The next day.

Early morning.

When Xie Zhifei opened his eyes, he discovered the room was empty.

Upon inquiry, Zhu Qing said Young Master Pei had left before dawn.

They were starting the investigation today—what possessed this brat now?

Xie Zhifei was quite angry. After a simple wash, he went to Yan Sanhe’s courtyard to see how that incense stick was doing.

Zhu Qing and Ding Yi were also curious and quickly followed.

Xie Zhifei had just entered the courtyard when the window opened with a “pa.”

Li Buyan mysteriously nodded to him from inside the window.

Xie Zhifei stepped forward to look. Cold sweat broke out simultaneously as his heart secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The incense had burned all night but was still that long, without the slightest change.

Indeed, time had slowed down around it.

In other words, if this incense truly was a countdown, at this burning speed, they still had plenty of time.

Just then, Yan Sanhe emerged from the main hall and walked to Xie Zhifei’s side. “No matter how slowly it burns, there will always be a time when it burns out. That incense is only so long.”

Why speak such dispiriting words first thing in the morning?

Xie Zhifei looked down at her and smiled bitterly. “Let’s have breakfast first. Huairen’s speed won’t be slow—the case files will arrive soon.”

As Xie Zhifei predicted, halfway through breakfast, Shen Chong entered with a bundle on his back.

“His Highness had people copy these through the night. The originals are with the Three Judicial Offices.”

Yan Sanhe said nothing. She put down her chopsticks, stood up, took the bundle, and went straight to the study.

The others had no heart to continue eating and followed one after another.

Inside the bundle were also three case files, except the handwriting was more elegant.

Yan Sanhe didn’t flip through casually just because she’d already read the files.

On the contrary, she read very carefully.

After finishing all three, she looked up at Xie Zhifei and slowly closed her eyes: Not a single character different.

“Miss Yan.”

Shen Chong spoke. “When coming, His Highness instructed to please ask Miss Yan to act discreetly. For any matters, try to have Third Master and Young Master Pei take the lead.”

Third Master and Young Master Pei were His Highness’s right and left arms. Having them secretly investigate the Zheng family case wouldn’t attract anyone’s attention.

But Miss Yan was different.

Miss Yan was a young lady. If her identity was exposed, there might be some trouble.

“Please tell him.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was flat. “I also don’t want to draw attention.”

Shen Chong cupped his fists. Just as he was about to leave, Xie Zhifei stopped him. “Have the people from the Three Judicial Offices already started investigating?”

Shen Chong: “They started after yesterday’s court session.”

Xie Zhifei: “The horses from the Three Great Battalions—still the same?”

Shen Chong: “All the veterinary officials from the four-nine cities have examined them. Still the same—they can’t find the cause.”

Xie Zhifei waved his hand. “You may go.”

Shen Chong’s gaze swept around. “Where’s Young Master Pei?”

Xie Zhifei found it hard to explain. He couldn’t very well say this bastard was only concerned with his own love and affection, in the throes of life and death!

However, at this very moment, Pei Xiao pushed the door open. He was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, wrinkled, and his complexion didn’t look good—like it was covered with a layer of ash.

“The monks who chanted scriptures for the Zheng family that year numbered nine times nine, eighty-one. The Taoist priests were the same number.”

He pulled out a register from his bosom.

“The monks’ names are all listed here. I checked—in these ten years, twenty-one old monks have passed away. Sixty remain. Yan Sanhe, do you want to see them all, or pick a few to see?”

Yan Sanhe said nothing, her gaze looking lightly at this person.

Pei Xiao also knew what kind of person he’d been before.

An abacus bead—only moves when poked, right?

Muddling through—slacking off whenever possible, right?

Not using his brain until critical moments, right?

“The situation is urgent, isn’t it?” He was rarely humble.

“No matter how urgent, you still need to sleep.”

Yan Sanhe turned her head. “Buyan, take Young Master Pei to have some breakfast. After eating, we’ll discuss.”

“Better yet, sleep for a while.”

