Did such a thing as hearts in sync exist in this world?

It did.

Han Xu was just about to go out when she saw a carriage stop at the courier station entrance.

The person driving was Li Buyan, which meant the person in the carriage was exactly who she was planning to see!

Amusement flashed in Han Xu’s eyes as she strode forward and lifted the carriage window.

Yan Sanhe looked up. Seeing it was Han Xu, the corners of her mouth lifted. “Such coincidence, Han Xu?”

Han Xu looked at her but frowned. “How did you lose so much weight?”

“Exhaustion.”

Yan Sanhe extended her hand. Han Xu grasped it and helped her down, her gaze turning to Li Buyan on the other side for a serious examination. “How did you also lose weight?”

Li Buyan folded her arms and tilted her chin toward Yan Sanhe. “Implicated by her.”

Han Xu’s eyes darkened. She gave a few quiet instructions to the station manager before turning. “Follow me.”

They passed through the courier station, through a courtyard. Beyond the courtyard was a two-story small building. Circling around the building, they entered a bamboo grove.

Deep in the bamboo grove was a courtyard, very tranquil.

“When I come to the capital, I rest here.”

“Very elegant.”

Li Buyan looked around while joking, “Next time when I’m free, I’ll come stay for a couple days.”

“Anytime.”

Han Xu led the two inside and boiled water to make tea.

After the tea was made, the three sat down.

Han Xu didn’t wait for Yan Sanhe to speak. “Tell me, what do you need me to investigate this time?”

“Manager Han is becoming more and more perceptive.”

Li Buyan teased her. “Want to make do with me and just become a pair?”

Han Xu: “Good!”

Li Buyan: “…”

Yan Sanhe brought the topic back. “Han Xu, I need to investigate the Zheng family’s extermination case from the fifteenth day of the seventh month, year eight of Yonghe.”

Even though Han Xu was mentally prepared, she was still shocked by Yan Sanhe’s words.

The last one she’d been asked to investigate was the case of the former Crown Prince’s armed rebellion. This time it was the Zheng family case…

“Another heart demon?”

“Yes.”

Yan Sanhe: “As fast as possible. I can’t wait.”

Han Xu didn’t ask a single question about why, only said flatly, “Even at the fastest, it will probably take three to five months.”

Three to five months?

Li Buyan didn’t understand. “Last time with the former Crown Prince’s case, didn’t you very quickly…”

“Rebellion naturally involves mobilizing armies, but extermination…”

Han Xu sneered coldly. “It must be as silent and soundless as possible!”

……

Temple.

Small grove.

Xie Zhifei, wearing his black military official robes, propped up one long leg, his cold gaze sweeping over the middle-aged monk across the stone table before settling on the table.

What was on the stone table?

An unsheathed, gleaming broadsword with a blade flashing with cold light.

The middle-aged monk only felt suffocated. “Official, you’re looking for me…”

“Master Xie is looking for you to investigate a case.”

Young Master Pei smiled with a completely harmless expression. “Year eight of Yonghe, the extermination case at Old General Zheng Yu’s residence. You went to the Zheng family to chant scriptures—do you have any sights or sounds to share?”

Hearing Young Master Pei’s spring-breeze-like voice, the monk’s expression relaxed slightly. “I don’t have any sights or sounds to share. It was just normal…”

“Pa!”

Master Xie picked up the blade and slammed it heavily on the table. The monk jumped in fright.

“It was… it was… After I entered the Zheng family, I felt an extremely heavy aura of resentment all around.”

Young Master Pei said gently, “Heavy to what degree?”

Monk: “I… I wanted to turn and run.”

Young Master Pei guided patiently, “And then?”

Monk: “Then I didn’t dare, so I could only start chanting scriptures.”

Young Master Pei sighed heavily. “With so many dead, no wonder the resentment was heavy. It really was hard on you all.”

The monk nodded. “But once the scriptures were chanted, that aura of resentment lessened somewhat.”

