Qi Shuo was young with a kind face and a gentle tone—like a spring breeze soothing the woman’s emotions on the verge of collapse.

The woman choked out, “She went out early in the morning, saying she was going to find friends to play with. She never came back… Yan’er, why would you go to Tianyuan Temple…”

Qi Shuo’s heart stirred slightly. “Your daughter had never been to Tianyuan Temple?”

“This humble woman took her several years ago. She found it boring and never went again afterward.”

Investigating Magistrate Liu looked thoughtful. “A young girl who found burning incense and worshipping Buddha boring suddenly went there—very likely a playmate suggested it.”

“But those girls who usually play together all said they weren’t together that day—” The woman’s expression suddenly changed. “Could they have deceived me?”

“You can clearly state the names and residences of the friends your daughter usually played with. This magistrate will naturally arrange for people to investigate.”

The woman rattled off six or seven names in one breath. Investigating Magistrate Liu recorded them and ordered his subordinates to quickly go make inquiries.

Qi Shuo had someone fetch brush and ink. “Elder sister, describe what your daughter looked like.”

“Yan’er had very large eyes, and an oval face like mine…”

As the woman described in detail, a young woman in the prime of her youth appeared vividly on paper.

Qi Shuo set down the brush and asked the woman to confirm.

The woman covered her mouth and began crying. “It’s Yan’er, it’s Yan’er…”

Investigating Magistrate Liu observed silently, somewhat shocked.

The young woman in the painting was excessively beautiful.

Thinking again of that headless female corpse, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

“Magistrate Liu, let’s take this painting to Tianyuan Temple and ask if anyone saw Yan’er the day before yesterday.”

Investigating Magistrate Liu’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness is right!”

No wonder everyone said the Heir of Prince Jing could play a key role in investigating cases. With this exceptional skill of accurately painting victims’ appearances, why worry about not finding clues?

Seeing the woman unconsciously following, Investigating Magistrate Liu stopped her. “You should return home first and wait for news. If there’s progress, this magistrate will send someone to inform you.”

The woman’s lips moved, but in the end she didn’t dare propose following along. She performed a courtesy and silently withdrew.

Lin Hao received the message Qi Shuo had sent back and headed straight for Tianyuan Temple.

The carriage stopped at the temple entrance, and she happened to see Qi Shuo and Investigating Magistrate Liu approaching.

“Your Highness.” Lin Hao walked over quickly, looking at Investigating Magistrate Liu with a slight smile. “This is Magistrate Liu, isn’t it? We met last year.”

Investigating Magistrate Liu looked closely, somewhat taken aback. “Second Miss Lin—” He glanced at Qi Shuo and realized. “Heir’s Wife.”

Indeed they’d met—also at Tianyuan Temple, also a headless female corpse, also that person who discovered the body. If not for the woman before him wearing a married woman’s hairstyle, he’d almost think time hadn’t passed at all.

What a coincidence to run into her!

Investigating Magistrate Liu glanced at Qi Shuo.

“Are you here to investigate the case?” Lin Hao smiled. “What a coincidence—I came to see what progress has been made.”

Qi Shuo also smiled. “Then it’s perfect. Let’s go in together.”

The corner of Investigating Magistrate Liu’s mouth twitched violently.

Who were they fooling? This married couple was too much!

While complaining inwardly, Investigating Magistrate Liu indignantly quickened his pace and squeezed between the two.

Qi Shuo: “…”

Lin Hao took the opportunity to probe about the case. “Magistrate Liu, are there any leads on the headless female corpse’s identity?”

“This is all thanks to Your Highness’s reminder—we found the victim’s family…” Because the case had made progress, Investigating Magistrate Liu spoke enthusiastically.

Qi Shuo: “…”

Tianyuan Temple was closed to worshippers today. Walking through the quiet, solemn temple, Lin Hao soon saw the abbot coming out to greet them.

The abbot appeared to have reached his sixtieth year, even his eyebrows white, his expression unable to conceal his weariness.

