Quiet Reflection Residence.

Tang Yuan was about to close the courtyard gate when she looked up and saw Second Master Xie. She froze.

“Second Master, Miss has already retired.”

“I have some matters to discuss with Miss.”

Tang Yuan was about to find another excuse when she saw Second Master’s face darken. “Then I’ll ask Miss’s intention.”

Having just sent away one Xie Laosan, another Xie Second Master arrived. Yan Sanhe remained silent.

Li Buyan’s mind didn’t work in roundabout ways—she said what she thought. “Having seen someone from the first branch, we should also see someone from the second branch. Miss would be treating both sides equally.”

A moment later.

Xie Buhuo was already seated before Yan Sanhe. “Is Miss’s foot injury any better?”

“Improving day by day.”

“Was Miss writing earlier?”

Yan Sanhe looked down at her right hand, seeing ink stains on her fingers. She responded with a “Mm.”

“May I see Miss’s calligraphy?”

Xie Buhuo’s gaze was sincere and forceful.

“Actually, I’m also someone who loves calligraphy. When I was learning to write as a child, Father held my hand, teaching me each horizontal stroke, each vertical stroke, each hook, each lift, giving me my foundation. After all these years, I still keep that foundation paper.”

Well-spoken and skillful—he’d played an emotional family card. Yan Sanhe was silent for a moment. “Buyan, bring my desk calligraphy for Second Master to see.”

“Yes!”

Several sheets of Buddhist scriptures were quickly handed to Xie Buhuo.

With just a shallow glance, Xie Buhuo was shocked. Concubine Liu’s words rushed back to mind.

“The old madam’s family couldn’t raise someone like that.”

Indeed they couldn’t.

This calligraphy was exceptionally good.

“When I was studying, my teacher told me that the brushwork of slender gold script aligns with fine-line bird-and-flower painting techniques. If one writes slender gold script well, naturally one paints well too. One can see Miss’s paintings must also be excellent.”

No wonder I could learn Jing Chen’s calligraphy so easily—it was because of a foundation in painting.

From this, one could see that person was also talented in both calligraphy and painting.

A woman talented in calligraphy and painting, who once had such high status, ultimately falling into the world of pleasure—Yan Sanhe felt inexplicable regret.

“Miss?”

“Miss?”

“Miss Yan?”

“Ah…”

Yan Sanhe suddenly returned to herself. “What did you just say?”

“I said, at such a young age, why is Miss copying Buddhist scriptures?”

“Just passing idle time.”

Whether a person wanted to chat with you could be seen from the length of their answers.

Second Master Xie was a businessman. Businessmen were best at reading expressions. Though Yan Sanhe didn’t treat him coldly, she was sparing with words. If he kept chattering, he’d become annoying.

“It’s late—Miss should rest early. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“No need.”

Second Master Xie had only spoken casually. By convention, the response should also be casual. Yet unexpectedly, Yan Sanhe left no face at all, refusing outright.

Second Master Xie’s rebellious bone was instantly provoked.

“Is it because I’m of concubine birth? So Miss won’t even speak half a sentence more with me?”

The expression on Yan Sanhe’s face slowly froze. She couldn’t understand how he could twist this matter to legitimate versus concubine birth.

“Legitimate or concubine birth makes no difference to me. The only difference is whether I’m familiar or unfamiliar with you, whether I recognize you as a person or not.”

Xie Buhuo’s face grew cold. “Does Miss recognize me as a person?”

“Second Master should ask himself that question.”

Yan Sanhe decided to speak plainly through open windows.

“Has Second Master recognized me as a person? Not because of the first branch, not because of Xie Zhifei, but from a genuine heart of making friends?”

She wasn’t foolish. Every time Xie Zhifei came, Second Master Xie came too. Could there be such coincidence?

If you brothers want to compete anywhere else, she could turn a blind eye. But using her as a bargaining chip…

Sorry.

Not possible!

