Though he could move swiftly, his injuries weren’t completely healed yet. Too lazy to ride a horse, Xie Zhifei had Zhu Qing drive the carriage.

Li Buyan really didn’t want to share a carriage with this flamboyant man, but she had to steel herself and get in.

This trip, she needed to tell this lord everything they’d learned about Jing Chen so far, so he’d have a clear picture in mind.

Just as the carriage was about to start, Xie Zhifei suddenly lifted the curtain. “What has Ming Ting been doing these past days? Haven’t seen him around.”

Zhu Qing shook his head, indicating he didn’t know. “Master, should I send someone to the Buddhist Registry to ask?”

“Go ask.” Xie Zhifei felt somewhat uneasy.

“Yes!”

Zhu Qing jumped down from the carriage and gave instructions to a young servant behind him before driving the carriage away.

Who could have predicted that just after Third Master left, the Young Master Pei he’d been thinking about arrived at the Xie residence.

Young Master Pei didn’t come alone. Besides Huang Qi, he was followed by a woman dressed in festive colors.

Seeing these two, Steward Xie froze. “Young Master Pei, are you here to…”

“Don’t ask.”

Young Master Pei: “Where’s your old madam? I need to see her!”

“At this hour, the old madam is in her own courtyard. This old servant will take you to her…”

“Not to her courtyard—to your Xie family’s main hall.”

Young Master Pei puffed out his chest. “Also summon First Madam and Madam—I have important business.”

Steward Xie responded with a “Yes” and sent people to open the main hall doors while personally going to fetch them.

Hearing it was Young Master Pei calling, the old madam quickly had maids help her change into suitable clothes for receiving guests.

Regardless of the monk’s face, she had to respect the Buddha’s face. Just for Doctor Pei’s care of everyone in the Xie family, the old madam couldn’t bear to slight the Pei family’s younger generation.

Moreover, this child had been close with Third since childhood—the old madam had long treated him as half a grandson.

In the main hall, ice basins were placed in the four corners, their coolness penetrating.

Pei Xiao sat up straight, slowly sipping tea while occasionally giving instructions to the woman beside him.

Before long, footsteps sounded outside.

Pei Xiao set down his teacup, straightened his official robes, and stood up to greet them.

Outside the courtyard, First Branch’s mother and daughter-in-law supported the old madam as they entered.

Pei Xiao stepped forward to take the old madam’s arm, speaking in soft, gentle tones, coaxing until the old madam’s face bloomed with delight.

Madam Zhu watched the old woman and young man ahead and couldn’t help glancing at Steward Xie.

Steward Xie understood the meaning of First Madam’s glance.

Young Master Pei was different from Third Master—he wasn’t the type to flatter people. Those who caught his eye got a word or two; those who didn’t wouldn’t even get a sidelong glance, much less flattery.

Others flattered him instead.

For Young Master Pei to lower his posture now and coax the old madam like Third Master did…

Something abnormal must be afoot!

Steward Xie walked to First Madam’s side and whispered with his hand covering his mouth, “First Madam, let’s just watch and see.”

Madam Zhu nodded.

After the old madam was seated in the place of honor, everyone else took their seats one by one.

Only then did the Xie family’s women notice another person sitting in the room—someone smiling amiably, with graceful and composed movements.

The old madam took a sip of warm tea and smiled. “This lady is…”

The woman stood and curtsied to the old madam. “Old Madam, I’m a matchmaker Young Master Pei invited. My surname is Wang—Old Madam can call me Matchmaker Wang.”

Matchmaker Wang?

The “recovering” Madam Wu’s expression changed slightly.

Over the years, due to her daughter’s marriage prospects, she’d learned something about the matchmakers in the capital.

This Matchmaker Wang specialized in arranging matches for high-ranking families. The marriages she’d facilitated were countless.

For Young Master Pei to invite her, he was most likely here to propose to one of the Xie family’s young ladies. The Xie family only had two eligible young ladies—his own daughter was impossible, which left only Second Branch’s girl.

A concubine’s daughter marrying a legitimate son, and from a family like the Peis at that…

Madam Wu ground her back molars, thinking truly that what one feared would come to pass.

The old madam’s expression also changed slightly.

