The second Su daughter’s expression was dazed. She pinched the youngest Su brother: “This isn’t a dream, is it?”

The youngest Su brother let out a miserable wail: “It hurts—”

The second Su daughter breathed a huge sigh of relief: “If it hurts, that’s good. It really isn’t a dream. Second Brother, you’ve escaped disaster!”

At this moment, Madam Su came to her senses. Looking at her handsome and accomplished son, tears streamed down her face—tears of joy.

Her son had truly escaped disaster. If not for the sake of the entire Su family, how could she have endured the nausea of listening to First Madam Sheng’s words!

Su Yao stepped forward and gently patted Madam Su’s arm: “It’s this son’s fault for troubling you with worry.”

His gaze turned toward the doorway, thinking of Luo Sheng’s behavior that differed so greatly from usual, giving rise to some doubt.

Would Luo Sheng really let him go?

The eldest Su daughter directed the maids to sweep and clean inside and outside the house, her voice carrying a light tone: “Everyone move quickly and sweep out the bad luck!”

The maids responded with clear laughter: “Don’t worry, Young Miss. We servants will clean thoroughly.”

The Sheng family party leaving the Su residence had much heavier hearts.

Sheng Jiayu moved closer to Luo Sheng and asked through gritted teeth: “Luo Sheng, what tricks are you playing now?”

First Madam Sheng glanced at her daughter, her tone carrying a warning: “Jiayu, where are your manners? Call her Cousin Sister.”

“Mother—” Sheng Jiayu stamped her foot indignantly.

She was only a few months younger than Luo Sheng. Calling her “Cousin Sister” was appropriate, but Luo Sheng didn’t act like a cousin sister at all, so she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

How could First Madam Sheng not understand her daughter’s feelings? After a perfunctory scolding, she asked Luo Sheng with an anxious heart: “Why has the cousin miss suddenly become unwilling?”

If sacrificing Second Young Master Su alone could bring peace to the Sheng and Su families and even all of Jinsha County, it might actually be acceptable.

Luo Sheng frowned slightly: “Does Eldest Aunt hope that the marriage between me and Second Young Master Su can succeed?”

These words nearly scared Sheng Jiayu to death. She frantically tugged at First Madam Sheng’s sleeve.

First Madam Sheng dared not ask further and involuntarily quickened her pace.

The Sheng and Su families weren’t far apart. The group quickly returned to the Sheng residence and headed straight to Funing Hall to see Old Madam Sheng.

Old Madam Sheng’s heart was jumping wildly. Upon seeing Luo Sheng return, she hurriedly asked the reason.

Luo Sheng curtsied and said flatly: “Perhaps Grandmother misunderstood. I’ve never had any thoughts of becoming engaged to Second Young Master Su. Sheng’er’s body is somewhat unwell, so I’ll return to my room first.”

As soon as Luo Sheng left, Old Madam Sheng couldn’t hold back. Full of worry, she asked Luo Chen: “Chen’er, has your sister taken a fancy to someone else again?”

Luo Chen’s face was black as the bottom of a pot. He explained with difficulty: “Elder Sister isn’t someone who changes her affections so quickly…”

This time he would keep a close watch. If Luo Sheng dared to act recklessly again, he would beat her to death!

Sheng Jiayu patted Luo Chen’s shoulder with a serious expression: “Cousin, you really don’t understand your sister.”

Old Madam Sheng sighed and gestured for the two to withdraw, keeping the two daughters-in-law to discuss countermeasures.

“Since Grand Commander Luo has entrusted Sheng’er’s marriage to me as her grandmother, in my view, Sheng’er’s marriage should be settled as quickly as possible.”

If this continued, the Sheng family would offend everyone in Jinsha County.

First Madam and Second Madam both agreed: “What the old madam says is extremely right.”

Old Madam Sheng raised her hand to rub her temples, her face full of regret: “It’s just that the girl has become unwilling to marry into the Su family again. What other families do you think would be suitable?”

First Madam gave a dry laugh: “The cousin miss has high standards. I’m afraid it will be difficult to find someone suitable for a while.”

“Indeed, looking throughout Jinsha, there aren’t many young men who could match the cousin miss.” Second Madam followed up.

