“Mingting.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted. “You accompany Zhu Weixi.”

“…”

Young Master Pei pointed at his own nose, his mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg.

Why him again?

Did he, Young Master Pei, have a face meant for coaxing women?

“When Third Master arrives, bring them to Spring Breeze Pavilion. We got quite a bit of useful information today, so I’m in a good mood—I’ll treat everyone to dinner.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Zhu Weixi on the floor and called toward the courtyard entrance, “Chuntao?”

Chuntao hurried in at a trot. “Miss Yan?”

Yan Sanhe said, “Go back to the Xie residence first and inform them that the eldest madam will return after dining with me. Tell the old madam and madam not to worry.”

Chuntao looked down at her mistress, said nothing more, and quickly left.

When Li Buyan had come earlier to ask her about that old matter, her heart had been pounding. Now seeing the eldest madam embracing Miss Yan and crying…

Something was wrong!

“Zhu Weixi, you should go now.”

Yan Sanhe’s peripheral vision moved to Li Buyan. “I still have some things to ask your three brothers.”

Li Buyan quickly stepped forward to help Zhu Weixi up. “Miss, you continue questioning. I’ll help the eldest madam to the carriage first.”

“Go ahead!”

Yan Sanhe gave Zhu Weixi no chance to speak. “Zhu Yuanhao, it’s too dark in here—light the lamps. Zhu Yuanzhao, change the tea and close the door while you’re at it.”

“Oh, oh…”

The two Zhu masters snapped out of their daze and immediately busied themselves.

As Zhu Weixi stepped across the threshold, she turned back, her eyes misty with tears as she looked at Yan Sanhe.

She sat in the grand master’s chair, wearing a very ordinary blue robe with no hair ornaments—very plain and simple.

Zhu Weixi thought to herself: the most correct thing she’d done in her life was choosing Yan Sanhe over Du Yiyun.

From that day on, she had a friend.

…

Northern Camp.

Zhang Kui lifted the curtain and entered the general’s tent, brushing snow off himself. “Boss, Master Xie is still waiting outside the camp.”

“Oh?”

Bu Liu put down his military treatise, his brow furrowing.

At noon, just as he’d finished drill training and was about to eat, a guard had reported that a young man named Xie Zhifei was seeking an audience.

Xie Zhifei?

Wasn’t that the Master Xie from the Five Cities Military Commission from yesterday?

Why was he calling himself Xie Zhifei instead of Master Xie?

Xie Zhifei was a personal name; Master Xie was an official title.

A personal name meant private business;

An official title meant official business.

Private business coming to his door?

“Don’t see him!”

After Bu Liu gave this order, he went about his business. Unexpectedly, this person was still here.

“How many hours has it been?” he asked.

Zhang Kui replied, “Nearly three hours.”

Bu Liu asked, “Is he alone?”

“He has an attendant with him.”

Zhang Kui shook his head and smiled. “This son of Grand Secretary Xie is quite patient.”

Bu Liu stroked the stubble on his chin. “Come on, let’s go meet him!”

…

By now, Xie Zhifei had frozen solid like a block of ice, constantly rubbing his hands and stamping his feet. This godforsaken place had no shelter, and the temperature was considerably colder than the capital.

“Master, let’s go back!”

“Wait a bit longer.”

“Stop waiting.”

Even the usually patient Zhu Qing had lost his patience. He grabbed Xie Zhifei’s hands and rubbed them vigorously in his palms.

“You’ve waited three hours already. He won’t see you.”

“How do you know?”

Xie Zhifei raised his chin toward the distance. “Look—someone’s coming!”

Someone was coming, but there was no sign of inviting Xie Zhifei into the military camp to sit.

“Military territory—unauthorized persons not permitted.”

Bu Liu gave a perfunctory cupped-fist salute. “Master Xie, my apologies.”

“It’s nothing important. I only came to say a few words.”

Xie Zhifei glanced lightly at Zhang Kui behind him. “Private words.”

