Chapter 71: If You Dare Call, I Dare Answer

Quan Aoyu frowned as he discussed yesterday’s ambush with Jun Zijin:

"The Wu family is easy to deal with, but the grey-robed men from yesterday are connected to an enemy state. This matter is not so simple. I fear you are already implicated in yesterday’s events. Are you afraid?"

"I am not afraid, but if there were no inside help, how could people from an enemy state repeatedly wreak havoc on our territory so easily?" Jun Zijin said.

Quan Aoyu’s gaze sharpened. "You are right. This mole must hold great power at court. I have already sent men to investigate in secret. But for them to act so urgently, I fear there is a greater conspiracy afoot. In the coming days, do not leave the residence alone. Ensure that Mama Xu and Mama Chen check all your food and drink before you consume them. When you sleep at night, keep Guazi and Huasheng by your side. You must be careful. If anything happens, go to the Bibo Pavilion to find me; that restaurant is mine, and it is also yours."

He gave his instructions earnestly. Jun Zijin knew he was worried about her, so she listened carefully and nodded in agreement.

Jun Zijin suddenly remembered the blood-sweat horse that Quan Aoyu had gifted her. She could not be bothered to put effort into keeping it at the Jun residence, so she tilted her head and said to Quan Aoyu:

"Keep the blood-sweat horse at your place. I will go there whenever I want to ride it."

In truth, of all the fine things Quan Aoyu had gifted her, the one she liked most was not the cloud brocade, but that blood-sweat horse. Even in the 21st century, a purebred blood-sweat horse was worth 80 million RMB. In this era, there were likely few in the entire Tianqi, making it truly precious. In her past life, horse riding had been one of Jun Zijin’s hobbies.

"That works too." Quan Aoyu nodded. He had people specifically tasked with caring for fine horses, so that was indeed more appropriate.

Finally, the conversation ended, and the last rays of the sunset sank below the mountains. He felt some reluctance, but he truly had to leave. He said, "I will come to see you often."

Jun Zijin shooed him away: "Hurry back."

"Blockhead!"

Quan Aoyu had just turned and walked a few steps when he was called back by Jun Zijin. His heart trembled. She called him "Blockhead"—was it that person from her words? But why did he feel a sense of familiarity? Clearly, it was the first time she had called him that, yet he felt as if it had been years.

"You be careful too," Jun Zijin said softly.

Quan Aoyu felt a warm current spread throughout his entire body. The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily as he said:

"Rest assured, I will be careful." With that, he strode away.

Jun Zijin stood where she was, watching his retreating figure for a long time without looking away. At this moment, Guazi whispered a reminder: "Mistress, the wind has picked up outside; let us return to the room." Only then did Jun Zijin snap back to reality.

Meanwhile, Quan Aoyu was in high spirits the entire way back, and he did not even mention punishing Bai Yu upon his return.

These past few days had been relatively peaceful. Jun Zijin went to the Old Lady’s courtyard every day to sit for a while. Seeing that her injuries had recovered quite well, she began to consider preparing for rehabilitation therapy.

Jun Yiyi only cursed Jun Zijin for being shameless in her own courtyard, saying that she had dragged the Crown Prince to her Aoxue Courtyard the moment the marriage was decreed. However, she was, after all, a daughter raised by the Wu woman, and she did not completely lose her reason to go to Jun Zijin’s courtyard to seek trouble.

As for Jun Zhidie, she had not been seen out for the past two days. Perhaps her face was hurting too much; it was said she could only eat liquid food every day and could not even speak clearly.

Jun Zijin made a trip to the old man’s home to perform acupuncture on the elderly woman. The woman was already able to get up, so she felt relieved.

These past few days seemed calm, but in reality, dark currents were surging. To be safe, she brought Guazi and Huasheng out today, while Hanxiao and Miaozhu were left in the residence to train the newly purchased maidservants. Jun Zijin went to Tong'an Hall to drop off her medicine chest. Seeing that it was nearly noon and having nothing else to do, she prepared to go see the Bibo Pavilion. It was Quan Aoyu’s place, and she had heard Quan Qingle talk about how booming its business was. In Jingcheng, whether it was court officials, young masters, or ladies, all took pride in being able to dine at the Bibo Pavilion. Ordinary families could not even book a table, yet she had never been to see it.

