Wei Han instinctively reached out his hand, but seeing that Luo Sheng had steadied herself, he withdrew it nonchalantly.

“Is Miss Luo alright?”

Luo Sheng shook her head. “I’m fine. I’ll take my leave now. Your Highness need not see me out.”

Wei Han watched as Luo Sheng departed, then lowered his gaze to the table edge where her hand had rested moments ago.

The teahouse where they’d met was a high-end establishment with smooth, clean rosewood tea tables. At the table’s edge were faint fingerprints.

This indicated that her palms had been quite sweaty to leave such obvious marks.

Wei Han couldn’t help but glance out the window.

Late spring and early summer—the sunlight was bright but not intense, and gentle breezes drifted in, dispersing any stuffiness.

To sweat so much in such weather—was she ill?

Wei Han unconsciously walked to the window, his gaze following that now-familiar figure as she boarded her carriage. Only after the carriage turned a corner and disappeared from view did he turn back to the table.

Ill, yet she’d agreed to meet him. After meeting, she’d flatly refused his request—

Wei Han’s face remained calm, but his heart felt somewhat bewildered.

Were all women’s actions this impossible to fathom?

Wei Han picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The tea had already gone cold, making it even more bitter when it entered his mouth.

After drinking most of the cup, he called out: “Shi Yan.”

The young guard waiting outside the door entered and asked respectfully, “What are Master’s orders?”

Wei Han hesitated before asking, “Do you have any sisters?”

“Sisters?” Shi Yan was taken aback, then shook his head. “My mother gave birth to four sons in one go. This humble servant has no sisters.”

“What about cousins then?” Wei Han asked again.

He was the youngest of his generation. Those princesses imperial were all much older than him. Girls around Miss Luo’s age were all of his nieces’ generation.

It wouldn’t be proper for an uncle to ask his nieces about such things.

“No cousins either. I have two younger male cousins—Fifth Fire and Sixth Fire—who aren’t yet old enough to enter service.” Shi Yan’s temperament was far more composed than his elder brother Shi Yan’s. He answered with particular seriousness. “I do have two female cousins around fifteen or sixteen years old.”

“Do your cousins ever—” Wei Han had asked half the question when he suddenly didn’t want to ask anymore.

Miss Luo was completely different from other women. Even if he got an answer, it wouldn’t seem to have any reference value.

Originally, he wasn’t concerned about a young lady’s thoughts. Ultimately, it was because he had a favor to ask that he’d overthought things.

Wei Han gave a self-deprecating twitch of his lips and strode outside.

Seeing his master ask half a question then stop, Shi Yan showed no curiosity and silently followed.

When Luo Sheng returned home, she collapsed. Due to her depressed mood, even after taking the Cold-Expelling Pill, she remained sickly and listless for quite some time before finally regaining some energy.

By this time, Grand Marshal Luo had fully recovered.

“Miss, the Grand Marshal has come to see you,” Hong Dou entered to report.

Luo Sheng leaned lazily against the folding screen, her tone indifferent. “Show him in.”

Shortly after, a tall, middle-aged man strode in. His sharp eyes swept over Luo Sheng before revealing a smile. “Is Sheng’er feeling better?”

When Sheng’er had first fallen ill, he’d still been bedridden. Those bastards had actually concealed it from him. Only later, when he could get out of bed and walk around, did he learn his daughter had fallen ill.

He’d already heard from several concubines about Sheng’er seeking a divine physician for him. Sheng’er had truly grown up and knew filial piety now. This illness must have been brought on by the shock and fear she’d experienced when he was attacked.

Looking at Grand Marshal Luo’s sincere smile, Luo Sheng’s fingertips twitched.

The moment she saw this face, she wanted to draw a blade and stab it.

For this reason, all sharp implements that could injure someone in the room had been put away by Kou’er.

“Somewhat better.” Luo Sheng released her tightly bitten lip, tasting a mouthful of blood.

“That’s good then.” Grand Marshal Luo sat on a small stool by the bedside, showing a gratified expression. “You do look to have better color than yesterday.”

