Speaking of which, Xie Zhifei really felt guilty toward his father. Halfway through their drinks, when Zhu Qing returned, he tossed down his wine cup and ran off.
“Achoo, achoo!”
Xie Zhifei rubbed his nose, thinking to himself that this must be his old man cursing him in anger.
Curse away then. As long as Lu Shi came out of the palace safe and sound, he’d gladly take even a beating.
But something wasn’t right.
They’d already forced the Emperor to issue a self-reproaching edict—how could he still come out safe and sound? How was that even possible?
The corner of Xie Zhifei’s eye twitched. “Have the Embroidered Uniform Guards withdrawn?”
“Not yet.”
“Zhu Qing, this isn’t normal!”
Zhu Qing nodded in ready agreement. The current Emperor was not someone known for being soft-hearted.
Xie Zhifei rotated his neck to relax while asking, “Where’s Mingting?”
“At the別 別別 别院.”别separate villa别.”
Zhu Qing glanced at Third Master’s expression. “Does Master want to go over?”
Xie Zhifei shook his head.
What would he go there for? When that girl woke up to see Pei Mingting anxiously watching over her, she’d probably develop some affection for him.
“Have the small kitchen send over some more food. We only drank in the study.”
“Yes!”
Xie Zhifei rubbed his temples, thinking to himself that Jingchen’s heart demon was finally resolved. If they’d continued to toil day and night like that, he really would have lost several years of his life.
“Master.”
Shuncai’s voice sounded from outside. “A young man has come, calling himself Dan Eryi, saying he’s looking for Master on urgent business.”
Xie Zhifei’s brows furrowed. “Three Two One?”
“Dan Eryi.”
Was there really someone with that name?
“Don’t know him. Send him away.”
“Yes.”
After reorganization, the small kitchen was especially efficient. In just a short while, Zhu Qing came carrying a food box.
Xie Zhifei caught the fragrance and his appetite stirred. Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, he heard Xie Xiaohua’s heaven-and-earth-shaking voice, each cry more urgent than the last.
“Master, Third Master, my dear Third Master…”
Xie Zhifei slapped down his chopsticks with a “pa.”
“The dignified chief steward of the Xie household, making such a commotion—what does that look like? This fat fool is regressing with age.”
The fat fool rushed in, wiping rain water all over his face.
“Third Master, this is terrible! Someone’s come to cause trouble outside, and he’s already injured several of our household guards.”
“Ha!”
Xie Zhifei shot up from his seat.
“There’s actually someone who’s not afraid of death, daring to cause trouble at a Cabinet Minister’s residence? Zhu Qing!”
Zhu Qing had already rushed out.
Xie Zhifei turned to look at Xie Xiaohua. “Is it that Three Two One fellow?”
“In response to Master, it’s him! This person…”
Xie Zhifei had no patience to listen further and strode off.
“Third Master, wait for this old servant! You can’t get caught in the rain with your constitution!” Xie Xiaohua held up an umbrella and hurried to follow.
The master and servant hadn’t gone far when they saw a gatekeeper servant running through the rain.
“Third Master, Zhu Qing asks you to come quickly and take a look.”
“What, can’t beat him? Call up all the household guards, quickly!”
Xie Zhifei’s pace quickened, leaving the servant behind scratching the back of his head in confusion: “But they haven’t even started fighting!”
The rain was heavy. Two red lanterns hung at the side gate.
In the dim lamplight, Xie Zhifei saw two shadows standing in the rain, confronting each other.
One shadow was Zhu Qing, the other…
Xie Zhifei sneered coldly: So it’s Three Two One, is it? This master will quickly turn you into One Two Three.
Hearing footsteps, the two figures in the rain both turned their heads.
Xie Zhifei had Xie Xiaohua lift the umbrella higher while striding forward with an angry shout.
“Trespassing on the Xie residence—what audacity! Three Two… Xue Zhao, how is it you?”
Xie Zhifei’s face showed astonishment, his mouth hanging open for quite a while before he recovered. “You also have an alias called Three Two One?”
