The day before Luo Sheng’s wedding, her sisters came to present additional gifts.

Luo Ying gave two embroidered screens, Luo Qing gave auspicious paintings, and Luo Yue gave exquisite sachets and handkerchiefs.

Though these items seemed inexpensive, they were all handmade by the three sisters, which best demonstrated their sincerity. After all, given the Luo manor’s wealth, anything that could be bought with money wasn’t considered rare.

“Third Sister, tomorrow you’ll be married—do you feel nervous?” Luo Yue asked curiously.

Among the three sisters, only Third Sister was getting married now. It was quite novel.

Luo Sheng smiled. “Not nervous.”

When she had married as Princess Qingyang, she also hadn’t felt nervous.

Only then and now were different.

To her, Prince Pingnan’s heir Wei Qiang had been a childhood friend she’d known since small, yet there were no romantic feelings between them. Marrying him had simply been proceeding step by step into a new life.

Without longing or anticipation, how could there be nervousness?

And now she wasn’t nervous, probably because the man about to become her husband made her finally able to fully trust someone.

From their first meeting until now, he always stood on her side at the most critical moments.

Either quietly, like the night she shot Prince Pingnan.

Or openly, like when he told her in Jinsha that his surname wasn’t Wei.

Hearing Luo Sheng say this, Luo Yue smiled. “I thought all new brides would be nervous.”

Luo Ying curved her lips. “If Fourth Sister is so curious, when it’s your turn to marry, won’t you know then?”

Luo Yue hastily waved her hands. “I’m not in a hurry. Actually, the other day I accidentally heard Father say that after Third Sister’s wedding, he’ll have Eldest Sister toss an embroidered ball to recruit a husband.”

Toss an embroidered ball to recruit a husband?

Luo Ying’s expression froze. “Fourth Sister, don’t joke about this.”

“Eldest Sister didn’t know?” Luo Yue was stunned.

Luo Ying shook her head.

Luo Yue giggled. “Eldest Sister, don’t worry. Even if it’s tossing an embroidered ball to recruit a husband, Father will select a good one for you.”

Luo Ying’s mouth twitched as she suppressed her embarrassed annoyance. “Alright, tomorrow Third Sister is getting married. We shouldn’t disturb her anymore.”

After leaving Xianyun Courtyard, Luo Yue hadn’t forgotten about the embroidered ball. “Eldest Sister, if you think tossing an embroidered ball to recruit a husband is too hasty, or if you have someone in your heart, hurry and tell Father.”

“Where would I have someone in my heart?” Luo Ying shot Luo Yue a glance. “Fourth Sister, don’t speak carelessly. Since Father has arrangements, let Father decide.”

“But Eldest Sister must like him.”

Luo Ying thought of the broken engagement and gave a self-mocking laugh. “What one likes isn’t necessarily good.”

Toward that former fiancé, how could she not have had feelings?

The two walked forward and sensed something unusual. Looking back, they saw Luo Qing standing in place, her expression dazed.

Luo Ying and Luo Yue exchanged glances.

Luo Yue quickly walked back and took Luo Qing’s arm.

That hand was withered and ice-cold, nothing like the hand of a young woman in the bloom of youth.

“Second Sister, what’s wrong?”

Luo Qing forced out a smile. “I’m fine.”

Luo Ying sighed inwardly and grasped Luo Qing’s other hand. “Second Sister, are you… thinking of Pingli?”

Luo Qing remained silent.

Luo Ying gently patted her hand. “Don’t worry. Father will find him sooner or later. When he does, he’ll bring him before you so you can properly vent your anger.”

Luo Qing’s eyelashes trembled slightly as tears rolled from the corners of her eyes.

“Second Sister, Eldest Sister is right. Once you’ve vented your anger, you’ll feel better. Being sad over someone like that isn’t worth it—”

“He’s dead.” Luo Qing spoke, interrupting Luo Yue’s consolation.

Luo Yue was startled and couldn’t help but glance at Luo Ying.

Luo Ying’s heart also lifted as she said calmly, “Second Sister, don’t let your thoughts run wild.”

Luo Qing’s lips curved in a bleak smile. “Actually, he died long ago, didn’t he?”

Luo Ying and Luo Yue exchanged glances and asked Luo Qing, “Where did Second Sister hear such idle talk?”

Luo Qing looked at the two of them, her eyes filled with indescribable sorrow or numbness. “Eldest Sister, Fourth Sister, I’m not a fool either…”

When had she realized?

