“Today is Mid-Autumn Festival. You siblings each recite a poem appropriate to the occasion. Huaizuo, you go first.”

“Bright moonlight before my bed, I thought it was frost upon the ground. Raising my head, I gaze at the bright moon; lowering it, I think of my hometown.”

“Why do you recite this same one every year?”

“Father, isn’t this poem appropriate for the occasion?”

“Your father’s ears have grown calluses from hearing it. Xiaoyou, you recite one.”

“White ground in the courtyard where crows roost in trees, cold dew silently wets the osmanthus flowers. Tonight the bright moon is seen by all, but in whose home does autumn longing dwell?”

“Listen to your little sister—she recites so well.”

“What’s so good about it? I’m a military officer. I’m going to protect the country in the future. All this ‘cold dew’ and ‘autumn longing’—how can I lead troops into battle with that?”

“Still talking back?”

“Father, big brother isn’t being stubborn. Big brother is right. Mother, what do you say?”

“Mm.”

“Father, Mother already said ‘mm,’ so don’t punish big brother.”

The little girl picked up a piece of mooncake and brought it to the little boy’s mouth with a flattering expression. “Big brother, eat this.”

“What filling is this?”

“Five kernel.”

The little boy loved five kernel filling most. Without thinking, he took a bite, chewed twice, and his expression changed.

“Zheng Huaiyou, you tricked me! This is clearly lotus seed paste filling.”

“Is it good?”

The little boy looked disgusted. “Good? It’s way too sweet.”

“It’s not sweet at all.”

The little girl raised her eyebrows, muttering softly, “How can there be people in this world who don’t love lotus seed paste mooncakes?”

“Third Uncle, Third Uncle…”

“Ah?” Xie Zhifei snapped back to reality.

“Come in and have mooncakes.”

Xie Huaizhou pulled Xie Zhifei to sit down and picked out a small piece of mooncake from the plate.

“Third Uncle, this was sent by Miss Yan for Mother. It’s delicious—try it.”

“What filling?” Xie Zhifei asked unconsciously.

“Five kernel.”

Xie Huaizhou: “But Mother said there’s also some red bean added, and some hawthorn. It’s different from what our household makes.”

Xie Zhifei’s heart jumped heavily. An indescribable feeling surged from his heart, and memories came flooding back again.

The little boy snorted: “I was going to ask—how can there be people in this world who don’t love five kernel mooncakes?”

“I don’t love them.”

The little girl propped her chin on her hand. “If the five kernel filling had some red bean added, and some hawthorn, maybe I’d try it? Or adding some jujube paste wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Zheng Huaiyou, can you not fantasize so wildly?”

“I can’t even think about it?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Then it wouldn’t be called five kernel—might as well call it seven kernel or eight kernel.”

“What’s wrong with seven kernel or eight kernel?”

“It’s just not right.”

“Father, see how domineering big brother is?”

“Mother, look at little sister—isn’t she silly?”

“Zheng Huaizuo, which one of us is really silly?”

“You’re silly, you’re silly, you’re silly!”

“I’m not playing with you anymore!”

The little girl dove into her father’s arms.

“I’m not playing with you either!”

The little boy dove into his mother’s arms.

Half a cup of tea later, the little boy walked to the little girl’s side and coughed loudly. “Want to play pitch-pot?”

The little girl ignored him.

“Want to play or not? If not, I’m going to sleep.”

The little girl slowly raised her head and slowly bit out one word from her mouth: “Play!”

“Third Uncle, Third Uncle?”

“Eh!” Xie Zhifei came back to reality again.

“Your mooncake is about to go into your nose.”

Xie Zhifei looked down and quickly put down the mooncake in his hand, standing up. “I still have matters to attend to. I’m heading back first.”

“Third Uncle, you haven’t played pitch-pot with me yet!”

“Another day.”

“Another day won’t be Mid-Autumn Festival anymore.”

“Have your father play with you.”

Xie Zhifei fled from the courtyard as if escaping, walking dozens of zhang in one breath before slowing his pace.

The night stretched like a long river, so quiet there wasn’t a single sound.

He stood quietly for a while, then reached up to rub his eyes. He’d walked too fast just now—sand had blown into his eyes, accidentally wetting his eye sockets.

