Second Uncle Sheng looked at Luo Sheng without even blinking. “Your cousin is preparing to discuss marriage—how could she travel far at a time like this?”

Sheng Sanlang was shocked. “Cousin is discussing marriage? With whom?”

Sheng Dalang and Sheng Erlang were clearly stunned as well.

Luo Chen instinctively frowned, feeling that Second Uncle Sheng’s words were unreliable.

His sister discussing marriage, and he didn’t know about it?

Thinking this, he looked toward Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng’s face remained impassive, but inwardly she was startled: To make her not going to Jinsha seem natural, Grand Commander Luo had actually come up with such a difficult excuse?

“Father, who exactly is Cousin discussing marriage with?” Sheng Sanlang was extremely curious.

Second Uncle Sheng glared at him and scolded, “Is this something you should be asking about?”

Sheng Sanlang glanced at Luo Sheng and didn’t dare make another sound.

Second Uncle Sheng cupped his hands toward Grand Commander Luo. “Brother-in-law, the matter is rather urgent. I plan to depart tomorrow—I’ll have to trouble you to make arrangements for Chen’er.”

Grand Commander Luo nodded repeatedly. “The earlier you depart the better. I’m worried about the old lady too. When there’s an opportunity in the future, I’ll bring Sheng’er to visit her.”

Second Uncle Sheng expressed his thanks, then urged his two nephews. “Dalang, Erlang, you two should hurry to the office to request leave.”

Sheng Dalang and Sheng Erlang rose together and hastily left the tavern.

Second Uncle Sheng and Grand Commander Luo remained at the tavern, drinking gloomily all afternoon.

Sheng Sanlang observed this and naturally believed deeply in his grandmother’s illness: Alas, even Father—someone so carefree and stout—has started drowning his sorrows in wine!

Thinking that tomorrow he would have to leave the familiar tavern, Sheng Sanlang walked into the courtyard and patted the persimmon tree dispiritedly. “Persimmon tree, when I return from this trip, you’ll probably be covered with bright red persimmons.”

Shi Yan didn’t know about the conversation the men had in the private room. Hearing this, he asked curiously, “Sanlang, where are you going?”

Sheng Sanlang sat down on the stone bench and sighed. “Back to Jinsha. My grandmother is ill.”

“Ah, don’t worry—the old lady will definitely be fine.” Shi Yan patted Sheng Sanlang’s shoulder and sat down opposite him.

Sheng Sanlang nodded. “My grandmother has a sturdy constitution. She’s probably just missing us so much that longing has made her ill.”

Shi Yan glanced at Sheng Sanlang’s round face, thinking to himself that if it was longing that made her ill, seeing her grandson who’d gotten two sizes rounder might not improve Old Lady Sheng’s mood.

Of course, when someone was worried, such words definitely couldn’t be spoken aloud.

“Second Uncle Sheng will return as well, then?” Shi Yan asked casually.

“Yes, my father, plus Big Brother, Second Brother, and Cousin Chen will all return together.”

Shi Yan quickly asked, “What about Miss Luo?”

His and Fourth Brother’s task was to protect Miss Luo well. If Miss Luo was going to Jinsha, they would have to make the trip as well.

“My cousin isn’t going back—she’s discussing marriage.”

“What?” Shi Yan directly sprang up from the stone bench.

Sheng Sanlang was dazed by Shi Yan’s reaction, staring at him blankly.

Shi Yan was even more bewildered, blurting out, “Who is Miss Luo discussing marriage with? Our master isn’t even here.”

“I don’t know.”

Shi Yan grew anxious. “Sanlang, we’ve gotten so close—why are you still keeping secrets?”

“I really don’t know.” Sheng Sanlang looked helpless. “As soon as I asked, my father scolded me.”

Shi Yan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, then suddenly stopped. “No, I need to go ask Hong Dou about this.”

“Discussing marriage? Miss hasn’t mentioned it to us.” Hong Dou looked utterly incredulous.

Shi Yan looked toward Kou’er.

