Zhu Yuanmo’s original words were that ghost fetuses also varied by person—some would bring harm, some wouldn’t. It depended on the specific birth characters.

For the Zheng family twins’ birth characters, they had the year, month, and day—only the specific hour was missing.

Zhu Yuanmo was also ruthless—he calculated all twelve hours separately. Coincidentally, children born in none of the twelve hours would bring harm to the Zheng family.

Hence the statement above.

After washing up and changing into completely clean clothes inside and out, the four went to the flower hall to eat. After rushing through the night, they were all famished.

Tangyuan arranged an abundant spread, but Young Master Pei had no appetite at all. He poured out everything he’d been holding back the whole journey.

“Yan Sanhe, there’s one thing I don’t understand. Why must you go see off Old Lady Zhao when she passes? And also…”

His gaze shifted, and with an expression of “Xie Wushi, you spendthrift,” he asked:

“That jade pendant was a gift from me. Why did you stuff it into Zhao Dongrong’s hands? What does the Zhao family’s business have to do with us? And deeply respecting scholars—why don’t you go deeply respect your own father?”

When Xie Zhifei pressed the jade pendant over, he’d completely forgotten the item was a gift from Mingting.

“I just think the Zhao family are scholars and find them agreeable to look at.”

He kicked the ball over, half-truthfully asking: “Yan Sanhe, what was your reason?”

Yan Sanhe picked up her chopsticks and said unhurriedly: “I did it to give myself peace of mind.”

Under the table, Pei Xiao’s foot bumped Xie Zhifei’s: What does she mean by that? What peace of mind?

Xie Zhifei moved his foot to the side: You ask—I don’t quite dare.

Pei Xiao looked at him with disappointment: Look how cowardly you are.

“Young Master Pei!”

Li Buyan suddenly picked up a chopstick-full of food and placed it in Pei Xiao’s bowl.

“Asking this and that is exhausting. Better to learn from me—just work, don’t ask too many questions. You’ll live longer.”

Pei Xiao looked at Li Buyan’s smiling profile, then down at the food in his bowl, and obediently closed his mouth.

Throughout the meal, everyone ate with their own preoccupations.

After eating, in the study, Ding Yi and Huang Qi had even brewed tea, waiting for Yan Sanhe to talk about the Zhao family matters.

Who knew Yan Sanhe would open by asking them: “The matter I had you inquire about—Zheng Huantang’s friends—is there news?”

Ding Yi: “There’s news. Zheng Huantang’s best friend was Imperial Academy Doctor Liang Pangde.”

Yan Sanhe was slightly surprised.

She never would have imagined that Father’s close friend would actually be a civil official.

Xie Zhifei was slightly surprised.

No wonder Father could always find all sorts of good books to bring back for Huaiyou to read.

Pei Xiao felt slightly alarmed.

Why the Imperial Academy again? Recently he really didn’t want to hear these three words!

“Zheng Huantang also had several ordinary close friends, all in the military.”

Ding Yi pulled a slip of paper from his chest.

“Miss Yan, the list is all here. Take a look.”

“After recuperating, tomorrow we’ll first go to the Imperial Academy to find Liang Pangde.”

After receiving the paper slip and tucking it between pages, Yan Sanhe said with a weary expression:

“Ding Yi, Huang Qi—if you want to know about the Zhao family matter, ask your respective masters. Everyone disperse.”

Everyone stood to leave, but only Xie Zhifei lounged lazily with one long leg propped up.

He remembered something.

Grandfather wrote Mother a letter every three months.

But in his memory, Mother never received a single letter from the Zhao family. Had Grandfather and Father really withheld all the Zhao family’s letters?

While thinking, something seemed off in the air. Looking up, he found everyone’s gaze on him.

Xie Zhifei quickly straightened up and covered: “Haven’t slept for a day and night—I’m truly exhausted. Just spaced out a moment ago.”

Everyone else believed him, but only Yan Sanhe narrowed her eyes imperceptibly.

He was lying.

Eyes that space out are vacant. His gaze just now was direct, meaning he was thinking about something.

What was he thinking about?

Throughout this trip to the Zhao family, he’d been somewhat distracted all along, speaking very little, clearly with something on his mind.

What was on his mind?

And also…

Even Young Master Pei found her offering incense to Old Master Zhao incomprehensible, yet he didn’t even ask.

Was it because he liked her, so he indulged her in everything?

Or was there another reason?

“Third Master.”

At this moment, Tangyuan’s voice rang out from outside the door. “Steward Xie is here, says he has business with Third Master.”

…

For some unknown reason, when everyone saw Steward Xie again, even the most critical Li Buyan felt this man had a kind face and looked extremely agreeable.

“Steward Little Flower, when will you play another tune? We’re all addicted to listening.”

“Miss Li, please don’t tease this old servant.”

Xie Xiaohua smiled ingratiatingly. “This old servant’s meager skills—how could they catch Miss Li’s eye?”

“Not only do your skills catch my eye…”

Teasing people came naturally to Li Buyan: “If you were thirty years younger and a bit thinner, even you yourself could catch my eye.”

Xie Xiaohua’s old face flushed bright red, using his gaze to look at his young master.

Young Master, look—this girl is flirting with your old servant!

Third Master’s thoughts weren’t on the joking at all: “Little Flower, what did you come for?”

Xie Xiaohua quickly composed himself.

“In five more days it’s Old Ancestor’s birthday. This old servant came to remind Third Master that no matter how busy you are, you must come back to have a bowl of longevity noodles with Old Ancestor and watch some opera.”

Xie Zhifei counted the days on his fingers—it was indeed Old Ancestor’s birthday.

Last year because of Yan Xing’s matter, Old Ancestor hadn’t been in the mood to celebrate, so the family just gathered together for a birthday banquet.

This year they were hiring an opera troupe—Father and Mother probably wanted to properly celebrate for Old Ancestor.

Xie Zhifei’s sword-like brows lifted. “What, you made this trip just to remind me?”

“Look at this old servant’s memory.”

Steward Xie quickly pulled an invitation from his chest and respectfully presented it before Yan Sanhe.

“At that time, please have Miss Yan and Miss Li come sit together as well. Old Ancestor has been thinking about it for a long time, her heart always hoping.”

Yan Sanhe frowned and took the invitation. Opening it to glance once, she asked: “Who is Old Ancestor?”

Everyone froze.

In the study, it suddenly fell silent.

Xie Zhifei laughed in exasperation.

This girl had always disliked Old Ancestor. Old Ancestor had invited her openly and secretly so many times, yet she just wouldn’t go.

But there was no need to use this kind of excuse, was there?

He walked before Yan Sanhe and took the invitation from her hand: “If you don’t want to go, don’t go. I’ll explain to Old Ancestor.”

“I don’t want to go either.”

Pei Xiao took advantage of the opportunity: “Explain to Old Ancestor for me too.”

Xie Zhifei shot him a knife-sharp glance: “Dare not come and I’ll kill you!”

“The main issue is this inner demon is somewhat tricky. I can’t spare the time.”

Yan Sanhe gave Xie Zhifei an apologetic smile, her expression and eyes suddenly becoming gentle. “Please apologize to Old Ancestor on my behalf.”

Xie Zhifei paused.

Since the Zheng family inner demon began, this girl had been tense from head to toe down to every hair, rarely smiling.

This smile carried several degrees of coquettishness toward him, ineffably captivating.

“If the person doesn’t come, the gift must. I’ll have Little Flower help you prepare a gift.”

“No need.” Yan Sanhe looked over at Li Buyan.

Li Buyan smiled: “Got it. I’ll prepare it myself. A generous gift.”