The old coroner wrung his hands together tightly.

Why did he feel like he had already lost?

He said, “Sir, you speak a bit too soon. Let’s wait until we find the deceased before saying anything.”

Ji Yinshu smiled slightly.

Then she picked up the painting from the table, rolled it up, and handed it to an elderly official.

She said, “Sir, I trouble you to take this painting to the city’s portrait artists, have them make multiple copies, and then take them out to search for the person.”

The elderly official accepted it.

He looked at it and, after hesitating, said, “Miss Ji, perhaps we should… wait until Minister Li arrives before proceeding.”

He didn’t dare make this decision himself!

Ji Yinshu understood.

She nodded, “Very well!”

They would wait then.

At this moment, “Minister Li” was bringing what he called “that thing” to the entrance of the City Department.

A minor official came out to greet him.

“Minister Li, you’ve finally arrived. Everyone has been waiting for you.”

His eyebrows rose as he grunted in acknowledgment, then deliberately glanced sideways at Gong Shilin before intentionally coughing and saying in a raised voice, “This case is rather complex. I must investigate it thoroughly, so… let’s go to the morgue first.”

He emphasized the last phrase.

“But all the other officials and Miss Ji are currently…” waiting for you in the hall.

Before the minor official could finish his last few words, Li Cheng abruptly cut him off.

He said, “Stop your nonsense and hurry up and take me to the morgue.”

“Ah?”

“Quickly.”

“Oh… yes, sir.”

The minor official, unable to make heads or tails of what was happening, could only follow orders and lead Li Cheng toward the morgue.

Gong Shilin followed closely behind.

He harbored no suspicions the entire way.

He truly believed they were going to solve a case.

After all, this was his first time coming to the City Department, and his first time helping someone… investigate a case. How could he know any better?

When they reached the morgue entrance, Li Cheng told him, “This case involves a skull found inside a stone. That skull is currently inside. Let’s go in together and take a look.”

“A skull?” Gong Shilin paused.

“What, are you scared?”

“Of course not.”

“Then let’s go in!”

Li Cheng strode forward and pushed open the morgue door.

He went inside.

It was very dark within.

No candles were lit either.

But where was any skull?

There wasn’t even a ghost inside.

Because Ji Yinshu had needed to paint earlier, she had already taken the skull away.

Gong Shilin was completely unaware that he had already fallen into the trap Li Cheng had specifically set for him.

After entering, he looked around the room.

But it was too dark!

He asked, “Why aren’t any candles lit?”

Li Cheng stifled a laugh, “What are those people thinking, not doing their jobs? I’ll light them for you right away, don’t worry!”

As he spoke, he backed away.

Gong Shilin was still straining to see inside the room.

Li Cheng grinned wickedly at his back.

His face revealed his evil intentions completely.

There was even a hint of sinister ferocity!

After he backed out of the room, his hands immediately grasped the door handles.

With a “bang,” he slammed the door shut.

Gong Shilin jumped in fright. When he turned around, the door was already closed.

He rushed over hastily.

“Li Cheng, what are you doing?” He pounded on the door several times.

Standing outside the door, Li Cheng wore a completely innocent expression as he spoke through the crack, “This has nothing to do with me. It was the wind that closed the door.”

The liar’s face showed no shame, his heart remained untroubled.

“Stop fooling around and open the door quickly.”

“I’ll try!” As Li Cheng spoke, he locked the door with a lock, then deliberately pushed on it a few times. When it wouldn’t open, he said, “The wind must have damaged the door—it won’t open. Don’t worry, just wait inside for a bit. I’ll go find someone to open the door for you right away.”

Gong Shilin showed a trace of anxiety and looked back into the room.

Pitch black darkness.

Only the window paper near the door entrance let through some faint light.

He wasn’t stupid either. If the wind had really blown it, the door would have blown inward, not outward.

The truth was obvious.

Li Cheng was deliberately tormenting him.

He said, “Li Cheng, I know you’re doing this on purpose. I don’t have time for these games. Open the door immediately.”

“What do you mean ‘on purpose’? This young master isn’t that kind of person. I said the door is broken, so it’s broken.”

“You…”

“Alright, don’t be nervous. Stay inside for a while. I’ll immediately find the best locksmith in Gaoding to open the door for you. However…” Li Cheng chuckled, then continued in an extremely serious tone, “However, this best locksmith in Gaoding will need to be summoned, and without several hours, he probably won’t be able to come. So just wait. There’s a stool inside—you can sit for a while.”

“This…”

“You’re not scared, are you? There aren’t any ghosts inside.”

Gong Shilin remained silent.

Speechless.

Meeting Li Cheng was truly the greatest misfortune of his life.

Either he had killed Li Cheng’s entire family in a previous life, which was why they were now like fire and water in this one.

Seeing that he had fallen silent, Li Cheng slowly backed into the courtyard and summoned the minor official from earlier.

“Sir?”

He commanded, “Listen carefully. Without my order, no one is permitted to let him out. If I find out anyone dares to open that door, I’ll have their head.”

A naked threat.

The minor official didn’t dare offend this young master.

He repeatedly agreed.

Li Cheng was extremely satisfied. Staring at the door and tossing the key in his hand a few times, he said, “This isn’t my Li Manor, nor is it your Gong Manor. Let’s see who can come rescue you now. If I don’t teach you a lesson, you won’t understand what it means for a toad to lust after swan meat.”

The toad referred to Gong Shilin.

The swan naturally referred to his own elder sister.

He clapped his hands and walked away completely satisfied.

Shortly after, he arrived at the hall.

Everyone was waiting for him.

“Sir, you’ve finally arrived.” Someone came forward to greet him.

Li Cheng walked past him and went directly to Ji Yinshu. With an excited smile on his face, like a child, he asked, “Master Ji, is the portrait finished?”

Ji Yinshu indicated with her gaze the portrait held in the elderly official’s hand.

The elderly official hastily presented it.

“Sir, the portrait is here.”

Li Cheng grabbed it with one hand and unrolled it to look.

“Wow!”

He was astounded!

The person in the painting was lifelike.

Although the woman wasn’t a celestial beauty, her refined and elegant temperament was unforgettable. Any man who saw her would feel somewhat moved.

“It’s painted absolutely beautifully.”

Once again, he had missed the main point.

Holding the painting, he asked Ji Yinshu, “Master Ji, did you really paint this yourself?”

“Minister Li, shouldn’t the most urgent matter right now be to take the portrait and verify the deceased’s identity?” Ji Yinshu reminded him.

“Yes, yes, yes, you’re absolutely right.” He quickly ordered, “Someone, hurry and search according to the person in this portrait. You must determine the deceased’s identity in the shortest time possible.”

But no one responded.

Hmm?

Li Cheng was puzzled, “What’s going on?”

The elderly official said, “Sir, what if the person in the portrait isn’t the deceased?”

“What, are you questioning my eye for judgment?” he said sternly.

“This subordinate wouldn’t dare.”

“Since you wouldn’t dare, then hurry up and go.”

The elderly official hesitated, then accepted the painting and immediately ordered people to investigate.