After Grand Marshal Luo left Luo Sheng’s quarters, his face turned cold. He summoned Yun Dong to his study and gave him a thorough scolding.

“Fool! Who told you to abandon matters in Jinling and run back to the capital?”

“What if I was attacked? What use were you returning to the capital? Did you manage to bring back a divine physician?”

“Running back in confusion was bad enough, but didn’t you know to instruct your subordinates to take better care of your sworn sister and brother? As a result, your sworn sister didn’t even have anyone protecting her in secret when she returned, and you know what? Your sworn sister encountered mountain bandits on her way to the capital!”

Yun Dong honestly hung his head and accepted the reprimand, feeling several traces of gratitude toward Luo Sheng that he himself didn’t even realize: Foster Father is this angry just knowing Third Miss encountered mountain bandits—if he knew she’d also faced assassins—

Just thinking of the consequences made him shudder.

“Fifth, you’ve disappointed me greatly.” After thoroughly venting his anger, Grand Marshal Luo concluded.

“It was this son’s fault for placing Sworn Sister in danger. Please punish me, Foster Father.”

“Punishment will naturally come, but right now there’s a matter I need you to handle.”

Yun Dong clasped his fists. “Please give your orders, Foster Father.”

Grand Marshal Luo looked toward the orchids blooming on the windowsill, his tone ice-cold. “Take a team and coordinate with local authorities to completely wipe out all the mountain bandits along the route from Jinsha to the capital!”

“Yes.” Yun Dong accepted the order and departed.

Grand Marshal Luo’s anger diminished slightly. He instructed servants to send a box of banknotes to Xianyun Courtyard—Luo Sheng’s residence.

Sheng’er had spent money on Prince Kaiyang’s account, so he needed to subsidize her a bit.

Thinking of this, Grand Marshal Luo shook his head again.

He really hadn’t expected Prince Kaiyang to be so poor. What a waste of his renowned reputation.

After Grand Marshal Luo left Xianyun Courtyard, Sheng Sanlang rushed over to visit his cousin.

“Cousin, are you feeling better? I saw these dough figurines being made well on the street, so I brought back two for you.” Sheng Sanlang handed over a pair of dough figurines.

They were a lifelike pair of jade rabbits.

Originally, Sheng Sanlang hadn’t dared to go out on the streets.

The capital wasn’t like Jinsha with its simple customs. What if some noble lady captured him as a male favorite and dragged him home?

That his uncle and those concubines could misunderstand showed he did face this danger.

However, staying in the Grand Marshal’s manor all day was very boring.

The household was full of girls. Forget about not knowing them well—even if he knew them, it wouldn’t be proper to mix with them all day. What if the capital had good food?

If he encountered fun things, he could buy them back to cheer up his cousin.

Thinking about his wallet, Sheng Sanlang felt somewhat troubled again.

They say keep frugal at home but generous on the road. When he’d left, Mother had given him quite a bit of money, but after wandering today, he realized things in the capital were much more expensive.

He’d have to spend sparingly, or what would he do when he had no money to return home?

Thinking of the dishes he’d eaten at a restaurant with fairly prosperous business, Sheng Sanlang sighed.

Both expensive and not as delicious as what Cousin made.

Luo Sheng turned the pair of jade rabbits made from dough, showing a faint smile. “Quite interesting.”

Just then, Hong Dou hurried in, holding an exquisite small wooden box in her hands. “Miss, the Grand Marshal has sent you something.”

“Open it.”

Hong Dou opened the wooden box and pursed her lips. “Miss, it’s a box full of banknotes.”

Sheng Sanlang only glanced once before his eyes went straight.

A full box of banknotes, with the denomination on top being one hundred taels. This… how much money was this!

Sheng Sanlang stared straight at Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng’s expression was indifferent. “Put it away.”

Sheng Sanlang stared blankly at Hong Dou.

The little maid’s expression was equally calm. “This servant remembers the chest where we previously kept banknotes is already full. Why don’t we put this box of banknotes in the innermost trunk instead?”

