“What is this?” Luo Sheng leaned against the counter, her tone completely calm.

Wei Han’s tone was equally calm: “A gift for Miss Luo.”

Shi Yan stood in the corner, frantically winking.

When you’re giving a gift, regardless of what it is, at least make your tone a bit gentler—make the girl feel like you hold her at the very tip of your heart.

With this tone, it sounded more like you were asking her to settle the bill.

“Shi San Huo, is your eye having a spasm?” Hong Dou looked at Shi Yan with disdain.

Shi Yan touched his nose and went to clear the tables.

“The Prince has already sent a congratulatory gift. Why send me another present?” Luo Sheng looked at Wei Han, asking casually.

The man before her seemed to favor crimson. His crimson robes made his skin appear like jade—cold, stern, and aloof.

Yet such a person spoke a sufficiently captivating line in a flat tone: “I came across this item by chance in the Prince’s manor and thought Miss Luo would like it, so I’m giving it to you.”

The young attendant wiping tables nearly cried with emotion.

Master had finally made some progress!

Luo Sheng couldn’t help but smile: “The Prince’s words easily invite misunderstanding. Does this mean that as long as I like something, you’ll give it to me?”

Wei Han looked at her and said: “Within my power, as long as you like it.”

Luo Sheng raised an eyebrow: “Why?”

Shi Yan couldn’t help winking again.

Master, boldly say it—say you admire her!

He refused to believe that with Master’s appearance and status, Miss Luo wouldn’t consider it, even just a little bit.

Under the young attendant’s anxious fervor, Wei Han said frankly: “I’m very satisfied with the tavern’s food and drink. I’m grateful to Miss Luo.”

Meeting those ink-jade-like cold eyes, Luo Sheng could see the other party genuinely meant what he said.

She couldn’t help but smile: “The Prince has paid for it.”

“Many desirable things can’t be bought with money.” Wei Han pushed the blue cloth-wrapped item to Luo Sheng’s side. “Please accept it, Miss Luo.”

Luo Sheng’s gaze fell on the item, her expression blank: “Even if the Prince sends extra gifts, you still won’t get half price.”

Wei Han paused for a moment before saying: “That’s not my intention.”

Half price didn’t matter. If Miss Luo would gift him a dish out of consideration for his sincere gift-giving, that was the real goal.

“Then I’ll accept it without further ado.” Luo Sheng finally nodded.

The corners of Wei Han’s lips curved slightly upward, his smile genuine: “Then I’ll head back. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Farewell, Your Highness.”

Luo Sheng watched the crimson-robed figure turn and walk away, casually asking: “Why does the Prince always wear crimson robes?”

Wei Han’s footsteps paused, and he turned around.

Shi Yan eagerly explained: “Our Prince changes clothes at least once a day—it’s just that the colors and styles are similar—”

The rest of his words were forced back by a blade-like stare.

Shi Yan grievously wiped the table.

He was just worried Miss Luo would misunderstand that Master wasn’t diligent about bathing and changing clothes. Why couldn’t Master understand his heart?

Wei Han met Luo Sheng’s gaze and said in a very calm tone: “I used to kill people often. Wearing crimson robes meant blood spatters wouldn’t be too conspicuous. Over time, I got used to it.”

Shi Yan grabbed the cloth and covered his face.

If Master continued to disappoint him like this, he wouldn’t raise geese anymore. He’d work hard to compete for a position as a face-companion—perhaps that would extend his time staying by Miss Luo’s side.

“I see.” Luo Sheng nodded to indicate she understood.

Wei Han looked at her and said: “Miss Luo has preferred wearing plain clothes since returning to the capital.”

He still remembered that the young woman who rushed over to pull off his belt had been dressed in bright red.

Thinking about it now, it felt like she was a completely different person.

Hearing this, Luo Sheng’s eyes turned cold, and she said coolly: “Why is the Prince concerned about what color clothes a young lady wears?”

With the Prince’s manor completely annihilated and dying with hatred on her wedding day, should she have worn bright red joyfully instead of plain clothes?

Wei Han innocently moved his eyebrows.

Miss Luo had asked him first. He thought she was interested in this topic.

Why was she angry again?

He thought for a moment but couldn’t figure it out, so he had to give up.

“I was just asking casually. If Miss Luo finds it presumptuous, then I apologize.”

Luo Sheng picked up her teacup: “Farewell, Your Highness.”

Wei Han sighed inwardly and turned to leave.

Shi Yan threw down the cloth and rushed over to plead: “Boss, please don’t be angry with our Master. Master has no experience interacting with young ladies—he doesn’t even know what he’s saying.”

“I’m not angry.” Luo Sheng casually brushed him off, her gaze falling on the blue cloth-wrapped item.

This time, what had Prince Kaiyang sent?

That golden cleaver had left too deep an impression. Luo Sheng simply unwrapped the blue cloth layer by layer, revealing its true form.

It was a thin volume, with large characters on the cover: Pan Family’s Collection of Culinary Treasures.

It was actually a cookbook.

In the northern territories, there was a Pan surname family of hereditary chefs who excelled at braised dishes. Unfortunately, warfare many years ago had severed the Pan family’s legacy, something many renowned chefs viewed as a great loss.

She had only learned of these matters from a northern chef when she was Princess Qingyang.

Could this volume of Pan Family’s Collection of Culinary Treasures be the lost cookbook of the northern Pan family?

Luo Sheng opened it to look through, and indeed it was as expected.

This gift truly suited her taste.

However, though the gift suited her taste, the person did not. Who told him to be surnamed Wei?

Luo Sheng’s face revealed neither joy nor anger. She smiled at the utterly despairing young attendant: “First a cleaver, now a cookbook. It seems your Prince isn’t giving me gifts but rather hopes I’ll make even better food so he can eat to his satisfaction.”

“No, our Master doesn’t mean that—” Shi Yan wanted to defend his master, but when his gaze fell on that cookbook, he was instantly left speechless.

“Miss, let’s eat.” Hong Dou, growing impatient, urged her.

Why waste time talking about a man? Did their Miss lack for men?

Eating was the proper business.

The tavern soon welcomed the most pleasant time of the day as the moon in the sky quietly hid behind the clouds.

Wei Wen returned to the Prince’s manor under the moonlight, changed her clothes, and went directly to Princess Pingnan’s quarters.

“You ate out today?” Princess Pingnan held her teacup, casually chatting with her daughter.

“A tavern opened on Qingxing Street, and the taste is especially good. Mother Consort, let’s go eat together tomorrow.”

Princess Pingnan smiled and shook her head: “If you want to go, just bring more servants along. It wouldn’t be appropriate for Mother Consort to go.”

Wei Wen persuaded: “Mother Consort doesn’t know—everyone who goes to that tavern is a person of status. Even Uncle Prince is a regular customer.”

“Eh, Prince Kaiyang is a regular customer?” This did pique Princess Pingnan’s interest.

“Yes, Uncle Prince goes regularly, and there are the Six Ministries’ ministers and their female family members—many people have been there.”

“It seems that tavern’s taste is truly excellent. However, Mother Consort’s appetite hasn’t been good lately. We’ll talk about it later.”

Wei Wen pressed her lips together: “Mother Consort, that tavern’s chef can also make amber winter melon.”

“Amber winter melon?” Princess Pingnan was startled. Now she was truly interested.

“Mother Consort, please agree. Tomorrow, let’s call Father Prince and Second Brother and all go together.”

Princess Pingnan pondered for a moment and nodded: “I’ll ask your father prince later if he has time.”

Amber winter melon—it had truly been a long time since she’d eaten it.