Jiang Wu and Jiang Yuanchao locked eyes, their gazes seemingly capable of sparking flames, making the atmosphere even more tense.

At this explosive moment, a young woman’s light laughter rang out: “I have something to say.”

Both Jiang Wu and Jiang Yuanchao looked at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao stepped forward.

Jiang Yuanchao’s lips moved as if to speak, but he held back.

Qiao Zhao didn’t even glance at him, turning her head to look at Jiang Wu: “You say Heaven is on Assistant Commander Jiang’s side – do you think Grand Commander Jiang deserved to die?”

“Shut up!” Jiang Wu directly pointed his blade at Qiao Zhao.

The bright blade tip aimed at Qiao Zhao’s face. Jiang Yuanchao reached for Jiang Wu’s wrist, and the two immediately began grappling.

Qiao Zhao watched the two fighting with cold eyes, her expression remaining completely calm.

She had asked that question, and Jiang Wu became furious from embarrassment – such a reaction was truly interesting.

Since learning hypnotic techniques from Grandfather Li, she had gradually gained insight that sometimes a person’s subconscious words and actions revealed their true thoughts.

No matter how grief-stricken Jiang Wu appeared, or how righteously he spoke about catching the murderer of Jiang Tang and his daughter, his unconscious words couldn’t lie.

Jiang Wu didn’t respect Jiang Tang as much as he pretended.

Both Jiang Yuanchao and Jiang Wu’s martial arts had been taught by Jiang Tang. The two grappled for quite a while before determining a winner.

Jiang Yuanchao pressed one hand against Jiang Wu’s arm and said coldly: “Jiang Wu, your foster father never taught you to point a blade at a young lady.”

Though defeated, Jiang Wu didn’t care, sneering: “What, does Thirteenth Brother feel distressed?”

The young woman’s clear, cold voice rang out: “Your mouth is so foul, any normal person would probably want to teach you a lesson.”

Jiang Wu suddenly looked at Qiao Zhao: “Little girl, didn’t anyone tell you that speaking less helps you live longer?”

“I only know that speaking less means having blame pinned on your head. Lord Jiang Wu, is it appropriate for you to act as both witness and judge?”

Jiang Wu was stunned by the question.

Qiao Zhao curved her lips slightly, her tone indifferent but not concealing her disdain: “Lord Jiang Wu is getting on in years – don’t you understand the principles of proper conduct? Either you honestly act as a witness and let someone else handle questioning Assistant Commander Jiang. Or if you want to play the upright judge seeking justice for Grand Commander Jiang and his daughter, then it’s inappropriate to continue as a witness, isn’t it?”

As she spoke, Qiao Zhao slowly swept her gaze over everyone, saying lightly: “You can’t have it both ways – claiming you saw Assistant Commander Jiang poison Grand Commander Jiang, then turning around to preside over his arrest. If that’s acceptable, wouldn’t you be able to arrest anyone you wanted?”

“You… sharp-tongued!” Jiang Wu’s expression toward Qiao Zhao grew increasingly cold.

Jiang Yuanchao chuckled softly: “I think Miss Li makes excellent points.”

Qiao Zhao glanced coldly at Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao’s smile immediately faded.

Qiao Zhao raised her hand to tuck fallen strands behind her ear, speaking unhurriedly: “Of course, though Lord Jiang Wu’s conduct is improper, since this involves me, I should still clarify things. On Lantern Festival, I went with my fiancé to view the lantern festival. We were together the entire time. Why doesn’t Lord Jiang Wu invite my fiancé here to get to the bottom of this?”

Jiang Wu was slightly stunned.

On the night of the fifteenth of the first month, he had personally seen Jiang Shisan with Third Miss Li – there was no mistake. This was why he had ordered her brought here.

He didn’t believe that if a fiancée had a secret meeting with another man, Marquis Guanjun could remain indifferent.

Ruining Marquis Guanjun’s engagement – even if Jiang Shisan escaped this time, he would forever be viewed as a thorn in the Marquis’s side.

“Oh, I just remembered – my fiancé happens to be a guest at your headquarters right now. Why doesn’t Lord Jiang Wu invite him over for questioning?”

