After washing and changing clothes, Li Buyan brought over breakfast.

A large full bowl of fresh meat wontons with a few drops of sesame oil sprinkled on top.

Yan Sanhe tasted one and immediately knew the broth was simmered with bones—very time-consuming.

“Third Master and Young Master Pei didn’t return yesterday?”

“Right, they both stayed at our manor.”

Li Buyan propped up her chin.

“When I got up to practice this morning, I ran into Third Master. That guy’s quite persistent—getting up so early every day. Among noble family sons, few can do what he does.”

Indeed, rare—getting up early to sit by a young lady’s bedside.

“Yan Sanhe, this heart demon seems different from the ones we’ve resolved before. It looks quite dangerous.”

Li Buyan looked rather worried. “Also, I asked about blood moons—they’re inauspicious.”

“Who did you ask?”

“Young Master Pei.”

“What does he know?”

Yan Sanhe looked up. “Go call Eldest Master Zhu over. I’ll be ready soon.”

Li Buyan quickly stood. “I’ll go right now!”

…

In the flower hall, Zhu Yuanmo was waiting anxiously. Seeing Miss Li enter the courtyard, he quickly stood up.

“Eldest Master Zhu, my miss requests your presence. Please come.”

“Good.”

Zhu Yuanmo glanced at Second Brother, and the brothers walked out of the flower hall one after the other.

Pei Xiao and Xie Zhifei followed closely behind them.

After turning several corners, they reached the main courtyard.

Li Buyan stood at the door with a smile as before.

When Zhu Yuanmo entered, she made a welcoming gesture. When Second Master Zhu’s turn came, she extended her hand to stop him.

“Second Master, please wait outside for a moment.”

Zhu Yuanzhao looked up at his eldest brother inside the threshold. Seeing him nod, he stood silently by the eaves without a word.

Young Master Pei, remembering that Li Buyan hadn’t stopped him when Old Nun Huiru came about Jingchen’s heart demon, prepared to walk in as if by right.

Unexpectedly, a soft sword barred his way.

“Young Master Pei, Third Master, my apologies.”

Li Buyan’s smile remained unchanged. “Miss says this time you must also wait outside.”

“Why?”

Pei Xiao was puzzled. Yesterday they’d all seen Old Master Zhu’s corpse—what was there left to hide?

“By virtue of the sword in my hand.”

Li Buyan’s gaze swept toward a certain part of him, her meaning very clear: If you don’t want to lose a certain appendage, then try.

Pei Xiao gritted his teeth in anger, nudging Xie Zhifei with his elbow: Look at her, damn it, look at her—she actually wants to castrate me!

Alright, ancestor, don’t cause trouble.

Xie Zhifei quickly pushed him aside and created his own way out. “Perfect—we’ll keep Second Brother company.”

Only then did Li Buyan sheathe her soft sword, turn around, and close both doors.

…

With the doors closed, the room darkened.

Yan Sanhe sat in the seat of honor, raising her hand to indicate Zhu Yuanmo should sit.

Zhu Yuanmo sat down, took a deep breath, and said, “Miss Yan, whatever conditions you have, just state them. Even if the Zhu family must sell everything, we won’t bat an eye.”

“No need to sell everything.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was very light. “I only need you to be loyal to me.”

It was as if a steel needle had been driven into the chair. Zhu Yuanmo shot up, looking at Yan Sanhe in disbelief.

“Miss, what did you say?”

“You! Be! Loyal! To! Me!”

Yan Sanhe enunciated each word with force.

“Impossible. This is absolutely impossible.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s face, white as paper, flushed slightly with agitation.

“The Zhu family has presided over the Imperial Astronomy Bureau for generations, loyal only to the Emperor, working only for the Emperor. How could we possibly…”

“Then please leave.”

Yan Sanhe picked up her teacup and took a light sip.

Serving tea meant seeing a guest out.

Seeing out meant negotiations had failed.

Failed negotiations meant she wouldn’t resolve Old Master Zhu’s heart demon.

Not resolving it meant the Zhu family…

Zhu Yuanmo didn’t dare think further. With a thud, he dropped to his knees. “Miss Yan, I’ll give you silver—just name your price. However much you want.”

Yan Sanhe set down the teacup, looking at him expressionlessly.

“Zhu Yuanmo, everything in this world has a price. The price of Old Master Zhu’s heart demon isn’t a mere few thousand taels of silver.”

“Then let’s exchange something else.”

Zhu Yuanmo said hurriedly, “I’ll divine for you, read your feng shui—a thousand times, ten thousand times, until I die.”

Yan Sanhe shook her head.

“Miss Yan.”

Zhu Yuanmo shouted loudly, “For generations, the Zhu family has been loyal only to the Emperor. This is a rule set by our ancestors. I cannot break our ancestral laws!”

Yan Sanhe stood up, walked to Zhu Yuanmo’s side, and laughed lightly. “Then I’m afraid I’m powerless to help.”

She walked to the door and opened it.

“Li Buyan, see the guest out.”

“Yan! San! He!”

This roar from Zhu Yuanmo was heart-wrenching. “You’re forcing the Zhu family onto a path of death!”

The three men standing under the eaves all changed expressions simultaneously.

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao exchanged glances: What happened?

Second Brother Zhu rushed to the doorway. Looking inside, his eyes—dead as still water—suddenly revealed madness.

His brother was kneeling on the ground?

His brother was actually kneeling before Yan Sanhe?

Second Brother Zhu said furiously, “Yan Sanhe, what do you want? Do you want my life? Just take it!”

“A half-dead man—what use is your life to me?”

Yan Sanhe sneered. “Buyan, see the guests out.”

Though Li Buyan was somewhat confused about why negotiations had failed, when Yan Sanhe spoke, she only knew how to obey.

“Both Zhu masters, when business fails, goodwill remains. The great road faces the sky—each takes one side. We’re all adults, and adults understand mutual consent. Alright, stop making a fuss. Please leave!”

One Zhu brother knelt, the other stood—neither moved.

The atmosphere grew suddenly tense.

Seeing the situation turning bad, Xie Zhifei walked before Yan Sanhe. Just as he was about to speak and mediate, Yan Sanhe’s gaze coldly swept toward him.

He quickly explained, “I won’t try to persuade you—I’ll persuade Eldest Brother and Second Brother.”

“No need to persuade.”

Yan Sanhe turned and walked before Eldest Brother Zhu, extending one finger to point at his brow.

Eldest Brother Zhu’s vision suddenly went black.

What did he see?

He saw an enormous dead tree with countless crows perched densely upon it. The crows’ heads all hung low, staring fixedly at the base of the tree.

Under the tree lay a naked man—his father, Zhu Xuanjiu.

Father’s eyes were open and hollow, two lines of hot tears flowing from the corners.

Just then, the crows on the tree all flapped their wings and flew to Father’s side. Sharp beaks competed to peck at Father’s body.

In an instant, Father’s body was covered by a layer of black. Apart from the thick smell of blood from his nose, nothing else could be seen.

Zhu Yuanmo’s heart broke with pain.

A thousand birds feeding together—what a brutal scene!

Yet just then, thousands of crows suddenly turned their heads in unison. Black beady eyes fixed on Eldest Brother Zhu, all revealing a sinister smile.

As if the next person they would devour—

Was him!

Eldest Brother Zhu was scared out of his wits.

“I agree, I agree to everything!”