That single “mm” made Yan Sanhe’s blood suddenly ignite.

“Buyan, add some more water for me.”

“Alright.”

As Li Buyan added water, she quickly pressed Yan Sanhe’s shoulder, signaling her to stay steady.

Yan Sanhe was indeed agitated, her voice even trembling slightly.

After investigating Master Zhu this far, they’d finally unearthed something different.

Though just a trace, Yan Sanhe’s instinct told her that digging deeper would uncover much more.

“During the selection of the family head for Master Zhu’s generation—three months, seven examinations—what were the results for Fifth Master and Zhu Xuanjiu?”

This time, the old steward didn’t hesitate at all.

“Miss Yan, how could this old servant inquire about such matters? It was all in the old master’s mind.”

Finally, he added: “This is the Zhu family’s rule. Rules must be followed. No one can break them.”

Yan Sanhe: “So only those involved know the details?”

The old steward nodded.

Yan Sanhe: “Second Master and Third Master are both still alive. They should both know clearly?”

The old steward nodded again.

Li Buyan stepped forward: “Should I go find them now?”

“No rush. As long as they’re here, they can’t run away.”

Yan Sanhe asked again: “When did Fifth Master pass away? What illness did he have?”

The old steward counted on his fingers.

“He passed away twelve years ago. That year he was thirty-five. The master invited many renowned physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to examine him. They all said he’d depleted himself too much—his lamp oil had run dry.”

Passed away at thirty-five?

So young?

Yan Sanhe: “Who else is in his household?”

“Just an orphan and widow—the two of them. Fifth Master’s health was poor, so he had children late. His son just turned twenty this year and isn’t married yet.”

The old steward sighed: “When the master was alive, he always worried about this young nephew. He mentioned him to this old servant several times, saying he wanted to help find him a young lady from a good family.”

Yan Sanhe: “So Master Zhu and Fifth Master had quite a good relationship?”

The old steward didn’t know how to answer that right away.

To say it wasn’t good—it actually was good, with coming and going between the two households;

But to say it was excellent—that wasn’t quite right either.

“Fifth Master, apart from divination and feng shui, had no interest in anything else. In his dealings with people, he was like a child—when happy, he’d chat with you a bit; when unhappy, he wouldn’t acknowledge anyone.”

Old Steward: “The old master and old madam always said he was an obsessed child.”

An obsessed child refers to someone utterly absorbed in one thing or one person.

Such people live simply, without much cunning. What they think shows on their faces, and they don’t bother calculating other things.

Yan Sanhe looked at the sunlight falling on the stone floor and suddenly asked: “Did your old master also favor this youngest son?”

“Miss Yan guessed correctly.”

Old Steward: “Though the old master said he treated everyone equally, his heart actually favored Fifth Master. He said Fifth Master’s temperament was very like his own—that same obsessive drive in doing things.”

“Was Zhu Xuanjiu jealous?”

The question came so abruptly that the old steward froze for quite a while before reacting, breaking into a grin:

“Miss Yan is overthinking. Our master’s temperament was good to everyone, generous to everyone. He was practically cast from the same mold as Concubine Fu.”

Really?

Yan Sanhe raised her teacup, slowly bringing it to her lips, a bold hypothesis forming in her mind.

Suppose she were Zhu Xuanjiu;

Suppose she harbored ambitions for the Zhu family headship;

What would she need to do to ascend naturally and legitimately?

There was only one answer—

Eliminate all competitors whose abilities matched hers.

But would Zhu Xuanjiu be such an ambitious person?

From the words of Madam Mao, the eldest daughter-in-law, third daughter-in-law, Zhu Weixi, and the three young masters of the Zhu family, Yan Sanhe couldn’t see Zhu Xuanjiu as such a person at all.

Quite the contrary.

In their hearts, Zhu Xuanjiu was close to perfect—the perfect husband, perfect father-in-law, perfect father.

Did perfect people exist in this world?

The answer was obviously no.

At this moment, a person suddenly surfaced in Yan Sanhe’s mind: Zhu Weijin.

Among all the Zhu family’s children, she was the only one who kept her distance from the family. Zhu Weixi had said that when Master Zhu passed away, she didn’t even come to see him off.

Why?

“Yan Sanhe, Yan Sanhe.”

With a “bang,” the door was pushed open as Young Master Pei rushed in urgently.

“Yan Sanhe, I got something from Third Miss.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Li Buyan: “Go invite the three masters of the Zhu family in. Mingting, you speak.”

Young Master Pei found a seat closest to Yan Sanhe and plopped down.

“Didn’t you tell me to ask in detail about the relationship between eldest sister-in-law and Second Miss? Guess what she said?”

“What?”

“She said her Second Miss also used to like Geng Songsheng.”

“That’s absolutely impossible.”

Third Master Zhu burst in from outside.

“My second sister has always been proper and well-behaved. She barely had opportunities to speak a few words to Geng Songsheng. How could she possibly like him? Besides, she’s already married.”

Young Master Pei was furious, thinking: Are you questioning me or your little sister?

“What else did she say?” Yan Sanhe acted as if she hadn’t heard Third Master Zhu’s words.

Seeing how calm she was, Young Master Pei could only rein in his temper. “She said she was actually jealous of her eldest sister too—Father doted on her too much.”

Yan Sanhe: “Besides that?”

Young Master Pei leaned forward: “She said the reason she hasn’t married yet is because her parents are too picky.”

“More nonsense.”

Third Master Zhu’s chest heaved several times: “Mother and Father wanted to find her a good family.”

Yan Sanhe: “How old is she?”

Third Master Zhu: “Just turned eighteen.”

“So she’s anxious to marry!”

Li Buyan laughed lightly. “This Third Miss is quite a character. If that lovesick brain of hers isn’t cooled down with cold water, she’ll have plenty of suffering ahead.”

These words struck right at the hearts of the three Zhu masters.

Especially Second Master Zhu.

Little sister was named Zhu Weijun, fourteen years younger than him. The youngest son gets spoiled, and so does the youngest daughter. She’d been spoiled until her temperament wasn’t steady at all—speaking and acting impulsively, without restraint.

Completely opposite from eldest sister—one heaven, one earth.

“Miss Yan, little sister has been spoiled by us. Her mouth…”

“Immediately bring Second Miss back. I have questions for her.”

Yan Sanhe had no time for his explanations and stated her requirement directly. “There’s another matter. You three brothers should discuss it.”

Zhu Yuanmo quickly said: “Miss Yan, please speak.”

“Of the four legitimate masters of the Zhu household, two remain. I need to see both of them.”

Yan Sanhe: “Besides that, I also need to see the people closest to Eldest Master and Fifth Master.”

Buzz—

Zhu Yuanmo’s ears suddenly rang.

See them all?

That meant his father’s heart demon would have to be revealed to them. But if that happened…

Zhu Yuanmo pinched the tiger’s mouth on his hand hard. “Miss Yan, my father’s heart demon shouldn’t have much to do with them. Could you possibly…”

“What if it does?”

“…”

“Can you guarantee it?”

“…”

Seeing his silence, Yan Sanhe stood and walked to the threshold, standing in a patch of bright sunlight.

“What if he seized something that shouldn’t have been his and has carried guilt ever since?”

Seized?

Guilt?

This…

Zhu Yuanmo stood frozen in place, his heart unsettled.