After the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, it was truly the end of the year. Every household was busy sweeping dust, making spring banners, changing peach wood charms, and preparing New Year necessities like tushu wine, the five-spice plate, sticky candy, and various items for ancestral worship. By the twenty-seventh or twenty-eighth, shops would finish cleaning, hang new peach wood charms, distribute year-end bonuses, and prepare to close until the fifth day of the new year.

Shen Shaoguang stood at the doorway, exchanging farewells with vegetable and meat vendors: “As spring approaches, may your families be blessed with longevity and good fortune.”

The vendors bowed with clasped hands, offering their blessings: “May the young miss be blessed with longevity and good fortune,” “May your tavern’s business prosper.”

This time, the tavern kept all the acceptable meat and vegetables delivered, and the vendors waived the odd amounts. Shen Shaoguang even gave them newly made flower-shaped pastries to take home for their children to enjoy – this was the politeness and human touch common among the common folk.

After arranging the next delivery dates for after the New Year, Shen Shaoguang watched them leave.

Shen’s Tavern was operating on its last day before the New Year. Yu San and A-Chang were huffing and puffing as they moved vegetables and chopped meat, organizing what needed to be organized and freezing what needed to be frozen outside for use during and after the New Year celebrations.

A-Yuan waited nearby to help Shen Shaoguang make banners and write peach wood charms.

These weren’t the ornate golden spring banners worn in hair, but rather flags hung in courtyards on New Year’s Day, made of green cloth to welcome spring. Though Shen Shaoguang’s sewing skills were average, they were adequate for making banners.

As for writing peach wood charms, she was quite skilled at that.

“Did the Qiu family from the tofu shop take their peach wood charms?” Shen Shaoguang asked while sewing.

“Yes, they took them this morning and left a box of five-spice dried tofu as thanks.”

Shen Shaoguang smiled, “We can stir-fry it with cured meat later as a snack with wine.”

Knowing that the shop’s signboard and menu were written by Shen Shaoguang herself, neighboring shops and regular small business customers would come asking for peach wood charms. Scholars were difficult to approach for this task – partly because they received too many requests, and partly because learned people often considered it too vulgar. Common folk and small business owners couldn’t distinguish between different calligraphy styles or judge the quality of writing, but they knew Young Miss Shen was approachable.

Shen Shaoguang thought her original idea of adding peach wood charm writing and door god painting services to her fortune-telling stand would work well, especially with the added mystical appeal – it would surely be good business.

Yu San passed by and snickered “heh” at Shen Shaoguang’s rough stitching on the spring banner.

A-Yuan glared at him, “What are you laughing at? You can’t even sew!”

Shen Shaoguang nodded vigorously – A-Yuan’s retort was excellent, deserving an extra chicken leg for lunch today.

Yu San walked away with a smile, carrying his iron hook to freeze meat in the courtyard.

The shop’s bell rang, and Shen Shaoguang wondered who would come drinking so early – perhaps another person seeking peach wood charms?

The felt curtain lifted, and a lady entered wearing Hu-style riding clothes and carrying a horsewhip, followed by servants and guards. Shen Shaoguang was startled – this visitor wasn’t here for peach wood charms.

Shen Shaoguang put down her needlework and stood to welcome the guest: “My lady, please sit inside.”

The female guest looked at Shen Shaoguang and then scanned the shop interior. She handed her horsewhip to her maid, “This must be the place.”

One of her two guards bowed and left.

Shen Shaoguang brought out a tray with red date and wolfberry drink, smiling, “My lady, please have some warm drink.”

The maid beside the guest took the tray, looking questioningly at the drink before placing it on the table before her mistress.

The female guest wasn’t particular about such things and took a sip, raising an eyebrow, “Mm, not bad.”

Shen Shaoguang smiled in thanks. The drink wasn’t originally this sweet – knowing this person’s taste, she had specially added honey in the back.

Shen Shaoguang presented the menu, wondering why such a noble person would visit a small tavern during New Year’s. Did princesses enjoy anonymous visits to check on common people’s lives? Like that deputy mayor who was passionate about happiness surveys – they could both qualify for the “Ten Most Moving People of the Great Tang” award.

Thinking of that deputy mayor reminded Shen Shaoguang of Pang Erniang and Qin Wuniang, which led her thoughts to wonder – could this visitor be another of Magistrate Lin’s love interests?

“I heard this hotpot originated from a tavern in Chongxian Ward. Would that be your establishment?” Princess Fuhui pointed at the menu and asked.

Shen Shaoguang smiled, “Indeed it is. Would my lady like to try a pot?”

Princess Fuhui showed interest, “Good, bring one of each type. You choose the meat and vegetables.”

Shen Shaoguang smiled apologetically, “Our shop has seven or eight different broths. If we brought them all, the room would be full of steam, which might not be proper for my lady’s clothes. Perhaps we could start with a milk-based broth? It works well with many ingredients and has a good flavor.” Though shopkeepers generally don’t mind big spenders, wasting food wasn’t right. The outer city had its own rules.

Princess Fuhui nodded, appreciating Shen Shaoguang’s thoughtful excuse, “Very well, let’s follow your suggestion.”

Shen Shaoguang retreated with a smile – no young lady would want to be covered in a strong hotpot smell. She remembered news from her previous life about girls wearing raincoats to eat hotpot.

