Luo Wen then walked over to Qin Huai’s table. "Don’t be shy."

Qin Huai’s gentle features twitched, but he was so stunned he couldn’t utter a word.

"Pfft."

Prince Yu couldn’t help but laugh out loud. ’This kid really knows how to handle things.’

However, his smile hadn’t even faded when he saw Luo Wen turn and walk toward him, and his expression instantly froze.

"Prince Yu," Luo Wen called out as two silver notes landed on the table.

"Isn’t this one too many?" Prince Yu asked, glancing at the other tables, which each had only a single note.

"My miss says that Nanyuan is impoverished. Seeing as you’re a fellow countryman, she’s giving you an extra," Luo Wen said with a completely straight face.

"...But your miss hasn’t said a word."

"She doesn’t need to. My miss gives a look, and I understand."

"..."

Prince Yu was speechless. ’It can’t be easy being a guard like him. He even has to do the feeding!’

When Luo Wen reached Helian Chen, he also produced two silver notes.

"There’s no need for me. The zither one of my father’s concubines made for me is already priceless," Helian Chen demurred.

Ye Qianning looked over, her eyes crinkling in a smile. "Just take it. Didn’t you give me your food earlier?"

"It was just one meal. It couldn’t be worth this much money."

"The food at The Drunken Immortal isn’t cheap. It’d be a shame to waste it. Hurry and put it away. Next time, when no one has booked out the whole restaurant, you can come and have a meal on your own."

"I’d feel bad about that."

"What’s there to feel bad about? If you don’t accept, it means you’re looking down on me," Ye Qianning said, her voice rising.

"Alright, then." Helian Chen took the notes and put them away.

Only then was Ye Qianning satisfied. She turned to Chu Yue, her eyes crinkling in a smile again. "Princess, don’t you worry about the food. I enjoyed my meal today, so this one is on me. Luo Wen, go out and tell the shopkeeper that I will be covering the cost for Princess East Shu booking the restaurant."

"Yes."

"And remember to settle the bill."

"Yes."

Luo Wen turned and left the room.

Chu Yue watched the unfolding farce, her face nearly twisting with rage. But the one before her was just a five- or six-year-old child. If she stooped to her level, wouldn’t she just become a laughingstock?

’But if she didn’t, the child was simply infuriating!’

"Miss Xiang, take this money back," she said coldly, suppressing her fury.

"The Princess should just accept it. Everyone, please, eat and drink whatever you like. Don’t hold back. I’m hosting today, so feel free to eat your fill. In a little while, I’ll have Luo Wen invite some musicians and dancers to liven things up," Ye Qianning said, standing up and playing the part of the perfect hostess.

At these words, Chu Yue clutched her chest. She felt her breath catch in her throat, and her eyes turned grim.

"One thousand taels... Miss Xiang is quite the big spender," Xiliu Yuan said, pinching the silver note as his gaze remained fixed on her.

"You are all envoys of your respective courts, having traveled from afar to celebrate our Emperor’s birthday. We can certainly afford such an expense. Your Highness the Crown Prince need not be so courteous."

Ye Qianning turned her head, her smile as radiant as a blooming flower.

Xiliu Yuan burned that smile into his memory. Holding the silver note between two fingers, he raised his hand and passed it to his Shadow Guard. "A reward from Miss Xiang. Aren’t you going to thank her?"

"Thank you, Miss Xiang," the Shadow Guard said with a bow.

Ye Qianning waved her little hand nonchalantly. "All visitors are guests. No need for formalities."

Seeing Xiliu Yuan accept the money, Prince Yu also picked up his silver notes, but he handed them to Helian Chen. "Four thousand taels for one banquet. This trip was well worth it."

Helian Chen had a bit of a weakness for money. He reached out, took the notes, and stuffed them into his pocket, nodding. "Definitely worth it."

"Mm-hmm. Go invite some songstresses to liven things up for everyone. It’s too dull to have wine and food without any music or dancing."

"Yes."

"Hold on."

Luo Wen had just turned to leave when he was stopped.

Qin Huai stood up, his expression dark. "We appreciate the kind gesture, but if Miss Xiang has eaten her fill, perhaps she should go and play elsewhere."