Return to the capital?

Luo Chen frowned. “I don’t like jokes.”

To Luo Sheng’s eyes, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy frowning and saying he disliked jokes was rather amusing.

“What are you laughing at?” Luo Chen keenly caught the hint of mirth in Luo Sheng’s eyes and felt somewhat annoyed.

“I’m not joking. I’m just giving you advance notice.”

The young boy’s jet-black gemstone-like eyes fixed intently on Luo Sheng. Sensing her seriousness, his brow furrowed even tighter. “Stop being willful. Father sent you here to avoid trouble. How can you just return whenever you please?”

Father had been worried that Luo Sheng would continue causing chaos with a pack of worthless servants at their maternal grandmother’s home, so he only allowed Hong Dou to accompany her. This alone was enough to demonstrate his determination to keep Luo Sheng in Jinsha.

“It’s not as dramatic as avoiding trouble. He just didn’t want to see me cause even bigger disasters, so he sent me to our maternal grandmother’s home,” Luo Sheng explained patiently, then added, “Besides, haven’t I reformed now?”

Luo Chen was speechless.

Reformed? Hadn’t she just exposed everything about Sheng Jialan’s affairs, completely ruining their maternal grandmother’s family’s reputation?

Of course, in his view, Sheng Jialan had brought it upon herself, and he was also displeased with how his eldest aunt and the others had turned a blind eye to those rumors. But Luo Sheng’s direct and brutal exposure of this scandal didn’t exactly seem like the behavior of someone who had reformed and wanted to become a proper young lady of good family.

Luo Sheng reached up and ruffled the boy’s hair. “All right, you don’t need to worry about your sister’s matters. Just focus on recovering your health.”

Only after Luo Sheng left did the boy come to his senses, covering his head in both anger and frustration.

She touched his head again!

What kind of proper young lady randomly touched men’s heads—even brothers were off-limits!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Luo Chen turned his head and instructed Fusong, “Next time she comes, keep the door tightly shut for me.”

Fusong thought for a moment and asked carefully, “What if… she brings food?”

Luo Chen shot Fusong a glance and said irritably, “Of course keep the food.”

It was such a simple matter—why did his servant need to ask? Why was he so stupid?

That evening was the family banquet.

Seeing that everyone was rarely all together, Luo Sheng wiped the corners of her mouth with her handkerchief and spoke up. “Grandmother, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Old Madam Sheng’s face was gentle. “What is it, Sheng’er?”

That bowl of braised pork still lingered in the old madam’s memory. Looking at her granddaughter who could continuously produce such braised pork, she felt even more affection than she felt for the dish itself.

Seeing how kindly her grandmother spoke to Luo Sheng, Sheng Jiayu couldn’t help but grip her chopsticks tightly.

It wasn’t quite jealousy, just a bit of indignation.

Even if Luo Sheng had been right about Second Sister’s affairs, she had caused so much trouble before—why didn’t Grandmother hold it against her at all?

What did Luo Sheng want to say now to disrupt a perfectly good family banquet?

As everyone’s attention turned to her, Luo Sheng said calmly, “I want to return to the capital.”

Old Madam Sheng nearly dropped her chopsticks.

The First Madam and Second Madam exchanged glances, both seeing astonishment in each other’s eyes.

Sheng Jiayu bit her lip.

Luo Sheng was going to stir up trouble again!

Seeing that Luo Sheng didn’t seem to be joking, Old Madam Sheng asked stiffly, “Sheng’er, when your father sent someone to bring you here, he instructed that you should stay with your grandmother for some time…”

Saying “stay for some time” was putting it too mildly. In truth, Commander Luo had directly entreated Old Madam Sheng to arrange a marriage for his daughter and have her remain in Jinsha permanently.

Luo Sheng lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together. “I miss home.”

This single statement made the room even quieter. Even Luo Chen, who had been about to speak, pressed his lips tightly shut.

Luo Sheng raised her eyes to look at Old Madam Sheng, her tone still calm and unruffled. “A few days ago, I wrote a letter to Father. Father has agreed to let me return to the capital.”

“Truly?” Old Madam Sheng was greatly surprised and looked at Luo Sheng with suspicious eyes.

