Yan Tongshu stepped forward from the ranks of officials, took another stride, and declared in a clear, resonant voice, "Your servant believes this kind of recommended election, with disciples and old subordinates recommending each other, is rife with personal connections and old habits. It is a corrupt practice plagued with ills! The court must reform and innovate, create a system of selection that is fair, just, and open—that is the right path!"
Qin Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? What exactly is a fair, just, and open method?"
Yan Tongshu looked around the court, smiled faintly, and revealed a thoroughly malicious grin. "Imitate the imperial examinations: for every entry, there must be a test."
As those words landed, the entire court fell into dead silence.
Everyone turned their heads in unison to stare at Yan Tongshu, their eyes wide enough to pop out of their sockets.
Yan Tongshu then added, "And this is not just for the selection of Scribes and Recorders. From now on, the selection of all officials will adopt this 'test-for-entry' model. This entry can mean advancement or promotion."
"The court selects useful talents. The imperial examination is the first threshold for becoming an official, so the promotion exam is the second threshold. Every time there’s a vacant position or a promotion, the Ministry of Personnel and relevant departments will recommend candidates. There must be no fewer than three candidates, and these three will take a unified, open, fair, and just exam.
The exam is divided into two parts: objective and subjective questions, with a total score of one hundred. Objective questions have fixed answers, worth fifty points, and consist of fill-in-the-blank questions. For example, the Scribe and Recorder is mainly responsible for civil lawsuits concerning marriages, households, and land. So one objective question might ask: how many acres of fertile land are there in the capital, and how many acres of newly reclaimed land? Answer correctly to earn points; answer incorrectly and get none.
The subjective question might be: if a man has two sons, and after the elder son dies, only his wife remains in the household. The man and his second son conspire to seize the elder son’s land and property. The man claims he bought the land and property for the elder son and presents partial evidence of payment. He declares that if the court doesn’t rule in his favor, he’ll hang himself at the government office. The elder son’s wife stands by the river, saying that if the court rules in favor of the father-in-law, she’ll jump into the river and commit suicide. Question: how should this be handled to minimize the conflict and its impact as much as possible?"
The assembled ministers: "..."
Are you insane? What kind of nonsense idea is this?
They all looked toward Qin Yi. Your Majesty, this proposal absolutely cannot be approved.
Qin Yi’s broad hand rested on the dragon head of his throne, and he let out a faint, ambiguous chuckle. "This is somewhat interesting."
The six ministers of the boards came forward in unison to express opposition. "Your Majesty, how can a person’s ability be judged by a single exam? The duties of each office are numerous and complex—how could they be summed up by one or two tests? Your Majesty, this must absolutely not be done!"
Yan Tongshu clasped his hands behind his back and lifted his chin. "If a single exam isn’t enough to judge a person’s ability, then what’s the point of the imperial examinations? Are you honorable officials denying the role of the imperial exams in selecting talent?"
Yan Tongshu let out a cold laugh. "Your Majesty, yesterday your servant reviewed a murder case. The victims were a man and a woman. The case itself was unremarkable, but both the man and the woman were quite talented, and they had met through poetry and painting. In particular, the painting they bonded over, ‘Listening to Rain Beneath the Pines in the Mountains,’ was only average in quality, but it had a unique style that stirred my interest in painting. So I went home and tried to paint again. Suddenly, I realized it’s been eight years since I passed the imperial exams and earned my place.
"Eight years. During that time, I’ve been busy compiling books in the Xianlin Pavilion. When I picked up my brush to paint, my control had degraded to a deplorable state. I refused to accept it and tried to write a poem. I thought and thought, paced and pondered, sat for an hour, and produced a poem that only barely met the rhyme schemes. As they say, ‘sailing against the current—if you don’t advance, you fall back.’ Being swamped with official duties, I’ve regressed this much.
"Your Majesty, I have reasonable grounds to suspect that your entire court of ministers, just as you ministers say, are so busy with cumbersome tasks that they neglect learning and fail to keep pace with the times, risking falling behind the needs of the people. So I again recommend that every autumn, when the weather is cool and pleasant, we organize a comprehensive exam for everyone to assess their current level. This way, we prevent anyone from forgetting the path they once walked, regressing too far, and forgetting how to serve the court loyally and work for the people’s welfare."
Having said this, Yan Tongshu huffily swept his gaze over the ministers, whose faces had turned pale with rage.
They wouldn’t let him have it easy, would they?
Fine. Let’s all go down together! No one escapes!
