Steward Zhu’s determination to leave the city wasn’t that great.

Although not all of those taken away by the officers were his people, they comprised more than half. Yet he remained safe and sound.

Had the other side overlooked him, or were they playing a long game to catch a bigger fish?

He suspected the latter more.

Choosing to leave the city at this time wasn’t a wise choice—it would be equivalent to voluntarily entering those people’s line of sight.

If there was a place to stay, it would be better to remain…

Steward Zhu gazed at the blue wine sign trembling in the wind and snow and made his decision.

The tavern hadn’t yet reached opening time. On the snow-covered bluestone path outside the door, several sparrows were hopping about foraging for food.

Suddenly the thick cotton door curtain lifted, and a young maid in a red jacket emerged from the tavern, followed by a handsome young man.

Whether hearing the sound or discovering the approaching people, the sparrows fled in panic.

Hong Dou pursed her lips, displeased. “These sparrows are getting craftier and craftier. Just because I ate a few batches of them, they run as soon as they see me.”

With a glance, she spotted Steward Zhu and exclaimed, “Aren’t you the steward from Qianjin Workshop?”

Steward Zhu nodded slightly.

Hong Dou turned her head and shouted, “Miss, that Steward Zhu from Qianjin Workshop has come to seek refuge with you.”

Steward Zhu’s mouth twitched.

Although this little maid had guessed his intention correctly, hearing her say it like that made him want to turn and leave…

The cotton curtain was lifted by a maid in a lilac vest.

The little maid stood at the entrance, smiling. “Steward Zhu, Miss invites you inside.”

Steward Zhu hesitated slightly before walking in.

Warmth filled the main hall. A young woman in plain clothing sat by a table near the window, her manner languid.

Hearing the sound, she looked over calmly.

“Miss Luo.” Steward Zhu cupped his hands.

Luo Sheng smiled at him. “Has Steward Zhu thought it through and decided to work at the tavern?”

The female manager, who had been bent over organizing account books, looked up alertly upon hearing this.

Someone who had been a steward coming to work at the tavern—wouldn’t the most suitable position be manager?

Hiss—could it be the proprietress thought she wasn’t doing well and planned to replace her as manager?

That couldn’t be right. She was so meticulous organizing the account books. Her recent records even specified the exact hour each distinguished guest arrived. Could the proprietress still be dissatisfied?

The female manager’s heart pounded. She stared directly at Steward Zhu, her hand unconsciously resting on the iron abacus.

One of Steward Zhu’s eyebrows couldn’t help but twitch.

He had heard of Miss Luo’s fierce reputation. How was this seemingly respectable married woman also staring at him so intently?

Suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, Steward Zhu cupped his hands. “This humble one is no longer working at Qianjin Workshop. If your establishment needs someone like me, I hope Miss Luo will take me in.”

The female manager gripped the iron abacus forcefully, her expression serious.

Luo Sheng smiled. “Our tavern’s business is thriving—naturally we need talented people like Steward Zhu to help.”

“What position might this humble one fill?”

“We still need an accountant to share the manager’s workload.”

The female manager’s lips trembled.

She didn’t need anyone to share her workload!

However, facing the smiling proprietress, she didn’t dare protest.

Fine, she would just guard against this person in the future and not let him steal her position.

“Thank you for taking me in, Miss Luo.”

Luo Sheng propped her chin with her hand and asked casually, “Steward Zhu worked at Qianjin Workshop for many years, didn’t you? Why did you suddenly stop?”

Steward Zhu looked embarrassed. “Qianjin Workshop had some trouble and closed down. They dismissed some people…”

“I see.” Luo Sheng nodded slightly and asked again, “By the way, I still don’t know how to address Steward Zhu properly?”

“Just call me Zhu Wu.”

“Zhu Wu—” Luo Sheng murmured the name, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “A good name.”

As a princess, the reason she had an impression of Zhu Wu was because this person was Yang Zhun’s subordinate. She had once seen the two of them spar.

