In the sweltering sound of cicadas, a cool cross-breeze struck her face.

Yan Sanhe looked at Xie Zhifei. For some reason, she felt that today’s Third Master seemed even more likeable than usual.

“In this world, there are too many good-looking people. Good-looking and intelligent people are fewer. Good-looking, intelligent people with dimples on either side of their mouth are truly rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.”

“Yan Sanhe, even clothes need to be changed daily, yet you…”

“Third Master, give others a chance to survive.” Don’t be too outstanding.

Xie Zhifei fell silent.

Hey!

With just half a sentence added, Third Master found himself somewhat unable to handle it.

“Yan Sanhe, I’ll let you have the nickname ‘Little Sweet Mouth.'”

Yan Sanhe thought, “…I’m not worthy!”

“Before Jingchen became a nun, there were two stages: Departed Waters, at the Music Bureau for a total of eight years; Tang Zhiwei, at the Tang residence for a total of nineteen years.”

In that brief time, Yan Sanhe had already pulled herself out of her dejection. “I plan to start with the Music Bureau.”

Third Master Xie leaned back lazily. “I think the Music Bureau is less likely. The Tang family is more likely.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “I heard when she won the title of courtesan, drums and gongs rang out loudly?”

“That’s right.”

“Has Third Master ever slept with a woman?”

Third Master’s mind jolted. Without thinking, he said, “Third Master has only seen pigs run but hasn’t tasted pork. Yan Sanhe, rest assured.”

What am I supposed to rest assured about?

Even if you ground an iron rod into a needle, it still wouldn’t concern me!

Yan Sanhe mentally rolled her eyes at him.

“You men sleep with many women in your lifetime, but the most unforgettable should be the first time. A woman is even more unforgettable about her first man—this could very likely become Jingchen’s heart demon, so the Music Bureau must be investigated.”

“Whether it’s a heart demon or not, we’ll discuss later. I just want to ask Miss Yan one thing.”

Xie Zhifei blinked leisurely.

“Could you not keep saying ‘you men, you men,’ making me sound like some philandering scoundrel? Isn’t that wronging me?”

Yan Sanhe acted as if she hadn’t heard. “My foot will be able to walk in another half month. I plan to go to the Music Bureau personally.”

Xie Zhifei chuckled softly, “Does this mean Third Master has been heartlessly cast aside?”

Yan Sanhe remained silent.

“Yan Sanhe, how can you do this? Calling me a scoundrel is one thing, but treating me like a rag, using me and tossing me aside.”

Third Master Xie adopted the expression of an old rogue. “At least use me a few more times before tossing me!”

This person?

This person!

Yan Sanhe’s face flushed uncontrollably again, but her mouth remained as stubborn as a duck’s beak—very hard.

“The rag is so useful, why would I toss it?”

“Oh my, so… Miss Yan also has moments of reluctance?”

Xie Zhifei touched his chest, acting insufferably smug. “…It’s this humble one’s honor.”

Alright.

Not only was her face burning, but her palms were starting to burn too, and her heartbeat was accelerating again.

Yan Sanhe instinctively straightened her back. We may lose in other ways, but not in bearing. “Since it’s an honor, then don’t disappoint my hopes.”

“Miss Sanhe’s hopes for me are…”

“The case files for the Spring Examination fraud case from the twenty-third year of Yuanfeng—I hope Third Master can obtain them soon.”

“Give me one more nice word, and I’ll have them in three days.”

He tilted his head, the lazy afternoon sunlight falling on him, outlining a face meticulously carved by heaven itself.

The warm breeze gently opened something deep in Yan Sanhe’s heart. She blurted out, “Xie Zhifei, when men and women work together, the work isn’t tiring. Do your best.”

Xie Zhifei fell silent.

“The sooner this demon is transformed, the sooner we can start on the Zheng family case. If the case files sit there any longer, they’ll gather dust.”

So she knew everything.

