Yan Sanhe’s lips pressed into a thin line.

“Last time it was a whole bag. This time it’s one piece. Getting stingier and stingier.”

“Living requires careful budgeting, making things last.” Xie Zhifei looked at her earnestly.

Yan Sanhe was speechless.

Xie Zhifei stepped forward and said in a low voice, “To find evidence, we can also use a process of elimination.”

A revelation.

Chu Yanting definitely wouldn’t suspect randomly. Between Consort Xia and Shen Du Ruo—eliminate one, and the remaining one was the evidence.

Yan Sanhe couldn’t help but praise, “You’ve gotten smarter.”

“This is called ‘those near ink become black.'”

“…”

The candy hasn’t even entered her mouth yet—how was it already tasting sweet?

Nearby.

Ding Yi’s mouth was full of food. He nudged Zhu Qing with his foot: Brother, I can’t eat this meal anymore.

Zhu Qing: Why can’t you eat?

Ding Yi: Suddenly feel full.

“Ding Yi.”

Ding Yi’s body trembled. “Master?”

Xie Zhifei said, “In a bit, send Miss Yan home.”

“What about Master?”

“What about you?”

Two voices sounded almost simultaneously.

Xie Zhifei only looked at Yan Sanhe and said, “Zhu Qing and I are going to Brother Han Yong’s residence to drink, and incidentally inquire about Consort Xia’s matters.”

Since the matter involved people from the former Crown Prince’s residence, he had to go personally.

Yan Sanhe bit her lip. “Third Master has worked hard.”

“Indeed.”

Xie Zhifei chuckled softly. “Supporting a family isn’t easy.”

Yan Sanhe was speechless.

Ding Yi was speechless.

What’s going on? Not only am I full, I want to vomit!

…

The group walked out of Spring Breeze Tower. Xie Zhifei helped Yan Sanhe into the carriage.

As the curtain was about to fall, Yan Sanhe reached out and lifted it again.

“Xie Chengyu, has your eldest sister-in-law returned home?”

“She has.”

Speaking of this, the smile on Xie Zhifei’s face faded.

“After a serious illness, she just recovered from her fever yesterday. Second Miss Zhu also fell ill—it was Uncle Pei who took her pulse.”

“Did Grandmother and Mother blame her?”

“With the Zhu household in such a state, what could they say?”

“Your elder brother…”

“He just likes to put on airs. He doesn’t have Geng Songsheng’s carefree spirit, but for living at home, he’s still reliable.”

Xie Zhifei brought his lips close to her ear.

“He said the Hanlin Academy still has archived copies of the late Emperor’s edicts regarding the former Crown Prince’s punishment, along with some officials’ impeachment memorials. He’ll find a way to take a look.”

The warm breath fell by her ear. Yan Sanhe’s face reddened slightly. “When I have time, I’ll go see them.”

“When you want to go, tell me and I’ll arrange it.”

“Alright…drink less.”

“It’s fine. Now when I drink too much, there’s someone to coax me.”

This conversation couldn’t continue.

Yan Sanhe’s hand released, and the curtain fell.

Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but smile.

Strange—she and Xie Zhifei had only just come to an understanding recently. How was it that he knew whatever she wanted to say?

Had this man become a spirit?

Xie Zhifei watched the carriage gradually disappear into the street, until it was out of sight, before turning to Zhu Qing. “Let’s go too.”

Zhu Qing lifted the wine in his hand. “Can’t go empty-handed. Just bought this at Spring Breeze Tower.”

“Wine alone isn’t enough.”

Xie Zhifei asked, “How much silver do you have on you?”

Zhu Qing replied, “Two hundred taels.”

Xie Zhifei said, “Go to the cabinet shop and get another two thousand taels from Mei Niang. Put it on my account.”

Zhu Qing rarely pursed his lips.

If Ding Yi were here, he’d definitely say that resolving the Zhu family’s heart demon—the master was putting in effort and money. A total loss.

…

This night was extremely long.

Not long after Yan Sanhe returned home, Li Buyan came back.

