Wei Han walked aimlessly, casually plucking a wildflower and examining it with lowered eyes.

The flower was quite beautiful.

Beautiful flowers indeed suited beautiful people.

Recalling the scene he had witnessed in the woods, the young man holding the flower seemed to be reminded of something.

Perhaps he could also send Miss Luo some flowers as a thank-you gift—she might like them.

Before the continuous stretch of golden tents, large open areas began to accumulate bonfires and iron pots, preparing for the celebration when the hunters returned.

In front of the tent where the Luo sisters were resting, large chunks of skewered wild boar meat and venison were already roasting fragrantly. Occasionally, fat dripped into the fire, releasing an even more intense aroma.

Beside them sat a modest-sized iron pot, white steam escaping through gaps in the lid, carrying the fragrance with it—one couldn’t tell what was stewing inside.

Sheng Sanlang crouched between the roasting meat and the stew pot, looking as if he was drooling.

“Xiu Gu, is the roast ready yet?”

“Cousin, is the braised rabbit done?”

“Xiu Gu, which tastes better—roasted wild boar or roasted rabbit?”

…

Compared to Sheng Sanlang’s chattering, Luo Chen was much quieter.

The young man maintained a face like white jade, arms crossed, expression indifferent, completely out of place with the lively atmosphere.

Bored from waiting, Sheng Sanlang grinned at Luo Chen: “Little cousin, still upset? It doesn’t matter that you didn’t catch anything—didn’t your cousin hunt two deer? How about we say one of them is yours?”

Upon hearing this, the young man grew even angrier.

What did he mean “say one is his”?

Did he need to be pitied like this?

Hmph.

A hand patted Luo Chen, and because the force was rather strong, it nearly knocked him over.

“What are you doing?” Luo Chen glared at the dark-faced youth with furrowed brows.

“Young Master Luo, don’t be sad. After we eat our fill, I’ll teach you archery.”

Luo Chen stared at the dark-faced youth for a moment, wanting to spit in his face.

Luo Sheng had already said she would teach him—why would he need this dark brat’s help?

Thinking about how he had ridden around several times full of fighting spirit, ultimately catching nothing, while this dark brat before him had caught a badger, Luo Chen’s expression grew even worse.

The dark brat did it on purpose, didn’t he? With so many deer and rabbits running around, he specifically chose to shoot a badger.

Was he trying to prove to Luo Sheng that he hadn’t lied, that he really had caught a badger before?

The corner of the young man’s eye unconsciously sought out Luo Sheng.

She had promised to teach him archery—could it be she was just humoring him?

Luo Sheng seemed to sense something and glanced at Luo Chen.

“Luo Chen, Xiao Qi, come here.”

Luo Chen maintained his composure and didn’t react, then saw the dark brat suddenly dart to Luo Sheng’s side.

Luo Chen: “…”

He walked over with a dark expression and asked, “What is it?”

Luo Sheng took a skewer of roasted venison from Xiu Yue’s hands and passed it to him: “Eat.”

The young man accepted the venison with a sullen face.

Anger was one thing, but the roasted meat still had to be eaten.

“I’ll teach you archery later.”

Hearing this, the young man’s cold, stern expression immediately softened, but feeling he had shown his reaction too obviously and finding it somewhat embarrassing, he fiercely bit into a piece of sizzling, oil-dripping roasted meat.

“Xiao Qi, you eat too.” Luo Sheng handed a skewer of roasted meat to Xiao Qi.

Luo Chen frowned.

He had hands and feet—couldn’t he get it himself?

He was different; he was the younger brother.

A clear voice rang out: “Miss Luo, could you give me a skewer?”

Luo Chen looked up, his lips pressing together slightly.

Prince Kaiyang had come to mooch food again.

The young man had wanted to say something sarcastic, but suddenly remembering those ten thousand taels of silver, he silently swallowed his words.

Luo Sheng raised her eyes to glance at Wei Han, and recalling this man’s earlier tact, said coolly: “The venison and wild boar are both ready. Your Highness may help yourself to whatever you’d like.”

The corners of Wei Han’s lips lifted slightly.

