The first month of the twenty-sixth year of Mingkang’s reign was originally still holding onto the festive tail of the New Year celebrations, but it became shrouded in a heavy, oppressive shadow due to the tragic death of Jiang Tang’s only daughter, the Commander of the Jinlin Guards.

During those days, there were hardly any pedestrians on the streets, and everywhere one could see the hurried figures of Jinlin Guards coming and going.

The matter of Jiang Tang strangling an imperial physician to death was directly suppressed by Emperor Mingkang. This sovereign of the nation displayed his attitude that he would not pursue his milk brother for this incident.

This attitude made many people pay even more attention to the movements at the Jiang Residence.

Jiang Tang had already calmed down.

Or rather, this powerful minister who had risen to the position of Commander of the Jinlin Guards ultimately possessed an endurance beyond that of ordinary people.

Looking at the three foster sons who remained by his side—Jiang Yuanchao, Jiang Wu, and Jiang Shiyi—Jiang Tang’s face showed not a trace of a smile as he asked coldly: “Shisan, at exactly what time did you and Ran Ran part ways?”

“It should have been around noon. I accompanied Ran Ran to browse several shops, and she said she wanted to eat mutton soup, so we went to Baiwei Pavilion.”

“Noon? How long did you spend dining at Baiwei Pavilion?” Jiang Tang instinctively felt something was wrong.

Dining outside wasn’t as convenient as at home—they couldn’t possibly sit down and leave within two quarters of an hour.

Jiang Yuanchao pondered for a moment and answered truthfully: “Ran Ran had a quarrel with me, and in the end, we didn’t eat.”

The Jinlin Guards’ job was to investigate. Even if he didn’t speak, his foster father would find out sooner or later. Rather than having it come from someone else’s mouth, it was better for him to explain clearly early on.

“Quarreled?” Jiang Tang stared at Jiang Yuanchao with eyes that seemed ready to breathe fire. “Why did you quarrel?”

He knew his daughter—she was wholeheartedly devoted to Shisan. Even if her temper was a bit strong, when the two went shopping and dining together, they shouldn’t have quarreled under normal circumstances.

Jiang Yuanchao lowered his eyes: “We encountered Marquis Guanjun and his fiancée at Baiwei Pavilion.”

“Fiancée?” Jiang Tang closed his eyes and immediately understood.

Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée was none other than Third Miss Li, and Ran Ran particularly didn’t get along with Third Miss Li.

“Tell me everything you said after encountering Marquis Guanjun and Third Miss Li!”

Jiang Yuanchao had been mentally prepared and truthfully recounted the events of that day.

After hearing everything, Jiang Tang’s face showed bulging veins as he heavily pounded the table: “It’s my fault, all my fault!”

If he hadn’t suggested that day for Ran Ran to go celebrate Third Miss Li’s birthday, Ran Ran wouldn’t have entered the palace in a fit of anger. Then she would have stayed home properly instead of going out to shop with Shisan after leaving the palace, only to encounter Third Miss Li at Baiwei Pavilion and run off in anger.

“Why didn’t you stop Ran Ran?” Jiang Tang asked Jiang Yuanchao coldly.

“I thought that since Ran Ran had Jinlin Guards secretly protecting her, and she was angry, rather than chase after her and quarrel again, it would be better to wait until she calmed down.”

“Calmed down?” Jiang Tang’s expression grew even uglier. “Shisan, don’t you know that when Ran Ran was angry, only you could comfort her? Unfortunately, you were too lazy to do so!”

His Ran Ran probably waited for this bastard to chase after her until the moment she died!

He had been wrong. When a man loves a woman like a sister versus loving her as his beloved, the degree of care is different.

If Shisan truly cared for Ran Ran, how could he bear to let her sulk alone?

Jiang Tang couldn’t help but think of when his wife was still alive.

Back then, when he was young and hot-blooded, the two would sometimes have arguments, but every time they quarreled and his wife refused to speak to him in anger, even if he was still furious, he wouldn’t let their cold war last more than a quarter of an hour.

Even if he held her while they continued bickering, he couldn’t bear to let her cry alone.