The ministers stared at Yan Tongshu, dumbfounded. Are you insane?
You can’t be this upright!
Don’t you care about anyone else’s fate, or even your own?
An exam every year—do you really think you’ll be exempt?
Facing the ministers’ murderous stares, Yan Tongshu extended the middle finger of his right hand and adjusted a pair of glasses that weren’t even there on his nose. Relying on differences in customs and culture, he stubbornly insisted on turning a full 360 degrees while holding that gesture, finally ending up facing Qin Yi directly, making sure to aim it right at that damned emperor, before lowering his hand.
Qin Yi frowned slightly, ignoring the fierce objections of the ministers below the steps. He lowered his eyelids, his gaze falling on his own right middle finger.
That middle finger thing?
What does it mean?
Finally, after the ministers had talked themselves hoarse, Qin Yi spoke slowly, his voice as steady and profound as an ancient temple bell: "All my beloved ministers have a point. But Minister Yan alone also has a point."
Yan Tongshu let out a contemptuous snort at the Minister of Public Works, who had been glaring at him, and looked away.
That Minister of Public Works—fifty-seven years old, thin and gaunt, a sack of bones—shook with fury: "You—you—you—"
Yan Tongshu rolled his eyes. 'You' all you want. A nuclear bomb doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe.
Go ahead, drive me back to the Xianlin Pavilion if you can!
At that moment, Qin Yi let out a long, weary sigh. "Well, everyone has valid points—they’re neck and neck..."
The assembled ministers: "..." How are they neck and neck?
Yan Tongshu alone taking on over a hundred of them?
The corner of Qin Yi’s mouth curled into a meaningful smile. "Since that’s the case, I will broadly accept advice and decree: from this selection of Scribes and Recorders, we will start the test-for-entry system. As for the annual exam..."
Qin Yi swept his gaze over the hundred officials. Quite a few elderly ministers in their fifties shuddered all over.
"Forget it—it’s best not to rush things." He gave a light smile. "The test-for-entry and annual exam will first be piloted among officials of the fourth rank and below. If the results are poor, we’ll abandon it. If they’re good, we’ll extend it to higher ranks."
The ministers’ worlds shattered: "Your Majesty, absolutely not!"
They all knelt, but Yan Tongshu remained standing alone.
Qin Yi smiled and uttered two words: "Court dismissed."
Hearing the morning session was over, Yan Tongshu bolted out. Qin Yi had barely taken his leave when Yan Tongshu had already stepped outside the Zichen Hall. Wang Guang’s group of ministers, who were itching to chase him down and beat him up, had no chance—especially the older ones, who were so enraged their eyes rolled back in their heads, nearly fainting from the shock.
Yan Tongshu cheerfully hopped onto his carriage, even humming a tune. Pearl and Jinbao were stunned.
For the first time ever.
Ever since the young master was promoted, the morning court—usually drained of all energy—had left him glowing red-faced instead.
Pearl couldn’t wait to ask what had happened. Yan Tongshu, beaming, recounted every detail of the test-for-entry and annual exam to Pearl and Jinbao.
Their eyes went wide. "This, this... the emperor actually agreed?"
"Ha!"
Yan Tongshu rolled her eyes dramatically. "He couldn't be happier to have an excuse to purge his rivals. Of course he agreed."
After court, that bastard emperor was probably grinning from ear to ear.
Yan Tongshu let the carriage curtain fall. "Alright, Jinbao, let's get breakfast, then head to Kaifeng Prefecture."
As usual, Yan Tongshu, Jinbao, and Pearl went to Aunt Yang's noodle stall.
Aunt Yang had already figured out their schedule. The moment they sat down, three bowls of "the usual" noodles landed on the table.
Being able to eat her favorite noodles the second she sat down almost moved Yan Tongshu to tears.
With service like this, no wonder Aunt Yang’s stall was thriving.
Yan Tongshu picked up her chopsticks and glanced at Lady Qing's stall. "Aunt Yang, Lady Qing didn't come to sell her pancakes today?"
Aunt Yang chuckled cheerfully. "Oh, she's hit the jackpot. Some noble tasted her pancakes and loved them so much they're throwing a banquet and paid her a fortune to cook at their estate. Since she's making them for a noble’s event, she’s using fancier ingredients than usual. She’s probably already at the estate preparing. I reckon after this gig, she’ll be able to rent a proper place."
Lady Qing was all alone, with no one to rely on, and had to support her mother-in-law and two children. Yan Tongshu truly wished her well. "That's wonderful. It’s heaven’s blessing."
