When Shen Shaoguang woke up the next day, it was already bright outside. As she turned her head, her temples throbbed slightly – evidence of last night’s overindulgence. Glancing at A-Yuan still snoring softly on the other bed, Shen Shaoguang quietly got up and went outside to wash up.

Opening the main hall door, she saw a thermos wrapped in its cozy by the entrance – Yu San was already up.

Shen Shaoguang smiled as she brought the hot water inside to wash her face, brush her teeth, apply face cream, then draw her eyebrows, color her lips, and attach flower patterns. She skipped the white powder, rouge, and beauty marks though.

Makeup at this time was a test of women’s imagination, with all sorts of bizarre fashion trends. Even Shen Shaoguang, who had seen the wild styles of later eras, was often astounded.

For instance, the recent trend of “connecting clouds” eyebrows drawn almost touching each other, or the “crying eyebrows” from two years ago – thin drooping brows making everyone look tearful, fitting the mourning atmosphere after the late emperor’s death. There were also the playful “moth wing” brows, and punk-style black lips – no Tang dynasty lady hadn’t thought of or dared to try these styles.

In the palace, Shen Shaoguang had no choice but to follow trends – when everyone was fashionable, being unfashionable meant standing out. Hadn’t even the poets commented when Lady Guo went bare-faced? Being different wasn’t acceptable; following the crowd was the way.

After leaving the palace and its fashion circles, Shen Shaoguang’s face returned to normal human territory. This was the first time she’d used half her makeup skills again.

Shen Shaoguang examined herself – her naturally good eyebrows needed only light enhancement; her pale lips needed more color; without time to make formal decorations, she used her brush to paint a seasonal plum blossom with red pigment on her forehead, matching her bright red pomegranate skirt. How festive she looked, just like a bride!

This single dog had just stabbed herself in the heart on New Year’s morning.

Shen Shaoguang pursed her lips, arranged her hair in a double-loop high bun, inserted hairpins, and after finishing her preparations, looked at the beauty dimly reflected in the bronze mirror. Her confidence returned – so what if she was single? Even single, she was the prettiest one.

“Wow!”

She looked up to see A-Yuan’s dazed face.

“Come, come, wash up, I’ll help you get ready.”

Hearing the young miss wanted to do her makeup, A-Yuan’s sleepiness vanished. “No need, no need!”

Shen Shaoguang grinned wickedly.

Though A-Yuan had high combat skills, she couldn’t resist her young miss and ended up being pressed before the bronze mirror.

“Tilt your head back, close your eyes, purse your lips… purse them more!”

Shen Shaoguang gave A-Yuan full makeup and redid her hair. The result was surprisingly good – her round face, plump figure, green eyebrows, red rouge, and two cute beauty marks made her look just like a Tang dynasty clay figurine from the Shaanxi Provincial Museum gift shop. This was what a native Tang dynasty girl should look like!

Shen Shaoguang held up the mirror for A-Yuan to see. “Isn’t it pretty? Isn’t it pretty?”

A-Yuan awkwardly pursed her painted lips, mumbling, “It’s pretty, but how will I eat?”

Hahaha! Shen Shaoguang collapsed laughing on A-Yuan’s broad shoulders.

A-Yuan picked up the mirror herself, looked from side to side, and smiled while pursing her lips.

“Knock knock knock.” Yu San knocked a few times, lifted the curtain, and entered. Seeing the heavily made-up pair, he expressionlessly said, “Breakfast is ready.”

A-Yuan jumped up smiling, “Let’s go eat!”

Yu San looked at A-Yuan and frowned, “Like that? Aren’t you afraid of getting it on the pancakes?”

A-Yuan: “…”

A-Chang came with bamboo to ask Shen Shaoguang when to light the firecrackers, saw A-Yuan coming out first, and praised, “Beautiful, beautiful!”

A-Yuan’s face brightened.

“But won’t it get on the bowls when you eat?”

