Being woken deep in the night—if it were normally, Young Master Pei wouldn’t get out of bed without throwing a fit first.

But today, after Huang Qi whispered a few words in his ear, Young Master Pei said nothing and got dressed immediately, leaving Zhu Qing stunned.

A carriage waited at the Xie residence gate and headed straight for the Buddhist Registry.

Seeing it was Master Pei, the gatekeeper of the Buddhist Registry quickly fetched a lantern for Huang Qi.

Master and servant proceeded inward. Before reaching the Left Vice Minister’s courtyard gate, they saw two bald monks from afar, each holding a lantern, waiting for them.

Soon, lights lit up in the main hall.

One of the monks wasted no words and pulled out two portraits from his robe.

“Master, we’ve inquired at every temple we could in the Hua Kingdom, but no one knows where this young lady came from.”

“What?”

Pei Xiao was completely shocked.

All along the way, he’d thought countless times that after four months, they should have uncovered some information. Who knew it would yield absolutely nothing?

He was about to ask “How is that possible?” when he looked up and saw both men’s dusty, travel-worn faces. He could only swallow his words.

Pei Xiao glanced at Huang Qi. Huang Qi felt the bank notes he’d prepared in advance, stepped forward, and embraced them both, one on each side.

“Come, rest here at the office tonight. I’ll have the small kitchen prepare some vegetarian food, and we three brothers can have some wine—consider it a welcome home for you.”

The three left arm in arm, leaving Pei Xiao standing alone under the lamplight, face full of worry.

He’d originally planned to find her family—regardless of their status, there would at least be the possibility of proposing marriage. But now…

“Aih!”

Master Pei stroked his chin, muttering to himself, “Don’t tell me those two master and servant popped out of a rock?”

…

In this world, some secrets couldn’t be uncovered, but some secrets definitely couldn’t be hidden.

Almost overnight, nobles, generals, civil and military officials all learned that Lu Shi had impeached the court’s foremost eunuch, Yan Ruxian.

Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the four words “debauching the inner palace” in the impeachment memorial.

The next day, at morning court.

Just as the officials were excitedly anticipating a good show, Old Censor Lu Shi claimed illness and didn’t attend morning court.

And Yan Ruxian, who was normally inseparable from the Emperor, had been replaced by Qin Qi, the attending eunuch from the Ceremonial Directorate.

At court, the Emperor didn’t mention yesterday’s impeachment at all, and the officials were all happy to play along.

But things were often like this.

The more it wasn’t mentioned, the more curious people became.

Gradually, even common people in the marketplace began discussing this matter.

People quickly forgot the storm of Xu Lai’s downfall and Third Master Xie’s injury from a few days ago, and everyone racked their brains trying to find information about Old Eunuch Yan Ruxian.

Starting from this day, more sneaky, prying people appeared around the Xie residence.

After receiving First Madam’s reminder, Steward Xie didn’t panic. After giving his subordinates a stern warning, he closed the gates and carried on with daily life as usual.

Life in the Xie residence wasn’t exactly peaceful either.

For some reason, Madam suddenly complained of chest pain. Madam Zhu had to manage the entire household while attending to her mother-in-law’s illness. Within days, her face had thinned visibly.

Strangely, this time when Madam fell ill, neither Master nor First Master visited her courtyard, and even the old madam only sent a servant woman to inquire after her.

The storms outside had nothing to do with Yan Sanhe. She refused all visitors and recuperated at the Quiet Reflection Residence.

She had Li Buyan hang Jing Chen’s entire outfit on a clothing rack, gazing at it day and night. If not for her injured foot, she truly wanted to try it on to carefully experience how the clothes felt on her body.

But while both were recuperating, Third Master Xie wasn’t idle—nor could he be idle.

Not to mention the visitors from outside, just within the Xie residence, this person came today, that person tomorrow—Shi’an Courtyard was lively beyond measure.

Only Young Master Pei, busy with who knows what these past days, miraculously hadn’t come to the Xie residence.

After three days, Third Master followed Yan Sanhe’s example and refused all visits.

His injuries were only superficial wounds to begin with. Once the scabs formed, they’d be mostly healed. Combined with the constant flow of nourishing soups from the small kitchen and Doctor Pei’s twice-daily visits…

Xie Zhifei’s injuries visibly improved day by day. By the seventh day, he could already move swiftly.

The first thing he did after recovering his mobility—he came to the Quiet Reflection Residence again.

Upon entering, Third Master smiled.

Under the tree shade;

On the bamboo couch;

The young woman lay there listlessly, her injured foot propped on a high stool, her right hand holding a green date from who knows where.

Toss it up, catch it;

Toss it up again, catch it again.

Hearing footsteps, she tilted her head. Her hand shook and the date fell to the ground.

Xie Zhifei walked over, picked it up, and looked at her with a smile.

What are you looking at?

Yan Sanhe glanced at this person’s completely de-swollen handsome face—still everything looked wrong to her.

These past days, that provocative line “Third Master will also stand in front of you” would pop up to prick her from time to time, pricking her so much that even her sleep wasn’t restful at night.

The man’s gaze swept from Yan Sanhe’s face to her injured foot and back again before he called out, “Tang Yuan, bring Master a bamboo chair.”

The bamboo chair was brought. He placed it in the spot closest to the bamboo couch, then sat down and opened his palm.

“Consider this green date my reward. Now tell me, what should I ask at the Water Moon Nunnery?”

He’s really going?

Yan Sanhe met his gaze, her face reddening slightly at her own pettiness.

“When you get to the Water Moon Nunnery, divide people into two groups,” she said in a muffled voice.

“Which two groups?”

“Those familiar with Jing Chen in one group, those unfamiliar with her in another.”

“How do I handle the familiar ones? How do I handle the unfamiliar ones?”

“For the familiar ones, take them to Jing Chen’s room and question them yourself. For the unfamiliar ones, have them tell one story about Jing Chen and have Zhu Qing record it.”

“What should I ask?”

Yan Sanhe: “Ask whatever you want to ask.”

Xie Zhifei smiled faintly.

Day after day of nourishing soups, this girl’s face had actually gained some color, like she’d applied rouge—bright and attractive.

He really wanted to pinch it.

“I want to ask…”

His gaze fell on her reddened cheek. “Does Miss Yan want anything to eat? Anything to play with?”

“I want to eat squab, roast duck, cloud pastries, candied hawthorn…”

At some point, Li Buyan had appeared leaning against the eaves, arms crossed, looking amused. “Will Third Master buy them later?”

Later?

It seemed this “troublemaker” was going to accompany him to the Water Moon Nunnery.

Most likely Yan Sanhe’s idea.

Xie Zhifei stood up, his gaze falling as he addressed Yan Sanhe: “Does Miss Yan say Third Master will buy them?”

Buy them or don’t—I don’t care!

Yan Sanhe grumbled inwardly, somehow her ears also reddened.

Xie Zhifei smiled. “Everything is unspoken yet understood—Yan Sanhe, I understand.”

What do you understand?

Yan Sanhe couldn’t help but look up and glare at him fiercely.

That glare, falling into Xie Zhifei’s eyes, was simply vivid and enchanting.

He laughed heartily, turned around like a victorious general, and walked out of the Quiet Reflection Residence.

Yan Sanhe felt so frustrated inside—don’t even mention it.

Seven days—she’d been recovering her foot, but he’d been recovering his brain.

Getting harder and harder to deal with.