Rarely had the snow stopped and the sun come out. Since the temperature inside and outside the room was the same, Nanyi simply sat in the courtyard to bask in the sunlight.

The servants came and went as if they couldn’t see Nanyi, tacitly ignoring her.

Nanyi sat until afternoon when she was truly too hungry. Remembering Xie Queshan’s words, she calculated in her mind—such a large place as the Xie family surely wouldn’t let someone starve to death in their courtyard.

She decided to try. Mustering her courage, she intercepted a group of servants and commanded them in an ordering tone:

“Bring me a pot of water—and, and bring me a bowl of mutton noodles.”

Nanyi thought she’d have to wrangle with the servants for a while, but unexpectedly they only curtsied expressionlessly and replied with a simple “Yes.” All the words in Nanyi’s belly were blocked back—it was really that simple?

Soon, what she had requested was delivered. Hot water, hot mutton noodles—not one item missing, but nothing she hadn’t asked for would be given extra either.

“Names matter more than substance”—Xie Queshan’s words circled in Nanyi’s mind. As she cautiously put them into practice, she discovered that every word he said was correct.

Only after wolfing down this entire bowl of steaming mutton noodles did Nanyi feel as if she had come back to life. Survival for her was just one meal, one night’s sleep, coming through bit by bit like this.

Every day she lived, she felt was good.

Nanyi patted her rounded belly and decided to move around a little in the courtyard. Just as she was getting up, a servant’s announcement came:

“Sixth Miss has arrived.”

Nanyi turned around to see a girl in red clothes walking briskly toward her. Not knowing who Sixth Miss was, she only felt this must be a noble person and hurriedly knelt to pay respects.

“Sixth Miss.”

Xie Sui’an was startled and quickly helped Nanyi up.

“Sister-in-law, this is too much—we’re family, why perform such grand ceremonies?”

“Don’t need to… kneel?” In the noble family, Nanyi felt herself inferior to others. Having someone suddenly be so polite to her made her somewhat fearful.

Xie Sui’an warmly pulled Nanyi back to sit in the pavilion, instructing the surrounding servants:

“You all go down. Sister-in-law and I have things to discuss—don’t let anyone enter this courtyard.”

Xie Sui’an turned to smile at Nanyi: “I’m called Xie Sui’an, sixth in the family ranking. Sister-in-law, just call me Little Six. How can there be reason for sister-in-law to bow to younger sister?”

Xie Sui’an propped her elbow on the table, leaning forward with curious eyes examining Nanyi closely.

Nanyi also carefully looked at Xie Sui’an.

She appeared about the same age as herself but radiated vigorous vitality. Though she had crescent-moon smiling eyes, she had a pair of thick sword-like eyebrows. Even with black cosmetic powder pressing down the tail ends, it couldn’t hide the heroic spirit on her face.

“Sixth Miss, why are you… looking at me like that?”

“It’s you, isn’t it? Sister-in-law.”

Nanyi was completely puzzled.

“Before his death, elder brother mentioned that Bingzhu Division had an absolutely secret hidden piece with the codename ‘Goose’—it’s you, right?”

“I don’t understand what Sixth Miss is saying.”

Xie Sui’an had an “I understand” expression.

“Sister-in-law is so cautious, but I’m one of us—I also work for Bingzhu Division, you can completely trust me. If you hadn’t sent out intelligence saying you would create chaos at the funeral scene, letting our people take the opportunity to respond to Prince Ling’an, how could Prince Ling’an have entered Li Du Mansion so smoothly?”

This news came out lightly from Xie Sui’an’s mouth but struck Nanyi’s ears like thunder from a clear sky.

So that’s how it was!

When she had hijacked Xie Queshan, all the Qi soldiers surrounded them, naturally meaning no one was monitoring the entire funeral procession. It must have been during that time that they completed the response operation.

But she had never told anyone about her intention to hijack Xie Queshan. Who had calculated her into their plan?

Xie Queshan?

If not for that conversation in the ancestral hall that day, she wouldn’t have changed her mind to stay and wait for this day of martyrdom. But how could Xie Queshan be certain what she would do? Even if he was skilled at manipulating hearts, why would he help Prince Ling’an? He was clearly a rebel minister of the Yu Dynasty.

Could it be…

Impossible. An absurd thought flashed through Nanyi’s mind, but she quickly dismissed it herself. She guessed that perhaps someone had planned a different accident, but her commotion had inadvertently helped them complete their plan. She wasn’t “Goose,” but that “Goose” hadn’t appeared either, had they?

“Names matter more than substance”—Xie Queshan’s words echoed in her mind again, and Nanyi quickly made her decision.

“Yes, I am. I also know about the response plan at Hugui Mountain.”

“So it really is you!” Xie Sui’an was even more delighted. “Sister-in-law truly has excellent strategies! So your Qin family identity was also fake?”

“The identity was naturally fake. All of this was planned between me and the eldest young master. Of course he couldn’t just randomly find a woman and use her wedding procession to respond to the new emperor from Hugui Mountain. With me sitting in the bridal sedan, I could help him keep watch in all directions.”

Nanyi spoke without hesitation.

