Wei Han gazed at the young woman across from him, unable to discern any excess emotion in those cool, clear eyes.

He had many questions he wanted to ask—such as her inexplicable hostility toward Prince Pingnan’s manor, her reasons for appearing at the abandoned estate of Prince Zhennan’s manor, and her motives for going to see Wei Qiang on this particular day.

But in the end, he asked nothing at all, simply saying “alright” and raising his wine cup.

If she didn’t want to talk, pressing further would become coercion.

He couldn’t bear to do that.

The strong liquor burned down his throat, making his heart ache somewhat.

Wei Han drained his cup in one gulp and refilled Luo Sheng’s empty wine cup.

Shi Yan had snatched a piece of braised meat to eat in the back courtyard and took the opportunity to lift a corner of the door curtain to check on their progress, only to witness the two of them drinking together in silence.

The corner of Shi Yan’s mouth twitched.

With such a rare opportunity to open their hearts and pour out their feelings, why was his master only drinking foolishly?

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Wei Han pick up a piece of braised meat.

Shi Yan angrily dropped the door curtain.

He wouldn’t watch anymore—he might as well fight for a few more pieces of braised meat instead.

The number of empty wine pots on the table grew increasingly numerous.

Luo Sheng raised her voice and called out, “Hong Dou, bring more wine—”

“Miss, Your Highness, please drink at your leisure.” The little maid, with oil glistening at the corners of her mouth, set down two pots of wine and hurried off.

A moment later, a roar rang out: “Shi San Huo, you said you were saving the last piece for me!”

The commotion of chickens flying and dogs jumping in the back courtyard made Luo Sheng curl her lips in a smile as she picked up the wine pot.

A large hand reached over to take the wine pot from her and carried away the other pot as well.

Luo Sheng glanced sideways at the person stealing her wine pots.

Wei Han said seriously, “Miss Luo, you cannot drink anymore.”

“I’m not drunk.” Luo Sheng’s eyes remained calm, indeed not appearing to have drunk too much.

Wei Han persisted unusually firmly: “Even so, you still cannot drink anymore.”

Seeing him pressing down on both wine pots, Luo Sheng remarked coolly, “Your Highness’s face is already flushed from drinking.”

Wei Han’s cheeks looked even redder, but he maintained his stern expression: “Even so, I won’t allow you to drink anymore.”

Slender hands reached out, landing on the wine pot.

“On what grounds?” Luo Sheng asked, her question tinged with light intoxication.

This slightly willful demeanor was something Wei Han had never seen before.

Miss Luo after drinking wine was somewhat different from usual…

He suddenly felt a moment of wavering.

Wait a bit longer—perhaps he could see an even more adorable side of Miss Luo.

No, no, he wasn’t that kind of person.

Drinking too much harmed the body; she still couldn’t drink anymore.

Wei Han’s expression became increasingly serious: “Because we’re drinking together.”

Luo Sheng looked at him and moved her lips slightly.

Whether she had truly drunk too much or not, her reactions seemed somewhat sluggish, and at this moment she actually didn’t know how to refute him.

Drinking really did cloud one’s judgment—it was true after all.

As this thought flashed through her mind, Luo Sheng smiled faintly.

Although drinking clouded one’s judgment, today there was nothing important to do anyway—drinking was what she most wanted to do.

Prince Pingnan’s manor was completely finished; they should raise a great toast. After getting drunk today, tomorrow she would need to gather her spirits again.

Luo Sheng narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at the person across from her, dissatisfied: “If we don’t drink it, it’ll go to waste.”

She didn’t want to say this—what she actually wanted to say was that drinking together meant nothing.

Luo Sheng frowned. She discovered that her cold, hard heart, in this slightly intoxicated moment, was no longer controlled by reason and had become soft.

Wei Han looked at her like this and heard the sound of his own heartbeat.

Miss Luo like this was indeed very adorable… but she still couldn’t drink anymore.

“I can finish it all myself.” Seeming to feel this was somewhat heartless, Wei Han pushed the plate of braised meat toward her. “Miss Luo, please eat some meat.”

Luo Sheng’s eyes flickered slightly.

If he was willing to let her eat even the braised meat, it seemed he truly didn’t want her to drink anymore.

“Never mind, then.” Luo Sheng sighed and pushed the braised meat back. “Your Highness, please eat. I’m not hungry.”

