Zhao Yishi’s expression showed some difficulty. After pondering for a long while, he said, “Then I don’t mind kneeling to ask Miss Yan once more.”
Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted toward Xie Zhifei.
Xie Zhifei’s face was pale, his hand gripping the teacup secretly exerting force.
This scene—how familiar.
Back then, Mingting’s uncle Ji Lingchuan had also knelt before Yan Sanhe, begging her to resolve Old Lady Ji’s heart demon. And the abbess Huiru of Water Moon Nunnery too.
Could it be…
This heart demon was using another method to push forward?
“Kneeling won’t be necessary. Listen to my conditions.”
“Please speak, Miss Yan.”
Yan Sanhe’s gaze remained on Xie Zhifei. “I have only one requirement—everyone in this boat cabin at this moment, including myself, I ask you to protect our safety.”
No one saw Xie Zhifei’s eyes suddenly brighten.
Only Yan Sanhe saw it.
Yes.
She didn’t want to die.
Mother had instructed her to live well, to live happily.
Her mother had also said she should be peaceful and joyful.
The Zhao Yishi before her was also dressed as a scholar, his features also carrying the clear breeze and bright moon. He and the late Emperor Zhao Ji should not be the same type of person.
She wanted to gamble.
Zhao Yishi also hadn’t expected Yan Sanhe to make such a request.
“Miss Yan is afraid…”
Yan Sanhe suddenly stood up, walking to the window. The night was like water, the water held a crescent moon, light and shadow flowed on both banks—what fine scenery!
“Being human, it’s better to be cautious. Caution allows one to sail smoothly for ten thousand years. If you can’t agree, then I’m sorry—please seek someone more capable.”
Zhao Yishi also stood up. “I also have only one condition.”
Yan Sanhe turned around, looking at him. “Speak!”
Zhao Yishi: “Whatever you discover, whatever stage you reach in the investigation, don’t hide it from me. Use the fastest speed to resolve the Zheng family case.”
“Those are two conditions.”
Yan Sanhe: “The first one, I agree. The second one, I’ll do my best.”
“Then I guarantee you…”
Zhao Yishi’s calm demeanor as a superior revealed itself. “I will definitely protect all of you!”
Yan Sanhe raised her brows. “A gentleman’s promise?”
Zhao Yishi’s gaze was firm. “Worth a thousand gold.”
The corners of Xie Zhifei’s mouth silently curved upward. Days of worry, anxiety, panic… all swept away completely.
With Huairen’s words, what did he have to fear?
Xie Zhifei’s burning gaze looked at Yan Sanhe. If there weren’t others beside them, he’d want to fiercely embrace her.
This girl was too clever.
Yan Sanhe walked back to the square table, looking directly into Zhao Yishi’s eyes, saying crisply and decisively, “The first step I need to take is to see the most authentic case files of the Zheng family case.”
Zhao Yishi: “I’ll handle this matter.”
Yan Sanhe: “The second step I need to take is to find all the night watchmen still alive from around the Zheng family residence on the fifteenth of the seventh month in the eighth year of Yonghe.”
Zhao Yishi: “Entrust this matter to Chengyu.”
Yan Sanhe: “The third step I need to take is to find the people who helped prepare the Zheng family corpses and coffins back then.”
Zhao Yishi: “Still entrust this to Chengyu.”
Yan Sanhe: “I want to meet the monks and Daoists who performed rituals for the Zheng family back then.”
Zhao Yishi: “Entrust this matter to Mingting.”
Yan Sanhe nodded. “Currently these four steps. After these four steps, depending on what we discover, we’ll meet again—same boat, same time.”
Zhao Yishi’s eyes showed suspicion. “Miss Yan, why don’t you first investigate the coroners who examined the Zheng family corpses back then?”
“They are official people.”
Yan Sanhe smiled coldly. “I don’t quite trust official people.”
Zhao Yishi pointed. “What about them?”
