Aunt Shi not only prepared a month’s worth of provisions but also brought over a dozen dishes in the evening.

With two hundred taels, there was no way to spend it all. Uncle Shi even slaughtered a sheep—the bones for soup, the meat braised.

Xie Zhifei’s group had all bathed and changed clothes. Even the heavily burdened Third Master Zhu had shaved his beard, transforming back into a presentable human being.

Everyone looked and thought—my goodness, each one carried extraordinary bearing, especially that one called Third Master Xie.

Old Lady Xiao circled the courtyard twice before thickening her face and sidling up to Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei was drinking mutton soup. The mutton soup here had some ingredient added that made it far fresher than the capital’s.

Turning his head, he saw Old Lady Xiao with a flower tucked behind her ear, grinning with her two front teeth, smiling sweetly at him.

“Old lady, is something the matter?” he asked.

“Yes!”

Old Lady Xiao chuckled. “Look at me—am I pretty?”

Third Master Xie nodded insincerely.

“So do you fancy me?”

“…”

Third Master Xie nearly spat out his mouthful of mutton soup.

Seeing his disgusted expression, Old Lady Xiao snorted. “When I was young, I was the flower of the region for a hundred li around. Don’t all you men covet beauty?”

Just consider me a eunuch.

Third Master Xie picked up his mutton soup and walked to the courtyard to drink standing up.

“Ai, why is the young fellow so uptight? Don’t be so bashful like a young maiden. I…”

Halfway through her words, her gaze slid to Third Master Zhu’s face.

Oh!

This one who shaved his beard wasn’t bad either—delicate skin and tender flesh.

“Granny Xiao?” Yan Sanhe called out quietly.

Old Lady Xiao rolled her eyes at Yan Sanhe, pointed at Third Master Zhu, and snorted. “I won’t compete with you for the most handsome one. At least let me feast my eyes on this one!”

Compete?

Yan Sanhe’s face reddened. She thought—how does this dead old woman have the face to say such a word? If Xie Zhifei heard…

A breeze swept by, and Third Master, who had just left, sat back down, squinting meaningfully at Yan Sanhe before lowering his head to continue drinking soup.

Yan Sanhe’s hand gripping the chopsticks clenched until it turned white.

“Why did the handsome young fellow come back? I told you men all covet beauty… Ai-ya, who’s pulling me?”

Aunt Shi and Uncle Shi really couldn’t watch anymore. They grabbed Old Lady Xiao on both sides and dragged her out.

The old lady stretched out both hands and opened her mouth wide, letting out a deafening shout.

“Son! When your mother dies, make me a paper figure modeled after that most handsome one. What your mother couldn’t have in life, she’ll enjoy thoroughly in death!”

Pfft—

A mouthful of mutton soup sprayed out. Xie Zhifei didn’t bother wiping, looking resentfully at Yan Sanhe. “Let’s leave after eating.”

Really couldn’t stay any longer.

Yan Sanhe also felt if this continued, she’d lose all face. “I have no objection. Ask them if they can handle it.”

This way they could save an entire night. Third Master Zhu calculated mentally, gritted his teeth, and said, “We can!”

Then they’d leave immediately.

Yan Sanhe’s belongings had been packed before eating—same as when she arrived, just one bundle, except now it contained an added Diamond Sutra inside.

She exchanged a few words with Aunt Shi and Old Uncle Wu, pinched Little Grandson Xiao’s nose, and mounted her horse with a flip.

The setting sun shone on her face. She wore azure clothes, her hair tied up like a man’s, her gaze emptily looking at some spot on the horizon.

Grandfather, you must protect me!

“Hyah—”

Xie Zhifei watched that azure figure, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

For some reason, he felt that Yan Sanhe’s face just now carried a hint of resolve.

How could it be resolve?

“Master, we’re leaving!”

“Let’s go!”

Xie Zhifei cracked his whip and spurred forward with all his might.

…

A thousand li away.

The capital.

The gambling house was packed with people.

The dealer shouted hoarsely, “Big or small? Place your bets, place your bets!”

“I bet big.”

“I bet small.”

Li Buyan pushed forward her remaining bit of silver. “I also bet small.”

The dealer glanced at her—whose wild girl was this, cross-dressing as a man and coming to the gambling house every day? Quite bold!

The dealer lifted the bowl. “Seven, eight, nine points—big.”

“Bah, such bad luck.”

Li Buyan squeezed out of the crowd. Turning around, she saw several zhang away Young Master Pei like a fire-breathing rooster with smoke coming from his head.

She innocently spread her hands—what are you looking at? Never seen a girl gamble before?

Had Young Master Pei never seen a girl gamble?

Young Master Pei had never seen a girl so carefree, idle, and useless.

Since Li Buyan returned to the capital, the Grand Prince had him take this troublemaker wherever he went.

Look at this person’s shameless behavior—even the Grand Prince worried she’d cause trouble everywhere!

With Xie Fifty gone, Young Master Pei was running around frantically. Yet this troublemaker spent every day smiling and eating, drinking, gambling, and playing. Couldn’t she help him with anything?

Help him with things?

Strange—why did I have that thought? What am I thinking?

If this auntie could peacefully not cause trouble until Yan Sanhe and the others returned, he’d go to the temple to burn high incense.

He shot her a fierce look: Follow me.

Li Buyan caught up in a few steps, nudging Young Master Pei’s elbow with hers. “Got any silver left? Lend me ten taels.”

“Want me to lend you a pile of dog shit instead?”

Ten taels?

Young Master Pei was so angry he wanted to strangle her.

How many days had she been losing?

Every day using his silver to fill her own hole.

Li Buyan pursed her lips. “Young Master Pei, how many days has it been since you vented? Your temper’s quite fierce!”

“Auntie…”

“Auntie can’t be used for venting. The girls at the pleasure houses across the street can.”

Young Master Pei’s breath caught in his throat—nearly ascending to heaven.

Angered to death.

The two passed through the gambling den, then through a secret passage, stepping on a narrow plank onto a pleasure boat.

Mei Niang waved her handkerchief at the boatman. The boat slowly left the dock.

Li Buyan had originally wanted to chat with her, but seeing Young Master Pei’s dead-man face, she decided to talk with Mei Niang instead.

Having frequently boarded the boat with Young Master Pei recently, she and Mei Niang had become familiar.

The boat traveled halfway before docking again. Zhao Yishi boarded wearing a cloak.

Mei Niang was a servant after all. Seeing the Grand Prince board, she quickly abandoned Li Buyan to serve tea and water.

Zhao Yishi tossed his cloak to Shen Chong, sat down, looked at Li Buyan, and pointed to the spot before him, indicating she should sit.

Li Buyan sat down reluctantly.

“Sit with proper posture.”

Young Master Pei cracked melon seeds. “Don’t sit there boneless. The Grand Prince is still here.”

Li Buyan appreciated Young Master Pei’s missing-a-screw-in-the-brain appearance.

Why did the Grand Prince have Young Master Pei bring her along? Wasn’t it to find opportunities to get close to her?

Why did she follow Young Master Pei? Wasn’t it to confirm whether she had those kinds of feelings for the Grand Prince?

Only that fool Young Master Pei actually believed the Grand Prince’s lies.

“Huairen, don’t mind her. This girl has always been like this.”

Zhao Yishi looked at Li Buyan meaningfully before speaking. “Tell me, how has the Zhu family been these past few days?”