Cheng Maoming’s expression remained natural, not feeling there was anything wrong with his words at all.

The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial couldn’t help but glance at Qi Shuo, discovering that the Heir of Prince Jing’s expression was even more natural.

He bewilderedly stroked his beard, suspecting that perhaps the problem lay with himself.

Lin Hao also cast a discreet glance at Cheng Maoming.

This tone of “our Heir” was so strange—what had A’Shuo done to Grand Commander Cheng?

“Draw the missing maidservant?” The Yuliu envoy agreed without hesitation. “That’s fine. However, I didn’t pay much attention to that maidservant. Have someone who spent more time with her describe her.”

The group moved to the courtyard. After tables, chairs, brush and ink were arranged, three maidservants dressed in Yuliu attire walked over.

The Yuliu envoy pointed at them: “They all served the princess together with the missing maidservant. They spent day and night together and had good relationships.”

The three maidservants curtsied, their eyes as they looked at Qi Shuo hiding the curiosity and excitement young women of this age felt upon seeing a handsome young man.

Qi Shuo glanced at them and said calmly: “Let’s begin.”

What followed was one person asking questions and three answering.

What age was the missing maidservant, how tall, from facial features to build—as the questions became increasingly detailed, the image of a young woman appeared vividly on paper.

“Take a look. Is this correct?” Qi Shuo set down his brush, his tone gentle and polite.

“It’s Bailing!” The maidservant who spoke first had a slightly flushed face.

Qi Shuo glanced at her, his mild gaze moving to the other two maidservants.

The two maidservants nodded repeatedly: “It’s so similar! Bailing looks just like this.”

The Yuliu envoy glanced at the portrait and couldn’t help but be astonished: “The Heir’s painting skill is truly remarkable. I’ve never seen this method of portraiture before.”

Though Yuliu had no shortage of talented artists skilled in portraiture, they emphasized spiritual essence and artistic conception. Actually using a portrait to find someone—that would be a joke.

“Of course—our Heir’s painting method can be called uniquely innovative.” Cheng Maoming said proudly.

The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial couldn’t help but look over again.

What was with Grand Commander Cheng’s tone of sharing in the glory?

At this moment, a Jinlin Guard came over and leaned close to Cheng Maoming’s ear to report in a low voice: “Grand Commander, we’ve searched the lodge again and still found nothing.”

Cheng Maoming nodded to indicate he understood, carefully picked up the portrait and blew on it, then instructed his subordinate: “Have those several painters make multiple copies of this portrait and distribute them to use in searching for the person.”

The subordinate accepted the order and left.

“Do you need to question anyone else?” The Yuliu envoy showed signs of seeing them out.

Cheng Maoming pretended not to notice: “To find your nation’s maidservant as soon as possible, we naturally need to question more people.”

The Yuliu envoy’s face showed impatience: “Didn’t you already ask yesterday? No one saw Bailing leave.”

“We still need to ask again—what if there was an oversight?” Cheng Maoming spoke earnestly. “The longer time drags on, the more dangerous it becomes. Wouldn’t the envoy agree?”

“Then Commander Cheng, do as you please.” The Yuliu envoy said indifferently.

Soon the gatekeepers were summoned.

The lodge was originally meant to temporarily accommodate foreign guests, so the gatekeepers were naturally Great Zhou people. The gatekeepers answered every question, cooperating fully, but unfortunately had no useful information.

These questions had actually been asked yesterday. Listening to them, Cheng Maoming only felt anxious and couldn’t help using his peripheral vision to peek at Qi Shuo.

Wouldn’t the Heir of Prince Jing say something? This made things very difficult for him.

Suddenly a gentle voice spoke up: “Why not ask who went out during the time the Yuliu maidservant disappeared? Perhaps those who went out could provide some clues.”

At these words, multiple gazes turned toward the refined-looking young man who had been silently staying by the Heir of Prince Jing’s side.

