When Xie Daozhi first entered official circles, he indeed followed Du Jianxue’s lead, and indeed climbed upward step by step with his support. But there was no stopping the student from surpassing the master.

Ten years ago, from the day Xie Daozhi entered the Grand Secretariat, Du Jianxue could only burn with envy.

What kind of place was the Grand Secretariat?

The place closest to the Son of Heaven, and the very center of power in all of Great Hua. Not only had Xie Daozhi entered it, he’d firmly established himself there.

If it were only Xie Daozhi himself, that would be one thing. The key was he also had an accomplished eldest son.

Xie Erli had passed the imperial examinations. Though he hadn’t placed in the top three of the first rank, thanks to Xie Daozhi’s covert assistance, he’d entered the Hanlin Academy as an unremarkable Hanlin Academy proofreader.

Only those who passed the imperial examinations could enter the Hanlin; only those in the Hanlin could enter the Grand Secretariat.

Xie Daozhi’s plans were far-reaching, his intentions obvious—he wanted his son to one day sit as firmly in a Grand Secretariat minister position as he did.

And the Du family?

The reputation of being a great contemporary Confucian scholar sounded nice, but what use was it? Not a shred of real power.

Precisely because there was no real power, his several sons’ official careers weren’t progressing smoothly.

Others couldn’t see clearly, but Du Jianxue understood perfectly. And precisely because he understood, when the Han Prince extended an olive branch—even though that olive branch was poisoned—he had no choice but to accept it.

Having accepted it, he had to repay his master.

The master’s intentions were known to all—he wanted to pull down the Crown Prince and sit in the highest position in the world.

But the Crown Prince was the eldest legitimate son—everything was proper and justified. What the master could rely on was nothing more than His Majesty’s favoritism and the support of important ministers.

Xie Daozhi was one of the important ministers in the master’s eyes.

Du Jianxue didn’t think winning over Xie Daozhi would be too difficult. First, he wasn’t someone who forgot his roots; second, their children got along extremely well.

As long as they became in-laws, even if Xie Daozhi didn’t want to take the Han Prince’s side, he would invisibly become the Han Prince’s man.

“I hinted several times, but Xie Daozhi never took the bait. I knew things weren’t looking good.”

Du Jianxue sighed. “So regarding your matter with Third Master Xie, Father indulged you, turned a blind eye.”

Du Yiyun listened in a daze, forgetting even to cry, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

She’d never imagined her marriage would involve court struggles. She’d always thought her father simply doted on and cherished her.

“Yun’er, don’t blame Father. At our family’s status and position, nothing is simple. Not just marriages—even sending New Year’s gifts has great significance.”

Du Jianxue: “I’ve kept this from your mother and your brothers. You’re clever—Father won’t hide it from you. You should understand this in your heart.”

“Father, I understand the whole story you’ve told me.”

Du Yiyun gritted her teeth: “I just can’t swallow this insult!”

“You think your father can? Without me back then, would Xie Daozhi have what he has today?”

Du Jianxue’s eyes shifted slightly. “Go rest. Don’t think too much. Your mother is right—for someone short-lived, it’s not worth it.”

It wasn’t worth it, but could a heart be taken back just by saying so?

Du Yiyun walked out of the courtyard.

“Miss!”

Ni’er came forward to support her. “Let’s return to your quarters!”

Du Yiyun looked at her coldly: “Nine years. He and I were close for nine years. It can’t be settled with a simple apology.”

Ni’er: “What does Miss plan to do?”

Du Yiyun gritted her teeth. “I have a feeling—Xie Zhifei’s words today were most likely because of that slut.”

In the room, Du Jianxue put down his brush. After the ink dried thoroughly, he stuffed the letter into an envelope and called: “Someone come!”

His trusted aide pushed the door open: “Master!”

“This letter must be personally delivered into the Han Prince’s hands.”

“Yes!”

The door closed again.

Du Jianxue walked to the window, pushed it open, his gaze distant.

After a long while, he laughed coldly. “Xie Daozhi, oh Xie Daozhi—if you’re unkind, then don’t blame me for being unrighteous!”

…

The daytime heat grew fainter with the deepening night.

As Xie Zhifei approached his own courtyard, Pei Xiao was inside cooling off with his legs crossed.

“Why haven’t you gone home yet?” He frowned.

Pei Xiao smiled: “Not going home. I’m sleeping here tonight. We’ll chat through the night.”

“Ancestor, I’ve been exhausted at the office all day, and haven’t had any peace coming and going tonight either. Let me off, will you?”

Pei Xiao followed him inside. “I just want to talk to you about Yan the divine woman.”

“Even less interested!”

Xie Zhifei pushed him aside and walked into the bathing room on his own. “Zhu Qing, prepare water. Your master needs to bathe—I’m covered in sweat.”

“What do you mean not interested? Your brother’s heart is stirring for the first time—besides you, who else can I talk to?”

Pei Xiao followed him in, pulled over a stool, and shamelessly sat down by the wooden tub first.

“Fifty, I just thought it through seriously—aside from family background, we’re quite well-matched in everything else.”

Really?

Didn’t notice!

Xie Zhifei gritted his teeth.

Pei Xiao sat watching Xie Zhifei undress. “I think, for this to work, we still need to dig out her true identity.”

Xie Zhifei’s hand undressing paused, two cold lights flashing in his eyes—quite frightening.

“Why do you say that?”

“At the dinner table today, those two sentences she said to your mother—do you remember?”

Xie Zhifei walked over and looked down at him: “I remember every single word.”

“‘Straight as a bowstring, die by the roadside; curved as a hook, instead gain a title.'”

Pei Xiao chuckled. “With Du Yiyun’s background, having read so many books, could she say something like that? Just tell me—could she or not?”

The answer was obvious—Du Yiyun could not.

“So?” Xie Zhifei asked.

“So this Yan the divine woman is definitely not a young lady from an ordinary family.”

Pei Xiao looked up at him. “Dig out her identity, find her real relatives, then I can propose marriage to them, and then I’ll have a chance!”

You little thing!

Not stupid at all—you even know to take an indirect approach?

Xie Zhifei’s eyes held bottomless whirlpools. “Your idea is good. Then hurry up and get to it. Don’t delay—dig out her background.”

Seeing the man’s rear hadn’t moved, he added another line.

“Your marriage—Uncle Pei has already mentioned it to my father, asking him to keep an eye out. My father’s way of handling things…”

“My Buddha!”

Pei Xiao jumped up from his chair and shouted: “Huang Qi, Huang Qi, prepare the horses.”

“Master, returning to the residence?”

“What residence? Back to the office—I need to write letters telling them to move even faster.”

Pei Xiao walked out while waving his hand: “Fifty, I won’t keep you company tonight. Sleep alone on your cold pillow!”

After a few steps, he was grabbed.

He turned around, looking confused. “Why are you grabbing me?”

Xie Zhifei’s gaze pressed down. “Pei Mingting, I’m reminding you one more time—you must take the Zheng family case to heart. You personally agreed to this.”

“It’s on my mind. The Ji family matter just ended three or four days ago, my uncle’s rear is still bleeding. Let me catch my breath, won’t you?”

Pei Xiao glared at him resentfully. “Let go quickly—don’t delay Young Master Pei’s lifelong happiness.”

Xie Zhifei hooked his lips in a smile, showing a mouthful of white teeth. “If you don’t start in two days, watch out—I’ll kill you!”

“That won’t do—my divine woman would be a widow.”

Pei Xiao patted his shoulder: “Brother, my life is precious now. You can’t strike casually.”

Xie Zhifei: “…”

Could he kill him right now?