Xie Daozhi took a bite of mooncake.

“Miss Yan, what flavor is this?”

“Lotus paste.”

“Excellent, truly excellent—utterly unforgettable.”

“Just now, Second Master brought over a box of mooncakes, saying it was to show filial respect to me. After tasting one, I wondered which skillful person had made these.”

Concubine Liu smiled at Yan Sanhe. “Now we’ve finally found the source. Miss Yan, thank you.”

At lively occasions like this in the Xie household, concubines had no place to speak. Concubine Liu usually just sat quietly with a smile on her face.

That she suddenly spoke up already surprised everyone. When they heard she’d also received a box of mooncakes from Miss Yan, their surprise leapt from their hearts onto their faces.

Yan Sanhe responded coolly, “No need for courtesy.”

“Just now I kept pressing Second Master, asking who gave them. He hemmed and hawed for ages, refusing to say. When I pushed too hard, he snapped at me: ‘Mother, stop asking!'”

Concubine Liu laughed softly.

“Master, Old Madam, look at this foolish child—was that really necessary?”

Xie Buhu was a formidable man outside, but being suddenly called a “foolish child” by his birth mother made his face flush red.

When his face reddened, it took on a different meaning in everyone else’s eyes.

Even Xie Zhifei, whose soul seemed elsewhere, raised his gaze to look coldly at this mother and son.

Just then, Concubine Liu stood up and walked gracefully to the Old Madam. She suddenly dropped to her knees.

The Old Madam was startled, looking to her son with questioning eyes.

Xie Daozhi frowned. “What’s the meaning of this on such a festive day?”

“Master, Old Madam, Second Master is twenty-two this year. By rights, he should have married long ago, but his fate was poor—he was born from this concubine’s womb.

Master and Old Madam feared wronging him, and over these years have tried every means to find him a good match. Unfortunately, it’s been a case of reaching too high or settling too low. Master’s hair has turned white from worry over this.”

So it was about Second Master’s marriage.

Hearing this, Xie Daozhi’s heart settled back down.

“This child knows in his heart that Master and Old Madam care for him and would never wrong him, so over the years he’s been unhurried about his marriage prospects, with a temperament as settled as anything.

Only leaving me, this concubine without cunning or opinion, worrying anxiously on the sidelines.

A mother knows her son best.

That box of mooncakes today made this concubine understand—this child has placed someone in his heart, but doesn’t dare speak of it, and fears being presumptuous toward the young lady.

This concubine’s heart has turned over a hundred times. After thinking it through, I must still be bold once for this foolish child.”

Concubine Liu wiped away tears and took a deep breath, her body slowly bowing down.

“This concubine begs Master and Old Madam, in consideration of this child’s obedience since childhood, to fulfill his heart’s desire.”

With Concubine Liu’s bow, the entire main hall fell deathly silent—quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

Too sudden!

In the dead silence, a voice recklessly interjected.

“Miss, what does she mean by all that? Could it be that the person Second Master Xie has placed in his heart is you? Is she asking permission for her son to court you?”

As soon as these words fell, two sharp gazes shot over.

Li Buyan raised her eyebrows at the sources of those looks: Look all you want—if you don’t like her, plenty of others do. My Sanhe is universally beloved.

Xie Zhifei had the urge to strangle this troublemaker, his peripheral vision quickly darting outside.

The moment Zhu Qing caught his master’s gaze, he hurried to whisper in Ding Yi’s ear.

Ding Yi’s expression changed, and he took off running.

Young Master Pei, this is serious—someone’s here to steal your wife! Your bride’s about to fly away!

At that moment, everyone in the hall turned their eyes to Yan Sanhe, but she kept her head lowered, her expression unreadable.

Concubine Liu straightened up and turned to glance at Yan Sanhe, her voice soft.

“I apologize, Miss Yan, for putting you in this difficult position.”

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued.

“When a family has a daughter, a hundred families come seeking. Miss Yan is such an outstanding person, she’ll shine bright sooner or later.

This concubine has selfish motives and wants to strive for that child. If we don’t succeed, it’s his fate, and this concubine has no regrets.

If we do succeed, it’s his blessing from several lifetimes of cultivation. This concubine would joyfully eat only vegetarian food and chant Buddhist sutras, praying for your lifetime of peace and happiness.

Miss, please don’t feel burdened. Whether you favor him or not, don’t force yourself. Master and Old Madam care for Second Master, but they care for you even more.

This concubine will harbor no resentment either way. I only hope Miss can find a good match in the future, living in harmony until old age with white hair.”

This was truly a case of silence followed by shocking words.

Even the usually critical Li Buyan felt moved listening to this, and couldn’t help raising her eyebrows at Third Master Xie across from her.

Xie Zhifei was past being angered by this troublemaker.

He didn’t just want to strangle her—he wanted to poison her, chop her up, preferably torn apart by five horses.

Nearby, eldest son Xie Erli glanced meaningfully at Lady Zhu.

Lady Zhu deliberately shifted her gaze to Lady Wu in front of Xie Erli.

The person your mother desperately pushed away, the second household is desperately seeking to marry—this is the difference between foolish and clever people.

Xie Erli was so irritated by his wife’s look that his chest heaved. He could only cover it up by drinking tea.

Lady Wu didn’t notice her daughter-in-law’s gaze at all.

Her lips trembled slightly as she thought: What’s so good about this Yan Sanhe? Why does Young Master Pei like her, and Second Master Xie too?

Are they all blind?

Lady Wu sneakily glanced at the Master, hoping he would immediately agree.

Xie Daozhi truly wanted to agree immediately.

This was something he and the Old Madam had planned long ago. If this marriage came to fruition, they’d have satisfied both the Old Madam and Concubine Liu.

But this matter wasn’t his to decide.

Xie Daozhi coughed twice and deliberately darkened his face to scold.

“Concubine Liu, what’s the meaning of this scene on such a festive day? Do you have no sense of proper womanly conduct?”

Concubine Liu’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Don’t be angry, Master. This concubine will kowtow to Miss Yan in apology.”

With that, she turned and firmly knocked her head three times against the floor with resounding thuds.

This, this, this…

Everyone was frightened by Concubine Liu’s desperate determination.

No matter how honored a guest Yan Sanhe was, no matter how favored by Master and Old Madam, she was still ultimately a seventeen-year-old child.

Even if Concubine Liu was only a concubine, she was still an elder. What principle was there for an elder to kowtow to a junior?

Moreover, this Concubine Liu was someone Master held dear to his heart.

Even Lady Zhu felt anxious for Yan Sanhe: Girl, quickly help Concubine Liu up!

Yan Sanhe continued to keep her head lowered, her face calm and silent, as if those three kowtows hadn’t been directed at her at all.

Eh, why isn’t she moving?

Could she be frightened?

Just as everyone was filled with doubt, only that troublemaker wore a cold smile at the corner of her mouth.

This routine is completely useless on our Sanhe.

She’s resolved so many lingering attachments, dispelled so many demons. Forget one Concubine Liu—even a high official like Ji Lingchuan still kowtowed to her.

Oh, right—forgot that Xie Daozhi has kowtowed to her too.

Right now, our Sanhe must be cursing in her heart—

“Go to hell!”