Wei Qiang smiled at Luo Sheng: “Then I must thank Miss Luo.”

“I’m merely presenting borrowed flowers as a gift—I don’t deserve Your Highness’s thanks. Will Your Highness eat here or take it away?”

Sensing the cold air emanating from a certain someone, Wei Qiang smiled: “I’ll take it away.”

Taking it back, he could also let Yu Niang taste it.

After eating that bowl of sour fish brain noodle soup, Yu Niang had once again lost all appetite, her pallid complexion worrying.

Luo Sheng picked up one beggar’s pork knuckle, cushioned it with lotus leaves, and handed it to Wei Qiang, reminding him coolly: “Your Highness, be careful not to burn your hands.”

The lotus leaves had originally been dried. After soaking, they could be used to wrap knuckles for making beggar’s pork knuckle, and could also be used for beggar’s chicken.

These dried lotus leaves had been obtained from the traveling imperial chefs.

The Emperor’s travels were grand affairs requiring thoughtful consideration of every aspect. Concerning the Emperor’s meals, naturally various ingredients had to be prepared.

After all, once they reached the North River, it wouldn’t be as convenient as in the capital.

Wei Qiang cradled the hot, fragrant knuckle, somewhat troubled: “Could I borrow a food box?”

If he walked back to his tent from Miss Luo’s place carrying a large knuckle, he would probably draw quite a few stares along the way.

Luo Sheng raised her eyes to look at him and explained: “The mud shell has already been cracked open. If you put it in a food box and seal it, it will affect the taste.”

“I see.” Hearing Luo Sheng say this, Wei Qiang had no choice but to give up.

“Royal Uncle, Miss Luo, I’ll take my leave first.”

He had only walked a short distance cradling the knuckle when he encountered Grand Commander Luo coming toward him.

“Greetings to Your Highness.”

“Grand Commander, no need for formality.”

Grand Commander Luo’s eyes stuck to what Wei Qiang was holding: “What is Your Highness carrying?”

It smelled incredibly fragrant!

“Miss Luo said this dish is called beggar’s pork knuckle.”

“Beggar’s pork knuckle—” Grand Commander Luo examined it carefully and saw that one corner of the ugly mud shell had been broken open, revealing wrinkled, tender red meat glistening with oil.

Thinking of a certain possibility, Grand Commander Luo’s expression changed.

This was bad—a pig only had four legs total. If the Crown Prince took one knuckle away, only three would remain!

Thinking of his son, thinking of his nephew, and then thinking of Prince Kaiyang who always had the gall to come mooch food…

Grand Commander Luo couldn’t be bothered to say more. He hastily took his leave from Wei Qiang and rushed toward Luo Sheng’s location.

Luo Sheng was just lifting the pot lid to sprinkle chopped wild scallions cut into segments over the fragrant, tender stewed rabbit meat when she glimpsed Grand Commander Luo from the corner of her eye. She replaced the lid and greeted him: “Why has Father come?”

Grand Commander Luo: “…”

He didn’t know if Sheng’er was doing it on purpose, but why did she always ask such awkward questions?

“Just came to take a look.” He glanced around, his gaze falling on Wei Han.

“So Your Highness is here as well.”

The prince who was preparing to eat his knuckle reluctantly set down the beggar’s pork knuckle and nodded slightly: “I didn’t expect the Grand Commander to come over as well.”

Grand Commander Luo’s expression twisted for a moment.

What nonsense was this!

This was his daughters’ resting tent—was there a problem with him as their father coming over?

How could a young prince who had yet to marry have the audacity to constantly hang around here and say such things?

Scanning further to see the two knuckles placed on lotus leaves spread beside the young man, Grand Commander Luo nearly forgot the person before him’s status and fought with him.

Three knuckles, and Prince Kaiyang was eating two by himself?

“Your Highness is eating knuckles.”

Wei Han picked up the knuckle he had set down and nodded calmly: “Yes, from my catch today.”

Grand Commander Luo fell silent.

So Prince Kaiyang had hunted a wild boar just for this meal of beggar’s pork knuckles?

Since it was his catch, what more could be said? If he had known, he would have hunted a wild boar to send over as well.

