Li Nuxiu smiled lightly. "The words of White Innkeeper truly confuse me. What exactly did you do wrong? How about you tell me yourself, so I can understand what it is you think you've done wrong?"

  "I... I..." White Innkeeper wiped the sweat from his forehead, but ended up touching a wound, causing him to wince in pain. "I made a mistake."

  Li Nuxiu gave Ying Yi a glance. Ying Yi nodded, drawing his waist dagger and placing it coldly against White Innkeeper's neck. The chill of the blade made White Innkeeper's scalp tingle—if he moved even slightly, his life might be forfeit right there.

  "Master is asking you a question. Why are you dodging it? White Innkeeper keeps saying you made a mistake and asking for forgiveness, but Master hasn't done anything to you," Ying Yi said coldly.

  White Innkeeper was at a loss for words, unable to respond.

  Little Fox watched curiously. Ying Yi, who had been a cold block of ice all along, was suddenly speaking so much. Impressive!

  "I... I was told by a waiter that... that the wrong tea was served to Master... I was afraid it might affect Master’s appetite, so I came to apologize," White Innkeeper stammered, speaking hesitantly under the pressure of Ying Yi’s blade.

  "Oh?" Li Nuxiu raised his cup and took a sip. "So it was just a wrong tea served, and White Innkeeper is this afraid? I think there's more to this than you're letting on."

  White Innkeeper immediately denied it. "No... No."

  Ying Yi pressed the blade closer to White Innkeeper. "Tell the truth."

  White Innkeeper shuddered. "No, no, no, guards, please, don't come any closer, I’m scared!"

  "You’re scared?" Li Nuxiu chuckled softly. "If White Innkeeper were really scared, you wouldn't have been showing off in front of me earlier."

  Showing off? Little Fox thought back to see if that had happened.

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  Li Nuxiu patted Little Fox. "Ying Yi, tell White Innkeeper how much of a show-off he was."

  "Yes, Master." Ying Yi sheathed his blade, his cold eyes piercing through White Innkeeper. "White Innkeeper, when Master came to dine, I was instructed to be low-key, but you made sure everyone knew. You were practically announcing it to the world."

  "I... I only thought it was an honor for Master to eat here. I wanted others to admire Master’s presence," White Innkeeper stammered.

  "Secondly, White Innkeeper's constant praises for Master are putting the hardworking Emperor in a difficult position. What about His Majesty?" Ying Yi continued.

  "I... I misspoke, but Master really has done a lot for Bei Yan!" White Innkeeper still didn’t understand. Everyone knew how important Master was, so why couldn’t he praise him?

  Ying Yi ignored White Innkeeper’s defense and continued. "Third, White Innkeeper tried to approach Master… Could it be that…"

  White Innkeeper was already trembling with fear at the first part, and quickly waved his hands. "No, no, no, I don’t want anything! I just..."

  "You just wanted to stop Master from entering Tai Bai Ju, and also tried to find out if Master was here to eat or for something else," Li Nuxiu finished for him.

  White Innkeeper suddenly looked up at Li Nuxiu, shocked.

  Li Nuxiu’s smile remained, his eyes cold as though he had known all along.

  "Master, I don’t understand what you’re saying," White Innkeeper mumbled, avoiding Li Nuxiu's gaze, his tone filled with guilt.

  "Don’t understand? Fine, Ying Yi, take White Innkeeper upstairs to bring that person down."

  "Yes, Master." Ying Yi bent low, taking White Innkeeper by the arm. "Please, White Innkeeper."

  White Innkeeper struggled, running to the other side to steady himself, taking a deep breath to calm down before turning to Li Nuxiu. "Master, how did you know I was trying to stop you from entering Tai Bai Ju?"

  White Innkeeper thought he had done a good job. From the moment Li Nuxiu arrived at Tai Bai Ju, he had delayed his entrance, made subtle comments to distract him, and even used the wrong tea to cause a disturbance, all to buy time for the person upstairs to leave early.

  Normally, a tavern innkeeper disrespecting the national master would warrant severe punishment, such as the closure of their business. Yet Li Nuxiu had done nothing. White Innkeeper had been convinced that after dinner, Li Nuxiu would simply leave. But now, seeing Li Nuxiu’s smile and cold eyes, he realized his actions had been utterly foolish.

  "White Innkeeper, do you really think that after all the theatrics put on by my guards, you didn’t realize anything?" Li Nuxiu asked lightly.

  The word "theatrics" made White Innkeeper step back instinctively, his heart racing. He hadn’t noticed?

  Theatrics? Little Fox nudged Li Nuxiu and stretched out her little, fluffy paw to tap the table three times, then looked up at Li Nuxiu.

  Li Nuxiu nodded, "Little Fox is very clever. Some people are even outsmarted by her."