Grand Commander Luo had been quite displeased lately.

Both nephews passing the metropolitan examinations as tribute scholars should have been a joyous occasion, but what were all those people thinking?

He wasn’t Elder’s or Second Young Master’s father—why were they constantly hovering around him for no reason?

In their words, they even wanted him to build bridges and arrange matches for marriage connections.

Arrange what damned marriages? His four daughters still hadn’t found matches yet. These people were snatching food from the tiger’s mouth—did they think he, the Commander of the Jinlin Guard, was too good-tempered?

Honestly, if it weren’t for his two nephews passing the examinations, he wouldn’t have known that so many young ladies from prominent households in the capital were waiting to be married.

Tsk, the competitive pressure was actually this intense.

When Grand Commander Luo invited Second Uncle Sheng for drinks, he decisively held those people back: “Brother-in-law, with Elder and the others having their names on the list, quite a few people have been inquiring about their circumstances.”

Upon hearing this, Second Uncle Sheng didn’t know whether to feel proud or frustrated.

As an uncle, he naturally felt honored that the Sheng family descendants were accomplished, but thinking of his own unambitious son gave him a headache.

It was one thing that he couldn’t study well, but now he had gotten himself so rotund that when standing next to his two cousins, who would look at him favorably?

“Brother-in-law, I think Elder and the others’ marriage matters shouldn’t be rushed. After all, you’ve only just arrived in the capital—you should understand things better before proceeding.”

Second Uncle Sheng nodded: “Brother-in-law speaks correctly. Moreover, if we truly discuss marriage arrangements, there’s still Mother, Elder Brother and Sister-in-law to make the decisions.”

Grand Commander Luo felt relieved.

Distance was good—correspondence back and forth would take several months, and discussing marriage would take at least a year or so.

Time was still relatively ample. Who knows, perhaps the young people could develop mutual affection.

If nothing happened after such a long time, then they should give up.

Grand Commander Luo’s heart settled, but Second Uncle Sheng became agitated and turned to severely scold Third Young Master Sheng.

“Eat, eat, eat—if you keep eating you’ll become a piglet. When it comes time for matchmaking, the young lady’s family will take one look and turn away. Let’s see if you can still marry a wife then.”

Small humble families would be one thing, but nowadays noble young ladies from great families no longer practiced blind marriages. Families that cherished their daughters would at least let their children see whether the other party was round or flat.

Looking like this, wouldn’t a young lady cry after one glance at Third Young Master?

But Third Young Master Sheng felt extremely wronged: “Father, you’ve also gained quite a bit of weight since entering the capital.”

It wasn’t just him alone who was fat.

Second Uncle Sheng slapped him: “I’m at this age—what’s wrong with being a bit fat? Why don’t you compare yourself to your two cousins?”

Look at his two nephews—still maintaining their elegant bearing like jade trees in the wind.

Third Young Master Sheng pursed his lips unconvinced: “Your son just lacks the scholarly achievement that Elder Brother and Second Brother have. You’ve long accepted that your son couldn’t study well since childhood. As for body type, I think my two cousins will catch up sooner or later.”

Second Uncle Sheng blinked, suddenly not feeling quite so frustrated.

What his son said seemed to make some sense too.

With the emergence of the newly successful tribute scholars, business at the wine shop improved somewhat.

There were always those who had heard of the wine shop’s great reputation and felt that hosting there would give them face, so they came to try it—a case of the ignorant being fearless.

However, after one tribute scholar brought several examination-year colleagues to dine and barely managed to host them after hearing the prices, he fainted upon receiving the enormous bill. After this news spread, young faces at the wine shop suddenly decreased considerably.

It was said that afterward, the tribute scholar stared blankly and repeated for a long time: “I knew the prices were expensive, but I didn’t know it was that delicious. I thought one serving of lamb basin would be enough—in the end we ate eight servings!”

The wine shop gradually returned to normal, and Wei Qiang came with his trusted eunuch Dou Ren.

