Luo Sheng departed decisively, leaving the four male cousins looking at each other in dismay, awkwardness arising spontaneously.

Sheng Erlang said unhappily: “Did you all hear what that girl said? ‘Thank you, Elder Cousins and Younger Cousins, for escorting my younger brother back.’ Ha! Clearly we have a deeper bond with Cousin, yet why do those words sound so grating to the ear?”

Sheng Dalang disapprovingly glanced at Sheng Erlang: “What Cousin said was perfectly correct. Second Brother, don’t go looking for bones in an egg.”

Sheng Erlang’s brow rose slightly, his smile quite profound: “Elder Brother, you used to call Cousin Luo by her surname, but now you’re calling her ‘Cousin’ with such familiarity—how come?”

Sheng Dalang’s expression darkened slightly: “Second Brother, don’t speak carelessly. Rather, shouldn’t you apologize to Cousin?”

“Apologize for what?” Sheng Erlang flicked his folding fan, deflecting his inner discomfort.

Sheng Sanlang kindly reminded him: “Second Brother, you previously misunderstood that Cousin Luo harmed Second Sister.”

At the mention of Sheng Jialan, the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.

Sheng Silang asked quietly: “Elder Brother, what do you think Grandmother will do to punish Second Sister?”

The Sheng family was simple in population and harmonious in atmosphere. Though the four brothers hadn’t spent much time with Sheng Jialan, their bond was quite good.

Sheng Dalang was silent for a long while, rubbing his youngest brother’s head: “We shouldn’t ask too much about the elders’ business.”

As he spoke, his gaze swept deeply over his brothers, his expression serious: “You three younger brothers should take this matter as a warning. In the future, don’t commit the same mistakes Second Sister made.”

“Yes.” The three responded in unison.

Sheng Dalang noticed that the servants in Luo Chen’s courtyard were already curiously peering out, and he coughed once with his fist to his lips: “Let’s go.”

If they stayed any longer, people would misunderstand that they couldn’t bear to leave after seeing Cousin Luo.

For Sheng Dalang, Luo Sheng’s performance today had changed his impression, giving him a sense of newfound respect, but he absolutely had no preparation to offer himself up as a grandson-in-law to Grandmother.

The four brothers departed completely in an instant. The servant boy guarding the courtyard rolled his eyes, thinking to himself: Today the four young masters seemed somewhat different. Could it be because they encountered the cousin?

Speaking of which, though Cousin had a fierce reputation abroad, she was exceptionally beautiful.

The servant boy’s gaze fell upon the door, silently thinking.

Inside the room floated a faint medicinal fragrance—a scent familiar to Luo Chen.

“Young Master, Cousin has arrived.”

Upon hearing the servant’s report, Luo Chen immediately frowned.

He’d already said Luo Sheng needn’t escort him—what was she doing here?

Seeing Luo Chen remain silent for a long time, the servant boy hurriedly said: “Should this humble one ask Cousin to return?”

Luo Chen shot the servant boy a glare, displeased: “Who told you to make decisions on your own? Invite Cousin in.”

The servant boy’s flattery had hit the horse’s leg. Full of bitterness, he assented and hurried to invite her.

The bamboo curtain moved lightly as Luo Sheng entered with Hong Dou.

“What are you doing here?” Luo Chen asked with a stern face.

Luo Sheng curved her lips slightly: “I came to see if you’re feeling better.”

Luo Chen turned his face away: “You’re not a physician. What use is your visit?”

Seeing that Luo Chen’s spirits were fairly good, Luo Sheng didn’t plan to stay long: “Then rest well. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

The corner of Luo Chen’s mouth twitched.

Was this the attitude of someone visiting the sick? Not a shred of sincerity.

Seeing Luo Sheng turn toward the bamboo curtain, Luo Chen called out: “Wait.”

Luo Sheng stopped: “Does younger brother have other matters?”

The words “younger brother” made Luo Chen quite uncomfortable. He frowned before saying to Hong Dou and the servant boy attending in the room: “You two withdraw first.”

Hong Dou glanced at Luo Sheng. Seeing her nod slightly, she turned and went out, not forgetting to pull the servant boy along: “Didn’t you hear the master’s orders? No sense of awareness.”

