Yan Sanhe gathered her long hair, coiled it into a bun, and secured it with a golden hairpin. She stood up, straightened her clothes, and bent down to walk out through the fence.
It was already evening, yet she still squinted against the brightness outside.
Two officials from the Ministry of Justice came up to guide her, leading her all the way to the entrance of the yamen.
Outside the gate stood quite a few people. Yan Sanhe swept her gaze across face after face, her eyes finally settling on one person.
Her lips curved as she opened both arms.
That person’s body leaped forward, flying into her embrace.
Holding tightly.
At the bottom of the steps, Pei Xiao used his toe to kick Xie Zhifei’s foot, frowning. “Can master and servant be like this? Not a trace of hierarchical distinction—complete chaos.”
Xie Zhifei ignored him and turned to look at Zhu Qing. His mind conjured an image of himself and Zhu Qing embracing like this, and he gave a violent shudder.
It was a bit chaotic.
“The person’s already out—hurry and ask!” Pei Xiao kicked him again.
Xie Zhifei steeled himself and climbed several steps, coughing lightly twice.
Yan Sanhe released Li Buyan and turned her head to look at Xie Zhifei.
Xie Zhifei’s expression instantly lost control.
That face was covered in bloodstains, with bruises at the forehead and corners of her eyes. Though her hair was bound up, several strands were matted with blood, tangled together.
Looking further down, her clothes were stained with blood.
Xie Zhifei didn’t have heart disease, but right now, for some reason, his chest hurt so much that cold sweat broke out.
“How could you do this?”
Xie Zhifei was furious. “A young lady insisting on showing off?”
“Third Son!”
Xie Daozhi shouted sternly. “Hurry and help your sister into the carriage—the whole family is waiting!”
Sister?
Yan Sanhe knew this was said for the Ministry of Justice officials to hear, but she still sneered coldly in her heart.
Who wanted to be this dandy’s sister?
“Hurry and get in the carriage!”
Xie Zhifei’s tone was still harsh. He turned his head and barked at Pei Xiao, “What are you standing there for? Go get your father—quickly!”
Pei Xiao really wanted to grab a stick and beat this bastard to death.
“This young master has already run errands once. You’re making me run a second time—am I your damn servant? Zhu Qing, you go!”
Before Pei Xiao could finish speaking, Zhu Qing and his horse had already charged off.
Xie Zhifei cupped his fists toward the two Ministry of Justice officials. “Please, you two, convey a message to Minister Xu for me.”
The two men quickly returned the bow respectfully. “Third Master, please speak.”
“Minister Xu took excellent care of my sworn sister. This kindness will never be forgotten!”
Xie Zhifei smiled slightly. “In the future, I will certainly repay it.”
“…”
Those two couldn’t answer a single word, only using their eyes to glance at Xie Daozhi, but all they saw was his back as he swept his sleeve and left.
Having delivered his harsh words, Xie Zhifei clasped his hands behind his back. Just as he was about to turn around, he noticed Yan Sanhe’s gaze looking at him.
Their eyes met. Yan Sanhe didn’t hide but narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression revealing some confusion.
Confused about what? Didn’t she know Third Master protected his own?
Xie Zhifei’s eyes turned cold as he turned and left.
…
The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone bricks, making creaking sounds.
Inside the carriage, Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan stared at each other fixedly, neither speaking first.
Over two months, one in the south, one in the north—neither had expected to meet again at the Ministry of Justice gate.
After a long while, Li Buyan laughed heartily. “Did you miss me?”
Yan Sanhe nodded.
Li Buyan tilted her head and asked, “How did you miss me?”
Yan Sanhe reached out and pointed to her chest.
For someone who didn’t talk much, this was already the most outward emotional expression. Li Buyan hummed twice, indicating her satisfaction.
“I’ve already handled your grandfather’s funeral affairs.”
She cupped her chin. “The moment the coffin closed, the originally overcast sky suddenly let moonlight through. That night’s moonlight was extremely beautiful.”
The blood all over her face didn’t prevent Yan Sanhe from smiling beautifully.
“That’s a good omen.”
“I thought so too. What about you—what did you dream of?”
Yan Sanhe briefly described the dream to her.
After listening, Li Buyan lowered her voice. “After this next spirit-pacifying ritual is complete, you should know who you are.”
“Let’s hope so. However…”
Yan Sanhe tapped her foot against Li Buyan’s toe. “We’ve been delayed too long. Things won’t be easy to handle.”
“I have confidence in you.”
Li Buyan sat down beside Yan Sanhe and bumped her arm with her elbow.
