“Father, please speak.”

“The Old Madam wants to keep that girl Sanhe in the residence.”

“Hasn’t she already been kept—”

Xie Erli’s expression changed. “Does the Old Madam mean to marry her in? Marry her to whom?”

Xie Daozhi nodded once. “The second son.”

Xie Erli’s demeanor grew solemn. After a long pause, he said, “Setting everything else aside, I’m afraid the family status would wrong Second Brother.”

“I originally thought the same. But what that girl said to your mother yesterday made me change my mind.”

Xie Daozhi continued, “No one understands your maternal grandfather Yan’s learning better than I do. That girl has inherited his authentic teachings—the knowledge in her belly is no simple matter.”

Xie Erli sighed inwardly.

Knowledge was secondary. The key was that although this girl had a cold temperament, she understood propriety. Pairing such a person with the second son…

“I just don’t know if Concubine Liu would approve of her,” Xie Erli probed tentatively.

Xie Daozhi didn’t respond, slowly closing his eyes. “No rush. Let me think this matter over carefully.”

Xie Erli looked at the dark circles under his father’s eyes and furrowed his brow slightly.

Having the second son marry that girl was indeed a solution that killed two birds with one stone, but somehow, his heart harbored another layer of worry.

Yan Sanhe had no idea that her two words of “good” had set so many hearts in the Xie residence turning. Even less did she know that someone was already worrying about her marriage prospects.

She and Li Buyan arrived at the corner gate as agreed.

Xie Buhuo looked up, startled.

These master and servant were both dressed as men, full of heroic spirit.

Yan Sanhe was also startled.

The Second Master Xie before her wore a half-worn long robe with not even a jade pendant on his person—a clean and refreshing scholar’s appearance, pleasing to the eye.

Xie Buhuo quickly suppressed his expression, his tone relaxed. “Miss Yan, please board the carriage.”

Yan Sanhe said, “No need to go too far—just look around nearby.”

Xie Buhuo replied, “Then I’ll take Miss to see a few nearby Xie family shops.”

The carriage moved slowly. Half an hour later, it stopped before a shop.

Yan Sanhe walked in to see—it sold the Four Treasures of the Study.

Xie Buhuo smiled, saying, “Most shops in the capital selling the Four Treasures of the Study belong to the Xie family. Miss, feel free to browse. If you fancy anything, just tell me.”

Yan Sanhe said nothing, but Li Buyan behind her spoke up. “Second Master, may I ask a few questions?”

Xie Buhuo noticed that when Li Buyan spoke, Yan Sanhe stepped aside, yielding the face-to-face position to Li Buyan.

He said composedly, “Miss, please ask.”

Li Buyan asked, “How many shops selling the Four Treasures of the Study does your residence have in total?”

Xie Buhuo calculated. “Fifty-eight.”

Li Buyan continued, “Are these buildings rented, or are they all Xie family properties?”

Xie Buhuo replied, “More than half are rented, less than half are our own.”

Li Buyan’s fingers behind her back calculated for a moment, then she extended an index finger toward Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe nodded.

What riddle were they playing?

Someone of Xie Buhuo’s identity and background, no matter how many doubts filled his heart, wouldn’t ask a single extra question.

After Li Buyan finished asking, she retreated behind Yan Sanhe and said no more.

Xie Buhuo pointed to the Eight Treasures Pavilion. “This Duan inkstone is quite excellent—I wonder if it has affinity with Miss?”

Yan Sanhe examined it in her hand for a few moments. “Indeed quite good. Buyan.”

Li Buyan reached for silver.

Xie Buhuo quickly said with a smile, “Allow me to give it to Miss.”

Yan Sanhe frowned slightly.

“Miss, don’t rush to frown.” Xie Buhuo smiled gently. “I’ve given gifts to both Elder Sister and Younger Sister.”

The implication was: I also consider you family.

Yan Sanhe thought of this morning’s noodle soup. “You give me an inkstone, I’ll treat you to a meal—how does that sound?”

Xie Buhuo’s smile was neither too warm nor too cool. “Excellent!”

After viewing several shops, it was mealtime.

Yan Sanhe and her servant were unfamiliar with the capital, so Xie Buhuo led them into a restaurant.

The private room on the second floor was arranged most elegantly.

“There are no outsiders here—Miss Li, please sit. Wu Xing, you sit too.”

Xie Buhuo glanced at the server pouring tea. “The usual.”

The server hurried to respond, “Yes, Second Master.”

Li Buyan sat down openly, but Wu Xing only dared sit halfway, looking quite constrained.

Yan Sanhe noticed this and couldn’t help giving Xie Buhuo a meaningful look.

When the dishes arrived, she picked up her chopsticks. “Second Master, please.”

“Miss Yan, I won’t stand on ceremony.”

The meal was eaten in silence. Aside from Wu Xing being extremely uncomfortable in every move, the other three ate with perfect composure.

After finishing, Li Buyan took out silver to pay. Xie Buhuo picked up the teapot to refill Yan Sanhe’s water.

After a pot of tea, Yan Sanhe said, “Second Master still has matters to attend to this afternoon. Let’s part ways here.”

Xie Buhuo replied, “I’ll have Wu Xing escort Miss back to the residence.”

Yan Sanhe countered, “The weather is too fine. Buyan and I will walk back and digest our food along the way.”

Xie Buhuo leaned back against his chair. “I heard from servants that Miss Li practices martial arts every morning at dawn. I imagine she can protect you.”

“Yes, so no need to worry.”

“Then I’ll see Miss to the door.” Xie Buhuo stood up with a gentle smile.

…

The four parted ways at the restaurant entrance.

Li Buyan turned to look back. “Sanhe, don’t you find Xie Buhuo quite interesting?”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Tell me—in what way interesting?”

“Not fawning, not flattering, not cold, not negligent—his sense of proportion is perfectly balanced, keeping one in a very comfortable feeling from start to finish.”

Li Buyan resisted the urge to look back again. “Being able to do this isn’t easy. He must constantly read people’s hearts—I almost feel sorry for him.”

“Don’t rush to conclusions.”

Yan Sanhe lowered her eyes. “The First and Second Branches have very deep waters. Aside from Lady Wu and Xie Wanshu, I don’t see anyone in the entire Xie residence who isn’t clever.”

Li Buyan thought for a moment, then added, “Fifty-eight shops bring in around ten thousand taels annually, but the Xie family’s clothing, food, housing, and transportation far exceed just that amount. Don’t let it be another Ji family situation.”

“Perhaps the Xie residence has other businesses.”

Yan Sanhe pointed ahead to an alley. “Four Lanes Street is here. Stay alert.”

“Don’t worry, I’m talking while keeping my ears pricked!”

The gate was in the northwest corner, but Four Lanes Street was to the east. To avoid attention, Yan Sanhe deliberately circled around from the southeast before finally seeing a row of lush roses.

“Look!”

Li Buyan’s sharp eyes immediately spotted a gray little door hidden among the green leaves.

The door wasn’t tall—one had to bend to enter.

Li Buyan looked alertly front and back, channeled her qi to her dantian, and leaped atop the wall.

From this vantage point, she could see movements in all directions more clearly.

She made a gesture to Yan Sanhe. Understanding, Yan Sanhe bent down and burrowed into the roses, her hand reaching quickly for the door.

Before she could touch the door frame, it was pulled open from inside. A large hand reached out and gently pulled Yan Sanhe through.

Li Buyan didn’t move.

She crouched on the wall and quietly stood guard for quite a while. After confirming everything was safe, she lightly dropped inside the wall.