Prince Pingnan naturally paid no attention to the waiter’s polite words. As he was about to leave, he called out to Wei Han: “Eleventh Brother hasn’t finished eating yet?”

Wei Han sat upright by the window table. Today he wore a raven-blue robe that accentuated his upright bearing and profound features.

Regarding Prince Pingnan’s pointless remark, Wei Han had no desire to respond, but basic courtesy was still necessary.

He nodded coolly: “Mm. Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, take care.”

“Then Eleventh Brother, take your time eating.” Prince Pingnan walked out of the tavern entrance with a cheerful smile, his expression turning cold.

No one enjoyed offering a warm face only to receive a cold shoulder. Regarding this impervious Eleventh Brother, he naturally had complaints.

Yet the Imperial Brother valued Eleventh Brother most highly.

He couldn’t even understand the reason.

If they said Eleventh Brother was a rare military talent, couldn’t the Great Zhou find anyone better than him?

But the Imperial Brother had carefully cultivated Eleventh Brother since his youth, even sending him early to the northern territories for tempering.

Could it be that when Eleventh Brother was still a child, the Imperial Brother already saw he was a promising prospect who could militarily stabilize the nation?

Prince Pingnan dredged up distant memories.

How did he remember that Eleventh Brother was a fool as a child?

Eleventh Brother was born many years after he left the capital for his fiefdom. It wasn’t until after their late father’s death when the Imperial Brother inherited the throne and they vassal princes entered the capital to pay respects that they met just that once.

At that time, Eleventh Brother was only three or four years old and didn’t seem very bright.

According to rumor, the Eleventh Prince was somewhat simple-minded…

Perhaps his young mind developed slowly, but who would have thought he’d turn out so presentable now?

Prince Pingnan was thinking these resentful thoughts when he stumbled and nearly fell.

“Your Highness, be careful.” Princess Pingnan quickly steadied him.

Prince Pingnan came to his senses and regained his footing: “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Outside the tavern, lights were already burning in every household.

A waning crescent moon hung thin as a moth’s eyebrow, forlorn and cold in the sky.

Prince Pingnan stood still briefly and exhaled: “No wonder You Jian Tavern only does evening business. On such a hot day, if you walked out at noon after eating and drinking your fill, how uncomfortable would that be? But coming out now, you can enjoy the night breeze—much more comfortable.”

Princess Pingnan smiled in agreement.

“Your Highness, let’s go.”

The guards waiting outside the tavern silently followed Prince and Princess Pingnan.

After walking several zhang, Prince Pingnan looked back.

The tavern still blazed with lights, its blue wine banner waving in the wind. Looking at it so intently in the night, it felt familiar yet strange.

“Your Highness?” Princess Pingnan called out in puzzlement.

Prince Pingnan turned his head and walked forward while laughing: “You Jian Tavern’s braised pork knuckle truly never gets old. When will they have this dish next?”

Princess Pingnan smiled: “Today is month’s end. Next time won’t be until the tenth.”

Thinking he’d have to wait over ten days to eat his beloved braised pork knuckle, Prince Pingnan frowned: “Who knows where all these ridiculous rules come from—the tenth, twentieth, and thirtieth. That works out to only three times a month.”

“Actually this is quite suitable. The physician just said that at our age, we can’t frequently eat these…”

Prince Pingnan clearly didn’t listen to Princess Pingnan’s nagging. Facing the night breeze, he sighed: “Fortunately they still sell roasted pig head and braised beef, so it’s not so hard to wait. Who knows where Grand Marshal Luo’s daughter found such a chef—the cooking is truly exceptional. Later, you inquire around. If there are any from the same school, invite them to the Prince’s Manor.”

Getting You Jian Tavern’s chef directly to the manor would be best, but the tavern was opened by Grand Marshal Luo’s precious daughter—there was no need for the manor to offend Grand Marshal Luo over a chef.

“Understood. Tomorrow I’ll send someone to inquire.”

