“Yan Sanhe, eat your meal properly. Don’t let your mind wander.”

“Alright.”

“Yan Sanhe, drink another bowl of soup.”

“Mm.”

“Yan Sanhe, before bed tonight, I’ll have Tangyuan cook you some late-night snacks.”

“Fine.”

“Yan Sanhe, after eating, don’t go to the study. I’ll walk with you in the garden.”

“Okay!”

Lanchuan glanced at Li Buyan: My master is truly amazing.

Tangyuan glanced at Yan Sanhe: The miss is truly obedient today.

Lu Da looked at Li Buyan, then at Yan Sanhe: Completely without propriety!

“Yan Sanhe, Yan Sanhe!”

Hearing the shouts from outside, Tangyuan quickly rose to give up her seat and brought over a set of clean bowls and chopsticks.

Pei Xiao rushed over like a gust of wind, sat down, and before even catching his breath, said:

“Yan Sanhe, on the fifteenth of the seventh month, nine monks and nine Daoists will come to the residence to chant sutras and perform rituals.”

“Why?”

Pei Xiao’s throat was parched from running. While reaching out to ask Tangyuan for tea, he answered, “Xie Wushi instructed me, saying it’s to help anchor your soul.”

Yan Sanhe pulled out her handkerchief to wipe her mouth. “I’m perfectly fine. Why does he need to anchor my soul?”

“Xie Wushi collapsed in a heap today. In three more days it’s the fifteenth of the seventh month. His soul is shallow, and yours isn’t much different.”

Pei Xiao had promised Xie Zhifei just moments ago, yet forgot completely in the next breath.

Li Buyan, thinking about how Yan Sanhe had also inexplicably collapsed in a heap today, quickly nodded.

“Sanhe also collapsed in a heap today. She also needs her soul anchored. Young Master Pei, eighteen is too few—get a few more.”

Young Master Pei felt so conflicted.

“The seventh month is Ghost Month. Many families are performing rituals. Even eighteen was already something I had great difficulty…”

“Eighteen it is then.”

Li Buyan’s gaze caught the dark circles under Pei Xiao’s eyes. Thinking of how he’d been rushing about these past days, she gave him a thumbs up in praise.

“Young Master Pei—a real man, truly loyal.”

Ai ya ya, she praised me!

Pei Xiao’s face flushed bright red. He didn’t know where to put his hands or feet.

Yan Sanhe resolved the awkwardness for him. “Mingting, accompany me to the garden to aid digestion.”

“Good, good!”

Pei Xiao’s face was burning so hot he could barely stand it. Not wanting Li Buyan to notice, his feet moved even faster than Yan Sanhe’s.

Li Buyan had originally wanted to follow, but seeing Young Master Pei’s face, she thought better of it.

This person had a sharp tongue, a soft heart, and thin skin—best not to frighten him further.

…

Evening. The heat had diminished considerably.

After walking a few steps, Yan Sanhe said, “When you see Third Master tomorrow, convey two messages for me.”

“Which two?”

“The first is: take care of your health.”

“The second?”

“After finishing the Xie Manor affairs on the fifteenth of the seventh month and after the Xie Manor birthday banquet, please have him come to the residence once. I have something to say.”

Pei Xiao, seeing her so serious, joked, “Is there some major announcement?”

“There’s something to discuss.”

Yan Sanhe nodded. “When the time comes, you must come too.”

Pei Xiao probed with a question: “Is it about Xie Daozhi?”

Yan Sanhe: “You’ll know when that day comes.”

Pei Xiao muttered softly, “Why must we wait until that day?”

Because the old matriarch hasn’t been laid to rest yet.

Because the matter is too momentous—she needed to ponder it carefully for a few more days.

“Mingting.”

“Hm?”

Yan Sanhe turned to look at him and suddenly asked, “If I made you choose between me and Li Buyan, who would you choose?”

What does that mean?

Pei Xiao rolled his eyes at her, his courage suddenly swelling. “Need you ask? Obviously Li Buyan.”

Yan Sanhe: “What’s good about her?”

Pei Xiao’s face began reddening again. After a long while, he forced out a sentence: “Everything about her is good anyway.”

“If I made you choose between Xie Wushi and Zhao Yishi…”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze pressed downward. “Who would you choose?”

