As soon as Xie Zhifei heard there was something strange happening in the memorial hall, his scalp went numb and he broke out in cold sweat.

“What strange thing?”

Shen Chong replied, “Every night at the hour of the Rat, a ‘crack crack’ sound comes from the memorial hall—not many, just three to five sounds, but they can be heard clearly.”

Pei Xiao quickly shuffled a few steps closer to Xie Zhifei and drew in a sharp breath. “Don’t tell me the coffin cracked.”

“We checked—it’s perfectly fine, sealed tight without a gap.”

Shen Chong continued, “But the next night at the hour of the Rat, those sounds would appear again. For three consecutive days, every day we could hear them. Several of the imperial clan members keeping vigil were frightened sick.”

Those imperial family members have guts as small as mine?

Pei Xiao asked, “The coffin is still perfectly fine?”

Shen Chong: “Perfectly fine.”

Xie Zhifei: “What does the Imperial Astronomy Bureau say?”

Shen Chong: “No matter how they divine, everything shows as auspicious.”

This is indeed strange.

Xie Zhifei turned his head to look at Pei Xiao. “How many people did your Buddhist Registry and Daoist Registry arrange for the salvation rites?”

“We arranged them according to ancestral rules—didn’t dare add a single person, didn’t dare reduce a single person.”

Pei Xiao looked utterly confused. “What’s the matter? Could this be related?”

Xie Zhifei: “I’m just asking casually.”

What the hell are you asking for!

Pei Xiao patted his chest—his black official hat nearly got scared right off his head.

Xie Zhifei met Shen Chong’s gaze. “Since His Highness sent you here, he must have his purpose.”

“His Highness asked Third Master to inquire with Miss Yan if she has any explanation.”

Pei Xiao muttered quietly, “What explanation could there be when the coffin hasn’t even cracked?”

Shen Chong glanced at him, then continued, “His Highness also asks whether Miss Yan has resolved the Zhu family’s heart demon.”

“…”

Between heaven and earth, a deathly silence.

Third Master and Young Master Pei looked at each other, unable to answer a single word.

How could they answer?

Tell him that Yan Sanhe had resolved the heart demon of the witchcraft case, and that the time she resolved the heart demon and the time the old Emperor passed away were one right after the other, back to back?

Would he then make the connection that the old Emperor’s sudden death might be related to the heart demon?

Add to that the crows circling above the imperial palace a few days ago—would he then also connect it to the possibility that those wronged souls took the old Emperor away?

Xie Zhifei’s gaze darkly turned toward Pei Xiao.

“Yan Sanhe isn’t in the capital. She went to other places to find clues. Mingting and I don’t know whether the heart demon has been resolved or not.”

“We can’t leave here, and there’s no news from Yan Sanhe’s end. See?”

Pei Xiao pointed with his hand. “Xie Fifty’s mouth is so anxious it’s broken out in blisters.”

Shen Chong glanced at Third Master’s lips—the blister was large and shiny.

“Why don’t Third Master go look for her? Things in the capital should be stable now.”

“Alright, I’ll pack up and set out tonight.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Third Master.”

Shen Chong changed the subject. “How are Miss Li’s injuries?”

Pei Xiao silently rolled his eyes, his stomach churning with acid.

Why ask about this again?

Sending people to ask every day—doesn’t he find it annoying?

He pulled out a fake smile. “Please tell His Highness not to worry anymore. She’s better each day, and in a few more days she’ll be bouncing around full of energy.”

What’s going on?

Xie Zhifei’s eyelid twitched. This brat wasn’t saying this just a moment ago.

“If so, I’ll await news of Miss Yan’s return.”

Having said this, Shen Chong bowed and turned to walk into the night.

Pei Xiao waited until he’d gone far, then brought his face close and spoke into Xie Zhifei’s ear, his expression full of mystery.

“Do you think that cracking sound could really be the old Emperor developing a heart demon?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Xie Zhifei scolded in a low voice.

Pei Xiao also realized his words were inappropriate and quickly changed the subject. “By the way, who was the incense lighter for the crow heart demon?”

Xie Zhifei’s pupils contracted slightly, and he made a decisive decision on the spot.

