The food and drink were sold out?

Wei Han’s expression darkened.

For that brief moment, he even thought Miss Luo was targeting him specifically.

Of course, even with this feeling, there was nothing he could do about it.

As a dignified Prince of First Rank, he could hardly quibble with a young girl over a bite to eat.

Besides, he actually wasn’t someone who prioritized food and drink…

Wei Han touched his faintly aching stomach and walked toward Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng smiled: “Your Highness, please come again tomorrow. Our tavern is closing.”

Wei Han ignored these words and placed a wooden box on the counter.

Luo Sheng glanced at it casually, looking at him in puzzlement.

“Miss Luo’s tavern has opened, yet I haven’t sent a congratulatory gift—truly discourteous of me.”

Luo Sheng’s tone was indifferent: “Your Highness and I have no deep acquaintance, and moreover, men and women should maintain proper distance. It was only natural that Your Highness didn’t send a congratulatory gift—how could that be discourteous? Your Highness should take this back.”

This was Wei Han’s first time giving a gift to a woman, and he hadn’t expected to be refused so decisively, with the reason being that men and women should maintain proper distance…

Even Shi Yan, whose mood was currently low, couldn’t stand listening to this.

Miss Luo was being somewhat unfair.

She could talk about maintaining proper distance with anyone else, but talking about it with their master—wasn’t that turning the tables on him?

Shi Yan blinked frantically at Wei Han.

Master, bring up the matter of Miss Luo pulling off your belt!

Wei Han certainly hadn’t forgotten this incident that to this day remained fodder for many people’s idle gossip.

But he didn’t plan to mention it again.

From the journey to the capital until now, through various encounters, he could already confirm that Miss Luo had no interest in him.

Since that was the case, bringing up such matters again would be meaningless.

Wei Han pushed the wooden box toward Luo Sheng, his expression calm: “In my heart, a friend is a friend—there is only distinction of character, not of gender.”

Shi Yan covered his face.

Heavens above, his master would probably spend this lifetime waiting for His Majesty to arrange a marriage for him—relying on himself to win over a wife was impossible.

He was actually discussing character with a beautiful young lady, directly stating he considered her a friend.

It was fine to say that, but couldn’t he at least make it seem a bit more suggestive? Why maintain such an open and upright expression?

Making it abundantly clear to the young lady that he had no interest whatsoever, that he was just here for the food?

The little guard lamented in despair.

Hearing these words, Luo Sheng’s eyes flickered slightly.

Friends?

Her delicate hand reached out and rested on the wooden box.

“Since Your Highness puts it that way, then I shall accept it. Thank you for the congratulatory gift, Your Highness.”

She naturally couldn’t possibly consider Prince Kaiyang a friend, but since the conversation had reached this point, there was no need to make things too awkward.

After all, she was the one receiving the gift—she had nothing to lose.

Seeing Luo Sheng accept the gift, Wei Han smiled: “Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Farewell, Your Highness.”

Seeing his master about to leave hungry and pitiful, Shi Yan couldn’t bear it: “Proprietress, didn’t you say you’d make us oil-splashed noodles?”

Oil-splashed noodles?

Wei Han’s steps halted.

He hadn’t yet eaten oil-splashed noodles made by Miss Luo.

Thinking this, Wei Han glanced at Shi Yan.

Shi Yan’s heart tightened as he understood his master’s meaning: if he couldn’t get his master a bowl of oil-splashed noodles tonight, he was done being a temporary server.

“Proprietress, arriving early isn’t as good as arriving at the right time. Since our master has come all this way, why not let him stay and eat together? It’s just one more pair of chopsticks anyway.”

Sheng Sanlang coughed lightly.

As expected, still favoring his own master—was it really just one more pair of chopsticks?

That was at least five more large bowls!

Seeing Shi Yan’s eyes full of pleading, Luo Sheng said: “If Your Highness doesn’t mind, then please stay and eat together.”

Wei Han nodded in thanks and sat down calmly.

In reality, he didn’t dare say another word.

