Shi Yan felt he had suffered a tremendous insult.

He was perfectly fine being a prince’s personal guard, yet he was sent off to raise geese for Miss Luo. That was bad enough, but now he was even being mistaken by Grand Commander Luo as a male concubine.

And thinking he came voluntarily!

Even if they thought he was forced, that would make him feel better.

Luo Sheng shook her head: “Sending him back would probably be inappropriate.”

“Why?”

“Prince Kaiyang sent him voluntarily. Refusing to accept wouldn’t that offend him? Your daughter thinks—why not take what’s offered—”

Prince Kaiyang sent him voluntarily?

Grand Commander Luo immediately grasped the key point. He looked deeply at Shi Yan and nodded: “In that case, keep him then.”

The Leisurely Cloud Courtyard already housed two male concubines anyway—one more could fit.

However—why would Prince Kaiyang send Sheng’er a male concubine?

Grand Commander Luo couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he tried, so he asked directly.

Luo Sheng frowned in thought: “Perhaps he wanted to send a gift to show goodwill?”

Shi Yan: A gift??

Hearing this, Grand Commander Luo became spirited. Ignoring Prince Kaiyang’s young personal guard’s presence, he cleared his throat and said, “Sheng’er, I’ve never understood—that day when the divine physician went back and forth several times between our estate and Prince Kaiyang’s estate, what was the reason?”

Luo Sheng’s expression was bland: “Didn’t Father ask about this that day? The divine physician came to give you a follow-up examination.”

Grand Commander Luo shook his head: “There was no need to go to the prince’s estate and then return for that.”

“Then what does Father think the reason was?” Luo Sheng simply kicked the ball back.

“Could the divine physician have been trying to act as matchmaker?”

“Cough cough cough—” Shi Yan, who had been listening intently, choked on his own saliva and began coughing violently.

Grand Commander Luo glanced at him and indifferently withdrew his gaze.

Since he’d already become his daughter’s male concubine, he was of no consequence.

“Father is overthinking it.”

Luo Sheng didn’t acknowledge it, but Grand Commander Luo became even more certain that Prince Kaiyang had designs on his daughter.

Having intentions toward his daughter yet not properly asking a matchmaker to come—actually engaging in private exchanges?

Private exchanges were one thing, but sending a box of pearls or the like, though ordinary, wouldn’t be wrong. What was the meaning of sending a male concubine?

A grown man—even trying to win his beloved’s heart should have some principles!

The more Grand Commander Luo thought about Prince Kaiyang, the more he shook his head, and secretly made a resolution: If Prince Kaiyang wanted to marry Sheng’er, he must pass strict tests before he would give his daughter to him!

What? Looking down on Prince Kaiyang this much yet still nodding in agreement?

Don’t be foolish—when someone finally came to propose marriage, should he really let his daughter remain on his hands?

“Father, why not return to the office?”

“I’ll wait in the flower hall at the front. I imagine the Marquis of Changchun won’t be long.”

“Precisely because of this, Father should avoid him.”

Grand Commander Luo looked at Luo Sheng alertly.

Could it be that Sheng’er saying she’d release him was just to placate him?

Luo Sheng smiled: “When the Marquis of Changchun sees Father, Father will have to apologize to him for this matter and might even owe him a favor—how unworthy would that be? Better to avoid seeing him and let your daughter deal with sending him away.”

“Then the eldest young master of the Marquis of Changchun’s household—”

Luo Sheng curved her lips: “Naturally the Marquis of Changchun will take him away. Your daughter has no use keeping him.”

Grand Commander Luo couldn’t help but glance at Shi Yan.

Around twenty years old, an outstanding physique, a heroic face… Then thinking of those two in the Leisurely Cloud Courtyard, well, indeed there was no need to keep Young Master Xu.

“In that case, I’ll make myself scarce.”

As soon as Grand Commander Luo left, Shi Yan couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Miss Luo.”

“Hmm?”

Meeting the young woman’s clear and calm gaze, Shi Yan hesitated.

But still couldn’t hold back!

“Ahem, Miss Luo, my lord sent this humble servant to raise geese, not… not to be a male concubine!”

