「The Xiang Family’s Ancestral Hall」

Xiang Minghou sat on a prayer cushion, gazing quietly at the ancestral tablets above. His heart was heavy. He had failed the ancestors of the Xiang family, and he had failed his father.

"General," a Hidden Guard suddenly appeared.

"What have you learned?"

"The old matriarch is dead."

Xiang Minghou swallowed hard and slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again. "Did you find out anything?"

"We did. We traced it to the Xie family, thirty li east of the Capital City. I went to investigate myself. The Xie estate is now abandoned. The local people said the Xie family fell into decline and everyone scattered. Their old master has been missing for many years. It was later rumored that he went out to sea, was caught in a storm, and died."

"Keep investigating. I want the truth."

"Yes, General."

"Keep a close watch on Xiang Mingli. For now, don’t let him die."

"Yes, General."

Xiang Minghou’s eyes, fixed on the ancestral tablets, were as dark as an abyss. ’Someone capable of operating so secretively wouldn’t die that easily. Xiang Mingli is the only lead.’

「Night fell.」

Ye Qianning also received news of the old matriarch’s death. She wasn’t surprised in the slightest. ’That old woman had done so many vicious things. She got what she deserved.’

She had seen the steward helping her father to the ancestral hall that afternoon, so she had an inkling of what was to come. She just didn’t know if they had found the person behind it all yet.

’With the old matriarch gone, only Xiang Mingli is left. He might still be useful.’

Ye Qianning shook her head to herself. ’In any case, after this whole ordeal, it’ll be a long time before Dad can find any peace. Once his injuries have healed a bit in a few days, I’ll have to find a way to take his mind off things.’

Just as she was thinking this, Ye Qianning suddenly looked up at the roof. ’What is he doing here?’

A moment later, a figure in white flashed in through the window.

Ye Qianning stared at him, her face devoid of expression.

"You seem to have known I was coming." A trace of puzzlement flickered in Qian Fanji’s otherwise placid eyes.

"I had no idea," Ye Qianning admitted, surprised herself.

"Oh? Is it because you have too much faith in those Hidden Guards, or did you just assume that whoever showed up wasn’t here to take your life?"

"Neither."

Qian Fanji was even more perplexed.

"Because I’m very confident in myself," Ye Qianning said with a smile.

"..."

’This sort of thing didn’t seem to have anything to do with confidence.’

"Minister Qian, you’re a scholar and a gentleman. Isn’t it a bit improper to be climbing through windows at night? I may be young, but I’m still a girl, you know."

"You’re by Xiang Minghou’s side day in and day out. You don’t seem to remember you’re a girl then," Qian Fanji retorted.

"He’s my father. How is that the same as being with you?" Ye Qianning scoffed.

Qian Fanji said nothing, simply raising his hand and tossing an envelope in front of her.

"What’s this? Money?" Ye Qianning didn’t touch it.

"What you were trying to find out."

Ye Qianning froze for a moment, her eyes widening in astonishment. "You knew about this already? And you didn’t tell my father?"

’Well, I’ll be damned. And he calls himself my father’s good friend? What a phony.’

"I only happened upon it a few days ago and looked into it on a whim," Qian Fanji said, his expression impassive.

Ye Qianning gave him a complicated look. ’He’s obviously lying. "On a whim?"’

’She’d asked so many animals and hadn’t heard a thing. Don’t tell me *he* was the one who managed to pry the truth from the old matriarch?’ 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

As if he knew what she was thinking, Qian Fanji gave a light cough. Without another word, he vanished from the room.

’That was the first time she had ever seen Qian Fanji look embarrassed. No matter how aloof he acted, he was still human. He must have been lying. People only get that awkward when you’ve guessed their thoughts.’

She picked up the envelope from the table. Inside was a note that detailed the history of the Xie family from the eastern part of the city. It chronicled the roughly ten-year period from their peak to their decline, after which the clan members scattered to make their own living. The old master of the Xie family had been missing for a long time.

The rumor was that he had died at sea, but he had apparently been spotted in Xi Yan Country a few years ago.