Hearing Jiang Tang say this, Qiao Zhao nearly laughed. She stared at the bright red pills in the white jade box for a while before saying, “I need to take this back for analysis before I can adjust the antidote formula.”

Jiang Tang took out a small, delicate dagger and pressed it against one of the pills, gesturing as he asked: “Would cutting off this much be enough?”

Qiao Zhao looked at Jiang Tang in surprise.

These weren’t real immortal pills—surely he wouldn’t refuse to let her take even one?

“These were bestowed by His Majesty—I dare not give them away.” Jiang Tang said with a solemn expression, though inwardly he was crying.

Was his life easy? He thought that if the Emperor wasn’t watching him take them, he could avoid it? How naive! These two “immortal pills” he brought home—when he next entered the palace, the Emperor would find him to discuss in detail his feelings after taking them. If there were any differences from the Emperor’s own experience, he’d be dragged into candlelit night discussions for serious analysis.

Just thinking about this left Jiang Tang with nothing but bitterness in his heart.

Wanting to be the Emperor’s trusted confidant—how could that be an easy thing?

“That’s fine then, this should be enough.” Qiao Zhao, unaware of Jiang Tang’s bitterness, replied with calm detachment.

Jiang Tang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and called out, “Shiyi, come in.”

Jiang Shiyi pushed the door open and entered: “Adoptive Father.”

Jiang Tang looked toward Qiao Zhao: “Miss Li, Shiyi is another adopted son of mine. From now on, let him protect you.”

Both Qiao Zhao and Jiang Shiyi were momentarily stunned.

Jiang Tang smiled: “Miss Li, don’t misunderstand—I’m just worried about your safety since you often go out.”

If something happened to this girl, who would prepare antidote pills for him in the future? Being at someone’s mercy was just this frustrating!

“Thank you for the Grand Commander’s kind intention, but it’s not necessary. Lord Jiang is young and capable—following an ordinary girl like me would be beneath his talents and also inconvenient.”

“Miss Li—”

Qiao Zhao replied seriously: “Grand Commander, I shouldn’t be leaving the city anymore in the future. I believe there won’t be any danger just moving around within the city, don’t you think?”

Which force in the capital had more informants than the Jinlin Guards?

Jiang Tang thought of this point too. Seeing Qiao Zhao’s firm refusal, he didn’t insist further: “Very well then. If Miss Li encounters any trouble, just let me know.”

The expressionless Jiang Shiyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

That was close—he had almost been assigned as a bodyguard.

“Thank you, Grand Commander. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Shiyi, escort Miss Li out.”

“Yes.”

“See Miss Li all the way home.” Jiang Tang added another sentence, feeling uneasy.

If this foolish boy only escorted her to the gate and then returned, he’d have to replace him!

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Jiang Shiyi returned.

Jiang Tang’s mouth twitched: “Didn’t I tell you to escort Miss Li home?”

“Miss Li said she wasn’t going home.” Jiang Shiyi reported truthfully.

“So you just didn’t escort her?” Jiang Tang slapped his hand on the tea table, so angry his beard trembled.

Should he recall Jiang Wu instead?

“Shiyi, do you know why I wanted you to escort Miss Li?”

“Afraid Miss Li would encounter danger?”

Jiang Tang rolled his eyes.

Bullshit! I wanted you to spend more time with the girl!

“Go now, quickly.” Jiang Tang waved his hand in dejection.

“Shiyi takes his leave.” Jiang Shiyi left in complete bewilderment.

After leaving the Jiang Residence, Qiao Zhao went directly to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence.

“Li San.” Chi Can was waiting at the entrance.

“Big Brother Chi.” Qiao Zhao greeted him and sighed inwardly.

Last night, sleeping with He Shi, she had heard He Shi say many things about Chi Can—how he had helped his father out of difficult situations, how he rushed to Luoxia Mountain early every day.

He Shi had even asked about her thoughts on the matter.

She had never had such thoughts and had already made this crystal clear to him.

