Everyone’s gaze gathered on Pei Xiao.

Pei Xiao took a breath: “The Zheng family’s heart demon has already passed forty-nine days. Could it be that because the heart demon wasn’t resolved, the karmic retribution has fallen on Yan Sanhe?”

That makes sense.

Li Buyan felt her eyes light up, saying in a suppressed voice: “Everyone in the Zheng family died completely. Only Yan Sanhe is still alive. Isn’t this harming descendants?”

Zhu Qing was so frightened he leaped up and closed the door, saying in a low voice: “But Miss Yan is clearly…”

Ding Yi: “She grew up eating the Zheng family’s food and water. That makes her Zheng family.”

“Exactly.”

Huang Qi nodded forcefully, very seriously: “Third Master, what do you think?”

Xie Zhifei kept his eyes lowered, not speaking.

Actually the real Zheng family person was Tang Mingyue. If anyone should be unlucky, it should be her.

But she was sent to Water Moon Nunnery right after birth, entered the Buddhist order, severing her worldly ties with the Zheng family.

Later she left Buddhism for the Tang family, changed her surname to Tang, and was written into the Tang family genealogy, having even less connection to the Zheng family.

So…

He raised his head, looking at Yan Sanhe: “I think what Ding Yi said is right. You grew up eating the Zheng family’s food and water—you are Zheng family.”

Is that so?

Yan Sanhe looked back at him steadily, a trace of confusion showing in her eyes.

At that moment, inspiration suddenly flashed through Pei Xiao’s mind: “That incense stick might also be targeting you, Yan Sanhe.”

Hearing this, Li Buyan’s heart clenched: “What do you mean?”

“Ai ya ya, I don’t know how to say it either.”

Pei Xiao vigorously scratched his head.

“Look at that incense—sometimes it burns slowly, sometimes quickly. When it burns slowly, Yan Sanhe is fine, nothing wrong at all.

When it burns quickly, she forgets this and forgets that. Yesterday the incense burned halfway and Yan Sanhe even forgot my uncle…”

“We’re done for.”

Huang Qi at the side slapped his thigh, not caring that the speaker was his master.

“Does that mean when the incense finishes burning, if the Zheng family’s heart demon isn’t resolved, Miss Yan won’t even remember us, including Third Master?”

As the last word fell, the flower hall became completely silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Huang Qi shrank his neck: “I, I’m just talking nonsense…”

“Shut up!”

Xie Zhifei shouted violently, rushing before Yan Sanhe. Opening his mouth to speak, he discovered his throat was so tight he couldn’t get a single word out.

Yan Sanhe looked at the trembling in his black eyes, reached out, and gently squeezed his hand.

“What do you want to say?”

“Yan Sanhe.”

His voice also began trembling.

“Based on your intuition, think carefully, then give me a straight answer—when the incense finishes burning, will you truly remember nothing?”

Intuition?

Actually the night she discovered she didn’t know who the Old Ancestress was, she stood bitterly before the incense burner for half the night.

An answer vaguely existed in her heart, but she always held a thread of hope, feeling this matter shouldn’t fall on her.

After all, she was the demon resolver.

Yan Sanhe hesitated.

“Even if that’s the case, there’s no need to fear. Before the incense burns out, just resolve the Zheng family’s heart demon.”

The incense?

Xie Zhifei felt every single hair on his body stand on end.

Without another word he rushed out, fast as a gust of wind.

Pei Xiao followed close behind.

Li Buyan saw Yan Sanhe sitting motionless, stamped her foot, and also rushed out.

Next came Ding Yi, then Huang Qi.

Zhu Qing didn’t move. Yan Sanhe looked up at him: “You’re quite able to keep your composure.”

Zhu Qing thought to himself that the one who could keep composure was Miss Yan—Third Master and the others were all in a panic.

“Miss Yan, let’s go take a look together.”

“Let’s go.”

Seeing her unhurried pace, Zhu Qing had an unprecedented impulse to knock her unconscious and carry her over quickly.

…

Five heads crowded before the incense burner.

Amitabha Buddha, the incense was the same as yesterday—still half remaining.

Ai ya ya, getting too close, breathing too heavily—would it startle the incense?

The five exchanged glances, then with extreme uniformity, gently, carefully retreated one step, then another step.

Li Buyan said in a buzzing voice: “I wish I could gather up that incense ash and put it back on.”

Pei Xiao’s voice was even lower: “Starting tomorrow, the doors and windows of this room must all be closed. Not a thread of wind can get through.”

Ding Yi covered his mouth: “Miss Yan and Miss Li should best change to a different room. Walking back and forth always brings out some wind.”

Huang Qi covered his nose too: “Third Master, is there any way to make it burn slower?”

Xie Zhifei kept his face somber, not saying a word.

During those eight years at Haitang Courtyard, time to him felt excruciatingly slow. The sun rose and fell, over and over, days stretching endlessly with no end in sight.

Now, time had actually become a death warrant.

Warranting his death.

He didn’t dare imagine at all what kind of madness would possess him if Yan Sanhe even forgot him.

“This incense has spiritual nature. We don’t need to worry about it.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice sounded at the doorway: “Seeing Yan Xi is more important than watching this incense.”

Everyone turned around, their eyes identically accusatory: How can you be so calm? Truly the emperor isn’t anxious while the eunuchs are dying of anxiety?

Yan Sanhe walked over, taking the initiative to grasp Xie Zhifei’s hand, saying gently: “Fate is like this. Anxiety is useless.”

Her fingers were slender and long, the touch very cool.

Xie Zhifei turned his hand over, firmly grasping her hand in his palm. The darkness in his eyes had already recovered its calm.

“Zhu Qing, go summon Yan Xi.”

“Yes!”

Zhu Qing at the doorway whooshed and disappeared.

…

Yan Xi walked into the flower hall and was startled by the solemnity on everyone’s faces.

Frightened, his legs bent and he knelt: “Third Master, Young Master Pei summoned this humble one…”

“We summoned you to ask you something.”

Pei Xiao said impatiently: “You must answer me honestly. If you dare…”

“Mingting.”

Yan Sanhe couldn’t bear to listen and interrupted: “Yan Xi, stand up to speak.”

“Young Master Pei, actually before coming, His Highness already instructed me—whatever I know, I should say, not hiding even half a point. If I do, he’ll be the first not to forgive me.”

Only then did Pei Xiao realize he’d gotten too anxious.

He coughed: “Since Huairen has instructed you, then whatever Miss Yan asks you, you answer.”

“Yes.”

Yan Xi’s gaze turned toward Yan Sanhe: “Miss Yan, please ask.”

Yan Sanhe: “Sit down first.”

Yan Xi obediently sat on half his bottom.

He wasn’t tall, with a lean build. When seated his two legs pressed tightly together, his sitting posture extremely like a woman’s.

On his fair face, a pair of eyes distinct in black and white looked very clever.

After surveying him once, Yan Sanhe asked: “Yan Ruxian is your godfather?”

Hearing Yan Ruxian’s name, Yan Xi’s brows immediately drooped.

“Miss Yan, people like us—only by acknowledging a godfather can our days be better, can we get ahead. I also had no choice in the matter, I…”

“I ask you what, you answer what. I’m not here to question your relationship with Yan Ruxian.”

“Look at my loose tongue.”

Yan Xi lightly slapped himself, then said with a smile: “That’s right, he’s my godfather.”