When the carriage drove out through the West City Gate, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
The official road was nearly empty, perfect for speeding along.
After racing more than ten li, urgent hoofbeats sounded from behind.
Huang Qi straightened up, turned to look, and shouted loudly: “It’s, it’s Third Master catching up! Whoa—”
“Whoa—”
One man and one horse charged forward. Without waiting for the horse to stop, Xie Zhifei leaped down.
Both carriages lifted their curtains. Young Master Pei thought Xie Wushi had some instructions for him and quickly jumped down.
Last night he’d returned to the ministry to organize the registry of Mount Wutai’s monks, then went home to bid farewell to his parents. Busy half the night, and this morning time was too tight—the two hadn’t had a chance to talk.
He went to meet him. “Chengyu, you…”
Xie Chengyu’s eyes didn’t even glance his way. He strode in large steps to the rear carriage, tilted his head slightly upward, and extended his hand.
“Yan Sanhe, here.”
In his hand was a paper package containing who knows what.
Yan Sanhe took it, her heartbeat quickening. “What is it?”
Xie Zhifei looked at her and smiled brilliantly, showing a mouthful of white teeth. “Can’t you look for yourself!”
With that, he turned, mounted his horse, and rode away at a gallop.
Everyone was stunned by this behavior.
Young Master Pei’s eyes blazed as he watched that retreating figure. Gritting his teeth, he ran up to Yan Sanhe.
“What’s in the paper package? Take it out and let us see.”
In full public view, Yan Sanhe couldn’t very well hide it privately. She opened the paper package.
Everyone was dumbfounded—it was actually a package of malt candy.
Huang Qi was utterly puzzled. “Third Master chased after us just to deliver a package of malt candy? Then why did we bother throwing away all those fruits and snacks the Zhu family prepared for us?”
“Smack!”
Li Buyan rewarded him with a knuckle rap on the head.
Huang Qi wore the face of a resentful husband. “Why hit me? Did I say something wrong?”
“You dare talk back?”
Li Buyan raised an eyebrow. Huang Qi deflated.
“What are you looking at?”
Li Buyan’s hand released, and the curtain fell, blocking Young Master Pei’s eyes that were curious to death.
“Depart—”
The carriage started moving again. The atmosphere inside was subtle.
Li Buyan glanced at Zhu Weixi’s expression, then nudged Yan Sanhe’s foot. “It’s not for you to eat. The eldest young mistress is traveling away from home for the first time—Third Master is worried!”
The words flowed smoothly as a cushion.
But Zhu Weixi was experienced. Just now, Third Brother’s eyes had looked only at Yan Sanhe alone—not even Young Master Pei was in his sight.
She closed her eyes and leaned against the carriage wall. “Sanhe, you eat it. I have no appetite.”
Hearing this, Yan Sanhe’s face grew even redder. The paper package in her hand felt scorching hot. Her gaze turned helplessly toward Li Buyan.
Li Buyan smiled. That dog of a man playing this trick left her speechless.
Only then did Yan Sanhe pick up a piece and put it in her mouth.
Sweet.
Cloyingly sweet.
Only now did she understand the significance of that man rushing after them to deliver this package of candy—
Yan Sanhe, my heart is very sweet.
What about yours?
…
The front carriage.
From the moment Young Master Pei sat down in the carriage, his brow hadn’t relaxed. Three sentences kept repeating in his mind.
“There is someone, but it’s still early days. Don’t ruin the young lady’s good reputation.”
“No need to be too afraid. If something really happens, I can always protect you.”
“Third Master chased after us just to deliver a package of malt candy?”
So—
That bastard Xie Wushi’s beloved was actually Yan Sanhe?!
So—
The two brothers, one after the other, had both fallen for the same person?!
Well, what a surprise!
Ha, how unexpected!
How could he like Yan Sanhe?
When did he start liking her?
How long has he liked her?
Looking at his cheap appearance, it probably wasn’t just a day or two, right?
Second Master Zhu noticed something was wrong with the person across from him and said with concern: “Young Master Pei…”
“Don’t speak!”
I’m furious right now!
Young Master Pei’s chest rose and fell continuously. He thought to himself that if he himself had someone he liked, he wouldn’t wait even a night—he’d rush excitedly to tell him.
