With this glance, Madam Zhu finally noticed Li Buyan’s attractive features.

The maid had a plain face, with eyes of light grayish-brown and tender pink lips—warm as late spring.

“Third Master also had an incident and still hasn’t woken up. The eldest master and others are all keeping watch over there. If Young Master Pei hadn’t mentioned it, we wouldn’t have known Miss’s foot was sprained.”

Madam Zhu collected herself. “Miss should have sent someone to report.”

The words sounded reproachful but were actually self-recrimination. Yan Sanhe didn’t have a clever tongue and stiffly replied with one word: “Oh!”

“The master is busy with outside affairs and hasn’t returned to the residence yet. I came over first to check on things. Later they’ll all come see Miss. Please set your mind at ease, Miss.”

Same injuries—one courtyard packed with people, one lying alone in bed.

Madam Zhu said this fearing Yan Sanhe might feel upset.

How could she know that Yan Sanhe was naturally missing that particular sensitivity? “There’s really no need for everyone to come. I’m truly fine.”

Hearing this, Madam Zhu felt heartache. After all, she was a child without parents—so sensible it hurt.

“Eldest Madam.” Chuntao called from the courtyard.

Madam Zhu knew something had come up and had to stand. “I’ll go attend to things first. When I’m free, I’ll come keep Miss company and chat.”

Though cold, Yan Sanhe could distinguish who was sincere and who wasn’t with perfect clarity. “Good!”

Madam Zhu instructed Li Buyan a few more things before lifting the curtain to leave.

Seeing her emerge, Chuntao quickly stepped forward to support her while walking and explaining the situation.

After listening, Madam Zhu issued instructions one by one.

Suddenly, her words halted. “That’s not right!”

“What’s not right, Eldest Madam?”

Madam Zhu’s elegant brows drew together as she muttered to herself, “Why didn’t she mention Third Master at all? Isn’t she curious about how Third Master got injured?”

…

Of course Yan Sanhe wasn’t curious.

When she woke to find herself lying in Jingsi Residence and recalled Shen Chong’s palm strike, she’d figured out seventy to eighty percent of the situation.

She’d figured it out, but Li Buyan beside her was still confused.

She chattered on about being knocked out by Zhu Qing, about waking in the Grand Heir’s villa…

“Sanhe, I still don’t understand what happened. Zhu Qing and I are supposed to be on the same side—why did he knock me out?”

Same side?

Yan Sanhe endured the severe pain in her foot. “Let me ask you—how are Zhu Qing’s martial skills?”

Li Buyan: “About equal to mine.”

Yan Sanhe: “On our entire journey to Nanning, did you ever see him leave Third Master’s side without permission?”

Li Buyan: “He’s like an abacus bead—Third Master flicks once, he moves once.”

Yan Sanhe: “When Third Master was abducted, what was he doing?”

Li Buyan fell silent.

Yan Sanhe: “Put it this way—my incident was an accident. Third Master’s incident wasn’t.”

What?

Li Buyan’s eyes nearly popped out.

Yan Sanhe: “He deliberately let Xu Sheng abduct him, deliberately got beaten until he was barely human or ghost. His purpose was to bring down the Xu family.”

Li Buyan’s eyes widened another degree.

Yan Sanhe: “My incident disrupted their plan, so Zhu Qing had to knock you out—he was afraid you’d go cause trouble at the Xu estate.”

Li Buyan was stunned. “I was planning exactly that!”

Yan Sanhe: “Shen Chong knocked me out because they couldn’t make their move to rescue. The Embroidered Uniform Guards arrived right after—he didn’t have time to explain.”

Li Buyan’s eyes widened yet another degree.

Yan Sanhe: “If nothing unexpected happened, the Xu family is finished. This move, in the Thirty-Six Stratagems, is called ‘inviting someone into the trap.'”

“And you talk about Thirty-Six Stratagems!”

Li Buyan rubbed her aching eyes and exclaimed, “Who would have thought—Third Master’s brain is quite sharp!”

