The thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl was like a fragrant and delicate gardenia flower that had just half-bloomed. Blood gushing from her neck created an especially shocking impact. Even the Commander of the Jinlin Guards, Jiang Tang, who was accustomed to such sights, found it appalling.

“Is this little girl seeking death?” Jiang Tang threw the dagger into the corner of the wall, his face full of fury.

If he hadn’t reacted quickly, that sharp dagger would have truly severed this little girl’s throat, and she would now be a corpse.

Though he certainly didn’t fear Marquis Guanjun, the Marquis had specifically sought him out to make clear he stood behind this little girl. If this girl’s corpse were carried out of the Jinlin Guards’ headquarters today, his feud with Marquis Guanjun would become irreconcilable.

Over one little girl, who would be willing to become mortal enemies with Marquis Guanjun? It simply wasn’t worth it.

The more Jiang Tang thought about it, the more annoyed he became. His eyes scrutinized Qiao Zhao suspiciously as he thought: Could this girl have already lost the will to live and deliberately come here to set a trap for him?

Was this girl playing hard to get? No, with his keen perception, he could naturally distinguish that just now this girl had acted with the resolve to die.

A girl of only thirteen or fourteen, completely unafraid of life and death—was she trying to defy heaven itself?

Qiao Zhao didn’t raise her hand to press against the wound on her neck. Instead, she let the blood flow freely, not even frowning, as if she couldn’t feel the pain. Her expression remained calm as she said, “Grand Commander, I don’t want to die, but I’m also not afraid of death.”

She cherished this life, but precisely because of this, she needed to make Jiang Tang understand her resolve not to fear death.

Her medical skills could only be used by her, not become a burden that brought disaster due to possessing something precious!

Jiang Tang stared at Qiao Zhao with a dark expression. After a good while, his imposing manner relaxed, and he said coolly, “Hurry up and bandage it. How old are you to be talking about life and death?”

She was just a little girl about the same age as his daughter, and she had Marquis Guanjun as her backing—why should he bother?

Only then did Qiao Zhao take out a handkerchief and roughly wrap it around her neck.

Jiang Tang sat back down and glanced at her. “Little girl, you should know that without Marquis Guanjun, I wouldn’t mind carrying a corpse out of here.”

Qiao Zhao smiled.

Of course, she knew.

The last time she had a conflict with Jiang Shiran, her medical skills and Jiang Tang’s pill poison could protect her and her family from harm, because there was no need for Jiang Tang to use extreme measures over a conflict between little girls.

But this time, wanting Jiang Tang to agree to rescue her brother, those two things alone weren’t enough. She needed to additionally borrow Shao Mingyuan’s influence—all three factors were indispensable and just barely sufficient.

Speaking of which, she had still calculated Shao Mingyuan into her plans.

However—

Miss Qiao pursed her lips, feeling no guilt in her heart.

Big brother was also Shao Mingyuan’s brother-in-law, after all, so of course, he should contribute his share.

“Sit.” Jiang Tang pointed to the chair.

Qiao Zhao sat down calmly.

“Are you not afraid of death?”

“Doesn’t the Grand Commander already know?” Qiao Zhao deflected without answering.

Having been granted a new life, how could she bear to die? However, sometimes being afraid of death leads to dying faster.

“As far as I know, you have no relationship whatsoever with Young Master Qiao. Why would you be so dedicated to saving him?”

That Qiao Mo had been thrown into the imperial prison and that Marquis Guanjun and Minister Kou would take action was naturally expected. However, he never would have imagined that the one explicitly asking him to rescue Qiao Mo would be a little girl.

“Before Physician Li left the capital, he entrusted me to look after Young Master Qiao. I agreed.”

“Just because of that?” Jiang Tang asked incredulously, clearly not believing such a ridiculous reason.

Physician Li entrusted her to look after Qiao Mo, so to save Qiao Mo, she wasn’t even afraid of death.

