The private room door closed.

Li Buyan held her wine cup, her thoughts turning several times. “Sanhe, don’t you feel Third Master is different from before?”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Different in what way?”

“I can’t quite say either, just…”

Li Buyan tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowed. “Quite likeable actually. So likeable I’m tempted to match you with him.”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Yan Sanhe was both embarrassed and annoyed.

“Don’t be annoyed—I’m just saying it casually.”

Li Buyan poured tea for her while smiling apologetically, but her eyes studied every subtle expression on Yan Sanhe’s face.

Yan Sanhe controlled her expression well, but the large patch of red spreading across her face and behind her ears betrayed her.

Li Buyan smiled gently.

When Third Master entered the room, he only drank Yan Sanhe’s wine, his eyes only watched her alone, his words were only spoken to her…

Though nothing had been made explicit yet, every glance and gesture spoke of affection.

Yan Sanhe was slow about such matters but not foolish.

She should have sensed that Third Master Xie was interested in her—and not just a little.

With Li Buyan’s smile, Yan Sanhe actually became calm.

Yes, she had sensed it, noticed it on the journey back to the capital from Yunnan.

Whenever she slept, that person’s gaze would fall on her, lingering for half the day, interspersed with soft sighs.

Those sighs were unlike any Yan Sanhe had ever heard—winding and turning, seeming to hide countless thoughts, wanting to speak yet holding back, making her heart tremble.

Of course, that wasn’t what made Yan Sanhe’s heart tremble most.

One night when strong winds blew, filling her ears with howling sounds, she had been sleeping hazily when the wind’s ghostly wailing woke her.

Upon waking, she discovered a large palm resting on her head, stroking her gently again and again. She was so frightened she dared not move.

When the wind died down somewhat, the person muttered “sleeping like a pig” before withdrawing his hand and turning over.

She couldn’t calm her emotions for a long time, her heart surging with undercurrents.

Yan Sanhe picked up her bowl, her expression calm. “What are you smiling about? Let’s eat. After eating, we’ll return to the Zhu residence too.”

Li Buyan started. “Why?”

“To check the study and see if Huang Qi and Ding Yi found anything.”

Yan Sanhe continued, “And to look at the courtyard where Zhu Weixi lived as a young lady.”

Li Buyan’s heart skipped. “You think there’s a problem with Zhu Weixi’s courtyard too?”

Yan Sanhe replied, “Don’t know. We’ll see after looking.”

Thinking of Zhu Weixi, Li Buyan looked at the table full of dishes and suddenly lost her appetite.

Mother had said daughters are their fathers’ lovers from a past life. Could that old bastard Zhu Xuanjiu really have developed filthy thoughts toward his eldest daughter?

…

Xie Residence.

Inner quarters.

Before Zhu Weixi even reached the second gate, she saw Chuntao standing at the entrance from afar, holding a lantern and craning her neck to look around.

Seeing the eldest madam, Chuntao rushed over, set down her lantern, and fell to her knees with a thud.

She had a delicate oval face with eyes like clear water holding two pools of tears that she dared not let fall.

Back then at the hot spring villa, she had been terribly afraid.

Afraid the young miss would do something improper, and that if things became irretrievable, the madam would blame her and sell her off.

After much hesitation, she had finally chosen to secretly tell the madam.

“Get up. I don’t blame you for that matter.”

Chuntao couldn’t believe her ears. “Eldest Madam?”

“I truly don’t blame you.”

Zhu Weixi reached out to help her up.

She blamed herself.

“Has the master returned?”

“He’s in the old master’s study, along with the eldest young master.”

Chuntao turned to wipe away tears. “The old madam and madam have already finished dinner and are currently reciting sutras in the small Buddhist hall.”

Zhu Weixi said, “Then I’ll go pay my respects to the old madam and madam first.”

Chuntao quickly picked up the lantern. “Madam, watch your step.”

Before long they reached Yun’en Hall. The maids and servants, seeing the eldest madam arrive, quickly came forward to bow.

Zhu Weixi straightened her clothes and stepped inside.

The old madam had finished her sutra recitation and was now reclining on the imperial concubine couch, chatting idly with Lady Wu.

Seeing Madam Zhu arrive, she smiled. “The eldest madam has returned.”

Without a word, Madam Zhu knelt before her.

The old madam’s smile stiffened slightly. “Someone bring a cushion for the eldest madam.”

“Old Madam, don’t trouble yourself.”

Zhu Weixi said, “Your granddaughter-in-law has come to ask a favor.”

Seeing her solemnity, the old madam glanced at the maids in the room, who quickly withdrew and closed the door behind them.

Only then did Zhu Weixi speak. “Old Madam, there are some complications with my natal family’s affairs. I’d like to request a month’s leave to return and help.”

“Why another month?”

Lady Wu looked displeased. “Earlier when your father-in-law passed, you were constantly running to that household. But now it’s been…”

“Miss Yan said if the old madam and madam don’t agree, she’ll come personally to request leave for your granddaughter-in-law.”

Lady Wu froze. “What does this have to do with Miss Yan?”

But the old madam caught the implication and shot Lady Wu a cold look. “Go outside.”

“Mother?”

“Out!”

Seeing the old madam’s stern face, Lady Wu was too frightened to say more and reluctantly withdrew.

The old madam waited for the door to close before leaning forward. “What else did Miss Yan say?”

Tears streamed down Zhu Weixi’s face. “Miss Yan said many people will die.”

The old madam’s heart thumped heavily. She quickly said, “Go back and help as needed. I’ll handle affairs here at the residence.”

“Thank you, Old Madam.”

Madam Zhu kowtowed three times before rising from the floor.

The old madam grabbed her hand and pressed her voice into her throat. “Child, tell your grandmother—your father’s heart demon is…”

“Blood moon!”

The old madam felt darkness before her eyes, her heart pounding wildly.

…

Xie Erli led his son by the hand out of the study, his mind still on his father’s words.

“This battle is inevitable. The situation afterward won’t be peaceful. You must speak and act cautiously at the Hanlin Academy. Better to shrink back like a turtle than to stick your neck out.

As for Third Brother, find an opportunity to caution him—be careful, careful, and more careful.”

Careful about what?

When that day truly came, who belonged to whom, who was whose lackey—it would all be crystal clear.

“Mother, Mother’s back!”

Xie Erli looked up sharply, his brow furrowing slightly at the slender figure in the distance.

Xie Huaizhou pulled free from his father’s hand and ran to embrace his mother.

Zhu Weixi held him while speaking softly, rubbing her son’s head.

Whatever the mother and son were discussing, Xie Huaizhou’s eyes curved with laughter.

“Doting mothers raise worthless sons!” Xie Erli crossed his arms and snorted lightly.

“Chuntao, take the young master back first.”

“What about Mother?”

“Mother needs to discuss something with Father.”

Hearing this, Xie Huaizhou voluntarily released his hold on Zhu Weixi and obediently followed Chuntao away.

Zhu Weixi watched her son disappear into the distance, then turned and walked to Xie Erli. Taking a deep breath, she raised her jet-black eyes.

“It’s still early. Would you walk with me for a bit?”

Xie Erli was utterly shocked.