The Grand Marshal Luo had been absolutely furious, practically ready to grab his blade and storm the Tao residence right then and there. But after hearing Luo Ying’s words, that burning rage was immediately suppressed.

What replaced it was worry.

His eldest daughter, whom he thought was sure to be married off, now wasn’t getting married?

She was his only daughter with a confirmed engagement.

Stay with him? He wasn’t that fragile—he didn’t need a perfectly good daughter to remain an old maid just to keep him company!

Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Luo Yue quickly spoke up to ease the situation. “That’s right, Father. Don’t worry too much about eldest sister’s situation. Breaking off an engagement isn’t such a big deal. Being like third sister is actually quite nice—”

“Wait, what? Be like who?” The Grand Marshal’s tone changed completely.

Luo Yue looked at Luo Sheng blankly. “Like third sister.”

The Grand Marshal clutched his chest and began coughing violently.

“Father, what’s wrong?” Luo Yue hurriedly patted the Grand Marshal’s back.

The Grand Marshal waved his hand. “It’s nothing…”

Beneath his facade of strength lay a heart drowning in sorrow.

Did he not only have to accept the tragic reality of all four daughters remaining on his hands, but also accept that all four daughters would keep male companions?

This wouldn’t do!

He was actually just a perfectly normal old father. Having one daughter like Sheng who kept male companions was enough—any more would be unbearable.

The Grand Marshal was somewhat shaken by this blow. He picked up his teacup and drained half of it in one gulp before barely managing to recover.

Forget it. He wouldn’t think about such worrying matters now. There were still many other things to handle at present.

“Is there anything else?” The Grand Marshal asked with trepidation.

Luo Sheng shook her head. “No.”

Luo Yue couldn’t help but add, “There is! Not long ago, the young princess from Prince Pingnan’s residence brought people to cause trouble at the tavern third sister opened.”

The Grand Marshal’s gaze sharpened, staring directly at Luo Sheng. “This happened too? What came of it afterward?”

“Afterward, I beat up the young princess. But thinking it over, it wasn’t much of a victory, so I didn’t think it necessary to mention it to you.”

The Grand Marshal coughed dryly again and quickly drank some tea to recover.

While he was locked up in prison, Sheng had dared to beat up the young princess?

Sweeping his gaze over his children, the Grand Marshal’s voice lowered slightly. “What did Prince Pingnan’s residence have to say about it?”

Luo Sheng’s tone was indifferent. “They didn’t say anything. The Crown Prince was present at the time and disciplined the young princess on my behalf.”

The Grand Marshal keenly caught the key phrase.

The Crown Prince had disciplined the young princess “on Sheng’s behalf”?

The young princess was the Crown Prince’s own sister. Even though the Crown Prince had been adopted out, by propriety she was still his cousin. Why would he help Sheng, an outsider?

Moreover, this was during the time when he was in trouble.

One must know that his relationship with the Crown Prince was quite ordinary.

Hiss—could it be that the Crown Prince had taken a fancy to Sheng?

The Grand Marshal immediately glanced at Luo Sheng.

The young woman’s skin was snow-white, her bright eyes full of charm—she possessed first-rate beauty.

The Crown Prince wasn’t blind enough to miss it, but still, it was impossible!

The Grand Marshal couldn’t accept this conjecture for the moment and silently pushed the thought down.

“All right, you all go wait for me in the dining hall. Sheng, you stay.”

The Grand Marshal sent the others away, leaving only father and daughter in the room.

“Sheng, tell me about what happened outside after the poisoning.”

Luo Sheng nodded and began recounting from Wei Han’s discoveries in the south.

The Grand Marshal listened, nodding frequently, and finally sighed. “This time, we owe Prince Kaiyang our thanks.”

He used to think Prince Kaiyang’s character was lacking, but thinking it over now, he had been too nitpicky.

Men, after all—as long as they could be relied upon in important matters, taking money from young ladies was just a minor flaw.

Ahem, anyway, the Luo residence wasn’t short of that little bit of money. What they lacked was getting their daughters married off!

