The separate estate.

“Master, Master, my Master—”

Huang Qi rushed into the room, crying out to the heavens.

“I found out—no one rang the bells in each temple. They rang by themselves, and only once.”

“Mm!”

His master only lifted his eyelids slightly and didn’t move his bottom at all.

Not curious at all? Huang Qi scratched his head. Has Master changed his nature?

What was there to make a fuss about? Master Xuyun had already said heaven and earth came together—this was making up for the one ring the bells didn’t sound before.

“Young Master Pei!”

Zhu Qing walked in with steady steps: “There’s no movement from the Embroidered Uniform Guard for now. Everything is normal.”

This time, Young Master Pei didn’t even lift his eyelids, lazily grunting in acknowledgment.

Of course there was no movement.

This kind of thing was mysterious and inexplicable, unclear and indescribable. Could the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate it? Ridiculous if they could!

Ding Yi walked in.

“Young Master Pei, the Zhu residence’s eldest master also heard the bells ring. He said he even saw Buddha’s light, tested the fortune, and said it was greatly auspicious.”

Of course it had to be greatly auspicious!

Yan Sanhe’s heart demon was resolved, the old monk’s merit was complete;

One protected by heaven, earth, and ghosts, one an enlightened master appearing once in centuries;

One toward life, one toward death;

How could it not be greatly auspicious?

Young Master Pei thought to himself, fortunately I shamelessly pestered Xuyun all the way and asked out these details, otherwise could I be this calm?

“All of you go back to your rooms and rest. After you’ve rested, tonight at Spring Breeze Tower, this young master will host to welcome Yan Sanhe back. Everyone must drink until drunk.”

Zhu Qing stepped forward: “Third Master is still in the mourning period and cannot drink alcohol.”

“If we can’t drink alcohol, then we’ll drink tea!”

Young Master Pei looked at Zhu Qing with great disdain: “Hero Li said no matter what, we must first create the atmosphere.”

Huang Qi frowned.

What’s with Hero Li lately, always singing the same tune and being in perfect agreement with our master?

The three obediently returned to their rooms. As soon as their heads touched the pillows, snoring started. They were all exhausted.

The early morning at the estate should have been the liveliest time, but now it was very quiet.

Tangyuan and Lanchuan walked on tiptoe, afraid of waking those lost in pleasant dreams.

…

“Your Majesty!”

New dynasty, new ministers. The newly appointed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Jiang Shining stood before the dragon desk giving his report.

“The identity of the monk who passed away has been clarified. He was Master Chanyue from the Eastern Terrace of Mount Wutai.”

It was actually him?

A flash of surprise crossed the Emperor’s eyes.

He remembered very clearly that when the previous emperor was on the throne, he wanted to invite Master Chanyue to the capital to divine the nation’s fortune. He sent people three times, but Master Chanyue refused to even let them through the door.

“Why did he appear at the estate?”

“This couldn’t be discovered. This subject only learned that Master Chanyue entered the capital eight days ago and was even taken to the Five Cities Military Commission for molesting a respectable woman.”

Jiang Shining carefully glanced at the Emperor’s expression.

“Later he was invited to the estate by Young Lord Pei from the Monk Registry. He stayed at the estate for a full seven days without going out. On the day Master Chanyue entered the estate, a fine nanmu coffin was also carried into the estate.”

Someone even the Son of Heaven couldn’t invite actually stayed in a small estate for seven days? And a coffin was brought in?

This was indeed suspicious.

The Emperor said coldly: “Did you investigate the estate further?”

“Your Majesty, this subject investigated carefully again. Two people’s identities are very suspicious—their origins cannot be traced.”

“Which two?”

“The goddaughter of the late cabinet minister Xie Daozhi, Yan Sanhe, and her maidservant Li Buyan.”

Jiang Shining pulled out two sheets of drawing paper from his breast. Eunuch Sun Jinzhong quickly took them.

“Based on descriptions from neighbors, this subject had a painter in the Embroidered Uniform Guard sketch them roughly. Please Your Majesty review them.”

“Unfold them.”

“Yes!”

Sun Jinzhong laid the portraits flat on the dragon desk.

When the Emperor’s gaze swept over the first portrait, he showed no expression. When it swept over the second, his complexion changed imperceptibly.

“Bring it here for me to look at.”

Sun Jinzhong looked at the Emperor somewhat puzzled and quickly handed the portrait to him.