Inside, Shen Shaoguang nearly doubled over laughing – wasn’t this the legendary “only family members speak the same language”?

Yu San glanced at Shen Shaoguang like a parent looking at a bad kid who had corrupted their child. If this could be made into an expression pack, the caption would be “Don’t play with her anymore.”

Yu San couldn’t be bothered watching the young miss act crazy and directly left through the curtain.

Shen Shaoguang went to the cabinet laughing and took out several pouches containing the silver pieces from the Lin household and a bag of copper coins, distributing them for everyone to use when shopping later.

Though Yu San and the others had monthly allowances, since Shen Shaoguang had plenty of money, she let them keep their allowances and use her money for daily expenses.

Seeing Shen Shaoguang come out, A-Chang lit the fire pile, creating crisp bamboo popping sounds.

Yu San used a pole to hang Shen Shaoguang’s roughly sewn banner in the courtyard. The four looked at the nearly burnt black bamboo, then at the banner trembling in the north wind, and contentedly went to the front shop to eat.

Before eating, Shen Shaoguang first distributed New Year’s money, reciting auspicious phrases like “Suppress evil spirits and grow in years, auspicious New Year” and “Welcome fortune in spring, may everything go as wished.”

The custom of giving New Year’s money didn’t exist yet. A-Yuan blinked her made-up eyes, and when she saw the small silver pieces, exclaimed that they looked as pretty as peonies.

A-Chang agreed, “Really pretty!”

Yu San looked at the inch-long silverfish, seemed to recall something, and appeared somewhat melancholic.

Having eaten plenty of meat and fish yesterday and being hungover from drinking, breakfast today was very light.

Thick millet porridge, boiled eggs, and small sesame cakes no bigger than a palm, made in spiral shapes with sesame paste and peppered salt, rolled up and pan-fried until crispy and fragrant, somewhat like old Beijing’s “screw turns.” Side dishes included pork skin with yellow bean jelly pickles and radish pickles dressed with sesame oil.

Eating porridge and pickles on New Year’s morning, Shen Shaoguang felt very happy.

Then she thought of Magistrate Lin who was so interested in happiness surveys. If he came to ask now, she would honestly tell him things were good, really good.

Of course, he wouldn’t be conducting happiness surveys today – he would be at the grand imperial court assembly, an annual ordeal where once even an old prime minister had fainted from exhaustion.

But Shen Shaoguang was quite free. The first day was for family visits, not suitable for outsiders to disturb. Neighbors would visit on the third or fourth day. As for Guangming Temple, there were ceremonies today keeping Master Yuanjue busy, so better to go tomorrow.

Thinking of ceremonies, Shen Shaoguang considered taking A-Yuan and the others to Qinglong Temple – their New Year ceremonies must be lively. How would they compare to the future scenes of people fighting to light the first incense?

Shen Shaoguang first offered incense to her parents and brothers this life, changed the offerings, burned paper money, and then took A-Yuan and the others out.

Chongxian Ward was in the west and Qinglong Temple in the east, but they were on the same latitude, so the straight-line distance wasn’t far. Walking and browsing along the way, they soon arrived.

Qinglong Temple was indeed a famous large temple and quite lively, though not comparable to the future’s massive crowds. What delighted Shen Shaoguang was seeing snack vendors outside the temple on New Year’s Day. This must be the embryonic form of future temple fairs!

Shen Shaoguang bought a basket of preserved fruits including sugared plums, dried apricots, honey dates, and candied winter melon strips – some sugar-preserved, some honey-preserved, and various types in bright colors that made one’s mouth water. Clearly, the saying about “looking at plums to quench thirst” wasn’t made up.

A-Yuan hugged the basket of preserves, eating while walking, and Shen Shaoguang occasionally picked one to eat. Yu San didn’t eat, and A-Chang was too embarrassed to compete with the young ladies for food, but could only endure until a hand appeared before him full of dried apricots and candied winter melon.

