Ci’en Hall.

The Old Madam had sobered up considerably from the wine, yet had no drowsiness at all. Thinking of that phrase “just call me Sanhe,” her heart felt indescribably happy.

“Someone, go call the master.”

Xie Daozhi had already reached the entrance of Muxiang Courtyard—the residence of Concubine Liu. Hearing the Old Madam was summoning him, he could only turn back.

Upon entering, he heard the Old Madam say with a beaming smile, “Master, that girl Sanhe has agreed to stay. We must also start planning for her future.”

Xie Daozhi had guessed the Old Madam urgently summoned him for matters concerning Yan Sanhe.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his face showing some shame. “This son has also pondered and paid attention to this matter. To be honest with Mother, her marriage prospects… are difficult!”

The Old Madam naturally understood where this “difficult” lay.

Marriage matches emphasized compatibility between families.

Yan Sanhe was surnamed Yan after all, not Xie. The Yan clan had been in decline for decades, and Yan Xing was an exiled, convicted official—this family background simply couldn’t be presented respectably.

For high-ranking families choosing wives, they examined at least three generations of family standing and character. Entering a prestigious family was out of the question.

Lowering requirements, marrying into an ordinary commoner family was possible. With the Xie family’s dowry and support, her in-laws would only cherish her. But how could the Old Madam bear to see her marry below her station?

Such a striking young woman—educated, with excellent calligraphy and painting skills—marrying low would be a waste.

The Old Madam’s eyes rolled in thought.

“What about those students at the Imperial Academy? Are there one or two outstanding in character and appearance whose family circumstances are somewhat poorer?”

“This son had that thought too, and indeed found a few outstanding ones, but…”

“But what?”

At this point, Xie Daozhi could only speak the truth.

“Her three-month journey wasn’t actually to return to Yunnan Prefecture to visit Grandfather Yan’s grave, but to dissolve obsessions and break demonic influences for the Ji family’s Old Madam. Our Third went along with her.”

Xie Daozhi said in a low voice, “I didn’t dare tell you—first, it couldn’t be publicized; second, I was afraid you’d worry.”

Like several thunderbolts striking down, the Old Madam’s eyes went blank.

She immediately understood that the “difficult” her son meant was completely different from what she’d been thinking.

This girl wasn’t a case of being too good for low matches and not good enough for high ones—she was fundamentally unmarriageable.

Who would marry someone who dissolved obsessions and broke demonic influences for the dead?

“Then, then what do we do?”

She panicked immediately.

“She can’t remain an old maid for life! There’s already one in the family. Adding another… Aiya, it’s not that we can’t support them, but the key is we’d be failing her grandfather!”

Xie Daozhi: “Mother, don’t panic. This matter requires long-term planning.”

No amount of long-term planning would make her marriageable.

The Old Madam grabbed her son’s hand. “Isn’t Second still unmarried? What about matching her with him?”

“Mother!”

Xie Daozhi shot to his feet. “What nonsense are you speaking?”

…

Muxiang Courtyard.

Lamplight glowed softly.

Concubine Liu sat under the lamp, listening to Xie Wanshu prattle on about the dinner table events.

After her daughter finished, she rubbed her head gently. “It’s late. Go to sleep. Don’t kick off the covers at night—have the maids watch carefully.”

“What about Brother?”

Xie Wanshu glanced at Xie Buhuo leaning by the window. “Isn’t Brother leaving?”

“Mother and I have a few words to say. You go first.”

“Always keeping secrets with Mother.”

Xie Wanshu muttered the words, bowed to Concubine Liu, then turned to leave.

Only then did Xie Buhuo walk over and sit down.

“She just said something wrong. After Mother said that phrase, it wasn’t only the Old Madam whose expression changed. Father’s, Elder Brother’s, and even Sister-in-law’s expressions all looked unpleasant.”

Concubine Liu smiled. “How do you view this matter?”

Xie Buhuo: “This Yan Sanhe has connections with our family.”

