Hearing Jiang Shiyi’s words, doubt flashed in Shao Mingyuan’s eyes.

Qiao Zhao gently shook her head at him, indicating it was right.

“Miss Li, tell me the truth about my foster father’s death!” Jiang Shiyi repeated once more.

Qiao Zhao glanced at him and said indifferently: “I need to see Grand Commander Jiang’s remains.”

“Impossible!” Several Jinlin Guards shouted in unison.

The world only knew the Grand Commander died suddenly, but didn’t know he died bleeding from all seven orifices from poisoning. If news of the Grand Commander’s death by poison spread, the Jinlin Guards would have no face left.

The head of the Jinlin Guards, who specialized in investigating others’ secrets, had been poisoned to death in his residence – this would truly become a once-in-a-century laughingstock.

“Surely Lord Shiyi doesn’t think I can tell you the truth out of thin air?”

Jiang Shiyi remained silent for a long time, then stepped aside: “Follow me.”

“Eleventh Brother!” Jiang Wu shouted coldly.

Jiang Shiyi turned a deaf ear and stepped forward.

Jiang Yuanchao reached out to stop Jiang Wu from interfering: “I also agree to let Miss Li see. The truth is always more important than face. Don’t you think so, Fifth Brother?”

Jiang Wu sneered: “Truth is naturally more important than face, but Miss Li is just a young girl who hasn’t even reached the hairpin ceremony. What use could viewing foster father’s remains be except to frighten her to tears?”

Qiao Zhao paused in her steps, turned around, and smiled faintly: “Lord Jiang Wu needn’t worry – I’m not easily frightened.”

Jiang Tang’s mourning hall was in the main courtyard. White banners fluttered in the cold wind, paper money rolled on the ground, and the smell of burning paper created an uncomfortable atmosphere.

The finest golden nanmu wood coffin had not yet been sealed. Jiang Shiyi gently pushed open the coffin lid, stepped aside, and indicated for Qiao Zhao to come forward.

The mourning hall was eerie, and the person lying in the coffin, having died suddenly, added to the hall’s terrifying atmosphere.

Many people looked at Qiao Zhao with doubt in their eyes.

Could such a young girl not be afraid?

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Qiao Zhao calmly walked to the coffin, bowed respectfully to Jiang Tang’s body, then reached out to gently lift the white cloth covering his face.

Beneath the white cloth was a face that had already turned dark. Though cleaned up, blood still seeped from the eye sockets and corners of the mouth.

Qiao Zhao took a silver needle from her pouch and moved to pierce Jiang Tang’s face.

“What are you doing?” Many people shouted coldly.

Jiang Shiyi moved lightning-fast to grab her wrist.

But someone was even faster, grasping Jiang Shiyi’s wrist: “Lord Shiyi, don’t forget what I said – don’t touch my fiancée.”

Jiang Shiyi’s face was cold as frost: “Anyone who dares disrespect my foster father shall be killed without mercy!”

Shao Mingyuan smiled faintly: “But you can’t beat me.”

Jiang Shiyi nearly coughed up blood in anger.

Qiao Zhao raised her eyes to glance at Jiang Shiyi, saying impatiently: “If you speak less, I can tell you the truth faster.”

Jiang Shiyi: “…” Everyone always complained he spoke too little – this was the first time someone found him too talkative!

Qiao Zhao only used the silver needle to collect blood traces from the corner of Jiang Tang’s lips. After observing for a moment, she wrapped it in a handkerchief and instructed Jiang Shiyi: “Bring me a bowl of clear water.”

Jiang Shiyi stared blankly, not reacting.

“Clear water!” Qiao Zhao emphasized.

“Uh.” Only then did Jiang Shiyi wake from his daze and silently go fetch clear water.

What was with this little girl’s righteous tone when ordering him around?

“Clear water.” Jiang Shiyi handed a bowl of clear water to Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao pointed: “Put it over there.”

Jiang Shiyi looked at her deeply, then wordlessly carried the bowl away.

All the Jinlin Guards felt something strange.

This was truly like brine curdling tofu – one thing conquers another. Lord Shiyi gave face to no one except the Grand Commander, yet now he was completely obedient to a young girl.

Qiao Zhao paid no attention to others’ thoughts.

She understood people like Jiang Shiyi too well. Their thinking was often simple – whoever could meet their needs would earn their cooperation, regardless of other factors.

Qiao Zhao wrapped her hand in a handkerchief and grasped Jiang Tang’s fingers.

Jiang Tang had lived in luxury – his hands looked like those of a man in his thirties, but his fingernails were a smoky dark color.

Qiao Zhao suddenly felt somewhat emotional.

Not long ago, Jiang Tang had taken pills from her, and during casual conversation, he especially mentioned Jiang Shiran, meaning his daughter was immature, and hoping Qiao Zhao wouldn’t mind her behavior.

How could he have imagined that shortly, first his beloved daughter would die tragically, and he would soon follow, poisoned to death?

Qiao Zhao collected her thoughts and carefully examined Jiang Tang’s fingers, seeing a faint red line among the smoky darkness.

With this discovery, Qiao Zhao gently released Jiang Tang’s hand and turned toward where Jiang Shiyi had placed the bowl.

It was a fine porcelain bowl, the color of sky after rain, holding half a bowl of clear water that shimmered with ripples.

Qiao Zhao dropped the silver needle that had collected blood from Jiang Tang’s lips into the bowl.

The clear water was quickly stained with color. Qiao Zhao leaned in to observe for a moment, then straightened up.

“How is it?” Jiang Shiyi asked impatiently.

Qiao Zhao spoke seriously: “The Grand Commander was indeed poisoned to death.”

Everyone: “…” Wasn’t this stating the obvious?

“Does Miss Li also admit that the Grand Commander died from poison after taking pills you prepared?” Jiang Wu asked coldly.

Qiao Zhao frowned: “I only said the Grand Commander died of poisoning. What does this have to do with the pills I prepared?”

“The imperial physician has already confirmed that the pills you prepared for the Grand Commander contain deadly poison!”

Qiao Zhao looked at the trembling imperial physician standing nearby and said gently, “Please have the physician pick out the poisonous pills.”

The physician used tweezers to examine each pill one by one, selecting three pills and placing them in another small box: “These three pills contain deadly poison. After examining them, this official deliberately carved cross marks on them as identification.”

Qiao Zhao reached out and picked up the pills the physician had selected.

“Zhaozhao—” Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help calling out.

Qiao Zhao smiled slightly at him: “It’s fine, I know what I’m doing.”

No poison could kill someone just by touching it.

Qiao Zhao carefully examined the three pills, then picked up and examined each of the remaining pills in the box one by one. She couldn’t help but smile: “These three pills are indeed poisonous – mixed with red arsenic, right?”

“Correct, it is indeed red arsenic.” The physician looked at Qiao Zhao with some admiration.

To identify red arsenic at just a glance, this young lady was no simple person.

“But the Grand Commander didn’t take these poisoned pills, so Lord Jiang Wu’s claim that the Grand Commander’s poisoning death is related to me has no basis.”

Jiang Wu sneered: “Miss Li, you need evidence to make such claims. Now that the Grand Commander is dead and cannot speak, you can’t expect us to believe whatever you say.”

Qiao Zhao looked coldly at Jiang Wu and smiled faintly: “Since I’ve made this claim, I can naturally provide evidence. I never make baseless accusations against others.”

How could Jiang Wu not hear that Qiao Zhao was mocking him? His expression immediately darkened.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Qiao Zhao stopped being mysterious and said seriously, “Though the Grand Commander can no longer speak, these pills can!”