This was the first time in Qin Jiuye’s life that she had ever ridden a horse.
All of her attention was focused on her backside; by the end of the journey, she felt as though every bone in her body had been rattled loose.
She finally understood why the young ladies and masters of wealthy families preferred traveling by carriage. While riding a horse appeared dashing and grand, it actually required considerable skill. Otherwise, not only would one suffer physically, but one would also look quite unseemly.
Because she was so desperate to leave the saddle, she nearly tumbled headfirst off the horse when they arrived at the Su Estate.
Lu Zican looked over, and she quickly straightened herself up, only to hear a low chuckle from behind her.
Qin Jiuye turned around and glared. "What are you laughing at? What’s so funny?"
The youth holding the horse’s reins had already resumed his usual expression, looking at her with a face full of innocence. "I wasn't laughing. You must have misheard, Sister."
She had never ridden a horse before, so she naturally didn't know there were different speeds. The "pace" she had just experienced was, in fact, faster than the speed at which most of the city's young masters traveled.
Remembering that there was important business to attend to, Qin Jiuye didn't want to bicker. Rubbing her sore backside, she followed Lu Zican toward the main gate of the Su Estate with a slight limp.
After a few steps, the youth suddenly called out to her. "Sister."
As soon as Qin Jiuye turned around, he asked in a lowered voice, "Do you really not need me to go in with you?"
He didn't say much, asking only that simple question. But his eyes clearly asked far more.
*What if you have to face the Su family alone again? What if those people bully you again? What if that oaf Lu Zican is always a step too slow to notice and can't protect you?*
He hadn't been able to stand by her side that day at the docks, so this time, he could not be absent no matter what.
Qin Jiuye fell silent for a moment, not speaking immediately, as if weighing her options.
In the next instant, the youth leaned close to her ear and spoke quickly. "You don't have to worry about anything else. If you want, I can follow you secretly..." His voice grew even lower, and his beautiful light-brown eyes shot an unfriendly glance at Lu Zican not far away. "...No one will ever find out."
A chill seemed to sweep through the air. The small white horse Lu Zican had just hitched let out a sharp snort, but its owner was completely oblivious, flipping through a small booklet of rough-edged paper to double-check the tasks for the day.
Qin Jiuye thought it over carefully but eventually shook her head. When she spoke again, her voice carried a hint of nonchalance.
"Times have changed. I am no longer a physician taking the employer’s silver, nor am I a prime suspect. Logically speaking, I don't need to be constrained at every turn. I will enter through the front gate and leave through the front gate, asking them questions with my back straight. Just wait for me. If it takes too long, you can head back first."
As she spoke, she lightly patted his shoulder, as if signaling him not to worry.
The youth she was "comforting" showed a flash of bewilderment on his face.
He had survived to this day not only because his blade was fast enough, but also because he rarely challenged those wanderers of the martial world who were faster than him. Even if a confrontation was unavoidable, he could always find someone to provide cover so he could make a quick escape.
This was a clever way of balancing risks. The opposite was foolishness.
Just like her decision now.
She didn't have the strength to completely overcome the entire Su household, yet she still chose to face them alone. Wasn't that foolish? And yet, for some reason, he couldn't use his existing survival logic to scrutinize or judge her; he only felt that doing so made him seem incredibly base.
Receiving no response for a long time, Qin Jiuye didn't linger any further and turned to catch up with Lu Zican.
The last time she had come with the others for a consultation, she had entered through the side gate. This time, finally walking through the main entrance, she fully appreciated the Su family's immense wealth and status.
However, the atmosphere of the current Su Estate had completely changed from the inside out. It was no longer the "Rising Star of Jiugao" that gathered famous doctors with heavy gold and hosted grand birthday banquets for high-ranking officials and merchants. Instead, it had become the talk of the town. Even in the most dilapidated slums of the southern city, a child playing with mud or crickets could say a few words about it and then spit on the ground.
After all, no one had expected that the murderer who had killed two people in succession and thrown the city into a panic was actually hidden within the Su family.
Reflecting on the various twists and turns, some busybodies couldn't help but speculate: *Had the case remained unsolved for so long because the killer was a member of the Su family? After all, who didn't know that Lord Qiu, the Protector-General investigating the case, was the Su family's future son-in-law?* However, no further details had leaked out regarding how the killer was eventually caught. Some rumored that the Su family had been framed, and that the bizarre murders were merely another play of "sacrificing family for righteousness" staged by the Lord of Broken Jade himself—everyone, near or far, was just a stepping stone on his path to promotion and nobility. Others said that Qiu Ling was, after all, a member of the Qiu family and naturally valued loyalty and affection; he had only been forced to this point because the burning cargo ship on the Huan River yesterday morning had pushed everything beyond the point of no return...
