Yan Sanhe took the paper package and nodded lightly.

“Thank you. You should return.”

“Miss should also rest early. Farewell.”

The man’s tall, slender back quickly disappeared into the night.

Yan Sanhe turned her head and saw Li Buyan with arms crossed, a playful smile on her face.

“What are you looking at me for?”

“You don’t like Third Master, but Second Master seems quite pleasing. Sanhe sister, please honestly explain—why is this?”

Yan Sanhe hesitated. “It seems very familiar.”

“Familiar what? Is it Second Master Xie himself, or…”

“It’s what he said.”

“Which sentence?”

“The sentence ‘the second branch doesn’t have anything good’—I always feel I’ve heard it before.”

“Could it be…”

Li Buyan’s lips curved up. “Could it be… your true identity from before was actually a concubine-born child?”

Is that it?

Yan Sanhe’s eyes showed confusion.

…

“Old Madam Ji’s heart demon is a dog?”

If Yan Sanhe hadn’t said it herself, Xie Erli wouldn’t believe it at all.

How could this be possible?

Too preposterous!

Xie Erli steadied his mind: “Early tomorrow morning, the Old Madam will personally go to Jingsi Residence to keep the person here. Whether it works or not depends entirely on the Old Madam’s ability. It’s late—go rest!”

Hearing that the old ancestor would personally act, Xie Zhifei felt mostly relieved.

“Elder Brother should also sleep early.”

Once Third Son left, Xie Erli also departed the study and returned to Fangzhou Courtyard. Seeing the lamp still lit in the west wing room, he was quite satisfied.

Lady Zhu Weixi heard movement and came out to greet him. After the couple exchanged a few words, Xie Erli went to the washroom to bathe and change.

Everything properly done, he extinguished the lamp and half-reclined, half-lay on the outer bed.

They’d been married six years. Lady Zhu clearly knew that when the man assumed this posture, he had something to say, and she knew even more clearly what he wanted to say.

“Today’s matter was my fault.”

Lady Zhu’s eyes fixed on the bed curtains: “I shouldn’t have agreed to let Second Sister go out.”

Xie Erli’s voice grew heavy. “Is this your only mistake?”

Lady Zhu bit her lip: “Even worse was only assigning two guards and a few matrons to follow.”

“I’ve already instructed you before—anything involving Yan Sanhe requires extra vigilance.”

Xie Erli tapped the bed board with his finger.

“Fortunately there was no real danger this time. Otherwise, what face would I have to give the Old Madam and Father an explanation? What face to give the second branch an explanation?”

In the darkness, Lady Zhu’s eyes had already filled with tears. She bit down hard, not daring to let them fall.

“Father entrusted the inner residence to you because he values and trusts you. Don’t let this kind of thing happen again in the future—making him worry about court matters while also worrying about household affairs.”

Lady Zhu’s voice trembled as she responded: “Yes!”

“Tomorrow morning the Old Madam will go to Jingsi Residence. Set aside your tasks and accompany her.”

“Yes!”

“Also make time to visit the second branch.”

“I already went today.”

“What did Concubine Liu say?”

“She only scolded her own daughter.”

“She certainly knows how to conduct herself!”

Xie Erli snorted coldly. “It’s late. Sleep!”

After speaking, he turned over, facing outward, his back presenting a cold distance.

Tears finally slid from the corners of Lady Zhu’s eyes.

She turned her head to look at the man’s head, forcing the grievance, bitterness, and sorrow spreading through her heart back down bit by bit along with the tears.

…

In the vast capital at this moment, among the women crying in sorrow like Lady Zhu, one was Du Yiyun.

Du Yiyun’s sorrow was completely different from Lady Zhu’s.

She was furious that the scheme she’d carefully plotted had been reduced from a major matter to a minor one, from minor to nothing.

What made her grit her teeth most was that the Xie father and son—one went to the Xu household to flaunt official authority, the other personally went to the Ministry of Justice to demand someone’s release.

Was this treatment for a concubine?

This was clearly the treatment of Third Madam Xie.

On the bed, Ni’er rose and wrung out a hot towel, handing it to Du Yiyun: “Miss, if it didn’t work this time, we’ll try again next…”

“Where is there a next time?”

Du Yiyun said bitterly: “If I target that wench again next time, the Xie family will notice. They’re not stupid.”

Ni’er worried: “Miss, this matter must go through proper channels to be legitimate. Otherwise…”

“Who doesn’t know we need proper channels?”

Du Yiyun threw the hot towel back at Ni’er.

“Father has tested the waters several times, but that old bastard Xie Daozhi just prevaricates, never giving a straight answer.”

Ni’er sneered coldly: “Miss doesn’t mind that Third Master is short-lived, yet their Xie household dares look down on our Du household. Truly laughable.”

Du Yiyun raged: “Don’t say my Third Brother is short-lived.”

“Look at this mouth of mine!”

Ni’er lightly slapped herself. “But returning to the point, what exactly is that wench’s background? How could she trouble Master Xie himself?”

Hearing this, Du Yiyun froze.

Right—what is her background?

Who are her parents and brothers?

What kind of distinguished guest of the Xie household is she?

I actually know nothing.

“No, I must have someone investigate.”

Du Yiyun forcefully struck the bed edge: “Once I’ve investigated, I’ll find another way to deal with her. I refuse to believe it!”

…

A good night’s sleep.

When Yan Sanhe awoke, daylight was already bright. Li Buyan, who had slept on the outer side, had long since disappeared.

At this time, she was most likely practicing martial arts.

Yan Sanhe dressed properly and sat at the vanity, examining the top of her head in the bronze mirror.

It didn’t hurt anymore, but having gauze on top looked too unsightly.

Tang Yuan brought in hot water. “Miss, please don’t move. I’ll change the gauze for you.”

“Help me style the simplest hair knot.”

“Miss, rest assured.”

After changing the gauze and finishing her hair, Yan Sanhe changed into that gray-blue robe and lowered her head to wash.

Everything properly done, seeing Tang Yuan still standing behind her, thinking of the maid’s considerate attentiveness, she coughed lightly: “I’ll be leaving the residence today.”

Tang Yuan was so shocked she couldn’t speak.

“Return to wherever you came from.”

Yan Sanhe was silent for a moment. “If you have any difficulties, you can speak now. I can decide for you.”

“Where can I go!”

Li Buyan lifted the curtain and entered, smiling at Yan Sanhe: “Miss, go take a look quickly. There’s a fatty kneeling in the courtyard holding a rope, saying hanging oneself brings the quickest death.”

This was telling her that if she wanted to leave, she’d have to step over Steward Xie’s corpse first.

Yan Sanhe sneered coldly, walked to the outer room, and didn’t even glance at Steward Xie on the ground.

“Li Buyan, hang that rope on the beam. If he wants to die, it’s easy enough. I’ll help him!”

“Right away!”

Li Buyan walked to Fatty Xie, and with a flick of her hand, Steward Xie felt his palm burn. The rope had already vanished.

My dear mother!

They’re actually willing to let me die?

With fire rushing to his head, Fatty Xie scrambled to his feet and ran outside on his plump legs.

Li Buyan laughed until she bent over: “Look, another coward.”

The coward rushed off to report.

In no time, a group of people entered Jingsi Residence. Leading them was the white-haired Old Madam Xie.

On either side of her stood Third Master Xie and Lady Zhu.