“Grand Commander, Third Miss has returned to the manor!” a servant came to report.

“How is the Young Master?”

“The Young Master was carried back on someone’s back. He appeared to be in good spirits.”

Grand Commander Luo breathed a sigh of relief, then asked again: “Third Miss didn’t send word ahead?”

“No.”

Grand Commander Luo helplessly stood up.

It seemed Sheng’er was preparing to keep this from him.

Was she afraid he would blame her after learning Chen’er was injured?

Seeing Grand Commander Luo stand up, the servant quickly said: “Third Miss is heading this way.”

Grand Commander Luo sat back down with a thump, his face darkening: “Get out!”

Seeing the servant still hadn’t moved, Grand Commander Luo glared: “Well?”

“Reporting to the Grand Commander, Third Miss is also carrying a food box.”

Grand Commander Luo’s eyes lit up. He exerted tremendous control over his suddenly excited mood, saying indifferently: “Go then.”

The servant left with a respectful expression, though inwardly quite composed.

He knew the Grand Commander wouldn’t be able to stay angry once he heard Third Miss was bringing food.

As the door closed, Grand Commander Luo suddenly found time passing rather unbearably.

He picked up a book and flipped through it randomly, then after two pages put the book down and paced back and forth.

Calculating the distance, she should have arrived by now.

Had someone delayed her by paying respects along the way, or was the food box too heavy?

Grand Commander Luo strained his ears and finally heard movement outside the door. He quickly sat down and picked up the book scroll again.

When Luo Sheng entered, what she saw was Grand Commander Luo sitting upright and proper, reading.

“The tavern has closed for the day, has it?” Grand Commander Luo showed his daughter a smile.

Luo Sheng carried the food box forward: “There’s something I need to report to you.”

“What is it?” Grand Commander Luo naturally set down the book scroll, gesturing for Luo Sheng to sit.

“Xiao Qi climbed a persimmon tree and fell. Luo Chen reached out to catch him and was knocked unconscious—”

“Knocked unconscious?” Grand Commander Luo’s expression changed slightly.

Didn’t they say the problem wasn’t serious? How did he end up unconscious?

“He’s already awoken. Just suffered some superficial injuries.”

Grand Commander Luo visibly relaxed: “That’s good then. Where was he injured? Has medicine been applied?”

Luo Sheng inconspicuously observed Grand Commander Luo’s expression while saying: “The wound has already been treated. The injury was on his buttocks.”

Grand Commander Luo’s pupils dilated slightly as he blurted out: “Who treated Chen’er’s wound?”

Luo Sheng’s eyebrows moved slightly.

So what Grand Commander Luo was most concerned about was who had treated Luo Chen’s wound?

This was somewhat strange.

The one treating wounds would either be a physician or someone close—what was there to be concerned about?

Even asking whether Luo Chen’s buttock wound was deep or whether it would scar would be more worthwhile questions than this.

Unless—

Luo Sheng’s gaze deepened.

Unless this question was extremely important… Was he afraid someone might see the scar on Luo Chen’s buttocks?

Luo Sheng decided to probe further.

“Xiao Qi volunteered to treat Luo Chen’s wound.”

“Ah.” Thinking of that somewhat foolish-looking dark-skinned boy, Grand Commander Luo’s face no longer showed any abnormality.

“Xiao Qi told me Luo Chen has a scar on his buttocks.” Luo Sheng’s face bore some curiosity. “Father, how did Luo Chen get injured there?”

Grand Commander Luo’s expression stiffened. After a moment, he smiled: “It happened so many years ago, this father can barely remember for a moment.”

Luo Sheng was surprised: “You can’t even remember how Luo Chen got injured?”

Grand Commander Luo’s breathing hitched.

Why did it sound like Sheng’er’s question made him seem irresponsible?

“Ahem.” Grand Commander Luo cleared his throat. “I’ve remembered now.”

“Then tell me.”

