After hearing Shanzi’s shocking words, everyone present remained calm, and Shao Mingyuan didn’t even raise an eyebrow. He asked casually, “Is that person Tiezhu?”

Shanzi stumbled back several steps, staring at Shao Mingyuan in shock and blurting out, “How did you know?”

This was as good as an admission.

Yang Houcheng sighed inwardly.

The young man was still too naive, easily coaxed into revealing the truth by Tingquan with just a few words.

“Shanzi, could you please ask Tiezhu to come over for a chat?”

Shanzi’s expression became somewhat uncomfortable as he kept shaking his head.

Shao Mingyuan said gently, “Don’t be afraid. We only care about who the murderer is and whether it’s related to the Qiao family fire. We don’t care about anything else.”

This was a hint to Shanzi that whether it was his relationship with Tiezhu or Tiezhu’s relationship with the tofu beauty, they wouldn’t gossip about it.

Though Shanzi had attended school since childhood, his worldly experience was far inferior to that of wealthy young masters in the capital. However, he was naturally intelligent and quickly understood Shao Mingyuan’s meaning.

The young man couldn’t help but hesitate, his heart torn by internal conflict.

The villagers didn’t know about his mother’s relationship with Uncle Tiezhu. When he first discovered it by accident, he had been sad for a long time before gradually accepting it. Not for any other reason – his mother had worked so hard to raise him and pay for his education. Now that there was finally a decent person willing to treat his mother well and make her life less difficult, even if he felt reluctant, he had to think of his mother’s happiness and not be too selfish.

But in the villagers’ eyes, his mother’s relationship with Uncle Tiezhu would be seen as shameless. Once they found out, they would surely point fingers and gossip about his mother. Even though his mother was no longer alive, he didn’t want her relationship with Uncle Tiezhu to be exposed and have people speak ill of her behind her back.

However, letting the murderer who killed his mother go free was something he couldn’t accept either!

Seeing the young man’s conflicted expression, Shao Mingyuan sighed softly, “Bringing the murderer to justice and letting the deceased rest in peace – that is true filial piety for a son.”

From the fact that the young man could accept his mother being with another man, it was clear he wasn’t a narrow-minded or selfish person. Explaining the reasoning to get his cooperation in finding the murderer wouldn’t be difficult.

Indeed, after Shao Mingyuan said this, Shanzi trembled all over. After struggling for a moment, he nodded, “Alright, please wait. I’ll go ask Uncle Tiezhu to come over.”

The young man dropped these words and ran outside. Shao Mingyuan gave Chen Guang a meaningful look, and Chen Guang nodded in understanding, silently following behind.

With only their people left in the room, Yang Houcheng smiled, “Tingquan, Miss Li, I didn’t expect you to guess correctly. That Tiezhu and the tofu beauty were lovers.”

Chi Can rubbed his face irritably, muttering, “I still don’t quite understand.”

“Don’t understand what?” Shao Mingyuan asked with a smile.

“His mother was having an affair, and he’s still covering for her? Most people would cut ties with their mother in such situations, wouldn’t they?”

Shao Mingyuan’s gaze swept over Qiao Zhao’s face as he sighed, “For some people, worldly prejudices are far less important than the happiness of their loved ones.”

Chi Can was stunned.

Was that the case?

So should he also let go of his reservations and accept his mother keeping male favorites?

Something felt wrong, though – he seemed to have been led astray again.

Young Master Chi thought of his own family’s messy affairs and immediately felt his mind in turmoil.

Shanzi ran to Tiezhu’s door and knocked.

“Who is it?” came Tiezhu’s voice from inside.

“Uncle Tiezhu, it’s me—”

The door opened immediately. Tiezhu looked left and right, and seeing no one around, quickly pulled Shanzi inside, whispering, “Why are you here at this time? Aren’t you worried about being seen?”

Chen Guang, following behind, quietly climbed a tall tree leaning against the courtyard wall.

“Uncle Tiezhu, come with me to my house.”

“Shanzi, you—”

“Uncle Tiezhu, I’ve already told the Marquis about you seeing the murderer. The Marquis wants to see you.”

Tiezhu’s face changed dramatically. “Shanzi, how could you tell them? We don’t even know if those people are trustworthy. What if they also harm people?”

“Uncle Tiezhu, I think they’re good people.”

Tiezhu stamped his feet, “Shanzi, you’re still young. You can’t tell good people from bad just by appearances!”

“But that Marquis knows my mother was murdered—”

“What? How does he know?”

“As soon as he moved in, he had that coroner examine her. It was only after hearing him say this that I decided to tell the truth. Uncle Tiezhu, if we miss this chance, my mother will have truly died in vain.”

Tiezhu fell silent for a moment, then sighed, “You’re right. Alright, Shanzi, Uncle will go with you.”

Seeing the two leave the courtyard quietly, Chen Guang silently dropped to the ground and stealthily followed behind.

Standing before Shao Mingyuan and the others again, Tiezhu was much more nervous than Shanzi, stammering for a long while without getting a word out.

Shao Mingyuan smiled slightly, “Brother Tiezhu, we meet again.”

Tiezhu’s face instantly flushed red as he nodded awkwardly.

“Please sit.” Shao Mingyuan gestured to a seat nearby. His voice was gentle, with warmth even in his eyes and brows, possessing a calming power.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help thinking that this seemingly good-tempered man was completely different on the battlefield.

That day when he stood beneath the city wall, facing the Tatars’ taunts, his heart had truly been like iron, his brows carrying frost, his eyes holding cold and indifferent authority.

Such contradictory qualities appearing in the same person were quite interesting.

The young woman’s prolonged gaze made Shao Mingyuan involuntarily turn to look at her.

Why was Zhaozhao staring at him all this time?

He’d been busy since coming down the mountain today and hadn’t had time to tidy his appearance. Could it be that there was dirt on his face?

The young general discreetly raised his hand to touch his nose tip. Finding his fingertip clean, he became even more puzzled.

But it was good that Zhaozhao was willing to look at him.

Thinking this, Shao Mingyuan’s ears quietly reddened before he continued, “Brother Tiezhu, Shanzi has already told us everything. Now, please tell us in detail how you saw the murderer.”

Yang Houcheng touched his nose.

Tingquan was using ambiguous words to fool people again.

Tiezhu couldn’t help glancing at Shanzi.

Shanzi felt there was nothing wrong with what Shao Mingyuan said and nodded.

Tiezhu completely lost his reservations and spoke up, “After I tell you, will you spread word about me and Xiuniang?”

Without needing to ask, the “Xiuniang” Tiezhu mentioned was undoubtedly the tofu beauty.

Shao Mingyuan immediately said, “No, we’re not people who spread gossip. We’ll leave once we investigate the truth about the Qiao family fire.”

“Will you guarantee mine and Shanzi’s safety?” Tiezhu asked again.

This question piqued everyone’s interest.

Shao Mingyuan said calmly, “Naturally. Brother Tiezhu has provided us with help, for which we’re very grateful. Of course we’ll protect you and Shanzi’s safety. But Brother Tiezhu, do you have some particular concern in asking this?”

A flash of fear crossed Tiezhu’s eyes. “Previously, someone in the village got drunk and said Xiuniang was murdered. That person died not long after saying this.”