“Whoa—”

At the first quarter of the hour of chen, three horses stopped at the side gate of the Xie Manor.

Seeing who had arrived, the gatekeeper immediately shouted: “Third Master has returned! Third Master has returned!”

Xie Zhifei dismounted with a flip, neatly tossed the reins in his hand to a young servant, swept his robe with a flourish, then quickly climbed the steps and crossed the threshold in one stride.

After entering the threshold, he stopped to straighten his clothing and asked with a quiet laugh: “How does it look?”

Zhu Qing glanced at Third Master’s temples that had been dyed with black ink. “Rest assured, Master—black as ink.”

Hearing this, Xie Zhifei’s peach blossom eyes lifted, the corners of his mouth curved up, dimples faintly appearing at the edges of his lips—once again the appearance of a romantic, frivolous dandy.

In the distance, Xie Xiaohua hurried over to greet him.

“My Third Master, you’ve finally returned! How many days has it been without a trace of you? The Madam has mentioned it to this old servant a hundred times.”

When Xie Xiaohua drew near, Xie Zhifei hooked his long arm out and habitually pinched his neck.

With one pinch, he was displeased.

“How did you get so thin? There’s no meat left!”

Xie Xiaohua secretly rejoiced—the young master still cared about him, noticing at a glance that he’d lost weight.

How could he not lose weight?

Two funerals, receiving and seeing off guests—he’d nearly worked himself to death.

“Get moving and eat that meat back on.”

Third Master’s roguish energy came up again. “For every tael of meat you’re short, this master will punish you by having you carry manure on the estate. Zhu Qing?”

Zhu Qing pulled several banknotes from his chest and stuffed them into Steward Xie’s arms.

“A new batch of Yangzhou slender horses just arrived by the Yongding River—every one of them fresh as dewdrops. When Steward Xie has time, go find some pleasure.”

Xie Xiaohua’s heart bloomed with joy, but his face looked as aggrieved as could be. “We’re still wearing mourning!”

“Go secretly—what’s there to fear? If anything happens, Third Master will cover for you!”

Third Master pinched that soft, saggy neck meat hard several times more. “Where’s my mother?”

“The Madam is in the small Buddhist hall, chanting sutras for the Master and Old Madam.”

“You go about your business. I’ll go take a look.”

“Third Master.”

Xie Xiaohua grabbed him. “Coax the Madam well. Don’t make her angry.”

“You really nag more than a woman!”

Xie Zhifei pushed him aside with disgust and headed straight for the small Buddhist hall.

Xie Xiaohua watched his young master’s retreating back, and the stifling feeling that had been blocked in his heart for days dispersed completely.

With Third Master back, this manor finally had some life in it!

Let’s see how much silver Third Master gave him in filial respect this time?

Xie Xiaohua pulled out the silver to look—he froze.

A full eight thousand taels.

Why so much?

…

In the Buddhist hall, Wu shi knelt on the prayer cushion in plain clothes, fingers turning prayer beads, mouth reciting sutras.

Someone knelt down beside her.

Wu shi turned her head to look. Seeing it was her younger son, the sutras couldn’t suppress her anger.

“Your father and the Old Ancestor just passed away, yet you spend all your time carousing outside day after day without even coming home. Do you still have the words ‘filial piety’ in your eyes?”

“My eyes have Mother.”

Xie Zhifei brought his grinning face close. “Mother, why don’t you hit me twice to ease your anger?”

Wu shi reached out and twisted his ear hard. “Later I’ll have your elder brother properly discipline you!”

“Elder Brother disciplines as Elder Brother. Mother disciplines as Mother.”

Xie Zhifei leaned his head against her shoulder. “Mother, go ahead—scold me a few more times. Curse out all the grievances in your heart. Your third son can take it.”

“You…”

Wu shi had no way to deal with her rogue son and wiped her tears. “Heartless! Your father and your Old Ancestor loved you most when they were alive. How many days has it even been since they left?”

“Your son went out these past days to do some business and earned some silver.”

