Chapter 208 Quiet Dust

Chapter 208 Jing Chen

"The tomb of a nun named Jing Chen at the Water Moon Nunnery was robbed. The abbess is busy with this matter, so she has no interest in taking on new disciples."

Ning looked somewhat guilty as she gazed at Yan Sanhe.

"I remembered that our family's matriarch's tomb had also been robbed before, so I came to you, Miss Yan. Sixth Miss, quickly, beg Miss Yan for your mother."

Ji Hui got up and knelt before Yan Sanhe.

"Miss Yan, my mother is still kneeling at the gate of the Water Moon Nunnery. As her daughter, I can't bear to see her like this. Please help solve this case for the Water Moon Nunnery so that the abbess will agree to let my mother take vows there."

Yan Sanhe slowly rose, not even glancing at Ji Hui, and walked to Ning.

Ning could not forget how this young lady had interrogated her and instinctively stood up as well. "Miss Yan, please do us a favor."

"It's useless to come to me now."

Yan Sanhe said, "I'll give you a clear path—go to the Buddhist Affairs Office and find Pei Mingting."

Ning anxiously replied, "Miss Yan, they don't listen to Mingting!"

"Just do as I say!"

Yan Sanhe turned her head. "Xie Zhifei, I can go with you now."

Xie Zhifei was deep in thought, but when he heard Yan Sanhe's call, his heart skipped a beat. "Is everything done?"

Yan Sanhe frowned. "Everything is done."

"Alright, let's go."

He turned and saw Ji Hui kneeling on the ground, looking surprised. "Sixth Sister, why are you kneeling?"

"Good Third Master, were you even listening?" Ning was so frustrated she nearly lost her temper.

I listened to the first half, but the second half...

Xie Zhifei glanced at Yan Sanhe. "That... just do as Miss Yan says; it won't be wrong."

"Zhifei, is finding Mingting really useful?" Ji Hui's eyes were filled with hope.

Xie Zhifei was confused and asked Yan Sanhe, "You told them to find Mingting?"

Where is your mind, Third Master?

Yan Sanhe gave him a deep look before turning to Ning.

"I've already solved the tomb robbery case of the matriarch. Just follow my instructions, and ask no more questions."

Although Ning was still confused, she trusted every word Yan Sanhe said.

"Also, thank you for saving me today."

Yan Sanhe's voice softened slightly. "If you have any difficulties in the future, you can come to me, including Sixth Miss."

Ning: "..."

Why am I so confused?

Clearly, Miss Yan said they could seek her help, but why must they first go to Pei Mingting to solve the case?

"Miss Yan, there's no need to thank us; it's our duty."

Ji Hui took it as mere politeness. "Third Aunt, let's go now; don't delay."

"Go, let's go!"

Ning forgot to bid farewell and hurriedly dragged Ji Hui away.

Outside the shop, dusk had fallen.

Yan Sanhe waited for Xie Zhifei to catch up and said, "Should I go back to the Military Commandery with you, or..."

"Not yet."

Xie Zhifei had already filled in the missing details from Zhu Qing. "First, tell me, is the nun's case related to the heart demon..."

"Yes!"

"How did you figure it out so quickly?"

Xie Zhifei's face fell. "What about the Zheng family's case..."

It matched exactly what Li Buyan had said in the afternoon.

Yan Sanhe's response was the same. "I'll do my best!"

On this point, Xie Zhifei had no doubts. "But one person's energy is limited; you can't..."

"Xie Zhifei!"

Yan Sanhe interrupted him. "Instead of worrying about this and that, bring me the case files first."

Xie Zhifei opened his mouth but said nothing.

"Also, this case is nine years old, and investigating it won't be easy. It will be very, very difficult."

Yan Sanhe looked at him without hiding anything. "But since I've promised you, I'll investigate it thoroughly, no matter how many years it takes!"

Xie Zhifei's eyes welled up with emotion.

At this moment, he suddenly understood one of the reasons why he liked this girl—

A promise worth a thousand pieces of gold!

Yes.

He liked her.

From the faint sense of familiarity when they first met, to the curiosity that drove him to know more, and now to the palpitations and fluttering heart, it all happened naturally, like water finding its course.

The real Xie Zhifei had suffered from severe heart palpitations since birth, unable to withstand any kind of stimulation.

Zheng Huai Zuo, on the other hand, came from a family of military officers and had never even had a cough in his eight years of life.

After the soul swap, his body gradually improved, further enhanced by years of martial arts training and Uncle Pei's meticulous care. The heart palpitations never returned.

Who knew that today...

In those moments of distraction, he recalled every detail of their interactions over the past few months:

His heart raced when she fainted in his arms after lighting incense;

It raced again when she emerged from the Ministry of Justice, disheveled and covered in blood;

And once more when he drunkenly tried to snatch her teacup.

Xie Zhifei looked at her, "First, come back with me to the Military Commandery. I need a detailed account of what happened this afternoon, and then you'll sign and seal it. Li Buyan will also come to the Military Commandery to find me."

Mentioning Li Buyan, Yan Sanhe remembered, "Where did she go?"

"I sent her to investigate Xu Sheng's private residence."

"Is it dangerous?"

"I know her skills; it won't be."

Xie Zhifei continued, "Once she joins us, we'll go to Chunfeng Restaurant for dinner while we wait for Mingting. The Fourth Lady and the others have gone looking for her, so within two hours, Mingting will definitely show up."

It was a good plan.

Yan Sanhe closed her eyes briefly.

Xie Zhifei glanced back at Zhu Qing, "Send someone to inform the old lady that Miss Yan encountered me, and I'm taking her out for a nice meal and to see the night view of Imperial City."

Just as Zhu Qing was about to nod, Yan Sanhe said, "Don't mention anything about what happened this afternoon to anyone, including your master and the eldest master."

...

Inside Hé'ēn Hall.

The old lady smiled warmly after hearing what Steward Xie said, "When it comes to being considerate, our Third Master is the best."

"That's true!"

Steward Xie smiled apologetically, "With Third Master accompanying her, Miss Yan will surely have a great time."

The old lady frowned, "I just hope Third Master has enough money. This child doesn't earn much working at the Military Commandery all year round."

Steward Xie, understanding her concern, suggested, "Shall I secretly send a few hundred taels to Third Master?"

The old lady beamed, "Good, good, good!"

As soon as she finished speaking, her son Xie Daozhi entered wearing his official robes.

"Why haven't you changed your clothes?"

The old lady looked worriedly at her son, "Has something happened?"

"No, I just came to have dinner with you."

Xie Daozhi glanced at Steward Xie, "Have the food prepared and tell the ladies and the eldest daughter-in-law not to come serve us."

"Yes, Master!"

The mother and son had their meal in the inner room.

After a few bites, Xie Daozhi put down his chopsticks and said, "Mother, the Du family's girl won't work out with Third Master."

The moment her son entered, the old lady noticed his expression and sensed something was amiss, but she didn't expect it to be about this.

"How won't it work out?"

"This matter is simple in some ways and complex in others."

Xie Daozhi sighed, "The Du family and our Xie family are not aligned; they've taken different paths."