“Isn’t that enough?” Qiao Zhao asked in return.

Meeting the girl’s calm eyes, Jiang Tang was momentarily stunned.

Isn’t that enough? A gentleman’s promise—that was indeed sufficient.

However, such integrity was hard for him to believe would appear in a little girl.

“Actually, why must the Grand Commander care about my reasons for saving Young Master Qiao? Between us, it’s nothing more than a fair trade. You help me rescue Young Master Qiao, and I’ll give you detoxification pills. As long as you need them, I’ll keep providing them.”

Even if Jiang Tang’s pill poison were completely cleared, there would be more in the future.

The reason was simple—the current emperor would occasionally bestow rewards…

Thinking this way, Qiao Zhao felt somewhat sympathetic toward Jiang Tang.

Even knowing that eating those pills was bad for his health, because they were bestowed by the emperor, he had no choice but to consume them.

Oh, right, grandmother had once told her that when grandfather was still an official in the capital, he had also received the emperor’s special attention, and then grandfather had simply quit his position altogether.

“You should know that rescuing Young Master Qiao isn’t such a simple matter.”

The emperor’s moods were unpredictable, his thoughts deep and unfathomable. Who knew which words might displease him and be secretly noted down?

Though he could manage to rescue Qiao Mo, he would also have to bear some risks.

Qiao Zhao smiled slightly. “Extending the Grand Commander’s life isn’t such a simple matter either.”

After speaking, she held up three fingers.

The corner of Jiang Tang’s mouth twitched. “I know—three years!”

This girl had certainly figured out that he feared death.

“Very well, I agree. However, I have one more condition.”

“Please speak, Grand Commander.”

Jiang Tang looked at Qiao Zhao and said word by word, “I want the prescription for the detoxification medicine.”

He was the dignified Commander of the Jinlin Guards—how could he be controlled by others in such a life-threatening matter?

Qiao Zhao nodded readily. “Certainly. On the day you rescue Young Master Qiao, I’ll respectfully present the prescription with both hands.”

Jiang Tang nodded, thinking: This girl doesn’t release the hawk until she sees the rabbit. With this in mind, it wasn’t strange that his daughter repeatedly suffered losses at her hands.

Qiao Zhao stood up. “Grand Commander, then I’ll take my leave.”

The wound hurt!

“Little girl, I have one last question for you.”

“Please ask.”

“What exactly is your relationship with Marquis Guanjun?”

He used to think Marquis Guanjun was interested in the little girl and had developed feelings, amusing himself by teasing her. Now he understood—with such a little girl, unless one seriously married her and brought her home, if one truly harbored thoughts of mere amusement, that would be playing with fire.

Qiao Zhao was stumped.

What was her relationship with Marquis Guanjun? This question was too complicated!

“I feel I have no particular relationship with Marquis Guanjun. As for what Marquis Guanjun thinks, I’m afraid the Grand Commander would have to ask him.”

Jiang Tang shook his head and walked out together with Qiao Zhao.

“Father—” Jiang Shiran came forward to meet them.

Seeing his daughter, Jiang Tang’s expression softened. “Ran Ran, didn’t you go out for a walk with Shisan? It’s stuffy inside.”

Jiang Shiran frowned. “Who has the mood to go out? Father, how are you going to deal with her?”

Qiao Zhao didn’t glance at Jiang Shiran even once. She bowed respectfully to Jiang Tang and said, “Grand Commander, then I’ll return first and await the good news.”

“Good, Miss Li, take care.”

Jiang Yuanchao suddenly looked toward Jiang Tang.

His adoptive father had just let Miss Li go so lightly? Then what exactly had Miss Li discussed privately with his adoptive father?

He had said it before—Miss Li seemed to be full of mysteries, making it difficult to look away once one’s attention was caught.

Jiang Yuanchao’s gaze fell on Qiao Zhao, and then his eyes tightened.

She was injured!