The bundle was frighteningly heavy. Opening it revealed several thick stacks of paper.

All the murder cases from throughout the Hua Kingdom in the eighth year of Yonghe were here.

Li Buyan couldn’t help but sigh. “This Ding Yi seems a bit slow, but he’s actually very meticulous in his work.”

“Third Master wouldn’t keep useless people around him.”

Yan Sanhe pulled out a stack of papers. “Let’s get to work.”

“Haven’t we already determined it was the Zheng family? Why dig this out?”

“I want to see what’s written on them.”

“Capital cases wouldn’t be at the top, then they’d be at the bottom. You check the top, I’ll check the bottom.”

As Li Buyan predicted, it was right at the top.

Yan Sanhe looked through it with disappointment on her face.

“What’s wrong?”

Yan Sanhe handed it to her. “It’s all useless stuff—not a single important detail.”

Li Buyan flipped through it. “How was the case recorded so simply? That shouldn’t be right!”

Yan Sanhe paced around the room several times, then stopped. “Let’s go to Xie Manor first.”

“What about these stacks of papers?”

“Put them away and find a secure place to store them for now.”

…

As Yan Sanhe walked out of the study, Ding Yi set down his teacup and stood. “Miss Yan, shall we go?”

“Not yet.”

Yan Sanhe indicated he should sit back down. “Tell me about the current situation at Xie Manor.”

Ding Yi was delighted.

Fortunately, he was the curious type. During those days waiting for his master’s return, with nothing to do, he’d thoroughly investigated everything that had happened at the manor during those three months.

“Ah, Miss Yan, it’s difficult to put into words!”

Ding Yi used a sigh as his opening, then like beans tumbling from a bamboo tube, rattled off everything cleanly.

“Miss Yan, fortunately it’s the fifteenth of the eighth month. The Old Master, considering the Old Madam and the Young Masters’ face, agreed to let Madam come out. Otherwise, no one could have had a good festival.”

“It’s my fault, is it?” Yan Sanhe snorted coldly.

“How could that be!”

Ding Yi quickly smiled. “This matter has absolutely nothing to do with Miss Yan. It’s all because Madam’s ears are soft—she was instigated by bad people, taken advantage of and deceived.”

“It’s also because your Old Master can’t control his lower half.”

Li Buyan came out carrying mooncakes. “Enjoying the blessings of harmony—how could that be so easily enjoyed?”

Ding Yi’s face turned white with fright. Miss Li, how dare you say such things!

“Buyan, add another box of mooncakes.”

“We only made that many boxes—all went to them. What will we eat?”

Yan Sanhe relaxed her brow and looked at Li Buyan with a smile.

Li Buyan stamped her foot in anger. “You! Don’t be so quick to forget the pain once the wound heals!”

Still angry as she was, she added another box of mooncakes.

Yan Sanhe coaxed her. “Let me carry them.”

Li Buyan looked disgusted. “Go, go, go—get out of the way!”

A tiny arc appeared at the corner of Yan Sanhe’s mouth.

Watching this scene, Ding Yi thought of his master who wouldn’t even glance at him properly, and felt like crying again.

Look at others—the master actually coaxes the servant!

…

When the carriage arrived at Xie Manor, Yan Sanhe stepped down and immediately saw the long-absent Steward Xie.

Xie Xiaohua’s face was creased with smiles.

“Hoping for stars, hoping for the moon, we’ve finally hoped for Miss Yan’s arrival. After lunch, Old Madam ordered this old servant to wait here.”

“Is that so?”

Yan Sanhe walked over and looked him up and down, the corner of her mouth hooking up. “Buyan.”

Li Buyan handed over a box of mooncakes. “Steward Xie, have some to replenish yourself!”

Oh my goodness, had the sun risen in the west?

Steward Xie smiled until his eyes became slits. “This old servant thanks Miss Yan for the reward.”

Miss Yan gave him the back of her head.

Steward Xie happily trotted after her. “Third Master instructed this old servant to first lead Miss to the guest courtyard.”

Though Yan Sanhe had planned to do just that, seeing Steward Xie’s ingratiating smile, she deliberately needled him.

“Is Steward Xie waiting here for Old Madam or for Third Master?”

Xie Xiaohua’s smile didn’t change. “Waiting for anyone is still waiting, as long as the person I’m waiting for is Miss Yan.”

Yan Sanhe imperceptibly rolled her eyes at Steward Xie.

He should just change his name to Xie Sycophant.

“Miss Yan.”

A gentle voice sounded nearby.

Yan Sanhe looked over.

Several yards away, Xie Buzhuo stood with his hands behind his back, wearing sky-blue robes, his manner gentle and refined.

What a coincidence?

Or was he deliberately waiting here?

Yan Sanhe inclined her head slightly. “Second Master.”

Xie Buzhuo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping up and down over Yan Sanhe. “Miss has lost some weight.”

Yan Sanhe met his gaze and said lightly, “I’ll gain it back in a few days.”

Xie Buzhuo smiled faintly. “Last time I went to the other courtyard, unfortunately Miss had gone on a trip.”

Yan Sanhe had heard from Tangyuan about this. “I had business to attend to. I apologize for making Second Master make a wasted trip. Buyan.”

Li Buyan handed over a box of mooncakes. “Please taste them, Second Master.”

Xie Buzhuo accepted it, his gaze lingering deeply on Li Buyan for a moment before he smiled. “Then I must thank Miss.”

“Just a small gesture. We’ll take our leave.”

Yan Sanhe inclined her head again, then departed.

As the group moved away and the surroundings became quiet again, Xie Buzhuo looked at Wu Xing behind him.

“How many boxes of mooncakes was Miss Li carrying?”

“Should be six boxes.”

“Steward Xie got one box, I got one box—that leaves four boxes.”

“Correct.”

Xie Buzhuo’s smile gradually faded. “I wonder who she’ll give the remaining four boxes to.”

Wu Xing hesitated. “Master, should I inquire?”

“Yes.”

Xie Buzhuo handed the mooncakes to him. “Take these to give Mother a taste, and say they’re from Miss Yan.”

“Yes.”

“Wait.”

Xie Buzhuo looked at the bluestone path where Yan Sanhe had departed.

“That path leads to the guest courtyard, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. There’s a young couple staying in the guest courtyard—I hear they’re Third Master’s guests. They’ve been there six or seven days. Steward Xie runs over to check on them several times a day. They seem quite important.”

Wu Xing knew everything clearly. “Steward Xie runs over to check on them several times a day. They seem quite important.”

Every festival was Xie Buzhuo’s busiest time—all the shops and estates needed inspecting. He’d only returned to the Xie residence last night.

Who were this young couple?

How did Yan Sanhe know them too?

This master and servant pair were truly an enigma!

…

In the guest courtyard.

Tang Mingyue stared at Yan Sanhe before her, her eyes wide as copper bells.

So young, so fair, so beautiful!

Such a person should be kept in a boudoir—how could she dissolve thoughts and resolve demons for the dead?

Also.

Her features looked very familiar, as if she’d seen her somewhere before.

Yan Sanhe was also observing Tang Mingyue.

She’d imagined a woman who loved to smile would have a gentle, harmonious appearance, but unexpectedly she had a face full of spirit.

Though clearly already a wife and mother, her eyes were lively and clear, with soul and vitality—no wonder people found her endearing.

“I heard from Third Master that you wanted to see me?”

Tang Mingyue quickly stood and walked before Yan Sanhe, bowing deeply.

“Miss Yan, let me thank you for…”

“No need for thanks.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at her belly, her heart trembling slightly. “You sit back down properly.”

“Miss Yan?”

“Sit back down!”