“We only discussed poetry and literature. Nothing more.”

“You’re wasting heaven’s gifts!”

Young Master Pei looked utterly disappointed. “I feel embarrassed for you.”

You still have the nerve to feel embarrassed for me?

Zhao Yishi shot Xie Zhifei a look. “Young Master Pei, who concealed the truth from his parents and ran to the Xie residence to propose marriage?”

When it came to kicking someone while they’re down, Third Master most enjoyed doing so. “Huairen, you left something out—he even brought along Matchmaker Wang!”

Zhao Yishi asked, “Is this embarrassing or not?”

Xie Zhifei rubbed his nose. “He’s not embarrassed, but I am.”

Young Master Pei fell silent.

Zhao Yishi continued, “By the way, Fifty, how did Miss Yan respond to him?”

Xie Zhifei replied, “Miss Yan said, ‘Please have your manor’s elders come forward with a matchmaker, choose an auspicious day, and come again with proper calling cards.'”

Zhao Yishi pressed, “Speak plainly.”

Xie Zhifei translated, “In plain words, that means—Get lost, stop pestering me.”

How heart-piercing!

Pei Xiao mentally spat “Bah” at him. “Xie Fifty, one should be kind in conduct and accumulate virtue in speech. Be careful of karmic retribution.”

Xie Zhifei froze. “Son of a…”

Pei Xiao, having just gained the upper hand, grew smug. “Calling me father won’t help.”

Xie Zhifei kicked at him. “Surnamed Pei, you’re like a stone in a latrine pit—both smelly and hard.”

Pei Xiao nimbly dodged. “Surnamed Xie, you’re worse than a stone in a latrine pit. Though I’m smelly, I’m hard. Are you hard?”

Xie Zhifei stood completely frozen for a good while before understanding this bastard was challenging his masculine dignity.

Could he endure this?

As if!

Xie Zhifei rolled up his sleeves while shouting at Zhao Yishi, “Huairen, step aside. Fists have no eyes—don’t want to injure friendly forces.”

Young Master Pei extended a hand toward Zhao Yishi. “Huairen, save me! This beast is going to bite—I’m your friendly force!”

The corners of Zhao Huairen’s mouth, which had been downturned all evening, finally curved upward.

However, when he couldn’t see them, Third Master and Young Master Pei’s expressions turned downward.

The two men secretly exchanged glances, both seeing worry in each other’s eyes.

…

At the Quiet Reflection Residence.

Li Buyan slowly massaged Yan Sanhe’s injured foot, asking, “How does it feel?”

“Still hurts.”

“That’s a normal response. From now on, I’ll massage it for you daily. I guarantee that in another half month, you’ll be hopping around on the ground.”

Li Buyan sniffed. “Imperial Physician Shen’s medicinal plaster is truly excellent. After so many days, the plaster’s scent is still this strong.”

Looking up, she discovered Yan Sanhe’s eyes were unfocused, her soul having flown off somewhere unknown.

Where else could it have flown?

Most likely she was thinking about Jingchen’s matter.

Li Buyan gently set down her injured foot, stood up to extinguish the candle, and was just about to lie down on the bamboo daybed when her expression suddenly changed. She rushed to the window, threw it open, and shouted sternly, “Who’s there?”

Their eyes met.

A certain someone gave an awkward laugh. “Me. I have business.”

“Miss, there’s a flower thief outside the window who says he has business.”

Li Buyan relit the candle. “Should I let him in or not?”

“No need to let him in.”

Xie Zhifei walked to the window’s edge. “Just a few words.”

These words carried more than a little grievance.

Yan Sanhe propped herself up to sit. “Buyan, pour Third Master some warm water.”

This indicated she was inviting him inside.

Xie Zhifei lightly leaped through the window, sitting down outside the screen. Without waiting for Li Buyan to bring the warm water over, he spoke in a low voice.

“I just received news—the case files from the twenty-third year fraud case have been sealed.”

No wonder he’d climbed over walls in the dead of night.

“Third Master spoke too soon?”

“Yes!”

Yan Sanhe froze.

