In the wine establishment, only two tables of guests remained.

One table was Wei Han, who had come for three days straight, and the other was the burly man who had also come for three days straight.

The burly man was still sucking on chicken bones.

Wei Han elegantly wiped the corners of his lips and instructed Shi Yan to deduct the meal cost from yesterday’s overpayment.

“Please take your time leaving.” Shi Yan, as usual, needed to see his master out.

No choice—though he addressed him as “guest,” if he forgot this was his true master, he’d be close to scrubbing chamber pots.

Thinking of the dinners he’d eaten these past two days, he absolutely had to keep this job of looking after Da Bai!

However, Wei Han didn’t walk toward the exit. Instead, he walked step by step toward Luo Sheng.

Shi Yan saw this and stood in place with lowered eyes, not interrupting.

It was good for him to say a few more words to Miss Luo. Constant dripping wears away stone, and an iron pestle can be ground into a needle—perhaps one day he’d move Miss Luo’s iron heart.

But please, no more ordering dishes!

Thinking this, Shi Yan coughed forcefully as a reminder.

Wei Han stopped in front of Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng leaned lazily against the counter and looked up at him: “Does the Prince have business?”

Wei Han lightly nodded.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to come tomorrow evening.”

His tone was calm and natural. Anyone who didn’t know their relationship would likely misunderstand them as a respectful old married couple upon hearing this.

Shi Yan’s eyes lit up.

His master had promise!

Luo Sheng’s attitude was much colder. She didn’t even say “mm” and just quietly looked at him.

This was a wine establishment—what need was there to mention whether he’d come tomorrow or not?

“Tomorrow, I wonder if Shi Yan could deliver some food and wine to the Prince’s residence?” After a moment of silence, Wei Han stated his ultimate purpose.

Shi Yan’s vision went dark and he nearly knelt before his master.

Master! You walked so seriously over to the young lady—even if you just complimented Miss Luo’s embroidered skirt looking nice today, that would be something!

Instead you ask if they deliver!

Luo Sheng didn’t even hesitate and smiled: “I’m truly sorry, but our establishment doesn’t deliver, nor do we allow guests to take food out.”

The wine establishment could change other rules, but this one absolutely could not.

Only this way could she be confident of luring that big fish here.

Wei Han’s gaze darkened slightly.

No rounding down, no discounts, no delivery, and no complimentary dishes either.

Confirming that his status was equivalent to the burly man sucking chicken bones, Wei Han said indifferently: “Then I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

“Safe travels, Prince.” Luo Sheng curtsied slightly, dismissing him like any other guest.

Shi Yan couldn’t bear to watch anymore and quietly pressed his hand to his forehead.

He wasn’t saying anything, but his master was really in a pitiful state.

Wei Han turned and walked toward the exit.

Shi Yan hurried to catch up: “This humble servant will see you out.”

“No need.” Wei Han didn’t stop, striding forward.

Shi Yan followed closely, insisting: “Please let this humble servant see you out.”

Outside the wine establishment, the night breeze dispelled the day’s heat, bringing a touch of coolness.

Shi Yan stopped Wei Han: “Master—”

Wei Han looked at him silently.

He wouldn’t be able to eat Miss Luo’s cooking tomorrow, so his mood wasn’t very good. This fellow had better not speak carelessly.

Shi Yan didn’t want to touch his master’s sore spot either, but thinking that one must take the long view and couldn’t abandon the possibility of steady returns for a bit of immediate petty profit, the young guard suddenly found courage and opened his mouth: “Master, what you’re doing won’t work—”

Before he finished speaking, he slapped himself: “Bah, spoke out of habit.”

He needed to stay away from Kou’er in the future!

Thinking of Kou’er made Shi Yan’s temples throb.

To think that when he first arrived, he’d thought Kou’er was a rare normal one. How naive he’d been.

“I won’t work?” Wei Han’s eyes held a cold light.

