These words sounded utterly sarcastic in the Crown Princess’s ears.

So she said: “I heard your establishment is called Youjian Tavern. The extremely vulgar becomes elegant—Miss Luo is quite good at naming things.”

Hearing the words “Youjian Tavern,” Zhaohua’s eyelashes trembled.

“The extremely vulgar becomes elegant?” Luo Sheng looked somewhat displeased and asked directly, “Where is it vulgar?”

The Crown Princess choked, blood rushing to her head.

How was this not vulgar?

After calming her emotions somewhat, the Crown Princess said coolly: “Doesn’t it mean ‘a tavern’?”

Luo Sheng spared a thread of her attention to observe Zhaohua and sighed lightly: “Wind, flowers, snow, and moon—the four seasons of the mortal world. That is its meaning.”

She saw Zhaohua suddenly raise her eyelids and look directly at her.

Luo Sheng smiled slightly at the Crown Princess: “Isn’t that quite an elegant name?”

The Crown Princess twitched the corners of her mouth: “If explained that way, it is indeed elegant. It’s just a pity that most people probably won’t understand Miss Luo’s intentions, right?”

Luo Sheng smiled: “Lofty music finds few harmonizers; true kindred spirits are hard to find. My intentions don’t need to be understood by many people—one or two who comprehend them is enough. Now that the Crown Princess knows, will you be interested in coming to Youjian Tavern to drink in the future?”

“Naturally I’m interested,” the Crown Princess said perfunctorily.

Whether the tavern’s name was elegant or vulgar held no interest for her, but she was extremely interested in the tavern’s prices.

She really wanted to see with her own eyes what kind of tavern could charge five thousand six hundred twenty taels for one meal.

Meanwhile, hearing Luo Sheng say these things, every single word struck Zhaohua’s heart like thunderclaps.

What did Miss Luo’s words mean?

Lofty music finds few harmonizers, true kindred spirits are hard to find—one or two who understand is enough.

Were these words meant for her?

Wind, flowers, snow, and moon—the four seasons of the mortal world.

This wasn’t Miss Luo’s Youjian Tavern.

This was the Princess’s Youjian Tavern.

It couldn’t be a coincidence—the pickled radish skin was made with Xiu Yue’s flavor, and Youjian Tavern was a name the Princess had chosen.

She could now be almost certain that the chef at Youjian Tavern was Xiu Yue!

So were these words that Xiu Yue had found a way to convey to her through Miss Luo’s mouth?

Xiu Yue was telling her to come to Youjian Tavern to meet.

Zhaohua stared fixedly at Luo Sheng, her thoughts rising and falling.

If her speculation wasn’t wrong, what was Miss Luo’s position in all this?

Could she know about Xiu Yue’s identity—Zhaohua immediately denied this possibility.

Xiu Yue was different from her; in the eyes of the court, she was a fish that had slipped through the net from Prince Zhennan’s household, unable to show herself in the light.

Even if Xiu Yue had a simple temperament, after experiencing that catastrophe and living under an assumed name for twelve years, she wouldn’t be the same Xiu Yue as before.

She believed Xiu Yue wouldn’t tell such a critical matter to an unrelated person.

Looked at this way, Miss Luo was perhaps just entrusted by Xiu Yue to pass along these few words.

After all, others couldn’t make anything of these words.

As for why Miss Luo would help Xiu Yue pass along messages, this wasn’t hard to guess either.

With Xiu Yue’s culinary skills, first winning over Miss Luo’s stomach, then asking Miss Luo to say a few words before the Crown Princess—this wouldn’t be difficult to accomplish.

Zhaohua bit her lip.

Xiu Yue was waiting for her at Youjian Tavern—what method could she think of to get out?

Once you enter the palace gates, it’s as deep as the sea. She was the Crown Prince’s concubine; wanting to leave the palace was harder than ascending to heaven.

Zhaohua momentarily fell into confusion.

“I’ve seen the person, and she’s indeed a beauty.” Luo Sheng stood up. “I won’t disturb the Crown Princess any further. When the Crown Princess comes to the tavern, I’ll treat you to drinks.”

The Crown Princess barely maintained her composure as she saw the guest out.

