Wei Han arrived at the wine shop somewhat late today and encountered Wei Feng leaving just as he reached the entrance.
“Uncle Wang.” Wei Feng suppressed his annoyance and offered a greeting.
He had come to the wine shop to clear his mind, never expecting to encounter such bad luck as being pecked by a goose.
It seemed to have made things even worse.
Wei Han glanced at Wei Feng and asked coolly: “Has Feng’er already eaten?”
Wei Feng forced himself to reply: “I have.”
Wei Han nodded and walked past Wei Feng.
Wei Feng walked several zhang with a stern face, then stopped and looked back.
The wine shop was filled with moving shadows. That relaxed and carefree liveliness could be felt even from this distance, yet every time he came here, unpleasant things happened.
He would never come here again!
Wei Feng swore in his heart, but suddenly the image of the youth’s smiling expression flashed through his mind, and his just-made resolution was overturned.
He would still come—after all, the wine and food at Youjian Wine Shop couldn’t be matched elsewhere.
As for that flat-feathered beast, sooner or later he would wring its neck!
Wei Han entered the wine shop and immediately looked toward the counter.
That familiar figure was not there.
Was Miss Luo in the back courtyard?
Today was the agreed-upon day for taking goose blood for treatment. He wondered if Miss Luo had prepared everything.
Well, he should go to the back to check—after all, this was an important matter.
Wei Han walked directly toward the door leading from the main hall to the back courtyard.
Sheng Sanlang had already returned to the main hall. Seeing Wei Han walking toward the back, remembering Luo Sheng’s words, he hurried after him: “Prince, please wait!”
Wei Han looked at him calmly.
Sheng Sanlang smiled: “Prince, aren’t you going to sit in your usual spot to drink?”
“I want to use the privy.”
“The privy? Our wine shop doesn’t provide privy access.”
Wei Han frowned.
When had this new rule been established? How did he not know about it?
Seeing Wei Han had no intention of turning around, Sheng Sanlang kindly reminded him: “We also don’t provide a place to change clothes.”
This time Wei Han was truly confused, but his intention to see Miss Luo was clear: “Is Miss Luo in the back?”
“Uh, my cousin is there.”
“I have business with Miss Luo.”
Sheng Sanlang showed a relieved smile: “Then please go in, Prince.”
The female manager witnessing all this propped one hand on the counter and sighed deeply.
Blocking him from going to the privy, but quickly letting him through to see the proprietress—wasn’t this backwards?
When Wei Han went over, Luo Sheng was talking with Fuxue.
“Dabai looks very spirited. You’ve taken good care of him.”
Receiving praise, Fuxue immediately showed a shy smile and said timidly: “Thank you for the compliment, Miss. Taking good care of Dabai is what I should do.”
If he was useful in the young lady’s eyes, she wouldn’t send him away, would she?
That time when the young lady suddenly drove him away had terrified him.
Thinking of that fear, Fuxue looked at Luo Sheng with pleading eyes: “Miss, could you have Brother Mingzhu come here too, to help me take care of Dabai?”
At the mention of Mingzhu, Luo Sheng’s tone became slightly cooler: “Having you and Shi Yan take care of Dabai together is enough. Mingzhu should remain at the manor.”
“But Brother Mingzhu is very lonely staying at the manor alone.” Seeing Luo Sheng’s attitude wasn’t bad, the youth gathered his courage: “Miss, actually Brother Mingzhu really wants to see you…”
Wei Han stood not far away, catching every word the youth said, his expression gradually cooling.
A fifteen-year-old young woman and a thirteen or fourteen-year-old youth huddled together speaking in whispers.
This scene was somewhat glaring to look at, but toward a half-grown youth, he couldn’t quite bring himself to take issue.
Ha, what had he heard?
Brother Mingzhu wanted to see Miss Luo?
Mingzhu—regarding that youth of exceptional grace and bearing, Wei Han’s impression was fairly deep. Hearing these words, he couldn’t help but press his thin lips together tightly.
