“Whoever it is, being able to manipulate Lan Shan shows this person is indeed cunning and deeply scheming.”

Qiao Zhao rested her chin on her hand and remained silent.

“What are you thinking about?” After sobering up, Shao Mingyuan’s smile was gentle, showing no trace of his earlier anguish.

Seeing this made Qiao Zhao feel even more heartache. She pondered: “I’m thinking, the Xijiang warrior’s nighttime exploration of the Li residence happened in the middle of the night. If the other party had long harbored a conspiracy, how could they so coincidentally strike just after Chen Guang threw the Xijiang warrior onto the street? Unless—”

“Unless that person was already secretly monitoring the Li residence.” Shao Mingyuan continued her thought.

Qiao Zhao’s heart stirred: “Tingquan, I thought of someone.”

Who else but Jiang Yuanchao would enjoy sending people to monitor her family, being discovered several times yet persisting relentlessly?

“Who did you think of?”

“Jiang Yuanchao.”

Upon hearing this name, Shao Mingyuan’s expression turned cold.

He didn’t think the Jinlin Guards had any need to monitor the Li residence. If it were Jiang Yuanchao, he could only attribute it to that man’s motives.

Qiao Zhao stood up: “I’ll go find him!”

Shao Mingyuan reached out to stop her: “Don’t go. We have no evidence. If you go find him, how would he admit it?”

Qiao Zhao sat back down and forced a smile at Shao Mingyuan: “I was being impulsive. Perhaps it’s not necessarily him.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Shao Mingyuan raised his hand to caress the young woman’s tender cheek, his eyes glinting coldly. “Who it is isn’t the most important thing. Since the other party’s goal is to use Lan Shan’s hand to expose my true identity, let them come. Let’s see whether they can achieve their goal in the end, or if they’ll fail and lose more than they gain!”

The next morning, the sky was overcast. Shao Xiyuan kowtowed to Marquis Jing’an: “Father, I’m leaving.”

Marquis Jing’an helped him up, his eyes full of love and reluctance: “Go on, go on. Remember to listen to the steward more. Being away from home isn’t like being at home—you’re not allowed to be mischievous.”

Being able to go to the academy he longed for, and leaving home for the first time, a young man of Shao Xiyuan’s age was undoubtedly excited. His face showed little sadness of parting as he grinned: “Father, rest assured. I’m not a child anymore—how could I be mischievous? When the academy has vacation in July or August, I’ll come back to see you.”

“Good. Since it’s still early, hurry up and leave so you don’t miss the inn.” Marquis Jing’an gazed intently at his youngest son. Seeing his face full of excitement and anticipation, he secretly sighed and looked toward the old steward.

The old steward understood and spoke: “Please rest assured, my lord. I will take good care of Third Young Master.”

Shao Xiyuan got into the carriage accompanied by the old steward. Marquis Jing’an stood in place watching for a long time before silently returning inside.

Several days later, the heir’s wife Lady Wang left the residence with her eldest son East Brother to return to her family home to celebrate her father’s birthday. The vast residence immediately became desolate.

Prince Gong of Xijiang pestered the Three Judicial Offices daily, demanding they hand over the murderer who killed the Xijiang Princess.

The Three Judicial Offices were at their wits’ end, yet the case made no progress. This even gave them an impulse to simply pin the matter on Marquis Guanjun. After all, people outside already believed the Xijiang Princess was killed by Marquis Guanjun, and Marquis Guanjun had a solid foundation and wasn’t afraid of taking the blame.

Of course, such thoughts only flashed by. Just as the Three Judicial Offices were investigating without any leads, the day for Emperor Mingkang’s emergence from seclusion finally arrived.

Prince Gong of Xijiang, who had been holding in his anger, was preparing to lodge a fierce complaint with the Great Liang Emperor when something shocking to the world occurred.

Marquis Guanjun was the surviving heir of Marquis Zhenyuan, whose entire family had been executed twenty years ago for colluding with rebels. His purpose in killing the Xijiang Princess was to provoke conflict between Great Liang and Xijiang, plunging Great Liang into war to avenge his father.

