There were a full hundred archers, and besides the archers, nearly a thousand more men stood watching Governor Li’s officers and soldiers with predatory gazes.

Governor Li’s expression changed dramatically as he demanded, “Who are you people?”

A burly middle-aged man stepped forward from the crowd, with an exceptionally handsome young man standing beside him – it was Chi Can, who had been missing for most of the day.

Governor Li’s gaze fixed deadly on the burly man’s face.

The man said in a deep voice, “Hearing Young Master Chi’s report that bandits were attacking Baiyun Village, Deputy Commander Xiao Qiang of Jianan has come to suppress the bandits!”

Governor Li’s body swayed.

Why would Deputy Commander Xiao Qiang of Jianan wade into these troubled waters?

What, suppressing bandits? If Xiao Qiang didn’t know he was here, he’d twist off his head for others to kick around like a ball!

Why would Xiao Qiang risk offending him, and more importantly, risk offending Elder Lan to help the Marquis Guanjun?

Governor Li racked his brains but couldn’t figure it out.

At this moment, a light laugh came through. He looked toward the sound and discovered it was Jiang Wu who had laughed.

The current Jiang Wu wore brocade robes stained with blood, his pale jade-like cheeks marked with streaks of blood. Combined with his cold, icy gaze, he inspired inexplicable terror.

Governor Li looked at Jiang Wu and momentarily forgot to speak.

Jiang Wu suddenly stepped forward and said in a low voice: “During Jiang’s time in Jiafeng, I’ve been under Governor Li’s care. Now I might as well repay Governor Li this favor. Governor Li must be very curious why Deputy Commander Xiao came to assist?”

“Why?” Governor Li slowly uttered these two words.

Today’s defeat was already decided – he at least wanted to die understanding why.

Jiang Wu chuckled softly: “Because Deputy Commander Xiao has a son serving under the Marquis Guanjun. Oh, no wonder Governor Li didn’t know – this matter is quite confidential.”

Jiang Wu glanced at the ashen-faced Governor Li and delivered another killing blow: “Besides Deputy Commander Xiao himself, probably only we Jinlin Guards know about it.”

Speaking to this point, Jiang Wu suddenly raised his voice: “Deputy Commander Xiao, Jianan Prefect Li Zongyu has colluded with bandits, birds of a feather flocking together. Jinlin Guard Jiang Wu humbly requests that Deputy Commander Xiao assist the Jinlin Guards in capturing these traitors!”

Not taking him, Jiang Wu, seriously? Wanting this old man to accompany the Marquis Guanjun in death?

Hmph, if he didn’t catch all these fools in one net, they wouldn’t know what the Jinlin Guards were capable of!

“Xiao will certainly do his utmost to eliminate all these evil bandits!” Xiao Qiang raised his hand.

The officers and soldiers Governor Li had brought looked at each other in bewilderment, all at a loss.

Just then, Shao Mingyuan laughed loudly: “Brothers, aren’t you prepared to lend Deputy Commander a hand? Oh right, this Marquis’s earlier proposal is still in effect.”

Proposal? What proposal? Of course, it was the proposal of ten thousand taels of silver for whoever shut Governor Li’s mouth!

Never mind having this proposal – even without it, the Marquis Guanjun had given them a way out.

If they didn’t quickly declare their position now, did they want to be shot full of holes by the archers Deputy Commander Xiao had brought? The key point was that even if they were shot full of holes, they wouldn’t even get compensation money, and would also bear the infamy of colluding with bandits.

When it came to their own lives, no one was a fool. As soon as Shao Mingyuan finished speaking, countless officers rushed toward Governor Li.

Xiao Qiang lowered his hand.

Serving in the same Jianan territory, it was better not to harm these officers if possible. Capturing Governor Li and the other main perpetrators would be sufficient explanation.

The Marquis Guanjun had shown life-saving grace and support to his son – he couldn’t fail to repay this favor.

Moreover—

Xiao Qiang looked at Governor Li’s panicked and flustered face, his eyes suddenly turning cold.