“Besides that?”

“She’s not an ordinary sheltered young lady. Moreover, she shows no particular respect for the Old Madam.”

Concubine Liu pondered for a moment. “That girl is not the Old Madam’s natal family.”

Xie Buhuo was greatly shocked. “Why?”

“Look at her fingers—long, slender, and fair. The Old Madam’s natal family was quite impoverished and couldn’t have raised such fine hands. That’s the first point.”

Concubine Liu poured her son a cup of warm tea.

“Ci’en Hall’s furnishings are the finest in the entire residence. When she walked in from outside, her gaze never wavered. When Third helped her identify people, she acknowledged them graciously. The Old Madam’s natal family couldn’t have raised someone with such composure.”

Xie Buhuo thought it through carefully and found it quite reasonable.

“Her telling the Madam and First Madam to sit and eat wasn’t a lack of propriety. First, it shows her boldness; second, it shows her kindness—otherwise she wouldn’t have intervened to save your sister initially.”

Concubine Liu’s brows curved in a smile.

“When Lady Wu slapped her face like that, she didn’t say a word—showing considerable tolerance. People with great tolerance either have excellent cultivation or are proud and aloof, disdaining to speak further.

So, son, don’t look only at her being an orphan girl. The waters behind her won’t be shallow.”

“Mother’s analysis is correct.”

Xie Buhuo thought, then added, “The way she ate—measured and methodical, with rules and order. How to place chopsticks, how to position the spoon—all precise without error. Clearly she received excellent upbringing.”

“This means the waters are even deeper.” Concubine Liu looked at her son and sighed deeply.

“What’s wrong? Why the sigh, Mother?”

“Regarding Miss Yan, Mother doesn’t worry about anything else—just one thing.”

“What?”

“I fear the Old Madam will make an issue of your marriage.”

Xie Buhuo was startled. “But clearly the Old Madam had her and Third sit by her side.”

Concubine Liu took a sip of tea. “You’re of secondary birth, Third is legitimate. You’re the elder, Third is younger. Third is in officialdom—Du Yiyun is suitable for him. But you’re in commerce.”

Perhaps because he’d drunk a few cups of wine at the dinner table, Xie Buhuo felt not only tightness in his chest but also restless heat throughout his body.

“No need to worry.”

Concubine Liu patted the back of her son’s hand. “If you’re interested in her, just accept. Someone like her would only assist you, never be a burden.”

Xie Buhuo sneered coldly. “What if I’m not interested in her?”

Concubine Liu looked at her son’s handsome face with tender affection, speaking calmly and composedly, “Then no one can think of wronging my son.”

“Young Master!”

Wu Xing’s voice sounded outside.

“Mother, I’m leaving!”

“Rest early.”

Xie Buhuo nodded to Concubine Liu and lifted the curtain to go out.

Wu Xing stepped forward and said in a low voice, “Second Young Master, someone from the Ji family just came. Third Young Master personally led them to Jingsi Residence.”

Xie Buhuo’s pupils contracted sharply. “What connection does Jingsi Residence have with the Ji family?”

Wu Xing shook his head.

“Who from the Ji family came?”

“The Ji residence’s First Master.”

Xie Buhuo’s brows furrowed tightly. “Do you still remember that before Yan Sanhe left the capital, she once visited the Ji family?”

“I remember. Lord Pei took her to the Ji family, and she stayed there most of the day before returning.”

“Don’t you find it strange?”

Xie Buhuo’s voice was deeper than the night. “She went to the Ji family before departing, and just after returning, the Ji family sends someone.”

Wu Xing nodded. “It is somewhat strange.”

Xie Buhuo: “When Yan Sanhe left, Third fell ill. When Yan Sanhe returned, Third’s illness recovered. Is that such a coincidence?”

Wu Xing: “…”

“Mother was right after all. This girl—the waters behind her are very deep.”

Xie Buhuo flicked his sleeves and strode into the night.