She’d actually intended to needle him a bit, but she hadn’t expected him to frankly acknowledge it with a single “yes.” This was like extending a fist only to strike cotton—all that force with nowhere to apply it.

“There’s another piece of news.”

Xie Zhifei accepted the warm water from Li Buyan’s hand. After taking a sip, his voice, moistened by the water, softened considerably.

“It’s also said to involve collusion with palace eunuchs.”

Also?

Yan Sanhe keenly caught this. “Besides Tang Qiling, other Spring Examination fraud has been exposed?”

Xie Zhifei had deliberately said “also” to draw her into asking further, so he could smoothly mention Yan Ruxian’s matter.

After Yan Sanhe heard everything, she could no longer remain seated. “Buyan, carry me outside the screen.”

Li Buyan carried her horizontally outside.

Once Yan Sanhe was settled, facing Xie Zhifei’s gaze, she asked, “Regarding Yan Ruxian’s matter—how much is true, how much false?”

She wore only her inner garment, her black hair scattered at her ears. Her temperament was no longer cool and distant, but had suddenly become warm and gentle.

Xie Zhifei wanted to look away but felt reluctant. “Truth or falsehood unknown, but there’s no smoke without fire. Keep this in mind.”

These past days, Yan Sanhe had been recuperating at the Quiet Reflection Residence. A high wall separated two different worlds. She had no idea what the outside world was like, let alone matters concerning palace eunuchs.

At this moment, she truly and deeply experienced just how crucially important Xie Zhifei and Pei Mingting were to her practice of transforming thoughts and resolving demons.

With Old Lady Ji’s heart demon, if these two hadn’t been there to help, providing both people and effort, she couldn’t have resolved it so quickly.

The same was true for Jingchen’s heart demon.

One’s status determined the height of one’s perspective. As a solitary orphan girl, she might manage to infiltrate the Music Bureau disguised as a man, but she had no way whatsoever to investigate matters at the clouds’ heights.

“Third Master.”

She smiled slightly. “There’s a title I’d like to give you.”

He gazed at her, his look gentle yet weighted and forceful. “What is it?”

Yan Sanhe pressed her lips together. “Xie the Good Person.”

“One piece of news transforms Xie the Romantic, Xie the Dandy into Xie the Good Person?”

He deliberately clenched his right hand into a fist, coughing softly. “Miss Yan, one mustn’t be too pragmatic!”

Yan Sanhe froze.

How was it that now even praise didn’t work?

Xie the Good Person’s eyes curved with proud satisfaction. “Well then, the flower thief’s mission is complete. Time to head back and rest.”

Yan Sanhe ground her back teeth together. “Wait.”

“What?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Is there truly such a thing as a flower reluctant to see the thief leave?”

Yan Sanhe remained silent.

To the side, Li Buyan sighed with resignation.

Alas!

Though the flower had thorns, the thief was clever!

The flower thief concealed all his emotions beneath that smiling handsome face. “Speak then. What else?”

“Relay a message to Young Master Pei for me.”

Yan Sanhe said in a deep voice, “Between men and women, romantic love is shortest, but friendship lasts longest.”

“Rest assured, I’ll definitely deliver it.”

The flower thief smiled, showing a mouthful of white teeth. He waved at Yan Sanhe, nimbly vaulting his body through the window. Then he poked his head back inside.

“Could I trouble Hero Li to open the door for me?”

Third Master had already been this good a person—of course she could!

Li Buyan vaulted through the window, opened the door, and after Third Master had sauntered away, gently closed it.

Once the door closed.

Xie Zhifei’s face fell, all trace of laughter vanishing, his expression unprecedentedly grave.

Zhu Qing emerged from the shadows. “Master?”

“Notify everyone—stop inquiring about Tang Qiling’s case. Go personally to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to give them a warning. Tell them Third Master fears ruining their futures, so this matter will no longer be investigated.”

“Yes!”

Xie Zhifei turned to look at the tightly closed vermilion gate, his gaze gradually growing profound.

He hoped this girl could comprehend his true intention for climbing walls as a flower thief in the dead of night.