The “of unknown origins” Yan Sanhe was currently staring at Jingchen’s garment on the clothes rack, lost in thought.

Between a noble lady and a nun lay a deep sea.

In that deep sea, earth-shaking events must have occurred to connect the two.

And that earth-shaking event might be Jingchen’s inner demon.

There was movement in the room. Yan Sanhe suddenly came to her senses.

Li Buyan practically pounced over. “Sanhe, I never imagined Second Master was actually that kind of person.”

“What kind of person?”

In three sentences, Li Buyan explained the general situation.

After listening, Yan Sanhe was silent for a long while before saying, “The grievances are their business. We’ll continue as before—no need to be cold, no need to be warm either. By the way, how much silver do we have left?”

“Why suddenly ask about this?”

Li Buyan was curious. “You only know how to earn silver, but you’ve never asked about how much there is or how to spend it.”

“Let’s rent a house outside.”

So she’s moving out?

Li Buyan smiled. “Aren’t you afraid the old lady and master will come crying at you?”

“Prepare first.”

Yan Sanhe said, “Once Jingchen’s inner demon is resolved, we’ll move there.”

Most importantly, she’d agreed to investigate the Zheng Manor case. Once that investigation started, it might implicate the Xie Manor.

She was someone who could owe others favors, but owing others favors made her uneasy!

“There’s enough silver.”

Li Buyan lowered her voice. “No need to rent—let’s just buy a small one, two courtyards front and back, furnished comfortably, and buy a few maids and servants to attend us.”

Yan Sanhe knew nothing about such worldly matters. “You decide!”

“By the way, I just passed by Shi’an Courtyard. Originally wanted to say a few words to Third Master, but guess what?”

“What?”

“Our dear Third Master went to the pleasure house to listen to songs again.”

Li Buyan propped her chin with her hand. “I can’t quite figure it out—did he hold back for several days and couldn’t stand it, or is he putting on a show for others?”

“Putting on a show for others is one thing, and the second is…”

Yan Sanhe smiled faintly. “He also needs to comfort Physician Pei’s injured heart.”

…

Physician Pei’s injured heart needed not only Third Master Xie’s comfort but also fine wine to drown it, and of course, a few young ladies to accompany him.

The first time in his life feeling moved by a girl, he was tripped up by family status. What prestigious high gate, what distinguished medical clan—for Young Master Pei now, these were just burdens.

For three consecutive days, Physician Pei and Third Master Xie both slept drunk at Lichun Courtyard.

During the day they slept soundly; at night they sought pleasure. When spirits were high, Young Master Pei and Third Master Xie even opened gambling at Lichun Courtyard.

Gambling on what?

Whether the next patron would enter with his left foot or right foot.

How long Lord Liu could last with a young lady.

Whether the heir of Marquis Zhengze would find a young lady or a young man tonight.

Proper?

Utterly improper!

Especially Third Master Xie—the bruising at his eye corner still showed a bit, yet the moment his wounds healed, he forgot the pain. He and that rootless Xu Sheng were birds of a feather.

By the fourth night, both Masters Pei and Xie were personally retrieved from Lichun Courtyard by their fathers.

Allegedly, Master Pei, seeing Young Master Pei’s dissolute appearance, couldn’t hold back and directly slapped him across the face.

Master Xie was more refined—he had Third Master Xie tied up and brought home for discipline.

Who said dragon begets dragon, phoenix begets phoenix? Look at these two masters—simply cannot be salvaged. Sooner or later they’d squander their ancestors’ estates.

The returned Third Master Xie bathed, changed clothes, and in fresh attire headed straight to Jingsi Residence.

Yan Sanhe had been confined for three days and had already envied birds flying in the sky, mice crawling on the ground, and fish swimming in rivers—envied them all once over.

Seeing Xie Zhifei approaching leisurely, for the first time she felt this person’s eyes were eyes, nose was nose—however she looked, he was pleasing to the eye.

Before Xie Zhifei could sit down, she asked, “How was it? Did you find anything?”

Having drunk wine for three days straight, everything Xie Zhifei smelled carried a wine scent. Now smelling the medicinal plaster scent on Yan Sanhe’s body, he found it inexplicably pleasant.

He moved his bamboo chair forward and took a deep breath. “In the capital, among princes and generals, high officials and wealthy merchants, women who shaved their heads to become nuns in inner chambers over the past eighteen years—eighty-six in total.”

Yan Sanhe urged, “Continue quickly.”

Xie Zhifei, seeing her tense expression, couldn’t suppress a smile. “Of these eighty-six, forty-seven are still alive.”

Yan Sanhe calculated extremely quickly. “That leaves thirty-nine.”

Xie Zhifei continued, “Of these thirty-nine, nine have already returned to secular life.”

Yan Sanhe said, “Thirty remain.”

Xie Zhifei went on, “Of these thirty, ten are over fifty years old, and eleven are under forty.”

Yan Sanhe’s heart jumped. “That leaves nine.”

Xie Zhifei added, “Of these nine, seven didn’t pass away this year.”

Yan Sanhe was stunned as she looked at Xie Zhifei, her heart completely chilled.

After a moment, she struggled desperately. “Third Master, did you miss anyone in your investigation?”

Third Master didn’t speak, only glanced coolly at Zhu Qing behind him.

Zhu Qing spoke up. “Miss Yan, these past days besides myself and people from the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office, Third Master also enlisted several brothers from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. There’s no chance of missing anyone.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze fell on Third Master, showing apology.

So she’d judged wrong?

But how could that be?

Literacy, boneless white hands, refined temperament—these clearly only people from high families would possess.

“Is there any possibility she was divorced and then left home?”

Xie Zhifei replied, “These eighty-six include five who were divorced.”

Yan Sanhe pressed, “Is there another possibility—Jingchen’s family was either dismissed from office or had their property confiscated?”

These words were like a revelation to Xie Zhifei. “Yes.”

“Really?” Yan Sanhe’s eyes suddenly brightened.

“Really!”

Xie Zhifei explained, “Dismissal is less likely, confiscation more likely.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Why do you say that?”

Xie Zhifei elaborated, “When a man is dismissed, it means he’s down and out. Once down and out, who would dare abandon his wife who shared his hardships, unless Jingchen was a concubine.”

Yan Sanhe acknowledged with a sound.

“After confiscation, female family members have several possibilities—either executed together, or exiled, the young and beautiful ones enter the Jiaofang Si.”

Xie Zhifei continued, “The older ones become slaves or servants. There’s also a possibility—being bought by acquaintances.”

Yan Sanhe immediately felt like seeing light after darkness, as if finding a village after a willow grove. “Bought by acquaintances, with nowhere to turn, she left home to become a nun?”

Xie Zhifei didn’t hesitate: “Zhu Qing?”

“Master, please instruct?”

“Cases of dismissal and confiscation from eighteen years ago aren’t hard to investigate. The Ministry of Personnel has detailed records.”

Xie Zhifei said, “I remember my elder brother has a classmate serving in the Ministry of Personnel. Go to the Hanlin Academy and ask elder brother for help.”

“Yes!”

“Wait, Zhu Qing.”

Yan Sanhe called him back. “Please tell First Master Xie to also investigate from eighteen years ago.”

“Miss Yan, how many years back should we investigate?”

“Five years.”

“Wait again.” This time it was Third Master Xie stopping him.

Third Master’s gaze swept over Yan Sanhe’s foot. “On your way out, bring Xie Little Flower here.”