Miss Luo finds it troublesome?

Does she dislike the gifts he’s been sending recently?

Or does she dislike how he can’t help but draw near?

Under the sparse starlight, Wei Han gazed at the serious-faced young woman, his heart growing even colder.

If she disliked the gifts, that would be fine—he could change them.

But if she disliked him as a person… he couldn’t very well replace himself, could he?

Though a hundred thoughts turned in his mind, his face remained impassive.

“What matter does Miss Luo need me to handle?”

“Regarding Second Miss Zhu, what are Your Highness’s intentions?”

Wei Han froze momentarily.

Second Miss Zhu?

Using silence to mask his confusion, Wei Han said solemnly: “For Second Miss Zhu to do such a thing, she naturally deserves appropriate punishment. If it’s inconvenient for Miss Luo, you can leave it to me.”

Luo Sheng also fell silent.

Prince Kaiyang seemed to have misunderstood something.

The question was, how had he managed to still believe this matter had nothing to do with him—that he was purely helping out of kindness?

The night wind was somewhat cool, tousling the loose strands of hair falling around the young woman’s face.

Because she’d hastily removed her disguise, her face was uneven in color, looking somewhat comically disheveled.

Yet Wei Han still thought she looked beautiful.

Miss Luo wasn’t speaking—could it be she felt embarrassed to let him help?

Luo Sheng finally spoke: “Does Your Highness know the reason Second Miss Zhu did this?”

Wei Han quietly watched her.

“Second Miss Zhu has feelings for Your Highness.”

Wei Han’s calm expression shattered, revealing obvious bewilderment.

Luo Sheng was equally bewildered: “Your Highness didn’t notice at all?”

Wei Han: “…” What should he have noticed?

“Every time Second Miss Zhu came to the tavern, she focused all her attention on Your Highness.”

With it being so obvious, could this man be blind?

Luo Sheng said flatly: “I shouldn’t meddle in Second Miss Zhu having feelings for Your Highness, but since she’s gone so far as to attempt murder over it, I can no longer remain silent.”

Wei Han’s expression shifted, and he asked hesitantly: “Because Second Miss Zhu has feelings for me, she wanted to kill Xiu Gu?”

Women’s thinking… was this absurd?

If one used this kind of unexpected logic when leading troops in battle, how could one fail to achieve victory?

“That’s correct. Your Highness goes to the tavern almost daily. Second Miss Zhu believed that because Your Highness had more contact with me, you treated me differently. If she killed the tavern’s head chef, Your Highness would no longer visit the tavern daily.” Finding the man before her even more obtuse than she’d thought, Luo Sheng had no choice but to explain more clearly.

“I see.” Wei Han shook his head. “Second Miss Zhu’s thinking is too extreme.”

Luo Sheng pressed her lips together.

Among young women fallen into love, many were blind—they couldn’t be judged by common reason.

Watching the expressionless young woman, Wei Han finally belatedly realized: “So this matter arose because of me. Miss Luo, rest assured, I will handle Second Miss Zhu’s matter properly.”

Luo Sheng curtsied slightly: “Then I’ll return to the manor first. When convenient, Your Highness please remember to send the person over.”

Wei Han thought for a moment and asked: “Miss Luo wants Duke Anguo’s stable hand—is it to investigate the assassin organization he previously belonged to?”

Luo Sheng nodded.

“If Miss Luo trusts me, why not leave the investigation to me? I have some capable people under my command.”

Luo Sheng hesitated.

To investigate this matter, she would inevitably need to borrow Grand Marshal Luo’s power, but Xiao Qi’s words had made her certain there was a mole within the Jinlin Guard.

If the person Grand Marshal Luo arranged to handle this happened to be the mole, it would alert them prematurely.

Rationally considering it, leaving the investigation to Prince Kaiyang was undoubtedly more appropriate.

Only this way, she would owe him another favor.

As if guessing Luo Sheng’s thoughts, Wei Han said earnestly: “This matter arose because of me. Miss Luo should give me a chance to make amends.”