Sheng Sanlang picked up the last beggar’s pork knuckle and handed it to Grand Commander Luo: “Uncle, try this knuckle. The taste is simply exceptional.”

Grand Commander Luo couldn’t help but be moved.

See, in the end his nephew was still useful—outsiders were just outsiders.

Eating two knuckles by himself—what use was such a son-in-law?

No, he should still sound out Sanlang’s opinion.

Not wanting to look at Prince Kaiyang hoarding two knuckles any longer, Grand Commander Luo left carrying the beggar’s pork knuckle his nephew had filially offered.

“Xiu Gu, is the second batch of knuckles almost ready?” Sheng Sanlang asked while gnawing on a meat skewer.

Fortunately he had been clever—as soon as he saw Prince Kaiyang hunt a wild boar, he thought of the beggar’s pork knuckle his cousin had made on the road to the capital.

Just thinking about beggar’s pork knuckle made him drool uncontrollably, so he went to find those who had hunted wild boar and begged them for their catch.

“They’re ready, come eat.”

Four knuckles—Sheng Sanlang got one, Luo Chen and Xiao Qi each got one, and the remaining one naturally went to Hong Dou.

Watching the four of them gnaw contentedly on their knuckles, Wei Han frowned and pushed the knuckle on the lotus leaves before Luo Sheng.

“Miss Luo should eat some as well.”

Luo Chen’s eyes flickered.

He was actually willing to share one knuckle with Luo Sheng.

Sheng Sanlang was also astonished.

To be willing to give away such a delicious knuckle—how much willpower must Prince Kaiyang have used!

Luo Sheng smiled: “Your Highness should eat. I’m not very hungry.”

Wei Han looked at her seriously, and seeing she didn’t seem to be pretending, only then did he nod slightly.

Wei Qiang walked back all the way cradling the beggar’s pork knuckle, encountering countless people who saluted along the way.

Looking at the Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud who was cupping his hands in salute, he didn’t need to think to know what would come next.

“What is Your Highness carrying?”

“Beggar’s pork knuckle, made by the head chef of Youjian Tavern, using wild boar.” Having smoothly delivered these lines, Wei Qiang strode past Minister Wang.

Minister Wang twitched his nose.

It smelled wonderful.

Too bad he didn’t have the skill to hunt wild boar.

Wei Qiang quickened his pace and finally returned to the golden tent.

“Yu Niang, look what I brought.” He placed the beggar’s pork knuckle cushioned with lotus leaves on the table and invited Chao Hua to taste it.

Chao Hua ate a few bites, then set down her chopsticks.

“Why did you stop eating?”

Chao Hua smiled gently: “The knuckle is delicious, but eating too much feels a bit greasy.”

“Your appetite is too poor.” As Wei Qiang spoke, he recalled the bowl of sour soup noodles that had been eaten clean.

“You ate quite a bit of that sour fish brain noodle soup last time.”

Chao Hua replied bashfully: “The sour fish brain noodle soup made by Youjian Tavern’s head chef indeed suits my taste.”

Wei Qiang silently took note. After finishing the meal and resting briefly, he left the golden tent and headed toward Luo Sheng’s location.

“Miss Luo isn’t here?” Hearing Luo Qing’s words, Wei Qiang was somewhat surprised.

After hunting and eating, if she wasn’t in the tent, where could she be?

Luo Qing replied respectfully: “Third Sister has taken our younger brother to practice archery.”

Wei Qiang raised his eyebrows with a smile: “Miss Luo truly cares for her younger brother. Does Second Miss Luo know where Miss Luo is practicing archery?”

Luo Qing indicated the location, and Wei Qiang turned to leave.

“Your attention must be focused, don’t be nervous. Once you’re familiar with the bow and arrow it will be fine… Hold the bow like I do…”

The gentle, soothing voice carried on the breeze into his ears, like autumn waters and clear springs that should have calmed one’s irritation.

But Wei Qiang suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring unblinkingly at the young woman drawing her bow, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

The arrow flew out, accurately hitting the bullseye.

But Wei Qiang felt that arrow had struck not the target’s center, but his heart.

Instantly leaving it a bloody, mangled, shattered mess.