It must be said, Ji Yinshu had acquired yet another new skill.

If this were in modern times, it would be called cultural relic restoration work.

This woman was not only a facial reconstruction specialist, but now she was also exceptionally proficient at restoration work!

With a bold flourish of her brush, she wrote four large characters on the paper—Han Chang Jian Yin.

Next to it, she also drew a flower.

She said: “This should be a square seal with the four characters ‘Han Chang Jian Yin’ carved on it, and in the middle of these four characters, there’s also the pattern of a flower, though exactly what kind of flower it is remains unclear!”

She was quite certain about those four characters.

A new official stretched his neck to look at the paper, then questioned somewhat skeptically: “But there’s only a corner of the book with a seal mark impression, just a tiny bit! How can Master Ji be so certain there are four characters? Also, where did that other blurry pattern you drew come from?”

“The other blurry pattern is something I saw on another book!” she explained. “I think when this seal fell, it left very small and unclear impressions on both of these books. That means if we can find this seal, we’ll probably be able to know whose family the books delivered to the study that night belonged to, or rather, the holder of the seal is also the owner of these two books, thus…”

Jingrong furrowed his brow deeply, taking over the end of her sentence and saying: “So to speak, either the murderer has some connection with this seal holder, or… the murderer is the seal holder.”

The murderer is the seal holder!

And all the keys to this case lie with this seal.

When the two of them discussed and reached this conclusion, they completely failed to notice Li Cheng’s and some old officials’ expressions.

Upon seeing those four characters, Li Cheng nearly lost his footing.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

His palms suddenly broke out in profuse sweat.

Jingrong turned his head to look at him and immediately detected something amiss.

He asked: “Young Master Cheng, do you know whose it is?”

Yes, he knew!

Crystal clear, in fact.

But at this moment, he couldn’t utter a single word.

It was as if his throat was completely blocked by something.

The entire hall of the City Administration Department fell deathly silent.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

Finally, a shocked old official spoke up, saying: “This is a seal from the Hanlin Academy.”

Ji Yinshu: “The Hanlin Academy?”

“That’s right, it’s from the Hanlin Academy.”

“Whose?”

The old official had reservations, unsure whether he should say or shouldn’t say.

After all, the owner of this seal was no ordinary person!

Seeing his prolonged silence, the impatient Jingrong wore a cold, indifferent expression and said: “I hope you all understand that this case is under your City Administration Department’s responsibility. Whether to investigate or not—it’s all up to you and has nothing to do with us.”

He directly made his stance clear.

The old official swallowed hard, glanced at Li Cheng, then said: “It’s… Lord Gong from the Hanlin Academy.”

“Which Lord Gong?”

Just as he was about to speak—

Li Cheng cut him off: “The son of Left Chancellor Gong… Gong Shilin.”

“It’s him?” Ji Yinshu was shocked.

Last time when the Third Prince hosted a banquet, they had all met him.

That courteous and refined Lord Gong!

Who would have thought that someone who seemed to have absolutely no connection to the case would turn out to be the key figure in this entire case.

Now, Li Cheng’s mood was complex—that feeling, impossible to describe, impossible to articulate.

His complexion looked extremely unpleasant, his facial features seeming to scrunch together.

He sat down weakly in a chair, his limp and powerless fist lightly pounding on the tea table beside him.

…

The snow was still falling outside.

Growing heavier and heavier.

Almost burying the entire city of Gaoding beneath white snow.

Yet for some reason, Gong Shilin suddenly picked up a pot of wine and made a trip to the Third Prince’s mansion.

Due to the matter with Na Yan, Na Tuo was currently riding high on his success.

He was just planning to find someone to celebrate with when unexpectedly Gong Shilin arrived!

And he’d even brought wine.

He quickly pulled Gong Shilin inside to sit down.

“What wind blew you here of your own accord today? I was just planning to send someone to find you! Tell me, did you hear about the matter between Na Yan and me, so like me, you’re planning to drink and celebrate?” Na Tuo said while pouring two full cups of wine.

He handed one of the cups to Gong Shilin.

But Gong Shilin’s expression was cold and clear, his eyes vacant and lifeless. He took the wine and downed it in one gulp!

He looked quite bold and straightforward.

Na Tuo felt something was strange.

The entire atmosphere was just off right now.

“Shilin, what’s wrong with you?”

He smiled slightly and said: “Nothing.”

“You and I have known each other for so many years—when something’s on your mind, how could I not know? Tell me, what’s really wrong?”

“Really, there’s noth—”

“Don’t tell me it’s nothing.” Na Tuo took his empty wine cup and while pouring more wine, said: “As long as it’s something I can solve for you, nothing is a problem! Hurry up and tell me, don’t keep everything bottled up inside.”

Gong Shilin picked up the wine cup filled with wine and took a small sip.

He lowered his gaze to look at the wine swaying in the cup, falling silent again for a long while.

Finally, he asked: “If you were given a choice, how would you choose?”

“What choice?”

“Me, and your throne.”

Uh!

Na Tuo was startled: “Why would it be between you and the throne?”

Gong Shilin raised his head, his fingers gripping the wine cup tightening involuntarily: “If… I’m just saying if! If I committed an unforgivable crime, and you needed to give up your throne to save me, what would you choose?”

This truly was a difficult choice between two impossible options!

For Na Tuo, everything he had done up to now was all for one thing—to become the heir apparent.

To become Huyi’s future new king!

Above all others!

And the path he had planned had absolutely nothing to do with his good brother Gong Shilin’s interests or conflicts.

Now they were being put together, forcing him to make a choice.

Difficult!

More difficult than ascending to heaven!

Na Tuo stared at him in confusion: “Why are you suddenly asking this?”

Gong Shilin: “Just tell me, how would you choose?”

“…”

Gong Shilin didn’t press him further, but continued drinking.

Waiting for the person across from him to think it through.

Who knows how much time passed—

Na Tuo finally said seriously: “If you truly committed an unforgivable crime, I would definitely do everything in my power to save you, even… even if I had to sacrifice my throne, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

“Truly?”

“Shilin, I’m not as heartless as you think! You and I grew up together, closer than blood brothers—how could I just watch you be in trouble and not care? I think if the situation were reversed, you would make the same choice as me.”

This answer was beyond Gong Shilin’s expectations.

Because from the very first day he met Na Tuo, in Na Tuo’s eyes and heart, there had always only been the throne.

Yet he never expected that the person who so yearned for power would actually make such a choice!

But—Gong Shilin smiled. He said: “A Tuo, having you say this, I’m completely satisfied, but… I don’t want you to make this choice!”