After collecting himself, Wei Han asked, “Are you certain the white goose Miss Luo raises meets the requirements?”

Shi Yan nodded. “Yes. The white goose Miss Luo raises is called Da Bai. Four years ago, it was specially bought from Wang Family Village for goose fighting. As soon as it arrived, it defeated all opponents in the capital without rival, enjoying quite a glorious period until later when Miss Luo changed her interests and it disappeared from the view of those fond of gambling and fighting.”

“Changed her interests?”

Shi Yan hesitated, but still thoughtfully reminded, “Later, Miss Luo began keeping male companions…”

From raising geese to keeping male companions—Miss Luo’s transition was quite drastic.

Wei Han fell silent for a moment, then said with a stern face, “Continue.”

“This subordinate went to Wang Family Village to inquire. The villagers all said Da Bai was raised for at least seven or eight years. Because it was particularly fierce at guarding the home and had bitten countless foxes trying to steal chickens, the owners couldn’t bear to slaughter it, which is why they eventually sold it to Miss Luo.” At this point, Shi Yan’s expression underwent a subtle change. “Master, do you know how much money Miss Luo spent to buy Da Bai?”

Wei Han said nothing, merely giving Shi Yan a cool glance.

Shi Yan held up one finger, his expression tragic and indignant. “One thousand taels—a full one thousand taels of silver!”

One thousand taels for a goose? That would be enough to buy a courtesan!

The young guard became more tragic and indignant the more he thought about it.

“Master, you see, Da Bai was raised at Wang Family Village for seven or eight years, then raised by Miss Luo for four years. Adding it up, even if it’s not twelve years, it’s not far off.”

Wei Han nodded slightly. Thinking about being cheated by Miss Luo again filled him with unwillingness as he asked, “What about other places?”

Shi Yan smiled bitterly. “Master, aside from the Luo manor, if you can find a white goose that’s lived over six years within a hundred miles, feel free to break this subordinate’s legs.”

Unless blessed with exceptional talent like Da Bai, who would be full enough to provide retirement for an ordinary goose? Wouldn’t it be better to slaughter it for meat?

Thinking of these past days when his legs nearly broke off from running, Shi Yan raised his hand to wipe nonexistent sweat from his forehead.

Wei Han was silent for a moment, then said coolly, “Since that’s the case, arrange for me to meet Miss Luo at that tavern from before.”

Shi Yan didn’t immediately agree, but carefully reminded, “One hundred taels for a bowl of noodles.”

No need for more words—the master understood.

Wei Han’s expression grew colder.

“Master, we only need a bit of goose blood anyway. How about we don’t tell Miss Luo—this subordinate will secretly sneak into the Luo manor and get some?”

He feared the master would lose his entire fortune. Compared to that, if he sacrificed a bit and played the gentleman thief to steal some goose blood, what of it?

Wei Han’s gaze swept over Shi Yan like a blade as he pointed to the door. “Get lost.”

Shi Yan sighed.

So he disagreed—the master cared too much about face.

If Wei Han knew his guard’s thoughts, he would probably send this scoundrel to scrub chamber pots again.

It wasn’t about saving face—he simply couldn’t do something so disgraceful.

Running to a young miss’s home to steal goose blood—had he gone mad from poverty?

If Miss Luo only wanted money, he as a prince could afford it.

As for whether she might want something else—he temporarily didn’t want to consider such a headache-inducing matter.

In any case, his illness had to be cured.

The meeting request was brought back by Kou’er as usual.

Kou’er was attentive. These past days, she’d been busy arranging tavern matters. When returning to the manor, a letter was suddenly pressed into her hand, and she quickly realized it was for the young miss.

When Luo Sheng read the letter, the little maid kept muttering beside her, “Prince Kaiyang is no good—why does he always send letters so sneakily…”

Hong Dou nodded in agreement. “Indeed no good. Not only is Prince Kaiyang no good, his guard isn’t either. Just that time he came to deliver money, he actually pretended not to recognize me.”

“Pretended not to recognize you?”

