The chopsticks in Wei Han’s hand shot out like projectiles, striking the wrist of Shopkeeper Han’s hand that gripped the dagger.

The dagger fell to the ground with a thud.

This was immediately followed by Shopkeeper Han’s scream of agony.

She clutched her blood-drenched wrist and spun around in pain, blood spattering everywhere with her movements.

This sudden turn of events was too abrupt and too bloody, shocking the wine house patrons into stunned silence.

Wei Han strode over quickly and pulled Luo Sheng behind him. “Are you alright?”

Luo Sheng shook her head slightly. “I’m fine.”

If he hadn’t acted so quickly, she could have dodged it herself.

What she was more curious about was Shopkeeper Han’s reason for attacking her.

Hong Dou came flying over, grabbed Shopkeeper Han by the hair, and began slapping her while cursing, “You dared attack our young miss—let’s see if I don’t beat you to death!”

The crisp sound of slaps soon drowned out Shopkeeper Han’s screams.

“Hong Dou, stop for a moment,” Luo Sheng said.

Hong Dou withdrew her hand and shoved the dazed and disoriented Shopkeeper Han to the ground, planting a foot on her body. “Miss, your orders.”

Luo Sheng walked over, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the woman on the ground. “Who are you?”

Shopkeeper Han propped herself up with one hand, tilting her head back to glare at her.

The intense hatred in her eyes made Luo Sheng unconsciously furrow her brow.

Originally, hearing Shopkeeper Han mention last year’s incident of government officers randomly arresting young women, she had wondered if this was revenge against Grand Commander Luo. But seeing Shopkeeper Han’s reaction—as if she wanted to cut her into a thousand pieces—something seemed strange.

Now it appeared that speech had been more like a ploy to lower her guard.

Luo Sheng stared at Shopkeeper Han and noticed something wrong: Hong Dou had just slapped her so many times, yet her face showed no redness or swelling…

A thought stirred in Luo Sheng’s mind, and she instructed Hong Dou, “Check her face and see if there’s anything unusual.”

Following the order, Hong Dou crouched down, using one hand to pin the woman down to prevent her from struggling while the other hand explored her face.

“Let go of me, let go!”

With a tearing sound, Hong Dou’s hand now held a piece of skin.

The female shopkeeper couldn’t control her shriek, and the patrons in the hall were so frightened they dropped their chopsticks.

Had Big Sister Hong Dou torn off someone’s face?

Luo Sheng, however, recognized the woman whose true appearance was revealed. “Miss Zhu?”

Everyone snapped back to attention and only then discovered the woman on the ground had changed appearance: ignoring the swollen cheeks, she was actually a young woman of stunning beauty.

Everyone looked in unison at the object in Hong Dou’s hand.

That piece of facial skin swayed slightly, appearing horrifying under the lamplight.

What on earth was happening?

Minister Zhao, being Minister of Justice, might not solve cases well but had seen plenty of strange things. He speculated, “This is a human skin mask, isn’t it?”

A human skin mask?

Hearing this, everyone felt their scalps tingle.

Wasn’t this just a wine house for drinking and eating meat? How had human skin masks gotten involved?

Hong Dou also recognized the woman. “Zhu Hanshuang, it’s you!”

The female shopkeeper could remember customers who had visited the wine house. She stared at Zhu Hanshuang and murmured, “So you’re Second Miss Zhu from Duke Anguo’s manor!”

All those present were male customers who wouldn’t know which family she belonged to from Hong Dou calling her name, but upon hearing “Duke Anguo’s manor,” they understood.

And because of this, they were even more shocked.

A young lady from Duke Anguo’s manor wearing a human skin mask had come to attack Miss Luo?

Actually, Luo Sheng already held the title of Princess Imperial, but people were still accustomed to calling her “Miss Luo.”

“If I remember correctly, that cosmetics shop has been open for over two years now. Miss Zhu has been so calculating and patient—truly remarkable perseverance,” Luo Sheng said flatly.

Zhu Hanshuang turned a deaf ear to Luo Sheng’s words, clutching her wrist while gazing at Wei Han in a daze. “Your Highness, do you still remember me?”