Seeing Jiang Wu’s silence, Qiao Zhao smiled: “Or is Lord Jiang Wu afraid of having his lies exposed and doesn’t dare confront him?”

“Go to headquarters and invite Marquis Guanjun here!” Jiang Wu ordered his trusted subordinate with a dark expression.

Jiang Shiyi stepped forward: “Marquis Guanjun cannot leave – he hasn’t been interrogated yet.”

Jiang Wu’s temples throbbed, feeling like he was about to lose control.

Everything had been under control – why did he feel things slipping away ever since this girl opened her mouth?

“Eleventh Brother, I already said Marquis Guanjun has nothing to do with the foster father’s death. Don’t be obstinate and disregard the Jinlin Guards’ future!”

With the foster father dead, no matter who controlled the Jinlin Guards in the future, offending someone like Marquis Guanjun would bring no benefits. Don’t forget there were those physically and mentally defective creatures from Eastern Depot watching like tigers.

“I only want to uncover the truth of the foster father’s death!” Jiang Shiyi remained unmoved, speaking icily.

Jiang Wu secretly gritted his teeth. Jiang Yuanchao’s gaze was profound, Jiang Shiyi expressionless – for a moment, the Jinlin Guards each had their thoughts, and the atmosphere became deadlocked.

Qiao Zhao suddenly stepped forward to stand before Jiang Shiyi.

She was considerably shorter than Jiang Shiyi and had to crane her neck to look up at him.

Jiang Shiyi slightly lowered his head, looking down at her coldly.

“Bring my fiancé here, and I’ll tell you the truth about the Grand Commander’s death!” Qiao Zhao said word by word.

For someone like Jiang Shiyi, eloquent persuasion was meaningless – directly offering what he wanted was the key.

Sure enough, after hearing Qiao Zhao’s words, Jiang Shiyi’s icy face finally showed a trace of emotion.

He seemed to truly see Qiao Zhao for the first time, light appearing in his dark eyes, his voice like cold, shattered jade – pleasant yet frigid: “You know the truth of my foster father’s death?”

But Qiao Zhao said no more, calmly meeting his gaze, her presence not yielding an inch.

After a moment, Jiang Shiyi nodded: “Fine, I’ll invite Marquis Guanjun here. Remember your words.”

Shao Mingyuan’s seat in the Jinlin Guards’ prison had barely warmed when he was invited over. Seeing Qiao Zhao, his originally peaceful expression suddenly changed.

Qiao Zhao gently shook her head at him.

Shao Mingyuan looked coldly at Jiang Shiyi.

Jiang Shiyi did not attempt to hide anything: “Fifth Brother invited Third Miss Li here.”

Hearing this, Jiang Wu secretly gritted his teeth.

He was beginning to suspect whether Jiang Shiyi was truly foolish or doing this deliberately!

“Lord Jiang Wu invited my fiancée as a guest?”

Jiang Wu smiled: “There are some matters we need to ask Third Miss Li about clearly.”

“What matters?”

“He wants to know who I was with on Lantern Festival night,” Qiao Zhao said with serene indifference.

Hearing this, Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but laugh: “Lord Jiang Wu is so interested in our affairs as an engaged couple? That night she was naturally with this Marquis. I made a pair of rabbit lanterns – those lanterns should still be around.”

“But I saw Third Miss Li with my Thirteenth Brother—”

Shao Mingyuan coldly interrupted Jiang Wu: “You were mistaken.”

Jiang Wu and Shao Mingyuan locked eyes, seeing surging fury and killing intent in the other’s gaze.

He had a premonition that if he continued insisting on his story, the other party would unhesitatingly snap his neck.

If something happened to him, whether Jiang Shiyi or Jiang Shisan rose to power, no one would avenge him.

Thinking of this, Jiang Wu somewhat regretted his actions.

He shouldn’t have dragged Third Miss Li into this, making things more complicated.

“Marquis Guanjun has been invited. Miss Li, tell me the truth about my foster father’s death!” Jiang Shiyi said coldly.