When the Zhu family hung white banners, Yan Sanhe returned to the separate residence and collapsed into bed.

Li Buyan gently removed her clothes and covered her with bedding. Just as she turned to leave, her hand was grasped.

“Buyan.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes were blank. “I don’t understand why she didn’t want to know the truth?”

Li Buyan embraced her.

“My mother once said: Birds kept in cages by their owners for too long—even if the cage isn’t locked, they lack the courage to open the door.

For them, the cage is the safest place in the world.

Water to drink, food to eat, sheltered from wind and rain, and the bird’s owner treats it well enough, carrying that bird everywhere.”

Yan Sanhe: “You mean…”

“That courtyard imprisoned Madam Mao’s body and also imprisoned her heart.”

Li Buyan nodded. “She was kept too well by Zhu Xuanjiu—so well she didn’t even have the courage to experience heart-piercing pain.”

Yan Sanhe gently released Li Buyan’s hand. “Buyan, even if that cage is made of gold, let’s never crawl into one.”

Li Buyan hummed affirmatively, then her expression changed.

“You asked me this question just to say that sentence to me, didn’t you?”

Yan Sanhe’s thoughts exposed, she wasn’t annoyed. She pulled the blanket over herself.

“Nonsense. I truly don’t know.”

As if I’d believe you!

You can see through that beast Zhu Xuanjiu’s thoughts from decades ago—how could you not see through Madam Mao’s?

Li Buyan stood up, walked to the door, dropped one sentence, and gently closed the door.

“Sanhe, some women are destined to be uncaged by anything.”

…

Some women were destined to be uncaged;

Some men were destined to be beaten.

The one doing the beating was none other than Imperial Physician Pei.

Dedicated Imperial Physician Pei had it rough.

Going to the separate residence—struck empty;

Going to the Xie Manor—struck empty again;

Going to the Zhu Manor—seeing white banners at the gate, inquiring and learning Madam had passed, Third Master Xie had also left.

Imperial Physician Pei had no choice but to charge to the Military Commission yamen, rewarding Third Master Xie and his own little beast with a knuckle rap each.

The former—limping around everywhere with an injured leg;

The latter—went on a long journey and didn’t even report safety to his parents upon return. Raised in vain.

The two brothers, having been struck, one deployed sweet talk and flattery, the other served tea and poured water. After much coaxing, they finally smoothed Imperial Physician Pei’s ruffled feathers.

Xie Zhifei’s thigh wound was healing well. In another ten days to half month, he’d be able to stride swiftly as before.

After changing the medicine, Imperial Physician Pei moved his chair closer, preparing to inquire about the Zhu family matter from these two youngsters.

But before he could open his mouth, Zhu Qing suddenly lifted the curtain and entered.

“Master, the person wasn’t found.”

Xie Zhifei’s expression changed dramatically.

Taiwei’s original name was Zhu Wei. His ancestors were hereditary servants of the Zhu family.

Taiwei’s grandfather later received grace, had his servile status removed, and the family was freed.

One year, Taiwei’s grandfather brought his grandson back to the capital to visit his former masters. Old Master Zhu Liuyao saw Taiwei was very clever and kept him.

He also promised Taiwei’s grandfather he would teach the boy some fundamentals of fortune-telling and feng shui.

What the Zhu family let slip through their fingers could sustain others for generations. Taiwei’s grandfather immediately kowtowed in gratitude for the master’s grace.

Thus, Taiwei became Zhu Xuanjiu’s personal servant.

His hometown wasn’t far from the capital—in Xuanhua Prefecture. After the incident, the old steward personally visited.

Taiwei’s grandfather had long passed. His father, hearing of his son’s disgraceful deeds, immediately coughed up blood.

Fearing the aggrieved party would come after them, the family packed up overnight and left to make a living elsewhere.

But Taiwei still had two aunts in Xuanhua Prefecture.

