Yan Sanhe never spoke empty words. Every sentence she uttered would come to fruition.

Xie Zhifei drew in a sharp breath, his voice trembling slightly.

“What about me? What do you plan to do?”

Yan Sanhe raised her head, her hands cupping his face.

This face—how radiant it once was, so tender you could pinch water from it. How many young ladies and married women had admired it? But now it too bore traces of vicissitudes.

“Chengyu, I should be the one asking you that. What do you plan to do? In this life… I can never again set foot in the Xie residence.”

Having reached this point, she simply laid it all out plainly.

“I’m not forcing you. This is the reality before us. The Xie family is a river lying between us. If you choose to remain on this side of the river, we must part ways.”

Xie Zhifei looked at her deeply: “What if I choose the other side?”

“Then you must abandon the Xie family.”

After a long silence, Yan Sanhe said: “I cannot remain in the capital much longer. I cannot stay, nor should I stay.”

Where in this world were walls without cracks? Only by leaving the capital far behind would her identity be safe, and only then would she not betray the sacrifices of so many people.

“Yan Sanhe, give me some time.”

Xie Zhifei’s nasal voice grew heavier, his tone lower: “Give me a little time. I will leave with you.”

Yan Sanhe was stunned.

During the three days Xie Zhifei lay unconscious, she had actually prepared herself mentally. The Xie family was his roots. No matter how despicable Xie Daozhi was, he was still his father.

How could a person abandon their roots?

How could a person truly hate the father who gave them life and raised them?

Yet she never expected he wouldn’t even consider it.

Why?

“Xie Chengyu, Li Buyan’s mother once said that emotions are often fleeting. You don’t need to…”

“It’s not because of you.”

Xie Zhifei rested his head on her thin shoulder, murmuring lowly: “Not only because of you!”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes stung fiercely.

Her Chengyu had matters weighing on his heart!

…

Outside the window.

Pei Xiao’s two sword-like eyebrows were tightly knitted.

What? Xie Wushi was going to abandon the Xie family and fly far away with Yan Sanhe?

Then what about him?

Pei Xiao stealthily glanced at Li Buyan sitting in the bamboo chair. What about him?

Should he follow?

At least Xie Wushi had Yan Sanhe to love and be loved by—eloping for love had some justification. But what reason did he have?

Besides, what about his parents? What about the Pei family?

Should he stay?

Follow his family’s arrangements, marry a respectable wife, have children, earn promotions and wealth, walk a bright path to the end—physically comfortable, but what about his heart?

Could his heart settle down?

Moreover, he and Xie Wushi had been good brothers for over ten years—sleeping in the same bed, listening to songs at pleasure houses together, even linking arms and backing each other when going to the latrine. Could he bear to part?

Before Pei Xiao’s eyes appeared scene after scene—

Him going to court alone, leaving court alone, eating alone, drinking alone, and in utter boredom, going to pleasure houses to listen to songs… alone.

“Hero Li.”

His heart ached, and his voice carried some grievance.

“Can’t you persuade your young lady to stay in the capital? With Xie Wushi and me helping, resolving her obsessions and dispelling demons would be easier.”

Li Buyan sprang up from the bamboo chair. Without even a sidelong glance at Young Master Pei, she strode out of the courtyard.

“Hey…”

Pei Xiao was so angry he fell backward, thinking: Let them all leave then. I don’t believe this young master can’t live without them.

At this moment, Li Buyan had no mind to worry about whether Yan Sanhe would stay or leave. Her entire mind was filled with that half-dead incense stick.

Logically, with the war horses now vigorous and lively, the Zheng family’s heart demon should be resolved. So why hadn’t that incense stick finished burning?

She walked to the bedroom, her gaze fixed on the incense stick.

The incense had burned down to only half a pinky finger’s length. A wisp of barely visible white smoke curled upward.

After staring for a long time without discerning anything, Li Buyan grew increasingly agitated, wanting to fight someone fiercely.

Regarding the Zheng family matter, she could only say it was regrettable.

Regarding the Old General’s matter, her heart held admiration—she called him “a true man.”

She looked down on Xie Daozhi, cursing him as “a dog,” then forgot about him.

But this incense stick was different.

The incense concerned Yan Sanhe. If anything happened to Yan Sanhe, how could she live?

The moment Mother left her, she once thought she couldn’t go on living, until Yan Sanhe came.

These years, the two had come and gone together. From the outside, it seemed Yan Sanhe couldn’t do without her, but only she herself knew—the one who truly couldn’t do without the other was herself.

“Incense, oh incense, tell me, what exactly are you counting down to?”

Li Buyan’s face no longer bore its usual lazy, carefree expression. Her eyes were gloomy, just like her current heart, contracting and expanding with worry.

No, she needed to find someone to ask about fortune and misfortune.

As soon as the thought arose, Li Buyan immediately returned to Young Master Pei’s side without taking a breath, grabbed his arm, and pulled him out.

“You, you, you, what are you…”

A small hand covered his mouth.

The hand’s owner winked at him.

Then, red lips gestured toward outside the courtyard.

Pei Xiao’s feet followed Li Buyan out uncontrollably, though in his heart he cursed himself: I’m truly cheap!

“Young Master Pei, help me find someone.”

The small hand released, but the red lips drew close to his ear. Pei Xiao’s heart contracted slightly.

“Wh-who?”

“Young Master Zhu.”

“What for?”

“Let’s talk in the carriage.”

Us?

The carriage?

Such a cramped space?

Pei Xiao thought: This could kill me even more than Xie Zhifei leaving the capital with Yan Sanhe!

…

Zhu Residence.

“Young Master, Young Master Pei is here, says he has urgent business.”

“Quickly, invite him in.”

Pei Xiao needed no escort. Familiar with the way, he walked into the study, with Li Buyan naturally following behind.

“Brother Zhu.”

“Young Master Pei.”

After brief pleasantries, Pei Xiao stated his purpose: “Brother Zhu, I’ve come to divine fortune and misfortune.”

Zhu Yuanmo said readily: “Speak. What shall I divine?”

“Divine for Yan Sanhe.”

“Miss Yan?”

Zhu Yuanmo looked surprised: “Why divine for her? Has something happened to her?”

“She’s fine.”

Pei Xiao pointed to Li Buyan behind him: “It’s just this girl worries about her mistress’s safety, so…”

Zhu Yuanmo cupped his fists toward Li Buyan: “Miss Li, it’s not that I won’t divine for Miss Yan, but actually…”

Li Buyan: “What?”

Zhu Yuanmo’s expression was somewhat awkward: “I cannot divine Miss Yan’s fortune and misfortune. Also, I cannot calculate her fate.”

“What do you mean?”

Two voices spoke in unison.

Pei Xiao glanced at Li Buyan: “Could it be… Brother Zhu, you’ve divined and calculated before?”

“Yes!”

Zhu Yuanmo had nothing to hide.

“When Miss Yan was kidnapped, I was anxious and secretly divined her fortune with my second and third brothers. We couldn’t divine it.”

Li Buyan blurted out: “Why?”

Zhu Yuanmo hesitated to speak but finally shook his head.

“I don’t know.”