Having tasted first, the spirited tavern attendant Hong Dou walked over energetically: “Honored guests, please come inside.”

Thirty braised pork knuckles in pot—they had just tasted two, and there were still eight waiting after closing time.

Miss and Xiu Gu generally didn’t eat them. Young Master Biao got one, Shi San Huo got one, Kou’er got one, the manager got one, Xiao Qi got one, Lu Hu and Du Feibiao shared one, and she could eat two!

Thinking this way, Hong Dou was naturally full of spirit as she greeted the guests.

Prince Pingnan couldn’t help but take another look at Hong Dou.

Since coming to the capital as a noble and leisured prince, coupled with that relationship with the Crown Prince, everyone fawned over and respected him. This was the first time anyone had called him “honored guest.”

It sounded rather fresh.

“Is there a private room?” Prince Pingnan asked.

Hong Dou smiled sweetly: “The guest has come early—the private rooms are still available.”

“Then let’s go to a private room.” Prince Pingnan extended an invitation to Wei Han. “Eleventh Brother, join us.”

Wei Han coolly refused: “I won’t disturb Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law’s family meal.”

“Eleventh Brother, those words are too formal. We’re blood brothers—aren’t we one family?” Prince Pingnan said with a hearty laugh.

Luo Sheng watched coldly, sneering inwardly.

Years ago, Prince Pingnan had been just as good-tempered before Father Prince, making people feel as if bathed in spring breeze.

Who would have known what a vicious heart lay beneath that appearance?

She turned her eyes to see how Wei Han would respond.

Wei Han’s expression remained indifferent: “Mainly, I’m used to sitting in the main hall.”

Prince Pingnan’s face still wore that warm smile: “In that case, I won’t force Eleventh Brother.”

“This way, honored guest.” Hong Dou turned to lead Prince Pingnan’s family up the stairs.

Luo Sheng’s gaze followed for a moment, then she lowered her eyes and picked up her teacup.

The clear tea was bitter to the mouth but clarified the mind.

She certainly wouldn’t choose to make her move on Prince Pingnan’s first visit.

Inside the door, countless pairs of eyes were watching. Outside the door were the guards Prince Pingnan had brought, perhaps even hidden guards.

Wanting to kill a prince—how could it be that easy?

After the fish arrived, perfecting the plan according to the fish’s characteristics was the proper way.

Luo Sheng set down her teacup and rose to walk toward the back kitchen.

“Braised pork knuckle in pot, amber winter melon—” Shi Yan came over carrying a tray, calling out the dish names while placing plates and bowls on the table.

Wei Han unusually didn’t immediately look at the food. Instead, his gaze followed that plain-clothed figure, looking thoughtful.

“Master, what are you looking at?” Shi Yan was puzzled.

The fragrant pork knuckles were set on the table, yet Master wouldn’t even glance at them?

“Looking at Miss Luo.” Wei Han withdrew his gaze, his tone frank.

Shi Yan was momentarily stunned, then lowered his voice: “Master, you’d better save this kind of exceptional performance for when Miss Luo is present. Don’t waste it on this subordinate—”

“Get lost.” Wei Han coldly swept a glance at Shi Yan and raised his chopsticks to pick up food.

One knuckle was cut into thin large slices, still maintaining its complete arrangement on the plate. It didn’t look like much.

Wei Han picked up a slice and ate it. His stomach, which had been uncomfortable all day, finally felt soothed.

Today, Miss Luo had looked at Prince Pingnan more than once.

Generally speaking, when a customer entered, Miss Luo only looked once.

Wei Han suppressed this trace of doubt and picked up a second slice of pork knuckle.

In the private room, food and drink had already been served.

Wei Wen picked up a piece of amber winter melon and placed it in Princess Pingnan’s dish: “Mother Consort, please taste how this tavern’s amber winter melon compares.”

Having truly pestered Mother Consort to come along, she began worrying again that it might disappoint Mother Consort, since she herself hadn’t tasted this dish.

Princess Pingnan didn’t move her chopsticks. She stared at the crystalline amber in her dish, her expression complex.

At first glance, she knew this was the amber winter melon from her memories.

Authentic amber winter melon—she had only eaten it twice.

