Among the four concubines, only Concubine Fu bore a son?

Without asking, Yan Sanhe guessed there were only two possible reasons—

Either the other concubines had bad luck,

Or the Old Madam only allowed Concubine Fu to bear sons, while the other concubines could only bear daughters.

“Then later came your master?”

Old Steward: “It was several years after the consummation that we had our master.”

Yan Sanhe: “Who raised Old Master Zhu?”

Old Steward: “Concubine Fu raised him.”

Yan Sanhe felt this point somewhat unreasonable.

“Concubine Fu’s health was poor. Your Old Madam cherished this cousin so much—how could she feel at ease letting her raise the child?”

The Old Steward, questioned to this point, couldn’t help but carefully examine Yan Sanhe.

Not very old, her face still tender, yet her speech carried a steadiness and sharpness unusual for her age.

“Concubine Fu said legitimate is legitimate, secondary is secondary—not a thread or hair can be confused.”

Old Steward: “Concubine Fu also said her body wouldn’t live many years. These few years, just let her grow close to the child—it wouldn’t be in vain for their mother-son bond.”

Yan Sanhe paused. “When did Concubine Fu pass away?”

“When Master was nine years old.”

Old Steward: “Actually, the imperial physicians said if Concubine Fu wanted to live long, she shouldn’t have children. But she became pregnant, and it was a male fetus—how could Concubine Fu bear to abort it?”

“What about the Old Madam?”

Yan Sanhe: “Did she also urge Concubine Fu to give birth to this child?”

Old Steward: “The Old Madam didn’t urge. She said if she urged, Concubine Fu would overthink things. She only instructed the servants to serve with ten times more care.”

Yan Sanhe looked at the Old Steward thoughtfully. After a long while, she said, “Truly deep sisterly affection!”

“To be honest with Miss, this old servant has seen with his own eyes how the Old Madam treated Concubine Fu—it was genuinely sincere.”

Old Steward: “When our master was over eight months in Concubine Fu’s belly, midwives and wet nurses were all prepared. On the day of birth, nearly half the Imperial Medical Academy was summoned.

After Master was born, various supplements flowed like water into this courtyard. Otherwise, with Concubine Fu’s constitution, forget nine years—even nine months would have been difficult.”

Speaking to here, the Old Steward paused, then continued:

“Having said that, Concubine Fu was worthy of the Old Madam treating her this way. This old servant has lived these many years and never seen anyone more grateful than Concubine Fu.”

“How so?”

“The Old Madam had four sons under her knee. Every year on their birthdays, the concubine would personally make each of the four children a set of clothes as a birthday gift.

Old Steward: “Even that year when she was gravely ill, when the Old Madam wouldn’t allow her to touch needle and thread, she still secretly made them.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted to look at Li Buyan.

Li Buyan nodded slightly and quietly withdrew.

In all her life, this was the first time she’d heard of wives and concubines living harmoniously as one family.

How rare!

No, she needed to properly question the household’s old-timers.

Yan Sanhe asked again, “After Concubine Fu passed away, Old Master Zhu was raised at the Old Madam’s knee?”

The Old Steward shook his head.

“Master had long since begun learning the eight characters and divination with the Old Master. The Old Master personally kept him by his side. The Madam only took care of his three daily meals.”

Yan Sanhe pointed at the stone tiles on the ground. “Did he live in this courtyard from that time?”

Old Steward: “Miss is mistaken this time. From that time, Master lived alone in this courtyard.”

Yan Sanhe’s heart jumped slightly. “So this courtyard was originally Concubine Fu’s courtyard.”

“Exactly.”

The Old Steward nodded. “That’s why Master always said he’d lived in this courtyard his whole life, grown accustomed to it, and didn’t want to move anywhere else.”

Yan Sanhe’s brow twitched. “So that means Old Master Zhu passed away in this courtyard?”

“Yes.”

“What is this courtyard called?”

“Wutong Courtyard.”

“Who named it?”

“The Old Master named it.”

Yan Sanhe’s brows furrowed slightly. A person born here, raised here, died here—besides nostalgia, what else did it indicate?

She quickly made a mental note. This matter was worth pondering carefully.

Yan Sanhe closed the wardrobe door, turned and walked to the bed. The bedding had been folded and placed neatly to one side.

“How many months was Old Master Zhu bedridden?”

Old Steward: “Master was ill for more than half a year.”

Yan Sanhe: “Who cared for him?”

“Besides the servants, there were us three brothers.”

Eldest Master Zhu, who hadn’t spoken for a long time, gestured at the room.

“This room originally had a partition room. We three brothers took turns sleeping in the partition room, one person per night.”

Yan Sanhe: “What about the Madam?”

Eldest Master Zhu: “My mother can’t stay up at night. If she doesn’t sleep well at night, her head aches the next day.”

Yan Sanhe: “So during the more than half year Old Master Zhu was ill, it was you three brothers?”

Eldest Master Zhu nodded.

Yan Sanhe looked at him. “Tired?”

Eldest Master Zhu’s face turned serious. “As children to parents, how can we speak of being tired?”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted. “What about you, Second Master Zhu?”

Second Master Zhu shook his head. “Didn’t feel hardship, didn’t feel tired. It was proper and appropriate.”

Long illness at the bedside yields no filial sons.

From this it could be seen that Old Master Zhu and his three sons had quite good relations.

“Let’s go look at his study.”

Old Steward: “Miss Yan, please follow me.”

…

The study was in the west wing room—a very spacious room with a screen dividing the middle.

In front of the screen was a desk, surrounded by a ring of treasure shelves displaying various vases and jars. Behind the screen were row after row of books.

Yan Sanhe glanced briefly and found they were all books on the Book of Changes, Eight Trigrams, and such.

“Can you place two soft couches for me in this study?”

Eldest Master Zhu was surprised. “Miss, you intend to…”

“The study is a man’s most important place.”

Yan Sanhe: “Starting today, I plan to rest here at night, examining things one by one. The Eldest Master wouldn’t disagree, would he?”

Eldest Master Zhu’s expression changed several times.

The study was not only a man’s most important place but also his most private place.

After Father passed, he’d been busy with household affairs, and his health wasn’t good. This study hadn’t been properly organized yet, so he wasn’t clear in his heart whether Father had hidden any secrets in this study.

“Even if you disagree, you must agree.”

Seeing his hesitation, Yan Sanhe spoke plainly.

“To resolve Old Master Zhu’s heart demon, forget this study—even the secrets of this entire residence will surface bit by bit. They can’t be hidden. But rest assured, I’ll keep my lips sealed.”

At this point, was there any choice?

Eldest Master Zhu shot a look at the Old Steward.

The Old Steward quickly said, “Miss, rest assured. Soft couches, quilts, charcoal braziers will all be prepared properly.”

Now Young Master Pei was dumbfounded.

If Yan Sanhe was staying at the Zhu residence, what about him?

“Wait, prepare four.”

Remembering Xie Fifty’s assignment, Young Master Pei said decisively, “Third Master and I will also rest here. Otherwise, with just Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan, when would they finish looking through everything?”

Yan Sanhe was about to say “Why do you two need to join in the commotion,” but thinking of the Zhu household’s current situation, she alone truly couldn’t manage it all.

“Just clear out a room for us in this courtyard.”

Eldest Master Zhu quickly said, “Miss Yan, one room isn’t enough. After all, men and women should be separate.”

Young Master Pei waved his hand. “Don’t worry—she doesn’t consider us men.”

Yan Sanhe: “…”