Asking the Wrong Person, Part Two

Third Watch

"Ah-choo! Ah-choo!"

Having just stepped out of the Ministry of Revenue, Sun Shaozong sneezed twice in rapid succession.

Rubbing his nose, he gloomily wondered who was cursing him, only to realize that he had quite a few enemies. In the end, he could not be bothered to dwell on it.

"Second Master."

Before he reached the carriage, the coachman Zhang Cheng came forward to meet him. "At this hour, should we fill our stomachs first before returning to the office, or...?"

Sun Shaozong instinctively pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it, only to discover that noon had long since passed.

They had been too engrossed in their discussion earlier and had not noticed the time at all when they came out. Otherwise, he should have called Yu Qian along for a simple meal outside.

But now...

Sun Shaozong looked back at the gates of the Ministry of Revenue and ultimately abandoned the thought of going back in to call Yu Qian out.

He waved broadly at Zhang Cheng. "Let's go. Find somewhere to fill our stomachs first."

"Right away!"

Zhang Cheng hurriedly agreed, stooping forward to lift the carriage curtain.

Once Sun Shaozong had entered the carriage, Zhang Cheng jumped onto the driver's seat. As he urged the horses on with whip in hand, he recommended, "I happen to know of a new restaurant nearby. I heard it's run by a retired Imperial Chef, and it's right across from Prince of Beijing's Estate."

Sun Shaozong shook his head and temporarily cast the matter from his mind. In two days, he was due to attend a banquet at the estate. Constantly thinking about the Princess Consort was hardly a good thing.

If he exposed himself, that would be no laughing matter.

Yet how could he have known