After exchanging pleasantries, Investigating Magistrate Liu produced the portrait of Yan’er. “Please ask the abbot to summon the temple’s monks and menial workers to see if they saw the victim the day before yesterday.”

“Please wait a moment, everyone.” The abbot quickly gave instructions.

A bell rang, startling countless birds into flight. Tianyuan Temple was indeed a monastery frequently visited by wealthy families. Though the monks were numerous, when summoned they were busy but orderly. Soon the hall was filled with standing monks.

They came forward one by one to view the portrait.

“Master, do you have any impression of the young woman in the portrait?”

The monk shook his head.

The next monk walked over and likewise shook his head.

The queue of monks gradually diminished. Investigating Magistrate Liu’s fingers tapped the chair’s armrest, his mood growing increasingly anxious.

Could they be so unlucky that not a single monk had any impression of Yan’er?

“Oh, this humble monk saw this female benefactor the day before yesterday.”

With a tender voice, everyone’s gaze fell upon the young novice.

The young novice’s face flushed red with nervousness.

“Young master, don’t be afraid. Just explain clearly what you know.” Lin Hao softened her voice to comfort the young novice.

The young novice looked at Lin Hao, then looked to the abbot.

The abbot nodded encouragingly at the young novice.

The young novice pressed his lips together and examined the portrait again. “It was the day before yesterday in the morning. She and another female benefactor were arguing by the release pond. This humble monk was passing by and looked at them a bit longer.”

Investigating Magistrate Liu perked up. “What did the other female benefactor look like?”

If they knew her appearance, it would be easy—the Heir of Prince Jing could draw it in just a few strokes!

The young novice shook his head. “At the time, this female benefactor was facing the road side, while the other female benefactor faced the release pond. This humble monk didn’t see her appearance.”

Investigating Magistrate Liu sighed in disappointment. “Then what about height, build?”

If the physique was rather distinctive, that would also be somewhat helpful.

The young novice scratched his smooth head, somewhat embarrassed. “This humble monk walked past quite quickly and didn’t pay much attention. She seemed neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin…”

“Did young master hear what they were arguing about?” Qi Shuo spoke up to ask.

The young novice tilted his head, trying hard to recall. “I only heard the female benefactor in the painting say ‘I’m just naturally beautiful.’ Perhaps because she saw this humble monk passing by, she said no more.”

Investigating Magistrate Liu stroked his beard. “In that case, the clue may still lie with Yan’er’s playmates. Your Highness might as well return with this humble magistrate to wait for news from that investigation. Leave some people here to continue questioning.”

Qi Shuo nodded. “Very well.”

Unless by fortunate coincidence, investigating cases was always tedious, dull, and lengthy work. What was most needed was patience.

Investigating Magistrate Liu left behind several of the subordinates he’d brought and departed Tianyuan Temple with Qi Shuo and Lin Hao.

“Ah Hao, do you want to—”

Lin Hao caught sight of Investigating Magistrate Liu’s widened eyes and smilingly interrupted Qi Shuo. “I’ll return to the residence first.”

“Then you go back and rest first. When we find the person who went to Tianyuan Temple together with Yan’er, I’ll inform you promptly.” From the corner of his eye glimpsing Investigating Magistrate Liu’s speechless expression, Qi Shuo maintained complete composure. “Mother-in-law has been preoccupied since encountering the corpse. Finding the murderer early will also put her mind at ease.”

Investigating Magistrate Liu suddenly understood.

So he’d misunderstood. The Heir of Prince Jing and the heir’s wife weren’t being overly affectionate—rather, this came from their filial devotion to their elder.

Lin Hao looked deeply at Qi Shuo.

Ah Shuo was truly eloquent.

After parting, Lin Hao boarded the carriage with Baozhu and headed toward Prince Jing’s residence. Oh no, actually she was returning to her natal home.

There was no help for it—her mother was still waiting for news.

Lin Hao stepped down from the carriage and walked toward the General’s residence when suddenly someone rushed out and blocked her path.