The next day, the Minister’s wife headed straight for a certain wine establishment.

She did care somewhat about Miss Luo’s reputation, but caring aside, one still had to eat.

Who could blame the old man for coming home two days in a row with his beard smelling so fragrant?

Walking along Qingxing Street, the Minister’s wife encountered an acquaintance head-on.

“Old Madam Wang, it’s been so long!” The Minister’s wife took the initiative to greet her.

She had run into Old Madam Wang of the Duke of Ningguo’s household. The woman supporting Old Madam Wang was her daughter-in-law, the wife of the Duke of Ningguo.

Standing to one side of the Duke’s wife was a young lady the Minister’s wife also recognized—the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Changchun’s household.

Regarding this eldest daughter of the Marquis of Changchun’s household, because she had maternal relatives who had committed crimes, the Minister’s wife had little warmth for her. Of course, she wouldn’t deliberately show dislike either.

Old Madam Wang was also somewhat surprised to see the Minister’s wife, and said with a smile: “What a coincidence! Is Old Madam Liu heading to the Treasure Pavilion? Why didn’t you have your daughter-in-law accompany you?”

Have her daughter-in-law accompany her? How would that do?

The Minister’s wife figured that if the food at You Jian Wine House really was delicious, she might eat quite a bit more, and it wouldn’t look good if her daughter-in-law saw that.

“I’m not going to the Treasure Pavilion. Is Old Madam Wang taking her daughter-in-law to browse the Treasure Pavilion?”

Old Madam Wang smiled: “I’m not going to the Treasure Pavilion either.”

Saying this, she pointed to the young lady with a respectful demeanor: “Yesterday someone sent a plate of braised beef to Miss Fang. Being filial, Miss Fang sent it to my daughter-in-law and me to eat. We thought it tasted good, so today we’re coming together to try more.”

“Which braised beef place is so delicious that it would make Old Madam Wang specially go out?” As she said this, the Minister’s wife already had a premonition.

Sure enough, she heard Old Madam Wang say: “According to Miss Fang, it’s a wine establishment called You Jian Wine House.”

The Minister’s wife smiled: “What a coincidence, I’m also going to You Jian Wine House—”

Before she finished speaking, the Minister’s wife’s tone changed slightly: “You Jian Wine House sent braised beef to the Duke’s residence?”

Old Madam Wang didn’t understand why, and casually replied: “Yes, specifically sent to Miss Fang.”

The Minister’s wife’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

That wasn’t right. Yesterday when the old man came back eating until his mouth dripped with oil, that’s not what he said.

The old man said the wine house didn’t allow takeout!

Thunder and lightning flashed in the Minister’s wife’s heart, but her face maintained a smile: “Since we’re all going to You Jian Wine House, let’s go together. It’s been some time since I’ve had tea with Old Madam Wang.”

“That sounds wonderful, let’s go together.”

The two groups merged into one, and after walking just a few steps, they encountered another acquaintance.

“Is the Chancellor’s wife in the mood to go shopping today?”

Old Madam Lin naturally wasn’t out shopping.

Early this morning, the steward had placed a bill before her eyes, saying that last night the old man had treated people to drinks and charged it to account, and the wine establishment had come to collect payment.

When she looked, she nearly fainted.

Four hundred and sixty-five taels of silver!

Upon careful inquiry, it was just a small wine establishment.

Had the old thing treated people to dragon liver and phoenix marrow? One meal cost over four hundred taels?

The Chancellor’s wife simply didn’t believe it.

Had the old thing failed to maintain his integrity in old age, and actually gone carousing at Golden Water River instead?

Hatefully, the old thing had gone to the office at the crack of dawn, leaving her unable to ask even if she wanted to.

Since that was the case, she might as well personally visit the wine establishment to investigate thoroughly, then decide her attitude toward the old thing tonight.

Of course, she couldn’t reveal these thoughts to outsiders.

The Chancellor’s wife smiled slightly: “What shopping at this hour? I heard there’s a newly opened wine establishment on Qingxing Street with excellent flavors. I’m coming to try it.”

The Minister’s wife and Old Madam of the Duke of Ningguo exchanged glances and couldn’t help but smile.

