The Shuntian Prefect coughed violently twice: “Ahem, Miss Luo, matters cannot be treated uniformly.”

Speaking of snatching people off the street, Miss Luo had done this quite a bit herself—it was just that the common people didn’t report it and officials didn’t investigate.

If they did report it—that would truly be troublesome.

The Shuntian Prefect wanted to pull at his hair. Considering he was wearing an official’s cap and his precious hair was becoming increasingly sparse day by day, he could only restrain himself.

Luo Sheng smiled slightly: “However, the servant has already been rescued by me. I also don’t have the audacity to imprison Prince Pingnan’s heir. Your Honor, why not do this—have Prince Pingnan’s heir publicly apologize to me, and have Prince Pingnan’s residence send over one thousand taels of patterned silver. Then this case can be dismissed.”

The Shuntian Prefect couldn’t help looking at Wei Feng.

Wei Feng’s complexion was iron-blue, clearly unable to bring himself to apologize.

Luo Sheng’s expression darkened as she questioned the Shuntian Prefect: “In judging this case, Your Honor, must you look at the defendant’s expression?”

The Shuntian Prefect’s face became serious: “Miss Luo is overthinking.”

“It’s good if I’m overthinking. Then please have Your Honor pronounce judgment. Having Prince Pingnan’s heir apologize is my minimum requirement—I’m not asking Your Honor to seek the defendant’s opinion.” Saying this, Luo Sheng glanced at Wei Feng. “Of course, if Prince Pingnan’s heir is unwilling to apologize, there’s no forcing him. Then just judge according to Great Zhou law.”

The Shuntian Prefect was cornered by Luo Sheng’s words until sweat broke out on his forehead. In such a public setting, he couldn’t very well give Wei Feng meaningful looks, so he could only slap down his gavel and directly pronounce judgment.

The veins at Wei Feng’s temples bulged: “Your Honor!”

The Shuntian Prefect advised: “Heir, it would be better if you offered Miss Luo an apology, so this official can conclude this case.”

Wei Feng secretly clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth: “Today I was in the wrong. I apologize to Miss Luo.”

Luo Sheng calmly reminded him: “There’s also the one thousand taels of silver.”

“Once I return to the residence, I’ll have someone send the money to the Grand Commander’s residence.”

Luo Sheng shook her head: “That wouldn’t be appropriate. The apology was ordered by the authorities. If the one thousand taels of silver is to be sent, it should be brought from the Prince’s residence by official guards and delivered into my hands. How can it be done privately?”

“Don’t push people too far!”

Luo Sheng sneered: “I didn’t snatch the heir’s male favorite to be my companion. The heir’s manner doesn’t seem like a sincere apology.”

Seeing this, the Shuntian Prefect quickly gave an official guard a meaningful look: “Wang Da, take a few men and make a trip to Prince Pingnan’s residence.”

This headache-inducing case had with great difficulty been settled with an apology—he didn’t want any further complications.

Wei Wen had by this time already returned to Prince Pingnan’s residence.

“Why didn’t you return together with your second brother?” Princess Pingnan asked, half-reclining on her beauty couch.

“Second Brother had urgent business in the privy and never returned. Your daughter thought Second Brother might have gone to watch the excitement on the street. After waiting for a while and feeling rather tired, I returned first.”

Princess Pingnan had an ominous premonition arise within her, frowning: “Even so, you should have left a servant woman there. What if your second brother returned and couldn’t find you—wouldn’t searching everywhere be troublesome?”

Wei Wen felt somewhat aggrieved in her heart.

Mother Consort was truly strange. Ever since being contradicted by Second Brother a few times, her heart had instead leaned toward Second Brother.

If Princess Pingnan knew her daughter’s thoughts, she could only smile bitterly.

Where was she being partial? She was truly frightened by her second son’s several incidents of causing trouble.

She had thought that marrying a wife for her second son would help him become more steady, but observing coldly these past months, it was obvious the new daughter-in-law was not favored by her second son.

Thinking of this, Princess Pingnan was privately puzzled.

