“What’s wrong, Father?” Being stared at inexplicably by Grand Commander Luo, Luo Sheng asked.

“Nothing.” Grand Commander Luo coughed to cover his reaction and instructed Hong Dou, “Bring two more plates of the duck tongue in black garlic sauce.”

With so many people in the tavern, it wasn’t appropriate to ask too many questions.

Speaking of which, this duck tongue in black garlic sauce truly suited his taste.

Seeing Hong Dou standing still without moving, Grand Commander Luo frowned, “Why aren’t you serving the dish?”

This little maid really was incompetent, without a shred of a tavern server’s quick-wittedness.

Then again, in his impression, what this maid was best at was helping Sheng’er snatch men away, not serving people.

Hong Dou remained standing still, her face dark as she said, “There isn’t any.”

None left?

Grand Commander Luo felt regretful but reluctantly said, “Then bring another plate of oil-drizzled chicken and two plates of braised beef.”

“The oil-drizzled chicken is gone, and the braised beef is also gone.” Hong Dou gritted her teeth, feeling she could barely control her murderous intent in front of the Grand Commander.

She really wanted to grab a bench and beat to death those gluttons at that table.

Grand Commander Luo was stunned, “How can everything be gone?”

Hong Dou pointed at the several Brocade Scale Guards who were licking their plates clean, enunciating each word, “Because they ate everything!”

The Grand Commander had naturally also eaten quite a bit, but who could blame him when he was the young lady’s own father?

When Grand Commander Luo heard this, he became angry and shouted, “You lot!”

Several Brocade Scale Guards struggled to their feet, all clasping their fists together, “Please give your orders, Grand Commander.”

Grand Commander Luo paused, then pointed toward the door, “Get out!”

These scoundrels—did they not know any restraint?

The several Brocade Scale Guards looked at each other in confusion.

Was the Grand Commander angry?

But the Grand Commander was the one who said he’d open a table for them.

Glancing at the plates stacked high on the table, the men felt somewhat embarrassed.

They had eaten rather a lot, though this couldn’t be blamed on them—the food and wine were simply too delicious.

When Hong Dou heard they were getting off so easily, how could that be acceptable!

She immediately pulled out the bill and read aloud, “Thirty plates of braised beef, twenty oil-drizzled chickens, forty plates of thousand-layer tripe… Grand Commander, their table comes to an honest three thousand eight hundred taels—”

Grand Commander Luo’s heart thumped violently.

He knew the prices, but he hadn’t expected the food to be so delicious that these scoundrels would eat so outrageously!

The several Brocade Scale Guards also trembled as they listened.

Three thousand eight hundred taels!

Did they really eat all that?

Looking blankly at the cups and dishes in disarray on the table, then exchanging glances with each other, the men silently lay down on the ground and quickly rolled out.

Watching his subordinates execute the order without any discount, Grand Commander Luo couldn’t feel happy.

His money didn’t blow in on the wind. If he had eaten it himself, that would be one thing, but these bastards dared to eat nearly four thousand taels of his silver.

With so much money, wouldn’t it be better to buy rouge and powder for his daughter?

What was most infuriating was that they had prevented him from eating his fill!

“Hong Dou, put away the bill.” Luo Sheng glanced at Hong Dou, then said to Grand Commander Luo, “Father needn’t pay attention to the little maid’s nonsense. When you come to eat at my establishment, how could your daughter possibly charge you money?”

Not charge money?

The female manager at the counter suddenly looked up.

Hong Dou was even more astonished as she looked at Grand Commander Luo.

Had the Grand Commander anticipated long ago that the young lady wouldn’t charge him, which was why he brought a group of gluttons?

Staring at the little maid’s shocked expression, Grand Commander Luo felt somewhat embarrassed himself and said sternly, “When one runs a business, everyone who enters is a customer. The money must be collected.”

Luo Sheng smiled, “This is my daughter’s tavern—what sense would there be in charging my father money? If word got out, wouldn’t people mock your daughter for only caring about money? Don’t you agree?”

Grand Commander Luo was rendered speechless.

