Yan Sanhe didn’t hide anything from her.

“I want to meet Lady Ning’s daughter who married well—the one the old matriarch opposed the Zhang family for. This matter is very strange.”

Li Buyan nodded. “It is indeed strange, but not enough to become an inner demon.”

“It’s not enough, but I must know why.”

Yan Sanhe thought carefully. “I have a premonition that the old matriarch’s inner demon likely goes back even further.”

“Goes back further—to when?”

“Before entering the Ji family.”

“That long ago?”

Before the old matriarch entered the Ji family—that would be a full fifty years ago. A knot in the heart from fifty years ago becoming a demon, this…

Li Buyan couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling.

Yan Sanhe said nothing more and ate the food before her very seriously.

When only one bite remained in the bowl, footsteps sounded outside. She looked up at Li Buyan, gritted her teeth, and swallowed that last bite of food.

A barely perceptible smile appeared in Li Buyan’s eyes.

This person was like this—cold and proud before outsiders. Even if she couldn’t finish that last bite, she would force herself to eat it, even if it meant her stomach would be uncomfortable all night.

Only in front of her would she reveal her softest side.

That hedgehog was actually Sanhe herself.

The person who entered wasn’t Third Master Xie, but Steward Xie the Fatty.

Steward Xie sported a bird’s nest on his head, clearly just having struggled free from Lord Zhou’s embrace.

“Miss Yan, Third Master hasn’t returned to the manor yet.”

“Go find him and bring him back. I have urgent business that cannot be delayed.”

“Third Master probably won’t return tonight.”

Steward Xie looked troubled. “Miss, rest assured—this old servant will wait at the manor gate first thing tomorrow morning. As soon as Third Master returns, this old servant will immediately ask him to come over.”

The Ji family had just been confiscated, yet he stayed out all night—was he gallivanting about, or…

Yan Sanhe gave Steward Xie a meaningful look, then turned and walked into the inner room.

Steward Xie secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Inadvertently turning his head, his eyes met Li Buyan’s.

Li Buyan’s lips curved up. “Steward Xie, do the entertainment districts in the capital allow women to visit?”

Steward Xie: “…”

Li Buyan: “Are there refined young men to keep them company?”

Steward Xie: “…”

Li Buyan: “Oh yes, how much silver does it cost to play for a whole night like Third Master?”

Steward Xie: “…”

Some people are alive, but they’re already dead.

Yes!

Scared to death!

…

Early in the morning, just as the sky began to lighten.

Third Master Xie jumped down from the carriage, his face deathly pale, his eyes darkly shadowed, with two red lip prints on his face—looking utterly drained by a seductress.

“Third Master!”

Steward Xie, who had been waiting anxiously, hurried forward. “You’ve finally returned! Miss Yan ordered this old servant to find you last night.”

Third Master Xie, who had been drowsy, was startled awake by this shout.

He wiped his face and said lazily, “I know. Let me go to my room to wash up first.”

Steward Xie caught a whiff of the heavy perfume scent on him and thought to himself that Third Master was good in every way, except for this habit of running to the Yongding River—truly not good.

Men shouldn’t touch two things: gambling and women.

Third Master was good—he touched both.

Sigh!

The Master and Eldest Master didn’t even manage him. If this continues, he’ll truly hollow out his body and become a short-lived ghost.

“Third Brother!”

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

Xie Erli stood in his official robes under the corridor, with Xie Daozhi glaring angrily beside him.

Xie Zhifei yawned and swung his arms as he approached to pay his respects. “Father, Eldest Brother—heading to the yamen so early?”

Xie Daozhi was disappointed but couldn’t bear to scold him. With a flick of his sleeve, he strode away, practicing out of sight, out of mind.

Father won’t manage him, so as the eldest brother, he had to say something.

Xie Erli looked at the red lip prints on Third Brother’s face and couldn’t help but rebuke, “What kind of appearance is this, being improperly dressed?”

“Eldest Brother!”

Third Master Xie extended his hand forward, shamelessly grinning. “I lost two thousand taels yesterday—I’m broke. Come to your brother’s rescue?”

Hearing this, Xie Erli’s anger surged toward his head, and he raised his hand sharply.

Third Master Xie actively offered half his face. “Go ahead and hit me, but you can’t shortchange me a single tael of silver. You’re my real brother—my only real brother!”

Could he still hit him?

Xie Erli pointed at him several times with his finger. “Wait until I get back to deal with you!”

“Eldest Brother, I knew you cared most about me. Eldest Brother, take your time. Come back early, Eldest Brother!”

Third Master Xie’s eyes slanted as he smiled like a scoundrel. “Steward Xie, my eldest brother has agreed—have the accounting office send over two thousand taels in a bit.”

Steward Xie: “…”

“What are you standing there for!”

Third Master Xie saw him not moving and kicked at him. Steward Xie dodged quickly, pursing his lips and thinking: Not even a word of scolding—he’s truly spoiled beyond measure!

Spoiled beyond measure?

As the sedan curtain fell, father and son’s gazes met, both seeing what the other was thinking.

After a long while, Xie Daozhi said in a low voice, “Later, take my calling card and invite Physician Pei over to check Third Brother’s pulse.”

“His complexion doesn’t look good—probably didn’t sleep all night.” Xie Erli forced a smile.

They knew exactly where Third Brother went last night and whom he met. The act was performed for others to see, for the sake of the Xie family.

As a Cabinet Minister, Father’s every move was under others’ watchful eyes. These years, his ability to win the Emperor’s favor relied on his impartial speech and conduct.

The Emperor’s favoritism toward the Prince of Han was known throughout the world.

But the Crown Prince’s propriety and virtue were also known throughout the world.

The subtle nuances within couldn’t be explained in a few words.

It was precisely for this reason that he and Father could only turn a blind eye to Third Brother’s interactions and movements with the Imperial Grand Heir—not opposing, not supporting, not speaking.

Fortunately, Third Brother understood this himself and kept everything hidden, only helping from the shadows.

Thinking of this, Xie Erli asked, “Father, there’s something I don’t understand.”

“Speak!”

“This time the Emperor allowed the Prince of Han to move against the Ji family—could it be he’s having thoughts of deposing the Crown Prince again? Or has the Crown Prince recently done something to displease the Emperor?”

These words were extremely bold. If overheard by others, it would mean death. But this was also what Xie Daozhi couldn’t figure out no matter how much he thought about it.

He felt his sweat-dampened palms and sighed after a long while.

“Eldest son, the Emperor’s heart is unfathomable!”

…

Just as Xie Daozhi was lamenting that the Emperor’s heart was unfathomable, his third son was simultaneously lamenting—a woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

After only one night apart, that face which already had no warmth had now become cold as ice.

“Well…”

Third Master Xie rubbed his hands, carefully and earnestly beginning to explain.

“Mingting was in a bad mood, so I accompanied him out to relax. We didn’t do anything—just cruised on a boat, listened to some songs, played some cards…”

“You don’t need to explain these things to me.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was even colder. “I want to meet Lady Ning’s daughter—the one the old matriarch opposed her becoming a concubine.”

“That’s simple—I’ll arrange it.”

Third Master Xie wanted to say a few more words, but Yan Sanhe had already lost patience. “Tang Yuan, see the guest out.”

See the guest out already?

Well, Third Master Xie decided he just wouldn’t leave.