Grand Marshal Luo had mentioned to Luo Sheng about sending his adopted son Pingli to Jinsha to fetch Luo Chen.

Calculating the time, his arrival at this moment was within expectations.

Luo Sheng abandoned her plan to visit the wine shop and headed toward the front courtyard. Halfway there, she encountered Sheng Sanlang hurrying toward Xianyun Courtyard.

Upon seeing Luo Sheng, Sheng Sanlang called out: “Cousin, I was just coming to find you!”

Seeing his urgency, Luo Sheng was somewhat puzzled: “Does cousin have something to discuss?”

“Cousin Chen has returned!”

Luo Sheng smiled: “Father sent someone to inform me. I was just heading over. Isn’t cousin going as well?”

“Of course I’m going.”

“Then why is cousin so anxious?”

Sheng Sanlang’s face fell as he sighed: “Cousin, think about it—Cousin Chen traveled all the way from Jinsha to the capital. Grandmother surely wouldn’t let him come alone, would she?”

Luo Sheng nodded.

Even with the Jinlin Guard escort, as the maternal family, the Sheng Manor should send a close relative along to properly observe propriety.

Sheng Sanlang’s expression grew even more pained: “Next month is the autumn examination. Elder Brother and Second Brother both need to remain in Jinling Prefecture for the exam, and Fourth Brother is too young. Grandmother definitely won’t send them, so the one escorting Cousin Chen to the capital must be either my uncle or my father.”

“And so?”

“And so?” Sheng Sanlang, seeing that his cousin still didn’t understand, heaved a heavy sigh. “I’ve been in the capital for so long—whether it’s Uncle or Father who came, they’ll surely drag me back!”

Go back? He’d die before going back.

As long as his cousin’s wine shop remained open, he wouldn’t return for a single day.

Let him make his own way in the capital instead.

“Cousin—” Sheng Sanlang called out with a pleading tone.

Luo Sheng looked at him.

“If they really make me go back, could you help put in a good word for me?”

Luo Sheng continued walking forward, saying coolly: “Cousin should actually return anyway.”

She didn’t know how far things would progress in the future—being by her side wasn’t necessarily good for him.

She had even considered sending Xiao Qi far away, but ultimately changed her mind.

She was the Qingyang Princess of Prince Zhennan’s Manor, and Xiao Qi was the young prince of Prince Zhennan’s Manor.

Neither of them had any way out—they could only live and die together.

But Sheng Sanlang acted as if he’d suffered a tremendous blow, exclaiming in shock: “Cousin, is our sibling bond really this fragile?”

Can’t it withstand even a little test?

He’d worked as a shop assistant with complete dedication—he’d never been this conscientious even when studying.

“We’ll see how things go.” Luo Sheng deflected with this phrase and quickened her pace.

In the front hall ahead, Grand Marshal Luo was carefully examining Luo Chen.

“Chen’er has grown up.” Grand Marshal Luo sighed emotionally, then thanked Second Uncle Sheng who had escorted Luo Chen to the capital: “I must thank you and your family for your care over these many years.”

Second Uncle Sheng hastily replied: “Brother-in-law, you’re too kind. Chen’er is my own nephew, and moreover, Mother’s treasured grandson. When Chen’er left for the capital this time, Mother cried until her eyes swelled up.”

Hearing this, the corner of Luo Chen’s mouth twitched slightly.

It was true that Grandmother was reluctant to part with him, but the red-braised pork deserved at least half the credit for her swollen eyes.

Luo Chen recalled the scene of bidding farewell to Old Madam Sheng.

Old Madam Sheng had grasped his hand with tearful eyes: “It’s good you’re going back. Once you return, the whole family will be reunited, and you’ll get to eat the red-braised pork your sister makes. Chen’er, don’t forget to come back and visit Grandmother with your sister in the future…”

Second Cousin had added: “Cousin Chen, once Elder Brother and I pass the provincial examination, we’ll come to the capital to find you next spring. When that happens, have Cousin Sheng make us her stir-fried fish, all right?”

Thinking about these things, whatever melancholy Luo Chen had felt about parting completely dissipated into irritation.

