The next day was clear and fine.

A young lady stopped in front of the tavern, gazing at the tightly closed door with hesitation in her eyes.

After standing for a while, her eyes swept over the blue wine banner, and she turned to leave.

Just then the door opened with a creak, and out walked a woman of enduring charm.

“Miss, are you wanting wine?” The female proprietor had watched the young lady from the window in the main hall for a moment. Though it wasn’t yet time for the tavern to open, after thinking it over, she came out to ask.

As a qualified proprietor, naturally she couldn’t let a potential customer slip away.

“This tavern—” The young lady hesitated. “Is it run by Miss Luo?”

The female proprietor froze, then nodded. “Yes, the owner of our You Jian Tavern is Miss Luo.”

“Then… is it not open yet?”

The female proprietor smiled. “We opened yesterday, but our tavern only does evening business. If Miss wishes to dine, please come in the evening.”

“I see.” The young lady showed understanding mixed with surprise.

The understanding was natural—now she knew why the door was closed at this hour. The surprise was that a tavern operating only evenings was simply unheard of.

But thinking that the owner was Miss Luo, it suddenly seemed quite possible after all.

The young lady handed a brocade box to the female proprietor. “I cannot come in the evening. Please tell Miss Luo that Miss Xu was unable to go out yesterday, so she specially came today to deliver a congratulatory gift.”

The female proprietor accepted the brocade box and asked, “May I ask which household Miss is from?”

“If the proprietor says Miss Xu, Miss Luo should know.” The young lady paused here and added a line: “I’m staying at my maternal aunt’s place.”

The female proprietor watched the young lady leave without paying it much mind.

With Miss Luo opening a tavern, having close friends send congratulatory gifts was perfectly normal.

But the female proprietor misunderstood—Miss Luo had no close friends at all.

Princess Changle?

Princess Changle naturally couldn’t be counted as a close friend—she was more like a kindred spirit with shared interests.

When Luo Sheng arrived at the tavern and heard the female proprietor mention this matter, she knew the visitor was her niece, Xu Fang.

Opening the brocade box to look, inside was a pair of auspicious knots decorated with small golden pixiu charms.

The items weren’t particularly valuable, but the thought counted.

Luo Sheng thought for a moment and instructed Hong Dou: “Pack a box of braised beef and send it to Duke Ningguo’s manor.”

Courtesy should be reciprocated—with exchanges back and forth, friendship would naturally form.

This she understood clearly, and Xu Fang understood clearly as well.

Before dismissal time, Minister Zhao sent Lin Teng to summon his cousin and arranged to meet at You Jian Tavern.

Enduring until dismissal, Minister Zhao rushed toward the tavern as if his feet had grown wings. In his haste, he collided with Chancellor Lin, who had just emerged from the Imperial Academy.

“Why is Minister Zhao walking so fast?” Chancellor Lin rubbed his shoulder and smiled. “You nearly scattered these old bones of mine.”

In terms of age, Chancellor Lin was somewhat older than Minister Zhao.

“Going to dine.” Having run into a colleague, it wouldn’t do to appear too eager. Minister Zhao suppressed the hunger worm in his belly.

Though Chancellor Lin was advanced in years, his eyesight was keen. Even with Minister Zhao’s best efforts at restraint, he detected the urgency.

How could dining make one so anxious?

The old chancellor’s curiosity was piqued. “Does this mean my eldest grandson has returned?”

“No, I’m bringing him along.” At this, Minister Zhao felt somewhat guilty.

He hadn’t just summoned Chancellor Lin’s eldest grandson—he’d also summoned the second grandson.

Chancellor Lin cleared his throat lightly. “If there are no outsiders, would it be convenient to include me?”

Minister Zhao hesitated.

“There are no outsiders, right?” Chancellor Lin asked again.

Minister Zhao’s mouth twitched. “No outsiders. Come along, come along.”

