Xie Little Flower came bouncing over, taking out the cane in his hand and showing it to Yan Sanhe like presenting a treasure.

“Miss Yan, look—this carving, this color—truly nothing to complain about.”

“Steward Xie, are you cursing me to be lame for life?”

If only I had the nerve!

Steward Xie looked resentfully at Third Master: Third Master, will Little Flower take this blame?

You don’t need to!

Third Master took over the conversation. “The item is a gift from me. After half a month, you’ll need to slowly start walking—this way you’ll heal faster.”

Yan Sanhe was startled.

Before she could speak, Third Master continued, “If you’re truly moved, then think about what to give me? I’ve been spending heavily lately. If you really can’t think of anything, silver works too.”

“Buyan.”

Yan Sanhe said, “Give Third Master eight hundred taels of silver.”

“You’re really giving?”

This time, it was Xie Zhifei’s turn to be dumbfounded.

“Third Master has asked, how could I not give?”

Yan Sanhe took the cane and examined it. “If not for this item, then for Third Master mobilizing those connections for Jingchen.”

Hearing her say this, Xie Zhifei perked up and extended his hand. “Then eight hundred taels isn’t enough—need to add more and round it out!”

Yan Sanhe didn’t think twice and slapped his palm with a “pa.” “In your dreams.”

Xie Zhifei was speechless.

Xie Little Flower was speechless.

Yan Sanhe was also startled by her own action.

Why did I slap his palm?

Am I sick?

“Um…”

Her eyes flickered. “Sorry, Buyan asks me for silver by extending her hand, and I always slap her. It’s a habit.”

Li Buyan’s foot, just crossing the threshold, froze.

Miss, when have you ever managed the silver? Do you think someone as clever as Third Master can’t tell you’re lying?

“So Miss Yan is reluctant!”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes and brows were full of flying spirits. “If you’re reluctant, then don’t give it. Third Master will occasionally take a loss—happy to do so.”

I’m not happy.

Yan Sanhe gave Li Buyan a look. Li Buyan handed over the eight hundred tael silver note. “Miss rarely gives money proactively. Third Master, please take it!”

Xie Zhifei pretended not to see, extending his hand to rest on Yan Sanhe’s bamboo couch. “For me to take it, you need to let me slap your palm once.”

Yan Sanhe’s pink face flushed bright red. “…”

So he’s getting revenge?

Xie Little Flower thought, “…”

Good heavens, slapping back and forth—is this something Little Flower should be watching?

Just then, a young servant hurried into the courtyard. “Third Master, there’s someone called Mei Niang outside who says she needs to see you.”

Xie Zhifei put away his playful expression. “Did she say what about?”

“She said she’s seen those embroidered shoes somewhere else before.”

“Quick, quickly invite her in!”

Yan Sanhe’s face immediately lost its blush as she said urgently, “Buyan, go invite her yourself.”

…

Mei Niang was dragged into Jingsi Residence by Li Buyan.

“Miss, could you not walk slower? My heart’s about to jump out.”

As she spoke, she stroked her enormously large chest. “Old arms and legs—can’t compare to you young people.”

Yan Sanhe pointed to the chair before her. “Mei Niang, sit quickly. Tangyuan, pour tea. Buyan, bring out the embroidered shoes. Steward Xie, go busy yourself.”

“Yes!”

Steward Xie turned back every three steps, his eyes falling on Mei Niang’s chest: Tsk, so big! Wonder how it would feel to touch?

The door creaked shut.

After Mei Niang finished two cups of tea, she pointed at the embroidered shoes. “Miss Yan, could I look at those embroidered shoes again?”

“Look as much as you like.”

Mei Niang picked them up and examined them from all angles before saying, “After I went back, the more I thought about these shoes, the more familiar they seemed. I just couldn’t remember where I’d seen them.”

Seeing her explanation lacked context, Yan Sanhe said, “Mei Niang, speak more clearly.”

“I also used to have a pair of these shoes.”

Mei Niang explained, “Miss doesn’t care about dress and appearance, so you don’t know the patterns on embroidered shoes are particular.”

“How so?”

“Generally speaking, shoe uppers are embroidered with auspicious patterns like lotus births noble sons, pomegranates blooming hundreds of sons, paired butterflies courting flowers, dragon and phoenix dancing—these lucky designs.”

Mei Niang handed the embroidered shoes to Yan Sanhe. “Miss, look closely at the pattern on these shoe uppers. Can you tell what it is?”

“A stalk of twin lotus blooming in a pond.”

Mei Niang nodded. “Let’s move to the side room. Miss, pull up the curtain, then light lamps—several of them.”

“Buyan.”

“Right away!”

Everyone immediately sprang into action, quickly moving into the side room, drawing the curtain, and lighting lamps.

Mei Niang placed the embroidered shoes under the lamp. “Miss, look here—what do you see?”

Yan Sanhe was greatly surprised. “In this pond is actually a round moon reflected in the water.”

“Let me see.”

Xie Zhifei took the embroidered shoes. “Oh, it really is. Mei Niang, how is this done?”

“The embroidery thread is different.”

Mei Niang explained, “This kind of thread must be viewed under lamplight to see it. That day I was careless. Although I looked under a lamp, I didn’t examine it so carefully.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Mei Niang, you said you also have such a pair of shoes?”

“Yes.”

Mei Niang sighed. “Back then, I only thought about how to attract attention. Seeing such a rare item, I found a way to get myself a pair too.”

Again, this lacked context. Yan Sanhe heard it in confusion.

Xie Zhifei, seeing her frown, quickly coughed. “Mei Niang was formerly the top courtesan at Lichun Courtyard.”

Lichun Courtyard?

A pleasure house?

Men’s pleasure den?

The air suddenly froze.

Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan exchanged glances, neither knowing what to say.

Instead, Mei Niang laughed softly. “I apologize to Third Master—I’ve startled Miss Yan.”

“Don’t say that!”

Yan Sanhe spoke before Xie Zhifei could.

“In this world, no girl from a good family would willingly go to such a place. Everyone has their difficulties. I should be the one apologizing for making you remember the past.”

Mei Niang froze, gazing quietly at Yan Sanhe for a moment before laughing again. “Hey, what past or not past? I’ve long forgotten it all clean. Otherwise, how could I have only thought of the embroidered shoes after all these days?”

Yan Sanhe reached out and patted Mei Niang’s hand lightly. “Then let’s get back to the embroidered shoes.”

A cool sensation seeped beneath the skin.

A strange emotion rose in Mei Niang’s heart—she didn’t feel cold, only warm.

“As Miss knows, what Lichun Courtyard never lacks are young ladies who are youthful, beautiful, and shapely.

Though I was a top courtesan, flowers don’t stay red for a hundred days. There’s always the day when one grows old and loses beauty. When a person ages, skin loosens, flesh loosens—men don’t find you attractive anymore.”

Mei Niang’s expression gradually darkened as she spoke, though she claimed to have forgotten everything.

“But after staying at the top for so long, I didn’t want to fall. So I started having other little ideas. Heh, nothing more than being more distinctive and novel in dress and appearance.

One day, I heard a patron say that in the Jiaofang Si, young ladies wore such embroidered shoes at night to please men. I had my maid go inquire about it.”

“Wait!”

“Wait!”

Yan Sanhe and Xie Zhifei simultaneously shouted these two words.

The two looked at each other, and Yan Sanhe blurted out, “You mean the person wearing these shoes was a young lady from the Jiaofang Si?”