Several months ago, when Su Yao, the newly crowned top scholar who had yet to reach his twentieth year, donned red robes and wore red flowers while parading through the streets on horseback, he had captivated countless men and women, young and old, throughout the capital.

Later, when Scholar Su became Compiler Su, his azure official robes made him appear even more refined and peerless, drawing admiring glances wherever he went.

The blue-robed youth who had tumbled out of the carriage onto the street was unmistakably the top scholar!

Looking at the carriage again—

Someone with keen eyesight cried out in alarm: “Heavens, that’s Miss Luo’s carriage!”

The crowd focused their attention and chimed in agreement: “That’s right, it really is Miss Luo’s carriage.”

The top scholar had fallen out of Miss Luo’s carriage?

Hiss—this was going to be quite the spectacle!

Just then, Wei Feng passed by with several servants.

Having searched for most of the day without finding any trace of Wei Wen, he needed to eat before continuing his search.

Hearing the exclamations rising and falling around him, Wei Feng strode over.

“Make way!” The prince’s manor servants cleared a path ahead.

The onlookers discovered that the heir of Prince Pingnan had arrived and quickly parted to create a passage.

Originally, few common folk would have recognized the heir of Prince Pingnan, but since the young princess had gone missing and the heir had been constantly searching for her, they had seen his face repeatedly and now all recognized him.

Wei Feng looked at the youth who was supporting himself with his hands, preparing to stand, his tone icy: “Su Yao?”

The youth got up but did not look in the direction of the voice, keeping his head lowered as he moved toward the carriage.

However, Hong Dou emerged from the carriage compartment, blocking his way with an imposing manner.

Wei Feng rushed forward in quick steps, yanked the youth down, and shouted angrily: “You still want to hide!”

The youth had no way to avoid it and stood before the众 eyes.

Wei Feng saw the youth’s features clearly and was momentarily stunned: “You’re not Su Yao?”

The youth pressed his lips together without making a sound.

Hong Dou nimbly jumped down from the carriage and snorted coldly: “What Su Yao? Young Master, you’ve mistaken him for someone else. This is our young lady’s servant.”

The onlookers erupted in an uproar.

Good heavens, Miss Luo’s new male companion actually looked so much like the top scholar?

Soon, someone well-informed said with animated excitement: “So the rumors were true! I heard that when Miss Luo went south, she took a fancy to the top scholar and even made a fuss about wanting to marry him.”

“There was such a thing?”

“You lot are out of the loop. If it doesn’t happen in the capital, you don’t pay attention? Let me tell you, Miss Luo’s maternal family and the top scholar are from the same place…”

In just a short time, the complicated relationship between Miss Luo and the top scholar had spread throughout the crowd.

After that, everyone looked at the youth differently.

Who would have thought Miss Luo was such a devoted person? Unable to win the top scholar’s heart, she had found a substitute?

Shi Yan, who had been mixed in the crowd, turned and ran back to the tavern, rushing into the rear courtyard.

Wei Han was still sitting by the persimmon tree.

Shi Yan ran over and sighed: “Master, you’re still here waiting for Miss Luo? There’s trouble!”

“What’s the matter?” Wei Han set down the tea that had long since gone cold.

When Miss Luo left, she had told him to rest and drink some tea, saying she would return to the Grand Commander’s Manor. He had already drunk two pots of tea.

“Miss Luo brought back a youth from somewhere, and he looks very much like Scholar Su!”

Wei Han’s brow twitched slightly, his voice low: “Where did you hear this?”

Shi Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “That youth shared a carriage with Miss Luo, and somehow he fell out of the carriage. Everyone on the entire street saw it…”

Was his master unwilling to believe such a cruel reality, or was he overly confident in Miss Luo’s self-control?

Well, it was probably the former.

Thinking of how Miss Luo had left after dropping a single sentence while his master had been drinking tea until now, the young guard felt both heartache and sadness.

Wei Han strode out.

