“We’ll also need to stay there from time to time.”

Xie Zhifei lied without a draft, speaking off the cuff.

“First, the rental contract has my handprint on it. Second, for Jingchen’s matter, it’s convenient for us to discuss. Third, with all the chaos in the residence, I also want to find a quiet place to avoid it.”

“Men and women should maintain proper distance.”

Yan Sanhe directly refused. “I think Third Master should find another place.”

She was eager to move out, not only because of Tang Qiling’s case, but also because of a secret she hadn’t even told Buyan—she wanted to distance herself from the man before her.

Leaving them a courtyard where they’d see each other constantly—what distance was that?

Xie Zhifei dared to make this request precisely because he had already thought of his next moves. Unhurriedly, he picked up his teacup, took a light sip, his voice carrying the clarity of being moistened by tea.

“Several groups of people all wanted to rent that residence.”

“…”

“It took quite a bit of my persuasion.”

“…”

“Every table and chair in the residence—I asked my Military Police Bureau brothers to clean them.”

“…”

“Last night when Zhu Qing returned from the mass grave mound, I immediately sent him out to inquire about Zhu and Tang.”

“…”

“He didn’t even have time to drink water.”

“…”

“Once he left, I didn’t even have anyone to serve me in my room. Last night I slept in my clothes.”

“…”

“I took a risk in this matter.”

Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Yan Sanhe looked at this person’s face full of grievance and deeply experienced what it meant to be under someone’s roof and have to bow one’s head.

She gritted her teeth, squeezing out one word from between them: “Fine!”

Xie Zhifei smiled smugly in his heart, though the grievance on his face didn’t dissipate in the slightest.

“Tangyuan will go with you. She’s careful and honest. With her serving you, I can rest easy. As for the remaining servants, I’ll have Steward Xie buy them from outside.

Two doorkeepers, two for cleaning, two for the kitchen, plus four maids. We need to prepare one carriage, which means adding another driver…”

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

This master—who’s living there, you or me?

Yan Sanhe was about to slam the table and rise when she heard him change the topic.

“Only when you live comfortably and eat comfortably will you have the energy to dissolve thoughts and resolve demons. After Jingchen’s heart demon is resolved, you’ll need to busy yourself with the Zheng family matter. One matter after another is waiting for you.”

Xie Zhifei sighed, lowering his voice. “You’re doing great things. Leave the small matters to me. You should trust how I handle things, right?”

Yan Sanhe: “…”

At this moment, she finally understood why emperors had to guard against powerful ministers—

Because powerful ministers were too capable and would usurp their authority!

…

Third Master’s way of doing things was completely contrary to his lazy sitting posture—it could be called swift and decisive.

In just two short days, Yan Sanhe had quietly moved into the new residence.

To say “quietly” meant Yan Sanhe hadn’t greeted anyone.

She wasn’t someone skilled in social graces, nor could she handle tearful farewell scenes. She only used her newly learned Slender Gold calligraphy style to leave Xie Daozhi one sentence:

The moon waxes and wanes, flowers bloom and fade—in life, the most bitter thing is parting.

Xie Daozhi looked at this excellent calligraphy and slumped into his Grand Master chair, sighing soundlessly.

“Father, familiarity breeds contempt. Just let her go.”

Xie Zhifei crossed his legs. “Besides, it’s not far—she’s settled in Mingting’s villa. If you miss her, it’s just a matter of lifting your legs to go there.”

Xie Daozhi looked at his youngest son, his lips moving, but in the end he couldn’t say anything.

Lady Wu was foolish and stupid, manipulated by a servant, stirring up the entire Xie residence from top to bottom, even dragging that girl into it.

After that girl learned the truth, she blamed no one, only distanced herself from the matter.

When all was said and done, the Xie family had wronged her. What face did he have to keep her?

All face was lost!

“Father, what’s urgent now isn’t Yan Sanhe, but the Du family.”

Xie Erli laughed coldly. “Unless the Water Moon Convent heart demon is resolved, Miss Yan absolutely won’t leave the capital. There’s still time to proceed slowly. But the Du family—their actions were excessive. Father must have a plan in mind.”

He did have a plan, but needed to deliberate further.

Behind Du Jianxue stood the Prince of Han. He couldn’t tear off all pretense, yet had to strike back. He had to gauge this balance carefully.

Xie Daozhi extended his finger and tapped on the table. “Third Son is right—Li Zheng’s wife must die!”

As the words fell, the two brothers’ gazes lightly touched and lightly scattered. The hearts hanging in suspense finally settled.

Li Zheng’s wife’s death, besides warning the Du residence, actually had another very important purpose: to protect their mother.

Protecting their mother meant that whether she knew about it or not, Father wouldn’t pursue the investigation further.

This wasn’t just about not airing family dirty laundry. More importantly, it was about not letting the Du family succeed and not letting the Second Branch laugh at them.

What else did Xie Erli have to hesitate about? He immediately said, “Third Brother, you’re responsible for watching Miss Yan carefully and coaxing the Old Madam. Don’t worry about the rest—leave everything to me!”

Third Son stretched out his hand and spat out two words: “Silver.”

“You…”

“I shamelessly bought that residence from Mingting—it cost a full three thousand taels!”

Third Master’s sword-like eyebrows drooped. “As for Miss Yan’s side, I can’t tell her the truth. I still have to pretend I’m renting it from outside, only charging her ninety taels a month in rent. How much am I losing?”

“You shouldn’t charge even ninety taels!”

Xie Daozhi glanced at Steward Xie standing with lowered head at the door. “Tell them I said so—have the accounting office provide Third Son with four thousand taels of silver.”

“Yes, Master!”

As Steward Xie turned, the corner of his eye swept over Third Master.

This young one could not only make faces and speak harshly, he could also do harsh things. This move of having Miss Yan leave the residence to live elsewhere was simply removing the firewood from under the pot—this piece of “firewood” caused the Second Branch’s schemes regarding Miss Yan to completely fall through.

Removing the firewood from under the pot?

Xie Zhifei hadn’t thought of that phrase.

He had Yan Sanhe move out so quickly for only one purpose: to protect her.

At Xie Daozhi’s word, how could the accounting office dare to delay? In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, four thousand taels of silver fell into Xie Zhifei’s pocket.

With the matter handled and money in hand, Xie Zhifei’s backside couldn’t sit still—he wanted to follow along to the villa to take a look. Unfortunately, just as his backside was about to lift, his own father called him back.

“Third Son, what do you think about Yan Ruxian’s matter?”

“What do you mean ‘what do I think’? What does an old eunuch have to do with me?”

“Little beast!”

Xie Daozhi cursed lowly in his heart, his gaze shifting to his eldest son. “Elder Son, what do you say?”

Xie Erli knew Father wouldn’t ask this question without reason. He counter-asked, “Does Father feel something is wrong?”

Xie Daozhi nodded.

“His Majesty has already, for several days in a row, shaken his sleeves and left right after morning court. Usually after court he would always summon us to discuss matters. Even if there were no great affairs of state, the ruler and ministers would chat casually.”

Recently, His Majesty not only hadn’t summoned them, even during court he seemed somewhat distracted.

Xie Daozhi sorted through the major events that had occurred in court recently and determined that it was the Yan Ruxian matter that was making His Majesty uneasy.

Hearing this, Xie Zhifei had something to say. “A few days ago, I was called out at night. Yan Xi begged for Yan Ruxian, which enraged the Grand Imperial Grandson—he even smashed things.”

Hearing this, a thin layer of sweat appeared on Xie Daozhi’s forehead.