Xie Erli looked at Madam Zhu, his eyes dark and intense.

“Never mind anything else, just tell me—what kind of person is she?”

“Do you want the truth?”

“Tell me the truth!”

Madam Zhu pondered for a moment, then let out a shallow breath.

“She has a completely different temperament from Du Yiyun. One is cold on the outside but warm inside, the other is warm on the outside but cold inside.”

“What else?”

Madam Zhu met the man’s eyes. “I actually quite like this girl.”

Xie Erli was startled.

After all these years of marriage with Madam Zhu, he understood her personality all too well.

She never spoke fully, only revealed half her thoughts, and always left some room for maneuvering in everything. This was the first time she’d expressed her preferences so directly.

“Father asked me this morning—if we paired her with Second Brother…”

Xie Erli changed direction. “What do you think?”

The shock on Madam Zhu’s face couldn’t be concealed. After a long while, she said, “It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Xie Erli was surprised. “Why not?”

“I can see that Miss Yan is someone with her own mind.”

Madam Zhu continued, “Forget Second Brother—even with Third Brother, I’m afraid she’d have to nod in agreement before anything could proceed. We can’t make this decision for her.”

Xie Erli nodded. “Very true.”

“There’s another thing.”

Madam Zhu lowered her voice. “If she really went to the Second House, I, as the mistress in charge, would have a rather miserable time.”

“Miserable how?”

“That household already has one clever person. Add another…”

Madam Zhu sighed softly. “I only have one brain and one mouth. I couldn’t outmaneuver them, nor could I best them in a fight.”

Xie Erli’s heart skipped a beat.

…

Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office.

In the innermost courtyard, the lamps burned brightly.

Xie Zhifei and Yan Sanhe sat face to face, one recording, one recounting.

Xie Zhifei finished writing the last character and handed several sheets of paper to Yan Sanhe. “Take a look—any problems?”

Yan Sanhe glanced over them. “No problems.”

Xie Zhifei collected the papers and looked at her. “Were you afraid then?”

Yan Sanhe shook her head.

I was afraid!

Terrified!

“You really can’t be softhearted anymore, Yan Sanhe.”

Xie Zhifei’s face showed unprecedented gravity. “The capital isn’t like Yunnan Prefecture. The waters run very deep here. You must be more vigilant about everything.”

Yan Sanhe replied, “It’s not the thief stealing you should fear, but the thief keeping you in mind.”

Xie Zhifei: “…” Indeed, quite a few people have you in mind.

“Why hide this from my father and eldest brother?” he asked.

“I don’t like people fussing over me.”

When she said this, her face remained expressionless and her tone flat, yet Xie Zhifei’s heart felt as if something had gently scratched it.

A bit painful, a bit sour, and somewhat swollen.

Just then, Li Buyan rushed in, with Zhu Qing following behind her.

Yan Sanhe had just stood up when she found herself in Li Buyan’s embrace.

“Yan Sanhe, you really…”

Li Buyan’s nose stung with emotion. She started to speak but couldn’t continue, tears streaming down one by one.

Xie Zhifei and Zhu Qing exchanged glances.

This fierce and formidable woman could actually cry?

How rare!

“It’s fine, it’s fine!”

Yan Sanhe patted her back, coaxing her gently. “Not a scratch on me. If you don’t believe me, look—everything’s fine!”

“Yan Sanhe!”

Li Buyan’s voice carried deep regret.

“I’ll never leave you alone again. Third Master was right—screw everyone else, no one is more important than you!

“It’s all my fault.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice carried a hint of coquettishness. “From now on, we won’t save anyone—just look after ourselves.”

Li Buyan asked, “Absolutely no softness of heart?”

Yan Sanhe replied, “Absolutely no softness of heart!”

“Ahem… Li Buyan.”

Xie Zhifei, anxious about the identity of those two masked men, interrupted. “What’s the situation on your end?”

Li Buyan pushed away from Yan Sanhe and sniffled.

