A knock sounded. Xie Zhifei entered with an apologetic expression. “Pei Jing has arrived and is waiting outside. Miss Li…”

Li Buyan grabbed the bundle from the chair. “Remember you still owe me a meal.”

“Ten meals if you like.”

Xie Zhifei pulled several bank notes from his robes. “Take these for the road.”

Oh, quite sensible of him.

Li Buyan accepted them with a smile.

“One more thing—Miss Li must remember this.”

Xie Zhifei instructed, “With the previous two heart demons, we told the Grand Grandson half and concealed half. Don’t let anything slip.”

“Don’t worry, I know!”

Li Buyan squeezed an eye at Yan Sanhe, pulled open the door, and walked out.

Once she left, Yan Sanhe immediately went to the window, propped it open, and leaned out to look down.

On the stone-paved road, a black carriage was parked to one side.

Not far away stood Young Master Pei.

Young Master Pei was testing the road surface with the sole of his shoe, occasionally looking up at the building.

Li Buyan emerged from the building, turned her body slightly toward Young Master Pei, gave an almost imperceptible nod, and went straight to the carriage.

The driver cracked his whip, and in no time the carriage disappeared into the night.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”

The man’s gentle voice sounded behind her. Yan Sanhe turned around, the warm yellow lamplight outlining her silhouette.

“With Buyan gone, we’re short one person. The Zheng family matter will have to slow down again.”

“There’s more bad news.”

Xie Zhifei found it hard to say the words.

“Mingting and I won’t have time to worry about the case for the next few days. The Prince of Han’s people are still en route, but his hands have already reached into the capital. The court situation has been shifting lately.”

Great!

Two more generals lost.

No, make that five—Zhu Qing, Ding Yi, and Huang Qi would probably be busy too.

Their seven-person case-solving squad had been complete just an hour ago, but now it had fallen apart, leaving her the sole commander.

Yan Sanhe was speechless. “Fine, then I’ll head back first.”

Xie Zhifei wanted to keep her a while longer. “Since you’re already here, why not try the vegetarian fare…”

“Bang—”

Young Master Pei burst in. “Fifty, let’s go quickly. There’s trouble at Kaicui Fang.”

“I’ll try it when Li Buyan returns.”

Yan Sanhe nodded to Pei Xiao. “I take my leave.”

Young Master Pei awkwardly returned a stiff, forced smile.

“Wait.”

Xie Zhifei stretched out his long leg, blocking her path. “With Hero Li gone, I’ll have Ding Yi accompany you for now.”

“I don’t want that!”

She’d have no freedom at all.

“A man has gold beneath his knees—should I kowtow to her?”

Xie Zhifei lowered his head and said softly, “Yan Sanhe, just consider it accumulating virtue.”

“…” Yan Sanhe: “Switch to someone else. Ding Yi is a bit overqualified.”

“It has to be him.”

Seeing his expression that said ‘you’re not leaving this room unless you agree,’ Yan Sanhe conceded with a nod, roaring at herself internally: Can’t you show some backbone?

“I’ll see you downstairs.”

This time Yan Sanhe showed backbone, her attitude exceptionally firm. “No need. You’re too conspicuous.”

“Want me to see you off instead? I’m not conspicuous.” Young Master Pei drawled sarcastically, his eyebrows raised.

“Mingting, you’ve been acting strange lately.”

Yan Sanhe’s brows furrowed slightly. “Are you about to get your moon water too?”

Boom!

Young Master Pei’s face turned as red as a monkey’s bottom.

Yan Sanhe acted as if she hadn’t seen, opened the door, and walked out.

Young Master Pei jumped up. “Xie Fifty, open your eyes and look at her, she…”

“What about her? She’s right!”

“You…”

“Open your eyes and look at yourself—acting exactly like a sour little wife. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Xie Zhifei shook his head and followed her out.

“I’m sour?”

Young Master Pei looked devastated. “Damn it, wait till a woman dumps you and see how you like it!”

