In officialdom, those smooth-talking officials who could handle all situations most feared people who had no desires and were impervious to bribes. Governor Li suddenly realized that the watertight Marquis Guanjun had a weakness when it came to women. Not only was he not displeased by his departure, but he felt much more relaxed. Smiling, he began inquiring of Jiang Wu: “Does Lord Jiang Wu know what relationship that young lady has with Marquis Guanjun?”

Jiang Wu replied indifferently: “Governor Li is asking the wrong person with that question. Although I work for the Jinlin Guards, I wouldn’t spend my time watching a young lady for no reason.”

Governor Li hit a soft nail, but didn’t dare show his displeasure. He found himself a way out, saying, “Lord Jiang Wu is right. That young lady is indeed nothing important.”

What was important was that when Marquis Guanjun came to pay respects to his father-in-law’s family, he had some involvement with an unmarried young woman. This showed that the Qiao family’s position in that marquis’s heart was far less important than he had displayed.

If that was the case, then there was no need to be so nervous about investigating the case.

While cups and dishes clinked at the village chief’s home, the tofu beauty’s residence was frighteningly quiet.

Shao Mingyuan walked into the house and gently waved his hand at A’Zhu and Binglu.

The two had already received Qiao Zhao’s instructions. Seeing him enter, they silently withdrew.

Shao Mingyuan sat down beside Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao set down her teacup and looked up at him.

The young lady’s eyes were clear and shallow, heavy with thoughts.

“What does Zhaozhao want to say?”

By now, Qiao Zhao had regained her composure. She glanced outside and lowered her voice: “I remember who the person in the portrait is!”

Shao Mingyuan’s expression changed dramatically as he asked in a low voice: “Who?”

“A guard of the Jianan Governor!”

“Governor Li?”

Qiao Zhao nodded: “Yes. After I finished that portrait, I only felt that person seemed familiar, but I couldn’t remember where exactly I had seen him. It wasn’t until just now in the village chief’s courtyard when I inadvertently glanced through the window and saw Governor Li that I finally remembered. Several years ago, Governor Li once came in plain clothes to Xingzi Alley to visit Grandfather. The guard who followed him at that time was the person in the painting!”

“Governor Li’s guard?” Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes, then opened them again. “Among the several guards who came today, none was the person in the painting.”

Qiao Zhao sneered coldly: “A guilty conscience naturally wouldn’t dare bring the murderer along. Shao Mingyuan, since I’ve remembered, I absolutely wouldn’t be mistaken. At that time, Governor Li came to visit Grandfather because…”

She quickly glanced at him before continuing: “Because I was about to get married, so he came to offer congratulations.”

When the poor live in busy markets, no one asks after them; when the rich live in remote mountains, they have distant relatives.

She was marrying Great Liang’s rising star, the Northern Expedition General. Before her wedding, Xingzi Alley had been quite lively for a while, which annoyed Grandfather greatly.

“I don’t disbelieve you.” Shao Mingyuan looked at her steadily.

“About to marry” – just hearing it made one’s heart flutter.

Qiao Zhao, unaware of the man beside her’s wandering thoughts, asked: “So what are your plans now?”

“To be able to cleanly execute a family massacre, that person must also be a trusted figure by Governor Li’s side. Such a person wouldn’t be hard to find. Right now, the most important thing is to arrange things well for Tiezhu and Shanzi.” Shao Mingyuan sighed. “I plan to send people to escort them to the capital, just in case.”

Qiao Zhao didn’t object: “That’s good too. This is Governor Li’s territory, and we don’t have many people. If something happens, we’d inevitably be caught off guard. Sending them to the capital would be much safer. However, it’s hard to leave one’s homeland, and Shanzi is studying in town—”

The study matter isn’t hard to resolve. I’ll go ask what they think first.” Shao Mingyuan glanced at Qiao Zhao and said softly, “Zhaozhao, don’t worry. The matter already has leads, and the truth will come to light sooner or later.”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “I understand. At least now we know Governor Li’s position, which is still timely.”

If Governor Li had discovered first that Tiezhu had seen the murderer, without any precautions Tiezhu would very likely have been silenced.

Without wasting time, Shao Mingyuan quickly sent people to invite Tiezhu and Shanzi over.

“We already know who the person in the portrait is.” Shao Mingyuan got straight to the point.

Tiezhu’s whole body shook as he asked in shock: “Who?”

Shanzi sat beside Tiezhu, clenching his fists.

“The governor came today, you know that, right?”

“I know, I saw him,” Shanzi spoke up.

Shao Mingyuan looked at the two and said seriously, “The person in the portrait is Governor Li’s man.”

Upon hearing this, Tiezhu was so frightened that his face turned ashen.

Shanzi’s fists clenched and unclenched, unclenched and clenched again, his face equally pale.

Never mind a governor – even a county magistrate was a tremendously important figure to people like them. So the object of their revenge was a governor?

Shao Mingyuan patiently waited for the two to calm their emotions somewhat, then asked with a smile: “I wonder what you two plan to do? Do you still want to avenge Xiuniang?”

Shanzi raised his head and said through gritted teeth: “The hatred of killing one’s mother is irreconcilable. Even if I’m shattered to pieces, I must avenge this!”

After speaking, the youth looked at Tiezhu: “Uncle Tiezhu, you don’t need to get involved in such dangerous business—”

Tiezhu glared at Shanzi, his face flushing red as he interrupted: “What are you saying, child? Although your mother and I never married, in my heart, she was my wife. Though I don’t have great abilities, I can’t be a coward and let your mother curse me from the underworld for following the wrong man!”

Seeing their reaction, Shao Mingyuan curved his lips slightly and asked: “Are you willing to leave here and go to the capital?”

The two were stunned.

Leave here? This was something Tiezhu had never considered. Shanzi had fantasized about going to the capital for the imperial examinations someday, but for his current age, all of this was too early, like an unreachable dream.

“If you want to avenge Xiuniang, you can’t stay here. Only by going to the capital and standing up to identify Governor Li in the future can you avenge her.”

Seeing their bewildered expressions, Shao Mingyuan said gently, “Don’t worry, I’ll send people to protect you on the journey to the capital. Once you reach the capital, you’ll live in my residence. There will be dedicated teachers to instruct Shanzi, and in the future, Shanzi can take the imperial examinations in the capital. If Brother Tiezhu wants work, I can also arrange a position for you. What do you think?”

The two were dumbfounded.

What did they think? What else could they think? They could both get revenge and live the life they’d dreamed of – apart from being dazed, they didn’t know how else to react.

The two were still somewhat dizzy when they left. Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but smile charmingly: “I didn’t expect General Shao to be so eloquent.”

“It’s not that I’m eloquent, it’s just that what would require their utmost effort to achieve is merely a simple gesture for me.” Shao Mingyuan smiled and skipped this topic. “Sending away Tiezhu and the others puts my mind at ease. There’s no need to waste time staying in the village.”

“What are General Shao’s plans?”

“What about you?”

The two looked at each other.

Qiao Zhao turned away: “Is General Shao still going to play riddles with me?”

“No, I just wanted to see if our thoughts aligned.”

Qiao Zhao twitched the corner of her mouth.

She wouldn’t play any “hearts in perfect harmony” games with him!

So Miss Qiao said directly: “Visit friends, draw the snake from its hole.”

The general smiled slightly: “That’s exactly what I was thinking too. Zhaozhao, we are in perfect harmony.”