When Pei Fei entered, he saw Princess Fuhui sitting formally at the table with a steaming copper hotpot, while two other tables were full of meat and vegetables. A maid was helping her retrieve meat from the pot, while Shen’s young proprietress was warming wine nearby.

Pei Fei smiled bitterly inside as he came forward to pay his respects. Since the princess was in casual dress, he only addressed her as “Sixth Miss” – Princess Fuhui was sixth in line.

“I guessed you would be here in Chongxian Ward visiting Magistrate Lin, so I came to wait,” Princess Fuhui said with a smile, gesturing for Pei Fei to sit opposite her.

Shen Shaoguang had never seen this usually flirtatious Young Lord Pei look so helpless.

As Pei Fei sat down opposite Princess Fuhui, Shen Shaoguang thoughtfully set up a hotpot for him too – the steam could help hide his expression.

“I found these meatballs quite good. Young Miss, please serve some to Lord Pei as well.”

So Shen Shaoguang indeed served Pei Fei a portion.

“This tofu is nice too – why does it have so many holes?”

“It’s frozen tofu,” Shen Shaoguang answered.

“It absorbs the broth well and has good flavor.”

So Shen Shaoguang served Pei Fei a plate of that too.

“These meatballs have two layers!”

“What’s this? It’s so crispy and chewy!”

Shen Shaoguang kept adding dishes to Pei Fei’s table. Soon, his table was full, and two more tables had to be added just for the ingredients.

Seeing the princess eating contentedly and the shop owner busy with pleasure, Pei Fei resigned himself to the situation and started eating too.

Shen Shaoguang silently approved – that’s right, might as well eat first since there’s no escape.

Unfortunately, Pei Fei had barely eaten when the princess put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief offered by her maid, and waved to Shen Shaoguang. Shen Shaoguang quickly brought A-Yuan to clear the hotpot table, set up a new table, and place a cup of drink. Then she tactfully retreated to the kitchen to make herself scarce.

“Lord Pei surely understands my meaning. What is your answer?”

As Pei Fei’s heart filled with bitterness, matching the taste in his mouth, and while he was considering his words, Princess Fuhui continued, “If it’s yes, then yes; if it’s no, then no. Why hide and avoid me like a young girl?”

Pei Fei’s face reddened as he stood up to bow, saying firmly, “This subject declines.”

The princess raised an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over Pei Fei’s handsome face, shoulders, waist, and long legs, before sighing softly, “Then let it be.”

Pei Fei was surprised that Princess Fuhui would “let it be” so easily, and stood somewhat dazed.

Princess Fuhui stood up, and Shen Shaoguang quickly came from the kitchen to see her off.

“Would you be interested in becoming a cook in the Princess’s mansion? You wouldn’t need to change your status to a servant, and whenever you wish to leave, just say the word.”

Shen Shaoguang hurriedly bowed, “I’m honored by your offer, but I’m just a country person used to freedom. I fear I couldn’t serve someone of your status properly.” The lie was told very sincerely.

The princess looked at Shen Shaoguang and sighed again, “Very well, it’s just rare to find someone so compatible with my tastes.” As she spoke, she unexpectedly removed a pair of gold arm bands inlaid with jewels from her wrist and handed them to Shen Shaoguang.

Shen Shaoguang accepted them with both hands, “This gift is too precious, my lady.”

Princess Fuhui smiled, “Consider it payment for the meal.” Then she walked out with her hands behind her back.

Standing at the door, watching the retreating figure on horseback, Shen Shaoguang felt the jewels on the armbands in her sleeve and marveled – she had previously thought Li Bai’s trading “five-flower horse and thousand-gold fur coat” for wine was just poetic exaggeration, but it seems it could be true. The princess was too generous, too bold, too likable!

Shen Shaoguang turned her head and met those peach-blossom eyes. Pei Fei smiled, somewhat relieved yet somewhat helpless.

Shen Shaoguang returned his smile, then asked seriously, “Would the young lord like to continue eating?”

Pei Fei thought this Young Miss Shen’s attempt at looking serious was exactly like Lin Yan’s – hateful.

Pei Fei turned and left. Though Shen Shaoguang wasn’t particularly close to him, she was certain he wasn’t truly angry. She smiled and walked back into the shop.

On this last day of the year, having received such a big business deal, Shen Shaoguang felt it was truly a good omen!

Speaking of which, seeing Princess Fuhui today was indeed surprising. Though not born of the same mother as the current emperor, this princess had considerable influence in the palace. Her chosen consort had been quite good too, but unfortunately was severely wounded during the campaign against Tibet – barely more than a breathing corpse now.

Several years had passed, and while the princess took very good care of her consort, it didn’t stop her from seeking young men to her liking.

It was said that both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had tried to counsel her. The princess had said, “The consort served the country loyally, so naturally I must take the utmost care of him.” As for the matter of young men, “But I can’t shortchange myself, can I?”

The princess continued to do as she pleased, and eventually, the Empress Dowager and Emperor stopped trying to persuade her.

Thinking of Miss Chu from that day, and then of Lady Li today, considering their attitudes and actions regarding love and marriage, Shen Shaoguang found different flavors to savor.

Hey, why think so much? It’s New Year’s, New Year’s! After seeing off the last lunch customers and cleaning the shop, Shen Shaoguang called Yu San and A-Yuan to close up – time for our New Year holiday!