He was the only outsider.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder through streets lined with government offices and turned into Qingxing Street.

“So Minister Zhao dines here? It’s quite close to the offices.”

“Indeed, convenient is its virtue. Chancellor Lin, watch your step—the tavern is right there.”

Chancellor Lin’s steps slowed slightly as he gazed at the banner fluttering before the tavern Minister Zhao indicated, squinting as he read: “You Jian Tavern.”

“Excellent eyesight, Chancellor Lin.”

Chancellor Lin stroked his beard with a smile. “Great vulgarity is great elegance—it has a certain artistic conception.”

Minister Zhao couldn’t be bothered to respond, his steps involuntarily quickening.

He didn’t care whether it was vulgar or elegant—only whether it tasted good.

Lin Teng and Lin Shu arrived a step before Minister Zhao.

Standing at the tavern entrance, Lin Shu looked helpless. “Elder brother, I already had plans today.”

Lin Teng said apologetically, “I’ll treat second brother’s friends to dinner in apology later.”

“Why not call them here—”

Lin Teng urgently cut off Lin Shu’s words. “That won’t do.”

Lin Shu froze, looking at Lin Teng in confusion.

Though elder brother wasn’t much for talking, his temperament was straightforward. What was wrong with him today?

What could be wrong? It was expensive, of course!

Lin Teng shuddered at the thought of his cousin bringing several friends to dine at his expense.

A meal at You Jian Tavern would require him to advance the silver being saved for his marriage.

His grandfather would surely break his legs!

Naturally he couldn’t say this to his cousin.

Lin Teng forced out a smile. “I haven’t mentioned yet—Minister Zhao will be here today too.”

Lin Shu was even more surprised. “Elder brother is dining with your superior—why include me?”

He had thought it was just the two brothers gathering.

At that moment a crisp voice called out: “Are you two coming in or not?”

The two brothers looked up to see a charming, lively female server.

Lin Shu whispered to Lin Teng, “Elder brother, why does this woman look somewhat familiar?”

“Come inside first.” Lin Teng pulled Lin Shu in.

Lin Shu vaguely felt something was amiss. With a quick glance he spotted the simply dressed young lady by the counter.

Lin Shu turned his head in shock to look at his own brother.

Leading him into a wolf’s den—this couldn’t possibly be his elder brother!

“Second Young Master Lin, long time no see. You seem to have grown taller.” Luo Sheng smiled as she looked Lin Shu up and down.

Lin Shu: “…” That strange feeling of being examined by grandmother returned.

Though this oddly put his mind somewhat at ease.

After all, someone of grandmother’s generation was unlikely to snatch him as a male concubine.

He’d heard about Miss Luo bringing his cousin back to the Grand Commander’s manor some days ago, and had even secretly gone to see his cousin.

Though Miss Luo’s actions had inadvertently helped his cousin, the cousin looked severely traumatized…

“Hong Dou, seat the two Young Masters Lin by the window. Kou’er, bring out a few small dishes.”

“Small dishes?” Lin Teng was startled.

What small dishes?

Luo Sheng smiled slightly. “Complimentary small dishes.”

Lin Teng looked silently at Lin Shu.

Lin Shu was completely confused. “Why is elder brother looking at me?”

Lin Teng didn’t want to say anything and sat down.

Soon Kou’er brought over a tray. On the modest tray sat four ceramic dishes of different colors.

“Chili oil bamboo shoots.” Kou’er set down the white ceramic dish.

“Crispy fennel beans.” This was the cherry-red ceramic dish.

In the lotus-green ceramic dish: “Purple sweet potato jelly.”

Kou’er set down the final pale pink ceramic dish. “Crystal shrimp aspic.”

Lin Teng stared at the four small dishes on the rosewood table in prolonged silence.

Lin Shu, meanwhile, waited until Kou’er had removed the tray, then lowered his voice to ask his cousin: “Elder brother, tell me honestly—is eating here expensive?”