The eldest young miss, Sheng Jiayu, and the second young miss, Sheng Jialan, were walking along a bluestone path in Luo Sheng’s direction.

The two young ladies were similar in age, their spring garments splendid and colorful. Walking gracefully, they undoubtedly added a beautiful sight to the garden.

Seeing Luo Sheng, both stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

Sheng Jiayu’s delicate brows knitted together as she stared at Luo Sheng with full vigilance.

Sheng Jialan, on the other hand, curtsied gracefully to Luo Sheng: “Good morning, Elder Cousin Sister.”

Luo Sheng returned the courtesy and lifted her feet to walk forward.

Sheng Jiayu couldn’t help but call out: “Where are you going?”

Luo Sheng looked back at her and said flatly: “At this hour, naturally I’m going to pay respects to Grandmother.”

“Pay respects to my grandmother?” The wariness in Sheng Jiayu’s eyes became even more obvious. She lowered her voice to question: “Luo Sheng, what scheme are you plotting now?”

Sheng Jialan gently tugged on Sheng Jiayu’s sleeve: “Elder Sister, speak nicely to Elder Cousin Sister.”

Luo Sheng looked at Sheng Jiayu, then at Sheng Jialan, and suddenly smiled: “Elder Cousin Sister still understands me best.”

Having said this, she passed the two sisters and walked quickly forward.

Hong Dou hurried to catch up. Thinking of Sheng Jiayu’s words and feeling somewhat indignant, she turned back and made a face at Sheng Jiayu.

Sheng Jiayu was so angry she twisted her handkerchief, saying resentfully: “What does she mean by that?”

Sheng Jialan tried to placate Sheng Jiayu, but thinking of what Luo Sheng had just said to Sheng Jiayu, her eyes flickered with unease.

“Second Sister, did you hear? She said I understand her best—doesn’t this mean she’s going to cause trouble again?”

Sheng Jialan frowned lightly: “Elder Cousin Sister is probably just speaking out of anger.”

“What angry words? She just can’t stand going a single day without causing trouble. No, I have to warn Grandmother—she mustn’t be deceived by Elder Cousin Sister’s current appearance.” Sheng Jiayu pulled Sheng Jialan along as they hurriedly chased after them.

Luo Sheng’s arrival undoubtedly gave Old Madam Sheng quite a shock.

“Sheng’er’s body hasn’t recovered yet—why have you come?” As Old Madam Sheng spoke, her peripheral vision stole glances at the window.

Outside the window, the morning sun filtered through sparsely, the warm breeze gentle and light.

The sun hadn’t risen from the west.

Old Madam Sheng grew even more astonished, though naturally she couldn’t show it on her face.

After all, this was her legitimate granddaughter. No matter how much she disliked her, she couldn’t discard her.

Luo Sheng smiled slightly: “I’m much better now. It’s time to come pay respects to Grandmother.”

Old Madam Sheng’s lips moved. She very much wanted to say she’d feel more at ease if Luo Sheng didn’t come to pay respects, but the words that came out changed: “Sheng’er is very thoughtful.”

At the side, Sheng Jiayu let out a mocking laugh.

Old Madam Sheng shot her a sharp glare, and only then did Sheng Jiayu shut her mouth tight.

After Luo Sheng left, Old Madam Sheng’s expression darkened: “Jiayu, you must not glare coldly at your cousin sister like that. Do you have no manners?”

Though the eldest granddaughter had a lively temperament, she had never lacked proper etiquette. Yet ever since her granddaughter arrived, she’d repeatedly lost composure. Could it be that association with the unworthy had corrupted her?

Sheng Jiayu bit her lip in grievance: “Grandmother, it’s not that granddaughter lacks manners. It’s truly that facing someone like Luo Sheng, I can’t generate any respect. Just because Uncle-by-marriage holds a high position of power, must granddaughter grovel and scrape before such an unreliable cousin sister?”

Old Madam Sheng was stumped by the question.

The Sheng family, like the Su family, had passed down scholarly farming traditions through generations. Deep in their bones, they carried some pride.

As elders, they couldn’t very well argue with an immature young girl, yet they also couldn’t bear to see their own daughters bow and scrape before Luo Sheng due to power and influence.

“Grandmother, on the road to Funing Hall we ran into Luo Sheng. You have no idea what she said.”

