Night gradually deepened. The enormous Prince Kaiyang’s manor seemed to sink into slumber, utterly quiet throughout.

In one study, a solitary lamp still burned, its hazy glow projecting from inside to outside the room, becoming a rare warm hue in this winter night.

Wei Han, dressed in snow-white inner robes, quietly read by lamplight. His white garments and black hair made him appear more aloof than during daylight hours.

Knock, knock, knock.

Light knocking sounds came from outside the study.

“Come in.”

A young man pushed the door open and entered, cupping his fists: “Master, news has come from the Luo Manor. Grand Marshal Luo’s evening meal contained poison.”

Wei Han casually set down his book scroll, his eyes showing slight change: “Explain the specific situation.”

“They say the soup Miss Luo sent for his evening meal was knocked over and fought over by rats. As a result, those rats were poisoned to death…”

“Is that so?” Wei Han’s eyes seemed to harbor a certain light, his tone gentle. “Minister Zhao entered the palace to report to His Majesty?”

The young man affirmed this.

Wei Han’s lips curved slightly, his tone growing even more gentle: “You may withdraw.”

The young man bowed and withdrew.

As the door gently closed, the cold wind the young man had brought in dissipated, and the room’s warmth returned to normal.

The candle flame flickered. That solitary lamp seemed to brighten, illuminating the man’s features even more clearly.

Deep amusement was hidden in his eyes, and floating through his mind was that plainly dressed figure in the wine-fragrant tavern hall.

She was the girl he knew so well that even with closed eyes, hearing only footsteps, he could distinguish her.

She had said she would fight for time, and indeed she had accomplished it.

Wei Han couldn’t help but smile slightly, yet didn’t understand where this feeling of vicarious pride came from.

Candle tears filled the candlestick—the night grew deeper.

He stood up and extinguished the weak candlelight, simply resting directly on the low couch in the study. As he tossed and turned, one thought grew increasingly urgent: tomorrow he must go eat at Youjian Tavern early.

In the Luo Manor shrouded in night, someone likewise waited for Luo Sheng.

“What are you standing here for?” Luo Sheng saw the youth waiting on the stone steps and asked with a smile.

Luo Chen hesitated before saying: “You returned later than usual today. Did something happen when you went to the ministry?”

The reason for his hesitation was that circumstances were already bad enough—he didn’t want to hear even worse news.

But if even Luo Sheng, a girl, could face things fearlessly, how could he evade?

He wasn’t just Luo Sheng’s younger brother—he was also the young master of the Luo Manor.

“Let’s talk while we walk.”

Luo Sheng lifted her steps forward. Luo Chen silently walked beside her.

“The food sent to Father was poisoned by someone.”

Luo Chen’s steps halted, his eyes deepening slightly: “Is Father all right?”

“He’s fine. The poisoned soup happened to be knocked over by rats and was eaten by them.”

“Ah.” Luo Chen furrowed his brows and walked forward. After several steps, he asked quietly: “Father won’t be convicted for the time being, will he?”

Luo Sheng turned her head to look at him.

The thirteen-year-old youth still had a very youthful face, yet his eyes were deep and bright.

Luo Sheng’s lips curved in a smile, and she said softly: “That’s right. The officials must investigate thoroughly.”

Luo Chen walked with his head down. When they were about to reach the fork in the path, he asked in a low voice: “Can the officials really investigate clearly?”

That person who administered the poison—

He looked deeply at the young woman beside him, feeling inexplicably uneasy in his heart.

Others wouldn’t think of Luo Sheng, but he would.

Luo Sheng had done far too many unexpected things.

In the night, the young woman’s expression was composed, her tone light: “Perhaps they can, perhaps they cannot. We need not worry about such matters.”

All she wanted was to delay time. As for whether the truth would be seen through by others—she didn’t care.

She was Grand Marshal Luo’s treasured pearl. Her fame throughout the capital for being willful and unrestrained relied on having a good father. Even if Lin Teng suspected her, without evidence he couldn’t very well arrest her too.

As long as she could delay until Prince Kaiyang’s people rescued that guard’s wife and children and brought them to the capital to clear Grand Marshal Luo’s name, she would still be the lawless Miss Luo in the future.

If Grand Marshal Luo couldn’t clear his name, what difference would it make whether she committed one more deed or one less?

They reached the fork in the path. Luo Sheng stopped: “I’m returning to Idle Cloud Courtyard. You should go rest as well.”

Watching the youth nod obediently, she raised her hand and ruffled his hair: “Thinking too much will stunt your growth.”

Luo Chen’s mouth twitched, and he said unkindly: “Pointless worry. Father is so tall—I won’t be short.”

Luo Sheng looked steadily at the youth for a moment, sighed, and turned to leave.

Luo Chen vaguely felt something was strange—more than that, inexplicably puzzled. With a straight face, he returned to his quarters.

Early the next morning, Luo Sheng went to the Ministry of Justice to inquire about the situation.

“Minister, Miss Luo has arrived.”

Minister Zhao hesitated momentarily, then indicated they should bring her in.

Watching the young woman enter empty-handed, Minister Zhao suddenly felt a wave of disappointment, but quickly corrected this erroneous thought with reason.

Just yesterday something had happened—naturally Miss Luo couldn’t bring him food now.

“Minister, how is my father? Has the person who tried to harm him been found?”

“Not yet.”

Seeing the young woman about to shed tears, Minister Zhao quickly said: “We must be cautious! This kind of matter cannot be investigated clearly in a short time. We must be responsible to His Majesty and to the Grand Marshal. Don’t you agree, Miss Luo?”

Luo Sheng nodded: “The Minister is correct—caution is necessary. Then I won’t disturb your investigation. When there’s progress, please trouble yourself to send someone to inform the Luo Manor or Youjian Tavern.”

After receiving Minister Zhao’s nod, Luo Sheng left the ministry and went to the tavern.

The tavern was cold and deserted.

The female manager turned the account books over and over, her face showing worry.

Xiao Qi, whose injuries had mostly healed, still went to school—just a different one.

Luosai Huzi and Zhuang Han squatted at the base of the wall throwing dice.

Luo Sheng lifted her feet and walked into the courtyard.

Seeing Luo Sheng approach, the two quickly hid the dice and stood up, grinning as they greeted her: “Boss.”

“You’ve heard about my family’s situation?”

The two hesitantly nodded.

“Once my father is convicted, it will very likely implicate the tavern. While things are still relatively calm, you two should perhaps seek other opportunities—”

“What kind of talk is this, Boss!” Luosai Huzi’s face darkened completely. “I’m a man with an aunt now. Wherever Aunt is, I’ll be there. Big Brother Lu definitely feels the same as me.”

Zhuang Han nodded repeatedly, his expression serious: “That’s right. What Brother Du said is exactly what I wanted to say. Boss, please don’t drive us away.”

“As long as you won’t regret it.” Seeing them speak thus, Luo Sheng didn’t urge further. Turning her head, she saw the female manager standing at the entrance.

The female manager smiled with pressed lips: “I’m just a manager. If the Boss opens a cosmetics shop, I’m the cosmetics shop manager. If the Boss opens a tavern, I’m the tavern manager. As long as the establishment is here, this humble woman will be here. Boss, take care of family matters and don’t worry about this humble woman.”

Luo Sheng’s lips curved: “Then let’s run our tavern well and strive to make it an old established brand.”

All three smiled.

At this moment, someone from the Luo Manor arrived hurriedly with news: “Miss, the Young Master asks you to return home. The Tao family has sent someone to break the engagement with the First Miss!”