Although Uncle Xing had escaped calamity under Zhu Wu’s cover, he was not faring well.

Last night’s deadly battle had nearly exhausted all his strength. The wound medicine was no miracle cure, and he was no longer a young man—his vitality was severely damaged.

What made matters worse was that at such a sensitive time, he dared not summon a physician and could only rely on medicine prepared in advance and his own body’s resilience to endure.

Zhu Wu was quite worried, keeping watch over Uncle Xing with a grave expression.

Uncle Xing couldn’t stand it and cursed: “I’m not dead yet—why are you showing that face?”

Zhu Wu smiled bitterly: “You don’t even have the energy to speak, so stop cursing.”

“Who says I don’t have energy to curse?” Uncle Xing glared, suddenly pulling at his wound, immediately breaking out in cold sweat from the pain.

“Please don’t move around.” Zhu Wu stood up to adjust the blanket for Uncle Xing and muttered: “If only we could get the divine physician to prescribe some medicine for you…”

The divine physician could bring the dead back to life and heal flesh and bones—Uncle Xing’s superficial wounds would naturally be child’s play.

“I won’t die. Don’t think such nonsense.” Uncle Xing solemnly cautioned.

Zhu Wu smiled helplessly: “I know.”

He was only thinking about it. If Uncle Xing could hide here safely and smoothly for two months, that would already be good fortune.

Just as he was thinking this, knocking suddenly came from outside.

Zhu Wu’s expression changed slightly as he immediately looked toward Uncle Xing.

Uncle Xing also frowned, speculating about who would be knocking at the door at this time.

Could it be officials searching houses again?

This wasn’t impossible. With the princes’ heirs killed, Emperor Yong’an’s nose was probably twisted with rage, and he would certainly keep a tight grip on this matter—naturally those below would take it to heart.

Zhu Wu immediately hid Uncle Xing in the secret chamber, hastily tidied up, and went out.

“Who is it?” Staring at the semi-worn wooden door, Zhu Wu asked with his heart in his throat, trying to keep his tone calm.

Two words drifted in from outside the door: “It’s me.”

Hearing Luo Sheng’s voice, Zhu Wu’s heart dropped halfway back down, and he reached out to open the door.

Outside the door stood a young woman wearing a green-faced snow fox cloak, with an oiled paper umbrella overhead shielding her from wind and snow, and Kou’er at her side holding the umbrella.

“Why has the proprietress come?”

The young woman beneath the oiled paper umbrella smiled and asked: “Will Mister Zhu not invite me in?”

Zhu Wu seemed to only then react and hurriedly stepped aside: “Proprietress, please come in quickly.”

Luo Sheng crossed the threshold and casually glanced around the courtyard a few times.

Zhu Wu calmly made polite conversation: “Proprietress, please go sit inside the house. This snow is getting heavier.”

“Indeed. It started last night and has barely stopped, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. On my way here, I saw some places where the snow was nearly knee-deep.”

Hearing Luo Sheng’s seemingly casual words, Zhu Wu’s half-settled heart grew tense again.

In such heavy snow, Miss Luo coming over was probably no simple matter.

Regardless of his inner turmoil, Zhu Wu had no choice but to invite her inside to sit and poured hot tea in hospitality.

Luo Sheng held the teacup and asked with a smile: “How is it I don’t see Uncle Xing?”

The teapot in Zhu Wu’s hand nearly fell from fright. He struggled to maintain composure and said: “The proprietress even knows my uncle came?”

What kind of girl was this? Too terrifying! Why didn’t a young lady pay more attention to rouge and powder instead?

The young woman sitting across smiled: “You are my accountant—naturally I must show concern.”

Hearing this righteous answer, Zhu Wu only wanted to sneer coldly. His thoughts turned and he said: “Uncle Xing came to see me, and after finishing his business rushed back home. Hehe, it’s near the New Year after all…”

Luo Sheng said in surprise: “So he’s spending New Year on the road?”

Zhu Wu fell silent.

It seemed his fabricated story hadn’t fooled her.

