It had indeed been a long time!

He’d merely gone to Baoding Prefecture on a business deal. In less than ten days, one was injured, one was lame, and another… had gone mad!

Xie Buhuo glanced behind him. Wu Xing quickly stepped forward and stuffed the paper package into Tangyuan’s hands.

“These are preserved fruits from Baoding Prefecture, for Miss Yan to relieve her boredom.”

After Xie Buhuo finished speaking, he also walked to the window and looked at Yan Sanhe on the bamboo couch, his face full of regret.

“I didn’t know Miss’s foot was injured, otherwise I would have bought some medicinal plasters from there. I heard the efficacy is quite good.”

Yan Sanhe nodded slightly. “Thank you.”

Li Buyan smiled gracefully. “Why don’t both masters come inside for a cup of tea!” Blocking the window really doesn’t look proper!

Second Master Xie: “No need!”

Third Master Xie: “Sure!”

Third Master smiled, his tone neither salty nor bland. “Second Brother, why leave as soon as you arrive? Why not come inside and sit?”

Second Master responded with an equally bland tone: “Just entered the manor, haven’t changed clothes yet, haven’t seen the elders. Going late would be breach of propriety.”

Upon hearing these words, Third Master Xie looked at Second Master Xie with a very strange expression. With just one glance, he walked from the window to the main hall.

“Tangyuan, these preserved fruits are precious—all Second Master’s heartfelt intention. You mustn’t steal any.”

Tangyuan’s round face flushed bright red as she buzzed, “Who’s stealing? Third Master, don’t wrongly accuse people.”

“Dummy, I’m giving you a kind reminder.”

Third Master Xie knocked her on the head and called into the room, “Hey you there, you promised me tea—where’s the tea?”

Li Buyan’s expression twisted slightly as she quickly ran out to brew tea.

Xie Buhuo seemed not to have heard Little Third’s words and maintained his gentle expression. “Miss Yan, recuperate well. After I’ve seen the elders, I’ll come keep Miss Yan company and chat.”

“Thank you.” Yan Sanhe remained cool with the same two words.

As soon as Second Master left, Third Master didn’t drink his tea either. After saying two words “have business” to Li Buyan, he strutted off.

Li Buyan held a handful of tea leaves—putting them away felt uncomfortable, brewing them felt uncomfortable.

After standing dazed for a while, she simply threw the tea leaves away and grabbed Tangyuan, who was putting away the preserved fruits, demanding fiercely, “Speak! What grievance, what resentment exists between your Second Master and Third Master?”

Tangyuan jumped in fright. “It’s, it’s just those matters between legitimate and concubine-born.”

“Impossible.”

Li Buyan’s face showed ruthlessness. “Tell me the truth.”

Tangyuan shook her head like a rattle drum. “Miss, this servant truly doesn’t know. I only know Third Master doesn’t think highly of Second Master. Not just Third Master—First Master doesn’t either.”

“Buyan, I heard Steward Xie sleeps alone every night. How about… you go ask him.”

“Good idea.”

Li Buyan released Tangyuan and poked her head into the room. “Miss, ask civilly or roughly?”

“Depends on his performance.”

A cold smile flashed in Yan Sanhe’s eyes.

Originally she wasn’t curious, but after Second Master Xie’s little scene, even if she hadn’t been curious, she was now.

Hadn’t changed clothes, hadn’t seen the elders, yet ran over upon hearing she was injured.

Yet another injured person stood right before him—his own blood brother—and he didn’t ask a single word.

What virtue or ability did she, a lone orphan girl, possess?

…

On the bluestone path, master and servant walked side by side.

“Second Master going to Jingsi Residence this time was somewhat impulsive. At the very least, you should have asked about Third Master’s injury.”

Wu Xing looked at his master’s expression and said quietly, “The way Third Master looked at Second Master just now was quite unfriendly.”

“What, does the whole world have to revolve around that Third Master Xie?”

