That one punch froze the air again.

Zhu Yuanmo also began to waver.

After being chosen as family head, Father had called him alone to the secret realm. The first thing Father said to him was—

Son, when the heart is upright, the body is upright; when the body is upright, the qi is upright. Our Zhu family has controlled the Directorate of Astronomy all these years relying on our righteousness. You must not disappoint Father’s expectations of you. Support this family well.

He remembered very clearly—when Father said this, his tone was serious and earnest.

Could…

Could all this be fake too?

Seeing eldest brother’s expression, Zhu Yuanzhao knew he also didn’t believe it. “Whether it’s true or false, we’ll know if we investigate.”

Zhu Yuanhao: “How do we investigate?”

Zhu Yuanzhao: “Find the peach blossom well and the life-stealing nails. If they really exist, the old monk’s words are true.”

Zhu Yuanhao suppressed the fire in his eyes. “If they don’t exist?”

Zhu Yuanzhao hardened his resolve. “Then this trip to Mount Wutai was a complete waste.”

“You said it.”

Zhu Yuanhao turned. “Brother?”

Zhu Yuanmo didn’t look at him. Instead, his gaze fell on Xie Erli.

Xie Erli nodded. “Eldest Brother, we must investigate to clear Father’s name.”

Zhu Yuanmo: “Someone come.”

The old steward had been waiting outside. Hearing the call, he quickly pushed the door open. “Eldest Master?”

“Go prepare two things: First, find two people in the residence with the best swimming ability. Prepare several torches and two fine night-pearls. Second…”

Zhu Yuanmo exhaled. “Clear the people from the courtyards where Eldest Uncle and Fifth Uncle used to live.”

The old steward didn’t dare ask half a question about either task.

He responded with “This old servant will handle it immediately” and hurried off.

…

In the guest courtyard.

Ding Yi leaned close to his master’s ear and chattered on for quite a while before finishing explaining everything.

At the end, he added quite proudly:

“Master, that Huang Qi kid was really sleeping, but I was faking it. I heard everything clearly. Master can rest assured—the eldest young mistress and Geng Songsheng are completely innocent.”

Did I ask you to eavesdrop on that?

What kind of person is sister-in-law? Don’t I know in my heart?

Xie Zhifei originally wanted to say “dock your monthly wages,” but looking up to see Ding Yi’s face roughened by the wind, his heart softened.

“Well done. I’ll reward you with two extra months’ wages.”

Ding Yi’s smile stretched from ear to ear.

Finally getting a reward.

Xie Zhifei leaned back against the chair, slowly closing his eyes.

Zhu Qing thought the master was uncomfortable and quickly asked in a low voice: “Should we go rest outside the side gate? Miss Yan and the others are still in the bathhouse anyway.”

“No need.”

Xie Zhifei suddenly opened his eyes and looked directly at Zhu Qing. “Tell me, if Old Master Zhu would even borrow fortune from his bedfellow, might he have borrowed fortune from others too?”

Zhu Qing: “…”

Xie Zhifei: “Might he have harmed others?”

Zhu Qing: “…”

Xie Zhifei: “What we’ve uncovered so far—might it just be the tip of the iceberg?”

Zhu Qing: “…”

Xie Zhifei: “Could those thousands of crows in the shadow realm be thousands of people he killed?”

Zhu Qing’s face changed drastically. “This, this, this… how is this possible?”

“Yes, how is this possible!”

Xie Zhifei slapped his forehead, thinking he’d overthought it.

…

The maids set out hot food and dishes.

After washing up simply and changing clothes, Yan Sanhe emerged. Looking up, she saw a certain someone lounging in the master’s chair, blinking bright eyes at her.

She walked before him. “Have you eaten?”

Xie Zhifei felt unwell and was too lazy to speak. He closed his eyes briefly, indicating he’d eaten.

Yan Sanhe: “Where’s the wound? Show me.”

Xie Zhifei lifted his robe and pointed at his right leg.

Yan Sanhe: “How did it happen?”

Xie Zhifei silently mouthed two words: “Ambushed.”

Someone actually tried to kill him?

Yan Sanhe’s delicate brows knitted together. “Who did it?”

Xie Zhifei shook his head.

Yan Sanhe tilted her head to look at Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing quickly explained: “That day, unfortunately, I was busy with other matters.”

