Enduring the cold aura emanating from Prince Kaiyang, Nanny Dou ate with relish all the same.

Prince Kaiyang was deeply favored by His Majesty, true, but their mistress was also deeply favored by His Majesty. Could a dignified prince really do anything to an old nanny over a bite of food?

It was rare to leave the palace, and having already started eating, she absolutely had to eat well to make it worthwhile.

After Nanny Dou finished the basin of delicious lamb and asked Hong Dou for salt and other items to rinse her mouth, the beggar’s chicken wrapped in its mud shell was packed up and brought over.

Along with the beggar’s chicken came a small plate of peanut crisps.

Having the precedent of the jujube cake gift last time, plus being truly satisfied with the water basin lamb just now, Nanny Dou didn’t ask many questions and accepted the food box, returning to the palace in good spirits.

In Yuhua Palace, warmth pervaded the air. Consort Xiao reclined lazily on a beauty couch, enjoying song and dance performances.

“Your Ladyship, Nanny Dou has returned.”

Consort Xiao nodded slightly, indicating for the person to be brought in.

Nanny Dou carried the food box, walking lightly on the magnificent gold-threaded carpet. While still at some distance from Consort Xiao, she knelt in courtesy. “Your Ladyship, this servant has returned.”

“Was it lively outside the palace?” Consort Xiao didn’t rush to have the palace maids take the food box from Nanny Dou’s hands, asking casually.

The once-monthly beggar’s chicken, having become routine, had lost some of its appeal.

However, Consort Xiao found it somewhat interesting to hear Nanny Dou talk about matters outside the palace.

Nanny Dou recounted what she had seen and heard after leaving the palace. When speaking of the You Jian Tavern, she specifically mentioned Prince Kaiyang.

Consort Xiao’s thick lashes trembled slightly, showing a trace of interest. “Prince Kaiyang was already there when you arrived?”

“Yes. This servant noticed Prince Kaiyang seemed quite familiar with Miss Luo.”

Consort Xiao narrowed her eyes, recalling the situation at the Beihe hunting grounds, and the corners of her lips curved upward.

Everyone said Miss Luo was willful and brainless, a complete incompetent. In her view, however, she was a clever person with means.

Consort Xiao raised her chin toward a palace maid.

The palace maid walked over, took the food box from Nanny Dou’s hands, and presented it.

The beggar’s chicken brought back from every palace outing naturally didn’t capture Consort Xiao’s attention. She focused her gaze on that plate of peanut crisps.

“This pastry is from the You Jian Tavern?”

Nanny Dou quickly nodded. “They had just made fresh peanut crisps. Miss Luo had this servant bring some back for Your Ladyship to try.”

“Miss Luo is quite thoughtful.” Consort Xiao said casually and picked up a piece of peanut crisp.

The palace maid responsible for tasting food quickly stopped her. “Your Ladyship, let this servant taste it first.”

Consort Xiao set down the peanut crisp and nodded.

Regarding her safety, she naturally had no need to take risks.

After the palace maid had tasted it, Consort Xiao picked up a piece of peanut crisp and tried it, smiling. “It tastes better than what’s made in the palace. Miss Luo’s cook is quite capable.”

At the You Jian Tavern, Hong Dou followed Luo Sheng’s instructions to see Nanny Dou out. It took quite a while before she returned. As soon as she entered the main hall, she called out cheerfully, “Miss, a cosmetics shop opened diagonally across the street.”

Wei Han, holding his teacup, felt a stirring in his heart.

Hong Dou was this happy about a new cosmetics shop opening—could it be that Miss Luo liked rouge and powder?

He couldn’t help but look to see Luo Sheng’s reaction.

Luo Sheng had no reaction whatsoever.

Hong Dou continued happily, “This servant went in to look. The things inside are quite complete. There are over ten types of scented water, including the kind Miss is accustomed to using. However, this servant noticed the quality wasn’t as good as what Miss uses, so I didn’t buy any.”

Kou’er couldn’t help but say, “If the quality is mediocre, what are you so excited about?”

