Chapter 34: A Clever Skirmish, The Hypocritical Family

Just a few days ago, a man in black had infiltrated his mansion, cornered him, and declared that Luo Qianfan was the prophesied "Daughter of Destiny." He commanded him to bring her home if he valued his life, then vanished without a trace. Despite his attempts to investigate, he had heard nothing since.

Luo Jingsong’s brow furrowed like mountain peaks as he sank into the memory of that night.

"Who are you?" Luo Jingsong had asked, his eyes fixed on the deadly blade pressed against his throat, his heavy breathing echoing through the room.

"It matters not who I am. You need only know that Luo Qianfan is the Daughter of Destiny. Bring her back, or the next time, this blade will not be pointing at your head!" The figure holding the sword spoke with chilling coldness, as if the steel might slice through Luo Jingsong's skin at any moment.

"The Daughter of Destiny? How is that possible?" His voice trembled. He had heard the rumors, but it was inconceivable that Luo Qianfan could be the one.

"Remember my words. Do not try any tricks; I will be watching you from the shadows." With that, the figure was gone.

Luo Jingsong had later sent men to find the stranger, but to no avail. After much deliberation, he decided to bring Luo Qianfan back first, hoping to probe her and see if she knew the man. After all, she was the child of that person; perhaps she truly did harbor some secret.

He had not originally intended to see Luo Qianfan today, but since the Crown Prince had requested it, he had no choice but to summon her.

The servant sent to find her scoured the inner and outer courtyards before finally finding her in a dilapidated room. Upon seeing Luo Qianfan, he froze. What a stunning woman!

Suddenly, a figure blocked the servant’s eager gaze. The servant looked up and was driven back by the chilling, murderous aura emanating from Luo Yi. It took him a long moment to stammer, "Th-Third Miss, the Master is waiting for you in the drawing room."

Luo Qianfan smiled softly. "Go tell Father that I shall be there shortly."

Watching her gentle, beautiful face, the servant’s heart hammered against his ribs. He stumbled all the way back to the main hall.

The three people in the hall were annoyed to hear that Luo Qianfan would be delayed. Luo Jingsong’s hands gripped the arms of his chair so tightly that the veins stood out. Luo Yuhuan’s lovely face twisted with a trace of malice. Only Dongfang Ao remained relatively calm, though a hint of disdain flickered in his eyes.

A short while later, Luo Qianfan entered the hall with Luo Yi in tow. Seeing Dongfang Ao and Luo Yuhuan, she curled her lips into a playful smile. What a coincidence; it seemed they were all in high spirits today.

Seeing the three of them chatting and laughing, she realized she had arrived at an inopportune moment. She did not care, however, and strode forward, meeting their gazes with bold confidence.

The three in the room froze at the sound of her footsteps. A young woman in green walked toward them, exuding an air of arrogant, dazzling radiance. The wild pride and disdain on her lips gave them a sense of déjà vu.

"You are Luo Qianfan?" Luo Yuhuan was the first to react. She could not believe that this vibrant, defiant girl was the Luo Qianfan she knew.

Watching her extraordinary beauty, Luo Yuhuan felt an indescribable jealousy. Suddenly, she glanced at Dongfang Ao, searching for a reaction, but her eyes darkened. *Crown Prince, you love me, don't you?* She felt a surge of crisis; Dongfang Ao was looking at Luo Qianfan with an intensity that surpassed his usual gaze toward her. This was not right!

Dongfang Ao had completely forgotten the person beside him, his eyes fixed intently on Luo Qianfan. Only when she spoke did he realize this was the girl he had always looked down upon. His mysterious eyes were bottomless.

Luo Qianfan braved their stares, her eyebrows arched as she walked straight past them toward Luo Jingsong. This was the first time she had seen her father in name. He was in his thirties, wearing a brown brocade robe. He remained handsome, but his sharp, piercing gaze carried a cold, imposing chill.

Luo Qianfan remained calm. "Greetings, Father." Her smile was inscrutable, and her tone was polite enough, yet she did not even bow. Her posture was haughty, as if he were nothing more than a passing stranger.

Luo Jingsong snapped, "It seems sending you away for all these years didn't teach you any manners! You are still so ill-bred!" He was about to continue when the Crown Prince coughed and walked toward Luo Qianfan.