The commotion on Green Apricot Street caught the attention of a certain bailiff, who hurried to report to Lin Teng.

“Lord Lin, Miss Luo brought a male companion out shopping, and many people mistook him for Compiler Su.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Teng immediately rushed over.

Wei Feng was pressing Luo Sheng to exit the carriage: “How much longer does Miss Luo intend to remain in the carriage? Won’t you come down and chat with me?”

The plain gauze curtain was lifted, revealing a beautiful face.

“What does the young master wish to discuss with me?”

Wei Feng pointed with his hand: “To discuss Miss Luo’s male companion.”

Luo Sheng frowned: “Does the young master also wish to control whether I keep male companions?”

“That’s beyond my authority, but this particular one is different.”

The young woman in the carriage seemed to have no intention of descending. Her delicate hand rested on the window edge as she asked lazily: “How is he different? Just because he somewhat resembles Scholar Su?”

Wei Feng said through gritted teeth: “Exactly, precisely because he looks like Compiler Su!”

The onlookers immediately pricked up their ears.

The exciting part had arrived—they couldn’t afford to miss a single word.

Wei Feng did not disappoint. He said coldly: “My younger sister disappeared yesterday. Someone said they saw her with Compiler Su, but after investigation by the Ministry of Justice, they discovered that at that time, Compiler Su was dining with several colleagues. Several Hanlin scholars couldn’t all be lying, and the person who saw Compiler Su had no reason to speak falsely, so the matter became mysterious.”

As he spoke, he swept his gaze toward Feiyang: “Seeing him today, I finally understand.”

“Young Master, Lord Lin has arrived,” a servant said quietly.

Wei Feng turned his head to look and called out: “Lord Lin arrives at just the right time. Take a look at who this person resembles.”

Lin Teng carefully examined Feiyang and was secretly astonished.

If he hadn’t seen Compiler Su up close just yesterday, at first glance today he would have thought the person standing before him was Compiler Su himself.

“Doesn’t he look very much like Su Yao?” Wei Feng sneered. “Just now when he fell to the ground, I mistook him just from seeing his back. If it were someone who had never dealt with Su Yao, what would happen if they caught a glimpse from afar?”

Luo Sheng descended from the carriage and asked calmly: “Does the young master mean he is connected to the princess’s disappearance?”

Wei Feng stared intently at the young woman descending from the carriage and said coldly: “Exactly. My sister has a good temperament and has never had a conflict with anyone, except for an unpleasant incident with Miss Luo—”

Luo Sheng raised her eyebrows: “Does the young master mean to say I harmed the princess?”

Wei Feng gave two cold laughs: “That will require Lord Lin to investigate thoroughly.”

He then looked at Lin Teng: “Lord Lin, I hear you frequently visit the tavern opened by Miss Luo to drink. You won’t show favoritism because she’s an acquaintance, will you?”

Lin Teng said seriously: “The young master can rest assured. Lin always keeps personal feelings separate from his investigations.”

Wei Feng’s brow furrowed.

He felt there was something odd about Lin Teng’s words. What did he mean by not mixing in personal feelings? Shouldn’t an investigator say he was impartial and incorruptible?

However, Lin Teng saw nothing improper about his words. He cupped his hands toward Luo Sheng: “Miss Luo, please accompany me to the yamen. I wish to understand some matters.”

“Understand matters concerning him?” Luo Sheng glanced at Feiyang.

Lin Teng nodded slightly.

Luo Sheng looked at him and suddenly smiled: “If Lord Lin wishes to understand matters concerning him, I’m afraid you cannot ask me.”

Wei Feng sneered: “Miss Luo, so many people are watching. Do you still think you can use your status to remain uninvolved?”

Luo Sheng smiled gracefully: “It’s not that I wish to avoid this, but Feiyang was just given to me by Princess Changle. If the young master and Lord Lin wish to understand the situation, I’m afraid I cannot help you.”