“Them…”
Yan Sanhe’s gaze swept over Xie Zhifei’s and Pei Xiao’s faces one by one. “They are my life-and-death friends. Different.”
Xie Zhifei, hearing these words, remained relatively composed, but Young Master Pei’s blood rushed straight to his head.
Spirit Medium! Just for those two words “life-and-death,” from now on, you’re my good brother.
But could you please manage your good sister and make her… at least… like me a little bit?
Yan Sanhe didn’t look at these two men’s expressions but instead cast her gaze out the window again.
First step, second step, third step, fourth step…
These were all said for Zhao Yishi to hear.
Why the Zheng family suffered mass slaughter, who the true murderer was—no need to investigate. She knew clearly in her heart.
What she truly needed to investigate was: who had spied on the former Crown Prince’s residence secrets?
What she truly needed to investigate was: who leaked this secret?
What she truly needed to investigate was: why didn’t the old Emperor act earlier or later, but specifically acted in the seventh month of the eighth year of Yonghe?
…
Official business concluded, the boat made a circuit on the Yongding River before returning to the dock where Zhao Yishi had boarded.
He stood up and walked before Li Buyan. “Would Miss Li see me off the boat?”
Li Buyan was about to say “it’s just three steps, do you need me to see you off,” but thinking some words were better said clearly—
“Let’s go. I’ll see you off!”
The two walked out of the cabin one after the other. Shen Chong draped Zhao Yishi’s great cloak over him. Zhao Yishi made a gesture of invitation, letting Li Buyan go first.
Li Buyan walked along the gangplank to the dock. After Zhao Yishi followed down, he stopped moving, his form positioned precisely between the dock and gangplank.
Seeing this situation, Shen Chong consciously retreated into the cabin.
Pei Xiao poked half his head out but could only see Zhao Yishi’s broad back. Li Buyan was completely hidden by his great cloak.
Here we go again!
Is this never going to end?
The feeling of a thousand needles and a hundred scratching claws rose in Young Master Pei’s heart once more.
On the small dock, Li Buyan raised her face, calmly meeting Zhao Yishi’s gaze. “If there’s something to say, Your Highness should speak directly.”
Zhao Yishi had grown up at the late Emperor’s side since childhood—what kind of devastatingly beautiful woman hadn’t he seen?
This face before his eyes, how to put it?
Could only be considered average. If anything was special, it was the forthright heroic spirit between her brows, as if no matter how great the matter, it was nothing to her, everything could be laughed off.
“How is your injury? Has it fully healed?”
“Fully healed.”
“I heard from Imperial Physician Pei that there are some aftereffects.”
“Nothing much.”
“This is all my fault.”
“This isn’t Your Highness’s fault. If we’re really settling accounts, the one at fault is Prince Han.”
Zhao Yishi saw her speak so carelessly, his heart aching for her.
For a woman unable to bear children, how many men in this world would dare want her?
“Have you thought about your future?” He slowly laid the groundwork.
“No.”
“Think about it.” Without realizing, his palms were sweating, even his breathing quickened.
She was so clever—she should understand the deeper meaning in his words.
“Why should I think about it?”
She smiled. “Someone who likes me won’t care whether I can bear children. Someone who doesn’t like me—even if I bore many children, he’d still take three wives and four concubines.”
“Li Buyan…”
“Your Highness, let me finish speaking.”
Li Buyan’s back was ramrod straight, even the light in her eyes was proud as frost and snow.
“I didn’t risk my life to save you because you were you. I promised Sanhe and Third Master I’d protect you, so I definitely would do it. You need not blame yourself, and even less should you worry about my future.
The future is too distant—I’m too lazy to think about it.
The past is already past—I won’t dwell on it either.
I only care about what I want to eat today, where I want to go, whom I want to see, what I want to do, whether I’m happy, whether it’s satisfying.”
Her finger touched her heart, her tone suddenly becoming lighter.
“Your Highness, I only follow this. Unfortunately, there’s no room for you here anymore.”
—