“Huangqi?”

“Master!”

“Go call those two monks here.”

“Yes!”

“You actually brought two monks to the Xie family? What for—chanting sutras?”

“You understand shit!”

Pei Xiao gave him a white-eyed look and smiled coldly: “You’ll know when they arrive.”

One fat, one thin—two monks drifted over.

Pei Xiao exchanged a glance with Huangqi, who quickly closed the flower hall doors.

The fat monk pulled out two portraits from his bosom, fawning: “Master Pei, see if they look similar?”

Pei Xiao gestured for him to show them to Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei glanced over and was stunned—

One was of Yan Sanhe, one of Li Buyan. Both portraits were lifelike.

“What is this…”

“When I return, I’ll have people copy several hundred. Then distribute one to every temple throughout Great Hua. Those common folk may not offer incense on the first day, but won’t they on the fifteenth?”

Pei Xiao folded his arms across his chest, smiling smugly. “This master doesn’t believe we can’t uncover their backgrounds.”

Brilliant!

These two portraits opened a new door for Xie Zhifei. Just as he was about to heap praise on the fellow, he saw him twist his mouth corner in a cold smile:

“Whether Yan Sanhe is a mystic or an expert, she can’t escape this master’s Five-Finger Mountain.”

Xie Zhifei’s heart suddenly trembled.

These words…

Why did they make him so uncomfortable?

Xie Zhifei composed his expression and stood, cupping his fists. “Then I’ll trouble you two.”

“Third Master is too kind.”

The two monks returned the courtesy. “Master Pei, if there’s nothing else, we’ll return to the ministry first.”

Pei Xiao nodded while making a silencing gesture to them.

The thin monk quickly smiled: “Master Pei needn’t instruct us. Rest assured, completely assured.”

The two monks drifted away again.

Xie Zhifei looked at Pei Xiao, saying sincerely: “Mingting, impressive!”

“There’s more impressive stuff than this.”

Pei Xiao smiled coldly. “If I hadn’t made that scene earlier, how would that Yan mystic have honestly revealed her true relationship with Li mystic?”

“You did it deliberately?”

Pei Xiao raised his head without speaking, his face showing an expression of “come praise me, praise me to death.”

Xie Zhifei generously gave him a thumbs up, then lowered his voice: “Find a time to meet with him.”

This turn was too sudden. Pei Xiao’s expression hadn’t had time to shift when he instinctively asked: “Meet who?”

“Who else would I mean?”

Xie Zhifei pressed his voice down. “He sent word saying the Crown Prince will sacrifice pawns to save the king.”

The playful expression vanished instantly. Pei Xiao frowned: “Was that what you whispered to my uncle earlier?”

Xie Zhifei shook his head: “How would I dare tell him that? I said the old censor announced he’d wear crimson robes to court recently.”

“No wonder he agreed immediately.”

After a long silence, Pei Xiao added: “Must say, on the point of saving time, Yan mystic really considers the victim.”

This reminded Xie Zhifei of those days and nights racing through wind and rain.

After a moment, he said quietly: “Later you’ll understand—that girl has a cold face but warm heart.”

“Later is later.”

Pei Xiao urged him: “Come on, find the mystic. Don’t waste time.”

Xie Zhifei stood up. His gaze casually swept toward where Yan Sanhe had sat, and all his movements suddenly froze.

“What are you looking at?”

Pei Xiao leaned closer and saw he was staring at the bowl Yan Sanhe had used. “She just left one mouthful of rice. Must you have that expression like you want to eat someone?”

Xie Zhifei looked at that mouthful of leftover rice, his eyes like still, deep water.

“Let’s go!”

Pei Xiao tugged at him to leave.

Couldn’t move him.

“Don’t tell me you want to help her eat that mouthful of leftover rice.”

You guessed right!

Something in a dusty corner of Xie Zhifei’s heart felt suddenly pricked by a needle—a spasming ache, yet inexplicably boiling.

Pei Mingting, would you believe it?

Once there was someone whose leftover rice I always ate.

Xie Zhifei’s peach-blossom eyes lifted, both dimples showing as he smiled roguishly.

“You bastard, what the hell are you saying? How disgusting!”

…

As Yan Sanhe had estimated, of the maids and matrons who served the old lady, only eleven remained—the others had all been released from the residence.

These eleven people saw several men in official robes standing in the courtyard and were too frightened to breathe loudly.

Xie Zhifei shot Ding Yi a look.

Ding Yi stepped forward and barked sternly: “Everyone divide into two lines.”

The servants tremblingly divided into lines. Left over was a young maid, thirteen or fourteen years old, having just come of age.

Not knowing which line to join, the little maid was anxious beyond measure.

Ding Yi pointed: “You, go in first.”

The little maid shuddered in fright. But unable to withstand Ding Yi’s King of Hell-like expression, she could only steel herself and cross the threshold.

Entering the room, the little maid saw two people—one sitting, one standing.

The seated one was a young lady, very beautiful.

The standing one was an official, every line of his face conveying fierceness.

The little maid dropped to her knees with a thump and without saying anything, first kowtowed three times.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was rarely gentle. “The Five Cities Military Patrol Bureau is investigating a case. We’ve called you to ask a few questions.”

The little maid looked at Yan Sanhe, stunned.

These days, how could there be women working as constables?

“What are you staring at?”

Zhu Qing glared at her viciously: “This is the investigative expert our Commander Xie invited. You’d better answer honestly, or I’ll let you taste what prison food is like.”

Commander Xie, who had followed in, coughed. “As long as you answer honestly, I guarantee your safety.”

The little maid was truly terrified, collapsing on the ground with tears in her eyes.

Seeing the timing was right, Yan Sanhe asked: “What’s your name? How old are you? What work did you do in the old lady’s courtyard?”

The little maid sniffled: “This servant is Little Red, fourteen years old. I tended the old lady’s vegetable garden.”

Yan Sanhe: “How many years have you served the old lady?”

Little Red: “Two years.”

Yan Sanhe: “How did you come to the old lady’s side?”

Little Red wiped her tears: “The maid who previously tended the garden was released. Because I knew how to grow vegetables, I was selected.”

Yan Sanhe: “You’re not a house-born servant?”

Little Red shook her head: “This servant still has parents and brothers at home. The family couldn’t make ends meet, so they sold me. It was a living contract—if we have money later, I can be redeemed.”

By this point in the conversation, Yan Sanhe finally got to the main question: “In your eyes, what kind of person was the old lady?”

At this, Little Red got stuck.

Yan Sanhe coughed. Zhu Qing quickly scolded: “Whatever is asked, you answer.”

Little Red hurried to respond.

“The old lady was a good person. When I first arrived at the courtyard, being so young, those senior maids and old matrons bullied me. After the old lady learned of it, she had Mama Chen give them a warning. After that, my days were better.”

Yan Sanhe nodded, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote four characters: Kind-hearted.

“In your memory, what was the most memorable incident involving the old lady?”

Little Red: “…”