Zhou Jing'an looked at the silver in her palm, pondered for a moment, then took it and smiled, "Thank you."
Jian Yang smiled and was about to turn back to the counter when Zhou Jing'an called her back.
“There is one more thing I need to trouble you with, landlady,” Zhou Jing’an said, cupping his hands in greeting. “I am new here and would like to stay in Baihua Town for a while. I wonder if you know Ya Bao? I would like to rent a place to stay.”
“No need for that,” Jian Yang said, pointing to the study across the street. “I heard a few days ago that the owner of the study has an extra house to rent out. You can just go and ask him after you finish eating.”
Zhou Jing'an thanked him repeatedly.
Jian Yang returned to the emperor's side.
"What did he say to you?" the emperor asked, feeling that the man's eyes looked somewhat familiar.
As he spoke, he handed her a cup of herbal tea to soothe her dryness. Jian Yang had been feeling a bit feverish these past few days, so he kept urging her to drink water.
Jian Yang took the herbal tea and drank it all in one gulp before answering, "He wanted to rent a house and asked me if I knew any dentists. I told him that the Chen family, the manager of the study, had a house for rent."
As they were talking, another customer came to get their food, and the two quickly shifted their attention.
Zhou Jing'an, however, kept glancing at the two of them.
Although he felt it was impossible for the emperor to lower himself to do business, he also believed that Jian Yang could not have found a new man so quickly.
Even if she had the intention, the emperor would absolutely not allow it.
So he planned to stay in the town for a few more days to observe the two of them up close.
A few days later, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jian Yang posted a notice on the door with red paper and black characters. The notice was essentially saying that on this day of family reunion, she had decided to give herself and her employees a seven-day holiday, and those who wanted to eat should come back after seven days.
Because she was exploited too much by her boss when she was a worker in her previous life, she will never mistreat her employees in this life when she becomes a boss!
Everyone was shocked.
I've only ever heard of holidays during the Lunar New Year, never the Mid-Autumn Festival, and not just any holiday, but a full seven days! What's even more infuriating is that it's paid!
The shop assistants from the other shops all expressed their envy, jealousy, and resentment.
During the holiday, Sister Mei and her colleagues naturally didn't need to come, and Jian Yang was surprised to find that she and the emperor were actually enjoying some alone time together.
Although she felt uneasy, she was thick-skinned and managed to appear calm on the surface.
However, the emperor seemed to be deliberately teasing her, making extremely ambiguous and intimate gestures from time to time, making her heart flutter.
For example, at this moment, she was standing on tiptoe to reach the honey on the top shelf of the cabinet when she was suddenly enveloped by a familiar yet powerful aura, and the emperor's chest pressed against her back.
Jian Yang's breath hitched.
"Here you go." The emperor was much taller than her, and he easily lifted his arm to take the jar of honey down.
"Thank you, thank you." She blushed as she accepted it.
But this person was actually helping her, so she couldn't even find a legitimate reason to be angry.
Moreover, she didn't feel angry at all; she just felt a bit of a strain on her heart.
After all, she didn't know what was wrong with her lately, but whenever the emperor got close to her, her heart rate would spike instantly. If this continued, it would be really bad for her health.
After the emperor got the honey for her, he didn't back away. Instead, he leaned close to her ear and asked, "Why are the empress's earlobes so red?"
you guess!
Jian Yang rolled her eyes silently.
Just take the honey, why stick it on?
His hot breath sprayed on her earlobe, and Jian Yang felt that if her heart continued to beat so fast, she would definitely suffer a heart attack.
So she quickly took a step to the side and changed the subject, saying, "Your Majesty, Sister Mei said before that there is a kind of August melon on Cang'er Mountain. It tastes very sweet and refreshing. These days are the time when it is ripe. Shall we go up the mountain to look for it?"
She simply couldn't bear to be in the same room with him anymore!
Regardless, she decided to go outside first; she didn't believe he would dare to be so bold once they were outdoors.
The emperor didn't expose her little scheme and smiled, "Alright."
The reason Jian Yang chose to settle in Baihua Town was not only because of the year-round blooming flowers and pleasant climate, but also because the place was nestled between mountains and water.
This mountain is Cang'er Mountain.
If you walk south along the main street for less than three miles, you will reach the foot of Cang'er Mountain.
Besides woodcutters and hunters, the townspeople of Baihua Town also occasionally go into the mountains for a stroll.
Some families cultivate land in the mountains, while others go into the mountains to collect wild produce, such as mushrooms.
In a short while, Jian Yang and the emperor had already encountered several townspeople who were going into the mountains to work and pick mushrooms.
They are all old acquaintances now, and everyone greets them warmly when they see them.
This is also why Jian Yang dared to bring the emperor into the mountains—with so many eyes watching, he would never dare to lay a hand on her.
Soon the two found the 'August melon' with its purple skin and white flesh in the mountains.
Jian Yang immediately picked one and tasted it. It had a light sweetness and a unique fragrance, and the taste was indeed good. The only downside was that it had too many seeds.
"Would you like to try some?" Jian Yang asked casually.
The emperor nodded.
Jian Yang was about to pick another one for him when she saw the emperor grab her wrist and, using her hand, continue biting the spot where she had just bitten.
"Hmm, very sweet," the emperor said with satisfaction.
Jian Yang slightly widened her eyes, staring at the teeth marks on the fruit in her hand, her face turning bright red once again.
She underestimated how shameless men can be!
Just then, a woodcutter passing by saw the two of them and praised them with a smile, "The young couple has a really good relationship."
Jian Yang fled in panic.
The emperor gently reminded her from behind, "It rained last night, the road is slippery, A-Yang, please walk slowly."
Jian Yang ran even faster.
When Jian Yang returned to the restaurant, she saw a person standing at the door, craning his neck to look into the restaurant through the crack in the door. At this moment, the emperor had caught up with her.
"Why aren't you leaving?" the emperor asked her.
Jian Yangdao gestured forward with his lip: "There's someone there."
"Let's go and take a look first."
The emperor, acting as a protector, had Jian Yang walk behind him and led her toward the man.
Jian Yang initially wanted to pull her hand back, but after thinking about it, she ultimately gave up.
As they got closer, they realized that this person was the same outsider who had come to eat a couple of days ago.
The two were then relieved.
"Young master, our shop will be closed for the next few days," Jian Yang said, pointing to the red paper notice he had posted on the door.
Zhou Jing'an turned around, his gaze falling on the two people's tightly clasped hands. His eyes flickered as he said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm not here for dinner. I'd like to take advantage of the holiday and invite you to my home for a visit."
Seeing the two looking at him with suspicion, Zhou Jing'an continued, "I am new here and have already received a meal from you two. Now that I have established myself, I should repay you. Before I came out, I had my servants prepare some wine at home. I hope you will do me the honor of coming."
Judging from his refined tone, he must be a scholar.
Jian Yang became less wary of him.
So grateful for his kindness, she felt bad about discouraging him, so she turned to the emperor and asked for his opinion with her eyes.
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