Luo Sheng hadn’t seen Wei Qiang for some time. Seeing this man again, the disgust remained.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Miss Luo.” Wei Qiang gazed at the young lady who had changed into spring robes, his eyes deep.

That time he made his move, not only did he fail to get what he wanted, but it also added hidden troubles—for him, it was no small blow.

Because of this, these days except when necessary, he hadn’t left the palace.

Standing in the main hall filled with lingering wine fragrance, Wei Qiang felt even his breathing was much more refreshing.

The oppressiveness of the Eastern Palace—he had truly had enough.

Wei Qiang gave Dou Ren a meaningful glance, then asked with a smile: “Could Miss Luo accompany me for a drink?”

Luo Sheng smiled slightly: “I’m afraid I must apologize to Your Highness. As the proprietor, I never provide drinking companionship.”

Wei Qiang’s smile stiffened slightly, and he could only find himself a way out: “Since that’s the case, I won’t force Miss Luo. It’s been some days since I came—has the wine shop added any new dishes?”

“Kou’er, come report the dish names to His Highness.” Luo Sheng lazily gave the instruction.

Looking at the casual young lady, Wei Qiang frowned secretly.

Miss Luo was impervious to persuasion—trying to make progress with her was too difficult.

Come to think of it, when Miss Luo was twelve or thirteen years old, she would snatch away handsome men on sight. Having seen much of the world, how could she be like ordinary young ladies who would blush and have their hearts race after speaking a few words with a young man?

All in all, to get what he desired, he still needed to resolve the obstacles in her status.

At this time, Dou Ren took advantage of the two conversing and slipped into the rear courtyard, only to be dumbfounded seeing a youth splitting firewood and a burly man supervising.

He had slipped in wanting to make contact with the cook to see if she was the skilled maid Xiu Yue from beside Princess Qingyang. How could there be people in the courtyard?

Xu Xi, gripping his axe, asked: “Who are you?”

The axe blade flashing with cold light in the sunlight made Dou Ren instinctively retreat half a step, then he said with restraint: “This servant is an attendant beside the Crown Prince, come to the rear kitchen to request a cup of hot water.”

Two lowly laborers splitting firewood—after hearing his status, would they dare say more?

Thinking this, Dou Ren’s confidence increased.

Xu Xi frowned upon hearing: “If the honorable sir wants hot water, why not have a shop attendant fetch it?”

“This servant saw the shop attendants were all busy, and His Highness is speaking with Miss Luo.” Dou Ren explained a sentence, his face darkening slightly. “You’re rough laborers at the wine shop, aren’t you? This servant comes to request a cup of hot water—must I still be interrogated by you?”

Xu Xi tightened his grip on the axe handle, suppressing the impulse to rush over and chop at him: “Of course not. Please help yourself.”

However impulsive and rash he was, he knew that attendants beside the Crown Prince couldn’t be offended.

Although the she-devil was annoying, causing her trouble would bring him no benefits whatsoever.

Seeing Dou Ren walking toward the kitchen entrance, Xu Xi set down his axe and silently passed through the moon gate, beckoning to the resting Big White: “Big White—”

Big White looked at the youth with fierce eyes.

Xu Xi’s scalp immediately went numb.

Heaven knows that now he had the courage to face even Shi San and Huo in battle, but facing this big goose, he still couldn’t help but tremble.

No help for it—the shadow left from that time when he was defeated in combat with the big goose and had his bottom pecked over a dozen times was simply too great.

Thinking this, Xu Xi made a face at Big White, then took off running.

Big White waddled over with quick steps.

The youth’s figure disappeared from the courtyard.

Big White looked toward the entrance leading to the main hall but didn’t pursue.

The she-devil forbade it from going there—if caught, she would pluck its feathers and grab its neck.

The big goose already had experience with this.

But being this angry, how could it be willing to just return like this?

Big White suddenly looked toward the kitchen’s direction, seeming to discover an unfamiliar presence, and charged over with honking calls.

Dou Ren had just explained his purpose to Xiu Yue when he heard goose honking.

How could there be goose honking?