Among Grand Marshal Luo’s four daughters, only the eldest daughter, Luo Ying, had been betrothed to the Tao family of the Court of Judicial Review’s Vice Minister several years ago.

At that time, Vice Minister Tao, who had just been transferred back to the capital from a local posting, faced considerable headaches dealing with the deeply entrenched capital officials. To establish a firm footing, upon learning that Miss Luo and his eldest son were of similar age, he proactively hinted at a marriage alliance.

Grand Marshal Luo understood this marriage involved practical considerations, but marriage alliances were precisely about joining two families in harmony, with both families supporting each other thereafter. Vice Minister Tao’s initiative to forge closer ties couldn’t be called inappropriate.

At most, he was somewhat calculating—this could be called a flaw or a strength.

Before nodding in agreement, Grand Marshal Luo had met Young Master Tao and found his character and appearance reasonably satisfactory.

Thinking it over, although he held high position and great authority, the Jinlin Guard Commander was never a pleasant posting. To actually arrange his daughter’s marriage into a distinguished family wouldn’t be easy—this match was quite decent.

Ever since his treasured legitimate daughter began keeping male favorites, the decent match in Grand Marshal Luo’s heart transformed into extremely satisfactory.

If things had proceeded according to the set date, by the end of this month would have been Luo Ying’s wedding day.

Yet at this time, the Tao family had actually sent someone to break the engagement.

On the road rushing back to the Grand Marshal’s Manor, Luo Sheng’s face was ice-cold.

She still remembered how Luo Ying quietly embroidered her trousseau.

Serene, quiet—even her anticipation for future life was restrained, as if she belonged to an entirely different world from Miss Luo.

She found it somewhat difficult to imagine what Luo Ying’s state of mind must be, facing this sudden broken engagement just as she was about to marry.

Outside the Luo Manor gates, quite a crowd had already gathered, pointing and watching the spectacle.

As Luo Sheng walked over, her ears filled with distressing words.

Hong Dou, furious, wanted to hit a woman who spoke particularly harshly but was stopped by Luo Sheng’s shout.

“Miss, these people’s mouths are too vile! They actually say the First Miss deserves to have her engagement broken!”

Luo Sheng glanced at the fuming little maid and asked: “Would they have dared act like this before?”

Hong Dou shook her head: “Of course not! In the past, people even used the Grand Marshal’s name to stop children’s night crying. Now they see our manor has encountered difficulties—”

“Exactly. If Father is convicted, they’ll not only dare speak excessively but also dare act excessively. Arguing with them would be endless—removing the fuel from under the pot is the proper way.”

“Removing the fuel from under the pot?” Such a difficult phrase truly tested the little maid’s comprehension.

Luo Sheng walked swiftly inside, enunciating each word: “My father will still be the illustrious Jinlin Guard Commander.”

In the courtyard stood several unfamiliar servants whose dress didn’t resemble Luo Manor people.

Luo Sheng swept a glance over them and walked quickly past, hearing a maid call inside: “Miss has returned!”

In the room, a blue-clothed woman with her hair in a round bun couldn’t help but look toward the entrance. She saw a young woman wearing a crow-blue cloak stride in with great purpose, followed by two pretty maids.

Upon entering, the young woman immediately unfastened her cloak and casually tossed it backward. The maid in a red vest caught it deftly.

From beginning to end, neither master nor servant so much as lifted an eyelid.

From these flowing movements, the blue-clothed woman inexplicably sensed a trace of killing intent and momentarily forgot to react.

The young woman, having removed her cloak, wore a plain blue dress and skirt. Her fair face was like ice carving and snow sculpture, her jet-black eyes coldly and indifferently sweeping over.

The blue-clothed woman was a steward from the Tao family. Though she enjoyed some dignity and authority before the Tao Manor servants, she was ultimately still a servant. Before strong-willed masters, obsequious flattery came almost instinctively.

This impressively imposing young woman suddenly entered and looked at her—she instinctively displayed a smile.

Luo Sheng’s gaze swept across the blue-clothed woman’s face like a dragonfly touching water, then asked Luo Chen: “The Tao family sent someone to break the engagement with Elder Sister?”

