Xie Zhifei hadn’t yet reached the guest courtyard when Steward Xie came hurrying over upon hearing the news. He’d been holding back a bellyful of grievances he wanted to pour out—he’d been eagerly awaiting Third Master for several days now.

“Third Master…”

“Swallow it back.”

Xie Xiaohua stared with his two round eyes, looking at Xie Zhifei with an aggrieved expression.

“Master, I can’t swallow it back! That fellow surnamed Shan is just too, too…”

Xie Xiaohua couldn’t even find the words to describe him.

Having lived to his age, he’d never encountered such a man—if his wife couldn’t shit, she’d blame the chamber pot for being wrong.

“Too what? Don’t you understand basic hospitality!”

Xie Zhifei didn’t need to listen to know that grandson surnamed Shan had been causing trouble.

“Tomorrow they’ll be leaving. Just endure it. Consider it for my sake—I know you care about me most.”

Oh my goodness!

This little rascal’s coaxing could kill a person without compensation!

Xie Xiaohua shot the young master a reproachful glance, but after that look, he’d completely forgotten his own grievances. His mind and eyes were full of concern that his boy had gotten thin—he had to find a way to help him gain the weight back!

“Go about your business. Later, Miss Yan will be coming. Have the kitchen make more of the dishes she likes.”

Xie Xiaohua’s eyes lit up as his two fat legs started churning.

He’d also have the kitchen add a bamboo shoot and old duck soup—that stuff was the most nourishing, and Third Master loved it.

After dismissing Xie Xiaohua, Xie Zhifei quickly arrived at the guest courtyard.

At the gate of the residence, Xue Zhao sat in a bamboo chair with his eyes half-closed, basking in the sun. Seeing Xie Zhifei arrive, he rose and made a welcoming gesture. Suddenly, an angry roar came from inside.

“Tang Mingyue, you’re a grown woman and you still can’t drink water properly! Every time I tell you not to drink cold water, not to drink cold water, but you just won’t listen!”

“I…”

“Next time your moon water comes and your stomach hurts, don’t expect me to rub it for you.”

“…”

“Look at you—you only ate that one bite of rice. Are you feeding a cat?”

“I really can’t eat anymore.”

“Every time I tell you to eat fewer candied fruits and snacks before meals, you just won’t listen. You don’t eat proper meals but fill up on those snacks—can those help you gain weight?”

“Tomorrow I won’t eat them.”

“Did I tell you not to eat them at all? I told you to eat less and then pass your leftover rice to me.”

“Father and Mother don’t let you eat my leftovers.”

“They’re not here right now.”

“They say men who eat leftovers have no prospects.”

“Men who don’t eat leftovers are the ones with no prospects.”

“Hey, you’re actually contradicting what my parents say!”

“Yes, yes, yes. Go quickly and tell on me.”

“I was going to tell, but then I saw someone looking very smart today, so I couldn’t bear to.”

“And if I wasn’t dressed smartly?”

“Then I’d… still not be able to bear it.”

“…”

“Son, remember—whether this person looks smart or not, he’s still your father. You must be filial to him in the future.”

Seeing Xie Zhifei’s expression suggesting his teeth were about to be corroded by sourness, Xue Zhao reluctantly opened his golden mouth.

“Miss, Young Master, Third Master has returned.”

After a moment of silence inside, there came the sound of servants hurriedly clearing away bowls and chopsticks, and then Tang Mingyue’s properly serious voice rang out.

“Third Master has arrived. Please come in.”

Xie Zhifei entered to find the young couple sitting properly like model citizens—one with a straight face, the other smiling at him.

“Brother Shan, step outside.”

“Why do I have to…”

“You’re asking why?”

Shan Er Yi: “…”

Xie Zhifei sat down before Tang Mingyue. “In a while, Miss Yan will come. After you meet her, you’ll set off back tomorrow.”

“Oh, really?”