Probably when the manor’s servants looked at her with veiled sympathy, when her concubine mother looked at her wanting to speak but stopping herself, when her sisters treated her with careful caution…

Luo Qing pressed her lips tightly, her heart full of bitterness.

Actually, it was none of those. It was when she truly calmed down and regained her rationality that she had guessed.

“Second Sister—”

Luo Qing raised her hand to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes. “Eldest Sister, Fourth Sister, I just want to hear an answer. I don’t want to keep guessing.”

No matter how certain rationality was, without an answer there would always be speculation.

With speculation, she couldn’t let go.

Luo Ying remained silent for a long while before gently nodding.

“When did it happen?”

“He died then and there…”

Luo Qing lowered her eyes. After a long while, she said softly, “I understand.”

“Second Sister—”

Luo Qing forced the corners of her lips upward. “It’s fine. Actually, I guessed long ago. I’m just… unwilling to accept it.”

Unwilling that she didn’t even have a chance to ask “why.”

Luo Yue was straightforward. Seeing that Luo Qing seemed able to withstand the shock, she said, “Second Sister, think about those who stayed behind at the manor to delay for us when we escaped that night, Eighth Concubine who chose to end her life because she felt she’d burdened others, the innocent girls who died in the capital, and our younger brother whose entire family was exterminated… There are too many things to feel aggrieved about. I still think being sad over such a scumbag isn’t worth it.”

Each word Luo Yue spoke was like a small hammer striking Luo Qing’s heart.

Yes, compared to those people, what did her small grievance amount to?

Now she had to admit that she was neither as perceptive as Eldest Sister nor as carefree as Fourth Sister.

“Second Sister, tomorrow Third Sister is getting married. This is a tremendously joyous occasion for our manor. As for those sad matters… let them pass.”

After a long while, Luo Qing nodded gently. “Yes.”

As the setting sun was about to fall, Second Madam Sheng, entrusted by Old Madam Sheng and Grand Commander Luo, steeled herself and came to Xianyun Courtyard.

Luo Sheng received Second Madam Sheng in the outer room for tea.

Second Madam gave an awkward smile. “Sheng’er, let’s chat in the inner room.”

After entering the inner room and dismissing the maidservants, Second Madam looked at Luo Sheng and began to worry.

She wasn’t that familiar with this niece. The old madam and Grand Commander Luo had to entrust her with such an important task—it was purely forcing a duck onto a perch.

“Does Aunt have something to discuss?” After waiting a long time without Second Madam speaking, Luo Sheng asked with a smile.

Although there had been some unpleasantness in Jinsha, thinking back, Miss Luo’s behavior then wasn’t strange.

People ultimately treated each other as they were treated.

“Ah, Sheng’er, tomorrow you’re getting married. Are you nervous?”

Luo Sheng fell silent.

So this question was mandatory?

“Not nervous.”

“Good that you’re not nervous…” Second Madam thought of the words she’d prepared. Facing this composed young woman, she truly couldn’t speak them aloud. She stuffed the red cloth-wrapped item into Luo Sheng’s hands and hastily took her leave.

Luo Sheng unwrapped the red cloth and looked at the exquisitely illustrated booklet, her cheeks quietly reddening.

She seemed to be… starting to feel nervous now.

After fleeing Xianyun Courtyard, Second Madam Sheng calmed down and suddenly felt somewhat regretful.

How had she run off without saying anything? Her niece had lost her mother young, and even at her wedding had no proper female elder to teach her. It was quite pitiful, really.

But going back now wouldn’t be appropriate either.

After struggling with this for a while, Second Madam Sheng went to report to Old Madam Sheng with a guilty conscience.

The next day, the sky was clear and boundless.

The entire capital emptied as everyone poured into the streets to watch Miss Luo’s wedding.

The bright red bridal sedan stopped before the Luo manor gates. Prince Kaiyang in red robes came personally to receive his bride.

The imposing dark red horse, the incomparably handsome groom, the endless wedding procession.

The procession slowly circled the entire city, countless people chasing after it, the shower of celebratory coins drawing cheers from children.

“I truly never imagined Prince Kaiyang would marry Miss Luo.” In the crowd, who knew how many people expressed such sentiments.

“Yes, when Miss Luo pulled off Prince Kaiyang’s belt sash and was sent away, we thought she’d made an enemy of Grand Commander Luo. Who would have thought she’d found Grand Commander Luo a son-in-law?”

