The hunter kept calling out, “Gently, gently.”
Wang Quan’an held the pheasant and examined it from every angle. He stretched out its wings, checked beneath them, and even inspected its rear and throat.
He was extremely thorough—and extremely slow.
Before long, the hunter grew bored and let his mind wander. He even began chatting with the people next to him.
It was only when Wang Quan’an had finished examining the bird from head to toe, stuffed it back into the cage, and started inspecting a second one that the second pheasant’s frantic squawking drew the hunter’s attention back. He shouted again, “Gently, gently!”
Wang Quan’an ignored him and began another thorough examination.
After a long while—so long that Pearl had begun yawning and Yan Tongshu had started to zone out—Wang Quan’an finally finished.
“I’ll take this one,” he said.
“All right.” The hunter pulled two pieces of dry straw from beneath himself, turned the pheasant upside down, tied up both its legs and wings, and handed it over. Wang Quan’an gave the hunter one tael of silver.
Wang Quan’an was fussy when buying things, but generous when paying. The hunter’s face immediately lit up, and he escorted him away with a smile.
Yan Tongshu followed Wang Quan’an with Pearl.
When Wang Quan’an reached the entrance to the village, he tossed the pheasant into the bamboo basket hanging from his horse’s neck, mounted, and galloped toward the cemetery.
Sure enough, Wang Quan’an trusted no one. He did everything alone.
“Come on, Pearl. Let’s go back to the carriage and take a look at the cemetery.”
Yan Tongshu had barely finished speaking when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around to see Yan Liangrong smiling warmly at her.
“What brings you here? Buying game?” she asked.
Yan Tongshu shook her head. “I’m working on a case. What about you, Sister?”
Yan Liangrong’s expression carried a hint of melancholy. “The Judicial Office was only recently established, and most ordinary people still don’t trust us. So Liangyu and I gathered the female physicians in the capital who specialize in gynecology and arranged for them to provide free medical consultations in the countryside on a regular basis. You know how many illnesses are difficult to talk about. Most people simply endure them rather than speak to a male physician. Today is the first day of the free clinic.”
“Is it going smoothly?” Yan Tongshu asked.
“How should I put it?” Yan Liangrong replied with a faint smile. “Half and half, I suppose. The Judicial Office has no real authority, so we can’t mobilize many physicians. But there are also plenty of kindhearted doctors willing to help. Although we’re facing difficulty after difficulty, I believe things will get better and better. As it happens, the road into the city isn’t far from here. You like pancakes made with wild greens, so Liangyu and I thought we’d buy some and make spring pancakes for you when we get home.”
As she spoke, Yan Liangrong pointed to a short distance away, where Yan Liangyu was selecting shepherd’s purse from a stall.
Yan Tongshu was deeply touched. “You and Liangyu are so good to me.”
Yan Liangrong smiled. “What filling do you want in your spring pancakes?”
“Cold tossed shredded vegetables,” Yan Tongshu answered at once.
Yan Liangrong nodded. “All right. I’ll make them for you when we get back. I won’t disturb you any longer. Go work on your case.”
With a smile, Yan Liangrong went to join Yan Liangyu.
The moment Yan Tongshu thought about being able to eat spring pancakes at home that evening, happiness seemed to bubble up inside her.
She would definitely work twice as hard today, finish her duties as early as possible, and get home sooner.
Yan Tongshu climbed into the carriage and reached out to pull Pearl in after her.
Sitting inside, she lifted the curtain and looked outside. Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu had bought a large bamboo basket of wild greens—enough to make spring pancakes for the whole family.
Spring pancakes filled with cold tossed shredded vegetables were light, crisp, and refreshing.
They would be perfect with a cup of jasmine milk tea.
Yan Tongshu was indulging in the thought when she suddenly noticed someone following behind Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu.
The girl wore a plain-colored dress, and her face was smeared with mud, making it impossible to tell what she really looked like. Only a pair of large, round, dark eyes could be seen.
Judging by those eyes and her oval face, she must have been very beautiful beneath the mud.
She followed Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu timidly until the two of them climbed into the carriage and she could no longer keep up.
