Chu Qing'er

"Your excellency… Can I think over it?" Lulu said, her head spinning. She doesn't mind the current owner here at all. In fact, she enjoys talking to the customers here. Mainly ladies from rich families come here, but it's not rare to see a man once in a while. 

"Of course. I'll be here when you're about to get off your shift. Also, make sure you're keeping your eyes open on your back." 

Lulu nodded to her words and walked back. If she didn't understand Zhu Yunyun's hints from before, her last sentence should have told her everything. Though she doesn't understand how Zhu Yunyun knows that someone has taken a fancy to her, and obviously not a good type of fancy, she chose to believe in her.

Like the Crown Prince, she has already figured out that Zhu Yunyun was a man, so she had more trust in her knowing that she wouldn't buy her out for personal desire.

Zhu Yunyun watched her leave and go serve others while chatting and laughing, and quickly finished up her breakfast as the prince should be coming in roughly forty minutes. Although that might be a lot of time to eat and get back to the bar in time, she'd rather show up early and leave a good impression.

Ten minutes later, Zhu Yunyun finished up her food and placed down 30 bronze coins on the table and left.

Unlike her bar, the standard amount to pay for food in the capital was three bronze coins for a whole meal for a family of six. It takes one hundred bronze coins for one silver tael. You can see how expensive Zhu Yunyun's drinks are? Not to mention to eat here, one must be incredibly wealthy to eat out in the capital.

Ignoring the outrageous princes, Zhu Yunyun made it back to her shop and started to prepare some drinks. She doesn't know when the prince will arrive and how many people he will bring, but she decided to be cautious and prepare ten drinks. 

It didn't take long for her to make the drinks, and a couple of minutes later, she heard the front door opening. 

As for who it could be? Well, she had the close sign on, so it was most likely the prince!

When Zhu Yunyun raised her head towards the front door, she saw four men and one woman around the Crown Prince, three of them which she knew: Xu Yan, Wang, and Dong.

As for the other two, she glanced at them and checked them out.

[Name: Qin Zhao]

[Occupation: Imperial Counselor]

[Age: 27]

[Notes: With the corruption happening in the court due to the third prince had made him incredibly tired. Not only that, his wife keeps on finding him more and more concubines and has difficulties waking up in the morning. Currently neutral in the court, but tends to favour the Crown Prince because of Xu Yan, the Minister of Justice.]

[Name: Chu Qing'er]

[Occupation: First Princess]

[Age: 16]

[Notes: Fell in love with a man and pestered her brother, Chu Rensheng, to take her out to play, but secretly wants to meet up with that man.]

"I've seen Your Highness." Zhu Yunyun walked up to the prince and bowed slightly.

"No need for the formalities master." Chu Rensheng with a smile and his eyes darted to the drinks on the counter.

"I'm assuming it's on the house?" 

"Of course." She said, bringing them to the counter.

"Haha! Your Highness, I didn't expect you to have such good taste! This place will definitely satisfy you." Xu Yan said with a heart laugh as he rushed to the nearest drink.

Chu Qing'er looked around the place, but her head didn't turn much and remained grateful and dignified. 

"To the prince, if you were going to bring the princess here, I would've provided non-alcoholic drinks." Zhu Yunyun said.

"Master doesn't have to worry, I force my crown brother to take me out. I'm happy to watch my brother get along with the others." Chu Qing'er said, taking a step for her brother.

Zhu Yunyun hummed, and grabbed one of the drinks for herself. She made ten drinks and only six people out of the seven could drink. As she drank, she was debating on how to tell the Crown Prince about his sister's little love. 

"Xu Yan, you really weren't lying!" A strong voice sounded. 

Zhu Yunyun didn't recognize the voice, so this could only mean that it was Qin Zhao's voice.

"Zhao, I tried to tell you that the wine here is great! But you chose to not come with me at night." Xu Yan laughed as he felt pride showing off.

"Humph, if your lazy ass hasn't been taking forever to get evidence on the murdered official, I'd trust you more." Qin Zhao said, frustrated. 

Clearly the emperor has been on his ass to deal with the corrupt officials, but in order for him to enact his powers, he needed strong evidence which can only be helped by the Minister of Justice. He hasn't handled any murder cases before, and only did the typical bribery, smuggling, or unfilial piety, the common cases that can be easily proven. 

Chu Qing'er listened to their conversations, and looked at everyone's enjoyment, causing her to look at the drinks on the table.

Zhu Yunyun saw her look, and understood what she wanted.

"Does Your Highness want a drink?" Zhu Yunyun asked.

Before Chu Qing'er could speak, Zhu Yunyun spoke again, "I can dilute the alcohol in the drink, but it will taste more watery. Would you like it?"

Chu Qing'er was moved, and glanced at her brother for permission. 

Chu Rensheng looked at his sister and then looked at Zhu Yunyun and nodded.

'If her intelligence isn't wrong, then it wouldn't hurt for her and the master to get along. Anyway, Qing'er doesn't have many friends, and most of them are married girls.' 

With Chu Rensheng's permission, Chu Qing'er summoned up the courage and nodded her head and said, "I wish the master can help me."

Hearing her words, Zhu Yunyun smiled and gulped down the remainder of her drink and started to prepare another cup for the princess.