A year later, the realm had just been pacified, and Prince Kaiyang led the Zhaoyang Army in triumphant return.

On Qingxing Street, Youjian Tavern reopened. The festive sound of firecrackers rang out for nearly half a day.

To Wei Han, being welcomed by hundreds of officials and cheered by tens of thousands could not compare to the joy of seeing the blue banner before Youjian Tavern fluttering in the wind.

“I thought the tavern would have opened long ago.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “My younger brother ascended the throne not long ago, and everything outside was still chaotic. How could I have the heart to open a tavern?”

“Is that all?” Wei Han asked with a smile.

“What else?” Luo Sheng struggled to maintain her composure, yet couldn’t stop her increasingly flushed cheeks.

In truth, she simply hadn’t wanted to open the tavern during the days he was absent.

She hoped that when he returned from campaigning north and south, he would be the first guest welcomed after the tavern’s reopening.

The young woman’s slightly reddened cheeks made Wei Han’s heart skip a beat.

“Miss Luo, it’s still early. Why don’t we go look at the persimmon tree?”

When he left the capital last year, it had been the scorching June. Now upon his return it was already autumn, and the persimmon tree in the courtyard was laden with bright red fruit on every branch—at its most delightful time.

Wei Han looked up, the killing severity of the battlefield fading from between his brows and eyes, replaced entirely by gentle smiles: “Miss Luo, I’ve discovered the persimmon tree looks much better than before.”

Luo Sheng smiled: “I think so too.”

A persimmon tree welcoming its harvest was naturally at its most beautiful.

“Miss Luo.”

Luo Sheng looked at him.

“Can the persimmons be eaten yet?”

Luo Sheng’s eyes suddenly moistened.

The same words—he had said them two years ago.

She blinked gently and also said the words she had spoken two years before: “We should wait until after the frost descends. The persimmons taste best then.”

“Miss Luo.”

“Mm?” Luo Sheng responded, thinking of what he would say next.

He would say: “When the frost descends, let’s come look at the persimmon tree again.”

Back then, not wanting ambiguous feelings to spread between them, she had responded neither warmly nor coldly: “The persimmon tree isn’t going anywhere. We’ll look when we think of it.”

She had seen the disappointment in his eyes but could only pretend not to notice.

This time her answer would be different. She would readily say yes—when the frost descended, she would come hand-in-hand with this fool to look at the persimmon tree.

But this time, the words she heard were also different.

He said: “Miss Luo, when the frost descends, let’s get married.”

Luo Sheng was stunned.

A touch of crimson colored the man’s jade-like face, yet his gaze was clear and resolute: “Though the time is somewhat short, I believe there’s enough to prepare. What does Miss Luo think?”

He didn’t want to wait until the next frost descent.

He wanted to eat drunken crabs and drink yellow wine with her at the prince’s residence during this year’s frost descent, and take her to see the beautiful chrysanthemums in the garden.

“I—” Luo Sheng opened her mouth. The shyness and reserve she had expected were nowhere to be found in this moment.

She smiled: “I think so too.”

Wei Han’s eyes lit up.

“However—”

Wei Han froze, looking at her.

Luo Sheng said helplessly: “Your Highness should perhaps mention this to my father.”

Without a formal marriage proposal, surely she couldn’t personally arrange her own wedding.

Wei Han nodded repeatedly: “I’ll formally request your hand from your honored father tomorrow!”

“Mm.” Luo Sheng responded softly.

Wei Han’s hand hanging at his side reached out and quietly grasped hers.

The young woman’s hand was soft and slightly cool—exactly as he had imagined so many times during his campaigns north and south.

His gaze fell on her fair, smooth forehead.

He still remembered that hurried kiss at parting. That kiss had left him unable to find peace for so long.

He worried she might be angry, yet couldn’t help but recall it.

Sensing the intensity in the man’s eyes, Luo Sheng calmly reminded him: “Shi Yan and Hong Dou might be behind the door curtain.”

Wei Han immediately snapped back to awareness.

