Chapter 230 In the Dark
Cheng Maoming looked natural, not realizing there was anything wrong with his words.
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites couldn't help but glance at Qi Shuo and found that Prince Jing's expression was more natural.
He touched his beard in confusion, suspecting that he might be the one with the problem.
Lin Hao also glanced at Cheng Maoming subtly.
The tone of "our prince" is so strange. What did Ah Shuo do to General Cheng?
"Do you want to draw the missing maid?" Envoy Yu Liu agreed without hesitation. "Okay. But I haven't paid much attention to that maid. Ask someone who spent time with her to draw her."
Everyone went to the courtyard. After the tables, chairs, and writing brushes were set, three maids dressed in jade-like attire came over.
Envoy Yu Liu pointed at them and said, "They all served the princess together with the missing maid, and they have a very good relationship with each other day and night."
The three maids bent their knees and looked at Qi Shuo with eyes that hid the curiosity and excitement of girls of this age seeing a young and handsome man.
Qi Shuo glanced at them and said calmly, "Let's get started."
Next, one person asks a question and three people answer it.
What is the missing maid's age, height, face shape and figure? As the questions became more and more detailed, a young girl emerged from the paper.
"Take a look, is this the case?" Qi Shuo put down his pen and spoke in a gentle and polite tone.
"It's Bailing!" The maid who spoke first blushed.
Qi Shuo glanced at her, then turned his gaze indifferently to the other two maids.
The two maids nodded repeatedly: "It's so similar, Bai Ling looks like this."
Envoy Yu Liu took one look at the portrait and was surprised: "Your Highness's painting skills are truly remarkable. I've never seen such a figure painted before."
Although there are many talented people who are good at painting figures in Yu Liu, what is more important is the spirit and artistic conception. If you really want to find someone by looking at the portrait, that would be a joke.
"That's right. Our prince's painting style is unique." Cheng Maoming said proudly.
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites couldn't help but look over again.
What's with General Cheng's proud tone?
At this time, a Jinlin Guard came over and whispered in Cheng Maoming's ear: "Grand Commander, we searched the guesthouse again, but still found nothing."
Cheng Maoming nodded to indicate that he understood. He carefully picked up the portrait and blew on it. He then instructed his subordinates, "Have the painters draw more portraits based on this one and distribute them to search for the person."
The subordinate took the order and left.
"Is there anyone else you need to ask?" Envoy Yu Liu showed his intention to see the guest off.
Cheng Maoming pretended not to notice: "In order to find your country's maid as soon as possible, of course I have to ask more people."
Envoy Yu Liu looked impatient: "Didn't we ask everyone yesterday? No one saw Bai Ling go out."
"We have to ask again, just in case there are any omissions." Cheng Maoming said seriously, "The longer we delay, the more dangerous it will be. Isn't that what the envoy said?"
"Then Lord Cheng, please do as you please." Envoy Yu Liu said lightly.
Soon the doorman was called over.
The guesthouse was a temporary place for foreign guests, so the gatekeepers were naturally from the Great Zhou. They answered every question and were very cooperative, but there was nothing useful to be found.
These questions were actually asked yesterday. Cheng Maoming felt anxious after hearing them and couldn't help but glance at Qi Shuo out of the corner of his eye.
Prince Jing, won't you say anything? This will make it very difficult for him.
Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded: "Why don't you ask who went out during the time when Maid Yu Liu disappeared? Maybe those who went out can provide some clues."
As soon as these words were spoken, many eyes turned to the handsome young man who had been silently staying beside Prince Jing.
Valley
Cheng Maoming was surprised to find that it was Lin Hao who spoke.
This was a new way to investigate a dead end! If it was Prince Jing who proposed it, he would think it was perfectly normal, after all, Prince Jing was his lucky star—
Wait, Lucky Star?
Cheng Maoming slowly looked at Qi Shuo and was shocked.
Prince Jing brought Miss Lin Er with him, so it was destined that Miss Lin Er would help him, right? So, it was all because of Prince Jing.
At this moment, Cheng Maoming suddenly became confident in finding out the truth about the disappearance of maid Yu Liu.
Lin Hao: "..." Regardless of whether what she said made sense or not, what was General Cheng looking at Ah Shuo for?
"This is--"
As soon as Yu Liu's envoy spoke, Cheng Maoming suddenly coughed: "Ahem, that makes sense."
He turned to the doorman and drew the attention of the others: "Do you still remember the people who came in and out yesterday?"
The disciple looked embarrassed and said, "There are many people coming in and out every day. I can't remember them all."
"That's all right. Just tell me as much as you remember."
"It seems that no distinguished guest Yu Liu went out during that period of time. Those who went out were all from our guesthouse..." The servant tried hard to recall.
Soon, everyone mentioned by the doorman was called in: the clerk and his assistant who had gone out to buy groceries, the woman who had brought in the laundry, a few servants who had finished their work and were leaving, and the little maid who came out to buy groceries when the peddler passed by...
The guesthouse was a unique place, neither a government office, nor an inn, nor a private residence. Most people left after a day's work, and only a few stayed overnight. Fortunately, it was not yet noon when Yu Liu was discovered missing, so not many people had left.
"Tell me, when did you leave? Did you see anyone acting suspiciously?" Cheng Maoming said with a straight face.
The clerk was the first to answer, "I took them out shopping at daybreak. With distinguished guests here, we can't skimp on the food. We've got to pick the freshest chickens, ducks, and vegetables... When will they be back? Probably around noon, that's usually when they return."
"I live nearby. I came here today to return some washed clothes. I only stayed at the inn for a quarter of an hour before returning home."
"I didn't go out. I just bought some embroidery threads outside the door." The little maid said this with fear and grievance.
"Common people..."
Cheng Maoming listened with a frown on his face, "Didn't you notice anything wrong?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Cheng Maoming's face was gloomy. He asked the disciples, "Is there anyone else?"
The disciple shook his head: "I really can't remember."
Cheng Maoming glanced at those people and asked, "Does what they said differ from your impression?"
After hearing this, the disciple glanced at those people one by one and said hesitantly: "There is nothing wrong——"
When his eyes passed by a man next to the clerk, he paused: "It seems that Hu Da has gone out again."
The man named Hu Da was the assistant of the clerk. Together with another assistant, he was responsible for transporting the purchased items.
Hu Da got anxious when he heard this: "Old Zhang, you can't talk nonsense. I haven't left since I came back with Liu Tou. I've been helping in the kitchen. Sister Wang can testify to this."
Cheng Maoming finally heard something inconsistent, so he naturally couldn't let it go. He immediately called the cook to ask.
The cook nodded shyly, "Because I bought a lot of fresh water chestnuts and needed to shell them, I was too busy to handle it, so I asked Hu Da to help with the cleaning."
"Look, sir, I didn't lie."
Cheng Maoming glanced at the doorman.
The doorman looked embarrassed and said, "Maybe I remembered it wrong. There are so many people coming in and out every day..."
Qi Shuo watched silently, his heart moving.
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