“Zhu Yuanmo roughly divined—said within half a year, there will be a funeral in the Shen residence.”

Half a year?

Yan Sanhe’s heart settled. There was still time.

She removed her clothes and slipped into the bedding. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she suddenly opened them again. “Where is Han Xu spending the New Year this year?”

“Probably at Han Family Fort.”

Li Buyan sat down by the bed. “Why are you asking about this?”

Yan Sanhe said, “I want to use her connections to inquire about what happened the night Zhao Rongyu raised his army.”

Li Buyan removed her outer garment and also slipped into the bedding. “She doesn’t inquire into such matters.”

“An army rising and forcing the palace abdication—such a major event, even if she doesn’t want to inquire, when escorting cargo, people will surely discuss it.”

Yan Sanhe yawned, tears welling up. “I don’t need anything too detailed. Just want to hear how others discussed it.”

Many things—if you formally investigate historical records, those records only give an outline.

Some rumors from the streets, carefully distinguished, might reveal something.

“Alright. I’ll go to Han Family Fort first thing tomorrow morning to send word.”

Li Buyan tucked in Yan Sanhe’s covers. “Sleep now. You haven’t closed your eyes for several days.”

No response.

Leaning closer for a look—already asleep.

Li Buyan looked at her half-face exposed outside the covers and suddenly smiled. “Well now, even the insomnia problem is gone.”

Turning around, Li Buyan blew out the candle.

…

At the Zhu residence, the study lamp was still lit.

The three brothers looked at the three copper coins on the desk, their expressions identical—as if their throats were being strangled.

This divination was for the spring campaign against the Tartars.

The result—all three copper coins showed their reverse sides. Great calamity.

“Elder Brother?”

Zhu Yuanhao barely squeezed out half a sentence from his throat. “What do we do?”

“We can’t keep it hidden. Tell the truth.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s expression changed several times. “Third Brother, calculate Prince Han’s birth chart and see if he’s the malevolent star.”

Without a word, Zhu Yuanhao immediately bent over the desk to calculate.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he handed over the paper, his voice trembling. “Elder Brother, look.”

Zhu Yuanmo glanced at it and silently thanked heaven.

The malevolent star of this battle was indeed Prince Han.

Zhu Yuanmo looked up at his second brother. Zhu Yuanzhao silently moved his fingers, calculating again in his mind.

“Elder Brother, Third Brother calculated correctly.”

“This way, I won’t be violating our ancestral precepts.”

Zhu Yuanmo lowered his eyelids soundlessly. “Third Brother, tomorrow you personally make the trip and tell Third Master about this.”

“Yes.”

…

The next day.

Morning court.

Director of the Bureau of Astronomy Zhu Yuanmo submitted a memorial.

His Majesty took it from the eunuch’s hand and looked at it, his expression showing no abnormality. He simply ordered Director Zhu to come to the imperial study after court to discuss matters.

After court ended, Zhu Yuanmo entered the imperial study. After kneeling and performing his ritual, he recounted last night’s divination results in detail to His Majesty.

His Majesty listened, then slowly nodded. “We are aware. You may withdraw.”

“Yes!”

That afternoon, the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Astronomy was hastily summoned to the palace.

His Majesty threw Zhu Yuanmo’s memorial to him, ordering him to calculate it on the spot.

The Deputy Director saw at a glance that it was written by Director Zhu, but dared not be negligent because of this.

The two words “great calamity” were truly terrifying.

Upon calculating, it matched exactly what Director Zhu had written in the memorial. Looking at His Majesty’s iron-blue face and thinking of his favoritism toward Prince Han, the Deputy Director didn’t dare say a single word more.

“Is there a way to resolve this?”

“Your Majesty, resolution is not impossible, but the cost is quite high.”

The Deputy Director gritted his teeth. “The best method of resolution is to keep the malevolent star far away.”

“Do not spread word of this matter. You may withdraw!”

“This subject takes his leave.”

The imperial study grew quiet.

The old Emperor looked at the memorial, sitting alone for a long while before finally sighing deeply.