She stood where she was, at a loss, picking nervously at her fingers. Then she suddenly turned and walked away.
Yan Tongshu blinked. There was something strange about that girl. Was she facing some sort of difficulty and wanted to seek help from the Judicial Office, but didn’t know whether she could trust them?
Yan Tongshu lowered the curtain.
The distance from the temporary market to the cemetery was considerable. Resting her chin in her hand, she tried to put herself in the killer’s place and think from their perspective.
If she were the killer, and wanted to kill Ning Yuan without being a member of the Duke of Yuguo’s household, how would she do it?
Bribery.
The servants of the Duke of Yuguo’s household received generous monthly wages. They had no shortage of money and no reason to take such a great risk.
Besides, she was narrow-minded and didn’t trust other people.
That meant she could only do it herself.
As a civil official, she wouldn’t know martial arts. Ning Yuan, however, was skilled in combat. She couldn’t defeat him.
The best method would be poison.
Once she had decided to use poison, she would certainly observe Ning Yuan’s daily movements.
The kitchens of the Duke of Yuguo’s residence used fresh ingredients every day. The suppliers delivered them before dawn, and everyone had worked together for years and trusted one another.
Besides, there was no way to guarantee that any particular ingredient would end up in Ning Yuan’s mouth.
The household raised its own chickens and ducks, so there was no need to buy them from outside.
The only weak point was the partridge.
It was purchased fresh, delivered to the residence by a hunter, and served every evening.
If the partridge were poisoned in advance, the poison would have to ensure that the bird was still alive before it reached Ning Yuan’s stomach. That way, the cook wouldn’t become suspicious.
If she were the killer, how would she administer the poison in a way that created that delay without arousing suspicion?
The only opportunity would be while the partridge was being selected.
The poison had to be applied to the partridge beforehand.
After the cook slaughtered the bird, she would wash it, pluck its feathers, and remove the internal organs. So the poison wouldn’t be on the feathers or the skin.
That left only one possibility:
Delaying the onset of the poison, or delaying the moment when the bird came into contact with it.
But how could the timing be controlled so precisely?
People of this era certainly hadn’t studied aconite poisoning in any great depth. Yan Tongshu suddenly remembered the rabbit that had been force-fed a great deal of grass and stones so that it would weigh more and fetch a higher price.
An idea began to take shape in her mind.
Just then, the carriage stopped, and Jinbao’s voice came from outside.
“Young Master, we’ve arrived.”
“Oh.” Yan Tongshu got out of the carriage, but instead of approaching the cemetery, she chose a high vantage point and stood there, watching Wang Quan’an.
Wang Quan’an had been riding a horse, so he arrived ahead of them.
After returning, he tossed the pheasant aside and began heating water.
Beside the thatched hut he had temporarily set up, he placed an iron pot over a wood fire.
While the water heated, he took out a dagger, pulled the chicken from its cage, and swiftly slit its throat. He held it upside down to drain the blood, then gutted it.
When the water boiled, he scalded the bird, plucked its feathers, and placed it in the hot water to cook. He added salt and simmered it into a soup.
Once it was done, Wang Quan’an used a kitchen knife to split the chicken in half. He put the half with the drumstick onto a plate and carried it to Gao Shengmei’s gravestone.
In a gentle voice, he said, “Mei’er, eat up. Back when we were beggars, you said that once we had money, we’d eat one chicken every day. I haven’t forgotten a single thing you ever said.”
After speaking, Wang Quan’an sat down in front of the gravestone, picked up his own half-bowl of chicken, and began eating slowly.
Yan Tongshu frowned. Did Wang Quan’an replace Gao Shengmei’s offerings every day?
She carefully recalled the surroundings of Gao Shengmei’s grave: open, clean, and desolate.
This entire stretch of land had been purchased by Wang Quan'an, and outsiders were forbidden from entering. As a result, the area was completely deserted.
“I see.”
Yan Tongshu’s brows relaxed slightly. “But there’s still one last point I can’t figure out.”
Pearl asked curiously, “What is it?”
