The Su family, separated from the Sheng residence by just one street, was currently filled with tense atmosphere.

Inside the house, Sheng family’s First Madam and the Su family matriarch were discussing the marriage arrangement. In the courtyard stood several younger generation members, each with angry expressions on their faces.

“Second Brother, why don’t you go inside and talk to Mother? What if Mother really agrees?” A young girl in a green shirt looked anxious, tugging at a young man’s sleeve.

The young man appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. This was none other than Second Young Master Su Yao of the Su family, famous throughout Jinsha County and even Jinling Prefecture as a great beauty, possessing the looks of Pan An and Song Yu.

Su Yao leaned against the magnolia tree in the courtyard, its branches full of blooms, his gaze calmly fixed on the doorway.

Another young girl in a pomegranate-colored skirt spat and said reproachfully: “Elder Sister, don’t speak nonsense. How could Mother possibly agree to someone like Luo Sheng?”

The eldest Su daughter shot her sister a look and lowered her voice: “Don’t forget Luo Sheng’s identity!”

The second Su daughter paused, then stamped her foot indignantly: “So what? Our Su family isn’t made up of common folk either. Must Second Brother’s marriage be forced upon him?”

The Su family was a prominent clan in Jinsha, maintaining traditions of farming and scholarship. Over the past hundred years, they had produced many court officials. Locally, few dared to provoke them.

But Luo Sheng’s father was the Grand Commander, controlling the Jinlin Guards—how could he care about such things?

Thinking this, the eldest Su daughter felt annoyed by her sister’s naivety.

At this moment, Su Yao spoke: “Sisters, stop arguing. Marriage is a major matter requiring parental consent and a matchmaker’s words. Mother will make arrangements for me.”

His voice was gentle, his expression calm, making the two young girls even more anxious.

“What if Mother agrees?” The eldest Su daughter bit her lip and asked.

Su Yao’s gaze returned to the doorway, his eyes growing somber: “Then I’ll listen to Mother.”

“Second Brother!” the two young girls cried out in unison.

Hurried footsteps approached. The three looked over to see their younger brother, who had been stationed at the main gate, running toward them.

The youngest Su brother was only eight or nine years old. His cheeks were flushed from running as he called out loudly: “This is bad—Luo Sheng is here!”

As if what was coming wasn’t a young girl, but a terrible flood or fierce beast.

Su Yao stroked the youngest Su brother’s head and said gently: “Don’t call her by name directly. Call her Miss Luo, or Elder Sister Luo.”

As Luo Sheng approached, she happened to hear this distant, detached voice.

Gentle, yet lacking much warmth.

The second Su daughter rushed forward like an arrow, blocking Su Yao’s path, and shouted: “What are you doing here?”

Luo Sheng looked at her, as if seeing a righteous warrior standing before a beautiful woman, rebuking a scoundrel attempting to forcibly abduct a civilian girl.

The beautiful woman—Luo Sheng’s gaze fell on Su Yao.

The young man wore a moon-white robe. His skin was like jade, his long hair like a crow’s feathers. Slender and refined, he was even more striking than the magnolia tree full of blooms behind him.

Su Yao was about to frown when he discovered that Luo Sheng’s gaze had already shifted away from him.

Luo Sheng stared at the doorway and said: “I heard that my eldest aunt is discussing my marriage with Madam Su, so I came.”

The second Su daughter’s hands trembled with anger. Pointing at Luo Sheng, she scolded: “How can you say such things! Threatening death to force the Sheng residence to propose marriage wasn’t enough—you actually came in person. How… how can there be someone as shameless as you in this world!”

Tears were already spinning in the young girl’s eyes.

She was truly about to go mad with rage, but the elders had specifically instructed them not to provoke Luo Sheng, saying it would bring disaster to the Su family.

The eldest Su daughter grasped her sister’s hand, appearing slightly calmer: “Miss Luo, the elders are currently discussing matters. You should return home and wait for news.”

The Su residence doesn’t welcome you. Your standing here sullies the Su family’s ground.