“Is the Chancellor’s wife going to You Jian Wine House?” Old Madam of the Duke of Ningguo asked.

The Chancellor’s wife was startled: “Old Madam Wang knows about You Jian Wine House too?”

The Duke of Ningguo’s household was full of military talent, and many men had been lost to swords and blades on the battlefield. Old Madam of the Duke of Ningguo had been widowed in her early years and actually didn’t go out much.

Old Madam Wang smiled: “I also heard this newly opened wine establishment has good flavors, so I’m coming to try it.”

With their objectives aligned, they naturally went together.

At this time, the wine establishment had just opened.

Hong Dou stood lazily by the door. Seeing the Minister’s wife and the others approaching, she exclaimed: “Oh my, so many female guests have arrived!”

The female proprietress quickly walked over and pushed Hong Dou aside, showing the Minister’s wife and the others an enthusiastic and genuine smile: “Please come in, ladies.”

What a girl who couldn’t speak properly—what was strange about the wine establishment having female guests? Making such a fuss would only cause people to develop certain misunderstandings about the establishment.

The Minister’s wife and the others walked into the main hall and looked around, nodding inwardly in approval.

It did look quite clean.

However, given their status, sitting in the main hall to dine would be somewhat inappropriate.

“Do you have private rooms?” the Minister’s wife asked.

“Yes, please go upstairs.” The female proprietress personally led them up the stairs.

Of course there were private rooms. Not long ago, she had entertained the new owner in a private room.

Though back then she was selling rouge and powder.

Thank heaven the new owner bought the cosmetics shop and converted it into a wine establishment, giving her food to eat from then on.

Before? Before, what she ate wasn’t food—it was pig slop.

The Minister’s wife and the others entered the private room and sat down, taking another look around.

The private room wasn’t large, decorated simply. With their discerning eyes, they could tell at a glance that the seemingly ordinary vase placed on the tall table was actually an old piece from the Liang period, worth ten thousand gold.

As for that duck-beak incense burner gently releasing elegant fragrance, it had even more history.

This understated luxury put the noble ladies at ease.

What they were familiar with in daily life was precisely this kind of environment.

“What would the ladies like to eat?”

At this point, it would generally be whoever was hosting who would respond.

The Minister’s wife thought about how for two consecutive days, someone had treated Minister Zhao to meals here. Even if the prices were somewhat expensive, they surely couldn’t be more expensive than the best restaurant in the capital, Five Flavors Studio, right?

Meeting Old Madam of the Duke of Ningguo and the Chancellor’s wife by rare chance, it was fine for her to host.

“What do you have?” the Minister’s wife asked with a smile.

Seeing the Minister’s wife speak first, Old Madam of the Duke of Ningguo and the Chancellor’s wife didn’t politely争抢 to host.

It was just one meal—given their status, fighting over it would actually invite ridicule.

At this point, the Chancellor’s wife obviously still didn’t believe that Chancellor Lin’s enormous bill was simply from eating.

“Our wine establishment’s main dishes today are oil-drizzled young chicken and thousand-layer tripe. We also have braised beef and sauce-braised duck tongue for sale, but these two items are limited to one plate per table.” The female proprietress introduced.

Kou’er, who had followed them in, hastily added: “The ladies are in luck—today our wine establishment also has Spanish mackerel dumplings! Fresh Spanish mackerel meat mixed with just a pinch of chives wrapped into dumplings, thin skin and generous filling, tender and juicy. Dipped in vinegar, they’re absolutely delicious!”

Seeing the Minister’s wife and the others were clearly tempted, Kou’er eloquently reported the prices: “The oil-drizzled young chicken and braised beef are both twenty taels per serving, the thousand-layer tripe and sauce-braised duck tongue are thirty taels per plate, and the Spanish mackerel dumplings are ten taels per serving. Oh right, our wine establishment also sells orange wine. Our orange wine is nothing like what’s on the market—it’s transparent and clear, not the slightest bit cloudy. If the ladies don’t try it, you’ll really be missing out…”

Thinking of the delicious braised beef she’d eaten last night, Old Madam of the Duke of Ningguo looked at the Minister’s wife: “Shall we give it a try?”