“What does Lord Jiang want with me?”

The young lady’s clear and light voice came from behind. Jiang Yuanchao stood up and turned around, his face already displaying perfect composure: “Miss Li, let’s speak privately.”

“Please follow me, Lord Jiang.”

“Third Miss Li—” Chi Can couldn’t help but call out. This was almost the first time he had actively spoken to Qiao Zhao in recent days.

Qiao Zhao smiled at Chi Can and walked out of the hall.

Jiang Yuanchao gave Chi Can a half-smiling look and followed her out.

The two stood one after the other at the stern of the ship.

The ship had already left the dock and was slowly traveling on the river surface. The autumn atmosphere in the middle of the river was thicker than on land, and the cool river breeze rustled their robes.

“Lord Jiang, please speak if you have something to say.” Qiao Zhao stood with her back to the river, looking toward Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao smiled: “Young Master Chi seems very concerned about Miss Li.”

He somewhat regretted saying this. He wasn’t usually such a gossip, though his face showed no trace of anything unusual.

The young lady’s expression was indifferent: “Lord Jiang saying this seems to be speaking too intimately for our shallow acquaintance.”

Since Jiang Tang had something to ask of her, the person before her posed no immediate threat, so naturally, she didn’t need to restrain her emotions.

She very much disliked this Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: “Miss Li is right. Then let’s discuss the main business.”

The young lady’s brows and eyes calmly looked at him.

Jiang Yuanchao was very tall, a full head taller than the young lady before him. She could only look up at him, yet he felt this little girl had tremendous presence.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuanchao smiled even more bitterly in his heart.

This little girl always seemed to be like this in front of him, showing no fear of him, only… coldness, the kind of coldness that wished to stay far away and never have any interaction.

Their lives should have been like this, with no intersection whatsoever.

But why did she resemble so much the person in the depths of his heart?

All obscure thoughts were quietly tucked away with the slight upturn of his lips. Jiang Yuanchao took something from his sleeve: “The Grand Commander asked me to give you something.”

With his back to the cabin, his tall frame was enough to block all sight lines as he handed over that token.

Cool to the touch, Qiao Zhao quickly glanced at the token and tucked it into her sleeve.

Jiang Yuanchao asked: “Does Miss Li know what this token is used for?”

“No.”

The young lady’s terseness made Jiang Yuanchao somewhat dejected. He couldn’t help saying: “If Miss Li would call me Brother Jiang, I’ll tell you.”

He had heard too many people call him “Lord Jiang,” but only this little girl before him had ever called him “Brother Jiang.”

He felt “Brother Jiang” sounded much better than “Lord Jiang,” especially here on this passenger ship in the middle of the river.

Qiao Zhao smiled gracefully: “Lord Jiang is joking. You and I are neither relatives nor old friends – I wouldn’t dare call you so casually.”

Having finally maintained distance from this person, she wouldn’t throw herself into the trap again.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t say exactly why, but from the first time she saw this man, she had a beast-like instinct for danger.

Jiang Yuanchao’s eyelids drooped slightly, his expression indifferent: “Well, if that’s the case, then I won’t say anything.”

The young lady flicked her sleeve, and something flew directly at him. Jiang Yuanchao caught it nimbly – it was the token.

“Miss Li, what is this—”

The young lady lifted her chin slightly and smiled lightly: “If I don’t know its purpose, then I don’t want it.”

A token whose purpose was still unknown, yet he wanted to use it to coerce her? She wouldn’t give anyone such an opportunity.

Jiang Yuanchao moved his lips.

She didn’t want it? She didn’t want the token given by his adoptive father – could this be playing hard to get?

“Lord Jiang, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back first. General Shao and the others are waiting.” Qiao Zhao bowed slightly and lifted her foot to walk forward.

“Miss Li—” Jiang Yuanchao called out. Meeting the young lady’s cold gaze, he sighed helplessly: “You win.”

He stuffed the token back into Qiao Zhao’s hand, and as they passed each other, he said in a low voice: “This is the Jinlin Guards’ Heaven Character Token. Below the Grand Commander, anyone can be at your command. When Miss Li returns to the capital in the future, remember to return it to the Grand Commander.”

After speaking, Jiang Yuanchao strode away, not stopping for even a moment, nor did he look back.

Qiao Zhao unconsciously gripped the token in her hand tightly.

Though she had expected Jiang Tang to make some gesture regarding her journey, she hadn’t expected him to give her such a grand gift.

Qiao Zhao put away the token and returned to the hall. The gazes of Shao Mingyuan’s group of three immediately focused on her.

“Miss Li, that surnamed Jiang didn’t bully you, did he?” Yang Houcheng patted his chest: “If he bullied you, tell Brother Yang, and watch Brother Yang beat him until he’s crawling on the ground looking for his teeth.”

A faint voice suddenly drifted in from the window: “I look forward to seeing that.”

Yang Houcheng stiffly turned his neck around and said angrily, “You, how can you eavesdrop?”

The person outside the window disappeared, and moments later Jiang Yuanchao pushed the door open and entered, sitting down leisurely and smiling: “I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was admiring the river scenery, but Young Master Yang’s voice was too loud.”

Yang Houcheng awkwardly touched his nose.

“Does Lord Jiang have other business?” Chi Can raised an eyebrow and asked.

“No other business. I came in to rest my feet.”

Chi Can’s face turned cold: “Lord Jiang, we’ve rented this entire level. Your entering uninvited is rather inappropriate, isn’t it?”

Jiang Yuanchao still smiled lightly: “Well, I just walked around and found there’s only this one tea hall. I’m also staying on this level – I can hardly go down to the next level to drink tea.”

“Ye Luo, go find the boat owner for me. I want to ask why, when the rooms were rented to us, others are still allowed to move in!” Young Master Chi, having no personal servant, unceremoniously commandeered his friend’s guard.

“No need.” Jiang Yuanchao stood up and poured himself a cup of tea, holding the teacup as he sat back down, saying unhurriedly: “Young Master Chi needn’t send someone to call the boat owner – the boat owner knows.”

He glanced at Chi Can and said with a smile: “I’m with the Jinlin Guards, after all. When I need to requisition a room on this level to stay in, the boat owner naturally has to cooperate. I believe you can all understand this, right?”

Chi Can’s thin lips pressed into a line.

He was very displeased and wanted nothing more than to throw this smiling tiger out the window to feed the fish. However, under the banner of Jinlin Guards conducting official business, there wasn’t anything he could do to this person.

From imperial relatives to common peddlers, the Jinlin Guards had the authority to investigate anyone, sometimes without even needing to give a reason.

Seeing Chi Can stop talking, Jiang Yuanchao smiled slightly: “To tell the truth, I’m quite happy to have you three traveling together. At least in the future, there will be people to drink tea with.”

Saying this, he couldn’t help but glance at the quietly standing young lady.

Qiao Zhao stood up: “Then, Lord Jiang, please enjoy your tea. General Shao, shall we go to my room or yours?”

The young lady’s face showed perfect calm indifference, but she didn’t know what a tremendous impact these words had on the other people present.

Under the strange silence of the others, Shao Mingyuan’s ears gradually turned red.

Miss Li didn’t know how to speak properly!

The young general complained inwardly, but didn’t dare say anything.