Jiang Yuanchao gripped Qiao Zhao’s wrist tightly, his gaze burning as he stared at her pale lips, listening to her utter those two words: “Thirteen…”

Jiang Yuanchao suddenly flew into a rage, forcefully pinching Qiao Zhao’s chin and making her involuntarily open her gradually confused eyes wide.

“‘Thirteen’ is something you can call me?” He pulled the frail young woman closer, furious beyond measure. “What exactly do you know? What’s your purpose?”

Her wrist felt as if it would break, burning with pain, and her throat felt as if there was fire burning inside.

Qiao Zhao began coughing violently, coughing until her face turned red, but forced herself not to faint. She kept a pair of clear, innocent eyes open, looking at the man close at hand.

“Little girl, if you don’t speak up, don’t blame me for using Jinlin Guards’ methods on you!” Those repeated calls of “Thirteen” had disturbed Jiang Yuanchao’s composure, making his words increasingly fierce.

Qiao Zhao looked at him with difficulty, thinking: How complex human nature is. It seemed just recently this man had gently told her he was attracted to the Qiao family’s young lady. At that time his eyes held endless tenderness—it wasn’t false words. But in the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a poisonous snake, biting her without mercy.

Waves of dizziness made Qiao Zhao’s gaze somewhat unfocused. She bit the tip of her tongue and smiled slightly at the man whose temples showed bulging veins: “On your waist, didn’t it leave fang marks?”

In that instant, Jiang Yuanchao’s pupils suddenly contracted. He subconsciously reached toward his waist, then, realizing what he was doing, suddenly pulled Qiao Zhao into his embrace, staring into her eyes and demanding harshly: “What fang marks? Explain clearly!”

The young woman was already very weak. Her lips moved, silently forming one word: “Snake…”

Jiang Yuanchao felt as if struck by lightning, staring blankly as he released Qiao Zhao. The memories he had carefully treasured in his heart surfaced.

He had been accidentally bitten by a poisonous snake, right at his waist. The snake venom was unexpectedly potent, quickly leaving him unable to move.

Just then, she had appeared. Without avoiding the impropriety between men and women, she had carefully and gently helped him squeeze out the snake venom.

In countless nights thereafter, he would unconsciously touch that small mark on his waist, with sweetness and secret joy that couldn’t be shared with others.

“You—who exactly are you?” Staring at the young woman’s pale face, Jiang Yuanchao asked in a trembling voice.

Qiao Zhao gently closed her eyes.

She was too tired and wanted to sleep for a while.

She was gambling, using the small debt of gratitude the former Qiao Zhao had with Jiang Yuanchao.

She didn’t know if she would lose everything, but she had no other choice.

“Say something!” Jiang Yuanchao shook Qiao Zhao’s arm.

The young woman’s lips moved but made no sound.

Jiang Yuanchao directly pulled Qiao Zhao into his embrace, looking down at her, his heart completely seized up: “Li Zhao, tell me, what relationship do you have with her? What relationship exactly?”

Getting no response, Jiang Yuanchao’s eyes turned red: “Li Zhao, talk to me!”

Qiao Zhao barely opened her eyes, meeting Jiang Yuanchao’s gaze, and said softly: “Save Chen Guang, don’t harm Imperial Censor Xing, and I’ll tell you.”

“You’re negotiating with me?” Jiang Yuanchao asked, suppressing his anger.

Qiao Zhao smiled weakly at him: “You can think of it that way.”

“What if I don’t accept? Do you believe I can order Imperial Censor Xing killed right now? And this little guard, as long as no one tends to him, he’ll soon breathe his last breath.”

“Then I won’t live either.” Qiao Zhao closed her eyes, not looking at him.

Jiang Yuanchao sneered: “Li Zhao, your life isn’t worth that much!”

The young woman suddenly opened her eyes. Her dark pupils were like water-washed black gemstones, pure and clear, able to reflect the man’s fierce, anxious appearance.

“Really?” Qiao Zhao looked at Jiang Yuanchao and asked gently.

Jiang Yuanchao’s heart felt as if someone had suddenly squeezed it—both painful and numb.

Li Zhao’s life wasn’t worth much to him, but Qiao Zhao’s life was incredibly precious to him.

What exactly was the relationship between Li Zhao and Qiao Zhao?

Or perhaps… Li Zhao was Qiao Zhao!

This thought flashed through his mind like lightning splitting through all confusion.

Jiang Yuanchao embraced Qiao Zhao with trembling hands, slowly lowering his head, bringing his lips to her ear, murmuring: “Are you her?”

He didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, but the girl in his arms gave him a strong feeling.

She was the person he had been thinking of day and night!

“You are her, aren’t you?”

“I—” Qiao Zhao smiled and fainted.

Jiang Yuanchao’s body stiffened and didn’t move for a long time.

The man in black holding the unconscious Imperial Censor Xing finally couldn’t help but speak: “Master—”

Jiang Yuanchao looked up and glanced at him.

Just then, Jiang He hurried over, grinning: “My lord, finally caught up! Eh, isn’t that Miss Li you’re holding?”

“Shut up!”

Jiang He quickly covered his mouth, his eyes curiously darting around.

In just this short time, what had he missed?

Jiang Yuanchao picked up Qiao Zhao and gave a flat order: “Jiang He, take the person on the ground.”

Jiang He looked down and couldn’t help but widen his eyes: “Alive or dead?”

He bent down to pick up Chen Guang and was pleased: “Turns out he’s half-dead.”

Hmph, earlier, when I told you to go into the water to save our lord, you wouldn’t save him. Now I have to carry—you got all the good deals!

Jiang He was quite disgruntled and secretly pinched Chen Guang hard.

Chen Guang did not react.

Jiang Yuanchao glanced at the man in black and said flatly: “Bring him too. Let’s go.”

In an unremarkable private residence, Jiang Yuanchao stood by the window. He turned back to glance at the young woman sleeping on the bed, his heart confused.

He didn’t know what had come over him then, why he had indulged her wishes by bringing that nearly dead little guard, and even spared Imperial Censor Xing’s life.

Was he afraid she would be sad when she woke up to find the little guard and Imperial Censor Xing dead?

But what did it matter if she was sad?

Thinking this way, Jiang Yuanchao’s lips curved in a bitter smile.

By now, he had to admit he had been bewitched by this enigmatic girl.

She seemed to have too many secrets, and from the moment they met, she had been tugging at his heartstrings.

Jiang Yuanchao walked back to sit beside the bed, gazing at the young woman sleeping peacefully.

Who exactly are you?

Jiang Yuanchao reached out to stroke her beautiful hair.

The young woman’s hair was thick as a waterfall with a faint fragrance. The man lost in thought unconsciously wound her hair around his slender fingers and brought it to his nose to sniff gently.

When Miss Qiao had saved him, they had been this close too. He could smell her faint hair fragrance—it was the same scent.

At that time, he had thought involuntarily: This smell is nice. I wonder what kind of hair wash this young lady used.

Li Zhao and Qiao Zhao—they were two different people, so why did they have so many similarities?

The calmed-down Jiang Yuanchao pressed his hand to his chest, finding it increasingly strange.

At that time, when she had opened her clear eyes wide and smiled at him, he had strongly felt that she was Miss Qiao.

Such an absurd thought was extremely odd.

Jiang Yuanchao closed his eyes.

Should he trust his reason or trust his intuition?

Was she her?