“Dan Eryi is me.”
A voice cut in from the side.
Xie Zhifei’s expression changed abruptly.
Damn it.
He’d recognize that voice even if it turned to ash.
It was that bastard from the inn the other day who called him and Yan Sanhe a “little married couple,” making him so embarrassed he wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
That bastard stood under the eaves. His features weren’t bad, quite resembling the refined elegance of a scholar—looking rather presentable.
“Is this how the Xie household treats guests? Ptui!”
Dan Eryi waved his fist, angrily denouncing the Xie household’s heartlessness.
“In such heavy rain, keeping us outside the gate, making my wife sit in the carriage getting rained on—are you even human? Don’t you have an ounce of compassionate humanity?”
Xie Zhifei ignored this Three Two One fellow and stepped forward to question Xue Zhao.
“Who is he? Who’s his wife? Why are you with them?”
“Son-in-law, young miss.”
Xie Zhifei’s mind turned several times before he realized the visitors were Tang Jianxi’s daughter and son-in-law.
His gaze fell on Dan Eryi, thinking to himself that this fellow was truly foolish enough—if he’d only mentioned Tang Jianxi’s name once, they never would have turned them away.
Xie Zhifei strode over with large steps and cupped his fists.
“So it’s Brother Dan. I’ve heard much about you. This was all a misunderstanding, entirely my fault. I hope Brother Dan won’t take it to heart.”
Dan Eryi still had some anger and snorted without concealment.
“My wife is still hungry, waiting in the carriage!”
Xie Zhifei recalled Madam Tang’s parting instructions and quickly said, “Steward Xie.”
“Present.”
“Have the small kitchen prepare food immediately.”
“Wait.”
Dan Eryi: “My wife doesn’t eat scallions or garlic, doesn’t eat spicy food, can’t stand fishy smells. Add a few drops of vinegar to the dishes and soup—she’s been fond of sour flavors lately.
Oh, and if the household has fresh bamboo shoots, stir-fry a plate of Three Delicacies and drizzle some sesame oil on top. Make it light and refreshing.”
In all his years at the Xie household, Steward Xie had never encountered a guest with such specific food requirements.
He shot Dan Eryi a glare, then issued some instructions to the servant behind him.
“Brother Dan.”
Xie Zhifei said politely, “Go help your wife down from the carriage.”
Dan Eryi didn’t move, clearing his throat.
“We came straight to your Xie residence from Water Moon Convent. We have no lodgings in the capital…”
So he wanted to stay overnight.
That wasn’t really a big deal.
“Steward Xie, have someone clean up the guest courtyard.”
“Wait.”
“The pillows can’t be too hard, the quilts must be scented, and prepare a bucket of hot water—my wife bathes every day. Also…”
Dan Eryi: “The courtyard must face south, and there shouldn’t be any random trees or flowers—those things attract negative energy and will frighten my wife.”
Who was this person to Third Master?
Treating the Xie residence like his own home?
Had he never heard the four words “guests follow the host’s convenience”?
Xie Xiaohua glanced resentfully at Third Master. Third Master didn’t want to waste time on such trivial matters.
“His wife is pregnant. Do as Brother Dan requests.”
“Yes.”
Seeing all his requirements met, Dan Eryi’s face changed, and he smiled cheerfully at Xie Zhifei. “Brother Xie, do me a favor—come hold an umbrella for my wife.”
Xie Zhifei: “…”
“Hurry up, your umbrella is bigger.”
No matter how good Xie Zhifei’s temper, his expression changed slightly.
He suppressed the curse that almost escaped his lips and handed the umbrella in Xie Xiaohua’s hand to Xue Zhao.
Xue Zhao and Dan Eryi walked to the carriage. One held the umbrella close, the other lifted the curtain and reached his hand inside.
In the dim light, a woman in red garments stepped down using the mounting stool.
After steadying herself, she first smiled sweetly at Dan Eryi, then raised her head to look toward Xie Zhifei, who stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance.
Xie Zhifei unconsciously stepped back, his expression changing dramatically.