“Yes! We clearly spent several days together on the road to the capital. Did he think I wouldn’t recognize him as that glutton just because he put on a stern expression?”

Kou’er shook her head disapprovingly. “Turning his back on people afterward—that’s truly no good…”

After reading the letter, Luo Sheng fell into contemplation.

The Divine Physician had already examined Prince Kaiyang, so they were temporarily even. Why would Prince Kaiyang suddenly ask to meet her again?

Well, saying they were temporarily even meant that leverage from the Lin family tree-cutting matter couldn’t be used for now—she’d bring it up when she needed it.

After thinking it over, Luo Sheng still decided to meet Prince Kaiyang.

She wasn’t about to pass up opportunities to deal with members of the imperial family.

Especially Prince Kaiyang—the man was fairly honorable. What if there were more benefits to be gained?

As usual, they met in the back courtyard of that inconspicuous tavern.

“Miss Luo, please have tea.” Wei Han picked up the teapot, poured a cup of clear tea, and offered it to her.

Luo Sheng reached out to accept it and took a light sip.

The tea wasn’t very good, but that wasn’t the main point.

“What matter brings the prince to see me?”

Wei Han was silent for a moment, then said, “There’s something I’d like to inquire about from Miss Luo.”

“Please speak, Prince.”

“I wonder how old Miss Luo’s Da Bai is now?”

Da Bai?

At this moment, Luo Sheng nearly thought she’d heard wrong.

If she remembered correctly, there was only one thing called Da Bai in the entire Luo manor—the white goose Miss Luo raised.

“Is the prince asking about the white goose I raise?”

“Yes.” Wei Han nodded expressionlessly, forcing an air of calm indifference.

Though he’d seen many grand occasions, solemnly inquiring about a young miss’s pet goose from her was truly an unprecedented experience.

Fortunately, this young miss was Miss Luo.

Well, not that he was close to Miss Luo, but losing face once or twice before the same person—the difference wasn’t that great.

Like not being able to afford a dagger, like owing three thousand five hundred taels in meal fees.

Three thousand five hundred taels would be more than enough to buy a shop in the capital’s most prosperous area. Who would carry that much silver on them every day?

Of course, he was different from others now. These days, he always kept at least ten thousand taels in banknotes on him as a baseline, and today to buy Miss Luo’s white goose, he’d brought fifty thousand taels.

“Da Bai… has lived almost twelve years, I suppose.” Luo Sheng was nearly stumped by such a tricky question.

Fortunately, Kou’er was a chatterbox who had rattled off everything about Da Bai without needing to be asked much, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to answer.

“Why does the prince ask this?” Luo Sheng looked at Wei Han with somewhat peculiar eyes.

Crimson robes and black hair, dignified appearance—if one didn’t consider his surname “Wei,” he could be considered rare talent. Had she cheated him a few times and made him foolish?

That shouldn’t be possible.

Under such a gaze, Wei Han nearly couldn’t maintain his composure and hurriedly picked up his teacup to drink several mouthfuls to cover his embarrassment.

After calming his emotions, Wei Han asked coolly, “I wonder if Miss Luo would be willing to part with it?”

Though he only needed goose blood, coming right out and asking a young miss if she could let her pet white goose be bled a little—she’d think him insane if he didn’t get cursed out.

“Part with it?” Luo Sheng’s expression grew increasingly strange. “The prince wants to buy my Da Bai?”

She knew that white goose was peculiar!

It was clearly raised by Miss Luo, yet when it saw her, it immediately tried to bite her—clearly it had spiritual awareness.

But what did Prince Kaiyang want to buy Da Bai for?

Could it be to ward off evil spirits?

Wei Han suppressed the heat in his face and said, “If Miss Luo is willing to part with it, please name your price.”

Name her price?

Luo Sheng raised her eyebrows.

She knew Prince Kaiyang wasn’t actually short on money. The reason she’d been able to leverage him on the road to the capital was that he hadn’t developed the good habit of carrying extra silver when going out.

But then again, she wasn’t short on money either.

She wouldn’t sell.