As soon as Wei Han spoke, countless ears perked up and pairs of eyes became bright as snow.

That’s right—the head chef from Youjian Tavern was here, they could buy food!

Expensive? What did expensive matter? Better to spend some money than die of craving, right?

Grand Marshal Luo held his blue and white porcelain bowl slurping noodles while frantically giving Luo Sheng meaningful looks.

What business opening—there wasn’t even enough for their own people to eat. Couldn’t she see that pot only had rolling noodles left, not even a piece of fish skin remaining?

Luo Sheng seemed to hear Grand Marshal Luo’s inner thoughts and smiled slightly. “Away from home, naturally we’re not open for business.”

Disappointment clearly surfaced in those clear eyes.

Then she heard the young woman’s tone shift. “However, if Your Highness doesn’t mind, please stay and have a bowl of noodles.”

“Of course I don’t mind.” The corners of the man’s lips curved upward, a hint of a smile appearing.

Luo Sheng turned her head. “Xiu Gu, make a bowl of noodles for His Highness and his guard.”

Xiu Yue responded, grabbed a handful of noodles and tossed them into the boiling sour and spicy fish broth, constantly stirring with long wooden chopsticks.

Before long the noodles were cooked. She scooped them up and placed them in a prepared blue and white porcelain bowl, then added a small pinch of finely chopped scallions—a bowl of sour, spicy, and fragrant noodles was ready.

Wei Han glanced at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi immediately stepped forward to take the bowl and chopsticks, presenting them before him.

Wei Han accepted the blue and white bowl and began eating elegantly yet swiftly.

Xiu Yue prepared another bowl of noodles.

This bowl was for the guard.

Shi Yi picked up the large bowl and was about to use his chopsticks when he sensed a gaze sweeping over.

Seemingly calm, but actually dangerous.

Shi Yi quickly handed the noodles over.

Wei Han nodded with satisfaction, thinking that once they returned, perhaps he could consider swapping Shi Yi with Shi Yan.

The master began eating his second bowl of noodles while the young guard stood obediently—looking rather pitiful actually.

Hong Dou, who had been observing coldly all along, could finally be certain this definitely wasn’t Shi San Huo.

If Shi San Huo’s noodles were snatched by his master, he’d probably cry on the spot—how could he be this obedient?

Seeing Xiu Yue prepare another bowl of noodles, clearly for the young guard, Hong Dou picked up the bowl and walked before Shi Yi.

Shi Yi glanced at Hong Dou, then properly averted his gaze.

A steaming bowl of noodles was presented before him as the little maidservant asked with a smile, “Are you Shi Si Huo?”

“Mm.”

“Here, take it.” Seeing the young guard was taciturn, Hong Dou shook her head.

Shi San Huo’s younger brother wouldn’t do—being this silent, he could never be a shop attendant.

Not far away, those people whose hearts and livers were being scratched by the fragrance really couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Grand Marshal—” someone called out, identity unknown.

Grand Marshal Luo couldn’t identify who it was, so he simply walked over.

Immediately a group of people surrounded him.

“Grand Marshal, those noodles… are they delicious?”

“Ahem, I remember that time the Grand Marshal said he’d host us for drinks—”

Grand Marshal Luo directly curled his lip hearing this.

This was clearly nonsense—these people had thick enough faces for a mouthful of food.

“Everyone, please make way. I have an urgent need.”

Seeing Grand Marshal Luo slip away in a flash, everyone looked at each other.

Truly befitting the Commander of the Jinlin Guards—utterly ruthless!

But with Grand Marshal Luo gone, they couldn’t very well approach a young lady to beg for a bowl of noodles—that would be too embarrassing.

Why could Prince Kaiyang do it? Ahem, hadn’t Prince Kaiyang been teased by Miss Luo before? Their relationship was different.

Unable to eat the noodles yet still having to smell the fragrance—this was no different from torture.

Clutching their steamed buns, everyone quickly fled far away.

They could just stop smelling it, couldn’t they!

For a time, with that large pot simmering fish head in sour broth as the center, the surrounding area actually became empty and desolate.

