With Third Master Xie’s promise, Yan Sanhe dozed peacefully in the bamboo chair.

Beside her, Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao discussed back and forth about requesting documents from the Nanning Prefecture magistrate.

The matter itself wasn’t difficult—the difficulty lay in finding an appropriate reason.

“Mm… I’ll say I want to go see their temples.”

“Lord Pei, the Great Qi Kingdom’s temples are all modeled after ours.”

“Then… I’ll go see what sutras they chant?”

“The sutras were also transmitted from us.”

“How about… I go guide their temple work?”

“Lord Pei, for you to give guidance would require a personal imperial decree.”

“This won’t work, that won’t work…”

Lord Pei was furious, wanting to pin Xie Fifty to the ground and beat him. “Come on, you suggest something that works.”

Xie Zhifei rubbed his forehead. “Visiting relatives and friends!”

“What?”

“You say before the old madam’s death, she often mentioned someone called Sister Zhu—a childhood playmate who married into the Great Qi Kingdom.”

Just finished with one Sister Zhen, now you’re making up a Sister Zhu…

“You’re using official business as an excuse to arrange something personal—going to the Great Qi Kingdom to find this Sister Zhu. If she’s still alive, you’ll report the death to her.”

Xie Zhifei continued: “If she’s no longer alive, you’ll visit her grave and fulfill the old madam’s wish.”

Tsk!

Actually, this idea wasn’t bad.

“So many people going together—we need identities. I can handle those monks, but the Nanning Prefecture magistrate might report to the capital any day now.”

Lord Pei shook his head. “Your Third Master Xie is supposedly dying in the capital right now!”

“That’s simple too!”

Xie Zhifei looked at Yan Sanhe.

“She’s your cousin. She’s about to marry, so before marriage you’re taking her out for a tour—afterward she’ll be confined to the inner residence. Li Buyan is her maid.”

“This reason can barely pass.”

“Zhu Qing and I are easy—we’re Lord Pei’s guards.”

“Little Xie!”

Pei Xiao pointed at the tea cup. “Pour Lord Pei some water.”

Little Xie grabbed Lord Pei by the collar and directly threw him out.

…

As night fell, Li Buyan and her two companions returned from across the river. Seeing Yan Sanhe, she nodded slightly.

Yan Sanhe understood immediately.

“Let’s go back!”

Everyone mounted their horses and rode through the night toward Dongxing County, arriving at the third quarter of midnight.

Pei Xiao said to Hu Yong, who was nearly shaken to pieces: “Hurry home, wash up and sleep. We’ll talk later.”

Hu Yong nodded eagerly.

An unrelated dead old woman, and they immediately offered a hundred taels—I’m the old madam’s actual nephew, surely the silver won’t be less?

Besides, I know where they’re staying—the monk can run but not the monastery.

The six entered the temple, all hungry beyond measure.

Monk Zhitong had left food on the table. Though it had long grown cold, who cared? Each grabbed bowls and chopsticks and ate.

Yan Sanhe was again the last to finish.

After clearing the bowls and chopsticks, Zhu Qing brewed tea, adding some hot water to Third Master’s cup without a single tea leaf.

Third Master slept lightly—drinking tea this late would definitely keep him awake.

After Zhu Qing sat down, Li Buyan spoke:

“Miss, across the North Cang River is a village. In the village is an old street where everyone used to be surnamed Wu. That street belonged to the Wu family, passed down through many generations.”

Used to?

Yan Sanhe: “Then what about now?”

“After Wu Guanyue went into exile, everyone surnamed Wu on that street was killed. Now the entire old street is empty—no one dares live there. They say at night it’s often haunted and crying can be heard.”

Li Buyan: “That’s all.”

Yan Sanhe tilted her head. “Zhu Qing, what about you?”

“Wu Guanyue’s father, known as Prince Consort Wu, was born and raised on the old street. After going to the royal city, he married the princess.”

Zhu Qing paused.

“Later, for unknown reasons, Prince Consort Wu actually brought his son back to live on the old street. After living there several years, Wu Guanyue was taken back to the imperial city by the princess, while the prince consort lived alone on the old street until his death.”

Yan Sanhe: “Anything else?”

Zhu Qing: “Yes, Prince Consort Wu was also killed by someone.”

Yan Sanhe’s heart jumped. “Killed by whom?”

Zhu Qing shook his head. “Too much time has passed. They only heard about it from the older generation—no one knows the specifics.”

Everyone’s eyes shifted to Huangqi.

Huangqi licked his lips, ran his hand through his hair, then said slowly and deliberately: “I only found out one piece of information—the Wu family doesn’t eat dog meat.”

“…”

Damn, what kind of information is that?

Pei Xiao wanted to throw his tea cup at him.

Idiot!

Completely unable to win glory for your master!

Huangqi looked ashamed, but inwardly felt unconvinced: What’s wrong? Doesn’t this also relate to the Wu family?

Yan Sanhe rose and walked to the window, gazing at the night outside. Her back was very slender, very beautiful.

Xie Zhifei’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His eyes struggled briefly before looking away. “Yan Sanhe, what have you figured out?”

“The princess and prince consort’s relationship wasn’t good. Wu Guanyue was probably closer to the prince consort.”

“What else?”

“The prince consort’s death likely had a great impact on Wu Guanyue’s life.”

“Anything more?”

Yan Sanhe turned around, her expression very calm. “Between Wu Guanyue and the old madam, there are many things Sister Zhen didn’t know about.”

Xie Zhifei’s brow jumped. “Why do you say that?”

“Sister Zhen secretly harbored feelings for Wu Guanyue. Once a girl falls into emotion, much of what she sees is imagined and one-sided.”

Yan Sanhe said calmly: “In historical records, Wu Guanyue is a treasonous rebel; among the common people, he’s a heroic figure…”

“Such a figure…”

Xie Zhifei continued: “What does a bit of romantic feeling mean to him?”

Men understand men after all. Yan Sanhe nodded lightly.

Pei Xiao rubbed his forehead.

“Yan Sanhe, you mean my maternal grandmother was putting in effort only on one side?”

“Miss means your maternal grandmother’s feelings ran deeper.”

Li Buyan smiled sweetly. “Lord Pei, I’m truly curious how you became an official.”

“What does this have to do with being an official?”

Pei Xiao curled his lip disdainfully. “I least like all this private feeling, that private feeling—isn’t it exhausting?”

Li Buyan’s smile deepened. “Right, Lord Pei prefers listening to songs at pleasure houses.”

Pei Xiao quickly glanced at Xie Fifty: How does she know?

Xie Fifty pressed his brows down: Stay calm, she’s testing you!

Yan Sanhe glanced at Li Buyan. “We leave tomorrow after breakfast to return to Nanning Prefecture. We have to climb seven mountains—Lord Pei’s legs better not go weak. Everything ahead depends on you!”

Don’t worry, this lord is reliable.

Lord Pei nodded very solemnly.

…

Each returned to their room, each washed up.

Though Yan Sanhe’s body was utterly exhausted, her mind was full of Wu Guanyue’s past.

She had to sort through it.

She silently lifted the bed curtain. One foot had just crossed the threshold when she froze.

Across from her, at the opposite room’s door, Third Master Xie had also just stepped one foot out.