Tang Mingyue smiled, showing a mouthful of small white teeth, and glanced at her man. Her husband was eager to return—without a second word, he vacated the space.

In this capital, what was so good about it? Everywhere were little pretty boys eyeing his wife. They had to leave early to have peace of mind.

The last servant girl to leave closed the door, and the main hall instantly darkened.

Xie Zhifei rose to light the lamps.

Tang Mingyue frowned. “Third Master, it’s only midday.”

“It’s fine. I like brightness.”

So I can see you more clearly.

After lighting the lamps and sitting back down, Xie Zhifei gazed quietly at the woman before him.

Tang Mingyue felt a bit embarrassed under his scrutiny and touched her face. “Third Master, is there something on my face?”

Only then did Xie Zhifei look away.

“I went to Muli Mountain.”

“You saw my parents?”

“Yes.”

“They’re both well?”

“Very well.”

Xie Zhifei’s gaze returned to Tang Mingyue’s face. “They just miss you and want you to return soon.”

Thinking about how her two elderly parents would be spending today’s Mid-Autumn Festival alone on the mountain, Tang Mingyue’s eyes immediately reddened.

“Let’s do as Third Master says. We’ll set off tomorrow. I miss them too.”

“Tang Mingyue.”

Xie Zhifei suddenly called her by name. “Have you ever thought about your birth parents?”

Tang Mingyue was startled by the question.

“Have you thought about finding them?”

Had she thought about it?

The smile on Tang Mingyue’s face gradually disappeared.

She had thought about it.

When she was small and following her master, she’d completely believed her master was her mother. It wasn’t until she was older that she learned she’d been picked up at the nunnery gate. During that period, she often thought about it.

She’d wondered why they didn’t want her.

Since they didn’t want her, why give birth to her in the first place? Wouldn’t a bowl of abortion medicine have freed everyone?

“After thinking about it for a few days, I didn’t think much about it anymore.”

“Why?”

“Master said people should think about what they have, not what they don’t have.”

Tang Mingyue smiled gently.

“At Water Moon Nunnery, I had food and drink, and I had my master. My master treated me so well—just like a real mother. Maybe my actual birth mother wouldn’t have loved me as much.”

She snorted. “Not maybe—definitely. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have abandoned me.”

Xie Zhifei felt as if a great mountain pressed upon his heart, so heavy he could barely breathe.

“Later when I met my adoptive parents, they treated me even better—they considered me their own daughter. Mother couldn’t bear to marry me off, so she forced Father to take in a son-in-law for me. Even so, on my wedding day, Mother still cried, saying I was still a child—how had I suddenly grown up enough to marry!”

As Tang Mingyue smiled, her eyes brimmed with tears.

“During these years at Muli Mountain, I truly haven’t thought about it at all. I just feel my fate is quite good—everyone I’ve met has been a good person. Third Master, do you know?”

“What?”

“On my wedding day, Master actually came, but because she was a nun, we have a custom there—nuns can’t enter on the wedding day or it brings bad luck.”

Tang Mingyue wiped her tears with her handkerchief.

“Master spoke with Father in the pavilion halfway up the mountain, then left. I only learned later that her health was already failing then, yet she’d forced herself to endure three days in a carriage to get there.”

The more she wiped, the more tears came.

Tang Mingyue suddenly choked up and couldn’t say anything more.

Xie Zhifei suddenly felt that the three kowtows he’d given to Tang Zhiwei were still too few, too light—no number would be too many.

He stared fixedly at Tang Mingyue, waiting for her to gradually calm down before slowly continuing.

“Last time I asked about your birth date and your swaddling clothes, then went to Muli Mountain again—it’s because during the process of dissolving thoughts and resolving demons for your master, I discovered something related to your background.”

Tang Mingyue sniffled.

“To be honest with Third Master, I guessed as much.”

“I’ve only traced a thread. If you want to continue investigating, I…”

“Third Master, please don’t trouble yourself. I don’t want to investigate further.”

“Why?”