“The truth of all matters is here.”

Yan Sanhe looked up and saw faces with indescribable expressions, their looks within her expectations.

But only one person’s expression was beyond her expectations.

Yan Sanhe looked toward Xie Zhifei with suspicion. Why wasn’t he surprised at all?

Xie Zhifei met her gaze, an undisguised bitter smile emerging in his eyes.

“Yan Sanhe, in the blink of an eye I’ve become someone climbing the social ladder by clinging to the powerful. My, my heart can’t quite take it.”

“My apologies to Third Master.”

Yan Sanhe’s apology was expressed with utmost sincerity.

Besides Buyan, this person worried her most.

A perfectly fine young master from a distinguished family, to be saddled with such a hot potato as her—what sin did he commit in his past life?

“Whether it’s wronging me or not, let’s not discuss that for now.”

Xie Zhifei feared this girl would see through something, so he changed the subject, “First tell Lu Da where Zhang Tianxing is now?”

As the words fell, everyone’s gazes shot straight toward Xie Zhifei.

Li Buyan: Why change the subject? I haven’t heard enough of Zhao Rongyu and Shen Duruo’s story yet.

Young Master Pei: This kid is this calm?

Zhu Qing: Master seems a bit off.

Ding Yi: Could Master have been scared a bit silly by Miss Yan’s identity?

Huang Qi: Damn, Third Master is still the most badass. If it were me, I wouldn’t even know where my soul had gone!

Yan Sanhe walked in front of Lu Da.

“From the time I have memories, the Yan family only had three people: one was grandfather, one was his youngest son, and one was his youngest daughter-in-law.

That couple passed away not long after, leaving grandfather and me to depend on each other. From beginning to end, I never saw anyone else.”

Never saw anyone else;

Never came again to keep the appointment on the twenty-sixth of the twelfth month;

Lu Da’s eyes instantly dimmed.

Yan Sanhe asked somewhat uncertainly: “Is he… gone?”

Lu Da hummed in acknowledgment.

Yan Sanhe bit her teeth: “Why? Why didn’t anyone let me know?”

Lu Da’s lips twitched slightly, “Miss Yan, have you seen how sparrows die?”

“How do they die?”

“Sparrows can predict their own death. Before dying, they will tidy up their nest, then find a place where no one is around and quietly await death’s arrival.”

Sadness filled Lu Da’s eyes, “We shadow guards are the same.”

Without thinking deeply, he could guess that Tianxing, after sensing he wouldn’t live long, solemnly entrusted Yan Sanhe to Yan Xing.

As for the reason he died early, there was only one—injury.

As for how he was injured, Lu Da couldn’t guess, but ultimately it was related to the young master.

“Another life lost because of me.”

Yan Sanhe looked at the jumping candlelight and suddenly smiled, smiling until her eyes reddened.

Li Buyan’s anger and resentment at Yan Sanhe for hiding things from her deflated like a punctured balloon.

In this instant, she suddenly understood why Yan Sanhe had hidden it from her.

Because the lives of one hundred eighty people from the Zheng family weighed heavily upon her.

If she didn’t thoroughly investigate the Zheng family case, how could she live in this world with a clear conscience, fall in love, bear children, and live to a ripe old age?

And the crux of the Zheng family case was Yan Sanhe—this was a key point that couldn’t be bypassed no matter how one tried.

At this moment, Yan Sanhe walked to the middle of the room, covering her lips and coughing lightly several times.

“I’ve told you all my greatest secrets.

Starting from my background to examine the Zheng family extermination case, not only is the case crystal clear, even the true murderer behind it all is crystal clear.

Because in this world, only he cannot tolerate my existence and must eliminate me completely.”

Her expression under the lamplight was calm to the point of coldness. Everyone in the room couldn’t help but hold their breath.

“Next I must do two things. The first is to find the reason why the other half of the warhorses didn’t recover. Once this reason is found, the Zheng family’s heart demon should end as well.

This matter is for the public good.

The second matter is who leaked my identity, and who reported my identity to him, resulting in the entire Zheng family being exterminated.

This matter is personal.”

Besides Lu Da and Xie Zhifei, everyone in the room looked at Yan Sanhe with extreme shock, each with their own thoughts.

Young Master Pei: How can she be so methodical?

Li Buyan: She’s probably pondered it hundreds of times in her heart.

Zhu Qing: Miss Yan is frighteningly intelligent.

Ding Yi: I haven’t done anything to wrong Miss Yan before, have I?

Huang Qi: Offend anyone but don’t offend her.

She took a deep breath and paused for a long while: “Now, it’s your turn to make a choice.”

Huang Qi didn’t understand: “Choose what?”

“Choose whether to continue following me, or stay far away from me.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice suddenly became heavy.

“If you continue following me, every one of you will be implicated by me. What your fate will be then, no one knows. After all, my very existence is the crime of deceiving the Emperor. If things go wrong, it will mean family destruction and death.”

Xie Zhifei’s temple throbbed violently.

So this was her purpose in revealing everything—the road ahead was extremely perilous, and she didn’t want another innocent life on her conscience.

Yan Sanhe said no more, helping herself to a seat and picking up her teacup, leisurely drinking tea.

The candlelight reflected on her face, which bore an open and forthright expression. This inexplicably reminded Xie Zhifei of someone—Yan Xing.

A person so proud and arrogant he didn’t put worldly matters in his eyes, yet who was also the most devoted to loyalty and righteousness in this world.

Xie Zhifei didn’t hesitate at all and immediately wanted to walk behind her, but someone beat him to it.

It was Lu Da.

Lu Da walked behind Yan Sanhe and crossed his arms over his chest expressionlessly, without saying a word.

Did he need to say anything?

He didn’t need to say anything at all.

Even without Lord Lu’s instructions, Yan Sanhe was this shadow guard’s duty.

How did he get there first?

Xie Zhifei pinched the bridge of his nose somewhat irritably.

However, in the instant of that pinch, another person appeared behind Yan Sanhe.

It was Li Buyan.

Li Buyan also crossed her arms expressionlessly, without saying a word.

Did she need to say anything?

The first time she met Third Master and Young Master Pei, she’d made it clear: one person, one life. If I can’t rescue Miss, what do I need this life for?

Family destruction and death?

Wherever Yan Sanhe is, that’s where Li Buyan’s home is.

Seeing Li Buyan beat him to it, Xie Zhifei not only didn’t complain but felt genuinely gratified for Yan Sanhe.

In just this moment of distraction, another person also stood over.

Everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.

How could it be him?

Young Master Pei!

Huang Qi’s head buzzed, his vision going black.

Master, you mustn’t be impulsive! You must think three times!

The former Crown Prince’s orphan?

Miss Yan’s background is too dangerous. If things go wrong, it really will mean family destruction and death. Think of the Pei family, think of Master and Madam, and think of yourself…

Quick, come back.

Huang Qi frantically winked at his master with all his might.