The young lady rested her cheek on one hand, her expression carrying a hint of casual indifference and willfulness.

Wei Qiang suddenly discovered that the status he’d always prided himself on didn’t seem quite so effective once he encountered a pampered noble lady from a solid background.

Miss Luo’s father was the First-Rank Grand Commander who led the Jinlin Guard, a close minister to the Son of Heaven. He couldn’t possibly go to Grand Commander Luo to argue just because Miss Luo refused to help.

But he had already said at Prince Pingnan’s manor that he would personally come to invite Miss Luo. He couldn’t very well return empty-handed.

“Miss Luo, the other gold-set seven-treasure bracelet is with my concubine. It truly isn’t convenient to gift it to you.” Wei Qiang adopted an earnest manner of speaking.

Luo Sheng smiled: “Your Highness hasn’t understood one thing.”

She and Wei Qiang were the same age.

She had died at seventeen, and when she opened her eyes again, twelve years had already passed.

Wei Qiang had experienced twelve more years than her—how did it seem like he’d lived them in vain?

Stupid without even knowing it.

“What thing?” Wei Qiang looked at the softly smiling young lady, feeling certain he wouldn’t hear anything pleasant.

Luo Sheng spread her hands: “It’s not that I want to snatch Your Highness’s concubine’s bracelet. It’s Your Highness who asked me for help first. If Your Highness went directly to invite the divine physician and the physician took a liking to this gold-set seven-treasure bracelet, would Your Highness also be unwilling to give it?”

Their whole family was accustomed to taking by force—they fundamentally didn’t understand what exchange meant, did they?

For Prince Pingnan’s family, exchange probably meant cutting out their heart’s flesh.

Wei Qiang was rendered speechless.

The young lady sitting across from him couldn’t help but widen her eyes, revealing an incredulous expression: “Your Highness truly is unwilling? It seems Prince Pingnan isn’t as important in Your Highness’s heart as your concubine.”

Hearing these words, Dou Ren, who was attending at the side, felt his heart jump with alarm and couldn’t help but scold: “Audacious! How dare you be so disrespectful to His Highness!”

Hong Dou became furious upon hearing this and scolded with her hands on her hips: “You’re the audacious one, how presumptuous! My young lady is speaking with the Crown Prince—when is it the turn of a mere servant to interrupt? A daffodil that won’t sprout, what big garlic are you pretending to be!”

Dou Ren’s hands trembled with anger as he pointed at Hong Dou: “You, you lowly maid—”

“Who are you calling a lowly maid?” Hong Dou stepped forward several paces, her finger almost pointing at Dou Ren’s nose. “Lowly people have no manners, yet dare to shout at our young lady. Hmph, look at what kind of character you are.”

“Say that again!” Dou Ren was originally quite clever, but had never encountered such a fierce maid and momentarily lost his rationality.

Hong Dou rolled her eyes: “Lowly person, lowly person, lowly person—”

Kou’er rushed over to smooth things over: “Enough already, why are you bothering with an ignorant lowly person? Aren’t you making things difficult for our young lady?”

Watching Kou’er pull Hong Dou away, Dou Ren’s face turned green.

This was called smoothing things over? This was clearly adding insult to injury!

“Miss Luo, is this how you discipline your maids?” Dou Ren questioned in his shrill voice.

Luo Sheng lazily glanced at the servant whose face had turned red and white with agitation, then asked Wei Qiang in return: “This is the kind of servant Your Highness brings out?”

Wei Qiang, who had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent it, glared at Dou Ren: “Step aside.”

Dou Ren didn’t dare say another word and obediently retreated to the side.

Wei Qiang composed himself and forced out a smile: “Miss Luo jests. How could a mere concubine be compared with my royal uncle?”

If such words spread, they would do him no good whatsoever.

Luo Sheng laughed: “Since that’s the case, why is Your Highness unwilling to part with a bracelet?”

Wei Qiang had to suppress his anger to explain: “That bracelet has other origins and truly cannot be gifted. Miss Luo, aside from that bracelet, you may name any condition, as long as it’s within my capabilities.”

