When Pei Xiao first heard this, he was delighted, having been eager to see the divine Yan.

But thinking it over carefully, he felt it very improper.

He did miss Yan Sanhe, but this was a private secret matter, not something to publicize or announce.

Though Miss Yan didn’t care about such things, she was ultimately a young lady. He could be a scoundrel without consequence, but a young lady’s reputation couldn’t be ruined.

“Du Yiyun, who said I miss her? She helped me with a favor—I’m going to thank her.”

So that’s how it is!

Du Yiyun bit her lip and said delicately, “Brother Mingting, I used the wrong words. Don’t mind it.”

“Enough, a grown man arguing with a young lady.”

Lady Wu glared at Pei Xiao. “Someone, go invite Miss Yan. Say that Madam wishes to apologize to her for yesterday’s matter.”

“Mother, absolutely not.”

Xie Zhifei spoke up to stop her. “With her temperament…”

Lady Wu’s expression darkened slightly.

Anyone could object, but not Third Son. For an elder to apologize to a junior—this posture was already lowered enough.

Was Third Son stopping her out of fear she’d be slighted?

After glancing at his mother’s expression, Xie Zhifei turned to instruct the errand maid, “Go invite Miss Yan. Be respectful in your manner when inviting her.”

“Yes, Third Master.”

The maid ran off nimbly.

“Third Brother, what kind of temperament does Miss Yan have? Tell me about it.” Du Yiyun tilted her head up slightly, her face innocent and naive.

Xie Zhifei glanced lightly at Du Yiyun, but his words were directed at Lady Wu. “Her temperament is cold. She doesn’t like talking. I’m afraid she’ll displease Mother again.”

Lady Wu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled reproachfully. “I’m an elder—how could I argue with a junior?”

“Third Brother, rest assured.”

Du Yiyun’s eyes softened, her voice gentle. “I’ll also be very careful.”

Xie Zhifei smiled and said nothing.

…

A quarter hour later, Yan Sanhe arrived wearing blue-lotus colored clothing, very plain and simple. Li Buyan followed behind.

Li Buyan wore men’s robes, her hair tied up, looking spirited and imposing, with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.

Seeing this, Lady Wu barely perceptibly frowned.

A servant—neither male nor female—what kind of propriety was this!

The meal was set in the warm pavilion. A small round table seated five people quite spaciously.

A pot of ginseng and old duck soup brought from the Lu family sat in the center, steaming hot.

A maid ladled out the first bowl and placed it before Third Master.

Third Master Xie habitually pushed it before Lady Wu. “Mother drinks first.”

Lady Wu patted her son’s hand. “Yiyun had it stewed for several hours until very tender. You drink a few more bowls. Sanhe, you drink more too.”

Yan Sanhe said flatly, “No need.”

“Sister Yan, are you still angry with me?”

Du Yiyun bit her lip. “Last time I didn’t know who you were, so my attitude was poor. Be magnanimous and don’t hold it against me.”

Yan Sanhe replied, “You’re not worth holding grudges against.”

“…”

Du Yiyun’s eyes immediately reddened.

Lady Wu’s hand holding the spoon paused, her brows furrowing. How sharp-eyed was Xie Zhifei? He quickly kicked Pei Xiao under the table.

“Madam, Sanhe fears heat. Red ginseng has heating properties, so she can’t eat it.”

Pei Xiao turned his head toward Du Yiyun. “What’s there to feel wronged about? It shows she hasn’t taken the matter to heart.”

Du Yiyun sniffled. “Who said I feel wronged? I just feel guilty!”

Lady Wu smiled, playing peacemaker. “Sanhe, don’t hold it against Miss Du. She’s straightforward and quick-tongued, but her heart isn’t bad.”

What’s it to me!

Yan Sanhe lifted her eyelids, glanced lightly at Xie Zhifei, didn’t even bother to hum in acknowledgment, and lowered her head to eat.

Lady Wu hit a soft nail and felt rather uncomfortable.

Young ladies should be like Du Yiyun—warm-faced and sweet-tongued. That’s what’s likable.

But since Yan Sanhe was the old matriarch’s maternal family, and knowing this girl had a cold temperament, and her son had specifically warned her, she simply smiled it off.

Lady Wu glanced at her son, signaling him to serve Du Yiyun food.

Xie Zhifei pretended not to see. Lady Wu had to do it herself.

Du Yiyun immediately smiled like a blooming flower. Lightly biting the lotus root slice Lady Wu had served her, she praised, “Sweet and sour—better than what our family cook makes.”

“If it’s good, eat more.”

Afraid of being too obvious, Lady Wu also served a chopstick of food onto Yan Sanhe’s plate.

“Family matters are settled now. From now on, live here steadily and treat the Xie manor as your own home.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at the food Lady Wu had served and said flatly, “Don’t talk while eating, don’t speak while sleeping. Madam, please eat.”

Lady Wu froze, turning her head to look at her son incredulously. Was this telling her to shut up?

“Also, no need to serve me food.”

Yan Sanhe picked out the mushrooms from the dish. “I don’t eat these.”

Lady Wu’s hand holding the chopsticks trembled, her expression extremely ugly.

Xie Zhifei couldn’t openly say this was just Yan Sanhe’s usual eating manner. He could only kick Pei Xiao again.

Pei Xiao smiled. “Madam, don’t worry about her. This is just how she eats.”

“Brother Mingting, how do you know?”

Du Yiyun asked with a smile, “Have you eaten with Sister Yan before? When was this?”

Is it any of your business?

Pei Xiao directly rolled his eyes. “Just eat, little miss. Don’t be so curious.”

“Halfway back to the capital, Mingting happened to encounter Yan Sanhe and her group.”

Xie Zhifei smiled faintly. “The three of us came back together with Elder Brother.”

Du Yiyun’s eyes curved as she looked at Xie Zhifei with tender affection. “Third Brother treats me best—not like Brother Mingting who shows impatience when I ask anything.”

Pei Xiao sneered inwardly.

I’m impatient? I’m afraid the divine Yan finds you annoying!

Xie Zhifei also sneered inwardly: I’m not explaining for you—I’m afraid my mother will misunderstand something between Yan Sanhe and Pei Mingting!

For a moment, the warm pavilion fell quiet. Apart from the sound of bowls and chopsticks, nothing else could be heard.

Xie Zhifei looked at Yan Sanhe eating with her head down, then at his mother’s slightly darkened expression. Suddenly he felt trapped in the middle, unable to please either side.

Strange, why would I have such a feeling?

He asked himself.

Just then, a maid entered carrying a food box.

“First Madam said that hearing Madam was serving a meal, she specially had the kitchen add several dishes and ordered this servant to bring them.”

Lady Wu smiled. “First Madam is thoughtful. Set them all out!”

Just as three steaming dishes were set out, a maid from the old matriarch’s quarters arrived carrying another food box.

She said the old matriarch found today’s cold bamboo shoot salad very refreshing and requested Miss Yan, Miss Du, and Master Pei to try it.

Lady Wu felt very honored and immediately ordered the cold dishes removed and the old matriarch’s dishes set out.

The masters ate in the inner room while maids waited in the outer room.

Li Buyan said something that made the maids giggle.

The laughter reached the inner room. Lady Wu frowned slightly.

Du Yiyun noticed and, moved by an impulse, pretended to be casual.

“Sister Yan, why do you allow your maid to wear men’s clothing? This isn’t very proper!”