Whether there was perfect happiness and reunion in this world, Xie Zhifei didn’t know. But in his heart he knew one thing—

If there truly were divine spirits and Bodhisattvas in this world, he was willing to exchange anything, even his own life, for Yan Sanhe to have perfect happiness and reunion.

“Zhu Qing.”

“Master?”

“Under my bed there’s a large box. Go get it for me immediately.”

“Yes!”

Zhu Qing walked out of the bathing room, couldn’t help but look back at Third Master again.

He vaguely suspected Third Master had always harbored a secret in his heart. Every time they left or returned to the estate and passed Fourth Lane, Third Master would slow his steps and look up at that old tree.

Third Master usually smiled carelessly without any proper bearing, but when he looked at that tree, the expression on his face was unfathomable.

Now it could be confirmed—this secret was related to the Zheng family.

At this moment, Ding Yi walked in carrying clean clothes.

Xie Zhifei turned his head to glance at them and said in a low voice: “Go to Mingting’s room and find a grayish-purple colored garment.”

Grayish-purple?

Ding Yi was slightly stunned.

Master never wore clothes of that color.

…

In the courtyard, there was one altar table, three plates of fruit, two candlesticks, and one incense burner.

Young Master Pei had seen such scenes several times before, but none compared to the scene before his eyes now, to the point where a layer of cold air rose up his back.

Look!

On one side of the altar was placed the coffin, with Yan Sanhe lying inside.

Beside the coffin, the old monk sat cross-legged on a cushion with his eyes closed. For some inexplicable reason, he was wearing a red kasaya.

Behind the old monk sat Master Xuyun.

This person was also strange, muttering what was neither the Diamond Sutra nor the Heart Sutra—Young Master Pei had never even heard it before.

However, the eeriness of these two couldn’t compare to Xie Fifty.

This fellow wore one of his grayish-purple new robes, holding a large box in his hands. The size of the clothing wasn’t a problem, but paired with that trace of sorrow on his face, that dejection…

Even the grayish-purple seemed to have faded a few shades.

Young Master Pei’s heart began to ache faintly again.

After Xie Zhifei placed the large box in his hands on the ground, he took a deep breath, picked up the incense from the altar, and brought the incense head to the candle flame.

The incense lit immediately.

A wisp of light smoke slowly rose, and instantly the entire courtyard filled with the scent of osmanthus.

As the osmanthus fragrance wafted up, suddenly fierce winds arose, dark clouds churned on the horizon, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and then torrential rain poured down.

Yet strangely, even though raindrops clattered noisily outside the walls, inside the courtyard there was neither wind nor rain, as if some irresistible force was silently protecting this small patch of heaven and earth.

Young Master Pei’s scalp exploded. He furtively moved closer to Li Buyan’s side.

From the corner of her eye, Li Buyan saw this. Without moving her feet, she took a step forward imperceptibly, blocking half his body. Then her gaze locked firmly onto Third Master Xie.

The grayish-purple clothing made Third Master’s complexion look somewhat pale. He forcefully swallowed and his voice was even hoarser than when he’d just returned from the underworld.

“This heart demon belongs to Yan Sanhe, and also to the eight-year-old little Huaiyou.

Eighteen years ago, the witchcraft curse case occurred at the Crown Prince’s estate. Crown Prince Zhao Lin had no choice but to raise troops in rebellion. That very night, a little princess was born at the Crown Prince’s estate—she was the child of the Crown Prince and the female physician Shen Duruo.

The shadow guard Zhang Tianxing, following the orders of Crown Princess Liang, sent the little princess to the Zheng family.

Old General Zheng, because he had received kindness from the Crown Prince’s mother, Empress Dowager Xiaoren, decided to adopt the little princess.

Coincidentally, the day before, a pair of dragon and phoenix twins had been born at Zheng family’s Haitang Courtyard. The elder brother was called Zheng Huaizuo, the younger sister Zheng Zhuxi.

Their names were taken from the ci poem ‘Yangzhou Man: Huaizuo Famous Capital,’ from the line: Huaizuo famous capital, Zhuxi fine place.”