Luo Sheng pulled a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Old Madam Sheng. “This is Father’s reply.”

Old Madam Sheng hesitated before reaching out to take it. After opening and reading it, she fell silent.

The letter was indeed written by Commander Luo. The general meaning was that since his daughter had become well-behaved and sensible, she could return. He also expressed his gratitude to the Sheng household.

After a long while, Old Madam Sheng sighed. “If that’s the case, then go ahead.”

After all, she was only the maternal grandmother. In such important matters, she had to defer to the girl’s father.

Luo Sheng stood up and properly bowed to Old Madam Sheng. “Thank you, Grandmother, for accommodating me.”

Old Madam Sheng’s lips moved.

She didn’t want to accommodate this at all. Setting everything else aside, once her granddaughter left, what would happen to her braised pork?

At this thought, the old madam’s heart shattered.

After composing herself repeatedly, Old Madam Sheng forced herself to perk up and smiled at her two daughters-in-law.

The First Madam and Second Madam were still caught between shock and relief.

Shock that the matter of their niece’s return to the capital had been settled so decisively, and relief that once she left, the Sheng household could finally have some peace.

But when Old Madam Sheng smiled at them like that, both women felt their hearts leap with an ominous premonition.

“The eldest must mind the household, and the second son is away. But I’m worried about Sheng’er traveling to the capital alone. First Daughter-in-law, Second Daughter-in-law, which of your sons do you think would be suitable to escort Sheng’er?”

The First Madam and Second Madam both paled and looked at Sheng Dalang and his brothers in unison.

Sheng Dalang and the other three were dumbstruck.

Escort… escort their cousin back to the capital?

“There’s no need to trouble my cousins. I’ll return to the capital together with Luo… with Elder Sister.” In the awkward silence, Luo Chen spoke up.

“Absolutely not.”

Luo Chen’s face darkened as he glared at Luo Sheng. “Why not?”

Luo Sheng spoke honestly. “Your health won’t allow it. What if you fall ill on such a long journey?”

Luo Chen was so angry he could barely breathe.

Who said his health wasn’t up to it? He could eat two steamed buns in one meal now!

Seeing that Luo Chen wouldn’t give up, Luo Sheng said flatly, “Father sent you to our maternal grandmother’s home to recover from illness. If you run back without a word, wouldn’t that put Grandmother in a difficult position?”

Old Madam Sheng quickly added, “That’s right, Chen’er. I’d be even more worried if you traveled far. Just stay here peacefully and let your cousins escort your sister.”

As she spoke, the old madam shot her grandsons a stern look.

Sheng Dalang and his three brothers felt as if small knives were being thrust into them. They knew this assignment couldn’t be avoided—someone would have to be the unlucky sacrifice.

Terrified of being appointed, Sheng Erlang said with a forced smile, “Grandmother, this is such an important matter. We’d like to discuss it privately among ourselves to see who would be most suitable to escort our cousin.”

“Very well.” Old Madam Sheng nodded in agreement.

Having one grandson escort her granddaughter back to the capital showed the Sheng family’s regard. She didn’t particularly care which grandson it was.

Stroking her stomach that had expanded over these past days, Old Madam Sheng felt a pang of heartache. Sheng’er would surely prepare delicious food all along the journey to the capital—who knew which brat would be so fortunate?

Glancing at her grandsons with their bitter expressions, Old Madam Sheng snorted coldly.

These brats truly didn’t know their good fortune while living in it!

“Dismissed.” Thinking about how she wouldn’t be able to eat her granddaughter’s cooking anymore, Old Madam Sheng shooed everyone away listlessly.

As Old Madam Sheng gave the word, everyone dispersed with their own thoughts.

As soon as Hong Dou returned to the room, she rushed up to Luo Sheng and asked seriously, “Miss, when did you write a letter to the Commander, and when did you receive his reply?”

Could it be that some little wench had bypassed her, the head maidservant, to run errands for the young lady?

This was outrageous!

Luo Sheng was taken aback by the little maid’s serious manner and admitted frankly, “I never wrote one, nor did I receive one.”

“Then this letter—”

“Uh, I forged it.”