After finalizing the matter of renting the shop, Leng Ruoli was in a very good mood. She casually asked, "Uncle Yu, are you busy at noon today? If you have time, I'd like to treat you to a meal."
"Alright, it's rare for you to remember to treat Uncle Yu to a meal. Uncle Yu won't refuse, no matter how busy I am."
Zhou Baiyu didn't care whether Leng Ruoli genuinely wanted to treat him or was just casually saying it. In any case, Zhou Baiyu had decided that this lunch would be on her.
Leng Ruoli: "..."
"Then how about we go to Drunken Immortal Pavilion?"
"Whatever you say, Uncle Yu is fine with eating anywhere," Zhou Baiyu replied with a chuckle.
Actually, he just wanted to spend more time with Leng Ruoli, and where they ate was of no consequence.
Subsequently, Leng Ruoli and Zhou Baiyu each took their own carriages and slowly drove to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, which now belonged to Leng Ruoli.
As soon as Leng Ruoli and Zhou Baiyu's carriages arrived at the entrance of Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Yan Yu greeted them.
"Consort, it really is you! Just now, a waiter said he saw your carriage approaching from the window on the second floor. I didn't quite believe it, but I didn't expect it to be you."
As Yan Yu spoke, the corners of her lips curved upwards slightly.
"Haha... Surprised, aren't you!"
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruoli also smiled brightly at her.
"Yan Yu, how has the business at Drunken Immortal Pavilion been recently? I heard that the shop's manager, Steward Hu, had something happen back home a couple of days ago and had to return. He left all the shop's affairs in your care. Are you managing alright?" Leng Ruoli asked her as she walked.
"It's going well, Consort. I've grown up helping my parents with the restaurant business since I was young. The more prosperous the shop's business becomes, the more energetic I feel about my work," Yan Yu said with a slight smile, her lips gently curving.
After hearing this, Leng Ruoli patted her shoulder and said gratefully, "I had originally planned to open the hot pot restaurant next month, with me providing the funds and you managing it. Unexpectedly, Steward Hu's family matter arose suddenly, and no suitable replacement could be found in time, so you had to step in to manage Drunken Immortal Pavilion for a while. Therefore, our plan to open the hot pot restaurant has to be postponed for some time."
"Consort, that's fine. I have to work wherever I am anyway," Yan Yu replied with another gentle smile.
At that moment, Zhou Baiyu, walking beside Leng Ruoli, suddenly spoke, "Lier, this young lady you've befriended is truly remarkable."
While Leng Ruoli and Yan Yu were talking, Zhou Baiyu made a point of observing Yan Yu. Since Wan'er was no longer around, he had to carefully vet the people around her daughter, ensuring that Leng Ruoli would not be bullied again.
After Wan'er passed away years ago, he left the capital in sorrow and traveled to various countries for over a decade. He hadn't properly looked after Wan'er's two children and had allowed the Liu family and her daughters to bully, abuse, and harm them. Fortunately, her two children had strong constitutions; otherwise, he would have been ashamed to face Wan'er in the afterlife after his death.
However, it was amusing that Leng Ruoli only remembered she was here to treat Zhou Baiyu to a meal when he spoke.
"Yan Yu, I forgot to introduce you. This is the owner of Moon Beauty Accessories Shop," Leng Ruoli said, gesturing with her right hand towards Zhou Baiyu.
"Yan Yu greets Owner Zhou!"
Yan Yu looked at Zhou Baiyu with a faint smile on her lips and spoke politely.
"Greetings, Miss Yan Yu!"
With that, Zhou Baiyu also cupped his hands towards her.
"Alright, let's go up to the second floor and sit!"
Saying this, Leng Ruoli didn't wait for Yan Yu to lead the way. She quickly ran upstairs and into the private room that she and Jun Mohan used for hosting guests.
"Uncle Yu, please come inside!"
Leng Ruoli felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Zhou Baiyu, who cared for her so much. Therefore, she always treated Zhou Baiyu with great respect.
Zhou Baiyu, following closely behind her upstairs, didn't act sulky. He nodded and entered the private room.
At the same time, Leng Ruoli instructed Xing'er, Ye Ying, and Yan Yu to join them for the meal.
"Yan Yu, please arrange a few dishes for me. Braised Carp, Mapo Tofu, Spicy Chicken, Stir-fried Pork Belly with Pickled Cabbage... eight dishes in total, plus a bowl of West Lake Beef Soup and steamed buns with dipping sauce."
As Leng Ruoli spoke, Yan Yu took notes with her pen.
"Yes, Consort. I'll instruct the kitchen to prepare them immediately," Yan Yu said with a nod after finishing her notes.
"Mmm, after you place the order with the kitchen, come up and join us for the meal," Leng Ruoli reminded her again.
"Yes, Consort. I'll be up shortly." With that, she turned and left the private room, closing the door behind her.
However, just a moment later, their private room door was knocked on again from the outside. Leng Ruoli thought it was Yan Yu returning and said without thinking, "Come in!"
As it turned out, when their private room door was opened, the people who walked in surprised everyone.
The ones who had knocked on their door were none other than Prince An, Jun Moyu, and Prince Ji, Jun Moyun.
"Second Imperial Sister-in-law, you don't mind us joining you for the meal, do you?"
Prince An said, a slight curve gracing his handsome lips, forming a beautiful arc. When he looked at Leng Ruoli, his obsidian eyes held a gentle light.
"Uh..."
"Of course, you can come in. We just placed our order. If you don't mind dining with us."
"Not at all, not at all, Second Imperial Sister-in-law. My fifth brother and I are usually very casual," Prince Ji chimed in with a chuckle.
After speaking, Prince Ji pulled Prince An and made himself at home, sitting beside Leng Ruoli.
Upon seeing Prince An and Prince Ji enter, Xing'er and Ye Ying quickly stood up and moved to the side.
"Hey, Xing'er, Ye Ying, why are you two standing there? Sit down and eat with us!" Prince Ji saw Xing'er and Ye Ying retreat from the dining table and called out to them.
"Your Highnesses, Xing'er and I will dine outside later," Ye Ying said respectfully to Prince An and Prince Ji.
"Hey, weren't you two sitting and chatting happily with the Second Imperial Sister-in-law just now? Why are you acting so restrained after my fifth brother and I arrived?" Prince Ji teased Ye Ying and Xing'er.
With that, Ye Ying and Xing'er looked up at Leng Ruoli.
"You two, quickly sit down! Prince An and Prince Ji don't mind, so why are you two being awkward?" Leng Ruoli said, looking at them.
Only then did Ye Ying and Xing'er slowly return to their seats.
At this moment, Prince An looked at Zhou Baiyu and asked, "Second Imperial Sister-in-law, who is this?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you two. This is the owner of Moon Beauty Accessories Shop – Zhou Baiyu," Leng Ruoli introduced.
As Prince An spoke, Zhou Baiyu, who had been trying to avoid interacting with royalty, had no choice but to stand up and bow to the two of them.
"This humble one, Zhou Baiyu, pays his respects to His Highness Prince An and His Highness Prince Ji."
"Owner Zhou, there's no need for such formality! Today, we are all eating here as friends, without the distinction of royalty or status," Prince An said with a gentle smile.
"That's right. Today, we are setting aside our identities to dine together. Second Imperial Sister-in-law, am I right?" Prince Ji quickly chimed in.