This guy, on the other hand, kept it sealed tight from him.
Is he even human?
Is there no justice?
Hmph, hiding it from him?
Even hiding it won’t work!
Although the Xie family’s rules are somewhat less strict than my Pei family’s, what kind of person is your father? A distinguished Cabinet Minister’s household marrying an orphan girl—the social statuses don’t match.
Even if Xie Daozhi, considering that Yan Sanhe has done the Xie family favors, reluctantly agrees, what about Zhao Huairen?
Would Zhao Huairen allow you, Xie Wushi, to marry a woman of no use to him?
The flower of love, before it even blooms, will wither. You and I are brothers in misfortune.
As the four words “brothers in misfortune” floated through his mind, Young Master Pei suddenly lost all his anger toward Xie Wushi.
Was this guy keeping it secret precisely because of the Xie family’s circumstances?
That’s right!
Young Master Pei slapped his forehead.
He remembered—beside Yan Sanhe there was also Han Xu! Those two’s gazes hooked back and forth, clearly having an affair.
Ah, looking at it this way, our Xie Wushi is quite pitiful too.
No one knew that Young Master Pei’s heart alternated between flames and ice water, nearly tangling himself to death with indecision.
…
Chonghua Palace, Prince of Han’s residence.
Zhao Yanjin, dressed in court robes, walked out of his study to attend morning court. His confidant Dong Xiao hurried over.
“Your Highness, the Grand Imperial Grandson’s people have connected with the Zhu family who oversee the Directorate of Astronomy.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yanjin’s face instantly turned cold.
The Directorate of Astronomy seemed insignificant but was actually very critical. Whenever His Majesty went to war, he would have the Directorate’s people divine the auspiciousness.
Sometimes, he would even send over a general’s birth date and time to divine whether this general would be advantageous or detrimental to the current military campaign.
But throughout all dynasties, the Directorate of Astronomy was loyal only to the Emperor.
“How did you learn of this?”
Dong Xiao: “Does Your Highness remember Xie Zhifei?”
Zhao Yanjin nodded. Before leaving the capital last time, he had investigated this youngster but found nothing substantial.
“Someone discovered that recently he and Imperial Physician Pei’s son Pei Xiao have been frequently visiting the Zhu residence.”
Dong Xiao: “Today before dawn, two carriages left from the Zhu residence gates. One contained Pei Xiao and the Zhu family’s second son. After seeing them off, Xie Zhifei stood at the gate and spoke with Zhu Yuanmo for quite a while.”
Zhao Yanjin: “You mean…”
“Pei Xiao’s maternal family is the Zhang family, and the Zhang family is the Crown Princess’s natal family. Xie Zhifei’s father is Xie Daozhi.”
Dong Xiao sneered. “It’s not frightening that Duanmu Palace is using these young people to deploy troops and arrange formations. But at this critical juncture, involving the Zhu family is extremely ominous.”
Ominous how?
If the Zhu family took the Prince of Han’s birth date and time and said he was detrimental to the military campaign, Zhao Yanjin could forget about donning armor and going to battle.
In this freezing weather, Zhao Yanjin’s palms broke out in cold sweat.
Originally he thought he had won this round for certain. Who knew Duanmu Palace would wind around seven or eight ways to reach the Zhu family, planning to pull the rug out from under him.
Truly masterful scheming!
“Your Highness, traveling with Pei Xiao and Second Master Zhu were three women. One of them is the Zhu family’s married eldest daughter, who married Xie Daozhi’s eldest son.”
Dong Xiao: “From this we can see that the key to the Zhu family connecting with Duanmu Palace’s side lies with the Xie family, with this person Xie Zhifei.”
Zhao Yanjin: “You mean…”
“I also learned he’s been very close recently with the heir of Marquis Wu’an’s household, He Yun.”
Dong Xiao sighed softly.
“Your Highness, this person cannot be underestimated. Perhaps Marquis Wu’an’s household’s refusal to ally through marriage with Du Jianxue was this youngster causing trouble in the middle.”
Zhao Yanjin’s gaze sharpened, his expression appearing somewhat twisted.