Hong Dou rolled her eyes at her. “The best scented water in the shop is only a tiny bit inferior to what Miss uses. If Miss doesn’t use it, can’t we buy some to play with? Besides, the key isn’t what we buy—it’s that we can go browse when there’s nothing else to do.”

Hearing this, Kou’er thought it made sense too.

While waiting for the tavern to open, having such a cosmetics shop to browse and pass the time wasn’t bad.

Luo Sheng smiled. “Then you two go browse.”

The two maids agreed and left together, happy and cheerful, to browse the cosmetics shop.

Shi Yan shook his head. “Kou’er just criticized Hong Dou for wasting time. How did she turn around and happily go along?”

The female proprietor, buried in account books, looked up and said with a smile, “Sanhuo, this shows you don’t understand girls’ thoughts. How can browsing clothing shops, jewelry stores, and cosmetics shops be called wasting time? Watching others browse—that’s wasting time. Going to browse yourself—that’s passing time.”

Shi Yan’s eyes went blank as he looked toward his master.

Were all girls’ thoughts this complicated?

Wei Han looked at the bewildered young guard, his own feelings somewhat complicated.

From the looks of it, Shi Yan didn’t understand much more than he did.

When it was nearly time for the tavern to open, Hong Dou and Kou’er each returned carrying armfuls of items.

Shi Yan and the others were naturally ignored. Hong Dou called out, “Proprietor, Xiu Gu, come quickly! We bought gifts for you.”

The female proprietor’s face couldn’t hide her delight. “There’s one for me too?”

Although since following the mistress her monthly wages had been generous, receiving gifts from others during the New Year felt completely different.

Xiu Yue slowly walked from the back into the main hall.

“Xiu Gu, come quickly and choose a scented water. We bought one bottle of each kind—see which fragrance you like.” Hong Dou called enthusiastically.

Xiu Yue glanced at Luo Sheng.

At her age, with her disfigured face, she had long lost interest in these trinkets that girls liked.

“Go choose something. It’s Hong Dou and the others’ thoughtfulness.”

Only then did Xiu Yue walk over and take a bottle of jasmine-scented water.

Soon it was time for the tavern to open. Patrons filed in one after another, quickly filling the main hall.

When Sheng Dalang and his brothers brought Su Yao over, they discovered there were no seats left.

The one greeting the three was Sheng Sanlang.

“Elder Brother, didn’t I tell you the tavern’s business is good and you needed to come early?”

Sheng Dalang smiled good-naturedly.

Sheng Erlang frowned. “We came at exactly the time you mentioned. Who knew it would already be full? Third Brother, hurry and find us a spot. Second Brother Su hasn’t eaten here yet.”

Given their close relationship with Second Brother Su, thinking about how Second Brother Su hadn’t eaten here even once in all this time made them feel bad.

However, Second Brother Su was like an immortal descended to earth. Having been bitten by a goose at the Grand Marshal’s residence, it was understandable he wouldn’t want to return there anytime soon.

Sheng Sanlang showed a difficult expression. “It’s all full right now. There’s no way to make space.”

Sheng Erlang had just raised his eyebrows when Sheng Sanlang said, “See those two elderly gentlemen at the easternmost table? One is the Minister of Justice, the other is the Minister of Works. At the neighboring table is Director Lin with his grandson. Over here is the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review… Oh, you also recognize Prince Kaiyang by the window. Second Brother, tell me who should give up their seat?”

Sheng Erlang touched his nose and fell silent.

Forget asking people to give up their seats—just standing here took considerable courage.

What kind of tavern had Cousin opened?

“Third Brother, this isn’t a place for common people to eat, is it?”

Sheng Sanlang chuckled. “There are ordinary citizens too. But after eating here twice they went bankrupt and are now chopping firewood at the tavern.”

The three: “…”

Sheng Sanlang said in a low voice, “I see Prince Kaiyang is almost finished eating. Why don’t you wait a bit?”

The three nodded in agreement.

Wei Han had good hearing. He ordered another serving of water basin lamb and kept eating until the tavern closed for the night.