Pei Xiao wasn’t oblivious to Huang Qi’s winking and grimacing. In fact, when that foot stepped out, he wanted to pull it back.

Unfortunately, his heart moved, his foot moved, but reason was half a beat slow.

Too late.

Pei Xiao walked over somewhat stiffly, first looking down at Yan Sanhe, then looking up at Li Buyan, his gaze settling on her.

—Right, I’m doing this for her.

In the Military Justice Bureau prison, she threw herself at him without calculating whether she could survive, just like when she blocked that arrow for Zhao Huairen.

Pei Xiao had been disturbed by that leap these past days, his emotions irritable and volatile, wanting to do something outrageous.

Now the opportunity had come.

Pei Xiao consoled himself: she saved my life, so to repay that debt I’m being reckless once—what’s wrong with that?

Huang Qi saw his master stand firm and covered his face with his hand, not daring to look anymore.

What should he do?

Follow in Master’s footsteps and go die together?

Or stay clear-headed, stay rational, and silently chant three times: Pei family, Pei family, Pei family?

Forget it.

I’m Master’s servant, not the Pei family’s servant.

Huang Qi gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and hurried over.

Whoa!

Ding Yi quickly looked toward Zhu Qing: Only the three of them were left. What should they do?

Zhu Qing: What do you mean what should we do? Whatever Master does, we do.

Ding Yi shook his head slightly: Shouldn’t we try to dissuade him? Really not care about the Xie family anymore?

Zhu Qing: Could we dissuade him?

They couldn’t.

While the two were exchanging glances, their master had already walked leisurely in front of Yan Sanhe.

“It’s not like we’re Jiang Taigong fishing, requiring mutual consent.”

Yan Sanhe looked puzzled and raised her eyes.

“Just give an order. Who would dare object?”

Xie Zhifei’s lips curved into dimples, “I certainly wouldn’t dare.”

Zhu Qing hadn’t heard Master’s honeyed words in a long while. Hearing them suddenly sent a chill of goosebumps over his body.

He walked in front of Xie Zhifei, but spoke to Yan Sanhe: “Miss Yan, if Master isn’t afraid, I’m even less afraid.”

Zhu Qing, you bastard, couldn’t you let me go first?

Ding Yi cursed inwardly and hurried to catch up.

Standing firm, he looked at the row of people lined up before him and thought with lingering fear: Why are they all so stubborn? Miss Yan is going to be insufferably smug now.

Not only was Miss Yan not smug, her brow furrowed tightly.

She stood up: “There’s no rush with this. Think it over carefully. The day after tomorrow is Old Ancestor’s birthday at the Xie residence. After that birthday celebration is over, give me your answers then.”

Pei Xiao thought to himself: I, Young Master Pei, am finally being resolute for once, and you, divine woman, are still dragging me down? Is this proper?

“Yan Sanhe, you…”

“I’m telling you to think it over carefully, so you must think it over carefully. Young Master Pei, when you let an arrow fly there’s no calling it back. Don’t forget you have a close friend named Zhao Yishi.”

Pei Xiao: “…”

His back went cold with sweat, his gaze instinctively seeking out Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei didn’t look at him but stared at Lu Da asking: “What are Elder Lu’s plans going forward?”

Lu Da raised his chin toward Yan Sanhe: “Listen to the young master.”

“Then pack up and move to the別 courtyard in a few days. Don’t stay here alone anymore.”

Xie Zhifei’s palm fell on Yan Sanhe’s shoulder: “It’s getting late. I’ll head back to the residence first. After Old Ancestor’s birthday is over, I’ll come find you again.”

Yan Sanhe looked at the hand on her shoulder, asking in a suggestive tone: “Is two days enough time?”

“More than enough!”

Xie Zhifei glanced at Pei Xiao from the corner of his eye and turned to leave.

Receiving the look, Pei Xiao immediately followed.

With the master gone, the attendants followed as well. The enormous house stood empty with only three people remaining.

