Each person has their own fate.

Yan Sanhe never forced people against their will.

“Then let’s go back. Third Master, do you still need help?”

“Yo, what happened to Third Master? Did handling official business make you delicate?”

You Li-surnamed bastard, what shit are you spouting?

“Do you need me to carry you?”

Carry your sister!

Xie Zhifei remembered something. “Yan Sanhe, Tang Mingyue insists on seeing you. Can’t stop her.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him incredulously.

This man could even handle Mama Xia from the Music Bureau smoothly. How could one Tang Mingyue stump him?

“No choice—she’s pregnant.”

After a moment of silence, Yan Sanhe said helplessly, “Then you arrange it!”

Xie Zhifei felt this episode of palpitations was actually worth it—at least it was very effective with Yan Sanhe.

“There’s one more thing.”

“Third Master certainly has a lot of business!” Yan Sanhe couldn’t help jabbing at him.

“Fourth Madam plans to return to the Ji family after another month.”

Yan Sanhe hadn’t expected this matter, and smiled faintly. “As she wishes.”

Xie Zhifei was somewhat surprised by her attitude. “Did you anticipate this?”

Yan Sanhe sneered coldly. “She didn’t only bear one daughter.”

“Then why did you still help her?”

“Incidentally.”

Yan Sanhe pulled Li Buyan toward the exit, her back small and slender in the autumn sun.

Xie Zhifei’s gaze momentarily blurred, then suddenly remembered something.

The Zheng family came from military stock, so their descendants were generally tall. This girl seemed to be half a head shorter than Tang Mingyue!

…

Returning to the capital, a long queue had already formed at the roasted chestnut stand.

Xie Zhifei in his official robes walked over and coughed twice at the vendor.

The vendor immediately had his assistant wrap up a portion of chestnuts and hurried over.

“My lord, please try some.”

Xie Zhifei pulled out two wen and pressed them into the vendor’s hand, then turned and stuffed the chestnuts into Yan Sanhe’s hands.

“I still have business. Going ahead.”

Yan Sanhe pressed her lips together, tacitly accepting.

After the person left, Li Buyan couldn’t help asking, “Where did Xie Third Master’s sweet mouth go?”

“He just had an episode.”

“What illness? Verbal diarrhea?”

Yan Sanhe poked Li Buyan’s chest with her finger. “He probably has problems here.”

Damn!

No wonder he’s short-lived.

Li Buyan scratched his head. “Then from now on I’ll be more virtuous with my words around him. Look at that pale face—he’s become a pretty boy.”

Yan Sanhe laughed with a “puchi” and stuffed the chestnuts into Li Buyan’s hands. “You eat them.”

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“I don’t eat things bought by pretty boys.”

This time Li Buyan laughed with a “puchi.”

…

That afternoon.

Xie Zhifei returned to the Xie residence. Zhu Qing waited at the second gate. Seeing him approach, he came forward. “Master, the Lu family…”

“Talk about it later.”

Xie Zhifei couldn’t listen to anything and headed straight for the guest courtyard.

The guest courtyard was quiet and peaceful. The maids and matrons Tang Mingyue had brought were all boredly sunning themselves in the courtyard.

Seeing the Xie residence’s Third Master arrive, a red-clothed maid hurried forward. “My young lady is still napping.”

“Wake her. Important matter.”

The maid saw Third Master’s tense expression, turned, and ran into the side room.

Soon there was movement in the room.

Shan Er’er emerged first and bowed to Xie Zhifei. “Brother Xie.”

Xie Zhifei nodded, his gaze looking past him.

Seeing his expression, Shan Er’er’s heart grew uncomfortable again.

Moments later, Tang Mingyue walked out supported by a maid. “Third Master is here. Has Miss Yan agreed to see me?”

“Miss Tang, please wait.”

Xie Zhifei glanced at Zhu Qing behind him. “Have everyone leave this courtyard.”

Before Zhu Qing could speak, a voice howled, “Why do I have to leave too?”

Xie Zhifei had anticipated this grandson would protest, and his gaze turned sharp. “Do you still want your wife to see Miss Yan or not?”

Shan Er’er: “Ah?”

Xie Zhifei: “If you want to see her, obediently do as I say.”

Shan Er’er’s mind raced. “Kicking us out—what does that have to do with seeing Miss Yan?”

You’re the clever one?

Xie Zhifei’s face darkened, putting on great airs.

“Miss Yan has a few questions she wants me to ask your wife. The matter must be kept confidential. Does Brother Shan have any other opinions?”

“I…”

“If you have no opinions, go out.”

Xie Zhifei made a “please” gesture. “Rest assured, your wife won’t lose a single hair.”

I’d be a fool to trust you.

Shan Er’er ground his back teeth. This pretty boy clearly has improper thoughts about my wife.

“Wife, I’ll wait right outside the courtyard. If anything happens, just shout. Don’t be afraid—Uncle Xue is here!”

“Don’t worry. Third Master is a good person.”

Tang Mingyue smiled and glanced at Xue Zhao. “Uncle Xue, accompany Er’er for a walk.”

“Young Master, let’s go!”

Young Master Shan looked back every three steps with an expression that said he couldn’t live without his wife, occasionally glaring at Xie Zhifei.

Good person?

Would a good person stare at someone else’s wife?

Bah!

Xie Zhifei thought, did Tang Jianxi’s old eyes grow dim, finding such a useless waste for his daughter!

…

The courtyard gate closed.

Xie Zhifei walked to Tang Mingyue’s side. “Miss Tang, let’s talk in the main hall.”

“All right.”

The two entered the main hall. Xie Zhifei also closed the hall door.

Tang Mingyue saw his cautious care and couldn’t help feeling anxious. She spoke before he could.

“Third Master, speak quickly. What does Miss Yan want to ask?”

“Who told you your birth date is July fourteenth?”

“My master.”

“How did your master know?”

Tang Mingyue was startled. “I don’t know. Master just told me that.”

“The day your master found you at Water Moon Convent’s gate was July sixteenth.”

Tang Mingyue was startled again. “Ah?”

Xie Zhifei pulled out the booklet, opened to a page, and pointed. “Look here.”

Tang Mingyue looked down. “Oh my, it really is July sixteenth.”

“Then why did your master tell you it was July fourteenth?”

“I don’t know.”

“Or was there a paper with your eight birth characters in your swaddling clothes?”

Tang Mingyue grew more confused. “There was paper too?”

Seeing her completely clueless expression, Xie Zhifei felt anxious enough to scratch his heart and liver.

With such a carefree heart, how have you survived, young lady?

“What about your swaddling clothes from back then? Did your master give them to you?”

“She did.”

At least Tang Mingyue could answer this question.

“When Father adopted me, Master had me take all my childhood belongings.”

“Where are they now?”

“On Muli Mountain. Mother is keeping them for me.”

“Have you opened them to look?”

“Why would I look at them?”

Tang Mingyue smiled. “I don’t want to find my birth parents. They didn’t want me, so I don’t want them either.”

This young lady not only has a big heart but a straightforward personality too.

Xie Zhifei was silent for a long while.

“I’ll make a trip to Muli Mountain right away. Would Miss Tang allow me to look at your swaddling clothes?”