Under Qiao Zhao’s urging, Shao Mingyuan continued: “First, we must determine whether the Qiao family died in the fire or were already killed before the fire. Only then can subsequent investigations be justified.”

Whether it was Shao Mingyuan or Qiao Zhao, they both believed in Qiao Mo’s judgment – that the Qiao family had almost certainly been killed before the fire. But what they needed was evidence, evidence to bring the murderer to justice.

Qiao Zhao listened silently and picked up her teacup for a sip.

The tea had already grown lukewarm and was uncomfortable to drink, but she still finished it sip by sip, saying softly: “General Shao, you’re right. We must exhume and examine the bodies to have peace of mind.”

“Yes.” Shao Mingyuan sighed lightly.

Qiao Zhao looked at him and asked: “What is General Shao worried about?”

Shao Mingyuan’s gaze turned to the river scenery outside the window: “People always say ‘rest in peace after burial.’ Though I’ve consulted my brother-in-law’s opinion, I still feel uneasy.”

If his wife were still alive, would she blame him?

Hearing him say this, Qiao Zhao’s heart stirred as she understood his thoughts, and she blurted out: “General Shao needn’t feel uneasy. Making the murderer face punishment is the true rest in peace. I believe both big brother and your late wife would think the same.”

Shao Mingyuan looked deeply at Qiao Zhao and finally nodded: “Thank you for your comfort, Miss Li.”

Qiao Zhao stood up: “I’ll return to my room first.”

Shao Mingyuan also stood and escorted Qiao Zhao to the door.

The guest rooms on this level were all at both ends of a long corridor. He watched with his own eyes as Qiao Zhao entered her room, but instead of returning to Chi Can and the others, he turned and went back to his room, lying down on the bed.

The ship’s speed gradually increased, and wind blew in from the window, carrying the slightly fishy moisture of the water.

Shao Mingyuan reached into his bosom and took out a silk pouch, his slender jade-like fingers slowly sliding across it.

His brother-in-law had said that if one day he encountered something very difficult or puzzling because of Miss Li, he should open it and look.

What exactly was in this silk pouch?

His finger slid to the opening of the pouch, lingered for a moment, then was withdrawn, though his gaze never moved away.

He had a premonition that once he opened the pouch, everything would be different.

In the end, Shao Mingyuan still put the pouch away.

The current situation seemed not to need change – he’d save it to look at later.

The ship had been traveling for about half a month. Just when everyone had grown accustomed to Jiang Yuanchao coming daily to freeload tea, he gracefully departed when the ship docked at Yushui wharf.

Chi Can sneered: “Truly befitting the Jinlin Guards – he’s interpreted the four words ‘heartless and unrighteous’ thoroughly.”

Yang Houcheng smiled indifferently: “Anyway, he’s gone. I feel the rest of our journey will be much more relaxed and comfortable.”

“That’s true.” Chi Can glanced sideways at Shao Mingyuan, seeing him standing at the stern, staring fixedly at the gradually distant wharf. He patted him: “What are you thinking? Don’t tell me you’re reluctant to see him go?”

Shao Mingyuan’s gaze still looked into the distance as he murmured: “I’m wondering where he might be going, having changed course from Yushui.”

He had spent his youth and young adulthood in the ice and snow of the Northern Territories and wasn’t familiar with the flowers and greenery of the south.

“Who could know that? The Jinlin Guards keep their lips sealed tight.” Yang Houcheng said.

“I’ll go back to my room to check a map.” Shao Mingyuan turned and walked inside.

Chi Can and the others followed.

Shao Mingyuan spread a map on the table. The map took up half the table surface – it was a rough map of the entire south.

“You even brought this with you?” Chi Can asked meaningfully.

Shao Mingyuan really had the instincts of military campaign ingrained in his bones – going somewhere and still carrying maps with him…

The map was quite rough, marking only the names of various cities and towns, and important rivers and mountain ranges.

Qiao Zhao leaned over to look, and her elegant sandalwood fragrance drifted into Shao Mingyuan’s nostrils.

He seemed unaware, concentrating entirely on studying the map. His slender finger slowly slid across the map from the place marked “Yushui” and finally paused at a certain location.

Qiao Zhao’s eyes tightened.

The place where Shao Mingyuan’s finger stopped… was Lingnan.

Shao Mingyuan unconsciously looked toward Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao had been watching him all along. In this instant, their gazes met, both filled with the unspeakable depth of meaning.

The time their gazes remained locked was somewhat long. Chi Can’s brow twitched as he said coolly: “Have you two looked enough?”

Did he and Yang Er not exist?

Shao Mingyuan withdrew his gaze, using an expressionless face to cover the embarrassment in his heart: “I speculate that Jiang Yuanchao’s destination is here.”

Chi Can glanced at the map and his face suddenly turned pale: “Lingnan?”

He looked sharply at Shao Mingyuan, no longer showing his usual lazy casualness, his voice carrying barely concealed tension: “Are you certain?”

“I’m only speculating. Look, departing from the capital and passing through Yushui to change course, the most likely destination would be here.”

“But perhaps he’s going to Qiyang.” Chi Can couldn’t help but object.

“If he were going to Qiyang, leaving from the wharf before Yushui would be somewhat closer.” Shao Mingyuan explained unhurriedly. “Of course, other situations aren’t ruled out. I’m just reasoning from common sense.”

Chi Can stared at the map for a long time, then nodded in a low voice: “You’re right. Long river journeys aren’t pleasant affairs. From a logical standpoint, there’s no reason to abandon a shorter route for a longer one.”

“Shixi, you seem somewhat tense.” At this point, even the obtuse Yang Houcheng noticed something amiss.

Chi Can glanced at Yang Houcheng, then turned to look toward the door.

Shao Mingyuan spoke: “Ye Luo and Chen Guang are both guarding outside. No one will approach.”

Chi Can nodded and asked Yang Houcheng: “Yang Er, do you know what kind of place Lingnan is?”

“Never been there. I hear it’s a godforsaken place – poor.”

Chi Can frowned: “Who asked you to talk about whether it’s poor or rich?”

“You’re right, poverty or wealth has nothing to do with us. Hey, what are those expressions on your faces?” Yang Houcheng grew increasingly confused.

“Twenty years ago, treacherous rebels once appeared in Lingnan.” Chi Can said word by word.

Qiao Zhao looked deeply at Chi Can, secretly wondering in her heart: Chi Can wasn’t yet twenty years old and was a leisurely, noble young master – why would he pay attention to the Lingnan rebellion from twenty years ago? That period of history was glossed over in later historical records and deliberately downplayed.

Chi Can stared at the two characters “Lingnan” on the map as if staring at a flood or a wild beast.

“Jiang Yuanchao is the prospective son-in-law of Jinlin Guards Commander Jiang Tang. At this time, suddenly heading to Lingnan…” Chi Can looked at Shao Mingyuan. “Tingquan, do you think Prince Su’s remnants might be causing trouble again?”

Prince Su’s remnants… thinking of these treacherous rebels, he wanted nothing more than to devour their flesh.

Years ago, it was Prince Su’s remnants who had trapped him and his mother on Lingtai Mountain. He had ultimately survived by drinking his mother’s blood.

Could it be that after these peaceful years, those beasts were restless again?

“Third Miss Li, what did Jiang Yuanchao want with you that day?”

“It has nothing to do with this. He gave me something.”