Come Work at the Court of Judicial Review

However, in order to find the murderer as soon as possible, she drew this sketch in more detail than before, asking Sun Jiawang questions while adding some details.

For example, men in the Great Jin usually start growing beards around the age of forty. Since this man had a beard, he must be over forty. So she drew some fine lines around his eyes.

Upon seeing it, Sun Jiawang became even more excited. "Yes, yes, that's it! It's so similar, so similar!"

Through the portrait, he also found more memories, which he told Zhao Ruxi one by one. Zhao Ruxi then completed the portrait based on his description.

Seeing this, Zhang Changshen and Wu Zong's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and their gazes toward Zhao Ruxi became increasingly different.

A good artist can evoke the memory of an eyewitness, prompting them to recall more details they thought they had forgotten. Wu Zong couldn't do this when he first entered the Court of Judicial Review. He can now do it, all thanks to the gradual accumulation of experience.

But Zhao Ruxi, a young girl, seemed to have this talent innately. She was especially good at encouraging Sun Jiawang, and her kind nature made Sun Jiawang forget his nervousness. He became more and more excited as he talked, completely different from the timid little boy who had just entered the door.

At this moment, the child's eyes were bright as he described the murderer's appearance with gestures. This state of complete absorption allowed him to better recall the scene.

Wu Zong had initially been thinking about talking to Zhang Changshen, but now he was so engrossed in watching her paint portraits that he completely forgot about the matter.

It wasn't until Zhao Ruxi finished painting the portrait and handed it to Zhang Changshen that he suddenly realized what was happening.

Zhang Changshen took the portrait, looked at Zhao Ruxi, and suddenly asked, "Miss Zhao, would anyone be interested in taking a position at the Court of Judicial Review?"

Wu Zong swallowed back the words he was about to say. He looked at Zhao Ruxi, waiting for her answer.

"No, not yet." Zhao Ruxi shook her head. "I promised our academy's teacher I would participate in the imperial examinations, and I can't go back on my word. Besides, there's no need."

She looked at Wu Zong and smiled, "My senior brother is learning. Once he masters my style, Lord Zhang, you won't need me anymore, will you? But if you have any orders, I Zhiwei, will never refuse. Just send someone to find me anytime. I will do my best to help."

She knew the plot and knew there would be two major upheavals in the future. She had very important things to do and couldn't be confined to the Court of Judicial Review.

The Court of Judicial Review is different from the academy. At the academy, she could stop at any time as long as she agreed to participate in the imperial examination. But at the Court of Judicial Review, once she agreed, she would have to clock in and out from nine to five and do things according to the Court of Judicial Review's requirements, with no freedom at all.

If she had the opportunity to become a high-ranking official and influence the political situation, she might consider it. But given her current status, she could never hold an official position in the Court of Judicial Review; she'd definitely be relegated to some lowly clerk. Why would she be so foolish as to become a lowly clerk?

Zhang Changshen's words were spoken in a moment of delight upon seeing the talent. After regaining his composure, he realized that it was inappropriate for a noble young lady to give up a peaceful life and spend her days dealing with criminals and cases, so he didn't Zhang Changshen to persuade her further.

"That's fine. If I need anything, I'll ask Miss Zhao for your help." He cupped his hands in greeting.

"My lord, shall my junior sister draw the other portraits?" Wu Zong asked from the side.

"Yes," Zhang Changshen said to Zhao Ruxi, "We'll need to trouble you to paint thirty more portraits like this for us. The yamen will pay the young lady."

"No need for payment. The officials work tirelessly day and night for the safety of the people of Great Jin. How can I accept payment for such a small thing?" Zhao Ruxi said with a smile.

Wu Zong mentally gave his junior sister a thumbs up.

That's well said!

"Thirty portraits, we definitely won't be able to finish them this afternoon. These portraits can't be taken home, but the case is urgent. Junior sister, do you think you could take the trouble to finish the portraits tomorrow since we have a day off? I'll have Qin Chong arrange a safer place for you then, not here," Wu Zong asked.

Qin Chong was his subordinate and also came from a prominent family. His elders had arranged this job at the Court of Judicial Review for him, which was basically doing odd jobs for officials like Zhang Changshen and Wu Zong. He was a low-ranking, menial official.

Tomorrow, I'm going to invite the Xu Family for dinner. However, Zhao Ruxi thinks that she draws very quickly and should be able to finish it in half a day.

She nodded immediately. "No problem."

Wu Zong turned to Zhang Changshen: "Sir, is there anything else you need me to do? If not, I'll go get back to work. My junior sister can paint here by herself. I'll leave Qin Chong here to run errands for her."

"Miss Zhao, then I'll have to trouble you." Zhang Changshen greeted Zhao Ruxi politely first, then patted Wu Zong on the back, "Come on, I have something to tell you."

Wu Zong smiled at Zhao Ruxi and then followed Zhang Changshen.

Upon arriving at Zhang Changshen's office, he gestured for Wu Zong to sit down before Wu Zong, "Are there any conditions for you to learn painting from Miss Zhao?"

Wu Zong, who had been reaching for some snacks on the table, paused upon hearing this, glancing warily at Zhang Changshen: "No, we're not learning painting from my junior sister, I'm learning from my master."

Zhang Changshen wanted nothing more than to throw the pastries in his hand at him. "Stop trying to fool me."

"How could I dare to fool an adult?" Wu Zong tossed a snack into his mouth and chuckled. "If I were to learn painting from my junior sister, wouldn't I have to act like a teacher in front of her? Wouldn't that create chaos?"

Zhang Changshen looked at him without saying a word.

Zhang Changshen probably deals with criminals for a long time; he usually seems friendly and easy to talk to. But when he stares at you with those sinister eyes, it can send shivers down your spine.

Wu Zong felt uncomfortable under his gaze, threw down the bamboo skewer in his hand, and said, "Alright, alright, I'll tell you everything."

"You know my master, he's obsessed with painting his whole life. When he first saw my junior sister's painting style, he insisted on learning from her. But my junior sister absolutely refused."

He waved his hand. "It's not that my junior sister is being overly protective, but rather it's a matter of the master-disciple relationship."

"Think about it, my junior sister was a student at the Beining Women's Academy, where my master was a teacher. If my master had learned painting from her, who would be the teacher and who would be the student? My junior sister was passing on her unique painting techniques, so she couldn't not even get the title of teacher, could she? But it certainly wouldn't be right for my master, at his advanced age, to perform the teacher's rites in front of my junior sister."

Zhang Changshen nodded. That makes sense.

"To teach him this new painting technique, my master came up with an idea: to collect tuition fees. My master gave my junior sister three thousand taels of silver in exchange for her teaching him to paint. Once she taught him, the payment would be settled, and neither of them would owe the other anything. Although it sounds a bit unpleasant, there was no other way. After all, my master couldn't become her student, and she was poor, barely having enough money for food at the academy."