Qin Jiuye listened quietly to Lu Zican’s grumbling and complaining all the way from the main gate to the inner courtyard’s ancestral hall. Seeing that he had no intention of stopping, she finally couldn't help but speak up.
"Commander Lu, we’ve been walking for so long, yet why haven't we seen a single member of the Su family? Where are Su Muzhi and Su Muhe? And what about that Steward Guo?"
Lu Zican finally remembered the business at hand and said with a bit of a headache, "Earlier, the Protector-General didn't want Lord Fan to interfere, so he sent people to interrogate Guo Rengui privately. Guo Rengui insists that the Old Madam’s killings, as well as the transport and disposal of Kang Renshou’s body, were all handled by that maid Xinyu, who has since vanished. He claims the Second Miss and the other women of the household knew nothing. As for Su Muzhi, they say she suffered a breakdown at the docks that day; she’s currently unwell and in poor spirits, using that as an excuse to repeatedly refuse visitors. She won't see anyone."
Qin Jiuye immediately curled her lip. "Doesn't your Protector-General use 'thunderous methods'? How is it that as soon as someone claims illness, he stops the interrogation? Could it be that he truly 'pities the fragrance and cherishes the jade,' unwilling to hurt the feelings of his future in-laws..."
"How could the Protector-General be such a person?! This is just meeting a ruse with a ruse..." Lu Zican was indeed displeased upon hearing this, but he stopped halfway, realizing she was joking. He then deliberately sized up the woman beside him. "I recall back at the Commandery Governor’s yamen, you treated our Protector-General like a savior, acting all respectful and admiring. How is it that now that you're familiar with us, you've started criticizing him to our faces?"
Faced with this counterattack, Qin Jiuye didn't panic. Instead, she calmly put her hands behind her back. "People change. Besides, an itinerant physician from the backwoods like me is the most fickle of all. Commander Lu had better be careful; if I catch you in a compromising position later, I might not just criticize you—I might stab you in the back."
A flash of trepidation crossed Lu Zican’s rugged face, but he quickly adjusted his expression and said with feigned seriousness, "In any case, the Protector-General has made proper arrangements for this matter. He is by no means the kind of person who bends the law for personal gain as you suggest. It’s fine to say such things in front of me, but do not fan the flames in front of others. Public clamor can melt gold, and accumulated slander can destroy a man. Even with a hundred mouths, the Protector-General wouldn't be able to clear his name."
Qin Jiuye laughed, stood on her tiptoes, and patted Lu Zican’s shoulder, saying earnestly, "Don't worry, Commander Lu. After all, you and I are eating from the same cake and sharing the same grain. Although I know this position of Assistant is only a temporary gig, as long as I’m in this seat, we’re in the same boat. We can't let it capsize in a gutter before we even reach our destination."
Lu Zican nodded.
He didn't like the analogy of cakes and grain; it made his sacred duty sound no different from vendors selling vegetables together in the market. But on second thought, he seemed to understand a bit more why his Protector-General wanted to pull this Miss Qin into the fold.
This woman possessed a natural, worldly air that someone like him—wearing an official uniform and coming from a military background—lacked.
Thinking of this, Lu Zican took the initiative to ask, "Miss Qin said earlier that you had something to confirm. Do you want to search the Su Estate grounds with me? we’ve already searched several gardens this morning, but there are still many left. If you want to join, I’ll have Xiaozhou bring you a shovel later. You’re meticulous; you won't miss a single blind spot..."
She was just an Assistant, not a soldier in the logistics corps going to dig fire pits or clear roads. What did she need a shovel for?
Qin Jiuye waved her hand weakly. "To be honest with you, Brother Lu, back during that birthday banquet, I was already here in the Su Estate, but in the end, I didn't find anything useful. It’s clear I have no talent for searching for things, and I’m not very nimble either; I’m afraid I’d only hold you back. I came today only because I want to ask someone a few questions about He Yuanzhou. Once I’m done, I’ll leave. I won't take up too much of your time."
Lu Zican nodded and continued, "Who do you want to ask?"
Although Lu Zican’s words upon entering the estate were rambling, Qin Jiuye had taken much of it to heart.
