What if the Xie family men supported the Crown Prince and stood opposite the Prince of Han—what then?

The moment this thought emerged in Du Jianxue’s mind, the answer was already in his heart—they would be formidable opponents!

Du Jianxue fell silent for a moment. “After this matter, the Xie residence and we have essentially torn off the facade. You shouldn’t scheme anymore in the future. Let them be.”

“Father!”

Du Yiyun was unwilling. “Is daughter’s revenge just forgotten like this?”

“What’s the rush?”

Du Jianxue looked at her coldly. “First probe the depth, see the Xie residence people’s attitude, then slowly plot later. By the way, what has Third Master Xie been doing lately?”

Du Yiyun felt a surge of bitterness in her heart. “What else could he be doing? Nine times out of ten, fooling around with that little slut surnamed Yan.”

Doesn’t seem like it.

Du Jianxue shook his head.

If a concubine-born Second Master Xie already acted like this, would the legitimate firstborn son that Xie Daozhi raised—would he just watch him fool around?

“Someone come.”

“Master?”

“Secretly send someone to investigate Third Master Xie again.”

“Yes!”

“Investigate carefully.”

“Yes, Master.”

Du Yiyun was somewhat puzzled. “Father, why investigate him? He just goes to the office to idle away each day, and after work he also idles away…”

“Would you still be thinking about someone who just idles his days away after all these years?”

Du Yiyun froze.

That’s right—why have I been thinking about him all these years?

Just because of his face?

“Daughter, people cannot be judged by appearance, nor can the sea be measured with a ladle.”

He, Du Jianxue, had been deceived for many years by Xie Daozhi’s respectful and reverent face.

…

How could Third Master Xie know that back in the capital, people were thinking about him one after another.

At this moment, he was lying in the speeding carriage, thinking about how to quietly make contact with Lu Shi.

He didn’t have a single reliable intermediary.

This gentleman recognized no family ties and gave face to no one.

The only person who could speak with him was Zhao Huairen, but this matter absolutely couldn’t alarm Zhao Huairen.

That girl’s words were truly correct—going directly to his door was the best method.

But not during the day—at night, by climbing the wall.

Climbing walls was physical work. Mm, I need to rest well and let the wound on my back heal more.

In another carriage.

Yan Sanhe leaned against the carriage wall, her head resting on her knees.

She’d gone through Third Master Xie’s entire network of connections and truly couldn’t think of any other way he could reach Lu Shi.

The best method was still what she’d suggested—going directly to the door.

But not during the day—during the dark of night, climbing over the wall.

Climbing walls was physical work. First she needed to scout the terrain and see if she could find a tree by the wall to help with climbing.

The two carriages sped through the night. Everyone was eager to return home, wishing the carriages could run faster, then faster still.

Two days later, when dawn was still gray, Tangyuan had just gotten up when she suddenly heard someone shouting loudly, “Miss is back!”

She quickly went out to meet them. From afar, she saw Miss, Third Master, and the others. Her heart trembled.

Where had they run off to? How did they all end up so dusty and disheveled?

“Miss?”

“Tangyuan, prepare hot water and food, quickly.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Xie Zhifei beside her. “Third Master, Young Master Pei—will you go back to rest, or…”

“Stay here.”

Third Master’s whole body felt sticky and uncomfortable. “No time to go back. Tangyuan, why are you still standing there? Hurry up!”

Tangyuan took off running.

Young Master Pei’s gaze locked onto Huangqi. “You go home first and fetch me a few changes of clothes. While you’re at it, invite my father here.”

Before Huangqi could speak, Xie Zhifei frowned. “The wounds are mostly healed. Why alarm that great Buddha, Uncle Pei?”

“Xie Fifty, did all the jostling scramble your brains?”

Young Master Pei rolled his eyes at him. “My father is treating that person.”

“And then?”

“Treating illness requires bringing a medical assistant. This assistant could be you, could be me, could also be Sanhe.”

The originally downcast Yan Sanhe suddenly felt a stir in her heart.

“So we only need to persuade Imperial Physician Pei, and we can disguise ourselves as medical assistants and meet Lu Shi without anyone knowing.”

Young Master Pei looked at Xie Zhifei with distaste. Look at Sanhe, then look at your pig brain—hopeless.

Pig Brain showed him a placating smile, then turned around, his eyes very bright.

“Yan Sanhe, your build is perfect for disguising as a medical assistant, and moreover, no one at the Imperial Medical Academy knows you.”

Yan Sanhe: “I’ll be responsible for persuading Imperial Physician Pei.”

“If he won’t agree, use the favor owed by the Ji family.”

“Good!”

Yan Sanhe’s head tilted, her gaze fixed intently on Young Master Pei.

After pondering the entire journey and worrying the entire way, the problem was resolved—this method was countless times more brilliant than climbing walls.

One breath;

Two breaths;

Three breaths…

Young Master Pei’s face flushed red under her gaze, his tongue immediately tying in a knot. “You…”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Ah?”

“Why do you always come in handy at critical moments?”

“…”

Yan Sanhe gave him a thumbs up and used Li Buyan’s tone to say, unprecedented, “I like this quality. Please continue maintaining it next time.”

Young Master Pei: “…”

Young Master Pei looked at her retreating figure and grabbed Xie Zhifei’s arm, panicked. “She, she, she… she seemed to say ‘like’ just now?”

“Yes.”

“I, I, I… what should I do?”

Xie Zhifei looked at this fool’s appearance with some helplessness. “Didn’t you hear her say to continue maintaining it?”

Maintain what?

Maintain my intelligence? Maintain my usefulness? Or maintain my sincere heart toward you?

After bathing and eating, Young Master Pei was still pondering this question in his heart until his own father came rushing over.

The moment Pei Yu entered the main hall, his eyelid twitched for some unknown reason.

Before he could catch his breath, Yan Sanhe got straight to the point. “Imperial Physician Pei, I’m asking you to help me with something.”

“Miss, please speak.”

“I want to disguise myself as your medical assistant and go see Lu Shi.”

“What?”

Pei Yu’s eyelid jumped violently.

“It’s best if you don’t ask why, and you cannot refuse. Just bring me into the Lu residence.”

Don’t ask why;

And cannot refuse;

How could there be such a way of asking for help in the world?

What difference was this from a bandit?

Yan Sanhe looked at him quietly. “Not letting you ask is because I don’t want to drag you into this. Cannot refuse because it’s a matter of life and death.”

Hearing this, Pei Yu’s feelings grew complex beyond words.

Which person’s heart demon could actually involve Lu Shi?

How could someone as uncompromising as Lu Shi possibly help Miss Yan?

Also.

She didn’t want to implicate him, but his son had been following her around devotedly all this time—hadn’t he long been implicated?

After mentally calculating all this, Pei Yu decided to make Yan Sanhe give up. “Miss Yan, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help. I simply have no way to bring you into the Lu residence. The Lu residence…”

“Simple—I’ll be your medical assistant.”

Pei Yu’s eyes sharpened, transformed into blades flying swish swish swish toward his own son. This rotten idea of pretending to be a medical assistant—nine times out of ten it came from his own spawn.

Scamming his own father!

But the little scammer put on an utterly confused look. “This is a good idea. Yan Sanhe, how did you think of it?”

“Agonizing contemplation.”

Yan Sanhe cooperated with Young Master Pei in picking up the thread. “Imperial Physician Pei, give a definite answer!”