Xie Manor.

Side gate.

Eighteen monks and Daoists stepped across the threshold one by one.

Xie Xiaohua struggled to squeeze out a smile on his face. “Masters, please come in. Masters, please come in.”

These monks and Daoists came to Xie Manor every year. Every year it was Xie Xiaohua rushing about attending to them. They could be considered old acquaintances.

“Steward Xie doesn’t look well!”

“Steward Xie, you’ve lost weight!”

“Steward Xie, your physiognomy looks somewhat troubled. You should meditate more.”

How could he not be thin, not be troubled? The master and old matriarch had both passed away one after another. His sky had collapsed.

Xie Xiaohua turned away to wipe tears, then turned back with a face full of forced smiles.

The monks and Daoists felt pained watching this and said no more. Walking to the altar, they each prepared for today’s ritual.

Seeing everything proceeding in an orderly manner, Xie Xiaohua prepared to check whether Third Master was ready.

Before he could turn around, from the corner of his eye he saw Tangyuan stumbling in through the side gate.

Xie Xiaohua’s heart immediately leaped with alarm.

This was bad—so early in the morning, could something have happened at the residence?

He hurried to meet her. Before he could ask, Tangyuan had already thrown herself at him, grabbing his clothes.

“Steward Xie, where is Third Master? Where is Third Master?”

“What happened?”

“I need to see Third Master. Quickly take me to Third Master.” Tangyuan cried and shouted as her body went limp.

Seeing this, Xie Xiaohua immediately ordered the servant behind him, “Go quickly—summon Third Master.”

“Yes!”

…

With Ding Yi’s attendance, Xie Zhifei had already dressed properly. He was preparing to first go to his mother’s courtyard to pay respects, and incidentally accompany her for breakfast.

The inside had changed people, but the body was still Third Master’s body. His mother had suffered greatly giving birth to him—this filial devotion was necessary.

“Master, this is a token of my regard.”

In Ding Yi’s palm lay two taels of silver. “I wish Master peace and safety, and a long life of a hundred years.”

In previous years, the first person to wish him birthday blessings was Zhu Qing, also with a gift of two taels of silver.

Only now did Xie Zhifei remember that Zhu Qing, fearing his displeasure, no longer came into the room to attend him, only listened for his orders in the outer room.

His calm state of mind suddenly rippled.

Xie Zhifei thought of four characters: things remain but people have changed.

In previous years, the person who gave him the most silver was his father, Xie Daozhi.

In previous years, the old matriarch would give him birthday gifts twice—once publicly, once secretly, privately calling him alone into her room. Afraid of eavesdroppers, she’d even have her chief maid guard the door.

Xie Zhifei’s eyes grew hot.

At this moment he finally understood why Yan Sanhe, when opening coffins, always spoke so gently to the deceased.

Because every person who had passed away, even separated by a world, still had people they cared about.

“Master, what’s wrong?” Ding Yi didn’t know which of his words had made Master sad.

“Stop making a fuss.”

Xie Zhifei took the silver, used the back of his hand to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes, coughed a few times, then walked out.

Zhu Qing waited outside the courtyard. Seeing Master emerge, he first knelt and kowtowed three times, then also offered a birthday gift of two taels of silver.

Xie Zhifei accepted it without hesitation.

“I’m going to Madam’s place for breakfast. You don’t need to follow me. After breakfast, I’ll go to…”

“Third Master, Third Master!”

The servant rushed in. “Miss Tangyuan has suddenly returned. Steward Xie says Master must come to the front quickly.”

Xie Zhifei’s expression changed abruptly. “Did something happen to Miss Yan?”

“This servant doesn’t know.”

Xie Zhifei truly wanted to kick him to death—if you don’t know, why are you delivering the message? He lifted his robe and hurried toward the front courtyard.

Ding Yi and Zhu Qing exchanged glances and quickly followed.

Before even reaching the front courtyard, from afar he could see Tangyuan collapsed on the ground. A chill rose from the depths of Xie Zhifei’s bones.