A-Chang looked up and grinned at Shen Shaoguang.

Yu San glanced at these three who were always eating wherever they went, saying nothing.

“Young Miss Shen!”

Shen Shaoguang turned – it was Pang Erniang’s formerly nose-in-the-air maid.

“My young miss is over there!”

Shen Shaoguang looked where she pointed to see a young lady in a veiled hat standing with a group of servants near the temple entrance.

Pang Erniang waved to Shen Shaoguang.

Shen Shaoguang went over with A-Yuan and the others. The two ladies greeted each other, and Pang Erniang asked smiling, “Are you here to get your fortune told too?”

Shen Shaoguang raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s this about?”

“Master Liao Chen only interprets fortunes on New Year’s Day each year. If you miss it, you have to wait until next year.”

Shen Shaoguang asked with a smile, “Has Second Miss already had yours interpreted, or not yet?”

“Already done.” Pang Erniang said with a smile.

“Must have been a good fortune.” Shen Shaoguang teased.

Pang Erniang smiled and nodded, “Mm.”

Seeing the young girl’s happy expression, Shen Shaoguang felt happy too.

Pang Erniang couldn’t contain herself and moved closer to Shen Shaoguang, saying softly, “Did you know? Fifth Miss Qin is engaged.”

Shen Shaoguang was somewhat surprised – was it to Magistrate Lin or someone else? Seeing Pang Erniang’s happy expression, it must be the latter. No wonder she had come out on New Year’s Day to get her fortune told. Getting good fortune and some auspicious words from the old monk had made the young miss even happier.

Shen Shaoguang’s speculation was quite accurate.

Before Shen Shaoguang could respond, Pang Erniang continued softly, “To the Duke of Xinyang’s eldest grandson, last year’s third-ranked scholar. I heard he was just appointed as a prestigious Editorial Director.”

Duke of Xinyang, of the Longxi Yang clan – both an ancient noble family and titled nobility. This young lord was the eldest grandson of the main line, yet his official position wasn’t inherited but earned through the imperial examinations – mm, a good match.

Seeing Shen Shaoguang nod, Pang Erniang smiled and said, “I’m truly happy for Fifth Miss.”

What an insincere little girl! Shen Shaoguang smiled.

Pang Erniang couldn’t stay out long, so after chatting briefly with Shen Shaoguang and agreeing to meet again in a few days when staying at Guangming Temple to worship Buddha, she left in her carriage.

Having heard an earful of gossip about unrelated people, Shen Shaoguang watched Pang Erniang leave, then took A-Yuan and the others into the temple. They made a round, listened to some sutras, viewed the pagoda and poetry walls, and couldn’t avoid the custom of drawing fortune lots in the side hall.

Drawing lots was simple, but as Pang Erniang said, getting them interpreted was difficult. Seeing the interpretation line as long as future Spring Festival travel crowds, Shen Shaoguang returned her lot to the monk.

“Patron, won’t you seek interpretation?”

“It’s all predestined anyway – whether you know early or late doesn’t matter much.” Shen Shaoguang smiled.

The lot-drawing monk pressed his palms together, “Excellent, patron’s words align well with Chan principles.”

Shen Shaoguang smiled with narrowed eyes, returned the greeting, and then left with A-Yuan and the others.

Outside the temple, they ate wontons at a stall, took a turn around the Pleasure Garden, and started back in mid-afternoon. By the time they returned to Chongxian Ward, it was time for the evening drums.

At the ward gate, a carriage slowed, and Lin Yan lifted the curtain to see Young Miss Shen and her servants, dusty from travel.

Shen Shaoguang looked up and also saw Lin Yan in the carriage.

The two met at the ward gate in the dusk – one with sore legs and faded makeup, one tired from a day’s work with an exhausted face. Shen Shaoguang smiled first, perhaps truly tired, her smile less shrewd than usual. Lin Yan’s eyes also curved, his brow showing more warmth than usual.