At this moment, Yan Sanhe had already descended to the second-floor landing, just in time to see a group of people coming up.

The leader wore a gray robe. Sensing someone coming down, he instinctively looked up.

Their gazes met, and the gray-robed man smiled faintly.

“Yan Sanhe, what are you doing here?”

Han Xu?

Yan Sanhe was delighted with surprise. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“I took an assignment at the start of the month and just arrived in the capital this afternoon. I was planning to get cleaned up and come see you tomorrow morning, but didn’t expect to run into you here.”

Han Xu climbed another step. “Where is she?”

Drawing closer, Yan Sanhe noticed he was covered in travel dust. “She’s also out on an errand.”

“So you’re planning to…”

“Head back.”

Han Xu frowned slightly and turned to give some instructions to those behind him. “Come on, I’ll see you back and take advantage of the chance to beg a cup of tea at your residence.”

Yan Sanhe happened to have matters to discuss with him. “Then I won’t be polite.”

“Why be polite!”

Han Xu turned around and walked ahead of Yan Sanhe.

At the landing, he reached out to steady Yan Sanhe. Once past the landing, he released his hand.

For the last few steps, Yan Sanhe walked a bit faster, coming alongside him.

Han Xu turned his head and said softly near her ear, “I brought you something good this time.”

“Just for me? What about hers?”

“Her?”

Han Xu curled his lips. “Nothing.”

“You two just keep competing with each other!”

“That’s what makes it fun.”

Han Xu walked out the door. Seeing the night was still early, “Let’s not ride or take a carriage. Shall we walk?”

Yan Sanhe recalled how when she was resolving heart demons at Han Family Fort, Han Xu loved to pull her along for walk after walk. The corner of her mouth lifted, and she smiled at him.

“Alright!”

This smile—not only did Han Xu see it, but the two people standing at Ancient Moon Tower’s entrance saw it too.

After a long while, Young Master Pei’s voice came out muffled. “Xie Fifty, have you ever seen the spirit medium smile at anyone like that?”

Xie Zhifei said nothing, but his hands behind his back had quietly clenched into fists.

“At least she’s never smiled at me like that.”

Young Master Pei’s heart was so sour it was practically bubbling over.

“No wonder she looks down on everyone—turns out she already has someone in her heart. That stirring stick Li Buyan did nothing but lie to me.”

Xie Zhifei remained silent.

“She should have said so earlier!”

After the sourness, Young Master Pei felt wronged. “If she’d said so earlier, I wouldn’t have wasted so much effort.”

“Who is that person?” Third Master’s golden mouth finally opened.

“Right, who is he? Never seen this character in the capital.”

Young Master Pei’s tone dripped with disdain. “His appearance is rather shabby too. Xie Fifty, do you think the spirit medium is blind?”

Blind my ass!

Didn’t you see that man’s entire bearing was extremely outstanding even in a crowd?

And more.

This person walked with very light steps, his back held perfectly straight—clearly a martial artist.

Xie Zhifei’s heart was even more sour than Young Master Pei’s. That scene on the stairs, especially that steadying gesture—he’d seen it crystal clear.

“Ding Yi.”

“Master.”

“With Hero Li absent, accompany Miss Yan these next few days, and have someone investigate this man’s background.”

“Yes!”

Just then, a beggar child appeared from who knows where, shaking his broken bowl at Third Master Xie, begging for a copper or two.

Xie Zhifei’s mouth said “scram,” but his hand fished out some broken silver and tossed it into the broken bowl.

The beggar child was so delighted he immediately knelt on the ground, hugging Third Master Xie’s feet and kowtowing repeatedly.

Third Master Xie looked disgusted and pulled Pei Xiao into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, a luminous pearl cast a ghostly glow.

Xie Zhifei reached into his shoe and felt around for a moment, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. Glancing at it, his expression changed drastically.

Pei Xiao leaned over. On the paper were four crooked characters:

Du He Marriage Alliance.