Could Young Master Pei have taken a fancy to Second Miss?

If so, the Xie and Pei families joining through marriage would indeed be a joyous occasion.

It was just that for a family of the Peis’ standing, the dowry couldn’t be handled carelessly—they’d need to add thirty percent more to make it presentable.

The Xie residence’s two women had already started their calculations.

Only Madam Zhu felt her heart skip a beat.

First and Second Branches had never gotten along. For Third’s sake, there was absolutely no reason Young Master Pei would fancy Second Miss.

First Miss was even more impossible.

Looking around the entire Xie residence, only one person remained—the one in the Quiet Reflection Residence.

If he’d really taken a fancy to her, it would indeed be a great joy. But the problem was Young Master Pei had come calling in person—this didn’t follow protocol.

Where were Master Pei and Madam Pei?

Did they know about this?

Or were they completely in the dark?

The old madam smiled warmly. “Matchmaker Wang, are you here to arrange a match for our family?”

“Old Madam guessed correctly.”

Matchmaker Wang smiled broadly.

“They say when a family has a daughter, a hundred families seek her. Your esteemed household is a family of poetry and propriety, most noble indeed. The young ladies you’ve raised are naturally well-read, cultured, gentle and virtuous. This old woman has come on Young Master Pei’s behalf to make a proposal.”

This stream of flattery made the old madam beam with delight.

The old madam glanced at Young Master Pei.

Dressed in brand new official robes, handsome appearance, distinguished bearing—the more she looked, the more she liked him.

“Good, good, good!”

The old madam’s teeth were about to smile away.

“The Pei and Xie families have deep connections. Not to mention our two masters’ decades of friendship, even the younger generation have been close since childhood. This truly couldn’t be better. Someone, go fetch Concubine Liu and have her listen as well.”

“Why call her?”

Pei Xiao quickly stopped her. “Old Madam, there’s no need to call her. You can make the decision.”

“You child…”

The old madam smiled reproachfully and glared at him. “Concubine Liu is after all that girl’s birth mother. No matter what, for such a major life event as marriage, she should…”

“Old Madam, you’ve got it wrong.” Pei Xiao quickly signaled Matchmaker Wang with his eyes.

Matchmaker Wang hurried forward a step, smiling. “Old Madam, it’s my fault for not speaking clearly. Young Master Pei wishes to marry Master Xie’s goddaughter, Miss Yan Sanhe.”

Yan Sanhe?

Those three characters struck like thunder on the foreheads of both the old madam and Madam Wu.

The old madam couldn’t even move her eyes.

How could it be her?

Madam Wu felt a surge of wild joy in her heart, so delighted she nearly couldn’t restrain herself from shouting “Excellent!”

This way, not only would Second Branch gain no advantage, but that Yan Sanhe would also be less entangled with their Third in the future—truly unexpected!

But thinking again, why should that Yan Sanhe marry so well? Besides her blind eyes, how was her daughter inferior?

Wild joy turned to waves of sourness, so sour that Madam Wu wanted to demand: Heavens, do you have eyes?

Seeing the oppressive atmosphere in the room, Madam Zhu quickly glanced at Steward Xie.

Steward Xie practically took off running.

Oh my goodness, this is incredible!

Oh my goodness, absolutely incredible!

Young Master Pei had actually come to propose to Miss Yan—how, how, how could this be!

Madam Zhu, having seen the world, walked smiling to Pei Xiao.

“Young Master Pei, sister-in-law must ask an inappropriate question—do Doctor Pei and Madam Pei know about this proposal?”

Nonsense!

If they knew, would I need to come calling in person?

Pei Xiao raised his head, his face serious. “Elder Sister-in-law, in matters of marriage, parents’ decree and matchmaker’s word are required, correct?”

Madam Zhu nodded. “Correct!”

Pei Xiao: “I’ve brought the matchmaker, and the word has been spoken. The protocol is correct, isn’t it?”

Madam Zhu nodded again. “Not wrong.”

Pei Xiao: “Since it’s not wrong, that settles it. Whether my parents know or not—what does it matter?”

Another thunderbolt struck down.

This time, even Madam Zhu was hit squarely.

As she’d predicted, this boy had actually come to propose without his family’s knowledge.

What kind of behavior was this!