Shi Yan stood holding the door curtain in a daze.

Master and Miss Luo were really looking at the persimmon tree—weren’t they cold?

His gaze followed to the persimmon tree, and a more practical thought emerged: A bare persimmon tree—what’s so interesting about it?

His back was heavily slapped.

“Shi San Huo, what are you standing there like an idiot for? Are we eating the sparrows or not?”

Shi Yan turned his head to see Hong Dou’s pretty face, but couldn’t see the prettiness—only threat and impatience.

“Going right now.” Shi Yan ran into the rear courtyard in a flash, couldn’t help but shout to Wei Han, “Master, aren’t you cold?”

Wei Han looked at Shi Yan and asked back: “How could watching the persimmon tree be cold?”

Shi Yan: “…”

If he said he didn’t feel cold with Miss Luo’s company, he would feel his master had learned to speak properly—gratifying.

But what kind of nonsense was “watching the persimmon tree doesn’t feel cold”?

Did the persimmon tree have such great ability?

Wei Han’s gaze moved downward, landing on the string of sparrows Shi Yan held in his hand, his eyes flickering slightly: “Freshly caught sparrows?”

Shi Yan showed a smile: “Yes, just caught them together with Hong Dou.”

Wei Han turned his head toward Luo Sheng: “I’d like to eat crispy fried sparrows.”

Luo Sheng had just refused the man before her’s invitation to view lanterns together on the Lantern Festival. She naturally wouldn’t refuse such a small request, so she called out to Xiu Gu toward the kitchen entrance.

Xiu Yue appeared at the kitchen door holding a spatula: “What are Miss’s orders?”

Luo Sheng pointed at the sparrows in Shi Yan’s hand: “Fry these sparrows until crispy to eat.”

Xiu Yue nodded, walked over and took the string of sparrows from Shi Yan’s hand, turned and entered the kitchen.

“It’s cold outside, let’s go to the main hall.” Wei Han thought about how there would soon be crispy fried sparrows to accompany his wine. The slight gloom from his rejected invitation mostly dissipated, and he even felt somewhat pleasantly surprised.

He had ordered with an attitude of trying his luck, not expecting to succeed.

Wei Han wasn’t wearing heavy clothing. His shoulders, between those of a youth and a young man, were slightly thin.

Luo Sheng saw his shoulders covered with snow and nodded: “Alright.”

The two quickly walked into the main hall, leaving only the lonely persimmon tree and… the young guard.

Shi Yan looked down at his now-empty hands, his mood indignant.

The sparrows he had worked so hard to catch just flew away like that?

Wasn’t it enough that Master had Miss Luo’s company to watch the persimmon tree!

Greedy, too greedy.

Pitifully glancing at the door leading to the main hall, his indignant mood turned to despair.

If Big Sister Hong Dou found out, she would beat him to death with a fire poker, wouldn’t she?

Shi Yan involuntarily shivered and forcefully punched the persimmon tree.

In the main hall, wine guests gradually arrived.

Since Grand Commander Luo’s release from prison, the You Jian Tavern’s business was even better than before. If one came a bit late, there would be no seats.

However, there was one seat no one fought over—the one by the window in the corner.

Regular customers had tacitly agreed that was Prince Kaiyang’s seat.

Even if you came early, you wouldn’t dare sit there. When Prince Kaiyang stood before you with a cold face, would you get up or not?

Wei Han sat down by the window and ordered a hot pot to eat slowly.

Miss Luo said the crispy fried sparrows would take an hour—he couldn’t eat too fast.

The main hall was soon filled with the fragrance of wine and meat.

Heavy snow fell outside the window. Occasionally pedestrians struggled along holding umbrellas. When the wine guests in the hall saw them, they suddenly felt the food and wine entering their mouths was even more fragrant.

The night grew darker, the accumulated snow on the roads thicker. The wine guests, having eaten and drunk their fill, gradually dispersed.

As each person left, they would quietly glance toward Wei Han, thinking Prince Kaiyang could really eat—eating from beginning to end and still not leaving.

