Jiang Shiran was dead.

She had died in a remote, desolate alley that, despite being not far from the bustling streets, was rarely visited by anyone.

She was half-leaning against the base of a wall, with accumulated snow covering part of her body. Her exposed face was ghastly pale without a trace of color, her wide-open eyes filled with terror and astonishment, unable to rest in peace even in death.

Not far away lay the bodies of two young men—the Jinlin Guards who had been secretly protecting Jiang Shiran.

“Foster father—” Jiang Yuanchao struggled to speak, reaching out to support Jiang Tang.

Jiang Tang shoved him away with force: “Get lost!”

Jiang Yuanchao was pushed aside.

Jiang Tang took a step forward, his black boots crunching on the accumulated snow with a squeaking sound.

He suddenly quickened his pace and rushed to Jiang Shiran’s side.

“Ran Ran, Ran Ran, why are you so disobedient, falling asleep here?” Jiang Tang, like an aged old man, tremblingly reached out his hand to caress Jiang Shiran’s already stiff face, murmuring urgently, “Hurry and get up, it’s cold here. Father will take you home—”

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Tang’s head tilted to one side, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

“Grand Commander!” The Jinlin Guards, who had rushed over in increasing numbers, cried out in alarm.

Jiang Tang stared at the fresh blood on the snow, motionless.

A group of Jinlin Guards stood nearby, none daring to speak.

Their Grand Commander had only this one daughter, whom he had always treasured like the apple of his eye, but now he was a father sending off his child before his own time.

More importantly, they, the mighty Jinlin Guards, had failed to protect even the Grand Commander’s daughter. If word of this spread, none of them would be able to show their faces again!

Each of the Jinlin Guards had fury in their eyes, clenching their fists until they cracked.

“Foster father—” Jiang Wu, who had rushed over, called out once, while Jiang Shiyi stood silently to the side.

Jiang Tang turned a deaf ear, bending down to lift Jiang Shiran’s corpse into his arms.

“Grand Commander—” The Jinlin Guards gathered around.

Jiang Tang said nothing, holding Jiang Shiran’s body as he walked forward, but then his feet stumbled and he nearly fell.

Several hands reached out simultaneously, all of which were brushed away by Jiang Tang: “Don’t any of you touch my Ran Ran!”

He walked forward with heavy steps, one step at a time, leaving deep footprints on the ground, two streams of tears falling from his blood-red eyes.

Jiang Yuanchao grimly instructed his subordinates: “Take their bodies away.”

The sky darkened, and the accumulated snow on the roof tiles and road surface reflected a vast white light. The streets had long since become cold and deserted. The occasional scattered pedestrians who saw the mass of black-clad Jinlin Guards were nearly scared out of their wits and immediately hid far away.

The Jinlin Guards silently followed behind Jiang Tang, gradually sensing something was wrong.

The direction the Grand Commander was heading didn’t seem to be toward the Jiang Residence, nor the Jinlin Guard headquarters, but rather—

The Jinlin Guards quietly exchanged glances, and in their confusion, all looked toward Jiang Yuanchao.

Since Jiang Yuanchao had become engaged to Jiang Shiran, Lord Shisan had become the person with real power in the Jinlin Guards, second only to the Grand Commander.

Jiang Yuanchao was astute, and looking at the direction Jiang Tang was heading and his current expression, he immediately understood where Jiang Tang was going.

“Foster father, are you going to the Imperial Medical Bureau?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of all the Jinlin Guards changed dramatically.

Had the Grand Commander, in his overwhelming grief at losing his beloved daughter, refused to accept that Miss Jiang was dead? Was he planning to carry Miss Jiang to the Imperial Medical Bureau for treatment?

If this were the case, the entire court would probably be shaken, especially the people from the Eastern Depot. Would they use the excuse that the Grand Commander was mentally unstable to seize power?

But at this moment, none of the Jinlin Guards dared to breathe heavily in front of Jiang Tang, let alone speak up to dissuade him. They could only look hopefully at Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao blocked Jiang Tang’s path: “Foster father, let’s go home. Ran Ran is in this condition and needs someone to help tidy her up. Don’t you think so?”

