The rat probably hadn’t expected the newcomer to be so direct, and was kicked squarely. Its plump body rolled over, and it quickly scurried away without a trace.

Lin Teng still stood there motionless.

Luo Sheng raised her eyes to look at him: “Young Master Lin?”

Lin Teng had always considered himself someone who remained calm in the face of change, but at this moment, he still felt he needed to compose himself.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of rats, but rather he had never imagined that a young woman could be so unafraid of rats!

Thinking about it—if his future wife were like Miss Luo with tears flooding forth and swiftly departing, lifting her foot to kick rats—

Lin Teng didn’t dare think further, only feeling the pressure was somewhat great.

“Miss Luo, this way.” The young man, having organized his emotions, walked forward with a stern face.

Luo Sheng followed with her eyes straight ahead.

The damp, moldy smell filled her nostrils, and scalp-numbing cries occasionally rang out.

Walking in this dark place that never saw daylight, it was as if one had left the mortal realm, step by step descending toward the underworld.

Luo Sheng’s breathing became somewhat labored, yet she had no right to retreat.

Lin Teng walking ahead stopped in his tracks. She stopped as well, and through the bars saw Grand Marshal Luo.

Grand Marshal Luo sat expressionlessly on the ground, his hair disheveled, his garments wrinkled—nothing like his former distinguished appearance.

“Father.” Luo Sheng called out.

Hearing this call, Grand Marshal Luo suddenly jumped up, his numb face showing astonishment: “Sheng’er, why have you come?”

“I was worried, so I came to see you.”

Grand Marshal Luo frowned: “Nonsense! Is this a place for a young woman to come? Leave at once!”

“Daughter has even been to Jinshui River—what’s wrong with coming to the prison to see you?” Luo Sheng confidently retorted.

Lin Teng: ?

Was Jinshui River the same Jinshui River he had once visited while investigating a case?

That Jinshui River fragrant with powder and rouge, with singing and dancing?

Hearing this, Grand Marshal Luo also realized she had a point, and his tense expression eased slightly: “Now that you’ve seen me, leave with Young Master Lin.”

“I want to speak with Father.”

Without waiting for Grand Marshal Luo’s response, Luo Sheng looked toward Lin Teng: “Young Master Lin, could you grant us this convenience?”

Lin Teng didn’t make a sound for a moment, his face appearing increasingly stern.

“I’ll just stand here to talk, and I have no tools on my person that could assist in a prison break.” As if afraid Lin Teng wouldn’t believe her, Luo Sheng raised her hand to undo her cloak’s fastening.

The blue cloak was neatly removed, and she raised her hand again to remove her hairpins.

“Miss Luo, please feel free.” Lin Teng hastily dropped this sentence and fled in panic.

Luo Sheng lowered the hand that was touching her hairpin.

Grand Marshal Luo sighed: “Sheng’er, you cannot be so willful in the future.”

How could she undress so readily? Look how she frightened that young man.

Lin Teng, who had walked away quickly, felt his heart beating rapidly. Only when he reached the corner did he stop, turning to keep that plainly dressed figure in sight.

He didn’t mind granting Miss Luo the convenience of letting the father and daughter speak properly, but his duty required that they remain within his line of sight.

Not granting the convenience wouldn’t work either—if Miss Luo became displeased, she would remove her cloak…

Thinking of the scene just now, Lin Teng felt the impulse to turn his back.

Luo Sheng glanced back and, seeing Lin Teng was some distance away, lowered her voice: “Father, did you really secretly release the young son of the Prince of Zhennan back then?”

Grand Marshal Luo started, instinctively saying: “These matters—you’re a young woman, you shouldn’t get involved.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “Father need not placate me. You understand better than I the principle that when the nest overturns, no egg remains intact. Right now everyone at home is in a state of anxiety, and no one knows why this disaster has struck from heaven. Father must at least let me understand the situation in my heart, so I won’t be at others’ mercy.”

“Sheng’er—” Grand Marshal Luo stared blankly at his daughter so close at hand, murmuring: “You’ve grown up.”

