“Master!”

Wu Xing pulled Second Master aside.

“It’s been confirmed. Miss Yan and Miss Li left first, and Third Master and his party left through the South City Gate several hours later.”

One before, one after?

To avoid notice, no doubt!

“Did you find out where they went? What they’re doing?”

“After leaving the city gate, all traces vanished.”

Wu Xing looked troubled, thinking that this Miss Yan not only had a mysterious identity but mysterious movements as well. Just who was she?

Xie Buhuo tossed his wine cup to Wu Xing. “Come, follow me somewhere.”

“What about the Heir Apparent…”

“That fellow is having one of his episodes today. I don’t want to deal with him.”

The place Second Master mentioned was none other than Young Master Pei’s private residence in the city—currently Yan Sanhe’s dwelling.

On the day Yan Sanhe left the Xie residence, Second Master Xie had gone early to the estate. When he returned in the evening, he learned that the Quiet Contemplation Courtyard was empty of people.

That night, standing at the Quiet Contemplation Courtyard’s entrance, he suddenly felt it was all unreal, as if he’d had a dream.

In the dream, that cool young woman had asked in a detached tone: Second Master, is your heart upright?

“Wu Xing, go knock on the door.”

“Yes!”

Moments later, Xie Buhuo sat in the small hall, gazing tenderly at Tangyuan.

“I’ve been wanting to come see Miss Yan, but never found the time. Finally got free, and she’s gone out—what terrible timing.”

Tangyuan smiled apologetically. “The First Madam came the other day and said the same thing.”

So even Sister-in-law didn’t know where Yan Sanhe had gone.

Xie Buhuo’s eyes curved as he rose. “Then I’ll come again another day.”

“I’ll see you out, Second Master.”

Xie Buhuo walked out of the small hall and suddenly stopped. “By the way, when will your mistress return? I don’t want to make another wasted trip next time.”

Tangyuan answered honestly, “Miss said she’d definitely return within ten days.”

Ten days round trip meant the place couldn’t be too far—probably just in a few prefectures south of the capital.

What was she going there for?

Why did Third Brother and Pei Xiao always have to go with her?

Who was this Li Buyan?

Why could she compose such an eternal masterpiece?

By the time the carriage reached Fourth Lane, these questions were still circling in Xie Buhuo’s mind.

At this moment, Wu Xing, who was driving the carriage, suddenly reined in the horses and turned to whisper, “Master, look ahead.”

Several zhang away stood a sedan chair. Xie Buhuo recognized the attendant supporting the chair—it was Ni’er.

She’d tracked him down here?

In an instant, the coldness on Second Master Xie’s face couldn’t be concealed.

He jumped down from the carriage and strode over, pulling back the sedan curtain in one motion.

Under the night-pearl’s glow, Du Yiyun’s powdered face was charming. “Second Brother, get in the sedan to talk.”

Xie Buhuo looked her up and down, bent down and climbed in, sitting side by side with her.

“Du Yiyun.”

His voice didn’t hide its coldness. “Was it you who had Nanny Li do what happened in the small kitchen?”

Du Yiyun countered, “Why is Second Brother speaking to me in such a cold tone?”

“Nanny Li is dead.”

“A traitorous slave who sold out her master—death is what she deserved. Moreover, she caused Madam to be confined and raised Second Brother’s and Aunt Liu’s positions in Master Xie’s eyes. Her death was truly meaningful.”

Xie Buhuo abruptly turned his head, his gaze locking onto that delicate, lovely face, feeling indescribable revulsion in his heart.

He wasn’t a good person and had done plenty of bad things. So had He Yun.

But after doing bad things, to still put on such a sanctimonious facade of righteousness—neither he nor He Yun could do that.

“Speak. What do you want from me?” His tone grew even colder.

“Second Brother still hasn’t given me an answer!”

Du Yiyun smiled at him gently. “I’m an impatient person, can’t wait that long. I came to get a definite answer from Second Brother.”

Xie Buhuo’s expression darkened.

He’d been drinking alone at the Performers’ Bureau, actually pondering whether or not to cooperate with the Du family.

The conditions the Du family laid out were extremely tempting—

Remove that foolish woman Wu from her legitimate wife position, elevate Aunt Liu to take her place, making him, Xie Buhuo, a proper legitimate son.

Not only that, but Du Jianxue was willing to take him under his wing and guide him step by step into an official career.

What he had to do was pass everything about the Xie family, no matter how trivial, to the Du family.

A wonderfully profitable deal, wasn’t it?

But thinking deeper, why did Du Jianxue want to know about the Xie family’s affairs?

Du Jianxue stood behind the Prince of Han. His purpose should be to win Father over to the Prince of Han’s camp.

Father had maintained relations with Du Jianxue for so many years but still hadn’t sided with the Prince of Han’s faction—clearly Father didn’t favor the Prince of Han’s team.

In this world, there was only the principle of prosperity and ruin together, absolutely no way to remain aloof.

No matter how base and despicable he, Second Master, was, no matter how sinister and underhanded, he still had a final shred of human decency as a bottom line.

“The definite answer is: you can’t write two Xie characters with one stroke.”

Second Master Xie smiled slightly. “I dislike Third Brother, dislike this indelible character for ‘concubine-born’ on me, but these are all Xie family matters. Miss, just mind your own affairs—don’t reach too far.”

Du Yiyun’s expression changed drastically. “Second Brother, do you know what you’re saying?”

“Speaking human words!”

Xie Buhuo suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“Miss Du used a Nanny Li to stir up strife between the first and second branches of the Xie family. On the surface, it benefited my second branch, but who can guarantee that I, Xie Buhuo, won’t become the second Nanny Li?”

“How can Nanny Li be mentioned in the same breath as Second Brother?”

“Why not?”

Xie Buhuo spoke very slowly. “Both selling out the inside to curry favor outside, both betraying master for glory, both being chess pieces in others’ hands.”

Du Yiyun’s face changed abruptly.

…

The Du Residence;

The study.

Du Yiyun spoke until her mouth was dry, picked up her tea cup and took a sip, then said dejectedly, “Father, those were his exact words. We’ve wasted our efforts on this chess piece, Second Master Xie.”

Du Jianxue smiled slightly. “Daughter, there’s no such thing as wasted effort in this world. With these two moves, we’ve actually already tested out everything about the Xie residence.”

“What does Father mean by this?”

“First, the Xie residence’s steward is formidable.”

Du Jianxue paused. “This person took only a few days to find Nanny Li. Very clever. His ability to sit in the position of Xie residence steward shows real capability.”

“And second?”

“Xie Daozhi is a thorough hypocrite. I misjudged him before.”

“Father, how do you mean?”

“Since they could find Nanny Li, they could find the person behind Nanny Li. By an ordinary person’s temperament, could they tolerate this?”

Du Yiyun shook her head.

“Yet he forcibly swallowed it.”

Du Jianxue sneered. “Nanny Li’s death—who was it for? For our Du family to see. To warn me, your father, not to reach too far. One in the light, one in the dark—he’s truly calculating.”

Du Yiyun instantly understood—

Xie Daozhi’s forbearance in the light was for his own reputation. After all, Father had once been his superior. Having Nanny Li killed in the dark was striking back at the Du family.

“Is there a third?”

“There is!”

Du Jianxue said, “Xie Daozhi teaches his sons well. Even if they’re fighting to the death internally, outwardly they still protect their own brothers. They act with proper priorities and measure.”

Speaking of this, he suddenly thought of something. What if the Xie family men supported the Crown Prince and stood opposite the Prince of Han—what then?