After making arrangements, Luo Sheng went to the Princess’s residence as agreed.

A maid who had been waiting outside led Luo Sheng to the main courtyard, but didn’t take her to the sleeping quarters. Instead, she was led to the meditation room where Princess Changle did her morning and evening devotions.

The moment she stepped into the meditation room, a familiar fragrance entered her nostrils. The heavy scent made Luo Sheng furrow her brows secretly.

Princess Changle stood not far away, wearing a loose, snow-white everyday robe. Her hair was styled in a high bun, her eyes deep and profound. That familiar face seemed somewhat strange in this smoke and incense-filled meditation room.

Luo Sheng calmly walked forward and curtsied slightly in greeting.

Princess Changle observed the young woman bowing to her, her eyes growing increasingly cold.

She should have noticed A’Sheng’s distance long ago.

The reason she and A’Sheng could become good friends was because A’Sheng had never treated her as a princess, but as a companion with a compatible temperament.

Back then, they would sit together in teahouses, watching the pedestrians coming and going on the street, playfully commenting and laughing about any passably handsome men—how carefree that had been.

At Princess Imperial Shoushan’s residence, when A’Sheng was pecked by her aunt’s peacock, she had twisted that flat-feathered beast’s neck in one angry motion—how satisfying and delightful that had been.

That was her A’Sheng, not this young woman before her now who would curtsy to her.

Disgust grew like wild grass, spreading wildly in her heart.

Looking at the young woman whose features showed no change, Princess Changle felt an impulse to destroy her.

She would rather A’Sheng remain forever in her memories than have the person before her gradually alter the image of A’Sheng in those memories bit by bit.

Princess Changle closed her eyes.

So much had already changed. This couldn’t continue.

As those phoenix eyes opened again, Princess Changle’s gaze regained its calm.

“A’Sheng has arrived.” The indifferent voice resonated in the meditation room, carrying a coldness that even Princess Changle herself hadn’t noticed.

But Luo Sheng felt it.

Slender, pale fingers reached out and grasped her wrist.

That hand was slightly cool—for an instant, it felt like a venomous snake coiling around her.

“A’Sheng, come look at this.”

Luo Sheng silently followed Princess Changle forward, stopping before a statue of the Longevity Immortal Maiden over a person’s height tall.

The Longevity Immortal Maiden was beautiful and dignified, her eyes containing compassion as they quietly gazed at the two young women standing before her.

In that instant, fine goosebumps appeared uncontrollably on Luo Sheng’s arms.

“A’Sheng, this is my newly commissioned statue of the Longevity Immortal Maiden. What do you think?” Princess Changle asked meaningfully.

Luo Sheng smiled. “I’m just an ordinary woman. I can only revere the immortals—how could I presume to critique them?”

Princess Changle reached out and lightly tapped the statue of the Longevity Immortal Maiden.

The dull thuds seemed to strike at one’s heart.

“A’Sheng, listen. This statue of the Longevity Immortal Maiden is the same as the previous one—it’s also hollow inside.” Princess Changle stared at Luo Sheng, her expression somewhere between a smile and not. “Just the right size to fit a person.”

The malice in these words came rushing forward, making Luo Sheng feel nauseous.

Facing such a princess whose moods were unpredictable and who treated human lives like grass—it was truly enough.

This was no friendly banquet, exactly as Luo Sheng had expected.

From the moment Princess Changle began probing her, given the other’s temperament, it had become inevitable that the two would tear off their pretenses.

Luo Sheng simply relaxed completely and said with a smile, “The Longevity Immortal Maiden is beautiful and slender. A burly man probably couldn’t fit, but fitting a woman would certainly be no problem.”

The way Princess Changle looked at Luo Sheng changed, carrying bewilderment and suspicion.

In this moment, she felt this was A’Sheng again.

That A’Sheng who, like her, disregarded propriety and did as she pleased.

This back-and-forth suspicion made Princess Changle quite displeased.