Yan Tongshu shook her head.
Wang Quan'an never entered the city, so how had he managed to get Ning Yuan onto the bed in perfect condition?
“Forget it. Let’s go home first.” Yan Tongshu stretched lazily. “Come on. We’re having spring pancakes tonight.”
Spring pancakes, spring pancakes—fragrant, steaming spring pancakes.
When they returned home, Yan Tongshu sent Jinbao to investigate something for her: during the days Wang Quan'an had been guarding the tomb, what had he bought besides partridges?
The spring pancakes had just been cooked and brought out when Jinbao returned.
“Young Master, I found out. Wang Quan'an also regularly bought pork and sugar.”
Yan Tongshu asked urgently, “Which cut of pork?”
“The hind leg.” Jinbao scratched his head. “Young Master, I thought it was strange too. These days, everyone likes fatty meat. Lean meat is practically worthless, and when people make offerings, they specifically choose fatty cuts. Why would Lord Wang buy hind leg? It’s so lean—there’s hardly any fat at all.”
Yan Tongshu frowned. “It’s not strange. That’s exactly what he needed.”
Hind leg had plenty of lean meat and sinew. That was what Wang Quan'an needed.
The next day, Yan Tongshu sat in the Kaifeng Prefecture office handling official documents.
Li Fulin stood nearby, reporting on prices in the capital and its surrounding areas, as well as the tax revenues from various trades. The dynasty placed great emphasis on agriculture and suppressed commerce, so the authorities paid particular attention to recent weather changes and the farmers’ spring planting.
Yan Tongshu reviewed each document and stamped it.
After finishing his report, Li Fulin asked with a smile, “Lord Yan, have you made any progress on the case involving the Earl of Yu State’s residence?”
Yan Tongshu stamped the final document. “I basically have a theory, but there are still some questions that haven’t been confirmed. So I’m waiting for some information.”
Even though he knew Yan Tongshu solved cases quickly, Li Fulin was still startled. It had only been a few days, and she had nearly unraveled the entire case?
Li Fulin asked, “Are you waiting for news from Yunzhou?”
Yan Tongshu nodded.
Yunzhou was right beside the capital, so a round trip would take only two or three days at most.
She calculated the time. The messenger should arrive today or tomorrow.
Yan Tongshu suddenly asked, “Assistant Magistrate Li, do we have a dog at the yamen?”
“Huh?” Li Fulin looked utterly baffled.
Yan Tongshu gazed at him expectantly. “Do we?”
Li Fulin shook his head. “Dogs aren’t allowed in the yamen.”
“I see.”
Yan Tongshu stroked her chin thoughtfully. Thus, at noon, she took Pearl and Jinbao to Aunt Yang’s noodle stall.
The noodles had barely been served, and Yan Tongshu had just picked up her chopsticks, when Gao Qi and Zhao Sheng arrived.
Yan Tongshu looked at the two of them with a smile.
Oh no. This was a trap!
Gao Qi deeply regretted coming here for a cheap meal at Zhao Sheng’s mother’s stall. There was a living demon king here. He should have stayed far away from her.
“Gao Qi.” Yan Tongshu carried her bowl over and sat down opposite him, a kind smile spreading across her face. “You’re familiar with all sorts of people in the capital, aren’t you?”
Gao Qi warily leaned back. “Lord Yan, I used to be nothing more than a street thug. I only know a little bit about the city.”
“That’s all right.” Yan Tongshu’s voice was gentle. “I’m not asking you to do anything dangerous. I just wanted to ask whether you know the hunters in the city. Among them, whose hunting dog is the best?”
So that was all she wanted.
Gao Qi relaxed. “Lord Yan, are you looking for a dog?”
Yan Tongshu nodded.
Gao Qi thought for a moment. “If you mean hunting dogs, the best ones definitely aren’t in the hands of ordinary hunters. They belong to the households of officials who enjoy hunting. The dogs used for royal hunts are especially excellent. Not only are they highly trained, they’ve also seen plenty of battle.”
