At this moment, Minister Zhao and Chancellor Lin walked in one after the other.

“Lin Teng, you’ve arrived.”

Lin Teng and Lin Shu stood up, greeted Minister Zhao, and saw Chancellor Lin.

“Grandfather?” The two brothers were startled.

Chancellor Lin squinted at his two grandsons, his gaze finally settling on Lin Shu.

“Shu’er, why are you here too?”

Lin Shu was about to speak when Lin Teng discreetly nudged him with an elbow.

“Your grandson happened to run into second brother, so I brought him along.”

“Sit, sit.” Minister Zhao plopped down and noticed the four small dishes on the table. He shot a sharp look at Lin Teng.

They hadn’t even agreed on who was hosting, yet this boy dared order dishes?

Lin Teng quickly said, “These are complimentary dishes.”

Minister Zhao quietly breathed a sigh of relief, then had the mind to stare intently at the four small dishes.

The white ceramic dish held over a dozen bamboo shoots, verdant and fresh, their tips drizzled with just a bit of red oil.

The fennel beans in the red dish were golden yellow, each one plump and full.

In the green dish was a square of purple jelly, translucent as colored glass, sprinkled with white sesame seeds.

The small delicacy in the pink dish made Minister Zhao’s eyes widen slightly with shock.

It was slices of aspic of moderate thickness, embedding segments of shrimp like crystal.

Thinking of the roast pig’s head that cost one hundred taels of silver, Minister Zhao’s heart rose to his throat.

Were these four small dishes really complimentary?

The others might be one thing, but this crystal aspic had shrimp in it!

Kou’er stood to the side and asked, “What would you honored guests like to eat?”

Miss had said that no matter the customer’s status, once they entered the tavern’s door they were all to be called honored guests.

Seeing Minister Zhao only examining the small dishes on the table, Chancellor Lin stroked his beard and said, “I’m hosting today. Whatever specialties you have, bring them out.”

“Grandfather!” Lin Teng’s expression changed completely.

Chancellor Lin glanced at his eldest grandson. “What?”

Teng’er was usually quite steady—what was wrong with him today?

From his manner, it was as if he felt sorry about the money on his behalf.

This showed too little composure.

He was at least the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. No matter how noble and unprofitable the position, surely he could afford a meal.

Besides, four people dining together, two of them his grandsons—if he didn’t treat, who would?

Minister Zhao also glanced at Lin Teng. “What?”

This rascal—grandfather’s money is money, but a superior’s money isn’t?

“Nothing.” Lin Teng maintained a serious face and lowered his eyes to drink water.

Better to speak less and eat more. In any case, he had no money.

Lin Shu only felt the atmosphere was strange. He also lowered his head to drink water, thinking to himself: This tavern is rather stingy, serving plain water instead of tea.

“Our tavern has braised beef today.”

“What else?”

Wine paired perfectly with braised beef, but surely they couldn’t have only braised beef.

Kou’er glanced at Lin Shu and said, “There’s also black garlic sauce duck tongue.”

Originally there was only sauced beef, but the proprietor had persuaded Miss for ages before Miss finally said, “Since Second Young Master Lin is coming, then add a dish of black garlic sauce duck tongue.”

Looking now, Second Young Master Lin was indeed a refined and elegant figure.

However, Miss being so direct wouldn’t do—when the proprietor heard Miss say this, her mouth hung open for ages without closing.

Chancellor Lin found this baffling.

He asked what other dishes there were—why did the server’s announcement of the dish name make everyone in the tavern stare at him as if he’d gotten a great bargain?

“Report everything you have all at once.” Chancellor Lin sat upright with magnificent bearing.

“Braised beef, sauced duck tongue, liquor, and plain noodles.” Kou’er reported with clear articulation, then stated the prices. “Braised beef is twenty taels of silver per portion, sauced duck tongue is thirty taels of silver per portion, liquor is thirty taels of silver per pot.”

Chancellor Lin, sitting so upright, nearly toppled over.

