I Became the Owner of the Heavenly Flower Palace-Chapter 7: Grilled Brocade Carp

The largest tavern in Jiuquan was the Tianshan Grand Tavern.

However, despite its name, it wasn't a particularly grand establishment.

After all, Jiuquan was a border city, deep in Gansu Province, a region already considered the frontier.

"Any government official stationed here would feel like they’d been exiled."

That was the kind of backwater this place was. So, even the "largest" tavern was merely a three-story building, nothing too impressive.

But there was one thing that caught Jincheon off guard.

Despite its modest size, the Tianshan Grand Tavern was packed with people even in the early evening.

Gulp.

Standing in front of the lively establishment, Jincheon swallowed nervously.

"Why are there so many people?"

This kind of tavern wasn’t something he was used to. On top of that, if he was wrong about this place, he’d have to swallow his pride and leave.

Because he had no money.

"Still, I’ve come all this way. I can't just turn back now. I’ve already spent too much to get here."

Jincheon steeled himself.

Thinking about all the money and effort he had spent reignited his courage.

Swish.

He boldly pushed aside the entrance curtain and stepped in.

A flood of smells and sounds crashed over him—food, alcohol, and the loud chatter of people.

“Wahaha!”

“What are you waiting for? Take my order already!”

The tavern was absolutely packed.

It was so crowded that he doubted there was even a single open seat. And every patron looked rough and dangerous.

There were a few women scattered among the crowd, but their gazes were so fierce that if Jincheon so much as made eye contact, he had to look away immediately.

“How many in your party?”

A voice suddenly spoke up beside him, making Jincheon turn his head.

It was a short, skinny waiter, his face haggard with exhaustion.

“Uh... I’m alone.”

“No open tables. You’ll have to share a seat. Private rooms are more expensive.”

Sharing a table with strangers in an unfamiliar place—it wasn’t ideal for Jincheon.

But first, he needed to confirm something.

“Is this really the largest tavern in Jiuquan?”

“Yes. So what’s it gonna be? A private room or shared seating?”

“...I’ll share.”

“Follow me.”

The waiter scurried ahead.

As Jincheon followed, he noticed how customers kept shouting demands at the waiter.

“Aren’t you going to take our order?!”

“More liquor! Anything, just bring it!”

The requests were ordinary, but the way they were spoken—rough, almost angry—made it seem like everyone was on edge.

"Maybe it's because this is the frontier."

Beyond Jiuquan lay Jiayuguan Pass, then Yumen Pass, and beyond that, the vast desert.

Many merchant caravans traveled the Silk Road through this region, and bandits frequently prowled the area, waiting to strike. It was the perfect place for people looking for dangerous work—or a place to hide.

And since this was the northwest border, there were also many people with fair skin and blue eyes, likely Semu people, those of mixed Central Asian descent.

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“Sit here.”

The waiter gestured to an open seat. He didn’t bother asking the other guests for permission.

“S-Sorry for the intrusion.”

Jincheon greeted them.

Fortunately, the men sitting there didn’t look particularly dangerous. However, they didn’t respond to him either.

“What’ll you have?”

The waiter asked before Jincheon had even fully settled in his seat.

Given how swamped he was with other orders, Jincheon understood his impatience.

Jincheon took a deep breath, steadied himself, and looked the waiter in the eye.

“Grilled Brocade Carp.”

“We don’t have that.”

The waiter answered with an exhausted expression.

“Dongpo pork and stir-fried pork with vegetables are popular. Want one of those?”

The response was so casual and natural that it threw Jincheon off.

“N-No, that’s not what I meant...”

“What about alcohol?”

Jincheon repeated himself.

“G-Grilled Brocade Carp.”

The waiter sighed.

“We don’t have that. If you don’t like it, go somewhere else.”

Now, even the people at his table were glancing at him.

Jincheon’s face burned with embarrassment. But he couldn’t back down.

He had traveled thousands of li from Hefei to get here.

“Call the head chef.”

Jincheon barely managed to get the words out.

The waiter frowned and gave him a once-over.

“...You seriously want me to call him?”

There was irritation in his voice. This was his last bit of patience.

He had dealt with stubborn customers before. He already knew exactly what was about to happen.

“Yes. Call him.”

Jincheon said firmly.

The waiter sighed again, scratched his head in frustration, and snapped.

“Fine.”

He stormed off toward the kitchen.

He didn’t bother responding to the orders being thrown at him along the way.

Meanwhile, Jincheon could feel the eyes of his tablemates.

It was a mixture of mockery and curiosity.

"Is this guy actually picking a fight with the head chef?"

That was probably what they were thinking.

Jincheon did his best to ignore their stares.

Then—

A massive man emerged from the kitchen, holding a cleaver the size of a small sword.

His thick beard covered most of his face, and his long robe was stained with dried animal blood.

If anything, he looked more like a bandit or a killer than a chef.

The man glanced at the waiter, who nodded toward Jincheon.

Then, without hesitation, he marched toward Jincheon.

Step. Step.

Under the bright tavern lights, the huge cleaver in his hand gleamed ominously.

Thud.

The chef came to a stop, towering over Jincheon.

His voice was low and gruff.

“What did you ask for?”

Jincheon looked up at him, meeting his fierce gaze.

Once again, he repeated.

“Grilled Brocade Carp.”

Bang!

The cleaver slammed into the table.

The massive blade was so close that it felt like it could slice off Jincheon’s head in an instant.

“You messing with me? That’s not on the menu.”

The chef growled.

The tension in the tavern shifted.

