To Hold One’s Joy

hapter 26-1: A Letter

Return to the Capital?

Luo Chen furrowed his brow and retorted, "I don't like jokes." It was amusing to Luo Sheng how a thirteen-year-old boy could frown and say he didn't like jokes.

"Why are you laughing?" Luo Chen noticed the hint of amusement in Luo Sheng's eyes and felt slightly irritated. "I'm not joking. I'm merely informing you," Luo Sheng replied.

The boy's deep, obsidian-like eyes locked onto Luo Sheng's, sensing the gravity of the situation. His frown deepened. "Don't act so willfully. Father sent you here to avoid troubles. You can't just go back whenever you please."

Father was afraid that Luo Sheng would continue to cause trouble with her group of servants when she arrived at Sheng Mansion. That's why he only allowed Hongdou to accompany her here, demonstrating Father's determination to keep Luo Sheng in Jinsha County.

"It's an exaggeration to say that I'm avoiding troubles. Father simply didn't want me to get into even bigger trouble, so he sent me here," Luo Sheng explained patiently. She then added, "But haven't I changed?"

Luo Chen was left speechless for a moment. Where was the change? Didn't she just stir up trouble by exposing Sheng Jialan's affairs to the public and ruin the reputation of the Sheng family by doing so?

Of course, he believed that Sheng Jialan deserved to be blamed, and he was also displeased by how Sheng Dataitai and the others turned a blind eye to those rumors. However, Luo Sheng's direct and abrupt exposure to the scandal didn't appear to be a transformation toward becoming a well-mannered lady from a noble family.

Luo Sheng reached out and gently ruffled the boy's hair. "Don't worry about my affairs. Just take good care of yourself."

As Luo Sheng left, the young boy snapped back to his senses, clutching the top of his head with anger and frustration. She touched his head again!

How could a lady casually touch a man's head, even if he was her younger brother! With these thoughts in mind, Luo Chen turned to Fusong and said, "Next time she comes, make sure to close the door for me tightly."

Fusong pondered momentarily, then asked cautiously, "What if Miss brings you food?" Luo Chen gave Fusong an annoyed glance and replied angrily, "Obviously, the food stays." He couldn't believe he had to be asked such a simple matter. Why was his servant so foolish?

It's family dinner tonight. As it was a rare occasion with all the members of the Sheng family present for dinner, Luo Sheng delicately wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and spoke up, "Waizumu, there's something I would like to discuss with you."

Sheng Laotaitai wore a gentle expression as she responded, "What is it, Sheng'er?" The taste of the braised pork still lingered in her memory. She found herself growing fonder of her granddaughter than even the dish itself.

Sheng Jiayu couldn't help but grip her chopsticks tightly upon seeing how affectionately her grandmother treated Luo Sheng. It wasn't jealousy but a sense of injustice. Even if Luo Sheng had been right about Jialan, she had caused so much trouble in the past. Why didn't her grandmother take that into account? What could Luo Sheng possibly want to discuss during this supposedly harmonious family dinner?

As all eyes turned toward her, Luo Sheng calmly said, "I want to return to the Capital."

Sheng Laotaitai's chopsticks nearly slipped from her hand. Sheng Dataitai and Sheng Ertaitai exchanged a worried glance, sensing the unease in each other's eyes.

Sheng Jiayu clenched her lip tightly. It was just as she had feared. Luo Sheng was about to stir up trouble again!

Observing the seriousness in Luo Sheng's demeanor, Sheng Laotaitai spoke dryly, "Sheng'er, when your father sent you here, he intended for you to stay for a while..." Referring to it as an "extended period" was merely a euphemism. In reality, Commander Luo had requested Sheng Laotaitai to find a suitable marriage prospect for his daughter and keep her in Jinsha.

Luo Sheng lowered her gaze and pursed her lips. "I miss my home," she uttered softly. The room fell into an even deeper silence, causing Luo Chen, who was about to interject, to seal his lips tightly.

Luo Sheng lifted her gaze to meet Sheng Laotaitai's eyes, her tone unwavering, "A few days ago, I wrote a letter to my father, and he has granted my request to return to the Capital."

"Is that so?" Sheng Laotaitai was taken aback, her gaze filled with doubt as she looked at Luo Sheng. Without hesitation, Luo Sheng retrieved a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Sheng Laotaitai, stating, "This is my father's reply."