Princess Changle smiled as she looked at Luo Sheng, still waiting for an answer.

That feeling of being watched made Luo Sheng involuntarily think of the Longevity Immortal Maiden.

Having the statue made in her own image—she had to admit Princess Changle was quite talented.

“Does Your Highness wish to keep it secret?” Luo Sheng threw the ball back.

Princess Changle’s eyes flickered, but she said nothing.

Luo Sheng’s gaze swept over the ice-cold corpse.

The body had undergone some unknown treatment and showed no signs of decomposition. The odor wasn’t particularly strong either.

If she hadn’t once been the Princess Qingyang, whose status was scarcely less noble than a princess, and hadn’t become familiar with this luxuriously precious fragrance at her mother consort’s side, she probably wouldn’t have detected anything unusual.

Perhaps this was fate at work.

“Right now, everyone outside is spreading rumors that the disappearance of Prince Pingnan Manor’s young princess is connected to Your Highness. As long as the young princess isn’t found, the rumors won’t stop.”

“So what, you want me to announce it to the world?” Princess Changle raised her eyebrows and asked.

Luo Sheng smiled charmingly: “What is Your Highness thinking? Why would you tell those people who are purely watching for entertainment after killing someone? What I mean is, why not tell His Majesty? His Majesty is wise and sagacious—he can resolve the remaining matters for Your Highness. Otherwise, the Ministry of Justice will keep investigating, the common people will keep gossiping, and even if the young princess is never found, three to five years from now people will still bring up Your Highness and the young princess as a topic of conversation.”

Princess Changle lowered her eyes to listen and nodded slightly: “Ah Sheng, you make some sense.”

No matter how fallen Prince Pingnan Manor might be, it was still part of the imperial clan. Wei Wen was ultimately different from those playthings whose whereabouts no one cared about.

If Wei Wen was never found, the rumors would persist.

She didn’t care about those lowly commoners’ opinions, but that didn’t mean she liked having them constantly mention her name.

“All right, I’ll listen to Ah Sheng.” Princess Changle took Luo Sheng’s arm and walked toward the door.

“However, there’s no rush. After I’ve eaten the pumpkin glutinous rice cakes Ah Sheng brought, then I’ll go tell Father Emperor. It won’t be too late.”

The door opened.

The maid waiting outside saw the scene inside clearly. Her pupils contracted sharply, but she didn’t cry out. Instead, she curtsied: “Your Highness.”

Princess Changle gave the maid a look: “Clean up the broken statue, but don’t touch the corpse.”

“Yes.”

Princess Changle pulled Luo Sheng to the bedchamber. After washing her hands, she picked up a diamond-shaped piece of pumpkin glutinous rice cake and ate it elegantly.

“Did Ah Sheng make this too?”

“Xiu Gu made it.”

Princess Changle pressed her lips together and said: “Although it’s also delicious, I’d rather eat what Ah Sheng makes.”

“Then I’ll make it next time.” Luo Sheng readily agreed.

A few plates of pastries in exchange for the final straw that would crush Prince Pingnan Manor—very worthwhile.

After eating two pieces of pumpkin glutinous rice cake, Princess Changle seemed to think of something and asked leisurely: “Ah Sheng, how did Feiyang fall out of your carriage?”

Luo Sheng had long anticipated this question and said helplessly: “Hong Dou has too much of a temper. Seeing Feiyang being reluctant and unwilling, she got angry and kicked him out.”

“So it was Hong Dou.” Princess Changle showed an unsurprised expression.

Luo Sheng subtly changed the subject: “Your Highness, I noticed that Feiyang has developed feelings for you—”

Princess Changle smiled and raised her eyebrows: “What feelings can a male companion talk about?”

Princess Changle didn’t touch the remaining pumpkin glutinous rice cakes.

Luo Sheng walked out of the princess’s manor and looked at the distant blue sky, lightly exhaling a breath of turbid air.

Princess Changle took a carriage into the palace.

“Is Se’er entering the palace at this time because something has happened?” Emperor Yong’an asked warmly.