The people sitting at Jincheon’s table slowly began slipping away, and others around them started watching intently.

This was the moment when Jincheon needed courage the most.

He had to follow through on what that man had told him to do.

“If it’s not on the menu—”

Screech.

Jincheon leaned back slightly, staring straight up at the chef.

—Then we’ll just have to see about that.

“Make sure it’s done.”

Someone beside him inhaled sharply.

But Jincheon did not look away.

For a moment, tension filled the air.

The other patrons watched with rapt attention, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} but to Jincheon’s surprise, the outcome was anticlimactic.

“Hmph!”

The one who turned away was the chef.

He gripped the large axe-like knife and spoke to the waiter.

“Throw him out. Don’t let anyone like this in again.”

Without another word, the waiter quickly approached Jincheon.

“Come on, get out. If you want something else, like Dongpo pork or stir-fried pork with vegetables, come back later. Now, hurry up and leave.”

This time, it was Jincheon’s turn to be flustered.

“Wait, no, I didn’t mean...”

But the chef was already heading back to the kitchen, and the waiter continued to urge Jincheon forward.

In the end, Jincheon had no choice but to awkwardly stand up.

“Come on, this way. Over here.”

The waiter was now smiling broadly, leading Jincheon towards the tavern’s entrance.

Leaving behind the mocking laughter of the other patrons, Jincheon was practically shoved out of the tavern.

“Goodbye! Don’t come back!”

The waiter cheerfully bowed, then disappeared back inside.

Jincheon was left bewildered.

"Is this how things are going to end?"

He had been told someone would guide him. But now, he had been unceremoniously thrown out of the tavern with no one to help him.

"What now? What am I supposed to do?"

Jincheon stood there, feeling awkward and uncertain.

Then—

Clack.

A carriage stopped right in front of him.

It was small but elegant, with curtains drawn tightly around it.

"What is this?"

Jincheon furrowed his brows.

The carriage looked out of place.

In such a small town, it was rare to see such a pristine white carriage, surrounded by curtains, and it had appeared without a sound.

Jincheon stared at it. He was now right in front of it, so he couldn’t help but notice.

“Get in.”

A voice called out from behind the curtains.

Jincheon was slightly startled.

“As I thought,” he thought, but he also felt uncertain. Something about this situation felt off.

The carriage stood silently, waiting for Jincheon’s decision.

Jincheon made up his mind.

“E-Excuse me.”

Jincheon was about to say, “Excuse me,” but then he cleared his throat.

He remembered what the middle-aged man, his client, had told him.

“I am rude. I have no manners. I...”

Didn’t the client warn him about this? How those who were polite and humble would be ignored?

It was as though he was scolding himself, repeating the words in his head.

“I don’t have good manners.”

With that thought, Jincheon acted quickly.

He forcefully pushed the curtain aside and climbed into the carriage.

Swish.

As Jincheon entered, the curtain closed behind him, and the carriage immediately began moving.

He hadn’t even sat down yet, which startled him.

Jincheon quickly found a seat and sat down.

Thud.

Clack, clack.

The sound of hooves gently clicking on the ground reached his ears.

Only then did Jincheon realize how smoothly and comfortably the carriage was moving.

There was no need to rush to sit down.

“Ahem.”

Jincheon cleared his throat again to cover up his embarrassment.

He hoped it would look natural, like he had calmly sat down.

“Hmm?”

Someone was sitting across from him.

The owner of the voice that had called him to the carriage was unmistakably a woman—tall, slender, with an elegant figure.

However, Jincheon couldn’t see her face.

Even inside the carriage, her face was hidden behind a black veil that obscured her eyes and nose.

The only thing visible were her red lips, and through the veil, Jincheon could faintly make out a piercing, unusual gaze.

“She must be beautiful... No, what am I thinking?”

Jincheon immediately shook the thought from his mind.

Judging people by their looks was not the way of a gentleman.

Even if he was supposed to act rude and crude, he shouldn’t let his mind go down that path.

“Ahem.”

Jincheon cleared his throat again, this time slightly averting his gaze.

It didn’t matter that it was already the third time he had done so.

As Jincheon maintained his silence, the woman finally spoke.

“Why have you come to see me?”

Her voice was cold, but for Jincheon, that wasn’t the problem.

“Me?”

Jincheon unknowingly asked back.

“Did you say Gungju... no, didn’t you say you were Gungju?”

He had gotten his words tangled up.

But this was important.

His client had clearly introduced himself as "Gungju" and had referred to himself in such a way. He had even mentioned the "fees to be delivered to the palace" once, hadn’t he?

If he miscommunicated, it could lead to a mishap in the delivery.

Jincheon waited anxiously for the woman’s response. However, she didn’t answer.

She turned her head and spoke toward the coachman.

“Someone has come to find the palace.”

Clank.

The carriage suddenly stopped.

It paused as if confirming something, then resumed its smooth movement, but this time, it was headed in a different direction.

Clack, clack.

Jincheon could hear the hooves again, but he couldn’t tell where they were going.

The curtains blocked his view.

Inside the carriage, a heavy silence hung in the air.

The woman, who had just asked Jincheon why he had come, now said nothing.

Jincheon’s anxiety began to rise.

“Are we headed in the right direction?”

But no one answered him.

Well, there was one person who could.

The woman sitting across from him, whose face remained hidden.

“Should I ask her where we’re going?”

As the carriage gently rocked, Jincheon couldn’t help but glance at the mysterious woman.

She had her eyes closed, or perhaps it was just the veil that hid them completely.

Jincheon wrestled with whether or not he should ask.