The Emperor’s gaze was fixed. The hand holding the portrait trembled slightly. After looking for a long while, he asked: “What is this person called?”

Now it was Jiang Shining’s turn to look at the Emperor somewhat puzzled.

Hadn’t he just said it?

“Your Majesty, this woman is called Yan Sanhe.”

“Where is she from?”

“Not yet investigated clearly.”

“How old is she this year?”

“Approximately seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen.”

“Who is her father? Who is her mother?”

“This…”

Jiang Shining swallowed: “This subject has not yet investigated.”

“When did she enter the capital?”

“Approximately at the end of February last year.”

The Emperor put down the portrait. A cold smile slowly appeared at the corners of his lips. “Someone come…”

…

Noon.

The estate.

The side room was so quiet.

Yan Sanhe moved a round stool and sat in front of the bamboo couch, her gaze greedily watching the man in dark green clothing on the couch.

He slept very soundly, his brow and eyes relaxed, as if having a beautiful dream.

This face was completely different from Huaizuo’s.

At eight years old, Huaizuo’s face already had the hardness of someone who practiced martial arts. Because of wind and sun exposure, his complexion was somewhat dark—he could only wear ordinary plain colors.

Bright colors like dark green, when worn on him, actually appeared incongruous.

Once, for some reason, an embroiderer at the Zheng residence sent over a dark green garment.

Huaizuo absolutely refused to wear it. She deceived him saying it looked good, that she liked seeing it, but secretly, she was laughing at him.

It was hard on him that he still remembered.

Yan Sanhe leaned closer, her finger tracing his brow and eyes, joy and sweetness in her heart.

Did she hate Zhao-shi?

Yes!

Did she mind?

She minded!

But was it even half related to the person before her eyes?

No.

Since it wasn’t, why transfer the resentment?

Even Mother said he’s waiting for you.

“You’re the one Mother nodded at and stamped approval on.”

Yan Sanhe’s finger slid down to pinch his chin. Then she heard a gurgling sound from her own stomach, followed by the man’s muffled laugh from his chest.

The man didn’t open his eyes. He took the finger on his chin, put it in his mouth and bit it lightly, then shouted toward the outer room:

“Tangyuan, the young miss is hungry. Prepare food.”

“Yes!”

“What are you laughing at?” Though Yan Sanhe asked this, she couldn’t help smiling herself.

“Laughing that this face of mine no longer has anything to do with being ‘feast for the eyes.'”

Xie Zhifei’s hand pulled lightly, and Yan Sanhe tumbled into his embrace.

Yan Sanhe laughed aloud.

…

The young miss is hungry—what should be made?

As Tangyuan walked toward the kitchen, she thought it should still be something light.

“Sister Tangyuan, Sister Tangyuan…”

Tangyuan froze: “What happened?”

Lanchuan ran over covered in sweat. “Outside… outside… many people with knives rushed in.”

Knives?

Tangyuan instinctively felt something was wrong. “I’ll go call Third Master. You go call Young Master Pei.”

Lanchuan was almost crying.

What kind of days were these? The young miss finally came back to life, how could officials come to the door again?

Tangyuan rushed into the courtyard. Just as the shout “Third Master, something’s wrong” was about to come out, she quickly covered her own mouth with her hand.

In the residence there was Lu Da—where was the need for her to shout?

Everyone was there, all with drowsy expressions, clearly not yet awake.

Lu Da’s usually expressionless face rarely showed anxiety.

“There are eighteen Embroidered Uniform Guards in total. They all look skilled. Young Master, you must leave with me quickly!”

Li Buyan had just gotten out of bed, her black hair still loose.

“Lu Da and I will take Yan Sanhe away. Zhu Qing, Ding Yi, Huang Qi—you go stop them.”

“Wait… wait!”

Pei Xiao had one arm in a sleeve and one arm outside. “The matter isn’t clear yet. Why start fighting and killing?”

Li Buyan stomped her foot: “If we wait until it’s clear, it’ll be too late!”

Pei Xiao put on the other sleeve: “What if they’re here for Xie Fifty and me? Didn’t Zhu Qing just inquire and report back that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had no movement?”

Zhu Qing froze. “Young Master Pei, that was two hours ago when there was no movement.”

Li Buyan couldn’t care about all that: “Would they use such a big formation to find you two? Eighteen people—are they stacking up into a human pyramid?”

Pei Xiao was stumped by her retort. He turned his head: “Xie Fifty, what do you say?”