A commotion came from the doorway.

The servant lifting the door curtain announced: “The three young ladies have arrived.”

Luo Chen didn’t intend to look, yet his gaze unconsciously drifted over.

A purple-clad young lady entered first.

Seeing an unfamiliar face, Luo Chen immediately skipped over her to look at the second person.

Following the purple-clad young lady was a green-clad young lady—another unfamiliar face.

Luo Chen pressed his lips together tightly and looked at the blue-skirted young lady walking last.

None of them was Luo Sheng.

Luo Chen frowned.

The three sisters all curtsied to Grand Marshal Luo together.

Grand Marshal Luo smiled at Second Uncle Sheng: “These are my three daughters—eldest daughter Luo Ying, second daughter Luo Qing, and fourth daughter Luo Yue. You haven’t met Second Uncle yet.”

The three sisters then paid their respects to Second Uncle Sheng.

Grand Marshal Luo beckoned to Luo Chen: “Chen’er, these are your three older sisters. Do you remember them?”

“No.” Luo Chen was succinct.

Grand Marshal Luo felt awkward for a moment, then smiled: “In the future, you siblings should spend more time together, and it will be fine.”

Luo Chen said nothing.

The three of them had come together and stood quite close after entering the room, clearly indicating their close relationship in daily life.

Hah, they must have banded together to ostracize Luo Sheng.

Though Luo Sheng had a hundred faults, she was still his full-blooded sister—in this world, aside from their father, no one was closer to them than each other.

He’d be a fool to greet those who ostracized Luo Sheng with smiles.

Why hadn’t Luo Sheng arrived yet?

Luo Chen’s gaze swept toward the doorway.

A woman wearing a deep brown floral-embroidered jacket entered.

Then another woman walked in.

Then yet another woman walked in…

Luo Chen couldn’t bear to watch anymore and looked toward Grand Marshal Luo.

Grand Marshal Luo coughed once and introduced: “These are your concubines. Chen’er, you’ve been away from home for many years. I called them all here together so you could recognize them, lest you fail to recognize them when you encounter them in the manor later.”

Second Uncle Sheng gulped down his tea.

Brother-in-law was truly unconstrained—he was still present, yet had already summoned a whole string of concubines.

“Come greet the young master.”

At Grand Marshal Luo’s words, the concubines hurriedly greeted Luo Chen.

“Master has hoped day and night, finally welcoming the young master home.”

“Tsk tsk, the young master has truly grown up—he has Master’s youthful handsomeness.”

“What are you saying? He’s clearly even more handsome than Master was in his youth.”

…

Luo Chen glared darkly at Grand Marshal Luo.

He had counted—a full nine concubines!

You clearly said you’d summon my sister, but instead first came three concubine-born sisters, then nine concubines.

Where was Luo Sheng?

Had she committed some offense again and been sent away by Father?

With this thought, Luo Chen’s expression grew even colder.

Grand Marshal Luo barked: “What’s all this chattering? Have you no sense of propriety!”

How careless of me—intent on having Chen’er recognize everyone, I forgot there were rather too many concubines.

One concubine said cheerfully: “The young master has returned; we’re just happy for Master.”

“Exactly.” Two younger-looking concubines chimed in, waving their handkerchiefs.

Others feared the imposing Commander of the Jinlin Guard, but Grand Marshal Luo was actually quite amiable at home. Because of this, the concubines wouldn’t tremble in fear over a few words from Grand Marshal Luo.

At this moment, the doorway servant called out: “The young lady has arrived.”

Upon hearing that the young lady had arrived, the concubines immediately ceased their laughter. Each stood with eyes on nose, nose on heart, as if they’d become wooden figures.

The young lady was different—except for the eldest sister, every one of them here had been punished by the young lady to kneel on abacuses!

Luo Chen watched the concubines’ reaction, momentarily stunned.

Their reaction made it seem as if some terrible flood or savage beast had arrived.

Luo Chen looked toward the doorway and saw a plainly dressed young lady enter with a calm expression.

The young man suddenly felt somewhat displeased.

He had returned, yet she looked far too indifferent, didn’t she?