The regular customers of the tavern gradually discovered a pattern: pig head would be served on days ending in five, and braised pork knuckle in pot on days ending in zero.

As for braised beef, duck tongue in sauce, and other drinking snacks served daily, there was no need to mention them.

Prince Pingnan loved eating braised pork knuckle in pot and also loved eating roasted pig head. Recently, the tavern had launched a new dish—plum blossom intestines—which had the texture of intestines but none of the organ smell, so he came even more frequently.

The customers who regularly came to the tavern had also reached an unspoken agreement: no table sharing, no treating guests.

This detestable tavern limited certain dishes—how could they share tables?

Treating guests? Treating guests was even more out of the question.

Although they were all acquaintances or even relatives, they couldn’t afford it.

Being courteous once was acceptable, being courteous twice could barely be managed, but being courteous three times meant they themselves wouldn’t be able to come in the short term.

So everyone was sensible—each person ate their own meal.

In the morning, Luo Sheng spent her time at the martial arts grounds as usual.

Fortunately, the former Miss Luo had also enjoyed practicing with weapons. Apart from going out to the streets for entertainment, most of her time had been spent here.

“At this time, the knuckles should already be braising.” Hong Dou sat at the edge of the grounds, resting her chin on her hand and sighing.

Braised pork knuckle in pot was very time-consuming. They needed to start braising from the morning, so that after four to five hours when the dish was ready, it would be just about time for the tavern to open.

Now Miss had completely entrusted making this dish to Xiu Gu. If she went too late, she couldn’t even catch a whiff of the fragrance.

“Have some ice bowl.” Kou’er passed over a serving of ice sprinkled with water chestnuts, almonds, and fresh peach pieces.

Eating the cool, sweet ice bowl, Hong Dou stopped complaining.

On such a hot day, eating an ice bowl while watching Miss ride and shoot arrows wasn’t bad either.

The smooth-coated fine horse stopped. Luo Sheng nimbly dismounted and walked toward the edge of the grounds.

Hong Dou and Kou’er quickly stood up—one taking the bow, the other offering a handkerchief.

“Miss, please stop practicing in such hot weather. If you’re really bored, why not go look around the streets?” Seeing the beads of sweat on Luo Sheng’s forehead and her thoroughly soaked back, Hong Dou felt very distressed.

On such a hot day, wouldn’t it be better to go to the main streets and see if there were any handsome young men?

Kou’er also felt distressed and joined in persuading: “Yes, Miss. If you’re feeling stifled, going for a stroll would be good. Staying at the martial arts grounds all day and getting sunburned won’t do.”

Just looking without bringing anyone back was actually fine—better than Miss getting herself sunburned.

“Why go out in such heat? After resting a bit, it’ll be time to go to the tavern.” Luo Sheng casually tossed the handkerchief she’d used to wipe her sweat into Kou’er’s hands and strode away from the martial arts grounds.

After resting well, it would be time to kill someone.

After bathing and changing into clean, soft, snow-white undergarments, Luo Sheng dismissed Hong Dou and Kou’er.

She sat alone at the head of the bed for a long time, then reached under the bed to retrieve a bow.

This bow was exactly the type she practiced with daily and was most familiar with—ordinary and unremarkable—yet it was not the same one.

This bow was one she had specifically prepared for Prince Pingnan.

Luo Sheng took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the bowstring, over and over, until her heart was as calm as still water. Only then did she put the bow away.

It was already June. The sky stayed light very late, and the opening time of the tavern had also been delayed by half an hour compared to May.

The excuse was that the heat affected the head chef’s mood if they opened too early.

This was also a point countless customers dared to be angry about but dared not voice: they’d never heard of a tavern changing its opening hours every month.

The sky finally darkened. The large red lanterns outside the tavern lit up, holding up a warm orange glow for the customers arriving one after another.

The fragrance wafting from the tavern drifted farther and farther. Those common folk who already knew of this extortionate establishment’s prices covered their noses and quickened their pace, not daring to linger for even a moment.