The first time was when she was young. She had accompanied her mother to her maternal grandmother’s home to celebrate her birthday, and had eaten it once during their brief stay.

Her mother had said that the cook at her maternal grandmother’s home had a secret family method for making this amber winter melon, passed down from ancestors.

Not even half a year after returning, her maternal grandmother had passed away.

Her maternal grandmother’s home was several hundred li away from her own. That was the only time in her memory that her mother had taken her to her maternal grandmother’s home. Her maternal grandmother’s loving kindness, along with that sweet amber winter melon, remained deep in her memory from then on.

Later, she had been a guest at Zhennan Prince’s manor. While chatting idly with Princess Zhennan, the other party mentioned that Princess Qingyang could make this dish.

She had tasted it. Perhaps lacking that layer of warm memories, it was slightly inferior in taste compared to the amber winter melon she had eaten at her maternal grandmother’s home.

But it was still quite excellent.

It could be said that in some respects, she had been satisfied with this prospective daughter-in-law, Princess Qingyang.

Of course, there were more areas of dissatisfaction.

The first Zhennan Prince and the Founding Emperor had originally been sworn brothers who rose in troubled times and pacified the realm together.

Zhennan Prince was the elder brother, the Founding Emperor the younger. The two had joined hands to conquer the realm. By rights, the elder brother should have taken that position, but the first Zhennan Prince, considering himself inferior to the Founding Emperor in governing abilities, yielded the imperial throne.

The Founding Emperor, grateful for this grace, divided the land where they had risen together to give to his sworn brother, enfeoffing his sworn brother as Zhennan Prince with hereditary succession without reduction.

Zhennan Prince could be called the Eight Thousand Year Lord, even more honored than ordinary princes.

At that time, her prince had to be careful and polite before Zhennan Prince. She naturally had to bow her head half a degree before Princess Zhennan.

It could even be said that if a princess interacted with Zhennan Prince’s manor’s princess, she would have to yield somewhat.

A princess was the Emperor’s daughter. Out of various considerations, His Majesty sometimes even wronged his daughter, but Zhennan Prince’s manor had such connections that one had to be courteous instead.

Princess Qingyang was good, but with such a noble birth, becoming a daughter-in-law wasn’t so good.

As the mother-in-law, she couldn’t possibly have to coax her daughter-in-law in the future, could she?

“Mother Consort, won’t you taste it?”

Princess Pingnan came back to herself. The complex expression on her face faded, and she smiled as she picked up that piece of amber winter melon.

“My daughter’s filial piety—of course I must taste it.”

What did such nobility matter? The one sitting here now enjoying fine food was her, while Princess Zhennan, whom she needed to summon energy to entertain, had long since become a handful of yellow earth.

That colossal entity entrenched in the south had already been reduced to dust and ashes.

A piece of amber winter melon entered her mouth. Princess Pingnan savored it carefully.

“Mother Consort, do you find it delicious?” Wei Wen asked.

Princess Pingnan’s brows smoothed, her expression content: “Of course it’s delicious.”

The amber winter melon she tasted this time was even better in flavor than what Princess Qingyang had made.

Perhaps it was just that her mood was different now.

Guilt?

Princess Pingnan picked up her handkerchief to lightly dab the corners of her lips, smiling faintly.

Could guilt make her eldest son the Crown Prince? Or make Pingnan Prince’s manor more honored than other prince’s manors?

Since guilt couldn’t be eaten as a meal, it was better to discard it.

If there was one regret, it was that Qiang’er had become estranged from them.

However, what great undertaking came without regrets? Once Qiang’er sat in that position and enjoyed supreme power, he would slowly come to understand their methods.

“I also find it delicious. It’s a pity Second Brother didn’t come.” After Wei Wen finished speaking, her eyes widened somewhat. “Father Prince, how did you finish half a knuckle in the blink of an eye?”

Prince Pingnan picked up a slice of pork knuckle and placed it in Princess Pingnan’s bowl: “You all should taste it. This pork knuckle’s flavor is unmatched.”

When cups and plates were in disarray, Prince Pingnan sighed with satisfaction: “Wen’er has truly found a wonderful place.”

They must come eat again tomorrow.