“Sheng’er, is this your new male favorite?” Grand Commandant Luo subconsciously blurted out, his voice hoarse and low.

Sheng Sanlang’s enthusiastic “Uncle” got stuck in his throat, doubts arising in his heart.

Earlier, Cousin’s concubines had speculated the same thing, and now Uncle was saying it too. Could it be that in others’ eyes, he was much more handsome than the face he saw when looking in the mirror?

Luo Sheng glanced at Sheng Sanlang and introduced him with a flat tone. “This is my Third Cousin.”

Sheng Sanlang hastily revealed a smile. “Uncle, I’m Sheng Sanlang of the Sheng family.”

“Sheng Sanlang of the Sheng family?” Grand Commandant Luo’s mind, muddled from prolonged unconsciousness, gradually cleared. “I didn’t expect you to be this grown. The last time I saw you, you were still a child.”

“Uncle hasn’t returned in a long time.”

“Yes—” Grand Commandant Luo was just about to fall into reminiscence when the corner of his eye caught sight of Luo Sheng.

His daughter stood at the bedside like a white poplar, possessing a calm tranquility never seen before.

Grand Commandant Luo became completely alert. “Sheng’er, aren’t you at your maternal grandfather’s home?”

With these words, the room immediately fell into an awkward silence, with gazes falling on Luo Sheng one after another.

The concubines: Oh my, the young lady really did sneak back! Just as we said—you can’t offend the young lady. Even Master can’t control her…

Luo Yue first felt somewhat vindicated.

Father had awakened—let’s see how Third Sister explained sneaking back to the capital.

But then the young girl hesitated. If Third Sister hadn’t returned, Father wouldn’t have awakened by now, and perhaps he would have…

When they could only helplessly watch Father unconscious, with their sworn brothers equally at a loss, that feeling was too oppressive and hopeless.

Put that way, Third Sister sneaking back was a good thing—Luo Yue suddenly thought of the scene of Luo Sheng cracking her whip before the gatekeeper boy.

Actually, Third Sister cracking the whip and striking people did have a certain heroic bearing.

Luo Yue immediately became conflicted.

Hmph, in any case, she wouldn’t plead for mercy. At most, when Third Sister was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall, she’d send over some fruits.

Sheng Sanlang at this moment was purely worried.

Uncle wouldn’t punish Cousin, would he?

But Cousin had traveled thousands of miles to return home—the journey must have been very arduous.

Sheng Sanlang thought of the beggar’s chicken, pork knuckle, noodles with minced meat, calabash chicken… Sob sob sob, having eaten these and then eating other things was also too arduous. He completely couldn’t comprehend how Cousin had endured it.

“I was originally at my maternal grandfather’s home. Now I’ve returned.” Luo Sheng answered without changing expression.

Grand Commandant Luo’s face darkened. “You snuck back?”

This girl was truly lawless, causing people endless worry!

Grand Commandant Luo grew anxious, and his head throbbed with waves of pain.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the calm and tranquil Miss Luo suddenly raised her sleeve to cover her face, choking out, “Over a month ago, I suddenly dreamed Father had an accident. After waking, the scenes from the dream were vivid before my eyes, as if they had truly occurred. Your daughter couldn’t find peace of mind no matter what, so I returned. I didn’t expect Father had truly met with misfortune…”

Luo Sheng cried for a while before lowering her sleeve. Her slightly reddened eyes looked toward Grand Commandant Luo. “Your daughter didn’t sneak back. Heaven couldn’t bear to see Father meet with disaster while his daughter remained ignorant, so I received a divine calling to return.”

Grand Commandant Luo’s eyes immediately reddened as he said in a trembling voice, “This is father and daughter connected by heart. My child, the journey was arduous.”

Everyone: “…”

“You’ve only just awakened. Your body is still very weak. Please rest first.” Luo Sheng said.

Grand Commandant Luo indeed couldn’t hold on much longer.

Having been unconscious for over a month, with his knife wound not yet fully healed, there wasn’t a comfortable spot on his entire body. Just saying these few sentences had already left him gasping for breath.