They’d heard that a wealthy out-of-towner had eaten here until he couldn’t even pay his rent. They couldn’t follow in those footsteps.

Luo Sheng sat by the counter, lazily and quietly sipping tea as on any other day.

Customers walked in by twos and threes—some familiar, some strangers. Soon the main hall was half full.

Not until this moment did Prince Pingnan finally arrive.

Prince Pingnan came together with Princess Pingnan.

Recently, Prince Pingnan often brought his princess consort along. By now, people in the capital had begun praising Prince Pingnan and his wife for their loving marriage, and those households with daughters had greatly increased their interest in Pingnan Prince’s heir.

At Prince Pingnan’s age to still be so loving and harmonious with his princess consort—naturally his son wouldn’t be bad.

Princess Pingnan had long heard these rumors, and naturally felt pleased.

At first, she had simply wanted to eat this tavern’s amber winter melon a few more times.

Previously, she had only been unable to forget this dish related to warm childhood memories. After eating it at the tavern, she discovered she could also taste an ineffable satisfaction in this dish.

Slowly savoring this dish gave her a sense of satisfaction, as if she had finally completely trampled Princess Zhennan underfoot.

And it was the kind of exhilaration where the other party could never rise again.

How could she not love this dish?

She hadn’t expected that coming here several times with her prince would also earn them a reputation for marital harmony. This was an unexpected joy.

Such a reputation was naturally beneficial for their children’s marriages.

The moment she saw Prince Pingnan and his wife enter, Luo Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, her lips curving slightly upward.

Although if Prince Pingnan didn’t come today she could wait for next time, she had already decided to act today, so naturally she was wary of any changes.

Changes always made one feel somewhat inauspicious.

It was still Hong Dou who attended to Prince Kaiyang and his wife.

“The guest has come a bit late today. There are no private rooms left.”

“No matter. The main hall is fine.” Prince Pingnan was quite casual.

Having come many times, he was no longer fixated on private rooms.

After all, so many people of status were eating and drinking heartily in the main hall—even Prince Kaiyang was no exception.

“Please follow me, honored guest.”

Luo Sheng silently listened as Prince Pingnan ordered his food, then rose and walked toward the back kitchen.

Based on Prince Pingnan and his wife’s appetite, their eating speed, and their habit of ordering additional dishes, she could roughly calculate the time from when the food and drink were set on Prince Pingnan’s table to when Prince Pingnan and his wife walked out the door.

Reaching the courtyard, she encountered Luosai Huzi walking out.

“Boss, I’m going to pick up Xiao Qi.”

Luo Sheng nodded slightly, her tone normal: “Go early and return early.”

Considering that Xiao Qi was still young, Luo Sheng had consulted Xiu Yue’s opinion. Starting last month, they had sent him to a decent private school.

Luosai Huzi was overjoyed and had voluntarily taken on the task of picking him up and dropping him off.

For Luo Sheng, sending this youth who very likely had connections to Zhennan Prince’s manor to study and learn to read was very necessary.

Additionally, it was also to send away unrelated people as much as possible on this day—people like Du Feibiao.

Once Luosai Huzi left, Luo Sheng arranged new work for Zhuang Han, who was splitting firewood: “After you finish splitting the firewood, remember to grind the beans. We’ll make tofu to eat tomorrow.”

Zhuang Han’s face lit up with joy as he agreed.

What was exerting some unused strength? There would be tofu to eat tomorrow.

Heh heh heh, he loved eating tofu.

Zhuang Han skillfully split the firewood, falling into beautiful fantasies about tomorrow evening’s meal.

Entering the kitchen to chat idly with Xiu Yue for a few moments, Luo Sheng returned to the main hall again.

Just as on any other day, she went back and forth between the main hall and back kitchen several times. The customers in the main hall were accustomed to this and paid no attention.

“Put it on account.” Having eaten and drunk his fill, Prince Pingnan said this customary phrase and walked out with Princess Pingnan.

Hong Dou wore a professional smile on her face, curtsying slightly behind Prince Pingnan and his wife: “Farewell, honored guests.”