Xie Zhifei pulled out banknotes from his chest. “Mother, help me keep these safe. Don’t even tell Elder Brother—just the two of us, mother and son, will secretly spend it together.”

Seeing so much silver, Wu shi’s resentment immediately dissipated. Then seeing her son’s sharpened chin, her heart ached again.

“Silver is silver, but you must also be careful with your health.”

She touched her son’s cheek. “This face has gotten so thin—can people even look at it?”

“Mother has also gotten thin.”

Xie Zhifei reached out to embrace her shoulders.

“Come to this small Buddhist hall less often in the future. If you really have nothing to do, go out for a walk, stroll around. When you see something good, buy it—don’t be reluctant to spend silver.

Don’t always bicker with Elder Sister-in-law. Elder Sister-in-law is a good person. With her managing this household, it will only get better, not worse. You should learn from the Old Ancestor—don’t manage anything, just enjoy your blessings.”

“Your mother doesn’t have the Old Ancestor’s good fortune.”

“Nonsense—your blessings are still ahead!”

Xie Zhifei shook her shoulder. “In the future, your son will be filial, your grandsons will be filial. A house full of children and grandchildren, living to a hundred years—the only one of its kind in the capital.”

Wu shi was coaxed by her son until she burst out laughing through her tears.

Thinking about it, it was indeed true.

Without her mother-in-law and husband’s control, she had become the Old Ancestor of the manor. Whoever saw her could only coax and serve her.

Concubine Liu, that old witch, was different. Without her man beside her to help, her backbone would never straighten again for the rest of her life!

Even comparing sons, she couldn’t compete. The Crown Prince had come to the Xie Manor to pay respects precisely because of her son.

Her son had real prospects!

“Mother, I’m going to find Elder Brother. At noon, have the kitchen prepare some good dishes. I haven’t eaten a full meal in several days.”

Hearing her son hadn’t eaten his fill, Wu shi couldn’t be bothered with chanting sutras anymore. While climbing up from the prayer cushion, she muttered about going to the kitchen personally to take a look.

“Mother, the silver.”

“Right, right—must put it away first.”

Wu shi wrapped the banknotes in a handkerchief, tucked them in her sleeve, and hurried out of the Buddhist hall.

Xie Zhifei turned around. His lashes trembled, and his smile faded to nothing.

He stared fixedly at Wu shi’s retreating back, bent down, and kowtowed three solid times.

…

The study door creaked open.

Xie Erli looked up from his desk. Seeing it was Third Brother, his face grew stern.

When Elder Brother’s face grew stern, Xie Zhifei’s heart grew timid. No matter how many years had passed, his elder brother’s authority still pressed heavily on his heart.

Not daring to grin and joke, he sat down properly before the desk.

“Elder Brother, I was secretly sent on a distant assignment by the Crown Prince’s command. I just entered the capital and returned home without a moment’s delay.”

One sentence filled Xie Erli with bitter sorrow.

Father had died suddenly without leaving him a single word. As the eldest son and eldest grandson, he naturally had to shoulder the family’s affairs.

However, during this time he gradually discovered that sharing this heavy burden with him was Third Brother.

Over these years, Third Brother had built up solid connections and relationships in the capital. Many times even he, the elder brother, invisibly benefited.

All of this relied on Third Brother risking his life for the Crown Prince through wind and rain.

“Did you accomplish the matter?”

“I did.”

Xie Zhifei smiled. “But tomorrow I have to leave again. Someone found Yan Sanhe and asked her to dispel demons. That place is very far—I’m afraid we can’t return in less than three months.”

These words left Xie Erli speechless.

“Elder Brother, Yan Sanhe is a good girl. I’ve set my heart on her for this life. We’re brothers after all—you certainly hope for my well-being, so don’t obstruct us.”

“I’ve never obstructed you.”

Xie Erli’s tone was displeased. “It’s just that you two should also make plans for the future. Stop this unclear muddling about together, or people will gossip.”

Xie Zhifei looked at him and asked with a smile: “Elder Brother, tell me—how should we plan?”