Xie Zhifei didn’t speak. His gaze looked at Yan Sanhe with a somewhat aggrieved expression.

He wasn’t a donkey that would work hard just because you dangled a carrot in front of it. He needed some reward!

From meeting until now, they hadn’t exchanged more than a few words!

Yan Sanhe discovered this person had changed. Even without being drunk, he needed coaxing.

He could even act coquettish with his eyes.

Looking again at his extremely pale face, Yan Sanhe’s heart softened. She pulled something thin from her chest and pressed it into his hand.

“A protective talisman from Manjushri Temple. Keep it safe.”

Xie Zhifei: “…”

Girl, Manjushri Temple is for blessing academic success. Are you sure?

Yan Sanhe: “What, does Third Master find it inadequate… hm?”

These words were originally nothing special, but that final “hm” was added perfectly. Xie Zhifei felt that “hm” travel through his blood and circle his entire body.

Completely comfortable.

He was delighted, clutching the talisman tightly in his palm, his gaze drifting toward the old steward.

The old steward was completely at a loss under his gaze.

But Yan Sanhe’s mind was crystal clear.

Besides Madam Mao knowing a thing or two about Old Master Zhu’s former personal servants, only the old steward was most familiar with them.

Where did Taiwei come from?

Was he bought from outside or born in the household?

Where was his family?

Was it in the northwest corner that Zhu Yuanmo had divined?

He could explain it all clearly.

“Old Steward, tell Third Master about Taiwei’s situation in detail. Go outside the side gate to talk.”

Yan Sanhe: “Zhu Qing, Third Master can’t hold on anymore. Quickly carry him out.”

“Yes!”

Zhu Qing had long sensed the person on his back growing weaker, but didn’t dare advise.

Hearing Yan Sanhe say this, he practically flew.

“Ding Yi, go back and help Third Master.” Yan Sanhe commanded.

“Yes!”

Ding Yi had wanted to help long ago.

But since the new master hadn’t given the word, he didn’t dare!

Young Master Pei looked at Ding Yi’s retreating back, then at Yan Sanhe, two balls of fury shooting from his eyes.

Secretly hooking up behind my back and hiding everything from me.

Bah!

A pair of shameless dogs!

“Miss Yan, I also have a question.”

Xie Erli, who had been silent from beginning to end, sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly spoke.

Yan Sanhe looked at him. “What do you want to ask?”

What do I want to ask?

“I want to ask why my father-in-law treated Geng Songsheng that way.”

Xie Erli’s gaze swept gloomily across Zhu Weixi’s face. “I also want to ask why he chose me as his son-in-law.”

These were good questions.

“These are also things I’ve been thinking about all along but can’t figure out.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him calmly. “But I have a speculation in my heart.”

Young Master Pei couldn’t wait. “Quick, tell us what it is!”

“It’s related to Madam Mao.”

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanhao’s two sword-like eyebrows knitted deeply. “Why is it related to my mother?”

“Third Master Zhu.”

Yan Sanhe looked directly into his eyes. “At this moment, do you believe or not that your mother’s fortune was borrowed by your father?”

“I…”

Zhu Yuanhao’s eyes gradually reddened bit by bit, then he lowered his head and ground out three words through his teeth:

“I believe it.”

Mother was born in the Year of the Rat, on the first day of the first month, at the first quarter of the Chen hour.

The Rat is the first of the twelve zodiac animals.

The first day of the first month is New Year’s Day. With just this birth date, Mother would never lack food or clothing in this life.

So someone born in the Year of the Rat on the first day of the first month has unspeakable wealth and nobility.

She was also born at the first quarter of the Chen hour. Ordinary people rise early to labor, but rats sleep soundly in their holes—this is a fate of lifelong ease.

Besides this, Mother’s face was round as a silver plate, her ears white and thick, her ear surface smooth and lustrous, her philtrum distinct, her forehead round with lustrous hair, and her pair of hands soft and boneless.