If she wasn't mistaken, Guo Rengui was likely instructed by someone to speak as he did, intending to protect the women in the courtyard. Although the Su women were all in the rear court, they might not necessarily know about He Yuanzhou’s affairs; otherwise, it wouldn't have been the maid Xinyu’s turn to "run around." If she questioned them one by one, she would likely get answers similar to what Su Muhe said when she stood in for her grandmother during the consultation.
Qin Jiuye pondered, countless names flashing through her mind, before finally making up her mind. "Steward Guo, then. He is a manager, after all, and has no shortage of devious thoughts. He should be the most knowledgeable about the various affairs of this household, large and small."
That day on the ship, this Guo Rengui had been following Su Muzhi like a shadow, and Su Muzhi clearly knew about Old Madam Su’s situation. If she couldn't interrogate the young lady of the house right now, could she not interrogate the dog at her side?
After hearing this, Lu Zican stroked his beard. "Guo Rengui has already been through one round of questioning today. The Protector-General usually doesn't interrogate the same person twice in one day..."
Qin Jiuye raised an eyebrow. "Is it difficult?"
"What’s difficult about it?" Lu Zican said, then turned and gestured toward the door. "Bring him up."
Before Qin Jiuye could think about why this bearded commander’s attitude toward her had suddenly changed, she saw two burly men dragging a familiar figure into the ancestral hall.
Qin Jiuye blinked. After several "life-threatening" encounters, she could now recognize him at a glance.
"Steward Guo."
Guo Rengui clearly recognized her as well. After all, on the ship, in his attempt to capture this wild girl, he had been bitten several times; the teeth marks on his arm still hadn't faded.
Though they hadn't met for a day or two, Guo Rengui looked much thinner than before, yet his eyes still held a look of disdain when he looked at her.
Qin Jiuye withdrew her gaze. If she didn't need to ask him things, she wouldn't bother looking at him at all.
"When did the Old Madam fall ill? How did she fall ill? And when was it discovered that medicine could no longer help? What happened after her condition became critical? How did she end up like she is today?"
She fired off this string of questions, but after a long moment with no response, she looked up to find him staring at her contemptuously.
"Who are you? Do you hold an official rank? A mere village doctor thinks she’s fit to question me? You're just taking advantage of the Su family’s misfortune to act powerful..."
Qin Jiuye laughed out of sheer anger. "Who exactly is acting powerful? Is Su Lin your biological father? Or is He Yuanzhou your biological grandmother?"
Guo Rengui seemed to have learned a set of "unyielding loyalty" lines from a play; the more he was "oppressed," the more spirited he became.
"I have been with the Su family for over twenty years. The Master treated me well, just like his own son! How can I turn against them now? That would make me no better than a pig or a dog..."
Lu Zican grew tired of listening. He pressed the hilt of his saber down, pinning it right against Guo Rengui’s collarbone. The man immediately grimaced in pain.
"By withholding information, you are an accomplice to the Su family’s crimes. The penalty is hard labor. We are giving you a chance to redeem yourself through service. If you don't want to seize this opportunity, we can give it to someone else. I imagine there’s more than one or two people in this estate eager to earn some merit right now."
His words didn't mention Qin Jiuye’s status as an Assistant, but they laid out the stakes clearly. He was backing Qin Jiuye up while avoiding drawing too much attention to her or inviting trouble; if she decided not to be an Assistant later, she could still walk away unscathed.
Qin Jiuye understood his intent and immediately played along, baring her teeth in a grin that made her look like the wicked proprietress of a black-hearted inn at Black Wind Ferry.
"Commander Lu, don't waste your breath. It seems Steward Guo has already decided to prove his loyalty with his life. We might as well report this to Lord Fan. He’s a man who hates trouble most of all; he’ll surely grant you a quick journey to the afterlife."
As Qin Jiuye’s words landed, Lu Zican released his grip and made a move to call for men. Guo Rengui hurriedly raised his head, trembling. When he spoke again, he was a different person—truly a master of knowing when to yield and which way the wind blew.
"What do you two wish to know? This lowly one will tell you everything."
Lu Zican pointed at Qin Jiuye. "Answer the questions from before."
Guo Rengui glanced at the woman standing with her arms crossed, his resentment clearly not yet subsided, but he no longer dared to speak any nonsense.