She had heard that several families had already sent their handsome sons away to study and travel, just to escape from the cousin miss’s clutches.

How utterly humiliating!

Old Madam Sheng’s gaze swept over the two daughters-in-law as she revealed her plan: “Sheng’er has three older male cousins and one younger male cousin, all of appropriate age. Why not choose one from among them?”

The Sheng family had always been kind to others over the years, an honest household. Rather than let that girl bring disaster to others, better to keep her in the family. She was, after all, the girl’s grandmother. With her watching, surely no major chaos would occur.

Old Madam Sheng’s words were like a thunderbolt that nearly charred the two daughters-in-law.

First Madam suddenly stood up, supporting her forehead as she swayed unsteadily: “This daughter-in-law’s heart palpitation ailment has flared up again. I want to return to my room to take a heart-protecting pill…”

Second Madam hurried to support First Madam: “This daughter-in-law will escort Elder Sister-in-law back to her room.”

In the blink of an eye, both daughters-in-law had fled without a trace, leaving only the old madam to sulk alone.

Not a single one willing to understand the big picture and make a sacrifice? She had truly misjudged them!

As soon as Luo Sheng entered her room, Hong Dou came over with a cheerful smile and asked: “Miss, have you taken a fancy to some other young master? Tell me which one, and this servant will snatch him back for you.”

Luo Sheng poured herself a cup of tea. After taking two small sips, she stared blankly at the green tea leaves floating and sinking in the teacup.

Hong Dou had never seen her miss looking so quiet. For a moment, she felt somewhat unfamiliar and asked cautiously: “Miss, what’s wrong with you?”

Luo Sheng raised her eyes to look at Hong Dou.

Although the words coming from the little maid’s mouth were so absurd, the worry on her face was genuine.

Luo Sheng’s fingertips gripped the teacup slightly harder. She asked the question that had been circling in her heart since she woke: “Hong Dou, do you know of Prince Zhennan’s residence?”

She wasn’t some beloved daughter of a Grand Commander named Luo Sheng. She was Princess Qingyang of Prince Zhennan’s residence!

She had died and then awakened, her soul trapped in someone else’s body. She knew nothing about this person’s circumstances and could only use all her strength to control the overwhelming hatred and pain from before her death, quietly understanding her current situation without revealing anything.

“Prince Zhennan’s residence?” Hong Dou thought seriously, her expression blank. “I’ve never heard of it.”

Luo Sheng’s heart sank. Her knuckles gripping the teacup turned faintly white.

Her father the Prince was the Great Zhou Dynasty’s only prince with a different surname. Although Jinsha County wasn’t under Prince Zhennan’s jurisdiction, how many people in the Great Zhou didn’t know of him?

Luo Sheng steadied her mind and asked again: “Then what about Prince Pingnan’s residence?”

Not knowing of Prince Zhennan’s residence, she likely wouldn’t know of Prince Pingnan’s residence either.

Unexpectedly, after a moment of bewilderment, Hong Dou laughed: “Miss, are you testing this servant? Who doesn’t know of Prince Pingnan’s residence? Seven years ago, the heir of Prince Pingnan was adopted by His Majesty and became Crown Prince. Everyone from Prince Pingnan’s residence moved to the capital. You even met the Crown Prince…”

The color drained completely from Luo Sheng’s face. She could no longer hear a single word of what Hong Dou said afterward.

Suppressing her thundering heartbeat, she asked in a trembling voice: “What year is it now?”

“The seventeenth year of Yong’an.” Hong Dou answered without thinking.

With a clang, the teacup in Luo Sheng’s hand fell and shattered into pieces.

The seventeenth year of Yong’an—from when she died to when she woke, twelve years had actually passed?

What had happened during these twelve years? Why was what Hong Dou said so absurd and bizarre?

Hong Dou was startled and quickly crouched down to clean up the shattered porcelain on the floor: “Miss, be careful not to cut your foot—eh, what’s this?”

The little maid pulled out a white silk ribbon from the gap between the bed curtains and the screen. After staring at it for a moment, she seemed to remember something and hurriedly threw the white silk aside: “Ptui, ptui, so unlucky!”