Chapter 378: Competing to Reveal Information
Hearing this, Chu Ci finally became interested: "You have seen that person, do you still remember his appearance?"
The person who spoke immediately felt like he had won the lottery, trembling with excitement, and hurriedly replied, "I am Niu Dan'er, I remember what that noble young man looked like."
"He has thick, black eyebrows, which are very handsome. His eyes are as bright as stars. His nose is high and straight. His lips are thin, and when they are tilted up, they look cold. There is also a subtle black mole at the corner of his left eye, which makes him look a little special."
After listening to Niu Daner's story, Chu Ci immediately ordered someone to bring a drawing board, and quickly drew a lifelike portrait based on Niu Daner's vivid narration.
"Is this the person?" Chu Ci brought the drawing board to Niu Dan, staring at him and asked.
Niu Daner was a little nervous because of Chu Ci's anxious questioning. He scratched his head unconsciously and his eyes fell on the drawing board again.
He pointed at the face in the portrait and said haltingly, "I can't really explain it..."
"I just feel like the whole face outline is not right. The eyes seem a little small and lack that spirit. The nose is not straight enough, and the shape of the mouth is a little weird."
After saying this, he looked at Chu Ci cautiously, as if he was worried that his comments would make Chu Ci dissatisfied.
Chu Ci listened to Niu Dan'er's words, but he was not displeased at all. Instead, his expression became more serious. He tapped the edge of the drawing board lightly with the paintbrush in his hand and fell into deep thought.
Niu Dan'er didn't understand what was going on and was about to say something, but Su Wu stopped him with a gesture.
Su Wu's eyes were stern, his brows furrowed slightly, and he lowered his voice to Niu Dan'er and said, "Be quiet. The princess is thinking about how to modify the portrait. Disturbing her now might affect her train of thought. Please wait quietly."
Niu Dan'er was frightened by Su Wu's serious expression and low shout. He quickly covered his mouth and dared not make any sound. His eyes were still rolling around on Chu Ci and Su Wu.
Chu Ci thought for a moment, and then carefully considered every detail based on Niu Dan'er's narration, with the brush in his hand sometimes lightly sketching and sometimes repainting.
Soon, a portrait similar to the previous one but different was produced.
The facial contours of the character in the portrait are clear and smooth, the eyes are deep and bright, the nose is straight and natural, and the mouth is just the right shape. The whole character is vivid and lifelike, as if it is about to jump out of the paper.
Only then did Chu Ci slowly turn his head and, with a gentle look, called Niu Dan'er over again. "Take another look?"
When Niu Daner saw the portrait in the painting that looked like a living person, his eyes suddenly lit up, his face flushed with excitement, and he shouted loudly, "It's him, it's him. Exactly the same."
After saying this, he couldn't help but reach out to touch the portrait, as if the person in the painting was really standing in front of him.
Upon hearing this, Chu Ci's expression immediately grew extremely serious. He carefully handed the portrait to Su Wu beside him and said solemnly, "Go and investigate! Make sure you find out this person's whereabouts and related information."
"By the way, give a copy of the portrait to my husband so that he can also know about this."
Su Wu took the portrait with both hands, his expression solemn, and replied respectfully, "Don't worry, my lord. I will definitely fulfill my mission."
After saying that, he turned around and whispered a few words to his deputy beside him, then strode away, his figure getting farther and farther away until it disappeared around the corner in the distance.
The clues provided by Niu Daner were exhausted, and Chu Ci once again turned his attention to the people from Banshanpo Village who were being held captive.
With the precedent of Niu Dan'er, before Chu Ci even opened his mouth, the villagers seemed to have opened their dusty conversation boxes, and they started talking one after another, vying to speak, and all those who could speak and those who couldn't speak wanted to express themselves.
However, that's it!
There were too many people speaking at the same time, and the noisy voices intertwined together like a pot of stewed porridge. Chu Ci couldn't hear anything at all.
"Stop, come one by one!" She frowned and shouted in a louder voice, with irresistible majesty in her voice.
The people halfway up the mountain were slightly stunned. After a brief silence, the instinct for survival drove them forward again.
"I, I'll go first." A thin man shouted first, his voice trembling, his eyes full of eagerness and desire.
Chu Ci glanced at the man fiercely, snorted coldly and said, "Don't worry, stand still first and explain everything clearly one by one. If you hide anything or talk nonsense, don't blame me for being ruthless."
The man was intimidated by Chu Ci's aura and couldn't help but shudder. The anxiety on his face was instantly replaced by panic. He nodded quickly, his voice trembling even more: "Yes, yes, I understand. I dare not hide it."
As he spoke, he tried to straighten his legs, trying to appear calmer, but he couldn't stop his legs from shaking slightly.
But he didn't dare to delay, so he took a deep breath and suppressed the fear in his heart.
It begins by describing how Zhou Lizheng exploited the people's wealth by making up excuses, how he abused his power to bully and exploit the common people, and how he colluded with evil forces to suppress good people. He describes each case in detail and vividly.
Chu Ci was furious when he heard this. His eyebrows were raised and he gritted his teeth and said, "That makes sense."
She was furious, her chest heaving violently, and she ordered the people around her, "Go to the government office again and ask them to send someone to deal with this matter immediately. If anyone dares to delay, they will not be forgiven."
The guards behind him prepared to turn around and leave after hearing this.
But Jiang Li raised his hand to stop him, "Wait."
Jiang Li's voice was calm and firm.
Then he turned to Chu Ci and said slowly, "Princess, please calm down first."
"To be frank, this is only the second one. If there are more important situations later, it would be more comprehensive to wait until they have finished speaking and deal with them together."
When Chu Ci was reminded by Jiang Li, it was as if a bucket of cold water was poured on him. His confused thoughts gradually became clear and he calmed down.
So Chu Ci waved his hand and said, "What Jiang Li said makes sense, so I'll listen to him."
Then she said to the guard beside her, "Have him sign and seal what he said as proof. Then, next."
After interrogating them one by one, two hours passed.
It was winter, the sun was setting, and the temperature suddenly dropped.
Chu Ci couldn't help but shrink his neck, frowning slightly. He looked at the gradually darkening sky, then turned his head to look at the workshop not far away. After a moment's thought, he ordered: "Keep them here for now, and assign someone to keep a strict watch on them. Don't let anything go wrong."
When the people in Banshanpo Village heard that they were still going to be detained, they immediately knelt on the ground in panic.
"Princess, we already know we are wrong. Please let us go?" They pleaded in unison, their voices filled with fear and despair. Some people even began to kowtow, their foreheads hitting the ground with a "bang bang" sound.
"Shut up! The princess is protecting you, don't be ungrateful." Jiang Li saw Chu Ci frowning and understood what he meant. He immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com