Jade Clarity Courtyard.

The curtain moved as Second Master Xie Buhuo walked in.

The maids quickly stood and bowed. “Second Master has arrived?”

Xie Buhuo looked disdainfully at everyone in the room, saying coldly, “Get out!”

Several senior maids in the room didn’t know what was wrong with Second Master today, all looking at their mistress.

Xie Wanshu’s pair of beautiful eyes were swollen like peaches from crying. Hearing the words “get out,” she suddenly lifted her head, looking at her own brother in confusion.

Xie Buhuo raised his voice, saying sternly, “All get out—did you hear me?”

The senior maids quickly set down their needlework and left one after another.

The maid Xinghua was last to cross the threshold, looking back worriedly at Miss before closing the door for the siblings.

With no outsiders left in the room, Xie Buhuo sat down in a chair, his gaze coldly watching Xie Wanshu without speaking.

Xie Wanshu felt her heart palpitate under his stare, saying tearfully, “Second Brother, why are you looking at me like this? Today I nearly…”

“Bang!”

Xie Buhuo slammed his fist on the table. “Xie Wanshu, you still have the nerve to talk!”

Xie Wanshu was so frightened her tears stopped.

“I’m asking you!”

Xie Buhuo lowered his voice enough that only the two of them could hear.

“Last time I took you shopping, we passed Treasure Jade Pavilion. I asked if you wanted to buy anything. How did you answer? You said Treasure Jade Pavilion’s things couldn’t compare to Treasure Celebration Tower’s.”

“I…”

Xie Wanshu was about to explain when she suddenly saw her brother’s eyes blazing like fire, frightening her into covering her face and sobbing.

“You still have the nerve to cry?”

Xie Buhuo was nearly driven to internal injury by anger, his fists clenching with creaking sounds.

Today while managing his shop in the north of the city, he heard his sister had been harassed. Anxious and worried, he dropped everything and rushed back.

Rushing to the manor, after hearing the whole story from beginning to end, something felt off to him.

His sister had always looked down on Treasure Jade Pavilion’s items—how would she casually wander into that shop?

Originally he thought this girl had just acted on a whim, but later hearing that Yan Sanhe had entered the Ministry of Justice prison to save her, after much thought, he finally understood what felt wrong.

“Speak!”

Xie Buhuo shot to his feet, fierce as an evil spirit. “Who made you do this?”

Due to the Treasure Jade Pavilion incident, Xie Wanshu had been feeling guilty and blaming herself all day. Now already at her limit, seeing her own brother with this man-eating expression, how could she bear it?

“Brother, when Treasure Jade Pavilion gets good items, why can’t I go look?”

She sobbed uncontrollably. “I didn’t want to meet that bad person either. I didn’t want Sister Yan to go to prison. Why are you all blaming me? What did I do wrong?”

The more she spoke, the more wronged and heartbroken she felt.

“How do you know Treasure Jade Pavilion got good items?”

“Ah…” Xie Wanshu froze.

“Who told you Treasure Jade Pavilion got good items?”

“Du Yiyun said so. She told me to go look when I had time. I thought with the Flower Viewing Banquet coming up, I should dress beautifully, but who knew…”

Hearing this, Xie Buhuo’s heart went completely cold.

“Do you know that some days ago, Du Yiyun and Yan Sanhe had a conflict in the back garden?”

“I know.”

Xie Wanshu sniffled. “They don’t get along—what does that have to do with me? I wasn’t the one arguing with them.”

“You…”

Xie Buhuo really wanted to pry open his sister’s head to see what was inside.

Shit?

“Let me ask you—whose habit of not shopping at Treasure Jade Pavilion did you learn?”

“Du Yiyun’s. She said Treasure Jade Pavilion’s items couldn’t compare to Treasure Celebration Tower’s refinement and luxury.”

“How would someone who doesn’t shop at Treasure Jade Pavilion know they got good items?”

“What, what do you mean?”

Xie Wanshu asked haltingly.

She still doesn’t understand!

“The manor has rumors that Yan Sanhe is your Third Brother’s concubine. Du Yiyun has always considered herself Third Madam—could she tolerate it?”

Xie Buhuo was furious. “Only an idiot like you would stupidly become someone else’s accomplice.”