These prices were rather steep—

Twenty taels of silver for one portion of braised beef—how large a pot would that be?

Thinking of his two grandsons with their hearty appetites, Chancellor Lin suppressed his trembling heart and nodded. “Then bring one portion of braised beef, one portion of sauced duck tongue, and one pot of liquor.”

Lin Teng wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately saying nothing.

Naturally Minister Zhao wouldn’t say more—it wasn’t him treating after all.

Kou’er noted this down and went to relay the order with a strange expression.

Chancellor Lin felt the atmosphere somewhat odd and raised his chopsticks toward a piece of crystal shrimp aspic.

He’d just noticed this shrimp aspic was well-made, with an exquisiteness he’d never seen before.

The moment the shrimp aspic entered his mouth, Chancellor Lin froze.

This, this was too delicious!

The old chancellor hurriedly swallowed what was in his mouth and reached for a second piece.

“Honored guest, please come inside.” Shi Yan suddenly called out, beneath his enthusiasm lay anxiety.

The master had come again!

Having already received clear word, he wasn’t worried about being sent back to raise geese. But he worried the master would eat too much, and when the tavern closed there’d be nothing left for them…

Chancellor Lin, having consumed the second piece of crystal shrimp aspic, greeted Wei Han.

Wei Han nodded in return, his gaze dropping.

The four small dishes had all been mostly consumed, but one could still see they were exquisite.

Naturally also delicious.

Seeing Wei Han notice the small dishes on the table, Chancellor Lin casually praised, “This tavern’s complimentary dishes are quite good.”

Complimentary dishes?

Wei Han couldn’t help but look toward the simply dressed young lady seated not far from the counter.

Luo Sheng smiled and nodded.

Wei Han withdrew his gaze, settling it on Lin Shu.

In such circumstances, Lin Shu had merely followed his grandfather in greeting the prince and had no standing to exchange pleasantries with a Prince of First Rank, so he hadn’t thought much of it and was still savoring the bamboo shoots he’d just eaten.

Wei Han pressed his thin lips together and took a seat at the adjacent table.

“Your Highness, why not dine together?” Chancellor Lin said courteously.

Lin Teng’s hand gripping the chopsticks tightened.

He wasn’t worried about anything else, just worried that when the bill came out, either grandfather would faint, or grandmother would faint.

Or he would be beaten unconscious by his parents.

“This prince won’t intrude on the festivities.”

After hearing Shi Yan report the prices, Wei Han said lightly, “Three portions of braised beef, two portions of sauced duck tongue, two pots of liquor.”

Chancellor Lin looked at Wei Han in surprise.

Prince Kaiyang could eat three large pots of braised beef? Who would have thought?

Wei Han’s expression was perfectly serene.

Twenty taels of silver for one portion of braised beef—based on his understanding of Miss Luo, the quantity was probably not very much.

Shi Yan cleared his throat. “Honored guest, the sauced duck tongue is limited—only one portion per table.”

Wei Han paused briefly, then said, “Then add another portion of braised beef.”

“Very well, please wait a moment.”

The food and wine for Chancellor Lin’s table was brought out first.

Looking at the thinly spread plate of braised beef and the plate of sauced duck tongues that could be counted, Chancellor Lin was shocked.

This, this kind of plate of braised beef cost twenty taels?

Wei Han waited and waited, but no one brought out complimentary dishes like those at the adjacent table, so he asked, “Are there complimentary dishes?”

“No.” Shi Yan’s attitude was respectful and impeccable.

Wei Han glanced at the adjacent table.

Shi Yan understood and hastily explained, “These complimentary dishes aren’t available at every table.”

“How does one get them?”

Did one have to be the first to arrive?

If so, then he would need to leave earlier tomorrow.

Shi Yan looked deeply at Lin Shu, then could only give Wei Han a dry laugh.

Wei Han understood, pressing his thin lips tightly together.

Now he wanted to know—how could he make Miss Luo eliminate her prejudice against him?