If.

The Zheng family extermination case was the Late Emperor’s doing, who would the Late Emperor find to do it?

First would be hidden guards.

Second would be Embroidered Uniform Guards who answered only to him.

If it was the Embroidered Uniform Guards, then the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander from year eight of Yonghe would be a breakthrough point.

So this girl had them investigate what the scripture-chanting monks saw and heard as a pretense—using the monks to lead to the Embroidered Uniform Guards was the real goal?

No wonder she said the Taoist priests didn’t need questioning—because she knew nothing could be found by asking them.

She was afraid investigating too quickly would make Huairen suspicious, so she was proceeding step by step, going through the motions.

This girl was truly brilliant.

Understanding this, Xie Zhifei excitedly rubbed his hands. “So the remaining few temples, do we still need to…”

“Need to!”

Yan Sanhe lowered her head to drink tea.

It wasn’t entirely just going through motions—what if they really could uncover something?

Nothing in this world was certain!

Xie Zhifei was also too lazy to ask “why.” Whatever Yan Sanhe said, he would do.

“Zhu Qing.”

“Master.”

“After the meal, go directly to find Han Yong and have him help investigate.”

“Yes!”

Yan Sanhe looked at Xie Zhifei approvingly.

“After finishing the meal, you set out. If there’s still nothing, if the night watchman still has no leads, tomorrow we start investigating coffin shops.”

Young Master Pei’s hand holding the bowl jerked violently, his peripheral vision glancing toward Li Buyan across from him.

Li Buyan didn’t even lift her eyelids. “Tomorrow I’ll wear sturdier clothes for Young Master Pei to grip.”

Young Master Pei: “…”

……

After eating, Yan Sanhe and the others returned to the villa while Master Xie and his group continued working.

By the time they’d seen all the monks on the register, it was past the fourth watch.

Indeed, nothing was found.

The group returned to the villa. Tangyuan brought out late-night snacks.

The snacks were individual bowls of plain noodles. Thin noodles floated with a few emerald leaves and a few drops of sesame oil—very refreshing to look at.

Xie Zhifei tasted a bite and looked toward Tangyuan.

“Miss Li personally made them in the kitchen.”

Tangyuan smiled. “This servant was more surprised than Third Master when first eating them. These noodles are different from what the cook makes.”

Xie Zhifei glanced at Pei Xiao. This person seemed not to have heard Tangyuan’s words, head down only focused on eating noodles.

Huang Qi used his eyes to inquire: Has my master retreated?

Ding Yi: That’s not your place, you little fool.

Huang Qi fiercely sucked in a mouthful of noodles: I was just asking—is personal attack necessary?

Just then, Zhu Qing returned and walked to Xie Zhifei’s side. “Master, Han Yong says give him at least three days.”

Xie Zhifei calculated the tasks at hand. “No rush. We’ll wait three days for him.”

Huang Qi: “What about me? What do I do?”

Xie Zhifei: “You help your master. Together go beg your old master. If your old master wants to take up the rod and beat someone, you block it for your master.”

Huang Qi looked troubled.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to have Miss Li go? She’s at least Miss Yan’s person. When my old master sees her, he’ll know it’s Miss Yan’s arrangement and won’t make things difficult.”

This idea was brilliant!

Xie Zhifei’s gaze looked toward Yan Sanhe. He didn’t dare make decisions for Heroine Li.

Yan Sanhe received Third Master’s plea for help. “Buyan, are you willing?”

Li Buyan was very straightforward. “Just right—I still haven’t personally thanked Imperial Physician Pei for saving my life. Young Master Pei, I’ll go with you!”

“…”

Pei Xiao shivered involuntarily.

A man and woman alone—this was asking for his life!