The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Duke Anguo was sleeping soundly when he received a letter delivered by a trusted servant.

Prince Kaiyang was requesting a meeting.

Duke Anguo was utterly puzzled.

He had no deep friendship with Prince Kaiyang. Of course, it wasn’t that he didn’t want one—it was just that the young prince wasn’t a warm or approachable person.

Generally speaking, when someone with no prior relationship suddenly invited you for tea, something was afoot. Based on experience, it was usually bad news.

With this suspicion in mind, Duke Anguo hurried early to the appointed teahouse.

Led by the server into a private room, the person who’d invited him hadn’t yet arrived.

Duke Anguo was on his second cup of tea when an ink-colored figure appeared in the doorway.

He couldn’t help standing up and greeting politely: “Your Highness.”

Wei Han glanced inside, his gaze falling on Duke Anguo.

Duke Anguo was in his forties, already balding and portly. Whether it was his shining pate or protruding belly, both were more eye-catching than his face.

Wei Han spoke flatly: “Duke has arrived quite early.”

Unlike the youth at Youjian Tavern whose expression softened and eyes brightened after a few drinks, the Prince Kaiyang standing before Duke Anguo had a cold voice, his black robes making his complexion appear even colder.

Those eyes were like stars submerged in an icy pool—cold and clear.

Duke Anguo suppressed his uneasy thoughts and approached with a smile: “When Your Highness extends an invitation, naturally this official dares not be negligent.”

In terms of status, Duke Anguo was one of the Four Founding Dukes, at the pinnacle of the nobility, but facing Prince Kaiyang, he dared not put on airs.

Prince Kaiyang wasn’t just an ordinary prince—not only was he deeply valued by His Majesty, he also wielded tremendous influence over the Northern Army.

The two took their seats, and Duke Anguo poured a cup and offered it: “Your Highness, please have tea.”

Wei Han accepted the teacup and took a shallow sip.

“Your Highness has requested this meeting—may I ask what matter brings us here?” Duke Anguo asked with a smile.

Wei Han set down the teacup and asked coolly: “Someone from your manor failed to return all night. Does Duke know of this?”

Duke Anguo’s eyes contracted.

Someone failed to return all night?

Could it be that Second Son went out to drink flower wine again?

Impossible—last night he’d summoned Second Son to the study for a scolding.

Could it be his eldest son?

That shouldn’t be—First Son was always reassuring in this regard.

Duke Anguo mentally reviewed his two sons and relaxed.

“This official is ashamed—I cannot immediately recall who failed to return.”

“One of your manor’s stable hands.” Wei Han lowered his eyes and took a sip of tea, then continued amid Duke Anguo’s astonishment: “This stable hand from your manor has an interesting background. He’s not a hereditary servant of the Duke’s manor but was rescued by someone eight years ago and subsequently arranged to work at the manor.”

Duke Anguo maintained a calm exterior while waves churned in his heart.

This stable hand must have committed some offense, and no small one at that—otherwise Prince Kaiyang wouldn’t bring it up without reason.

Not a hereditary servant but someone arranged to enter—which damned steward had done this!

Observing Duke Anguo’s reaction, Wei Han smiled slightly: “It seems Duke doesn’t know who this stable hand’s savior was.”

“Who was it?” Having asked this, embarrassment flashed across Duke Anguo’s face.

Fortunately, being bald and portly, he looked like a picture of geniality, so even now he couldn’t appear stern or severe.

“Your wife.” Wei Han showed no courtesy, coolly uttering these two words.

Duke Anguo’s expression changed dramatically.

It was actually his wife?

The first thought that crashed into Duke Anguo’s mind was that he was finished—grass was growing on his head! It might even be a prairie, otherwise why would Prince Kaiyang be pointing out such matters to him?

Shame, rage, doubt… all sorts of emotions boiled like water in Duke Anguo’s heart, making him want to jump up and rush back to the manor to demand an explanation from the Duchess.

