An unmarried man and woman sharing a carriage—no matter how you put it, it wasn’t appropriate.

Yan Sanhe’s expression was bland as she glanced at Pei Xiao. “Are you betrothed?”

Pei Xiao didn’t know her intention and honestly shook his head.

“Fine!”

What does that mean??

Could it be if I were betrothed, she wouldn’t be willing to share a carriage with me?

Wouldn’t an unmarried man make people more suspicious of impropriety than a married one?

Pei Xiao silently took a duck leg and turned to walk away.

Spirit medium!

Don’t understand!

Better I keep my distance from them!

At that moment, Xie Zhifei walked to Yan Sanhe’s side and coughed.

What now?

Yan Sanhe looked at him askance.

Xie Zhifei pulled a porcelain bottle from his bosom and pressed it into Yan Sanhe’s hand. “Use this.”

“What is it?”

“Scar ointment. From Hundred Remedies Hall.”

“I don’t need it.”

Yan Sanhe tried to return it to him.

Rejected Third Master Xie’s face and heart remained steady, his peach-blossom eyes smiling roguishly. “Yan Sanhe, you can’t be like this.”

Like what?

“One can’t treat people differently!”

Xie Zhifei smiled showing a mouthful of white teeth, very calmly pressing the porcelain bottle back into her hand. “Must hold the bowl level.”

Yan Sanhe: “…”

“Miss, Third Master means you should spread the rain and dew evenly.” Li Buyan interjected.

Xie Zhifei’s expression changed. He tilted his head and sneered coldly at Li Buyan.

Li Buyan shrugged innocently: I didn’t say anything wrong!

Xie Zhifei withdrew his gaze and looked down at Yan Sanhe, his attitude extremely sincere.

“No other meaning. Just want your forehead not to scar. At least try it—if you think it’s useless, throw it away then.”

These words couldn’t sound more aggrieved, paired with the two dimples at Third Master’s lips…

Yan Sanhe felt if she threw that porcelain bottle back again, she’d be an ungrateful villain.

“Thank you!” She returned coldly.

“Why be polite with me!”

Xie Zhifei raised his eyebrows at Li Buyan and walked away smiling.

Li Buyan looked at his triumphant departing back and also smiled.

Well then!

This round, Fox Xie won again, still winning with that face.

That face was too handsome—it easily softened hearts.

…

After resting, everyone stretched their muscles and bones to continue traveling. With four more shichen to go, they needed to push through in one breath.

Yan Sanhe stood before the carriage and nodded to Pei Xiao. “You get in first.”

Pei Xiao was puzzled. “Why do I go first?”

Yan Sanhe: “Caring for the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.”

“…”

Pei Xiao gritted his teeth.

Forget it. A good man doesn’t fight with evil women.

He was supporting Huangqi’s hand about to climb up when suddenly his stomach gurgled twice. All movement stopped and his face showed a pained expression.

“Lord Pei, where’s that iron stomach!”

Yan Sanhe smiled coldly, turned and walked before Zhu Qing, pulling the reins from his hands. Her body flipped lightly and she was already mounted on the horse.

“Third Master Xie, Buyan and I will go ahead!”

The implication: I have no time to dawdle with you people—one moment sore buttocks, next moment diarrhea.

Playing around!

Two horses galloped away. Xie Zhifei’s expression was unprecedentedly ugly.

“Pei Mingting, do you have any sense at all?”

“Don’t scold, don’t scold.”

Pei Xiao clutched his stomach and limped into the grass. “Very quick, very quick!”

“Who knows who we’re really doing this for!”

“I was wrong, okay… aiyou… it hurts… you’re still scolding—quickly help get the medicine.”

“Zhu Qing, get him medicine.”

Xie Zhifei’s furious face also showed something hard to express.

This scene reminded him of that trip rushing non-stop to Yunnan Prefecture. That time it was him who faltered, him who ate and drank carelessly.

At the time he couldn’t figure out why Yan Sanhe never ate at their table, preferring to huddle in a corner alone gnawing cold steamed buns.

Now…

Xie Zhifei’s heart inexplicably skipped two beats.

Really inexplicable?

Xie Zhifei wanted to settle down and seriously consider this question, but from the grass beside came Lord Pei’s anguished cries of “ai-ya ai-ya.”

“That bastard!”

He roared: “Huangqi, feed your master two more pills. Zhu Qing, throw away the remaining roasted duck—throw it all away!”

“Xie Fifty, you wastrel…”

“Throw it, throw it…”

“Bodhisattva, can the face I lost before that spirit medium Yan ever be recovered…”

…

After four shichen of galloping without pause, when Yan Sanhe dismounted, her legs went weak.

Li Buyan was about to help when a large hand got there first.

Xie Zhifei’s movements were gentle, his fingertips trembling. “Are your legs numb?”

“A bit!”

Yan Sanhe noticed the heat from the man’s palm on her arm, her expression somewhat unnatural.

Xie Zhifei smiled. “Move your feet. Once you can stand steady, I’ll let go.”

“It’s fine now.”

Xie Zhifei released his hand and gestured ahead toward the small inn. “Mama Chen is waiting inside.”

It was now approaching the third quarter of midnight. The small inn still had lights burning. At the entrance stood two guards on left and right—by their attire they seemed to be from the Five Cities Military Command Bureau.

Wastrel is a wastrel, but his work is quite reliable.

Yan Sanhe concluded inwardly. “You all go in first. I’ll move my hands and feet then come. Buyan?”

“Coming!”

Li Buyan tossed the reins to Zhu Qing and hopped over to Yan Sanhe’s side with a few bounces.

The two walked slowly near the small inn.

“Xie Fifty.”

Pei Xiao climbed down from the carriage, looking at those two distant figures, his brows furrowing.

“People are already waiting at the inn. Why aren’t those two going in? Isn’t this… mmph!”

Pei Xiao’s mouth was covered, his eyes expressing strong protest.

“Ancestor!”

Xie Zhifei said in a low voice, “She’s thinking. Don’t disturb her.”

Pei Xiao blinked: How do you know?

Xie Zhifei: I guessed.

Pei Xiao: Fine, Divine Stick Xie. Please remove your filthy hand.

Xie Zhifei gave him a warning look, removed his hand, and said seriously, “You’re familiar with Mama Chen. Go give her a few instructions first.”

Pei Xiao puffed his chest. “This is simple. I’ll handle it.”

Xie Zhifei chuckled twice. “This trip, that’s the only use you’ve been!”

Pei Xiao: “…”

…

Yan Sanhe wasn’t thinking about anything.

Her body was jolting while her brain was also jolting—everything inside was jumbled. She needed to slowly calm down.

After five circles, Yan Sanhe walked into the small inn.

Inside the inn, lights blazed brightly. Not a single face was unfamiliar—clearly the place had been cleared.

On the square table sat several cups of hot tea. Mama Chen sat in a chair looking dazed, her expression quite bewildered.

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao—one sitting on the square table, one lying face-down on a reclining chair—both had their eyes fixed on Yan Sanhe who’d just entered.

Yan Sanhe coughed. “Let me wash my face first. Where’s the cold water?”

“Miss Yan, water’s already prepared.”

Zhu Qing then added, “Third Master had it prepared.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Xie Zhifei, walked to the basin, splashed water on her face several times, and without drying, sat directly on the square table.

Water droplets rolled down her pale face. Xie Zhifei’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he pretended nonchalance and looked away. “Need paper and brush?”

“No need!”

Yan Sanhe didn’t rush to speak. While sipping hot tea to moisten her throat, she carefully studied Mama Chen before her.