Li Buyan leapt up and pushed open the window with a bang.

“Third Master, you’re quite skilled at playing the role of a flower thief—coming to steal flowers every day. Even bees aren’t as diligent as you!”

Xie Zhifei ignored her, calling out to the person behind the screen, “Yan Sanhe, you’re unfamiliar with the capital. Leave the matter to me—I’ll handle it.”

Yan Sanhe threw on an outer garment and slowly walked out, her gaze falling on Xie Zhifei’s face.

This man seemed to have stayed up all night. His eyes were bloodshot, dark circles showed beneath them, and the corners of his mouth weren’t curved upward as usual.

“You’re not stopping me?” she asked.

Xie Zhifei looked at her, his gaze deepening somewhat.

She just stood there, her face still swollen, the red rash not completely faded, wearing gray-white clothing that gave off a soft glow.

In this instant, he seemed to return to the Begonia Courtyard once again.

In the morning, she stood at her boudoir window, drowsy with sleep, yet forcing her eyelids open to supervise his martial practice.

The difference was that nine years ago, her eyes had been warm; nine years later, her gaze was very indifferent.

I miss you very much, Huaiyou.

Xie Zhifei said in his heart, especially at night—every detail of the Begonia Courtyard is like being carved into my bones and blood with an engraving knife.

“How about Third Master clears the path for you?”

Yan Sanhe was secretly surprised.

His meaning was that if the Old Madam insisted on blocking her, he would be responsible for moving the Old Madam aside.

“The fourteenth and fifteenth will be chaotic with Buddhist rituals at the residence. Rest your foot for two more days, and the rash on your body can also fade. In two days, I’ll take you to the Office of Music.”

Third Master’s voice was very steady and very calm.

“As for the small kitchen matter, there won’t be any results for a while, but don’t worry. Be patient and keep watching—the fox will eventually reveal its tail.”

Having said this, he lowered his eyes and turned to leave.

So decisive?

Without a single word of nonsense?

Yan Sanhe looked at this person’s back in puzzlement, thinking to herself: His brain isn’t broken, is it? Why does he seem like a different person?

Li Buyan suddenly thought of something and stamped her foot.

“Aiya, today is Third Master’s birthday, and I forgot to give him his birthday gift.”

…

In past years on Third Master’s birthday, early in the morning, the servants of the residence would line up at the World Peace Courtyard, waiting to kowtow to Third Master.

Third Master didn’t accept gifts. Three kowtows and saying “may you live a hundred years” counted as a blessing.

This year was the same, except Third Master was somewhat distracted.

The servants knew Third Master was troubled by the small kitchen matter. After kowtowing, they obediently went back to their work.

When immortals fight, common people suffer. The inner residence and the court followed the same principle—at times like this, speaking less and working more was the correct way to protect oneself.

Xie Zhifei patiently waited for everyone to finish their birthday greetings, then went straight to the Old Madam’s courtyard for breakfast.

The Old Madam hadn’t expected her youngest grandson to come and quickly had someone add another set of bowls and chopsticks.

Halfway through the meal, Xie Zhifei put down his chopsticks and said, “Old Madam needn’t worry that girl will leave. Until the Water Moon Convent matter is investigated, she can’t go anywhere.”

“She’ll finish investigating eventually.”

“After she finishes, there will be other heart demons. Great Ancestor doesn’t know that if she wants to investigate some things, she must rely on your grandson. Otherwise, in this capital, she won’t be able to move a single step.”

“Really?”

“Grandson could deceive anyone, but I can’t bear to deceive Great Ancestor.”

Xie Zhifei grasped the Old Madam’s hand resting on the table edge. “Great Ancestor just needs to live happily. With Third Son here, the sky won’t fall.”

The Old Madam hadn’t slept well last night, feeling sorry for the ordeal Yan Sanhe suffered, hating that Lady Wu was careless in her actions and was exploited, and angry that the Master sided with Concubine Liu.

