Northwest corner of the Xie residence.

Yan Sanhe stood at the courtyard gate, looking up at the plaque above—

The three characters “Quiet Contemplation Residence” were written with flourish, though the brushwork was slightly lacking.

“This courtyard is where the eldest young master used to live when studying for the imperial examinations. It’s the quietest place there is.”

Steward Xie smiled until his eyes narrowed to slits.

“If the young miss lives here for a few days and finds anything unsatisfactory, just speak up.”

Yan Sanhe gave an “oh” and asked: “Who are the masters of this residence?”

On this topic, Steward Xie was absolutely in his element.

“The greatest in this residence is the old lady. The old lady lives in Sien Hall. By her side…”

“Too wordy.”

Yan Sanhe didn’t want to know so many trivial details. “I ask, you answer.”

Steward Xie: “…”

Yan Sanhe: “How many wives and concubines does your Master Xie have?”

This question was…

Really direct!

Steward Xie smiled: “The old lady manages strictly. Our master has one wife and two concubines in total.”

Yan Sanhe: “How many legitimate sons and daughters?”

Steward Xie: “The eldest young master, third young master, and eldest young miss are all born of the madam.”

Yan Sanhe: “How many concubine-born sons and daughters?”

Steward Xie: “The second young master and second young miss were born to Concubine Liu. Concubine Luo has no children.”

Not too chaotic.

Yan Sanhe asked again: “Of the three sons and two daughters, how many are married?”

Steward Xie smiled: “Only the eldest young master is married, with one son.”

Yan Sanhe: “Who manages the household affairs?”

Steward Xie: “The master and madam don’t manage affairs. Outside, the eldest young master manages things; inside the residence, it’s the eldest young master’s wife.”

Not many people, four generations living together, with the eldest son and his wife in charge.

After quickly making this assessment, Yan Sanhe said: “I understand everything. You may go!”

“Miss, don’t be hasty. This old servant still has a few matters to explain.”

Steward Xie considered carefully in his mind.

“Whether legitimate or concubine-born young ladies in the residence, their courtyards all have four rough-work matrons, eight junior maids, four senior maids. Monthly allowance is two taels, with thirty-six sets of clothes for the four seasons, jewelry…”

“No need for such trouble. No one needs to be placed in my courtyard. I don’t want monthly allowances or clothes.”

“Miss!”

Steward Xie’s legs buckled and he knelt down again, wailing dryly.

“Miss, you’re a treasured daughter of a noble family. How can you do things yourself? Without a single person in this courtyard, even drinking a cup of hot tea, the young miss would have to…”

“Are you addicted to kneeling?”

Steward Xie: “…”

Not addicted—just driven to frustration by the young miss.

Yan Sanhe: “I have a maid. She’ll arrive in a month.”

Steward Xie: “???”

The Yan family can still afford to hire a maid?

Probably some little beggar girl picked up from somewhere!

Steward Xie was unwilling to give up. “Then the monthly allowance and clothes…”

Yan Sanhe sneered coldly. “It seems I can’t stay in this Xie residence…”

“Young lady, I’m leaving, I’m leaving right now!”

Steward Xie climbed up from the ground. Just as he was about to step away, he suddenly remembered something else.

“Today the young miss has settled in. The old lady specifically instructed that this evening two tables will be set in Sien Hall to help the young miss get acquainted with everyone.”

“No need to get acquainted. Send my three meals to my room. As for anything else…”

Yan Sanhe paused.

“Just treat me as if I’m dead!”

Steward Xie: “…”

Who am I?

Where am I?

What did I just hear?

…

“Master, Madam, this old servant dares not add a single word or omit a single word. That’s exactly what she said.”

Xie Daozhi and Old Lady Xie looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

“Actually, thinking about it carefully, it’s not so strange.”

Xie Erli set down his teacup. “Yan’s grandfather fell into such poverty and never asked for help once. His granddaughter, taught by his own hand, how could she be greedy for wealth?”

Old Lady Xie began wiping tears again. “I still feel we’re wronging that child.”

“The days are long ahead!”

Xie Erli consoled her: “Right now she’s newly arrived and guarded against us. Once we’ve lived together longer and she knows we treat her well, it won’t be too late to gradually work on her then.”

