The clingy concubine ran away, and the sickly prince lost control.

He discovered it.

I really want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into; nothing can escape Pei Shiyuan's eyes.

"Will you use Lao Zhang again next time?" Luo Qingyan shook her head shyly, feeling ashamed to have been exposed.

In an instant, she cheered herself up again. She was Pei Shiyuan's concubine, so it was normal for her to have some little thoughts.

"Young Master, Old Zhang clearly can't drive a carriage, so why is he still staying at the Duke's mansion?"

Luo Qingyan changed the subject.

Pei Shiyuan breathed a sigh of relief. "Old Zhang used to be the best cavalryman on the battlefield. He was quick-witted and had first-class horsemanship, so driving a carriage was naturally effortless for him."

"And then?"

Luo Qingyan pressed for an answer.

"Later, during a battle, cannon fire exploded near Old Zhang, shocking him and causing him to become mentally unstable. He constantly thought about his warhorse, so in the end, he was put on the job of a groom at the Duke's mansion. The Duke's mansion had many horses, and Old Zhang spent his days with them. In recent years, his mind has improved a bit. He wanted to drive a carriage, so we let him."

Pei Shiyuan began to explain in detail.

Luo Qingyan's eyes were a little red: "From now on, if I'm not in a hurry when I go out, I'll just ask Lao Zhang to drive, just be careful."

"Hold on tight." As soon as Pei Shiyuan finished speaking, the carriage braked sharply, and they arrived at the Luo residence.

Luo Qingyan almost threw up her food.

Los House.

"Father, why isn't Luo Qingyan here yet? You told her to come back to the manor immediately." Luo Haitang sat in the chair, puffing out her cheeks angrily.

Luo Qingyan is really putting on airs now; she's so slow to come back to the manor when called.

In the past, Luo Qingyan would be stunned by a single word from her: "Get out!" and she would still dare to put on airs.

Luo Daocheng paced anxiously, saying, "The young master might be in trouble; we must prioritize his needs."

Luo Qingyan had never dared to disobey them since she was a child, so she wouldn't delay coming.

Even if he's in a hurry, he has to wait.

Why wasn't he among those promoted?

"Alas, the young master is ill, perhaps his words are no longer of any use." Luo Haitang said in a drawn-out tone. Before she could finish speaking, Luo Qingyan stepped in, followed by Pei Shiyuan.

"Father."

Luo Qingyan curtsied.

Luo Haitang gasped, carefully standing up. Could Prince Pei have heard what she said?

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Luo Daocheng cupped his hands in greeting, and Luo Haitang followed suit with a curtsy.

Pei Shiyuan gave a cold glance: "My words are of no use. Don't bother looking for Aunt Luo next time."

"Well, Your Highness, my daughter was just in a hurry and spoke without thinking. I'll punish her later, and she should apologize to Your Highness first," Luo Daocheng said with an awkward smile.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I misspoke." Luo Haitang lowered her head, but her drooping eyelids showed her dissatisfaction.

"Your Highness, Qingyan is my beloved youngest daughter. I asked her to return to the manor because I missed her. It's nothing else."

Luo Daocheng quickly interjected, but seeing Pei Shiyuan's unpleasant expression, he didn't dare ask about the promotion. "Please have some tea. Qingyan and I need to talk alone. It's been a long time since my daughter and I had a heart-to-heart talk."

Luo Qingyan lowered her eyes; her father was really good at pretending.

In my past life, when I was a child, he was always impatient when I tried to talk to him. Once, I grabbed his sleeve, but he pushed me to the ground and I hit my head.

From then on, she dared not approach her father. Before going to the Duke's mansion, she hadn't spoken more than five words in over a decade.

This performance will depict the deep bond between a father and daughter.

Pei Shiyuan nodded, picked up his teacup, and sipped it leisurely, guessing that Luo Daocheng had called Luo Qingyan back because of her lack of promotion.

