Those who brazenly extort others typically have only one fate: being force-fed alcohol.

The birthday celebrant accepted all comers—whoever raised a cup to toast him, he drank. Who made Third Master have poor alcohol tolerance but good drinking conduct?

In the end, it was Zhao Yishi who couldn’t bear to watch anymore. He coughed a few times, which scared Huang Qi and his group into stopping.

Tomorrow the Xie family still had Buddhist rituals. Third Master, who was drunk to the point where even walking became serpentine, was helped onto the carriage by Zhu Qing.

When the carriage arrived at the Xie residence, Zhu Qing simply carried him on his back.

Xie Zhifei actually had some awareness—he just had no strength in his body and was too lazy to open his eyes.

Chief Commander of the Five Districts Military Police Bureau—responsible for patrolling and catching thieves across the entire capital. His authority was more than double what it had been before.

He had deliberated all night before making this request to Huairen, and Huairen hadn’t agreed simply because it was his birthday and he felt compelled.

The Emperor was already old. Some matters should slowly begin to be arranged. Don’t look at how the Prince of Han’s people temporarily retreated to their fiefdom—their ambitions wouldn’t retreat.

In the future, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, there would certainly be tremendous upheaval.

The North District Military Police Bureau was too small. If Huairen wanted to help the Crown Prince ascend smoothly, he must know the movements of the entire capital.

This chess move—Huairen wasn’t fulfilling his wish; he should have had this plan all along.

As for him?

Xie Zhifei silently curved his lips. If he wanted to protect Yan Sanhe and investigate the old case of the Zheng family, he had to climb one step higher.

________________________________________

They say the tallest tree catches the most wind, but from heights one can see far.

At the entrance to the World Peace Courtyard, Zhu Qing’s footsteps suddenly stopped. “Master, it’s Miss Yan.”

Xie Zhifei forced his eyes open with effort.

The young woman sat in a bamboo chair, her waist and back very straight, her pair of black eyes looking over with no excess expression on her face.

Behind her still stood that troublemaking stick.

Xie Zhifei jumped down and walked over with his head heavy and feet light, flopping carelessly into another bamboo chair. “So late—why did you come? Where’s my tea? Don’t you have any sense?”

Maid Xiaohong hurriedly went to pour tea. Lüqi went to bring sobering soup.

After a moment of silence, Yan Sanhe spoke. “I came to give you a birthday gift, Buyan.”

Li Buyan picked up a big item from her feet and placed it in Zhu Qing’s arms. “Third Master, Young Miss and I thought it over and felt this thing is most practical.”

Xie Zhifei looked up—all the blood in his body suddenly rushed to his head.

A saddle set?

Giving this for a birthday—only Yan Sanhe could think of it.

His sword-like eyebrows had just shot up when Xie Zhifei suddenly slapped his forehead. She was Huaiyou—Huaiyou used to do this kind of thing.

Because they were twins, their birthdays were always celebrated together.

He would rack his brains to prepare the best for this girl—handkerchiefs, sachets, embroidered shoes, fans that young ladies used…

This girl never followed convention.

What did she give him?

A leaf fallen from a tree;

Some withered flowers picked up from who knows where;

Most absurdly, one year she caught a frog at a corner wall, raised it for half a month, and gave it to him as a birthday gift.

She even claimed beautifully that frogs ate pests and generals fought enemies—there was wonderful synergy.

Wonderful my ass!

Was there any older brother in this world more unlucky, more desperate than him?

Yan Sanhe watched Xie Zhifei—not knowing if this person was very drunk or disliked the gift she gave. One moment frowning, one moment smiling lightly, one moment sighing heavily several times, indignant.

“Xie Zhifei.”

Xie Zhifei suddenly snapped back. “Mm, what is it?”

Only then did Yan Sanhe see clearly that this person was drunk to the point where even his eyes were hazy.

After a moment, she gently lowered her eyes and pulled out a scroll from her sleeve. “This is also a birthday gift. When you have time, you can look at it. Buyan, we’re leaving.”