The eldest Su daughter didn’t say these words aloud, but they had circulated in her mind countless times.

“Come back with me!” Luo Chen had caught up. Angrily, he grabbed Luo Sheng’s wrist.

Luo Sheng didn’t move.

Under the watchful eyes of the Su siblings, Luo Chen’s face grew hot with waves of embarrassment. Through gritted teeth, he said in a low voice: “Must you stay here to embarrass yourself?”

Luo Sheng patted Luo Chen’s head and said calmly: “I’ll leave after I go in and speak.”

The thirteen-year-old boy hadn’t yet reached his growth spurt and was still an inch shorter than the tall and graceful Luo Sheng. This gesture she made somehow seemed strangely harmonious.

Everyone forgot to react, including Luo Chen whose head had been patted.

It wasn’t until Luo Sheng’s figure disappeared through the doorway that Luo Chen came to his senses, his face pale with anger.

She, she dared to pat his head!

The little maid Hong Dou, who hadn’t followed inside, explained cheerfully with a smile: “Our miss likes the young master.”

If he were ugly, their miss wouldn’t spare him a glance, even if he were her own younger brother.

Luo Chen’s face turned from white to red. He coldly spat out one word: “Scram!”

Did he need Luo Sheng’s affection? If such a sister could just embarrass him a little less, he should be grateful.

“Cough, cough—” His emotions too agitated, Luo Chen began coughing.

Luo Chen was frail, which was why he had been sent to live permanently in Jinsha with its pleasant climate from a young age. This was known to everyone familiar with the Sheng family.

The Su siblings showed concern and inquired after him.

At this moment, Sheng Jiayu arrived. Looking around, she asked: “Where’s Luo Sheng?”

The eldest Su daughter said flatly: “She went inside.”

The second Su daughter had a good relationship with Sheng Jiayu and spoke without reservation: “Sister Jiayu, how come no one in your family stopped her and just let her run to our house like this? Ha, as if afraid my mother wouldn’t agree, she’s come to negotiate the marriage in person.”

These words made Sheng Jiayu’s entire face flush red with shame. Luo Chen wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

“I’ll bring her back!” Luo Chen strode toward the doorway.

Inside the eastern room, First Madam Sheng and Madam Su were equally stunned by Luo Sheng’s entrance.

“Why has the cousin miss come?” First Madam Sheng asked softly, though her heart churned with overwhelming disgust.

In all her years, she had never seen such a girl!

The Sheng and Su families were on good terms and frequently interacted. She had been a guest in this very room countless times, but never once had she felt as uncomfortable and humiliated as she did now.

If someone proposed a girl like Luo Sheng for her son, she would want to grab a vase and throw it at them.

Yet here she was, doing exactly such a disgusting thing.

But what could be done? For the sake of Second Young Master Su, Luo Sheng had even done something like hanging herself. Whether real or fake, if anything truly happened to her, how would the Sheng family answer to Grand Commander Luo?

At that point, never mind the Sheng family—even the Su family would likely face the disaster of household destruction and family annihilation.

Knowing such consequences, although Madam Su was extremely unwilling, she had almost nodded in agreement.

What was Luo Sheng doing here at such a time?

Luo Sheng curtsied to First Madam Sheng and Madam Su, saying: “Eldest Aunt, I’ve come to ask you to return home.”

First Madam Sheng was shocked by Luo Sheng’s unprecedented display of propriety and couldn’t help asking: “Does the cousin miss know what I came here to do?”

The corners of Luo Sheng’s lips curved slightly: “I know Eldest Aunt came to discuss my marriage with Second Young Master Su with Madam Su. However, this marriage should be called off.”

“Why?” In their extreme shock, First Madam Sheng and Madam Su asked in unison.

Exclamations of astonishment also came from Sheng Jiayu and the others at the doorway.

Luo Sheng smiled: “Because a forced melon is not sweet. Eldest Aunt, let’s go back.”

Even after Luo Sheng and her party had left, the second Su daughter still wore an expression as if she’d seen a ghost, saying incredulously: “She actually knows that a forced melon is not sweet?”