“I know.” Luo Sheng’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.

“Then why did you just tell the Grand Commander—”

Luo Sheng asked in return: “Then how do you explain Prince Kaiyang specially sending a personal guard to raise geese for me? Wouldn’t that let everyone know how important Da Bai is to your lord?”

Hearing this, Shi Yan’s expression became solemn. He cupped his fists: “This humble servant is ashamed—this humble servant didn’t think of this for a moment—”

Fortunately Miss Luo was quick-witted!

Thinking again that he had to bear the title of male concubine, Shi Yan silently sighed.

Fine, for his lord’s sake, he’d suffer this indignity temporarily.

“Kou’er, take Shi Yan to see Da Bai.”

“Yes.” Kou’er curtsied slightly to Shi Yan, her tone gentle. “Please follow me.”

Shi Yan nodded dazedly, feeling a sense of unreality.

There was actually someone this normal among Miss Luo’s maids?

Kou’er maintained a gentle, water-like smile and led Shi Yan toward the west courtyard, talking continuously along the way.

“Oh right, there’s something you should know—currently there are two people specially attending to Da Bai. They live in the west courtyard with Da Bai.”

Shi Yan listened with a serious expression.

A great white goose that had lived over ten years was indeed extraordinary—it even had dedicated servants attending to it.

“One is called Mingzhu, and one is called Fuxue. Fuxue has the most experience raising Da Bai, so remember to listen to him.”

Shi Yan stroked his chin.

He hadn’t expected even the servants caring for the white goose to have such elegant names—it made him seem even more like someone who raised geese.

Passing through the moon gate into the west courtyard, he saw a tree with a canopy like an umbrella in the yard. A white goose half a person’s height was enjoying the shade beneath the tree.

Facing away from the courtyard gate was a slender young man.

Kou’er called out with a smile: “Fuxue—”

The slender young man turned around, and seeing Kou’er, showed a shallow smile: “Sister Kou’er, why have you come?”

Kou’er pointed at Shi Yan: “I’m bringing him to—”

Noticing something wrong with the person beside her, Kou’er stopped and looked at Shi Yan in confusion.

“Why aren’t you walking?”

Shi Yan stared straight at Fuxue, frozen like a clay statue.

The young man he was looking at specialized in raising geese?

Seeing a strange man staring straight at him, Fuxue couldn’t help but feel flustered.

Just then, Mingzhu walked out from the building.

“Brother Mingzhu!” Fuxue called out and ducked behind Mingzhu, poking his head out to observe the strange visitor.

Seeing Mingzhu’s face, Shi Yan became even more dazed.

This person also raised geese??

Mingzhu strode over, glanced at Shi Yan warily, and frowned slightly: “Kou’er, this is—”

“His name is Shi Yan. Miss said from now on he’ll care for Da Bai together with you.”

Mingzhu’s exquisite peach blossom eyes narrowed as he carefully examined Shi Yan.

At this moment, Shi Yan actually felt a bit ashamed.

He was ugly—he was dragging everyone down!

Fuxue’s eyes sparkled with curiosity: “Are you Miss’s new male concubine?”

Mingzhu revealed a relaxed smile: “Does this mean we have another brother from now on?”

Shi Yan understood.

So these two were Miss Luo’s male concubines.

Looking at the hand extended by the peerlessly elegant man, Shi Yan said seriously: “You’re mistaken, brother—I’m only here to raise geese.”

Though he hadn’t denied it in front of Grand Commander Luo, he absolutely would not collude with these two.

Mingzhu laughed lightly: “We’re also raising geese, so we still have another brother.”

Shi Yan fell silent.

It sounded wrong, but he couldn’t refute it.

Fine, it was only half a year anyway—whatever it was, it was.

At this time, the Marquis of Changchun hurriedly returned to the Marquis of Changchun’s estate.

“Lord Marquis, you’ve finally returned! Xi’er has been taken back to the Grand Commander’s estate by the eldest Miss Luo!”

Facing Yang Shi with her reddened eyes, the Marquis of Changchun didn’t have his usual patient, comforting mood. With a cold face, he asked: “Why didn’t you stop them?”