By afternoon, snow suddenly began drifting down again.

The blue oiled-paper umbrella was like a blue lotus, blooming amidst the white snow, unhurriedly floating toward the You Jian Tavern.

Hong Dou stood outside the tavern entrance and scattered a handful of grain.

Several sparrows hopped over, happily pecking at the food on the ground.

“One, two, three…” Hong Dou quietly counted the number of sparrows, her face full of joy.

If all these sparrows were caught, whether roasted or fried, sprinkled with a handful of fine salt and chili powder—how fragrant that would be!

A pair of black boots entered her field of vision.

Hong Dou looked up and blinked: “Your Highness is here so early?”

“Is your young miss in?” Wei Han asked indifferently.

“Ah, yes.”

Wei Han closed his oiled-paper umbrella and quickly walked inside.

The tavern’s main door was ajar. Wei Han pushed it open and immediately felt waves of warmth.

As he lowered his head to unfasten his cloak, Luo Sheng walked over.

“Your Highness has come.”

Wei Han handed his cloak to Shi Yan who was waiting at the side, the corners of his lips curved in a smile: “Mm.”

Luo Sheng asked with a smile: “Would Your Highness like to go see the persimmon tree in the courtyard together?”

Wei Han nodded: “Alright.”

Watching the two walk side by side toward the door leading to the rear courtyard, Shi Yan, holding the cloak, twitched at the corners of his mouth.

Talking about looking at the persimmon tree again—bullying the persimmon tree because it can’t speak, right?

This time he wasn’t worried about whether his master would catch cold—what a deception of feelings.

“Shi San Huo, what are you spacing out for?” Hong Dou looked askance at the young guard and asked crisply.

Shi Yan quickly returned to his senses: “Nothing.”

“Since there’s nothing, then let’s go catch sparrows and have Xiu Gu roast them to eat.”

Shi Yan immediately became spirited: “Let’s go, let’s go catch sparrows.”

In the courtyard, the persimmon tree was clad in snow armor, like a dutiful guard, silently watching as a man and woman climbed the stone steps and entered the room.

A sparrow flew over and landed on a persimmon tree branch. Perhaps finding it boring, it pushed off with its claws and flew up to the eaves.

The persimmon tree’s branches trembled, accumulated snow rustling down. It quickly revealed its bare true appearance, inexplicably making one feel somewhat desolate.

Inside the room it was warm as spring. Neither Luo Sheng nor Wei Han were people who would be moved to melancholy by their surroundings.

They exchanged glances and quickly discussed business.

“My father came back saying Pingli died, died from poisoning.”

Hearing Luo Sheng say this, Wei Han’s expression didn’t change much.

Pingli’s death was a destined outcome—it was only a matter of how he died.

“My subordinates quietly followed the person who assassinated Pingli. This time we might be able to find where that assassin organization is hiding.”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly: “Thank you for Your Highness’s trouble.”

Wei Han smiled, picked up his teacup and took a sip, then continued: “The Grand Commander’s case will probably need to be closed first. The court needs an explanation.”

Involving that matter from twelve years ago, and with Grand Commander Luo’s status, they couldn’t have the civil and military officials spending the New Year in a state of anxiety.

Luo Sheng thought for a moment and asked: “The assassins I encountered when entering the capital at the beginning of the year—were they instructed by Pingli?”

“Currently it appears so, but whether this organization purely takes money to do jobs or is controlled by some faction still needs further investigation.”

“If Your Highness has any news, please inform me.”

Wei Han curved his lips: “Miss Luo can rest assured. If there’s any progress, I will definitely tell you.”

Otherwise, what was he being so proactive for?

Having finished discussing business, the room fell quiet for a moment.

Wei Han held his teacup, feeling this seemed not quite right. He took a sip of tea and said: “The New Year is almost here.”

The suddenly changed topic made Luo Sheng start, then she smiled: “Yes, time passes quickly.”

Looking at the young woman with curved lips and a light smile, Wei Han somehow felt his mood rather poor.

