooking, Yan Chi and Yue Qiong's eyes showed amazement. Huo Huaixin's eyes widened even further as he clicked his tongue in praise. Yue Ning, watching, could only sigh in admiration...
After assembling the skullcap, she then joined the occipital bone. Qin Wan's face was serious, not permitting a single lapse. In the quiet room where many were present, no one dared disturb her. It was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Immediately after, the sphenoid bone, temporal bone, and ethmoid bone were pieced on one by one. Then, a basically complete skullcap and cranial cavity took preliminary shape. Qin Wan was unhurried but not careless. She distinguished the tiny, fragmented bones one by one. After another small shichen, the facial skull could basically be seen in the shape of a person...
Qin Wan worked neither too fast nor too slow. In the room, no one dared to speak loudly to urge her on. Qin Wan joined the skull and the facial skull. Then she picked up the remaining fragmented teeth-like bones in the tray. The hall was silent as death. Qin Wan stared at the assembled skull before her, her gaze carefully sweeping over it. Because many bones were missing, the skull still had several small gaps that could not be fully filled. To others, it just looked like a head full of scars. But Qin Wan paused and then said, "A one-cun-long, half-moon-shaped wound is visible beneath the deceased's occipital bone. This indicates it was inflicted by a sharp weapon with a one-cun wide edge. As the wound is on the bone, the murder weapon can be directly matched. For now, we tentatively conclude it was from Wei Yanzhi's 'Cheng Ying' sword."
"This wound could cause the victim to become instantly paralyzed and collapse, but not to cause death." After a slight pause, Qin Wan furrowed her brow. "In other words, the murderer first attacked the victim from behind, then, while the victim was still conscious, hacked off the victim's head."