Luo Chen nodded and glanced at the blue-clothed woman.

The blue-clothed woman, sitting on a small stool, stood up and began introducing herself: “This servant is an internal steward of the Tao Manor, sent on Madam’s orders to—”

Luo Sheng frowned and interrupted her: “What kind of uncouth, ill-mannered servant is this? I’m speaking with my younger brother—is it your turn to interrupt?”

The blue-clothed woman froze.

Luo Sheng stopped looking at her and continued asking Luo Chen: “Where is Elder Sister? Does she know the news?”

“She knows. I had Second Sister and Fourth Sister go keep her company.”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly, only then looking at the blue-clothed woman: “State your purpose.”

The blue-clothed woman very much wanted to summon the dignity of a Tao Manor steward, turn around and leave, but burdened with an important task, she couldn’t afford willfulness. She could only suppress her anger: “This servant has come on Madam’s orders to return the marriage contract.”

“Ah, so you’ve come to break the engagement.” Luo Sheng nodded knowingly, then coldly swept her gaze over the maids standing attendance in the room. Her calm expression suddenly turned severe. “Are you all idiots? Someone comes to break an engagement and you still give her a stool to sit on? Hong Dou—”

Hong Dou crisply acknowledged and went to remove the small stool from under the blue-clothed woman’s bottom, not forgetting to spit: “Bah! As if you’re worthy of sitting on our manor’s stool!”

The blue-clothed woman’s face burned with successive waves of heat. She couldn’t help but challenge: “Is this your manor’s way of treating guests?”

Hong Dou spat again: “What kind of guest are you? Not to mention you’ve come to break an engagement—even if not, you’re merely a servant. What makes you think you can puff yourself up and act important visiting our Grand Marshal’s Manor?”

Kou’er covered her mouth and laughed: “Hong Dou, perhaps you’ve misunderstood her. Maybe the Tao Manor teaches their servants this way—when visiting other manors, don’t consider yourself a servant. You must consider yourself the Queen Mother of Heaven to avoid undermining the Tao Manor’s dignity. Steward Tao, isn’t that how it works?”

The blue-clothed woman’s lips trembled directly.

Who is Steward Tao! Her surname isn’t even Tao.

That wasn’t even the worst of it—how had these two little hooves managed to twist this toward criticizing the Tao Manor’s rules?

The blue-clothed woman frowned: “Our Tao Manor has always been a household that follows proper rules.”

Luo Sheng raised an eyebrow, her smile not quite a smile: “Is that so?”

“Naturally.”

Luo Sheng laughed coldly: “Since it’s a household that follows proper rules, why did you send only a matron to break the engagement? Marriage is by parents’ decree and matchmaker’s word. Roll back and tell Madam Tao to properly bring the matchmaker and marriage contract, then we’ll discuss breaking the engagement!”

The blue-clothed woman finally couldn’t restrain herself from speaking sarcastically: “Miss Luo, you still think the Luo Manor is the same Luo Manor as before—”

Before finishing her words, she received a slap.

Hong Dou shook out her hand and rolled her eyes: “Such thick skin—hitting you made my hand hurt.”

“You, you people are completely unreasonable—” The blue-clothed woman covered her face, trembling with anger.

Luo Sheng smiled slightly: “After all, I’m not a reasonable person either. If you insist on representing the Tao Manor to discuss breaking the engagement with me, that’s fine. But when you return, remember to remind Madam Tao that I’m particularly petty. When I get angry, I need to vent on someone. If later Young Master Tao gets stripped naked and dumped at the entrance of a male brothel, don’t cry to heaven and earth.”

As she spoke, she looked deeply at the blue-clothed woman and kindly reminded: “Since your manor is anxious to break the engagement, before my father is convicted, I still have time to handle such a small matter.”

The blue-clothed woman was completely stunned, her face trembling as she looked at the fierce-faced young woman.

She had thought the task Madam assigned would have no difficulty whatsoever—she never imagined it would be hellish difficulty level!