Chapter 63: The Black Dog

Chapter 63 - Black Dog

Upon the tree, two figures perched motionlessly.

Their eyes were fixated, witnessing a sight that would make anyone "wish to die."

A coffin stood open;

Inside, a decaying corpse emitted an odor of putrefaction;

Beside the coffin, a young maiden stood gracefully, her slender fingers gently stroking the corpse's face as she spoke to it with a gentleness surpassing that shown to the living.

Pei Xiao stared at Xie Zhifei with a deathly pale expression.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Xie Zhifei shot him a glare: Why are you looking at me? Look at her!

Pei Xiao's teeth chattered uncontrollably: If only I dared!

Though he dared not in his heart, his eyes betrayed him. Looking over, Pei Xiao nearly choked on his breath.

A jet of black mist suddenly surged from Yan Sanhe's fingertips and returned entirely to the old lady's face. Yan Sanhe swiftly withdrew her hand and took several steps back.

Li Buyan promptly reached out to steady her, "Miss?"

"I'm fine!"

Yan Sanhe opened her eyes, fixing a deep, thoughtful gaze upon Ji Lingchuan. She enunciated each word carefully, "Does your family keep a dog?"

Ji Lingchuan instinctively shook his head, "No, we don't."

"Listen closely."

Yan Sanhe paused for a moment before continuing, "Your mother's unresolved obsession is a dog."

There was a soft 'crack'.

It sounded like a dry branch snapping.

And then...

"Ah!"

It sounded like someone had fallen from a tree.

Yan Sanhe didn't even bother to glance over. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her fingers.

She still wiped slowly, so slowly that the dark clouds dispersed, and the waning moon silently hung in the sky. The chirping of insects could be heard.

Ji Lingchuan finally regained his senses. "Miss Yan, what did the dog look like?"

Yan Sanhe replied, "Black, about half a person's height."

Ji Lingchuan felt a stifling oppression in his chest. "So now, what do we...?"

"Head back home," Yan Sanhe said with an indescribable weariness, as if she were exhausted. "Buyan, pull me up."

Li Buyan partially covered the coffin as it was before and then jumped up. He pulled Yan Sanhe up after him.

Yan Sanhe approached Ji Lingchuan.

"I need a secluded courtyard with meals provided, starting tomorrow. I'll be staying at the Ji residence until the old madam's coffin is sealed," she declared.

Ji Lingchuan struggled to his feet and was about to speak when he was taken aback.

The young girl seemed to have just been plucked from water, her forehead glistening with sweat that dripped down her slightly pointed chin.

"Miss Yan, you...," he began.

"Nothing to worry about!"

Li Buyan came over and bent down. Yan Sanhe leaned on her back. "Call me when we arrive."

"Alright!"

Straightening up, Li Buyan addressed Ji Lingchuan, "Mr. Ji, gather everyone and let's set off!"

Ji Lingchuan watched in astonishment. "She's...?"

Li Buyan: "I'm exhausted!"

……

On the return journey, no one was in the mood for conversation.

Ji Lingchuan appeared as withered as an asparagus after a frost, requiring support to walk.

Yan Sanhe, on the other hand, lay motionless atop Li Buyan, his face as pale as a corpse, giving off an eerie resemblance to the dead.

Xie Zhifei gazed at Yan Sanhe's retreating figure for a long while before he approached Li Buyan. "Are you tired, Miss? Do you need me to carry you?"

Li Buyan looked at him with a bright smile. "Even if I were willing, my young miss wouldn't agree."

Xie Zhifei pondered for a moment. "Well, does she always...?"

"Third Master Xie!"

Li Buyan laughed until her eyes narrowed into slits. "If you keep this up, I won't be able to tell anymore."

Xie Zhifei: "..."

Li Buyan gave him a flirtatious wink. "Don't be too curious about unmarried girls. Any curiosity not aimed at marriage is just mischief."

Xie Zhifei: "..."

Pei Xiao walked up to Xie Zhifei and, gazing at the departing figures of the servant and her master, mused aloud, "Brother, I've done a visual check for you."

