How could her mood possibly be good?

As they drew closer and closer to home, she felt fear, anxiety, urgency, and held onto a thread of hope—but happiness was nowhere among these emotions.

Sheng Sanlang was completely stumped and laughed dryly. “Cousin is quite the jokester.”

But meeting the girl’s eyes—deep as a dark pool—Sheng Sanlang couldn’t keep smiling.

Cousin Luo looked… like she truly wasn’t happy.

But why? Shouldn’t returning to the capital make her happy?

“Then… why is Cousin in a bad mood?”

Luo Sheng couldn’t answer Sheng Sanlang’s question. She glanced distantly ahead. “I’d like to spend a few days enjoying Nanyang City.”

Nanyang City?

Sheng Sanlang couldn’t help frowning.

Though Nanyang City was their next rest stop, there was no need to linger there for several days, was there?

“Didn’t Cousin want to hurry back to the capital? Why stop to enjoy Nanyang City?” Sheng Sanlang was straightforward—when he had doubts, he asked them.

“I’m getting tired of constantly traveling.”

Sheng Sanlang blinked. “If Cousin rests in Nanyang City for a few days, will your mood improve?”

If it weren’t for that soul-stirring quick-fried fish, would he, a grown man, care about his cousin’s mood?

Absolutely not!

Sheng Sanlang felt a wave of bitterness for himself.

Seeing how fixated Sheng Sanlang was on her mood, Luo Sheng pondered briefly and understood his thoughts. She said, “If I spend a few days enjoying Nanyang City, regardless of whether my mood improves, I’ll make a dish for Third Cousin.”

She favored equal exchanges. If Sheng Sanlang provided her with convenience, she would repay him with a delicious dish.

Sheng Sanlang’s face lit up with joy. “Then it’s settled! A promise made cannot be taken back—”

Looking at Sheng Sanlang’s outstretched hand, Luo Sheng curved her lips slightly and reached out to slap his palm. “Naturally, I won’t go back on my word.”

The girl’s soft fingertips were slightly cool, yet made Sheng Sanlang snatch his hand back as if burned.

His ears turning red, Sheng Sanlang raised his eyes to the sky.

For a moment, he’d forgotten his cousin was a girl. Would Cousin think he was trying to take advantage?

But looking at Luo Sheng calmly sipping her coarse tea with lowered eyes, Sheng Sanlang had another strange thought: Ahem, perhaps it was he who had been taken advantage of instead…

Though he didn’t mind, really.

The more Sheng Sanlang thought about it, the redder his ears became.

Hong Dou rolled her eyes.

What was this big fool blushing for? Did he think this little bit of beauty could make their young lady’s heart flutter?

“Let’s go.” Luo Sheng stood and walked toward the carriage.

Hong Dou climbed into the carriage and sat beside Luo Sheng, noticing her mistress growing increasingly silent.

“Miss, what’s wrong?”

“I miss home.” Luo Sheng closed her eyes. “Wake me when we reach Nanyang City.”

After a sleep, no matter what, there would be an answer—better than continuing to agonize with anxiety suffocating enough to choke her.

The carriage interior grew quiet again. Accompanied by the monotonous creaking of the wheels, the faint incense made one drowsy.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage slowed. Hong Dou poked her head out to look and said happily, “Miss, we’ve arrived at Nanyang City!”

Luo Sheng’s eyes flew open as she looked outside.

Ahead stood a solemn and ancient city. The city walls were mottled, the gate tower broad and high, and the three large characters “Nanyang City” abruptly invaded her vision.

In this moment, Luo Sheng’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Nanyang City, Prince Zhennan’s estate—she had finally come home.

Seeing Luo Sheng’s tears, Hong Dou panicked slightly. “Miss, why are you crying?”

Luo Sheng forced the tears back and said flatly, “The wind just blew something in my eye. Third Cousin, let’s enter the city.”

The group entered the city smoothly. Luo Sheng descended from the carriage and walked silently through the streets.