Though he didn’t know why, Miss Luo’s attitude seemed rather good…

Thinking this, he immediately gained confidence.

He picked up a skewer of fragrant, oil-dripping roasted meat and asked about the matter he had been thinking about: “Miss Luo, is the beggar’s pork knuckle ready?”

The young man, vigilant toward any man who coveted his sister, twitched at the corner of his mouth.

Luo Chen looked at the serious-faced young man, somewhat dazed.

Perhaps he had misunderstood—this person’s interest wasn’t in his sister, but in beggar’s pork knuckle.

He had heard Third Cousin mention many times that on the road to the capital, Luo Sheng had made a dish called beggar’s pork knuckle that was so fragrant even bandits only wanted to rob the knuckle.

He didn’t know where such foolish bandits came from.

Oh, Third Cousin also said they had happened to encounter Prince Kaiyang at that time, and both Prince Kaiyang and Shi Sanhuo had been fixated on the beggar’s pork knuckle ever since.

Luo Chen looked coldly at Wei Han, finding him more and more displeasing to the eye.

Was beggar’s pork knuckle more important than his sister?

Wasn’t this person rather foolish? If he married his sister, couldn’t he eat beggar’s pork knuckle every day?

The young man’s lips moved, about to open his mouth sarcastically, then swallowed his words again.

He certainly wouldn’t remind this glutton.

“It should be ready.” As Luo Sheng spoke, she picked up a small iron shovel.

“Cousin, let me handle this rough work.” Sheng Sanlang snatched the shovel from Luo Sheng’s hands and deftly dug out four hard, blackened objects.

A curious voice rang out: “How do you eat this?”

“You have to crack it open to eat it.” Sheng Sanlang picked up a stone that had been prepared earlier and vigorously struck the mud shell, answering offhandedly.

Only after speaking did he feel something was amiss and unconsciously looked up.

“Greetings to Your Highness.” Everyone saluted Wei Qiang one after another.

“No need for such formality.” Wei Qiang waved his hand and looked toward Wei Han. “I didn’t expect Royal Uncle to be here as well.”

“Mm.” Wei Han responded coolly, his guard up.

The Crown Prince had arrived right at mealtime—clearly he had come to mooch food.

At this moment, the ugly mud shell had already been cracked open. Removing the lotus leaves wrapped around the outside, a peculiar fragrance immediately burst forth.

“What is this?” Wei Qiang couldn’t help but move his lips.

He considered himself not one to indulge in the pleasures of food, but this aroma was simply too enticing.

Especially when one’s stomach was empty.

“Beggar’s pork knuckle.” It was Wei Han who spoke.

Wei Qiang looked at him in confusion.

Prince Kaiyang was usually taciturn—why would he answer this question?

Wei Han paid no attention to what his thick-skinned nephew who had come to mooch food was thinking, and said coolly: “I shot the wild boar, I skinned it, and I chopped off the knuckles and asked Miss Luo to prepare them.”

Wei Qiang understood immediately.

Prince Kaiyang meant for him not to get any ideas?

Looking at the cool-eyed young man, Wei Qiang felt a flash of irritation in his heart.

Though Prince Kaiyang was an elder, he was still the Crown Prince—what was wrong with giving him one knuckle?

From this, it was clear that Prince Kaiyang didn’t regard him as Crown Prince at all.

However, though annoyed in his heart, he couldn’t show it on his face.

Father Emperor valued Prince Kaiyang highly. If word spread that he was at odds with Prince Kaiyang, it would bring him harm without benefit.

Suppressing his anger, Wei Qiang smiled slightly at Luo Sheng: “Miss Luo, my guards also managed to hunt wild boar. Could I have them sent over to make a beggar’s pork knuckle?”

Luo Sheng shook her head: “The knuckles need to be marinated in advance. If sent over now, they won’t be ready in time for this meal.”

Wei Qiang’s smile froze.

Would she make him lose face like this?

Then he saw the young woman smile warmly at the crimson-robed young man: “Since Your Highness only wants two knuckles, then I’ll give one of the remaining two beggar’s pork knuckles to the Crown Prince.”

Wei Han nodded expressionlessly.

If he had known this would happen, he would have said he wanted all four knuckles.