Cheng Maoming discovered it was Lin Hao who had spoken, and his face showed surprise.

This was a new line of investigation when the inquiry had hit a dead end! If the Heir of Prince Jing had proposed it, he would find it completely normal—after all, the Heir of Prince Jing was his lucky star—

Wait, lucky star?

Cheng Maoming slowly looked toward Qi Shuo, his heart shaking.

The Heir of Prince Jing bringing Second Miss Lin along together was predestined so that Second Miss Lin would help him, wasn’t it? So in other words, it was still because of the Heir of Prince Jing.

At this moment, Cheng Maoming suddenly felt full of confidence about resolving the matter of the missing Yuliu maidservant.

Lin Hao: “…” Setting aside whether what she said made sense or not, why was Grand Commander Cheng looking at A’Shuo?

“This is—”

As soon as the Yuliu envoy began to speak, Cheng Maoming suddenly coughed: “Ahem, that makes sense.”

He turned to the gatekeeper, also drawing everyone else’s attention over: “Those who came and went yesterday—do you still remember them?”

The gatekeeper’s face showed difficulty: “Quite a few people come and go each day. This commoner may not remember them all.”

“No matter—say as much as you remember.”

“During that time period, it seems no Yuliu honored guests went out. Those who left were all people from our lodge…” The gatekeeper worked hard to recall.

Soon all the people mentioned by the gatekeeper were summoned—there were minor officials and helpers who went out to purchase goods, a woman who delivered cleaned laundry, several hired workers who left after finishing their tasks, a young maid who came out to buy sundries when a peddler passed by…

The lodge’s nature was special—it was neither an office nor an inn, much less a private residence. Most people left after finishing a day’s work, and those who stayed overnight were actually the minority. Fortunately, when the Yuliu maidservant’s disappearance was discovered, it wasn’t yet noon, so those who had left weren’t too many.

“Everyone speak up. When did you leave, and did you see anyone acting suspiciously?” Cheng Maoming said with a stern face.

The minor official answered first: “This humble one took the two of them out to purchase goods just after daybreak. With honored guests present, the meals can’t be careless. Chickens, ducks, vegetables—we have to select the freshest… When did we return? About the hour of the Dragon, I suppose. We usually return around this time.”

“This humble woman lives nearby. Today I came to return laundered clothes. I was only at the lodge for about a quarter-hour before going home.”

“This maidservant didn’t go out. I just bought a few skeins of embroidery thread outside the gate.” The young maid who said this was both frightened and aggrieved.

“This commoner…”

Cheng Maoming listened, his brows tightly knit: “None of you noticed anything amiss?”

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

Cheng Maoming’s expression darkened, and he asked the gatekeeper: “Was there anyone else?”

The gatekeeper shook his head: “This commoner really can’t recall.”

Cheng Maoming glanced at those people: “Then is what they said consistent with your impression?”

Having heard these words, the gatekeeper scanned over those people one by one and said hesitantly: “There’s no real discrepancy—”

When his gaze swept past one of the men beside the minor official, he paused: “Hu Da seemed to go out again.”

The man called Hu Da was the minor official’s helper, responsible for transporting purchased goods back together with another helper.

Upon hearing this, Hu Da grew anxious: “Old Zhang, you can’t speak nonsense! After I returned with Foreman Liu, I never went out. I was helping in the back kitchen the whole time. Wang Damei can testify.”

Having finally heard something inconsistent, Cheng Maoming naturally couldn’t let it go. He immediately summoned the cook to inquire.

The cook nodded somewhat embarrassedly: “Because we bought quite a few fresh water chestnuts that needed shelling, I was too busy to manage alone, so I had Hu Da help with the preparation.”

“You see, sir, this commoner didn’t lie.”

Cheng Maoming glanced at the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper looked embarrassed: “Then I probably remembered wrong. So many people come and go in a day…”

Qi Shuo silently observed, his heart stirring.