Aunt Yang tended the noodles while she spoke. "Exactly. Good fortune should favor good people."
Soon, a steaming bowl of noodles warmed Yan Tongshu from the inside out, lifting her spirits.
She ordered another bowl of soup and was sipping it leisurely when a man at the table in front suddenly turned around and smiled at her.
He wore the uniform of the Divine Guard Army's infantry.
His armor had been removed, neatly stacked on the bench beside him.
Across the armor rested a standard-issued forbidden army longsword, its scabbard engraved with the character "Guard" in bold, sharp strokes that radiated a chilling aura.
The man stood up, tall and well-built, with a solid chest, firm arms, and powerful thighs and calves that bulged like drawn bowstrings—the unmistakable physique of a soldier hardened by years of training.
His belt was also standard forbidden army issue.
The forbidden army had many divisions: the Divine Strategy Army guarded the outer palace, the Divine Might Army protected the inner court, and the Divine Martial Army defended the capital’s outskirts.
The one tasked with maintaining order in Bianjing alongside the Kaifeng Prefecture was the Divine Guard Army.
"Lord Yan, what a coincidence."
The man sat down across from Yan Tongshu, his lips curving naturally into a bright, handsome smile. "I am Meng Zheng, Commander of the Divine Guard Army's Infantry Division."
A fifth-rank military officer.
Yan Tongshu’s heart tightened as she eyed him warily. In her anger while making her proposal, she had forgotten one thing: she hadn’t specified that military officers should be excluded.
That meant the annual exams applied to them too.
Damn it.
She had really stepped in it this time.
Her guilt making her paranoid, Yan Tongshu saw his smile as dripping with "malice." She yanked Pearl and Jinbao in front of her as shields and whispered urgently, "If he suddenly attacks, grab one leg each and hold him back. He has no grudge against you two, so he won't go for the kill."
Pearl and Jinbao exchanged glances. "…Young master, what did you do now?"
Meng Zheng was baffled by Yan Tongshu’s strange behavior. He pulled an invitation from his pocket and handed it to her. "Lord Yan, my father, Meng Yi, Commander of the Divine Guard Army, is hosting a banquet tomorrow evening to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday. He prepared this invitation especially for you."
Yan Tongshu pressed her lips together, staring at the red-and-gold invitation.
No thanks.
Socializing after work was basically overtime.
And she’d have to buy a gift and give a red envelope too.
Meng Zheng frowned in confusion again, thinking Yan Tongshu might be offended by the casual delivery. "I planned to formally send the invitation to your residence after breakfast. But since we met here, I took the liberty of inviting you directly. Please forgive my presumption."
Still didn’t want to go.
Yan Tongshu clutched Pearl and Jinbao’s sleeves tightly, refusing to take the invitation.
She sneaked a glance at Meng Zheng—that build, those pectorals, that waist, those thighs and calves—one kick from him would probably kill her.
And his expression still looked full of malice.
The bad blood between them was obvious.
Maybe he didn’t know about the annual exams yet…
Either way, she chickened out.
She didn’t want to take the invitation, but she also didn’t dare refuse.
Meng Zheng raised an eyebrow. The legendary Lord Yan was truly hard to read.
He set the invitation down on the table, tossed a few copper coins onto his own table, and picked up his armor and sword. As he stood, he glanced at Yan Tongshu, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. He pulled out a small silver piece and placed it on his table. "Boss, put Lord Yan’s bill on mine."
With that, he twirled his sword deftly in his hand, hooked it onto his belt, and strode away.
Pearl and Jinbao sighed with relief.
Pearl turned to Yan Tongshu. "Young master, why were you so tense? Lord Meng seemed pretty friendly to me. He was smiling the whole time, and he even paid for our meal."
Yan Tongshu grunted. "Trust me, anyone who makes you work overtime harbors nothing but malice."
Jinbao scratched his head. "But young master, I thought Lord Meng seemed really nice. No malice at all."
Yan Tongshu stubbornly insisted, "Yes, there is."
Pearl and Jinbao exchanged another look. "…Young master, are you… just too tired lately?" Is that why you see "malice" in everyone?
After finishing their noodles, Yan Tongshu took Pearl and Jinbao to check in at Kaifeng Prefecture, then headed back to the crime scene in West City's Bixia Alley. From there, they started walking toward Wen Zhengshen's house.
