The wrinkles at the corners of Old Lady Xie’s eyes were extremely deep.

This was not the countenance of someone raised in comfort and worry, but the countenance of someone deeply tormented by a certain matter.

“That blasted memorial arch weighing on my head—did I dare speak? That would be the crime of deceiving the emperor!”

With a rumble, Xie Daozhi’s ears rang again.

Back then, when the Ministry of Rites came to inquire about Mother’s widowhood, he had hated those two years to the bone. Without thinking, he said that Mother had indeed raised him as a widow.

So it was me!

Xie Daozhi felt something surge up in his chest. His mouth opened and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Father?”

“Son!”

The two brothers supported him from left and right.

Just as Xie Erli was about to call Steward Xie to summon the imperial physician, Xie Daozhi gripped his son’s hand tightly.

“Don’t call!”

He said weakly, “This mouthful of blood—spitting it out will make it better.”

Xie Erli turned his head. “Third Brother?”

Third Brother Xie quickly brought warm tea to Xie Daozhi’s lips. “Father, rinse your mouth.”

Xie Daozhi pushed the teacup away, his gaze turning toward Yan Sanhe.

What kind of gaze was this—guilt, distress, sadness, regret…

Countless emotions intertwined. How could words possibly express it all?

“Miss Yan, he… how has he lived all these years? Could you tell me?”

“No need to speak of it.”

Yan Sanhe’s expression showed not the slightest touch of emotion. “With his temperament, he wouldn’t deign to speak of it to you.”

“Miss—Yan!”

Xie Daozhi felt a dagger stab viciously into his heart. The pain made him cry out in grief.

The two brothers suddenly felt the weight in their hands increase. Knowing Father could no longer hold on, they quickly helped him into a chair.

Xie Zhifei turned to glance at Yan Sanhe.

Ruthless enough!

“Since the truth is revealed, you have no need to act out life-and-death scenes before me.”

Yan Sanhe had something even more ruthless to say. “First, it’s none of my concern. Second, he’s dead and can’t see it. If you truly feel guilty, when you reach the underworld in the future, say it to his face.”

Everyone: “…”

“I still have business. May I leave?”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze turned cold.

“Child.”

The more she acted this way, the more guilt Old Lady Xie felt in her heart. Supporting herself on her cane, she stood up.

“The Xie family has wronged him, wronged you. I’ll kowtow to apologize!”

“Grandmother!”

“Old Ancestress!”

Xie Sanye quickly set down his teacup and supported Old Lady Xie, pressing her firmly back down.

“Why are you adding to the chaos? If there’s kowtowing and apologizing to be done, it should be us two brothers doing it. Miss Yan, don’t you agree?”

Yan Sanhe said nothing.

Having invited snub upon himself, Xie Sanye sighed, still maintaining his good temper.

“Quickly now, sit properly. I’ll kowtow on behalf of Old Ancestress, on behalf of my father. Ten aren’t enough? We’ll kowtow a hundred. A hundred aren’t enough? We’ll do a thousand. Until…”

“What’s your name?” Yan Sanhe coldly interrupted.

“Third Master’s face really is…”

Xie Sanye felt himself.

“As for the surname Xie, naturally that goes without saying. Given name Zhifei, courtesy name Chengyu. With our relationship, just call me Chengyu.”

“I have no relationship with you!”

Yan Sanhe met his gaze.

“Xie Zhifei, listen well to the following words.”

Her tone was unprecedentedly serious. Xie Sanye’s heart couldn’t help but tighten.

“The most worthless thing in this world is regret toward the dead. Among the thirty-three celestial layers, each layer is a realm. His realm—you can’t reach it, and neither can I.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze gradually sharpened.

“I have no time to wrangle with you here. Until his heart demon is removed, this matter isn’t finished. The old lady tore up the divorce letter—by rights, she’s still his bedside companion. The Xie family needs to be careful from now on.”

Xie Sanye suddenly remembered the Ji family matter and exclaimed in shock, “Miss Yan, could it be…”

Yan Sanhe: “The Ji family can serve as a warning from the past.”

Xie Sanye: “…”

How does she know I was thinking of the Ji family?

“There’s no way to resolve it—only to pray for one’s own good fortune.”

Yan Sanhe’s icy gaze stabbed at Xie Sanye like a knife. “Have you remembered all my words?”

These weren’t words for him alone—clearly they were spoken for the entire Xie family to hear.

Xie Sanye nodded heavily several times.

“Green mountains don’t change, flowing waters run long. Between the Xie family and me—we shall meet no more!”

“Hey, why no more meetings? I…”

“Get out of my way!”

Yan Sanhe’s eyeballs filled with blood, no longer coldly pitch-black but frighteningly red, as if about to drip blood.

Xie Zhifei’s heart trembled. Instinctively, he moved aside.

Yan Sanhe brushed past the edge of his garment and walked up the stairs.

The door closed. Tears slid down. She covered her mouth, her whole body trembling violently, her throat emitting whimpers like a wild beast driven to desperation.

How ironic!

You considered everything for them, giving your sincere heart openly and honestly. But them?

Did they give you even half a sincere heart?

Are you foolish?

Are you foolish or not!

Yan Sanhe finally couldn’t hold on. Leaning against the door, she slowly crouched down.

She suddenly remembered that last night. Though he had already retired to bed, he had put on his outer robe again and came to sit in her room.

Hesitating to speak.

She smiled. “Speak your mind directly.”

He also smiled. “Am I that obvious?”

She glanced sideways. “Only the blind couldn’t see it.”

His smile faded, and he sighed, saying, “If one takes everything to heart, there’s no way to move forward. What should be let go must be let go. Otherwise, the suffering is your own.”

She turned her face away. “Why speak of this so suddenly?”

He stood up and ruffled her hair. “If I don’t say it now, there may be no chance later. You and I are grandfather and granddaughter for one lifetime—I always hope for your well-being.”

So, those words were your farewell to me?

But you haven’t let go either, have you?

And what exactly is it that you can’t let go of?

Yan Sanhe fiercely wiped away her tears, picked up the bundle on the table, tied it around herself, then walked down the stairs.

She walked very steadily, step by step. Reaching the main hall, she didn’t cast even a glance toward the Xie family people. She directly pulled open the door and stepped into the boundless night.

Yan Sanhe’s departure—this scene was soundless, but for the old lady and Xie Daozhi, it was a fatal blow.

—

This was completely another Yan Xing.

Arrogance and self-regard fused into her blood and bones. Clearly full of grievance and hurt, yet not speaking half a word to outsiders—only coldness and disregard.

After a long while.

Third Brother Xie came back to himself and tugged at Xie Erli’s garment. “Elder Brother!”

Xie Erli looked at the old lady immersed in sorrow and Father, who had lost his soul, and took a deep breath. “Steward Xie.”

“First Young Master.”

“Settle the old lady and master back first, then send someone to invite Imperial Physician Pei. Don’t leave the bedside unattended for even a moment.”

“Yes!”

“Wait!”

“What other instructions does First Young Master have?”

“Command everyone to keep their mouths shut about tonight’s events. Don’t reveal even a hint to Madam or First Madam’s side. Just say that Father and the old lady met an old acquaintance and were somewhat emotionally stirred.”

“What about First Young Master’s face injury…”

“That old acquaintance had some misunderstanding about our family. Now the misunderstanding has been cleared up.”

“Yes!”

Steward Xie waved his hand, and several estate guards immediately came forward.

When the old lady was helped up, she suddenly grabbed her eldest grandson’s hand.

“Eldest, I… I… she… she…”