Inviting a Guest, Dining Is a Troublesome Matter
Serena Feng only knew that the Windchaser Inn was the finest restaurant in the Eastlyn Imperial Capital—naturally, if you wanted to host someone or ask a favor, you chose the best spot. What she didn’t know was that the doors to the Windchaser Inn weren’t so easily entered.
To step inside, you first had to match the poetic couplet left by the previous guest, and then compose a new couplet of your own.
"Isn’t this just a meal? Why does eating have to be so complicated? Are they trying to torment people?" Serena stood at the entrance, feeling nothing but frustration. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have picked this place even if you beat me."
The maid lowered her head, aggrieved. "Everyone in the capital knows about this."
It’s just like the Poetry Salon—if you want to enter, you have to compose a flower-themed poem at the door. At the Windchaser Inn, you match the posted couplet and then add a new one.
Windchaser—chasing the winds of elegance across the world. Most people come to dine here for the challenge of matching couplets. If you can compose a perfect match and leave a brilliant line, your name will travel far and wide.
"Can we change the venue?" Serena was well aware of her own limitations. Matching couplets wasn’t just hard—it was a whole different level of difficulty.
She could barely recite a few poems, but couplets? Forget it—she couldn’t even memorize them, and even if she did, it wouldn’t necessarily fit the challenge. It all depended on what kind of couplet the previous guest had left.
The maid lowered her head even further. "If you change the venue now, everyone will know you couldn’t match the Windchaser Inn’s couplet." A fresh wave of rumors would start all over again.
Matching couplets at Windchaser Inn was common knowledge—except, of course, Serena had no idea. "Who owns this place, anyway? Who came up with such a ridiculous rule?"
Uh... The maid was practically burying her head in the ground. "The Windchaser Inn belongs to the Wang Clan, and it was personally built up by the Grand Heir. These rules were set by him. Everyone considers it an honor to dine at the Windchaser Inn—many talented scholars have made their names here by composing couplets."
That’s why it’s easy for the Wang Clan to reserve a spot at Windchaser. The maid thought for a moment and added, "Miss, the steward reserved a private room upstairs, but there’s another couplet at the door. You have to match it to enter, or else you’ll have to sit downstairs."
They realized that even children as young as three in Eastlyn knew all about this, but their own Miss was clueless. So, they obediently kept explaining.
Serena’s expression grew darker and darker. Staring at the words 'Windchaser Inn,' her eyes nearly shot flames. Through gritted teeth, she asked, "So if I match those two couplets, I have to leave two more behind?"
"Yes, Miss." The maid finally breathed a sigh of relief—her mistress had finally understood.
"Isn’t there anyone who gets an exception?" Serena thought, since it’s a Wang property, maybe the Grand Heir William could make an exception.
"No exceptions. Even if the Grand Heir himself comes, he still has to follow the rules of the Windchaser Inn." That’s exactly why everyone chases after Windchaser.
"Really? But what if the previous guest left a couplet that’s too hard—what happens if no one can match it?" Serena wondered, wasn’t there talk of impossibly difficult lines? What if she ran into one?
"You don’t need to worry, Miss. The Windchaser Inn’s cultural arbiter is Mr. Simon Shu. If the couplet is too difficult and no one can match it, Mr. Shu will compose a new one. He’s the foremost scholar among the Eight Great Houses of the Nine Provinces—his talent is unmatched." The little maid explained sweetly, full of admiration for Mr. Shu.
"How could someone like that be running the Windchaser Inn? Aren’t scholars supposed to be above worldly concerns—too proud to bend for five bushels of rice? Did William offer him ten bushels, so he finally gave in?"
The maid seemed to know Serena would ask that. She lifted her head, pride on her face. "Miss, Mr. Simon Shu agreed to stay at the Windchaser Inn because he lost a couplet contest to the Grand Heir. He honored his wager and accepted the Grand Heir’s condition to become the inn’s cultural arbiter. Of course, Mr. Shu doesn’t manage the restaurant itself—he only oversees the literary affairs."
"So that’s how it is. Well, losing to the Grand Heir isn’t exactly shameful." Serena knew about William’s talent, even if he rarely showed it around her. She’d heard enough rumors to guess the rest.
Three months of traveling and studying, and nobles everywhere sent him off in person. He was even invited to lecture at Jixia Academy—there were only a handful of people in the world who could claim that.
Jixia Academy was where all the greatest scholars gathered. Anyone invited to lecture there was usually old, wise, and admired for both talent and virtue. For William to stand on that podium was proof of his character and brilliance.
"Well, since we’re here, let’s see if we can actually get inside." Compared to the local scholars and courtesans, Serena realized that her decade of modern education was basically useless—she’d learned a bit of everything, but her classical skills were a mess.
"Miss, please wait."
Serena had just reached the entrance when she saw a young woman being stopped by the Windchaser staff. "Miss, I don’t need to explain the rules—everyone knows them. If you can’t match the couplet, you can’t enter."
"I reserved my seat three months ago! How can you refuse me entry?" The girl in pink blushed furiously, glancing anxiously at both sides of the street. Noticing the crowd’s curious looks, her cheeks turned even redder.
It was understandable—a young woman would hate to lose face.
Serena had to admit, William’s move was ruthless—putting the couplet challenge right at the front door. If you couldn’t answer, you wouldn’t even need the staff to say anything; you’d be too embarrassed to stay.
Of course, that pink-clad girl was an exception—she just refused to give up.
"Windchaser Inn has its own rules, miss. Please respect them. It doesn’t matter if you reserved your seat three months ago or three years ago—if you can’t match the couplet, you can’t enter." The server was neither servile nor arrogant, his manners more refined than most young gentlemen.
Serena nodded. "The Grand Heir really does run a tight ship." Even the servers were so well-trained—no wonder it was so hard to get a seat.
"Do you know who I am?" The girl in pink lifted her chin high, face full of arrogance.
"Miss, I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care to know. Announcing your identity will only embarrass yourself. Please step aside, miss—Windchaser Inn is open for business and we have other guests arriving." The server paid her no mind, having seen too many guests like her.
The girl wanted to argue more, but the young man in a sapphire-blue robe beside her quickly pulled her away. "Enough, Jingyue, stop making a scene."
"But brother, didn’t you want to meet Mr. Simon Shu? If we can’t even get into Windchaser Inn, how will you ever meet him?" The girl pouted, looking wronged.
"With my meager talent, if I can’t even enter Windchaser, why would Mr. Shu want to see me?" The young man looked dejected, self-mocking.
"That’s not true! They’re just bullying us—what kind of couplet is this? They say it’s not impossible, but it’s clearly meant to stump people." The girl glared resentfully at the server.
"I bet they can’t match it either. I want to see how Windchaser Inn kicks people out." Jingyue crossed her arms, glaring angrily at Serena.
Serena already knew exactly what was happening here, but pretended not to see it. She walked forward slowly, secretly frustrated—today’s couplet at Windchaser was probably no ordinary challenge. She had no idea if she’d even be able to step through the door.
She’d gone to all this trouble to invite William for lunch, and now she might not even make it inside. Just thinking about how William would laugh at her...