When Luo Sheng opened her mouth to request going along, she instantly shocked all the young ladies.

How could she so brazenly make such a request?

The young county princess was going to congratulate the princess consort on her birthday—what right did she have to tag along? Did she have the audacity to be so shameless?

The young ladies remained silent, watching the spectacle unfold.

After her initial surprise, Wei Wen concealed her annoyance quite well and said gently, “I’ll be back shortly. Miss Luo, why don’t you rest here instead? If you’re bored, you can also enjoy viewing the flowers.”

Luo Sheng smiled. “Drinking tea and viewing flowers can wait. Since I’m here representing the female family members of the Grand Marshal’s residence, I must personally offer my congratulations to the princess consort. Don’t you agree, County Princess?”

Wei Wen lowered her brows and remained silent for a moment, then nodded helplessly. “Miss Luo is right. Let’s go together then.”

She had momentarily forgotten that Luo Sheng was different from the noble young ladies present.

These noble young ladies had come with their own mothers—the matrons would handle the social niceties on such occasions. But Luo Sheng was the most significant female family member from the Grand Marshal’s residence.

When she proposed going to congratulate the princess consort, Wei Wen, as the host, had no good reason to stop her.

Seeing Luo Sheng walking out of the pavilion with Wei Wen, Luo Yue hastily called out to Third Sister.

Luo Sheng looked back and revealed a reassuring smile. “Second Sister and Fourth Sister, wait for me here. I’ll be back shortly.”

“But—” Luo Yue remembered the Grand Marshal’s instructions and hesitated.

Father had told her and Second Sister to accompany Third Sister.

Father had put it delicately, but she understood—he feared Third Sister would cause trouble again and wanted her and Second Sister to keep an eye on things.

However, these words weren’t appropriate to voice in public.

Seeing many gazes turning toward Luo Yue, Luo Qing gently tugged at her. “Fourth Sister, sit down. Third Sister will return soon.”

What Third Sister decided wouldn’t change, and it wasn’t appropriate for her and Fourth Sister to follow along to meet the Princess Consort of Pingnan. Rather than making a scene under everyone’s watchful eyes, it was better to quietly wait for Third Sister’s return.

Those over there were all elders—Third Sister shouldn’t start conflicts, right? Luo Qing thought uncertainly.

Wei Wen, walking along the path, was also pondering this question.

When had Luo Sheng become interested in social niceties? Could she be planning to cause trouble?

At this thought, Wei Wen’s eyes turned cold.

If that was the case, she definitely wouldn’t let her off!

Wait—there was already a good show planned for today anyway.

Thinking of certain matters, the corners of Wei Wen’s mouth lifted slightly as she quickened her pace.

“Princess Consort, the county princess and Miss Luo have arrived.”

Hearing the maid’s announcement, the Princess Consort of Pingnan, who had a smile on her lips, couldn’t help but pause.

She had estimated her daughter should be arriving, but which Miss Luo was this?

The female family members of the Grand Marshal’s residence had been disconnected from proper noble lady circles for too long. For a moment, the Princess Consort of Pingnan couldn’t recall who the Miss Luo mentioned by the maid was—not until she saw the green-clad young lady walking beside Wei Wen.

Luo Sheng’s face was quite distinctive.

For no other reason than this: among the matrons present, anyone with a son had once worried their precious boy might fall victim to Miss Luo’s poisonous clutches.

As for whether their sons actually weren’t that good-looking or were even rather unfortunate in appearance—this situation simply didn’t exist. After all, in every mother’s eyes, her own son was always the most outstanding. Even if it wasn’t Miss Luo, there were countless shameless dead girls eyeing them with drooling mouths.

Luo Sheng’s appearance caused all the matrons present to pause.

The Princess Consort of Pingnan glanced at Wei Wen.

Wei Wen performed her courtesy and explained, “Miss Luo wishes to personally congratulate Mother Consort.”

Luo Sheng curtsied at the appropriate moment and declared in a clear voice, “I wish the princess consort contentment and fulfillment, pines and cranes for eternal spring.”

The young lady’s voice was crisp and clear, like pearls dropping on a jade plate, reaching every person’s ears distinctly.

Those usually steady and proper noble matrons couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.

Though “pines and cranes for eternal spring” was an auspicious phrase, how could it be used for the princess consort?