He was silent for a moment, then asked: “During the New Year, will the tavern close for the holiday?”

“Yes, it will be closed until after the Lantern Festival.”

Until the Lantern Festival—that long?

Then he would go a very long time without eating the You Jian Tavern’s food and wine.

And a very long time without seeing Miss Luo…

He had never liked the New Year before, and now he discovered he liked it even less.

Especially didn’t like the Lantern Festival.

The Lantern Festival…

Wei Han seemed to think of something and momentarily lost focus.

Luo Sheng noticed the abnormality of the man opposite her and gently blinked.

Learning the tavern would close for the New Year, was the blow to Prince Kaiyang a bit too great?

So great he wasn’t even speaking…

Having recently owed this person quite a considerable favor, although the person before her was surnamed Wei, Luo Sheng had gained quite a bit more patience and goodwill.

If Prince Kaiyang proposed he still wanted to eat the tavern’s food, she could have someone deliver it daily.

Wei Han came back to his senses.

Meeting those eyes as calm as water, his heart stirred and he blurted out: “On the Lantern Festival, will Miss Luo come out to enjoy the festivities?”

That day which brought displeasure—if Miss Luo spent it together with him, perhaps it wouldn’t be so difficult to bear.

Luo Sheng raised her eyebrows in surprise.

It actually wasn’t about wanting to eat?

This didn’t quite match Prince Kaiyang’s style.

Seeing Luo Sheng not speaking, Wei Han hurriedly said: “I will be out that day… How about we stroll around together then? I hear the lanterns are very beautiful.”

Luo Sheng fell silent.

She hadn’t even said she would go out—how did it become strolling around together?

“I don’t know if I’ll have matters to attend to then. We’ll see.” Luo Sheng declined tactfully.

Wei Han couldn’t hear that he was being refused and analyzed rationally: “At that time the tavern won’t be open, visiting relatives and friends will be finished—there shouldn’t be anything.”

He had noticed that Miss Luo seemed to have no friends.

Well, he’d heard Miss Luo had a good relationship with Princess Lele, but Princess Lele was currently not in the capital.

Luo Sheng glanced at him and simply made it clear: “I don’t like looking at lanterns. Your Highness should go by yourself.”

On the Lantern Festival, unmarried men and women who viewed lanterns together were either close relatives or lovers. For her to go view lanterns together with Prince Kaiyang—wouldn’t that be too strange?

The light in the man’s eyes extinguished in an instant, like the night sky after a meteor passes, leaving only gloom.

“Then what does Miss Luo like?” he asked.

“I like running the tavern.” Luo Sheng said seriously.

Liked collecting debts.

Those who owed the Zhengnan Prince’s Manor—she would eventually collect from them one by one.

As for the person before her, speaking honestly, she also liked him a little bit.

Luo Sheng sighed softly in her heart, but her gaze toward the man grew colder.

“It’s almost time for the tavern to open. Your Highness, let’s go to the main hall.” Before the atmosphere could become more awkward, Luo Sheng proposed.

“Alright.” Perhaps having been rejected many times, Wei Han quickly adjusted his mood and nodded cheerfully.

When one’s mood wasn’t good, eating some delicious food would help.

Walking out of the room, the sky had not yet darkened.

Heavy snow fell, wrapping the persimmon tree in the courtyard in thick silver garments.

“Miss Luo.” Wei Han suddenly called out.

Luo Sheng looked at him.

Wei Han pointed at the persimmon tree wrapped in plain silver: “Looking at it this way, the persimmon tree is actually quite good-looking. Don’t you think?”

Luo Sheng paused and looked carefully.

It was indeed quite good-looking.

In the main hall, Hong Dou was urging Shi Yan: “Shi San Huo, quickly take the sparrows to Xiu Gu.”

Shi Yan nodded, picked up a string of sparrows and walked toward the back. Lifting the cotton door curtain, he saw the two people admiring the persimmon tree.

Shi Yan’s gaze went rigid.