The case files were in the archive room.

When Yan Sanhe saw the portraits, she was slightly startled.

Even though these paintings had some years on them, even though the painter’s skills were quite ordinary, one could still see that the father and son both had extremely outstanding appearances.

Especially Wu Guanyue.

Pearl Sister was right—if Wu Guanyue were thirty or forty years younger, even Third Master standing beside him would probably be outshone.

“Bring paper and brush.”

Zhu Qing handed over paper and brush. After Yan Sanhe looked several more times, her brush flowed in one continuous motion.

The setting sun refracted through the window.

She stood in the light—her forehead, chin, neck, and the slightly raised curve at her chest…

Pei Xiao had originally been watching the painting, but later he just watched the person.

He had to admit, Yan Sanhe was coldly attractive in men’s clothing and brightly striking in women’s—each had its own appeal.

If someone like this were brought home as a wife…

Pei Xiao was so frightened by the thought that popped into his mind that he shuddered.

Making me marry a divine sorceress home…

“Pei Ye?”

“Ah!”

Pei Xiao came back to his senses and looked at Zhu Qing uncomprehendingly.

“Why is your face red?”

“Hot, it’s hot.”

Pei Xiao pretended to wipe sweat, quickly suppressing those indecent thoughts.

…

After copying the two paintings, Pei Xiao went to thank Magistrate Zhou and took the opportunity to curry more favor.

Yan Sanhe and Zhu Qing took the paintings and returned to the guest courtyard.

In the guest courtyard, Xie Zhifei was currently resting with closed eyes under the shade of a tree. Hearing sounds, he opened his eyes.

“You’re back?”

Yan Sanhe nodded to him. “Let’s talk inside.”

Entering the room, she spread out the paintings.

Zhu Qing and Li Buyan quickly gathered around.

Xie Zhifei, however, lazily sat in a chair to the side and lazily crossed his legs.

“Master, come look quickly.”

“I’m not the one going to search. What do I need to look at?”

His lazy streak is acting up again?

Yan Sanhe laughed coldly in her heart. Pointing at the paintings, she said, “These two portraits were painted over ten years ago. More than ten years later, the faces will sag a bit more, with more wrinkles.”

Li Buyan: “Young mistress, rest assured. Everything else may change, but the eyes won’t.”

Yan Sanhe looked up. “Guanyin Chan Temple has skilled warrior monks. Be careful, you two. Don’t let anyone discover you.”

Li Buyan asked, “When will Pei Daren go?”

Yan Sanhe: “Tonight.”

Li Buyan: “Perfect timing. We’ll go to the temple first to scout the layout.”

“Zhu Qing.” Xie Zhifei suddenly called out.

Zhu Qing: “What are Master’s instructions?”

Xie Zhifei: “Remember my words—preserve your life first, do the work second, and lastly… take care of Li Buyan.”

“Oh my, Third Master!”

Li Buyan’s smile was radiant. “Who would have thought—you actually cherish and pity the fragrant and the jade?”

“Mm!”

Xie Zhifei touched his nose. “After listening to songs at pleasure houses so much, naturally I learned.”

Li Buyan: “…”

Did I just get retorted?

…

Zhu Qing and Li Buyan had just left when Pei Xiao returned.

Huang Qi helped him put on his official robes and tuck away his official seal.

After everything was ready, Pei Xiao nodded to Yan Sanhe. “Any other instructions?”

Yan Sanhe shook her head.

“Xie Wushi, what about you?”

Xie Zhifei was somewhat uneasy. “Is it okay with just Huang Qi following? Should I…”

“I asked Zhou Ye for a team. With them following, you can set your heart at ease a hundred times over.”

Pei Xiao pointed at him.

“You and Yan Sanhe discuss what to do next. Day by day passes, and who knows what’s happening in the capital. My heart is quite anxious.”

Xie Zhifei was slightly stunned, somewhat unaccustomed to him speaking so seriously.

…

Night fell.

