More than ten years—such a great difference?

Everyone felt puzzled—how could the Grand Tutor’s daughter have taken a liking to such a person?

Their family backgrounds didn’t match, their statuses didn’t match, and even their ages didn’t match.

Could emotion really make an intelligent woman deaf and blind?

Li Buyan stretched out her foot and lightly touched Yan Sanhe’s.

Yan Sanhe looked up at her. Though extremely unwilling to admit it in her heart, she still nodded slightly.

Yes.

A woman caught in romantic love not only becomes deaf and blind, but even her behavior differs from normal—as if she’s become a different person.

“This is terrible!”

Xie Zhifei suddenly shouted. “Yan Sanhe, we must hurry back.”

“Why?”

Before Xie Zhifei could answer, Young Master Pei slapped his forehead. “I heard this Lu fellow is gravely ill—if he doesn’t live more than a few days…”

Yan Sanhe’s expression changed dramatically. She stood up, walked to the window, and exhaled a hot breath into the pitch-black night.

If Lu Shi was indeed Jingchen’s heart demon, they couldn’t delay even a moment—they had to rush back quickly.

But at this moment, both people and horses were exhausted. Except for her and Pei Mingting, the other four were injured.

She turned around and said very decisively, “Let’s stop here for today. Everyone go back to your rooms and rest well. Sleep until noon tomorrow, then have a meal on the mountain before rushing back to the capital.”

Xie Zhifei: “Master Tang—aren’t we going to question him further?”

Yan Sanhe: “He won’t speak about Tang Qiling’s case, and he won’t speak about Lu Shi either…”

“What about his daughter, Jingchen’s adopted daughter called Mingyue? We haven’t met her yet.”

Xie Zhifei: “Perhaps we could learn something from her.”

Yan Sanhe lowered her eyelashes slightly. “The schedule remains unchanged. Tomorrow I’ll rise early and go see this Mingyue.”

“By yourself…”

“I’m not injured. Two hours of sleep is enough for me.”

Yan Sanhe’s flat statement silenced Xie Zhifei.

…

Travel, breaking through barriers, matching wits with Master Tang…

Everyone fell asleep almost as soon as their heads touched the pillows. Even Yan Sanhe, who usually had the heaviest thoughts, didn’t toss and turn as usual.

The only lit lamp in the compound was in the main room.

The husband and wife leaned against the headboard, unable to sleep at all.

“Master, what kind of people are Young Master Xie and Young Master Pei really? They seem like they’re from official families.”

Tang Jianxi nodded in agreement. “I think so too. Ordinary people aren’t that familiar with court matters.”

“They’re truly bold.”

Tao Qiao’er sighed. “Not afraid of being tainted by the Tang family’s affairs and bringing trouble upon themselves.”

Tang Jianxi’s entire body trembled silently.

Her words were absolutely right.

Since these two were sons of official families, investigating the Tang family’s old matters, investigating Chu Yanling’s old matters—wasn’t that investigating the former Crown Prince’s old matters?

This wasn’t just bold—this was recklessly audacious.

“Master, if nothing else, just looking at these young people’s courage, you should help them properly.”

“You mean…”

Tao Qiao’er looked at her husband’s profile. “We should act according to our conscience. If our conscience is clear, the Buddha won’t blame us.”

Tang Jianxi met his wife’s eyes. “You want me to…”

“Zhiwei’s coffin won’t close—the most heartbroken person is Mingyue. Master, do it for her sake.”

Tao Qiao’er softened her voice. “When Zhiwei was alive, wasn’t Mingyue the one she loved most?”

…

The sky outside the window was still dim when Yan Sanhe awoke.

She quietly got out of bed, washed up simply, and whispered in Li Buyan’s ear, “I’m going to Master Tang’s study.”

Li Buyan had actually awakened but didn’t want to move.

Fighting was exhausting. The next day, her entire body ached and she had no strength at all.

“Go ahead!”

With this response, Yan Sanhe felt reassured and turned to open the door.

Unexpectedly, someone stood outside.

“Master Tang, so early?”

Tang Jianxi wore old robes. “I’d like to invite Miss to walk around and look. This mountain still has some sights worth seeing.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze met his for a moment. “To have Master Tang personally accompany me is my honor.”

“Please!”

“Please!”

The old man and young woman walked side by side out of the compound toward the back mountain.

The path up the back mountain was very narrow, only wide enough for one person. Yan Sanhe followed behind Tang Jianxi, feeling the path grow increasingly remote.

She didn’t ask questions, and Tang Jianxi didn’t explain. The two walked on in silence.

After passing through a dense forest, Tang Jianxi stopped at a slightly wider clearing.

“This is the best place on the entire mountaintop to watch the sunrise.”

It truly was a good spot with very open views, but Yan Sanhe had no interest in watching the sunrise.

“Master Tang brought me here—it shouldn’t be just to let me watch the sunrise, should it?”

Tang Jianxi clasped his hands behind his back and asked in return, “Miss dared to follow me here—it shouldn’t be just because of your courage, should it?”

“It’s not courage—I have questions I want to ask Master Tang.”

“Not just to let you watch the sunrise—I have things I want to tell Miss.”

One looked down, one looked up. Their gazes met, and both smiled meaningfully at the same time.

“What does Miss Yan want to ask?”

“Your daughter Mingyue—I want to meet her and ask about Water Moon Convent.”

“Miss Yan, after Mingyue had that dream, she couldn’t stay on the mountain. A few days ago she went down the mountain to the capital.”

Yan Sanhe made no effort to hide her disappointment. “That’s truly unfortunate.”

“Mingyue is a very obedient child. Taking her in as an adopted daughter was my junior sister’s idea.”

Tang Jianxi was completely forthright, speaking honestly.

“Actually, Qiao’er and I had a child before, but unfortunately it was stillborn. A fortune teller said I was fated to have no sons. We discussed it and decided that since it was fate, we wouldn’t force it.”

No wonder they hadn’t adopted one from the clan—so this was the reason.

“One day, I received a letter from my junior sister. In it she said that although her adopted daughter was bright and clever, she had no affinity with Buddhism. Keeping her at Water Moon Convent for life might cause problems. She said that while we were fated to have no sons, we might not be fated to have no daughters.”

Tang Jianxi’s pupils contracted. “After reading the letter, we were immediately moved and decided to make the trip down the mountain.”

Yan Sanhe suddenly thought of something. “Master Huiru had sharp eyes. She said you adopted Mingyue as your daughter because you were going for Jingchen.”

“She’s not wrong. Even if the child wasn’t bright and clever, as long as my junior sister asked, we’d have raised even a fool.”

“I wanted to see Mingyue because she was raised by Jingchen. Though the heart demon isn’t with her, I just wanted to learn from her…”

“Even if you met her, Miss Yan would be disappointed.”

Tang Jianxi smiled helplessly. “Mingyue knows absolutely nothing about my junior sister. We’ve tested her many times.”

Yan Sanhe frowned. “Living together day and night—didn’t she notice anything suspicious at all?”