Shi Yan was listening with pricked ears.

What? Following Miss Luo?

The master had actually done such a thing?

Uh, well done! But he absolutely couldn’t admit it—stalking a young lady didn’t look very honorable.

“Ahem.” The small attendant coughed heavily while wiping the table.

Wei Han honestly nodded. “Yes.”

Shi Yan: “…” He’d better put some effort into wiping this table!

“That day I was worried it would be dangerous for Miss Luo to enter the forest alone, so I followed to check.” Wei Han said candidly.

If Miss Luo didn’t know, he naturally wouldn’t bring it up proactively, but since Miss Luo had asked, he wouldn’t conceal it either.

Hearing this, Luo Sheng instinctively frowned.

Anyone learning they’d been followed probably wouldn’t be pleased, but this person was Prince Kaiyang—she looked at him deeply.

He said he was concerned for her safety, and that should be the reason, with no additional hidden circumstances.

After all, this was a foodie who even copied gifts he’d seen others give.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern.” Luo Sheng said blandly.

The corners of the man’s lips across from her suddenly lifted. “As long as Miss Luo doesn’t blame me for acting presumptuously.”

He’d thought that when Miss Luo learned he’d secretly followed her, she would be angry.

Although knowing she might be angry, he still wouldn’t have concealed it, but her not being angry was naturally a pleasant surprise.

“These flowers—” The young lady’s pale fingertips fell on the layer upon layer of chrysanthemum petals. “I’ll use them to make chrysanthemum meat. Your Highness needn’t send flowers anymore, otherwise handling them is also troublesome.”

“All right.” Hearing that today’s chrysanthemums would be made into chrysanthemum meat, Wei Han was in quite a good mood.

At least it was a better fate than yesterday’s bouquet of hibiscus flowers that he’d taken back.

Luo Sheng ignored the smiling man and carried away both the vase and flowers together to the rear courtyard.

Wei Han’s eyes flickered slightly.

She’d even taken away the vase, so even if he sent flowers again tomorrow there’d be nowhere to put them. Clearly Miss Luo truly didn’t like flowers.

So what should he send tomorrow?

Until the food and wine were served, Wei Han was still earnestly pondering this question.

Taking a sip of strong liquor, he sighed.

Never mind. Since he couldn’t think of what Miss Luo liked for the moment, tomorrow he’d just come directly to drink, and think about it when inspiration struck.

“Uncle Prince came so early.” A gentle voice sounded.

Wei Han, holding his wine cup, looked toward where the voice came from.

The newcomer was none other than Wei Qiang.

Today Wei Qiang wore ash-blue casual clothes that didn’t display his status, looking like some refined young master from an aristocratic household.

Wei Han asked blandly, “Has the Crown Prince’s injury from being gored by the pig improved?”

The smile at the corners of Wei Qiang’s lips stiffened, his gentle expression instantly contorting.

Why did Prince Kaiyang keep bringing up sore subjects?

However, meeting the other’s gaze that held faint concern, he had no choice but to respond. After all, it had been Prince Kaiyang who rescued him at the time. If word spread that he was rude to Prince Kaiyang, it would damage his reputation.

“Thank you for Uncle Prince’s concern. Actually, it was mostly healed by the time we were on the road back.”

“Ah, that’s good then.” Wei Han lowered his eyes and took a sip of wine.

Wei Qiang forced himself to smile through the awkwardness. “I haven’t had a chance to properly thank Uncle Prince. Let this nephew treat you today.”

Prince Kaiyang had proactively brought up his injury, yet his reaction was so indifferent. Not only did it not make him feel any concern whatsoever, it rather gave him the feeling the other party was gloating over his misfortune.

Wei Qiang carefully studied Wei Han’s expression but couldn’t detect anything, so he could only silently dismiss this notion.

He had no conflict of interest with Prince Kaiyang. No matter how eccentric Prince Kaiyang’s temperament, there was no reason to offend him, right?

He must be overthinking it.

“The Crown Prince wants to treat me?” Wei Han raised an eyebrow.