The couple said no more, leisurely strolling toward Prince Pingnan’s Manor.

On a tree by the street, Luo Sheng in black clothing had nearly merged with the night, gripping her bow and arrow, silently awaiting her target’s arrival.

She couldn’t be absent from the tavern too long, so she had only just concealed herself. Clearly her timing was perfect—she could see Prince and Princess Pingnan walking this way.

This was one important reason why, after walking through every street and alley in the western city, she had ultimately chosen to open the tavern here.

The distance from the tavern to Prince Pingnan’s Manor was exactly the kind that wasn’t worth taking a carriage for, but was just right for walking off a meal.

After eating and drinking one’s fill, strolling back to the manor on the night breeze was far more comfortable than sitting in a carriage or sedan chair.

And then there was this tree.

This section was slightly darker—hiding in the luxuriantly leafy tree, she wouldn’t be detected. Going further forward, still within bow range, the light would brighten again.

Very suitable for her to identify her target and resolve it with one arrow.

Luo Sheng looked up, gazing at the sky through the dense branches and leaves.

The waning crescent moon hung like a hook in the sky, its sparse moonlight barely providing illumination.

The tenth, twentieth, and thirtieth—choosing to act on this last day of the month was just perfect.

Favorable weather, terrain, and people—only the people aspect left Luo Sheng somewhat unsatisfied.

Today Minister Zhao had come, bringing his capable subordinate Lin Teng and his eldest nephew Lin Shu.

Her nephew was grown now and shouldn’t be too frightened. Lin Teng, however, made her somewhat wary.

Lin Teng’s performance at Princess Pingnan’s birthday banquet had left a deep impression on her.

But she wasn’t planning to delay further.

Even the most appetite-satisfying food, eaten frequently several times, would diminish in appeal. Then whether Prince Pingnan would come to the tavern, and the timing, would become harder to control.

Weighing everything, whether Lin Teng was present or not wasn’t so important.

Regarding this, Luo Sheng had only one thought: the tavern’s prices were still set too low.

Wasn’t Zhao Shilang’s last visit supposed to have bankrupted his grandson by eating there? Who knew that once the braised pork knuckle and plum blossom intestines appeared, he’d dare to come again?

Prince and Princess Pingnan had already walked past.

Originally this distance would be most convenient for acting, but precisely because it was most convenient, Luo Sheng couldn’t move.

Eliminating Prince Pingnan was one thing; successfully escaping was another.

She had to accomplish both.

Trading herself for one Prince Pingnan—that wouldn’t be worth it.

The wind blew, leaves rustling.

The large red lanterns hanging under the eaves of shops along the street swayed back and forth, light and shadow fluctuating.

Prince Pingnan walked ahead, Princess Pingnan half a step behind him. The two were about to reach the turning point.

In front of Prince and Princess Pingnan were two servants holding lanterns for illumination, while four or five guards followed behind.

Luo Sheng, hidden in the tree looking down from above, wasn’t worried about avoiding those people while aiming at her target.

The bow in her hand had grown somewhat warm from her grip, the bowstring gradually drawn to full tension.

One step, two steps, three steps…

Luo Sheng counted the steps in her heart.

This wasn’t her first time hiding in this tree, nor her first time silently counting the other party’s footsteps.

In the brightly lit tavern, when patrons ate to their hearts’ content, while Hong Dou and the others worried about how much food and drink would remain, she had time and again quietly left the tavern to hide in this tree, watching Prince Pingnan depart.

Time and again raising her bow, time and again lowering it, adjusting every detail, seeking out the optimal moment.

Today, she would make one of the enemies who had destroyed over a hundred members of her household stay behind.

Luo Sheng’s lips pressed tight, her eyes narrowing.

Her hand released, the arrow flew.

That feathered arrow carrying her anguish and determination shot forth like a meteor, advancing without hesitation.

It struck Prince Pingnan directly in the back of his heart.