"Father, I've lived like this for ten over years. Why should I change at this time?" Luo Qing Luan interrupted him and continued indifferently, "There's no need. Let's avoid wasting money so that Father's Concubine won't be distressed."

Luo Cheng looked totally awkward and smiled with difficulty. "Why would Father's Concubine be distressed. I said to make changes for you, so it will be done. Or else, what if the Imperial Palace send people and they see that you live in this way. They'll even mistake that we don't treat you well."

"Can it be that Father think that I've lived very well all these years?" Luo Qing Luan smiled derisively.

"You......"

Luo Cheng was angered into a bind, unable to vent. The fake smile on his face twitched repeatedly. Brushing his sleeve in anger, he continued, "I'm full of good intentions, yet you still talk like that. If it weren't for Her Highness sending someone today to speak of yesterday's matter, so that I know you've made progress, do you think that I'd be willing for you to refurbish your courtyard?"

"Why don't you consider how your ghastly appearance and manners were before, so unbearably stupid. How were you anything like what a general's daughter ought to be? It wasn't bad for you to have fallen into the water. You were originally divorced by Fifth Prince, so I thought that you won't be able to marry for the rest of your life. Presently, it's not easy for His Highness the Crown Prince to be interested in you. You should properly grasp this opportunity. Don't continue to be as stupid as you were in the past!"

Standing by the side, Wang Xue Ru sourly interjected, "Qing Luan, your father actually placed high hopes on you. He's actually even more worried about you than Qing Shuang. If you fail to obtain the crown prince's favor, wouldn't that betray your father's hopes?"

With a soft sneer, Luo Qing Luan simply didn't care about her, as she glanced at Luo Cheng with indifference. "So it's all because the crown prince is interested in me that Father is treating me better? Heh heh, should I thank the crown prince for taking a fancy to me, then? Otherwise, even my own father won't attach any importance to me."

Easily infuriated by Luo Qing Luan, Luo Cheng was about to detonate when his eyes fell again on the two trays of gifts on the table. Thinking of something, his anger slowly disappeared.

"Forget it. Your heart harbors a bit of resentment. This father is also understanding, but you need to remember. When all is said and done, I'm still your father. You've grown up now and should also be sensible. Look, your elder sister is already married to Fifth Prince, so you also should work a bit harder. If you can smoothly marry the crown prince, then our General's Mansion will gain supreme honor."

If it wasn't for thinking of this point, how could Luo Cheng control his temper.

The second daughter who had been unpleasant to look at for ten over years, even though she seemed to have been reborn, it still was not so easy at all to change an impression that already penetrated deeply into the bone marrow. However, calling to mind how Luo Qing Luan recently had indeed changed greatly, Moreover, she even obtained Her Highness the Empress' consideration. What's even more rare was that Nangong Qing already fell for her. This was something he would never could have imagined.

If Luo Qing Luan could marry the crown prince, then he will become the nation's future emperor's father-in-law. Once he thought of this, Luo Cheng's heart burned fervently.

"Oh, by the way, the Mid-autumn festival is next month. At that time, the Imperial Palace will surely set up a feast. You should properly prepare. If you can shine on that day, then that will also bring back some face to our General's Mansion."

Luo Cheng laughed, exhorting her over and over again. "Qing Luan, have you remembered this? Actually, gaining face is the small matter. The key is that you need to reveal your talents to the crown prince, so that he will like you even more. If Her Highness the Empress consequently appoint you as the crown prince's consort, then that will truly be what's most important. Father also wants what's good for you. To be able to marry the crown prince means that you'll be the future empress. Which young girl doesn't long for this? Since you have the chance, then you need to properly grasp it, understand?"

This father of hers indeed placed benefits above all else, heh! Once Luo Qing Luan heard this, even though a smile still hung on her face, her heart already wished that she could kick Luo Cheng out.

Even though he acted as if it was for her own good, which part of what he said wasn't as if he wanted to sell his daughter? For the sake of his own wealth and glory, status and power, he simply didn't care whether she actually liked the crown prince, or whether she'd be happy married to him. In her father's eyes, if there wasn't still some use for her, how would he speak to her like he was today? Forget about remodeling her house, it'd be good if he didn't curse or scold her.

Her heart already turned cold early on. No matter what Luo Cheng said, or how kind he acted, she still wouldn't forgive him anymore.

Listening to Wang Xue Ru's sour tone of voice, Luo Qing Luan felt that it's quite funny.

Wang Xue Ru kept saying that her Qing Shuang's luck was bad. If her luck wasn't bad, how would she only be married to Fifth Prince? If Qing Shuang was still single, perhaps the one that the crown prince fancied would be Qing Shuang, and not her, Luo Qing Luan.

"That's true, Elder Sister's luck is indeed a little bad. If not, when that novel was published, how could His Majesty have bestowed her to Fifth Prince to be his concubine?" Luo Qing Luan spared no politeness and again mentioned the matter that made Wang Xue Ru most shameful. "However, Father's Concubine should also be content with the situation. In any case, Elder Sister has already become Fifth Prince's side consort. Maybe when she gives birth to a little heir, she'll become Fifth Prince's consort."

"That's of course!"

Wang Xue Ru was endlessly indignant. Once she thought about this matter, she felt suffocated with anger and couldn't help but curse. "Whoever that damn bastard was, to go as far as to start a rumor about Qing Shuang and Fifth Prince at the time, claiming that they......"

"That's enough, this kind of matter is shameful enough as it is, yet you still bring it up!"

Luo Cheng solemnly interrupted Wang Xue Ru's outburst, then instructed Luo Qing Luan again to increase her zither practice, so that she could exhibit a graceful bearing during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Only that was what's most important.

Having watched Luo Qing Shuang play the zither, Luo Cheng even had servants bring the zither from Luo Qing Shuang's room and was finally satisfied. "Mn, indeed not bad. Continue to put in effort." He stroked his beard and smiled. "Qing Luan, since your sister is married, let's give this zither of hers to you. Remember to practice everyday."