Two bailiffs entered the courtyard carrying food boxes. As Xie Zhifei received them, he casually slipped two taels of silver to them.

Inside the room, lamps had already been lit.

Opening the food boxes, they were full—more than ten dishes, filling the entire table.

Yan Sanhe came forward to help, arranging bowls and chopsticks while saying, “Save some for Buyan and the others.”

Xie Zhifei had no objection. He scooped a bowl of rice and handed it over. “Can you eat this much? Want me to remove some?”

Yan Sanhe said drily, “No need, I should be able to finish it.”

Xie Zhifei, hearing her say this, pulled his hand back and used his chopsticks to transfer a mouthful of rice into his own bowl, then handed it over again.

“Eat up!”

Yan Sanhe: “…”

Xie Zhifei: “Who knows the food on the plate, every grain is hard-won.”

Yan Sanhe took the bowl and sat down without saying anything.

At the small square table, Xie Zhifei sat opposite her, reached out with his chopsticks to pick up some food, and placed it on her plate.

Yan Sanhe looked up and met his eyes.

Xie Zhifei smiled playfully. “These chopsticks are clean. I haven’t used them.”

Is that what I meant?

Yan Sanhe really wanted to smear those vegetables all over that handsome face.

Her chest rose and fell several times, but she did nothing, silently picking up her chopsticks.

“By rights, one shouldn’t speak while eating or talk during sleep, but with just the two of us eating, not saying something makes the atmosphere quite strange.”

Xie Zhifei finished a sip of soup and said, “I’ll just casually ask you something.”

“Ask after we finish eating.” Yan Sanhe didn’t look up.

“If I don’t ask, this meal has no flavor for me.”

Xie Zhifei put down his chopsticks.

“Wu Guanyue and his son are the main culprits who killed General Zheng’s household, while your younger brother, your parents, all lost their lives because of that case.”

Yan Sanhe’s hand paused. She looked up at him.

Xie Zhifei’s face no longer held even a trace of smile. “If we find them, besides helping the old madam resolve her obsession and exorcise her demon, don’t you want to do something else?”

Yan Sanhe: “Such as?”

Xie Zhifei spoke two words softly: “Revenge!”

Now it’s my turn to have no flavor.

Yan Sanhe put down her bowl and chopsticks and said coldly, “Want to hear the truth or a lie?”

“How would you phrase the truth? And the lie…” Xie Zhifei raised an eyebrow. “How would you phrase that?”

“The truth is, I haven’t thought about it at all.”

Xie Zhifei smiled faintly.

This was easy to understand.

When Yan Sanhe did things, she feared neither wind nor rain nor life nor death. Her heart and eyes only held that one matter before her, nothing else.

Yan Sanhe pressed her lips together. “The lie is, I don’t want revenge.”

Not wanting revenge was a lie, which meant—

She wants revenge!

Xie Zhifei’s pupils contracted instantly as he looked at Yan Sanhe.

“Li Buyan’s mother said something before she died that I think is very right. She said, ‘letting bygones be bygones is too hypocritical. I prefer the wheel of fate turning—turning to death.'”

Yan Sanhe’s face appeared even paler under the lamplight.

“‘Not pursuing’ means forgiveness. What can be forgiven are all small matters. But the lives of my relatives—for me, that’s not a small matter. That’s deep-seated hatred. Since it’s deep-seated hatred, it must be avenged!”

These words devastated and razed the defenses Xie Zhifei had maintained in his heart all these years.

He stared fixedly at Yan Sanhe, his palms slowly seeping with sweat.

“But matters have priorities and proper timing.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him. “I must first resolve Old Madam Ji’s inner demon, then think about revenge. Third Master can rest assured—my heart can return to my belly. I can distinguish priorities.”

It’s not that I don’t trust you.

I don’t trust myself!

Xie Zhifei’s lips held a hint of a smile. He took out his handkerchief and slowly wiped the sweat from his palms, then said softly:

“In that case, excellent!”