“Cough, cough, cough.” Qi Shuo began to cough.
The sound of coughing immediately drew Cheng Maoming's attention: “Is the Shizi alright?”
The youth, whose skin was as fair as jade, had a thin flush of red stain his cheeks from the coughing: “I am fine. Please continue your questioning, Grand Governor.”
Cheng Maoming did not continue: “We have been questioning for so long that everyone is tired. Let us have a cup of tea and rest for a while before proceeding.”
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies was tactful and hurriedly suggested, “Why not go and sit for a while at the Court of State Ceremonies?”
The Court of State Ceremonies was right next to the guest house, making it very convenient to get to.
As they left, Cheng Maoming specifically instructed his subordinates: “Keep a close eye on these people; we will be questioning them again shortly.”
Upon arriving at the Court of State Ceremonies, Qi Shuo said to the Minister, “I would like to borrow Minister Ouyang's study.”
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies was stunned by this request, while Cheng Maoming was filled with surprise and joy: “Could it be that the Shizi has discovered some clue?”
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies gave Cheng Maoming a deep look.
He was certain that Grand Governor Cheng was acting a bit strange today. The Shizi of Prince Jing using a study meant there was a clue? He must have gone mad in his desire to find the missing Yuliu maid.
“Something like that,” Qi Shuo nodded slightly.
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies fell into a daze.
Although the Shizi of Prince Jing's answer was cautious, the meaning was clear: there was a clue!
“Minister Ouyang?” Cheng Maoming called out, thinking to himself that perhaps Minister Ouyang had grown old and was no longer very sharp.
The Minister snapped back to his senses: “Oh, this way, please.”
The group went to the study together, which was fully equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Qi Shuo asked politely, “You don't mind if I use them, do you?”
“The Shizi may use them as he pleases,” the Minister said, unable to help but feel moved.
There were not many imperial clan members as humble and polite as the Shizi of Prince Jing.
Qi Shuo spread out a piece of drawing paper, picked up a brush, and began to draw.
His expression was focused, and his brush moved with flying speed. Soon, the outline of a young girl was sketched out.
In the study, aside from the artist, there were only Lin Hao, Cheng Maoming, and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. The three of them kept their eyes fixed on the paper. Before long, Lin Hao was the first to notice: “Is this the missing Yuliu maid?”
“Is it?” Cheng Maoming pushed the Minister aside to get a closer look.
The Minister's attention shifted to Lin Hao: “And this person is—”
He had long been curious about the identity of this youth.
Cheng Maoming thought it was a bad sign and was about to help cover for her when he heard Lin Hao say candidly, “I am the Second Miss Lin of the General's Manor, accompanying the Shizi to take a look.”
In that instant, the Minister's eyes widened. After a long while, he let out an “oh” and looked at Qi Shuo in a trance. Qi Shuo was focused on his drawing and did not respond, so the Minister couldn't help but look at Cheng Maoming, only to see the Grand Governor remaining completely unfazed.
Thus, the elderly Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies fell into a daze once again.
“Why did the Shizi draw the Yuliu maid again?” Cheng Maoming also noticed and asked Qi Shuo in confusion.
“Wait a moment.” Qi Shuo quickly finished the drawing of the Yuliu maid, set the paper aside to dry, and spread out another sheet of xuan paper to begin drawing again.
Cheng Maoming became even more curious.
Drawing again?
Lin Hao watched as Qi Shuo laid down a few strokes, and a flash of inspiration hit her: “Hu Da?”
“What Hu Da?” Cheng Maoming didn't react immediately.
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies was equally bewildered: “The Shizi intends to draw that Hu Da from earlier?”
Focused on his work, Qi Shuo gave a faint “mm-hmm.”
Cheng Maoming and the Minister looked at each other, both seeing confusion in the other's eyes.
“Why draw Hu Da?” Not wanting to disturb Qi Shuo, Cheng Maoming simply asked Lin Hao.
