Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Li Ruoxuan shrugged, then pressed his thin lips together and said, “Since I told you I’d let you go, I will stick to my word.”
“Then I shall thank the State Preceptor in advance.”
Madam Wu was extremely afraid ever since she found out the identity of the man with the eye patch in front of her. After realizing that the lives of her and her entire family were at the mercy of the other person’s whims, she knew there was no way out.
On the other hand, she did not want to divulge any information about Qi Qingyao either. She lowered her gaze and gritted her teeth, making up her mind…
She told the truth about what happened on that snowy night twenty years ago…
Then, she briefly described the event of the keepsakes being entrusted to Qi Qingyao.
After sharing everything, Madam Wu finished somewhat dejectedly.
“That is all.”
“A jade amulet and a jade thumb ring.” LI Ruoxuan did not care about the rest but repeated these two important keepsakes. He touched his chin and pondered a little.
Madam Wu was afraid that the man was suspicious of her. If she had not been tied up, she would have immediately brought up her hands to pray and plead. “Yes, I absolutely did not lie!”
“What was the design on the jade amulet and the jade thumb ring? Do you have an impression of it? Can you sketch it out?” Li Ruoxuan asked casually.
He did not actually expect the woman to be able to draw out the design.
Madam Wu was, however, terrified and immediately said, “I could, just barely.”
Li Ruoxuan’s eyes lit up.
He called out.
“Someone come over.”
Zhu Shen immediately hurried in from outside the dilapidated temple.
LI Ruoxuan instructed, “Untie her!”
Zhu Shen hurriedly undid the bindings on Madam Wu. She dropped heavily to her knees, rubbing her arms. Expression pale, she raised her head and looked at the young man.
Li Ruoxuan got Zhu Shen to bring over the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the carriage and threw them in front of Madam Wu.
“Draw. I’ll examine it once you’re done.”
“…” Madam Wu had never received education before and did not recognize words, let alone know how to use a brush. She picked up the brush and scribbled on the paper without any skill.
Li Ruoxuan frowned as he watched her quietly.
He did not have high hopes for Madam Wu’s drawing skills, nor did he expect much from her memory. He knew this woman was terrified to the core and only said she could draw to deceive him.
Madam Wu knew that that jade amulet was valuable. She had taken it out many times over many years. As such, the image was deeply embedded in her memory. However, she just did not know how to use a brush. Looking at her drawing, she then knew it did not bear much resemblance and was afraid the State Preceptor in front of her would kill her.
Madam Wu threw away the brush and picked up a straw from the ground of the broken temple. She dipped it in ink and began to draw on the paper.
A straw dipped in ink was much easier to use than a brush…
Drawing for a bit, she finally managed to bring out the image.
After she was done, Madam Wu felt a little diffident at her work, but that was her best attempt at restoring the pattern of the jadeite amulet…
She then drew the pattern inside the jade thumb ring.
When she was done with that too, she threw down the straw and handed the two not-quite-realistic drawings to Li Ruoxuan.
“They look like this, roughly.”
“…” Li Ruoxuan looked at the messy drawings. He examined the image and his countenance was silent and calm.
Fearing that the man would kill her in a rage, she hurriedly explained, “I really did not just randomly draw something! I drew it from memory.”
“Are you sure this is the image…” Li Ruoxuan asked with uncertainty.
Madam Wu was close to crying; she had already told him the truth. If her life were to be ruined just because of her poor painting, the loss would really outweigh any gains. So, feeling like breaking down but could not afford to, Madam Wu said, “Your Excellency, I really did not draw it blindly. If you don’t believe me, I really can’t do anything anymore…”
“I believe you,” Li Ruoxuan touched his chin and said.