Lady Zhu walked out of the Quiet Reflection Residence. After walking some distance, she couldn’t help but stop.

“Chuntao, don’t you feel that Third Brother and Miss Yan are somewhat…”

“I noticed.”

Chuntao said quietly, “Third Master looks at Miss Yan with bright eyes. As for Miss Yan, when facing Third Master, her gaze is evasive—she seems somewhat uncomfortable.”

Lady Zhu looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then sighed softly. “Previously, the Master’s intention was to betroth Miss Yan to Second Master.”

Chuntao was shocked. “Then…”

Chuntao didn’t dare say what came next, but Lady Zhu understood perfectly well.

The First Branch and Second Branch had never gotten along. The current equilibrium was maintained only through the Master’s mediation. If Second Brother and Third Brother truly came to争 over a Yan Sanhe, even the Master might not be able to suppress it.

“I’m afraid the days ahead won’t be peaceful.”

Hearing this, Chuntao began worrying for Yan Sanhe. “How difficult it must be for Miss Yan, caught in the middle.”

“Indeed.”

Lady Zhu ground her back teeth together. “Madam is determined to find Third Brother a high-born match. With Miss Yan’s family background, Madam would never approve. Just watch—there’ll be plenty of trouble ahead.”

…

At the Zhichun Courtyard.

After Lady Wu finished serving Old Madam her noon meal, she returned to her own courtyard. After drinking half a bowl of sour plum soup, she reclined on a bamboo daybed.

Two young maids held beauty fists, massaging her legs from either side.

Stewardess Li hurried in, lifting the curtain. She approached and called softly, “Madam.”

Lady Wu lifted her eyelids. Seeing it was her, she waved her hand. “You may all withdraw.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Stewardess Li waited for the two maids to leave, then picked up a beauty fist from the table. While massaging, she spoke in a low voice:

“Madam, Third Young Master had his noon meal at the Quiet Reflection Residence. Last night when he returned, he went to the Quiet Reflection Residence first as well.”

Lady Wu snorted coldly through her nose.

“In the past, when Young Master returned from outside, he would first pay respects to Old Madam, then come to Madam’s quarters to chat and laugh. Now, seduced by that vixen, he’s even cast aside his elders.”

Stewardess Li sighed. “Madam, you must intervene!”

Intervene?

Upon hearing this, Lady Wu felt both angry and resentful. “If I intervene any further, the Master will divorce me.”

“But Madam, you are the Master’s first wife. How could he, for the sake of some outsider…”

The words remained unfinished, but the grievance in Lady Wu’s heart had already overflowed.

More than just a first wife?

Since marrying into the Xie family, she had been filial to her mother-in-law, educated her children, and accompanied the Master through the hardest, most difficult times. Along this path, if she hadn’t achieved merit, she’d at least endured hardship.

“Madam, this old servant has heard something else—Second Young Master also frequently visits the Quiet Reflection Residence!”

“Truly?” Lady Wu sat up with a start.

“My good Madam, would this old servant speak carelessly about such matters?”

Stewardess Li secretly observed Lady Wu’s expression. “Madam, think carefully—from Young Master Pei, to Second Young Master, and now our Third Young Master…”

“She’s cut from the same cloth as that woman surnamed Liu.” Lady Wu slapped the small table, her teeth grinding with hatred.

“If she weren’t cut from the same cloth, how could the Pei couple rush over so urgently?”

Stewardess Li continued, “Madam, you managed to block Young Master Pei, but you must also block Third Young Master. You cannot just endure silently!”

“Tell me…”

Lady Wu grabbed Stewardess Li’s arm like grasping a lifeline. “What should I do?”

“Madam, this old servant does have a plan, but it depends on whether Madam can swallow her pride…”

…

Xie Zhifei never dreamed that his well-guarded secret would be exposed by Lady Zhu, all because of his pair of peach blossom eyes.

Leaving the Quiet Reflection Residence, he headed straight to the teahouse, having arranged to meet several good brothers from the Embroidered Uniform Guard there.

First tea, then wine. After arranging the matters to be investigated, he returned to the Xie Manor.

He didn’t know why, but ever since that certain someone had taken up residence at the Quiet Reflection Residence, tea and wine no longer held the same appeal—even listening to songs at pleasure houses had lost its fragrance.