Luo Sheng stood up: “Originally, having heard that Uncle Xing came, as Mister Zhu’s proprietress I wanted to show some hospitality as a host. Since Uncle Xing has returned home, I should go back to the tavern.”

Zhu Wu breathed a heavy sigh of relief and said casually: “I’ll see the proprietress out.”

Finally got rid of this troublesome girl.

Luo Sheng walked out of the house and headed straight for the woodshed.

Zhu Wu froze.

That direction was wrong!

A chill shot up his spine. Zhu Wu hurriedly called out: “Proprietress, you’re going the wrong way!”

The young woman walking ahead turned back and smiled sweetly: “I’m not going the wrong way. With such heavy snow I won’t walk outside—there’s a secret passage entrance in the woodshed that leads directly to the tavern.”

Zhu Wu stumbled and nearly fell to his knees in the snow. Seeing that Luo Sheng was about to enter the woodshed, he shouted: “Miss Luo, please stop!”

Luo Sheng very cooperatively halted and smiled at him.

Zhu Wu walked over with a cold face: “Miss Luo, please wait inside the house. I’ll ask Uncle Xing to come out.”

Luo Sheng stopped teasing him and gracefully walked back into the house, lifting her skirt.

Zhu Wu entered the secret chamber with a dark expression and said to Uncle Xing: “Miss Luo knows you’re here.”

Uncle Xing was silent for a moment, then sighed: “That girl is far shrewder than she appears on the surface. She probably guessed that last night’s incident was related to me…”

A killing intent flashed in Zhu Wu’s eyes as he gritted his teeth: “If that’s the case—”

Uncle Xing didn’t let him continue and said calmly: “Let’s go out first and talk.”

Since they’d been discovered, continuing to hide would only be embarrassing.

Luo Sheng didn’t wait long before Uncle Xing arrived, supported by Zhu Wu.

“What happened to Uncle Xing?”

After sitting down, Uncle Xing said flatly: “If Miss Luo has something to say, please speak directly.”

Hearing these words, Luo Sheng took a sip of tea, and the atmosphere froze for an instant.

Zhu Wu’s lips moved, but he still held back.

Luo Sheng set down her teacup and said calmly: “Last night a major incident occurred—you two know about it, yes?”

Uncle Xing and Zhu Wu exchanged glances and nodded.

“I suspect it was Uncle Xing’s doing.” Luo Sheng stared unblinkingly at Uncle Xing as she spoke these words plainly.

Zhu Wu’s expression completely changed as he said sternly: “Miss Luo, you cannot speak such words carelessly!”

Uncle Xing raised his hand to stop Zhu Wu from continuing, his gaze never leaving that pale, cold face: “What makes Miss Luo say this?”

Luo Sheng toyed with the teacup lid, her tone still calm and unperturbed: “You two didn’t go out today, did you? According to the information I received, the search range of officials dispatched by various government offices centers on this Qingxing Street area, and Uncle Xing is the commander of the Vermilion Bird Guard, happens to be in the capital, and is injured—”

Luo Sheng looked deeply at Uncle Xing, the corners of her lips curving slightly: “You two surely cannot convince me that all this is merely coincidence?”

Uncle Xing listened silently, his eyes dark and deep as a pool.

Having said this much, further denial was meaningless.

Zhu Wu couldn’t bear it any longer and asked: “What does this have to do with Miss Luo?”

Even if they were the Vermilion Bird Guard, even if they had eliminated those hostages, what did it have to do with this girl before them?

Never mind that Miss Luo was the daughter of the Jinlin Guard’s Commander-in-Chief—if it were because of that, Miss Luo would have gone to report to her father the first time.

Zhu Wu stared fixedly at Luo Sheng, full of doubt.

Uncle Xing also quietly waited for Luo Sheng’s answer.

Luo Sheng reached into her sleeve and withdrew something, placing it on the table.

Following her movement, both men’s gazes turned to it.

Her fair hand moved away, revealing a token lying quietly on the tabletop.

Uncle Xing saw the object clearly and shot to his feet. Because he pulled at his wound, severe pain made him fall back into his chair.

Yet he paid no attention to this at all and asked urgently: “Why is the Vermilion Bird Token in your hands?”