This emperor with such deep thoughts seemed to reserve his tenderness only for Noble Consort Xiao and Princess Changle.

Princess Changle glanced around.

Emperor Yong’an nodded at Zhou Shan.

Zhou Shan quickly dismissed the palace servants attending in the hall.

“Father Emperor, Wei Wen is at my manor.” Princess Changle spoke leisurely, showing not the slightest sign of tension.

Hearing Princess Changle’s words, Emperor Yong’an showed no surprise either. He still asked calmly: “How did she end up at Se’er’s manor?”

Princess Changle’s lowered eyelids trembled slightly. When she raised them, they were full of coldness: “She tried to assassinate me with a gold hairpin.”

As she spoke, she slowly opened her palm.

Emperor Yong’an saw the red mark on Princess Changle’s palm. His expression suddenly turned severe as he said word by word: “Such a thing actually happened?”

“Yes, so I kept her there.”

Emperor Yong’an frowned: “Where is she?”

“Right at my daughter’s residence.”

Emperor Yong’an was silent for a moment, then instructed Zhou Shan: “Arrange for someone to handle it.”

He then asked Princess Changle with a smile: “Does Se’er have any other matters?”

Princess Changle curved her lips in a smile: “Just this small matter. There’s nothing else to trouble Father Emperor with.”

Emperor Yong’an smiled: “Then return home.”

“Your daughter takes her leave.”

After Princess Changle left, Grand Commander Luo was soon summoned to the palace.

“How is the investigation going?” Emperor Yong’an asked coolly.

“Lin Teng went to the princess’s manor today and came out in less than half an hour. Currently, there are no other developments.”

“There’s no need to investigate the young princess’s matter anymore. Go urge Prince Pingnan Manor to find the young princess as quickly as possible.”

As Grand Commander Luo showed slight bewilderment, Emperor Yong’an said meaningfully: “After all, this is a prince’s manor family matter.”

“This subject receives your command. As for the Ministry of Justice—”

“No need to concern yourself with them.”

Grand Commander Luo bowed and withdrew. Pondering Emperor Yong’an’s meaning, he returned to Luo Manor.

“Please ask the young miss to come.”

Before long, Luo Sheng entered the study.

“Father, you were looking for me?”

“Sheng’er just returned from the princess’s manor, didn’t you?”

Luo Sheng nodded.

Grand Commander Luo’s eyes flickered as he asked: “At the princess’s manor… did anything special happen?”

Sheng’er had gone before Lin Teng and returned later. If anything had happened at the princess’s manor during that time, Sheng’er should know.

Luo Sheng did not disappoint Grand Commander Luo. She smiled slightly: “Something did happen.”

“What happened?”

“Your daughter saw the young princess’s corpse.”

Grand Commander Luo: “…”

“Father?” Seeing Grand Commander Luo remain silent for a long time, Luo Sheng showed a worried expression. “Did I frighten you?”

Grand Commander Luo took a deep breath: “Your father is actually fine—”

But was it appropriate for you, a young lady, to smile while talking about such things? Weren’t you afraid of scaring away proper young men?

Could this be the reason Prince Kaiyang had been wavering all this time, never coming to propose marriage?

Thinking of Prince Kaiyang, Grand Commander Luo felt a bellyful of anger.

If this weren’t a prince, he might as well just keep him as his daughter’s male companion. At least that would save him from harboring the illusion that he could marry off a daughter.

“That’s good then.” Luo Sheng smiled with pursed lips.

In this situation, seeing his daughter smile gave Grand Commander Luo a headache. He waved his hand: “Sheng’er, go back and rest.”

“Then your daughter takes her leave.”

Grand Commander Luo left the manor to find Wei Feng.

Having received confirmation from Sheng’er, he naturally understood His Majesty’s meaning even better.

Wei Feng was leading a group of servants searching everywhere when he received a message from a Jinlin Guard and followed the guard to a teahouse.

In the private room, the fragrance of tea wafted through the air. Grand Commander Luo had been waiting for quite some time.

“I don’t know what matter the Grand Commander seeks me for?” After entering, Wei Feng asked directly.