“Jing Chen’s name at the Bureau of Music was Shishui. Twenty-five years ago, she was the courtesan there. This is the poem she wrote when she won the title.”

Yan Sanhe was secretly shocked.

Courtesan, Shishui;

Nunnery, Jing Chen.

These two identities were truly poles apart!

Yan Sanhe raised her head. “What else did you find out?”

Xie Zhifei lazily propped his chin. “Just this for now.”

This was already very good.

As long as the identity was confirmed, the rest would be easy. Even if it cost some silver.

The corners of Yan Sanhe’s mouth curved into a tiny arc.

“With identity confirmed, the rest will be easy.” Xie Zhifei’s eyes were deep.

Even if the Five Patrol Offices couldn’t find out, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have leads. At most three days, he guaranteed he’d find out Shishui’s past and present thoroughly.

But…

Third Master felt uncomfortable.

Not only uncomfortable, but itchy. And that itch—with no one to scratch it—simply wouldn’t subside.

Thinking this, Third Master Xie’s deep peach blossom eyes swept lightly over Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe’s hands on the table tightened slightly.

“In this world, there are too many good-looking people. Good-looking and intelligent people are fewer. Good-looking, intelligent people with two dimples at the corners of their mouths are rarer than phoenix feathers and qilin horns.”

Oh my!

Wow!

Xie Zhifei smiled, his brows flying toward his temples. “Yan Sanhe, why are you stating such obvious truths?”

So he was satisfied now.

Yan Sanhe asked next, “How many days?”

Xie Zhifei smiled without speaking and stood up to leave.

Yan Sanhe was about to call him back when she saw his hand behind his back proudly waving at her.

Five days?

“Miss Yan, satisfied?”

The man’s smiling voice scattered with the night wind. Miss Yan silently lowered her head.

Inhale;

Exhale.

Inhale again;

Exhale again.

Li Buyan laughed in exasperation. “What are you doing?”

“Embarrassing myself.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was muffled. “Never coaxed a man before.”

With such a slow reaction, couldn’t she tell that person did it deliberately?

Li Buyan tapped the table. “Look up. Listen to my story about the Bureau of Music.”

The story wasn’t long, but quite exciting.

After hearing it, Yan Sanhe forgot all about her embarrassment. “You didn’t tell them that verse was your mother’s work?”

“It’s not exactly my mother’s work—it was written by a great figure from my mother’s world.”

Li Buyan’s face showed complete indifference. “I looked at that young lady and felt sorry for her. Thought, forget it—I’ll give her that verse.”

“What a Great Hero Li who hides merit and fame.”

Yan Sanhe hesitated slightly. “Why did the Crown Prince Grandson want to support Zhuxiang?”

“Third Master and them didn’t say, and I was too lazy to ask. Probably wanted to compete with Prince Han!”

“That person would never want to compete without rhyme or reason.”

Yan Sanhe shook her head, not dwelling on it. “Buyan, bring me that scroll.”

“Still looking at it!”

“I only glanced hastily before—didn’t look carefully. I need to look again.”

Li Buyan brought the scroll over. As Yan Sanhe reached to take it, she suddenly pulled it away. “Oh right, Sanhe, Young Master Pei is at the residence.”

Yan Sanhe froze. Since that day he came to the Xie residence to propose, she hadn’t seen him again.

He and Xie Laosan were usually inseparable. Now he was at the Xie residence but didn’t come to the Quiet Reflection Residence, preferring to wait outside—was it because of guilt?

“I’ve verified that person’s eyes.”

Li Buyan crouched down before Yan Sanhe.

“He seems sharp-tongued and bad-tempered, but his core is upright and his heart is warm. No one’s more anxious about Jing Chen’s matter or the Crown Prince Grandson’s matter than him.”

“I know.”

Yan Sanhe’s expression suddenly became as deep as the night. “That’s why I proactively called him Pei Ming Ting.”

Making him a friend!

…

Xie Zhifei walked out of the Quiet Reflection Residence. From afar, he saw Ancestor Pei waiting by the roadside.