Xie Buhuo sneered coldly. “The people asking after him form a long queue. Does he need my false sentiment?”

“Isn’t this for show for the master and old lady?”

“Even if they see, they’ll only pretend not to.” Xie Buhuo sneered once and headed toward Muxiang Courtyard.

Concubine Liu, hearing her son had returned, was already standing under the eaves waiting.

Xie Buhuo stepped forward to bow.

Concubine Liu looked at her son’s travel-worn face and smiled. “Food and wine are prepared. Just have some in Concubine’s room.”

“Good.”

Mother and son entered the inner room, where the pretty Xie Wanshu was already seated at the small round table.

Upon seeing her own brother’s face, her small mouth pouted and her small hand extended. “Where are the preserved fruits you were supposed to bring me?”

“Rushed back in a hurry—no time.”

Xie Buhuo lifted his robe and sat down. “As soon as I returned, I heard that Young Master Pei came to the door to propose to Miss Yan. Concubine, what’s this about?”

Concubine Liu poured wine for her son. “I heard he came without telling the elders, and has since been dragged back. Young Master Pei acted somewhat rashly this time.”

That kid—wasn’t he just rash?

Xie Buhuo took a sip of wine. “What about Little Third’s injury and Miss Yan’s foot?”

“Third Brother was beaten by the Xu family. Miss Yan’s foot—she twisted it herself.”

Xie Wanshu’s voice was crisp and sweet.

“Concubine and I both went to see them—nothing serious. Second Brother, the Xu family has fallen! The beast who bullied me allegedly entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard for interrogation—serves him right!”

Xie Buhuo knew it wasn’t this simple. “Brother knows. Let’s eat!”

But Xie Wanshu didn’t pick up her chopsticks. Propping her chin with her hand, she said, “Second Brother, how did Young Master Pei take a fancy to Miss Yan? One has a hot temper, one has a cold temperament—they don’t match!”

Xie Buhuo glanced at his sister but said nothing.

“Besides, their family status differs by thousands of miles too.”

Xie Wanshu sighed softly. “But now I somewhat envy Sister Yan’s fortune. How can her fate be so good, winning Young Master Pei’s favor!”

“Slap!”

Xie Buhuo’s chopsticks struck the table heavily. “As the dignified Second Miss of the Xie Manor, should you be saying such things?”

“Brother, what’s wrong with what I said?”

“Saying such things makes you look not only stupid but shallow.”

“I…”

“You what?”

Xie Buhuo said, “I told you long ago to get close to Yan Sanhe, close to her. Instead, you’re jealous for no reason.”

“Am I jealous? I, I…”

Xie Wanshu was so anxious tears fell. “I just think her fate is good. What ‘dignified Second Miss of the Xie Manor’—my fate isn’t as good as hers!”

Xie Buhuo asked, “How is your fate not good?”

“…No legitimate son has proposed to me either!”

Xie Wanshu’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Brother is already twenty-two. By rights you should have established a family and career long ago, yet no one plans for Brother. A concubine-born fate just isn’t good—am I wrong?”

Xie Buhuo stood up abruptly, his face cold as he addressed Concubine Liu. “Concubine, please discipline her properly. If she continues spouting such nonsense, one day she’ll bring disaster to our second household.”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

From inside the room came Xie Wanshu’s sobbing and Concubine’s low comforting words. Hearing it in Xie Buhuo’s ears, like this sweltering weather, made the fire in his heart surge up wave after wave.

“Second Master.”

Wu Xing stepped forward and pulled out a sealed letter from his chest. “The gatekeeper just delivered this.”

“From whom?”

Wu Xing looked around and covered his mouth. “Miss Du.”

Du Yiyun?

Xie Buhuo’s brows furrowed slightly. He tucked the letter into his sleeve and returned to his study as if nothing had happened.

The oil lamp was lit.

Taking the letter from his sleeve and unfolding it, despite the hot weather, Xie Buhuo actually shivered.