Tangyuan gritted her teeth and stamped her foot.

“This servant wants to follow Miss Yan.”

“Good.”

Xie Zhifei replied crisply and efficiently. “From now on, don’t come running to Third Young Master’s courtyard. I’ll speak to Steward Xie.”

Tangyuan had never expected things would go so smoothly. She hastily kowtowed to Third Young Master.

Each kowtow was solid and real—the sound could be heard.

“Enough, enough. Your mistress doesn’t care for that sort of thing.”

Xie Zhifei covered his mouth and yawned, his eyes brimming with moisture. “You’re an honest one. Serve her well and don’t harbor other thoughts.”

“This servant thanks Third Young Master for his great kindness.”

Tangyuan tactfully withdrew.

Xie Zhifei propped his two legs on the desk, hands pillowing the back of his head. After a long while, the corner of his mouth curved in a smile that seemed to exist yet didn’t.

Zhu Qing: “What is Young Master smiling about?”

What was he smiling about?

“I’m smiling at how I thought I was so seamless, yet who knew people saw through it eight hundred years ago. That phrase about ‘backside deciding brain’ was eighty percent aimed at me, Third Young Master.”

Zhu Qing wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.

Xie Zhifei shook his head. “Alright then. Trouble Master Zhu to work a bit harder—go pass a message to Xie Xiaohua. Tell him not to meddle in Jingsi Residence’s affairs from now on.”

Zhu Qing: “Yes!”

“Wait!”

Xie Zhifei lowered his long legs and stood up, hands behind his back.

“While you’re at it, make a detour to Jingsi Residence. On Third Young Master’s behalf, apologize to those two.”

“Is that necessary? Where does Young Master’s face go?”

“Why wouldn’t it be necessary?”

Third Young Master yawned while walking toward the inner room. “Face doesn’t work with Yan Sanhe.”

That girl—you had to coax her, be gentle with her, accommodate her. Smooth her fur, and she’d willingly help you investigate cases.

As for what exactly she was…

Xie Zhifei ground his teeth. No rush—sooner or later he’d figure it out!

…

Yan Sanhe first opened her eyes two days later at dawn.

Upon waking, she immediately called out that she was hungry. Li Buyan quickly had Tangyuan prepare food.

Two bowls of rice, six dishes, one soup—Yan Sanhe ate everything clean. After eating, she closed her eyes and fell into deep sleep again.

Tangyuan asked nervously, “Should we call Imperial Physician Pei to check her pulse?”

“No need. She’s sleep-deprived and utterly exhausted.”

Li Buyan pulled Tangyuan to the outer room, showing her teeth in a smile. “By the way, what has your Third Young Master been busy with these past days?”

Hearing this, Tangyuan immediately knelt, courageously raising her chin.

“Third Young Master’s business—this servant doesn’t dare inquire. This servant only knows that from now on, I’ll serve Miss well. Everything else, I know nothing and want to know nothing.”

“Mm, finally turned from darkness to light!”

Li Buyan helped her stand, casually draping an arm over her shoulder. “But some things that should be inquired about still need inquiring. Things that should be known still need knowing.”

Tangyuan: “…Ah?”

Li Buyan opened her distinct black and white eyes, tilting her head to look at Tangyuan. “Especially Third Young Master’s matters—our Miss is very curious.”

Tangyuan’s eyes widened. She felt her heart had stopped beating.

Wh-what does this mean?

Telling her to pay more attention to Third Young Master’s affairs, then tell Miss??

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid!”

Li Buyan coaxed persuasively. “Just keep an extra eye out. For example, what Third Young Master likes, what he doesn’t like. What he often does, what he doesn’t often do…”

Tangyuan fearfully interrupted, “Has our Miss taken a fancy to Third Young Master?”

Li Buyan scratched her head.

She has taken notice.

But this kind of notice isn’t that kind of notice!

“Quickly advise Miss against it! Third Young Master belongs to Miss Du. Miss Du seems all gentle and agreeable, but she’s actually quite formidable. Miss can’t compete with her!”

Li Buyan scratched her head again.

Really?

There’s someone Yan Sanhe can’t compete with?

…

The person Yan Sanhe supposedly couldn’t compete with came to the Xie residence the next day. Unfortunately, it was for nothing—Third Young Master had left for the yamen before dawn.

Having thought about him for three whole months yet not seeing him, Miss Du threw herself into First Madam Zhu’s arms and wept pitifully.

Zhu Shi understood clearly in her heart that Third was avoiding Du Yiyun, but couldn’t say so directly. She could only comfort her earnestly.

This comforting made Du Yiyun cry even harder.

Just as Zhu Shi was at her wit’s end, the Madam sent someone to fetch Du Yiyun.

Her future mother-in-law summoned—Du Yiyun wiped her tears and followed. Zhu Shi watched her retreating back, the corner of her mouth lifting in cold mockery.

Chuntao presented a teacup, saying softly, “This servant is somewhat confused. What exactly is the situation between Third Young Master and Miss Du now? One pursues, one flees.”

Zhu Shi, parched from all that comforting, took the teacup and drained it in two gulps.

“Can’t you see? The Old Madam and Madam favor Miss Du, but Master refuses to give his approval. It has nothing to do with the two youngsters.”

“The Du family’s standing—Master still looks down on it? Moreover, Third Young Master isn’t long-lived?”

“We women of the inner quarters can’t see clearly what happens outside.”

Zhu Shi set down the teacup. “I’m afraid it’s also related to the court.”

Hearing the word “court,” Chuntao was frightened into immediately closing her mouth, not daring to ask another word. But she heard Zhu Shi say, “What is Miss Yan doing now?”

“I heard she still hasn’t risen.”

Zhu Shi immediately laughed, her smile radiant.

Sleeping in every day, not caring at all what others thought of her. Morning and evening proprieties, rules, etiquette—all cast aside.

Such genuine character.

“Is she seventeen this year?”

“I heard she’s seventeen.”

“When is her birthday?”

“That hasn’t been mentioned.”

“Find an opportunity to inquire. Don’t miss the day and leave the girl disappointed.”

Hearing this, Chuntao smiled. “It seems First Madam has a very favorable impression of Miss Yan?”

How could it not be favorable!

She’d been married into the Xie family for so many years. Even when her moon time came and her lower abdomen ached terribly, she still had to grit her teeth and serve the Old Madam and Madam at meals.

Had anyone ever spoken a word on her behalf?

“Though she’s cold, she’s thoughtful. Miss Du, though warm…”

Zhu Shi smiled coldly. “I advised her for so long, yet she didn’t even say thank you once. Clearly she’s thoughtless. If I were Third, I’d rather marry Miss Yan than Miss Du.”

What a pity—so many people couldn’t see clearly.

…

Third Young Master Xie had absolutely no idea about the twists and turns in the women’s hearts.

Having rested for three months, the Northern Bureau of Military Affairs had accumulated a pile of official business. He was so busy his feet barely touched the ground. These past days, he simply slept at the yamen.

Ding Yi wasn’t good at reading his master’s thoughts, but was efficient at work. Add in Zhu Qing, and the master-servant trio worked solidly for three days and nights before finally handling everything.

On the fourth day at noon, things finally eased up slightly. Lord Pei, wearing his official robes, came bouncing in.

Xie Zhifei was drinking tea. He glanced up at him, and before he could swallow the tea, he heard Pei Mingting shout:

“Xie Fifty! I’ve already hired the matchmaker. I just don’t know who to approach—can your father make decisions for Yan Sanhe, or your Old Madam?”

“Pfft—”

Tea water sprayed directly from Xie Fifty’s mouth.