When Xie Zhifei was carried by Zhu Qing to Jingsi Residence, the people inside were busy as a group.

Tangyuan was hanging clothes in the courtyard.

Li Buyan was just carrying Yan Sanhe out from the side room.

Yan Sanhe looked up and froze.

How had this person come again?

This person lied without drafting first: “Received two taels of cordyceps sinensis to give you. But most importantly, I came to hear about Water Moon Nunnery’s affairs.”

I see you’re just idle!

Yan Sanhe saw his face was very pale and softened a bit, gesturing toward the tree with her chin. “Zhu Qing, put your busybody master over there.”

Xie Zhifei raised an eyebrow. “Incredible—this is treatment for honored guests. What virtue or ability do I possess?”

“Third Master overthinks. This is the disabled seating,” Li Buyan laughed.

“Mm, Third Master qualifies for one disability and sits righteously confident.”

Xie Zhifei patted Zhu Qing. “Put me down.”

“I’ll go move another bamboo couch for the young lady.”

Tangyuan moved out a bamboo couch, settled both disabled persons, then quickly went to brew tea and brought out several plates of melon, fruit, and snacks.

Seeing both had foreheads full of sweat, she took a fan and stood behind them, fanning left twice, then right twice.

At this moment, Li Buyan handed a rouge box to Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe glanced at Zhu Qing. “Zhu Qing, close the door.”

“Yes!”

Xie Zhifei turned his head, curious. “Where did that come from?”

Yan Sanhe said nothing, only held the rouge box in her hand, turning it over and examining it from all angles.

In the bundle Li Buyan retrieved, there were only three items in total.

One set of clothes, one pair of embroidered shoes, and the rouge box in her hand. The rouge inside had dissolved in water, leaving only an empty shell.

She and Li Buyan never used such things. The only one who would know…

Yan Sanhe handed it over. “Third Master, look at this rouge box. Is it a recent style or one from the past?”

“Sanhe, I’m a proper person.”

The more pain Xie Zhifei was in, the more roguishly he smiled. “What proper person studies these things?”

Yan Sanhe said, “Proper people don’t go to pleasure houses to listen to songs either.”

“Yan Sanhe, you need to listen to my explanation on this matter.”

Xie Zhifei looked wronged. “Though I did go to a pleasure house, and I did listen to songs, but…”

“No buts.”

Yan Sanhe’s expression turned serious. “This item is very important. Help me look quickly!”

“Where did it come from?”

Xie Zhifei put away his impropriety and asked again.

“Jingchen used it before she died. Along with those clothes, it was thrown in the river. Buyan dove in to retrieve it.”

The fan behind them suddenly stopped.

Both turned their heads simultaneously—

They saw Tangyuan’s face deathly pale, eyes fixed and staring, as if two of her three souls had departed.

Xie Zhifei coughed: She still doesn’t know anything?

Yan Sanhe blinked: Mm.

Xie Zhifei coughed again: This maid is already your person. You should let her know something.

Yan Sanhe: Let her figure it out herself!

Xie Zhifei took the box and lowered his head to examine it. “…This style doesn’t quite seem like current fashion.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “What’s the current style?”

“I’m a proper man—I don’t really understand these things.”

After Third Master clarified his propriety once again, he said, “I’ll help you find someone knowledgeable to ask.”

“Make sure they know.”

“Not only do they know, they know very well.”

“Then I’m grateful.”

Yan Sanhe pointed at the clothes hanging on the pole. “Third Master, take another look at those. Why are they pieced together section by section?”

Third Master had examined them carefully as soon as he entered the courtyard. “This is a water-field robe, also called a hundred-patch robe.”

“Water-field robe?”

“It’s sewn together from various scraps of colored fabric. Because the entire garment’s fabrics crisscross in colors, resembling a water field, it got this name.”

Xie Zhifei continued, “After our founding emperor won the realm, he had no silver in his coffers. Our late empress was also frugal, so she sewed these mixed-colored cloth scraps into garments for princesses and imperial consorts to wear.