“Pingli.”

“This child is here.”

“Go to the palace on my behalf and report to His Majesty the news of my awakening.”

“Yes.”

Grand Commandant Luo’s gaze slowly swept over his sworn sons and daughters before he closed his eyes and slept.

Leaving two concubines to attend to Grand Commandant Luo, everyone else in the room withdrew.

“Elder Brother, please wait a moment.” Luo Sheng called out.

Pingli, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned to look at her. “What matter does Third Miss have?”

“I want to know the details of my father’s assassination attempt.”

Previously, saving Grand Commandant Luo had been urgent and pressing, with no time to attend to these matters. Now it was time to get to the bottom of things.

Pingli seemed somewhat troubled and looked toward the Luo Ying sisters.

Luo Qing spoke. “That day, Father was drinking in the pavilion when Si Nan approached, saying Third Sister had left something for him to pass to Father. Father carelessly allowed Si Nan to approach. Inside the brocade box Si Nan presented was a jade hairpin. While Father was holding the jade hairpin to examine it, he used a dagger hidden beneath the brocade box to stab Father…”

“A jade hairpin?”

Luo Qing’s expression showed slight surprise. “Third Sister didn’t know? That jade hairpin was one Mother often wore before her marriage, later left to you. That day was Mother’s memorial day…”

“I don’t know why that jade hairpin was in Si Nan’s hands.” Luo Sheng very skillfully answered Luo Qing’s question.

“It must have been that damned scoundrel who stole Third Sister’s jade hairpin!” Luo Yue cursed through gritted teeth.

Luo Sheng looked toward Pingli. “How was Si Nan dealt with?”

“Sent to the Jinlin Guard’s prison.”

“Has the reason for assassinating my father been extracted?”

Pingli smiled. “Third Miss needn’t worry about these matters. We’ll interrogate him thoroughly and then report to Sworn Father.”

This meant he didn’t want to say much more to Luo Sheng.

“But I want to know.” Luo Sheng said matter-of-factly.

Young Master Si had been snatched from the street by Miss Luo and brought home, yet he had waited for the optimal moment to assassinate Grand Commandant Luo. The deliberate scheming involved wasn’t something ordinary people could accomplish.

Pingli was silent for a moment before saying, “According to what was extracted from interrogation, over ten years ago, Si Nan’s father died and his family was destroyed due to being arrested by the Jinlin Guard, leaving only the still-young Si Nan and one servant. Si Nan has always harbored thoughts of avenging his father. Two years ago, he happened to be brought back to the Grand Commandant’s manor by Third Miss…”

“Then Elder Brother, go attend to your business. I’ll go see him.”

“Why should Third Miss go to a place like the prison and dirty her eyes?”

Luo Sheng sneered. “He injured my father and deceived me completely. He can’t be let off so cheaply.”

Pingli’s expression changed slightly as he advised, “After we finish interrogating Si Nan, we’ll definitely make him wish for death. Third Miss has no need to take action personally.”

A trace of mockery flashed through Luo Sheng’s eyes.

She didn’t believe the reason Pingli gave.

The Jinlin Guard were the emperor’s eyes and ears, with authority to patrol and arrest. Over the years, countless officials had met family ruin due to being arrested by the Jinlin Guard. If this truly was the reason, why after over a month had the interrogation of Si Nan still not concluded? Why were they even afraid she might act rashly and severely injure Si Nan?

Pingli was treating her like the former Miss Luo, trying to placate her.

“Alright then.” Luo Sheng uttered these three words and indeed saw Pingli’s expression relax imperceptibly.

She curved her lips. “I promise not to take action. I’ll also have Fifth Brother accompany me. This way, Elder Brother should agree, shouldn’t he?”

Pingli had no choice but to nod.

With Sworn Father awakened, this sworn sister’s words now carried different weight. Having spoken to this point, refusing further would likely lead to a falling out.

“Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, you both accompany Third Miss together.” Pingli gave Qi Si a meaningful look.