It took about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense to reach Wen Zhengshen’s place—so it was quite close to West City’s Bixia Alley. That made sense: Wen Zhengshen was a close friend of Ma Tianci, and the house in Bixia Alley had been rented under Wen Zhengshen’s name, so he would naturally choose a nearby location.
Wen Zhengshen mainly made a living by copying books, writing letters for others, and selling his own calligraphy and paintings.
But he wasn’t famous, so his paintings rarely sold—often not even covering the cost of paper and ink.
In his poverty, he frequently visited the pawnshop.
That morning, the officers reported that they had checked at the pawnshop. Wen Zhengshen had pawned a gold hairpin—a woman’s hibiscus-style one, very light, for ten taels of silver.
Besides that, Wen Zhengshen seemed to have sticky fingers, having pawned many odd items that looked stolen from various young masters.
Yan Tongshu recalled the books, paintings, and study notes piled on Wen Zhengshen’s desk.
Of course. The money he made from copying books and writing letters couldn’t possibly cover such extravagant spending.
Leaving Wen Zhengshen’s house, Yan Tongshu took Pearl and Jinbao to the Qiao and Ma families’ silk shop.
This time, they walked for nearly an hour.
By modern reckoning, about an hour and a half.
Clearly, Qiao Qingqing and Ma Tianci had eloped to a very remote place to avoid being tracked by their families.
The Qiao Family Tailor Shop and the Ma Family Tailor Shop were situated across from each other on the same street, so close that you could see one from the other.
When the Qiao and Ma families stated their alibis, neither party refuted the other—in fact, they could have corroborated each other.
Yan Tongshu sat for a while in the teahouse next door. The two businesses were evenly matched; within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, each had about five or six customers entering the shop, but whether a sale was made depended on luck.
After finishing his tea, Yan Tongshu took Jinbao and Pearl to the Qian Family Silk and Satin Shop.
Mr. Qiao had said that on the day Qiao Qingqing died, he had dined with Manager Liu of the Qian Family Silk and Satin Shop, drinking from noon until around the hour of Wei Shi San Ke (roughly 3:45 PM). After seeing off Manager Liu, he was too drunk to think clearly and had his coachman take him home to rest.
As for when Ma Tianci died, Mr. Qiao claimed he had been tending to business at the tailor shop with Madam Qiao, and both the shop assistants and the customers could testify to that.
A father who bought poison for his own daughter—and that poison ended up in Ma Tianci’s stomach.
In truth, aside from Wen Zhengshen, Yan Tongshu suspected Mr. Qiao the most.
But whether it was Wen Zhengshen or Mr. Qiao, how to explain Qiao Qingqing’s personally written suicide letter?
The handwriting matched—it was indeed Qiao Qingqing’s own hand.
Had Mr. Qiao used his authority as a father to force Qiao Qingqing to write the letter, then strangled her to death?
From Bi Tai Alley in the west part of town to the Qiao Family Silk Shop took nearly an hour, and from the Qiao shop to the Qiao residence was about half a mile.
That meant if Mr. Qiao had committed the murder, the round trip would have taken two hours.
If he was gone that long, an alibi would have been impossible.
Of course, riding a horse would have been faster, but he could never have ridden one.
Riding a horse through the streets would have caught everyone’s eye.
Even taking a carriage for the round trip would have taken an hour.
But Mr. Qiao had an alibi—how was that possible?
Ahhh.
Yan Tongshu screamed internally.
Her mind was about to explode.
At the Qian Family Silk and Satin Shop, Yan Tongshu was nearly blinded the moment she stepped inside.
Chen Meirong and Qian Buping were sitting together checking the accounts, arms linked, whispering sweet nothings to each other, deeply in love.
And their outfits could only be described in eight words: “Dazzling gold and silver” and “Infinite wealth and splendor.”
Every time Yan Tongshu met them, she was shocked anew.
When Chen Meirong saw Yan Tongshu, she rushed over happily and threw herself at her: “Tongshu, why are you here? Did you come to buy fabric?”
Yan Tongshu nodded: “Aunt, I’m going to Mrs. Meng’s birthday banquet tomorrow. I’d like to buy two bolts of fabric suitable for her as a gift. Nothing too expensive.”
After all, it was just the mother of some colleague she barely knew—even had a grudge against—so average quality would be good enough.
Chen Meirong tilted her head and thought for a moment: “Mrs. Meng? I know her. The last time I went to deliver fabric, I met her. She prefers understated purple. Let me go to the back and pick out a few suitable patterns for you, and you can choose.”
Yan Tongshu: “Mm, thank you, Aunt.”
