To Hold One’s Joy

  Chapter 175 Can't favor one over another

   Seeing what Wei Han said, Wei Qiang smiled gently at Zhao Shangshu: "Zhao Shangshu, sit down. I rarely eat outside the palace on weekdays, and it is rare to be able to drink with Uncle Wang and Zhao Shangshu."

  As a prince, he actually lacks a lot of freedom compared to ordinary clans, especially the aspect of making friends with important court officials must not be put on the surface.

  Because I met by chance at a wine shop today, and I have King Kaiyang as my companion, I don't have to worry about being talked about.

   "Then it's better to obey orders than to be respectful." Zhao Shangshu cupped his hands, his beard shaking.

   Wei Qiang laughed.

   Zhao Shangshu was so excited, but he did not expect it.

  Since there is one more person, it is natural to add food and wine.

   "Give me two more servings of grilled pork knuckles." Wei Qiang liked this dish of grilled pot elbows very much, and always felt that two more servings would not be enough.

   Zhao Shangshu had seen the bottom of two plates with only soup left.

  Based on the experience of eating it many times, he knew that the shape and color of the plate was specially used to hold pork chops.

   It's over, there are two servings, let's eat clean two servings...

  Zhao Shangshu said with regret: "There is a limit to the amount of pork knuckles."

   "Limited limit?" Hongdou standing aside raised his voice slightly, "How can there be a limited amount for His Royal Highness?"

  Kuer smiled and added: "Yes, it is not convenient for the crown prince to come down to drink. Our boss said that the limit can not be limited to the crown prince."

  Wei Qiang glanced in surprise at the girl who returned to the lobby and was sitting at the counter in surprise.

   Is there any preferential treatment for him?

  Looking at Miss Luo's reticent attitude just now, he didn't expect it.

   Wei Qiang looked away, looked at the silent Wei Han and asked, "My Uncle Wang is here, is it also limited?"

   Wei Han raised his eyebrows slightly.

  Hong Dou didn’t have the thoughtfulness to take care of the guest’s mood, so he took it for granted: “Of course it’s limited, the prince belongs to another guest officer.”

   Wei Qiang felt better for no reason, and said with a smile, "Let's serve."

  While waiting for the food, Minister Qian Shangshu and Lin Jijiu walked in.

  Seeing that the crown prince was there, Qian Shangshu was surprised, and rushed forward to greet him.

   "Qian Shangshu doesn't need to be too polite, and he doesn't need to pay attention to these things in wine shops."

   "Yes." Qian Shangshu responded, and glanced at his old friend Zhao Shangshu.

   No, since he invited Zhao Shangshu to have a meal here, he felt that they were no longer friends.

   "Zhao Shangshu is also here, this is—" Qian Shangshu hesitated to speak, and murmured in his heart.

   It is definitely impossible for Zhao Shangshu to treat guests. Is this another meal?

  Qian Shangshu felt deeply jealous, and raised a deep question in his heart: They are all six ministers, why does Lao Zhao always get money?

  Wei Qiang noticed that Qian Shangshu's eyes staring at Zhao Shangshu were a bit too hot, and he explained when he was puzzled: "It's rare to meet, I will be the host to invite Uncle Wang and Zhao Shangshu to have a drink."

   "It's really rare—" Qian Shangshu sighed with emotion in a meaningful tone.

  What else could Wei Qiang say, he smiled and said, "Let's join Qian Shangshu."

   Right after he finished speaking, he saw Lin Jijiu walking in, so he invited them together.

   "It's embarrassing to let His Highness be the host." Qian Shangshu said politely, and cheered in his heart.

  He had been saving for a long time, and then he gritted his teeth and came to have a meal on the day when Grilled Pork Knuckles were sold.

   Can you let go of your stomach and eat it?

   "It's a rare opportunity to get together for a drink, Qian Shangshu is welcome."

  Qian Shangshu sat down.

   It’s enough to be polite, but what if you can’t eat anymore?

  He didn’t say that he had to take advantage of the prince, the key was not that Zhao Shangshu came first.