Just as she stepped out of the pharmacy, she ran into He Linger and Quan Qingle, who had come to the pharmacy to find her. The two had been craving the dishes at the Bibo Pavilion for a long time, but they could never book a table on ordinary days. Today, they had come to find her, the half-owner of the Bibo Pavilion, to go eat there together.

It had been some time since Jun Zijin and He Linger had seen each other. When the two met, their eyes were full of surprise. After the three of them exchanged smiles, Quan Qingle began to tease:

"Zijin, should I call you Zijin? Or should I call you Sixth Sister-in-law?"

Jun Zijin laughed: "If you dare to call me that, I dare to answer. If you call me by my name, we are friends. If you call me Sister-in-law, then I must fulfill the responsibilities of a sister-in-law. Should I go beg His Majesty to grant you a marriage as well?"

Upon hearing this, Quan Qingle hurriedly covered her mouth:

"I was wrong, Zijin. Please, spare me."

He Linger, standing to the side, was amused to the point of laughter.

After the three of them had a good laugh, Quan Qingle asked why that little foodie Jun Shuyan had not come. Jun Zijin chuckled—that was fine; two sparrows together would certainly not be bored. Thus, Jun Zijin instructed Huasheng, who was skilled in light-body techniques, to go back and bring Jun Shuyan directly to the Bibo Pavilion.

The group walked toward the Bibo Pavilion while chatting and laughing. On the way, Quan Qingle chattered incessantly about the Bibo Pavilion’s signature dishes, making He Linger swallow her saliva repeatedly.

Upon arriving at the Bibo Pavilion, despite having prepared herself mentally, the enchanting scenery and the bustling scene still left Jun Zijin greatly amazed, secretly praising Quan Aoyu for truly knowing how to pick a location.

Jingcheng had a 160-meter-wide moat, and by the river, there was a levee called Lover’s Levee. The levee was semicircular, and the Bibo Pavilion was built right upon it. More than half of the restaurant sat over the great river, with the water flowing leisurely and shimmering, as if draping the restaurant in a flowing silver veil.

Whenever the sun set, the afterglow spilled onto the river surface, glittering like gold and complementing the architecture of the restaurant. The private booths inside the restaurant were set by the windows. Outside, one side was the rippling green water, reflecting the buildings on the levee like a moving ink wash painting. The river breeze blew gently, carrying the fresh scent of water plants, making one feel relaxed and happy. On the other side, flowers bloomed in abundance, and butterflies danced, making one feel as if they were in a paradise on earth.

When night fell, the Bibo Pavilion had a unique charm. Lanterns hung high by the river, and the interplay of light and shadow reflected on the river surface like scattered stars. The lamplight danced with the starlight, and the painted pleasure boats on the river swayed gently on the shimmering water, with melodious music filling the air—romantic and breathtakingly beautiful.

The Bibo Pavilion, with its unique geographical location and enchanting scenery, leaned halfway over the great river, full of charm. The river whispered, the years were peaceful; it was the poetry and the distance in the hearts of diners, making people linger and forget to return. People strolled along Lover’s Levee or sat by the restaurant windows, enjoying this tranquility and beauty, as if the whole world had come to a standstill for it.

Quan Aoyu really knew how to pick a location. Jun Zijin’s mouth curled upward, her mood excellent.

As soon as the group entered the door, a waiter recognized Guazi and enthusiastically came forward to greet them:

"Oh! It’s Miss Guazi!"

When the shopkeeper heard that Guazi had arrived, knowing that the person on the Crown Prince’s heart had come, he personally came out to welcome Jun Zijin. The shopkeeper thought to himself that since this was the Crown Princess’s first visit, he ordered all the signature dishes in the restaurant to be served, while respectfully leading them to a private room on the upper floor called the Immortal Shadow Pavilion:

"Mistress, this private room is the best in our restaurant. Half of it overlooks the scenery of the moat, and the other half overlooks the fairyland-like courtyard inside the restaurant. This room was specifically reserved by the Crown Prince for your exclusive use and is not open to the public." The shopkeeper bowed and ushered Jun Zijin’s party into the room.