Li Zongyu’s audacity was far too great. Having Chief Minister Lan Shan’s backing, he dared to try to capture the Marquis Guanjun and others in one net. And there were the villagers of Baiyun Village – since he was using the pretext of bandits causing trouble, was Li Zongyu also planning to massacre Baiyun Village?

Such a person truly deserved death ten thousand times over!

Xiao Qiang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze shifting to Jiang Wu.

He was somewhat puzzled why the Jinlin Guards had become involved and were standing on the same side as the Marquis Guanjun, but this was a good thing.

With Jiang Wu’s earlier words, he had changed from being the main force to assisting the Jinlin Guards in their case. This way, when Chief Minister Lan Shan became furious later, the anger would be blocked by Jinlin Guard Commander Jiang Tang.

Xiao Qiang looked toward the Marquis Guanjun.

Among thousands of troops, that young man stood tall and elegant, his gaze clear and cold, a calm smile hanging at the corners of his mouth. The chaos before him seemed not to have affected him in the slightest.

He even glanced back at the courtyard gate behind him, and when he turned back, there was a flash of tenderness in his eyes.

Xiao Qiang couldn’t help but sigh.

This was the Marquis Guanjun, whom the people of Great Liang in the Northern Territories regarded as a heavenly god. His reputation was indeed well-deserved.

Looking across the world, in the past several decades, military generals were as numerous as stars, but those who could compare with the one before him were probably only that Marquis Zhenyuan from twenty years ago.

It was just a pity…

Shao Mingyuan seemed to sense something and turned to look at Xiao Qiang.

Xiao Qiang came back to his senses and clasped his fists toward Shao Mingyuan from afar.

Shao Mingyuan returned the courtesy. Seeing that the situation was completely under their control, he turned and walked toward the courtyard.

Qiao Zhao listened carefully to the sounds outside and asked Chen Guang, “Is it over?”

“It should be over.” Chen Guang suddenly frowned. “Someone’s coming. Miss Li, guess who it might be?”

Qiao Zhao studied Chen Guang’s expression and raised her eyebrows: “General Shao?”

Chen Guang immediately grinned, showing his white teeth: “That’s right, it’s our General. I’m very familiar with the General’s footsteps—”

Oh no, he’d let it slip. He had originally wanted to see Miss Li worry about the General.

Shao Mingyuan appeared in the doorway.

Chen Guang quickly ran out: “General, Third Miss has been waiting for you. You two chat slowly.”

Shao Mingyuan walked in, completely puzzled: “Why did Chen Guang run off?”

“Probably guilty conscience,” Qiao Zhao came forward to meet him.

“Hm?” Shao Mingyuan was confused.

But Qiao Zhao didn’t continue with this topic, looking Shao Mingyuan up and down, her expression changing slightly: “You’re injured?”

“No, it’s all other people’s blood—” Shao Mingyuan said to this point and frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

The young general drew in a light breath: “My left shoulder hurts a bit.”

Originally, such minor injuries didn’t even count as injuries in his view, but if he didn’t let Zhaozhao feel sorry for him at this moment, he would be a fool.

“Let me see.” Hearing this, Qiao Zhao indeed frowned, stood on her tiptoes, and gently pulled down his clothing a bit, exposing his left shoulder.

Shao Mingyuan’s face reddened somewhat: “It’s all bloody, it’s dirtying your hands.”

Qiao Zhao glared at him: “At a time like this, why are you saying such irrelevant things?”

A vicious, gaping wound on his left shoulder made Qiao Zhao’s eyes tighten, her heart inexplicably feeling somewhat pained. But she scolded: “Didn’t you say it was all other people’s blood? This wound here is quite serious.”

Although the external injury wasn’t life-threatening, people weren’t made of iron – of course, it would hurt.

“Does it hurt?” Shao Mingyuan suddenly asked.

Qiao Zhao was startled by the question.

Didn’t he know whether it hurt or not? Why was he asking her?

The young general lowered his head and smiled, gazing into the young woman’s eyes: “Zhaozhao, do you feel distressed?”