Hearing this, a thin voice drilled into Li Buyan’s ear.

“After one trip to the underworld, how does Xie Fifty even know the names of the Zheng family’s twins?”

Li Buyan turned her face slightly: Shut up!

Xie Zhifei’s gaze slowly fell on the coffin.

“To protect the little princess, the old general came up with a plan of substitution. He sent away his true little granddaughter, and the little princess took the name Zheng Huaiyou and was raised in Haitang Courtyard.

Because the little princess’s identity was special, the old general used the excuse that the ghost child harmed people to imprison the pair of twins and their mother, Zhao Qingyun, in Haitang Courtyard.

This imprisonment lasted eight years. The mother and her three children never left Haitang Courtyard.

In the seventh year of Yonghe, Old General Zheng received an emergency command and went to campaign in the northern lands together with the Han Prince. The Crown Prince—that is, the current Emperor’s—position became precarious. The Inner Palace Minister Xie Daozhi secretly investigated everything about Old General Zheng.”

Speaking to this point, Xie Zhifei’s complexion changed slightly, and he paused for quite a while.

“This investigation led to the twins in Haitang Courtyard… Because of Xie Daozhi’s betrayal, this led to the Zheng family’s massacre in the eighth year of Yonghe.

That night, one hundred and eighty members of the Zheng family almost all died under the slaughter of men in black. Yan Sanhe’s first heart demon was formed from this.

This heart demon, with the truth about the old general’s death coming to light, the true culprits have been found—they were the Late Emperor and Xie Daozhi.

One wanted to eliminate all threats, the other wanted to preserve the Crown Prince’s position.

Now, the Late Emperor has passed away, Xie Daozhi couldn’t bear the condemnation of his conscience and took poison to end his life. This heart demon has been completely resolved.”

Resolved?

Li Buyan suddenly remembered how Yan Sanhe had pulled her along, going repeatedly to that farmhouse in the western suburbs.

Who knows what else that girl had investigated?

Forget it.

The horse is well, the incense has been lit. The culprits should be those two—it couldn’t be wrong.

Li Buyan shook her head and focused her attention back on Third Master.

Because she was close, she saw a glimmer of moisture appear in Third Master’s dark eyes.

“Yan Sanhe’s second heart demon is the osmanthus fragrance. There were no osmanthus flowers in Haitang Courtyard. The reason it was called Haitang Courtyard…”

Xie Zhifei’s lips were pale. “Was because Old General Zheng first met his wife under a crabapple tree.”

At this sentence, even Li Buyan frowned.

Who did Third Master encounter in the underworld?

How could he know even these things?

“Haitang Courtyard had a total of seven crabapple trees, all in the back courtyard. Three in the northeast corner, four in the northwest corner. They bloomed in the third month, with a very short flowering period.

When the flowers bloomed, you liked to pick up some fallen petals from the ground and, when I wasn’t paying attention, stuff them into the back of my collar.”

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Xie Zhifei’s mouth. “Then… while clapping your hands, you’d mock me as ‘Flower Brother.'”

“Who is he talking about?” Li Buyan turned her head with a look of surprise.

“I don’t know!”

Young Master Pei’s eyes went straight. What’s with this ‘you’ and ‘I’—he couldn’t understand it at all.

“I’d grab your shoulders and scold you as a little bastard. You’d stick your tongue out at me, make faces, very pleased with yourself.

I’d make a show of hitting you, and you’d look at me with teary eyes, pouting your lips, sniffling your nose, putting on a pitiful appearance. My heart would immediately soften.

When you saw my expression ease, you’d push your luck even more, standing on tiptoes to place your fist on top of my head, then open your hand.”

He slowly closed his eyes.

“Crabapple flowers would fall before my eyes one after another. You’d shout, ‘It’s raining, it’s raining!’ I’d be both angry and annoyed, grinding my teeth audibly.

At this moment you’d shamelessly say: Brother, are you mad at me? I can only make it rain crabapple flowers for you once a year, you know?”

Thump!

An untimely sound came through.

Everyone’s gaze followed the sound—

They saw Young Master Pei kneeling stiffly on the ground, his eyes full of shock.