The first time he met Du Yiyun was shortly after Zheng Huaizuo’s soul had just landed in Third Master Xie’s body.

Before recognizing everyone, he was befuddledly led into a garden.

When Du Yiyun smashed down with that brick, he didn’t feel anything. But then what she said next scared him out of his wits.

“No good, we must hide. Where? Quick, in the tree!”

At that moment, his heart suddenly stopped.

“Brother, let’s hide in the tree!”

“Hide again?”

“I heard maids outside saying that today Niu Er from the west end of the street is getting married, passing through Four Lanes Alley. They say Niu Er is a full two chi tall, can eat five bowls of rice in one meal—so strong!”

“You want to see?”

“I do! I’ve grown this big and never seen a bridegroom.”

“Let’s go—up the tree!”

“Brother, support me from behind!”

“Weren’t you not afraid of falling?”

“If you don’t support me and I fall, you’ll have no sister. Then no one will write essays for you or paint for you. Go cry then!”

“Yes, yes, yes—I’ll cry.”

“Look at you, so insincere again.”

She turned around, looking like a little adult. “Father said to be sincere with people, can’t be false.”

He rolled his eyes to the heavens, thinking: Dear Lord, could you stuff this girl back in Mother’s belly and give him a younger brother instead?

This girl was driving him crazy!

Xie Zhifei plucked a leaf, placed it in his mouth, and slowly chewed. As bitterness spread in his mouth, tears also slowly seeped from the corners of his eyes.

Dear Lord, could you take back my soul and exchange it for hers?

She actually wasn’t annoying at all—very well-behaved!

Below the wall, Zhu Qing looked up at Master’s silent profile, inexpressible unease in his heart.

Every time Master walked Four Lanes Alley, every time he passed this dead tree, he would stop to look for a while. Sometimes a few glances weren’t enough—he’d just stare blankly, as if possessed.

One year, two years, three years…

Seven years, eight years, nine years…

Nine years and still not tired of looking. Zhu Qing really couldn’t understand why. But one thing he knew: Master had a secret in his heart, related to that dead tree.

“Master, it’s late. Time to go back.”

Xie Zhifei started, instantly returning to himself.

“Let’s go apologize to Father.”

“Ah?”

“Ah what!”

Xie Zhifei leaped down from the high wall, mounted his horse, turned his head to flash Zhu Qing a roguish smile, looking utterly carefree.

“I’ve said everything plainly to the Du family. If they come to the door, don’t I need Father to cover for me?”

Zhu Qing: “…”

…

Xie Daozhi drank a bit too much today. After returning to the manor, he went directly to Muxiang Courtyard.

Concubine Liu ordered water prepared on one hand, sobering soup cooked on the other, while personally removing Master’s outer robe.

They say beauties look more beautiful by lamplight.

Xie Daozhi, emboldened by alcohol, was about to embrace Concubine Liu’s waist and do something when he heard his personal servant call from outside:

“Master, Third Master is waiting for you in the study.”

“If there’s business, discuss it tomorrow. Tell him to rest early.”

“Third Master says if he doesn’t see you, he won’t feel like resting.”

“This little beast—utterly lawless!”

Xie Daozhi scolded, but his body was already bracing to sit up. He straightened his slightly disheveled clothing and said to Concubine Liu, “I’ll go and come right back.”

“I’ll keep the door open for Master.”

Concubine Liu’s voice was very gentle.

…

Xie Daozhi pushed open the study door and was shocked. His son knelt properly on the floor.

“What are you doing? The floor is cold—get up quickly!”

Xie Zhifei kept his neck stiff, unmoving.

After watching him for a moment, Xie Daozhi sighed. “Get up and talk. As long as it’s not murder or arson, I won’t beat you.”

Only then did Xie Zhifei climb up. He recounted what happened today in Lady Wu’s warm pavilion, neither embellishing nor omitting, laying it all out cleanly.

“Father, a young lady’s years are precious. On the way back escorting Du Yiyun, I already made things clear to her. I also told her to tell Minister Du that our Xie family is sorry to him.”

Hearing this, Xie Daozhi’s heart sank.

Originally, he fully supported this marriage. Looking across all of the capital, there was no better match for Third Son than Du Yiyun.

He’d even discussed with the old matriarch—once Third Son reached eighteen and Miss Du came of age, they’d arrange it.

Who knew that four or five years ago, Du Jianxue started getting close to the Prince of Han?

If it were just getting close, that would be fine. But Du Jianxue faintly showed signs of trying to recruit him, probing several times in conversation.

One was Crown Prince, one was Prince of Han. Standing on the wrong side meant utter ruin for the Xie family.

Xie Daozhi had no better solution—he could only play dumb.

Now Third Son had rejected Du Yiyun, which meant he, Xie Daozhi, had rejected Du Jianxue’s recruitment. In the future…

Things would be difficult.

…

At the Du residence.

Du Jianxue slammed his fist on the desk.

Too much bullying!

“Husband, you must stand up for our daughter!”

His wife Lady Lin said hatefully, “A short-lived ghost—our Yun’er liking him is his good fortune. If he’d released this earlier, Yun’er wouldn’t have wasted these years.”

Du Jianxue glanced coldly at his wife. “You leave. I have words for Yun’er.”

“What words do you have for your daughter that can’t be said in front of me?”

Lady Lin said angrily, “If you hadn’t indulged our daughter back then, saying the Xie family was a scholarly household, Xie Zhifei a talented youth—would she have been bullied to this degree?”

Du Jianxue was so angry he could spit blood.

Ignorant woman with long hair and short sight—what did she understand!

“Mother, please leave first!”

Du Yiyun said tearfully, “Father dotes on me so much—he’ll definitely stand up for me.”

“You!”

Lady Lin poked her daughter’s forehead. “Drawing water with a bamboo basket—all for nothing! If you’d listened to Mother back then, safely and steadily…”

“Mother, stop talking, please stop.”

Du Yiyun cried even harder.

“Fine, fine, fine—who knows who Mother is doing this for!”

Lady Lin wiped away tears and angrily pushed the door open to leave.

Only father and daughter remained in the study.

Du Jianxue coughed. “Do you know why I agreed to let you and that short-lived Xie Third Son carry on?”

Du Yiyun said tearfully, “Father knows daughter’s heart is set on him.”

“That’s one reason, but not important. What’s important is Father wanted to use you to recruit the Xie family.”

“…”

Du Yiyun’s eyes suddenly widened, unable to believe these words came from her own father’s mouth.

“Yun’er, do you know how your father obtained this position as Minister of Rites?”

Du Jianxue looked at her with piercing eyes.

“Without the Prince of Han secretly maneuvering and exerting effort, at your father’s age, a few more years and retirement would be about right. Why would the Prince of Han lift a hand to help me?”

Du Yiyun asked, “Why?”

Du Jianxue laughed coldly.

“Because behind your father stands a Xie Daozhi.”