Having sent off the troublemaker, the Crown Princess swept her gaze over Zhaohua and said with a half-smile: “Consort Yu didn’t expect it, did you—that Grand Commander Luo’s precious daughter would specially enter the palace to see you.”

“This servant-concubine truly didn’t expect it.” Zhaohua answered properly, her attitude respectful.

She didn’t want to offend the Crown Princess, nor was there any need to offend her.

However, she knew that for a concubine, being favored was itself a kind of crime.

The Crown Princess not liking her was perfectly natural.

Because of this, she was willing to adopt an even more humble posture before the Crown Princess, only asking that the other party let her live peacefully.

“The Consort is beautiful and did not disappoint Miss Luo,” the Crown Princess said in a flat tone, with no joy or anger audible.

Zhaohua lowered her eyes and curtsied: “This servant-concubine is terrified. This servant-concubine is a woman nearly thirty years old—how can she speak of beauty? Even if she has one or two points of good looks, in another two years she won’t dare pollute the eyes of noble persons.”

The Crown Princess stared at Zhaohua for a moment, then said coolly: “You may withdraw.”

Receiving such favor yet remaining so humble and respectful—such a person was far more frightening than those lowly servants who became arrogant upon gaining favor.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too late to act now.

The Crown Princess’s eyes held coldness as she walked to the window.

Outside the window, dark clouds rolled across the sky; rain was clearly about to fall.

Luo Sheng had just boarded her carriage when she heard a clap of thunder outside, immediately followed by the sound of pouring rain.

Hong Dou lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside. Rain immediately flew in slantwise and splashed her face. She quickly pressed down the curtain corner and turned to Luo Sheng: “Miss, the rain is falling very hard.”

“Tell the driver to go directly to the tavern.”

The carriage turned a corner in the wind and rain and headed straight for Youjian Tavern.

“Miss, we’ve arrived at the tavern.”

Hong Dou jumped down first and held open a bamboo umbrella, waiting to the side.

Luo Sheng got off the carriage and stood on the street gazing into the distance.

On Qingxing Street, usually prosperous and lively, there were only a scattered few pedestrians frantically running with sleeves covering their heads and faces. The curtain of rain connecting heaven and earth had no visible end.

“Miss, let’s go into the tavern, or your clothes will get soaked through.” Hong Dou also gazed into the distance but didn’t know what her mistress was looking at.

Near and far, it was all rain—what was there to see?

“The weather can change so quickly.” Luo Sheng murmured this sentence and stepped toward the tavern.

“Proprietress, why did you come at this time?” The female manager hurriedly opened the door and ushered the two of them inside.

Luo Sheng stamped her feet.

Although the bamboo umbrella had provided shelter, the short distance had still soaked the hem of her skirt, and raindrops were dripping onto the floor.

“I’m going to change clothes.” After giving this instruction, Luo Sheng went to the main room.

After changing into dry clothes, Luo Sheng called Xiu Yue in.

With no third person present, master and servant naturally spoke without reservation.

“I just came from the Eastern Palace today.” Luo Sheng paused, then said softly, “At the Eastern Palace, I saw Zhaohua.”

Xiu Yue’s whole body trembled: “Zhaohua, she—she’s still alive?”

“She is now Wei Qiang’s favored concubine.”

Xiu Yue’s expression changed completely: “How could she—”

“It’s good that she’s alive.” Luo Sheng smiled.

But Xiu Yue didn’t think so. She gritted her teeth: “Living like this, she might as well be dead!”

This wasn’t her Sister Zhaohua. Her Sister Zhaohua would never lower herself to be with a beast.

Luo Sheng reached out and grasped Xiu Yue’s trembling fingertips: “Zhaohua should have guessed by now that you’re here.”

Xiu Yue was startled, then smiled bitterly: “Yes, Zhaohua is so clever.”

Unlike her, who even with the Princess hinting everywhere still didn’t dare think too much, not until she saw with her own eyes the Princess in black clothes emerging from the wine vat.

“Xiu Yue, don’t think the worst. Zhaohua should find a way to meet with you. At that time, you can judge whether she has changed, and whether to tell her my true identity.”

Having Xiu Yue persuade Zhaohua to believe she was Princess Qingyang would naturally be easier than saying it herself.