Yan Sanhe turned back to sit at the dining table. Picking up her bowl and chopsticks, she finally spoke: “Nothing is more important than your master’s life. Be more careful in the future.”

Zhu Qing: “Yes, Miss Yan.”

Xie Zhifei’s chest warmed, his heartbeat quickening too.

All because of this one sentence.

Soon, Young Master Pei and Li Buyan also emerged from the bathhouse. Each one ate like a starving ghost reincarnated—what table manners?

Halfway through the meal, the three Zhu brothers entered, Xie Erli following behind.

Yan Sanhe set down her bowl and chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said: “Zhu Yuanmo, everything is clear?”

Zhu Yuanmo nodded. “Miss Yan, the people are all prepared. Let’s go down the well first.”

Yan Sanhe was stunned. “Why go down the well?”

Zhu Yuanhao: “If we don’t go down the well, how can we verify whether what the old monk said was true or false?”

At these words, everyone at the table changed expression.

Li Buyan slapped down her chopsticks. “So after all this, you still don’t believe?”

Young Master Pei was also angry. “Monks don’t lie. Why would he deceive us?”

Ding Yi: “He’s a worldly master.”

Huang Qi: “Right, he doesn’t even need to calculate.”

“Sanhe.”

The washed Zhu Weixi entered, a few snowflakes on her body. “Let’s go down the well and investigate.”

“You don’t believe either?” Yan Sanhe was surprised.

Zhu Weixi stood by the door, her eyes full of proud snow and frost.

“Our Zhu family owes Geng Songsheng his innocence. If he speaks, no one believes. If the old monk speaks, no one believes either. Then let the facts speak.”

Everyone’s eyes showed shock.

Especially Xie Erli—he couldn’t describe his feelings. Very bitter, very annoyed, with several parts anger.

Hmph!

It seems quite a few stories happened on this Mount Wutai trip.

“Fine!”

Yan Sanhe made the final decision.

“Then let’s see whether the old monk spoke falsely or Old Master Zhu wore a false human skin!”

Having spoken, without looking at the three Zhu brothers’ faces, she commanded the people at the table: “Stop eating. Down the well!”

These words stirred hearts.

Xie Zhifei nudged Zhu Qing. Zhu Qing quickly bent down to carry the master on his shoulders.

Young Master Pei rapidly shoveled rice from his bowl. Not even bothering with the soup, he threw down his chopsticks and pulled up Li Buyan beside him.

Li Buyan spilled a mouthful of soup but couldn’t be bothered to complain.

Ding Yi and Huang Qi simply scraped the vegetables into their rice bowls, eating while holding their bowls as they followed.

…

The courtyard where Eldest Uncle used to live was in the southwest corner.

The courtyard had two sections.

The well was in the back courtyard.

At this moment, the back courtyard was brilliantly lit, bright as day.

“Eldest Master.”

The old steward came forward, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Zhu Yuanmo: “If you have something to say, speak. Miss Yan isn’t an outsider. No need to hide or conceal.”

The old steward quickly said: “Did Eldest Master have this old servant find two people with good swimming ability to go down the well?”

Zhu Yuanmo: “Correct!”

The old steward: “May this old servant ask what we’re looking for in the well?”

Zhu Yuanmo couldn’t really say what they were looking for. “Looking for something.”

“To be honest with Eldest Master…”

The old steward said hesitantly: “When the Old Master was alive, he also sent people down the well, saying he wanted to find something in the well.”

“My grandfather?”

Zhu Yuanmo was shocked. “Did Grandfather say what he was looking for?”

The old steward shook his head. “The Old Master didn’t say. He only said he’d dropped something in.”

Zhu Yuanmo: “Did they find it?”

The old steward shook his head. “Went down twice but found nothing.”

Zhu Yuanmo: “When did this happen?”

The old steward thought carefully. “It should have been after Eldest Uncle had his affair with the cook’s daughter.”

Yan Sanhe: “Why do you remember this so clearly after all this time?”

“Because besides having people search the well, the Old Master also searched Eldest Uncle’s entire courtyard inside and out.”

The old steward: “This old servant personally handled such a major undertaking.”

“Grandfather must have sensed something, so he sent people to check if someone had created a peach blossom well to harm his son.”

Zhu Yuanhao looked at Yan Sanhe, his face triumphant.

“I said Father couldn’t be that kind of person.”