Thousands of li away.

The capital.

Xie Manor.

Xie Zhifei had just finished washing up when Xie Xiaohua hurried in.

“Master, the eldest master from the Zhu residence is waiting in the small flower hall, saying he has an urgent matter for Third Master.”

Upon hearing “Zhu residence,” Xie Zhifei immediately got a headache.

Since Elder Sister-in-law left, the atmosphere at Elder Brother’s place had grown oppressive. Even little Huaizhou secretly came to tell him: Father seems like a different person.

The root of it all was the Zhu family.

“Did he say what the urgent matter was?”

“Eldest Master Zhu didn’t specify.”

“By the way, how many days has Sister-in-law been gone?”

“Today marks the seventh day.”

So probably three more days remained.

They should return in three days.

Xie Zhifei took a deep breath. “Come, accompany me there.”

Xie Xiaohua scurried after him. Seeing no one around, he lowered his voice, “Master, Fangzhou Courtyard has added a new maid named Xuelian.”

Xie Zhifei’s steps halted. “Who added her?”

“Madam added her.”

Xie Xiaohua glanced around again and covered his mouth. “She looks somewhat like that previous one.”

That previous one?

Nanshan?

Xie Zhifei felt a chill run through his head, thinking: Mother, oh Mother, at this critical juncture, why are you stirring up trouble?

Truly accomplishing nothing while ruining everything!

“Xiaohua.”

Xie Zhifei hooked his arm around his shoulder. “Watch that person closely for me. The moment anything happens, report back to me immediately.”

“My master, this old servant will watch every watchable place with utmost vigilance. As for the unwatchable places, we can only leave it to fate!”

Hearing the word “fate,” Xie Zhifei suddenly felt it was all utterly meaningless.

That day after seeing off Yan Sanhe and the others, he’d made a special trip home again.

“Elder Brother, Yan Sanhe asked me to relay a message to you: This is a knot in Sister-in-law’s heart. If this knot cannot be untied, she’ll worry about it for life. Once it’s untied, she’ll once again be the Xie family’s eldest mistress, and only the Xie family’s eldest mistress.”

When someone’s in a rage, even the best words fall on deaf ears.

He hadn’t forgotten—he’d deliberately not said it, thinking that after one night passed, Elder Brother would surely calm down somewhat.

But Elder Brother, after listening, coldly replied with one line: “The road is beneath her feet. Good or bad, it’s all her own choice. No one’s forcing her.”

After hearing that, he couldn’t figure out how to respond for ages.

Advise Elder Brother? Elder Brother also felt wronged—any man would feel wronged.

Advise Sister-in-law? Sister-in-law was also pitiful—knowing nothing, kept completely in the dark.

As an outsider, how could he truly influence either of them?

…

In the flower hall, Zhu Yuanmo absolutely couldn’t sit still, pacing back and forth inside.

Seeing Xie Zhifei arrive, he rushed forward, anxiety written all over his face. “Third Brother, with three days remaining, can they make it back?”

“If nothing goes wrong on the road, they should be able to make it back.”

Xie Zhifei deliberately spoke with optimism. “Yan Sanhe is someone who’s never willing to waste even a moment.”

“If they can make it back, that’s good, that’s good!”

Xie Zhifei picked up on his tone. “What happened? Has something occurred?”

Zhu Yuanmo’s expression turned mournful. “My mother probably won’t make it.”

Xie Zhifei’s face showed shock.

He couldn’t go to the Zhu residence, so these past days he’d been sending Zhu Qing to check once daily.

As a servant, Zhu Qing couldn’t enter the inner quarters and only reported back that all was well.

“Imperial Physician Pei said after examining her pulse that she should have several more days. The other imperial physicians all said the same.”

Zhu Yuanmo had truly been forced into a corner.

“I secretly read my mother’s fortune using her eight characters. Her birth chart has actually changed—the date is approximately at the end of this month.”

Xie Zhifei stood stunned for half a day before coming to his senses. “Elder Brother Zhu, I’ll immediately dispatch someone to meet them halfway. If it comes to it, we’ll do as we did last time and have Yan Sanhe return first.”

