“Your Highness!” This time Princess Pingnan did not faint along with him but rushed forward instead.

Princess Pingnan was plunged into enormous panic.

Her eldest son had lost his position as heir and been driven back to the manor, her second son preferred men and refused to reform—if at this moment His Highness passed away, the manor would truly be finished.

Wei Qiang watched Prince Pingnan vomit blood and collapse. After regaining clarity, he felt a trace of regret.

He had been too impulsive.

Being driven back to Prince Pingnan’s manor like this was both humiliating and disgraceful, but no matter what, the manor had at least given him a place to shelter.

If something happened to Father Prince at this time and Second Brother inherited the title of Prince Pingnan, he would truly become a homeless cur, never to rise again.

“Is Elder Brother satisfied now?” A cool voice sounded.

Wei Qiang looked toward Wei Feng, who had stopped beside him.

Wei Feng curved the corners of his lips and strode quickly to Prince Pingnan’s side.

The chief physician was rushing over carrying his medicine box. After much bustling about, he finally managed to revive Prince Pingnan with acupuncture needles.

“Princess, His Highness’s body is extremely weak. In the future, he absolutely must not be stimulated again…”

Princess Pingnan nodded with a grave expression. After the chief physician withdrew, her gaze pierced sharply toward the Wei brothers: “Did you two hear what the chief physician said?”

The two silently nodded.

“Go. From now on, do not approach your father.”

Watching the two brothers walk out, Princess Pingnan closed her eyes as hot tears rolled from the corners.

Had she known this day would come, why had she gone to such lengths to frame Prince Zhennan’s manor back then?

In the end, her eldest son was distant, her second son bore resentment, and all her schemes had come to nothing.

Could this be retribution?

Princess Pingnan was unwilling to think this way, yet a delicate and serene face surfaced in her mind.

That was Princess Zhennan, the only person in the southern territories before whom she needed to muster her spirits and show deference.

Princess Zhennan’s oft-repeated words were about contentment bringing happiness.

She had sneered at this.

But why was she thinking of that person now?

All the changes had stemmed from that initial unwillingness to be inferior to another.

Princess Pingnan covered her face and wept silently.

Wei Qiang and Wei Feng walked out one after the other to find Wei Wen standing quietly in the courtyard with reddened eyes.

Neither showed much reaction.

Wei Feng had long been estranged from his sister, and though Wei Qiang held some affection for his only sister, at present he had no mood to express any deep sibling sentiment.

Seeing both elder brothers pass by her in silence, Wei Wen spoke with a pallid face: “Elder Brother, I have something I wish to say to you.”

Wei Qiang’s voice carried weariness: “Let us speak later.”

“It concerns Miss Luo.”

Wei Qiang’s steps halted as he looked toward Wei Wen.

The slender young woman’s lips were pressed tight, showing fragility mixed with persistence.

What made Wei Qiang change his mind was naturally not his sister’s dejected mood, but rather that she had mentioned Miss Luo.

Wei Feng had also stopped upon hearing the three words “Miss Luo.”

He now wished he could cut Miss Luo into a thousand pieces to satisfy the hatred in his heart.

“Come with me.” Wei Qiang glanced at Wei Feng and led Wei Wen away.

Wei Feng stared at their retreating backs, his expression shifting unpredictably.

“What did you want to say?” Wei Qiang stopped and asked Wei Wen.

After a moment of silence, Wei Wen said softly, “Elder Brother moved against Grand Commander Luo because of Miss Luo, did he not?”

Wei Qiang’s expression shook, unable to hide his astonishment.

Wei Wen smiled bleakly: “It seems I guessed correctly.”

Wei Qiang’s face suddenly turned cold: “Do not speak nonsense!”

Looking at her brother’s changed expression, Wei Wen did not retreat: “How am I speaking nonsense? Elder Brother, do not forget—that day outside the tavern, Miss Luo slapped me, and Elder Brother not only failed to help me but even wanted me to apologize to Miss Luo. I was aggrieved and distressed, pondering for so long unable to understand why.”

Speaking to this point, Wei Wen’s lips curved slightly with derision: “Now I suddenly understand. If Grand Commander Luo fell, Miss Luo would become a criminal official’s daughter, and then Elder Brother could win the beauty—”

“Silence!” Wei Qiang’s thoughts were suddenly exposed, like being stripped naked and thrown into the street. His face burned with humiliation.

Her brother’s reaction made Wei Wen even more certain of this guess, and she murmured, “I knew it, I knew it…”

Wei Qiang recovered some composure and said coldly, “You are a young lady—do not let your imagination run wild. It is not like that at all.”

Having spoken, he swept his sleeves and strode away.

Wei Wen remained rooted in place, the hatred in her eyes gradually covered by tears.

The sensation caused by the Crown Prince’s deposition seemed not to affect the tavern at all, though the tavern owner’s mood had changed.

Seeing the faint smile at the corners of Luo Sheng’s lips, tears could not help spilling from Xiu Yue’s eyes.

“Miss, we have finally waited for this day…”

Luo Sheng smiled with pursed lips: “I told you long ago—the days are still long. This is only the beginning.”

Merely relinquishing the position of heir was far from enough. The several hundred lives lost in Prince Zhennan’s manor were not so worthless.

Luo Sheng’s calm indifference only made Xiu Yue’s tears flow more fiercely: “Miss, this servant feels like she is dreaming. How did it happen… so quickly…”

She had disfigured herself and hidden her identity for over ten years, believing that toppling the two great mountains of Prince Pingnan’s manor and the Crown Prince would be as difficult as reaching heaven. Yet with the Princess, it had been accomplished so quickly.

Luo Sheng consolingly patted the back of Xiu Yue’s hand, saying only quietly, “It is people’s hearts that change quickly.”

An emperor’s heart changed even faster.

She had merely grasped this point, that was all.

“There now, wipe your tears. It would not do for others to notice anything amiss.”

Xiu Yue hastily nodded and turned to wipe her tears.

Luo Sheng walked out as if nothing had happened.

The persimmon tree in the courtyard bathed in the evening glow, its round persimmons hanging from the branches looking quite delightful.

However, persimmons at this time looked good but did not taste good. After casually examining them, Luo Sheng lost interest and instructed Kou’er to bring tea and refreshments, then sat at the stone table to drink tea.

When Wei Han walked over, this was the scene before him.

The rustic stone table and stools, the young woman leisurely drinking tea, and that persimmon tree with its fruit-laden branches.

Wei Han thought that if this were a painting, he would certainly treasure it well and admire it daily.

Hearing the sound, Luo Sheng looked up with a smile and invited, “Would Your Highness like some tea?”

Wei Han strode over and sat down, accepting the teacup the young woman across from him handed over.

“Has Miss Luo heard?”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly: “I have heard. Thank you for your assistance, Your Highness.”

“Miss Luo need not be so polite. This was something I needed to do.” Wei Han said this while quietly observing the young woman so close at hand.

Laughter dwelt in her eyes and at the corners of her lips.

Miss Luo must be in an excellent mood today.

It was said that when people were in good moods, if someone made a request, they easily agreed.

The young man’s face remained impassive, yet his heart grew fervent.

Should he try asking Miss Luo… whether she would be willing to become his princess consort?

Just as this thought flashed through his mind, the young woman across from him said with a beaming smile, “What would Your Highness like to eat? To thank Your Highness for your help, today I shall cook personally.”

He could order anything he liked, and Miss Luo would cook it herself?

The courage Wei Han had just mustered faltered.