“She really said that?”

“Absolutely true!”

Steward Xie’s heart was still pounding even now. “Young Master, let’s take action. Keeping this person around will definitely be a disaster.”

Xie Erli kept his eyes lowered, saying nothing.

That girl had entered the capital through the South City Gate last night, alone. She had first stopped at Herb Hall to have medicine prepared, then came to the Xie residence.

If it were only that, he wouldn’t be concerned. But this girl had passed through Four Lanes Alley.

Many years ago, a terrible tragedy had occurred in Four Lanes Alley—many people had died there. It was gloomy and eerie. Forget about nighttime—even in broad daylight, few people dared walk through that alley.

Xie Erli suddenly thought of something: “Have you sent food to that courtyard?”

Steward Xie: “Sent it.”

Xie Erli: “Did she eat it?”

Steward Xie snorted coldly. “She ate with more relish than anyone, didn’t leave a single grain of rice.”

Such boldness—seems she has something to rely on!

Xie Erli patted Steward Xie’s shoulder. “Still, let’s wait until Father returns from court before deciding. You go meet him halfway.”

“Yes!”

“No need!”

The matter was too serious. Xie Erli couldn’t wait. “I’ll personally go fetch Father back to the manor.”

…

“Miss, my master requests your presence.”

Yan Sanhe walked out of the room and deliberately stopped in front of Steward Xie.

Steward Xie instinctively stepped back, respectfully gesturing for her to proceed.

Yan Sanhe’s pitch-black pupils lit up.

A servant’s attitude reflected the master’s attitude. With such a respectful attitude…

It seemed this bluffing tactic was working.

Very good!

Pushing open the study door, just as Yan Sanhe had expected, both father and son were present.

Seeing her enter, Xie Erli smiled. “Miss Yan, please sit. Old Xie, serve tea.”

Hot tea was brought in, and Steward Xie closed the door and withdrew.

Yan Sanhe picked up the tea bowl, used the lid to skim it, and slowly brought it to her lips. Her movements flowed like water.

Unable to gauge her depths, Xie Daozhi glanced at his son.

Xie Erli said gently, “My father has returned from court. Miss Yan, whatever matters you have, feel free to speak. The Xie family knows proper etiquette—everything can be discussed.”

Yan Sanhe set down the tea bowl and looked at Xie Daozhi. “Will you acknowledge it?”

Those four words made both father and son change color simultaneously.

Xie Erli coughed. “Miss Xie, what does my father need to acknowledge?”

Yan Sanhe’s expression carried a hint of mockery. “Acknowledge that he and Yan Hang were once father and son.”

This was a question the son couldn’t answer—she was forcing the father to step forward. Xie Daozhi’s face looked extremely unpleasant.

To acknowledge it was absolutely impossible.

Not to acknowledge it meant he couldn’t discern this person’s true intentions.

Pushed to this point, Xie Daozhi’s patience had reached its limit.

“Miss Yan, I advise you to honestly state your purpose. Otherwise, don’t blame this official for being impolite.”

“Go ahead!”

Yan Sanhe lazily replied with two words, then pulled out the betrothal agreement that hadn’t been delivered that morning from her bosom and placed it on the small table.

With a turn of her wrist, she picked up the tea bowl beside it and contentedly savored the tea, even nodding her head a few times as she drank.

The expression on her face seemed to say—

Mm, this tea is quite good!

Her fearless manner actually intimidated the Xie father and son.

Fearlessness was the most terrifying thing of all.

She was one person with one life—if she died, so be it. But the Xie family had over a hundred people, old and young alike—they couldn’t afford to gamble!

Xie Daozhi had climbed to his current position by assessing situations and being flexible—able to bend when necessary.

Even though he currently wanted nothing more than to strangle Yan Sanhe, when it was time to yield, he would still yield. This had been discussed with his son beforehand.

“I acknowledge it.”

Finally, an acknowledgment!

Yan Sanhe roared inwardly, her tone ominous. “Then why did you deny it before?”

Xie Daozhi’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected that even after his acknowledgment, she would still pursue the matter to the end.

“So!”

Yan Sanhe said leisurely, “You’ve been lying all along.”

“Why should I acknowledge it?”

Xie Daozhi was thoroughly enraged, his expression becoming utterly ferocious. “I hate him. I wish his entire family dead.”

As the words fell, the study became silent as death.