When Young Master Pei said his brain was exploding, Yan Sanhe was currently in the courtyard watching Li Buyan practice swordplay.

This soft sword had just been retrieved from the blacksmith’s shop. The blade was as thin as a cicada’s wing yet extremely sharp.

With one look at Li Buyan’s sword-dancing posture, Yan Sanhe knew these five hundred taels of silver had been well spent.

Li Buyan worked up a sweat, fastened the sword at her waist, moved a small stool to sit beside Yan Sanhe, and chatted while wiping her sweat.

“Sanhe, today seems to be the day of Madam’s funeral procession.”

“Mm.”

“Should we go pay our respects?”

“No.”

“Who tossed and turned half the night yesterday?”

“I ate too much for my late-night snack. My stomach was uncomfortable.”

Right.

Most likely thinking about Madam’s affairs, about the Zhu family’s affairs.

Li Buyan didn’t expose her. “By the way, is the Zhu family really not planning to continue investigating?”

“Don’t know.”

“Then they can only wait for death.”

Li Buyan sighed heavily. “Your blood talisman with Zhu Yuanmo still has two months left to be effective. That’s good at least—saves you from having to give more blood.”

Yan Sanhe lowered her eyelids and said nothing.

“Miss, time for breakfast!”

At this moment, Tangyuan came in carrying a basket.

After several days of rest at home, Yan Sanhe’s complexion immediately improved, all thanks to Tangyuan’s five meals a day of careful nourishment.

The two extra meals were afternoon snacks and an evening late-night snack.

Yan Sanhe stood up. “You and Lanchuan come eat together.”

“Lanchuan says she needs to practice for another half hour today.”

Tangyuan smiled. “After being scolded by Miss Li a few days ago, she’s been more diligent in her practice each day.”

“Being diligent without being mindful is useless.”

Li Buyan snorted coldly. “Leave more breakfast for her. She’s at the age for growing—she needs to eat her fill.”

“Miss Li truly has a sharp tongue but a soft heart.”

Tangyuan set out breakfast and filled a bowl of millet porridge, placing it at Yan Sanhe’s side.

Just as Yan Sanhe picked up her chopsticks, Zhu Qing rushed in.

“Miss Yan, the residence has been found.”

So quickly?

Yan Sanhe’s eyes lit up. “Then tonight we’ll…”

“We can go right now.”

Zhu Qing said, “I know that place. It’s very secluded with few households around. Going at night would actually attract attention from the patrols. Let’s go at noon.”

After spending these days together, Yan Sanhe had long since figured out Zhu Qing’s temperament.

He wouldn’t say such things without being confident.

“We’ll listen to you. Tangyuan, add a bowl and chopsticks for Zhu Qing.”

…

Since it was remote, they couldn’t ride horses or take carriages to attract attention. The three relied on their own two legs.

Noon.

The entrance to a certain alley in the northern part of the city.

Seeing no one around, Zhu Qing pushed off with his feet, hooked his long arms, and reached the top of the wall, then disappeared with a few leaps.

Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan continued forward arm in arm.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they passed a mottled wooden door. The door creaked open a crack, and Yan Sanhe quickly slipped inside.

Li Buyan looked around for quite a while. Seeing no one, she flashed through the doorway.

A house abandoned for nearly twenty years was truly overgrown with weeds.

Zhu Qing asked, “Miss Yan, do you need to go inside the house?”

“No need. Look at the wells.”

Yan Sanhe said, “Check every well.”

Zhu Qing didn’t speak much but had a good mind. “Miss Yan thinks the Tianshi family of five…”

“Don’t know. We’ll see after looking.”

In a two-courtyard residence, even for a more particular household, there would be at most two wells.

The first well in the courtyard was right beside the kitchen. There was water in the well, with a wooden bucket placed at the well’s edge.

They drew up a bucket of water. The water was very clear.

Yan Sanhe tasted the water—it was even somewhat sweet.

She covered the well. “Find the second well.”

The second well was in the back courtyard.

The back courtyard was a small garden, and the well was buried under a pile of weeds.

Zhu Qing pushed aside the weeds and opened the well cover. A thick, fishy stench rushed up, nearly suffocating him.

Yan Sanhe also smelled it. Her expression unchanged, she said, “Zhu Qing, draw up a bucket of water.”

There was no bucket at this well’s edge.

