Lu Jin and Cheng Hang were, in a sense, disciples personally nurtured by him. Lu Jin was meticulous and composed, with a growing expertise in post-mortem examinations. Cheng Hang, though habitually lax, possessed remarkable energy and a tenacious work ethic. Their reassignment was necessitated by the sheer difficulty of the case.
"Lu Jin, Cheng Hang—this matter is yours now."
Given their experience and capabilities, there should be little room for error.
"Yes, sir."
Removing his gloves, Shan Yulan strode out the door. Lu Jin and Cheng Hang exchanged a glance, both silently troubled by concern for him.
Inside the Imperial Study, Emperor Yan Hongtian sat sternly on the dragon throne, his expression dark and forbidding. The attending eunuchs and servants bowed low, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Shan Yulan entered, intent on discerning the reason for today's imperial summons.
"Your Majesty."
Before he could say more, Yan Hongtian's voice, cold and sharp, cut through the air:
"When will the Heart-Extraction Case be solved?"
Shan Yulan hesitated briefly, then answered truthfully,
"I do not know, Your Majesty."
"You insolent fool!"
The emperor roared, hurling two blood-red memorials to the floor at Shan Yulan's feet. Slamming the table, he stood, his finger pointed in fury.
"If this continues, half the officials will be bedridden with grief from losing their daughters! They won't attend court, won't govern! The grand celebration is approaching, and yet such a heinous crime has shaken the capital! What face does Qiongyue have left?"
His fury echoed through the hall, sending every eunuch and maid to their knees.
Shan Yulan remained still, head lowered. He had no justification—two months had passed, and they had unearthed no meaningful leads. The killer was still at large. As head of the Criminal Division, he had failed.
The emperor did not want silence—he wanted results.
Slamming back into his seat, Yan Hongtian turned away and said coldly:
"I give you one month. Use whatever means or manpower necessary, but this case must be solved. If not, you will relinquish your official hat and spend three years in prison!"
"I accept the decree."
Without a moment's hesitation or protest, Shan Yulan accepted the command with calm dignity.
His composure eased the emperor's fury, if only slightly. With a dismissive wave, he said impatiently,
"You may go."
As Shan Yulan turned to leave, his expression grew more grave than ever.
After days confined to bed, Zhuo Qing was finally well enough to walk about. Each morning, Lou Xiwu would come by to chat about dresses and phoenix crowns, yet now it was already afternoon, and she had yet to appear.
Bored, Zhuo Qing decided to visit her.
No sooner had she stepped out of Lan Yue Pavilion than she saw Jing Sa in conversation with two dozen men dressed as guards. Soon, they split into two groups and went off in opposite directions—clearly on patrol.
But… the Prime Minister's residence had never had guards patrolling?
Curious, Zhuo Qing approached and asked,
"Jing Sa, what are they doing?"
Wedding invitations had already been sent out, and news of her marriage to Lou Xiyan was spreading throughout the capital. Her identity as mistress of the Prime Minister's residence was now unquestioned.
Jing Sa held no particular affection for this new mistress, but neither did he dislike her. As his master's wife, he addressed her with respectful formality:
"My Lady, with the celebration approaching and crowds soon to gather, the Master fears for the safety of the residence."
Zhuo Qing found the change in his tone a bit unsettling, but forced a smile.
"Alright. I understand. I'll leave you to your duties."
Ancient notions of hierarchy still felt strange to her. Even Xue Xianxin, who had once constantly made trouble for her, had become oddly sweet, calling her "Ling'er" so often it gave her goosebumps.
As she made her way toward Lou Xiwu's courtyard, Zhuo Qing noticed not just the two patrol teams she'd seen earlier—there were suddenly many more guards. Something felt… off.
Upon entering the courtyard, Su'er, Lou Xiwu's maid, came to greet her. Zhuo Qing signaled for silence; she had spotted Lou Xiwu sitting in the pavilion, staring blankly ahead. Wanting to tease her, Zhuo Qing crept close and suddenly laughed:
"Thinking about someone? You look completely dazed!"
Startled, Lou Xiwu didn't snap back as usual. Instead, she rested her chin in her hand, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Something wasn't right.
Zhuo Qing sat beside her and asked gently,
"What's wrong?"
"I only just found out today… Princess Anning was murdered the night before last. It was… horrific. We used to play together as children. I even ran into her at the fabric shop last month. Who would've thought..."
She had promised to gift her a silk handkerchief. Su'er had been sent to deliver it that morning—only to return with the dreadful news. Overwhelmed by memories, Lou Xiwu broke down in sobs.
To dream of the future one moment, then be severed by death the next—especially by such cruel means—was heartbreakingly tragic. Lou Xiwu had seen too many of such brutal partings.
Zhuo Qing, never one to console others easily, could only pat her shoulder and say,
"Don't grieve too much. The authorities will catch her killer. She won't die in vain."
Sniffling, Lou Xiwu whispered,
"But… what if it wasn't even a human?"
"What did you say?" Zhuo Qing thought she had misheard.
Taking the handkerchief Su'er passed her, Lou Xiwu wiped her tears and spoke in a hushed, fearful voice:
"Everyone's terrified now—especially noble families. Every household with a daughter fears the worst. They say three or four noblewomen have already been murdered. Found on their embroidered beds, blood everywhere, not a wound on them… but their hearts were missing."
"What?" Zhuo Qing frowned. No wounds, yet no heart? Impossible. Either the murderer was highly skilled in surgical techniques… or Lou Xiwu had been misled. But one thing was clear: a series of brutal murders was targeting noblewomen, and the killer was merciless. A serial killer, most likely.
No wonder the Prime Minister's residence had suddenly heightened its security—Lou Xiwu fit the victim profile.
But was the murderer targeting noble daughters specifically? Or was there some shared trait among them that spurred the killings?
As Zhuo Qing pondered, Lou Xiwu suddenly leaned closer, whispering with an air of secrecy:
"All the victims… their hearts were gone. That alone is strange. But what's more terrifying is that Princess Anning was murdered in her own room, within a heavily guarded royal estate. No signs of struggle. No unusual activity from the guards. Just—dead. They say… it wasn't human that did it. Some demonic spirit that feeds on hearts."
Zhuo Qing scoffed,
"Absurd. Tales of ghosts and monsters are just illusions born of fear—especially when a killer's methods are grotesque or strange. It's just a story people invent to give form to their terror when they have no answers."
She wore a look of utter disdain. Lou Xiwu shrank back a little, asking timidly,
"You're… not afraid?"
Zhuo Qing laughed,
"Afraid of what? If you're talking about a ghost, then no—I believe in the righteousness of heaven and earth."
Her brows arched slightly, and her eyes glinted with cold sharpness.
"But if you're talking about the killer… then yes, I am interested. I'd very much like to know how this 'Heart-Stealer' extracts the heart so perfectly."
To be able to remove a heart with such precision—the culprit was either a highly trained assassin… or a physician.
Lou Xiwu instinctively shifted away. She suddenly felt that her sister-in-law was a little… unsettling. In the face of such horror, Zhuo Qing's fascination was almost chilling.
Zhuo Qing had fallen deep into thought. The killer's method was disturbingly unique. There was something more behind it…