Shi Yan laughed awkwardly: “This humble servant didn’t mean it that way—”

“What way then?” Wei Han suddenly stopped and looked seriously at his young guard.

He also wanted to know what about him didn’t work, making Miss Luo not even want to round down a bit.

Shi Yan was nearly scared to tears: “Master, don’t overthink it. You work just fine. What this humble servant means is, if you want to win Miss Luo’s favor, going over so dryly to make conversation won’t work…”

Wei Han frowned, his tone cold and hard: “I don’t want to win Miss Luo’s favor.”

He simply appreciated the food Miss Luo made, nothing more.

Hearing this, Shi Yan forgot to be afraid and only felt frustration: How could he be so obtuse!

“Master, you want to be able to always eat Miss Luo’s cooking, right?”

Wei Han nodded.

“You want it so that when you have business and can’t come, Miss Luo will make an exception and agree to deliver, right?”

Wei Han nodded again.

“You want there to be a day when you can have Miss Luo cook whatever you want to eat, right?”

Wei Han hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Was this thought perhaps a bit too bold?

“So there you go!” Shi Yan clapped his hands. “If you win Miss Luo’s favor, won’t all of this become achievable?”

Wei Han walked forward in silence.

The night wasn’t yet very deep. From near to far, lights from countless homes.

The man’s pale face was dyed with a hint of crimson by the orange light cast from the large red lanterns hanging outside shops along the street.

He coughed lightly and asked Shi Yan: “How can I win Miss Luo’s favor?”

“Of course by catering to her preferences!” Seeing his master had listened, Shi Yan was so excited.

“Cater to her preferences?” Wei Han lowered his brows and thought for a long while, then said uncertainly: “You mean give Miss Luo a male concubine?”

Shi Yan stumbled and nearly fell over.

Send a male concubine for what? To gather with him, Mingzhu, and Fuxue for a game of mahjong?

Wait, something seemed off…

Never mind that for now.

“This humble servant thinks Miss Luo isn’t interested in male concubines anymore. Those two male concubines are raising geese now.”

Wei Han’s face turned cold: “Just say directly what should be done. Stop being so wordy.”

As if he was willing to send Miss Luo male concubines!

“Ahem, you could carefully observe and see what Miss Luo cares about most. This humble servant thinks every girl likes different things.”

Wei Han understood.

So this fellow was just bluffing and actually wasn’t much better than him.

Wei Han lost interest in further questioning and waved his hand to dismiss Shi Yan.

Inside the wine establishment, the burly man was questioning Sheng Sanlang: “Why does that table get half price while you won’t even round down for me?”

Sheng Sanlang explained good-naturedly: “That table had our proprietor’s friend.”

The burly man didn’t want to hear explanations at all—he only wanted to protect the last bit of his nest egg: “That won’t do. If you give them half price, you have to give me half price. Otherwise I’m not leaving!”

Hong Dou pushed Sheng Sanlang aside and scolded with her hands on her hips: “Bah! Even when Prince Kaiyang comes to eat we don’t round down. Is your face bigger than the Prince’s? You actually still want to not leave—do you think we provide meals?”

“Provide meals? What provide meals?” The burly man immediately seized on the key point.

Shi Yan happened to come in just then. Hearing the burly man demand provided meals, how could that be allowed? He reached out, grabbed the burly man and threw him outside, shouting: “Close the door!”

Hong Dou slammed the wine establishment’s door shut with a bang and gave Shi Yan a sweet smile: “Shi San Huo, well done!”

Shi Yan blinked, thinking to himself: See, didn’t he just win a girl’s favor?

Actually it was quite easy.

The burly man who’d been thrown out returned home in a daze and cried his heart out.

Wuwuwu, he’d eaten himself into ruin, what to do?

The next day, the sky was somewhat overcast.

A dark-faced youth looked up at the city gate and murmured: “Elder brother, the capital’s city gate looks so high.”

The bearded man smiled: “Don’t be afraid. We have people in the capital.”