After two bowls of noodles, Wei Han’s stomach finally felt somewhat comfortable.

Being full was impossible, but Miss Luo was hot and cold toward him—he couldn’t be too presumptuous.

Actually, if not for that red plum, he had originally planned to endure first and wait until reaching North River before asking for food.

That red plum gave him a little bit of confidence, making him feel eating one bowl of noodles shouldn’t be a problem.

“Has Your Highness eaten his fill? Would you like another bowl?”

Meeting the young woman’s calm eyes, Wei Han hesitated for an instant between being loyal to his appetite and maintaining his image, then uttered one word: “Yes.”

Holding the empty bowl, Shi Yi couldn’t help moving his lips.

Sometimes when Third Brother returned to the prince’s manor, he would complain to him that their master wasn’t ambitious enough, worrying that at this rate the master would never be able to marry Miss Luo.

He had been dismissive.

The master excelled in everything—what kind of daughter from a prestigious family couldn’t he marry? Why must he marry Miss Luo who kept male companions?

Now, having eaten this bowl of fish head in sour broth noodles, he only wanted to say: Third Brother was right, the master truly isn’t ambitious enough.

When Grand Marshal Luo returned, he stared at the blue and white bowl in Wei Han’s hands with deep contemplation.

If he remembered correctly, this was the third bowl?

Prince Kaiyang, this glutton—how could he have the nerve to freeload three large bowls!

Wait.

Grand Marshal Luo, who was preparing to walk over, stopped in his tracks.

Sheng’er was actually willing to let him eat his fill—this, this clearly indicated a problem.

Forget it, he couldn’t interfere with his daughter’s chance to marry out.

Grand Marshal Luo silently walked to a tree and sighed.

Wei Han finished his third bowl of noodles, completely satisfied.

Pleasure arose from his heart, and even his cool eyes and brows became much gentler.

“Many thanks for Miss Luo’s noodles.”

“Your Highness is too polite.” Luo Sheng’s tone was flat.

Allowing Prince Kaiyang to freeload a meal naturally meant she had a plan.

She had to seize every opportunity to lure Chaohua over.

To lure Chaohua, she first had to lure Wei Qiang. If the meals prepared by the head chef she brought were only for her own people, how could Wei Qiang conveniently come looking?

But among those in the autumn hunt procession, quite a few had patronized the tavern before. If she welcomed all freeloaders without exception, it would be a waste of energy.

Using Prince Kaiyang as a threshold was a good choice.

Wei Han had no idea the young woman before him had all these machinations. He only knew that among so many people, he was the only outsider who got to eat the noodles.

Thinking it over, Wei Han added, “Many thanks for Miss Luo’s plum as well.”

Wind blew through the forest, making his cheeks feel slightly warm.

Yet the young woman before him grew even more aloof in expression.

He heard her say, “Oh, Your Highness need not thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Hong Dou.”

The man’s brows rose slightly, not quite understanding her meaning.

Luo Sheng smiled faintly. “The plum was thrown by Hong Dou.”

Wei Han: “…”

Inside the magnificently splendid tent, thick soft carpets lay underfoot, and a rosewood round table was covered with dishes.

Emperor Yong’an moved his chopsticks a few times before standing up and saying to Noble Consort Xiao, “Beloved Consort, eat slowly. We shall go for a walk.”

Exiting the golden tent, Emperor Yong’an glanced around.

During this temporary rest stop on the journey, aside from His Majesty who had a tent to rest in, others weren’t so particular.

Whether imperial relatives and nobility or accompanying officials all ate in the open air, some even sitting on the ground.

The more reserved ladies would remain in their carriages to dine, though some who couldn’t bear the stuffiness would come out for air.

The Great Zhou was not particularly strict regarding separation between men and women.

“Father Emperor.” Naturally, the Crown Prince was closest to the golden tent.

“Have you eaten?”

Wei Qiang nodded. “Your son just finished eating.”

“Why don’t I see your Eleventh Royal Uncle?” Not seeing Wei Han’s figure, Emperor Yong’an asked casually.

“The food had just been brought when your son saw Royal Uncle heading that way.”