Emperor Mingkang quickly issued an edict to imprison Marquis Guanjun and the entire Marquis Zhenyuan family in the imperial prison.

Upon hearing this news, Prince Gong of Xijiang was completely bewildered, stroking his beard and thinking: Could the Great Liang Emperor be an undercover agent sent by their Xijiang? He had just dealt with Marquis Guanjun, whom they feared so greatly? Happiness came so suddenly that he had trouble adapting!

Well, calculating the time, the dancers should arrive soon, but it seemed they wouldn’t be needed now. Prince Gong of Xijiang sighed with heartfelt joy, feeling somewhat regretful that his talents had no place to be used.

Outside the Marquis Jing’an’s residence, crowds of onlookers packed the area, and numerous Jinlin Guards surrounded the residence so tightly that not even water could leak through.

“Let me go!” Marquis Jing’an’s heir Shao Jingyuan struggled desperately against the Jinlin Guards’ control, rushing to Marquis Jing’an and asking with a hoarse voice: “Father, what on earth is happening?”

Marquis Jing’an’s expression was calm, his lips tightly pressed without saying a word.

“Father, please speak! Why has Shao Mingyuan become the surviving heir of a treacherous minister? Isn’t he your illegitimate son?”

Seeing Marquis Jing’an remain silent, Shao Jingyuan nearly went mad. He pushed away the pursuing Jinlin Guards and loudly questioned: “Father, why did you harbor the surviving heir of a treacherous minister? Don’t you know this would doom our entire family?”

Marquis Jing’an closed his eyes and said in a deep voice: “Mingyuan is not the surviving heir of a treacherous minister.”

Shao Jingyuan’s eyes lit up: “Shao Mingyuan is your illegitimate son, right? Father, then tell them! What treacherous minister has nothing to do with our residence—on what grounds are they arresting us?”

A hand fell on Shao Jingyuan’s shoulder: “Enough, Young Master Shao. You, father and son, can speak slowly in the imperial prison. Don’t delay our work now.”

“Get away—”

Shao Jingyuan reached out to push the Jinlin Guard. The guard’s expression turned icy as he kicked Shao Jingyuan in the stomach and sneered: “Young Master Shao, we Jinlin Guards are not servants of your residence for you to throw tantrums at! Men, take him away!”

Shao Jingyuan was held down by several Jinlin Guards and couldn’t break free. He turned his head and shouted hoarsely: “Father, speak up! Explain to them!”

Marquis Jing’an’s lips trembled as he said word by word: “Marquis Zhenyuan was not a treacherous minister!”

Shao Jingyuan’s face suddenly turned pale, his expression full of despair.

“Take him away!”

The gates of the Marquis Guanjun’s residence stood wide open, with a dark mass of Jinlin Guards holding Embroidered Spring Knives standing in formation.

The drawn, Embroidered Spring Knives gleamed coldly in the sunlight, making the onlookers feel chilled, but this still couldn’t stop their excitement of watching.

Shao Mingyuan walked out of the residence with a calm expression.

Jiang Yuanchao stood before him and smiled faintly: “My lord, I must offend you today.”

Shao Mingyuan’s cold gaze swept over Jiang Yuanchao’s face. Without saying a word, he walked forward.

Jiang Yuanchao’s smile froze.

Was Marquis Guanjun disdainful of speaking with him? At this point, he didn’t know what this man still relied on to remain so composed.

“Brother-in-law, brother-in-law—” A young girl chased out from the residence. The Jinlin Guards moved to stop her, but withdrew their hands at Jiang Yuanchao’s signal.

Qiao Wan ran over and grabbed Shao Mingyuan’s sleeve: “Brother-in-law, why are they arresting you?”

Shao Mingyuan lowered his head to pat Qiao Wan’s head: “Wanwan, don’t worry. Be good and stay at home, alright?”

“Brother-in-law, will you come back?”

“Yes.”

Qiao Wan forced herself to show a smile: “Brother-in-law, rest assured. I’ll be good and stay at home, so you won’t worry.”

“My lord, please.” Jiang Yuanchao said with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

As he turned around, he saw Qiao Zhao standing not far away and couldn’t help but be startled.