Setting aside the changes brought by Prince Pingnan’s manor taking in a new bride, after nine consecutive days of examinations, whether it was Elder Sheng, Second Young Master Sheng, or Su Yao, they had all been worn to the bone.

They had lost weight and looked haggard.

Grand Commander Luo specifically held a feast at the wine shop to reward his nephews who had endured such torment.

While waiting for the dishes to arrive, Grand Commander Luo asked with a beaming smile: “How did the examinations go?”

Su Yao had performed normally and expected he had done well, but since he was essentially tagging along for this meal, he naturally didn’t feel it appropriate to answer first.

Elder Sheng and Second Young Master Sheng, however, felt this question was somewhat suffocating.

Grand Commander Luo, completely unaware of the pressure he was inflicting on his nephews, threw out another sharp question: “Were this round of metropolitan examination questions difficult?”

Elder Sheng and Second Young Master Sheng: “…”

“The Sheng family is a scholarly household. Your names on the list is certainly no problem—it’s just a matter of what ranking you’ll achieve.”

After three consecutive soul-piercing questions were thrown out, even the composed Elder Sheng’s face began to turn pale.

Second Young Master Sheng’s lips twitched as he desperately wanted to ask Grand Commander Luo: When exactly will the younger cousins marry out?

Fortunately, the dishes arrived at this moment. The group felt as if granted amnesty, and chopsticks flew.

After eating his fill halfway, Grand Commander Luo watched the young men with their heads buried in eating and asked with a chuckle: “Elder, do you know the tradition here whenever the examination results are posted?”

Tradition?

The nephews looked at their uncle-in-law in bewilderment.

Grand Commander Luo stroked his short beard: “Snatching sons-in-law beneath the results boards is quite popular.”

Third Young Master Sheng’s eyes lit up: “Not bad at all! Without any effort, one gets a young lady from a great family as a wife. This younger brother congratulates his older brothers in advance.”

Several sharp gazes immediately shot toward Third Young Master Sheng.

Grand Commander Luo kindly explained: “Those who snatch sons-in-law beneath the boards aren’t only noble young ladies from great families—there are also daughters of wealthy country bumpkins, who might very well be broad-shouldered and thick-waisted with faces full of pockmarks…”

The group: “…”

Was the Grand Commander trying to make them eat less so he could have all the food to himself?

Only Second Uncle Sheng glanced at his rotund son and let out an envious sigh.

How hateful that his son was unscholarly—if only he could be snatched up beneath the boards, what a weight off his mind that would be.

Second Young Master Sheng couldn’t help saying: “Uncle-in-law, doesn’t anyone regulate this bad custom?”

Broad-shouldered and thick-waisted? Pockmarks?

Was the capital really this terrifying?

“How is it a bad custom? This is called an elegant affair. However, if you don’t wish to resolve your marriage matters this way, just send servants to check the boards that day.”

Watching his nephews nod like pecking chickens in agreement, Grand Commander Luo smiled as he took a sip of wine.

Rather than saying these words were to remind his nephews, it would be more accurate to say he was taking precautions for a rainy day.

Having observed coldly these past days, all three Sheng nephews were quite good—benefits shouldn’t flow to outsiders. What if one of them could become his son-in-law?

He couldn’t let others snatch them away beneath the boards.

As for Su Yao, Grand Commander Luo didn’t even spare him a glance.

Sheng’er no longer fancied him, but a man who had been involved with Sheng’er couldn’t be matched with any other daughter.

If any of his daughters were so tactless, he wouldn’t agree to it.

Since that was the case, why look at him at all?

Kou’er entered and whispered a few words in Luo Sheng’s ear.

Luo Sheng stood up: “Father, Second Uncle, please take your time eating. A friend has arrived—I’ll go meet them.”

“Go ahead.”

Seeing his daughter leave without any reluctance, Grand Commander Luo sighed quietly to himself.

It seemed Sheng’er hadn’t taken a liking to any of the three nephews.

Luo Sheng left the private room and went downstairs, where she saw Xu Fang waiting in the main hall.

To secure the private room, Grand Commander Luo had specifically come early. It wasn’t yet the busy dining hour, with only Wei Han sitting by the window silently drinking tea.

Even so, Xu Fang inevitably felt self-conscious.