Sheng Sanlang walked beside Luo Sheng, curiously surveying their surroundings. “The city isn’t small, but it’s not lively at all.”

For a young man who had never traveled far from home, this city with its air of desolation was undoubtedly disappointing.

Luo Sheng walked forward without a word, her heart growing heavier with each step.

Nanyang City was home to Prince Zhennan’s estate. In her memory, it had always been bustling, noisy, and full of vitality—not like what she saw before her. Though there were plenty of people coming and going, the atmosphere carried an indescribable oppression.

It was as if the entire city’s tone was heavy.

This was not the Nanyang City of her memories.

Luo Sheng suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed directly on a certain place.

Sheng Sanlang glanced in that direction.

It was an estate occupying a vast area. The main gate was locked, and two stone lions stood silently before it. The dust-covered bodies of the lions wordlessly proclaimed the estate’s decline to passing pedestrians.

Luo Sheng stared blankly at the bluestone path before the gate—a path that should have been gleaming but now appeared dark red.

A pedestrian passed before Luo Sheng. She suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

It was a young man who was startled by Luo Sheng’s sudden action. He was about to scold her but found himself looking into the girl’s beautiful yet sorrowful eyes.

The young man swallowed his rebuke.

“What place is this?” the girl asked softly.

The young man glanced at the dilapidated prince’s estate, his expression shifting slightly. “This is the former estate of Prince Zhennan. Young lady, you’d best not approach such an inauspicious place.”

“Inauspicious?”

“Isn’t it inauspicious? According to the elders, the former Prince Zhennan colluded with enemy nations and committed the grave crime of treason. All several hundred people in the entire estate were executed. After all these years, the bluestone path is still red—”

With a ripping sound, the young man’s sleeve tore off in a section.

The young man stared stupidly at the piece of sleeve in the girl’s hand. “Young lady, being this impatient isn’t good…”

Though this young lady was extremely beautiful, her mind seemed a bit problematic—

“My younger sister is mischievous. Brother, please don’t hold it against her.” Seeing the situation going wrong, Sheng Sanlang quickly stuffed a piece of silver into the young man’s hand and sent him away.

Luo Sheng still stood in a daze, the young man’s words echoing over and over in her mind.

Colluding with enemy nations, treason, all several hundred people in the entire estate executed…

A sweet metallic taste surged up her throat, making her eyes blur. She could no longer see the estate so close before her, much less the dark red bluestone path.

“Cousin, what’s wrong?”

Luo Sheng didn’t respond and walked directly toward the carriage.

Watching Luo Sheng’s figure disappear through the carriage door, Sheng Sanlang looked at Hong Dou in complete bewilderment. “What’s wrong with your mistress?”

She seemed to be in a very bad mood…

Hong Dou thought for a moment. “Probably the city is broken down, the residences are broken down, and the people are ugly too. She’s too disappointed.”

Sheng Sanlang fell silent.

Apart from what this little maid said, there didn’t seem to be any more reasonable explanation.

So should they stay overnight in Nanyang City or not?

Glancing at the sky, Sheng Sanlang made his decision: Fine, it was getting late anyway. They might as well reluctantly stay.

After inquiring about the best inn in the city, the group headed there.

The carriage stopped before the inn, but Luo Sheng didn’t emerge for a long time.

Sheng Sanlang looked questioningly at Hong Dou, who sat outside the carriage.

Hong Dou rolled her eyes irritably.

Why was he looking at her? Couldn’t he see that the young lady had driven her out to sit here?

Sheng Sanlang coughed through the carriage curtain. “Cousin, if you don’t like it here, we can keep traveling.”

Why had she suddenly stopped coming out? Were girls’ thoughts always this hard to guess?

After an unknown length of time, the pale green curtain embroidered with bamboo patterns lifted, and Luo Sheng stepped down from the carriage with her head lowered.

She walked before Sheng Sanlang, her expression already restored to calm. “I quite like it. Let’s stay here.”