One by one, everyone climbed down from the carriages.

Dingxiang Tower appeared before them at once.

It was a three-story wooden building, its frontage spanning roughly the width of four shopfronts. The three characters “Dingxiang Tower” on the signboard were gilded, gleaming with golden light. Guests came and went without pause, and the place bustled with activity.

At the entrance stood several waiters greeting guests, neatly dressed and wearing warm, eager smiles. One of them stepped forward, beaming: “You must be here to dine! Please, come inside!”

The waiter’s welcome was attentive, but inwardly he was quite taken aback.

Dingxiang Tower’s reputation was well known, and occasionally people brought their families to dine. But this particular group, aside from one strikingly handsome young man, was made up entirely of women. Though they all wore veiled hats hiding their faces, it was clear that at least two of them were unmarried young ladies from respectable households…

Under such circumstances, the eldest among them, Jiang Shi, was naturally the most fitting person to step forward.

“Do you still have any private rooms available?” Jiang Shi asked with a smile.

The waiter looked somewhat troubled as he replied, “I’m terribly sorry. The private rooms on the second and third floors are all occupied. Right now there are only two empty seats left in the main hall downstairs.”

Jiang Shi frowned. For their group to sit and eat in the main hall would hardly be proper. What’s more, sitting down to eat meant removing their veiled hats… which was utterly inappropriate!

“In that case, we’ll go to another restaurant instead…”

“Sister-in-law, wait a moment.” Ling Jingyan cut in, hurrying to interrupt Jiang Shi, then turned to the waiter. “You weren’t being honest just now, were you! Even if the second floor has no private rooms, the third floor surely does. Every day, Dingxiang Tower reserves a few of its best private rooms overlooking the street, in case distinguished guests arrive. These rooms are named after the Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. Are any of them occupied right now?”

The waiter was startled for a moment, then quickly forced an apologetic smile. “I never expected this young lady to know about our four rooms — Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. So you must be a regular patron of Dingxiang Tower. This humble one failed to recognize an honored guest and was rude. Please don’t be offended, miss!”

Jiang Shi looked at Ling Jingyan with some surprise, then teased with a smile, “A’Yan, since when did you become a regular here? Why didn’t I know about this?”

She knew well enough that this young sister-in-law had a playful, lively temperament. But ordinarily she stayed within the women’s quarters, with few chances to go out. How could she have ever come to Dingxiang Tower before?

Under Jiang Shi’s gaze, Ling Jingyan felt a flicker of guilt and did not bother explaining further, saying vaguely, “I just happened to come once or twice before, that’s all.”

It seemed that it was during one of those “once or twice” that she had encountered His Highness Prince Yan…

Ling Jingshu thought to herself, then spoke up with a smile to rescue Ling Jingyan from the awkward moment. “Cousin-in-law, since we’ve already come, we really ought to taste Dingxiang Tower’s dishes ourselves, or the trip will have been for nothing. There are people coming and going at the entrance — let’s go inside and talk further there!”

Jiang Shi nodded.

Inwardly, Ling Jingyan was secretly pleased, though she had to force herself to appear indifferent, which was no small effort.

Ling Jingshu and the others followed the waiter into Dingxiang Tower.

A group of women like this naturally drew attention. Even with their faces covered, they still attracted no small number of stares.

Jiang Shi felt as though there were thorns at her back, but since they had already come, it was too late for regret. Better to hurry upstairs to the third-floor private room.

Unfortunately, things did not go as hoped.

The waiter exchanged a few murmured words with the shopkeeper on the ground floor. The shopkeeper’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then he stepped forward to apologize. “Esteemed guests, I’m truly sorry. Of our shop’s four best private rooms, three already have guests. Only one remains…”

“Since one is still available, we’ll take that one,” Ling Jingyan cut in without giving anyone a chance to object.

The shopkeeper’s face showed difficulty. “Please be patient, miss, and let me finish. The remaining room has been permanently reserved by His Highness Prince Yan and is never given to other guests. I beg your understanding!”

So it really was Prince Yan!

Ling Jingshu’s suspicion was confirmed, though the confirmation brought her little joy.

At the words “His Highness Prince Yan,” the image of a wild, unrestrained, handsome young face flashed swiftly through Ling Jingyan’s mind, and her pretty face flushed crimson at once.

Fortunately, the sheer veil covered her face just then, or she certainly could not have hidden it from the observant Jiang Shi or the sharp-eyed Ling Jingshu.

Completely unaware that she had already given herself away, Ling Jingyan asked in a tone that carried a hint of hope, “Could it be that His Highness Prince Yan will also come today?”

“No, not today,” the shopkeeper said with an apologetic smile. “His Highness Prince Yan only comes by two or three times a month, never at a fixed time — it all depends on his mood. He was just here a few days ago, so he probably won’t be coming again anytime soon. Still, since this room has been reserved by His Highness, it really isn’t proper to let other guests use it. Please forgive the inconvenience.”

Prince Yan would not be coming today!

A deep disappointment rose in Ling Jingyan’s heart.

She had gone to great lengths to persuade her mother to let her go out, had dressed herself with care today, and had come specifically to Dingxiang Tower, all in hopes of a lovely “chance encounter.”

Now, it seemed, all of it had been for nothing…

The more Ling Jingyan thought about it, the more dejected she felt, and she lowered her head without a word.

By now, Jiang Shi too had noticed that something was off with Ling Jingyan. But it wasn’t the moment to ask in detail; instead, she had to help cover for her a little.

Jiang Shi cleared her throat and said, “Since the shopkeeper has explained things this way, we really shouldn’t make this difficult for you. But the few of us came a long way specifically because of your reputation. Now that there happens to be a private room free, why would you turn us away?”

“You yourself said His Highness only just came not long ago and won’t be back again anytime soon. We’ll simply have a meal and leave — it won’t take much time at all. As long as you don’t mention it, how would His Highness ever find out?”

“To show our sincerity, whatever the usual charge for this room, we’ll pay three times that amount. How does that sound?”

Whether it was Jiang Shi’s clever tongue that did the trick, or the offer of triple payment, was hard to say.

The shopkeeper hesitated briefly, then finally agreed.

The waiter led the group up to the third floor, stopping before a private room marked “Bamboo Listening,” and pushed the door open with a smile. “Please, esteemed guests, come in.”

Ling Jingshu stepped inside, and at a single glance around the room, gave a small nod of approval.

The room was spacious and immaculate, without a speck of dust.

A splash-ink landscape painting hung on the wall. No one knew whose master hand had created it, but it lent the room an extra touch of elegance.

A sturdy round table made of rosewood was large enough to seat a full twelve people.

Beside the round table stood a pot of peonies in full bloom, so vivid and lush they seemed to drip with color, their fragrance permeating the air and soothing the senses.

Jiang Shi, too, was quite pleased with the room, and said to Ling Jingyan with a smile, “It really does look lovely. At least it was worth all the trouble and money we spent today.”

Feeling somewhat flustered under the attention, Ling Jingyan forced a smile and said, “Just wait until we taste a few of their most famous dishes later — I guarantee you’ll all be satisfied, and the trip will not have been wasted.”

Just as she spoke, an unusual commotion suddenly arose outside the door.