Seeing that Luo Sheng still didn’t speak, Wei Han added: “You won’t owe me a favor.”

Miss Luo seemed to like keeping everything clearly settled with him.

This feeling made him rather displeased.

Luo Sheng was in a vexed mood, but hearing Wei Han say this, she nearly laughed.

People who spoke as straightforwardly as Prince Kaiyang were truly rare to see.

She wondered if he was like this with others as well?

Luo Sheng hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: “Du Da went to the school today to pick up Xiao Qi but didn’t find him. Currently, we don’t know whether Xiao Qi has gone somewhere to play or if he’s encountered some trouble.”

For a half-grown youth like Xiao Qi, playfulness was natural. The matter of not finding him could be serious or trivial.

But when it concerned someone’s safety, having one more person helping was always good. It was worth owing a favor for this.

“Du Da and Lu Wu have already gone out to search, and several Jinlin Guards have also gone.”

Wei Han lightly raised his eyebrows, thinking to himself that Miss Luo had long ago discovered the Jinlin Guards around the tavern.

Those Jinlin Guards hiding in the shadows to protect Youjian Tavern had appeared after Prince Pingnan was attacked. He had thought Miss Luo hadn’t noticed them.

Wei Han curved his lips slightly.

He had taken things for granted. Since Miss Luo had long ago noticed the Jinlin Guards disguised as customers secretly packing food, what was strange about her discovering the Jinlin Guards hidden around protecting the tavern?

“Then I’ll also send some people to search.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

This word of thanks made Wei Han unconsciously furrow his brow, but he said nothing. Instead, he raised his voice and called: “Shi Yan—”

Shi Yan set down his tray and ran over: “Master, what are your orders?”

“Go out and tell Shi Yi to lead a team to search for Xiao Qi.”

“Yes.” Though Shi Yan was shocked by Xiao Qi’s disappearance, at a time like this he was quite composed. He left the tavern through the back door without showing any emotion.

“Fourth Brother.” Walking to a large tree, Shi Yan patted the trunk.

A young man jumped down from the tree with agile movements. His appearance was identical to Shi Yan’s—this was his twin brother, Shi Yi.

“Master wants you to lead a team to search for Xiao Qi.”

After giving his instructions, Shi Yan walked back. As he approached the tavern, wave after wave of food aromas assailed him.

The young guard couldn’t help but sigh.

Compared to him serving as a waiter, his fourth brother who could only squat in trees every night was truly rather pitiful.

But there was no help for it—Master had a discerning eye for talent and had seen that he was more suited than his fourth brother to be a waiter and raise geese.

“Are you a worker from Youjian Tavern?” A somewhat immature voice called out.

Shi Yan’s steps halted as he looked toward where the voice came from.

Not far away stood a beggar child about ten years old. His face was filthy and his features indistinct, but his eyes were very alert.

Shi Yan looked down at the snow-white hand towel draped over his shoulder and nodded: “That’s right, I’m a waiter at Youjian Tavern.”

This little beggar clearly wasn’t from Qingxing Street.

Hearing Shi Yan confirm his identity, the beggar child quickly ran over, stuffed a letter into his hands, and hurriedly said: “This letter is for your tavern’s cook.”

Dropping these words, the beggar child turned and ran.

A great force came, pulling the beggar child back before Shi Yan.

“Why run? Come back to the tavern with me.”

Normally, if someone ran, they could run. But right now Xiao Qi had disappeared, and suddenly a messenger appeared who actually wanted to run—this showed too little regard for him as a waiter.

Shi Yan tucked the beggar child under one arm with one hand, expertly covered the beggar child’s mouth to prevent any sound, and quickly entered the tavern through the back door.

Arriving at the back courtyard, Shi Yan released his hand and coolly warned: “Don’t shout. If you disturb the customers who’ve come to drink, I’ll chop you with an axe.”

The beggar child had been preparing to let out a cry for help when, hearing these words, he suddenly covered his mouth. His small frame trembled nonstop.

