“Second Miss has arrived.”

Following a servant’s call, the first to enter the courtyard was Second Master Zhu and Third Master Zhu, with a lavishly dressed beauty following behind them.

The beauty had a voluptuous figure and looked as if cast from the same mold as Madam Mao—quite plump and round.

Second Master Zhu walked up to Yan Sanhe. “Miss Yan, this is my second sister, Zhu Weijin. Weijin, this is Miss Yan. Miss Yan has come regarding Father’s matter.”

Zhu Weijin glanced at Yan Sanhe. “What do you want to ask?”

The words weren’t harsh, but the tone was quite cold.

Yan Sanhe didn’t speak, instead scrutinizing this Zhu Weijin carefully once more.

Up close, she realized this woman’s features were even more outstanding than Madam Mao’s, her face covered with a thin layer of dewy freshness that gleamed.

Only her eyes were somewhat fierce, suppressing the auspicious quality of her entire face.

“Zhu Weijin.”

Yan Sanhe called her by name directly. “Your father’s matter—how much do you know?”

Zhu Weijin: “I know the general situation.”

Yan Sanhe: “Do you know what I do?”

Zhu Weijin: “On the way here, my eldest brother gave me a general idea.”

Excellent.

This saved her from wasting more words.

Yan Sanhe: “I have some questions for you. Come in—don’t stand in the doorway.”

“Wait.”

Zhu Weijin stopped Yan Sanhe. “What will you ask me?”

“Many things. Why do you rarely visit your natal family? You live so close—why didn’t you return the day Master Zhu passed away?”

Yan Sanhe looked into her eyes, not hiding or concealing anything.

“Why are you and Zhu Weixi like fire and water? Is it because of Geng Songsheng?”

The dewy layer on Zhu Weijin’s face instantly vanished. Her eyebrows shot up, her eyes widened, and a murderous aura surged forth.

“Which shameless gossip has been wagging their tongue?”

“I’m giving you a chance to clarify.”

Yan Sanhe looked down slightly and smiled, her voice softening. “Do you want it, Zhu Weijin?”

Every time Yan Sanhe smiled, it was never false. Her sincere smile reached directly to those dark eyes.

Zhu Weijin never imagined the young woman before her would smile at her, and even say such words—giving you a chance to clarify.

Her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves. She bit her teeth. “I want it! But I have a condition.”

The three masters of the Zhu family listened with twitching mouths.

Sister, do you know the Zhu household’s current situation?

And you still dare make conditions with Yan Sanhe?

You’ve gone completely mad!

Third Master Zhu hurried to apologize: “Miss Yan, my second sister…”

“What condition?”

Yan Sanhe met Zhu Weijin’s eyes: “Just say it.”

“Bring Zhu Weixi here and have her stand right beside me to listen.”

Zhu Weijin laughed coldly: “Let’s see if I’m really jealous because of Geng Songsheng.”

Talk about unexpected!

This was it!

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted to Zhu Yuanmo behind Zhu Weijin. “Send someone to fetch her. Say I’ve invited her.”

……

Going to and from the Xie residence would take at least an hour at the fastest.

Yan Sanhe did nothing else but took a solid nap on the imperial concubine’s couch.

Having nothing to do, Li Buyan practiced swordwork in the courtyard. She hadn’t fought with anyone in a long time and her skills had deteriorated somewhat.

Young Master Pei had someone move a grand master’s chair into the courtyard, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on her.

Interesting.

Someone who wielded a knife and sword could actually cook noodles?

Were her noodles thick or thin? Salty or bland? Did she sprinkle scallions on top? Drizzle sesame oil?

A gust of wind blew past, and Young Master Pei shivered back to awareness.

Am I not full from lunch?

Why am I fixated on a bowl of noodles?

Think about something serious.

Like, what’s Xie Wushi doing at the Bu Family Army?

Like, has Zhao Yishi thought of a plan to deal with the Prince of Han?

Or, that day when Xie Wushi returned so quickly, did Zhao Yishi actually get to taste Li Buyan’s noodles?

Probably not that fast!

“Take my sword!”

“Huh?”

Pei Xiao looked up in confusion.

Nearly scared himself to death.

The sword tip was less than three inches from his nose.

Li Buyan lifted the sword slightly: “Confess honestly—what does this ‘mian mian mian’ you keep muttering mean?”

“I said that out loud?” Pei Xiao’s old face flushed red.

Li Buyan raised her chin. “Otherwise?”

Young Master Pei: “…”

“Mian mian?”

Li Buyan’s lips curved in contempt. “Which little vixen’s name is that, Young Master Pei?”

“None of your business!”

Young Master Pei jumped out of the grand master’s chair and rushed out of the courtyard without looking back.

You’re the little vixen!

No, wait.

Young Master Pei’s steps paused.

How could Li Buyan be a little vixen?

She’s at most a shit-stirring stick!

Then why…

Why am I fixated on the noodles cooked by a shit-stirring stick?

Have I gone mad?

Young Master Pei nearly gave himself a hard slap.

Damn it.

I must have gone mad!

……

Zhu Weixi entered the guest courtyard and, as if possessing thousand-mile eyes, immediately spotted Zhu Weijin sitting in the reception hall.

“Eldest Brother, Second Sister has returned?”

Zhu Yuanmo looked troubled: “Actually, she demanded you come. Only then would she answer Miss Yan’s questions.”

Zhu Weixi was momentarily speechless.

“Brother didn’t know you sisters had reached this point.”

Zhu Yuanmo patted Zhu Weixi’s shoulder. “But Brother knows you’re a good person. If she says something unpleasant later, don’t hold it against her.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s words weren’t empty.

Of his three sisters, the youngest was delicate and willful, the second had a sullen and strange temperament. Only the eldest was understanding and capable in everything.

If not for her, how could Miss Yan, Third Master, and Young Master Pei be so dedicated to Father’s heart demon?

Zhu Weixi adjusted the jade bracelet on her wrist and laughed coldly. “If I really wanted to hold grudges, I couldn’t finish in all these years!”

“Good that you can think this way. Let’s go.”

Zhu Weixi entered the reception hall, her eyes looking straight ahead as she sat down. She took the tea bowl a maid handed her, unhurriedly took a sip, then lifted her eyelids to glance at Zhu Weijin across from her.

Respecting hierarchy and order.

Zhu Weijin leaned forward slightly and called coldly: “Eldest Sister.”

Zhu Weixi merely inclined her head slightly, then said to Young Master Pei: “Go call Miss Yan.”

Young Master Pei pointed to the inner room, indicating Li Buyan had already gone to wake her, then walked along the wall to the corner and found the most inconspicuous chair to sit in.

He could tell these two not only had incompatible auras, but their eight characters probably clashed too. They might start fighting while talking.

Yan Sanhe had actually finished washing up but wasn’t rushing out from the inner room.

Before sleeping, she’d given Li Buyan a look, telling her to take the opportunity to go around the household and inquire about Second Miss’s character.

“What did the servants say?”

“Didn’t go inquire.”

Li Buyan helped her pin up her hair. “I wasn’t comfortable leaving you alone.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes lowered slightly, and for a moment she said nothing.

After her hair was pinned, cold water washed her face. As she took the cloth Li Buyan handed her, she said softly:

“No wonder I slept so soundly. It’s because you were watching over me.”