Young Master Pei’s eyes widened. “You could really sense it?”

The monk’s expression was like he’d been greatly insulted. “Those who cultivate with devoted hearts have senses and bodies more acute than ordinary people…”

“Get to the point!”

Xie Zhifei wore a coffin face, his tone extremely impatient.

“Amitabha!”

Monk: “Master Xie, there are no more points. After chanting, we left.”

Master Xie was too lazy to waste words. He directly picked up the broadsword and held it horizontally.

“Aiya, aiya, aiya—why the blade? Can’t we talk properly?”

Young Master Pei quickly intervened, glaring at the coffin face before smiling at the monk.

“When chanting scriptures, did you prick up your ears to listen to what the Embroidered Uniform Guards or Ministry of Justice guards were quietly discussing?”

The monk shook his head. “Not a single person spoke.”

Young Master Pei made a sound of surprise. “All scared mute?”

“No!”

The monk stole a glance at Master Xie. “It seems someone above said not to speak freely.”

Young Master Pei: “So they just stood there stiffly?”

Monk recalled: “They stared at us.”

Young Master Pei: “And then?”

Monk: “After we finished chanting, we left.”

Master Xie stood up with a swoosh, supporting himself on the stone table with both hands, leaning forward, head lowered, his gaze murderously fixed on the monk.

The monk gritted his teeth, word by word: “Monks do not lie. Master Xie, this is the truth!”

“Since it’s the truth, then keep your mouth tightly shut. Dare leak a single word—death!”

Master Xie slung the broadsword over his shoulder and left with murderous intent.

Young Master Pei apologetically cupped his fists toward the monk.

“Those above are pressing hard. He has no choice either. Master, please don’t hold it against him. I’ll go scold him for you later—”

After speaking, he scurried after Master Xie.

After chasing a few steps, he didn’t forget to turn back and stomp his foot at the monk, his face pained. “How can you treat our enlightened senior monks this way? What a sin!”

The two officials sat in the carriage one after another.

The curtain fell. Young Master Pei ground his back teeth, saying darkly, “Xie Wu Shi, for the next one, be even more ruthless!”

Master Xie: “…”

……

Evening.

Spring Breeze Tower.

Young Master Xie and Young Master Pei, along with three attendants, walked into a private room.

On the round table in the private room, a lavish meal was already laid out.

Once everyone was seated, Yan Sanhe picked up her chopsticks. “Old rule—eat first, discuss business after.”

Everyone devoured the food ravenously.

Xie Zhifei was famished. He ate three bowls of rice in succession before picking up his teacup and slowly beginning to speak.

“After asking around the circle, nothing particularly special. Only a few senior monks with high cultivation said that as soon as they entered the Zheng family, they felt an extremely heavy aura of resentment.”

Yan Sanhe put down her chopsticks. “Anything else?”

“One more thing.”

Xie Zhifei paused. “They said not a single person around dared discuss this matter even half a sentence. The Embroidered Uniform Guards stared at them without blinking.”

“Oh?”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted toward Young Master Pei. “Mingting, when monks chant scriptures, do the Embroidered Uniform Guards need to watch them?”

Pei Xiao’s mouth still had food. Unable to swallow it in time, he could only say vaguely:

“Not necessary. Monks have many precepts. Honesty is the most basic—they absolutely wouldn’t skip a recitation.”

Yan Sanhe smiled coldly. “This is the suspicious point.”

Right!

Pei Xiao’s eyes suddenly brightened.

Why would the Embroidered Uniform Guards need to watch?

Yan Sanhe raised her hand to add a bit of tea for Xie Zhifei. “Third Master, who was the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander in year eight of Yonghe?”

Xie Zhifei was startled. “I really don’t know that. I’ll have to investigate.”

Yan Sanhe picked up her teacup, her gaze turning cold. “Then investigate thoroughly!”

Xie Zhifei was jolted by the cold light in her eyes, his mind instantly clearing.