Zhu Wu had great talent in martial arts. At that time, though only in his teens, when exchanging moves with Yang Zhun, he already held his own.

Such a person—twelve years later, on the surface he had become a gambling house steward, while secretly he had become the head of an assassin organization.

She wanted to keep this person by her side to observe him, to see why he had become this way, and whether he still had any connection to Prince Zhennan’s manor.

“Kou’er, clean out a room in the east wing for Zhu Wu to stay in.”

Kou’er nodded to Zhu Wu. “Follow me.”

The addition of one more worker at Youjian Tavern didn’t attract the patrons’ attention. The tavern received streams of customers daily.

After all, there was that ten percent discount! Once the tavern closed at year’s end, they wouldn’t be able to eat here anymore!

What the patrons noticed was another person.

Prince Kaiyang, who came to drink wine unfailingly every day, hadn’t come for two days.

Could it be he’d eaten himself poor?

They didn’t dare ask, only secretly speculate in their hearts, and even by the time the tavern closed for the year, they still hadn’t solved the mystery.

Even Hong Dou couldn’t help but mutter, “Miss, why hasn’t Prince Kaiyang come?”

Luo Sheng thought of the fine snow the persimmon tree had shed that day, thought of that large hand shielding her from the snow, and smiled faintly. “Who knows? Just focus on preparing for New Year’s.”

The New Year atmosphere at the Grand Commander’s manor grew stronger and stronger. Just as Little New Year passed, relatives arrived.

Second Uncle Sheng brought his two nephews, Sheng Dalang and Sheng Erlang, to the capital.

Sheng Dalang and Sheng Erlang had their names on the provincial examination list and needed to prepare for next year’s spring examinations.

For such out-of-town examinees, all families with means would arrive in the capital early to settle in—first, so they could participate in the imperial examinations in the best condition, and second, for the important reason of paying visits to great scholars, befriending fellow examination candidates, and building reputation to create momentum for the examination.

Hong Dou rushed in like a whirlwind. “Miss, Uncle has arrived. He brought Eldest Cousin and Second Cousin, and also brought someone you definitely couldn’t guess!”

“Is it Su Yao?” Luo Sheng asked calmly.

Hong Dou froze, then glared at Kou’er. “Kou’er, did you tell Miss?”

That little minx, stealing credit again!

Kou’er rolled her eyes at her. “I don’t even know who Su Yao is. What would I tell Miss?”

Hong Dou blinked, then remembered that Kou’er hadn’t accompanied Miss to Jinsha back then.

Thinking this, the little maid was immediately satisfied, but then became angry again. “What’s that jinx doing here during New Year’s!”

Miss had only suffered a loss once in her whole life, and it was that jinx who caused it.

Luo Sheng smiled indifferently. “Su Yao is a famous talented scholar. With both cousins having passed the provincial examinations, there’s no reason he wouldn’t pass. The Sheng and Su families are on good terms. Second Uncle came to the capital to make arrangements for my two cousins’ affairs, so naturally he would take extra care of Su Yao.”

Hong Dou spat. “If it weren’t for him, Miss wouldn’t have had that incident. How does he still have the face to enter the Grand Commander’s manor? Ah, he’s not going to stay here, is he?”

“Probably not. When Second Uncle left the capital last time, he already left people here to arrange lodging.” Luo Sheng stood up and accepted the cloak Kou’er handed her. “Let’s go take a look.”

In the flower hall, Grand Commander Luo was exchanging pleasantries with Second Uncle Sheng.

Sheng Dalang and Sheng Erlang, having paid their respects to Grand Commander Luo, looked at Sheng Sanlang, dumbstruck.

“Third Brother, come here.”

Sheng Sanlang moved closer. “What does Second Brother want?”

Sheng Erlang looked Sheng Sanlang up and down and asked in a low voice, “Third Brother, tell the truth—have you looked in a mirror these past days?”