Ryan Bennett had traveled a long way and hadn’t eaten lunch yet. Smelling the fragrant wine in the shop, he didn’t refuse. He closed his umbrella under the eaves and walked into the Tang family tavern.

The tavern was small, with four little tables, a wine jar and a stove for warming wine placed in the corner.

At the table inside, two guests were already seated, both wearing black fish-scale armor with swords at their sides—one old, one young—looking like patrol officers from Linhe Ward.

Ryan Bennett entered the tavern and sat down at the table by the window. Little Lady hurried into the backyard to fetch a towel.

At the next table, Old Constable saw this and said:

“Emily, you really need to change your rash ways. Today, it’s lucky this young gentleman has a good temper. Otherwise, if you had to pay for that robe of cloud brocade, all your work for the first half of the year would have been for nothing.”

The woman called Emily Foster came out holding a white towel and retorted irritably:

“This young gentleman is gentle, refined, and well-educated—obviously a reasonable scholar. Do you think everyone is like you, you Old Codger, always spouting dirty jokes and trying to take advantage? Isn’t that right, young master?”

Ryan Bennett, in response to this flattery, replied politely:

“Auntie, you flatter me.”

Auntie?

Emily Foster’s bright smile froze. She pursed her lips, clearly wanting to curse, but in the end held back and instead said with a hint of displeasure:

“Young master, I’m not married yet, so don’t call me auntie. My name is Emily Foster; you can call me Sister Foster. If you don’t want to call me sister, Little Emily is fine too.”

Ryan Bennett was a bit surprised. Judging by the appearance of the Little Lady before him, she was mature and charming, seemingly old enough in this world.

However, it wasn’t his place to ask about a woman’s private affairs, so he changed the subject:

“Boss lady, what food do you have here?”

Emily Foster smiled and quickly introduced the tavern’s side dishes.

Seeing there was nothing else, Old Constable finished his wine, placed five large coins on the table, and left with Little Constable.

Emily Foster turned and called out:

“Old Brooks, not drinking anymore?”

Old Constable walked out of the tavern with his old, yellowed sword, waving his hand:

“That’s enough. I’ve been drinking here for over ten years, and not once have you let me touch even your hand, let alone anything else. Not a very generous business.”

Emily Foster wasn’t the least bit embarrassed by this crude remark and immediately shot back:

“Pah—this isn’t a brothel! If you want to touch someone, go to the alley up ahead. I just worry you’re too old for that…”

At this point, realizing Ryan Bennett was sitting right there, Emily Foster quickly reined in her sharp tongue and gave a shy smile:

“Old Brooks is a patrol officer from Linhe Ward. He’s a good man and very capable, just has a foul mouth. Please don’t mind him, young master.”

Ryan Bennett found it amusing and certainly didn’t mind.

A moment later, Emily Foster brought over a pot of wine and two small dishes, placing them on the table.

Just as Ryan Bennett picked up his chopsticks, another boat docked at the pier outside the tavern.

This time it was a large boat, crowded with maids and servants on deck.

As the gangplank was lowered, more than a dozen young gentlemen, all in their prime and dressed in finery, disembarked. Among them, a few had phoenix eyes and delicate features, their feminine looks drawing many glances.

There were no other customers in the tavern. Emily Foster stood at the door to watch the commotion. Noticing these young gentlemen from out of town, she said:

“A boat from the Four Southern Counties—these young masters must be here to compete for the princess’s embroidered ball, right?”

The Four Southern Counties were the granary of the Da Dan Dynasty, the richest in the land. Ryan Bennett was from Qinghe County, one of the four, and should have taken this official boat to the capital. He glanced out the window and nodded:

“Yes, we should have arrived a few days ago, but the river rose with the continuous rain, so we were delayed.”

“Oh?”

Seeing how much Ryan Bennett knew, Emily Foster grew thoughtful, then turned and sat at the table beside him, resting her chin on her hand and asking curiously:

“The day after tomorrow, the princess will choose her consort, and all the eligible young masters from noble families have been summoned to the capital. You seem quite distinguished, young master—are you here for that as well?”

Ryan Bennett was indeed here on his elders’ orders for this matter.

But with his vast wealth, even if he never traveled the world, he could easily indulge in every pleasure. Why would he be interested in becoming a royal consort who couldn’t even take concubines?

Ryan Bennett hesitated for a moment before replying ambiguously:

“I came alone, without even a servant. Do I look like I’m here to compete for the princess’s hand?”

Emily Foster studied Ryan Bennett carefully, perhaps out of courtesy, and said:

“Then the princess is out of luck. If you show up the day after tomorrow, those others don’t stand a chance—the princess would definitely choose you.”

“……”

Ryan Bennett put down his wine bowl and looked at Emily Foster:

“Why?”

Emily Foster smiled, pursing her lips, and pointed at the group of refined young men outside:

“I do have some discernment, you know. Look at those young masters—so delicate and pampered, they need maids to help them onto a carriage, more precious than any rich young lady, and not a trace of manliness. If I were choosing a husband, I certainly wouldn’t pick them.”

Ryan Bennett hadn’t taken the big boat with those people precisely because he couldn’t stand their effeminate ways. Hearing Emily Foster say this, he joked with a smile:

“Sister Foster, if you were choosing a husband, would you pick someone like me?”

??