Looking at the strikingly handsome man on the tall horse, someone speculated, “Do you remember? Before encountering Miss Luo, Prince Kaiyang always avoided women. I now think Prince Kaiyang might be that type of chaste and virtuous man who, after having his belt pulled off by Miss Luo, decided she was the one…”

Hearing this, the young ladies couldn’t help but fall into contemplation: Was that it?

After Miss Luo’s grand wedding, the capital suddenly experienced a strange trend of young ladies pulling belt sashes when they saw handsome young men, but that’s a story for another time.

By a willow tree away from the crowded masses stood two men of outstanding bearing.

“Elder Brother,” Lin Shu called out.

Lin Teng turned his head to look at him.

“Didn’t you say you had a case to handle, which is why you declined joining Grandfather at the prince’s manor for the wedding banquet?”

Lin Teng said flatly, “I was tired from work and came out to watch the excitement.”

Lin Shu was silent for a while, then broke off a willow branch and held it out.

Lin Teng frowned.

Lin Shu looked at his elder brother, feeling somewhat pained. “Elder Brother, you have feelings for Miss Luo, don’t you… Why didn’t you try earlier?”

Pluck the flowers when they bloom; don’t wait until they’re gone to break bare branches. Didn’t Elder Brother understand this principle?

Lin Teng’s expression was grave as he glanced at his cousin. “Don’t speak nonsense. Miss Luo and Prince Kaiyang are a match made in heaven.”

He turned and strode toward the Ministry of Justice offices, never accepting the willow branch Lin Shu held out.

Lin Shu was silent for a while, then tossed the willow branch to the ground and sighed almost inaudibly.

After the grand banquet for guests, toasting and expressing gratitude, by the time these formalities were completed, night had already deepened.

Wei Han quickly entered the bridal chamber and looked at the new bride sitting by the bed waiting for him, unable to suppress the upward curve of his lips.

“Miss Luo,” he called out.

The dragon and phoenix wedding candles flickered, coating the deep and shallow reds of the bridal chamber with a layer of soft color.

In such an atmosphere, even this simple address of “Miss Luo” seemed to carry additional intimacy.

Luo Sheng pressed her lips together. “Does Your Highness still call me Miss Luo now?”

Allow her this small selfish desire—after becoming his wife, she didn’t want to hear him call her Miss Luo anymore.

“Then… may I call you Sheng’er?” Wei Han asked tentatively, his ears quietly reddening.

Luo Sheng shook her head. “Father and the others all call me Sheng’er. If Your Highness calls me that, I can’t help but think of elders.”

Wei Han frowned.

Elders? That wouldn’t do at all.

“Then may I call you A’Sheng?”

Luo Sheng couldn’t bear to make things difficult for him any longer and said softly, “My surname is Luo. Your Highness can call me Luo’er.”

Luo’er—that was her childhood name.

If he called her this, she felt that Princess Qingyang had also found happiness.

Wei Han reached out to embrace her. “Alright, then from now on I’ll only call you Luo’er.”

The sudden embrace made Luo Sheng’s cheeks redden.

“The Luo of Goddess Luo—is that alright?” he asked.

Luo Sheng looked at the man tenderly saying these words, her heartbeat quickening.

The Luo of Goddess Luo…

She stared at him in a daze.

Wei Han held the young woman in his arms tighter. “I think the Luo of Goddess Luo sounds most beautiful.”

Luo Sheng lowered her eyes, tears quietly moistening them.

Perhaps he had also thought about her connection to the Prince Pingnan’s manor, thought about how Miss Luo seemed like two different people…

But he had never pressed her with questions.

“Your Highness—”

Wei Han interrupted her with a low laugh. “Does Luo’er still call me Your Highness now?”

“A’Han?”

Wei Han was silent for a moment before saying, “I vaguely remember my parents called me Seventh Son. When we’re alone, call me Seventh Brother.”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly, then thought of something and asked, “Do you still remember your surname?”

“I don’t remember anymore.” Meeting the pitying gaze in his wife’s eyes, Wei Han smiled unconcernedly. “It doesn’t matter. What matters most is that we grow old together.”

He no longer remembered where he came from, but fortunately he knew where he was going.

He and Luo’er would remain together until old age, surrounded by children and grandchildren.

When he was very, very old, he would still be able to eat the noodles with savory sauce that Luo’er made.

The candlelight flickered, and a candle flower suddenly burst with a loud pop, startling the embracing couple.

“Luo’er.”

“Mm?”

He said nothing, lowering his head to kiss her forehead.

The red gauze curtains quietly fell.

Deep autumn had arrived, but for Seventh Brother and Luo’er, their spring had just begun.