Pei Xiao walked stiffly toward Xie Daozhi, but Xie Daozhi had already flicked his sleeve and ascended the steps on his own.

Pei Xiao watched his retreating back, thinking uneasily: Could Xie Daozhi have some connection to the Zheng family case?

At this moment, Yan Sanhe approached him and said in a low voice, “You keep Xie Daozhi company in a bit. I need to interrogate Zhu Qing first.”

At the thought of being alone with Xie Daozhi, Pei Xiao’s scalp went numb, but then he realized—besides him, there was no one else who could keep him company.

“Alright, I’ll take him to the study.”

“Don’t ask anything yet, just keep him company and drink tea.”

“I wouldn’t dare ask anyway.”

…

The wind picked up in the latter half of the night. The wind rustled through the tree leaves, dispersing the afternoon heat completely. Those with weaker constitutions would need to add another layer of clothing.

Yet Yan Sanhe felt very restless.

Li Buyan looked at her expression, poured out the hot tea she’d just brewed, and replaced it with a cup of cold tea before sitting down in a corner.

Ding Yi beside her fixed his eyes dead on Zhu Qing, his face full of resentment.

Everyone in the capital knew that Third Master had two great guardians by his side who were inseparable—both were Third Master’s most trusted people.

But Ding Yi knew in his heart that compared to Zhu Qing, he fell short by more than just a little.

Third Master, even when dreaming at night, called out Zhu Qing’s name.

As a servant, loyalty was paramount. Zhu Qing constantly told him to understand Third Master’s concerns, so how did he end up being the first to betray him?

Lost in thought, he heard Yan Sanhe slowly begin to speak.

“Li Buyan and I became acquainted because of her mother’s heart demon. She insisted on following me, saying she’d be willing to even be a maid by my side.

I told her: I don’t lack maids, I lack friends.

I also told her: A friend is someone you can turn your back to. If you can do that, then follow me.

Guess how Li Buyan responded?”

No one spoke. Yan Sanhe continued on her own.

“She said: No one can be certain about the future, but as long as I’m with you for even one day, you can consider me a friend. Even if I betray myself, I will never betray you.

Zhu Qing, do you know how many times Third Master stumbled on that stretch of road from Xie Manor to the study? Six times. I really couldn’t bear to watch, so I took the initiative and held his hand.

He pressed my hand against his heart, then said in a low voice: Yan Sanhe, my heart is beating so fast.”

Hearing this, Zhu Qing could bear it no longer. He walked before Xie Zhifei and dropped to his knees with a thud.

Xie Zhifei’s expression changed slightly, but he didn’t speak. His gaze never even glanced toward him, as if the person kneeling before him was a complete stranger.

The cruelest way to kill someone is to pierce their heart.

Zhu Qing could withstand Third Master’s fury, his beatings and scoldings—even if a blade came straight at him, he wouldn’t make a sound. But he couldn’t withstand Third Master’s palpitations and his complete silence.

When one can’t withstand something, there’s only one choice—to give it everything.

“Miss Yan, ask your questions.”

Yan Sanhe had been waiting for exactly this. “When did you start passing information to Xie Daozhi?”

“From the very first day I came to Third Master’s side.”

The flower hall fell deathly silent.

Xie Zhifei’s expression was no longer just slightly changed—it had transformed dramatically.

After Zheng Huaizuo’s soul fell upon Xie Sanye’s body, Zhu Qing had only then come to his side. Could it be that Xie Daozhi had discovered something had changed inside this son?

Yan Sanhe: “Can I understand it this way—Xie Daozhi appeared to dote on this son the most, but actually…”

Zhu Qing: “Actually, he truly did dote on him the most.”

“Why do you say that?”

“At first, the master had only one requirement: What did Third Master eat today? How was his mood? How was his health?”

Yan Sanhe: “He had you pass along this kind of information?”

Zhu Qing: “Yes!”

Yan Sanhe: “Why? Because of his health?”

Zhu Qing: “Yes!”

Yan Sanhe: “When did things change?”

