Fang Mingsan ordered someone to bring brush and ink for Ji Yinshu to paint.

She spent less than ten minutes completing the portrait. Tilting her head to look at the portrait once, then glancing at Li Yuan, she felt it wasn’t quite satisfactory, so she dipped the brush tip in ink and added a few more strokes.

The entire portrait became even more lifelike!

There had been rumors that this Mr. Ji was exceptionally skilled at painting, able to draw what a pile of bare bones looked like in life. The portraits drawn were said to be comparable to the real person—people had thought this was an exaggeration.

Seeing it today, the reputation was well-deserved!

Moreover, to be able to watch the legendary Mr. Ji paint in person was a fortune of three lifetimes.

For a moment, everyone crowded around.

Junior constables nearby were commenting.

“Wow, it looks so much like him!”

“Yes, it’s exactly the same!”

“If Mr. Ji could paint a portrait for me, I’d be content for the rest of my life.”

Ji Yinshu: “…”

Sure, once you die and your corpse becomes a pile of bare bones, I’ll paint your portrait. I guarantee it’ll be especially good.

Even your own mother and father will recognize you at first glance.

Fang Mingsan also praised, “Mr. Ji, I had only heard about it before, but seeing it today has been truly eye-opening. Not only can you solve cases, but you can also paint so well. This official truly admires you.”

If there weren’t so many people crowding around, he would bow right now.

Constable Zhang had wanted to speak up, but thinking about it, he covered his own mouth.

Better not—he’d just watch silently.

Wen Lingyang looked at the painting with eyes full of appreciation. Each stroke was smooth and powerful—it looked much better than his own writing!

But unlike Fang Mingsan, he asked, “Where did Mr. Ji learn this painting skill?”

“Self-taught!”

“Impressive!”

“You flatter me.”

Wait, aren’t we going off-topic?

Weren’t we investigating the case?

She quickly put down the brush, dispersed the people surrounding her, picked up the paper from the table, casually waved it a few times, and after the ink dried, handed it to Fang Mingsan.

“I’ll trouble Magistrate Fang.”

“Not at all. It should be this official thanking Mr. Ji for the help.”

Fang Mingsan passed the portrait to Constable Zhang and instructed, “Go find a few painters to make multiple copies of this painting, then send people to ask the night watchmen and beggars from that night.”

“Yes!”

Taking the portrait, Constable Zhang hurried off to handle it.

At this time, Li Yuan’s emotional state had improved considerably. Li Mingzhou and Yu Yin helped him up from the ground.

So—

Ji Yinshu said to Fang Mingsan, “Magistrate Fang, I see Li Yuan’s condition isn’t good. Although there’s currently no evidence to prove what Miss Yu Yin said is true, if we put Li Yuan in prison, the dampness there is too heavy. In his condition, things will only get worse. So let him return to the Li residence for now. Request a physician to examine him properly. While we wait for news, we can also wait for his mental clarity to recover so we can ask him some questions.”

Fang Mingsan agreed with her suggestion.

Nodding, he gave permission.

But worried that Li Mingzhou would take Li Yuan away from Yuzhou City, he ordered, “Li Mingzhou, don’t think about taking Li Yuan away. This official will have people watch your Li residence. If the person was truly killed by Li Yuan, this official will immediately arrest him and bring him back to the yamen. If it’s proven that he didn’t kill anyone, this official won’t wrongly accuse him either.”

Having said all this, Li Mingzhou naturally couldn’t say anything more.

When Yu Yin was leaving, she walked up to Ji Yinshu and bowed slightly.

“Thank you.”

Ji Yinshu replied lightly, “Once it’s proven he’s truly innocent, it won’t be too late to thank me then.”

Yu Yin nodded!

After everyone had dispersed from the yamen courtroom, Ji Yinshu pulled Jingrong to the back courtyard, finding a place where no one was around.

Alright, what’s coming will come eventually!

This prince doesn’t want to kneel on a washboard!

Ji Yinshu questioned him, “Since you knew the Li residence and Chang residence didn’t have that kind of ink, why didn’t you tell me?”

Jingrong looked innocent. “I was just about to tell you. I didn’t have time.”

“Really?”

“What? When did you stop believing this prince’s words?”

“I…” She was at a loss for words.

Jingrong raised an eyebrow and turned to question her instead, “Ji Yinshu, this prince was helping you investigate. Not only do you not thank me, but you turn around and criticize me?”

“When did I criticize you?” She also looked innocent.

Watching this woman deny it, Prince Jingrong put on his princely airs again, clasping his hands behind his back and lifting his chin arrogantly.

He said, “If you beg this prince, this prince will tell you some good news.”

“What good news?”

She was puzzled!

“Beg this prince.”

“Jingrong—” She ground out his name through clenched teeth.

Jingrong smiled with curved lips, glanced at her sideways, and said, “If you don’t want to beg, that’s fine too. But the weather hasn’t been good lately. When this prince sleeps alone, my feet always feel cold, and with my side of the bed so empty, my heart just isn’t at ease. If only…”

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Yinshu slapped his arm.

She turned away. “Dream on!”

After all, I do have integrity, you know?

The smile at the corner of Jingrong’s lips became even more brilliant. He discovered that teasing this woman was actually a very happy and delightful thing.

He moved around to face her, bending down slightly, bringing his face close to hers.

“Little enchantress, are you angry?”

“…”

“You and I will share a bed sooner or later. It’s just a matter of time. Why make me keep an empty bed for so long?”

“…”

“If you agree, this prince will leave the lamp and door open for you tonight. You can just slip in quietly. I’ll have Lang Bo guard outside the courtyard—no one will discover us.”

“…”

“Don’t you want to know what good news this prince wants to tell you?”

Ji Yinshu lifted her eyelids and squinted at him. That angular, handsome face was less than a finger’s width from her own.

Their light breathing was even and clear, falling on each other’s faces—warm, comfortable, and ticklish.

Ji Yinshu’s body instinctively leaned backward.

Who would have thought—

Jingrong hooked his arm around her slender waist. His wrist exerted force, pulling her backward-tilting body to his chest, pressing even closer.

She looked up at him in alarm, while he looked down at her tenderly.

Their gazes collided, sparks flying!

Ji Yinshu’s face couldn’t help but redden. Her elbow bent, bracing between them, but Jingrong’s strength was too great—she was powerless to break free.

He was a head taller than her, she was half his build smaller.

Embracing like this, they were simply adorably precious!

Ji Yinshu avoided his gaze, looking around alertly, her elbow pushing hard. “Stop fooling around. We’re still investigating a case!”

But Jingrong lifted her chin upward, making her eyes meet his again.

Suddenly becoming serious, he said, “First, you’re not a court official. Second, you’re not the county magistrate of Yufu County. What case are you investigating?”

To others, these words would mean nothing, but to Ji Yinshu’s ears, Jingrong was complaining.

“Are you resentful that I’m meddling?”

“In a way, yes. But every time you meddle, this prince can’t just ignore it. Who told you to tie a string around this prince’s heart? Wherever you go, this prince can only follow. It’ll be like this for the rest of my life—there’s no escaping it.”

He spoke with utmost seriousness. Those tender, affectionate eyes were like a huge whirlpool from which Ji Yinshu could no longer look away.

So much so that she didn’t push him away!