Uncle Xing reached out to grab the token.

The slender fair hand resting beside the Vermilion Bird Token covered it, and Luo Sheng’s tone turned cold: “Is Uncle Xing planning to reunite the two halves of the Vermilion Bird Token?”

Reuniting the Vermilion Bird Token was a grave taboo. From the day the Vermilion Bird Guard was established, it had been an ironclad rule that the Vermilion Bird Guard commander could only hold half of the Vermilion Bird Token.

Uncle Xing also thought of this point and withdrew his hand, his gaze particularly deep as he stared at Luo Sheng: “Miss Luo, didn’t you say before that you had long lost contact with the person who held the Vermilion Bird Token? Why is this half of the token in your hands?”

Luo Sheng gripped the token, staring into Uncle Xing’s eyes: “That time I overheard Uncle Xing and Mister Zhu’s conversation, Uncle Xing said you recognize the token, not the person—whoever holds this half of the Vermilion Bird Token is the master of the Vermilion Bird Guard. I didn’t hear wrong, did I?”

Uncle Xing’s lips tightened as he nodded slightly: “That’s correct.”

It wasn’t that he wasn’t curious about Yang Zhun’s whereabouts, nor that he wasn’t aggrieved at having to acknowledge a young girl as master, but the rules were such—not following them would be the greatest disrespect to Prince Zhennan’s manor.

Luo Sheng lowered her eyes, staring at that half of the Vermilion Bird Token.

The spread-winged vermilion bird was lifelike, as if it could soar into the sky at any moment.

In the quiet room, the young woman’s calm voice sounded: “At the appropriate time, I will tell Uncle Xing how I obtained the Vermilion Bird Token. I can assure you that I did not harm the person who previously held it.”

Uncle Xing listened without making a sound.

Luo Sheng didn’t mind and asked calmly: “Now I want to know—was last night’s incident related to the Vermilion Bird Guard?”

Although the answer was already quite obvious, she still wanted to hear it from Uncle Xing’s mouth.

Uncle Xing hesitated briefly, then nodded in admission: “I led the men who did it.”

Luo Sheng’s hand gripping the Vermilion Bird Token tightened, feeling the token’s cold hardness.

Her tone also turned somewhat cold: “Uncle Xing, in doing this—setting aside whether those heirs were innocent or not—did you not think about how once the realm falls into chaos, it’s the common people who will suffer?”

Uncle Xing froze, looking at Luo Sheng with surprise in his eyes.

He completely hadn’t expected to hear such words from the mouth of the Jinlin Guard Commander-in-Chief’s daughter.

After a moment of silence, Uncle Xing said flatly: “The realm is already in chaos. I merely gave it a push.”

Prince Dingdong had already rebelled—the so-called peaceful days were already gone. Emperor Yong’an using the princes’ heirs as hostages was merely delaying the time it would take for the princes to make up their minds to rebel.

The princes who chose to wait and watch would be drawn in sooner or later, unless Prince Kaiyang could quell the rebellion in an extremely short time.

But Prince Kaiyang was after all not a god.

Leading troops from the capital to the east would take considerable time. Men and horses would be weary, unfamiliar with the terrain, unaccustomed to the climate, and moreover, most of the soldiers taken were hastily assembled, not well-drilled troops—how could it be as easy and smooth as in the northern territories?

Once Prince Kaiyang and Prince Dingdong’s forces became locked in stalemate, a son sent to the capital would ultimately be unable to block the princes’ ambitions to compete for supremacy in a chaotic world.

“Before seeing this half of the Vermilion Bird Token, I was merely venting anger for my former master.” Uncle Xing spoke calmly, without regret.

He didn’t expect this young girl before him to agree.

Different positions—a clear conscience was enough.

Luo Sheng fell silent.

She didn’t approve of Uncle Xing’s methods, yet she also understood that Uncle Xing did this for Prince Zhennan’s manor.

Precisely because of this, she needed to grasp control of the Vermilion Bird Guard even more, lest the Vermilion Bird Guard that existed to protect Prince Zhennan’s manor become a disaster.

Stroking the Vermilion Bird Token, Luo Sheng said solemnly: “I have no standing to pursue what happened before, but regarding future matters, I hope the Vermilion Bird Guard will only listen to me.”

