The mind-reading coroner drove the court crazy

"Realgar, azurite, magnetite..."

Qin Miaoxi emerged from the shadows, and as she named one medicinal herb and mineral after another, the Third Princess's expression suddenly changed drastically.

"This is a secret recipe that I obtained at great expense. How did you know about it?"

"Third Princess, you've been tricked. Combining ore and cinnabar together cannot be used to refine pills; instead, it will increase the toxicity. Long-term use will cause headaches, insomnia, irritability, and numbness in the limbs. In severe cases, it can lead to paralysis and shorten lifespan."

Qin Miaoxi stared intently at her, "Did the person who took the medicine know that you sent them poison?"

The third princess's face instantly turned ashen, and she murmured hoarsely, "No, these are all top-quality medicinal herbs, they can..."

"Death can also be considered another form of immortality."

Third Princess: "..."

She took a deep breath and, feigning composure, asked, "What brings you here?"

"Of course, it's to capture them..."

Qin Miaoxi tugged at Lu Qingchen's arm and said with a smile, "We've come to inquire about the guard from the princess."

"I have many guards, who are you calling a princess?"

"It's the one I met with Princess Xinglan that day."

The Third Princess suddenly realized, "You mean him! Go and call Sui Yi here."

The maid hurriedly left, and the three people in the hall fell silent again, with only the sound of swallowing tea filling the air.

Lu Qingchen asked with his eyes, and Qin Miaoxi took his hand, responding with a calm expression.

Feeling the softness in his palm, Lu Qingchen felt lightheaded, his face filled with infatuation and adoration, making one's heart ache.

"Don't flirt with me."

The third princess glared at the two of them, unable to contain her anger any longer. Her gaze darted left and right towards the door, eager to see who had returned.

However, to her disappointment, a quarter of an hour passed and no one returned.

She angrily slammed the glass down, yelling, "Where have you been? Aren't you coming back?"

Qin Miaoxi smiled thoughtfully, "Is the Third Princess in a hurry?"

"No, why should I be in such a hurry?"

She tilted her head back and sat down again with an arrogant air. If you didn't see her hands, which were clenched so tightly they were white, hidden under the table, you would really think that she wasn't in a hurry!

Another incense stick's time passed, and the Third Princess grew increasingly impatient. Even if she had run out of the manor to look for someone, she should have found them by now.

"Somebody come!"

Lu Qingchen's ears twitched slightly, and he glanced at the door with his lowered eyes. There were quite a few people coming!

In an instant, a group of pedestrians walked in from outside the door. The leader was Wen Zhu, who quickly walked up to Qin Miaoxi and the other person to report.

"Madam, we've found it."

Immediately following behind were the constables who brought the evidence they had found, including the deceased's clothing and the cutting knife. All the evidence was covered in blood, and there were five pieces in total.

Qin Miaoxi and Lu Qingchen held their breath, unable to imagine the suffering the children had endured before their deaths.

"What are you doing? Quickly remove this filth from in front of me. You're putting all sorts of dirty and rotten things in front of me. Do you really think this is the Dali Temple?"

A look of disgust flashed across the Third Princess's face. She abruptly swept the blood-stained clothes off the tray and then roared at the air, full of impatience and irritation.

Qin Miaoxi saw a hint of panic in her eyes and immediately gave Wen Zhu a wink.

Wen Zhu strode forward and said coldly, "Third Princess, please come with us to the Ministry of Justice."

As she spoke, several constables rushed forward and surrounded her.

"What are you doing? I am a princess, and you lowly commoners should all get out of my way."

The Third Princess angrily raised her hand and slapped the nearest constable hard.

The constable was prepared to be beaten; even if the princess might be the real murderer, he could not retaliate.

The expected palm strike did not land. Qin Miaoxi gripped the Third Princess's hand, and their gazes clashed intensely, neither willing to give way.

"Third Princess, did you kill those three girls?"

"What little girl? I don't know." The Third Princess turned her head to the side, avoiding all probing gazes.

"Have your guards force-feed them mercury, then slice off pieces of flesh from their bodies until they are reduced to a pile of bones, which will then be left to rot in the wilderness."

She spoke each word carefully, staring intently at the Third Princess's expression, but found no trace of remorse on her face.

She even overheard a thought that filled her with resentment: "They're just a few lowly commoners; it's their blessing to die for me."

"Why did you kill someone?"

"I do not have……"

The Third Princess wanted to deny it, but she knew that what she thought in her heart was one thing, and what she truly admitted was another. She was a princess, representing the face of the royal family, and there were some things she couldn't do.

"Did you not kill anyone, or did you not want to raise a ghost child to gain eternal youth?"

The third princess's face showed a look of horror. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You... what nonsense are you talking about!"

Wen Zhu took out a yellowed ancient book, "This was found in the princess's study..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Third Princess angrily rushed to snatch the ancient book, shouting, "You scoundrel, who gave you permission to touch my study!"

Wen Zhu quickly retreated several steps, keeping a safe distance from the Third Princess, and the ancient book ended up in someone else's hands.

Lu Shiya looked at her coldly and continued, "The book describes how to raise a ghost child. Just nourish it with the blood of a young girl, pour mercury into its intestines to cleanse the body of impurities, then break open its scalp, use mercury to peel off its entire body's skin to make a clay doll, and after feeding it for one hundred days, its wishes will come true."

"Lu Shiya, what are you doing here?" The Third Princess gritted her teeth, her hatred undisguised.

"Let's see how disgusting you can get."

Her sarcastic remark immediately enraged the Third Princess, "What do you know? From beginning to end, you've been the one opposing me! Don't you even know your own worth? How dare you covet the person I've set my sights on? You're so arrogant!"

"You're retaliating against me for this?"

Lu Shiya found it unbelievable; Lu Qingchen was right after all. Only a madman could understand the thoughts of a lunatic.

"Where are the finished dolls?"

"If you're so capable, go find them yourselves!" The Third Princess glanced at everyone present and sneered, "But I can tell you, I was bought with money. I have their indentures."

She turned to stare at Qin Miaoxi, "Madam, I only killed three slaves from the manor. Is there any problem with that?"

Qin Miaoxi nodded, "Of course."

"Then you still..."

"But you didn't buy their families, seven lives. Your Highness, you should come with us to the Ministry of Justice!"

As she spoke, a hand landed on her shoulder, and the Third Princess was immediately rendered speechless.

"Hurry up and take it away!"

The third princess was eventually forcibly removed from the residence, but the search continued.

Lu Qingchen was a little confused and hurriedly asked, "What's going on? Didn't they say the Third Princess bought cinnabar to refine medicine?"

"Cinnabar can be used to refine medicine, but that was just my excuse to give Wen Zhu and the others time to find evidence."

Seeing that he still looked blank, Qin Miaoxi sighed and said, "Have you forgotten the cause of death of the three girls? They were killed by being doused with mercury."

Lu Qingchen suddenly realized that he had forgotten the cause of death.

"Why didn't we notice that the guard was walking with an outward gait last time?"