“You’re joking with me!”
Pei Xiao sneered.
“If it were her, why would I bother going all the way to Yunnan Prefecture? Isn’t that right, Xie Fifty?”
“…”
“Xie Fifty!”
“…”
Still no one answered.
Pei Xiao kicked over. “What are you doing—gone mute?”
Right now Xie Zhifei felt like he’d fallen into a crowd of exploding firecrackers, seeing strings of sparks bursting before his eyes.
He stared at Yan Sanhe in disbelief, his eyes nearly bulging with bloodshot veins.
“Yan Sanhe, why did you go in such a huge circle, wasting so much time?”
“Third Master Xie.”
Yan Sanhe said calmly, “The God of Wealth must be invited, Bodhisattvas must be invited—naturally spirit-pacifying rituals also require invitation.”
“Fine, let me explain more bluntly.”
Li Buyan smiled. “Surely you can’t expect my young lady to proactively go door-to-door asking: ‘Has your coffin cracked? Do you need spirit-pacifying rituals?'”
Everyone: “…”
“So we need an intermediary. Sorry everyone, I’m that intermediary.”
Li Buyan puffed out her chest.
“To put it even more bluntly—when you pray to the God of Wealth or Bodhisattvas, don’t you light three incense sticks first before daring to speak? This maid is those three incense sticks.”
Xie Zhifei understood, but doubts still lingered in his heart. “Yan Sanhe, then when you first came to the Xie family…”
Li Buyan spread her hands, quite helpless.
“The aggrieved party was my young lady’s grandfather—one of our own, right? So there was no choice. My young lady could only humble herself and come uninvited. By the way, you didn’t make things difficult for her, did you?”
As she said this, her hand moved back to her waist.
Pei Xiao had witnessed this person’s skills. Though he understood some of what she said hazily—something about grandfather, something about coming to the Xie family—it didn’t prevent his mind from turning extremely fast.
“No difficulties, not the slightest difficulty.”
“Mingting, shut up!”
Xie Zhifei suddenly roared, his gaze still fixed firmly on Yan Sanhe.
“You’re both the aggrieved party and the one performing the ritual, so then…”
“The misfortune won’t fall on me.” Yan Sanhe’s voice was flat.
Won’t fall on her?
Then it would only fall on the Xie family.
Xie Zhifei’s temples throbbed. The various doubts imprinted on his heart a month ago finally unraveled completely in this moment.
She carried incense with her—incense completely different from ordinary incense.
She clearly knew why the incense wouldn’t light, why it broke.
She rushed back urgently, then rushed back here urgently again.
She painstakingly unraveled thread by thread, going to great lengths to find Yan Hang’s heart demon…
All of this had subtly revealed that she wasn’t some aggrieved party at all—she was the expert who could perform spirit-pacifying rituals.
Xie Zhifei moved his neck inch by inch, staring blankly at his eldest brother.
Xie Erli clearly understood why Third Brother wore such an expression.
That night when the wind was strong and rain urgent, when she rushed back to the capital and stopped at the Xie manor gate—it wasn’t fear of entering the Xie manor again, but rather…
Rather, she was hesitating whether to take advantage of the opportunity to avenge her parents and brothers, or to disregard past grievances and help the Old Madam snatch back this life, help the Xie family avoid this calamity!
Xie Erli took a deep breath, suppressed all his emotions downward, and patted Third Brother’s shoulder.
Third Master Xie forcefully rubbed his face with both hands. “So what should the Ji family do now?”
Yan Sanhe found his gaze too burning, the depths of his eyes dark and unclear, so she turned her face away and coughed.
Li Buyan smiled. “This matter doesn’t concern you—must speak with the aggrieved party.”
Finally my turn!
Pei Xiao pushed Xie Zhifei aside. “I’m half an aggrieved party—speak with me.”
Li Buyan looked at him and smiled gently. “Can you make the decisions?”
“Absolutely can.”
“Good!”
Li Buyan clapped her hands. “Then I ask you—what price are you willing to pay to perform spirit-pacifying rituals for the dead?”