This kind of slow-reacting servant boy wasn’t even worthy of carrying the young lady’s shoes, much less competing for a spot to go into the city. It was only because Jinsha had no competition.

Standing under the corridor, the little maid thought wistfully, especially missing the prosperity and freedom of the capital.

Inside the room, only the siblings remained, their four eyes meeting.

Luo Sheng was unwilling to waste time on guessing and asked directly: “Does younger brother have something to say to me?”

Luo Chen leaned against the screen in silence.

Luo Sheng didn’t press further, quietly waiting for him to speak.

After an unknown amount of time, Luo Chen suddenly asked: “Can you swim?”

Luo Sheng’s brows moved in surprise.

This question from Luo Chen was quite interesting.

Luo Chen suddenly leaned closer a step, his eyes carrying investigation: “At that time in the lake, when I was about to sink, you pushed me toward Hong Dou. In that instant, no one was helping you, yet you were perfectly fine…”

Quietly listening to Luo Chen point out the suspicious details, Luo Sheng couldn’t help but smile.

Miss Luo’s younger brother was indeed clever. More rare still was that he hadn’t shown the slightest sign when facing Old Madam Sheng and the others.

One must know, he was only thirteen years old.

“What are you smiling about?”

“I’m happy.” Meeting the youth’s puzzled gaze, Luo Sheng’s lips curved slightly. “Happy that younger brother’s elbow doesn’t bend outward.”

Luo Chen’s face darkened: “I just didn’t want the matter to become too complicated. That Sheng Jialan pushed you into the lake is what I saw with my own eyes. Whether or not you can swim doesn’t change the fact that she harmed someone. If I said too much, it might have influenced Maternal Grandmother and the others’ views.”

Luo Sheng blinked: “If that’s the case, what is younger brother angry about?”

Luo Chen was stumped by the question. After being dazed for a while, he said irritably: “Since you can swim, why did you put on that appearance of drowning? Weren’t you afraid it would become real?”

Who carelessly jokes with their own safety like this? Did Luo Sheng have even a shred of the demeanor of a young lady from a great family!

The more Luo Chen thought about it, the angrier he became. Especially when he thought of his action of jumping in to save her, he felt very foolish.

“All right, I know you care about me. Rest well. I’ll come again tomorrow.” Luo Sheng casually patted Luo Chen’s head and unhurriedly pushed open the door to leave.

Luo Chen: “…” She patted his head again!

“Fu Song—” Luo Chen called out.

The servant boy, who had been glaring at Hong Dou with mutual displeasure, came running in: “What are young master’s orders?”

Luo Chen said with a dark face: “If Cousin comes again tomorrow, take a broom and sweep her out!”

Fu Song assented, but his heart was beating a drum.

Just now, the young master had been annoyed at him for making decisions on his own—how had he changed again now?

If he really swept Cousin out tomorrow, the young master might just drive him out instead.

Forget it. Tomorrow’s troubles could wait until tomorrow to worry about.

After just one night, no small change occurred in the Sheng residence: the Second Young Lady had disappeared.

Among the servants who didn’t know the inside story, a certain narrative began to circulate: Cousin had pushed the Second Young Lady into the lake and still wasn’t satisfied. She even threatened to complain to the Grand Commander. The Old Madam had no choice but to send the Second Young Lady away to weather the storm.

Tsk tsk, what kind of reasoning was this? Cousin had caused great trouble in the capital and was sent to her maternal grandparents’ home to weather the storm. Not only did she show no restraint, she even forced the Second Young Lady away.

Hong Dou rolled up her sleeves as she entered, tilting her head back to gulp down a cup of cold tea to calm her anger.

“What happened?”

“You don’t know how excessive those gossiping slaves are. This servant just gave the old woman guarding the second gate a beating.” Speaking of this, Hong Dou looked at Luo Sheng guiltily.

The young lady was somewhat different from before—she wouldn’t be angry with her, would she?

“Did you win the fight?”

Hong Dou momentarily forgot her guilt and thumped her chest: “That’s a certainty!”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly: “Good that you won. How is the young master’s condition?”

At the mention of Luo Chen, Hong Dou wrinkled her face: “This servant went to inquire. The young master started developing a fever in the night. Right now the physician is still over there.”