The old madam’s sudden action caught the father and son completely off guard.

“Eldest son!”

After pondering for a moment, Xie Daozhi still compromised. “Go personally and bring people to search. Don’t make too much of a commotion!”

There was no need for such instructions—Xie Erli understood better than anyone the gravity of this matter.

He turned and walked into the courtyard, lowering his voice as he spoke to Steward Xie: “Immediately select over a dozen guards with good martial skills to come with me.”

“Yes!”

The moment this “yes” was uttered, someone outside shouted loudly, “Third Master has returned!”

Several zhang away, a man dressed in the crisp attire of a military general walked at a leisurely pace. If he had a fan in hand, he would look exactly like an aristocratic young master out enjoying flowers and willows on a spring day.

The very picture of romantic elegance!

Seeing his eldest brother approaching, his peach-blossom eyes narrowed, and the dimple on the side of his cheek appeared and disappeared.

“Didn’t I say that familiarity breeds contempt? I’ve only been gone two days, and Big Brother already misses me this much.”

“Xie Zhifei!”

All the romantic elegance flew from Xie Zhifei’s face.

Big Brother usually called him “Third” or “Ah Fei” when in a good mood. Using his full name meant…

He hadn’t recently made any young lady cry, had he?

Xie Zhifei honestly ran forward, and upon seeing half of his eldest brother’s face, he froze.

“Big Brother, what happened to your face?”

“Never mind that for now. Immediately help me find someone—surname Yan, name Sanhe. When you find her, bring her back to the manor.”

Xie Zhifei pushed Steward Xie forward. “Old Xie will go with you. He’s seen the person.”

“It’s just finding someone—why the urgency? Big Brother, you still haven’t told me about your face…”

“My dear Third Master!”

Steward Xie slapped his thigh. “The Young Master’s face was injured by that very person—she’s a ruthless character!”

Xie Zhifei’s expression instantly turned cold. He turned to his trusted aide waiting in the distance and ordered: “Notify all the brothers. Search the entire city for a man named Yan Sanhe.”

“Third Master, it’s not a man—it’s a woman!”

Xie Zhifei raised an eyebrow and glanced at Steward Xie.

A woman?

Injured Big Brother?

And a… ruthless character?

Heh, this is getting interesting!

…

Moments later, over a dozen horses shot forth like arrows released from bowstrings, racing straight toward Sweetwater Alley.

Sweetwater Alley was the most mixed and chaotic place in the capital, with all sorts of people from all walks of life in the lanes.

Xie Zhifei dismounted, and three to five young beggars from the street corner immediately surrounded him.

“Third Master, she went toward the South City Gate.”

“Riding a brown horse.”

“Carrying a bundle on her back.”

“That horse was ridden quite fast.”

Hearing this, Steward Xie quickly tugged at his master’s sleeve. “She must have left the city! Third Master, chase her quickly!”

“Chase!”

At Xie Zhifei’s command, he didn’t rush to mount his horse. Instead, he pulled a few taels of silver from his bosom and tossed them toward the young beggars.

“Take this and buy some wine!”

“Thank you, Third Master!”

“Third Master, this is your first time looking for a girl.”

“Third Master, have you taken a fancy to her?”

Xie Zhifei’s peach-blossom eyes flickered as he cursed: “Scram—”

Out the city gate, onto the main road, they raced fifteen li in one breath without seeing even a ghost’s shadow, only eating a mouthful of cold wind.

Xie Zhifei’s intuition told him something wasn’t right. He pulled the reins, and his horse circled twice in place before stopping.

He dismounted and walked up to Steward Xie, yanking the man down from his horse. “Where did this woman come to the capital from?”

“She said Yunnan Prefecture!”

“Yunnan Prefecture?”

Xie Zhifei’s face darkened. “Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“Wasn’t I rushing to find her? There was no chance!” Steward Xie’s face was more bitter than bitter melon.

Xie Zhifei waved his hand. “Turn back.”

“Third Master, Third Master!”

Steward Xie grabbed hold of him, nearly in tears. “We can’t turn back! The old madam gave orders—if we don’t find this person…”

“She didn’t leave the city.”

“That’s impossible. Clearly…”

“Shut up!”

Xie Zhifei grabbed Steward Xie’s collar. “Yunnan Prefecture is thousands of miles from the capital. She’s only carrying a small bundle—no food, no drink. How would she travel?”

Steward Xie was stumped by the question.

“If I were her, tonight I’d eat and drink my fill, prepare enough provisions, buy some clothes, and set out early tomorrow morning.”

“But… the guards at the South City Gate clearly saw the person leave the city.”

Steward Xie’s brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly. “Could it be she circled back?”

“This is called misdirection.”

Xie Zhifei gave Steward Xie a slap on the back of his head. “It’s precisely to avoid you fools.”

Steward Xie: “…”

Xie Zhifei released his hand and turned to his aide. “Zhu Qing.”

“Third Master!”

“All the inns near the South City Gate—don’t miss a single one.”

“Yes!”

“Third Master!”

Steward Xie’s lips moved. “If it’s to avoid us, shouldn’t she just find some corner to make do for the night?”

“Old Xie!”

Third Master Xie’s face showed an expression of “you’re beyond saving.”

“People can’t just grow fat without growing brains. In this cold weather, you try making do for one night!”

Steward Xie: “…”

Third Master Xie looked at Steward Xie’s deflated face, his heart stirring slightly. Knowing to use misdirection—this woman was indeed quite formidable!

“What was she doing at our house? How did she injure my big brother?”

Asked about this, Steward Xie’s bitter feelings surged up uncontrollably.

“Third Master, you don’t know—the first time I saw this person, I felt something was off. Who wears only a single layer in the dead of winter…”

“Get to the point.”

“This is the point, Third Master.”

Steward Xie: “The moment she entered the Xie family gates, she addressed the master by his full name…”

…

“Miss, the hot water you requested has arrived.”

“Here are ten jin of provisions—the kitchen only had this much.”

“This is a new robe I made before the New Year. The fabric isn’t very good, but my mother’s needlework is excellent.”

“Many thanks!”

Yan Sanhe gave another two taels as a reward, making the servant so happy his mouth split into a grin.

The door closed. Yan Sanhe walked to the window, propped open the window frame, and looked at the distant lights, feeling somewhat restless.

Even traveling day and night without stopping, it would take a full month to reach Yunnan Prefecture.

The forty-nine day agreement would definitely not be met in time.

That was secondary.

Most importantly, that letter wasn’t Grandfather’s heart demon at all. Everything had to be restarted from scratch, which would waste even more time.

Yan Sanhe’s heart was filled with countless worries, yet her eyes blazed with heat, as if hiding a cluster of fierce flames within.

Everyone has two sides—one good, one evil.

But Grandfather’s two sides were poles apart in her heart, which wasn’t normal.

It’s fine, Yan Sanhe thought. One day she would find out the reason.

After a simple wash, she changed into the servant’s clothes, bound her hair high, and finally extinguished the lamp, hugging her bundle and curling up in the chair.

Time was precious. With everything prepared tonight, she could depart the moment she opened her eyes tomorrow, not wasting a single moment.

Though the inn’s environment was simple, compared to the Xie manor, Yan Sanhe felt more at ease here.

In the darkness, her breathing gradually became long and steady…

After an unknown amount of time, Yan Sanhe’s eyes suddenly snapped open. Her gaze fell on the door bolt, and in the next instant, she rushed to the window, pushed it open, and looked out—

In the pale moonlight, several dark figures were slowly surrounding the area.