At this moment, Tangyuan also saw Third Master. Struggling up from the ground, she stumbled forward and dropped to her knees before Xie Zhifei, raising her tear-filled eyes.

“Third Master, Miss Yan, she… she…”

“Has she forgotten even me?”

“She has no breath!”

“Clatter!”

The four taels of silver in his palm fell to the ground. Xie Zhifei stood stunned for a good while before suddenly grabbing Tangyuan up.

“What do you mean no breath?”

“…It means… she’s dead!”

Dead?

Yan Sanhe is dead?

How could that be possible!

Just yesterday she had walked beside him, smiled at him, talked with him.

“I think you’ve gone mad.”

Xie Zhifei shouted loudly, furiously pushing Tangyuan away. “Zhu Qing, prepare a horse.”

Zhu Qing glanced at Tangyuan. “Yes!”

Hearing that Third Master was leaving, Xie Xiaohua panicked. “Third Master, today is…”

Xie Zhifei’s gaze swept over. Xie Xiaohua was startled by the murderous intent in his eyes and quickly stopped speaking.

“Master, Tangyuan is just having a mental breakdown and speaking nonsense. You go early and return early. Xiaohua will wait for your return.”

Hearing these words, Xie Zhifei’s whole body relaxed. His finger pointed at Tangyuan in warning, then he strode outward.

Ding Yi was still standing dumbly. Xie Xiaohua pushed him.

“Why aren’t you following?”

Ding Yi came to his senses. At the same time, Xie Xiaohua quickly whispered in his ear, “Watch Third Master carefully. If anything seems wrong, immediately return to notify Eldest Master.”

What could be wrong? Even you said Tangyuan is…

Ding Yi suddenly looked at Tangyuan, only to see her collapsed on the ground, silently weeping.

Right—Tangyuan was someone Steward Xie had carefully selected. She handled matters most reliably. Could it be that…

All the hair on Ding Yi’s body stood on end. He took off running after them.

Xie Xiaohua watched the three figures retreat. Seeming to think of something, he rushed to the newly arranged altar and dropped to his knees.

Buddha, please bless Miss Yan to be safe and sound. My family’s young master has just lost his father and old matriarch—he cannot also lose Miss Yan. He’ll collapse.

Buddha, the young master may seem frivolous, but he’s actually very devoted. In the past, if I had any illness or pain, he was more anxious than anyone.

Buddha, as long as Miss Yan is fine and the young master is fine, I, Xie Xiaohua, am willing to have my lifespan reduced by ten years—twenty years I’d also be willing.

Buddha…

…

When Xie Zhifei stepped into the residence, his footsteps instinctively slowed.

In a person’s lifetime, there are always certain specific moments that pass especially quickly.

Like riding horses for pleasure.

Like drinking wine and singing.

Like being with someone you care for.

And like the stretch of road from Xie Manor to the residence.

Yet this stretch of road usually felt slow to Xie Zhifei. He wished he could make the horse gallop even faster to see that person sooner.

Every road has an end.

No matter how slowly Xie Zhifei walked, he still arrived at the door of the side room.

He reached out his hand and lifted the beaded curtain. Meeting his eyes was Miss Li sitting on the floor.

This usually fearless, spirited young woman was like someone whose soul had been extracted, slumped by the bed, motionless.

Just one view of her back made Xie Zhifei’s heart sink continuously.

He walked stiffly to the bedside step by step, his mouth producing a mosquito-like low call: “Yan Sanhe.”

No one answered him. On the bed, Yan Sanhe slept peacefully.

Xie Zhifei reached out his hand, then drew it back. Suddenly turning his head, he asked Li Buyan, “Did she stay up all night again last night?”

“Yes, she stayed up all night. No one could persuade her otherwise.”

Li Buyan raised her tear-filled eyes, looking at Xie Zhifei like a drowning person grasping at straws.

“Tangyuan made millet and red date porridge this morning—it’s especially good for replenishing blood and energy. Help me wake her up.”

“Alright.”

Xie Zhifei bent down, lowering his head to whisper in Yan Sanhe’s ear:

“Yan Sanhe, get up and have some porridge.”