Luo Sheng continued, “Some dishes in our tavern are limited quantities, and complimentary dishes aren’t something one can eat just anytime. From the moment you entered, I’ve been honoring you as a daughter, not entertaining a customer as the proprietor.”

Grand Commander Luo had even less to say, feeling somewhat moved.

Sheng’er actually knew how to show filial piety to him now—suffering hardship really had made her grow up.

In Grand Commander Luo’s view, his pampered and spoiled daughter being sent out of the capital, then encountering assassination attempts on the return journey, had truly been a terrible ordeal.

But because his daughter had become sensible through these experiences, it was an unexpected blessing.

Looked at this way, offending Prince Kaiyang back then wasn’t entirely a bad thing.

Wait!

Grand Commander Luo suddenly realized something.

If the complimentary dishes were so hard to come by, on what basis exactly had Prince Kaiyang enjoyed them?

This wouldn’t do—he’d have to ask clearly tomorrow.

Seeing Grand Commander Luo momentarily speechless, Luo Sheng poured him a cup of tea, “So Father, please don’t mention payment again. Not just this time—it will be the same whenever you come in the future.”

Grand Commander Luo was dumbfounded.

Not charge money every time he came?

Then how could he feel comfortable coming—it seemed in the future he could only send someone to the tavern to buy food and wine and have it secretly delivered to him at the government office.

Luo Sheng sneered inwardly.

Her fine wines and excellent dishes weren’t meant to let Grand Commander Luo eat happily every day.

Yes, she understood that Grand Commander Luo leading troops to surround and kill Prince Zhennan’s Manor was following orders.

But did that mean that just because he was following orders, she could feel not the slightest bit uncomfortable or hateful when seeing his face?

Regardless of what reasons there were, he was ultimately the executioner who raised a butcher’s knife against her blood relatives.

She occupied Miss Luo’s body and enjoyed the conveniences brought by her identity as Grand Commander Luo’s daughter—what she could do was simply not take Grand Commander Luo’s life.

That was all.

“Then I thank Sheng’er.” Though Grand Commander Luo’s face remained impassive, his heart was filled with bitterness.

He had money, and he was willing to pay—he only wanted to eat with a clear conscience.

Forget it, in the future he’d send unfamiliar subordinates to buy the food.

Grand Commander Luo wiped the corners of his mouth and reluctantly stood up, “Sheng’er, return to the manor with me.”

Luo Sheng wanted to extract information about the Crown Prince’s favored concubine from Grand Commander Luo anyway, so naturally she wouldn’t refuse.

“Cousin, you stay behind and help clean up. When the tavern closes, bring Hong Dou and the others back to the manor.”

“Alright.” Sheng Sanlang beamed with joy as he agreed.

Hong Dou and the others, however, had vacant stares, wearing expressions of utter lifelessness.

Everything was gone…

Then, looking at Sheng Sanlang, their gazes blazed with fire.

Everyone working at the tavern, and only he got to eat his fill!

Sheng Sanlang sensed danger and hurriedly sought rescue from Luo Sheng, “Cousin—”

He had a premonition that Hong Dou would tear him apart later!

Luo Sheng thought about how hard everyone had it and instructed Hong Dou, “When the tavern closes, have Xiu Gu make you all oil-splashed noodles to eat.”

Grand Commander Luo froze.

There were still oil-splashed noodles?

Ahem, he actually quite liked eating spicy food. If only he’d known, he wouldn’t have been in such a hurry to leave.

Grand Commander Luo walked out of the tavern entrance with lingering regret and sighed.

“Was Father not satisfied with today’s meal?”

“Satisfied, very satisfied.” Grand Commander Luo patted his stomach.

If his daughter were willing to charge money, he could come eat every day—that would be even more satisfying.

The father and daughter walked several yards when they came face to face with Luosai Huzi bringing the dark-faced youth this way.

Normally when Luosai Huzi came to pick up Xiao Qi, he would go around to the back door to avoid disturbing the tavern’s customers, but since they had been out today, the two parties ran into each other.

“Proprietor.” Luosai Huzi and Xiao Qi both greeted Luo Sheng, momentarily uncertain about the identity of the person walking beside the proprietor.