Although she felt satisfaction in her heart about the Marquis of Changchun’s household being impeached and her stepmother being cast out, she had endured quite a few strange looks along the way.

She had been prepared for this, as the turmoil at the Marquis of Changchun’s household before the new year hadn’t been particularly glorious.

Luo Sheng nodded toward Wei Han as a greeting, then extended an invitation: “Miss Xu, shall we sit in the courtyard?”

Xu Fang naturally had things she wanted to say and immediately agreed.

Wei Han watched the two depart for the rear courtyard, unconsciously tightening her grip on her teacup.

Spring had arrived—should the persimmon tree be sprouting new buds?

The persimmon tree in mid-to-late February was actually still bare, but fortunately, the youthful and charming young ladies added a splash of color to this dullness.

“Elder Sister, why have you come?” Xu Xi asked with a frown, easily lifting his axe.

Had she suffered some grievance at the marquis’s manor?

Xu Fang looked at her younger brother, whose skin had darkened slightly but who now had vitality in his spirit, and felt greatly comforted.

“I came to see you.”

Xu Xi kept a straight face: “If there’s nothing wrong, just go back. I’m no longer part of the Marquis of Changchun’s household—there’s nothing worth seeing.”

That father—no, that man’s heartlessness, he had experienced firsthand.

Heaven knows that even though he had been reduced to splitting firewood at a wine shop, deep in his heart he had harbored thoughts that the man might have a change of heart and summon him back.

But the cruel truth had slapped him hard across the face.

He couldn’t go back, and he no longer cared to go back.

Although life under the she-devil was difficult, at least the food was good. Until he could leave with the cook, he didn’t want to go anywhere else.

If Elder Sister kept coming to find him, what if she was implicated?

Xu Fang smiled: “I’m also here to see Miss Luo, so Elder Brother, you just continue splitting firewood.”

Seeing Luo Sheng and Xu Fang enter the room together, Xu Xi’s face darkened as he brought the axe down heavily.

She said she came to see him, but after just two sentences, she left with the she-devil?

The room was simple and clean, with hot tea always kept ready.

Luo Sheng poured two cups of tea and handed one to Xu Fang: “If Miss Xu has something to say, please speak.”

Xu Fang held the slightly hot teacup, her cheeks gradually reddening, and said softly: “My marriage has been arranged.”

Luo Sheng’s eyes showed delight: “Then congratulations! May I ask which family?”

Xu Fang said with slightly flushed cheeks: “It’s the young master of the Xu family from the General’s manor. General Xu is a former subordinate of my maternal aunt’s husband, and my aunt acted as matchmaker for me.”

Luo Sheng thought for a moment and smiled: “General Xu brought his youngest son to dine at the wine shop before. That Young Master Xu is quite handsome with excellent conversation skills.”

As for what his character was truly like, that couldn’t be known from appearances alone.

However, since the Duchess of Ningguo genuinely cherished Xu Fang, and Xu Fang’s maternal family was unreliable, she should be cautious about her marriage arrangements.

Considering family status alone, for a niece who had lost her mother in childhood and came from the Marquis of Changchun’s household to marry into General Xu’s family of the General’s manor was actually quite a good match.

This was also why she had encouraged Xu Fang to seek the Duchess of Ningguo’s assistance.

With the Duchess of Ningguo acting on her behalf, it meant that after Xu Fang married, the Duke of Ningguo’s manor was willing to serve as her support.

The groom’s family was happy to form this marriage connection not because of the Marquis of Changchun’s household, but because of the Duke of Ningguo’s manor.

“Has the wedding date been set?”

“Not yet—they said it would be in the second half of the year.”

Luo Sheng nodded.

For prominent households, this was already quite fast.

“Please wait a moment, Miss Xu.”

Luo Sheng left the room and when she returned, she placed something in Xu Fang’s hand.

“Miss Luo, this is—” Xu Fang’s face grew hot.

Could Miss Luo already be adding to her dowry?

Luo Sheng smiled, her words meaningful: “Now that Miss Xu’s marriage is arranged, you can be considered an honored guest temporarily residing at the Marquis of Changchun’s household. Everyone in the marquis’s household will treat you courteously, and your actions will be much more convenient in the future. Certain matters can now be undertaken.”