The persimmon tree stood draped in silver, quietly displaying its beauty.

Luo Yue clasped her hands together. When she was truly about to speak, she found herself hesitating instead.

Truth be told, she wasn’t actually that close with Third Sister…

Luo Sheng asked with a smile, “What matter does Fourth Sister actually have?”

Luo Yue’s heart tightened.

She couldn’t hesitate any longer. Third Sister had such a temper—what if she grew impatient and drove her out?

“Third Sister—” Luo Yue opened her mouth, and meeting those calm eyes, she steeled herself. “I don’t want to enter the palace to serve some decrepit old man!”

Having spoken these words, Luo Yue’s expression changed as she hastily covered her mouth.

Oh no, she’d blurted out what she was thinking in her nervousness.

Though she had meant to express this sentiment, calling the Emperor a decrepit old man would be a great calamity if it got out!

Luo Yue blinked, and seeing that Luo Sheng’s expression remained calm, she felt somewhat relieved and mumbled, “Third Sister, what I mean is… I don’t want to participate in the consort selection.”

Luo Sheng nodded with a smile. “I understand.”

Luo Yue wrung her hands and lowered her eyes slightly. “But I don’t know what to do, so I wanted to ask Third Sister if she has any good solutions.”

Now that she had some composure, she was surprised by her own actions.

In that instant when she wanted to seek help, she hadn’t thought of Father, nor of First Sister or Second Sister with whom she was close—but rather Third Sister, who in her eyes had once been utterly lawless.

Perhaps it was precisely Third Sister’s nature that, when facing the mountain that was imperial power, gave her the courage to seek help.

“A good solution…” Luo Sheng murmured, then added with emphasis, “We can try, but whether it will succeed or not still requires some luck.”

Luo Yue’s eyes suddenly brightened. “What method does Third Sister have?”

She wasn’t a child anymore—she naturally knew that nothing was absolutely certain to succeed, let alone such a difficult matter.

As long as they could try, it was better than simply accepting her fate.

She had considered the worst outcome. If it really came to that, she could only obediently follow the family’s arrangements.

She had been a daughter of the Luo family for over ten years, living in silk and jade, commanding servants and maids. She couldn’t implicate the entire family in crime for her own selfish desires.

Still, she was unwilling and didn’t want to accept her fate.

Looking at the young lady with shining eyes, Luo Sheng said softly, “Today, Princess Changle will come…”

Luo Yue listened carefully, her expression constantly changing.

In the main hall, the scent of roasted sweet potatoes grew increasingly rich, sweet and tempting.

The sound of knocking came from outside the tavern door.

Kou’er quickly stepped forward to open the door and curtsied gracefully to Princess Changle standing outside.

Princess Changle crossed the threshold into the main hall without looking sideways, took a light breath, and asked, “A’Sheng, what is this fragrance?”

Making something delicious again?

Luo Sheng came forward with a smile. “We’re roasting sweet potatoes.”

Princess Changle’s eyes swept around and indeed saw that the tables and chairs in the main hall had been moved to one side, with a large roasting stove in the center surrounded by many people, each holding steaming food in their hands.

Smelling the sweet fragrance in the air, Princess Changle became curious. “Is this good to eat?”

She had naturally seen all manner of delicacies from land and sea, but these sweet potatoes, which wealthy families considered coarse and vulgar, she had never tasted.

“Some people like them, some people find them not to their taste. It still depends on the individual.”

Princess Changle raised her eyebrows. “Then I’ll try some.”

Luo Sheng smiled. “Fourth Sister, go fetch a roasted sweet potato for Her Highness.”

“Mm.” Luo Yue responded obediently and walked toward the roasting stove.

Only then did Princess Changle give Luo Yue a glance, with some scrutiny. “A’Sheng, this is your sister?”

Luo Sheng smiled gracefully. “Yes, my fourth sister. Does Your Highness not remember?”

Miss Luo had a poor relationship with her three sisters, but got along very well with Princess Changle. To Princess Changle, there was only one Miss Luo from the Grand Commander’s residence—the others were all cats and dogs, naturally not worthy of notice.

Princess Changle narrowed her long phoenix eyes, examining the young lady walking over with the sweet potato, and said carelessly, “I don’t have much impression.”

At this moment Luo Yue approached and curtseyed slightly. “Your Highness, please enjoy.”

Princess Changle looked at the roasted sweet potato cushioned by a plain white handkerchief and frowned slightly.

This blackened thing—she had to peel it open to eat?

After brief consideration, Princess Changle called out lightly, “Luqi.”

The beautiful young man named Luqi stepped forward to receive the roasted sweet potato, enduring the heat as he peeled away the charred yellow outer skin to reveal the sweet, soft potato flesh inside.

“Your Highness.” The youth held out the peeled sweet potato, presenting it before Princess Changle.

Princess Changle reached out to take it when Luo Yue suddenly spoke. “Your Highness, please wait a moment.”

Princess Changle glanced at her.

Luo Yue quickly walked to a table, fetched a silver spoon, and returned. “Your Highness, please use this.”

Princess Changle accepted the silver spoon, and her eyes held some amusement as she looked at Luo Yue. She said lightly, “You’re quite sensible and understanding.”

Using the spoon to scoop some sweet potato flesh and eating two bites, Princess Changle nodded with satisfaction. “I didn’t expect the taste to be quite good.”

Luo Sheng smiled. “If Your Highness finds it delicious, please eat more. We roasted quite a lot today.”

“Tasting it is enough.” Princess Changle casually glanced at the two beautiful young men attending her. “You two should try some as well.”

Luqi and Duyou both expressed thanks. “We thank Your Highness.”

Hearing this, Luo Yue hurried to fetch two roasted sweet potatoes.

Princess Changle chuckled. “A’Sheng, your sister is truly diligent.”

For A’Sheng’s sister to personally deliver food to her male companions was actually elevating the two of them.

“You two should thank Fourth Miss.”

“We thank Fourth Miss.” Luqi and Duyou cupped their hands toward Luo Yue.

Luo Yue hastily lowered her eyes. When Luqi received the roasted sweet potato, her cheeks suddenly flushed red.

Because Princess Changle had given Luo Yue some attention, she took in this entire change and immediately raised her eyebrows slightly.

Had the young lady’s heart been moved by Luqi’s beauty?

Princess Changle was not displeased by this—rather, she felt a subtle sense of pride.

These beautiful young men who came and went from the Princess’s residence were merely playthings to her, yet her playthings could make other noble ladies’ hearts flutter.

Luo Sheng’s lips curved up slightly.

Having dealt with Princess Changle for some time now, she had gained some understanding of her temperament. It seemed she had bet correctly.

Looking at her sister with upturned lips, Luo Yue’s anxious heart settled down.

Blushing at that young man just now had nearly suffocated her!

Fortunately it had succeeded—her secret practice hadn’t been in vain.

While Luo Yue felt relieved, she was also somewhat worried.

Would Princess Changle really, as Third Sister had guessed, bestow Luqi upon her?

Indeed, in Luo Sheng’s view, Luo Yue’s chance to avoid entering the palace lay with Princess Changle.

As the daughter of the Jinlin Guard Commander, as long as she met the most basic selection criteria, she would definitely be chosen. At this point, any commotion to avoid the consort selection would bring calamity to the Grand Commander’s residence.

If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain. While Luo Yue couldn’t make a commotion, Princess Changle could.

If Princess Changle took the initiative to bestow a male companion upon Fourth Miss Luo, then the only qualified young lady from the Grand Commander’s residence would lose her eligibility.

How could the Emperor’s consort have a male companion?