Uncle Xing nodded without hesitation: “That goes without saying.”

Zhu Wu couldn’t help but speak up: “Uncle Xing—”

Uncle Xing glared at Zhu Wu.

Zhu Wu pressed his lips tightly together, swallowing his indignant words.

“How many people does the Vermilion Bird Guard currently have?” Luo Sheng asked.

Her father had mentioned to her that the Vermilion Bird Guard had a total of six hundred people—when losses occurred they would be replenished, maintaining this establishment.

“Three hundred sixty-eight people.”

“So few?” Luo Sheng showed a shocked expression.

Of course, this shock was for Uncle Xing to see.

Uncle Xing smiled: “Did you think the Vermilion Bird Guard had thousands upon thousands of troops?”

Every member of the Vermilion Bird Guard was an excellent cavalryman, expert at surprise attacks—training one was not easy.

Over these years, some aging Vermilion Bird Guards had gradually retired, and they could only select reliable young men to train until qualified before replenishing the ranks. But after all, they couldn’t operate openly, and with limited funds, the speed of replenishing new members couldn’t keep up with losses.

To now have three hundred sixty-eight Vermilion Bird Guards already represented their utmost effort.

Of course, there should originally have been three hundred eighty-three…

Thinking of the Vermilion Bird Guards lost last night, Uncle Xing’s eyes dimmed.

Thinking that this young woman before him would be the Vermilion Bird Guard’s future master, Uncle Xing explained: “Full capacity should be six hundred people, but some retired due to age, and some met with accidents. Training new members requires not only effort but also silver—”

“Money?” Luo Sheng interjected. “I have plenty of money.”

Uncle Xing: “…” Suddenly discovered the new master’s greatest advantage.

Luo Sheng’s mood relaxed slightly.

That Uncle Xing would tell her these things proved he was still a qualified Vermilion Bird Guard commander.

The rule of recognizing the token but not the person was fixed, but people were flexible. If a completely unrelated person suddenly appeared holding the Vermilion Bird Token and gave orders, even though each generation of Vermilion Bird Guard commander underwent rigorous selection, they wouldn’t necessarily willingly accept it.

People’s hearts were changeable—it had always been thus.

“How are those Vermilion Bird Guards who retired due to declining physical strength arranged?”

“They’ve formed a small village, making their living through farming and hunting.”

The money saved also had to support the Vermilion Bird Guards who trained all day…

Thinking of this, Uncle Xing thought of the heartache of lacking money.

Culture was cheap but martial prowess was expensive. If they truly weren’t so poor, he wouldn’t have turned a blind eye to Wulang running to the capital to set up some assassin organization.

“Where is the Vermilion Bird Guard hidden?” Luo Sheng asked again.

Uncle Xing was silent for a moment, then said: “Heyang.”

Heyang was south of the capital and north of Nanyang City where Prince Zhennan’s manor was located. If traveling urgently, one could reach the capital in three days.

Luo Sheng pondered briefly, then smiled: “It just so happens I need to entrust Mister Zhu with handling something in the south. If passing through Heyang, he can conveniently bring some silver to the Vermilion Bird Guard.”

Zhu Wu, who had been wearing a cold expression, couldn’t help but soften his features upon hearing the word “silver.” He cupped his hands and said: “Just call me Zhu Wu.”

“Kou’er—” Luo Sheng called out.

Kou’er, who had remained in the outer room, walked in: “What orders does Miss have?”

“Go to the tavern and ask the proprietress how much ready silver we have and bring it all here.”

Kou’er’s gaze swept over Uncle Xing and Zhu Wu’s faces before she acknowledged and withdrew.

The tavern was close by, so Kou’er arrived quickly after leaving.

“The proprietress is asking how much ready silver we have?”

“That’s right. Proprietress, please count it quickly—Miss is still waiting.” As Kou’er spoke, she secretly shook her head.

Two big men who couldn’t even serve as pretty boys actually required Miss to spend so much silver on them. Tsk tsk, men these days really weren’t worth it.

After quite a while, the female proprietress was still counting.

Kou’er couldn’t help urging: “Are you done yet?”

The female proprietress counted the banknotes without looking up: “Wait a moment.”