Chapter 73: So What?

Gao Gao Shanshan widened her eyes and shouted in disbelief, "Do you know who I am? My father is the current Prime Minister, and my aunt is the Noble Consort!"

Jun Jun Zijin sneered coldly, "Is that so? So what? In this Bibo Pavilion, I call the shots."

Gao Gao Shanshan scoffed, "Who do you think you are? This restaurant belongs to my Crown Prince brother. On what grounds do you claim it as yours?"

Quan Quan Aoyu spoke up:

"Do you have a pig's brain? It is because Jun Zijin is someone recognized by my Quan family, and even more so by my Crown Prince brother; it is because she is the future Crown Princess."

Upon hearing that the one who struck her was actually that country girl from the Jun family, a wave of resentment surged within Gao Gao Shanshan.

"I wondered who it was, turns out it's just that neglected country girl from the Jun family," Gao Gao Shanshan said, her words dripping with intense contempt. "Country bumpkin, do you know who I am? How dare you strike me?"

Jun Jun Zijin rubbed her slightly reddened palm, didn't even lift her eyes, and slowly said:

"I also wondered who it was, but it's merely a daughter of a Prime Minister; upon seeing this County Princess, why are you not yet kneeling?"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin dare to speak to her this way, Gao Gao Shanshan felt both furious and hateful:

"A country girl whom even her own father dislikes, yet you expect this Young Lady to kneel to you? A country bumpkin who doesn't even look in the mirror, on what grounds do you presume to marry my Crown Prince brother?"

Jun Jun Zijin chuckled, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Didn't I just say? It is by His Majesty's imperial decree, and by the Crown Prince's own intention."

"Exactly, you are merely a Prime Minister's daughter, while I am a proper and legitimate Commandery Princess; why have you not yet knelt before this Commandery Princess?" Quan Quan Aoyu said with hands on hips.

He Ling'er also spoke:

"Even if Jun Zijin once lived on a farm estate, she is still a County Princess personally bestowed by the Emperor and the future Crown Princess. How exalted is our Jun Zijin's status, and how could someone like you casually offend or look down upon her?"

"Furthermore, you call him 'Crown Prince brother' left and right; my Sixth Brother dislikes it most when people unrelated by blood address him so. Are you not afraid my Sixth Brother will cut out your tongue?" Quan Quan Aoyu threatened.

Jun Jun Zijin's voice was clear and cold, "Actually, power and influence are indeed useful for suppressing people; no wonder Quan Quan Aoyu told me that once one has power, one must use it, and he would cover for me if anything went wrong."

She recalled Quan Quan Aoyu once telling her: "Dan Dan, once you have power, use it with confidence; if anything goes wrong, I will cover for you, don't be afraid." Thinking of that person, Jun Jun Zijin's lips curled involuntarily.

Rendered speechless by the several of them, and seeing Jun Jun Zijin repeatedly mention Quan Quan Aoyu's great name—making it clear to all listeners how deep the affection was between the two betrothed—Gao Gao Shanshan was furious to the point of madness and jealous to the point of insanity; yet since none of the people before her were easy to provoke, she momentarily did not know whom to bite, until her gaze caught the waiter still kneeling on the ground who had not risen; disregarding the pain in her legs, she lifted her foot to kick him.

But just as she lifted her foot and before she could kick out, Jun Jun Zijin struck her squarely in the stomach with one kick, causing Gao Gao Shanshan to fall to the ground with a "Thump."

Clutching her stomach, Gao Gao Shanshan never dreamed that today she would gain no advantage whatsoever, only to be slapped by this country bumpkin and then kicked; had her three years of effort been in vain? She felt her lungs were about to explode from anger; her legs hurt, her face hurt, her stomach hurt, she could neither stand nor win an argument; it seemed only her eyes still worked, so helplessly she glared viciously at Jun Jun Zijin and stubbornly declared:

"You dare to strike again; I will not let you go."