“That bastard Xu Sheng was at the villa, surrounded by guards. At first he was quite leisurely drinking his wine, but later he grew impatient and sent someone to check the entrance.”

Xie Zhifei asked, “And then?”

“Then he got anxious. Just as he was getting worked up, two people ran back saying they’d lost track of their target.”

Yan Sanhe interjected, “Was one of them injured in the right hand?”

Li Buyan confirmed, “Yes, the right hand was injured, the sleeve covered in bloodstains.”

Yan Sanhe and Xie Zhifei exchanged a glance: As expected, they’d guessed right—it was that turtle grandson Xu Sheng.

Zhu Qing on the side asked, “What happened next? Miss Li, did you make your move?”

“Don’t rush, let me finish!”

Li Buyan slowly clenched her hands into fists. “When I heard they’d lost track, I wasn’t sure if it was Yan Sanhe, so I kept lying on the roof.”

Xie Zhifei pressed, “And then?”

“Then that bastard smashed his teacup, flipped his table, threw a tantrum, then went into the room to ravage some woman. Made her howl and scream.”

Li Buyan sneered coldly.

“The bastard went on and on endlessly. I was getting impatient listening and was just about to set a fire first, when suddenly that bastard shouted: ‘Yan Sanhe, sooner or later I’ll have you beneath me—you just wait!'”

She imitated him perfectly. Yan Sanhe hadn’t reacted much, but Xie Zhifei on the side didn’t get angry—he actually smiled. “Miss Li didn’t break his other leg too?”

Yan Sanhe’s heart stirred. Could it be that Xu Sheng’s broken leg was Xie Zhifei’s doing?

“What fun is breaking a leg? This young lady directly severed his third leg at the root, so he can only be a eunuch for life.”

Zhu Qing felt a chill below and thought this girl was truly ruthless.

Yan Sanhe’s lips trembled slightly. “You weren’t discovered, were you?”

“When I do something, can’t you trust me? Besides, so what if I was discovered?”

Li Buyan raised an eyebrow. “Third Master said if anything happens, he’ll take responsibility.”

Yan Sanhe looked at Xie Zhifei in disbelief. Xie Zhifei nodded very seriously. “That’s right, I’ll take responsibility.”

That wasn’t all—he even praised her quite seriously.

“Li Buyan, well done!”

Li Buyan was extremely pleased, her tone full of confidence.

“Right now, all the imperial physicians in the capital are rushing to that bastard’s villa. Useless—I fed the thing to a dog, and even the dog wouldn’t eat it. Too disgusting!”

“Xie Zhifei, did you break that guy Xu’s leg?” Yan Sanhe suddenly asked.

Third Master froze, only now realizing he’d let something slip, then the corner of his mouth curved up.

“Sweet mouth, sharp heart—Third Master’s people aren’t so easy to bully.”

Yan Sanhe assumed Third Master’s person meant Second Miss Xie, so she said no more. Besides, she didn’t think Li Buyan had been too heavy-handed. If that root hadn’t been cut, he’d harm even more girls in the future.

“Yan Sanhe, you and Li Buyan go wait outside. In a bit, let’s go to Spring Breeze Tower for something to eat.”

Xie Zhifei’s taut nerves finally relaxed, and he felt utterly exhausted. “This day has been quite the ordeal.”

Yan Sanhe had things to say to Li Buyan anyway, so she pulled her outside.

Xie Zhifei glanced at Zhu Qing, who quickly stepped forward. “Master, what is it?”

“About Xu Sheng’s matter—send word to the Grand Heir.”

“Yes!”

“Tell him not to make a move, just be aware of it. This time, Third Master will handle it personally.”

Zhu Qing was startled. “Third Master, this isn’t over yet?”

“Over? What’s over?”

Xie Zhifei smiled wickedly. “If I don’t finish him off, I’ll take his surname!”

Zhu Qing looked at his master’s expression. “Master, you haven’t been well lately, so perhaps…”

“I’m fine!”

Xie Zhifei patted Zhu Qing’s shoulder and looked toward the doorway. “Don’t worry, I’m better than I’ve ever been.”