Wei Han knew Luo Sheng was anxious and didn’t keep her in suspense: “Twelve years ago, after that guard escaped with the Prince of Zhennan’s young son, he wandered about before settling in a town in Liuqing County. Later he married and had children, putting down roots there… My people in the south discovered that guard’s wife and children have been taken under someone’s control. That guard most likely implicated the Grand Marshal under duress because of threats to his wife and children.”

“Have you identified who is threatening his wife and children? Is there any possibility of rescuing them?”

“The person openly threatening him isn’t necessarily the true mastermind behind it all. Investigating clearly will require some time.” Unable to bear disappointing the young woman across from him, Wei Han quickly continued: “My subordinates are fairly skilled at rescuing hostages. Getting his wife and children out of those people’s hands shouldn’t be too difficult. However, even if we rescue them, transporting the hostages to the capital will still require some time…”

Unlike sending messages by carrier pigeon, bringing women and children to the capital couldn’t be accomplished in just a few days.

Luo Sheng lowered her eyes in thought, then said: “Even if the guard knows his wife and children have been sent to the capital, he may not necessarily change his testimony.”

The guard was someone from the Prince of Zhennan’s estate—his life had long been in the Emperor’s grasp. His wife and children coming to the capital versus being in those people’s hands made no difference; both led to certain death.

If she were the guard, she wouldn’t have any favorable feelings toward Grand Marshal Luo who had led troops to surround and exterminate the Prince of Zhennan’s estate. Since death was inevitable either way, why bother clearing Grand Marshal Luo’s name?

Unless—they were given a thread of hope for survival.

Just as Luo Sheng thought this, she heard Wei Han say: “So I didn’t plan to hand his wife and children over to the Three Judicial Offices.”

Luo Sheng was slightly stunned and silently looked at him.

The man across from her curved his lips in a smile: “I’ll just keep them in my custody and use them to threaten that guard instead.”

“Threaten?” Luo Sheng’s eyes flickered.

She had to admit, this man’s methods always exceeded expectations.

Wei Han smiled: “Saying ‘threaten’ isn’t quite accurate—I should say I’ll give him a chance to let his wife and children survive. If I hand his wife and children over, their lives will be in danger. Keeping them in my custody, as long as he’s willing to clear the Grand Marshal’s name, I promise to protect his wife and children for life.”

Luo Sheng’s lips moved.

She wanted to thank him, but felt a single word of thanks was too inadequate.

In the end, that thanks was silently swallowed down.

“However, we still have one problem.”

“Is it time?” Luo Sheng asked.

A flash of admiration crossed Wei Han’s eyes as he nodded slightly: “Right, it’s time. Handling these matters requires time, but during this period the Grand Marshal could be convicted at any moment. Once the charges are finalized, the resistance to overturning them will be much greater.”

For someone of Grand Marshal Luo’s position, conviction would be earth-shattering—how could it easily be changed back and forth?

Luo Sheng lowered her eyelids in silence for a moment, then said seriously: “I have a way to buy time. I’ll entrust everything else to Your Highness.”

She stood and performed a respectful bow.

Wei Han couldn’t help reaching out to support her: “Miss Luo need not do this. This is what I should be doing.”

What he should be doing?

Luo Sheng’s brow twitched, and she couldn’t help shooting him a sideways glance.

Wei Han didn’t sense any problem and withdrew his hand, saying: “I’ll go make arrangements. If Miss Luo needs anything, just send Shi Huo and the others to report to me.”

“May Your Highness take care.”

Luo Sheng saw Wei Han out of the main hall. Hong Dou, standing outside, handed over a food box she’d prepared earlier: “Your Highness, your meal.”

Wei Han received the food box and noticed it was even heavier than previous ones. With upturned lips, he strode away.

Hong Dou walked beside Luo Sheng and casually asked: “Miss, will you still go to the government office this afternoon to bring the Grand Marshal food?”

