Kou’er was talkative and attentive to detail. The next day, she had already gathered the information.

“The Qiao household has only four masters: Minister Qiao and his wife, Second Miss Qiao, and Young Master Qiao. Early this morning, Minister Qiao went to the yamen as usual, and Young Master Qiao went to school…”

Adding yesterday’s Lady Qiao and her daughter who had come to the restaurant seeking medical help, this meant the Divine Physician wasn’t being requested for any of the Qiao household’s four masters.

“What about Minister Qiao’s parents?” Luo Sheng asked.

Kou’er said, “The Qiao family is a prominent clan from North River. Minister Qiao’s parents aren’t in the capital.”

If they weren’t in the capital, that was beyond what a little maid like Kou’er could investigate.

Luo Sheng’s thoughts turned slightly.

For Lady Qiao to personally bring her daughter to ask for her help, that patient’s identity must certainly be significant.

Minister Qiao’s parents and eldest daughter were both possibilities.

Parents concerned filial duty and Minister Qiao’s official career, while the eldest daughter, as Crown Princess, concerned the Qiao family’s future glory.

Minister Qiao’s parents were far away in North River. By intuition, it was unlikely they would request Divine Physician Li to travel there for treatment.

That way, the likelihood that the Crown Princess needed the Divine Physician was greater.

Having reached this conclusion, Luo Sheng raised her eyebrows.

That day she had seen the Crown Princess at the Eastern Palace, she hadn’t noticed any poor complexion.

That day, she had also seen Chaohua…

Luo Sheng left the Grand Commander’s residence and headed straight for the Jinlin Guard yamen. At the yamen entrance, she encountered Pingli.

“Why has Third Miss come?” Perhaps from traveling under the scorching sun for a month or two, Pingli looked darker than before leaving the capital, though his tone remained gentle.

“To find my father.” Toward Grand Commander Luo’s several sworn sons, Luo Sheng’s attitude was neither cold nor warm.

In the past, Miss Luo hadn’t regarded the five sworn brothers as real brothers. If her attitude were too friendly now, that would be strange instead.

Moreover, the truth behind that assassination on the road to the capital remained unclear. Even without Miss Luo’s prior actions, there was no warmth to be had.

Pingli was obviously accustomed to such an attitude and said with a smile, “I’ll escort Third Miss inside.”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly and walked behind Pingli.

The youth walking ahead had a tall build and powerful stride. After several steps, he stopped to wait for her to catch up.

“Sworn Father, Third Miss has arrived.”

Grand Commander Luo quickly set down his book scroll and showed a smile to the young woman entering. “Sheng’er, what made you think to come here?”

“I have something to discuss with you.”

Grand Commander Luo nodded at Pingli.

Pingli withdrew and closed the door.

“What is it, Sheng’er?”

“Yesterday, Minister Qiao’s wife came to the restaurant asking me to help request the Divine Physician. I refused her.” Luo Sheng went straight to the point.

Grand Commander Luo frowned. “Did she make things difficult for you?”

“Not at all. I just thought that since the Qiao household is the Crown Prince’s in-law family, I was worried about causing trouble for Father.”

Grand Commander Luo sneered coldly. “Sheng’er need not worry. Your father isn’t afraid of such trouble.”

Luo Sheng looked relieved, her face curious. “Does Father know which member of the Qiao household is ill, that the lady of the house would personally come ask for my help?”

Grand Commander Luo’s expression became subtle. “No one in the Qiao household is ill.”

“Then is the Crown Princess sick?” Luo Sheng seemed to ask casually, her heart stirring slightly.

From Grand Commander Luo’s appearance, the Crown Princess’s situation didn’t seem as simple as illness.

Grand Commander Luo was just preparing to deflect when he felt his sleeve being tugged.

The young woman tilted her head slightly upward, full of trust. “Father surely knows, right?”

The evasion on the tip of Grand Commander Luo’s tongue was forcibly swallowed back.

There were no walls without cracks in this world. If he deceived his daughter now, what if the Crown Princess’s matter spread later?

If the Crown Princess’s appearance was damaged and she was consequently deposed, it certainly couldn’t be concealed.

If he told lies now, how would his daughter view him when she learned the truth later?

He couldn’t betray his daughter’s trust.