In his half-lifetime of military campaigns, Bu Liu had heard all manner of words, but he’d never heard a grown man say he wanted to speak “private words” with him.

How novel.

“You may withdraw.”

“Yes!”

Zhang Kui withdrew to a distance.

Xie Zhifei made a gesture of invitation. “Would General Bu walk with me?”

“Please!”

Bu Liu was always straightforward. This noble young master had waited three hours until his lips turned blue—what harm in walking a few steps with him?

At this moment it was evening, with the setting sun painting half the sky red.

“General Bu, your adopted son cannot be saved.”

Bu Liu, who had been admiring the sunset with his hands behind his back, suddenly felt his pupils contract.

His feet halted, his body turned, and his eyes instantly sharpened. “Master Xie, what did you say?”

“Xu Nian’an cannot be saved.”

Xie Zhifei met his gaze. “By tomorrow evening at the latest, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will definitely come to arrest him.”

Bu Liu’s hands behind his back clenched into fists. “How do you know I want to save him?”

“Why else would General Bu make such a scene at the Jade Flute Building, beating the spy to death with the rod? Wasn’t it all to save Xu Nian’an?”

Xie Zhifei sneered. “Otherwise, why make such a commotion?”

A flash of killing intent crossed Bu Liu’s eyes. His large hand shot out and grasped Xie Zhifei’s throat, saying harshly, “How did you figure this out?”

Almost simultaneously, Zhu Qing, following behind them, rushed forward.

“Stand down!”

Xie Zhifei’s face turned crimson as he forced out two words with difficulty.

“Master?” Zhu Qing was so anxious his bones were crackling.

Amid the crackling sounds, Xie Zhifei’s right hand grabbed Bu Liu’s arm and twisted with all his strength.

Bu Liu hadn’t expected Xie Zhifei to have such grip strength and was clearly stunned. In that moment, Xie Zhifei kicked out forcefully.

Bu Liu released his grip and stepped back, easily dodging.

“What?”

Xie Zhifei gasped while sneering coldly. “Your thoughts have been seen through, so General Bu wants to silence the witness? There are so many people in the capital—can General Bu kill them all?”

“How could I not kill…”

The words had barely begun when Bu Liu sensed something was wrong. “What did you say? So many people in the capital… could it be…”

“Could it be that General Bu thinks he’s the cleverest person in the world?”

These words left Bu Liu frozen in place.

Making a scene at the Jade Flute Building and beating the spy to death with rods—this was the result of two days of discussion with his military advisor, all to save that beast Xu Nian’an’s dog life.

He had thought it foolproof, that no one could possibly see through it, yet never imagined…

“Or has General Bu forgotten to ask Xu Nian’an how long he’d been involved with that spy?”

Xie Zhifei rubbed his neck a few times. “Three months—anything could have happened in that time.”

Bu Liu cursed inwardly. That little beast had lied, saying he’d only been involved with that spy for a dozen days or so.

Three months—if Xu Nian’an had inadvertently let slip even half a sentence about military matters, that would be irredeemable disaster.

“Rather than wasting time suspecting me, General, you should think carefully about how to handle the aftermath!”

Xie Zhifei turned around. “Zhu Qing, we’re leaving!”

“Master Xie, wait!”

Xie Zhifei acted as if he hadn’t heard and continued walking forward.

Bu Liu rushed after him and reached out to block his path.

Xie Zhifei lazily raised his eyes. “Why is General Bu blocking me?”

Bu Liu looked at his expression and took a deep breath. “How should I handle the aftermath?”

“Figure it out yourself.”

“I can’t figure it out!”

For a dignified military general to say such rogue words in broad daylight—Xie Zhifei truly found it both amusing and exasperating.

He raised his chin. “Do you trust me?”

Bu Liu’s sword-like brows arched high. “After standing in the cold wind for three hours, even if I don’t trust you, I should at least hear your purpose in coming here.”