Situ Dieer said expressionlessly, "For Second Sister, and even more for Mother."

Situ Yu: "Third Sister, what exactly are you planning to do?"

Situ Dieer: "Don’t ask. Just listen well and keep an eye on Zhizhi. Don’t let anything happen to him, understand?"

Situ Yu: "Okay, I understand."

She had always thought of her third sister as timid and cowardly, feeling somewhat disdainful of her. Now she realized that this third sister, who had grown up with her, was not at all as weak as she seemed on the outside.

Situ Dieer: "If you’re not feeling well, rest for a while. Don’t go out to avoid making Grandmother take her anger out on you again?"

Looking at her composed third sister, Situ Yu felt relieved and nodded obediently, "Okay."

.........

"Father." As soon as Xuexue entered Situ Yongjie’s courtyard, she called out loudly.

Zi Xia, carrying large and small bags, followed behind her.

"Xuexue’s back." Hearing the voice, Situ Yongjie walked out of the study.

Situ Yongjie was about forty years old, with shiny black hair, pinned up with a hairpin atop his head. His slanted, sharp eyebrows, long eyes harboring keen black pupils, thinly pressed lips, and distinct facial features. His body was tall and slender but not rugged, resembling an eagle in the night—coldly aloof yet imposing, exuding an air of dominance. In his younger days, he was quite a handsome man, no wonder Auntie Tang was so infatuated with him, going to great lengths for him.

After sizing him up, Xuexue laughed, "Father, you look even younger after a short time apart."

Situ Yongjie also laughed, teasingly tapping Xuexue’s nose, and said, "You little girl, getting more and more glib, actually teasing your father? Has the Prince indulged you so much that you’re becoming unruly?"

Initially, because of the matter with Situ Zhi, Situ Yongjie had been pressured by the Old Madam to propose at the War Prince’s Mansion, and he felt guilty towards Xuexue. Now seeing her doing so well, he finally felt at ease.

"Not at all! The Prince has been busy lately, he doesn’t have time for me." As Xuexue spoke, she held onto Situ Yongjie’s arm and walked into the house.

Situ Yongjie sat down on a chair and casually asked, "What has the Prince been busy with recently?"

Xuexue: "Isn’t it about the Demon? It originally had nothing to do with him, but when the county magistrate asked him, the Prince agreed to help investigate."

Situ Yongjie nodded and said, "This matter has been spreading wildly throughout the Capital, leaving the common folk in fear, not daring to go out after dark. It has a very bad impact and needs to be resolved soon. The Prince is doing the right thing."

Xuexue said with a tinge of grievance, "So, daughter is bored, with no one to accompany me, I can only come to bother Father."

"Haha...! You little girl, probably not here without reason!" Situ Yongjie laughed knowingly.

"Not at all, daughter just missed Father."

Xuexue’s bright eyes twinkled, her lips curled with a smile. True to being her biological father, he even knew what she was thinking.

Situ Yongjie, sitting on the Taishi Chair, said with a laugh, "Just speak your mind, between father and daughter, there’s no need for roundabout talk."

Xuexue put away her smile, and said earnestly, "Then I’d better say it."

Situ Yongjie: "What’s so serious?"

Xuexue pulled out a small notebook from her sleeve and handed it to Situ Yongjie, saying, "Father, take a look at this first."

Situ Yongjie asked in confusion, "What is it, an account ledger?"

The businesses of the General’s Mansion were managed by Xuexue, so it’s no wonder Situ Yongjie would ask this.