Jiang Tang’s eyeballs moved, and his gaze finally gained focus: “Go home?”

“Yes, it’s so cold. Let’s take Ran Ran home.”

Jiang Tang flew into a rage and slapped Jiang Yuanchao across the face: “Go home for what? Ran Ran is sick and still needs the imperial physicians to treat her illness!”

“We can have the imperial physicians come over.” Jiang Tang had used his full strength in that slap, and Jiang Yuanchao’s cheek immediately swelled up, with blood at the corner of his mouth. Yet he didn’t even wipe it away, speaking gently to persuade him.

“Foster father, wouldn’t it be more convenient to have the imperial physicians come to the residence?” Jiang Wu also tried to persuade him.

Jiang Shiyi was naturally taciturn, and at this moment, he lowered his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.

“No way, how could one imperial physician be enough? All of you get out of my way!” Jiang Tang roared angrily and quickened his pace while holding Jiang Shiran’s body.

One of Jiang Shiran’s arms hung down, swaying back and forth with Jiang Tang’s running motion.

Jiang Yuanchao averted his eyes and silently followed.

At this time, the imperial physicians had already finished their shifts. Only a few who were on duty were gathered together, drinking tea and chatting idly. Faced with the mass of black-clad Jinlin Guards bursting in, they were struck dumb with shock.

Jiang Tang set Jiang Shiran down and grabbed one imperial physician by the collar: “Where is your Director?”

“Grand Commander Jiang?” The imperial physician was bewildered. “Just before the end of the shift, word came from the palace that the Empress Dowager was feeling somewhat unwell, so Director Li entered the palace.”

“Shiyi, go wait outside the palace gates. As soon as Director Li comes out, bring him here!” Jiang Tang immediately ordered.

Although Jiang Tang’s words and actions were absurd at this moment, Jiang Shiyi silently accepted the order and left.

Jiang Tang dragged the imperial physician to Jiang Shiran’s body: “You examine my daughter first!”

The several imperial physicians took just one look and were scared out of their wits.

“What are you standing there for? Quickly treat my daughter!” Jiang Tang roared.

One imperial physician said with a pale face: “Grand Commander, your daughter… your daughter is already gone—”

The speaking imperial physician’s final tone turned into a scream. Jiang Tang was gripping his neck tightly, squeezing harder and harder.

“Foster father, please calm down—”

Jiang Tang glanced coldly at Jiang Yuanchao, applied force with his hand, and with a crack, the unfortunate imperial physician’s neck was twisted, his head drooping down, never to make another sound.

The other imperial physicians were scared to the point of wetting themselves.

The Jinlin Guards became even more silent.

These people had dealt with all kinds of high officials and had seen countless scenes, but storming into the Imperial Medical Bureau and strangling an innocent imperial physician to death was a first.

“Examine my daughter.” Jiang Tang looked at the remaining imperial physicians.

This time, no one dared to say that Jiang Shiran was already dead. They surrounded her body and, suppressing their terror, pretended to diagnose and treat her.

“Foster father, Director Li is here.” Jiang Shiyi brought Director Li in.

Director Li had no complaints; after all, Jiang Tang held an extraordinary position in the Emperor’s heart, and they, mere imperial physicians, couldn’t afford to offend him.

Seeing Jiang Tang’s ugly expression, Director Li smiled and consoled: “Grand Commander, don’t be anxious. Let me first examine your daughter’s condition.”

He glanced at Jiang Shiran lying on the long bench, and the smile on his face immediately froze. He gasped and said, “Your daughter is already dead.”

The word “dead” immediately enraged Jiang Tang.

Seeing Director Li being grabbed by the neck by Jiang Tang, in an identical scene to what had just occurred, the several imperial physicians could no longer bear it and collapsed to the ground one after another.

Jiang Yuanchao made a split-second decision and struck toward Jiang Tang’s back. Jiang Tang’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.