Those attending court today discovered that Minister Zhao was in poor spirits, as if he had encountered some vexing matter.

As it happened, there were several troublesome issues to discuss, and one thing led to another until court was dismissed at dusk.

The Minister of Works, who had a decent relationship with Minister Zhao, approached and asked: “Why does Minister Zhao look so worried? Could it be you’ve encountered a difficult case?”

“No.” Minister Zhao walked outward, responding listlessly.

The Minister of Works smiled: “True enough. You have a capable subordinate—no case takes too long to solve.”

“Yes, Lin Teng is very competent.” When Minister Zhao thought of Lin Teng, he thought of Lin Shu, who could get half-price at Youjian Tavern.

This train of thought made him feel even more stifled.

If only he could arrange for Lin Shu to come work at the Ministry of Justice, but alas, that child wouldn’t enter government service.

What a pity!

Seeing Minister Zhao reveal a regretful expression, the Minister of Works grew even more curious: “Brother Zhao, what’s really the matter? If you’ve encountered difficulties, why not tell me about them?”

Minister Zhao glanced at his old friend and said directly: “Short of money.”

“What?” The Minister of Works thought he’d misheard.

Several ministers walking nearby who had been straining their ears also thought they’d misheard.

They hadn’t heard of any shortfall in the Zhao estate—yet Minister Zhao was publicly saying he was short of money.

This, this must be an enormous difficulty!

The Minister of Works’s expression turned serious: “How much does Brother Zhao need? I have some private savings that could help in an emergency—”

Minister Zhao shook his head and sighed: “Hard to say.”

Seeing that he’d attracted quite a bit of attention, Minister Zhao didn’t bother concealing it.

After all, he couldn’t be the only one eating through his private savings.

“It’s like this—a few days ago, a tavern opened on Qingxing Street…”

After hearing Minister Zhao’s explanation, everyone swallowed in unison.

“Minister Zhao, is the food at that tavern really that good?”

“Do I have nothing better to do than make fun of you all?” Hearing others question his taste, Minister Zhao immediately grew displeased.

The Minister of Works was quite puzzled: “If that’s the case, just go eat there. Why must Brother Zhao be so gloomy?”

“It’s expensive!” Minister Zhao stamped his foot and sighed deeply. “Too expensive.”

One meal cost several hundred taels of silver—even as a second-rank official, he couldn’t afford it!

After all, his annual salary plus the income from his shops and estates were all controlled by his wife. Accumulating private savings wasn’t easy for him.

He calculated that he could eat there at most once a month, no more.

But thinking about only being able to eat Youjian Tavern’s food once a month, spending the rest of his three daily meals eating pig slop—how could his mood be good?

Heh, being able to force himself to attend court without requesting sick leave was already quite good.

The Minister of Works thought to himself: How expensive could one tavern be to make Old Zhao so worried?

He immediately extended an invitation: “Since Youjian Tavern’s food and drink are so delicious, let me treat Brother Zhao to a cup and sample it myself.”

“Brother Qian is treating?” Minister Zhao’s eyes immediately brightened.

He had eaten there three times—the first two meals were treated by others, and only the last one he’d paid for himself.

Just that one time immediately awakened him, and he painfully decided not to go eat tonight.

Who would have thought someone would offer to treat him!

Minister Zhao grasped Minister Qian’s hand, his voice trembling: “Brother Qian, you’re truly a loyal friend.”

“Brother Zhao exaggerates—it’s just one meal and drinks.” Minister Qian glanced at the surrounding colleagues and smiled. “The more people, the merrier—why don’t we all go together—”

“Brother Qian!” Minister Zhao’s shout scared Minister Qian’s words back down his throat.

“Brother Zhao?”

Minister Zhao’s expression was serious: “Today, let’s just the two of us have a good talk.”

Old Qian was being so generous—he couldn’t let him come to harm.

After all, the Ministry of Works had no profitable opportunities. Old Qian wasn’t well-off either.

Seeing the two ministers walk off shoulder to shoulder, those left behind exchanged glances.

“Is that newly opened tavern really that good?”

“Minister Zhao loves to eat most of all. If he thinks it’s good, it can’t be bad.”

“Didn’t you hear Minister Zhao say it’s quite expensive? You get what you pay for…”

“Why don’t we—go try it too?”

“Let’s go try it. Qingxing Street is close by anyway.”

Minister Zhao, who had left first, didn’t know that a whole crowd of people was following in their footsteps.

Unlike important ministers like Minister Zhao, prestigious officials like Director Lin of the Imperial Academy didn’t need to waste time arguing back and forth at court.

But Director Lin was similarly in poor spirits.

For no other reason than having eaten at Youjian Tavern for two days straight, the thought of eating at home tonight was unbearable.

But there was no helping it—his pockets were empty. Even bringing his second grandson for the half-price discount, he couldn’t go eat there every day.

Take it slow. When the craving became unbearable, he’d go again.

Officials at the Imperial Academy were all quite leisurely. Seeing their superior in a bad mood, they quickly discovered the reason.

It was actually because he couldn’t eat at a certain tavern?

Their superior wasn’t such a shallow person—surely not!

Silently watching Director Lin leave office listlessly, several curious subordinates agreed to go to Qingxing Street together.

At this moment, Youjian Tavern had just opened.

Sheng Sanlang wiped the tables clean, worrying: “With three more rice buckets today, will we have enough to eat?”

“Not necessarily. Minister Zhao, who came three days straight, probably can’t bear to come eat anymore. Director Lin, who came two days straight, probably has no money left. Though their wives have ample funds, the mistresses of households can’t run out to eat every day, right? Calculating it this way, maybe only our master will come tonight.” Shi Yan didn’t know if he was comforting Sheng Sanlang or himself.

Sheng Sanlang glanced at Shi Yan and sighed: “Your prince doesn’t eat little either.”

Shi Yan couldn’t help but nod: “Who says he doesn’t?”

As the two worried, Minister Zhao walked in leading Minister Qian.

“Brother Qian, this is the place.”

Shi Yan was shocked: “You’ve come again—”

Minister Zhao was absolutely brimming with satisfaction: “Minister Qian is treating! Quick, tell me what today’s new dishes are.”

After hearing the prices, Minister Qian’s lips turned pale and his eyes went blank.

He, he was just a poor old man managing the Ministry of Works!

Just as the food and drink were served here, seven or eight customers suddenly surged in.

Now even Hong Dou couldn’t sit still, speaking rapidly: “Let the honorable sirs know—our tavern’s food and drink aren’t cheap.”

Everyone exchanged glances and couldn’t help but grow annoyed.

They were at least important court ministers—who was this server looking down on!

“Bring the food!”

“Bring the wine!”

Before long, another group entered.

Smelling the unbearable fragrance, hearing the charming little server’s dismissive words, those newly arrived had only one reaction.

“Bring the food! Bring the wine!”

Like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, cups and plates lay in disarray.

Table after table of diners departed in both pain and satisfaction.

Too expensive, too delicious.

When they’d saved enough money, they’d come again…

Night fell deeper. Wei Han arrived late to find Sheng Sanlang and the others clearing tables with iron-dark expressions, slightly surprised.

After standing for a moment without being attended to, he called out to Shi Yan.

The little guard, whose reactions were slow from suffering such a blow, only then realized his master had arrived and walked over with vacant eyes.

“Master, you’ve come too late—it’s all gone…”

Wei Han frowned and couldn’t help but look at Luo Sheng.

All gone—did that mean what he thought it meant?

Luo Sheng smiled slightly: “My apologies, the food and drink are sold out. Please come early tomorrow, Your Highness.”