The emperor is biased and wants to kill me, but you chickened out when the army is at the city gates

Chapter 69 Sketching Techniques

Martial law was declared in Beining City, and tensions were high within the city.

Ning Yuanfeng soon came to report:

"Your Highness, according to the investigation, four people have gone missing in the Northern Wilderness."

"Have you found out who it was? When did they go missing?"

Qin Xuan asked, "These refugees have already been living a life of constant displacement. They finally have food and shelter, so it's impossible for them to leave without a reason."

"It has been confirmed that these four people entered the Northern Wilderness area a month and a half ago, but disappeared this morning."

"According to other refugees, although the four did not live together, they often went out together. The night before the incident in the northern wilderness area, the four had a record of going out at night."

Ning Yuanfeng's investigation was extremely thorough, and Qin Xuan immediately realized that there was something seriously wrong with these four people. He then gave the order:

"Immediately launch a citywide manhunt!"

"They probably haven't had time to leave the city yet, and are most likely hiding in inns or restaurants."

The Northern Wilderness was originally just a reclaimed land for refugees, so it was not usually guarded by any Shence Army.

With a little tampering, a person with malicious intent can easily poison someone.

But the person who poisoned them clearly overlooked one point: these refugees were extremely united because they had experienced disease and life and death.

Ning Yuanfeng simply informed the entire Northern Wilderness of the poisoning incident, and all the refugees began to spontaneously provide any clues, even forming a mutual surveillance model among themselves.

"Your Highness, two refugees are requesting an audience. They say they have important intelligence to report."

Zhuge Xuan suddenly entered from outside, a smile on his face.

"Quickly, invite them in."

Qin Xuan nodded, and then several refugees were brought in.

Upon seeing Qin Xuan, the group immediately knelt down.

"This commoner pays homage to His Majesty!"

"Everyone get up!"

Qin Xuan raised his hand and asked, "I heard from the strategist that you have important intelligence to report?"

"Gouwa, what are you standing there for? Quickly tell the prince everything you know." One of the old men kicked the young man next to him in dissatisfaction and said nervously, "Your Highness, this is my grandson. He's a country bumpkin and has never seen anything like the world."

"It's alright, let him speak slowly," Qin Xuan said.

The boy, who was about seventeen or eighteen years old, said nervously, "Your Highness, Ma San came to our Northern Wilderness District a month and a half ago. At that time, there weren't many places for him to stay, so the village chief arranged for him to share a room with me."

"At first I didn't think much of it, but later I noticed that he often smelled of alcohol and had a meaty smell about him."

"As you know, it's already a feat for us to survive in the Northern Wilderness, how can we afford to drink and eat meat all the time?"

"In addition, he always liked to go out at night, and sometimes he even smelled of rouge on him, which was not like a vagrant at all."

"Today I heard that our refugees have been poisoned, which reminded me of these strange things, so I quickly told my grandfather, and that's how I came to report to you."

Gouwa's words were somewhat fragmented, but Qin Xuan grasped the key points.

First of all, the person who poisoned Ma San was definitely not a real refugee. Only someone who wasn't a refugee could not endure the hardships of the Northern Wilderness and would occasionally go out to enjoy a feast.

In addition, this Ma San is extremely lecherous. Despite being a spy, he can't help but go to brothels. Otherwise, where would the smell of rouge come from on him?

Now there's only one last step left: Ma San's appearance.

"Doggy, can you describe what Ma San looks like?"

Qin Xuan asked.

Gouwa nodded: "After all, we've lived together for more than a month, so I can naturally describe what he looks like."

"Okay, you do the drawing, and I'll draw it."

Qin Xuan immediately went to the table, took a piece of paper, and then, to everyone's astonishment, found a long, thin piece of charcoal from the stove beside him and said, "You can begin your description now."

Pens made of carbon?

And you even draw portraits based on other people's descriptions?

Zhuge Xuan was a strategist and had some achievements in painting, but he had never seen such a painting style before.

As for Ning Yuanfeng, he was completely dumbfounded. Shouldn't one use a brush to paint?

Your Highness's method is quite novel.

"He has a square face, thick eyebrows, but small, somewhat triangular eyes."

"Oh, right, he has a flat nose, very wide nostrils, thick lips, and a mouthful of black teeth, which is quite unsightly."

"..."

Gouwa had a good memory and described the facial features in detail. Qin Xuan listened attentively while his charcoal pencil kept moving.

Zhuge Xuan didn't believe anyone could draw with charcoal, so he sneaked up behind Qin Xuan.

But the moment his gaze fell upon it, he froze completely.

The black lines appear extremely bold, yet a few simple strokes can easily depict the characteristics of the figure.

The eyes and nose, in particular, appear extremely three-dimensional because they utilize the contrast of black, white, and gray tones.

"This... what kind of profound technique is this? Why have I never seen it before?"

Zhuge Xuan was deeply moved, and all his thoughts were drawn to the painting.

At the same time, Qin Xuan stopped drawing, grabbed the paper, and asked, "Is this roughly how it looks?"

"Ah...yes, yes, Your Highness, your painting is so lifelike, it's like you've painted the real person..."

Gouwa was startled and shouted exaggeratedly.

He had seen the wanted posters at the entrance of the government office before, and the portraits on those posters were worlds apart from those in Qin Xuan's hand.

"Ning Yuanfeng!"

"The end will be here."

Qin Xuan ordered in a deep voice: "Immediately take this portrait and search the entire city. Remember, start with brothels and similar places, as this person is most likely hiding in those places."

"I will accept the order immediately."

Ning Yuanfeng immediately took the portrait, but as he left, he kept admiring it in his heart: "What wonderful brushwork is there compared to our prince's painting? It's like showing off your axe in front of Guan Yu!"

"Your Highness, what technique did you use to paint just now? Why have I never seen or even heard of it before?"

Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhuge Xuan quickly pressed for an answer.

Qin Xuan smiled and thought to himself that this was a modern sketching technique that emphasized using lines to outline a sense of space, and then using black, white and gray to enhance the three-dimensional effect. Of course you wouldn't know that.

This technique is best suited for sketching.

However, in terms of true skill and artistry, it naturally cannot compare with traditional Chinese ink painting.

"This is a sketching technique. If you are interested, strategist, I can teach you later."

Qin Xuan smiled faintly and continued, "However, catching them is the priority right now. Since these four have been plotting for a long time, they must have a powerful force supporting them. We must find them as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I was being presumptuous just now."

Zhuge Xuan nodded awkwardly and prepared to take Gouwa and the others out.

"Strategist, send more people to inquire among the refugees again. See if there are any cases similar to Gouwa's. Call them all in for questioning if there is anything suspicious."

"Notify me immediately once it's confirmed."

Qin Xuan gave a word of advice.

Zhuge Xuan immediately understood Qin Xuan's meaning: "Your Highness, do you want to draw portraits of all four suspects using the sketching technique you just used?"

Qin Xuan nodded slightly: "That's right! Gouwa's words just now reminded me that these four spies who infiltrated can't endure the hardships of pioneering, so they will inevitably sneak out at night to treat themselves. As long as you investigate in this direction, you will definitely be able to find something."

"Your Highness is wise, I will take care of it immediately."

Zhuge Xuan exclaimed in admiration and immediately led his men out of the Chu King's residence.