Yan Sanhe regretted it.
She should have insisted that Li Buyan sit in the carriage. Otherwise, the atmosphere wouldn’t be this awkward.
She was a stuffy gourd who, most of the time, was immersed in her own world. When getting along with people, she only needed to listen.
But today, this Xie Third Master—once he got in the carriage, his mouth shut tight, but his gaze wasn’t idle. From time to time it fell on her, then glanced away. After a while, his gaze fell on her again, then glanced away again.
What about the words he wanted to say?
Yan Sanhe calmly took several breaths. “Third Master, speak directly if you have something to say.” Holding it in is quite uncomfortable.
“Actually, there’s nothing much to say. I just didn’t want to see that person.”
“Why?”
“Annoying!”
Yan Sanhe: “…”
Outside the carriage, Li Buyan with her ears pricked up eavesdropping: “…”
Continued wordlessness;
Continued awkwardness;
Continued glances sweeping over and away again.
It wasn’t that Xie Zhifei didn’t want to talk. He had too many things to say in his heart, but didn’t know which sentence to say to her first.
The night-luminous pearl scattered a faint, ghostly light. This bit of light danced on that girl’s shoulders and in her eyes. He found it beautiful, and at the same time, felt a bit of pride.
Who could have imagined that the sickly, delicate little bean sprout of those years would grow into this appearance?
Xie Zhifei used his gaze to trace Yan Sanhe’s features. As he traced, his heart ached again.
His soul fell into Xie Third Master’s body. Apart from the poor health that made him suffer, everything went smoothly.
And her?
Her shoulders so thin, her face so pale, eating so carelessly, dressing so simply.
He suddenly thought of when he was resolving Yan Xinghua’s heart demon—her running frantically day and night in the rain, hot tea with cold steamed buns, one meal full, one meal hungry.
He thought of when she waited late at night to leave the city, sitting down right there on the ground while the alley was swept by howling north wind…
Thinking and thinking, Xie Zhifei couldn’t hold back his tears. He buried his head in his arms, allowing the intense pain to spread from the soles of his feet to the bottom of his heart.
He even suddenly understood why every time Yan Sanhe finished resolving a demon and fell into his arms, he held her so carefully.
It was because of heartache!
Yan Sanhe felt the atmosphere in the carriage was wrong again. She sensed a thick sadness.
Why?
Didn’t he have everything he wanted?
Or was it that the small kitchen matter implicated Lady Wu again?
Yan Sanhe didn’t know how to comfort people. She only coughed once and said indifferently, “Xie Zhifei, some people are your weakness, but they can also become your armor.”
Xie Zhifei raised his head, looking at her uncomprehendingly.
“Your mother isn’t very clever, so you and your brother are outstanding. With you two there, even if your mother killed someone or set fires, her position and the First Branch’s position would be as stable as Mount Tai.”
Xie Zhifei was silent for a long while, then suddenly smiled softly. “You’re right. That person is indeed my weakness and indeed my armor.”
Can you now put away your sadness and properly handle business?
Yan Sanhe glanced away, complaining internally.
“Now let’s talk business.”
Xie Zhifei coughed. “In a moment, you’ll pretend to be my sister. Li Buyan remains your guard. Mingting and I are taking you out to see the world.”
Yan Sanhe actually wanted to ask why she wasn’t Young Master Pei’s sister anymore.
But on second thought, Third Master was familiar with the Office of Music. His doing this must have his reasons.
“Alright!”
“Once we enter the Office of Music, watch for my cues in everything. Don’t act on your own.”
“Alright!”
“Don’t worry about money.”
Xie Zhifei smiled thinly. “After celebrating one birthday, Third Master’s purse is so stuffed it can barely hold more. Spend freely without worry.”
Yan Sanhe said indifferently, “Congratulations to Third Master for finding such a good path to wealth.”
Xie Zhifei was first stunned, then slowly his smile spread. “It only happens once a year.”
You still want it several times a year?
Yan Sanhe: “Does Third Master have anything else to instruct?”
“Nothing.”
“I do!”
“Go ahead.”
“This trip, our goal is to learn about Yishui’s past at the Office of Music.”
“Yes.”
“This past includes many things—who her first client was, which patron supported her most, who she was close to, who she feuded with…”
“I know.”
“Yishui’s age at the Office of Music was considered old, so younger girls don’t have much value for questioning. Rather, those who are older…”
“Leave the older ones to me.”
Yan Sanhe was startled, seemingly unable to believe that this person would take on this job without her even needing to coax him once.
“You don’t need to feel embarrassed.”
Xie Zhifei smiled indifferently. “Having a face that young maidens and young wives all love—this is its only use.”
Yan Sanhe: “…”
…
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Office of Music.
Just because Xie Zhifei said “bones and sinews take a hundred days to heal,” Li Buyan carried Yan Sanhe down from the carriage.
She stood at the entrance of the Office of Music, looking at the flowing calligraphy on the plaque, her heart skipping a beat.
If a convent gate separated the secular world from Buddhism, then this vermilion gate separated only the human world from hell.
Stepping through—Tang Zhiwei died, Yishui lived.
“Young Master Pei has arrived.”
Young Master Pei had somehow obtained a fan and was fanning quite rakishly, his words even more rakish.
“Fleeing in the rain together, escaping death together, visiting brothels together—Little Yan, the friendship between us has sublimated another great step.”
Mm, it’s nearly sublimated to heaven.
Yan Sanhe clasped her hands behind her back, composed and calm. “Young Master Pei, please lead the way!”
Young Master Pei’s eyes brightened, lightly bumping Xie Zhifei with his elbow: Hey, quite the act—your training?
Xie Zhifei silently replied with one word: Scram!
At this moment, Zhu Qing handed over two waist tokens. The guard glanced at them and shouted into the interior, “Master Pei from the Buddhist Registry Office and Master Xie from the Military Police Bureau have arrived. Madam, come out to welcome the guests!”
As the words fell, a middle-aged beautiful woman with lingering charm walked out.
The woman smiled with dimples at the corners of her mouth like Xie Third Master, making her very likable.
“Oh, it’s Master Pei and Master Xie. Rare guests, rare guests—please come in quickly!”
While leading people inside, Madam Xia imperceptibly glanced at Yan Sanhe. “The two masters don’t come often—very unfamiliar faces.”
Xie Zhifei smiled. “I’m a rough man who doesn’t like your refined and cultured style here. My brother has been in a bad mood lately, so I’m accompanying him to have some fun.”
Madam Xia glanced at Pei Xiao. “Coming here is right. Have some wine, listen to some music, hold a young lady—all the world’s worries disappear.”
Xie Zhifei deliberately sighed. “Then I’m doomed. The silver in this master’s pocket won’t stay put.”
Madam Xia covered her mouth and laughed lightly. “Master is truly joking.”
“That depends on the person. For someone as outstanding as Madam Xia, this master doesn’t mind joking a few more times.”
Madam Xia flicked her fragrant handkerchief at Xie Zhifei.
“Just for that one sentence, Madam should accompany Master tonight until we’re both drunk.”