Hearing these words, Luo Sheng sighed inwardly.

This sigh was for Grand Marshal Luo and Miss Luo.

No matter how willful or immature Miss Luo was, she was Grand Marshal Luo’s treasured daughter.

And she was not.

“Has it already spread outside?” Grand Marshal Luo asked.

“Last night no one came to the tavern to dine.”

After hearing this, Grand Marshal Luo smiled bitterly: “Indeed, news travels fast.”

“Then did you truly release the young son of the Prince of Zhennan as accused by the magistrate of Liuqing County?”

“Of course not!” Grand Marshal Luo spoke with absolute certainty, then became puzzled: “Sheng’er even found out who accused me?”

By rights, this shouldn’t be possible.

“Prince Kaiyang told your daughter.”

Grand Marshal Luo’s brow twitched.

He hadn’t expected that when everyone was avoiding the Luo family like the plague, Prince Kaiyang would be the exception.

He had always thought Prince Kaiyang was no good, but now it seemed he valued loyalty and righteousness.

What a man is truly like can be seen in moments like these.

Grand Marshal Luo couldn’t help but think of the Xu and Lin families.

Years ago, the eldest daughter of the Prince of Zhennan, Princess Huayang, had married into the Xu family of the Marquis of Changchun’s estate, and the second daughter, Princess Wuyang, had married into the Lin family of the Imperial Academy Rector.

Though both princesses had died, their feelings before death were surely completely different.

“Father.” Noticing Grand Marshal Luo’s mind had wandered, Luo Sheng called out.

Grand Marshal Luo came back to himself and silently spat.

How did he think of such inauspicious old matters? It was all Prince Kaiyang’s fault!

“Father, for a mere county magistrate to dare accuse you, there must be someone behind him directing him, right? As for the person behind the scenes, do you have any suspicions?”

Grand Marshal Luo fell into silence.

From being taken away until now, he had thought about many things, and naturally had some suspicions about who was behind it all.

However, some words still couldn’t be casually spoken aloud.

Even if his daughter had matured, before those who could move against him, she was just a young girl. Speaking of it would only make her more afraid.

Seeing Grand Marshal Luo’s silence, Luo Sheng glanced at Lin Teng from the corner of her eye and lowered her voice even more: “Could it be His Majesty?”

Grand Marshal Luo’s eyes suddenly contracted, showing several measures of severity: “Don’t speak nonsense!”

“Father—” Luo Sheng softened her voice, conveying grievance.

Grand Marshal Luo’s stern expression eased. He scrutinized his daughter carefully, only then discovering her eyes were somewhat red, as if she had been crying.

Sheng’er cried?

This discovery made his heart ache.

He opened his mouth—words of comfort ultimately went unspoken.

He was the pillar of the family. Now that he had entered this place, any words of comfort were pale and powerless.

“It’s not His Majesty.” Grand Marshal Luo said in a low voice.

Luo Sheng’s eyelids trembled, and she said softly: “But His Majesty no longer trusts Father, does he?”

Grand Marshal Luo was silent for a long time before giving an almost imperceptible nod.

Naturally, cracks had formed in the trust between sovereign and subject—without even seeing him, His Majesty had handed this case over to the Three Judicial Offices for investigation.

The position of Commander of the Jinlin Guard was not easy to hold. Once someone had impeached him, and His Majesty hadn’t even brought it up for discussion, directly suppressing the memorial.

“Sheng’er, promise Father two things.”

“Please speak.”

“Right now the Jinlin Guard should be under Pingli’s management. Don’t oppose him, and don’t get too close either.”

Luo Sheng’s eyes flickered slightly as she nodded: “Daughter understands.”

It seemed Grand Marshal Luo had long been suspicious of Pingli.

“The second matter—if Father truly cannot get out and the Luo estate faces disaster, go find Prince Kaiyang. In whatever capacity, beg him to protect you.”

He only hoped that when the worst came to pass, there would be someone willing to do as he once had done, allowing his most beloved daughter to survive.