Xie Zhifei smiled from his heart. “This shows what? It shows I care about you!”

It shows you can get lost!

Increasingly lacking in rules and decorum.

Yan Sanhe felt both shy and anxious. She turned her face away, refusing to look at this person again.

“The First Lady has arrived.”

Zhu Qing’s announcement rescued Yan Sanhe. “Quickly invite her in. Xie Zhifei, you should go!”

“When there’s a new love, cast aside the old.”

Xie Zhifei pretended to be angry. “Yan Sanhe, you’re the scoundrel.”

Buyan, come quickly. I can no longer handle this Xie the Dandy.

He’s become a demon himself!

Just then, Lady Zhu entered. Seeing Third Brother was also there, she smiled. “I came specifically for your matter.”

Xie Zhifei didn’t move an inch. “Sister-in-law, what matter of mine?”

Lady Zhu ignored him, walking over to sit beside Yan Sanhe.

“Every year in the seventh month, the manor holds two ritual ceremonies—one on the fourteenth of the seventh month, one on the fifteenth. I came specially to inform you, lest you be startled.”

The seventh month was the ghost month.

Yan Sanhe asked, “Is it to drive away ghosts?”

“Where did you get that idea, Miss?”

Lady Zhu smiled reproachfully, glancing at a certain someone. “Third Master’s birthday is on the fourteenth of the seventh month. These two ceremonies are held for Third Master.”

Yan Sanhe also glanced at that certain someone. “Holding ceremonies for a living person—why is that?”

“Miss, you’re young and may not know about these supernatural matters. Legend has it that children born on the fourteenth of the seventh month are ghost fetuses.”

“Ghost fetuses?”

“On the fourteenth of the seventh month, the gates of the underworld open wide, and ghosts large and small wander the streets. It’s said that children born on this day may very well be wandering little ghosts in disguise.”

Lady Zhu sighed. “The Master specially consulted an eminent monk. Though Third Master isn’t a ghost fetus, he was born on an inauspicious day—those little ghosts frightened Third Master’s soul, so ceremonies must be performed to stabilize his soul.”

Such beliefs existed?

Yan Sanhe asked, “Who performed the divination?”

Lady Zhu replied, “An eminent monk.”

Yan Sanhe pressed, “Which eminent monk?”

“When I married in, this custom was already established. I’ve only heard of this eminent monk, never met him.”

Lady Zhu, seeing her skeptical expression, smiled. “In any case, Third Master has been weak since childhood. Old Madam says it’s better to believe it exists than not.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at this person again.

She couldn’t see where his constitution was weak. When he pretended to be pitiful and wanted coaxing, he was more vigorous than anyone.

Xie Zhifei blinked again, indicating his innocence.

“By the way, we still don’t know Miss’s birth date.”

Lady Zhu asked, “When is Miss’s birthday? We mustn’t miss it and let you feel slighted.”

As the words fell, the expressions and movements of the two people at the table differed completely.

One frowned, the other’s eyes lit up with two beams of light.

One racked her brains thinking of countermeasures, the other pricked up his ears blatantly eavesdropping.

Yan Sanhe lifted her chin slightly, adopting an air of profound mystery.

“First Lady, when I was born, monks and Daoist priests also divined my fate. I cannot celebrate birthdays in this lifetime, nor can they be mentioned. Mentioning them brings calamity.”

Lady Zhu fell silent.

Go ahead and make things up!

Xie Zhifei snorted inwardly. “Sister-in-law, the world is vast, full of wonders. You’re right to believe Miss Yan.”

Lady Zhu was somewhat bewildered. “I don’t particularly care, but the key is Old Madam’s side…”

“As for Grandmother, just relay these words to her. I guarantee she’ll believe it even more than you do!”

Xie Zhifei raised his eyebrows imperceptibly. “Right, Miss Yan?”

“…”

Miss Yan wanted both to thank him and to strangle him.