Yan Sanhe knew these two couldn’t be driven away no matter what, so she simply said: “You can move to the別 courtyard, but don’t hide yourselves—just stand openly by my side.”

Lu Da started: “Young master?”

“Of the people around him, you’re the only one left. You’re not my shadow guard but my elder. However, there’s one thing…”

Yan Sanhe’s tone turned exceptionally stern, “Don’t indiscriminately kill innocents going forward. Everyone is born of parents, everyone has sons and daughters. It’s not easy for anyone.”

Lu Da nodded woodenly.

Li Buyan smiled warmly at Lu Da: “Don’t worry, Third Master handled the funeral arrangements for those people properly.”

…

At the carriage.

Pei Xiao kicked Xie Zhifei’s toe: “How should we hide this from Huairen…”

“Don’t think about Huairen first. Think about whether you want to take this risk yourself.”

Xie Zhifei coldly interrupted: “Don’t ask me either, and I won’t ask you. We’ll each make our own decisions.”

Pei Xiao’s expression changed: “What do you mean?”

“I mean…”

Xie Zhifei’s voice was dry: “I’m different from you. She’s the person I’ve chosen, but you… still have choices.”

Pei Xiao: “…”

“Mingting.”

Xie Zhifei looked at him earnestly: “When making your choice, you must keep one thing in mind—the Zheng family was exterminated precisely because they harbored her.”

Pei Xiao: “…”

Xie Zhifei mounted his horse and called to Zhu Qing and Ding Yi: “Don’t follow. I want to be alone to calm down.”

…

Calming down was false; Xie Zhifei urgently wanted to see someone.

In the dark night, one man and one horse galloped to an inn.

He dismounted, took out his waist token and knocked on the inn’s door.

Reaching the second floor, he knocked three times.

After a moment, the door opened, revealing Xue Zhao’s face.

Seeing it was Third Master, Xue Zhao’s expression changed, “What happened to Miss Yan?”

“Let’s go inside to talk.”

Entering the room, Xie Zhifei started from the Zheng family case and recounted everything that had happened today at the Lu residence.

After listening, Xue Zhao was stunned.

He had been ordered down the mountain by his master to assist Third Master Xie and protect Miss Yan. He never imagined Miss Yan herself would expose her own background.

Xue Zhao said in shock: “How could Miss Yan be so foolish?”

“She’s not foolish. She just doesn’t want to live ignominiously.”

Xie Zhifei: “First thing tomorrow morning, you must immediately return to Mount Muli and tell your master everything, not leaving out a single word.”

Xue Zhao’s heart clenched: “Third Master, will Miss Yan…”

“Hard to say!”

Xie Zhifei’s gaze suddenly became complicated.

…

Yan Sanhe, who didn’t want to live ignominiously, had finally unloaded the countless massive stones weighing on her heart and slept deeply and soundly for once.

She slept so deeply it was as if heaven and earth had gone dark, not waking hazily until the next evening when the sun was setting.

Refreshed and clear-headed.

Especially facing Li Buyan, even her brows relaxed.

After knowing each other for so many years, they had always been sincere with each other. Hiding things from her for so long, Yan Sanhe had felt her heart grow heavier day by day.

Li Buyan was combing her hair. Halfway through, she suddenly suggested:

“How about… we also become sworn sisters with Han Xu? If there really is that thing, she could at least burn incense and paper money for us.”

Yan Sanhe nodded in deep agreement: “That’s a good idea. While she’s still here, we should handle this quickly.”

Li Buyan was silent for a long while.

Yan Sanhe sensed something wrong and turned to look, “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, it’s just…”

Li Buyan sighed softly: “…my heart aches for you.”

Her shoulders were so slight—how could she shoulder so many burdens alone without telling anyone?

At that moment, Tangyuan’s voice sounded outside: “Miss Yan, Young Master Pei is here.”

Pei Mingting?

Didn’t he say in two days?

Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan looked at each other in confusion.