The restaurant would naturally continue operating well.

With this restaurant in place, civil and military officials, imperial clan nobles, and even the womenfolk of various households—as long as Luo Sheng wished, she could make contact with them all.

To Luo Sheng, this wasn’t just a restaurant, but a large net helping her ensnare certain people.

When the autumn hunt drew near, a sign was placed in a prominent spot in the Youjian Restaurant’s main hall where patrons could see it immediately upon entering.

The sign bore several large characters: Closed During Autumn Hunt.

On the day the sign was put up, the first to arrive at the restaurant was Minister Zhao.

Minister Zhao was stunned upon seeing the sign, then asked Hong Dou, the server attending him, “Closed during autumn hunt—what does this mean?”

Hong Dou casually glanced at the wooden sign, quite puzzled. “Didn’t you understand? When the autumn hunt comes, our restaurant will be closed.”

Minister Zhao nearly choked, his beard trembling. “I’m asking why it would be closed during the autumn hunt!”

Just then, Minister Qian entered. Hearing Minister Zhao’s words, he couldn’t help but freeze. “Closed? When?”

Minister Zhao stepped aside and pointed to the sign he’d been blocking. “See for yourself.”

Minister Qian looked and was greatly shocked. “What, what does this mean?”

Minister Zhao silently rolled his eyes.

See? Anyone who saw it would have to ask the same thing.

The female proprietor pushed Hong Dou aside and explained, “Honored guests, it’s like this—in a few days our boss is going to the autumn hunt. Coming and going will take at least a month or so, so our restaurant will close temporarily.”

“Wait.” Minister Zhao detected something off. “Miss Luo is going to the autumn hunt—why does the restaurant have to close?”

What connection did these two things have?

He was, after all, the Minister of Justice. Though not skilled at solving cases, he could still point out the problem incisively.

The female proprietor was weighing her words when Hong Dou declared righteously, “Our young miss is bringing the head chef along. If the restaurant doesn’t close, who will cook?”

“Bringing the head chef?” Minister Zhao and Minister Qian spoke in unison, faces full of shock.

Given that these two old men were regular customers, Hong Dou explained with a fairly good attitude, “Our young miss has grown accustomed to eating the dishes made by the restaurant’s head chef, so naturally she must bring him along.”

Minister Zhao and Minister Qian exchanged glances, both wearing grave expressions.

Soon they wouldn’t be able to eat at the Youjian Restaurant for over a month?

How could anyone live like this!

Miss Luo had only grown accustomed to eating the restaurant’s dishes—who hadn’t?

From the corner of his eye, Minister Zhao caught sight of a plainly dressed figure walking from the back courtyard into the main hall. He flicked his sleeve and strode over.

Luo Sheng looked at him calmly. “Does Minister Zhao need something?”

“Miss Luo, closing the restaurant just like that, and for a whole month at that—won’t it somewhat affect business?”

“Affect business?” Luo Sheng blinked. “It won’t. When the restaurant reopens, there might be even more patrons.”

Minister Zhao faltered, unwilling to give up, and tried again to persuade her. “But during this period of closure, there won’t be any business.”

Grand Commander Luo’s daughter really wasn’t cut out for business. How could she be so willful?

“It doesn’t matter if there isn’t any. We’ve earned quite a bit these past days anyway. It’s time to let the people busy at the restaurant rest properly.”

Busy my foot!

If a subordinate had said this, Minister Zhao would have wanted to jump up and curse.

Just this small restaurant, only serving ten tables of guests per evening, not counting the proprietor and head chef, had a full four servers plus several odd-job workers.

This could be called busy?

Supposedly after the restaurant closed for the night, these people still had meals provided!

He’d already decided that when he retired in the future and stopped being minister, he’d ask Grand Commander Luo if he could work part-time as an accountant at the restaurant.

Money wasn’t important—as long as meals were included.