Like a thorn pricking his heart—not very painful, but indescribably uncomfortable.

He looked at the young woman before him, his peripheral vision sweeping to the maid behind her. “What if I were sincere?”

“Then I’d return sincerity!”

“What if I had other intentions?”

“The Quiet Reflection Residence’s gate is right there. Second Master, please leave slowly—no need to see you off. And no need to come again in the future.”

The young woman’s gaze was as cold and severe as always, her face showing no excess expression. Xie Buhuo stared into her eyes and suddenly smiled.

“Yan Sanhe, as you guessed, I wasn’t sincere.”

As expected.

Just as Yan Sanhe was about to point toward the door and ask him to leave, she heard him sigh softly.

“Not that I didn’t want to give it, but I’m accustomed to covering, hiding, concealing—afraid people won’t want it, afraid people will look down on it.”

He slowly lowered his eyes.

“Legitimate birth, concubine birth—one character’s difference, a thousand li apart. Miss Yan may not believe this, but in all my life, Father has never held me. He says a gentleman holds grandsons, not sons. Yet Third is eleven years old, and Father still holds him in his arms.”

“You’re jealous?”

“Yes!”

Xie Buhuo laughed lowly.

“Seeing him so close with Pei Ming Ting, I’m jealous. Seeing him laughing and talking with Miss, I’m also jealous. I also want to compete for face before Miss, want Miss to see me, want to be in Miss’s eyes. This is my selfish heart.”

Yan Sanhe hadn’t expected this person would suddenly pour out his heart. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

“I drank today. They say alcohol emboldens cowards. Now my courage has grown, but I fear my image in Miss’s eyes has also collapsed.”

Xie Buhuo’s face showed utter defeat. Supporting himself on the chair arms, he stood up and slightly bowed his head toward Yan Sanhe.

“Miss, please rest. I won’t disturb you again.”

“Xie Buhuo.” Yan Sanhe called him back.

He turned around.

“Anyone else can look down on you, but you alone must think highly of yourself.”

Her eyes were cold, clear, and bright.

“If your heart is upright and your conduct upright, then you’re Yan Sanhe’s friend. Second Master, search your heart—is it upright? Is your conduct upright?”

Xie Buhuo looked into those eyes. His five viscera and six bowels felt as if soaked in boiling water.

He said nothing, turned, and walked into darkness.

…

Leaving the Quiet Reflection Residence, Wu Xing came forward.

“Second Master?”

Second Master Xie’s face showed no trace of utter defeat. “Where is Master resting tonight?”

“Today is the first of the month. By custom, Master should rest at Zhichun Courtyard.”

“Go to Muxiang Courtyard.”

Muxiang Courtyard hadn’t yet closed its gates. Seeing Second Master, the servants quickly invited him in.

Concubine Liu sat under lamplight reading. Seeing her son, she set down her book and personally poured him tea. “Where are you coming from?”

“Quiet Reflection Residence.”

“How is Miss Yan’s foot injury?”

“Mother!”

The sudden call startled Concubine Liu. She quickly rose to close the room door and asked gently, “What’s wrong? Are you drunk?”

“Not drunk—just wanted to call you.”

Children of concubines addressed the legitimate wife as Mother and their birth mother as Aunt. Only when no one was around could they be slightly presumptuous.

But they couldn’t let anyone hear, or if it reached Madam’s ears, there’d be another lawsuit.

Concubine Liu sighed softly, walked to the copper basin, wrung out a damp cloth, and wiped her son’s face and hands.

“Mother, what if I married Yan Sanhe?”

Concubine Liu’s hand holding the cloth froze. “You…”

Xie Buhuo took the cloth and pressed Concubine Liu to sit down. “Doesn’t Mother find Yan Sanhe quite interesting?”

Concubine Liu looked at her son. “What’s interesting about her?”

“Everything’s interesting.”

Xie Buhuo twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a roguish smile that only Third Master had.

“Mother, when you get a chance, whisper in Father’s ear!”