“Obviously Xie Wushi.”

“Why? Clearly Zhao Yishi has a closer relationship with you.”

“Huairen is now the Crown Prince and will be Emperor in the future. No matter how close we are, I must still observe the propriety between sovereign and subject.”

Pei Xiao curved his lips, proudly shrugging his shoulders a few times. “Xie Wushi is different. Between us there are no such concerns. We can say whatever we want, do whatever we please.”

Yan Sanhe was silent for a moment. “Mm, you were right to choose Xie Wushi.”

Pei Xiao pursed his lips. “Already protecting him, and you haven’t even married yet!”

Yan Sanhe smiled faintly. “I’m someone who’s protective of my own!”

…

The fourteenth of the seventh month. The old matriarch of Xie Manor was laid to rest.

To outsiders, Yan Sanhe was a member of the old matriarch’s maternal family, following behind the Xie family members.

Born into this world, all are but guests. After more than thirty thousand days pass, dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth. Nothing can be taken away, and nothing can be left behind.

After the earth had been shoveled down several times, Yan Sanhe was about to leave when someone blocked her path.

“Third Master says to ask Miss Yan to wait for him a moment.”

“You are…”

That person’s expression changed slightly. Taking a deep breath, he said, “I am Zhu Qing.”

Zhu Qing?

Yan Sanhe turned around and met Xie Zhifei’s tear-filled gaze. Her heart couldn’t help but soften. She nodded while answering, “Alright!”

Only then did Xie Zhifei turn his head and busy himself with the tasks at hand.

There weren’t many tasks, but there were many formalities.

The deceased couldn’t see anymore—it was all performed for the living to see.

On the way down the mountain, Xie Zhifei left the Xie family members and walked shoulder to shoulder with Yan Sanhe. Madam Wu’s gaze pierced over several times, which he pretended not to see.

“How much of that incense stick remains?”

As soon as he spoke, Xie Zhifei’s voice was completely hoarse. Yan Sanhe looked up at him and felt an irrepressible ache in her heart.

“I looked before leaving. Only a tiny bit of incense remains.”

“How many people do you still remember in your mind?”

Yan Sanhe said in a low voice, “If I told you I can’t even remember Tangyuan, Zhu Qing, Ding Yi, or Huang Qi, would you be very worried?”

“What about Yan Xing?”

“Who is Yan Xing?”

Xie Zhifei felt his heart being squeezed hard.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Like magic, Yan Sanhe pulled a small booklet from her bosom, opened to the first page, and found the two characters for Yan Xing.

“He is the grandfather who adopted me and treated me very well. I came to the capital to resolve his heart demon, and then I met you.”

Xie Zhifei opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. After a long while, he asked, “All those things between you and me—can this tiny little booklet record them all?”

“Things between us…”

Yan Sanhe pointed to her own head, smiling with a bit of pride. “Are still in here.”

Still proud?

Xie Zhifei thought to himself: I’m nearly worried to death.

“Tomorrow I’ll accompany them for a bit of dinner then come over. If you’re hungry, eat some pastries first to tide you over. Wait until I arrive before starting the meal.”

“Tomorrow Buyan is cooking personally. She’s already drawn up the menu. I sneaked a peek—she’s bringing out all her signature skills.”

Xie Zhifei’s body tilted slightly toward Yan Sanhe.

“After we eat, we’ll leave them all behind. I’ll take you to walk around the Zheng family’s Crabapple Courtyard and tell you something along the way.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him. “Good news or bad news?”

Xie Zhifei looked at his own reflection in her eyes and said softly, “Good news.”

That irrepressible ache surged up again. Yan Sanhe lowered her gaze: What I want to say is bad news.

Afraid he’d notice, she immediately raised her eyes again and smiled. “Then you speak first. After you finish, I’ll speak.”

“Alright!”

After Xie Zhifei spoke, he took the small booklet from her hands, flipped through it, and smiled.

“You say things about us are all in your head—look at this dense writing.”

“This is called being prepared for contingencies.”

“You even got it wrong.”

“Where?”

“Our first meeting is wrong.”

“The small alley in front of the inn—you stood at the alley entrance blocking my way. I remember it crystal clear.”

Xie Zhifei rubbed her head.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow where you got it wrong!”