The Grand Marshal immediately thought of this heartbreaking matter again.

“Sheng, you go to the dining hall too. Your father needs to bathe and change first.”

“All right.”

After Luo Sheng left, the Grand Marshal went to bathe and change, washing away enough dirt to fill two large buckets before he was clean.

Putting on snow-white undergarments, changing into a fragrant, warm-scented padded jacket, then donning an outer robe, his entire person immediately became much more spirited.

The refreshed Grand Marshal slowly made his way to the dining hall.

The dining hall was already bustling with activity.

After the Grand Marshal took his seat, maidservants filed in carrying steaming hot dishes.

“Eat, everyone eat.” The Grand Marshal wasn’t one for excessive formality. Before all the dishes were served, he picked up a slice of steamed meat and put it in his mouth.

After eating the steamed meat, he glanced at Luo Sheng and sighed regretfully. “Far inferior to the tavern’s food.”

Luo Sheng smiled. “The tavern is closed tonight. Let’s have Xiu Gu prepare a full table here at the residence.”

The Grand Marshal’s eyes lit up as he readily agreed.

Even the usually composed Luo Ying showed delight in her eyes, not to mention the others.

Only Luo Chen suddenly asked, “Father, aren’t you going to the Jinlin Guard office to look in?”

Had Father simply returned like this as an innocent man reinstated to his post, or was he being sent home under de facto house arrest?

These two situations were vastly different.

The Grand Marshal looked at Luo Chen and smiled. “It’s not yet time to go to the office. Eating is most important.”

Of course he would go to the Jinlin Guard office—that was his territory to begin with. But not right now.

Luo Qing ladled a bowl of soup and presented it to the Grand Marshal. “Father, you’ve suffered these past days. Have some hot soup.”

“Good.” The Grand Marshal accepted it and drank half the bowl in one gulp.

Luo Yue picked up some tripe slices with her chopsticks and placed them in the Grand Marshal’s dish. “Father, eating pork belly is good for the stomach.”

“Good, good.” Eating the food his daughters served him, the Grand Marshal’s dissatisfaction with the Luo residence’s cooks quietly dissipated somewhat.

The flavor was acceptable.

The family was enjoying their harmonious meal when a servant came to report, “Grand Marshal, Young Master Ping has returned.”

The Grand Marshal’s hand paused mid-reach. He set down his chopsticks and said calmly, “Have him come in.”

Before long, Ping Li strode in. Upon seeing the Grand Marshal, he clasped his fists in salute. “This son failed to meet you upon your return to the residence. Please forgive me, adoptive father.”

The Grand Marshal studied the young man bowing before him, silent for a moment before smiling. “We’re family—no need for such formal words. Have you had lunch?”

“Not yet. As soon as this son heard you were released, I rushed back immediately.”

“Is that so?” The Grand Marshal lifted his eyelids slightly and said indifferently, “Then sit down and eat with us.”

His tone was casual, like ordinary family conversation, which helped steady Ping Li’s heart that had been racing from his hurried journey.

He revealed a smile. “Thank you, adoptive father. This son is fortunate indeed.”

The Grand Marshal smiled and picked up some tripe slices to eat.

Soon a maidservant presented him with a soft cloth and other items.

Ping Li washed his hands and took his seat, greeting Luo Chen and the others. His gaze seemed to sweep past Luo Qing inadvertently.

Luo Qing’s face flushed as she hurriedly lowered her eyes.

Luo Ying noticed and quietly sighed.

News of the Grand Marshal’s release soon spread everywhere, even faster than word of Magistrate Liu Qing being taken from Lande Guild Hall by constables and nearly meeting with harm.

This caused quite a sensation.

What? The Grand Marshal Luo, who seemed thoroughly finished and just waiting to be hauled to the execution ground, had been released from the Ministry of Justice prison?

What was going on here? Wasn’t he implicated in the treason case from twelve years ago?

Better not act rashly—wait and see how those above reacted.

This wait continued until Zhou Shan arrived at the Grand Marshal’s residence carrying packages large and small filled with medicinal supplements.