Good intentions that couldn’t be accepted were even harder to deal with than malice.

Walking side by side in the courtyard, Chi Can looked straight ahead, but from the corner of his eyes, he secretly observed the young woman beside him.

“Li San, you must have been very uncomfortable in the mountains these past days, right?”

“It was alright.”

“Did you eat the pastries and sweet melons I sent you?”

“I did. I haven’t thanked Big Brother Chi yet.”

Chi Can waved his hand: “What’s there to thank? They weren’t anything precious.”

He was silent for a while, then stopped walking, his tone unusually hesitant: “Li San, did Tingquan tell you?”

Qiao Zhao’s steps faltered, but she didn’t stop and continued walking forward.

Chi Can hurriedly caught up: “Li San, I’m asking you!”

“He told me.” Qiao Zhao looked up at Chi Can, her expression very serious. “Big Brother Chi, I’m very sorry.”

The smile at the corners of Chi Can’s lips immediately disappeared, and he stared at Qiao Zhao without saying a word.

“I have no intention of marrying.”

Chi Can’s lips moved, but Qiao Zhao stopped him from continuing: “It’s not because I’m young and speaking carelessly. What I want and what I don’t want—I’ve always been very clear about these things.”

Chi Can raised his eyebrows: “You just don’t want me, is that right?”

Qiao Zhao closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and said: “Yes. Even if I did marry someone, I would never choose Big Brother Chi. So in the future, we should maintain the distance of friends, or—”

“Or the distance of strangers?” Chi Can smiled coldly. “Li San, you are a ruthless girl.”

Qiao Zhao sighed softly in her heart.

She had never wanted to hurt someone who had saved her life so mercilessly, but she knew that what he wanted was something she could never give him. If she were soft-hearted, that would be the greatest harm to him.

Big Brother Chi, leaving no illusions, no room for hope—this is the only thing I can do for you.

Chi Can stopped, a smile hanging at the corners of his mouth, but that smile was so cold it had no warmth at all, making his entire person appear desolate and forlorn, no longer the carefree appearance he usually showed toward everything.

“Li San.” He finally spoke, his voice hoarse. “Go in by yourself. I just remembered I have something to do, so I’ll head back first.”

After saying this, without waiting for Qiao Zhao’s response, he clenched his fists, turned, and left. Tao Sheng, the young servant who had been following at a distance, looked at Qiao Zhao with surprise, then chased after his master in complete confusion.

Binglu, who had also been following behind, caught up: “Miss, what happened to Young Master Chi?”

“He had urgent business.” Qiao Zhao didn’t want to say more and quickened her pace.

Both Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Mo were waiting in the main courtyard. Seeing Qiao Zhao enter, they both came forward to greet her.

“Miss Li has arrived.” Shao Mingyuan’s gaze fell behind her, and not seeing Chi Can’s figure, a flash of confusion crossed his eyes. “Didn’t Shixi encounter Miss Li?”

“Big Brother Chi had urgent business and left first.” Qiao Zhao explained briefly, then looked toward Qiao Mo.

“Zhaozhao, you seem to have gotten thinner.” Qiao Mo stared intently at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao smiled gently: “I haven’t gotten thinner—it’s Big Brother’s imagination.”

Shao Mingyuan observed coldly, always feeling that something was off about the way the two were speaking.

At this moment, a personal guard approached and whispered a few words in Shao Mingyuan’s ear.

Shao Mingyuan nodded and said to the two: “Cousin, Miss Li, please sit first. Someone has come from the palace summoning me to enter the palace.”

After Shao Mingyuan left, Qiao Mo gestured for Qiao Zhao to follow him.

The siblings sat down in a spacious pavilion, and Qiao Mo said in a low voice: “The Marquis Guanjun told me that there are clues about my aunt poisoning me.”

“What did they find?” Qiao Zhao’s eyes tightened.

Regarding Big Brother’s poisoning, she hadn’t expected Shao Mingyuan to have leads so quickly.