Luo Sheng nodded carelessly.

Sheng Sanlang raised his hand to cover his chest. His heart ached a little.

He wasn’t even as worldly as a little maid. He could even see an expression of impatience at having to deal with this box of banknotes on Hong Dou’s face!

Heavily struck, Sheng Sanlang departed with heavy steps.

Luo Sheng pushed open the door and walked out, slowly pacing in the courtyard. When the listless energy in her body had mostly dissipated, she sat down on a stone bench under a tree.

Kou’er stood to one side gently fanning, while another little maid diligently shelled pine nuts.

Luo Sheng instructed Hong Dou, “Summon those two male favorites.”

Miss Luo hadn’t kept just one male favorite, but three. Since she’d roused herself, she should also deal with this mess.

Hong Dou went to fetch them. Luo Sheng sat under the tree waiting, popping pine nuts into her mouth one after another.

Before long, Hong Dou led two young men through the moon gate.

Luo Sheng looked over calmly.

The youth walking in front appeared eighteen or nineteen years old, with a pair of peach blossom eyes. His every movement exuded elegance. Those who didn’t know might think he was some manor’s noble young master.

The one walking behind looked to be about Luo Chen’s age. He kept his head lowered as he walked over, his expression timid.

Luo Sheng couldn’t help but fall silent.

To bring home such a child as a male favorite—compared to Miss Luo, she had lost.

No, she didn’t even have the qualifications to compare.

When she’d still been a princess, her mother consort would sigh that she was improper just for lingering in the kitchen, let alone keeping male favorites.

Even though she and Wei Qiang had been childhood sweethearts with their engagement set early, they’d never had any improper conduct. Right up until the wedding, they hadn’t even touched fingertips.

Miss Luo had lived to fifteen years old; she had lived seventeen years.

In terms of excitement, she couldn’t match one ten-thousandth of Miss Luo’s life, but in terms of fulfillment, she was confident she didn’t lose.

Father Prince and Mother Consort were very loving, and they doted on her too.

Even when Mother Consort felt some of her actions didn’t befit a princess’s status, most of the time she could follow her own wishes.

Her two elder sisters who’d married far away would send seasonal gifts on time, and their correspondence never let their sisterly bond grow distant.

When her younger brother was born and Prince Zhennan’s manor had an heir, the whole family became even more complete.

Because it had been complete, losing it pierced her heart like an awl, made her wish for death.

Every day upon waking, especially after learning that her younger brother—whom she’d thought had fortunately survived—had actually been dashed to death that very night, and she’d had to thrust a dagger into Si Nan’s heart, every breath was painful.

Luo Sheng had been lost in thought too long. The older youth raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Miss has been away so long—did you miss me?”

Those peach blossom eyes rippled with light. Looking over like this, they seemed filled with deep affection.

Luo Sheng withdrew her thoughts and recovered her indifferent expression.

“I recall you were sent by Princess Changle?” she asked, looking at the extraordinarily beautiful young man.

The youth didn’t quite understand why Luo Sheng was asking this, but he answered affirmatively in a low voice.

“I’m no longer keeping male favorites. Go back to wherever you came from.”

The youth was stunned, his face gradually turning pale. “Miss is driving me away?”

Luo Sheng paused.

So this one was willing.

“Si Nan injured my father. I have no more interest in keeping male favorites from now on. This is merely returning things to their owner—it can’t be called driving you away.”

The youth smiled miserably. “The Princess never takes back gifts she’s given. Rejected gifts only have one outcome—destruction. Mingzhu’s life is cheap. I can only beg Miss to show mercy.”

Luo Sheng raised her hand to rub her brow.

So he couldn’t be returned?

She turned her gaze to look at the youth who was only thirteen or fourteen years old.

The young boy was nearly in tears. “If Miss doesn’t want me anymore, what will happen to Da Bai?”

Who was Da Bai!