“Third Brother has come.”

“Come to Second Brother’s place to beg some breakfast. You wouldn’t refuse, would you?”

“I’d be hoping for this even in my dreams.”

Xie Buhuo glanced at the senior maid beside him. “Go tell the kitchen to send over more of Third Master’s favorite dishes.”

“Yes.”

“Third Brother, please sit.”

Xie Zhifei wasn’t polite either, sitting at the table, his peach blossom eyes surveying the room’s furnishings.

“It can’t compare to Third Brother’s room.”

Xie Buhuo smiled. “Mine is quite simple.”

“Not too bad.” Xie Zhifei chuckled lightly. “All good things.”

Xie Buhuo saw his gaze fall on a beauty vase and smiled. “This originally belonged to my mother. I thought it looked nice and asked for it. If Third Brother likes it, feel free to take it.”

Xie Zhifei shook his head. “I don’t have the habit of taking what others treasure.”

These words carried pointed meaning.

Xie Buhuo studied Third Brother. The pleasant expression on his face hadn’t changed, nor had his languid air, but he knew something was wrong.

According to Third Brother’s past personality, his Mid-Autumn Festival display should have provoked a reaction.

But this time there was none.

Not only none, he’d even been indifferent, as if his own prominence didn’t matter to him at all.

This gave Xie Buhuo the feeling of a tug-of-war where his side had used every ounce of strength, only for the other side to inexplicably let go of the rope.

Xie Buhuo’s gaze slowly darkened. “Third Brother suddenly appearing at my courtyard isn’t just for breakfast, is it?”

“There is something.”

Xie Zhifei toyed with the tea cup in his hand. “Has Second Brother heard about the He-Du marriage alliance?”

“I was dining with Wenyu yesterday when he mentioned it.”

Xie Zhifei looked up at him. “What does Second Brother think of this matter?”

“A good thing indeed.”

Xie Buhuo met his eyes. “Wenyu has that fearless personality of his—he needs someone formidable to manage him.”

Xie Zhifei smiled unhurriedly.

“At such an age, does he still need managing? Shouldn’t he know in his own heart who he should and shouldn’t marry?”

Before Xie Buhuo could speak, he sighed.

“Second Brother should still advise him. Marrying the wrong person is a small matter, but standing on the wrong side—there’s no medicine for regret.”

Xie Buhuo also smiled. “Third Brother thinks too highly of me. What qualifications do I have to advise? Marriage has always been by parents’ command and matchmaker’s word.”

“Second Brother speaks correctly, but…”

Xie Zhifei shook his head slightly. “When taking a wife, choose virtue. Marrying someone too formidable will bring discord to the household.”

“Why is Third Brother so concerned about He Wenyu’s affairs? Could it be…”

“I feel sorry for Second Brother. You’ve finally gained a bit of Father’s favor, only to lose it again because of a He Wenyu…”

Xie Zhifei leaned his head closer, saying softly, “Second Brother probably doesn’t know that Minister Du and Father have long been at odds beneath a cordial surface.”

Xie Buhuo looked shocked. “Such a thing happened? How did I not know at all?”

Pretend!

Keep pretending!

“Knowing now isn’t too late either.”

Xie Zhifei set down his tea cup and slowly stood. “If it really comes to the two families arranging the marriage, regret will come too late.”

Xie Buhuo also stood, meeting his gaze and curling his lips coldly. “When I do things, I only consider whether to do them or not—never whether to regret them.”

Is that so?

“Then please, Second Brother, stand firm and don’t stray from the path. Remember you still bear the Xie surname.”

After Xie Zhifei finished speaking, he turned and left.

Just then, a maid carrying a food box entered the courtyard. Shocked, she said, “Why is Third Master leaving already? Breakfast is still…”

Third Master’s blade-like glance swept over. Frightened, the maid swallowed the rest of her words and quickly looked inside at the room.

The room was deathly silent.

Second Master sat properly in his chair, his handsome face hidden in shadow—one couldn’t tell if he was pleased or angry.

…

Xie Zhifei walked to the second gate where Xie Xiaohua came running, pulling a letter from his robes.

“The gatekeeper just received this. They say someone from the Du residence brought it for Third Master.”

Du residence?

Xie Zhifei looked at the letter thoughtfully.

Xie Xiaohua’s face was full of curiosity. “Won’t Master look at it?”

“Probably not good news.”

Xie Zhifei opened it and indeed found what he expected: Du Yiyun wanted to meet him.

Meeting place was arranged at the moat’s edge.

By the moat was a small grove, and in the grove stood a pavilion. Du Yiyun stood in the pavilion with her maid Ni’er beside her.

Xie Zhifei approached and cleared his throat with a cough.

Du Yiyun turned around. Her voice was choked the moment she spoke. “Third Brother, you’ve come.”

“What does Miss Du want with me?”

“My father wants to marry me to the Marquis of Wu’an’s heir, but I don’t want to marry him.”

Du Yiyun looked at Xie Zhifei with teary eyes. “Third Brother, help me think of a solution.”

“Miss Du, show some self-respect. You should address me as Third Master.”

If not for all those events, Xie Zhifei had once thought this woman with her delicate frame and sloping shoulders was harmless.

These words drew a clear boundary between them.

“Furthermore, you and I are neither relatives nor friends. I have no solutions to help you think of. You’ve found the wrong person.”

“I haven’t found the wrong person.”

Du Yiyun dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief. “Third Brother’s heart actually doesn’t want me to marry either.”

Xie Zhifei’s face showed no expression. “Your marriage or lack thereof—what does it have to do with me?”

“It has nothing to do with Third Brother, but with the person behind Third Brother…”

Du Yiyun put away her tears and raised her head to look directly into his eyes. “It has some connection, doesn’t it?”

Xie Zhifei looked at her quietly for a long time, then suddenly smiled. “Do tell—what kind of connection?”

“I’m just a boudoir maiden—how could I explain? It’s merely intuition.”

Du Yiyun deliberately enunciated each word very slowly.

“Third Brother is so close with Young Master Pei, Young Master Pei has connections with that person from Duanmu Palace, and Third Brother happens to have a chivalrous heart.”

“What of having a chivalrous heart?”

“Then you won’t sit by and do nothing.”

“Sit by and do nothing about what?”

Having circled around to here, Du Yiyun knew the man before her was forcing her to speak plainly.

She could only speak plainly.

“Third Brother knows whose side you’re on. Others may not know, but I, little sister, know. The He and Du families’ marriage alliance—the person behind Third Brother surely doesn’t want to see it happen.”

Xie Zhifei looked at her, his eyes meaningful.

That roomful of books in Du Jianxue’s study—Du Yiyun truly hadn’t read them for nothing. She understood the situation quite clearly.

Du Yiyun naturally understood clearly.

Moreover, she knew very well that her father would definitely marry her off to preserve his official position.

Her two elder brothers, though they doted on her, would sacrifice her when compared to a lifetime of wealth and honor.

Her mother, a woman of the inner chambers, had no methods beyond crying and making scenes.

Only this Xie Zhifei before her was her sole, final lifeline.

“Third Brother.”

Du Yiyun called out softly. “Regardless of the past, our objectives are now aligned. You agree, don’t you?”

“So?” Xie Zhifei asked mildly.

“So you must help me.”

“How should I help?”