“Jiang Thirteen, I curse you to lose your true love for life, and for all your efforts to come to nothing!”

Jiang Wu’s voice echoed in his ears, and Jiang Yuanchao unconsciously glanced at Qiao Zhao.

That glance contained emotions too complex to describe. Qiao Zhao remained unmoved and looked away.

Jiang Yuanchao was left only with self-mockery.

Shao Mingyuan’s sword-like brows drew together.

Why did he always have the feeling that this bastard was coveting his wife?

He lowered his eyes, his heart gradually filling with rage.

“Can you release my father now?” The young lady’s calm voice rang out.

“Yes!” Jiang Yuanchao and Jiang Eleven said in unison.

After speaking, the two men’s gazes briefly met, then separated again.

Shao Mingyuan put his arm around Qiao Zhao’s shoulder and said coolly: “Let’s go. We’ll go directly to the Jinlin Guards’ prison to pick up the father-in-law.”

Qiao Zhao nodded.

The Jinlin Guards’ prison was heavily guarded and struck fear into countless people. Not far from the prison, three people stood under a large tree, frequently gazing in that direction.

“Third Miss Li told us to wait here for Master Li. Do you think she said that on purpose because she was afraid of implicating us?” Yang Houcheng anxiously rubbed his hands together.

When the three of them had accompanied Third Miss Li to visit Master Li, who would have known that before they even reached the prison, Third Miss Li had been taken away by those bastards. Before leaving, Third Miss Li had specifically instructed them not to act impulsively or worry, and to just wait outside the Jinlin Guards’ prison.

But according to his original intention, he had wanted to enter the palace to seek the Empress Dowager’s intervention.

Thinking of this, Yang Houcheng became even more frustrated and slapped his palm: “We really shouldn’t have listened to Third Miss Li then!”

Chi Can and Zhu Yàn both remained silent.

“You can speak up if you have any ideas! Now the Jinlin Guards are acting like mad dogs—first they arrested Master Li, then they arrested Tingquan, and now they’ve taken Third Miss Li away too. Are we just going to wait here helplessly?” Yang Houcheng said anxiously.

“Miss Li has always been prudent in her words and actions,” Zhu Yàn said thoughtfully.

In his impression, that girl with calm eyes and brows always solved what seemed like enormous problems to many people without showing any emotion. This time, he couldn’t help but trust her again.

Chi Can glanced at Yang Houcheng and Zhu Yàn, then turned and walked away.

Yang Houcheng reached out to stop him: “Shixi, where are you going?”

Chi Can brushed off his hand and said coldly: “To the Jiang Residence!”

With that, he strode forward.

“Hey, Shixi, don’t be impulsive!” Yang Houcheng blocked Chi Can’s path.

Chi Can frowned: “Impulsive? I’m not being impulsive. We’ve already been waiting here for over an hour. Are we supposed to keep standing here waiting indefinitely?”

“Shixi, you can’t go to the Jiang Residence. With Jiang Tang’s sudden death, that place is precisely a den of troubles,” Zhu Yàn gently advised.

Chi Can smiled faintly: “Of course, I know it’s a den of troubles, but there’s a saying about doing what one knows is impossible. That’s exactly the situation we’re facing now. At worst, those Jinlin Guards can arrest me, too.”

Li San was just a young lady. If she entered that dragon’s lair and those bastards devoured her alive, what would they do?

Damn Jiang Tang, why did he have to die precisely when his imperial uncle was in seclusion?

Damn Jiang Wu, after his master died he acted like a mad dog biting anyone he saw, not even sparing a young lady like Li San. He would find an opportunity to skin that mad dog alive.

Hearing Chi Can say this, Yang Houcheng’s eyes lit up as he hooked his arm around Chi Can’s shoulder and laughed: “Hey, that’s a good idea. Let’s go together and let those bastards arrest us all.”

If he and Shixi were arrested by the Jinlin Guards, the Empress Dowager and the Eldest Princess Changrong would find ways to rescue them, and saving Third Miss Li would be a matter of convenience.

Shixi was clever—how had he not thought of this?

Zhu Yàn grabbed one of them with each hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: “Don’t be impulsive. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“Wait until when?” Chi Can asked in return.

Zhu Yàn looked into the distance, his eyes brightening: “Look—”

Yang Houcheng followed his gaze and couldn’t help but widen his eyes: “Tingquan and Miss Li are coming together!”

Not long ago, they had helplessly watched as Tingquan followed several Jinlin Guards toward the Jiang Residence. They had wanted to investigate but were blocked by those bastards from getting close, which was truly infuriating.

Shao Mingyuan stopped: “Zhaozhao, Shixi, and the others are still waiting over there.”

Qiao Zhao looked toward Jiang Eleven.

Having found the real murderer of Jiang Tang, Jiang Yuanchao had cleared his suspicion and, as Grand Commander Jiang’s son-in-law, naturally regained control of the Jinlin Guards’ authority to handle Jiang Tang’s funeral arrangements and clean up the mess Jiang Wu had left behind. At this time, he was too busy to spare attention for other matters.

Jiang Eleven, who had no interest in these affairs whatsoever, had voluntarily accompanied the two of them.

“Should I bring them over or drive them away?” Jiang Eleven asked seriously.

Qiao Zhao’s lips twitched slightly.

Shao Mingyuan pulled Qiao Zhao along as they strode toward the three men, leaving Jiang Eleven frowning in confusion before resuming his cold-as-ice expression.

“Tingquan, how is the situation now?” As soon as Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan approached, Yang Houcheng asked impatiently.

Seeing Qiao Zhao, Chi Can resumed his lazy, indifferent manner, leaning against the tree trunk without saying a word.

Shao Mingyuan smiled at Qiao Zhao: “Everything’s been resolved. Zhaozhao rescued me.”

Yang Houcheng’s mouth stayed open for quite a while: “How did Miss Li rescue you?”

Chi Can curled his lips: “Idiot, can’t you see he’s showing off?”

Having such a smart and capable fiancée—so what? He had discovered these qualities when he first found her!

Thinking of this, Chi Can felt a tightness in his chest.

He shouldn’t continue these thoughts, or even he would look down on himself!

“Tingquan, you came here to—” Zhu Yàn spoke up at the right moment.

“We came to pick up my father-in-law.”

Yang Houcheng immediately looked at Qiao Zhao, murmuring: “It’s not what I’m thinking, is it?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “It’s exactly what you’re thinking. Zhaozhao also rescued my father-in-law.”

Qiao Zhao tugged at Shao Mingyuan’s sleeve: “Alright, stop talking about this. Elder Brother Yang, Elder Brother Chi, Elder Brother Zhu, thank you for waiting here all this time today. After I pick up my father, let’s all come to my house for a simple meal.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Yang Houcheng smiled.

“Will you be cooking?” Chi Can suddenly asked.

Qiao Zhao was startled and was about to nod when Shao Mingyuan said, “Father-in-law likes the dishes I make. I’ll cook when the time comes.”

Jiang Eleven watched the group chatting and laughing with cold eyes, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

Why did they have so much to talk about?

When Li Guangwen emerged from the prison, he was still completely bewildered.

How had he gotten out so quickly? He wasn’t mentally prepared yet!

“Master Li, please.”

Li Guangwen snorted coldly, put his hands behind his back, and strode outside.

Once bitten, twice shy—he would be coming back to this wretched place, what with His Majesty not attending to proper imperial duties all day, ignoring his emperor’s responsibilities, and always wanting to ascend to immortality!

Next time he comes, he should bring his usual pillow.

Master Li’s little calculations were reduced to nothing but shock when he saw his daughter waiting at the entrance.