After waiting idly for a while, the female proprietress finally looked up: “Not counting the loose silver, the banknotes total fifty-eight thousand six hundred seventy-two taels.”

Hearing this, Kou’er frowned: “That’s not much.”

The female proprietress nodded in agreement: “It’s really not much. When the tavern ceased operations, the previous silver was tallied by Zhu Wu and returned to the treasury. Of this current fifty-eight thousand six hundred seventy-two taels, eighteen thousand six hundred seventy-two taels was collected from various manors these past two days. The remaining forty thousand taels in round numbers was left here by Prince Kaiyang before he departed the capital. Considering that forty thousand taels was a prepayment, it wasn’t returned to the treasury…”

Hearing the female proprietress’s explanation, Kou’er finally felt relieved.

“Alright then, just pack up these banknotes for now. I’ll take them to Miss. If it’s not enough, we’ll discuss it further.”

The female proprietress deftly packed the thick stacks of banknotes into a chest and couldn’t help asking: “Miss suddenly needs so much silver?”

This even included the forty thousand taels prepaid by Prince Kaiyang.

Of course, since Prince Kaiyang’s forty thousand taels was left here, it would eventually be spent—when calculated, it was still the proprietress’s money.

Kou’er was quite familiar with the female proprietress. Although she couldn’t very well say it was for Zhu Wu, she couldn’t help muttering: “Yes, spending it on men.”

The female proprietress: “…”

Even after Kou’er left carrying the money chest, the female proprietress was still feeling heartache on Prince Kaiyang’s behalf.

At Zhu Wu’s place, he was asking Luo Sheng what matter she needed handled.

Luo Sheng looked at Zhu Wu and said word by word: “I want to ask you to retrieve something from Prince Zhennan’s manor.”

Zhu Wu’s heart was already in turmoil from Luo Sheng’s sudden appearance bearing the Vermilion Bird Token. Hearing these words, his heart shook and he blurted out: “Prince Zhennan’s manor?”

Uncle Xing was much calmer: “If you’re retrieving something from Prince Zhennan’s manor, why go south?”

Luo Sheng didn’t keep them in suspense, holding her teacup as she said: “I’m not talking about the Prince Zhennan manor in the capital, but Prince Zhennan’s manor in Nanyang City. Of course, calling it a deserted residence would be more appropriate now.”

Uncle Xing’s eyes churned with complex emotions as he exchanged glances with Zhu Wu.

The doubts in their hearts were even greater than when they saw that half of the Vermilion Bird Token.

Zhu Wu asked, suppressing his shock: “What do you want me to retrieve from Prince Zhennan manor’s former residence?”

“In the rear garden of Prince Zhennan’s manor, there’s a rockery. That item is hidden inside the rockery’s hollow…”

Hearing Luo Sheng carefully describe the location where the item was hidden, both Zhu Wu and Uncle Xing’s hearts surged with tremendous waves.

Why did Miss Luo know that something was hidden inside the rockery at Prince Zhennan manor’s former residence?

Uncle Xing was one thing, but Zhu Wu had grown up in the manor and was considered one of the valued soldiers among the manor’s forces, yet he had no idea there was anything special inside that rockery.

“Could it be that Grand Marshal Luo—”

To Zhu Wu’s hesitant speculation, Luo Sheng only smiled and opened her hand to reveal the half of the Vermilion Bird Token she’d been gripping: “Just as with how I obtained this half of the Vermilion Bird Token, regarding why I know something is hidden inside the rockery at Prince Zhennan manor’s former residence, I will tell you both at the appropriate time.”

Zhu Wu was about to say more when Uncle Xing stopped him: “Wulang, Miss Luo holds the Vermilion Bird Token—she is the master of the Vermilion Bird Guard. You cannot keep pressing with questions.”

Zhu Wu had no choice but to nod and stop speaking.

At this moment, Kou’er came in carrying the money chest: “Miss, the silver has been retrieved.”

Luo Sheng glanced casually at Zhu Wu: “Let Mister Zhu review it.”

Kou’er placed the money chest on the table and opened it efficiently.

The banknotes stacked high inside the chest nearly spilled out.

Zhu Wu’s eyes went straight.

As the accountant of the Youjian Tavern, he had seen large sums of money. But he had just tallied the accounts a few days ago and all the silver had been returned to the treasury. Just now when he heard Miss Luo say to retrieve money from the tavern, he thought it would be at most one or two thousand taels.

With his experience as an accountant, this was at least twenty thousand taels!

Uncle Xing’s eyes also went straight, though his thoughts were much simpler: So much money!

“In total it’s fifty-eight thousand six hundred seventy-two taels of silver. It’s just that the banknote denominations aren’t large—Mister Zhu must keep them secure.” Kou’er reminded him.

Zhu Wu nodded, secretly pinching his palm.

It was just nearly sixty thousand taels of silver—he couldn’t appear too unsophisticated!

“Kou’er, go wait outside for now.” Luo Sheng instructed.