Xuanhua Prefecture was northwest of the capital.

So three groups of people set out—one heading straight to Taiwei’s hometown to inquire, one searching for Taiwei’s two aunts, and one seeking Taiwei’s parents and brother.

“All three groups found nothing?”

“Not a single group. All said they hadn’t seen this person again. After the incident, Taiwei’s father didn’t survive half a year before dying of illness. His mother quickly followed. The only brother lives in Baoding Prefecture.”

Zhu Qing: “His brother thought he’d died somewhere. He even made an empty grave beside his parents’ tombs, placing some of Taiwei’s old clothes inside so he could burn paper offerings at Qingming.”

Finishing, Zhu Qing drew closer, lowering his voice: “Even Master Han says there’s no method.”

Master Han was Han Yong, who served as Zongi in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, specializing in intelligence gathering. Finding the reclusive Tang Jianxi back then had relied on his connections.

Someone Han Yong said he couldn’t track was either dead or hiding in some remote corner under an assumed name.

The Zhu family calculated he was still alive, so he must be alive.

But the key question—in such a vast world, which remote corner was this person hiding in?

Xie Zhifei scratched his scalp. This was difficult.

“Who’s Taiwei?” Imperial Physician Pei asked curiously.

Pei Xiao: “Zhu Xuanjiu’s former personal servant.”

Personal servants one was accustomed to were rarely released. Imperial Physician Pei immediately knew there was intrigue here: “What did he do wrong?”

Pei Xiao: “Helped someone with wrong feng shui readings, then secretly fled.”

“Then search among feng shui practitioners. This type definitely returns to old habits—just like your father.”

Imperial Physician Pei sighed heavily.

“Even if I kill someone treating them, I still have to keep treating. No choice—I have to feed certain dog beasts whose hearts only have brothers, no parents. My fate is bitter.”

Young Master Pei completely missed the implications in his father’s words. “Xie Wushi, my father makes sense!”

His father: “…”

“Indeed makes sense.”

Xie Zhifei: “But the world is so vast. How much time does the Zhu family have to search place by place?”

“How about…”

Young Master Pei: “Have the old steward describe his appearance. Yan Sanhe can draw it. Like with Geng Songsheng, we’ll take the portrait to find people.”

Xie Zhifei: “It’s only been a few years with Geng Songsheng, yet the person and portrait already differ. How many years has it been since Taiwei left the Zhu Manor?”

Pei Xiao: “Then… Young Master has no method either.”

Imperial Physician Pei was full of curiosity: “Why are you looking for this Taiwei?”

Old Dad, once the medicine’s changed, you can leave.

Why is your bottom planted there immovable?

Young Master Pei thought this but dared not show it. “He knows about Zhu Xuanjiu’s past.”

Imperial Physician Pei: “Good things or bad things?”

Young Master Pei: “Bad things.”

“That means this person knew Zhu Xuanjiu’s secrets. People who know secrets generally don’t live long.”

Imperial Physician Pei stood up and paced the room seriously for several circuits, then opened his mouth with complete certainty.

“This person being alive until now means he’s hidden in a place no one would think of.”

How fresh!

If we could think of it, we’d have found him.

Imperial Physician Pei walked before Xie Zhifei, lowered his voice mysteriously: “If it were me, the most dangerous place would be the safest place.”

The words just fell.

Xie Zhifei’s subordinate at the Military Commission, Luo Daqiang, charged in.

“Boss, the mute in the prison is gone.”

Xie Zhifei was slightly surprised: “How could he disappear?”

“Don’t know. Just suddenly vanished. Asked around—no one saw him.”

Luo Daqiang’s voice trembled: “Boss, could our Military Commission have a ghost?”

Clearly someone inexperienced.

Young Master Pei dismissed it: “Then he’s still in the Military Commission, hiding somewhere.”

“The key is he has no legs. How can he hide?”

“Ah?”

Young Master Pei froze.