Kou’er was much more composed, analyzing carefully. “Since she’s discussing marriage, it definitely can’t be your master—how could they discuss it when he’s not even in the capital? I’m guessing it’s Young Master Lin. Recently he’s been looking at the persimmon tree with our Miss quite often.”

Shi Yan felt as if struck by lightning, swaying unsteadily as he walked away.

No, he had to hurry and send word to his master!

After writing a letter, the young guard crumpled it up again.

He couldn’t send it. If this letter reached his master’s hands and his master was deeply affected after reading it, what if it influenced the battle?

Losing would mean death. If he won and returned, in the worst case he could still snatch his wife back.

Forget it. During this time he’d just have to keep a closer watch. Once Miss Luo and Lin Teng showed signs of getting engaged, he’d incite Fuxue to take Da Bai for a stroll in front of the Lin residence.

There’s no need to elaborate on how Sheng Dalang and Sheng Erlang smoothly requested leave from their superiors. The news that Luo Chen would return to Jinsha spread through the Grand Commander’s residence like the wind.

The concubines came in waves to visit Luo Chen’s quarters. Even Second Miss Luo Qing, whose temperament had changed drastically because of the Pingli incident, went.

Having finally sent away the group of women, Luo Chen ordered Fusong with a dark expression, “Invite Third Miss here.”

Just as Fusong was about to leave, he simply stood up. “Forget it, I’ll go to Xianyun Courtyard myself.”

In Xianyun Courtyard, Luo Sheng was making arrangements for Luo Chen’s departure tomorrow. Hearing that Luo Chen had arrived, she had someone show him to the study.

“Sister, are you busy?”

“Yes, you’re traveling far tomorrow—I’m preparing some things for you to take.”

Luo Chen lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the jade paperweight placed on the desk.

The small green pixiu held its head high and chest out, looking naive and charming.

“Is it really because Grandmother is ill?” Luo Chen suddenly spoke.

Luo Sheng looked at him calmly. “Why do you ask that? Would Uncle joke about Grandmother’s health?”

Luo Chen was silent for a moment, then said blandly, “This afternoon Uncle and Father drank glumly. They ate a basin of fish, two braised pork knuckles, and three plates of marinated beef.”

Luo Sheng: “…”

The young man’s expression was serious as he stared into Luo Sheng’s eyes. “I know Second Uncle’s feelings for Grandmother. If Grandmother were truly ill to the point that Second Uncle needed to rush back with the three cousins and me, how could he have the appetite to eat so much?”

Luo Sheng had nothing to say.

A basin of fish, two braised pork knuckles, three plates of marinated beef—what more was there to say?

Luo Chen had no intention of giving up on getting answers. “Sister also said Uncle couldn’t possibly joke about Grandmother’s health. Yet now this reason has been used, which means there are more serious matters involved. Sister, I’m fifteen years old. I don’t want to forever be a child in your eyes. I’m the only male heir of this generation in the Grand Commander’s residence—I have the right to know the truth.”

The young man’s gaze was piercing, calm yet persistent.

Luo Sheng was silent for a long while before asking, “Do you truly want to know the truth?”

Luo Chen nodded.

“Once you know too much, carefree days will be gone.”

The young man smiled, his smile very calm. “Sister, people cannot be carefree forever.”

After a brief silence, Luo Sheng asked, “Do you still remember the token you gave me some days ago?”

“Yes.”

“That was the Vermilion Bird Token, which can command the Vermilion Bird Guards of Prince Zhennan’s residence.”

Hearing Luo Sheng state this calmly, Luo Chen’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Luo Chen.” Luo Sheng called his name.

Luo Chen gazed at her quietly.

“Tell me—why would Prince Zhennan’s residence’s Vermilion Bird Token be in the trunk where you keep your childhood toys?”

Like a small hammer gently striking the young man’s heart, it cracked the shell of self-deception, and the doubts that had accumulated over recent days finally found their outlet in this moment.

The young man’s face gradually turned pale as he asked softly, “So I’m actually not your brother?”