“Did Marquis Guanjun warn Ran Ran not to provoke Third Miss Li again?” Jiang Tang suddenly asked.

Jiang Yuanchao pressed his lips together and replied: “Marquis Guanjun didn’t warn Ran Ran, he only reminded Shisan—”

“Are you speaking up for Marquis Guanjun?” The immense pain of losing his beloved daughter made Jiang Tang’s thoughts extraordinarily sharp, and he quickly detected the protective tone in Jiang Yuanchao’s words.

Who was Shisan protecting? Not Marquis Guanjun!

Then, was it Third Miss Li?

Jiang Tang’s dark, deathly eyes narrowed.

He had long since noticed Shisan’s feelings for Third Miss Li, otherwise, he wouldn’t have used both soft and hard tactics to arrange the engagement between Shisan and Ran Ran.

Originally, he had planned to wait for the two young people’s feelings to develop naturally, with Shisan proposing marriage of his own accord.

Jiang Tang’s attitude made Jiang Yuanchao’s heart chill: “Foster father, Shisan is only truthfully recounting Marquis Guanjun’s reaction that day. I have no intention of speaking up for him. Ran Ran is my foster sister and also my fiancée. Shisan’s heart is also pierced with pain at this moment.”

Even though marrying his foster sister wasn’t his willing choice—that was only because he had someone else in his heart—this didn’t mean he was willing to see his foster sister come to harm.

After more than ten years of sibling affection, his heart wasn’t made of iron.

The pain in Jiang Yuanchao’s eyes caused Jiang Tang’s expression to soften slightly as he said flatly: “Go invite Marquis Guanjun and Third Miss Li over. I want to see them.”

“Yes.”

“You may all leave as well.” Jiang Tang closed his eyes in pain.

Jiang Yuanchao and the other two left one after another.

Jiang Tang sat motionless in a daze, and soon footsteps could be heard.

“Foster father.” Jiang Shiyi’s voice came from outside the door.

Jiang Shiyi’s return after leaving made Jiang Tang open his eyes: “Come in.”

Jiang Shiyi pushed open the door and entered, standing silently before Jiang Tang without saying a word.

“If you have something to say, speak!”

Jiang Shiyi reached into his robes and pulled out an object, presenting it before Jiang Tang.

Jiang Tang glanced at it and his eyes contracted: “This is—”

In Jiang Shiyi’s palm was a double-fish jade pendant strung on a green cord. Jiang Tang was all too familiar with it—it was the one Jiang Yuanchao habitually wore.

“Shiyi discovered this in her foster sister’s hand.” Jiang Shiyi’s voice was cold and emotionless.

He had been the first to discover Jiang Shiran’s body.

Jiang Tang took the jade pendant and gripped it tightly, saying nothing.

“Shiyi takes his leave.”

Even after Jiang Shiyi silently withdrew, Jiang Tang didn’t move a muscle, though his heart was in turmoil.

Shisan’s jade pendant appearing in Ran Ran’s hand meant that the facts weren’t as Shisan had described—that they had quarreled at Baiwei Pavilion and then separated. Otherwise, Ran Ran wouldn’t have been clutching Shisan’s jade pendant when she died.

More footsteps approached, and Jiang Tang looked toward the closed door.

“Foster father, may I come in?” This time it was Jiang Wu’s voice.

“Come in.” The corner of Jiang Tang’s mouth twitched.

What would this foster son privately tell him?

Although Jiang Wu had a cold temperament, he wasn’t as taciturn as Jiang Shiyi. After coming before Jiang Tang, he said: “Foster father, there’s something that Xiao Wu doesn’t know whether he should mention—”

“Speak!” Jiang Tang coldly interrupted Jiang Wu’s unnecessary words.

“On the night of the Lantern Festival, I inadvertently saw Thirteenth Brother take Third Miss Li away during the chaos.”

Jiang Tang’s heart shook: “What do you mean by ‘take away’?”

Jiang Wu lowered his eyes: “At that time, a tree-tall lantern suddenly collapsed. The person protecting Third Miss Li went to help with the lantern, and I saw Thirteenth Brother pull Third Miss Li’s hand and disappear into the crowd in the blink of an eye.”