Behind them was Dongxing Mountain, ahead the Beicang River—Dongxing County’s feng shui was quite good.

The county town wasn’t large. With one inquiry, Zhu Qing easily located Old Madam Ji’s maternal home.

Since it was right under their noses, Yan Sanhe was even less willing to waste time.

“Master Zhitong, is there a temple in this county?”

“Yes, called Guandi Temple.”

“You go to Guandi Temple to rest first. We’ll come meet you later.”

Yan Sanhe: “Please reserve three meditation rooms for us.”

Master Zhitong nodded. “Young lady, rest assured—both rooms and meals will be properly arranged.”

“Many thanks!”

Yan Sanhe looked at Zhu Qing and Huang Qi. “You two scout ahead first.”

“Yes!”

After several days, the two no longer needed to check their masters’ expressions—whatever Miss Yan said was what mattered.

In less than half an hour, the Old Madam’s maternal home appeared before them—

A square compound. Above the main gate hung a plaque inscribed with “Hu Residence.”

Zhu Qing knocked.

After a brief wait, the door creaked open. A woman emerged holding a nursing infant.

“Who are you looking for?”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Pei Xiao, who quickly spoke. “We’re from the capital.”

The woman looked puzzled. “The capital?”

“The capital. The Ji family. Assistant Minister of Revenue.”

The woman froze for a moment, then suddenly turned and ran, shrieking as she went.

“Head of household! This is terrible, just terrible! The capital Ji family has come calling… Oh my—it’s our family’s old great-aunt…”

That voice…

Pei Xiao was about to clean out his ears when suddenly he heard Yan Sanhe say, “Once we go in, first find people from the Old Madam’s generation, then find younger ones who’ve met her.”

Do I need you telling me that?

What do you take Magistrate Pei for?

Pei Xiao silently rolled his eyes.

…

Invited into the inner residence, into the main hall, tea and water served… Before the tea was even drunk, a dozen middle-aged men crowded into the hall.

The leader was a man in his early fifties, quite gaunt, his gaze darting between Pei Xiao and Xie Zhifei.

“Honored guests, are you truly from the capital Ji family?”

Pei Xiao struck first. “What relation are you to the Old Madam?”

The man quickly replied, “I’m her eldest nephew!”

Eldest nephew could wait.

Pei Xiao coughed. “Bring out your family elders. This matter doesn’t concern you.”

The eldest nephew’s face fell. “Honored guest, my father and mother, my second uncle, third uncle, fourth uncle—they’ve all passed. I’m the head of household now.”

Pei Xiao waved his hand. “Those who saw Hu-shi as children stay. Everyone else out.”

Honored guests’ words—who dared disobey?

Rushing sounds.

The previously crowded hall suddenly emptied except for the eldest nephew alone.

Pei Xiao glanced nervously at Yan Sanhe, thinking: Close call—still one lone seedling left. Not a complete wipeout.

Yan Sanhe pointed to a seat nearby. “Sit.”

The eldest nephew was confused.

Out of nowhere, why was a woman butting in? This wasn’t proper, was it?

“She told you to sit, so sit!”

Pei Xiao slapped the table, displaying full authority. “Whatever she asks, you answer. Not one word less.”

The eldest nephew’s legs went weak. He plopped to the ground, even more confused.

Hoping and hoping, finally hoping the Ji family would come—how did things suddenly turn fierce? Weren’t they supposed to be delivering money for the Old Madam?

Yan Sanhe: “What’s your name?”

The eldest nephew trembled. “Hu Yong.”

Yan Sanhe: “What was the Old Madam’s birth order in the family?”

Hu Yong: “My aunt ranked third—two older brothers above, two younger brothers below.”

Yan Sanhe: “The Hu family only had one daughter?”

Hu Yong: “Just her.”

Yan Sanhe: “When she left Dongxing County, how old were you?”

Hu Yong: “Four years old.”

Hearing “four years old,” Yan Sanhe’s heart sank halfway. “At four, could you remember things?”

Hu Yong didn’t understand. “Remember what things?”

Pei Xiao slapped the table again. “Your aunt’s affairs!”

Hu Yong was frightened into a startled bird.

Yan Sanhe didn’t stop Pei Xiao from throwing his weight around.

After more than a month of roughing it, never mind Pei Xiao—even she had lost patience for slow chats and drawn-out discussions with the Hu family’s juniors.

“Did your aunt used to raise a black dog?”

“Yes, yes! When I was little I even played with that dog. What was it called? Oh right—Heidan.”

Yan Sanhe: “Did she love that dog very much?”

Hu Yong didn’t hesitate. “Treasured it incredibly—took it everywhere. The dog was attached to her too. According to my old father, when my aunt slept, it guarded beside her bed.”

Yan Sanhe: “What happened to that dog later?”

“It died. Once my aunt left, it refused food and water for ten days and starved itself to death.”

Hu Yong carefully glanced at Yan Sanhe. “Though I was young then, I remember Heidan’s death especially clearly. I even cried.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze met Xie Zhifei’s almost instantly. Both saw shock in each other’s eyes.

Though dogs were loyal, they wouldn’t starve themselves to death just because their master left.

Clearly this dog and the Old Madam shared no shallow bond!

Yan Sanhe frowned. “Heidan was so loyal—where did it come from?”

Hu Yong scratched his chin, recalling for a long while before saying, “According to my old father, seems like my aunt picked it up somewhere.”

Yan Sanhe: “How did she pick it up? Where?”

“…”

The eldest nephew Hu Yong blinked his eyes, thinking and thinking, but could only keep blinking.

“I, I truly don’t know. Anyway, from my earliest memories, the dog was already there.”

Yan Sanhe hummed. “When your aunt went to the capital as a concubine, was it voluntary or forced?”

“This…”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

Yan Sanhe said coldly, “Though you were only four, with such a remarkable person emerging from the family, the older generation couldn’t possibly not discuss it.”

Hu Yong stole glances at Yan Sanhe, his mind starting to calculate why the Ji family would travel thousands of miles to the Hu family, why they’d ask these strange questions…

Suddenly a gleaming sword was tossed over.

The sword-thrower—legs crossed, expression cold and stern—was Xie Zhifei.

Li Buyan looked at that sword, thinking: Third Master, why are you stealing my job?

Hu Yong was so frightened his lips trembled.

“My aunt originally didn’t want to go, but the family was dirt poor. If she didn’t become a concubine, how would my second uncle, third uncle, fourth uncle get wives?”

Yan Sanhe: “Why didn’t your aunt want to go? That’s the capital—the Ji family are officials. Even being a concubine, never mind a serving maid, would surely be better than being a fisherman’s daughter!”

“According to my father, my aunt had a lover back then.”

Like a thunderbolt striking them, their blood surged wildly through their veins.

Before Yan Sanhe could speak, Pei Xiao impatiently slapped the table. “Who was her lover?”

“This…”

Hu Yong painfully rubbed his head, thinking for ages before his eyes suddenly brightened.

“I remember now! My mother mentioned it once—said it seemed to be someone from the other shore.”

Another thunderbolt struck from above.

This time everyone was thoroughly scorched inside and out.