Xie Zhifei added, “I also need to arrange for finding the night watchman.”

Yan Sanhe made a decisive decision. “One shichen from now, meet at the villa’s alley entrance.”

“Good!”

Xie Zhifei pulled Shen Chong toward the exit. As he walked past Pei Xiao, he winked at him. “Quick, go have breakfast with the heroine.”

“Get lost—” Pei Xiao silently mouthed the word back at him.

“Young Master Pei, let’s go.”

“You rest. I’ll go on my own.”

Pei Xiao’s decisiveness startled Li Buyan. She used her eyes to signal Yan Sanhe: What’s wrong with him?

Yan Sanhe opened the register. “Perhaps he’s slowly gaining enlightenment!”

Li Buyan was startled again.

Enlightenment about what?

……

Outside the second gate.

Shen Chong stopped. “Third Master pulled me out—you must have something to say.”

You’re a clever one too.

Xie Zhifei put away all expression. “His Highness didn’t sleep all night?”

“After leaving the boat, he returned to Duanmu Palace to change clothes, then went to the Ministry of Justice and stayed until dawn.”

“What I want to say is, please ask His Highness to secretly support Cai Si. This person is trustworthy and capable.”

Shen Chong looked deeply at Third Master and cupped his fists. “I will certainly convey the message. Farewell.”

“Safe travels!”

Xie Zhifei watched his retreating figure, his gaze revealing depth.

With matters this urgent and being such a hot potato, the New Emperor entrusting it to Huairen seemed on the surface to value him, but upon closer examination, it might not be.

The instigator of this case was the Late Emperor.

The Late Emperor had personally raised Huairen, their grandfather-grandson relationship extraordinary.

For the grandson to investigate his own grandfather—regardless of what was uncovered, Huairen would be at a disadvantage.

And the chief person in charge of this case back then was the New Emperor when he was still Crown Prince.

No one would understand the situation of this case better than him.

Logically, since the matter involved national fortune and empire, the New Emperor should take it over himself regardless. Yet he pushed it onto Huairen.

From this one could deduce—the New Emperor was thoroughly displeased with Huairen.

Displeasure also meant Huairen’s position as Crown Prince wasn’t secure and could be replaced at any time.

Even though this future heir apparent had been personally designated by the Late Emperor.

Supporting Cai Si’s rise was laying down a hidden piece for Huairen, one that might prove useful at critical moments.

Xie Zhifei sighed softly.

For Yan Sanhe’s sake alone, the move with Cai Si was correct—only the person at the very top could protect Yan Sanhe’s identity.

……

One shichen later.

Alley entrance.

Under a tree.

Yan Sanhe looked at Pei Xiao in his official robes and gave him instructions in a low voice.

“When you arrive at the temple, you take the lead, Third Master assists. Don’t ask too many questions—only ask if they have any memorable sights or sounds from chanting scriptures for the Zheng family that day.”

Pei Xiao: “What if there aren’t any?”

“If there aren’t any, there aren’t any. Don’t insist.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted. “Third Master is responsible for making them keep their mouths shut.”

Xie Zhifei nodded. “I’m good at that.”

Yan Sanhe pointed at the register in her hand. “Sixty monks—we have one day and night to see them all.”

Pei Xiao: “What about the Taoist priests? Should we see them?”

“No need.”

Yan Sanhe: “If there’s anything suspicious, these sixty people are enough to discover it. Take action.”

“Wait!”

Xie Zhifei: “How do we rendezvous? Where will you and the heroine wait for us?”

Yan Sanhe: “This evening, Spring Breeze Tower first rendezvous. Today the heroine and I will casually sit in teahouses and listen to gossip.”

Xie Zhifei glanced at Pei Xiao. “Good!”

The group split into two carriages, one heading south, one heading north.

Yan Sanhe waited until Xie Zhifei’s carriage was far away, then lifted the carriage curtain. “Buyan, we’re going to the Han family courier station.”

Looking for Han Xu?

Good idea.

Li Buyan cracked the whip. “Hyah—”

——————