Shao Mingyuan stared at the discolored silver needle, his expression tense.

If these poisoned dishes had been sent by someone else, he could have played along, eating them and causing a commotion about being poisoned—that way, he could get out faster. But these dishes were delivered by a woman who looked exactly like Zhaozhao.

In others’ eyes, it was Zhaozhao who brought him food.

If he were poisoned, it would undoubtedly implicate Zhaozhao.

Shao Mingyuan hadn’t panicked when his identity was exposed and he was imprisoned, but now he began to feel uneasy.

He knew he could get out, but he feared that when he did, Zhaozhao would have been replaced. Even worse, he feared the other party might kill Zhaozhao to complete their substitution.

Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes and, after only a moment’s thought, called out: “I want to see Jiang Yuanchao.”

“You want to see our Commander?” a jailer asked in surprise.

Although Marquis Guanjun was imprisoned, his reputation remained. To people like them, he was still an object of awe and respect.

“That’s right. I want to see your Commander—now.”

He understood Jiang Yuanchao’s feelings for Zhaozhao. Bowing his head before a romantic rival was deeply humiliating, but these feelings couldn’t compare to Zhaozhao’s safety in importance.

Unable to contact his guards, he could only entrust Zhaozhao’s safety to Jiang Yuanchao.

“Please wait then.” The jailer left after saying this.

Jiang Yuanchao stood outside the Jinlin Guard prison. Seeing “Qiao Zhao” emerge, he secretly clenched his fist but didn’t approach.

He was human, too. Regardless of what he’d done, being treated this way by the girl he liked still hurt.

That feeling—he didn’t want to deepen it further.

Jiang Yuanchao silently watched “Qiao Zhao,” but saw her freeze upon seeing him, then curtsy slightly.

Jiang Yuanchao’s eyes deepened as he stared thoughtfully at “Qiao Zhao’s” back. Seeing her gradually walk away, he suddenly called out: “Wait.”

The girl ahead paused.

Jiang Yuanchao strode over with his long legs and stood before her, calmly blocking her path.

Under his gaze, the girl seemed nervous and gently bit her lip.

Fury suddenly blazed in Jiang Yuanchao’s eyes as he grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing—”

Before the girl could finish speaking, Jiang Yuanchao struck her neck with his hand.

The girl collapsed softly. Jiang He’s eyes nearly popped out: “S-Sir, this isn’t good, is it?”

Although the lord liked Miss Li very much, such forceful behavior was too undignified and damaged the lord’s wise and imposing image.

Jiang Yuanchao grabbed the girl with one hand and pushed her onto Jiang He: “Follow me.”

With soft jade and warm fragrance in his arms, Jiang He nearly jumped up.

It was over—did this count as taking advantage of Miss Li? Would their lord settle scores later and give him a hard time? Perhaps he’d spend the rest of his life scrubbing toilets.

Jiang He followed Jiang Yuanchao despairingly while supporting the girl.

Entering the study, Jiang Yuanchao suddenly turned around. His gaze swept over the girl’s face as he said coldly: “Wake her up.”

“Uh.” Though Jiang He didn’t understand why his lord seemed like a different person around Miss Li, he didn’t dare delay. He carefully tugged the girl’s sleeve: “Miss Li, wake up—”

Jiang Yuanchao watched impatiently, picked up the completely cold tea from the desk, and splashed it on the girl’s face. He glanced coldly at Jiang He: “Idiot!”

Jiang He: “…” He was indeed stupid—could someone tell him what was wrong with his lord?

The girl whimpered softly and slowly awakened.

“Awake?” Jiang Yuanchao raised an eyebrow coldly. “Tell me who you are.”

The girl was startled. Under Jiang Yuanchao’s icy gaze, she lowered her eyes: “What is the lord saying? This humble woman doesn’t understand.”

With a sharp sound, Jiang Yuanchao drew the dagger from his waist. The sharp blade gleamed coldly as it touched the girl’s tender cheek.

“Sir—” Jiang He was stunned.

The dagger spun nimbly in Jiang Yuanchao’s hand, mercilessly cutting the girl’s face.

Blood trickled down her pale cheek as the girl screamed in pain.

Jiang Yuanchao took out a snow-white handkerchief to wipe the blood from his dagger, his expression cold: “Scream all you want. My study has good soundproofing, and everyone else has left the office at this hour. I’m not afraid of your screaming.”

Though he’d inherited the position of Jinlin Guard Commander and become the new master of the Jiang residence, he was unwilling to stay there.

That was where he’d grown up—once warm, now ice-cold.

He’d rather remain at the Jinlin Guard offices, passing the time after work hours.

The girl trembled in pain, frantically pulling out a handkerchief to press against her bleeding face, only to have the gleaming dagger thrust toward her again.

“No, no—” The girl shrank back like a frightened bird.

Jiang Yuanchao watched the trembling girl and laughed coldly: “Don’t expect me to show mercy to women. Tell me who you are and why you’re impersonating Third Miss Li!”

The girl’s eyes widened suddenly, her face showing panic and confusion.

The Prince had said she looked exactly like Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée. If she disguised herself as Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée to bring him food and poison him to death, removing this threat to Xijiang’s peace of mind, she would be a great hero to Xijiang.

Then she wouldn’t have to remain a dancing girl—the Prince would give her the position of a secondary consort.

How could she refuse such temptation?

But why had this man seen through her with just a distant glance?

Seeing the girl’s breakdown, Jiang Yuanchao sneered: “I thought you were a trained spy, but you’re just an ordinary person.”

The girl looked at Jiang Yuanchao in terror.

Jiang Yuanchao used his dagger to lift the girl’s chin, sneering: “Don’t misunderstand. Anyone who falls into my hands—whether spy or ordinary person—I treat the same way, making them wish they were dead.”

Speaking of this, Jiang Yuanchao withdrew his dagger and played with it in his hands: “Now you can speak. If you waste more of my time, I’ll slice the flesh from your face strip by strip so you can never impersonate anyone again!”

The girl completely broke down: “I’ll tell, I’ll tell! I’m a dancing girl from Prince Gong’s residence…”

After hearing the girl’s full confession, Jiang Yuanchao’s face was cold as frost.

Prince Gong of Xijiang really had a good plan—having someone impersonate Miss Qiao. Was he planning to switch their identities after success, having Miss Qiao swap places with this dancing girl?

Unfortunately, Prince Gong of Xijiang had calculated everything except that he and Miss Qiao weren’t strangers.

That person was never Third Miss of Scholar Li’s residence in his eyes, but Qiao Zhao, granddaughter of the great scholar Master Qiao.

“I-I’ve told you everything. Can you let me go now?” the girl asked timidly, looking at Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao glanced at Jiang He and said flatly: “Do it.”

“What?”

Jiang Yuanchao frowned: “Must I say it twice?”

Jiang He reluctantly drew a dagger, but seeing the girl’s face identical to Third Miss Li’s, he hesitated.

“Don’t kill me, please don’t kill me—” The girl trembled and shrank back.

Jiang Yuanchao took the dagger from Jiang He’s hand and cleanly thrust it into the girl’s heart.