“What is this?”

Xie Zhifei lazily unrolled it. With just one glance, the blood that had rushed to his head instantly cooled.

This was a Hundred Longevities painting.

A so-called Hundred Longevities painting used different calligraphic styles to write only the character “longevity.”

Xie Zhifei couldn’t say anything.

He raised his head to look at that receding back—the back was slender and frail, yet held perfectly straight, as if saying: Xie Zhifei, I wish you a long life of a hundred years.

…

On the bluestone path.

Li Buyan turned her head to look at Yan Sanhe, speaking meaningfully. “Oh my, when did Young Miss write this calligraphy? How come I didn’t know?”

“When you went to the teahouse.”

“That’s not right.”

Li Buyan smiled lightly. “Didn’t you say it couldn’t be too valuable?”

“That one isn’t worth much money.”

“Is that so?”

Li Buyan deliberately wouldn’t let her off easily. “When it was my birthday, I didn’t see you write me such calligraphy. When did Xie Third Master jump ahead of me?”

Yan Sanhe looked at her seriously. “He took care of everything.”

“I wasn’t idle either. Yan Miss, this is wrong of you—you can’t show such favoritism!”

“Why does your tone of speech today sound like Xie Zhifei’s?”

“That’s because… I’m jealous!”

Jealous of him?

Buyan, are you stupid?

“You’ll always be first.” Yan Sanhe looked at her.

Li Buyan silently met her gaze for a moment, then pulled at the corner of her mouth and obediently raised a white flag in surrender.

Xie Third Master, you deserve your bad luck!

Originally, seeing that you took care of everything, I was going to hint to her. Who knew this person is just a block of wood?

Wood is good—at least she doesn’t hurt herself!

…

Two days of Buddhist rituals, the eating, drinking, relieving, and sleeping of over a dozen monks—it threw the Xie residence into chaos.

The most miserable was Steward Xie. Not only did he have to manage the rituals, he also had to handle what Third Master had assigned. Fortunately, the informants had all been deployed. Now it just depended on who couldn’t hold back and jumped out first.

These two days, Xie Daozhi slept in his study, eating all three meals a day in the Old Madam’s quarters.

Lady Wu was confined to the Knowing Spring Courtyard, neither leaving through the main gate nor the side door. Concubine Liu was in the Magnolia Courtyard, trembling with fear as she waited for news.

Neither woman’s days were easy.

Even harder were the days of all the Xie residence servants. These past few days when servants met, the message transmitted through eye contact was: “Nothing to do with you, right?”

After eating clear congee and small dishes for two days, the red rash on Yan Sanhe’s face and body completely faded.

Imperial Physician Pei came for his final consultation. After a thorough examination, he waved his hand. “Alright, Miss. Apart from not running or jumping, do whatever you want!”

Yan Sanhe didn’t want to do anything. She just waited for nightfall, for Xie Third Master to take her to the Office of Music.

Xie Third Master didn’t break his word. When the moon rose above the willow branches, he was already standing in the courtyard of the Quiet Contemplation Residence.

Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan walked out one after the other, both dressed as men.

Yan Sanhe saw Xie Zhifei and was secretly surprised.

In just two days, this person seemed to have lost a circle of weight, his facial contours more as if carved with a knife.

Could it be he was worn thin from kowtowing?

Third Master’s gaze only swept past Yan Sanhe, but his words were directed at Li Buyan. “In a moment, you and Zhu Qing will drive the carriage together. I have words for your young miss.”

Li Buyan, this troublemaking stick, raised her eyebrows to show agreement.

But Yan Sanhe asked somewhat obtusely, “What, she can’t hear?”

Xie Zhifei didn’t know how to answer, so he simply said nothing, turned, and walked away.

Yan Sanhe looked at Li Buyan in puzzlement. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No.”

Li Buyan shrugged. “He’s sexually frustrated.”

Up ahead, Xie Zhifei stumbled and nearly fell.