Yan Tongshu stared fixedly at Gao Qi. “Other than the royal household, whose hunting dogs are the best?”
Gao Qi replied, “That would naturally be the military families. Among the military clans, the Meng and Deng families are the strongest. Among the civil officials, it would be the Chi family, whose head is the Minister of War.”
The Minister of War and the Minister of Revenue were both veteran officials from the previous emperor’s reign. Yan Tongshu had never been on good terms with either of them; avoiding a feud was already an accomplishment. They were certainly out of the question.
As for the Meng family…
Sigh. That was a long story.
Then only the Deng family remained.
Yan Tongshu quickly finished her noodles.
Aunt Deng, here she comes.
After eating, Yan Tongshu took Pearl to Shikeji specifically to choose a gift box of pastries. Only then did she head to the Deng residence to pay a visit.
“Aunt Deng.”
Yan Tongshu had been waiting only a short while when Deng Xuanying came out.
She was dressed in her usual simple military attire, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She looked spirited and dashing, radiating energy.
Deng Xuanying came over and poked Yan Tongshu between the brows with one finger. “You never come to see me unless you want something.”
Yan Tongshu smiled. “Aunt Deng, you know me so well.”
Deng Xuanying swept her robe aside and sat down in the seat of honor. “All right, what do you need?”
Yan Tongshu said, “I’d like to borrow one of the Deng family’s top hunting dogs.”
Deng Xuanying asked, “What do you want that thing for? Are you going hunting?”
“To solve a case.”
Deng Xuanying’s interest was piqued. “That thing can help solve a case?”
Yan Tongshu stepped forward and whispered a few words into Deng Xuanying’s ear. Deng Xuanying grew even more intrigued. “Interesting. You can borrow one.”
Yan Tongshu immediately bowed. “Thank you, Aunt Deng.”
Deng Xuanying smiled. “Notify me on the day you interrogate the suspects. I want to come along and watch the fun.”
Yan Tongshu readily agreed. “Of course.”
Once she had secured the hunting dog, Yan Tongshu sent Jinbao to notify the Kaifeng Prefecture staff to come and collect it.
Since she was already out, she wasn’t in a hurry to return. She took a leisurely stroll, treating it as an opportunity for her, the Acting Prefect of Kaifeng, to observe the local people and their lives.
Yan Tongshu came across a mask stall and chose a blue-faced mask with sharp fangs, hiding it behind her back. When Pearl became engrossed in choosing scented balm, Yan Tongshu crept up behind her, put on the mask, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Little Pearl.”
Pearl turned around and let out a shriek. She was scared half to death.
When she realized Yan Tongshu had been playing a prank on her, she angrily chased after her.
One ran while the other chased. In the middle of their antics, Pearl failed to notice that she was about to crash into a stall. The stall sold rice noodles, and if she collided with it, she would surely be scalded. Yan Tongshu hurriedly reached out and pulled Pearl back.
Pearl was saved, but Yan Tongshu herself wasn’t paying attention. She landed squarely on the man eating noodles nearby.
Yan Tongshu quickly pulled Pearl along and apologized. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. We got a little carried away… Your M—Young Master?”
Qin Yi’s expression was grim.
He was swamped with state affairs and had finally managed to leave the palace for a rare meal outside. Now someone had slammed into him from behind, splashing noodles and broth all over his clothes.
That alone would have been bad enough. But she had even mangled his surname, turning him into “Young Master Huang.”
As Qin Yi’s iron-blue face grew darker by the second, Yan Tongshu hurriedly took a handkerchief from Pearl’s waist and began wiping him down as she said, “Young Master, we really didn’t do it on purpose.”
Qin Yi clenched his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between them. “Yan Tongshu, I think you did.”
Why was he so unwilling to believe her?
Yan Tongshu wiped frantically, but the more she wiped, the worse it became. The dirtier it looked, the more she rubbed.
After a brief silence, Yan Tongshu awkwardly lowered the handkerchief. “How about I compensate you with a new outfit?”
Qin Yi ground his teeth. “What about the noodles?”
Yan Tongshu ventured, “I’ll compensate you for those too?”
