Xie Xiaohua waited at the second gate. Seeing someone approaching with an umbrella in the rain, his expression grew dazed.

But in his heart he knew it wasn’t the little cub. The little cub always walked with his head held high and chest out, like a gust of wind.

He went forward. “Master, Zhu Qing and Ding Yi have been waiting for you for a long time.”

Xie Erlide nodded slightly.

Shortly after, the study lamp lit up.

Zhu Qing and Ding Yi stepped forward to bow.

Xie Erlide’s gaze fell on Zhu Qing’s left leg, which limped.

“Even if you hadn’t come to me, I wanted to go find you. Third Brother probably won’t be back for a while. Tell me, what are your plans?”

Zhu Qing: “Master, this humble one wishes to remain in the manor, even if just tending a garden.”

Xie Erlide suddenly remembered that a few days ago, Steward Xie said he was getting old and wanted to find a successor in the manor. This person before him…

Third Brother’s most capable aide, handling matters properly and thoroughly. Not only that, he was very familiar with the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters and the Five Cities Military Commission.

The Xie family’s current situation desperately needed such a person to navigate outside.

He made a prompt decision: “Tending gardens would be wasting your talents. From now on, follow Steward Xie!”

Zhu Qing’s eyes immediately grew hot.

He suddenly remembered when he woke up, what Huang Qi had relayed from Third Master—

“Tell him, once he’s recovered, go find Xie Xiaohua and help him in his old age and see to his funeral arrangements.”

Following Steward Xie, he should be able to see her often!

Zhu Qing choked out: “This humble one thanks Master for his kindness.”

Xie Erlide nodded, his gaze turning to Ding Yi.

Ding Yi quickly said: “This humble one wishes to buy his freedom and do some business outside.”

At the end, he glanced at Master’s expression and mumbled: “This humble one and Huang Qi agreed to go out and make our way together.”

Xie Erlide’s heart jumped heavily, his voice trembling: “Where do you… plan to make your way?”

Ding Yi: “South.”

South?

Where Miss Yan came from.

Third Brother and the others were there!

Xie Erlide took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his surging emotions. “When do you plan to set out?”

With those words, Ding Yi immediately recalled Third Master’s instructions that day.

“When you resign to my brother, at the end you can add a sentence about having agreed with Huang Qi.”

“If he asks where you plan to make your way, answer ‘south.'”

“My brother is a clever man. He’ll understand something from this.”

Master, you really predicted it!

Ding Yi: “If Master agrees, this humble one will set out in a few days.”

“I agree, I agree. You…”

Xie Erlide’s hands resting on his knees clenched into fists, steadying his breathing.

“…You and Huang Qi have known each other since childhood. In the future, when you’re together, be good to each other. Whether you make a name for yourselves or not doesn’t matter—the key is don’t ruin your health. Always remember your family—people at home all wish you well!”

Ding Yi, however dull, knew these words were meant for the person behind him.

He knelt down with both knees and knocked his head three times heavily.

“Master, rest assured. This humble one has taken these words to heart and will tell Huang Qi as well.”

Xie Erlide took out a small box from the drawer, opened it, and took out several bank notes.

“Prepare well for travel. Take these bank notes with you. Don’t go hungry, don’t freeze, eat well every day.”

“Thank you, Master. This humble one will kowtow three more times to Master.”

It was for Third Master.

…

Having learned Third Brother’s whereabouts, Xie Erlide not only wasn’t happy but added another layer of worry. Would he be used to the climate? Used to the food and lodging?

After sitting alone for a long while, he returned to the inner quarters.

Going back, the rain was even heavier. Not a soul was on the bluestone path. He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but it seemed that when Third Brother left, he took all the manor’s liveliness with him.

Seeing light coming from Fangzhou Courtyard in the distance, he inexplicably felt his heart warm.

He walked into the courtyard. A sharp-eyed maid called out “Master is back,” and moments later, Lady Zhu hurried out to greet him.

“Why haven’t you slept yet?”

“Waiting for you.”

Zhu Weixi stepped forward to remove his rain-dampened outer garment, then ordered a maid to prepare hot soup for Master to bathe and change clothes.

When Xie Erlide came out from the bathing room, a bowl of steaming medicine sat on the table.

These past days, changing seasons, he’d caught a slight cold and had a few coughs at night.

“Drink the medicine while it’s hot.”

Zhu Weixi was already in bed, looking up with an instruction, then returned to the account book in her hands.

“These past months, Second Brother’s income increased by ten percent. Should Master ask about where this ten percent comes from tomorrow?”

“No need to ask.”

Xie Erlide downed the medicine in one gulp. Hot sweat immediately broke out on his forehead.

“He gave it. You keep what you receive. It’s late—let’s sleep.”

“Mm!”

The lamp went out. The room darkened.

Xie Erlide liked this kind of darkness—no need to wear a false face, no need to force smiles.

The woman beside him turned over, facing him.

“By the way, Elder Brother sent someone today saying the divination shows great auspiciousness. He told you not to worry.”

When people reach helplessness, they can only pray to gods and divine fortunes.

This divination was done once a month, and every time showed great auspiciousness. Xie Erlide didn’t know if his brother-in-law was deliberately comforting him or if it truly came out this way, but in any case, he felt much more at ease.

He also turned over, facing her.

“How was Mother today?”

“She ate quite a bit, but this rain made her irritable. She stood at Third Brother’s courtyard gate crying. I spent a long time persuading her before getting her to go back.”

With Mother’s temperament, she couldn’t be persuaded.

Xie Erlide sighed: “These days have been hard on you.”

“The one who’s had it hard is you.”

Zhu Weixi also sighed: “You worry about matters outside, worry about Third Brother’s affairs, and also worry about manor affairs.”

Yes, being head of the family wasn’t easy—every aspect had to be considered.

However, what made him feel most mentally and physically exhausted was: after three years of mourning, how would he return to office?

Father was gone—when someone dies, their influence wanes. The Crown Prince’s downfall was visibly dragging down even the Xie family’s status.

On the Double Ninth Festival, in all of the capital, only the Ji family, Zhu family, and Pei family sent holiday gifts.

In past years, wasn’t the Xie manor’s gate always thronged with carriages and horses?

“Master, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. So what about glory? So what about wealth? In the end, don’t we all have to die? And when we die, don’t we just sleep in that small bit of ground?”

Zhu Weixi’s voice was very soft: “Besides, Master has both scholarly credentials and real ability. You won’t be buried wherever you go.”

These words made Xie Erlide feel that not only did his internal organs warm from that bowl of medicine, but even his eyes felt hot.

After a long while, he said: “Starting tomorrow, I’ll close my door to guests and settle my heart to personally teach our son to read.”

“That truly is his good fortune. Master, sleep early. You’ve been tired all day.”

Zhu Weixi yawned. Drowsiness quickly came over her. In a daze, she suddenly heard the man beside her ask:

“Is your side of the bed cold?”

Zhu Weixi’s heart skipped a beat. She mumbled: “A bit cold.”

Xie Erlide lifted the quilt. “Come quickly—it’s warm on my side.”