Qi Shuo was young and had a kind face; his gentle tone acted like a spring breeze, soothing the woman's emotions as she teetered on the edge of a breakdown.
The woman sobbed, "She went out early in the morning, saying she was going to play with friends, and she never came back... Yan'er, why would you go to Tianyuan Temple..."
Qi Shuo's heart stirred slightly. "Has your daughter never been to Tianyuan Temple before?"
"A few years ago, I took her there, but she found it boring and didn't want to go again."
Magistrate Liu looked thoughtful. "A young girl who finds burning incense and praying to Buddha boring suddenly went there; it's very likely a playmate suggested it."
"But the girls she usually plays with all said they weren't together that day—" The woman's expression suddenly changed. "Could they be fooling me?"
"Tell me the names and residences of the friends your daughter usually plays with clearly, and I will arrange for people to investigate."
The woman listed six or seven names in one breath. Magistrate Liu noted them down and ordered his subordinates to go and inquire immediately.
Qi Shuo, meanwhile, had someone bring ink and brush. "Sister-in-law, please describe what your daughter looks like."
"Yan'er has very large eyes, and a seed-shaped face just like mine..."
As the woman described her in detail, a young girl in the prime of her youth leaped onto the paper.
Qi Shuo set down the brush and asked the woman to confirm.
The woman covered her mouth and began to cry. "It's Yan'er, it's Yan'er..."
Magistrate Liu observed silently, feeling somewhat surprised.
The girl in the drawing was almost excessively beautiful.
Thinking back to that headless female corpse, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Lord Liu, let us take this drawing to Tianyuan Temple and ask if anyone saw Yan'er the day before yesterday."
Magistrate Liu's eyes lit up. "The Heir is correct!"
No wonder people said the Heir of Prince Jing could play a key role in investigations; with such a superb skill to accurately draw the appearance of a victim, there was no need to worry about finding clues.
Seeing the woman instinctively try to follow, Magistrate Liu stopped her. "Go back and wait for news first. I will send someone to notify you once there is progress."
The woman's lips moved, but in the end, she did not dare request to follow. She bowed and silently withdrew.
Upon receiving the message sent back by Qi Shuo's messenger, Lin Hao headed straight for Tianyuan Temple.
The carriage stopped at the temple gates, just as she saw Qi Shuo and Magistrate Liu walking toward her.
"Heir." Lin Hao walked over quickly and gave Magistrate Liu a slight smile. "You are Lord Liu, right? We met last year."
Magistrate Liu looked closely and was somewhat stunned. "Second Miss Lin—" He caught sight of Qi Shuo and realized, "The Heir's Consort."
They had indeed met—at Tianyuan Temple, involving a headless female corpse, and she was the one who had discovered the body. If the woman before him hadn't styled her hair in a matronly bun, he would have almost thought that no time had passed at all.
How could they meet so coincidentally?
Magistrate Liu glanced at Qi Shuo.
"Are you here to investigate the case?" Lin Hao smiled. "What a coincidence, I came to see if there was any progress."
Qi Shuo also smiled. "That's perfect, let's go in together."
The corner of Magistrate Liu's mouth twitched violently.
Who are they trying to fool? This couple is too much!
Complaining in his heart, Magistrate Liu indignantly quickened his pace and squeezed himself between the two of them.
Qi Shuo: "..."
Lin Hao took the opportunity to inquire about the case. "Lord Liu, are there any leads on the identity of the headless female corpse?"
"This is thanks to the Heir's reminder; we have found the victim's family..." Because the case had progressed, Magistrate Liu spoke with great enthusiasm.
Qi Shuo: "..."
Tianyuan Temple had declined entry to worshippers today. As Lin Hao walked through the quiet and solemn temple, she soon met the abbot who had come out to welcome them.
The abbot appeared to be around sixty years old; even his eyebrows were white, and his expression betrayed a deep fatigue.
After some pleasantries, Magistrate Liu produced the portrait of Yan'er. "I ask the abbot to gather the monks and servants of the temple to see if any of them saw the victim the day before yesterday."
"Please wait a moment." The abbot quickly gave the order.
A bell rang, startling countless birds into flight. Tianyuan Temple truly lived up to its reputation as a temple frequented by wealthy families; although there were many monks, the gathering was busy but orderly, and soon the area before the hall was filled with monks.
They stepped forward one by one to look at the portrait.
"Does Master have any impression of the girl in the drawing?"
The monk shook his head.
The next monk stepped forward and likewise shook his head.
The line of monks gradually dwindled. Magistrate Liu tapped his fingers on the armrest of the chair, his mood becoming increasingly anxious.
Surely they weren't so unlucky that not a single monk remembered Yan'er?
"Eh, this female benefactor—this humble monk saw her the day before yesterday."
Along with a youthful voice, everyone's gaze fell upon a young novice monk.
The novice monk's face turned red with nervousness.
"Do not be afraid, little Master. Just tell us clearly what you know." Lin Hao softened her voice to soothe the novice.
The novice monk looked at Lin Hao, then at the abbot.
The abbot gave the novice an encouraging nod.
The novice monk pursed his lips and looked at the portrait again. "It was the morning of the day before yesterday. She and another female benefactor got into an argument by the Life-Release Lake. This humble monk happened to be passing by and took a look."
Magistrate Liu's spirits lifted. "What did the other female benefactor look like?"
As long as the appearance was known, it would be easy; the Heir of Prince Jing could draw it in a few strokes!
The novice monk shook his head. "At the time, this female benefactor was facing the road, while the other female benefactor was facing the lake. This humble monk did not see her face."
Magistrate Liu sighed in disappointment. "What about her height or build?"
If her physique was distinctive, it would still be of some help.
The novice monk scratched his bald head, looking somewhat embarrassed. "This humble monk walked past quickly and didn't pay much attention. She seemed... neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin..."
"Did little Master hear what they were arguing about?" Qi Shuo asked.
The novice monk tilted his head, trying hard to recall. "I only heard the female benefactor in the drawing say, 'I am simply born beautiful.' Perhaps she saw this humble monk passing by, so she stopped talking."
Magistrate Liu stroked his beard. "In that case, the clues may still lie with Yan'er's playmates. The Heir might as well return with me to wait for news from that investigation; I will leave some men here to continue questioning."
Qi Shuo nodded. "Very well."
Unless by a stroke of luck, investigating a case was always tedious, boring, and lengthy work; what was needed most was patience.
Magistrate Liu left several of the subordinates he had brought and departed Tianyuan Temple with Qi Shuo and Lin Hao.
"A-Hao, do you want to—"
Lin Hao caught sight of Magistrate Liu's wide-eyed stare and smilingly interrupted Qi Shuo. "I shall return to the manor first."
"Then you go back and rest. Once the person who went to Tianyuan Temple with Yan'er is found, I will inform you promptly." Catching Magistrate Liu's speechless expression out of the corner of his eye, Qi Shuo remained perfectly calm. "My mother-in-law has been worried ever since she stumbled upon the body; finding the murderer soon will put her mind at ease."
Magistrate Liu suddenly understood.
It turned out he had misunderstood; the Heir of Prince Jing and his Consort weren't being lovey-dovey, but were acting out of filial piety toward an elder.
Lin Hao gave Qi Shuo a deep look.
A-Shuo certainly knew how to talk.
After parting, Lin Hao took Baozhu and boarded the carriage toward the Prince Jing Manor—oh, no, actually, she was returning to her maiden home.
There was no other way; her mother was still waiting for news.
As Lin Hao stepped off the carriage and walked toward the General's Manor, someone suddenly rushed out and blocked her path.
(End of Chapter)