Volume One, Chapter 22: It Was You Who Committed Murder and Arson

"This appears to be the work of a human hand."

Before Xie Mingyue could speak, Qi Jinshan had already strode to her side, taking over the conversation.

"Father, the fire is too intense. I have already ordered someone to notify the City Guard station. Most of the ancestral tablets in the main hall have been salvaged, but a small portion remain..."

He did not finish his sentence. Upon hearing that the ancestral tablets had been burned, the Marquis of Shunqing lost his breath and nearly fainted.

"My Lord! My Lord!"

Lady Yun had appeared from nowhere, followed by a large crowd of people. Xie Mingyue narrowed her eyes, recognizing them as members of the other branches residing in the West Garden of the Marquis’s estate.

It was truly a lively night.

She withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Qi Jinshan. "Husband, are you hurt?"

With the ancestral hall ablaze, he and Qi Xiuyu had been at the forefront, desperately fighting the fire alongside the servants. The tongues of flame were terrifying, and Xie Mingyue was genuinely worried that Qi Jinshan might have been scorched.

"I am unharmed."

Qi Jinshan’s expression was grim and cold. When he noticed the faint, sleep-induced red mark on Xie Mingyue’s cheek, his gaze softened slightly. He took his crane-patterned cloak from Yujiang, who stood nearby, and draped it over her shoulders. "Take care not to catch a chill."

Xie Mingyue felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Before she could respond, someone behind her suddenly remarked with a sharp tone, "Oh, the iron tree has bloomed; the eldest son’s wife has finally come out."

She turned to see a woman with a pointed face and protruding lips, surrounded by maids and matrons, staring right at her.

"Mother..." Beside her, a handsome youth gave the woman a subtle look, signaling her not to speak so recklessly at such a moment.

"So it is the Second Aunt," Xie Mingyue said. Seeing the fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, she knew this was the family of the second-ranking branch from the West Garden, and that this woman was the Third Old Mistress of the Marquis’s estate. "A great disaster has befallen the manor, so naturally, I had to come. Does the Second Aunt not wish to see me?"

The Third Old Mistress had not expected Xie Mingyue to be so sharp-tongued. "Of course not..."

"Enough, is this really the time for such talk?" Lady Luo felt agitated. Seeing Lady Yun huddled in the arms of the Marquis of Shunqing made her feel even worse. "Jinshan, you said earlier that this was man-made. What do you mean by that?"

Could it be that someone in this household dared to plot against her son’s reputation?

***

The Third Old Mistress could not help but chime in again, "Oh, so it is a man-made disaster? My, I heard that on the day of the family banquet, your Feng’er cried the moment he saw the eldest daughter-in-law. Could this have something to do with that?"

Xie Mingyue chuckled lightly at these words and did not respond.

The others also feigned ignorance. Seeing that both the Marquis of Shunqing and Lady Luo were on the verge of erupting, who would dare to court disaster?

"Shut your mouth!" The Second Master could no longer restrain himself and barked at his wife in a stern voice. "The ancestors have already been disturbed, and you are still here spewing nonsense. Song’er, take your mother back to her room to rest."

He was a son of a concubine, and his wife was of merchant stock, lacking in pedigree. The eldest son of his older brother was now a third-rank official; was his wife someone they could gossip about? She truly had no brain and never thought before she spoke!

Qi Haosong pursed his lips, seemingly displeased at being sent away. "Nanny Fu, take Mother back to her room."

Xie Mingyue glanced at him again. A youth of his age should not be interested in such trivial family squabbles. Could it be that he was someone who enjoyed watching the chaos?

Qi Jinshan waited for the farce of the secondary branch to end before speaking in a calm, measured tone: "The servants on night watch say the fire started in the side hall. However, there is nothing in the side hall, and no candles were lit. So, how did this fire begin?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanqing, who was kneeling on the ground, shuddered.

Xie Mingyue observed her reaction and lowered her eyes. "Sister-in-law, wasn't Nanny Zhang by your side today? Where is she?"

Lady Luo was also struck by this. "That's right, where is Nanny Zhang?"

Having heard Qi Jinshan’s words, she had regained her composure. If they could find the arsonist, they would no longer have to believe in tales of ghosts and spirits, nor would she have to worry about Qi Xiuyu’s reputation being tarnished.

Xie Wanqing kept her head low. "I was overcome by the smoke and fainted. I called for Nanny Zhang several times, but she didn't answer. Seeing how terrifying the fire was, I had no choice but to run out on my own. Nanny Zhang... I fear she has already..."

She choked back sobs, wiping away tears. Qi Xiuyu stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, which made it difficult for Lady Luo to scold her any further.

"Father, the City Guard has arrived. The fire will be extinguished soon; please do not worry."

His official cap had been scorched by the fire and was now hanging askew, making him look somewhat ridiculous. Yet, no one present could laugh. Not only had the ancestral tablets not been fully salvaged, but a servant had also died. It was a true catastrophe.

The Marquis of Shunqing ignored him and continued to address Qi Jinshan. "Are you saying someone committed arson?"

The prayer beads in his hand were nearly crushed. This was the ancestral hall, which concerned the fate of the entire clan. If he found the culprit, he would tear them limb from limb!

Qi Jinshan nodded. "That is correct, Father. Once the fire is extinguished, we shall have Magistrate Yan of the City Guard take a look, and the truth will be clear."

***

The group stood in place, burning with anxiety. With the assistance of the City Guard, the fire was quickly extinguished. Magistrate Yan dared not delay; covered in soot and smoke, he hurried over.

"This humble official pays respects to Chief Censor Qi!"

"No need for formalities, Magistrate Yan. Has the cause of the fire been determined?"

Magistrate Yan wiped the sweat from his brow. "There is a charred corpse of a woman in the side hall. There is a wound on the chest of the corpse, and traces of tung oil were found nearby. In my view, it appears to be a case of murder and arson."

"Murder?" Lady Luo’s voice went shrill.

She had assumed the servant had simply failed to escape, but to think she had been murdered!

Xie Wanqing immediately covered her face and wailed, "Nanny Zhang... she has been with me for all these years, yet she met such an undignified end."

The Marquis of Shunqing shouted, "Search! Bring everyone here! Jinshan, you shall lead the investigation!"

Soon, the servants were gathered before the ancestral hall. Qi Jinshan presided over the questioning, and within moments, he had unearthed everything.

The servants loved to drink at night; tonight, they had neglected their duties and were drinking and making merry by the back door of the ancestral hall. The main doors were locked, and at the time of the incident, only Xie Wanqing and Nanny Zhang were inside.

Since the deceased had been confirmed as Nanny Zhang, Xie Wanqing immediately became the prime suspect.

"The culprit must not have taken the main road," Qi Xiuyu said, seeing the suspicious gazes fall upon Xie Wanqing, and couldn't help but argue. "Elder Brother, aren't you the head of the Ministry of Justice? How can you not even clear your own sister-in-law of suspicion?"

Qi Jinshan’s lips curled slightly. "Magistrate Yan, bring up the murder weapon."

A blood-stained candlestick was brought forward. Upon seeing it, Xie Wanqing shrank violently in Qi Xiuyu’s arms.

"Nanny Zhang was stabbed to death with this candlestick. It rolled into a corner and was not consumed by the fire, but it did leave behind a trace."

Magistrate Yan held the candlestick and walked before the Marquis of Shunqing. "My Lord, please look. This is the color of the nail polish—the *koudan*—worn by the woman."

"What?" Lady Luo lunged forward. Upon seeing the bright red mark, she turned around and dealt Xie Wanqing a vicious slap.

"It was you! You are the one who committed murder and arson!"