"The Old Madam has been a vegetarian for many years, and her constitution was originally quite good. But after she took a fall the winter before last, her health began to decline. At first, she could still get out of bed and walk a bit, but later she couldn't leave her bed at all. Then she developed a respiratory ailment from being bedridden; it was incredibly taxing whenever it flared up. My Master is in the medicine business, and after consulting several famous doctors privately, he knew: though this illness wouldn't take her life immediately, it likely couldn't be cured. She could only linger on, day by day. But shortly after the start of spring this year, the Old Madam could suddenly get out of bed. It seemed her illness had completely vanished. I didn't believe it at first, but when I was delivering food once, I saw her. Her complexion had indeed turned ruddy, and her movements were nimble. It wasn't just that she was better; she looked as if she had grown ten years younger..."
"Wait a moment." Qin Jiuye couldn't help but interrupt halfway. "You’re saying He Yuanzhou wasn't critically ill before the incident, but rather her health had greatly improved?"
Guo Rengui was clearly recalling something, and he forgot his prejudice against the person before him. His tone took on the gossipy energy of his usual chatter, and once he started, he couldn't stop.
"Exactly! Who would believe it if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes? Although I am the steward of this estate, the affairs of the inner court have always been managed by Xinyu, the Old Madam’s head maid. That dead girl was sharp; she kept that courtyard locked down tight, not allowing outsiders in or out. But one day, she asked me for ten live chickens. I thought to myself, this girl really has no manners—when nothing’s wrong, she guards against me like I’m a thief, but when something happens, she remembers her Grandpa Guo. If it weren't for the Master’s sake, I really didn't want to bother with her. But guess what happened?"
The small hole in the remote wall, the chicken feather, and the figure seen through the hole flashed through Qin Jiuye’s mind. She shivered for no reason.
"Get to the point."
Guo Rengui’s puffy eyes widened, and his words became increasingly eerie.
"Is this not the point? I saw it with my own eyes—that old lady, who had been sickly just days before, was jumping around like a martial arts expert. A chicken flew up into a tree, and she leaped up and snatched it down. Then she bit right into the chicken’s neck. The blood sprayed out instantly, and the chicken started screaming..."
Qin Jiuye felt a phantom pain in her own neck. She uncomfortably rubbed the back of her neck and stole a glance at Lu Zican’s expression. The latter was clearly hearing this part about the "chickens" for the first time, but because he had already witnessed He Yuanzhou’s prowess, he didn't show too much shock.
She cleared her throat, interrupting Guo Rengui’s increasingly dramatic performance.
"Forget about the chickens. I’m asking you, you said the Old Madam suddenly improved after the start of spring this year. Did she take some kind of medicine? Or did someone come to see her?"
Guo Rengui glanced at her as if he thought she had asked a stupid question.
"That goes without saying. The Master always cared most for the Old Madam, always talking about consultations and prescriptions. Which one of the people he found wasn't a master physician? Which medicine wasn't incredibly precious? He looked down on anything from ordinary pharmacies outside. But the number of people and medicines brought into the estate was vast. I’m not a doctor in this trade, so how could I say for sure?"
"Then were there any original prescriptions or records of the consultations left behind?"
"Perhaps, but you’d have to ask the people in the inner court. If you count from several years ago until today, there must be at least a thousand pages. Who knows if those girls in the inner court would bother keeping them."
Guo Rengui finished speaking and shut his mouth as if it were no longer his concern. Qin Jiuye also fell into a temporary silence.
She had originally thought He Yuanzhou had contracted a strange ailment long ago that had laid a hidden foundation, only worsening recently. But why did Guo Rengui say her health had actually improved? Conversely, if He Yuanzhou had been too ill to leave her bed or the estate, the murders on Sanma Street would never have happened. Guo Rengui had no reason to lie about this.
Which part of the process had gone wrong? What exactly had happened to He Yuanzhou? She had thought this questioning would resolve some of the mysteries of that strange illness, but she hadn't expected it to produce even more doubts.
Perhaps seeing her prolonged silence, Lu Zican let out a light cough. Qin Jiuye snapped back to her senses and signaled that she had nothing else to ask for the moment, handing Guo Rengui back to Lu Zican.
Lu Zican proceeded to ask about the details surrounding Kang Renshou’s death. Qin Jiuye no longer interjected, staying quiet and listening from the side. She felt the thread of the case was mostly consistent with the analysis she and the others had made at Listening Wind Hall. But hearing it now from an accomplice within the estate, her heart felt increasingly stifled. By the end, she was truly agitated. Remembering the other purpose of her trip, she didn't wait for the questioning to finish; she gave a brief explanation and hurriedly departed.
***
**Glossary**