“I won’t bother packing either—I’ll set out directly. Let the Warrior rest and recover from her injuries. I’ll go up to Muli Mountain first to see what’s going on. While I’m away these few days, come check on her more often.”

Pei Xiao was startled. “You’re really leaving right now?”

“Of course.”

Xie Zhifei said, “If the Warrior asks, just say I went to meet Yan Sanhe. As for Yan Sanhe being unconscious…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t say a word to anyone.”

Xie Zhifei gave him a push. “Go back now and ask your father for some money. I’m short on silver right now, and one needs money for travel.”

“You spendthrift!”

Pei Xiao pointed his finger at him, turned around, and left.

Xie Zhifei headed straight for the kitchen and grabbed Xue Zhao, who was eating noodles. “Stop eating, we’re leaving immediately.”

A noodle was hanging from Xue Zhao’s chin.

The last person who disturbed his meal seemed to have been slapped to death by him with one palm.

…

Half an hour later.

Two horses rode out of the city gate, heading straight for Muli Mountain. Xie Zhifei brought no one else, going alone.

Tang Mingyue originally belonged to the Zheng family.

Zheng Yu sent her to a nunnery and had Yan Sanhe take her place and live in the Zheng family.

To prevent anyone from discovering Yan Sanhe’s identity, Zheng Yu didn’t hesitate to confine his youngest son’s family of four in Haitang Courtyard.

From this, it was clear that Yan Sanhe’s identity must be extremely important and mysterious.

The one who truly had a heart demon was the crow.

The crow was a wronged soul who died because of the witchcraft case.

These wronged souls were all connected to the former Crown Prince.

And coincidentally, Yan Sanhe was the incense lighter.

If these two seemingly unrelated threads were tied together and connected, what could be deduced?

It could be clearly deduced that—Yan Sanhe’s identity was related to the former Crown Prince.

Moreover—

An ordinary connection wouldn’t be enough to make Zheng Yu go to such lengths.

An ordinary connection also wouldn’t be enough for one hundred and eighty members of the Zheng family to die unnatural deaths, leaving only Yan Sanhe alive.

Only someone most intimately connected to the former Crown Prince!

At this thought, Xie Zhifei raised his whip and struck down hard.

The horse, in pain, nearly galloped at full speed, yet Xie Zhifei still felt it wasn’t running fast enough.

Tang Jianxi was the former Crown Prince’s senior martial brother.

When Yan Sanhe personally said she would light the incense, with Tang Jianxi’s intelligence, he would certainly make connections afterward.

Tang Jianxi’s character was completely trustworthy.

But for some things, trust alone wasn’t enough.

Xie Zhifei’s heart was burning with unprecedented urgency.

…

When Third Master’s heart was burning with urgency, Young Master Pei, clutching banknotes in his chest and covered in sweat, returned to the estate.

Upon inquiry, the people had left half an hour ago.

Young Master Pei didn’t know whether he was angry that Xie Zhifei didn’t wait for him, or distressed that this bastard dared to go out with barely any silver in his pocket.

In any case, he couldn’t catch up now, so Young Master Pei had Huang Qi prepare bathwater.

With all this stinking sweat, he mustn’t offend people.

Soaking in the wooden tub, Pei Xiao looked down at himself.

Mm, broad shoulders, narrow waist, proportioned muscles—every inch of definition contained capital to make women blush and hearts race.

Below the abdominal muscles…

Tsk tsk, simply perfect!

This physique matched with her was more than adequate.

The only flaw was that he didn’t know martial arts, so he might be at a disadvantage in future fights.

Pei Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

Since he’d already confirmed his feelings, what should his next move be?

Propose marriage directly?

Absolutely not!

This time he wouldn’t take the impulsive route, but the think-thrice-before-acting route. Best if he could create a situation of raw rice cooked into cooked rice—that way even his parents would be settled.

Thinking of his parents, Pei Xiao’s eyelid twitched.

With the new Emperor’s enthronement and the former Emperor’s funeral, Huairen’s position as Crown Prince was secure. Next would be his and Xie Fifty’s wedding.

He had to act fast!

He stood up with a splash, shouting to Huang Qi outside, “Bring me that sky-blue robe.”

Huang Qi outside was stunned.

Late at night—who was the young master trying to show off for?