“I’ll go get one from over there.”

Li Buyan went quickly and returned quickly.

Zhu Qing took the bucket and threw it into the well. He didn’t hear a crisp splash of water entering, and the feel was wrong too.

“Miss Yan, there’s something in the well.”

“Lean down and look.”

Zhu Qing didn’t lean but instead hooked his feet on the well’s edge and plunged his body into the well.

With just one glance, he quickly withdrew, his voice trembling. “There are corpses in the well.”

Hearing this, Li Buyan also wanted to lean in and look, but Zhu Qing grabbed her. “Don’t look. It’s disturbing.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “How many bodies?”

Zhu Qing replied, “They’re blocking up the water completely. Definitely more than one.”

Yan Sanhe pinched the bridge of her nose. “It should be the Tianshi family.”

Li Buyan’s face turned deathly pale.

Oh heavens.

Five corpses in one well—no wonder the fishy stench was overwhelming.

Zhu Qing looked at Yan Sanhe with almost worshipful eyes. “Miss Yan, how did you know the bodies of the Tianshi family were thrown into the well?”

“Five living people suddenly disappear—nine times out of ten they met with danger. What place is safest and most convenient for hiding bodies? Only this masterless residence.”

Yan Sanhe continued, “Taiwei said they searched the rooms inside and out. That leaves only the wells. The reason he didn’t dare think of the wells was because he held hope—hope that the Tianshi family was still alive.”

“Then…”

Zhu Qing remembered Third Master’s instructions. “What is Miss Yan’s purpose in finding the bodies?”

“To let the deceased rest in peace and not become wandering ghosts.”

Yan Sanhe said, “Zhu Qing, when you return, tell the Zhu residence’s eldest master about this matter. Let him figure out what to do.”

“Yes.”

Zhu Qing nodded. “Miss Yan, let’s go back.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at him sideways. “Your master is afraid I’ll cause trouble?”

Zhu Qing was speechless.

“Tell him to rest assured.”

Yan Sanhe smiled faintly. “I’m someone who keeps her word.”

Just as she finished speaking, she felt something stab viciously at her heart. The pain made her body curl up at once.

“Miss Yan, where do you feel unwell?”

“Sanhe, what’s wrong?”

At the same moment Yan Sanhe heard both shouts, everything went black before her eyes, and she knew nothing more.

…

Zhu Family Cemetery.

Madam Mao’s coffin had already been buried at the auspicious hour.

A new grave mound rose up. The filial sons and virtuous grandsons with tear-stained faces served the first meal to their ancestor before the grave.

Once everything was settled, all the guests descended the mountain, leaving only the three sons before the grave to “warm the feet” for their ancestor.

This was one of the funeral rites.

Foot-warming used hot water bottles.

The old steward softly reminded them at the side what the three masters should do step by step.

After completing the final step, the three Zhu brothers were so exhausted they sat on the ground.

These long yet short seven days—all the elaborate ceremonies, all the rules and rituals—had worn them down to barely half a life remaining.

“Old Steward, you descend the mountain first.”

After seven days, Zhu Yuanmo’s voice had not only not improved—it had grown even hoarser. “I need to say a few words with Second Brother and Third Brother, then we’ll come.”

“Eldest Master, let this old servant stay and listen.”

Zhu Yuanmo was slightly surprised. “You know what I want to say?”

The old steward nodded. “That night when Eldest Master returned, your expression was extremely grim. This old servant knew something major had happened.”

He had served the Zhu family for a lifetime. From childhood, his father had taught him that the first priority for a servant was to read the master’s expressions.

“Fine, fine, fine.”

Zhu Yuanmo said weakly, “You all sit closer.”

The three sat around him.

Zhu Yuanmo looked at the mountain ranges behind, then at the long river before them—truly an auspicious feng shui location that gathered wind and energy.

What a pity!

A flash of ruthless determination crossed his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Second Brother, Third Brother, this heart demon will not be resolved.”

The three men’s expressions were identical.

First, no reaction at all. Then their faces changed dramatically.

“Elder Brother?”

Zhu Yuanhao grabbed Zhu Yuanmo’s hand in panic. “Why?”

Just as Zhu Yuanmo was about to speak, he felt his chest suffocating, unable to catch his breath. His body fell straight backward.

“Elder Brother?”

“Elder Brother?”