Minister Qian patted Minister Zhao’s shoulder and sighed. “Brother Zhao, let’s just eat and drink first.”

Minister Zhao could only nod.

The two old ministers sat down at a random table with heavy hearts, then looked at the person across from them and both changed color simultaneously.

Oh no, how did they end up sitting at the same table as Old Qian (Old Zhao)? Who would pay the bill later?

The two remained silent until Hong Dou asked what dishes they wanted, and still neither spoke.

“Honored guests, take your time deciding. Just call me when you’re ready.”

Minister Qian, having slightly thinner face, gritted his teeth. “Bring two pots of liquor, one portion of oil-drizzled young chicken, and a plate of braised beef.”

“Add two plates of Spanish mackerel dumplings.” Minister Zhao followed suit.

“Right away.” Hong Dou smiled as she acknowledged the order and went to relay it.

At this moment, someone entered.

Minister Zhao and Minister Qian quickly rose to greet him. “Your Highness.”

The one who entered was Wei Qiang.

“No need for such formality, Ministers.” After exchanging greetings with the two ministers, Wei Qiang walked to a table and sat down.

This was his third time coming to drink here.

He’d discovered that the Youjian Restaurant had become another place he could go besides visiting Lady Yu when his mood was troubled.

Here he could order a pot of orange wine and two small dishes, slowly drinking until near closing time, and his whole person could relax somewhat.

As if returning to his youth.

Back then, he still didn’t know his parents’ plans.

Back then, the young woman he cherished was his fiancée.

The orange wine entered his mouth, and he felt only bitterness filling it.

A cold, indifferent voice sounded. “These small dishes are complimentary for the two Ministers.”

Wei Qiang couldn’t help but look over.

Minister Zhao and Minister Qian both raised their heads simultaneously, faces full of pleasant surprise.

Complimentary, complimentary dishes?

Could they have heard wrong?

Luo Sheng set down four small dish plates and explained, “I remember Minister Zhao came on the first day our restaurant opened—he’s an old customer. Plus, the restaurant will soon be closing temporarily, so I’m giving a few small dishes to express my appreciation.”

Upon hearing this, Minister Zhao was absolutely delighted, smugly glancing at Minister Qian.

These were complimentary dishes that money couldn’t buy.

Look—being able to eat today was entirely due to his merit.

Minister Qian had already mentally decided to break off relations with Minister Zhao, but quietly changed his mind at this moment.

Fine, for the sake of the complimentary dishes, he’d remain drinking and dining friends for now.

A voice rang out at the entrance. “The restaurant is closing?”

Wei Qiang also wanted to ask this question.

He’d just found a place where he could occasionally drown his sorrows, and it was closing?

The one who entered was Wei Han.

He didn’t look elsewhere—his gaze directly locked onto the young woman standing beside Minister Zhao’s table.

Luo Sheng looked over, helplessly pointing at the wooden sign. “Such a conspicuous sign standing there—doesn’t Your Highness even look?”

Only then did Wei Han notice the sign’s existence.

Reading the characters on it clearly, he frowned slightly. “So it’s for the autumn hunt. Is Miss Luo bringing the restaurant’s head chef along?”

“That’s right, bringing the chef along.” Luo Sheng replied neither coldly nor warmly and walked toward the counter.

Wei Han’s gaze pursued that figure, his eyes deepening.

Others all thought the Youjian Restaurant’s food and wine were made by that chef who never showed his face, but he knew that Miss Luo’s culinary skills surpassed even that chef’s.

Miss Luo was closing the restaurant and bringing the chef to the autumn hunt—could it really just be to have the chef assist her?

Wei Han walked to a window seat and sat down, sighing softly in his heart.

He didn’t care what shocking things Miss Luo might do—he only hoped she wouldn’t fall into trouble that would prevent the restaurant from continuing to operate long-term.

Well, even if there was trouble, it didn’t matter. After all, he would also be at the autumn hunt.