“The internal situation is even more complex. Jiang Tang has thirteen adopted sons, each one outstanding among men. What wouldn’t they do for the position of Jinlin Guards Commander? Even ordinary common folk can fight to the death over a pig when brothers divide family property.” Chi Can said coldly.

“So you’re saying Jiang Shisan is innocent? After all, as long as Jiang Tang and his daughter didn’t die, his succession was only a matter of time.” Zhu Yàn interjected.

Chi Can smiled mockingly: “That’s hard to say. Perhaps Jiang Tang discovered that Jiang Shisan wasn’t suitable as heir? So Jiang Shisan simply struck first…”

“It wouldn’t be outsiders.” As soon as Qiao Zhao spoke, she drew everyone’s attention.

“Jiang Tang died in his home. We don’t know the cause of his sudden death yet, but from Jiang Shiyi taking Tingquan away, it shouldn’t be as simple as a sudden illness. If Jiang Tang was murdered, whether it was Wei Wuxie’s people or Lan Shan’s people, infiltrating the Jiang residence to kill wouldn’t be easy. Remember, Miss Jiang just died – the Jinlin Guards would have strengthened security around the Grand Commander’s residence.”

Chi Can nodded: “Exactly. The Jinlin Guards have offended countless people. Security around Grand Commander Jiang’s residence has always been as tight as the imperial palace. Otherwise, their leader would have died countless times already.”

“So the successive incidents involving Miss Jiang and Jiang Tang are most likely the work of insiders. Even if outsiders were involved, the real perpetrator would still be an inside traitor.” Qiao Zhao analyzed.

Yang Houcheng wiped his face: “Then why the hell did they take Tingquan away?”

“Who wants to admit it’s their fault?” Chi Can countered.

Yang Houcheng kicked a chair: “This is just an undeserved disaster!”

Qiao Zhao deeply agreed.

It truly was an undeserved disaster – Tingquan was like this, and her father even more so.

Qiao Zhao stood up: “I need to go to the Jinlin Guards headquarters.”

Chi Can stopped her: “Tingquan will be fine. Just wait peacefully.”

“I want to see my father.”

Chi Can and the other two exchanged glances and decided to accompany Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao didn’t refuse.

Standing at the entrance to the Jinlin Guards’ prison, Shao Mingyuan calmly looked at Jiang Shiyi: “Is Lord Shiyi planning to host this Marquis here?”

Jiang Shiyi said coldly: “Please enter, Marquis.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled and stepped inside.

“Wait—” Jiang Wu hurried over, his face displeased. “Eleventh Brother, what are you doing bringing the Marquis here?”

“Interrogation.” Jiang Shiyi replied expressionlessly.

“What interrogation? Weren’t we just asking the Marquis to help understand the situation?”

Shao Mingyuan watched the two argue coldly and smiled.

It seemed they hadn’t reached internal consensus yet. Things were becoming more interesting.

Shao Mingyuan leaned against the wall, lazily listening to their dispute.

“Perhaps this Marquis should return home first and come back when you two have concluded?”

Both Jiang Wu and Jiang Shiyi froze.

At this moment, a Jinlin Guard ran over breathlessly: “Fifth Master, Thirteenth Master—”

“What happened to him?” Upon hearing the guard mention Jiang Yuanchao, Jiang Wu’s expression grew serious.

“Thirteenth Master is leading some brothers to leave the residence!”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wu immediately forgot about Shao Mingyuan’s matter, hastily dropping a polite remark before hurrying outside.

In a moment, only Shao Mingyuan and Jiang Shiyi remained.

“Please, Marquis.”

Shao Mingyuan turned to look back once, then stepped inside.

Jiang Shiyi turned and walked out.

The atmosphere in the Jiang residence was tense.

“Where is Thirteenth Brother going?”

“Do I need to report to Fifth Brother where I go?” Jiang Yuanchao asked indifferently.

“Thirteenth Brother, with your foster father’s sudden death, you’re already the most suspicious. Instead of staying properly in the residence at this time, are you planning to destroy evidence?”

Jiang Yuanchao slowly smiled: “I recall Fifth Brother isn’t the Jinlin Guards Commander yet? In terms of position, I’m Assistant Commander, and Fifth Brother should still be saluting me.”

Jiang Wu sneered: “I will never salute someone who might have murdered the foster father and the foster sister. I believe none of the brothers would!”

Jiang Yuanchao’s smile vanished: “Fifth Brother should have solid evidence before making such accusations.”

“Solid evidence?” Jiang Wu glanced at the hurriedly arriving Jiang Shiyi and declared loudly: “I wonder if foster sister clutching Thirteenth Brother’s twin fish jade pendant when she died counts as solid evidence?”

Upon hearing this, many Jinlin Guards’ expressions changed slightly.

“My twin fish jade pendant was in my foster sister’s hand?”

“Thirteenth Brother doesn’t believe what I’m saying? You can ask Eleventh Brother.”

Jiang Yuanchao looked at Jiang Shiyi.

Jiang Shiyi said calmly: “I discovered it. When I saw foster sister’s body and crouched down to examine it, I found the jade pendant in her hand and then gave it to foster father.”

“You’re saying foster sister was killed by me?”

“I don’t know who killed Foster’s sister. I only state what I saw.” Jiang Shiyi replied icily.

Jiang Wu smiled: “Isn’t it obvious? You killed your foster sister, and she grabbed your jade pendant during her struggle, making it ironclad evidence identifying the true culprit. Eleventh Brother discovered it and gave it to the foster father. But you learned of this and struck first, killing the foster father.”

The sound of applause rang out as Jiang Yuanchao said coolly: “Excellent deduction, Fifth Brother. But what about motive? Foster sister and I were already engaged, foster father relied on me greatly. Did I lose my mind to first kill foster sister then foster father, allowing you – who was sent to Jia Feng by foster father for making mistakes – to now stand before me pointing fingers?”

Jiang Yuanchao’s words made the Jinlin Guards nod secretly.

The Thirteenth Master was right. He was the Grand Commander’s future son-in-law, and succeeding the Grand Commander was already a foregone conclusion. He had no reason whatsoever to kill the Grand Commander and the young miss.

“Good question, Thirteenth Brother. If Heaven hadn’t opened my eyes to let me see something interesting, probably no one would think of your motive.”

“Something interesting?” Jiang Yuanchao’s lips twitched as Jiang Tang’s questioning suddenly flashed through his mind.

Foster father had asked when he lost his commonly worn jade pendant, and he’d said the Lantern Festival.

The Lantern Festival—

Thinking of that day, Jiang Yuanchao’s heart sank with a sudden sense of foreboding.

Jiang Wu’s sarcastic voice rang out: “On Lantern Festival night, I happened to see Thirteenth Brother meeting with a young lady, and that lady wasn’t a foster sister!”

Jiang Yuanchao suddenly looked at Jiang Wu.

Jiang Wu smiled mockingly, glanced at the Jinlin Guards’ varying expressions, and continued: “What if foster sister had learned of this? During an argument between the foster sister and Thirteenth Brother, Thirteenth Brother accidentally killed the foster sister, or simply silenced her to protect that lady – wouldn’t that be much easier to understand?”

At this point, Jiang Wu surveyed everyone and emphasized, “More importantly, I reported this matter to the foster father. Given the foster father’s love for his foster sister, he would never have let Thirteenth Brother off lightly. Knowing he couldn’t escape punishment, Thirteenth Brother went all out and killed his foster father, too. Isn’t that right?”

“Complete nonsense!” Jiang Yuanchao said coldly.

“Oh, is Thirteenth Brother refusing to admit it? Should I send someone to bring that young lady for a confrontation?”