Hearing these words, the Old Madam felt her breathing became much smoother.

Among her three grandsons, two granddaughters, and one great-grandson, only the person before her would run over from time to time to coax her and warm her heart!

After the grandparent and grandson finished breakfast, the Old Madam took out the birthday gift she had prepared early from beside her pillow and pressed it into Xie Zhifei’s hands.

“Great Ancestor added an extra note this year. You know it in your heart—don’t tell your father or your eldest brother.”

One note was five hundred taels. Xie Zhifei’s eyes grew warm. “Great Ancestor, when grandson makes something of himself later, grandson will earn silver for you to spend.”

“This family doesn’t need you to earn silver.”

The Old Madam glared at him. “Go see your mother in a moment. Your mother is just foolish.”

Xie Zhifei verbally agreed readily, but once he left the courtyard, he went straight to his father’s study.

In the study, Xie Erli was already there. Seeing the third son arrive, he pulled out several banknotes from his breast and pushed them over.

Third Son’s birthday didn’t accept gifts, only silver—this hadn’t changed in all these years.

Xie Daozhi had also prepared early. He had originally wanted to say a few intimate words to his son, but after yesterday’s incident, he was too lazy to speak those words aloud.

He didn’t speak, but Third Master had words to say.

“Father, Elder Brother, if you trust me, hand the small kitchen matter to me. What I do at the Military Police Bureau is interrogate criminals.”

Xie Zhifei lazily crossed his legs.

“I won’t show favoritism to anyone. I only seek clarity. This clarity isn’t for anyone’s sake—it’s for our family. With such rat droppings in the household, they’ll certainly spoil the whole pot of porridge.”

Xie Daozhi suddenly sat up straight.

The appearance was still that annoying, impudent manner, but it seemed that overnight he had developed backbone.

And once a man develops backbone, even if he’s never touched a woman, he’s no longer a boy but a man.

“After today passes, you’ll be twenty-one.”

Xie Daozhi looked at him and sighed. “All grown up.”

Xie Zhifei smiled. “I’ll take Father’s words as agreement.”

How could he not agree!

After interrogating all night, Madam Chen and her grandson did nothing but cry—they nearly banged their heads against walls to prove their innocence. There had been no progress at all, and he was at his wit’s end!

But Xie Daozhi still had concerns. “Can you truly be impartial?”

Xie Zhifei tilted his head to think, then smiled gently.

“Father, there’s no such thing as true impartiality. If it involves the First Branch, I’ll ask Father to show mercy. If it involves the Second Branch, I’ll ask Father to strike hard and show no face.”

The truth must be impartial.

But as for how to deal with matters after the truth is revealed—I’m a member of the First Branch, so naturally I favor the First Branch. No second thoughts.

Xie Daozhi, fed this reassuring pill by his son, immediately summoned Steward Xie and instructed him to follow Third Master’s arrangements in everything.

To the side, Xie Erli quietly watched his third brother, the corners of his mouth curving into a gentle, upward arc.

Truly grown up—his words and actions were becoming increasingly thorough.

Xie Zhifei continued, “As for Mother’s side, Elder Brother and Sister-in-law needn’t deliberately visit. Follow Father’s words—a period of coldness would be good.”

These words made Xie Daozhi turn to look.

“As the saying goes, ‘a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit’—Mother should also gain some wisdom.”

“You little…”

Xie Erli’s sword-like eyebrows shot up. “What kind of talk is that? No respect for elders!”

“Father, am I wrong in what I said?”

Not a single word wrong!

Xie Daozhi glanced coldly at his eldest son. Xie Erli’s two eyebrows submissively drooped.

“As for Concubine Liu’s side, Father should also be cold.”

Xie Zhifei said, “Be cold to both sides, show no favoritism to either side—only then can this matter be investigated.”

Xie Daozhi stared at his youngest son expressionlessly for quite a while, then told him to get lost.