This time, he finally found a clue from Jiang Sihe. At first, he didn't dare to startle her...
He sent people to the courtyard where she used to live to investigate, but found nothing. Then he wanted to find clues from her...
When he entered officialdom back then, many people behind his back scolded him. A son of a convicted official was unworthy of being a high - ranking official...
The Pei Mansion had borne the infamy for so many years. His father died unjustly, and Empress Xiaoren died wrongfully in the cold palace...
He had to find out all these things. Who was the mastermind back then?
A hint of sternness appeared in Pei Yanchao's eyes and brows. He took a few steps forward.
"Actually, there are other reasons, which are extremely important to me. If Miss Jiang still hides something, the consequences..."
Jiang Sihe felt a slight panic in her heart. Pei Yanchao was not a kind person. If he really wanted to deal with her, she simply had no power to resist...
Suddenly, she realized that there was another way for a woman to get a man to spare her, that was to show weakness...
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her eye sockets were slightly red. Under Pei Yanchao's cold gaze, a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye...
"My lord, what will the consequences be?"
There were still tears on Jiang Sihe's cheeks, and her voice trembled slightly. She looked exactly like a frightened little girl.
Pei Yanchao was stunned for a moment, and his heart stirred. Did he scare her?
Wasn't she still sharp - tongued just now? Why is she like this now...
Jiang Sihe sniffed slightly and said softly and coquettishly.
"I've told Lord Pei everything I know. What else do you want? How can a weak woman like me resist you..."
Pei Yanchao calmed his mind, slightly narrowed his eyes. Just as he turned around, he saw the pastries on the table. He picked up a plate of pastries and awkwardly handed them over.
"Have a piece of pastry first to calm down..."
His tone was also much softer.
Jiang Sihe stole a glance and secretly laughed in her heart. Sure enough, men all fell for this trick. However, he was quite good at using the tactic of hitting someone then giving them a sweet treat.
She walked over aggrievedly and took a piece of pastry from the plate.
Coincidentally, the one she took was the red bean cake. She took a bite and slightly frowned.
Pei Yanchao noticed and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Is it not delicious?"
Jiang Sihe nodded, "It's not as delicious as the one made by the cook in Lord Pei's mansion!"
"When did you eat the red bean cake made by the cook in my mansion?"
Jiang Sihe gracefully sniffed her nose and replied gently, "Once, Pei Xiaoqi brought it to the academy and gave it to me to eat!"
Pei Yanchao frowned tightly, and his expression became even more solemn.
Brought to the academy by Pei Xiaoqi? That meant it was made by him...
He looked up at Jiang Sihe and noticed that there were still tears in the little girl's eyes. He slightly sighed.
"If you don't like it, then don't eat it!"
Jiang Sihe didn't want to eat it at all. When she heard that she was allowed not to eat, she quickly and carefully put the bitten red bean cake back on the plate and stood obediently aside.
Pei Yanchao was a bit helpless. Soft methods didn't work, and hard methods didn't work either. It seemed that he still needed to spend some time to dig out clues from her...
Seeing the teapot on the table, he pointed at it in a deep voice, "How about having some tea to calm down..."
Jiang Sihe was also very obedient. When told to have tea, she walked to the table, picked up a white teacup and poured some tea.
Pei Yanchao thought that after a series of soothing actions, the little girl should have calmed down a bit.
When he turned around, he saw Jiang Sihe's fair and slender fingers pinching the white teacup. Her delicate lips took a sip of tea, leaving a circle of her lip rouge on the white teacup, a faint peach - pink color.
He suddenly realized that the white teacup she was using was the one he usually used...
Suppressing the inexplicable restlessness in his heart, he said gently.
"Actually, there's another thing today. I'd like to ask Miss Jiang for help!"
Pei Yanchao saw the little girl looking over with a pair of clear deer - like eyes in a daze.
"What's the matter?"
"A few days ago, another skeleton was found in the suburbs. It was also a woman, about the same age as Bai Yuezhu. I've examined the bones. The cause of death was similar to that of Bai Yuezhu back then, and the time was not far apart...
If you can draw portraits based on bones, can you help draw the portrait of this person?"
Jiang Sihe didn't expect that there would be a follow - up to Bai Yuezhu's case.
"Does Lord Pei mean that this skeleton may be involved in Bai Yuezhu's case?"
Pei Yanchao nodded, "It's just some speculation. We need to find out the identity of this skeleton before we can continue the investigation..."
Jiang Sihe frowned and thought. She was brought to the Ministry of Justice by Pei Yanchao today.
At first, he asked her to look at Lord Chen's painting, which was to test how much of Lord Chen's skills she had mastered.
When she admitted that her paintings were similar to those of Lord Chen, he began to interrogate her about Lord Chen's whereabouts.
Then she showed weakness, which made him let her off for the time being. Now he asked her for help again...
He was clearly determined that the person who taught her painting was Lord Chen. It seemed like an inquiry, but in fact, it was still a threat to her!
Moreover, everything was linked one by one, leaving her with no way to refuse. If she really refused, God knows what traps were waiting for her...
Since that was the case, it was better to make a deal with him...
"That day, I bumped into you at the moon gate. Later, you sent people to look for me in the mansion. It should be something that I dropped that made you notice..."
Pei Yanchao was reminded by her and remembered that day when she bumped into him in a hurry and left her silk ribbon on him.
So she knew that the thing was left on him. Since she knew, why didn't she ask for it back? After all, it was a personal item of a young girl...
"If my lord is willing to return the thing to me and not hold me accountable for that day, I'm willing to help my lord draw the portrait!"
Pei Yanchao frowned slightly. He had originally wanted to return the silk ribbon to her, but every time they met, the timing was wrong, so he hadn't been able to return it...
"Naturally. Miss Jiang's things should be returned!"
This time, Jiang Sihe was a bit shocked. Why was he suddenly so easy to talk to? Didn't he use this matter to threaten her anymore?
"My lord Pei, you must keep your word. You won't hold me accountable for that day and won't mention it to anyone else?"
Hearing this, Pei Yanchao frowned slightly. It was just an accidental collision. Why did she care so much?
Is she unwilling to have the slightest connection with him?
Coming to this conclusion, there was actually a hint of displeasure in his heart!
"Naturally. I, Pei, always keep my word. Miss Jiang doesn't need to confirm again and again."
Today, there was finally a gain. Her crying and being scared were worth it. Getting rid of the thing that bothered her the most, she inexplicably felt a lot more relaxed.
Moreover, she also found a way to deal with Pei Yanchao, that was to show more weakness, and he wouldn't do anything to her!
Jiang Sihe casually put the teacup in her hand on the long table.
"Then I'll help Lord Pei draw the portrait. Where is the skeleton?"
Now that she was in a relaxed mood, she was naturally willing to help him.
"Don't be in a hurry. It's getting late today. I'll let Yan Lin send you back. The day after tomorrow, I'll send someone to pick you up from the academy!"
Tomorrow was still a day off. Pei Yanchao was still a bit humane and didn't ask her to come and draw the portrait tomorrow.
"Okay. I hope that by then, Lord Pei will also bring the thing with you!"