“Master, you’ve arrived!” Shi Yan walked over quickly.
Wei Han glanced at Shi Yan and walked toward Luo Sheng.
Fuxue watched the man approaching closer and closer, his heart involuntarily tensing.
Brother Mingzhu had said this person was an important figure, extremely formidable…
He instinctively stepped back, standing behind Luo Sheng.
A hand fell on Fuxue’s shoulder and patted gently.
Fuxue looked up at the owner of that hand, his face full of helplessness.
Wei Han chuckled lightly, his voice low: “Little brother, hiding behind a young lady when encountering situations is not a good habit.”
Fuxue’s face suddenly flushed red as he stammered: “I…”
He looked at Luo Sheng again: “She…”
The man who was much taller than him had a bland expression and a smile at the corners of his mouth, but this only made him more nervous.
Because of his nervousness, words tumbled out: “She is my master!”
How could master and young lady be the same?
Master?
Wei Han raised an eyebrow and looked at Luo Sheng, his expression subtly changing.
Luo Sheng remained completely composed: “Why doesn’t the Prince eat first? After the wine shop closes, we’ll invite the divine physician over.”
“Alright.” Wei Han readily agreed but didn’t move.
“Does the Prince have other business?”
“Uh, I want to see Dabai.”
Luo Sheng was silent for a moment, then said: “The Prince can look down.”
Wei Han looked down and met eyes with the white goose lying at Fuxue’s feet.
Man and goose, separated by barely two chi.
Dabai stared at Wei Han, eager to try.
It had bitten this person before. He seemed to pose no threat.
Having made this judgment, Dabai immediately lunged forward.
Wei Han didn’t dodge.
In a moment, he would need to take this goose’s blood to treat his illness. Letting it bite him once would make them even.
Of course, the main reason was that this goose was raised by Miss Luo—if it were hurt or injured, that would be difficult to explain.
A goose that had lived twelve years—if it were human, it would probably be an elderly person of advanced age who might break bones at the slightest touch, wouldn’t it?
Thinking this way, Wei Han had twelve parts tolerance for the white goose.
Then, the white goose pecked off the twin fish jade pendant tied to the jade belt at someone’s waist.
In that instant, Wei Han’s first reaction was to use his hand to protect his belt.
The scene fell into strange silence.
Dabai carried the jade pendant in his beak and ran toward Fuxue.
Wei Han’s gaze suddenly turned cold.
Was this goose about to give his personal jade pendant to Miss Luo’s male companion?
Geese were most prone to bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Sensing something was wrong, Dabai released his beak. The jade pendant fell onto Luo Sheng’s skirt hem as he honked and fled.
A goose feather flew up and fluttered down to the ground.
Fuxue was nearly frightened to tears: “Miss, Dabai didn’t do it on purpose…”
Having offended Prince Kaiyang, would the young lady really slaughter Dabai and make a whole goose feast?
When Brother Mingzhu mentioned Prince Kaiyang, his expression had been quite grave.
Luo Sheng bent down to pick up the jade pendant.
The jade was finest white jade, carved into a twin fish pattern, feeling smooth and warm when held.
Luo Sheng extended the jade pendant: “Your jade pendant, Prince.”
Truthfully, she somewhat suspected Prince Kaiyang had a strange fetish for having people pull his belt.
First Miss Luo had pulled off his belt, and now Dabai had nearly pulled off his belt—wasn’t Prince Kaiyang doing this on purpose?
Wei Han felt Luo Sheng was looking at him somewhat strangely, but for a moment couldn’t quite sort out why.
Looking at the extended jade pendant, he blurted out: “I’m giving it to Miss Luo.”
Luo Sheng raised an eyebrow.
What was the reason for this?
Wei Han cleared his throat lightly and said: “Didn’t Dabai deliver it to Miss Luo on my behalf? How could I take back something already given?”
Dabai, who had fled to the base of the wall: “Ga?”