Seeing this raised eyebrow, Wei Qiang suddenly thought of those five thousand six hundred and twenty taels of silver.

Treating Prince Kaiyang alone he could still bear, but what if it turned out like last time—

Having sufficiently appreciated Wei Qiang’s stiff expression, Wei Han said blandly, “That’s not necessary. I’m accustomed to eating alone. The Crown Prince should please himself.”

Wei Qiang heaved a huge sigh of relief internally and smiled. “Then I won’t disturb Uncle Prince’s meal.”

Yesterday had been the official opening after the tavern’s closure, so the tavern had prepared many dishes and many people came to eat.

After a big feast, their purses were deflated, so far fewer people came this evening.

By the time Hong Dou carried over a plate of freshly cooked chrysanthemum meat, the establishment still wasn’t full.

“Chrysanthemum meat is here!” The little maid called out crisply, placing a plate of appetizing-looking food before Wei Han.

At this moment, uncle and nephew both simultaneously made the same movement: their gazes swept past Hong Dou toward the cotton door curtain connecting the great hall to the rear courtyard.

That figure didn’t appear.

Only then did Wei Han return his attention to the newly served dish.

Staring at the chrysanthemum petals on the plate, the man couldn’t help but lift the corners of his lips.

Were these the chrysanthemums he’d sent?

He hadn’t expected them to become a delicacy so quickly in Miss Luo’s hands.

Perhaps sending ingredients would please Miss Luo more.

Wei Qiang was sitting at the neighboring table. Glancing at the steaming chrysanthemum meat, he couldn’t help asking Hong Dou, “Is this a newly launched dish?”

Hong Dou said with a smile, “No, there’s only this one plate, for His Highness.”

Wei Qiang couldn’t help glancing at Wei Han.

The man still wearing his crimson robe had a smile playing about his lips, like snow melting on a mountain peak and converging into a clear spring.

Wei Qiang’s face remained impassive, but waves rose in his heart: Prince Kaiyang and Miss Luo… did they have feelings for each other?

If so, wouldn’t that mean many more obstacles for him?

“I didn’t expect Uncle Prince to enjoy such special treatment from the tavern.” Wei Qiang said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Wei Han glanced at him and said blandly, “I brought my own ingredients.”

Wei Qiang froze, unable to help looking at the chrysanthemum meat again.

Surely not—coming to drink wine but bringing your own pork?

Uh, it might also be a habit formed in Beihe.

Thinking this way, that bit of speculation became uncertain again.

The cotton door curtain connecting the great hall to the rear courtyard lifted, and Luo Sheng stepped in. At a glance, she saw Wei Qiang.

She looked for somewhat longer, her eyes and face both maintaining complete calm.

As if merely surprised that the exalted Crown Prince would appear here.

In fact, Luo Sheng was indeed somewhat surprised.

In her view, Wei Qiang had just made a fool of himself in Beihe. No matter what, he should keep a low profile using recovery as an excuse before new gossip arose in the capital.

Yet he’d just returned to the capital and already had the mood to come to the tavern?

When things were abnormal, there must be a demon.

Had Wei Qiang become suspicious of her or Xiu Yue and couldn’t help coming to probe?

Luo Sheng walked over and gracefully paid her respects. “I didn’t expect Your Highness to come to the tavern today. Has Your Highness’s injury from being bitten by the wild boar already healed?”

Wei Qiang: “…”

He was now starting to suspect again that Miss Luo and Prince Kaiyang had something going on. Otherwise, why would their phrasing be so consistent?

“Thank you for Miss Luo’s concern. That minor injury isn’t worth mentioning.”

He didn’t want to hear about being gored by a pig again!

Luo Sheng smiled slightly. “Your Highness has a body worth a thousand gold pieces. Even a fall would be a major matter, let alone being attacked by a wild boar.”

Wei Qiang suddenly didn’t want to stay any longer.

He was certain now—Miss Luo and Luo’er were truly two completely different people.

When Miss Luo didn’t speak, she might be more to his liking.

Luo Sheng, however, detected something strange.

Wei Qiang seemed to have developed a bit more tolerance toward Miss Luo.