Grand Commander Luo glanced at the doorway and lowered his voice. “After hearing this, Sheng’er must not spread it outside.”

“Daughter understands.” Luo Sheng released Grand Commander Luo’s sleeve, the corners of her lips slightly rising.

“The Crown Princess’s face was injured by a palace maid. They say it scarred.”

Luo Sheng was shocked. “There was actually such an audacious palace maid?”

Grand Commander Luo also sighed. “It was indeed quite unexpected. That palace maid served Lady Yu…”

Luo Sheng maintained a calm expression as she listened to Grand Commander Luo explain the general situation, but her heart tightened.

The one who injured the Crown Princess was a palace maid… could it be Chaohua?

“Your father doesn’t know the specific details either, only heard some rumors. Sheng’er, remember not to spread this outside.”

The Jinlin Guard Commander was an outer court official. The investigative authority he wielded was not for investigating the emperor’s family affairs.

“Daughter knows.” Luo Sheng smiled in agreement, then changed the topic. “I heard Uncle is returning.”

“Your two cousins are about to take the autumn examinations. There are many matters at home, so your Second Uncle must return early. When your Second Uncle leaves, you and Chen’er should both go see him off.”

As Grand Commander Luo spoke, his mood began to grow heavy.

Ever since his brother-in-law had arrived, every evening he would accompany him to eat at the restaurant. Those days had been absolutely comfortable.

He really couldn’t bear to see his brother-in-law leave!

“Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, it’s been nearly half a year since Sheng’er returned from Jinsha.” Grand Commander Luo sighed.

Too fast—his brother-in-law had barely arrived and was already leaving.

Grand Commander Luo seemed to remember something. “Oh right, Sheng’er, now that you’ve opened a restaurant, will you still accompany your father to the autumn hunt this year?”

“The autumn hunt?” Luo Sheng’s eyes flickered slightly. “I’d completely forgotten about that.”

Grand Commander Luo couldn’t help but laugh. “In the past, you never enjoyed attending those young ladies’ poetry gatherings or flower banquets—you were always most enthusiastic about the autumn hunt.”

“I’ll go, of course I’ll go.”

The autumn hunt—she might have found an opportunity to arrange a meeting between Chaohua and Xiu Yue.

Returning to the Leisurely Cloud Courtyard, Luo Sheng asked Hong Dou about the autumn hunt.

“Who usually participates in the autumn hunt?”

Hong Dou counted on her fingers. “His Majesty will bring Noble Consort Xiao, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will also go, and then there are some imperial clan members and military nobles.”

Luo Sheng turned the gold-inlaid seven-treasure bracelet on her wrist. “The Crown Prince most favors that Lady Yu, right? Will he bring her?”

Hong Dou tried hard to recall, then shook her head. “The Crown Prince seems to have only ever brought the Crown Princess.”

Luo Sheng thought for a moment, then understood.

The Pingnan Prince’s household was best at maintaining appearances. Since Wei Qiang was still just the Crown Prince, he would naturally give the Crown Princess full respect.

However, this year the Crown Princess was “ill.”

Thinking of this, Luo Sheng smiled slightly.

Two days later, Grand Commander Luo brought Luo Sheng and the others to a pavilion in the suburbs to see off Second Uncle Sheng.

“Sanlang, you’re staying in the capital—don’t cause trouble for your uncle!” Second Uncle Sheng instructed Sheng Sanlang with a stern face.

Sheng Sanlang smiled obediently. “Father, rest assured. I’ll definitely behave myself properly and absolutely won’t cause trouble for Uncle and Cousin.”

Don’t think he couldn’t sense it—Father was looking at him quite unfavorably at this moment.

He had to persevere. He couldn’t let his jealousy-stricken father drag him back at this final moment.

Seeing that he really couldn’t find fault with his son, Second Uncle Sheng grunted irritably and grasped Grand Commander Luo’s hand. “Brother-in-law, I’m leaving.”

Grand Commander Luo forcefully patted the back of Second Uncle Sheng’s hand. “Safe travels, brother. Once the boys pass their examinations, make plans to come to the capital early.”

“Certainly!”

Second Uncle Sheng walked several steps, then turned around and said earnestly, “Sheng’er, you must run your restaurant well.”