The Princess Consort of Pingnan paid great attention to her appearance. Though nearly fifty years old, she looked only about forty. On ordinary days, she most loved hearing people compliment her youthfulness.

For Miss Luo to wish the Princess Consort of Pingnan “pines and cranes for eternal spring”—wasn’t this obviously treating the princess consort like an old lady?

Tsk tsk, raising a daughter so ignorant and uncultured—wasn’t the Grand Marshal worried?

However, for Miss Luo to think of the phrase “pines and cranes for eternal spring” could also be considered not easy. Instead, it would be the Princess Consort of Pingnan who should feel embarrassed after hearing it.

The matrons thought this while secretly glancing at the princess consort’s expression.

Since entering the capital, the Princess Consort of Pingnan had lived a life where everyone gathered around her like stars around the moon. When had she ever been so insulted to her face?

Indeed, to the Princess Consort of Pingnan’s ears, this was an insult.

She looked only about forty—what was this “pines and cranes for eternal spring”!

The Princess Consort of Pingnan was extremely annoyed inside, yet she couldn’t show the slightest bit on her face.

This was her birthday banquet. If she couldn’t even maintain her composure over this little matter, she would certainly become a laughingstock.

But she was still so angry!

The Princess Consort of Pingnan smiled as she thanked Luo Sheng for her blessing, her eyes sweeping toward her daughter.

Wei Wen bit her lip and forced herself to smile at Luo Sheng. “Miss Luo, let me have a maid escort you back to the garden.”

Luo Sheng looked surprised. “Could it be there’s no seat for the female family members of the Luo residence?”

Wei Wen was stopped short by this question and couldn’t help but look toward the Princess Consort of Pingnan.

The Princess Consort of Pingnan maintained her smile. “How could that be? Miss Luo, please sit here.”

Luo Sheng smiled bashfully. “It’s not appropriate for a young girl like me to sit here. I wonder if Madam of Marquis Changchun has arrived?”

At these words, everyone looked toward a matron seated at a certain table.

The matron appeared not yet thirty years old, with a gentle and graceful bearing.

Luo Sheng thus knew this was Madam Yang, wife of Marquis Changchun.

According to Hong Dou, Miss Luo held Madam Yang in very low regard.

The reason was simple: this second wife of Marquis Changchun had given birth to a daughter of modest literary talent. Once, when someone praised her, that person took the opportunity to mock the ignorant and uncultured Miss Luo.

And this remark happened to be overheard by Miss Luo.

Miss Luo unceremoniously gave that person a beating, and incidentally developed a dislike for the entire family of Marquis Changchun.

Luo Sheng looked at Madam Yang with a slight smile.

Since Miss Luo disliked this person, she naturally disliked her too.

Setting aside everything else, just the fact that this person had married her cousin less than half a year after Eldest Sister’s death made her unable to feel any fondness.

There happened to be an empty seat beside Madam Yang. Luo Sheng walked directly over and asked with a beaming smile, “Madam Yang doesn’t mind if I sit here, does she?”

Madam Yang’s eyelid twitched, but she smiled without revealing her emotions. “Of course not.”

She didn’t quite understand how it was appropriate for a young girl to sit beside her, but she dared not ask.

She had heard of Miss Luo’s fierce reputation.

Her only relief now was that her two sons weren’t yet ten years old, so she didn’t need to worry that Luo Sheng had come over with designs on her boys.

Luo Sheng settled down leisurely and drank tea and ate candied fruit in a refined manner.

Seeing the banquet had begun and Luo Sheng showed every intention of staying until the end, Wei Wen could no longer contain herself.

If Luo Sheng remained here, wouldn’t those arrangements be wasted…

Wei Wen secretly gave a maid a meaningful glance.

The maid mixed in among several maids serving soup and brought the prepared sweet soup to Luo Sheng.

A pair of fair and delicate hands, a bowl of sweet soup perfect in color and fragrance.

Just as the sweet soup was brought before Luo Sheng, those hands suddenly trembled.

An even fairer and more delicate hand deftly flicked it aside, and that bowl of sweet soup was overturned directly onto the face of Madam Yang, wife of Marquis Changchun.

The gracefully composed Madam of Marquis Changchun let out a shriek.