“What is it?”

Pei Xiao asked impatiently.

Yan Sanhe: “Shen Duruo’s mother, Consort Pu, feigned illness. Shen Duruo returned to visit. During her illness, Consort Pu…”

“I understand now.”

Xie Zhifei gently pressed one finger to Yan Sanhe’s lips.

“During her illness, Consort Pu mended clothes for Shen Duruo. Clearly, Consort Pu knew Shen Duruo couldn’t sew, so she deliberately did it for her to see.”

Xie Zhifei: “Shen Duruo was also completely moved by this small gesture and ultimately compromised. So then, someone who couldn’t even mend clothes—how could she craft a witchcraft doll?”

He pressed down on Yan Sanhe’s brow, imitating her tone. “Correct?”

“Correct!”

A faint blush rose on Yan Sanhe’s face.

But could you please remove your finger?

Taking advantage to touch me!

The next instant, Xie Zhifei withdrew his long finger. He hadn’t meant to take advantage—he just wanted her to speak less and conserve energy.

“What if…”

Young Master Pei stroked his chin. “What if the witchcraft doll was made outside and sent into the Crown Prince’s residence?”

“Right, what if?” Li Buyan echoed.

Yan Sanhe pressed her lips together. “If I were Prince Zhao, I wouldn’t let such a ‘what if’ occur.”

Young Master Pei: “Why not?”

Yan Sanhe: “Bringing it from outside—if someone saw it, it would be easy to trace back to the source. Having someone inside make it allows the trail to end abruptly, leaving no future troubles.”

In an instant, everyone’s hearts jumped heavily.

“There’s one person I learned about…”

Xie Zhifei’s gaze turned to Yan Sanhe. “But I never mentioned her to you.”

Yan Sanhe: “Concubine Xia?”

“Correct!”

That night drinking with Han Yong, after sending out two thousand taels of silver, he’d obtained general information about Concubine Xia.

He’d originally been excited to tell Yan Sanhe, but then the Shen Duruo matter emerged, so he could only let it go.

“Concubine Xia was originally a maid in the Laundry Bureau. Because of her skillful hands, the Crown Princess took notice and transferred her to personal service.”

Xie Zhifei: “Later, somehow she caught the Crown Prince’s eye and was granted the title of Talented Lady. Supposedly, all the clothing for the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and heir throughout the four seasons came from this Concubine Xia’s hands.”

“No wonder Tang Jianxi only suspected those two.”

Li Buyan clapped her hands. “One had connections to Prince Zhao, one had impossibly skillful hands—both had motive for the crime.”

“Hey, exactly!” Young Master Pei agreed.

That Tang Jianxi—dissolute in his youth, but after becoming a recluse, he seemed like a completely different person. Regarding major matters concerning the Former Crown Prince’s household, he wouldn’t make baseless speculations.

“By the way, Third Master.”

Li Buyan asked: “Did you recall the people investigating Concubine Xia?”

“What do you think?” Xie Zhifei countered.

Li Buyan choked. Thinking it was over, surely he…

“Third Master didn’t recall them.”

Zhu Qing interjected. “He said since the silver was already spent, let them make the trip!”

Such foresight!

Li Buyan gave Xie Zhifei a thumbs up with an admiring expression.

Who wants your admiration!

Xie Zhifei looked at Yan Sanhe as if seeking credit, his lips curving slightly upward.

Under everyone’s gaze, Yan Sanhe’s expression softened. After a long while, she said quietly:

“Then I’ll trouble Third Master to accompany Zhu Yuanmo on another visit to the Shen residence to confirm whether Shen Duruo actually knew needlework or not.”

That’s all?

Not even a word of praise?

Xie Zhifei pinched his index finger and thumb together, very reluctantly saying: “After I leave, if you dare sit up, don’t expect to order me around anymore.”

Yan Sanhe lightly closed her eyes, thinking: This is somewhat humiliating to national dignity.

Xie Zhifei stood and glanced at Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing quickly said: “Master, rest assured. The people investigating Concubine Xia will return before year’s end.”

Only then did Xie Zhifei turn his gaze to Zhu Yuanmo. “Big Brother Zhu, let’s make a quick trip!”

“Wait.”

