Minister Tao thought he had heard wrong.

A male brothel?

How could such words be spoken aloud!

Fury flashed through his eyes and disappeared. Minister Tao’s lips trembling: “Grand Commander, please forgive me this once. From now on, if you tell me to go east I absolutely won’t go west. I’ll listen to whatever you say…”

The Grand Commander shifted his legs in disgust.

This disgusting creature—trying to take the opportunity to wipe his snot on his pant leg?

“Minister Tao isn’t very old. Could you already be hard of hearing? I said, if you send your son to a male brothel, I’ll forgive you.”

“Grand Commander, whatever mistakes were made are all this official’s fault. However you wish to punish this official is fine, just please don’t make such jokes.” Minister Tao shuffled forward on his knees.

The Grand Commander sneered: “Does Minister Tao think I’m joking?”

Meeting the Grand Commander’s icy gaze, despair spontaneously arose in Minister Tao’s heart: “Grand Commander, this official is willing to accept whatever punishment you decree, but sending my son to a male brothel is absolutely impossible. You’ve also read the books of the sages—”

How could you make such an absurd and outrageous demand!

The Grand Commander said coldly: “Minister Tao gives me too much credit. I get drowsy as soon as I read. On the other hand, you also came through years of hard study by the cold window, Minister Tao. You learned quite a bit of the sages’ wisdom—how do you have the face to take advantage of my misfortune and ask my daughter to become a concubine for your son?”

For anyone who could be considered human, wouldn’t breaking off the engagement be enough?

Just thinking about being engaged for several years to a family worse than beasts made him wish he could devour their flesh alive.

Minister Tao first froze, then wept bitterly: “My unworthy son is young and ignorant, easily influenced. He listened to that cheap woman’s nonsense and became confused…”

If he absolutely had to sacrifice one, he could only choose to protect his son.

That was his legitimate eldest son!

As for his wife—thinking of Madam Tao, Minister Tao’s teeth itched with hatred.

If it weren’t for that cheap woman spouting nonsense in front of his son, how would his son have run before Miss Luo to say stupid things, resulting in Miss Luo beating her way to their door? And after the Grand Commander regained his position, he wouldn’t be forcing him to the point of death with this absolutely impossible demand to send his son to a male brothel.

The Tao residence was a scholarly family. If he really sent his son to a male brothel, not to mention losing his official position, the Tao family wouldn’t be able to hold up their heads for generations.

Miss Luo had made a huge scene coming to their door, causing tremendous embarrassment for the Tao residence. He had been extremely angry at that cheap woman at the time, but held back because he didn’t want people to continue laughing at the Tao residence.

Of course, most importantly, he had thought the Luo residence had no possibility of turning things around, so offending them wasn’t a big deal.

But who could have imagined the Grand Commander would get out so quickly!

At this moment, Minister Tao felt only deep regret and overwhelming resentment toward Madam Tao.

“So you’re saying it was your wife’s fault?”

“Women are ignorant—”

The Grand Commander sneered: “Minister Tao, if you had taken responsibility alone, I might have thought better of you. When breaking the engagement you had a woman come forward, and now that trouble’s arisen you mercilessly push that woman out. Someone like you isn’t even as good as mud—at least mud can nurture toads. What use is keeping you around?”

“Grand Commander—” Minister Tao cried out in despair.

“Get out, don’t dirty our Luo family’s place!”

Minister Tao was unwilling to leave, but soon several servants came over and dragged him out like a dead pig.

“Someone come wash this floor three times.” After giving instructions, the Grand Commander lifted his foot and went to where Luo Sheng was.

Luo Sheng was slightly surprised: “Why has Father come?”

The Grand Commander paused.

He had just wanted to praise his daughter for the excellent job she and Ying’er did beating their way to their door. How did he detect a hint of disdain in Sheng’er’s words?

It must be his imagination.

The Grand Commander said cheerfully: “Minister Tao just came begging at our door. I drove him out.”

“I heard.”

“The matter with the Tao family can be considered over now. From now on, frequently advise your elder sister not to keep dwelling on these things.”

“Daughter understands.”

The Grand Commander coughed lightly: “Especially don’t keep thinking about not marrying.”

Luo Sheng nodded and casually asked: “Isn’t Father going to the office?”

The palace had sent over tonics, and all interested parties had seen them. It should be time to go to the office.

Cold light flashed in the Grand Commander’s eyes: “Go—yes, it’s time to go.”

Leaving the Luo residence gates, the Grand Commander mounted his horse and headed straight for the Jinlin Guard office.

Snow still remained on the streets, but the black steed ran steadily, leaving the sound of clopping hooves on the stone road.

Arriving at the gates of the Jinlin Guard office, the Grand Commander jumped down from his horse and strode inside.

The gate guards loudly called out: “The Grand Commander has returned!”

The Grand Commander walked past the guards who saluted him without looking sideways, and saw a large group led by Pingli approaching grandly.

“Sworn Father.” Pingli knelt on one knee, performing the great ritual.

After having lunch at the Luo residence, Sworn Father had sent him back to the office. He had thought Sworn Father wouldn’t come today.

The Jinlin Guards who had come with Pingli to welcome the Grand Commander knelt in a dark mass, calling out in unison: “We welcome the Grand Commander’s return.”

The Grand Commander looked down at Pingli with a glance and said indifferently: “All of you rise.”

The Jinlin Guards obediently stood up.

Pingli watched, his feelings complex and indescribable.

For so many years he had assisted Sworn Father in managing the Jinlin Guard. Among Sworn Father’s five sworn sons, he was undisputedly the first.

But no matter how high his prestige grew, Sworn Father would forever be the sky of the Jinlin Guard—high above, unshakeable.

The Grand Commander strode inside.

The hall used for discussing matters still had familiar furnishings. Standing before him were still familiar faces. Even their respectful attitudes toward him were familiar.

Everything seemed no different from before.

But everything had long since changed.

The Grand Commander sat in the grand armchair. The cushion on the chair was similarly reassuringly familiar.

“Sworn Father, please have some tea.” Pingli took the teacup from the hands of the tea-serving Jinlin Guard and personally handed it to the Grand Commander.

The Grand Commander accepted the teacup, holding it in his hands without drinking. His tone seemed like casual conversation: “Pingli, while I was away these past days, was everything well at the office?”

“Thanks to Sworn Father’s blessings, everything at the office has been well.” Pingli’s manner was respectful as he reported to the Grand Commander all the matters large and small concerning the Jinlin Guard during this time.

The Grand Commander listened while nodding. When Pingli finished his report, he smiled: “It seems you can handle things very well even without me here. You can shoulder heavy responsibilities now.”

This smile made Pingli’s scalp tingle. He immediately knelt down: “Sworn Father, you give this child too much credit. This child’s growth cannot be separated from Sworn Father’s guidance, and the Jinlin Guard cannot be separated from Sworn Father even more.”

“Why do you keep kneeling at the slightest thing?” The Grand Commander brought the teacup to his lips and sniffed it. Though the tea water smelled fragrant, he didn’t take a single sip.

Pingli didn’t stand up.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stand, but rather that although Sworn Father spoke politely, he hadn’t told him to rise.

Was Sworn Father displeased that he had full control of the Jinlin Guard during the time in prison, thinking he should cut down his prestige?

As Pingli was pondering this, he heard approaching footsteps.

He instinctively looked toward the doorway and saw someone striding in.

Pingli’s expression changed immediately.