Marquis Changchun didn’t even wait to hear the rest before his expression changed. He glared at his daughter, quite flustered and exasperated: “What were you doing at that tavern?”

Did he not know what kind of prices the tavern charged?

Going there was one thing—why didn’t you settle the bill!

Xu Fang lowered her head slightly: “Your daughter had accompanied Aunt a few times and thought the food was very good, so I went again…”

Marquis Changchun froze.

The aunt Xu Fang mentioned was none other than the wife of Duke Ningguo.

It could be said that his tolerance toward this daughter was largely because she had such a backer behind her.

Looking at his daughter with lowered eyes and demure demeanor, Marquis Changchun suddenly thought of many years ago.

Those doubts and hidden worries, though they had gradually dissipated with the passage of time, ultimately made it difficult for him to develop much father-daughter affection for this daughter.

“How much do you owe in wine money? Is the money enough?” Marquis Changchun asked, suppressing his irritation.

Having lost ten thousand taels of silver for nothing, the marquis manor was already stretched thin dealing with this year—and now this girl was adding to the chaos!

Xu Fang remained silent with lowered eyes.

Marquis Changchun sighed: “Fine, go withdraw fifty taels of silver. Make sure to repay the wine money today.”

Compared to provoking that disaster Miss Luo, what were fifty taels of silver?

“Thank you, Father.” The corners of Xu Fang’s lips lifted slightly.

“Alright, you may go.” Marquis Changchun felt vexed looking at her and waved his hand dismissively.

Xu Fang withdrew from the study and exhaled a turbid breath.

After the snow, the weather had cleared. Everything was clothed in silver—even a single withered blade of grass looked moving.

The corners of Xu Fang’s mouth contained a smile as she walked away step by step.

After lunch, Xu Fang leisurely left with her maid Hong Yue.

“Miss, be careful—the road is slippery.”

Outside, everything was wrapped in silver. The ancient, weathered bluestone road was completely covered in accumulated snow, yet there were quite a few people coming and going. Many children built snowmen of various shapes by the roadside and chased each other in snowball fights.

Xu Fang walked with uneven steps through the snow and arrived at the tavern.

“Is Eldest Miss Xu looking for our boss?” The female proprietor smiled kindly at Xu Fang. “Our boss came to the tavern but then went out again. She probably won’t be back for a while.”

“That’s fine, I’ll wait.”

“Then please, Eldest Miss Xu, sit in the main hall.”

Xu Fang entered the main hall. Her gaze swept around, and she couldn’t help but ask the female proprietor: “I heard Miss Luo redeemed Xu Xi from the male companion establishment. Would the proprietor be so kind as to tell me where Xu Xi is now?”

The female proprietor thought to herself that the eldest miss knew how to speak properly.

Listen to that—not saying the boss bought someone, but redeemed someone, making their boss seem so beautiful-hearted and kind.

The boss had instructed that if Eldest Miss Xu or Second Young Master Lin came to see their younger brother, there was no need to block them.

The female proprietor smiled: “At this time, Young Master Xu should be working in the back courtyard.”

“Working?” Xu Fang murmured these two words, her feelings extremely complex.

She hadn’t expected her younger brother would have a day when he actually worked properly.

Before Xu Fang could make the request, the female proprietor readily said: “If Eldest Miss Xu wishes to see Young Master Xu, please follow me.”

Xu Fang inclined her body slightly: “Thank you, proprietor.”

The female proprietor quickly moved aside: “I wouldn’t dare accept such courtesy.”

The two walked one after the other toward the door leading to the back courtyard.

The doorway was blocked by a thick cotton curtain. Pushing aside the curtain, cold wind came rushing at them.

Xu Fang stood there, her gaze fixed on the corner by the wall.

The monotonous sound of chopping came repeatedly. The young man held an axe, struggling to chop firewood.

Wood chips covered the ground everywhere. A small pile of not particularly neat firewood was stacked not far away.

Besides this, there was also a burly man with a fierce face, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the young man chopping wood.

Xu Fang stood motionless, staring fixedly.

The female proprietor tactfully withdrew to the side.

After an unknown amount of time, Xu Fang pushed aside the cotton curtain and silently returned to the main hall.

“Won’t Eldest Miss Xu speak with Young Master Xu?”

Xu Fang smiled at the female proprietor: “That’s not necessary. I’ll just wait here for Miss Luo to return.”

At this moment, Luo Sheng was at Qianjin Workshop.

Shouting was incessant at Qianjin Workshop—it was the afternoon when things were starting to get lively.

Luo Sheng wore men’s clothing but hadn’t made any special effort to disguise herself. With just a little attention, one could see this was a young lady.

But gambling houses were different from other places—everyone had red eyes from gambling, and truly not many people noticed her.

This was also Luo Sheng’s purpose in dressing as a man—at least she wouldn’t draw attention the moment she entered.

As for being recognized as a woman, that didn’t matter. Miss Luo could even visit male companion establishments—visiting a gambling house gave them face, didn’t it?

In fact, her identity had been recognized when she arrived. Throughout, people from the gambling house accompanied her, acting cautiously.

However, as she casually played a few rounds, losing several hundred taels of silver without blinking or losing her temper, that caution turned into eyes shining with light.

“What is Miss Luo most interested in? This humble one can introduce things to you.”

“I’ve never played any of these. Let me just browse around first.” Luo Sheng answered perfunctorily, looking around with some curiosity.

She was searching for that person she’d glimpsed by chance yesterday.

Of course, this depended on luck. If that person was a gambler, they might not necessarily come today.

Suddenly there was a commotion—people at one gambling table started making a scene.

Luo Sheng looked over, her eyes contracting.

A man around thirty in a long robe quickly walked to that table and began handling the dispute.

It was that person!

Luo Sheng relaxed and felt somewhat fortunate.

“Why are there always people making trouble here?”

Her companion explained with a smile: “Our place isn’t like others—making trouble is too common.”

“Is that man in the blue robe one of the gambling house’s people? He seems quite good at handling trouble.”

“Yes, that’s our Manager Zhu.”

“Call him over.”

Her companion was stunned.

Hong Dou glared at him: “Didn’t you hear our miss speak? You just know how to stand there dumbly.”

The companion smiled bitterly inwardly.

It wasn’t that he wanted to stand dumbly—it was just that Miss Luo’s actions were too unexpected!

However, he could only comply.

The companion hurried over and whispered a few words in the man’s ear.

The man looked over, hesitated slightly, then strode over.

“Greetings, Miss Luo.” The man before her cupped his hands in salute.

“You’re Manager Zhu?”

“That’s correct.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “I see you’re talented, and my tavern happens to need someone like you. Would you be willing to come work at my tavern?”

The man was stunned.

The companion’s eyes also went straight.

How could someone just directly poach people like this? Manager Zhu was their boss’s sworn brother!

After a brief silence, the man cupped his hands toward Luo Sheng: “Thank you for Miss Luo’s favor, but the owner of Qianjin Workshop has shown this humble one kindness. I cannot seek a higher branch elsewhere and can only disappoint Miss Luo’s good intentions.”

“I see. Then I won’t force you. Manager Zhu, please go about your business.” Luo Sheng’s tone was indifferent, as if she’d lost interest.

The man relaxed slightly and turned to leave.

Luo Sheng lingered a while longer, then left Qianjin Workshop with Hong Dou.

Xu Fang waited in the tavern’s main hall, her face showing no emotion, having already drunk two cups of tea.

She had enough time to wait today, but as for what result would come after speaking with Miss Luo, she couldn’t predict.

In this world, the most difficult thing to fathom was the human heart.

At this moment, a young lady wearing a green cloak walked in from outside.