Luo Sheng sat down and studied Lingxiao.

Delicate yet somewhat pale features, a slender yet upright frame, combined with a cold and indifferent temperament—this was undoubtedly a youth who was pleasing to the eye.

Luo Sheng rested one hand on the armrest of her chair, her gaze not leaving the youth.

This was the one among that row of young men summoned by Princess Changle at yesterday’s banquet who least resembled Su Yao, and also the reason she had chosen this youth.

Regardless of whether Su Yao was innocent in Miss Luo’s death back then, she found it distasteful to look at him.

Even so, she could still find Su Yao’s shadow in the youth before her eyes.

Then what of those male favorites Princess Changle had sought out? There might well be one who, at first glance, could be mistaken for Su Yao.

Luo Sheng carefully recalled that row of young men she had seen at yesterday’s chrysanthemum appreciation banquet.

At the time, she had only glanced at them casually, so her impression was now rather faint.

There should be none who bore a perfect resemblance to Su Yao, but there seemed to be two who bore three or four parts resemblance.

As Luo Sheng pondered these matters, her gaze remained fixed on Lingxiao’s face.

Lingxiao stood quietly. Though he couldn’t completely hide his unease, given his status, being able to maintain this level of composure was already remarkable.

Luo Sheng picked up her teacup and took a sip, then said casually, “Lingxiao is a good name. Was it bestowed by Her Highness?”

Lingxiao hadn’t expected Luo Sheng to ask about this and replied, “You jest, Miss. This lowly slave is base as mud—how could I have the honor of receiving a name from Her Highness? This humble name was given by the steward matron of the Princess’s Manor.”

“Yesterday, those people like you—were all their names given by the steward matron?” Luo Sheng seemed to ask casually.

She knew nothing of the past between Miss Luo and Princess Changle. After Princess Changle returned to the capital, she had carefully questioned Hong Dou and learned that the Princess’s Manor had such a matron who specialized in training male favorites for Princess Changle.

“Yes.” Lingxiao replied without hesitation.

“What about Luqi and Duyou?”

“I’ve heard their names were bestowed by Her Highness.”

Luo Sheng set down her teacup, her thoughts racing.

Luqi and Duyou were brought back by Princess Changle from outside, which showed they were greatly favored. After all, according to the information she had heard from Hong Dou, Princess Changle was utterly ruthless toward these male favorites—once the novelty wore off, she didn’t know where they were discarded.

Luo Sheng collected her thoughts and looked at Lingxiao with a smile. “So Her Highness is quite fond of those two?”

Under that gaze, Lingxiao’s heartbeat quickened urgently.

Starting the day before the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, an unusual atmosphere had begun spreading among their group. Everyone understood that Princess Changle would select one person to give to Miss Luo.

They all wanted to be the one chosen.

When serving the Princess, they lived comfortably and glamorously, but when the Princess grew tired of them, it was another matter entirely.

The Princess was constant, but male favorites flowed through like water. By contrast, the person the Princess had given to Miss Luo several years ago was still living comfortably at the Grand Marshal’s Manor to this day.

This fact alone was enough to move the hearts of those of them with mediocre conditions.

Yes, in the eyes of the world, they might all seem like beautiful youths pleasing to the eye, but in reality, in the Princess’s eyes—accustomed as she was to such sights—they were nothing.

Of course, some people were always special. Even if they didn’t understand what made them special, it was enough that the Princess thought them special.

Like Luqi and Duyou in the past, like the current—

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Noticing the unusual expression on the youth before her, Luo Sheng frowned and asked.

Lingxiao abruptly came back to himself. Under the gaze of those clear, bright black eyes, it seemed difficult to summon the courage to conceal anything.

With his status, if Miss Luo were to drive him out, his fate would likely be to fall into some sordid place.

Moreover, what Miss Luo was asking about were all inconsequential matters—there was really no need to hide anything.

“Her Highness was very fond of those two in the past.”

Luo Sheng caught the implication and smiled lightly. “So now there’s a new favorite?”