“Then I’ll trouble Your Highness.”

Wei Han smiled slightly: “I don’t find it troublesome. Also—”

“What?”

“Actually, Second Miss Zhu was mistaken. Even if I didn’t go to the tavern, I would still treat Miss Luo differently.”

Luo Sheng fell silent.

Wei Han smiled gently: “It’s getting late. Let me escort you back to the manor.”

Luo Sheng didn’t refuse.

The road was long, ten thousand household lamps had long since been extinguished, leaving only faint starlight for illumination.

Wei Han walked beside Luo Sheng, unconsciously observing her profile.

The young woman’s profile had beautiful contours, and as she walked, loose strands of hair playfully slipped down.

Wei Han suddenly felt his fingers itch, as if about to defy his will and help the young woman beside him smooth her hair back into place.

Miss Luo seemed lost in thought, unable to attend to such things.

The man’s willpower weakened somewhat as he quietly raised his hand.

A low voice came from ahead: “Sheng’er.”

Wei Han silently lowered his hand and looked toward the newcomer.

Grand Marshal Luo strode over.

“Father, what brings you here?”

Grand Marshal Luo carefully examined his daughter, then said impassively: “Seeing you hadn’t returned to the manor, I came out to check.”

His gaze fell on Wei Han, his eyes profound: “So Your Highness is here as well.”

Wei Han smiled: “Seeing the late hour, I’m escorting Miss Luo back to the manor.”

“Uh, then I’m grateful to Your Highness.”

After this moment of silence, Grand Marshal Luo said with twitching lips: “I’ll take my daughter back, so I won’t trouble Your Highness.”

Her own father had come to fetch her—why was Prince Kaiyang still playing dumb?

This lad clearly harbored improper intentions toward Sheng’er!

Improper intentions were fine, but if he had thoughts, he could send a matchmaker to the Grand Marshal’s manor, giving him a chance to refuse or consider!

Remaining silent like this—was he trying to take advantage without cost?

Thinking of this, Grand Marshal Luo felt somewhat guilty.

Well, the question of who was taking advantage of whom didn’t need deep examination, but Prince Kaiyang acting this way showed a character flaw!

Seeing Grand Marshal Luo’s expression alternate between cold and heated, Wei Han found it rather puzzling, but since Grand Marshal Luo would escort Miss Luo back, he naturally felt at ease and politely bid farewell.

Watching Wei Han walk into the boundless darkness, Grand Marshal Luo narrowed his eyes at Luo Sheng: “Sheng’er, you found Xiao Qi?”

Luo Sheng wasn’t surprised that Grand Marshal Luo knew.

In her urgency, she’d sought help from the Jinlin Guards secretly protecting the tavern, so naturally she couldn’t hide it from Grand Marshal Luo.

“Father, let’s talk about it when we get home.”

“Good, let’s go home first.”

The Grand Marshal’s manor occupied vast grounds, standing in the night appearing even more imposing.

Such vastness and quiet inevitably made those walking through it feel a trace of desolation.

Luo Sheng followed Grand Marshal Luo to the study.

Lamps were lit in the study, providing good illumination.

Looking at his oddly dressed daughter, Grand Marshal Luo didn’t immediately ask about Xiao Qi, but sighed: “Haven’t you eaten dinner yet?”

“Not yet, but I’m not hungry either.” Luo Sheng answered truthfully.

Grand Marshal Luo frowned: “The kitchen is simmering bird’s nest porridge. I’ll have a maid bring some later.”

Luo Sheng nodded compliantly: “Alright.”

Only then did Grand Marshal Luo say: “Tell me, what exactly happened?”

“Someone abducted Xiao Qi and arranged to meet at the Jinshui River, intending to use the opportunity to kill Xiu Gu. Prince Kaiyang and I went to the appointment in disguise and subdued that person…”

Luo Sheng retrieved the peach wood axe from her purse and opened her palm: “Father, I found this on that person.”