“Quick, tell me what exactly your grandfather couldn’t let go of.
Also, how did you end up in the Ministry of Justice when you were perfectly fine?
Oh right, what’s this about being a sworn sister?”
Yan Sanhe: “…”
Which one should I answer first?
…
The Xie Manor.
Side gate.
Steward Xie stood on tiptoe, craning his neck to look toward the end of the alley. When he saw carriages entering, his face brightened as he called to Xie Erli on the steps.
“They’re here, they’re here—people are back.”
Xie Erli’s heart relaxed. “Quick, have someone prepare fire basins.”
The carriage slowly drew near.
Xie Erli personally stepped forward to help Xie Daozhi down from the carriage, taking the opportunity to say in a low voice, “Couldn’t keep it from the Old Madam—she’s extremely anxious and ordered me to wait here.”
Xie Daozhi kept his voice down. “She can’t let the Old Madam see her in this state. Just say she was frightened and will rest at Quiet Contemplation Residence first.”
Xie Erli’s heart jumped. He turned to look at the other carriage, froze, somewhat surprised and extremely furious.
“I’ll personally go tell the Old Madam.”
Xie Daozhi thought for a moment and added, “After your Uncle Pei comes and you see him off, come to my study with Third Brother.”
“Yes.”
Xie Erli watched his father climb the steps, composed all his expressions, and turned to walk before Yan Sanhe.
“Miss, you’ve suffered.”
“It’s nothing!”
Yan Sanhe’s voice had little fluctuation. “Consider it repaying the kindness of you caring for me these days.”
“Yan Sanhe, what do you mean by that?”
Xie Zhifei happened to overhear. The fire he’d barely suppressed along the journey suddenly flared up again.
“What do you mean ‘repaying’? Who asked you to repay anything?”
“Third Brother!” Xie Erli growled low.
Xie Zhifei feared neither heaven nor earth, neither mother nor father—only his eldest brother.
With one roar from Xie Erli, his arrogance immediately diminished by thirty percent, though his face still looked unpleasant.
Seeing this situation, Steward Xie quickly tried to smooth things over. “Young Master, let Miss step over the fire basin first to dispel the bad luck.”
Yan Sanhe: “I don’t believe in such things!”
Steward Xie looked troubled. “Miss may not believe it, but the Old Madam does. When the Old Madam heard Miss had trouble, she didn’t eat a bite at lunch and has been anxiously waiting until now.”
Yan Sanhe thought this plump Xie fellow had calculated that she was soft-hearted, so he deliberately brought up the Old Madam.
Fine, step over it then!
Yan Sanhe lifted her right foot and stepped over the fire basin.
After her foot landed, Steward Xie shouted loudly, “Great fortune and prosperity, safe and sound!”
…
After stepping over the fire basin, the group escorted Yan Sanhe back to Quiet Contemplation Residence.
Tang Yuan had been waiting at the gate. Seeing Yan Sanhe’s appearance, she wiped away tears continuously.
Xie Erli’s face darkened. “Why cry? First take Miss to bathe and change into fresh clothes.”
Tang Yuan choked out, “Yes!”
Yan Sanhe stopped in the courtyard. “No rush. I have something to say.”
“Miss Yan!”
Xie Erli guessed what she wanted to say and quickly interrupted.
“That bit of food and drink was never a kindness. Rather, Miss saving my sister today is a tremendous kindness to the Xie manor. Miss can always consider the Xie manor her own home.”
Yan Sanhe didn’t know what to say, only looking at Li Buyan following from a distance.
Xie Erli followed her gaze.
Who is this person?
Xie Zhifei quickly explained, “Elder Brother, it’s Miss Yan’s maid.”
Xie Erli frowned slightly.
A maid with such upright bearing?
Just then, Li Buyan stepped forward and cleared her throat. “That… where’s the aggrieved party?”
Aggrieved party?
What aggrieved party?
The people in the courtyard looked at each other in confusion.
“The aggrieved party whose coffin cracked open.”
Only then did Pei Xiao understand she was calling him. He hurried forward. “Here, here, I’m here!”
Li Buyan looked at him. “You sought me out to find out who can perform spirit-pacifying rituals?”
Isn’t that obvious?
Pei Xiao nodded repeatedly.
Li Buyan slowly curved her lips, extended her hand, and pointed gently.
“It’s her.”
Everyone looked in the direction her finger pointed. Eyes reddened, breathing caught, a ball of fire burned their minds into confusion.
Yan Sanhe?
How could it be her?