Luo Ying’s tears suddenly stopped, and even her sorrow instantly lessened somewhat: “Third Sister, you… you absolutely mustn’t do such a thing…”

Like Third Sister keeping male companions?

She simply couldn’t imagine such a thing.

Luo Yue took Luo Ying’s arm: “Eldest Sister, I think Third Sister makes sense—”

“Fourth Sister!” Luo Ying and Luo Qing exclaimed in shock together.

Luo Yue was puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

The remaining portion of Luo Ying’s sorrow was forgotten by another two parts. She gripped Luo Yue’s hand in return and said earnestly: “Fourth Sister, each person has their own way of living. What suits Third Sister doesn’t necessarily suit you…”

She absolutely couldn’t learn from Third Sister and keep male companions.

Luo Qing was even more worried. With some words not suitable to say in front of Luo Sheng, she secretly resolved to properly instruct her younger sister later.

“Third Sister, thank you for today. I’d like to return to my room to rest.” Luo Ying forced herself to express her thanks with effort.

“Eldest Sister, go rest.” Luo Sheng’s tone was gentle. “I’ll temporarily keep the related documents from breaking off the engagement. As for those shoes and socks, Eldest Sister can handle them.”

Luo Ying nodded, walked around the screen to the desk.

On the desk lay quietly the clothing, hats, shoes and socks—all made by her own hands, stitch by stitch.

Luo Ying reached out to brush over these items, her expression complex and difficult to describe. Finally, she slowly withdrew her hand and said softly: “Just throw them away.”

Having said this, she quickly left.

Luo Qing and Luo Yue exchanged glances and couldn’t help looking at Luo Sheng.

“I think Eldest Sister needs quiet today. Second Sister and Fourth Sister shouldn’t go over for now. Give her some time alone.”

The two sisters nodded.

Coming out of the parlor, Luo Qing tugged at Luo Yue and said seriously: “Fourth Sister, your recent thoughts are somewhat dangerous.”

“Thoughts?” Luo Yue didn’t react immediately.

Luo Qing lowered her voice: “Fourth Sister, you couldn’t have developed envy toward Third Sister keeping male companions, could you?”

Luo Yue blinked: “Can’t I secretly envy a little? Third Sister wants to keep male companions so she keeps male companions, wants to raise geese so she raises geese. When she doesn’t like them anymore she can keep something else. She lives happily and unrestrained—who wouldn’t envy that?”

Luo Qing was stopped short.

She actually felt Fourth Sister made a bit of sense.

No, she couldn’t be led astray by Fourth Sister!

Adjusting her mindset, the Second Miss recovered her serious expression: “You can’t think that way. Third Sister is Father’s most beloved daughter. Father will solve those troubles for Third Sister but won’t do the same for us—”

Luo Yue giggled: “Second Sister, don’t worry unnecessarily. I still understand this.”

She was only secretly envying a little, but had never thought of living like Third Sister.

In this world, there was only one unrestrained and spirited Miss Luo.

Fortunately, this unrestrained and spirited Miss Luo was her elder sister, able to close the door and beat the dog when the Tao family came bullying to their door, rather than wronging her own people for those nonsensical rules.

Luo Yue stopped and looked back, glancing at the courtyard they were leaving, slightly curving her lips upward.

Luo Sheng was still in the parlor, lazily calling out once for Kou’er.

“What are Miss’s instructions?” Kou’er thought about Hong Dou who had seen the guest out, feeling somewhat dejected.

She was clearly better at speaking than Hong Dou, yet Miss was partial.

“These days, pay extra attention to Eldest Miss’s side. If anyone invites Eldest Miss out, report it promptly.”

“Miss can rest assured, this servant will definitely keep close watch.”

The position of first senior maid couldn’t be occupied by Hong Dou alone—her qualities weren’t inferior either.

Hong Dou, who was being secretly envied by Kou’er, saw Madam Tao out to the main gate with a cold expression: “Madam Tao, take care.”

Madam Tao got into the carriage with an expressionless face.