Luo Sheng kept her head lowered and hummed in acknowledgment.

Faced with such a daughter, Grand Marshal Luo felt rather unaccustomed. Grasping for conversation, he asked, “What’s wrong with Sheng’er? If you’re feeling stifled, why not take a walk in the garden?”

“There’s nothing interesting in the garden.”

Grand Marshal Luo’s breath caught. After some consideration, he said, “Then go stroll the streets?”

Though there was a risk of his daughter flirting with men on the streets, to improve her mood, this risk was acceptable.

Of course, it would be best if she didn’t bring any male favorites home.

Luo Sheng toyed with the fragrant ball hanging from the bed post, saying absently, “There’s nothing interesting on the streets either.”

This left Grand Marshal Luo at a loss for words.

Not even interested in going out—he couldn’t very well tell his daughter that a new male escort house had opened across from the pleasure quarter.

Though he doted on his daughter, he still had principles!

Luo Sheng had no idea that Grand Marshal Luo’s thoughts had flown far away. She said flatly, “I received an invitation from Prince Pingnan’s manor. In a few days, I’ll attend Princess Pingnan’s birthday banquet.”

Grand Marshal Luo was startled, then remembered. “Oh yes, there is such a thing. You can go with Father then.”

The Luo household had no mistress. Though several concubines managed affairs together, when female family members’ presence was required for social obligations, concubines couldn’t handle such matters.

Usually, when such invitations arrived, the First Concubine would carefully organize them and send them to Luo Sheng for review.

Of course, Miss Luo, who was absorbed in eating, drinking, playing, and admiring handsome men, had no interest in such things and rarely wished to attend social functions.

The concubines managing the household would tactfully decline and send appropriate congratulatory gifts to fulfill their obligations.

But for Luo Sheng, this invitation from Prince Pingnan’s manor was enough to rouse her spirits.

There, she would meet Prince Pingnan and his wife, who had nearly become her parents-in-law. Perhaps… she might even see Wei Qiang.

Luo Sheng clenched her hand, then released it, her face maintaining calm throughout.

She wasn’t skilled at making choices, yet she happened to want to kill too many people. Which one should she deal with first?

Luo Sheng pondered this, finally giving a self-deprecating laugh in her heart.

In the blink of an eye, twelve years had passed. Both sides’ identities had undergone earth-shattering changes. It seemed dealing with any of them wouldn’t be so easy.

No matter. She would take her time.

She withdrew her thoughts and gave Grand Marshal Luo a slight nod. “Very well. Father, please go attend to your business.”

“Mm.” Grand Marshal Luo acknowledged verbally but didn’t move.

Luo Sheng could see that Grand Marshal Luo had something to say and waited quietly.

After hesitating for a long while, Grand Marshal Luo finally spoke. “Sheng’er, you met with Prince Kaiyang some days ago?”

He normally didn’t concern himself much with household matters, but his daughter had offended Prince Kaiyang and been sent away by him, so naturally he’d pay attention to such things.

That day, the steward had actually reported that Prince Kaiyang’s manor had sent Sheng’er a calling card. And who else from Prince Kaiyang’s manor could Sheng’er meet besides Prince Kaiyang himself?

Come to think of it, Sheng’er had fallen ill after returning from that outing.

Hiss—Grand Marshal Luo suddenly thought of something and drew in a sharp breath.

Could Sheng’er be suffering from lovesickness!

As for his earlier assumption that she’d fallen ill from worry over him—what, couldn’t a father console himself?

“Yes, we met once. On the road back to the capital, I repeatedly encountered mountain bandits and was somewhat worried. I happened to encounter Prince Kaiyang and asked him to look after things. That day’s meeting was to repay the favor I owed Prince Kaiyang by converting it to silver and giving it to him.” Luo Sheng’s lies came readily.

“So that’s how it was.” Grand Marshal Luo nodded approvingly.

Being able to repay a favor with money was quite economical. Sheng’er had done well.

However, Prince Kaiyang actually accepted money from a young lady—his character was poor indeed.