Coming for her?

The Xie family!

Without time to think, Yan Sanhe strapped the bundle to her back, carefully pushed open the window, gritted her teeth, and flipped her body over.

She couldn’t scale walls or fly across eaves, but she could climb trees. The courage to jump from the second floor came from sheer boldness.

Yan Sanhe bit down hard, her feet inching downward bit by bit.

When her hands finally couldn’t hold on any longer, she let go. With a “thud,” she landed.

“Hsss—”

Yan Sanhe couldn’t worry about the pain. She pressed against the wall and moved north.

This was a dark alley with not a soul in sight. At the end of the alley was a main street.

On the main street, there would be choices—duck into any alley, crawl into any corner, hide in any tree, and she’d be safe.

When Yan Sanhe had chosen the inn, she’d scouted carefully, preparing for the possibility that the Xie manor people would haunt her relentlessly. Some matters couldn’t be explained clearly to them.

She ran very fast, nearly reaching the end of the dark alley.

Suddenly, she stumbled, all movement instantly halting.

At the alley entrance, a man stood with one foot on the ground, the other against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze quietly watching her.

Yan Sanhe’s instincts screamed danger. Her peripheral vision swept backward—several dark figures were rushing toward her from a distance.

Catching a turtle in a jar!

Yan Sanhe gasped several times heavily, clicked her tongue in frustration and resignation, and defeatedly lowered her head.

Seeing her stop, Xie Zhifei slowly curved his lips into a smile.

He was truly curious.

What did a woman who could deceive, intimidate, jump from windows, scale walls, and even take his eldest brother hostage and injure him actually look like?

Did she have three heads and six arms?

He lowered his bent leg, waved at Zhu Qing and the others who had already caught up behind the woman, then stepped forward slowly, one step at a time.

The person still had her head lowered, wearing men’s clothing, yet her thin frame couldn’t fill it out, making her whole appearance seem somewhat incongruous.

Xie Zhifei shook his head and smiled lazily.

“I must say!”

His tone was completely improper.

“Miss, you actually look quite convincing as a man, except for this chest…”

Yan Sanhe suddenly raised her head, two gazes shooting out like two daggers.

“…”

The latter half of his sentence caught in his throat.

It’s her?

The strange woman who bought medicine at Hundred Remedies Hall.

Xie Zhifei’s expression changed in an instant.

It’s him!

The man who gave her directions at Hundred Remedies Hall.

Yan Sanhe’s face also changed abruptly.

What was his relationship with the Xie family?

Steward Xie came running over, panting, his face showing an expression that wished he could devour her.

“Third Master, this is the one who held the Young Master hostage and injured him. Hmph! She even changed into men’s clothes. Useless—I’d recognize her even if she turned to ash.”

The Xie manor’s third son?

The one close to death from illness?

Yan Sanhe narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

This man was tall and robust, every line of his face radiating masculine vigor—where was even half a trace of illness?

The Xie manor people were lying!

Just then, a ray of moonlight fell on Yan Sanhe, making her face and lips appear even paler, yet the coldness and hardness in her eyes were like temperature-less stone, sending chills down one’s spine.

In his twenty years of life, Xie Zhifei had never seen such eyes.

His eyebrows rose slightly. “Miss, since you’re delicate as a precious flower, why not return with me to the Xie manor? We can drink tea, chat—wouldn’t that be better than standing here in the cold wind?”

Yan Sanhe didn’t speak.

In her life, she most detested two types of people: the first were playboys, the second were wastrels.

This man’s peach-blossom eyes held frivolous lightness, and combined with that phrase “except for this chest,” he was clearly a romantic wastrel, arousing genuine disgust from the depths of her heart.

“Third Master, why waste words with her? Just tie her up and take her.”

Third Master Xie glanced at Steward Xie, his gaze falling on the bundle behind Yan Sanhe.

“Your surname is Yan?”

“…”

“How old are you this year?”

“…”

“Who else is in your family?”

“…”

“My dear Third Master!”

Steward Xie couldn’t take it anymore.

Though this woman was quite attractive, Third Master, you must distinguish priorities and consider the setting. The household was in such a state of urgency, yet here you were asking questions!

“Steward Xie.”

Third Master Xie: “Do you understand cherishing fragrant jade? Forget it—if you did, you wouldn’t still be a bachelor at your age.”

Steward Xie: “…”

He swallowed hard.

Third Master Xie politely made a gesture of invitation. “Miss, please!”

Yan Sanhe was silent for a moment, then walked straight past him.

Third Master Xie, treated as if he were air, didn’t seem annoyed at all. He smiled, raised his chin toward Zhu Qing and the others, and silently mouthed two words: Mission complete!

…

Walking out of the dark alley, Yan Sanhe discovered that many more people were lying in ambush outside.

These people’s clothing and appearance differed from the Xie manor’s guards—they looked more like government officials.

She smiled coldly. “I won’t go to the Xie manor. Have Xie Daozhi come see me!”

“You’re still dreaming!”

Steward Xie sprang back to life. “Who do you think you are, daring to…”

“If you don’t want misfortune for the Xie family, do as I say.”

Yan Sanhe pointed at the inn behind her. “I’ll wait for him there. You can post guards—just don’t make me wait too long. I’m not a patient person!”

With that, she put her hands behind her back and, under everyone’s stunned gazes, walked back into the inn.

Arrogant beyond all law!

“Third Master!”

The more Steward Xie watched, the angrier he became. He said hatefully: “Stop cherishing fragrant jade—break both her legs and drag her back.”

Only now did Xie Zhifei finally understand where exactly this “ruthless character’s” ruthlessness lay.

He smiled with interest and said to Zhu Qing behind him: “Go back and relay everything word for word to the Master and Young Master. Let them decide.”

Zhu Qing nodded once, and his figure had already disappeared into the night.

Xie Zhifei pulled out a jade token from his waist and tossed it to his subordinate.

“Notify this inn’s proprietor: the Military Command Bureau is investigating a case. The inn is requisitioned. Have all guests leave immediately. Third Master Xie of the Xie manor will cover the relocation expenses.”

“Yes!”

“Third Master, you actually believe her? She’s just playing tricks…”

“Xie Xiaohua, you shut up for me!”

Xie Zhifei’s usually smiling handsome face instantly turned cold.

“Use your pig brain to think—how many people in all the capital can toy with my father like that, dare to injure my big brother, and make you, Steward Xie, so angry you’re ready to die?”

Steward Xie: “…”

Xie Zhifei: “Look at the inn she chose—does she seem like someone short on silver?”

Steward Xie: “…”

“Third Master isn’t afraid of her playing tricks.”

Xie Zhifei straightened his clothing. “Third Master is afraid that every word she says is true.”

Steward Xie’s heart trembled violently.

…

Zhu Qing left quickly and returned just as quickly.

“Third Master, the old madam came personally. The Master and Young Master are with her. They’ll arrive shortly.”

“Oh?”

Xie Zhifei thoughtfully stroked his chin and beckoned to Steward Xie.

Steward Xie ran over guiltily. “Third Master?”

“See? Even the old ancestor came personally.”

Xie Zhifei frowned. “While we wait for them, tell me again in detail everything this young lady said and did when she entered the manor.”

This matter wasn’t simple!

This young lady wasn’t simple either!