Hong Dou spat toward the direction the carriage departed: “Bah, thing that kicks people when they’re down!”

Madam Tao sitting in the carriage couldn’t see any of this. In her heart was a relaxed feeling of the dust settling.

No matter what, this vexing marriage was finally broken off.

Although that nonsensical reason for breaking off the engagement was put down on paper, just as that stinking girl had said, it wouldn’t be made public like an imperial proclamation—it was merely to give the other party some comfort.

Being able to break off the engagement was what mattered most.

As for the betrothal gifts—Madam Tao sighed.

Because it was marrying up, to show the Tao family’s sincerity the betrothal gifts were much heavier than in ordinary circumstances. Now unable to retrieve them, to say she didn’t feel the pain would be a lie.

But there was no helping it. When the man’s side took the initiative to break off an engagement, they had to forfeit the betrothal gifts—this was the rule and custom of the world.

Consider it spending money to avert disaster.

Thinking this way, Madam Tao stepped down from the carriage with light steps.

They had arrived at the Tao residence.

“Madam Tao, since the matter is concluded, this humble woman will return home.” The matchmaker smiled.

The moment Madam Tao saw the matchmaker’s face, she immediately recalled Luo Sheng mistaking the matchmaker for her. The mood that had just eased immediately soured again.

She knew that little wretch had done it deliberately, but she was still angry and completely didn’t want to see the matchmaker’s face anymore.

“You’ve worked hard.” Madam Tao said neither warmly nor coldly.

The matchmaker waited, but seeing Madam Tao had no intention of giving a reward, could only leave disappointed.

Walking to a place with no one around, the matchmaker pursed her lips and muttered: “Has she gone mad from poverty over not recovering the betrothal gifts? Won’t even give a bit of errand money.”

Although she hadn’t exerted much effort, she had at least run errands. In this time, going to arrange matches could still earn some matchmaking fees.

However—the matchmaker raised her hand to touch the wrinkles on her face, her mood improving again.

Being mistaken for a noble madam could be considered recovering a bit of loss.

Madam Tao returned to her room and instructed an old woman: “Send someone to the yamen to tell my lord that the matter to be handled today is accomplished.”

My lord was still worried, just not convenient to appear in person.

The old woman received the order and left.

A maid presented tea. Madam Tao took it and sipped, still feeling somewhat uncomfortable inside.

Although the engagement was smoothly broken off, the humiliation received at the Luo residence was vivid before her eyes. How could she swallow this anger in such a short time?

She was waiting for the day when the Luo residence’s family fell into ruin. When that stinking girl was sold off or sent to the Music Bureau, she would definitely go send her off.

Before finishing a cup of tea, a youth of eighteen or nineteen years walked in.

“Why has Eldest Son come?” Seeing her eldest son, Madam Tao couldn’t help but reveal a gentle smile.

This year at the autumn examinations, her eldest son’s name appeared on the list—he already had the status of a successful candidate. If he passed the metropolitan examination in spring, once the storm of breaking off the engagement passed, they could find a good match for their eldest son.

Such a young successful candidate was exceptionally rare.

Looking at her outstanding son, the depressed energy in Madam Tao’s heart lessened somewhat.

“Mother, you went to the Luo residence to break off the engagement?”

“Mm.” Hearing her eldest son mention this, Madam Tao couldn’t help but frown.

Breaking off the engagement was something she and her lord had discussed, but they hadn’t yet told their son.

Young Master Tao’s complexion turned pale: “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Madam Tao sipped her tea, her tone becoming lighter: “You should study well and prepare for the spring examinations. Why worry about such matters?”

“Is it broken off?” Young Master Tao asked with a pale face.

“It’s broken off.”

Young Master Tao took a step back, his complexion becoming even worse: “An engagement settled for several years is suddenly broken off. You… you should have at least told your son!”

“Eldest Son, surely you know about the Luo residence’s situation?”

“Your son knows, but—”

Madam Tao’s face turned cold: “There’s no ‘but.’ You surely recognize Second Young Master Lin, whose talent is renowned far and wide. Think carefully about why he cannot enter official service.”