On the ninth day of the third month, the day Shen Shaoguang went to have an audience with the Emperor, it happened to be her birthday in her previous life. Lin Yan returned from court and then went back again accompanying Shen Shaoguang.
When she heard about the Emperor’s summons, Shen Shaoguang was initially surprised, but upon reflection, it made sense. As the sole survivor of the Shen family’s wrongful case, and coincidentally having helped save the Emperor, combined with Lin Yan’s connection to Minister Li, it was natural for the Emperor to show some sympathy and comfort.
In Shen Shaoguang’s view, the current Emperor wasn’t particularly remarkable in terms of talent or wisdom, but he had a certain “bashfulness” about him—he was embarrassed to be too extravagant, with the treasury being low on funds, he had dragged out the construction of a single garden for several years; after ascending to the throne, he was hesitant to drastically reshape the court and military, instead making gradual changes; and having received “favors” from certain people, he felt uncomfortable continuing to suppress the Shen family’s case…
While his thin skin and lack of ruthlessness might not make him a great emperor, he could at least be considered a good person.
Hearing Shen Shaoguang’s assessment of the Emperor, Lin Yan smiled. He had long noticed that A’ji lacked some respect for the royal family, instead maintaining a scrutinizing attitude, somewhat reminiscent of the Six Dynasties’ noble families. As a scholar’s son and someone who had gained fame in his youth, Lin Yan had his proud moments. Back then, reading history with Pei Fei, they would judge historical figures and discuss the past and present. While they didn’t go so far as to mock Confucius like Feng Ge, they had indeed looked down upon many emperors.
Lin Yan quite agreed with Shen Shaoguang’s words. The current Emperor’s “thin skin” and “benevolence” were partly due to necessity, but also related to his personality. Among emperors, he possessed quite a bit of “human quality.”
Shen Shaoguang chuckled, “So our Deputy Magistrate Lin’s tongue can be this sharp. ‘Human quality’… isn’t that right? How many famous emperors in history had strategies and abilities, but lacked that ‘human quality’?”
Lin Yan wasn’t afraid to show his “true colors” in front of her. Instead, he felt a sense of freedom. Showing all aspects of himself truthfully to the person he admired was like their wedding night… Lin Yan coughed and smiled at Shen Shaoguang, “Let’s go.”
Shen Shaoguang looked at Lin Yan suspiciously, feeling he was acting somewhat unnaturally.
While Shen Shaoguang and Lin Yan were discussing the Emperor, the Emperor was discussing them with Qin Xiang.
Qin Xiang was thoroughly his own man, and the Emperor didn’t hide anything from him: “Once the northern campaign is settled and it’s time to reward meritorious officials, let’s make Lin Yan the Metropolitan Governor. Let old Bai go retire in Luoyang, stop occupying the position without producing results.”
Hearing the Emperor use such colloquial language, Qin Xiang smiled and chided, “Your Majesty shouldn’t learn such speech from those minor eunuchs. Be careful not to slip up in court, or the censors will have something to say.”
The Emperor laughed, “Let them say what they will! Don’t they already criticize everything I do? They monitor my garden construction, my late arrivals to court, even my wearing of short-sleeved clothes in summer—what’s one more thing to them?”
Qin Xiang smiled and returned to the topic of Lin Yan: “Though young, this Deputy Magistrate Lin is someone who takes responsibility and shows courage. Rarely, he’s not pedantic either. Our capital indeed needs someone like him to hold things together.”
Qin Xiang rarely evaluated court officials in front of the Emperor. Hearing him speak thus, the Emperor looked at him with interest.
Qin Xiang concluded, “He is truly a capable person.”
“I also value that sense of ‘chivalry’ in him,” the Emperor told Qin Xiang about how Lin Yan had previously helped Cui Boyuan. “Though cold in appearance, he has a warm heart, quite in the spirit of ancient worthies. Using such a person puts one at ease.”
When mentioning Shen Shaoguang, Qin Xiang couldn’t help but smile easily, “She is truly a rare young lady, both beautiful and extremely intelligent…” Qin Xiang stopped, regretting that she hadn’t stayed in the palace.
Having been master and servant for twenty years, the Emperor understood his meaning from his tone. The Emperor thought of Lin Yan’s seemingly plain praise—this young lady’s intelligence was undoubted, but who would prioritize wisdom when choosing a wife? It wasn’t like selecting an advisor.
However, thinking of the playful teasing at the tavern, the poetry about food, the cookbook that could be read like literature, and the hotpot that supposedly never repeated dishes for a month, this young lady did have an interesting personality…
When finally meeting Lady Shen, although she was an official’s wife, the Emperor couldn’t help but look at her a few extra times, having to admit that even her appearance was outstanding. Her beauty wasn’t in her facial features, but in her spirit, with eyes that seemed to contain the warmth of spring.