Pei Xiao’s face cracked.
This requires a price?
Yan Sanhe glanced at Pei Xiao. “Everything in this world requires a price. You’re not the aggrieved party—call the real aggrieved party. Scram!”
Pei Xiao stood frozen, something flashing through his mind, then his whole person jumped up.
“You, you, you, you…”
“That’s right.”
Yan Sanhe sneered coldly. “I’m that little slut the Xie manor’s Young Master was hiding outside.”
Pei Xiao: “…”
Jade Emperor!
Quick, let me ascend to heaven!
I no longer have the face to see anyone!
“Imperial Physician Pei has reached the second gate!”
This shout freed Pei Xiao from his extremely embarrassing social death.
He nodded to the iron-faced Xie Erli. “Elder Brother, it was just a misunderstanding. I’ll go to the Ji family first—later I’ll explain everything in detail to you, younger brother.”
“…”
Xie Erli looked at this person’s fleeing back and thought if it weren’t for his father’s sake, he’d definitely take action today.
“Young Master Xie.”
Hearing Yan Sanhe call him, Xie Erli quickly composed himself. “Miss Yan.”
“The Ji family has reached the point of confiscation and extermination. No matter the price, they should perform the spirit-pacifying ritual.”
Yan Sanhe’s expression was calm.
“In a few days, I’ll be leaving. What I said earlier wasn’t just angry words. I don’t like owing others, nor do I like others owing me. Let’s each go our own way!”
Having said this, she turned wearily and walked into the house.
Li Buyan hooked an arm around Tang Yuan’s shoulder, taking her inside.
“Seems there were quite a few stories while I was away. I hear you were attending my young lady. Come, tell me quickly—what interesting things happened?”
Tang Yuan knew the person hooking her shoulder was a young lady, but her face still flushed bright red, and she even walked with matching hands and feet.
In the vast courtyard, only the two brothers remained, along with Steward Xie holding back a bellyful of words he dared not speak.
Just then, Pei Yu entered the courtyard with his medical apprentice.
Steward Xie hurried forward. “Imperial Physician Pei, please follow me quickly.”
“Uncle Pei.”
Xie Zhifei stopped Pei Yu. “She’s injured quite badly. Please examine her carefully.”
“You little rascal.”
Pei Yu glared. “When have I ever examined carelessly?”
…
Night finally descended heavily over everything.
Lamps were lit indoors, their light spilling out somewhat, falling on Xie Zhifei’s stern face.
“Brother.”
He said softly, “You didn’t see with your own eyes—a young lady riding on horseback, traveling day and night, through wind and rain, not caring about her life.”
Xie Erli looked at Third Brother. “I can imagine it.”
“I always thought she was doing it for herself, until today…”
Xie Zhifei’s eyes dimmed in an instant. “Our Xie family not only owes her grandfather, but owes her too.”
Xie Erli remained silent.
“I really want to meet that person, even just one glance.”
Xie Zhifei closed his eyes briefly. “Someone who could raise such descendants—I sincerely admire them.”
Xie Erli’s usually bland expression also showed rare emotion.
“Brother, about today’s matter.”
Xie Zhifei’s voice was hoarse.
“I actually tested her secretly. She only knows a few cat-and-mouse kung fu moves—how could she have such courage to dare stay behind alone? Brother, I’ve never seen such a woman.”
Women in this world—shouldn’t they all be like Second Sister, delicate and fragile?
When wronged, cry a few times. When happy, act coquettish. Lie behind men, let men shield them from wind and rain.
How is it that with her, everything is completely different?
“Speaking of this, Third Brother!”
Xie Erli was surprisingly calm. “The Xie manor isn’t some nameless family in the capital—why would Xu Sheng still dare take action?”
Xie Zhifei was shocked. “Elder Brother, you mean…”
Xie Erli nodded, thinking carefully. “I always feel things aren’t that simple. Keep a close eye out.”
Killing intent flashed through Xie Zhifei’s eyes.
“Don’t worry—I’ll definitely investigate thoroughly.”