Xie Sui’an appeared bright and spirited, quite favored. If she could win her favor, it would help her establish herself in the Xie family faster. She couldn’t escape this place for the time being, so she needed to find ways to make her life better. Moreover, who could guarantee the Xie family wouldn’t someday find her unlucky again and arrange a new way for her to die?

At this moment, Xie Sui’an completely believed in Nanyi’s identity.

If she weren’t “Goose,” how would she know such important information about using the wedding procession to respond to Prince Ling’an, and how would she happen to create chaos at the funeral scene?

Xie Sui’an gripped Nanyi’s hand with emotion:

“Wonderful, sister-in-law. Though the Xie family is a prominent household in Li Du Mansion with great influence, what we do hangs our lives on knife points. It cannot be spoken of to others—it’s like crossing a river on a single log, isolated and weak. One more companion means one more chance of victory.”

Nanyi cried bitterly inside—she had no great righteousness for country and family and didn’t want to risk her life for anything. She had acknowledged this identity only hoping to find backing, never expecting the other party to drag her into deep waters together.

But her expression remained flawless as she smiled at Xie Sui’an. No choice—Xie Sui’an was currently her best option.

At least becoming Xie Sui’an’s companion and having Bingzhu Division’s protection meant the Xie family wouldn’t easily take her life. Even if she acknowledged the identity of “Goose,” hiding in the back courtyard of Wangxue Hollow, nothing major would necessarily find her.

Just thinking this, Xie Sui’an’s next words shattered Nanyi’s fantasy:

“Sister-in-law, the next mission will only be more difficult.”

Nanyi was stunned: “What mission?”

“Li Du Mansion is a transfer point from land routes to water routes. Now Prince Ling’an is placed in an absolutely secret location in the city. What we need to do next is find a way to get him onto a ship at the docks.”

“Just getting on a ship… how difficult could that be?”

“Quling River passes through Li Du Mansion, so there’s only one southbound dock in the city. That dock was originally within the sphere of influence of Li Du Mansion’s Hugui Army, but Magistrate Huang Yankun is a petty man. Seeing the Qi people’s overwhelming momentum, he was scared out of his wits and surrendered to them, opening the city gates wide to let Qi soldiers in. So now, that only dock has fallen into Qi hands with heavy guard. Trying to send someone away would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.”

Xie Sui’an looked at Nanyi expectantly as she fell into thought, full of anticipation: “Sister-in-law, you’re so resourceful—what good method do you have?”

Nanyi and Xie Sui’an stared at each other wide-eyed.

Nanyi’s mind was racing—she wanted to say something valuable, but she was just an outsider. What could she possibly know?

Suddenly, Nanyi thought of Xie Queshan and that silk letter. How had the plan leaked to Xie Queshan? There must be a traitor among Xie Hengzai’s associates.

Just as she was about to speak, distant sounds of commotion came from outside. Xie Sui’an immediately became alert:

“I’ll go see what’s happening.”

With that, Xie Sui’an was about to leave briskly. Nanyi quickly followed—she didn’t want to be left here as an invisible person again.

“Sixth Miss, let me come with you.”

As soon as they walked out the courtyard gate, Nanyi and Xie Sui’an saw a squad of officials escorting a middle-aged man past.

Before Nanyi could ask, with a sharp ring, Xie Sui’an had already drawn her flexible sword and directly blocked the officials’ path.

“By what right are you arresting my third uncle!”

The person being escorted by officials was precisely Xie Zhu. Xie Zhu held official rank—he was currently the supervisor of Li Du Mansion’s Shipping Department. He was on his way to the Shipping Department offices, still wearing his official robes, but his hands were shackled, looking quite disheveled.

The lead official was fairly polite, answering Xie Sui’an: “We act on orders from the magistrate to escort the murder suspect back to the yamen.”

“What murder?”

“Last night someone died at the tavern—a Qi person. Someone saw Master Xie leaving the tavern that evening.”

“Nonsense! Who saw this? Bring them to confront him face to face!”

Xie Sui’an was relentless—she couldn’t let third uncle be taken away like this. A dead Qi person was just a trumped-up charge. Something more urgent must have happened, or the magistrate wouldn’t dare move against Xie Zhu.

The officials didn’t respond or yield, their attitude quite firm: “Please have Sixth Miss Xie cooperate with official business.”

“Little Six—” Xie Zhu stopped Xie Sui’an, shaking his head at her, his gaze seeming to contain deep meaning.

Xie Sui’an suppressed her anger: “Punishment doesn’t extend to scholar-officials. My third uncle has official rank—you cannot humiliate him with shackles.”

The lead officials exchanged glances and bowed to Xie Zhu: “This humble one has been presumptuous.”

Just as the official took out keys, they were snatched away by Xie Sui’an:

“Clumsy hands—I’ll do it myself.”

Xie Sui’an stepped forward to unlock Xie Zhu’s shackles. She gave Xie Zhu a meaningful look, indicating he could pass along his message to her.

Xie Zhu opened his clenched right fist, spreading four fingers while keeping his thumb pressed against his palm. After a pause, he then drew his hand into his robe.

This was Bingzhu Division’s special signal meaning “there’s a traitor, information leaked.”

Xie Sui’an’s expression shook with alarm.