Chapter 48-1: Trivial Matter
Even with just one prior encounter, she could still
recognize his face instantly, despite the twelve years that had passed, leaving
their marks on him. That fateful night, when she stumbled in front of Zhennang
Wang Palace, she looked up and saw this face. As it turned out, this man was
Miss Luo's father, who had led the siege and annihilation of Zhennan Wang
Palace.
At this moment, Luo Sheng felt Heaven was playing a cruel
joke on her.
The middle-aged man on the bed was now asleep, his face pale
and his brows tightly furrowed. He didn't display the coldness she had seen
during that dreadful night; instead, he appeared vulnerable and helpless, just
like any other sick patient. This man, known as Commander Luo and feared for
commanding the Jinlin Guard, was not just Miss Luo's father but also her sworn
enemy.
Yet, fate had led her to become Miss Luo herself.
Luo Sheng knew Heaven could be merciless in inflicting
suffering upon a person, but she did not expect reality to be even crueler.
A tear rolled quietly from the corner of her eye.
As Luo Ying, Luo Qing, and Luo Yue entered the room and saw
Luo Sheng crying, they exchanged looks of astonishment. Despite having been
sisters with Luo Sheng for more than ten years, they could hardly recall a time
when she shed tears. Even when she offended Kaiyang Wang and was sent away from
the Capital by Father, she didn't cry but merely made a fuss.
Luo Sheng had always been the one to make others cry, but
today she unexpectedly shed tears when she saw Father lying on the sick bed.
The unexpected sight left the three sisters speechless, and the room fell into
an even deeper silence until Sheng Sanlang walked in with a sullen face.
Luo Ying and her other two sisters heard the footsteps and
turned their attention to Sheng Sanlang in unison.
Sheng Sanlang walked slowly into the room. Worried that the
three girls might start making wild guesses like the concubines outside, he
spoke first: "I am Sheng Sanlang, Luo Sheng's third Biaoge."
The three sisters together saluted him, saying,
"Greetings, Biaoge." Being concubine-born, Luo Sheng's Biaoge was
naturally their Biaoge as well[1].
Sheng Sanlang hurriedly returned the salute and added,
"I'll look at Gufu." The young man wasn't accustomed to being
surrounded by girls, so he tried to Luo Sheng's side before finally feeling
more at ease.
"Gufu seems—" Sheng Sanlang looked at the pale
Commander Luo and wanted to say a few words, but his attention was diverted
when he noticed the tears in the corner of Luo Sheng's eyes. "Biaomei,
you're crying."
Crying in front of a few people who could be considered strangers
was not something Princess Qingyang's pride would allow. Shedding silent tears
was her limit. She regained her composure and wiped the corners of her eyes
with a handkerchief.
Sheng Sanlang was a little panicked as he tried to comfort
Luo Sheng, saying, "Biaomei, don't worry. Heaven favors the righteous;
Gufu will definitely get better."
"Heaven favors the righteous?" Luo Sheng pinched
her snow-white handkerchief and frowned slightly. Commander Luo was
assassinated, and his life was in danger. Instead of believing in heavenly
favor for the righteous, she believed that good and evil would eventually
receive their just consequences.
"Yes, Biaomei. He will get better, especially for you
and Biaodi," Sheng Sanlang awkwardly offered comforting words.
Luo Sheng completely regained her composure. Yes, Commander
Luo must get better. The Luo Family wasn't a century-old prominent family, and
the clan had no outstanding descendants. It could be said that the prosperity
of the Luo Family relied solely on Commander Luo's shoulders.
As a powerful courtier, Commander Luo supported the entire
Luo Family with his strength. But his position as Commander of the Jinlin
Guards had also made him many enemies. If this pillar of strength were to fall,
it was not difficult to imagine the fate that would await the four Misses,
including her and Luo Chen, who was still a half-grown child.
[1] The title "Mother" is exclusively reserved for father's official wife. Concubine-born children, on the other hand, address their birth mother as "姨娘" (yíniáng), which translates to "concubine". Therefore, the official wife's family is considered as relatives of these concubine-born children as well. CMIIW
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