“Of course I’ll bring it.”

“Why not let this servant go instead? Since you can’t see the Grand Marshal anyway, it would be the same if this servant went.”

Kou’er tugged at Hong Dou and said in a low voice: “Hong Dou, if you can’t speak properly, eat more and talk less!”

Hong Dou defiantly rolled her eyes: “Miss hasn’t even spoken yet, and you’re already being long-winded.”

This little hoof really needed a beating every three days.

Speaking of which, the tavern had been so deserted lately—with no one competing for food, she actually felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Luo Sheng spoke: “Don’t worry about delivering the food. This is my filial devotion to Father.”

It was also her means of buying time for Grand Marshal Luo. These days of precautionary planning had finally reached the moment to draw in the net.

A voice came: “Sister, let me go instead.”

Luo Sheng looked at the approaching young man and frowned slightly: “Luo Chen, why have you come to the tavern?”

The young man gave a self-deprecating smile: “I have nothing to do at the estate anyway. At the tavern I can at least do odd jobs.”

Only when things truly reached this point did he discover his own powerlessness.

Luo Sheng, a young woman, could still find ways to see Father, deliver delicious meals to him daily, and even obtain Prince Kaiyang’s help to work on Father’s behalf.

While he could only stay at the estate listening to the concubines weep.

“Today let me deliver food to Father.”

“No.”

The young man’s expression darkened slightly: “Why not?”

“A young woman is more suitable for delivering food.”

“Then what about me?”

Looking at the tightly frowning young man, Luo Sheng said seriously: “You’re suited to remain at the estate and stabilize people’s hearts.”

“I don’t feel I have that use.” Luo Chen’s expression grew increasingly cold. “When I left today, there were even more rotten vegetable leaves in front of the gate.”

Father hadn’t even been convicted yet, and those who held grievances against the Grand Marshal’s estate or were purely causing trouble out of boredom were already like this—what the future held was easily imaginable.

Luo Sheng smiled unconcernedly: “Don’t mind such things. In this world, adding flowers to brocade has always been easy while sending charcoal in snow is difficult. Once Father’s name is cleared, these disgusting matters will naturally vanish without a trace.”

“What if we cannot clear Father’s name?” Luo Chen countered.

Luo Sheng was silent for an instant, but her tone remained unperturbed: “If the crime doesn’t extend to family members, then as the sole male of the Luo estate, you must hold up this household. If disaster affects the family, we will naturally be together with Father—how those jumping clowns behave will have even less need for concern.”

Little Brother was Bao’er, the little prince of the Prince of Zhennan’s estate, and also Luo Chen, Grand Marshal Luo’s son.

“Return to the estate. With you there, people’s hearts will be settled.”

Luo Chen pressed his lips together in long silence before nodding: “Alright, I’ll return.”

Soon it was nearly dinnertime again.

Youjian Tavern remained deserted as ever, though the fragrant aromas continued spreading far and wide.

Luo Sheng carried two food boxes toward the Ministry of Justice.

Minister Zhao set down his book and walked out the door. Glancing at the sky, his heart quietly took flight.

Today time was passing a bit slowly.

“Minister, Minister Qian has come to see you.”

Hearing this, Minister Zhao immediately became alert.

Old Qian was Minister of Works—what business could he have coming to see him during office hours?

Just as he was about to have his subordinate say he wasn’t in, he saw Minister Qian walking over with the wind at his heels.

“Brother Zhao, you haven’t left the office yet.”

Minister Zhao concealed his wariness with a chuckle: “I’m busy, that’s all. Has Brother Qian left the office?”

Minister Qian said cheerfully: “The Ministry of Works doesn’t have much business this season. I came to see if Brother Zhao needs help with anything.”

Hearing this, Minister Zhao became furious, nearly wanting to spit in Minister Qian’s face.

Help? This was because he’d heard Miss Luo was bringing him food, wasn’t it?