Lin Hao smiled slightly: “The Grand Governor will understand once the Shizi finishes the drawing.”
Having gained no information, Cheng Maoming rubbed his nose sheepishly.
The study fell silent for a time until Qi Shuo finally put down his brush.
Cheng Maoming and the Minister simultaneously craned their necks, staring intently at the person on the scroll.
It was indeed the Hu Da they had questioned earlier.
“The Shizi believes this person is problematic?”
Qi Shuo brought over the portrait of the Yuliu maid he had set aside and placed it next to the one of Hu Da: “Grand Governor, Minister Ouyang, compare these two people. Do you notice anything?”
“These two—” Cheng Maoming rubbed his chin while observing. Suddenly, he paused and said uncertainly, “Their face shapes seem to be similar.”
Receiving a confirming nod from Qi Shuo, Cheng Maoming became excited: “And the distance between the eyes, the shape of the nose—”
“Hu Da is the Yuliu maid in disguise?” The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies trembled with excitement, his beard shaking.
The rest of Cheng Maoming's words were stuck in his throat, and he gave the Minister a look of disdain.
Why was this man jumping the gun?
Qi Shuo gently wiped the ink from his fingertips with a handkerchief, his tone calm: “The face shapes and features of the two have similarities. The missing Yuliu maid possesses the innate conditions to disguise herself as Hu Da.”
Cheng Maoming clapped his hands: “In that case, neither Hu Da nor the gatekeeper may have been lying. The Hu Da who went out the second time was the Yuliu maid in disguise!”
He couldn't help but cast a look of admiration toward Qi Shuo: “How did the Shizi notice this?”
Many things seem obvious once they are pointed out, but to find the key while shrouded in mist requires extraordinary acuity.
Qi Shuo and Lin Hao exchanged a glance.
The reason they were able to think of this so quickly was because of the incident with the fake Du Qing.
“I enjoy drawing people and have a habit of observing their features and face shapes. Additionally, having just drawn the Yuliu maid, the impression was quite fresh.” Qi Shuo paused, then mentioned the Yuliu envoy, “When the Grand Governor suggested to the Yuliu envoy that we draw a portrait of the Yuliu maid to make her easier to find, the other party showed no reluctance whatsoever. At that moment, I had a vague suspicion.”
Contrary to his outward behavior, the Yuliu envoy would absolutely not want the maid to be found, yet he didn't care at all if her appearance became known. One possibility was that the missing maid had changed her appearance; in that case, searching for her based on a portrait would actually serve as a cover.
Cheng Maoming nodded: “The Shizi is truly meticulous.”
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies also looked at Qi Shuo differently.
He had thought the Shizi of Prince Jing was merely a talented man skilled in painting, but he hadn't expected him to be a talent of extraordinary intellect.
“Furthermore,” Lin Hao added, “the Yuliu envoy said those three maids shared a deep bond with the missing maid, yet when they spoke with the Shizi, they showed only shyness and excitement, with no worry for their missing sister. This is also illogical.”
The youth, who had been composed throughout, explained solemnly, “I truly didn't notice that part.”
Lin Hao smiled.
Qi Shuo: “...”
Cheng Maoming gave Qi Shuo a sympathetic look.
This was exactly why one shouldn't bring an unwed fiancée along to such serious official business.
“Ahem. Then, according to the deductions of the Shizi and Second Miss Lin, the person we are looking for is not the Yuliu maid in this portrait, but Hu Da?” Cheng Maoming picked up the portrait of Hu Da, simultaneously helping Qi Shuo out of the awkward situation.
“To be safe, the Grand Governor could re-interrogate Hu Da and the gatekeeper without alerting the Yuliu envoy. If it is confirmed they aren't lying, then that should be it.”
“Good, I will arrange for a secret interrogation immediately.”
The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies couldn't help but voice his concern: “If the maid really disguised herself as Hu Da to leave the guest house, I fear she may have already left the city by now?”
(End of Chapter)