Those who practiced martial arts acted decisively. Uncle Xie returned to the hall, sat down with a thud, and handed an oil paper-wrapped item to Shao Mingyuan.

“Uncle, this is—”

Uncle Xie waved his hand: “I don’t know what it is either.”

Meeting the other’s slightly surprised gaze, he explained: “This is what Brother Qiao gave me when I visited the Qiao family earlier this year. After I received it, I put it away and have never opened it to look.”

Qiao Zhao’s eyes flashed.

According to Uncle Xie’s account, he had received this item even before her eldest brother went to visit the Qiao family’s old friends.

Did this mean that when Father later instructed her eldest brother to visit their family friends, but specifically omitted the Xie family, Father had done so intentionally to avoid drawing attention?

Qiao Zhao stood behind Shao Mingyuan and gently touched him.

Shao Mingyuan understood, asking with a puzzled expression: “Since this is something my father-in-law gave to Uncle, why are you transferring it to me?”

Uncle Xie glanced at the item in Shao Mingyuan’s hands and sighed: “I was merely keeping it for Brother Qiao. When Brother Qiao gave me this item, he told me that if someday the Qiao family encountered any misfortune—”

He looked at Shao Mingyuan with a somewhat sorrowful expression: “Brother Qiao instructed me that if the Marquis would bring his eldest daughter to Jia Feng, I should give this item to his eldest daughter.”

He had later learned the news of the Qiao family’s eldest daughter’s death.

When Marquis Guanjun came to visit, he had been hesitating in his heart, unsure whether he should give this item to Marquis Guanjun.

Marquis Guanjun’s declaration that he would avenge the Qiao family, combined with Qiao Mo’s letter, finally made him decide to give the item to him.

Uncle Xie thought to himself: Brother Qiao, I’m a rough man who doesn’t know if this is the right thing to do. I hope your spirit in heaven will bless me for not misjudging this person and not failing your trust.

Upon hearing Uncle Xie’s words, Qiao Zhao’s face turned pale.

This item was originally meant for her by Father.

At this moment, Qiao Zhao was immensely grateful that before the Qiao family’s tragedy, news of her death hadn’t reached the south. Otherwise, how devastated Father would have been upon receiving such news.

Her gaze fell on the oil paper-wrapped item.

What could be inside? Judging by its thickness, it looked like letters, calligraphy, or paintings.

Qiao Zhao was somewhat impatient, but having experienced so many events, she still had this much self-control. Her expression quickly returned to calm, lowering her eyes submissively like a genuine servant, drawing no attention whatsoever.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, and the gatekeeper came to report: “Master, someone has come.”

Uncle Xie and Shao Mingyuan exchanged glances and stood up: “Marquis, please put the item away safely. I’ll go out and take a look.”

The main gate opened to reveal a man around thirty years old standing outside with several people behind him.

Upon seeing Uncle Xie, the man said directly, “I heard there’s a very capable young man at your residence. Where is he now? Why doesn’t he come out to meet me?”

“You want to see me?” A cold voice came from within.

The man looked up to see a tall young man staring at him with cold eyes that held a faint air of authority.

“May I ask who you are? Why are you interfering in the Xie family’s affairs?”

“Uncle Xie’s affairs are my affairs,” Shao Mingyuan said indifferently.

The man’s face darkened: “Are you refusing to give me face?”

Not only ordinary people, but even officials, large and small, in Jia Feng had to keep their tails between their legs when they met the Jinlin Guards. The local Jinlin Guards were even more imposing than those in the capital.

Over time, some members of the Jinlin Guards naturally became arrogant in their words and actions.

Although the man sensed that the young man before him was no ordinary person, he still didn’t restrain his temper, his cold eyes flashing with fierce killing intent.

Shao Mingyuan raised an eyebrow and asked unhurriedly: “Are you a Jinlin Guard?”

The man couldn’t help but sneer: “So you don’t recognize Jinlin Guard uniforms!”

Shao Mingyuan’s gaze fell on the man’s body and said indifferently: “Eh, your clothing and accessories are somewhat different from the Jinlin Guards I’ve seen, so I’m a bit confused.”

Qiao Zhao lowered her head and curved her lips slightly.

This guy was starting to mock people again.

Of course they were different. The clothing this person wore was slightly different from orthodox Jinlin Guards. Those who understood the Jinlin Guards could distinguish that this belonged to peripheral personnel of the Jinlin Guards—meaning they weren’t included in the official roster.

Hearing Shao Mingyuan say this, the man’s face changed dramatically.

Although he was a peripheral personnel of the Jinlin Guards, with this identity, everyone in Jia Feng treated him politely. This was the first time someone had slapped his face like this.

“What are you standing around for? This person is suspicious—arrest him!”

The people the man brought responded in unison and swarmed forward to surround Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan called out loudly: “If the master doesn’t come out to leash his troublemaking dog, then this Marquis won’t be polite!”

As his words fell, a cold voice shouted: “Stop what you’re doing!”

“Who are you to dare obstruct us, Jinlin Guards, in our duties?” The man turned his head, and upon seeing the newcomer, his legs immediately went weak as he stammered: “Fifth, Fifth Master—”

Fifth Master Jiang raised his hand and slapped the man hard across the face, saying coldly: “Duties? What are you to represent the Jinlin Guards in official duties?”

Personnel like this were merely locals recruited by the Jinlin Guards due to insufficient manpower in the regions. While they could lord it over others in the eyes of common people with this uniform, in his eyes, they were nothing.

Fifth Master Jiang was too lazy to say another word to the man. He cupped his hands toward Shao Mingyuan: “Marquis, this subordinate failed to manage his people properly. My apologies.”

He had been having people watch this great Buddha, Marquis Guanjun, but his subordinates reported that peripheral Jinlin Guard personnel had gone to confront him. What a joke!

“No matter. It’s just that this Jinlin Guard’s cousin, relying on having a cousin who is a Jinlin Guard, has been frequently harassing my uncle here. Today, this Marquis must ask Master Jiang for a favor.”

Fifth Master Jiang smiled: “The Marquis is too polite. This person is merely doing odd jobs for the Jinlin Guards. Since he’s so ignorant, we’ll just replace him later. Elder Xie can rest assured.”

Shao Mingyuan frowned: “Although that’s so, who knows about the future?”

Fifth Master Jiang surveyed the area, and the neighbors watching the excitement quickly ducked their heads back inside.

He sneered and declared loudly: “Fifth Master Jiang puts his words here: whoever troubles the Xie family in the future is going against us, Jinlin Guards.”

A small Xie family that couldn’t even be called local wealthy, if not for their past friendship with the Qiao family, would be no different from common people in his eyes. What kind of trouble could such a family cause?

For such people who could be protected without any effort, he was naturally happy to offer such cheap favors.

“Then, many thanks to Master Jiang. Would Master Jiang like to come in for a cup of tea?”

Fifth Master Jiang smiled: “This subordinate won’t disturb the Marquis and Elder Xie’s reunion.”

He cupped his hands, didn’t even glance at the ashen-faced man, and said coldly: “Let’s go.”

The main gate of the Xie residence closed again, and the neighbors’ gazes toward the Xie residence had already changed.

The Xie family had Jinlin Guards protecting them now—they couldn’t be provoked anymore!