“Not just a sharp brain, but also daring enough to risk everything.”

Placing oneself in mortal danger to survive afterward—everyone could say it, but few could actually do it.

This person shouldn’t be called Xie the Wastrel or Xie the Exquisite—he should be called Xie the Ruthless.

Yan Sanhe: “The Crown Prince’s side just lost the Ji family. Prince Han’s side now loses Xu Lai. The power struggle in the capital’s official circles is fierce.”

Li Buyan felt lingering fear. “With my brain, if they sold me, I’d still smile and count money for them, praising them for the good sale. No wonder Lord Pei calls me stupid.”

“You’re not stupid. They’re just too calculating.”

Yan Sanhe closed her eyes wearily. “In a bit, go check on Xie Zhifei’s actual injuries. And find out what happened to the Xu father and son.”

Li Buyan: “I should go look. After all, when he schemed against others, he not only placed people by your side but also saved you.”

Yan Sanhe thought about her injured foot and hummed inwardly.

What was that saying again?

Should I repay this life-saving grace with a gushing spring?

…

Shi’an Courtyard.

Lights blazed brightly.

Pei Yu emerged from the east wing once again.

Xie Erli stepped forward. “How is it, Uncle Pei?”

Pei Yu glanced at his son. “Looks bloody and frightening, but they’re all external injuries. Within ten days, guaranteed to be jumping around again.”

Jumping around in just ten days?

Pei Xiao didn’t know whether to despise Xu Sheng for being too gentle or praise Xie Wushi for being too resilient.

Madam Zhu was overjoyed and bowed three times to the heavens. “Amitabha, thank heaven and earth. I’ll go report to the Old Madam and Madam right away.”

The Imperial Medical Bureau still had a pile of matters. Pei Yu patted Xie Erli’s shoulder. “Have the servants be careful. Don’t let the wounds touch water. Diet should be light. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Father, don’t leave yet.”

Pei Xiao lowered his voice. “External injuries are still injuries. With Xie Wushi’s short-lived constitution, it’ll take months to recover properly. Don’t you agree?”

Imperial Physician Pei and Xie Erli both froze, four gazes fixing directly on Pei Xiao.

Pei Xiao felt intimidated but steeled himself. “Father, don’t we still have that century-old ginseng at home? Xie Wushi’s vital energy is severely damaged—won’t you nourish him?”

Imperial Physician Pei looked at the little brat he’d spawned.

This imperial physician lies about diagnoses and has to throw in a century-old ginseng besides?

This really was like peach blossoms blooming in the dead of winter—utterly unexpected!

“Mingting!”

Xie Erli suddenly spoke. “Go inside and watch over Third Brother.”

Pei Mingting saw his father’s expression and slipped away faster than a rabbit.

Though his words were ambiguous, the Xie family’s eldest was clever—having said this much, he should understand somewhat.

Indeed, Xie Erli coughed. “Uncle Pei, let me see you out.”

Seeing someone out meant having words to say.

Pei Yu understood perfectly.

Whose side his son worked for—both he and Xie Daozhi turned a blind eye. The brat looked unreliable, but he never spoke carelessly.

Especially at a juncture like this.

The Xie and Pei families, if nothing else, shared the fate of their sons—prosperity together, loss together.

“The brat is right. External injuries are still injuries. I’ll have someone send over that century-old ginseng later so your Third Brother can recuperate properly.”

Xie Erli was genuinely moved and said sincerely, “Thank you, Uncle Pei.”

“Thank me for what? Your Third Brother was raised before my eyes. I consider him half a son.”

Pei Yu waved his hand. “Don’t see me out. Go back!”

“Uncle Pei, take care.”

Xie Erli watched Pei Yu leave, turned to look at Shi’an Residence, and secretly ground his back teeth with a cold smile.

That brat wasted his clever brain—who uses their own precious body as bait?

“Steward Xie.”

“Present.”

“You personally guard here. I’m going to Jingsi Residence.”

“Eldest Master, rest assured.”