Sheng Jiayu recounted what happened on the road, then shook Old Madam Sheng’s arm: “Grandmother, listen to this—she’s clearly holding a belly full of wicked intentions and planning to cause trouble again. If you think that after her crying, making scenes, and threatening suicide she’ll behave herself, you’re wrong.”

Old Madam Sheng listened with her eyelids twitching, asking dryly: “Really?”

Her old bones couldn’t withstand her granddaughter’s torment.

Sheng Jiayu nodded vigorously and pushed Sheng Jialan forward: “Second Sister, you heard it too.”

Seeing Old Madam Sheng look over, Sheng Jialan nodded slightly.

Old Madam Sheng let out a long sigh. Looking at her two flower-like granddaughters, she said helplessly: “No matter how your cousin sister behaves, you two just conduct yourselves properly. Go back now.”

Sheng Jiayu and Sheng Jialan left Funing Hall and walked toward their quarters.

“Elder Sister, do you really think Elder Cousin Sister will cause more trouble?”

“It’s not that I think so—she definitely will!” Sheng Jiayu sneered coldly, then suddenly pulled Sheng Jialan behind some nearby flowers and trees, lowering her voice: “Luo Sheng is by the lake.”

The Sheng manor’s garden had a small artificial lake. Apricot trees and willows were planted by the lakeside, the water clear and emerald green—an excellent spot for viewing scenery.

“She looks down on every blade of grass and tree in our Sheng manor—how does she have the leisure to enjoy scenery by the lake?” Sheng Jiayu found this strange and craned her neck to look.

Luo Sheng stood facing the lake, occasionally turning her head to speak with Hong Dou.

Sheng Jialan tugged lightly on Sheng Jiayu’s sleeve: “Elder Sister, let’s go. This isn’t very proper.”

“What’s improper? I’m going to listen to what they’re saying!” Sheng Jiayu broke free from Sheng Jialan and, using the flowers and trees as cover, moved closer.

Sheng Jialan’s outstretched hand hung empty in the air. She slowly closed her palm and followed.

The conversation between mistress and servant clearly reached the two sisters’ ears.

“Miss, are you truly no longer interested in Second Young Master Su?”

Hearing Hong Dou mention Su Yao, both Sheng Jiayu and Sheng Jialan’s expressions tightened as they pricked up their ears.

A light laugh came, carrying a bit of casualness yet exceptionally pleasant to hear: “Who said that?”

Hong Dou’s eyes widened, full of confusion: “Then why did you still go to the Su family to stop the marriage?”

Luo Sheng held a willow branch, casually striking the lake surface with it, and glanced sideways at the little maid: “Hong Dou, have you lived here so long you’ve become stupid? Second Young Master Su is quite handsome, but if I marry him and then encounter an even more handsome gentleman, what then?”

Hong Dou had a sudden realization: “Miss speaks reasonably—we can’t let Second Young Master Su hold you back!”

Luo Sheng’s fair chin lifted slightly, appearing both proud and unrestrained: “Precisely so.”

Hong Dou blinked, somewhat hesitant: “But in Jinsha, we haven’t yet heard of any man more handsome than Second Young Master Su.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “So I don’t plan to let him go either. After I recuperate my health a bit more, you can quietly knock Second Young Master Su unconscious and bring him here. Let’s see how he can keep people at arm’s length then!”

Sheng Jiayu, listening with her willow-leaf brows standing on end, was about to rush out to reason with Luo Sheng when Sheng Jialan grabbed her wrist with one hand and covered her mouth with the other.

Sheng Jiayu looked at Sheng Jialan and blinked in confusion.

Sheng Jialan shook her head slightly and lowered her voice: “Elder Sister, don’t be impulsive. Once Elder Cousin Sister becomes angry from embarrassment, she might very well smash the jar and immediately go find Second Young Master Su to make trouble.”

While the two sisters here were experiencing surging emotions, Luo Sheng tossed the willow branch into the lake and said with airy indifference: “Let’s go.”

As if harming Second Young Master Su was the same as discarding this willow branch—not worth mentioning.

“She’s truly too shameless!” After Luo Sheng and her servant had gone far away, Sheng Jiayu angrily kicked the apricot tree.

Apricot blossoms fell like snow, scattering everywhere.

Through the rain of apricot blossoms, Sheng Jialan’s gaze continued to follow that gradually receding figure, her eyes growing increasingly cold.