Xie Zhifei: "Spill it!"

"From her smiley face, that girl seems innocent, but her eyes are sharp. She knows what to say and what not to," Pei Xiao whispered.

Lowering his voice further, he continued, "Compared to cunning maids, this young lady's intentions are more straightforward. Her likes and dislikes are all written on her face."

"That's a keen observation, so..."

Xie Zhifei murmured, "We still need to focus on winning over the young lady."

Winning her over indeed!

Pei Xiao sighed. "Let's start by figuring out why my grandmother's inner demon would be a dog."

Xie Zhifei's expression cracked.

A dog?

Who would believe it if they heard that?

...

By the time the carriage reached the city gates, it was already past the fifth watch of the night.

Xie Zhifei produced his identity badge and slipped a generous sum of twenty taels to the gate guards, who cheerfully opened the gates for them.

Upon entering the city, the group split into three, each heading back to their respective homes.

Before long, the carriage stopped at the side entrance of the Xie residence.

Yan Sanhe had already awakened and jumped down from the carriage on his own.

"Miss Yan."

Xie Zhifei dismounted and hurried after her.

Yan Sanhe turned around and gazed at him.

Xie Zhifei fell silent for a moment before he said, "Take good care of yourself."

Yan Sanhe nodded and walked through the side gate.

"Third Master?"

Manager Xie, who was waiting by the side gate, rushed forward. "The Eldest Master asked me to remind you to visit his study no matter how late you return."

"I'll go right away!"

Xie Zhifei caught sight of Manager Xie yawning and stretched out his long arm to hook him under the armpit.

"Xie Xiaohua, make sure you keep Yan Sanhe here tomorrow morning, by any means necessary. If you fail to do so..."

...

In the face of Third Master's intimidation, Head Steward Xie's tears, whether out of fear or from the force of his yawns, spilled down uncontrollably.

What other options did an old servant like him have but to kneel?

...

"Sanhe, how could Old Lady Ji's obsession be a dog?" When they were alone, Li Buyan dropped the formal address and spoke more casually. "You should've seen it. When Mister Ji heard it was a dog, he nearly fainted."

Yan Sanhe pondered for a moment. "Once I enter the Ji family, I'll investigate step by step. Eventually, I'll uncover something."

Li Buyan replied, "This matter has already affected their descendants. There's no time for you to take it slow."

Yan Sanhe: "That's precisely why I accepted that small sum of money."

Li Buyan glared at her. "That bit of money wouldn't even fill a tooth gap."

"Buyan?"

"Don't be coy, it doesn't suit your character, you know!"

Suddenly, Li Buyan thought of something. "Will the Xie family allow you to leave tomorrow?"

Yan Sanhe replied, "They have no reason to stop me."

Li Buyan nodded. "Alright, I'll pack my things early tomorrow morning then."

"Very well!"

As soon as the word "well" left his lips, Li Buyan's gaze sharpened. "Who's there? Come out!"

From around the corner, Xie Buhuo emerged, offering Yan Sanhe a calm and apologetic smile.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Miss."

"What were you lurking over there for?"

"Silent as you are, he is the second master of the Xie residence," Yan Sanhe stepped forward with a composed expression.

"What brings you here to wait for me?" she inquired.

Using the word "wait," Xie Buhuo was taken aback but replied honestly, "Indeed, I've waited for quite some time. I only wished to express my gratitude on Wan Shu's behalf."

Yan Sanhe responded, "It wasn't anything significant."

Fixing his gaze on the bandage on her forehead, Xie Buhuo continued, "For me, Wan Shu, and Lady Concubine, it was a matter of utmost importance."

With that, he bowed deeply.

Yan Sanhe turned slightly, accepting half of his bow.

After Xie Buhuo finished his gesture, he presented a package in his hand.

"Our second branch doesn't have many valuables, but this aged ginseng can aid in Miss's recovery. Please, do not decline this humble offering," he said.

Upon hearing these words, an inexplicable pang of sadness struck Yan Sanhe, as if this scene held a familiar echo from the past.