“I’m an accomplice? How could I be an accomplice? I…”

The string in Xie Wanshu’s mind suddenly snapped into place. Her pair of red, swollen eyes looked pitifully at Xie Buhuo, unable to say a word.

After a long while, with a “wah,” she burst into loud sobs.

Xie Buhuo’s eyes still contained sparks of fire.

Both were sixteen-year-old inner chamber women—one shrewd and ruthless enough to take lives without moving a muscle, the other naive and foolish, only knowing eating, drinking, and playing.

How could Auntie teach and teach, yet still raise an idiot!

Xie Buhuo sighed inwardly, his voice heavy. “Keep this matter rotting in your stomach—don’t tell anyone.”

Xie Wanshu suddenly stopped crying. “Brother, why?”

“Aren’t the Old Madam’s disdain for us siblings already enough?”

“But, but we must let them know that Du Yiyun she…”

“She only set up a trap behind the scenes. You entered the trap yourself—do you have evidence? Can you explain it clearly?”

Xie Buhuo gritted his teeth. “Won’t the Old Madam and Master suspect you and Du Yiyun conspired together?”

Xie Wanshu stood dazed, her eyes quickly filling with tears again. She might as well die of grievance.

“Xie Wanshu, remember my words firmly.”

Xie Buhuo spoke with heavy emphasis. “From now on, be more careful around Du Yiyun. Don’t get close, but don’t offend her either.”

How could Xie Wanshu be willing? “She used me like that—why shouldn’t I offend her? Why should I still be close to her?”

“Because you’re a concubine-born daughter.”

Xie Buhuo’s tone carried some desolation.

“When concubine-born daughters befriend legitimate daughters from high families, future in-laws will think more highly of you.”

Hearing this, Xie Wanshu’s tears rolled down unstoppably.

Xie Buhuo softened, seeing her cry, his voice gentling. “If you feel you’ve wronged Sister Yan, visit her often and talk with her more.”

“Didn’t you tell me to keep my distance?” Xie Wanshu choked.

“Brother was wrong.”

Xie Buhuo’s voice was very low. “Someone like her—you must stay close, by whatever means necessary.”

…

“Don’t let the wounds touch water. Keep the gauze on for a few more days. These are all external injuries—no medicine needed. Don’t eat foods that aggravate wounds these days. Keep your diet light.”

Pei Yu squinted at Yan Sanhe. “Miss, is there anywhere else uncomfortable?”

Yan Sanhe: “No.”

Pei Yu: “You don’t feel cold?”

“Not cold.”

Yan Sanhe sensed something wrong. “Imperial Physician Pei, do I have other ailments?”

“No, no!”

Pei Yu quickly waved his hands. “Miss, rest well. I’ll take my leave first.”

After he left, Yan Sanhe asked, “What’s the relationship between Imperial Physician Pei and that person surnamed Pei?”

Tang Yuan quickly replied, “Answering Miss, they’re father and son.”

“No wonder they look somewhat alike.”

Li Buyan plopped down carelessly beside Yan Sanhe. “Fine, considering he treated you, my grudge with that Pei fellow is settled.”

Tang Yuan’s lips moved. She wanted to speak but didn’t dare. But not speaking, she couldn’t bear to watch.

How could a maid sit side-by-side with her mistress?

Yan Sanhe: “Hungry?”

Li Buyan propped her chin, with a somewhat coquettish air. “Starving to death. Haven’t eaten all day—my chest has shrunk half an inch from hunger.”

Tang Yuan swayed, nearly fainting, forcing herself to say, “This slave will prepare food immediately.”

“Also have someone bring hot water.”

Yan Sanhe looked at Li Buyan’s clothes. “How many days without washing?”

Li Buyan extended one hand. “Five days.”

Yan Sanhe: “Almost rancid.”

Li Buyan giggled. “No wonder no men looked at me twice along the way.”

Tang Yuan stumbled, quickly steadying herself on the door frame before hurrying out.

In the courtyard, both Young Master and Third Master were still there.

Seeing her emerge, Xie Erli asked, “How is Miss?”

“Answering Young Master, she says she’s hungry.”

“Hurry and prepare food.”

“Young Master, Third Master.”

Steward Xie’s voice approached from afar. “Master Ji has arrived.”

So fast?

The two brothers exchanged glances. Xie Erli said quietly, “You go receive him. I’ll avoid him first.”