Jun Jun Zijin could not be bothered to pay her any mind; turning to signal the waiter to stop kneeling, she calmly adjusted her sleeves and said, "If you continue to act recklessly, next time it will not end merely like this."

At this moment, Jun Jun Zhihao, who had been observing from the private room for quite some time, thought to himself that this time his junior sister had kicked an iron plate, and it would not do not to help her; thus he walked out from the adjacent room, bowed to the several of them, and then asked Jun Jun Zijin, "Is this my Second Sister?"

Jun Jun Zijin raised her eyebrows slightly and did not answer; having cursed her from the private room earlier, why was he now trying to act familiar?

Jun Jun Zhihao seemed not to mind and continued:

"My junior sister is young and ignorant; she caused much offense just now; I hope Second Sister will be magnanimous."

Jun Jun Zijin looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, "You are certainly adept at assessing the situation."

Gao Gao Shanshan shouted angrily from the side:

"Jun Jun Zhihao, why are you apologizing to her? This Young Lady does not need it!"

Jun Jun Zhihao secretly groaned; this junior sister was truly stupid to the extreme; if not for her status which might prove useful in the future, how would he ever be willing to associate with her?

Jun Jun Zijin lightly clapped her hands, "Young Lady Gao, I originally had no intention of being your enemy, yet you have forced me step by step; take a good look and see whether the people before you are ones you can afford to provoke; if you do not wish to be beaten again, be sensible, take your senior brother, and scram."

Jun Jun Zhihao hastily helped Gao Gao Shanshan up from the ground and advised in a low voice, "Junior sister, let us go; a wise man avoids a fight when the odds are against him."

Gao Gao Shanshan also knew deeply that she could gain no advantage; she could only glare viciously at Jun Jun Zijin and the others, throwing down a harsh threat:

"Jun Jun Zijin, do not get complacent; sooner or later you will regret this; just you wait!" Having spoken, she turned and limped away.

After bowing once more to the several of them, Jun Jun Zhihao hurriedly chased after her.

Watching her wretched retreating figure, the several of them could not help but chuckle; even the beaten waiter laughed and said gratefully, "Master, you were truly domineering just now!"

This farce did not affect the appetites of the several foodies; however, what should have been a fine meal was ruined by Gao Gao Shanshan's interference, leaving the dishes cold, so the Shopkeeper served a new table of fine dishes.

On the tea house opposite the restaurant, Quan Quan Tianchen leaned against the chair back holding a teacup, having watched the spectacle for half the day; he saw clearly how Jun Jun Zijin verbally sparred and struck people, and now saw that after beating away the Prime Minister's daughter, that girl had surrounded the table and begun eating again; Quan Quan Tianchen could not help but shake his head and smile lightly: he had thought that with his Sixth Brother's such cold temperament, it would be difficult to find a suitable marriage match, yet unexpectedly, Quan Aoyu and this girl were truly well-matched, equally domineering, decisive, occasionally a little mischievous, and somewhat... willful; fate is indeed a miraculous thing; a warm smile hung on Quan Quan Tianchen's gentle face as he shook his head again.

The several of them finally ate and drank their fill; one meal was not enough, so they ate and packed leftovers before leaving the restaurant.

He Ling'er recalled that Jun Jun Zijin had mentioned at the last palace banquet that her ready-made clothing shop would open this month; the more she looked at the skirt Jun Jun Zijin wore, the more beautiful it appeared, so she thought that once the shop opened, she would go select several outfits like that; Quan Quan Aoyu had likewise coveted them for a long time; Jun Jun Zijin smiled and said:

"I was not free some time ago and did not draw any design drafts; only in these past few days have I drawn a few sheets; the tailors are rushing work, so I estimate in another few days, by which time I will invite you all to come."

As the day was growing late, the several of them parted ways to return to their respective homes.

When Jun Jun Zijin returned to the residence, she found that the Second Branch, which had been quiet these past few days, was exceptionally festive today; of course, Jun Jun Zhihao had returned.