This kind of facial features paired with these palm features—one in ten thousand—was the very best fortune for prospering one’s husband.

And Father’s luck only gradually improved after marrying Mother, ultimately allowing him to assume the Zhu family head position.

“Since you believe it, do you acknowledge or not that your father married her precisely to borrow her fortune?”

Zhu Yuanhao’s throat made an “mm” sound.

“Among your six children, Zhu Weijin’s appearance most resembles Madam Mao, yet she’s most detested by your father. When Old Master Zhu was confused from illness and saw Zhu Weijin, thinking she was Madam Mao, he blurted out telling her to get lost.”

Yan Sanhe: “This proves that the person your father truly detested was Madam Mao.”

Father.

Detested.

Mother!

Zhu Yuanhao looked at his eldest brother with trepidation, not even daring to “mm” anymore.

“If this point is established…”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze fell on Xie Erli.

“Then we can preliminarily deduce why he treated Geng Songsheng that way—because the Geng family is Madam Mao’s natal family.”

No one responded.

Zhu Weixi stared straight ahead at the stone floor tiles, momentarily forgetting her own small sorrows.

If you asked the three sisters what person they most wanted to become in this life, all three would say they wanted to become someone like Mother.

A lifetime of comfortable living without worry.

A husband who obeyed her every word, exclusively devoted to her alone for decades.

Firmly holding all household authority in her hands.

Both sons and daughters.

Especially that exclusive devotion—in this world, how many powerful and wealthy men could consistently like and dote on one person for decades?

If all this was false…

Then hadn’t Mother lived her entire life in lies?

“Before the Eldest Master and Fifth Uncle’s matters came to light, the next step should be uncovering the mysteries surrounding Madam. There are three mysteries.”

Yan Sanhe’s deep black eyes were like two cold pools.

“First, how did he find her? Second, how did he use her to resolve the backlash and heavenly punishment? Third, why does his heart detest her so deeply? Everyone, Heaven has only left us sixteen hours. If we don’t solve some mysteries in these sixteen hours, Madam will die in confusion.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s pupils contracted sharply.

Not only would she die in confusion—if Mother was connected to Father’s heart demon, then her death would be a catastrophic disaster for the Zhu family descendants.

Yan Sanhe slowly stood, exhaling deeply.

“Time is short. Let’s split up and act.”

Zhu Yuanmo quickly said, “Miss Yan, whatever you need us to do, just say it.”

“Everyone should do what they’re best at.”

Yan Sanhe: “Zhu Yuanmo, Zhu Yuanzhao, Zhu Yuanhao—you three brothers must find a way to discover how Old Master Zhu used Madam to resolve backlash and heavenly punishment.”

Zhu Yuanmo immediately said, “Miss Yan, there’s no need to search. There are only two methods.”

Yan Sanhe: “What?”

Zhu Yuanmo: “First is casting curses and setting formations. Second is creating feng shui arrangements.”

Yan Sanhe: “I don’t sense any formations in your Zhu estate?”

Zhu Yuanmo: “Once the person who set the formation dies, the formation ceases to exist.”

Yan Sanhe: “Can you find it?”

“We can only try our best.”

Zhu Yuanmo glanced at Second Brother and Third Brother, then said decisively, “Bring our tools. Go to the ancestral graves first. Leave right now.”

They truly didn’t dare delay even a moment.

Second Master Zhu and Third Master Zhu said nothing and immediately headed out.

“Should Young Master Pei follow along?”

Seeing Pei Xiao’s face turn white as he watched the three men leave, Li Bu Yan deliberately asked.

Young Master Pei turned his head, about to retort, when Yan Sanhe had already spoken.

“Mingting can’t go. He has other matters.”

Hear that? I have matters to attend to.

Young Master Pei fiercely glared at Li Bu Yan, thinking: Can’t you wish me well for once?

Li Bu Yan: Wasn’t I just giving you a chance to practice your courage?