The first thing Luo Qingrou did upon returning to the Northern Frontier Commander's Mansion was not to rest, but to head straight to the military camp under the pretext of visiting wounded soldiers and learning about the situation at the military medical department. Her suspicions about "Anping" made her restless, and Lu Xiao's unease when facing "Anping" also worried Luo Qingrou greatly.

The wounded soldiers' camp was as busy as ever. Luo Qingrou, dressed in simple civilian clothes, walked slowly, accompanied by Lu Zheng's personal guards. Her gaze was sharp yet kind as it swept over the beds, finally settling precisely on the slender figure who was gently and nimbly cleaning a veteran's wounds.

The figure had his back to her, dressed in a drab gray military doctor's uniform, his hair neatly tied back, his profile roughened and darkened by the disguise cream. Yet, the focused expression when he looked down, the slightly pursed lips, the steady and gentle touch as he cleaned the wound… and the unintentional curve of his straight back…

So alike! She looks exactly like Shen Yuewei when she was young! Especially that calm temperament, and the compassion and resilience in her eyes when she's focused!

Luo Qingrou's heart skipped a beat, and she almost blurted out the name "Yuewei." But she forced herself to remain calm, dismissed her guards, and stood quietly at a distance to observe.

It wasn't until Anping (An'an) finished treating the old soldier's wound, straightened up, breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to get the medicine that she saw the elegant woman standing a few steps away.

Their eyes met!

Luo Qingrou clearly saw the fleeting surprise and...familiarity in Anping's eyes! Those eyes, even though they were deliberately concealed by her skin tone and thick eyebrows, were still clear and bright, like the purest spring water in Jiangnan, completely overlapping with the gentle and quiet eldest daughter of the Prince Jing's Mansion in her memory!

"Dr. An...?" Luo Qingrou stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly, her gaze fixed on An Ping's eyes. In a voice only the two of them could hear, she tentatively and tenderly asked, "Are the lotus flowers in Jiangnan... still blooming well?"

These words were whispered between Shen Yuewei and Luo Qingrou when they admired lotus flowers at a villa in Jiangnan! They are a memory unique to the two sisters!

Anping's pupils contracted sharply! She nearly dropped the medicine bottle! Looking into Luo Qingrou's eyes, at the understanding, concern, and undisguised affection, all her pretense crumbled instantly. Her eyes reddened instantly, a layer of tears quickly spreading across them. Her lips moved, her voice choked with emotion, filled with immense grievance and relief: "Aunt Luo... Aunt Luo..." This single call was tantamount to admitting everything.

Luo Qingrou's heart melted instantly. She stepped forward, ignoring the dust and smell of medicine on Anping's clothes, and gently took her cold, trembling hand, tears welling in her eyes. "Good child...you've suffered so much...you really...just like your mother..." She glanced around and lowered her voice, "Don't be afraid, Aunt Luo knows. Don't worry, Aunt Luo will keep it a secret. Just...you can't bear it all alone anymore. If anything happens, come find Aunt Luo!"

Anping finally couldn't hold back her tears and nodded vigorously, "Yes! Thank you, Aunt Luo!"

Luo Qingrou earnestly invited An'an to her home for dinner, but An'an could only say that she would go after finishing her treatment of the patient. Luo Qingrou, who was also an old military doctor in the frontier, understood An'an's situation and greatly admired An'an's behavior, as it was similar to her own back then.

"Then come with Lu Xiao when you're done. I'll give him some instructions later. You'll have company on the way," Luo Qingrou said to herself, turning and leaving before An'an could agree.