What if he said something inappropriate and Miss Luo changed her mind?

“Please wait a moment, Your Highness.” Luo Sheng turned and left the main hall, heading to the back kitchen.

Wei Han’s gaze fell on the wooden box left on the counter, and he smiled helplessly.

Before long, a strong fragrance drifted from the direction of the back kitchen, quickly spreading through the main hall.

This scent was direct and domineering, constantly stimulating one’s taste buds.

“I’ll go get the noodles!” Sheng Sanlang ran straight to the back kitchen.

Wei Han sat properly at the table, waiting with restraint.

He saw Sheng Sanlang enter carrying a tray with four blue-and-white large bowls arranged side by side.

Behind him was a burly man, also carrying a tray with four bowls of noodles.

Further behind was a man whose age was difficult to determine.

Wei Han stared at the man for several moments before recognizing him.

This was the leader of that band of mountain bandits who had tried to rob Miss Luo on the journey to the capital.

He always judged people by their eyes.

A beard might disguise a person’s facial features, but eyes couldn’t change.

Following behind Luosai Huzi was a youth with slightly dark skin.

As these people entered carrying the oil-splashed noodles, that spicy fragrance became even more intense.

“Master, eat your noodles.” Shi Yan placed the tray he’d brought in front of Wei Han with a tone seeking credit.

Wei Han lowered his eyes and began eating with elegant movements.

One bowl finished, then another, one bowl finished, then another…

Over there, Luosai Huzi and Zhuang Han began arguing.

“Big Brother, eating too many noodles makes your stomach bloated and hurts the stomach. Let little brother eat this last bowl—let it hurt little brother’s stomach.”

Zhuang Han clutched the blue-and-white bowl and wouldn’t let go: “I appreciate little brother’s kind intentions, but how could big brother let his little brother suffer? What kind of person would do that? Hurt mine, it should still hurt mine!”

Hong Dou put her hands on her hips and scolded: “Do you know how much one blue-and-white bowl costs? If you dare break the bowl, I’ll sell you both to Jinshui River!”

Wei Han, having finished five bowls of noodles, set down his chopsticks and fell into contemplation.

Even these two could be kept on—honestly, he found Miss Luo’s preferences too difficult to fathom.

After Wei Han left, seeing that Luo Sheng seemed to have forgotten about the gift, Shi Yan hurriedly picked up the box and approached: “Proprietress, won’t you look at what our master sent?”

Luo Sheng reached out and opened the wooden box.

The box was lined with red velvet cloth, with one item resting upon it.

“This is—” Shi Yan’s voice trembled, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Hong Dou glanced at it and said in puzzlement: “It’s a cleaver. Can’t you recognize it?”

Shi Yan’s eyes went vacant, suddenly feeling that the fragrant oil-splashed noodles he’d just eaten had become utterly tasteless.

Of course he knew this was a cleaver.

But why, when his master was giving a gift to a young lady, would he send a cleaver?

Just because the handle was wrapped in gold, did that make it not a cleaver?

Wei Han, who had left the tavern, was thinking: Miss Luo likes money and also likes cooking—she should be relatively satisfied with that gift, right?

…

After the fourth day of Youjian Tavern’s opening, its reputation had completely spread.

After about half a month, the upper circles of the capital all knew that there was a tavern on Qingxing Street opened by Miss Luo, the precious daughter of Grand Marshal Luo.

Outrageously expensive, outrageously delicious!

Meanwhile, Second Miss Zhu Hanshuang of Duke Anguo’s estate heard that Prince Kaiyang was a regular customer at Youjian Tavern.

“Princess, I hear the food and drink at Youjian Tavern are exceptional—it would be such a shame not to go try them.”

Young Princess Wei Wen shook her head in refusal: “The weather is hot, I have no appetite.”

Ever since the murder at her mother’s birthday banquet, her mother’s mood had been poor and her health not so good—how could she have the mind to go out eating?

Moreover, that was a tavern opened by Luo Sheng—why would she grace it with her patronage?