Upon arriving home, he first visited Grandmother’s quarters, then made a round to Lady Wu’s rooms, before Third Master finally returned to his own courtyard.

After bathing and changing clothes, he lay in bed, savoring the words Yan Sanhe had used to coax him during the day, his heart brimming with sweetness.

Zhu Qing lifted the curtain and entered. “Master?”

“What is it?”

“The villa has requested that Master come over.”

“I just returned from outside. Going out again will definitely arouse suspicion.”

Third Master Xie sat up abruptly. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Go tell my father that Young Master Pei is throwing a drunken tantrum outside because of Yan Sanhe, and I’m going to talk him down.”

“Yes!”

Zhu Qing left the Shi’an Courtyard. Without needing to inquire, he knew the Master would certainly be resting at the Muxiang Courtyard.

The Muxiang Courtyard’s gate was already secured for the night.

Zhu Qing knocked several times before a matron came to open it.

Seeing it was Third Master’s trusted aide, the matron didn’t dare show attitude. She asked politely, “Are you looking for the Master?”

“Third Master has sent me to relay a message to the Master…”

After the matron heard, she closed the door and immediately passed the message to the maid keeping night watch outside.

The maid stood by the door, listened to the sounds inside for a while, and seeing nothing unusual, dared to knock and report.

After hearing the message, Xie Daozhi laughed in exasperation.

“That boy is also utterly lawless—taking such a major matter as marriage proposals into his own hands.”

“When a man is of marriageable age and a woman is of marriageable age, if they’ve caught each other’s eye, there’s nothing to be done about it.”

Concubine Liu spoke softly and gently. “Moreover, with Miss Yan’s appearance and character, who wouldn’t be pleased?”

Xie Daozhi looked surprised. “You also think highly of her?”

“Though I haven’t met Miss Yan many times, just for saving Wanshu, she deserves praise.”

Xie Daozhi found this very agreeable.

“Some people are like radishes—the top grows quite lush with branches and leaves, but the root and stem below haven’t developed properly, so inside it’s hollow.”

“The Master saying this… it seems Miss Yan must be solid inside.”

“Solid or hollow depends on whether one can discern it.”

Xie Daozhi sighed. “The Pei family has the Pei family’s difficulties. Some things can’t be explained in a sentence or two—it just depends on whether that fate exists.”

“Then will the Master consider whether Second Brother has that fate with Miss Yan?”

Xie Daozhi was startled, looking down at the woman in his arms.

The woman made no attempt to hide her thoughts. “The Pei family may look down on her, but I don’t. Having such a person as Second Brother’s wife would still be wronging the young lady.”

“You actually think this way?” Xie Daozhi was even more surprised.

“It’s not that I think this way—I trust the Master’s judgment.”

Concubine Liu pressed her face against the man’s chest.

“I am merely an inner-quarters woman. I understand nothing, see nothing clearly. I only know one thing—if the Master says she’s solid, then she as a person cannot be wrong.”

This was exactly what his woman should be—listening to him, trusting him, supporting him, rather than constantly opposing him.

“Secondly, I have a selfish motive. I don’t want the Master to be in a difficult position.”

“How do you mean?”

“Logically, Second Brother has long since reached marriageable age. The Master has delayed making arrangements because, fundamentally, he fears wronging Second Brother.”

“You…”

Xie Daozhi drew in a sharp breath. “You saw through this?”

“If I hadn’t seen through it, how could I allow the Master to pay no attention to Second Brother’s marriage?”

“You truly understand me!”

Xie Daozhi sighed. “In his studies, I’ve already wronged him. In the major matter of marriage, I wanted to find him a good match.”

But for a son born of a concubine to marry well—how could that be easy?

Moreover, if the match was too advantageous, Old Madam would likely disapprove.

“What is good, what is bad? For a married couple, as long as they’re of one heart, that matters more than anything.”

These words struck right at Xie Daozhi’s heart. His feelings of tender affection surged. He gently stroked the woman’s back, again and again.

“If the Master truly wants to make arrangements for Second Brother, there’s no need to pursue high status. If the status is too high, Second Brother won’t be able to manage it either.”

Concubine Liu propped herself up halfway. “It’s enough if the young lady is intelligent, practical, learned, sensible, and proper.”

“This matter isn’t urgent. Let me think about it…”

Xie Daozhi gazed at the woman’s bright eyes, then suddenly turned over, pressing her beneath him.