Zheng Huaiyou loved calligraphy and painting. What calligraphy and painting required most was arm strength. Because she was weak from birth, her arm strength was naturally small. She could copy script with proper form, but the force was always lacking.

Playing pitch-pot was to practice her arm strength.

All these years, he’d deliberately avoided thinking about the people and feelings from before. Only every year at Mid-Autumn, when a round bright moon rose, would he allow the people and events from the past to run out and torment him for a while.

So on this day, he’d play pitch-pot with little Huaizhou. It felt as if…

He was keeping company with that little girl from the past!

Now, the little girl had returned. She wasn’t his real little sister. His real little sister was Tang Mingyue. He could face Tang Mingyue with such composure—why couldn’t he face her with composure?

Because of her, Tang Mingyue could only grow up in a nunnery.

Because of her, Mother was melancholy and unhappy.

Also because of her, Father—such an intelligent person—could only huddle in Haitang Courtyard.

But what did any of this have to do with her?

She was innocent.

She probably didn’t know anything.

Xie Zhifei suddenly realized how hopelessly foolish he was, saying softly, “What am I competing with myself about?”

“Master.”

Xie Xiaohua came over carrying a lantern.

He’d actually been watching from the side for quite a while. The little cub had not only spoken little all evening, but his brows hadn’t relaxed once.

“Does Master have something on his mind?”

“No.”

Xie Zhifei straightened his back. “Eat the mooncakes yourself. She gave them to you—they’re different.”

He reached out and pinched Xie Xiaohua’s soft, plump neck. “Go to that courtyard again in a bit and keep Miss Tang company in conversation for me.”

“Me keep her company?” Xie Xiaohua pointed at his own nose with an astonished expression.

“Mm. With you there, Three Two One can feel at ease.”

Xie Xiaohua watched Third Master’s retreating back and pursed his lips. “When I was young, I was quite popular with young ladies and young wives too.”

Third Master didn’t hear these words.

He’d already walked far away.

…

The next day.

Early morning.

Three carriages stopped at the Xie residence gate.

Tang Mingyue and her husband stepped over the threshold and immediately saw Third Master Xie standing in the morning light.

Third Master Xie nodded slightly to the couple and mounted his horse in one smooth motion.

The couple quickly boarded their carriage.

The group slowly set off, heading straight for the south city gate.

After entering the city gate, Xie Zhifei escorted them another dozen li before turning his horse around and stopping behind the carriage.

The curtain lifted, revealing Tang Mingyue’s smiling face.

Xie Zhifei smiled back at her.

Just as Tang Mingyue thought he would say some parting words, he raised his riding crop and galloped away.

“What a strange person. Either he’s clingy to death, or he doesn’t even say goodbye.” Dan Eryi muttered softly.

Tang Mingyue’s small fist punched her husband. “You’re the strange one. Third Master is a good person.”

“Right, right, right—a good person.”

Dan Eryi thought to himself that no matter what, he couldn’t let his wife come to this capital again.

Too dangerous.

Even that fat steward from the Xie household had some intentions toward his wife, running over late at night to chat with her about this and that.

Damn it—what kind of people were they all!

…

Xie Zhifei rushed back to the government office in one breath.

According to regulations, the court took three days off for Mid-Autumn Festival. Today was the second day, and only a few guards remained at the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s office.

Seeing Third Master arrive, the guards all came forward to greet him.

After nodding to each one, Xie Zhifei returned to his room, where Ding Yi and Zhu Qing were already waiting inside.

Yesterday at the palace family banquet, news spread that the Emperor wanted to recall the Prince of Han. With the Grand Imperial Grandson not in the capital, matters had to rely on Third Master.

The master and two servants worked busily all day. By evening, they’d finally arranged all the overt and covert defenses throughout the capital.

Xie Zhifei called out “Zhu Qing” and glanced up at the beam.

Zhu Qing’s feet tapped lightly, and he leaped up, retrieving a bundle from behind the crossbeam. Inside was the Zheng family’s case file.

Xie Zhifei smiled faintly.

“Let’s go ask Miss Yan for a cup of tea.”