After hearing Jiang Wu’s report, Jiang Tang began emanating a bone-chilling coldness. Though the room had braziers, it made people feel piercingly cold.

“What happened after that?”

Jiang Wu’s attitude became even more respectful: “There were too many people at the time, so I didn’t see them again after that.”

Jiang Tang’s eyes suddenly shot out a sharp light as he asked sternly: “Why didn’t you say this earlier?”

Jiang Wu lowered his head even further without making a sound.

“Then why are you saying it now?” Jiang Tang asked again.

After two days of being in a daze from losing his daughter, his thinking had become even more acute.

“Because Ran Ran was murdered, I felt that any unusual clues should be reported to the foster father.” Jiang Wu replied frankly.

“I understand. You may go.”

Jiang Tang didn’t order Jiang Wu or Jiang Shiyi to investigate Jiang Yuanchao’s affairs, but instead instructed another Jinlin Guard: “Go find out what time Jiang Shisan returned to headquarters.”

Not long after, that Jinlin Guard returned to report: “Grand Commander, Lord Shisan returned near the end of the noon hour.”

Behind him followed two people—one dressed like a Jinlin Guard, the other in the common attire of a tavern server.

Working for the head of the Jinlin Guards naturally couldn’t allow for any carelessness, especially when it involved Miss Jiang. Every response had to have corroboration.

The Jinlin Guard who entered first spoke: “Grand Commander, this subordinate can testify that Lord Shisan returned to headquarters near the end of the noon hour. At that time, this subordinate had just finished eating and was returning when I saw Lord Shisan walking inside. I casually asked if Lord Shisan had eaten. Lord Shisan said no, so this subordinate volunteered to go to the tavern outside our headquarters to buy food for Lord Shisan.”

After speaking, he pointed to the trembling server standing to the side: “Grand Commander, this subordinate ordered the dishes from this server.”

Jiang Tang’s gaze fell on the server.

The tavern where the server worked often served the lords of the Jinlin Guards, so the server was considered quite bold. But at this moment, being stared at by the number one figure of the Jinlin Guards, he could barely breathe.

This Grand Commander was truly frightening—no wonder he could command the Jinlin Guards!

The server thought silently.

“Ordered dishes from you?” Jiang Tang asked in a hoarse voice.

The server hastily lowered his head, still unable to suppress the nervousness surging from his heart: “Yes… Yes, ordered from this humble one. At that time, this lord ordered stir-fried lamb liver, but since it was already the end of the noon hour, this dish happened to be sold out. This humble one suggested changing it to stir-fried chicken giblets.”

This made it indisputable that Jiang Yuanchao had returned to Jinlin Guard headquarters near the end of the noon hour.

Jiang Tang nodded slightly, and the Jinlin Guard led the server away.

Jiang Tang leaned against his chair back, gently tapping the armrest.

From Baiwei Pavilion to Jinlin Guard headquarters, even walking would take only half an hour. But Shisan said he parted from Ran Ran at early noon and didn’t arrive at headquarters until the end of noon, so what was he doing during that extra half hour?

Or perhaps, during that half hour, he was actually with Ran Ran…

The deeper Jiang Tang’s thoughts went, the more ashen his face became.

Shao Mingyuan met with Jiang Yuanchao in the guest hall of Marquis Guanjun’s residence. After hearing his stated purpose, he was silent for a moment before nodding: “Very well, I’ll go with you.”

“What about Third Miss Li—”

Shao Mingyuan glanced at Jiang Yuanchao and said flatly: “I don’t think my fiancée needs to go as well.”

“The Marquis should know that after my foster sister’s death, the Grand Commander is heartbroken. Refusing the Grand Commander’s request at this time would not be wise.”

Shao Mingyuan remained unmoved: “Lord Jiang, let’s go.”

The day Miss Jiang died happened to be Zhaozhao’s birthday. They had even met, and it could be said they parted unpleasantly. He didn’t want Zhaozhao to get further involved and deepen her impression of that day, casting a shadow over every future birthday.

Jiang Yuanchao stood without moving: “The Grand Commander asked me to invite both the Marquis and Third Miss Li. Third Miss Li is not the Marquis’s subordinate. The Marquis is making this decision for Third Miss Li—are you certain she would like this?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled.

He could see this was Jiang Yuanchao’s provocation, but had to admit the other party made some sense.

However, he didn’t want to be reasonable right now.

Why should he let the girl he treasured like the apple of his eye face the questioning or even anger of a father who had lost his beloved daughter?

“I’m certain.”

Jiang Yuanchao raised his eyebrows: “On what basis is the Marquis certain?”

Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but laugh: “Naturally, on the basis that I am her fiancé.”

Jiang Yuanchao paused, no longer pressing the matter, and bowed: “Marquis, please.”

When Shao Mingyuan saw Jiang Tang again, he realized this imposing Commander of the Jinlin Guards seemed to have aged more than ten years, looking no different from a decrepit old man.

When a person’s spirit and energy were gone, living became meaningless, and his daughter had been the existence that supported Jiang Tang’s spirit and energy.

Jiang Tang dismissed everyone and sat face to face with Shao Mingyuan.

The room was very quiet. Jiang Tang didn’t speak.

“Grand Commander, please accept my condolences.” Shao Mingyuan was the first to break the silence.

No matter when, seeing a parent outlive their child would evoke sympathy.

Jiang Tang smiled, but that smile looked even worse than crying: “Can the Marquis tell me about the circumstances when you saw my daughter that day?”

Shao Mingyuan had already anticipated that Jiang Tang would ask this on the way over. After brief consideration, he recounted the situation from that day.

Even if he didn’t speak of these things, Jiang Yuanchao wouldn’t hide them from Jiang Tang.

“So where did the Marquis and Third Miss Li go after dining?”

Shao Mingyuan looked deeply at Jiang Tang.

Jiang Tang was also quite straightforward: “I hope the Marquis can understand my feelings. Right now, I want to know everything about anyone who had even the slightest connection with Ran Ran.”

The implication was that his inquiries were already quite restrained.

“After we dined, I escorted my fiancée back to the Li residence.”

“Didn’t you stroll around?”

“We had already strolled before eating. Since it was her birthday, it wouldn’t be good for her to stay out all day—she still needed to go home and eat a bowl of longevity noodles.”

He had taken Zhaozhao out despite the reproachful looks from his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Jiang Tang asked several more questions, all of which Shao Mingyuan patiently answered.

“Thank you for honoring me with your visit, Marquis. Please give my regards to Third Miss.” Jiang Tang personally escorted Shao Mingyuan to the door.

But Shao Mingyuan’s heart sank.

When things reach an extreme, they reverse.

Everyone knew Jiang Tang loved his daughter like his life. Yet at this moment, he still had the mood to speak such polite words—this could only mean that beneath his calm exterior lay a heart-stopping madness.

It seemed he needed to assign more personal guards to secretly protect Zhaozhao.

After Shao Mingyuan had gone far, Jiang Tang withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “Call Jiang Shisan over.”

Shortly after, Jiang Yuanchao entered: “Foster father, you called for me?”

Jiang Tang looked Jiang Yuanchao up and down, then suddenly asked: “Shisan, what are your feelings about Ran Ran’s tragic death?”

Jiang Yuanchao was stunned by the question.

Foster father’s question was too strange.

Jiang Tang kept staring at Jiang Yuanchao’s face, but found that this foster son was too composed—from his expression, he could discern little change, only the suddenly deepened look in his eyes indicating his inner turmoil upon hearing the question.

“Then tell me, after you parted from Ran Ran at Baiwei Pavilion until you returned to headquarters, what did you do during that remaining half hour?”