   I really feel sorry for the prince, and the law does not blame the public.

   "Lin Jijiu also sits." Wei Qiang's attitude towards Lin Jijiu, who is full of peaches and plums, is more polite.

  Lin Jijiu hesitated for a moment before sitting down.

  Eat as much as you like, and coincidentally have a meal of wine together, and it doesn't matter that he clings to the prince.

  What Wei Qiang didn't expect was that after Qian Shangshu and Lin Jijiu sat down, honorable ministers came in one after another.

  Can the prince put his favoritism on the surface? Must not.

  Wei Qiang actually doesn't have that much money.

  Since entering the East Palace and severed contact with the Pingnan Palace, naturally the property of the Palace cannot be used. What can be controlled is the crown prince.

   Wei Qiang saw that the lobby was full and there were only six tables, so let’s invite all of them.

  A table is calculated at ten taels of silver, and it can't exceed one hundred taels.

  At the beginning, Zhao Shangshu and others were still worried that the prince’s treats should not be too harsh, but they didn’t expect that today’s grilled pork elbow is particularly fragrant, and there is no limit to it—

   After eating a few slices of elbows and drinking two cups of small shochu, no one will think that it is the prince's treat.

   It’s not that the prince was forced to ask for it. Besides, there are several food buckets at this table. Who can prove that he ate it?

  Everyone thinks so, and everybody eats.

  Eating until the restaurant was about to close, the prince couldn't sit still.

   If you don’t go back, the gate of the palace will be locked.

  He really didn't expect these ministers who usually look gentle, stable or noble to be so delicious!

   "Ahem, I've been out for a long time, and it's time to go back. Ladies and gentlemen, continue." Wei Qiang picked up his wine glass and raised it.

  Everyone put down their chopsticks one after another and saluted the prince.

   "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness, we have enjoyed ourselves."

   If you don’t go with the prince, what if you let them share the meal expenses?

   "Then pay the bill." Wei Qiang smiled and told Hongdou.

  Hongdou quickly took out the bill, opened his mouth and read: "Thirty pork knuckles, fifty plates of stewed beef... sixty pots of shochu... the total of Chenghui is five thousand six hundred and twenty taels of silver."

  Sincerely benefiting five thousand six hundred and twenty taels of silver?

   Wei Qiang's smile froze at the corner of his mouth, and his heart almost stopped beating at this moment.

  Did he hear wrongly?

   "Your Highness, is the settlement now, or is it an account?" Hong Dou asked intimately.

   Wei Qiang's face turned black.

   What is the cash settlement, what is the accounting, let me first talk about what is going on with the five thousand six hundred and twenty taels!

  He slowly looked around the lobby.

   Zhao Shangshu and the others had calm smiles on their faces.

   Don't panic, you must let the prince understand that the price of this restaurant is like this.

  They have long been used to it, and they have long dismissed it. They definitely don’t want to eat it when they catch someone as a treat.

  Wei Qiang was momentarily at a loss when he saw the unchanging faces of the people.

   Could it be that five thousand six hundred and twenty taels is normal?

   "Your Highness?"

  Wei Qiang managed to control his overwhelmed emotions, and said with a forced smile, "The price of your store is a bit more expensive than I expected."

  Hongdou pouted: "That's the first time His Highness came to eat. If you don't believe me, you can ask these old customers, everyone knows the price of our restaurant."

   Wei Qiang scanned the crowd again.

  Everyone nodded in unison.

   Yes, they all know.

   Expensive, delicious...

   After a long silence, Wei Qiang gritted his teeth and spit out two words: "Keeping accounts."

   "Okay." Hong Dou slapped the bill, and suddenly remembered an important thing, "Oh, Your Highness lives in the East Palace, how do you collect the bill?"

  A faint voice came: "It's okay, I will visit the princess later, and just bring the bill."

   Cheers, and successfully got a month of full attendance. Thank you for your support, your affirmation and love are the driving force for me to persist every day. It's the last day of the month, ask for a monthly ticket.

  (end of this chapter)