His temples immediately throbbed with pain—so much he wanted to pinch himself.

He walked over, his voice softening. “Everything’s been explained clearly. We’ll help her investigate that Shishui next. I promised her five days.”

“You have the nerve to say five days.”

Thinking of Yan Sanhe having to wait eagerly for five days, Young Master Pei wanted to curse. “With your Xie Wushi’s abilities, two days would suffice.”

“Ancestor, if this Jing Chen were an ordinary nun, tomorrow I could find out everyone lying in her family graves.”

Xie Zhifei: “This person was an official courtesan. Her family definitely committed crimes, and not minor ones. Don’t we need to do this discreetly?”

“Fine, fine, fine.”

Young Master Pei pointed at him. “In short, one thing—put your heart into it.”

Xie Zhifei pushed his hand away. “Going back, or sleeping at my place?”

“Going back!”

“This late?”

“Times are different now. Father and Mother are watching closely.”

“Then I’ll see you off.”

The two talked as they walked outside. Reaching the second gate, they unexpectedly ran into someone.

Seeing them, Xie Buhuo also froze, then smiled. “No wonder Wenyu and I came up empty—turns out Third Brother already returned.”

Xie Zhifei grunted.

“Is Young Master Pei leaving?”

“None of your damn business!”

“With no outsiders around, Young Master Pei doesn’t even bother with the act anymore?”

“You got that right.”

Pei Xiao was too lazy to waste words with this person. “Wushi, don’t see me off—go back!”

“Young Master Pei, please wait.”

Young Master Pei was inflamed by that call. “Who are you to tell me to wait?”

Second Master showed no anger, still smiling. “I just wanted to ask Young Master Pei—what did you think of Miss Zhuxiang’s poem?”

“Whether her poem was good or not, this master doesn’t know. This master only knows you’re up to no good.”

Finished speaking, Young Master Pei stormed off angrily.

Xie Buhuo watched his retreating figure, his eyes cold and lonely. Suddenly he brought up an old matter. “Third Brother, back then I only made you stand in the rain once, and he’s hated me all these years. Quite the grudge-holder!”

“That’s just how he is.”

Xie Zhifei smiled lowly, his brows and eyes fully open.

“Second Brother, don’t stoop to his level. In the future, avoid him a bit when you encounter him. Don’t push forward—it makes people uncomfortable.”

Xie Buhuo narrowed his eyes. “Is he uncomfortable, or are you uncomfortable, Third Brother?”

“He is me, and I am him.”

Smelling the strong alcohol on him, Xie Zhifei said indifferently, “Second Brother is drunk and talking too much. Rest early.”

“Third Brother, what did you think of the courtesan’s verse?”

Today’s Second Master Xie, whether from drinking or not, was not only talkative but tactless.

Xie Zhifei smiled coldly as he met his gaze.

There were many types of men, but Xie family men had only one type—

The phrase “appearing one way but being another” was tailor-made for Xie family men.

But this one before him had taken “appearing one way but being another” to the extreme.

It wasn’t just the rain incident. That “bad child” who was knocked down by Du Yiyun with a brick was Second Master Xie’s best childhood playmate.

Many of Third Master Xie’s dangerous incidents had this person’s shadow behind them.

He was like a rat hiding in a dark, damp cave, not daring to come out openly in daylight, preferring to sneak out of the hole at night.

And what Third Master Xie hated most were such petty people.

“I’m a crude person—I can’t comprehend it.”

After speaking, Xie Zhifei calmly withdrew his gaze, calmly turned and left, leaving Second Master Xie standing alone in place.

Wu Xing emerged from the shadows.

“Second Master, let’s go rest.”

Second Master Xie hadn’t moved his feet at all. Instead, he hooked his arm around Wu Xing’s shoulder. “Are you certain that verse was taught to Zhuxiang by Li Buyan?”

Wu Xing nodded.

“Master, this humble one saw it clearly. Li Buyan taught Miss Zhuxiang character by character.”