“That’s all we can do.”

“…No.”

Xie Zhifei still felt something was strange. “Madam merely aged somewhat, but her foundation remains sound. How could she suddenly…”

How could Zhu Yuanmo explain it clearly?

Ever since Yan Sanhe and the others left the capital, Mother’s condition had worsened day by day. These past few days especially—she spent more time asleep than awake.

When awake, she’d cry out about pain all over and shout that crows were coming to eat her.

Zhu Yuanmo pulled up her clothing and discovered her body covered in bruises here and there, truly looking as if pecked by crows.

It frightened both him and Third Brother into breaking out in cold sweat on the spot.

With no other option and to preserve Madam’s life, Zhu Yuanmo tried to set up a formation in her courtyard to suppress malevolent spirits.

But the moment the formation was completed, his own chest felt as though thousands of steel needles were simultaneously stabbing into it—the pain made him faint directly.

Left with no choice, he had to dismantle the formation again, which led to today’s visit to the Xie manor.

“The spy investigation has swept through all of the capital. The Five Cities Military Commission doesn’t have much work remaining—it’s all been transferred to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Xie Zhifei consoled him: “As long as Yan Sanhe returns, we can begin interrogating the Grand Old Master’s residence and Fifth Old Master’s residence.”

“Then I’ll head back first.”

“Steward Xie, see Elder Brother Zhu out on my behalf.”

Xie Zhifei waited for his departure, then immediately had Zhu Qing send men to intercept Yan Sanhe halfway, and commanded him to pull several more men from the Military Commission to keep watch over the Grand Old Master’s and Fifth Old Master’s residences.

“Before Yan Sanhe conducts her interrogation, absolutely do not allow them to leave the capital.”

“Yes.”

With all arrangements made, Xie Xiaohua returned.

“Third Master, someone just delivered a letter, saying it’s for Third Master.”

Xie Zhifei extracted the letter paper, his eyes brightening. Written upon it in handwriting like dog scratches was—

Tonight, Hero Tower, won’t return until drunk!

No salutation, no signature.

But Xie Zhifei knew in his heart—it was from Bu Liu.

…

That evening, Xie Zhifei left the Military Commission early to purchase wine on Changle Road.

Since they weren’t returning until drunk, there had to be good wine—the finest wine in the four-nine city was all on Changle Road.

After riding for a stretch, he was suddenly blocked by a crowd.

Before Xie Zhifei could speak, Zhu Qing had already dismounted to investigate.

He went quickly and returned equally fast.

“Master, two carriages ahead collided head-on. Neither side will yield, which is why the road’s blocked.”

Xie Zhifei frowned upon hearing this, thinking: On such a freezing day, why come argue over pride?

“Whose carriages are they?”

“Prince Han’s manor and the Marquis of Wu’an’s manor. The Marquis of Wu’an’s carriage appears to belong to Heir Apparent He.”

He Yun?

Xie Zhifei quickly dismounted. “And in Prince Han’s manor’s carriage?”

“It’s Prince Han’s heir apparent.”

Zhao Yixian?

Xie Zhifei’s pupils abruptly constricted.

He immediately understood why these two young masters were being so stubborn in the road during the dead of winter.

Prince Han had six sons and four daughters.

Heir Apparent Zhao Yixian was not the legitimate eldest son—above him were two older brothers born to concubines.

Precisely because he was born late, Prince Han and his consort doted on him immensely. Zhao Yixian was granted the title of heir apparent at age three.

This young man was decent in all other respects and cut quite an imposing figure—he just had one vice: gambling.

And when he lost at gambling, he’d renege on debts.

All the uncollectable bad debts at gambling establishments rested on this young man’s shoulders.

Zhao Yixian didn’t spend much time in the capital; most of his days were spent in his fief.

Originally, he and He Yun had no enmity or grievance whatsoever. When they met, they could even exchange pleasantries.

The problem lay with Du Yiyun.

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