“It was when Chen’er was still very small—he was burned by a heating brazier…”

Luo Sheng looked shocked: “He was actually burned by a heating brazier? What were the maids, matrons, and wet nurses doing?”

“It was an accident that occurred due to those wretches’ carelessness.”

Luo Sheng frowned: “Such servants are far too negligent.”

Grand Commander Luo nodded: “That’s why this father had those several wretches beaten to death.”

Luo Sheng fell into silence.

Put this way, aside from believing Grand Commander Luo’s account, there was no way to verify this matter.

Luo Sheng thought of Grand Commander Luo’s wife, Sheng Shi.

If Sheng Shi were still alive, perhaps she could verify things through her.

Unfortunately, according to what Hong Dou had said, Sheng Shi had suffered from postpartum illness and passed away before the child completed the first month.

When asked further, Hong Dou couldn’t say much more.

Supposedly Grand Commander Luo was unwilling to hear people mention his deceased wife, and over time the manor’s older residents dared not bring it up. Naturally, those of Hong Dou’s age knew nothing about it.

“Sheng’er, why are you suddenly curious about these things?” Grand Commander Luo glanced at the food box Luo Sheng had placed on the table.

Luo Sheng smiled: “He’s my only blood brother, so naturally I should care more about him.”

Grand Commander Luo’s eyes showed gratification: “Sheng’er has truly become sensible.”

She understood to care for her only younger brother now—no wonder she brought a food box to see him.

He, this father, was also the only one, wasn’t he?

Luo Sheng seemed to understand Grand Commander Luo’s thoughts and asked: “Father, have you eaten dinner?”

“Not yet!” Grand Commander Luo blurted out, then coughed reservedly: “I was thinking of finishing the work at hand before eating.”

“That’s perfect timing. I brought you thousand-layer meat pies. They should still be warm.” Luo Sheng opened the food box and retrieved the pies wrapped in oil paper from within the insulated cotton-layered food box.

Touching the oil paper, it was indeed still warm.

Grand Commander Luo immediately took them: “Cold or hot doesn’t matter—as long as they’re from the tavern.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “Then you eat first. I’ll head back now.”

“Go rest. This father will go check on Chen’er in a bit.”

Luo Sheng curtsied slightly and left the study.

Stepping into the courtyard, night had deepened, and stars filled the sky.

Luo Sheng looked up, then turned back to glance toward the study.

The study was brightly lit, with a silhouette cast on the window.

That was Grand Commander Luo.

In this moment, Luo Sheng’s mood was somewhat complicated—more than anything, it was the confusion born from conjectures that couldn’t be confirmed.

She carefully recalled Luo Chen’s appearance, her parents’ appearances, and what she herself had once looked like.

Luo Chen and Mother Consort… did seem somewhat alike.

But was this feeling real, or was it a misconception born from preconception?

If Luo Chen really was Bao’er, then why would Grand Commander Luo do such a thing?

Hong Dou, who had been waiting in the courtyard and saw Luo Sheng standing lost in thought, called out: “Miss?”

Luo Sheng came back to herself, glanced at Hong Dou and Kou’er, and said indifferently: “Let’s go.”

Walking on the path back to Xianyun Courtyard, the two little maids chattered quietly behind her.

Today’s accident, because Luo Chen hadn’t come to serious harm, had instead become interesting conversation material.

Luo Sheng slowed her pace, asking as if casually: “Have you heard of any servants who were particularly close to my mother when she was alive?”

Kou’er quickly said: “This servant has heard of some!”

Hong Dou silently rolled her eyes.

Why the rush to answer? Acting as if she could answer if she were just a bit slower.

Ptui! She wasn’t as loose-lipped and gossipy as that little hoof Kou’er!

“Go on.” Luo Sheng said seemingly carelessly.

“This servant isn’t very clear about which servants Madam was close to, but I’ve heard that there was one concubine whom Madam valued quite highly.”