In the home of the Tofu Beauty.
Shao Mingyuan extended his hand with an apologetic expression: “Given our limited conditions, I can only offer you coarse tea. I hope Lord Jiang will forgive me.”
Chi Can and Yang Houcheng couldn’t help but exchange glances, thinking: This fellow is putting on that sanctimonious act to fool people again. For this southern journey, fearing they might neglect Miss Li’s comfort, they had brought quite a variety of fine teas. However, treating a Jinlin Guard member with the broken tea leaves the village chief had offered in tribute was most appropriate.
The murky tea water was served in a coarse porcelain cup that looked quite unappetizing.
Shao Mingyuan calmly picked it up and took a sip, smiling: “Please, Lord Jiang.”
Jiang Wu suppressed his disgust and reluctantly took a sip, saying politely: “Today the marquis has been so busy, yet still takes time to receive this humble one. I am truly grateful beyond words. The marquis and the two young masters have come from afar as guests—it should be this humble one hosting you instead.”
Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Lord Jiang need not be so courteous. Speaking of which, we and the Jinlin Guards are old friends. To mention nothing else, just on this southern journey, we had the fortune of traveling alongside a Jinlin Guard Deputy Commander for many days.”
Chi Can and Yang Houcheng exchanged a glance, both praising Shao Mingyuan in their hearts.
No wonder they said this Shao Mingyuan fellow was slyly wicked—when he turned bad, he was simply inhuman.
Jiang Wu, before them, had once served as a Jinlin Guard Deputy Commander, but later somehow gave up his position to Jiang Shisan. Now hearing Shao Mingyuan bring this up, Jiang Wu must be seething with internal injury.
“Jinlin Guard Deputy Commander?” A flash of cold light passed through Jiang Wu’s eyes before he smiled: “Are you referring to my thirteenth brother?”
Shao Mingyuan nodded: “Precisely that, Lord Shisan.”
Jiang Wu sneered: “The marquis flatters us too much. In your presence, how could we Thirteen Guardians dare claim the title of ‘Lord’?”
Shao Mingyuan smiled without responding.
Jiang Wu discovered that the conversation’s rhythm was completely controlled by his opponent, which greatly displeased him. Yet he was desperately curious about Jiang Yuanchao’s southern journey, so he could only allow himself to be led along.
He truly couldn’t figure out why Jiang Shisan would head south at this time. His adoptive father never explained his arrangements to them in detail. Could something major have happened in the capital? Where was Jiang Shisan going?
As these thoughts churned in Jiang Wu’s mind, he couldn’t help asking: “I wonder if the marquis might know where my thirteenth brother was headed? Speaking of which, we brothers haven’t seen each other for quite some time—I rather miss him.”
“That I wouldn’t know.”
“Where did he disembark?” Jiang Wu pressed.
Shao Mingyuan raised his eyebrows slightly.
It seemed this Lord Jiang Wu valued Jiang Shisan far more than he had imagined.
“It seems it was—” Shao Mingyuan glanced at Chi Can.
Chi Can picked up: “He disembarked at Yushui.”
“Yushui?” Jiang Wu murmured these two characters, feeling there was something strange about disembarking at that location. For a moment, his thoughts were in chaos with no clear thread, so he could only suppress these miscellaneous concerns for now and turn to say: “Then it’s unfortunate I won’t get to see him. The marquis came this time to pay respects to Master Qiao and uncovered such a shocking truth. If you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask. As long as it’s within this humble one’s capability, I definitely won’t decline.”
Shao Mingyuan smiled.
Such pleasantries, he naturally wouldn’t take seriously.
“Won’t decline if within capability”—but what exactly was within capability and what wasn’t depended entirely on what one’s mouth decided to say.
For him, as long as the Jinlin Guards didn’t create trouble, that would be good enough. That’s why he mentioned Jiang Yuanchao’s matter to distract Lord Jiang Wu’s attention.
“Then I’ll thank Lord Jiang in advance. If there’s a need, I’ll certainly speak to Lord Jiang about it.”
With Jiang Yuanchao’s southern journey on his mind, Jiang Wu indeed couldn’t sit still any longer. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he proposed to take his leave: “I’ll come by again tomorrow.”
After Jiang Wu left, Chi Can sneered: “A weasel paying New Year’s respects to a chicken!”
“No need to pay him attention.”
Yang Houcheng patted Shao Mingyuan: “Tingquan, I’ve discovered you’re getting more and more wicked.”
“Hm?” Shao Mingyuan hurriedly glanced at Qiao Zhao, who sat quietly in the corner, thinking: How can you speak so carelessly? I’m a fine young man—what if Zhaozhao misunderstands?
His tactless companion continued to undermine him: “Having someone serve Jiang Wu that cup of tea water—I saw his face change when he drank it. Hahaha, when Zizhe used to say that among the four of us, you were the most frightening when you turned bad, I didn’t believe it. Now I finally do! You’re usually so proper and serious, but when you turn bad, you’re simply impossible to guard against—”
Shao Mingyuan coughed and said with a serious expression: “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Zizhe had given him that evaluation too? It seemed when he returned to the capital, he’d need to have a good talk with Zizhe about life.
Knowing that Yang Houcheng had no filter when speaking among familiar people, and fearing he’d say more and more, Shao Mingyuan quickly said: “Ye Luo, go see if Chen Guang has returned. If he has, have him come see me immediately.”
Soon after, Chen Guang hurried in: “General, the person you had this subordinate watch—he quietly left right after Coroner Qian determined that Master Qiao died from having his throat cut.”
“Tingquan, who did you have Chen Guang watch?” Yang Houcheng was somewhat puzzled.
“The one who came to spy last night?” Chi Can asked.
Shao Mingyuan nodded: “Yes. Today, I noticed he was also among the villagers watching the excitement, so I had Chen Guang keep an eye on him.”
After explaining, he raised his eyebrows at Chen Guang: “Continue.”
“After that person left the village, he took a small path to the town. General, you don’t know—that person looks honest and simple, but he’s quite alert. He kept looking back along the way. Fortunately, this subordinate was clever, or he would have been discovered—”
Shao Mingyuan raised his hand and knocked Chen Guang once: “Get to the point!”
Following a blacksmith without being discovered—what exactly was this fellow feeling proud about?
Noticing that Chen Guang’s eyes couldn’t help but glance in Qiao Zhao’s direction when he said this, Shao Mingyuan gradually understood.
Was he trying to show off well in front of Zhaozhao?
With this thought, the young general was filled with displeasure.
It seemed he had been too easygoing normally—these personal guards were getting bolder and bolder. He hadn’t even had enough chances to show off properly in front of his wife, so what were these brats joining in for?
With this thought, the general decided to have a good chat with Chen Guang later.
Chen Guang had no idea he’d been silently entered into the general’s little black book, and continued: “That person went to the town’s private school and met with a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth. This subordinate heard that person call the youth Shanzi.”
Yang Houcheng frowned: “The name ‘Shanzi’ sounds familiar. Oh, right, isn’t that Tofu Beauty’s son?”
Chi Can glanced at Shao Mingyuan and smiled with raised eyebrows: “This matter is getting more and more interesting.”
Shao Mingyuan nodded and continued questioning Chen Guang: “How did that Shanzi address Tiezhu?”
“This subordinate heard him call out ‘Uncle Tiezhu’ once.”
“You heard correctly?”
“Definitely.”
“What was Shanzi’s expression and tone like when he called ‘Uncle Tiezhu’?”
“Looked quite natural.”
Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes and looked toward Qiao Zhao.
Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together and spoke: “I suspect that Tiezhu should know that the Tofu Beauty didn’t die by accident!”