Though he very much wanted to kiss his beloved again, he had no intention of putting on a show for others.

Fortunately, the frost descent was approaching soon. The days ahead were long.

“It’s time for the opening. Let’s go to the main hall.”

Wei Han readily accepted Luo Sheng’s suggestion.

If he couldn’t kiss Miss Luo, eating a delicious meal wasn’t bad either.

The two went to the main hall together.

As soon as the tavern doors opened, Minister Zhao was the first to dart inside.

Kou’er said with a beaming smile: “Congratulations, honored guest. Our young miss said the first customer today eats free.”

Minister Qian, who had followed right behind, changed expression slightly: “The first customer eats free?”

“That’s right.”

“Then… what about the second?” Though feeling somewhat embarrassed, Minister Qian still asked.

There was no helping it—the black-hearted establishment was as expensive as ever. The difference between eating free and paying was too great.

Kou’er smiled with pursed lips: “The second customer naturally cannot.”

Minister Qian slowly looked toward Minister Zhao.

In other words, he had entered just one step behind Old Zhao—Old Zhao ate for free while he paid?

Minister Zhao’s face showed complete composure.

So what? Being faster by even one step still made him first.

Soon customers trickled in continuously, filling the main hall.

Those who didn’t get seats asked: “Big Sister Hong Dou, are you still limiting numbers on the first day of opening?”

Hong Dou suppressed the urge to roll her eyes: “Today we’re making an exception—no limit on numbers. Just wait for the previous table to clear.”

It was all Shi Yan’s constant yelling that had corrupted these customers.

Calling her Big Sister!

Shi Yan walked to the table by the window and asked cheerfully: “Master, what would you like to eat?”

Wei Han’s eyes turned slightly cold: “Who told you to come be a server?”

He still hadn’t gotten around to dealing with this scoundrel.

Sheltering Fuxue was one thing, but he’d even kept Mingzhu and those others at the prince’s residence. Those who didn’t know might think he’d already received Miss Luo’s dowry attendants in advance.

Shi Yan shrank his neck and changed the subject with an awkward laugh: “Master, there’s roasted pig head today. Won’t you have a serving?”

Speaking of this, he glanced at Minister Zhao and said quietly: “The roasted pig head is in limited supply. Minister Zhao can eat two servings.”

Minister Zhao’s ears were sharp. Hearing this, he coughed lightly and said with full vigor: “Server, bring four servings of roasted pig head!”

Who said he only ate two servings? With such a rare free meal, what he couldn’t finish he could take away.

Minister Qian: “…” Have some shame.

Minister Qian, whose mental balance had completely collapsed, found his old friend extremely disagreeable.

Minister Zhao asked with a beaming smile: “Old Qian, want to share a table?”

Minister Qian was overjoyed: “Share!”

Since Old Zhao was being so sensible, they could continue being friends.

As night deepened and the bright moon shone, the liveliness in the main hall lessened somewhat.

A woman hesitantly entered the tavern.

The female proprietor’s eyes lit up as she greeted her joyfully: “Oh my, it’s Proprietress Han! It’s been some time since I’ve seen you.”

The woman was actually the proprietress of the cosmetics shop diagonally across from the tavern. Because the female proprietor, Hong Dou, and Kou’er often visited the shop, they had gradually become familiar.

However, since chaos had erupted in the capital and the tavern had closed, the female proprietor hadn’t seen her again.

“Are there no seats?”

The female proprietor enthusiastically led Proprietress Han inside: “Temporarily no seats. Sit here and wait a bit.”

The female proprietor offered the stool by the counter, gesturing for Proprietress Han to sit.

“How can I accept this? I’ll just stand and wait.” As Proprietress Han spoke, she couldn’t help but glance at Luo Sheng sitting by the counter.

Luo Sheng nodded politely.

Proprietress Han’s eyes suddenly reddened: “Miss Luo, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Last year when the officials were arresting young women everywhere, I—” As Proprietress Han spoke, she drew closer. The dagger hidden in her sleeve thrust toward Luo Sheng.