A large bowl of mutton soup floated with chili oil. There wasn’t a bit of meat visible, nor any bones—only a few thick slices of white radish and some scallion pieces, yet the aroma burrowed straight into one’s nose.

The burly man couldn’t help but mutter: “There really isn’t even a scrap of meat.”

The attendant smiled confidently: “Guest, it’s only three wen. Just look at these two large steamed buns—they’re worth the price alone.”

The burly man looked at the buns beside the large bowl and was surprised: “They really are quite big.”

Normally one wen could buy one bun, but it would be noticeably smaller than the ones in this shop. The attendant hadn’t been boasting—these two buns alone were worth three wen, which meant the mutton bone soup was essentially free.

What was there to complain about with something free?

The burly man grabbed a bun and took a big bite, immediately followed by a gulp of mutton bone soup.

Soup made only from mutton bones was much clearer than soup stewed with both bone and meat—this was also a cost-control consideration, but it was still extremely flavorful. Especially with the fragrant chili oil added, one sip was both spicy and aromatic, warming from the throat all the way to the stomach.

This spicy fragrance paired with the large buns was simply a perfect match.

The burly man slapped the table, startling the people entering.

“Delicious!” After exclaiming excitedly, he buried his head and ate ravenously.

The entering customers recovered and called out one after another: “Waiter, bring a bowl of mutton bone soup!”

“Right away!”

In the blink of an eye, the main hall was nearly full.

For common people who made their living through physical labor, being able to eat their fill was most important. If they could eat their fill and have it taste good too, that was living like immortals.

Affordable and delicious—for them, this held the greatest appeal.

In an inconspicuous corner, Lin Hao and Qi Shuo sat across from each other.

“Do you want the spicy or non-spicy mutton bone soup?”

Lin Hao thought for a moment: “Spicy. In cold weather, drinking something spicy is warming.”

Qi Shuo said to the shop attendant: “Two bowls of spicy soup, and add a plate of sliced white mutton.”

Besides the cheapest buns with mutton bone soup, the shop also offered sliced white mutton, braised mutton, mutton dumplings, and other dishes to meet different customers’ needs. However, these dishes were expensive, and no one had ordered them yet.

The mutton soup was quickly brought over. Lin Hao took a sip and sighed: “Won’t this result in losses?”

She hadn’t expected that not only did the Jingling Prince Heir know many delicious shops, but the shop he opened himself was this tasty too.

“There’s not much profit. With small margins and high volume, it lets people eat a filling meal after a hard day’s work.”

Lin Hao’s gaze swept over the people either eating with their heads down or chatting while eating. They all wore smiles—genuine smiles from the heart.

A day’s hardship and bitterness could dissipate with one satisfying meal.

“The mutton is also delicious.” Lin Hao didn’t stint on praise.

“Want garlic?” Qi Shuo pushed over a small dish of jade-green garlic cloves.

Lin Hao struggled internally for a moment, then shook her head: “I’d better not.”

Garlic cut through greasiness, but the taste was also strong. In front of the Jingling Prince Heir, she should be somewhat mindful.

Glancing at the refined and gentle young man, Lin Hao silently added: It has nothing to do with who the other person is—one should be cautious about eating raw garlic in public.

“Heir, you eat it.” She pushed the small dish over.

The white porcelain was delicate, paired with the young woman’s even more delicate fingertips. The jade-green garlic cloves inside looked particularly appetizing.

Qi Shuo likewise hesitated for a moment, then resolutely refused: “I won’t eat it either.”

The two of them cast regretful sidelong glances at the clearly delicious pickled garlic, feeling somewhat unwilling.

“By the way, my mother likes to eat pickled garlic. I’ll take a small jar when I leave.” Lin Hao said seriously.

Qi Shuo smiled: “My second brother also likes to eat it, so I’ll take a jar as well.”

After finishing the mutton soup, the two of them walked along the main street, each carrying a jar of pickled garlic.

The street bustled with people coming and going, most wearing satisfied and peaceful smiles. The first month was the rare leisure time of the year for laboring people. Once the weather warmed a bit more, the busy planting season would arrive.

Because of this, the street had a relaxed and leisurely atmosphere, just like Lin Hao at this moment, full and content.

Qi Shuo changed the subject, breaking this idleness.

“Does Second Miss Lin remember that time when you were returning from outside and we happened to meet, and I said someone was following you?”

Lin Hao nodded: “I remember.”

After drinking delicious mutton soup and carrying delicious pickled garlic, why was he suddenly bringing this up?

Could the Jingling Prince Heir have set his sights on Teacher?

This made Lin Hao involuntarily tense.

Teacher had saved her life. Although he was working for Emperor Pingle, she didn’t want Teacher’s life to be in danger.

Whether from personal feelings or from a national standpoint, she didn’t like Emperor Pingle. Publicly, Emperor Pingle had repeatedly yielded back then, so that even now there were cities still in Qi people’s hands. If he truly reclaimed the throne, it wouldn’t be good for Great Zhou. Privately, in her previous life she had died from pursuit by Emperor Pingle’s people, and Teacher too had died at Emperor Pingle’s hands.

She, a young lady confined to inner quarters, knew about national affairs because of Teacher.

Later, Teacher had changed his mind about helping Emperor Pingle reclaim the throne, and this had brought fatal disaster upon him.

“That supposedly haunted mansion we gave up on—you still remember it, right?”

“Of course I remember.” Lin Hao began to feel strange again.

What did he mean by “the mansion we gave up”?

Qi Shuo lowered his voice: “At the time, we discovered signs of human activity in that mansion. Out of curiosity, I had people watch it, and indeed discovered that occasionally someone would secretly slip into the mansion. Just yesterday, the person who went to that mansion was actually the same person who had followed you.”

Lin Hao was shocked.

Was the Jingling Prince Heir talking about Du Qing?

This meant that the supposedly haunted mansion was very likely a place where Emperor Pingle’s people met to discuss matters.

“How did the Heir handle it afterward?” Lin Hao asked, her face showing no emotion despite her inner surprise.

“I didn’t handle it.” Qi Shuo smiled, his gaze falling on Lin Hao’s face. “Aside from knowing that person followed you, I don’t know anything else. Let’s observe for now.”

“I see.” Lin Hao switched the pickled garlic jar to her other hand, momentarily unsure what to say.

Having learned that the Jingling Prince Heir had personally killed the fortune teller Fang Chengji, she had discovered that the Jingling Prince Heir wasn’t as simple and harmless as he appeared.

He was a clever and discreet person. If she inadvertently said something, it might expose Teacher.

Qi Shuo’s footsteps paused, and facing the young woman’s slightly surprised eyes, he leaned in slightly closer.

“Does Second Miss Lin know the person who was following you?”

Lin Hao was startled and instinctively stepped back half a step. A hand with distinct knuckles grasped her wrist.

“Careful, don’t fall.”

Lin Hao looked down. At her feet was a broken stone. She then looked up at the person beside her.

Qi Shuo had already released her hand and spoke in a casual tone: “Second Miss Lin isn’t someone who neglects her own safety. If you didn’t have some judgment about the person following you, you should have been interested in his situation.”

Lin Hao turned her head and smiled: “The Heir is truly observant.”

Qi Shuo fell silent, unsure whether Second Miss Lin’s words were praise or sarcasm.

“If Second Miss Lin is confident the other party means you no harm, then let’s observe quietly for now.” Qi Shuo naturally changed the subject. “The Lantern Festival is coming soon. Will Second Miss Lin come out to enjoy the festivities?”