Yan Sanhe’s words continued.

“Before she died, she removed her nun’s robe, painted her eyebrows and arranged her hair before a mirror, applied rouge, and wore her most beautiful jewelry. But you…”

Yan Sanhe’s voice turned abruptly cold.

“After she passed, you changed her back into nun’s robes, removed her jewelry, wiped away her rouge. Originally the longing in her heart wasn’t enough to become a demon, but it was your action that prevented her from resting after death.”

I was the culprit!

Huiru’s legs gave way as she knelt straight before Yan Sanhe, murmuring, “I harmed her?”

Pei Xiao’s heart had already jumped into his throat.

“Sanhe, you mean that not handling the deceased’s affairs according to their wishes can draw out the deceased’s heart demon?”

Did I not explain clearly just now?

Yan Sanhe looked at Pei Xiao like looking at a fool. “Lord Pei never heard ‘The dead are greatest’?”

“I’ve heard it!”

Pei Xiao pointed at Huiru, throwing the blame without hesitation. “She hasn’t heard it!”

Yan Sanhe squatted down, coldly looking into Huiru’s eyes.

“I don’t resolve obsessions and dispel demons for people without reason. Think carefully—what price are you willing to pay to close her coffin for her? Once you’ve decided, come find me again.”

“Miss Yan.”

Huiru called out loudly, her face flushed purple from the effort. “This humble nun only asks one question.”

“Speak.”

“Will she… will she continue walking like that if her coffin can’t be closed?”

“Yes!”

“Then there’s no need to think.”

Old Nun Huiru’s eyes flashed with absolute resolve. “Water Moon Nunnery is impoverished, without material wealth. This old nun has only this thin life to offer.”

This time, it was Yan Sanhe’s turn to be greatly shocked. “You’d even sacrifice your life for her?”

Huiru nodded without hesitation. “Yes!”

A spark ignited in Yan Sanhe’s cold black eyes. “Why?”

“Mirror flower, water moon—bitter attachment.”

Huiru’s tone carried indescribable vicissitude. “Buddha said: If I don’t enter hell, who will? “

Yan Sanhe pressed, “What is your relationship to her?”

Huiru replied, “No relationship. Both are women who left home, both are women with bitter fates.”

Yan Sanhe looked at her, silent for a moment, then picked up the prayer beads from the floor. “May I have this string of beads?”

Huiru didn’t understand her intention but nodded blankly.

Yan Sanhe slowly stood up. “I agree to resolve this heart demon. After dark, meet me at the Water Moon Nunnery gate.”

“Th-this, this—it’s resolved just like that?”

Pei Xiao exclaimed, “She hasn’t paid yet!”

Yan Sanhe shook the prayer beads in her hand. “This is payment.”

Pei Xiao fell silent.

He sighed deeply in his heart: Well, this trip is probably another losing proposition. Wife doesn’t know how to earn more dowry money for herself!

Yan Sanhe had no idea about Lord Pei’s mental gymnastics. She looked at Huiru.

“If convenient, let Fourth Madam take refuge at Water Moon Nunnery. Buddha saves those with affinity. Whether she has this affinity depends on her own fortune, but the Buddhist gate should always remain open.”

Huiru rose from the floor, pressing her palms together toward Yan Sanhe.

“Amitabha. This humble nun was attached to appearances. Fourth Madam may enter Water Moon Nunnery today.”

“Go then!”

“I will await Miss Yan quietly at the nunnery gate.”

After speaking, Huiru bowed to Yan Sanhe, turned and opened the door.

Pei Xiao’s sharp eyes noticed tears glistening at the old nun’s eye corners.

Someone who severed the six roots actually cried—how rare.

Intensely curious, he walked before Yan Sanhe, voice low. “What did you do to her with that one finger just now?”

“You talk too much!”

“I’m curious! If I don’t get clarity, I definitely won’t sleep tonight. Can you bear that?”

I can bear it just fine!

Yan Sanhe said, “Withdraw, Lord Pei.”

This cold, icy tone—I, Lord Pei, love it so much!

Simply makes one scratch one’s ears and cheeks!

The fire sparks rubbed out in Pei Xiao’s eyes nearly couldn’t be suppressed.

“Miss Yan, Miss Yan!”

At this moment, Ji Hui rushed in. Without a word, she knelt before Yan Sanhe, about to express thanks when Yan Sanhe’s cold eyes swept over.

“Sixth Miss, stop kneeling at every turn. Kneel too much and your bones will soften.”

“I…”

“Buyan, see out the guests!”

“Yes!”

“Butler Xie, come in.”

“I…”

The summoned Butler Xie was more shocked than being struck by lightning.

Without another word, he scurried in. “Miss Yan, what are your orders?”

Yan Sanhe crooked her finger, signaling him to come closer.

Butler Xie didn’t know why, but his legs felt soft as cotton.

Walking close, before he could figure out what to say, an arm fell on his shoulder.

Butler Xie was startled into a violent shudder. “Y-Yan…”

“You know what I do.”

“…” Butler Xie nodded hurriedly.

“You should also know what I’m about to do.”

“…” Butler Xie continued nodding.

“Three matters—listen carefully.”

Yan Sanhe’s expression was extremely serious and solemn.

“First, prepare two fast horses for Li Buyan and me. Second, inform the Old Madam.

“Third, over the next few months I’ll frequently enter and leave the Xie residence. Don’t mind it—just continue treating me as dead.”

Can we not use the word “dead”?

It’s creepy.

“Y-Yan, Miss Yan, any other instructions?”

Yan Sanhe released her hand. “Nothing more. Go.”

Butler Xie ran faster than a rabbit.

Heavens!

If I ever feel curious about her again, I’ll slap myself with my own big mouth!

Too frightening!

…

Water Moon Nunnery sat at the foot of West Mountain.

West Mountain was a range of the Taihang Mountains, stretching endlessly at first glance.

To avoid Pei Xiao, Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan quietly set out before sunset.

Recently this Lord Pei seemed possessed, coming daily to Quiet Contemplation Residence.

Today bringing candied fruits, tomorrow bringing melons and fruits, as enthusiastic as the weather.

As if finding it not disgusting enough for Yan Sanhe, whenever they met face to face he’d call “Sanhe ah, Sanhe ah.”

Who gave him permission to call her Sanhe!

The two rushed to the Water Moon Nunnery gate in one breath. The sky had just darkened.

Huiru was already waiting at the gate.

Yan Sanhe dismounted. From the corner of her eye, she saw two people sitting left and right on stone benches beneath a large tree. Her expression instantly changed.

“Oh my!”

Li Buyan laughed, covering her mouth while using a voice everyone could hear. “Still haunting us persistently.”

Pei Xiao kicked Xie Zhifei: Talking about you or me?

Xie Zhifei: You!

Pei Xiao: Why me?

Xie Zhifei: Because I’m better looking.

Pei Xiao: Damn!

Xie Zhifei stood up, walked before Yan Sanhe, a roguish smile floating on his face.

“Your investigation will surely last until deep into the night. West City Gate closes at the third watch. I feared you couldn’t return, so after finishing business at the Military Justice Bureau, I hurried over.”

Seeing no expression on Yan Sanhe’s face, he sighed. “I’ve been busy all day without even eating lunch—I’m practically starving to death!”

Yan Sanhe looked toward Pei Xiao. “Has he been drinking?”

Pei Xiao replied, “No!”

“If he hasn’t been drinking, why is he acting coquettish!” Yan Sanhe shook her head. “Lord Xie, mind your image.”

Lord Xie smiled, his two dimples appearing and disappearing.

Smile all you want!

Yan Sanhe ground her teeth.