A gold hairpin was set heavily on the table.

“Innkeeper, at most two days—in two days someone will come to meet us. This gold hairpin is more than enough to cover two days’ meals and lodging. Hold it as collateral.”

Yan Sanhe looked at Xie Zhifei coldly.

“Stop arguing. Go back to your room and sleep.”

Xie Zhifei stared at her blankly.

“It’s not a big matter—just consider it buying a lesson with money.”

Yan Sanhe met his gaze: “The wheel of heaven turns—that person fled in the dead of night. Bandits will deal with him for us.”

Xie Zhifei dejectedly released his grip, feeling terrible inside. He’d originally thought he was at least somewhat better than Pei Mingting, but as it turned out…

Just as useless.

…

Late at night in the room, neither had any desire to sleep.

Xie Zhifei and Lord Pei each hugged a quilt, silently looking at each other.

One had injured his rear from horseback riding—no face.

One had lost the silver—even less face.

After a long while, Lord Pei said: “Xie Fifty, have you noticed that the Yan spirit medium is actually… quite good?”

Xie Zhifei’s expression was gloomy. Did he need Pei Xiao to tell him this? Didn’t he have eyes to see?

“Her face is a bit cold, her temper a bit foul.”

Lord Pei continued on his own: “But she’s kind-hearted, generous, takes things seriously—don’t know how many times better than those sheltered daughters and young wives from prominent families.”

Xie Zhifei said nothing.

“Just take this lost silver matter.”

Lord Pei analyzed it very seriously with him.

“Not a single word of complaint toward you, even consoled you that it’s not a big deal. Listen, listen—that perspective… even I don’t have it.”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes showed a trace of impatience.

“And look at you.”

Lord Pei pointed at him.

“Usually you can charm all the daughters and wives—how come with the Yan spirit medium, you keep acting abnormal?”

Xie Zhifei turned his face away. “Enough, stop talking. Let’s sleep!”

“You need to properly reflect on yourself.”

Lord Pei flopped down, pulling the quilt over himself. “The person who made the mistake turns out the light.”

Xie Zhifei silently extinguished the lamp.

In the darkness, his eyes gazing at the bed canopy slowly moistened, then reddened.

The ninth year.

He could still become completely flustered because someone didn’t eat that last bite of rice, losing the silver.

“Can I ever be alright in this lifetime?”

Third Master softly asked himself.

…

The rain fell all night long, finally stopping at dawn.

Li Buyan sweated under the covers all night and rose the next day full of vigor.

When she heard Third Master Xie had lost the silver, her first reaction wasn’t anger but the same as Yan Sanhe’s.

“Well, now Third Master has bought himself a lesson with money.”

Yan Sanhe wrapped herself in the quilt, saying dully: “I’m not going out. Have lunch sent to the room.”

“Alright!”

Li Buyan washed up quietly, closed the door gently, and went downstairs. Looking outside, she saw someone had risen even earlier to practice martial arts.

“Yo, Third Master, good morning!”

“Are you feeling better?”

“Thanks to you, I’m a female warrior again. Third Master, how did you sleep last night? Did you toss and turn?”

Knowing full well but asking anyway?

“Thanks to you, slept very well. Straight through till dawn.”

Xie Zhifei said with complete composure: “Tell your young miss later—no need to wait two days. At most tonight, Zhu Qing and the others will definitely arrive, and then I’ll return the silver to her.”

Li Buyan smiled without speaking.

“What are you smiling at?” Xie Zhifei found this person inexplicable.

“Anyone who can make my young miss take out that gold hairpin is remarkable.”

“…”

Xie Zhifei still didn’t understand what she meant.

“That hairpin was my birthday gift to her.”

Li Buyan said as she walked: “Unless it’s a critical moment, she won’t take it out to use.”

Xie Zhifei had a flash of inspiration: “When is your young miss’s birthday?”

“Third Master, after you’ve redeemed the hairpin, I’ll tell you.”

Li Buyan raised an eyebrow with a smile and began stretching.

Xie Zhifei ground his back teeth. A maid acting this arrogant—you, Hero Li, are truly remarkable!

…

Everyone knew that losing a whole day would require traveling day and night afterward to make up the time.

After morning practice, Xie Zhifei went to the stable to feed the horses, then returned to his room to sleep. Lunch was also delivered to his room by a waiter.

After eating, the two continued sleeping.

Pei Xiao sighed—heaven must have seen his rear hadn’t healed and deliberately arranged last night’s incident so his rear could rest more.

Xie Zhifei angrily kicked this person down.

Would it ever end?

At sunset in the evening, urgent hoofbeats approached from far to near. Hearing the sound, Xie Zhifei jumped out of bed and threw open the window.

Sure enough, it was Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing arrived two or three hours earlier than expected. When he dismounted, both he and Huang Qi staggered simultaneously.

Xie Zhifei saw clearly from his elevated position. After thinking, he went to knock on Yan Sanhe’s door.

The door opened.

Li Buyan’s head poked out.

“My young miss says we might as well let Zhu Qing and the others rest for the night and depart tomorrow at the quarter mark of the Hour of Yin.”

Xie Zhifei was now not at all surprised that Yan Sanhe could guess his thoughts.

“Ask your young miss where she’ll eat dinner.”

“In the room.”

“Please ask her to come down. We need to discuss the route ahead and arrangements—she needs to make the decisions.”

“My young miss also said to take the official road, everyone rides horses, no exceptions. Please also help Lord Pei find another horse, Third Master.”

Xie Zhifei: “…”

Li Buyan smiled like a little fox.

This reason?

Works!

…

“Master, the messages have been delivered to both the Crown Prince and the First Master.”

Zhu Qing licked his dry, cracked lips. “Mei Niang withdrew five thousand taels from the accounts. She said for traveling far from home, you should carry more silver.”

Third Master Xie didn’t look at the silver but asked instead: “What’s the current situation with the Ji family?”

Zhu Qing glanced at Pei Xiao beside him. “When I went, the Crown Prince was at the Northern Bureau. Shen Chong said Lord Ji absolutely won’t talk.”

Pei Xiao asked urgently: “Have they used torture?”

Zhu Qing replied honestly: “Lord Pei, forgive me—time was too rushed, I didn’t manage to ask.”

“Mingting, Lu Shi least likes using torture during interrogations.”

Xie Zhifei patted Pei Xiao’s shoulder. “Besides, Huairen is there. Even just for his sake, Lu Shi will show some consideration.”

“Really?” Pei Xiao’s hand holding the teacup paused.

Really, my ass!

Can’t you hear that’s just consolation?

One day, two days without torture, but what about ten days, half a month?

Xie Zhifei applied a bit more pressure with his hand. “In the capital, we’re beyond reach. What’s most urgent now is Guangxi. We can’t make any more mistakes along this route.”

Pei Xiao sensed the pressure on his shoulder and set down his teacup. “Zhu Qing, Huang Qi—you two rest first. Fifty, help me pick a good horse at the post station.”

“And redeem Yan Sanhe’s gold hairpin while you’re at it.”

Xie Zhifei thought for a moment, then instructed: “Zhu Qing, keep the money secure—don’t let anyone steal it. Bring eight hundred taels down for dinner. I need to return it to Yan Sanhe.”

Hearing this, and hearing about redeeming Miss Yan’s hairpin, Zhu Qing was greatly alarmed. “What person dared steal Master’s silver?”