What kind of waiter was this, threatening to chop people with an axe?

Shi Yan glanced at the envelope. On it were indeed written the words “To the Cook of Youjian Tavern—Personal.”

Just then, Xiu Yue came out of the kitchen for some air. Shi Yan quickly said: “Xiu Gu, a letter for you.”

Xiu Yue walked over with a puzzled expression: “A letter for me?”

“Yes, this beggar child delivered it, specifically to be given to you.” Shi Yan handed over the letter and lifted the beggar child before him. “Stand properly. Move and I’ll beat you to death.”

The beggar child was left only trembling.

Xiu Yue had already finished reading the letter, her face pale as paper.

“What’s wrong?” Shi Yan asked.

Xiu Yue forced out a smile: “Please call the young lady over.”

Shi Yan nodded, glanced at the beggar child, and expressionlessly raised his hand.

To be safe, he’d better knock him out.

Just at that moment, Hong Dou walked over. Seeing the beggar child, she couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise: “How did a beggar child appear in the courtyard?”

Shi Yan lowered his hand: “Hong Dou, Xiu Gu needs to see the young lady.”

Hong Dou frowned and glanced at Xiu Yue before turning and walking away.

This was the second time tonight that Xiu Gu had summoned the young lady.

Hong Dou entered the main hall, walked to Luo Sheng’s side, and said quietly: “Young lady, Xiu Gu is looking for you again.”

Luo Sheng stood up and instructed in a low voice: “You and Kou’er take good care of the main hall.”

“Young lady, rest assured.”

Luo Sheng walked toward the back.

Wei Han thought for a moment, set down his wine cup, and followed.

Hong Dou had initially wanted to stop him but, recalling that this prince had gone to the back courtyard to relieve himself more than once or twice, she gave up.

Luo Sheng followed Xiu Yue to the kitchen, leaving Shi Yan to watch the beggar child who had delivered the letter.

Upon entering the kitchen, Xiu Yue quickly presented the letter to Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng rapidly scanned through the letter.

The letter specified a location and stated that only Xiu Yue could quietly go there alone, otherwise her nephew’s life would be in danger.

“Young lady, Xiao Qi has truly been abducted.” Xiu Yue’s heart clenched tightly.

After spending so much time together, she had long since regarded that dark-faced youth as her own nephew.

Luo Sheng read through the letter again and said with furrowed brows: “Xiu Gu, this matter of Xiao Qi’s disappearance is directed at you.”

“Me?” Xiu Yue was startled and suddenly thought of a possibility. “Could it be from that time in Nanyang—”

On the night of the third day of the third month, when she had infiltrated Prince Zhennan’s abandoned manor to burn paper money, she had been followed and attacked, indicating that someone had already begun to suspect her identity…

“It should have nothing to do with those matters.” Luo Sheng quickly rejected Xiu Yue’s conjecture.

The one who had followed Xiu Yue was Prince Kaiyang. When she had stopped Prince Kaiyang from attacking Xiu Yue, Xiu Yue had been too busy fleeing to recognize him.

If Prince Kaiyang would kidnap Xiao Qi, then it couldn’t explain why he had watched coldly from the sidelines when she attacked Prince Pingnan.

“The letter specifically demands that the cook from Youjian Tavern go there, which shows this matter is targeting your identity as a cook.” Luo Sheng analyzed with a cold expression. “And your identity as a cook cannot be separated from the tavern, so ultimately, this matter is coming for me.”

This situation actually put her somewhat at ease—at least it wasn’t trouble arising from the exposure of Xiao Qi’s or Luo Chen’s identities.

“Young lady, what do we do next?”

“Next, naturally we must go there and take a look.”

Luo Sheng walked out of the kitchen to find Wei Han standing in the courtyard.

Before she could speak, Wei Han opened his mouth: “I already asked. Someone gave this beggar child running money to deliver the letter. Does the letter mention a meeting place?”

Luo Sheng nodded.

“I’ll go with you.”