Facing these strange looks, Wei Han remained unmoved, patiently waiting for his exclusive crispy fried sparrows.

Finally, Kou’er came over carrying a plate of fragrant sparrows.

Walking at the very end, Minister Zhao’s expression changed as he suddenly understood.

Prince Kaiyang actually had an extra dish!

Don’t look at the distance—his eyesight was excellent. That plate of fried sparrows looked crispy on the outside and tender inside at a glance, the taste definitely couldn’t be wrong.

Minister Zhao immediately couldn’t move, asking Hong Dou who was nearest: “There’s a new dish today?”

Hong Dou’s face darkened: “No.”

She had also seen them—her fried sparrows!

She wondered why Shi San Huo hadn’t come back. So he had offered the sparrows they caught together to his own master and was hiding.

Hmph, he could avoid the first day but could he avoid the fifteenth? When the tavern closed, she would go find him with a fire poker!

Minister Zhao was unwilling to give up: “Then why does Prince Kaiyang—”

“Only Prince Kaiyang has it.”

Only Prince Kaiyang has it—Minister Zhao sighed wistfully and lifted his feet to walk out.

Just as he exited, he came face to face with Grand Commander Luo.

Minister Zhao was somewhat surprised: “It’s been a long time since I encountered the Grand Commander.”

Though the You Jian Tavern was opened by Miss Luo, Grand Commander Luo rarely came. Today was rather unusual.

Grand Commander Luo smiled: “Just left the offices. Seeing the snow was rather heavy, I happened to come eat and return to the manor together with my daughter.”

“The Grand Commander truly dotes on his daughter.” Minister Zhao thought of the news he’d heard and couldn’t help but admire how Grand Commander Luo could remain composed.

After so many vexing matters he could still show no emotion—not easy.

What would be even less easy was that Grand Commander Luo would soon discover only Prince Kaiyang had fried sparrows to eat.

Thinking of this, Minister Zhao cupped his hands with a smile and walked away with his hands in his sleeves.

Grand Commander Luo entered and twitched his nose: “Smells good.”

Luo Sheng came up to greet him: “Father went back to the offices?”

The news of Pingli’s death had been told to her by Grand Commander Luo when he returned home midway from the offices. She could sense Grand Commander Luo was in a poor mood, so his coming to the tavern was somewhat unexpected.

“Yes, there were many matters at the offices, just finished being busy. I saw the food sent to the offices had gone cold, so I simply came over.”

“Then please sit. What would you like to eat?” Luo Sheng asked with a smile.

Grand Commander Luo’s eyes swept around. The only person still drinking in the main hall was Wei Han sitting by the window. That plate of fried sparrows on the table made his eyes light up.

In this heavy snow weather, drinking heated wine and eating fried sparrows—all vexing matters would disappear.

“Just bring a mutton hot pot and a plate of fried sparrows.”

Luo Sheng’s smile froze. She was silent for a moment before saying: “There are no fried sparrows.”

“None left?” Grand Commander Luo’s voice rose slightly, disappointment overflowing in his expression.

Wei Han lowered his eyes and silently increased his speed of eating the crispy fried sparrows.

Luo Sheng told the truth: “Shi Yan caught over ten sparrows and only fried one plate.”

Hong Dou rolled her eyes upon hearing this.

That damned Shi San Huo actually told Miss it was all caught by him alone?

No wonder Prince Kaiyang got all the benefit!

Grand Commander Luo also wanted to roll his eyes.

Heh, what did he just hear?

Only one plate of sparrows was fried, for Prince Kaiyang alone to eat?

He didn’t know Prince Kaiyang received such good treatment!

Grand Commander Luo glanced at Wei Han. Not seeing the other party had any intention of inviting him to eat together, he immediately coughed: “Sheng’er, the weather is getting colder and it keeps snowing. The tavern might as well close early for the holiday. Reopen when the weather warms up.”

Wei Han’s hand holding chopsticks paused.

Close early for the holiday?

He furrowed his brow slightly, a guess rising: Was Grand Commander Luo in too poor a mood because of Pingli’s matter?