Yan Sanhe called out to them both. “Zhu Yuanmo, I’m afraid we’ll need to investigate from the beginning. If I remember correctly, there are only a few days left in the three-month period.”

Zhu Yuanmo nodded.

This was his greatest concern.

“Prepare yourself mentally.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes held a trace of guilt. “One drop of blood from each of us—neither can escape.”

As these words fell, aside from Zhu Yuanmo, everyone else’s faces changed.

Yan Sanhe was currently injured to the point she couldn’t even sit up. If she lost another drop of blood, how weak would her body become?

“Young Master Pei.” Yan Sanhe called.

“Ah?”

“What potent restorative medicine does Hundred Medicines Hall have that I can take?”

“I’ll give you a Soul-Returning Pill—do you want it!”

“Thunk—”

“Thunk—”

Young Master Pei received two knuckle raps simultaneously on his head.

Xie Zhifei withdrew his hand, looking at Li Buyan who’d also withdrawn hers, and said coldly: “Next time he spouts such nonsense, you take the high road, I’ll take the low.”

Li Buyan hummed in agreement. “No need to dirty Third Master’s hands—I’ll do it all!”

“…” Young Master Pei clutched his head, looking aggrieved.

You’re trying to murder your husband!

…

Third Master and Zhu Yuanmo left quickly and returned quickly.

“Yan Sanhe, Shen Yande’s exact words were…”

Xie Zhifei: “Though she’s quick with needles for patients, ask her to sew on a button and it won’t look right.”

This confirmed Shen Duruo didn’t know needlework. Now they just needed to wait for two things—

First, for the people investigating Concubine Xia to return.

Second, for Zhu Yuanmo to divine an auspicious time for Zhu Qing and Li Buyan’s night investigation of Prince Han’s residence.

Yan Sanhe extended her hand, saying straightforwardly to Zhu Yuanmo: “Cut early so I can recover sooner. This heart demon still requires investigation.”

Two drops of blood, one talisman.

Yan Sanhe fell into deep sleep again.

Zhu Yuanmo’s hair turned completely white overnight, and his back even became somewhat hunched when walking.

Second Master Zhu and Third Master Zhu only now discovered that their eldest brother, to prevent the entire Zhu family from being wiped out, had actually used his own lifespan to form the array.

Beyond shock, the two brothers could only secretly wipe away tears.

Yan Sanhe finally woke leisurely on the twenty-third day of the twelfth month.

Upon waking, she discovered three ghosts at her bedside—two male, one female—all disheveled and unkempt.

After inquiring, she learned she’d been unconscious for many days.

This had never happened before.

Even more shocking—throughout these many days, regarding the night investigation of Prince Han’s residence, the divinations always came out inauspicious.

“Master!”

Zhu Qing proposed: “The little beggars have been loitering near the residence for so many days without discovering that person. We can’t wait any longer. Let’s act on New Year’s Eve!”

Xie Zhifei pondered silently without speaking.

On New Year’s Eve there would be a palace banquet. Aside from the Crown Prince and Grand Prince, all princes remaining in the capital would enter the palace with their wives and children to attend.

Prince Han wouldn’t be at his residence, so vigilance would slacken somewhat—that was the first advantage.

Second, New Year’s Eve was of paramount importance.

People could skip birthdays, but they would certainly celebrate the New Year. Those hidden and visible guards were no exception. After working hard all year, they’d surely rest this one day.

“Third Master, what are you still hesitating about?”

Li Buyan had no worries once Yan Sanhe was awake.

“Zhu Qing is right. New Year’s Eve is a good opportunity. Miss this village, there won’t be another shop.”

Xie Zhifei didn’t answer, stroking the stubble on his chin while calmly looking at Yan Sanhe.

“You make the call!”

Yan Sanhe touched her head, discovering the bandages that had been wrapped around it were gone.

“New Year’s Eve it is. Zhu Qing and Buyan enter the residence. Huang Qi and Ding Yi provide support from outside. If discovered…”

“If discovered, one word: flee.”

Xie Zhifei took over.

“On New Year’s Eve the Military Commissioner’s Office will patrol at night. I’ll position people around Prince Han’s residence. At the first sign of trouble, we’ll cover your escape.”