Still retaining some shred of reason, Duke Anguo took a long while to calm down before asking: “What has Your Highness discovered?”

Wei Han felt Duke Anguo’s reaction was somewhat excessive and looked at him deeply.

Duke Anguo grabbed Wei Han’s sleeve: “Your Highness, you needn’t spare my dignity. Whatever you’ve discovered, please tell me truthfully. I… I can handle it!”

Even if it was utterly humiliating, it was better than being kept in the dark for a lifetime.

Once he got to the bottom of this, he would absolutely deal properly with that pair of illicit lovers!

Wei Han’s gaze fell on the hand clutching his sleeve, looking thoughtful.

Duke Anguo seemed to have misunderstood something.

This person… distrusted his own wife to this degree?

When Wei Han didn’t speak, Duke Anguo’s heart grew even colder: “Your Highness, please tell me!”

“Duke, please release your grip first.”

Duke Anguo came to his senses: “Ah.”

Wei Han unhurriedly took a sip of tea before saying: “This stable hand from your manor was once an assassin.”

Duke Anguo’s body swayed, nearly sliding off his chair, his lips trembling: “Your Highness, please continue.”

“It’s not particularly complicated. Your daughter ordered this stable hand to abduct the nephew of Youjian Tavern’s head chef, intending to use the opportunity to kill the cook—”

“Wait!” Duke Anguo couldn’t help interrupting Wei Han. “How does this involve my daughter?”

Wei Han looked at Duke Anguo with surprise: “Your daughter is the mastermind behind this, so naturally she cannot be separated from this matter.”

“But what about my wife—”

Wei Han frowned: “This prince was merely clarifying the stable hand’s background.”

Duke Anguo heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Choosing the lesser of two evils, compared to having a prairie on his head, his daughter causing trouble was much more tolerable.

Duke Anguo steadied his emotions and said in confusion: “It’s not that this official is shielding my daughter, but I truly cannot understand why she would do such a thing.”

His daughter wasn’t stupid—why would she kill someone’s cook for no reason?

No, his daughter was a sheltered young lady—how could she even conceive of something as terrifying as murder?

Doubt arose, growing heavier and heavier.

“This prince also cannot understand it. Yet the fact is your daughter did do this. Your manor’s stable hand is currently with this prince…” Wei Han briefly recounted what had occurred that evening, naturally omitting the fact that Xiao Qi had been targeted for assassination by another party.

Well, Miss Luo’s speculation that Second Miss Zhu did this because of him—that was also omitted.

Duke Anguo was already stunned speechless.

Hanshuang ordered someone to abduct someone’s nephew, forced them to go alone to the Jinshui River, and prepared to kill and destroy the body upon meeting?

This was something his lively, lovable daughter had done?

Most importantly, why had Prince Kaiyang gotten involved?

Wei Han quickly provided the answer: “This prince has grown accustomed to Youjian Tavern’s meals and doesn’t want to go without food in the future.”

Duke Anguo thought about Prince Kaiyang who, completely disregarding cost, unfailingly went to Youjian Tavern to dine, then thought about the tavern’s delicious food, and immediately believed it.

Accepting this cruel reality, Duke Anguo’s eyes went vacant.

It was over. With that wretched daughter causing such trouble, not only had they offended Grand Marshal Luo, they’d also offended Prince Kaiyang.

If these two joined forces, Duke Anguo’s manor would sooner or later follow in Elder Chen’s household’s footsteps.

Wei Han ignored Duke Anguo’s ugly expression and picked up his teacup: “This prince will temporarily retain your manor’s stable hand. As for your daughter… I hope Duke can provide this prince and Grand Marshal Luo with a satisfactory explanation.”

Duke Anguo slowly rose, striving to maintain his composure: “Your Highness, please rest assured. This official will handle family matters properly.”

Wei Han slightly raised the corners of his lips: “Duke, take your time leaving.”