How could Xie Zhifei not be angry?

Clearly he was the one who delayed Du Yiyun for several good years, yet instead of coming at him, she went after Yan Sanhe. What was that about?

His mother bore the third-rank imperial mandate as a Furen. The word “Furen” meant gentle, kind, and respectful. Which of these qualities did she possess?

“The saying goes that only with family harmony can all affairs prosper. Du Yiyun exploited the inner residence women to make the Xie family restless—her intentions are too malicious. To strike at Yan Sanhe, an innocent person—her methods are too vicious.”

His face grew increasingly cold, though his presence subtly intensified.

“What I’m curious about is whether this malice and viciousness are her own idea, or whether someone stands behind her.”

With these words, both Young Master Pei and Steward Xie’s expressions changed simultaneously.

If it was her own idea, at the end of the day it was still a personal grudge born of love turned to hate.

If someone stood behind her, the matter became serious—it meant the Du family was retaliating against the Xie family.

Xie Zhifei remained silent for a long while. “Has Father retired for the night?”

Steward Xie quickly replied, “Replying to Third Master, he’s resting in his study.”

“What about my brother?”

“He’s already retired.”

“Steward Xie, go tell my brother everything in detail first. Don’t hide it from my sister-in-law either. Let the two of them decide.”

Steward Xie didn’t move, instead leaning his head forward again. “Third Master, have you thought this through? If you do this, the Madam’s affair can’t be hidden, and with the Second Branch…”

“The Xie family comes first, the First Branch comes second.”

Xie Zhifei rubbed his weary face. “Xiaohua, though Third Master is somewhat dissolute, I can still distinguish between primary and secondary, light and heavy.”

“Yes!”

“Oh, right!”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes met Pei Mingting’s. “Whatever decision they make, I don’t care. But on one point—Li Zhengjia’s wife must die!”

Steward Xie’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes!”

Steward Xie didn’t dare delay a moment and hurried off.

Young Master Pei sprawled on the bed, eyes half-open, half-closed. “Xie Wushi, what’s this plan with Li Zhengjia’s wife must die?”

Xie Zhifei leaned against the bamboo couch, hands pillowed behind his head. “First, someone who eats from within while helping outsiders—the Xie Manor can’t tolerate her. Second…”

His gaze fell outside the window as he coolly spat out four words: “Kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.”

The monkeys referred to the Du family.

If it was only Du Yiyun, then this would warn her not to reach too far.

If Du Jianshu stood behind her, Li Zhengjia’s wife’s death would make Du Jianshu understand one thing: the Xie family wasn’t a soft persimmon to be squeezed, so he’d better stop playing dirty tricks.

“Truth be told, you’re not quite the same as before.” Pei Xiao’s eyes were so tired they wouldn’t stay open.

“How was I before?”

“Before, you smiled at everyone, a complete clay figurine.”

“What about now?”

“Now?”

Young Master Pei lifted his eyelids to glance at him. “Now you’ve grown thorns, thorns that can take lives!”

Exactly!

Xie Zhifei sneered inwardly. Anyone who dares touch my sister will pay with their life!

“Third Master.”

Just then, Steward Xie poked half his head through the doorway and jerked his chin at Xie Zhifei.

Coming back so quickly?

Xie Zhifei got up from the couch. Just as he was about to ask what was the matter, Steward Xie’s head had already withdrawn.

He strode to the outer room.

Steward Xie quickly signaled with his eyes: Third Master, let’s go somewhere more private.

Seeing him so mysterious, Xie Zhifei didn’t hesitate and walked out to the courtyard.

Only then did Steward Xie rise on tiptoe and lean close to Third Master’s ear:

“There’s something you should know in your heart, my lord. The Old Madam and the Master want to match Miss Yan with Second Master. Concubine Liu knows about this too.”

Xie Zhifei’s face instantly darkened, and he couldn’t help cursing inwardly: Damn!

“Xiaohua!” He suddenly called out in a low voice.

Hearing these two words, Steward Xie’s calves trembled, and he quickly confessed honestly.

“This old servant overheard it by accident. I didn’t tell Third Master because, one, I was busy handling matters for you, and two, the Master and Old Madam didn’t discuss it further afterward. Today when you wanted to expose the Madam’s affairs, this old servant thought…”

He didn’t continue, but he believed Third Master understood.

Once Li Zhengjia’s wife’s matter was exposed, while the Master would be disgusted with the Madam, he would inevitably feel some guilt toward Concubine Liu.

The Master’s guilt wouldn’t just be empty words—it would certainly lead to concrete actions. No one could predict whether Concubine Liu might seize the opportunity to bring up Second Master’s marriage.

If such an extraordinarily intelligent person as Miss Yan went to the Second Branch, what would the First Branch have left besides claiming legitimate status?

“Xiaohua, you still care about me!”

Third Master’s hand fell on Xie Xiaohua’s shoulder and patted. “Go on, perform your duties well and try to stay away from the manor for as long as possible to keep me company for a few more years before they send you to the estate to haul manure.”

Oh, this brat!

Xie Xiaohua’s mouth opened but he couldn’t get out half a word.

The brat pinched the flesh at the back of his neck and smiled at him, his eyes and brows all curving. Xie Xiaohua’s heart instantly softened.

Between people, it was all about connection.

Of the Xie Manor’s three young masters, this one was most compatible with him, Xie Xiaohua.

When this sickly ancestor was small, he wouldn’t let the Madam hold him, wouldn’t let the Master hold him, wouldn’t let the wet nurse hold him—he only wanted Xie Xiaohua to hold him.

“Xiaohua, Xiaohua, Xiaohua…”

He could call his name hundreds of times a day until his soul nearly fled.

Now that he’d grown up and become a young master, he could put on a stern face and speak harsh words, but only Xie Xiaohua knew that Third Master never treated him as an outsider and couldn’t bear to send him to the estate to haul manure.

Why?

Because Third Master was different from others. The more he cared about someone, the more he would speak harshly to tease them, teasing until you jumped and gnashed your teeth, and then he’d be happy and satisfied.

He was somewhat dissolute, but when it came to protecting his own, he protected them more than anyone. If anyone in the manor dared speak ill of Xie Xiaohua, Third Master would be the first to turn hostile.

In Third Master’s own words: His people could only be bullied by him. Everyone else could go to hell.

—

When Steward Xie’s figure completely disappeared into the night, the smile on Third Master Xie’s face vanished without a trace.

Match Second Master Xie with Yan Sanhe?

Bah!

Even if every single man in this world died, Third Master wouldn’t give his sister to him.

Xie Zhifei cursed inwardly and lifted his foot to walk back to his room.

In the room, Pei Mingting lay sprawled out with his long robe unbuttoned four buttons, exposing a section of his protruding Adam’s apple, with two dark circles under his eyes, looking as if he’d overindulged.

Yet somehow, Xie Zhifei found this person endearing.

“Mingting.” Third Master called softly.

“Mm.”

“What do you think of Yan Sanhe?”

Young Master Pei had already been embracing Duke Zhou in sleep, but hearing these words, he jolted awake and his eyes flew wide open.

Damn!

I nearly forgot my purpose in staying at the Xie Manor.

“As brothers, Xie Wushi, tell me honestly—do you… have some interest in Yan Sanhe?”

“No!”

“No?”

Young Master Pei was shocked enough to sit up from the bed. “How is that possible? The way I’ve seen you look at her clearly shows…”

A pair of cold eyes looked over.

The two men’s gazes collided, and Young Master Pei got a fright. “You son of a bitch, what kind of look is that? Planning to eat people?”

Xie Zhifei said nothing, just silently watching him like this.

This look isn’t right!