A promise from the heir apparent—could it really be worth less than a bracelet?

At this moment, taking in the sight of the young lady across from him frowning in thought, Wei Qiang felt profound doubt in his heart.

“Any condition at all?” Luo Sheng seemed to have thought it through, her brow smoothing.

Wei Qiang breathed a slight sigh of relief, his smile becoming more genuine: “Please name it, Miss Luo.”

“But I lack nothing and can’t think of what I need at the moment.”

Wei Han stepped into the wine shop just in time to hear this sentence.

These words sounded somewhat familiar.

He looked over and saw the Crown Prince sitting in his usual seat, with Miss Luo sitting across from him.

Between the two was a white jade teapot and two teacups.

Wei Han walked over expressionlessly.

Hong Dou’s voice followed: “Your Highness has come a bit early today.”

Wei Qiang turned his head and, seeing Wei Han approach, rose in surprise: “Royal Uncle has come to drink?”

Wei Han glanced at him and asked in return: “Isn’t this a wine shop?”

If not to drink wine, could he have come to chat idly with a young lady over tea?

“I just didn’t expect such a coincidence, meeting Royal Uncle here.”

“I didn’t expect it either.” Wei Han’s tone was bland. “Has the Crown Prince also come to drink?”

Wei Qiang paused, then nodded: “I heard this wine shop’s flavor is extremely good, so I came to try it. Eh, will Royal Uncle drink wine together?”

“Together?” Wei Han’s face showed no particular emotion.

Wei Qiang smiled: “It’s rare to invite Royal Uncle for a drink. Royal Uncle must give me this face.”

Treating him?

Wei Han sat down leisurely and turned his head to ask Luo Sheng: “Is it time to open?”

“Still a quarter-hour short, but the wine and dishes are almost ready. You can order now.”

Wei Han nodded slightly and ordered with practiced ease: “Two braised pork knuckles, ten plates of braised beef, five plates of crystal pork…”

Luo Sheng said with a beaming smile: “We have chicken thread cold noodles today.”

Cold noodles?

Wei Han’s peripheral vision swept over Wei Qiang as he said blandly: “The cold noodles aren’t necessary. Bring three portions of oil-drizzled young chicken.”

Eating noodles was too filling—not suitable to order when the Crown Prince was treating.

Wei Qiang, who knew nothing about the prices, maintained a gentle smile throughout while thinking in shock: Who would have thought Prince Kaiyang had such a large appetite?

“Go serve the dishes.” After instructing Hong Dou, Luo Sheng picked up the earlier topic. “Your Highness just said the conditions were mine to name?”

Wei Qiang couldn’t help but glance at Wei Han and forced a smile: “Within my capabilities.”

Wei Han picked up a teacup and took a sip, his expression darkening slightly.

He hadn’t heard wrong—these words were indeed familiar.

He had said the same thing to Miss Luo before.

Wei Han held the teacup and suddenly noticed both Luo Sheng and Wei Qiang looking at him with strange expressions.

His eyes showed some confusion as he raised his eyebrows questioningly.

It was Wei Qiang who reminded him: “Royal Uncle, that cup you’re holding is Miss Luo’s.”

Wei Han stiffly lowered his head, and only after quite a while did he expressionlessly set down the teacup.

Luo Sheng narrowed her eyes and swept a glance at the man desperately trying to appear nonchalant, thinking uncertainly: Is this man taking advantage of me?

Those surnamed Wei indeed weren’t good people.

Of course, she couldn’t say this to Wei Qiang.

Wei Qiang had been categorized by her as a beast.

Luo Sheng curved her lips in a smile, completely unconcerned by this slight awkwardness: “Perfect—I’ll ask Your Highness the Prince to be a witness. The Crown Prince asked me to help invite the divine physician, so I’m going to name my conditions to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The corner of Wei Qiang’s mouth twitched violently.

What kind of woman was this, naming conditions to the current heir apparent and finding someone to witness it?

Moreover, even if she was the one naming conditions, why was she putting on this posture as if demanding territorial concessions and reparations?

Wei Han gave a faint smile: “Very well, I’ll be the witness.”