Chapter 178 Squeak

Chapter 178: Squeak

Yan Ruxian looked haughtily at Pei Xiao without even a glance, pointing at Shen Chong.

"His Highness the Grand Prince still has to stay in the palace for a few more days. Go back to the residence and bring some clothes for him to change into."

Just as Shen Chong was about to say "Oh," Pei Xiao interjected, "Eunuch Yan, should it be two or three sets, or four or five? Give us a specific number!"

"Don't try to pry; is this something you should be asking?"

Yan Ruxian gave Pei Xiao a cold glance, then, supported by a young eunuch, got into the carriage and left.

"Damn eunuch!"

Pei Xiao muttered under her breath, turned around, got back into the carriage, and relayed these words verbatim to Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei pondered for a moment and said, "Since that's the case, let's split up. Mingting, go wait at the entrance of the North Division. I'll go pick up Yan Sanhe, and Shen Chong will return to the Crown Prince Residence to fetch the clothes."

...

At the Cai Residence;

In the small courtyard.

Yan Sanhe opened her eyes and stared at the canopy above.

She had imagined her past many times, but never thought it would be so tragic.

So tragic that just thinking about the scenes from her dreams made her heart ache.

After a long while, she exhaled deeply.

Li Buyan, who had been dozing in the wicker chair, suddenly woke up, rubbed her face, and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.

"What did you dream about?"

Yan Sanhe turned her eyes towards Li Buyan. "As you guessed, I am indeed from a wealthy family."

The canopy, brocade quilts, ancient zither, books, paper...

These were things that only rich families could afford.

"And then?"

"The person who bullied me... seems to be my brother..."

Yan Sanhe recounted everything that happened in her dream to Li Buyan without holding back.

When she finished, Li Buyan drew a sharp breath and was stunned for a long time.

No wonder she screamed and struggled when she saw Zhou Ye perish in the fire, even trying to jump in after him;

No wonder she cried so fiercely in her dreams;

It turned out that her family members didn't die well.

"Who saved you? Did you see clearly?"

"No."

Yan Sanhe sat up and leaned her head on Li Buyan's shoulder, feeling completely drained.

Li Buyan gently patted her back.

"Don't lose heart. The black-clad man, the killings, the raging fire... This is no small matter. Let's rest for a couple of days and then figure out where to start investigating."

"Buyan."

Yan Sanhe's voice trembled slightly. "I told Ji Lingchuan that the deeper we dig for the truth, the more cruel it becomes."

"Yes, you did."

"But when it happens to me, it's hard to bear."

"What can't you bear?"

Xie Zhifei entered, dripping wet.

Li Buyan stood up, blocking Yan Sanhe with her body, and smiled at Xie Zhifei.

"Third Master treats this place like his own home, doesn't he? At least make a sound when you come in and out!"

"I did squeak."

Third Master looked aggrieved. "I squeaked twice outside, but there was no response."

Both servant and master were startled.

If he squeaked twice outside, that meant he had been standing there for a moment.

"What did you hear?"

Yan Sanhe's voice was hoarse and heavy, as if something had run over her.

Xie Zhifei frowned. "I only heard 'hard to bear.' Yan Sanhe, what can't you bear?"

"Can't bear you barging into my room all the time!"

Yan Sanhe, with a cold expression, softly commanded, "Get out!"

Xie Zhifei's thick skin could even be considered an insult to the city walls.

A tiny curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, making him seem utterly upright and honest.

"I came in to tell you that the Crown Prince has been in the palace all night without any news coming out. The Ji family doesn't know whether it's good or bad, Yan Sanhe, I'm feeling uneasy."

And he even added "ne"?

Who is he trying to cajole?

Yan Sanhe took a deep breath and said calmly, "If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster. Put your heart back in its place."

"What happened to your voice?"

Xie Zhifei gently pushed Li Buyan aside, "Why is it so hoarse?"

Yan Sanhe cleared her throat, "It's nothing serious."

Xie Zhifei turned to look at Li Buyan, "Did you pass on what I told you?"

"What did you say?"

Li Buyan was taken aback, then responded with an "Oh," as if remembering.

"When Miss was unconscious, Third Master asked me to convey a message: anger harms the body, sorrow harms the heart; the heart is only as big as a fist, don't fill it with too much."

Yan Sanhe didn't understand why Xie Zhifei would say such a thing, but she pondered that there must be a reason behind it.

Li Buyan, being very quick-witted, said, "Look, my Miss is so moved she can't even speak. I'll thank Third Master on her behalf!"

Third Master narrowed his eyes, looking at Yan Sanhe, "If you're really moved, tell me what you can't bear."

Can we move past this?

Yan Sanhe raised an eyebrow, about to retort, when a shout came from outside the courtyard.

"Third Master Xie!"

Third Master Xie turned and walked out without hesitation.

Yan Sanhe breathed a sigh of relief but also found the voice unfamiliar, "Who is it?"

Li Buyan: "It seems to be the owner of this house."

Only then did Yan Sanhe realize something was off about the room, "This isn't Xie Mansion?"

Li Buyan shrugged, "We're actually at Xuanzang Temple. We couldn't return to Xie Mansion, so this is the home of North Division's boss, Cai Si."

Cai Si stood with his hands on his hips in the courtyard. Seeing Third Master Xie rush out anxiously, his face showed some anger.

Third Master Xie saw his expression and felt his heart sink, slowing his steps.

Approaching, he bit his lip before asking, "Is it not good?"

Cai Si punched Third Master Xie in the chest, "Consider yourself lucky."

Damn!

That eunuch has such strength!

Third Master Xie ignored the pain, "Tell me, how am I lucky?"

"Just now, Yan Ruxian came to North Division to announce the decree. The Ji family is fine."

"What do you mean by 'fine'?"

Third Master Xie looked incredulous, "Ji Lingchuan is reinstated?"

"Third Master, are you speaking gibberish?"

How could someone who embezzled so much money be reinstated?

Cai Si sneered, "The confiscated assets will replenish the treasury. Ji Lingchuan will receive eighty strokes and be exiled to Nanning Prefecture. The rest will be released."

Nanning Prefecture?

What kind of rotten luck is this?

Xie Zhifei's eye twitched, "Is that all?"

"What else does Third Master want?"

Cai Si glared at him.

"To embezzle so much and still survive, the Ji family is the first. If the late Emperor were here, it would have been a death sentence, likely involving skinning and dismemberment. The Emperor showed mercy!"

Xie Zhifei turned slightly, staring blankly at the room where Yan Sanhe was resting, unsure of his feelings.

He knew Cai Si's words were true. In any dynasty, corruption meant death for Ji Lingchuan.

Truly miraculous!

He sighed inwardly and asked, "When will the punishment begin?"

"In an hour. Yan Ruxian will supervise personally. Your brother went to call his father!"

Cai Si looked disgusted, "Third Master should get out of my house now!"

Xie Zhifei's heart, which had been hanging for three months, finally settled.

He smiled and stepped forward, putting his arm around Cai Si's shoulder, and said with a hint of mischief:

"That Xiao Xi'er is alluring, to be sure, but in a couple of years, once she matures, the novelty will wear off. I'll find you another one then..."