Luo Sheng shot Wei Han a glance and silently stepped back.

Whoever caused the trouble should resolve it.

Wei Han nodded expressionlessly. “I remember. You caused Miss Luo trouble many times.”

The light that had appeared in Zhu Hanshuang’s eyes upon hearing “I remember” dimmed after hearing what followed. Anger and grievance surged forth. “Has Your Highness forgotten that this vile woman surnamed Luo pulled off your belt sash in the street? She humiliated you so—why do you still protect her at every turn?”

The patrons caught the scent of gossip and immediately pricked up their ears.

Honestly, they were quite curious too.

Wei Han found this statement rather laughable and said flatly, “A young girl’s unintentional action couldn’t humiliate me. As for why I protected her at every turn afterward—”

He glanced at Luo Sheng and stated frankly, “Because my heart delights in her. Isn’t protecting her perfectly natural and right?”

Perfectly natural and right?

Zhu Hanshuang murmured these words, her rationality collapsing all at once. “Luo Sheng, I’m going to kill you, I will definitely kill you!”

“Stop making noise!” came a vigorous shout.

Everyone looked toward the entrance in unison to see Grand Commander Luo striding in quickly.

“Minister Zhao, shouldn’t your Ministry of Justice take away the person who committed assault?” Grand Commander Luo pointed at Zhu Hanshuang, who had descended into madness.

Minister Zhao nodded reluctantly. “Ahem, yes, we should take her away…”

But he didn’t want to leave—the free food and wine weren’t finished yet, and he hadn’t seen enough of the excitement.

Though Grand Commander Luo was angry that Zhu Hanshuang had attacked his beloved daughter, an already exposed culprit was completely unworthy of his attention.

What he cared more about right now was another matter.

Grand Commander Luo’s gaze burned as he stared at Wei Han and said gravely, “Your Highness, let’s go to the back and talk.”

Wei Han glanced at Luo Sheng and nodded slightly. “Alright.”

The two quickly left the main hall.

Seeing there was no more excitement to watch, Minister Zhao instructed the attendants who had come with him, “Take her back to the Ministry of Justice and send word to Duke Anguo’s manor.”

The main hall returned to normal. The patrons looked at the composed young woman by the counter with secret admiration: she was truly Miss Luo—hearing Prince Kaiyang’s confession without even changing expression.

The persimmon tree in the back courtyard possessed a serene beauty in the night. Grand Commander Luo pointed to a nearby stone bench. “Your Highness, please sit.”

Wei Han sat down.

Grand Commander Luo took a deep breath and began with feigned calm, “Your Highness just said your heart delights in Sheng’er—”

“Yes.”

Grand Commander Luo kept his face stern and fired off three questions in succession. “When did this happen? How did I not know? Does Your Highness intend to secretly pledge lifelong commitment with my daughter?”

Just thinking about it made him angry. After Chen ascended the throne, he had conferred the title of Princess Imperial on all four daughters. He had thought this was wonderful—he could finally experience what it was like to have matchmakers wear down the Luo manor’s threshold.

Never could he have imagined that a year had passed, an entire year, and still not one marriage proposal had come!

Others were one thing—he couldn’t force a cow to drink water—but Prince Kaiyang clearly liked Sheng’er yet didn’t do a single proper thing about it. Did he think his daughter couldn’t marry anyone else?

Facing Grand Commander Luo’s interrogation, Wei Han answered honestly, “Without realizing it, I came to like her. I was preparing to formally request her hand from Uncle Luo tomorrow.”

“I don’t agree!” Grand Commander Luo flatly refused.

Hmph, he too was a person with backbone.

Wei Han hadn’t expected Grand Commander Luo to refuse without hesitation. Looking at that stern face, he asked seriously, “Can you tell me your reasons for objecting?”

Grand Commander Luo coughed with restraint. “When one family has a daughter, a hundred families come seeking. I still want to carefully select for Sheng’er.”

A hundred families seeking?

Wei Han froze.

Seeing Wei Han stunned, Grand Commander Luo’s heart lifted anxiously: it couldn’t be—would this young man give up at just this little setback?