Zhu Qing: “After Third Master began working at the Five Cities Military Commission.”

Yan Sanhe: “What information did he have you pass then?”

Zhu Qing: “If Third Master was in the capital, it was still the same information. If Third Master went out of the city on duty, there was one additional thing—reporting his safe return.”

Yan Sanhe: “Besides that, nothing else?”

Zhu Qing: “Nothing else.”

Yan Sanhe: “Who Third Master befriended, what he was doing—he didn’t ask about any of that?”

Zhu Qing: “He didn’t ask.”

Yan Sanhe gave a cold laugh. “What a good father indeed!”

For a moment, Zhu Qing was speechless. He glanced up to read Third Master’s expression, only to see Third Master gazing at the heavy sky outside, lost in thought.

Yan Sanhe continued, “Our trips to Nanning Prefecture, to Muli Mountain—did Xie Daozhi know about them?”

Zhu Qing: “He knew about Nanning Prefecture. I didn’t mention Muli Mountain.”

Yan Sanhe: “Why not?”

Zhu Qing: “Master Tang is a recluse. I thought it wouldn’t be good to mention it.”

“How truly remarkable!”

Li Buyan snorted and interjected, “A traitor actually still considers Master Tang’s interests—such a kind heart!”

Zhu Qing was speechless again. He lowered his head, neither speaking nor defending himself.

“So…”

Yan Sanhe’s voice suddenly dropped lower. “Wu Shunian, Zhou Ye, Jingchen, Tang Zhiwei, the old monk from Mount Wutai, Dong Chengfeng… Xie Daozhi knew nothing about any of them?”

Zhu Qing: “He didn’t know.”

Yan Sanhe: “Never asked?”

Zhu Qing shook his head. “Never asked.”

Hearing these three words, Yan Sanhe couldn’t help but exchange a glance with Xie Zhifei.

These important figures—he didn’t inquire about a single one, which showed he really was only concerned about his son’s health. Then why did he specifically intervene in the Zheng family case?

“Did he change again starting from the Zheng family case?”

Zhu Qing’s head shot up. After a brief silence, he nodded.

“It changed starting the day the Zheng family’s wall suddenly collapsed. He had me tell him all of Third Master’s movements.”

Yan Sanhe: “You agreed?”

Zhu Qing: “I didn’t agree at first.”

Yan Sanhe: “Then why did you agree later?”

Zhu Qing clenched his teeth, head bowed, saying nothing.

Xie Zhifei, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

“Things have reached this point—just tell everything. My heart condition won’t last much longer. Please, Master Zhu, give me a quick end.”

Zhu Qing’s pupils suddenly dilated. That single address of “Master Zhu” was like countless steel needles piercing his heart—unbearably painful.

He remained silent for a moment, then said, “Because of one person, I agreed.”

Yan Sanhe pressed, “Who?”

Zhu Qing clenched his back teeth hard and forced out three words: “The eldest miss.”

“What did you say?”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes widened in shock and suspicion. “Say that again?”

“It was because of the eldest miss.”

After saying this, Zhu Qing dropped his head to his chest. His previously ramrod-straight back collapsed. Without any attempt at concealment, the breath he’d been holding in his heart had finally escaped.

Because of a woman?

Yan Sanhe understood instantly.

She walked before Zhu Qing, crouched down, and looked at him. “You have feelings for the eldest miss?”

Zhu Qing’s eyes immediately reddened. Shamefaced, he responded with a soft “Mm.”

Yan Sanhe: “Xie Daozhi knows?”

Zhu Qing nodded.

Yan Sanhe coaxed him gently.

“So he used the eldest miss as leverage… Actually, not as a threat, but as a promise. He promised that if you told him Third Master’s every move, he would betroth the eldest miss to you?”

—

Zhu Qing’s secret love for the eldest miss—Yiran planted a subtle hint about it earlier in the story. I wonder if readers noticed it when they were reading.

Thank you for the monthly votes and rewards. We’re striving to finish this book by mid-to-late September, and definitely won’t drag it into October.