When had she ever wronged herself like this? In the past, people or things that made her uncomfortable were dealt with without even a furrowed brow.

Only A’Sheng could make her hesitate like this.

“A’Sheng, sit.” Princess Changle pulled over a meditation cushion and gestured for Luo Sheng to sit.

Luo Sheng sat down, aware that gaze continued to scrutinize her. She met it calmly.

Princess Changle was silent for a moment, then spoke. “A’Sheng, do you still remember the things from our past?”

Luo Sheng pressed her lips together slightly.

As expected, Princess Changle was going to lay everything out in the open today.

Since the question had been asked, further concealment was completely meaningless.

“I don’t remember.”

Princess Changle was somewhat surprised by Luo Sheng’s forthright admission. After a while, she asked, “Why don’t you remember?”

“I was injured on the way to Jinsha and forgot about past events.”

Princess Changle raised her eyebrows slightly.

From this perspective, Luo Sheng hadn’t lied to her—it matched what Su Yao had said.

“You don’t remember anything at all?”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly.

Another silence followed, so prolonged it felt oppressive.

“Then… will you remember again?” After asking this question, Princess Changle felt unclear about her current emotions.

Luo Sheng lowered her eyes, her tone calm. “Probably not.”

She and Miss Luo were ultimately two different people. The only thing she hadn’t anticipated was that the one to discover the differences between her and Miss Luo and ask about it would be Princess Changle.

Hearing Luo Sheng’s answer, Princess Changle’s gaze suddenly turned cold as she said word by word, “But I only want the A’Sheng from before.”

Luo Sheng remained silent.

“Is this princess speaking and you’re not listening?” Luo Sheng’s silence made Princess Changle increasingly furious. The violent energy within her heart was like a wild beast, roaring to break free from its cage.

“I heard.” Luo Sheng met Princess Changle’s gaze, her expression composed. “I’m afraid this point cannot be as Your Highness wishes. People can only move forward, look forward.”

Princess Changle sneered coldly. “What if this princess doesn’t wish to see a changed A’Sheng?”

Luo Sheng stood up and curtsied to Princess Changle. “Then I shall take my leave now.”

“Luo Sheng!” Princess Changle rose abruptly, her face cold as ice. “Do you think you can just leave?”

Princess Changle was somewhat taller than Luo Sheng. With the two standing like this, her presence seemed imposing.

But Luo Sheng didn’t fall into a disadvantage, asking calmly, “Then what does Your Highness think should be done?”

Princess Changle reached out and hooked Luo Sheng’s chin.

The young woman’s chin was pale and delicate. With long fingernails, a single scratch would surely draw blood.

Just thinking of blood beads blooming on that snow-white skin filled Princess Changle with indescribable excitement.

“A’Sheng, this princess thinks the Longevity Immortal Maiden would suit you quite well.”

The words had barely fallen when Princess Changle’s eyes flashed with viciousness. She pulled the golden hairpin from her bun and stabbed it toward Luo Sheng’s throat.

Luo Sheng dodged to the side, her hand reaching out quick as lightning to grasp Princess Changle’s wrist.

The force made Princess Changle’s hand loosen, and the golden hairpin fell.

“You dare resist?” Princess Changle, her wrist gripped tightly, was furious.

Luo Sheng smiled faintly. “I truly don’t remember past events, but how could Your Highness also forget that I’ve practiced martial arts since childhood?”

Miss Luo’s boxing, footwork, and horseback archery had all been taught hand-by-hand by Grand Commander Luo. Compared to true masters she naturally fell far short, but it was enough to subdue a pampered woman like Princess Changle.

Princess Changle’s expression twisted as she glared coldly at Luo Sheng.

She had indeed forgotten.

The current Luo Sheng gave her a feeling no different from those noble ladies who had received strict instruction and carried dignified bearing—she could no longer associate her with that A’Sheng who had satisfyingly twisted a peacock’s neck.

“Do you dare harm this princess?” Princess Changle asked with a mocking laugh.