Qin Yi let out a soft scoff and reluctantly accepted the proposal.
Yan Tongshu took Qin Yi to buy some clothes.
Lu Xi and Pearl, who had been exceptionally well-behaved after realizing they had caused trouble, walked at the very back.
Seeing how worried Pearl was, Lu Xi pulled a small packet of dried meat from his robes and handed it to her. “Don’t worry. His Highness isn’t really angry.”
Pearl looked at him pitifully. “Really?”
Lu Xi nodded solemnly. “When His Highness is truly angry, he doesn’t act like this. His gaze turns cold, he doesn’t say a word, and then a terrifying, deeply mocking smile appears on his face. The fact that he’s willing to discuss terms with Lord Yan means he isn’t genuinely angry.”
Even so, Pearl remained uneasy, afraid that she had implicated Yan Tongshu.
Yan Tongshu pointed to a moderately priced ready-made clothing shop and gestured for Qin Yi to go in. Qin Yi turned around and chose an exceedingly expensive clothing store himself.
Yan Tongshu nearly cried.
She was afraid her entire monthly allowance would be spent making up for this.
Why was this man so picky?
Well, he was the emperor. Everything he wore was made to the highest standards by the Imperial Household Department, so it was naturally expensive. And, in any case, she really had been in the wrong.
Since Yan Tongshu was in the wrong, she did not dare say much and paid for the clothes with a stab of pain in her heart.
After changing into his new clothes, Qin Yi seemed to be in a much better mood. Yan Tongshu then took him to the rice-noodle shop to make up for the bowl of powder she had spilled.
Yan Tongshu counted the few copper coins left in her purse, ordered one serving, and brought it over to Qin Yi.
Qin Yi picked up his chopsticks and glanced at her. “You’re not eating?”
Yan Tongshu replied, “I’m not hungry.”
Qin Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. “When have you ever eaten because you were hungry?”
Yan Tongshu bristled for a moment before forcing a smile. “I’m not craving anything today.”
Seeing the way Yan Tongshu dared to be angry but did not dare to say so, Qin Yi curled his lips into a smile, his mood improving considerably. “How about this? Answer a few questions for me, and I’ll reimburse you for these clothes and treat you to a bowl of noodles.”
Yan Tongshu did not agree immediately. “What questions?”
“Nothing important. You can hear them first, then decide whether you want to make the trade.”
It seemed like a good deal.
Yan Tongshu said, “Go ahead, Young Master.”
Qin Yi set down his chopsticks and patted the spot beside him. Yan Tongshu sat down.
Qin Yi turned slightly and regarded her with interest. “Are you in good health?”
What a boring question.
Yan Tongshu nodded.
She ate well, slept well, and was as healthy as could be.
Qin Yi asked, “Really?”
Yan Tongshu looked at him, puzzled. “Why would I lie about that?”
“If that’s the case…” He felt reassured.
The smile at the corners of his mouth deepened. “What kind of person do you like?”
“My mother.”
“I mean what kind of woman.”
“My mother is a woman,” Yan Tongshu said matter-of-factly.
Qin Yi finally lost patience. He raised a hand and pinched her cheek. “You silly goose. Stop pretending not to understand.”
Yan Tongshu brushed his hand away. “You should have asked more clearly.”
Qin Yi smiled and continued, “What kind of woman do you like?”
Instead of answering, Yan Tongshu asked, “What kind of woman do you like, Young Master?”
Qin Yi was momentarily rendered speechless.
Yan Tongshu spread her hands. “You see, before you fall for someone, you don’t know what kind of woman you like either. Neither do I. It’s the same for everyone. There’s no fixed standard for this sort of thing; it all comes down to fate. Even if we have an assumed standard in mind beforehand, the person we end up liking is often completely different from that standard.”
Qin Yi was stunned for a moment. Then he said thoughtfully, “That makes some sense.”
In the past, whenever he saw his father arranging marriages, the couples often appeared to be a perfect match at first glance—an accomplished man and a beautiful woman, well suited to each other.