Later, it became fashionable among young ladies and new brides in the capital.”

“Are these clothes common?”

“They weren’t common in the past but are quite common now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Things that flow out from the palace initially circulate among high families and distinguished officials. Only gradually do they spread to the common people.”

“When did this water-field robe spread among common people?”

This?

How would he know that?

Xie Zhifei’s brows furrowed tightly. He thought for a moment, then looked toward Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing understood the meaning in his master’s glance and quickly said, “I’ll go invite that person right away.”

Xie Zhifei remembered his father’s instructions and quickly added, “Walk openly through the front gate. No need to avoid notice.”

“Yes!”

After walking a few steps, Zhu Qing thought something was wrong and turned back. “Master, what about you if I leave?”

“What about me?”

Xie Zhifei glared. “Won’t Miss Yan and Miss Li take care of me?”

Zhu Qing walked before Yan Sanhe. “Please help me look after Third Master, Miss. I’ll return immediately.”

Yan Sanhe was speechless. Making her, a person with an injured leg, look after someone covered in wounds?

Zhu Qing pulled open the door.

The people inside and outside the door simultaneously froze.

“First Mistress?”

Madam Zhu smiled. “Where’s Third Master?”

Zhu Qing stepped aside. Madam Zhu walked into the courtyard and saw two bamboo couches side by side. She truly wanted to call these two “ancestors” from the bottom of her heart.

The entire Xie Manor was busy running around because of these two people’s injuries. Yet here they were—one whom the physician instructed couldn’t leave bed for half a month had already moved to the courtyard; the other couldn’t even stay in her own courtyard.

“Sister-in-law.”

Xie Zhifei frowned. “How did you come?”

Madam Zhu pointed at two maids. “People from the Old Lady’s courtyard, for Third Brother to use. Take a look. If you’re satisfied, keep them. If not, I’ll report back to Madam and select others.”

Report back to Madam?

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhifei knew this was his mother’s idea. He couldn’t refuse. “Then keep them for now. Sister-in-law, please arrange them.”

The two maids, hearing Third Master would keep them, quickly kowtowed in gratitude.

At this moment, Madam Zhu walked to Yan Sanhe’s side, lifted her skirt hem to crouch down. “How’s your foot? Does it still hurt?”

Yan Sanhe closed her eyes briefly at her. “It doesn’t hurt much anymore. Don’t crouch—get up quickly.”

“Rest well. I’m going to get busy.”

Madam Zhu patted Yan Sanhe’s arm, then left with the two maids.

As soon as she left, the courtyard gate closed again.

Madam Zhu stopped in her tracks and turned around, her gaze falling on the vermilion gate, her elegant brows gradually knitting together.

Little Third was someone who, though appearing utterly unreliable, had extreme propriety regarding women. Yet now, when he himself was too injured to get out of bed, he kept running to Jingsi Residence…

Did the two have important matters?

Or did Little Third’s heart harbor feelings for the person in that courtyard?

“Xiaohong, Lüqi!” Madam Zhu suddenly called out coldly.

“First Mistress.”

“There’s one more important matter about serving in Third Master’s courtyard.”

Madam Zhu’s expression grew stern. “What you see, what you hear—which matters should be spoken of, which shouldn’t—you must have discretion, have calculation in your hearts.”

“Yes!”

Madam Zhu said, “Your belongings have all been arranged, so you needn’t follow me. Just stand guard outside Jingsi Residence’s door!”

“Yes!”

The two maids lowered their heads and quickly ran to stand outside Jingsi Residence’s gate, one on the left, one on the right.

Chuntao stepped forward to support Madam Zhu, speaking in a voice only the two could hear. “Why did First Mistress leave them there now?”

“For Madam to see.”

Madam Zhu exhaled quietly.

“Little Third, a grown man lingering in Miss Yan’s courtyard—Madam’s heart surely isn’t comfortable. She can’t bear to scold her own son, so Miss Yan will bear her resentment.”