*This is bad,* Luo Jingsong thought. *Could the Prince have taken a liking to this girl?*

Luo Yuhuan was equally restless, her burning gaze striking Luo Qianfan like a blade.

"Are you really Luo Qianfan?" Dongfang Ao was drawn to her, his feet moving toward her involuntarily. Was this truly the tomboy he had known? He stared unblinkingly into her clear eyes, a glimmer of complex interest flickering in his own.

Luo Qianfan turned to face the man with whom she had such a complicated history. He stood tall in his brocade robes, his bewitching, piercing eyes fixed on her in a way that made her uncomfortable. *Hmm, he doesn't seem like much,* she thought, curling her lip.

"Yes," she replied, her tone so brief it was clear she had no desire to speak another word to him.

"You rebellious daughter! Kneel and show respect to His Highness the Crown Prince!" Luo Jingsong shouted, fearing he would offend Dongfang Ao.

Luo Qianfan sneered. *So this is the so-called father. It seems he never liked the original owner either. If so, why keep her?* She could not fathom why he would bring her mother, Yue, into the mansion and why he would hide her true identity. Was it out of love for Yue? Certainly not. If he had loved her, he wouldn't have neglected her, leaving her to be bullied and fend for herself.

"You actually dared to return!" Dongfang Ao narrowed his eyes, looking down at her from his position of authority.

"Why wouldn't I dare? This is my home; I shall come and go as I please," she replied. "Perhaps the Crown Prince should be more careful about where he walks. If something were to happen, it would be difficult to explain to His Majesty!" She spoke with a bright smile, though there was no sign of true concern in her eyes.

Dongfang Ao’s expression stiffened, a flicker of anger crossing his face.

Luo Yuhuan had noticed Dongfang Ao’s behavior the moment Luo Qianfan entered; he was clearly captivated by this little vixen. *If I had known she would grow up like this, I would have had her killed in that godforsaken place years ago.*

In the hall, Luo Yuhuan looked at Dongfang Ao with a pained, deep-seated affection that would have moved any man. Sensing her gaze, Dongfang Ao turned, offering a look of apology and comfort. Seeing her suppressed pain, his heart sank, and the trace of attraction he had felt for Luo Qianfan vanished. *What is wrong with me? How could I hurt Huan’er like this? She is the woman I have chosen as my consort.*

Luo Jingsong’s face shifted, and he bellowed, "Audacious! How dare you be so insolent before the Crown Prince? Do you want to destroy the Luo estate? Apologize at once!"

Luo Qianfan looked innocent, tilting her small face to look at the furious man. "Father, have I done something wrong? Why should I apologize? Is this not my home? Or does the safety of the Crown Prince have nothing to do with the Luo estate?"

Luo Jingsong felt as though he might explode. He flicked his sleeves heavily. How was he supposed to answer that? To say she wasn't his daughter, or that the Prince's life was of no concern to them? Neither was a good choice.

"Hmph, you are as glib-tongued as ever. It was the right decision to send you away. It seems that after all these years, you haven't improved at all... only in your sharpness of tongue," Luo Jingsong said, his eyes filled with contempt.

"Father is too kind. I was sent away from home at a young age. Not only did I rarely see you, but I barely survived, let alone received any guidance," Luo Qianfan said, feigning grievance as she tugged at his sleeve with teary eyes. "If I hadn't been lucky, I wouldn't have lived to see you bring me back."

Luo Jingsong felt as if he were being choked by her words.

"What?" Luo Yuhuan, who had been brooding, suddenly stood up like she had been injected with adrenaline. "Did those people dare to bully you, sister? Even if you are not the daughter of the primary wife, you are still the daughter of Concubine Yue and the true Third Miss of the Prime Minister's estate. How dare they abuse you! I must report this to Mother and have them severely punished!"

She emphasized the word "Concubine" to remind Luo Qianfan of her place. She was merely a concubine's daughter—what right did she have to snatch what belonged to the legitimate daughter?

At the mention of Concubine Yue, another person’s face changed dramatically. Luo Jingsong’s eyes narrowed, a crack appearing in his mask of rage as a flash of fear crossed his gaze.

Luo Qianfan caught the flicker of terror perfectly. If she wasn't mistaken, he was afraid. What was he afraid of?

*It seems I will have to test him,* she thought, a bright, enchanting smile blooming on her lips, as vivid and painful as a beautiful flower.