Lingxiao hesitated, then nodded. “Her Highness’s current favorite is Feiyang.”

“‘Spirit soaring high’—that’s also a good name.”

Lingxiao glanced at Luo Sheng and explained, “It’s the ‘yang’ for sunlight. The name was bestowed by Her Highness.”

“I didn’t see him yesterday, did I?” Luo Sheng asked casually.

“Her Highness didn’t have Feiyang meet guests.”

“Very well, you may withdraw.”

Lingxiao was stunned.

Miss Luo had called him over, said just a few words, and he could withdraw already?

Seeing the youth standing there motionless, Luo Sheng knitted her brows and glanced at him.

Sensing the urging in the young lady’s eyes, Lingxiao bowed with cupped hands and silently withdrew.

Luo Sheng’s fingers curved slightly as she gently tapped on the table.

Su Yao, Feiyang.

The sun rises and there is brilliance.

Could it be as she suspected?

Luo Sheng quickly made a decision: she would visit the Princess’s Manor once more and have a meeting with Princess Changle.

At this time, Xiu Yue was already at the tavern. Luo Sheng personally prepared a dish of glutinous rice and red bean paste rolls, placed them in a food box, and brought them to the Princess’s Manor.

“A’Sheng has come?” Princess Changle was resting in her room. Upon hearing the servant’s report, she raised her brows in surprise.

Since returning to the capital, every time it had been her taking the initiative to seek out A’Sheng. For A’Sheng to come looking for her was quite rare.

“Show her in.”

Before long, Luo Sheng entered carrying the food box.

Princess Changle lifted her lips in a smile. “A’Sheng, come sit.”

Luo Sheng walked over and set the food box on the table.

Princess Changle noticed the food box and asked with a smile, “What’s this?”

“Glutinous rice and red bean paste rolls I learned to make from Xiu Gu. I brought them for Your Highness to try.”

Princess Changle’s eyes flashed, her expression showing undisguised astonishment. “A’Sheng, you can actually make pastries now?”

In the past, you only knew how to eat them.

“A’Sheng, you’ve changed so much in just two short years.”

Luo Sheng smiled with pursed lips. “People always change.”

“I haven’t changed at all.” Princess Changle lifted her chin toward a servant. “Open the food box.”

The servant opened the food box and carefully took out the plate.

The glutinous rice and red bean paste rolls arranged in the shape of a flower had an outer layer of glutinous rice fried to golden perfection, with red bean paste filling inside. Just looking at them was enough to whet one’s appetite.

“Let me try.” Princess Changle accepted the soft cloth the servant handed her to clean her hands, picked up a piece of the glutinous rice roll, and put it in her mouth.

After one bite, Princess Changle’s eyes lit up. She finished the pastry in two or three bites and smiled. “A’Sheng, the red bean paste filling in this pastry tastes somewhat special.”

“I added some rose jam that Xiu Gu prepared.”

“No wonder.”

Princess Changle ate another piece, feeling she couldn’t get enough.

She had always been fond of handsome young men and pastries made with glutinous rice.

Looking at the white porcelain plate with only two pieces of pastry remaining, Princess Changle instructed a servant, “Take this to Chenxiang Garden.”

Just as the servant was about to leave carrying the plate, Luo Sheng asked with a smile, “Who is it that has Her Highness thinking of them so?”

Princess Changle laughed lightly. “The one I think of most is A’Sheng.”

Luo Sheng fell silent.

Princess Changle in this state—most people truly couldn’t handle it.

However, when it came to thick-facedness, she was confident she wouldn’t lose.

“Is Your Highness hiding a treasure in a golden house, afraid I’ll become envious at the sight?” Luo Sheng asked with a smile.

Not only was Princess Changle not annoyed, she actually found that familiar, comfortable feeling from her good friend. She said to the servant, “No need to send it. Summon Feiyang to come meet A’Sheng.”

Before long, a youth in a blue robe walked in with measured steps.

Luo Sheng’s gaze fell upon him, and her eyelids trembled slightly.