He had never thought deeply about it then. But now that he considered it, matching appearances and family backgrounds, or having compatible personalities, did not necessarily mean that love would grow over time or that the feelings would be mutual.
Before arranging a marriage, he could let Yan Tongshu look around more, and also give her and the other young woman more time to spend together and cultivate their feelings.
“But…” Yan Tongshu flashed Qin Yi a brilliant smile. “I’m sure I like handsome men.”
Qin Yi asked, “What about me? How do I look?”
The moment he asked, not only did Yan Tongshu freeze, but Qin Yi himself did as well. Had he been bewitched? What kind of ridiculous question had he just asked on a whim?
“Uh…” Yan Tongshu instinctively wanted to say “average,” if only because the damned emperor was always calling the things she recommended “average.”
But a murderous look from Qin Yi swept over her, and she hastily changed her answer. “Uh… absolutely perfect. Young Master, you’re the most handsome man in the world.”
Qin Yi withdrew his gaze.
Yan Tongshu was only willing to be flexible over minor matters like this. Whenever principles were involved, she would stare him down and fight him to the bitter end, stubborn as an ox.
Qin Yi picked up his chopsticks. “Now, start thinking carefully about what kind of person you like.”
With that, Qin Yi began eating his noodles at an unhurried pace.
Yan Tongshu was speechless. Was he bored out of his mind?
At that moment, Lu Xi brought over a bowl of noodles and placed it in front of Yan Tongshu.
At last!
For the sake of the steaming, fragrant noodles, she would let Qin Yi off this time.
After finishing the noodles, Qin Yi rose to leave. Lu Xi took out some money to pay for Yan Tongshu’s meal and said with a smile, “Lord Yan, perhaps there’ll be happy news soon.”
An imperial marriage certainly counted as happy news.
After saying that, Lu Xi bowed and hurried after Qin Yi.
Yan Tongshu swallowed the noodles in her mouth and looked at Pearl. “Don’t you think those two—master and servant—are acting strangely?”
Pearl nodded in agreement.
Yan Tongshu tilted her head and thought about it for a while. When she could not figure it out, she simply stopped thinking about it.
The noodles were delicious, after all. She continued eating.
That afternoon, news arrived from Yunzhou.
The matter at the gambling house had been dealt with, and everyone involved had been arrested and brought to justice.
Along with the letter, Yunzhou had sent the full details of what had happened to the Dantai family all those years ago.
Yan Tongshu examined the relevant case files. They were more or less the same as what Fenghe and Dantai Fu had told her.
Dantai Sandao had returned to Yunzhou to attend the one-month celebration for his younger brother’s granddaughter. After getting drunk, he returned to his room. Because the charcoal fire inside was too strong, he died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Dantai Mingzhu suspected that there was more to the matter. She beat the dengwen drum and requested that the authorities conduct an autopsy.
After examining the body, the authorities confirmed that he had died from charcoal poisoning.
Dantai Mingzhu had been young, and she was a girl besides. Consequently, the county office transferred guardianship of her to her second uncle, Dantai Fu, and allowed Dantai Fu to manage Dantai Sandao’s property temporarily.
The magistrate in charge of the case at the time had been transferred three years ago to serve as magistrate of another prefecture. Unexpectedly, an epidemic had broken out in that county two years ago, killing many people. Because the magistrate had handled the situation incompetently, he had been imprisoned. He was currently serving his sentence, and his statement had already been obtained.
After finishing the case files, Yan Tongshu opened the autopsy report attached at the end.
The report listed the date, time, and place of Dantai Sandao’s death.
When Dantai Sandao died, his clothing was disordered, with wine from the banquet that night and traces of grease on it.
The lividity on his body, as well as his lips and nail beds, was bright red. Apart from old burn marks left from the time he had helped in the kitchen, there were no obvious wounds anywhere on his body.
The right side of his body, which had faced the charcoal fire, bore dark red patches caused by the heat of the coals. These overlapped with the lividity, and the hair on that side had been singed.
Note: This coroner found no vomit residue in Dantai Sandao’s mouth or nose. None was found in the bedroom where he had rested that night, either.