As Chen Meirong headed to the warehouse, Yan Tongshu stepped in front of Manager Liu: “Manager Liu.”
Manager Liu didn’t recognize Yan Tongshu, and she wasn’t wearing her official robes, but seeing how warmly Chen Meirong treated her, he was very polite and said with a smile, “How can I help you, young miss?”
Yan Tongshu asked, “Eight days ago, did you have a meal with the owner of the Qiao Family Tailor Shop?”
Manager Liu nodded: “Yes, to discuss some new fabric business.”
Yan Tongshu: “How long did the meal last?”
Manager Liu suddenly understood: “Ah, you’re here to investigate the case, aren’t you? Yester-day, the constables also came to ask. We ate from noon until about Wei Shi San Ke, and after that, I didn’t see Mr. Qiao again.”
Yan Tongshu: “Did Mr. Qiao leave the table at any point?”
Manager Liu: “Yes. When the wine ran out and the waiter was slow to bring more, he went out to hurry him along. He was gone for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn. When he came back, his clothes were dirty. He said he’d taken a detour to relieve himself and had slipped and fallen.”
From the restaurant to the crime scene took more than half an hour—an hour round trip.
The time of an incense stick was far too short.
Yan Tongshu smiled politely: “Thank you.”
Manager Liu: “You’re welcome.”
Just then, Chen Meirong emerged, organizing the workers as they carried out the fabric bolts.
Chen Meirong tugged at Yan Tongshu to pick out the material: “Tongshu, tell me honestly, is there some exciting news?”
Yan Tongshu motioned: “Shh, it’s a secret.”
Chen Meirong grunted and let go of Yan Tongshu’s arm: “Keeping secrets from me, are you? Don’t think I don’t know—it’s about Qiao Qingqing and Ma Tianci, isn’t it? Both families buy their fabric from our shop; of course I know everything that’s going on.”
Yan Tongshu asked suspiciously: “Do you really know?”
Chen Meirong: “Of course.”
Looking around and lowering her voice, Chen Meirong whispered into Yan Tongshu’s ear: “The Qiao and Ma families think no one else knows, but the whole street has been gossiping. People are saying Qiao Qingqing and Ma Tianci were a poor pair of lovers, driven apart, and then took their own lives together.”
Yan Tongshu: “...”
Chen Meirong pouted: “Pfft, lovers’ suicide, my foot. It’s pretty clear those families hounded them to death. Let me tell you, Qiao Qingqing had one older brother and one younger brother. The girl was beautiful from childhood, a real flower. The Qiaos saw her potential, spent heavily on her upbringing, paid people to hype up her paintings—sold them for twenty silver taels a piece—just so they could marry her into an official’s family and boost her brothers’ future. When Qiao Qingqing got involved with Ma Tianci, all that money went to waste. Do you think they’d take that lying down?”
Chen Meirong harrumphed twice and then added: “And the Ma family, when they saw the Qiaos create a female talent, they thought they’d do the same. But Ma Tianci didn’t have it in him—they never managed to drive up the price of his paintings. I heard from our shop assistant that once, when delivering fabric, he saw Boss Ma beat Ma Tianci with a cane until he was covered in blood and almost died.
After that, they kept him locked up studying in his room until he’d passed the local civil exam. Ma Tianci looked like a young master, but in reality, he was a pitiful soul. It wouldn’t surprise me if Boss Ma himself did away with him.”
But Boss Ma’s alibi was airtight—no questions at all.
Unless someone had given him false testimony.
Chen Meirong sighed again: “Ah, truly tragic. What a pair these families are. If the kids like each other, let them be! Now everyone’s dead, all that money is lost, and all those people are gone—both sides ended up with nothing. Why bother?”
Yan Tongshu echoed: “life is full of unexpected twists.”
The two exchanged a few more sighs. Yan Tongshu picked the fabric she wanted and asked that it be delivered to the Yan residence. As she was about to pay, Chen Meirong quickly stopped her: “Take fabric from my shop and give me money? You’d make me lose face!”
Chen Meirong feigned anger: “The best-selling fabrics in our shop are all designs you created. That new fabric the Qiao and Ma families fought over? It was your design. You’ve made us so much money, our silk shop. You never take anything in return, and now come for just two bolts of cloth and I still charge you? What kind of a person would I be?”
Yan Tongshu hurriedly clasped her hands together: “I know, you’re right, Aunt. My apologies.”
