Pei Xiao’s heart stopped beating at Yan Sanhe’s words. He blurted out:

“Based on just those three points, you’re certain Haitang Courtyard has secrets?”

Yan Sanhe looked at Pei Xiao’s expression as if looking at a fool.

Pei Xiao felt his scalp tingle. “Could it be… this is also your intuition?”

Yan Sanhe neither confirmed nor denied.

Sometimes, silence was more intimidating than words.

Sure enough, ripples rose in Zhao Yishi’s heart.

“Miss Yan wants to investigate Haitang Courtyard’s secrets, but the key problem is that all the Zheng family members are gone. How to investigate?”

“I remember the Zheng family’s second and fourth branches both had daughters who married far away. The second branch has two—one in Jinling, one in Taiyuan. I don’t know where the fourth branch’s daughter married.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze turned to Xie Zhifei.

“I trouble Third Master to help find out which one is closest to the capital, so I can meet her soonest.”

Xie Zhifei had actually been distracted, but when Yan Sanhe looked over, he sensed it.

“As far as I know, the fourth branch married into Yizhou, so the closest is the one in Taiyuan Prefecture.”

Hearing this, Pei Xiao felt somewhat restless. “Are we setting out for Taiyuan Prefecture immediately?”

“No need!”

Yan Sanhe: “Just have Zhu Qing and Buyan make the trip.”

“Third Master can’t do without Zhu Qing.”

Li Buyan thought for a moment. “Yan Sanhe, let Han Xu and me go.”

“Han Xu?”

Zhao Yishi lightly uttered the name.

“The eldest of Han Family Fort. His family runs an escort service. He’s a close friend of mine and Yan Sanhe’s.”

Li Buyan smiled. “No need to thank us. In the future, if Your Highness, Third Master, and Young Master Pei find it convenient, just take care of him in secret.”

Already arranging connections for that person.

Pei Xiao felt as if his heart had a hole in it, with all kinds of wind and rain howling through. “Can this person be trusted?”

“You can distrust me, but you absolutely cannot distrust him.”

Fine.

What blew in was all bitter wind and rain. Pei Xiao turned his head and deliberately asked Xie Zhifei: “What do you think?”

Xie Zhifei was actually hesitating in his heart.

The one in Taiyuan Prefecture was his cousin. By rights, he should make this trip to see how her life was going.

But what good would seeing her do?

He could neither acknowledge the relationship nor say an extra word, only adding to the sorrow.

“I have no objections.”

Pei Xiao choked on his breath: Xie Wushi, you’re a pig!

“Then return early.”

Zhao Yishi slowly curved his lips slightly. “I’ll have Shen Chong send you traveling funds for the round trip.”

His complexion was already terrible, his voice even more weak and powerless. When his lips curved, it was a smile forced through sheer will.

Li Buyan glanced at him twice before stepping forward earnestly:

“Your Highness, please take good care of yourself. Our Hua Kingdom especially needs a good ruler like Your Highness—it’s a blessing for the people and a blessing for the realm.”

Is that so?

On the surface Zhao Yishi remained composed, but inside a tsunami raged.

This single phrase drew the ambiguity and entanglement between him and her crystal clear, without a trace of lingering attachment.

She had always been this way.

She consistently was this way.

Zhao Yishi nodded calmly, letting no one see his thoughts.

“Everyone go busy yourselves.”

…

Leaving Duanmu Palace, the group returned to the separate courtyard.

Hearing about going to Taiyuan Prefecture, Han Xu cast a grateful look at Li Buyan.

Second Uncle was already in the capital. With his abilities, he’d find the separate courtyard sooner or later. Going to Taiyuan Prefecture would let him avoid Second Uncle perfectly.

“I’ll go with you.”

She agreed readily and decisively. In Pei Xiao’s eyes, this took on another meaning. Unable to stay another moment, he made his excuses to Yan Sanhe and hurriedly left.

Who knew that just as he left the courtyard, he heard Li Buyan cry “Ah!” in surprise.

What happened?

Pei Xiao’s scalp tingled. He turned and ran back.

Running to the main hall, there wasn’t a soul—everyone had gone into the side room.

He quickly walked over, craned his neck, stood on tiptoe, and looked forward.

Even though Pei Xiao had some mental preparation, he was still shocked by the scene before him.

The incense was still burning, but the incense ash had suddenly increased considerably.

At some unknown time, or perhaps in just an instant, that incense had already burned down by a quarter.

Li Buyan swallowed several times.

“When I looked yesterday, it had only burned a tiny bit. How did it burn down so much today?”

Xie Zhifei looked down at Yan Sanhe, deeply worried. “Yan Sanhe, what’s going on?”

“Perhaps…”

Yan Sanhe wasn’t certain either. “It can see our every move and knows the Zheng family case has been announced to the realm.”

Pei Xiao: “So it’s counting down for the Zheng family’s heart demon?”

“That’s not impossible.”

Yan Sanhe closed her eyes, then opened them again. “Buyan, just go about your business. Don’t delay.”

“This thing could shorten my life by years—it scares me every time.”

Li Buyan’s tone was indignant. “Han Xu, let’s go.”

…

As the two fast horses left the Four-Nine Cities, the court’s announcement about the Zheng family extermination case spread outward from the palace. The Four-Nine Cities erupted in uproar.

Countless commoners flocked to the Zheng residence to spontaneously mourn the old general’s entire household.

A hundred students from the Imperial Academy sat in protest at the Censorate gates, protesting the Three Judicial Offices’ carelessness and incompetence, demanding they quickly apprehend the true culprits.

In wine shops and teahouses these days, the Zheng family tragedy was the topic of conversation.

Clever storytellers worked overnight to compile stories about General Zheng Yu’s past deeds. When they began telling them the next day, they were surrounded by three layers of listeners inside and out.

Xie Zhifei was kept so busy by these people his feet barely touched the ground, terrified someone would incite trouble.

Outside the city was even livelier.

On the Three Great Camps’ training grounds, drums beat continuously, warhorses neighed, dust flew.

Bu Liu personally supervised every training session of the Bu Family Army. Whichever grandson dared slack off, General Bu’s whip struck without mercy.

Sooner or later there’d be a hard battle to fight in the Northern Territories. Half the warhorses were still listless. The old general had said that at critical moments, only skills in hands and feet could save lives.

Thinking of the old general, Bu Liu was so worried he couldn’t sleep.

If the culprits weren’t Wu Guanyue and his son, then who were they? Who dared exterminate the entire Zheng household?

When he had time later, he’d need to have a good drink with the young master and have a proper discussion about this.

With Li Buyan gone, aside from eating and sleeping, Yan Sanhe still shut herself in the study.

Even Lan Chuan noticed she was troubled, secretly asking Tang Yuan if Miss had quarreled with Third Master.

Even more troubled than Yan Sanhe was Pei Xiao.

For three days straight, he had the same dream—in it, Li Buyan’s head leaned on that Han fellow’s shoulder, and that Han fellow’s hand slid down her slender waist…

He’d startle awake in fright, eyes wide open.

After waking, he couldn’t fall back asleep, worrying about his marriage arrangement with the Yin family.

Mother had thoroughly investigated the Yin family daughter again these past days. Everything was absolutely perfect. Mother was preparing to engage a matchmaker and begin the six rites.

An arrow loosed cannot be recalled.

Once these six rites began, it meant his life would have no connection with Li Buyan.

Thinking of the words “no connection,” Pei Xiao’s heart ached terribly. He felt life had no meaning at all.

The Dragon Boat Festival of the first year of Taikang passed quietly amid such chaos.