“I didn’t say anything.”

Pei Xiao was somewhat frantic at being questioned: “Just talked about Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.”

“What kind of Bodhisattva is Ksitigarbha?”

Hey!

Has this girl developed amnesia?

How could she forget what was just said moments ago?

“Mingting.”

Xie Zhifei’s tone carried command: “Say it again.”

Young Master Pei helplessly repeated it once more.

After listening, Yan Sanhe closed her eyes, like an old monk in meditation, remaining silent for a long time.

This made Young Master Pei even more frantic. His arm nudged Li Buyan: What’s wrong with her?

Li Buyan: Don’t ask me, I’m as confused as you.

Pei Xiao nudged Xie Zhifei with his foot: What did she discover?

Xie Zhifei’s gaze sharpened: Be quiet, don’t disturb her thinking.

I’m not bloody talking!

Pei Xiao pointed at Xie Zhifei: I’ve figured you out—you’re the type who values romance over friendship.

“Xie Chengyu.”

At this moment, Yan Sanhe opened her eyes. “I want to see two people.”

Xie Zhifei: “Tell me.”

Yan Sanhe: “Master Zhu the Second and his wife from the Zhu Manor.”

Xie Zhifei’s lips subtly stiffened.

He’d sent people to watch the First Master and Fifth Master’s residences, never imagining Yan Sanhe wanted to see the Second Master and his wife.

Why?

“Huang Qi.”

“Third Master.”

“Zhu Qing is currently at the Five City Military Commission. Drive there to find him.”

Xie Zhifei took out his waist token. “Have him immediately bring people to escort the Second Master and his wife to the Five City Military Commission.”

Saying this, he turned to ask Yan Sanhe: “How about meeting them at the Five City Military Commission?”

“Good!”

Huang Qi took the waist token and ran off.

At this point, not only had Young Master Pei’s curiosity reached his throat, even Li Buyan couldn’t hold back.

“Sanhe, why see the Second Master and his wife?”

Yan Sanhe stood up from the cushion. “I want to ask about some past matters.”

Li Buyan: “Where’s the problem?”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes showed a hint of confusion. After a while, she said: “Can’t say yet. I’ll explain after questioning them.”

“Mingting, have Wukong prepare one of their temple carriages to take us to the Military Commission. Also…”

Xie Zhifei glanced toward Wukong in the distance. “Tell him to keep his mouth shut.”

Do I need you to tell me that?

Pei Xiao put on a stern face, displaying full official authority as he walked toward Wukong.

…

Jietai Temple’s carriage wasn’t as spacious as the Xie Manor’s.

Four people sat in the carriage, unable to fully stretch their limbs.

They encountered Embroidered Uniform Guards checking along the way again. The waist token had been given to Huang Qi, so Third Master could only sell his handsome face.

Fortunately, Third Master’s handsome face was quite popular with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the journey remained smooth.

Only then did Yan Sanhe belatedly understand—

This man with his injured leg waiting at the Zhu Manor gate wasn’t there to admire scenery or people, but worried she might need him.

She couldn’t quite describe the feeling in her heart, just felt this person was different from before, inexplicably making her feel steady and reliable.

They quickly arrived at the Five City Military Commission.

Zhu Qing personally went to fetch the people. The duty guards carried Xie Zhifei inside on their backs.

At Third Master’s territory, this was like being home.

Hot tea was served, midnight snacks were brought out, and Third Master even conjured up a plate of fruits like magic.

Li Buyan was starving, her chest touching her back. “Reliable, Third Master.”

“This is reliable?”

Xie Zhifei glanced at Yan Sanhe without expression. “The really reliable part is still to come. Eat quickly, the people will arrive soon.”

Third Master was right. They’d just finished eating when Zhu Qing returned.

“Master, the Second Master and his wife have arrived.”

“Separate them first, one person per room.”

“Yes!”

After Xie Zhifei made arrangements, he turned to ask Yan Sanhe: “What’s our approach?”

Yan Sanhe didn’t immediately react. “What approach?”

Xie Zhifei: “Master Zhu’s affairs aren’t exactly glorious. The Zhu family has status in the capital. The fewer people who know certain things, the more secure the Zhu family remains.”

Yan Sanhe frowned: “At this point, you still want to help them cover up?”

“Conceal for as long as possible, from as many as possible.”

Xie Zhifei sighed lightly. “By this time, the Zhu family is already chaotic enough.”

Only the dead can keep secrets—the living are utterly unreliable.

The Second Master and his wife clearly wouldn’t be of one mind with the Zhu family. If they learned about the Peach Blossom Well and Death Nail, they’d definitely make a scene.

Such a scene would inevitably cause another huge uproar.

His words made sense both emotionally and logically. Yan Sanhe decided firmly: “You ask.”

“Ask what?”

“Ask the Second Master about Concubine Fu.”

Concubine Fu?

Xie Zhifei, Pei Xiao, and Li Buyan simultaneously felt a moment of dizziness.

Could it be that Zhu Xuanjiu’s heart demon was also related to Concubine Fu?

Xie Zhifei: “What about the Second Mistress? Also ask about Concubine Fu?”

Yan Sanhe: “Ask about Madam Mao.”

They’re even asking different questions.

Xie Zhifei took a deep breath. “Alright, you sit beside me. Our usual arrangement.”

…

The Second Master of the Zhu Manor was called Zhu Xuangui.

Perhaps because life had been too comfortable, Zhu Xuangui had clearly put on weight, obviously accustomed to living in luxury.

Pulled from his warm bed, Zhu Xuangui came with a bellyful of resentment.

But upon entering the Five City Military Commission, a bone-chilling cold hit him in the face. His wife was taken elsewhere, and his resentment immediately turned to unease.

He hadn’t done anything heinous!

Zhu Xuangui was led into a room with four people sitting inside. One looked somewhat familiar.

“You are…”

“Third Master of the Xie Manor.”

“Oh…”

Zhu Xuangui remembered—his niece Zhu Weixi’s brother-in-law. By seniority, this young fellow should call him Second Uncle.

“Zhu Xuangui.”

Yet Xie Zhifei called him by name directly: “Sit down. I have a case to question you about.”

Case?

Zhu Xuangui was immediately intimidated. “What case?”

“You don’t need to know what case.”

Xie Zhifei’s face darkened. “You only need to honestly answer my questions.”

Zhu Xuangui was a Zhu family member. Though his fortune-telling and feng shui skills weren’t top-tier, he did have some real ability.

Normally, others sought his favor and watched his moods. Suddenly being confronted by a junior, his heart immediately rose, thinking darkly this case must be life-threatening.

“Ask.”

Xie Zhifei wanted exactly this response. “Your father’s concubine, the one surnamed Fu—are you familiar with her?”

Concubine Fu?

Hadn’t she passed away long ago?

How could this case involve her?

Zhu Xuangui: “I’m familiar with her. What about her?”

“I ask, you answer.”

Xie Zhifei’s expression was grim. “Zhu Xuangui, don’t make me remind you a third time.”

Zhu Xuangui’s face immediately became very ugly. Cold sweat emerged from his forehead, goosebumps rose on his back.

Seeing this, Yan Sanhe couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Third Master’s skill at coaxing people is high, but his skill at intimidating people is also quite good.

Actually, Xie Zhifei’s heart was also uneasy.

Zhu Xuangui was his elder after all, someone he’d inevitably encounter. This outburst was really without choice.

A concubine dead for decades, grass on her grave probably taller than a person—what case could she be involved in?

He could only intimidate the man first.

“Tell me, what kind of person was she?”

“A good person.”

Zhu Xuangui answered without thinking, blurting it out.