He wanted to see for himself what kind of life Luo Qingyan was living in this house. With a wink, Yuan Qing nodded and left.

Luo Daocheng summoned Luo Qingyan to his study, hastily closing the door behind him: "Qingyan, what's wrong? Your father isn't among those promoted!"

"Sigh!" Luo Qingyan sighed heavily. "Father, why did you marry Piaoxue and make it so public knowledge?"

"I asked you about your promotion, why are you bringing up other things? What does it have to do with marrying Piaoxue?" Luo Daocheng's eyes widened in anxiety.

"Of course it's related. If you marry a woman from a pleasure boat, your morals will be compromised. How can you expect to get promoted?" Luo Qingyan frowned.

"This matter might affect others, but don't we have Prince Pei? If he says a word, who will care? Which man doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? Qingyan, tell me the truth, is it because the Prince doesn't like you that much and is unwilling to help?" Luo Daocheng asked seriously.

"Father, you are wronging the young master. He has already spoken to the people in the Ministry of Revenue, and he has personally seen the promotion list, which includes your name. But because of the scandal involving your marriage to Piaoxue, they cannot promote you."

Luo Qingyan said reproachfully, "Even the Minister of Revenue has his pride when he goes out. If you are promoted, you will be ridiculed by your colleagues."

"Sister, are you blaming Father?" Luo Haitang pushed open the door and came in, with her younger brother Luo Chengyong beside her. "You're incompetent, yet you guarantee you can get things done. Sister, it's hard to even respect you."

Luo Qingyan smiled deeply: "Sister, if it's not Father's fault, is it yours? It seems like you're to blame him for not advising him. Why didn't you stop him from marrying Piaoxue? Now look what's happened, he probably won't have any chance of promotion this year or later."

My father is incompetent. It would be lucky if he could stay in his position of authority until retirement. To think he could get promoted is just wishful thinking.

"You, my sister, can't blame me. I didn't know anything about it." Luo Haitang's face turned red with anger. Luo Qingyan dared to accuse her, her older sister, which was simply outrageous.

Luo Qingyan raised her eyebrows and said disdainfully, "With Mother not at home, and Sister in charge of the household, she was unaware that Father had gone to the pleasure boat and even married a woman from there. She has truly neglected her duty."

In the past, her whole family would surround her, questioning and blaming her. At that time, she seemed to be terrified and dared not refute them at all. She would just nod and say "yes" repeatedly. She would do whatever she was told, even if she was unwilling, like a curled-up shrimp.

"Luo Qingyan, what did you say? How dare you disrespect your elder sister!" Luo Chengyong suddenly roared.

Luo Chengyong was conceived by Madam Sun after Luo Qingyan was taken in by the Luo family. He is one year younger than Luo Qingyan and is currently studying at Hongru Academy.

"Call me Second Sister." Luo Qingyan looked directly at Luo Chengyong, her tone flat.

Luo Chengyong was taken aback. Had Luo Qingyan taken the wrong medicine? When had he ever called her "Second Sister"?

In the mansion, she always cowers and timidly; does she even deserve to call her Second Sister?

"Isn't she called Second Sister? Luo Chengyong."

Luo Qingyan's tone was sarcastic this time.

Luo Chengyong stared at Luo Qingyan but didn't call out.

"What are you standing there for? Call her!" Luo Daocheng shoved Luo Chengyong. Now that Luo Qingyan was Pei Shiyuan's woman, it was still unknown whether she would be favored or not, so it was best to be careful for now.

Luo Chengyong, with drooping eyelids, reluctantly said, "Second, Second Sister."

"Yes!" Luo Qingyan readily agreed. "Brother, I've already explained Father's situation. The promotion list was already prepared, but then Piaoxue's incident happened."

As she spoke, Luo Qingyan glared at Luo Daocheng.

My father's face was sallower than usual, and his forehead was dark, a sign of excessive indulgence. It seems he was truly captivated by the snow.

"Brother, don't believe her." Luo Haitang pulled Luo Chengyong over.