Wei Han secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If Miss Luo had continued clamoring to drink, he very likely would have been unable to remain so firm.

Thank goodness.

The relieved prince raised his wine cup.

Shi Yan, who had finally escaped from Hong Dou’s pursuit while she chased him with her head in his hands, felt uneasy and ran back to the door to quietly lift the curtain again.

He saw his master alternating—one mouthful of strong liquor, one bite of braised meat, one mouthful of strong liquor, one bite of braised meat…

Shi Yan was momentarily struck with such a blow that his vision darkened.

He had thought that facing the young woman his master admired and only knowing to drink foolishly without understanding sweet words and honeyed phrases was worrying enough, but he never imagined there would be the practice of only caring about eating and drinking himself while letting his beloved watch with nothing!

Shi Yan dropped the door curtain again, covering his chest with a face full of despair.

He swore—if he worried about this again, he was a pig!

When only empty cups and empty plates remained on the table, Luo Sheng asked with a smile, “Does Your Highness want to continue drinking?”

“That’s enough.” Wei Han suppressed the surging intoxication, maintaining his clarity.

If he kept drinking, he would get drunk.

“Then let Shi Yan escort Your Highness back to the manor.”

“Mm.” Wei Han looked deeply at Luo Sheng once and said, “Miss Luo, next time you want to drink, call for me.”

Luo Sheng couldn’t bear it any longer and rolled her eyes.

This big fool was dreaming of wonderful things—eating and drinking for free and still wanting to control her.

Next time she would drink with Xiu Yue—wouldn’t that be more pleasant?

Wei Han, unaware that he had been scorned, walked out of the wine shop with a smile on his lips.

Throughout the journey, Shi Yan was so disheartened that he didn’t speak.

Rotten wood cannot be carved—what could he, a mere minor guard, do about it?

“Don’t rush back just yet.” Upon returning to the prince’s manor, Wei Han stopped Shi Yan.

Shi Yan was startled.

Could it be that his master had detected his contempt and was punishing him by making him stay behind to scrub chamber pots?

“M-Master, what are your orders?” Shi Yan forced a dry laugh while breaking out in cold sweat.

“Didn’t the palace bestow some Cloud Frost Ointment? Is there any left?”

Shi Yan was stunned, then quickly understood: “You mean that medicinal ointment that’s quite effective for promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling, and eliminating scars? There should be some left. We’re all big men in our prince’s manor—who would use it?”

The vast prince’s manor had only one master, and the rest with any status were rough old fellows like himself—who would use Cloud Frost Ointment?

“Take a box back for Miss Luo.”

Shi Yan’s eyes lit up: “For Miss Luo?”

Wei Han lowered his brows: “Stop being so long-winded and go quickly.”

Shi Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Master, no matter how anxious you are, you at least need to send a message along with it for Miss Luo.”

Wei Han felt this made sense and began seriously considering what to say.

Shi Yan waited for ages without any movement and urged, “Master?”

The person who had thought for a long time but didn’t know what to say wore a serious expression: “Just go.”

Shi Yan: “…”

The back courtyard of the wine shop was lively. Hong Dou and Kou’er, having divided up the braised meat, were now kicking shuttlecocks to aid digestion. Sheng Sanlang stroked his belly while humming a little tune contentedly, and even the female proprietor was saying something to Zhu Wu.

Luo Sheng waved her hand to indicate that everyone need not mind her and walked into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, all the ingredients needed for the evening market had already been prepared. Xiu Yue was lost in thought.

“Xiu Gu.”

Hearing this call, she suddenly snapped back to awareness and looked toward the doorway.

Luo Sheng walked in and asked with a smile, “Finished with your work?”

“Finished.” Xiu Yue looked at the young woman with her clever smile and beautiful features, and suddenly her eyes reddened.

She wiped the corners of her eyes and asked softly, “What about you, Miss—are you still busy?”

Luo Sheng was silent for a moment, then said gently, “Today I’m taking a rest, but I still have to continue being busy.”

Xiu Yue nodded vigorously: “You go ahead and be busy, Miss. This servant will accompany you in your work.”

The master and servant said no more, remaining quiet together for quite a while.

Hong Dou ran in, breaking the silence in the kitchen: “Miss, Prince Kaiyang has sent something for you.”