“Young Master Queshan, has everything been well at the residence these days?”
Xie Queshan showed no warmth, saying flatly: “We met earlier today, Prefect Huang, and now you visit late at night. Why not skip pleasantries and state your business directly.”
“This humble officer indeed has an important matter… The day Xie Zhu was abducted, your sister Sixth Miss Xie secretly left the mansion and knocked me unconscious. I fear she’s involved in this case.”
“Is that so? Then why didn’t you say so during the day?”
“This humble officer has a tender heart for the fairer sex after all. Sixth Miss Xie is heroic and spirited—I’ve admired her for a long time. How could I push her into a fire pit?”
Nanyi curiously crept to the screen to peek at the situation outside.
“Then what do you mean by coming to me?”
Xie Queshan lowered his head to brew tea for Huang Yankun, his movements flowing like water.
“Having such a sister in the mansion must give Young Master Queshan headaches? General Gusha is suspicious, and now there’s Lord Wanyan too. You probably can’t afford any mistakes. This humble officer has a solution that benefits everyone—it can both restrain Sixth Miss Xie and protect her.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Why not marry Sixth Miss Xie to me—You know I lost my wife in my early years. I have only one son and haven’t remarried. First, I come from a scholarly family and now hold high office, so even for a second wife I can’t settle for just anyone. Second, I’m not one to frequent pleasure quarters—ordinary women hardly catch my eye.”
Xie Queshan frowned slightly but didn’t interrupt.
“I’m thirty-five, not too old, and I control troops in Li Du Mansion. The Xie family is a great household in Li Du Mansion. Wouldn’t a marriage alliance between our families be a perfect match? If Sixth Miss Xie became mine, naturally I’d keep her rescue of Xie Zhu firmly hidden in my heart, never revealing a word.”
Nanyi’s heart suddenly jumped. From a practical standpoint, Prefect Huang’s words weren’t unreasonable. Xie Queshan wouldn’t sell his sister to this old fool, would he?!
In just a few sentences, Huang Yankun spoke until his mouth was dry and reached for the tea Xie Queshan had brewed.
But Xie Queshan picked up the teacup first. Huang Yankun thought he was going to hand it over and already put on a smile, but Xie Queshan poured the hot tea entirely onto Huang Yankun’s hand without pause.
Huang Yankun cried out from the burn, nearly jumping up, looking at Xie Queshan with shock and bewilderment.
“Get out.”
Xie Queshan only said one word.
Huang Yankun was furious: “You—aren’t you afraid I’ll report Sixth Miss Xie to Gusha?!”
“I only gave the city defense maps to you. That day when Xie Zhu was abducted, you happened to be on the street too. Do you think your words carry any weight with Gusha? He doesn’t move against you because I’m protecting you.”
These words left Huang Yankun frozen in place, ice-cold, his back breaking out in cold sweat.
Xie Queshan stared darkly at Huang Yankun: “Xie Sui’an is my sister. If you want to be my brother-in-law, weigh your own worth.”
Long after Huang Yankun left, Xie Queshan remained seated without moving. Nanyi emerged from behind the screen, took a dry towel to wipe the water stains from the table, then sat beside him and carefully asked:
“Why didn’t you agree?”
Xie Queshan looked at Nanyi, his eyes revealing vague sadness.
He calmly stated a fact: “Xie Sui’an’s fiancé was Pang Yu.”
Nanyi froze in shock.
“Pang Yu? But didn’t he…”
Die right in front of you.