Kou’er’s gaze swept over the elderly Uncle Xing and the scruffy-bearded Zhu Wu before she turned and went out.

“Miss Lo—” Uncle Xing opened his mouth, “Master, you’re giving Wulang this much silver to carry?”

Luo Sheng smiled radiantly: “It’s not that much. If it’s not enough, I’ll have Kou’er send another chest from the Luo manor later.”

“It’s enough, it’s enough.” Uncle Xing nodded repeatedly.

Zhu Wu couldn’t help coughing.

Why was Uncle getting so excited? How could money ever be too much? This wasn’t like before when he complained the silver sent back wasn’t enough to buy food.

Uncle Xing glared back irritably.

This brat struggled and strained to set up a broken assassin organization that wasn’t even as much as what leaked through Miss Luo’s fingers—where did he get the face to cough?

After the two had calmed down, Luo Sheng instructed: “Zhu Wu, after you retrieve that item, return to the capital immediately and deliver it into my hands. Remember, don’t use brute force to open it, or the contents inside will be destroyed.”

Zhu Wu acknowledged with a “yes” and glanced at Uncle Xing: “Uncle Xing is injured and inconvenienced in his movements—”

Luo Sheng interrupted him: “You needn’t worry about that. I will naturally arrange for someone to take good care of Uncle Xing. By the time you return, Uncle Xing might have completely recovered.”

Zhu Wu bowed to Luo Sheng: “Zhu Wu thanks you for this.”

Luo Sheng smiled indifferently: “No need for such courtesy. I am the Vermilion Bird Guard’s new master—I have a responsibility to care for my own injured people. As for the Vermilion Bird Guard far away in Heyang, from now on I’ll be responsible for the expenses of maintaining the troops.”

Zhu Wu’s mouth twitched.

Miss Luo was adapting to her new identity quite quickly…

“Alright, I’ve finished explaining everything. I should return to the manor now.”

Uncle Xing was about to stand up but was stopped by Luo Sheng: “Uncle Xing is injured—don’t move around unnecessarily.”

Uncle Xing thanked her and quickly said: “Then let Wulang see you out on my behalf.”

Zhu Wu respectfully escorted Luo Sheng to the door. When he returned to face Uncle Xing, his expression held some gravity: “Uncle Xing, has Miss Luo truly become our Vermilion Bird Guard’s new master?”

“What else?” Uncle Xing asked in return.

Zhu Wu frowned: “But Miss Luo’s conduct is somewhat difficult to fathom—”

This young lady loved keeping pretty boys! The Vermilion Bird Guard had over three hundred people—there had to be over a hundred young men among them.

Just thinking about how these hundred-plus young men would have to obey Miss Luo’s every word, while Miss Luo could do as she pleased—Zhu Wu shuddered.

He dared not think about it!

Uncle Xing looked deeply at Zhu Wu and sighed: “Wulang, I originally thought you were the most suitable person to succeed me, but now I see I was wrong.”

“Uncle Xing—”

Uncle Xing waved his hand, his gaze extremely sharp as he stared at Zhu Wu: “Wulang, what do you think is the most important qualification for a competent Vermilion Bird Guard commander?”

Zhu Wu opened his mouth.

The qualifications required of a commander—there were many.

Uncle Xing didn’t wait for Zhu Wu’s answer and said word by word: “It is adherence to the rules that have been passed down.”

Zhu Wu felt somewhat unconvinced: “But what if that half of the Vermilion Bird Token fell into the hands of evildoers?”

Uncle Xing looked deeply at Zhu Wu: “Do you think the Vermilion Bird Token you see is in its true form? That half of the token is disguised. Only each generation of Prince Zhennan and the Vermilion Bird Guard commander truly know it is the Vermilion Bird Token. What are the odds that the disguised Vermilion Bird Token would fall into evildoers’ hands and have them both see through the disguise and recognize it as the Vermilion Bird Token? You must know that even Princess Zhennan didn’t know of the Vermilion Bird Guard’s existence.”

Seeing that Zhu Wu was still frowning, Uncle Xing sighed softly: “Wulang, do you still not understand? People ultimately cannot account for every contingency. Relying on the Vermilion Bird Guard commander to judge whether they should serve a new master is more easily exploited. On the contrary, following the fixed rule of recognizing the token but not the person means at least having a clear conscience when obeying it. If we follow the wrong master, it can only mean the Vermilion Bird Guard’s fate has run out.”

Zhu Wu thought about it and slowly nodded: “I understand now.”

Uncle Xing smiled with relief: “Besides, we’ve already accepted the money.”

Zhu Wu: “…”

Uncle Xing ignored his nephew’s odd expression, his thoughts still on Luo Sheng.

Miss Luo had instructed Zhu Wu to handle matters while arranging for someone to care for him who remained here—when examined closely, this was essentially using him to make Zhu Wu obediently comply.

This new master’s methods were actually quite calculated indeed.