Xie Daozhi nodded. “Eldest son speaks reasonably. Take it slowly. Everyone’s heart is made of flesh.”

“Then we’ll take it slowly!”

Just after finishing speaking, the old lady thought something was wrong. The servants in this residence had always been prone to fawning on the powerful and trampling the weak. With her having neither name nor status…

The old lady slapped the table.

“Whether she wants it or not is her business, but we must be clear in our hearts and remember at all times that she is the Xie family’s great benefactor. We must cherish and care for her. Steward Xie?”

“Old lady!”

“Others may not know her background, but you know it most clearly. I don’t care about other things, but if she suffers even the slightest grievance, I’ll hold only you accountable.”

Steward Xie steeled himself: “Yes!”

“Master.”

“Mother, please speak.”

“If there’s someone suitable, keep it in mind. Lower status doesn’t matter—as long as the person’s character is upright. How can we truly not care!”

“Mother, rest assured. I’ll keep this matter in mind.”

…

“Miss Yan, dinner has arrived.”

“Set it down!”

After Tangyuan set down the food box, she stepped forward and knelt on the ground.

“What are you doing…”

“The young miss’s maid won’t arrive for another month. This courtyard doesn’t even have a gatekeeper. This servant is truly worried.”

Tangyuan: “If the young miss doesn’t mind this servant being clumsy, please let this servant stay. When the young miss’s maid arrives, I’ll leave then.”

Yan Sanhe looked at this slightly round face that matched her name, remained silent for a moment, then said: “If you want to stay, don’t kneel.”

Tangyuan froze.

Yan Sanhe no longer looked at her and opened the food box on her own.

Tangyuan came to her senses, quickly got up, and smiled: “Miss, please sit down. This servant will serve you while you dine.”

“No need. You sit down and eat as well.”

Tangyuan froze again.

“I have my own rules.”

Yan Sanhe looked at the six dishes and one soup before her.

“Since you want to stay, you must follow my rules. Otherwise, get lost!”

Tangyuan’s heart felt like frying pancakes—she didn’t know whether to sit down or get lost.

Someone who could live in “Quiet Contemplation Residence” definitely wasn’t an ordinary person. Calling her “master” wouldn’t be excessive.

But she was a servant. How could a servant eat at the same table as a master?

It wasn’t proper!

“Get lost then!”

Yan Sanhe showed no mercy when dismissing people.

Tangyuan’s heart trembled with fright. Remembering Steward Xie’s instructions, she quickly and obediently sat down.

“Eat!” Yan Sanhe held her bowl in one hand and picked up chopsticks with the other.

Tangyuan turned her face away, shaking her head lightly, forcing the tears back.

In her sixteen years of life, this was the first time she’d sat in such a fine chair and eaten such good food.

…

Throughout the meal, Tangyuan ate anxiously.

Seeing that Yan Sanhe had finished, she quickly set down her chopsticks, stood up, and said: “This courtyard has a small garden. If the young miss wants to aid digestion, you can walk around back there.”

“Mm!”

Yan Sanhe answered faintly. “By the way, don’t keep saying ‘this servant’ every other phrase. I don’t like hearing it.”

Tangyuan’s hands trembled violently as she collected the bowls and chopsticks, her facial expression suddenly cracking.

Yan Sanhe went on her own to the small garden.

Several plum trees were planted in the small garden. After the wind and rain of recent days, fallen petals covered the ground.

Yan Sanhe felt somewhat dazed, inexplicably reminded of that dream. Her brow furrowed then relaxed.

“Have you met them in heaven?”

“Are they all well?”

“After dissolving this heart demon, I dreamed of some things from the past. I had parents, and someone who both bullied me and coaxed me.”

“I’m staying in the capital to resolve the next heart demon. The reason I’m living in the Xie family is so that girl can find me.”

“I didn’t expect you would appear in Xie Daozhi’s dream. They say you’ve let go. I think you haven’t let go—you’ve just given up.”

“Giving up is good. It’s not tiring.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice grew lower and lower.

“The Yellow Springs are deep, the Blue Heavens distant. Grandfather, drink a bowl of Mengpo’s soup, cross the Bridge of No Return. In your next life, you must be born into a good family, must find a woman who truly treats you well.”