The Emperor would never apologize on behalf of his father to a subject, but he spoke kindly in comfort: “You have suffered much these years, Lady.”
Shen Shaoguang smiled slightly and curtsied, “This commoner dares not speak of suffering.”
Not daring to speak of suffering didn’t mean there was no suffering. It was a response that both followed proper etiquette and showed scholarly backbone. She referred to herself as “commoner” rather than “subject” because her father’s case hadn’t been cleared yet. This lady spoke just like those court officials, both tactful and direct, with every word carrying deeper meaning and every sentence having substance.
The Emperor, who had just been thinking that Deputy Magistrate Lin had found himself a talented, beautiful, and sensible young lady, now felt that his own Consort Su, Lady Pang, was better—clear as a small stream, her thoughts visible at a glance, and even when being tactful, she only took one indirect turn in her speech.
The Emperor looked at Lin Yan, somewhat doubtfully, wondering if this was how the couple normally spoke to each other. If Deputy Magistrate Lin spent all day speaking like this at court and in the office and then spoke the same way with his lady at home, wouldn’t it be exhausting?
The Emperor cleared his throat and summoned the spirit he used when speaking to officials in court, “The Prince of Wu’s case is already under reinvestigation by the proper authorities. Lady, please wait a while longer.”
Shen Shaoguang performed a solemn bow: “Yes.”
“Lady, you are truly intelligent. Last summer you caught the northern spies, and this year you uncovered the truth about Li Quan and Qiao Hai.”
This was a request to hear the details, so Shen Shaoguang explained them. The northern specialty dishes those criminals ordered in summer, their scent, their expressions… As for Li Quan, there were even more suspicious points. He claimed to be a scholar from Suzhou, yet loved the northerners’ dairy drinks; despite having access to “daughter’s wine,” he chose Xinfeng wine; he was comfortable eating rough dishes like lamb spine, loved sour and spicy flavors and noodle dishes, and had that same incense smell as the Hu people.
The Emperor had already heard these matters from Lin Yan’s report. Lin Yan’s report focused on the key points and analyzed the overall situation, while now Lady Shen discussed the specifics systematically, much like the death penalty case files submitted by the Ministry of Justice.
Speaking with such a young lady was truly a novel experience. The Emperor cleared his throat, “I heard that on the day Qiao Hai was captured, Lady, you went to the tavern and faced danger?”
A former criminal’s descendant, a young lady, with such perspective, such courage, such loyalty… The Emperor nodded, “Lady, you are truly remarkable.”
Shen Shaoguang smiled modestly and honestly replied, “There was no real danger that day, as this commoner left early.”
The Emperor laughed—she was indeed straightforward.
But Shen Shaoguang straightened her expression: “Even if there had been some danger, it would have been nothing. My late father taught this commoner, ‘If it benefits the country, do not spare yourself.’ This commoner is merely following in my ancestor’s footsteps.”
Thinking of Shen Qian’s tragic scene at the palace steps years ago, the Emperor was silent for a moment, “Lady, rest assured, Lord Shen’s wrongful case will be cleared.”
This time, Shen Shaoguang performed a deep bow in gratitude.
On the way back, Lin Yan didn’t ride his horse but sat with Shen Shaoguang in the carriage.
Looking at her expression, Lin Yan embraced her, his other hand gently stroking her back, “Dear A’ji…”
After a moment, Shen Shaoguang sat up straight and smiled, “Today is my birthday.”
Lin Yan, not wanting her to dwell in sadness, smiled and asked along, “Didn’t we just celebrate your birthday two days ago? How is today your birthday again?”
Shen Shaoguang touched the hairpin Lin Yan had given her two days ago, raising an eyebrow with a smile: “Two days ago was A’ji’s birthday, today is Shaoguang’s birthday, is that not allowed?”
Lin Yan smiled, “Alright, alright, but you didn’t tell me in advance, so I haven’t prepared a gift.”
Gift… Shen Shaoguang looked at Lin Yan, her gaze sweeping across his neck, squinting with a smile, “You can accompany me for dinner tonight, and I’ll tell you what I want.”
Lin Yan nodded, stroking her hair.
That evening, after dining at the Shen residence, as they sat opposite each other drinking tea on the couch, Lin Yan asked again.
Shen Shaoguang leaned close to him and whispered something.
Lin Yan pressed his lips together, looking at Shen Shaoguang’s mischievous and coquettish expression, and smiled helplessly, truly regretting that he had insisted on asking Master Shen to perform the six marriage rites.
“Not allowed?” Shen Shaoguang teased again.
“Be good, don’t tease, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself…”
Shen Shaoguang glanced at his neck again—she just wanted to touch and play with that small red birthmark, was that really such a big deal?