Although Wang Shi’s background was ordinary, her appearance was top-tier. Normally it would be the mother-in-law worrying about her son being bewitched—how was it not like this in her case?

“By the way, didn’t your second brother also bring attendants?”

“The two attendants are also missing. They should have followed Second Brother to watch the excitement.”

Noticing her daughter’s emotions were much higher than before going out, Princess Pingnan casually asked: “Was today’s excitement very good?”

Wei Wen couldn’t help blushing.

She had wanted to conceal it, but when it was her turn to be moved, she understood—this was what it meant to be unable to control oneself.

In this moment, she suddenly understood her good friend Zhu Hanshuang.

In the past, watching Zhu Hanshuang’s eyes go straight when seeing Prince Kaiyang, she had actually felt somewhat disdainful in her heart.

Princess Pingnan immediately noticed her daughter’s abnormality, her gaze deepening: “Wen’er, why are you blushing?”

Speaking of which, Wen’er had reached the age for discussing marriage, but previously when this topic came up, she had been indifferent.

Wei Wen’s cheeks reddened further, but she candidly revealed her thoughts: “Your daughter saw the top scholar parading on horseback through the streets today.”

Since she liked him, naturally she should strive for it with all her effort. Otherwise, should she wait for pie to fall from the sky?

Most importantly, the top scholar came from a scholarly family in the south. His character, appearance, and prospects were all excellent, and he was of an appropriate age with her. She couldn’t think of any reason Mother Consort wouldn’t approve.

Princess Pingnan was startled, quickly running through information about the new top scholar in her mind, then her expression eased.

She had to admit, this new top scholar could indeed be considered a fine son-in-law.

A top scholar under twenty years old—even grinding away for thirty years would still put him under fifty. Who knows, he might enter the cabinet and become prime minister.

“Mother Consort will inquire about it.”

Wei Wen’s heart filled with joy as she held Princess Pingnan’s arm and acted coquettishly: “Thank you, Mother Consort.”

Princess Pingnan glanced at her and teased: “Nothing has happened yet, and you’re already thanking Mother Consort?”

Truly, daughters are born to turn outward.

“Mother Consort—” Wei Wen shyly lowered her eyes, her heart full of joy.

Mother Consort had agreed to arrange things for her. Surely he… wouldn’t refuse?

Thinking of that red-robed youth sitting upright on the tall horse, lifting his gaze to look over coldly and distantly, Wei Wen felt anxious for the first time in her heart.

After the anxiety came determination.

Having lived seventeen years to finally understand what it meant to be moved—she absolutely would not miss this man.

At this moment, a maid rushed in urgently: “Princess Consort, officials have arrived!”

“Officials?” Princess Pingnan’s heart jumped, her complexion changing slightly.

“They’re official guards from Shuntian Prefecture. They say the heir—”

Princess Pingnan sensed trouble and snapped: “Don’t ramble!”

The maid hurriedly said: “They say the heir snatched Miss Luo’s companion off the street, and Miss Luo sued him at Shuntian Prefecture!”

Princess Pingnan abruptly stood up, her vision darkening in waves.

“Mother Consort—”

Princess Pingnan steadied herself and demanded sharply: “What else did they say?”

“The official guards said the final judgment required the heir to publicly apologize and pay one thousand taels of silver as recompense.”

Hearing that judgment had already been passed, Princess Pingnan’s legs went weak as she said through gritted teeth: “This beast!”

Wei Wen supported Princess Pingnan, her joyful mood immediately doused by a basin of ice water.

How could Second Brother do such an absurd thing? How could Prince Pingnan’s residence hold up its head in the future?

“Tell the steward to send the silver. Bring him back immediately!”

After waiting as if days were years, the steward brought back not only Wei Feng but even more news.

“The heir keeps male favorites outside?”

“What, he kept them even before getting married?”

“Now everyone knows the heir keeps male favorites outside and snatched Miss Luo’s companion off the street?”

A maid’s scream rang out: “Oh no, the Princess Consort has fainted!”

Immediately followed by another scream: “Oh no, the Heir’s Consort has also fainted!”