Hearing this, Chen Meirong smiled: “Good, you finally admit you’re wrong. I’ll add two more new bolts to these two. Take them home and make yourself a few new outfits. With your promotion, you need to dress well.”
Yan Tongshu didn’t thank her right away; she didn’t completely trust Chen Meirong’s taste.
She reminded her: “Aunt, remember—they should be understated.”
Chen Meirong planted her hands on her hips: “And what’s wrong with golden embroidery?”
Yan Tongshu looked at Qian Buping sitting beside him. Boss Qian was dressed head to toe like a golden legend.
Yan Tongshu advised again, "Stepmother, you and Boss Qian should keep a low profile. Be careful not to attract unwanted attention."
Chen Meirong pouted, "I only dress like this when I come to my own shop or meet family. When I go out to see guests or deliver fabrics, I don’t wear this."
Good.
After Yan Tongshu took his leave with Pearl and Jinbao, he went to the tavern where he had invited Manager Liu.
The tavern’s account matched Mr. Qiao’s.
Yan Tongshu asked about Mr. Qiao urging the delivery of wine and spilling it. The waiter laughed and said, "That was my fault. Business was busy that day, and I had held it in too long. I was in a hurry to go to the latrine and bumped into Mr. Qiao, nearly knocking him into the pit. Luckily, Mr. Qiao didn’t hold it against me."
This cleared Mr. Qiao’s alibi without a doubt.
Yan Tongshu left the tavern dejectedly.
Pearl comforted him, "Young master, what if we’ve been overthinking this? Maybe the truth is exactly what the Qiao and Ma families guessed."
Yan Tongshu sighed, "Things feel a bit chaotic now. Let’s go back and review the case files from the beginning."
Pearl replied, "Understood."
Back at the government office, Yan Tongshu opened the case files.
After Qiao Qingqing and Ma Tianci eloped, they went to Westbi Alley outside the city and rented a house through Wen Zhengshen to hide.
In the following days, Qiao Qingqing fell ill and stayed inside the house, never going out.
Ma Tianci was responsible for calling the doctor and getting her medicine.
To avoid their families, Ma Tianci kept a low profile and rarely spoke to anyone even when he went out.
On the day Qiao Qingqing died, Ma Tianci went out in the morning to get medicine and then never left the house again.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ma had been bedridden due to illness and never left the estate. Boss Ma worked at his tailor shop, and Madam Qiao also watched over their shop. The two shops faced each other, and their testimonies matched.
Mr. Qiao had gone to the tavern and entertained Manager Liu.
Qiao Qingqing’s time of death was between 1 PM and 3 PM. Mr. Qiao’s banquet lasted until 1:45 PM, with the waiter and Manager Liu as witnesses. He returned home drunk, as confirmed by the coachman and servants.
On the day Ma Tianci died, Boss Ma was at home with his wife, seen by servants and maids, while Mr. Qiao and his father were tending to business at the shop, corroborated by customers and workers.
Everyone had an alibi and witnesses.
So the only remaining suspect was Wen Zhengshen?
Wen Zhengshen came from a poor family, his study notes were full of cynicism, he was deeply in debt, and he was on the run. Moreover, the silver certificates Ma Tianci took when eloping were missing.
If the money hadn’t been stolen by a petty thief, Wen Zhengshen’s suspicion grew stronger.
Yan Tongshu brought in everything seized from Wen Zhengshen’s home, especially the painting "Night Rain at the Mountain Temple."
"Night Rain at the Mountain Temple" showed traces of Qiao Qingqing’s "Listening to Rain in Pine Mountains."
Wen Zhengshen couldn’t sell his own paintings, but Qiao Qingqing could sell one for the high price of twenty taels of silver.
With Wen Zhengshen’s dark and extreme personality, jealousy was plausible.
Everyone’s painting style and habits are shaped by their life experiences, so artworks reveal the artist’s inner state.
Yan Tongshu carefully compared the two paintings, "Night Rain at the Mountain Temple" and "Listening to Rain in Pine Mountains."
"Huh?"
Yan Tongshu ran his fingers over the rain-soaked pine mountain.
Pearl leaned in and asked, "What’s wrong, young master?"
Yan Tongshu’s expression turned serious, "Qiao Qingqing and Wen Zhengshen knew each other before Ma Tianci."
Pearl exclaimed, "What?"
Just then, Xu Qiu reported, "Lord Yan, Wen Zhengshen has been captured and brought back."
Yan Tongshu immediately put the two paintings away and told Pearl to keep them safe, "Court will convene."
…
